Penn Staters interact with troops in Kuwait

Photo provided by Todd Blackledge Todd Blackledge and Kenny Jackson were among eight former NFL football stars to visit troops in Kuwait during the USO's Operation Gridiron. For more photos, click on the image above.

U.S. military troops stationed in Kuwait had a change in their routine last week, as they were visited by eight former pro football players on a USO-sponsored tour. Todd Blackledge and Kenny Jackson, both of whom played on Penn State's 1982 National Championship team, were joined by fellow former pro football players Bobby Bell, Chris Spielman, Joe Mickles, Mike McCrary, Chris Warren and Bobby Wilson for  Operation Gridiron: Huddle with the Troops. The purpose of the trip was to have the former NFL stars interact with troops as they coached teams during a two-day, round-robin flag football tournament.

"They're very sports-minded," said Blackledge. "The have a flag football league, but their season was done when we got there. They drafted new teams for this tournament. There are a lot of good athletes over there."

Jackson agreed. "Some of those guys easily could have played college football."

Wilson's team, "Nothing Personal," won the tournament. "They all were from the same unit, so they could spend a lot of time practicing together. Other teams were made up of guys from different units," Jackson said. "It was very competitive, but at the same time it wasn't about who won. They really go into it, and the games went down to the wire. My team didn't win so it didn't move on, but what was important was that they got to compete. In the end, you knew the team that won deserved to win," he said.

"The guys were excited to have us coach them. It was fun for us, and fun for them," said Blackledge.

"The troops were very, very happy that we took the time to be there," said Jackson. "We had to constantly tell them to stop thanking us for coming. They couldn't believe we would spend the time. They think people don't think what they're doing is very important, so it was good that we were there for them."

Lt. Col. Chris Fry Sr., deputy commander of the 408th Contracting Support Brigade/USARCENT PARC at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, expressed the gratitude of all those who had the opportunity to interact with the athletes. "We are truly appreciative of these great Americans taking time out of their busy lives and schedules to travel over 7,000 air miles to be with us. These guys are what make our diverse nation what it is and stands for: People supporting each other with selfless service toward others. We had a terrific time with the group and will cherish the experience," he said.

The trip started on March 31 with tours of Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Most of the wounded soldiers they met at both hospitals were amputees or had other serious injuries. "They were anxious to get out of the hospital and get back to their guys and being able to serve in some capacity. That blew me away," said Blackledge.

After a nonstop, 12-hour flight from Washington, D.C., to Kuwait, the eight former pro football players arrived at their home-away-from-home, Arafjan base in Kuwait. "It was just like college," said Jackson. "You had your room in a dorm, just like on a college campus, and the food was every bit as good as it was at Penn State's football training table. You're in the desert so it's sandy, but everything was very clean and well-organized."

As they interacted with the troops, they found many similarities between the military and sports teams. "They're very much like a football team. That's what really hit me," said Jackson. "I know what it's like to be on a team. You're protecting one another and you need one another to succeed. That crossed racial and gender lines with the troops. It was very, very good to see that they all felt like they were on the same team."

Jackson and Blackledge both said they came away from the experience with a much greater appreciation for the sacrifices the deployed soldiers have made. "I travel for a living in the fall. I'm away a few days at a time and my kids and my wife miss me and I miss them. But these men and women are away 12 months or more at a time, and that's a great sacrifice," Blackledge said.

Both also said they would be anxious to go back if the opportunity presented itself. "Next time I would be interested in going even into Iraq," said Blackledge. "Not necessarily closer to the action, but where our guys and gals are serving. It means a lot to them. It's a small way, but it's the only way a guy like me can serve his country, and I'm happy to do that."

For photos, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1634 online.