Wounded warriors visit 386th

Col. Patrick Mordente, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, shakes hands with a U.S. Army Soldier at the 386th May 1. The Soldier was part of Operation Proper Exit, a program put together by the Troops First Foundation and the United Service Organization. The objective of the program is to bring closure to veterans wounded in combat and to show troops in the war zone that injuries sustained in battle are surmountable. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Heath Allen)

Wounded warriors visit 386th

Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief, gives a coin to Marine Corporal Isaiah Shaffer at the 386th's Desert Winds Dining Hall May 1. Corporal Shaffer was part of Operation Proper Exit, a program put together by the Troops First Foundation and the United Service Organization. The objective of the program is to bring closure to veterans wounded in combat and to show troops in the war zone that injuries sustained in battle are surmountable. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Heath Allen)

Operation Proper Exit’s wounded warriors pay 386th visit

Published May 2, 2011
By Capt. Heath Allen
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Before Operation Proper Exit left the area of responsibility it met a warm welcome at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The group of wounded warriors made a stop at The Rock after returning from Baghdad, Iraq, where its tour was shadowed by CBS' "60 Minutes", which will be featuring the Operation Proper Exit program this fall.

The wounded warriors had lunch with Col. Patrick Mordente, 386th AEW commander, and 386th Command Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte at the Desert Winds Dining Hall May 1 during their brief stay on base.

The program is facilitated by the Troops First Foundation and the United Service Organization. The objective of the program is to bring closure to veterans wounded in combat and to show troops in the war zone that injuries sustained in battle are surmountable.

Col. Mordente and Chief Turcotte shook the hands of the wounded warriors, providing a wing commander and command chief coin with each handshake.

"I can't tell you how much this means to me just to be able to shake your hands," Col. Mordente said to the group. "The sacrifices that you've made for your country make you all heroes. I thank all of you for your service. You've made your country very proud."

According to the Troops First Foundation Website, Operation Proper Exit is intended to benefit wounded warriors who are thriving in recovery and are capable of returning to theater. The program itinerary stages a meet-and-greet tour to forward operating bases with a group of recovered soldiers.

For more information, visit www.troopsfirstfoundation.org