Stories

Competition, Comrades, Medals and More… Warrior Games take aways for Team Army
August 31, 2022 — Look in any dictionary and the definition of a warrior is a garden variety of “someone who shows great vigor, courage or aggressiveness.” The 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, was loaded with more than two hundred warriors for the past two weeks... MORE

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Murphy, left, is guided by U.S. Marine Sgt. Peter Keating while competing in a track event during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 25, 2022. Hosted by the U.S. Army, service members and veterans from across the DoD compete in adaptive sports alongside armed forces competitors from Canada and Ukraine

Team Army Soldier credits repetition in adaptive sports with his recovery
August 27, 2022 — To retired U.S. Army Maj. William Hammac, age is just a number. “I’m a 54-year-old guy who made it to the Warrior Games and now here I am making it to the finals in the rifle competition,” said, Hammac, a former aviation officer... MORE

Retired U.S. Army Maj. William Hammac takes aim at his target during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the Orange County Convention Center, in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 20, 2022. Hosted by the U.S. Army at the Walt Disney World Resort, this year’s Warrior Games sees service members and veterans from across the DoD competing in a variety of adaptive sports alongside armed forces athletes from Canada and Ukraine.

Christmas came Early for one Soldier at Warrior Games
August 27, 2022 — For Team Army member Staff Sgt. Stacy Englert, waiting for the chance to compete at the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games was like waiting on Santa Clause to arrive... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Stacy Englert aims at her target during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 21, 2022. Hosted by the U.S. Army at the Walt Disney World Resort, this year’s Warrior Games sees service members and veterans from across the DoD competing in a variety of adaptive sports alongside armed forces athletes from Canada and Ukraine.

Wheelchair rugby is a family affair for one Soldier’s Family
August 25, 2022 — Spectators watching wheelchair rugby practice at the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games expect to hear the chairs crashing together, see the collision of athletes and become mesmerized by the speed of the wheels... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Cole Thielen, left, and Liannie Rodriguez work on repairing the wheelchair rugby wheel at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 18, 2022. Hosted by the U.S. Army at the Walt Disney World Resort, this year’s Warrior Games sees service members and veterans from across the DoD competing in a variety of adaptive sports alongside armed forces athletes from Canada and Ukraine.

Commentary: The spirit of Warrior Games
August 24, 2022 — Heritage and history provide lessons that help the U.S. military be the strongest in the world today. Looking back provides the bridge to further deliver the best care for the nation’s number one commodity: it’s people, sons and daughters…warriors... MORE

U.S. Army Pfc. Darnell Boynton cheers in support of Team Army during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 20, 2022. Hosted by the U.S. Army at the Walt Disney World Resort, this year’s Warrior Games sees service members and veterans from across the DoD competing in a variety of adaptive sports alongside armed forces athletes from Canada and Ukraine.

Team Army’s Warrior Games odyssey begins
August 22, 2022 — ORLANDO (August 22, 2022) -- After months of training and nail-biting anticipation, Team Army finally kicked off their quest for Department of Defense Warrior Games dominance, Aug. 19, 2022, with a change-of-plans opening ceremony at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The opening ceremony was scheduled to be an extravaganza in Champion Stadium with over 300 athletes from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations Command, Canada, and the Ukraine, marching in with loud music blaring and families cheering. There was to be the traditional torch lighting ceremony, special appearances, and a concert by none other than Darius Rucker. But central Florida weather decided to rain down thunder and lightning, causing the extremely adept Disney crew to create their magic by moving the ceremony indoors to the Advent Health Arena. Comedian, actor, and activist Jon Stewart is no stranger to the DoD Warrior Games. Stewart has been the master of ceremonies many times in the past, and said it was an honor for him to be amongst the nations heroes assembled at Walt Disney World Resort. Darius Rucker also addressed the crowd during the abbreviated opening ceremony. He told the athletes and their family members that he skipped his son’s first high school football game to have the honor of performing at the DoD Warrior Games. He explained how difficult it was to tell his son that he was going to miss his game. Rucker was surprised by the response he got back from his son when he told him exactly who he would be performing for and why. Rucker said his son’s response was, “You wouldn’t be my dad if you didn’t miss my game.” Earlier in the afternoon of opening day, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, stopped by training to encourage the team. Dingle spoke with U.S. Army Spc. Justin Anderson, of the Brooke Army Medical Center Soldier Recovery Unit, near the end of sprint training. Dingle asked Anderson what events he would be competing in during the Warrior Games. “Overall, I’m doing cycling, track, and field,” explained Anderson. “I’m running the 100 and 200 (meter races), and if they don’t cancel it, the 400.” Anderson is also competing in swimming, archery, and seated discus. Anderson confessed that swimming was his best event, having competed in high school. “So, you’ll be bringing home a medal,” Dingle stated emphatically. Anderson was familiar with swimming the short course in high school and said it will be a little different swimming long course here at Warrior Games. The difference in the courses didn’t faze Dingle. “Oh, but you got this!” said Dingle. Anderson enthusiastically agreed. “I definitely got this,” said Anderson. “It’s in the bag.” It was an extremely hot day for training at the track, but Dingle took time to speak with every Team Army participant that was still training. He stopped by Team Ukraine to give them a shout out and offer encouragement. He even took in a ‘mock’ 100-meter race between Anderson and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Allen Zohdi. Zohdi, originally from Boston, is currently assigned to the Fort Benning, SRU, and said being there has acclimated him to the heat. “Luckily being at Fort Benning helped me be conditioned to the Florida heat,” said Zohdi. “It’s not really bothering me that much. And for the most part, a lot of us (Team Army) are staying on top of hydrating. So far, we’re doing pretty good.” The Army Recover Care Program is the place where wounded, ill and injured Soldiers go to recover with the confidence they, their families and caregivers will be well cared for. Warrior Games is an event where Soldiers and their families exhibit their resilience and to overcome any challenge and represent the strength of the nation. The first events to kick off Warrior Games are shooting and wheelchair rugby preliminary matches. The daily schedule is posted on the 2022 Warrior Games at: https://www.dodwarriorgames.com/games/schedule/. To watch the live stream, go to: https://venues.vimeo.com/1658936874369. Follow Team Army on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usarmyarcp Twitter: https://twitter.com/armyARCP DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/ARCP #TeamArmy #WarriorGames22... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Allen Zohdi, left, meets Lt. Gen. R. Scott Dingle, U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command, after field practice for Team Army at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, Florida, during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, Aug. 19, 2022. The DoD Warrior Games will be conducted on Aug. 19 – 28, hosted by the U.S. Army at Walt Disney World Resort. Men and women from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command are joined in competition by athletes with the Canadian Soldier On organization for a variety of adaptive sports ranging from archery to wheelchair rugby.

Warrior Games invade Disney
August 16, 2022 — ORLANDO (August 16, 2022) -- In the 1940 Disney animated film, Fantasia, there is a scene called the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” where Mickey loses control of a broom who then gathers all his “broom” friends and they invade the sorcerer’s castle, flooding it with water. Today, just like in Fantasia, wounded, ill, and injured Soldiers have gathered with their Team Army friends and marched into Disney World, ready to compete with their sister service counterparts and Canada in the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Stacy Englert stops to speak with friends after in-processing, August 16, during the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games. The DoD Warrior Games are conducted August 16 – 28, hosted by the U.S. Army at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Men and women from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and U.S. Special Operations Command are joined in competition by athletes with the Canadian Soldier On organization for a variety of adaptive sports ranging from archery to wheelchair rugby.

THE STORY OF A KOREAN WAR POW AND THE CASUALTY ASSISTANCE OFFICER WHO NEVER LEAVES A FAMILY BEHIND.
August 12, 2022 — Seventeen-year-old Corporal Wayne Minard, an infantry soldier from White Water Kansas needed his mother’s permission to join the Army in 1948. His family describes him as a typical farm boy who liked to joke and play pranks along with his twin brother Dewayne. He died a Prisoner of War in Korea at the age of twenty. His remains made it home 65 years later... MORE

Army Chaplain Preaches the Gospel of the Soldier Recovery Units
August 8, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va, - Call him Father, Chaplain, or Captain… Phillip Tah has many titles but one mission. “I found a career that was meant for me which is to take care of people. This was a choice I made to care for wounded, and sick people,” said the Catholic Priest of twenty-six years, now serving as a Chaplain assigned to the Fort Drum Soldier Recover Unit in Upstate New York... MORE

Army Chaplain Preaches the Gospel of the Soldier Recovery Units
August 5, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va, - Call him Father, Chaplain, or Captain… Phillip Tah has many titles but one mission. “I found a career that was meant for me which is to take care of people. This was a choice I made to care for wounded, and sick people,” said the Catholic Priest of twenty-six years, now serving as a Chaplain assigned to the Fort Drum Soldier Recover Unit in Upstate New York... MORE

Father Phillip Tah is the Chaplain at the Fort Drum Soldier Recovery Unit