Photo By Sgt. Mike MacLeod | Shaun O'Hara, center for the New York Giants, and Charles Tillman, cornerback for the...... read more read more
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CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – Two National Football League players joined the top general in Iraq for a meet-and-greet with troops, May 8.
Charles Tillman, cornerback for the Chicago Bears, and Shaun O'Hara, center for the New York Giants, toured with Gen. Raymond Odierno, commanding general of U.S. Forces–Iraq, stopping to sign autographs for 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers during lunch.
The USO-sponsored tour runs, May 3-11, according to Dano Goforth, USO tour manager.
"It's more exciting for the players than it is for the Soldiers," said Goforth, who has led several tours to Iraq. "These guys' hearts are really into it."
While both players have been involved with their own foundation-based charities for some time, the USO tour is about something entirely different, they said.
"More than anything, it's to let the Soldiers know that we have their backs," said Tillman, whose father served in the military for 20 years. Tillman's father-in-law also served in the military, and he has an uncle currently deployed to Joint Base Balad.
"I've been around [the military] my whole life," he said. "I know about the time, commitment and sacrifices. I know it's hard leaving your families and loved ones."
The 35th NFL draft pick in 2003, Tillman has been credited with helping to make the Bears' 2005 defense the best in the league. He signed a six-year deal with the Bears in 2007.
O'Hara, who was co-captain of the 2007 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, said participating in the tour was the least he could do for the troops.
"I never had the opportunity to serve my country, at least in the capacity of the military, but I feel like this is something I can do to give back and let the troops know that we're still supporting them, even though we're not over here with them," said the two-time Pro-Bowler.
"I just wanted to come over here and shake their hands and meet them personally," he added.
Sitting next to O'Hara at lunch was Pfc. Christianna Sappa, a topographic map analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, who attended the event specifically to meet him.
Sappa was born in Hawaii and asked O'Hara if he had played in the last Pro Bowl hosted at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. She was excited to know that he had, she said.
"Usually I am intimidated by really big football players, but he was a really nice guy," she said.
Following lunch at the Camp Ramadi dining facility, the players signed photographs and stood for pictures with the troops.
The paratroopers at Camp Ramadi are playing an advise-and-assist role to Iraqi police and army forces in their current deployment, for which they had specialized training, though normally the brigade combat team of light airborne infantry is considered part of America's "shock troops."
They are scheduled to return to the U.S. within a few months.
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2010 06:53 |
| Story ID: | 49388 |
| Location: | CAMP RAMADI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 337 |
| Downloads: | 260 |
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