NFL players kick off USO tour in Kyrgyzstan

Published March 6, 2008
By Lt. Col. Adriane Craig
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan -- The United Service Organizations kicked off their National Football League tour here March 4.

San Diego Charger Luis Castillo, Chicago Bear Tommie Harris, Carolina Panther Mike Rucker and sports writer Peter King arrived in the former Soviet Union country at "o dark thirty" and - after a short rest - began their Afghanistan support tour, which continues this week with visits downrange to bases in Afghanistan.

Manas AB was an appropriate first leg of their journey, which takes them to visit with servicemembers supporting operations in Afghanistan. The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing serves as a mobility hub for the Operation Enduring Freedom and International Security Assistance Force missions.

Strategically situated as the only U.S. base with a northern approach into Afghanistan, the wing flies aerial refueling missions to support the network of airpower over Afghanistan and moves personnel and cargo, enabling air and ground operations for U.S. and coalition forces.

The visitors saw that mission first-hand as they made their way around the small base, and eventually got to climb into a HUMVEE and explore the KC-135 and C-17 aircraft that fly out of the base. These tours made the highlight reel for the players.

"We're getting a lot out of this also, in just being able to see what you guys do every day," said Harris, who said he has always had an appreciation for military thanks to growing up in Texas.

For Rucker, it was all about the people. "What I'm intrigued with is how...from top to bottom, how well organized you guys are...it's a working machine."

The Carolina defensive lineman also instantly recognized the camaraderie of the folks far from home. "Now you guys are family members among yourselves," he said.

That's a sentiment teammates and military members share. The large, open recreation facility at Manas was like a family room that night as King led a question and answer period for the players. Airmen stationed at the base and Soldiers transiting the base asked questions ranging from childhood heroes, pregame rituals to the future of the game.

The celebrities hung around for several hours, signing autographs, talking or - in the case of Harris - playing dominoes and singing Karaoke.

Castillo said the trip for them was "unbelievable."

"The thing we really take away from this is the people," he said. "For you to come out all this way to defend us and our freedom and allow us to play the game that we love to play."

It's an irony not lost on the Chargers defensive end.

"It's funny because a lot of the slogans we use when we play are from you 'we're going to war' and all that," he said. "You guys are doing it for real...we just want to say thank you to all of you."