Wounded Warriors visit Tyndall

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Five servicemembers with the Wounded Warrior Program from San Antonio's Center for the Intrepid toured Tyndall Air Force Base Sept. 16.

They were joined by members of the local Red Rivers Rats association, a group of veterans who flew fighter jets in Vietnam.

The warriors were here on an adaptive scuba trip, and were able to take time to tour Tyndall during their four-day visit to the area.

San Antonio's Center for the Intrepid is an outpatient rehabilitation institute that provides care to wounded warriors who have suffered amputation, limb salvage and burns. Of the five warriors, two were Marines and three served with the Army. Their injuries consist of two sevicemembers missing arms, two missing legs and one with serious burns. Due to their injuries, they will all eventually be medically retired.

"My favorite part of this is being able to work with the warriors," said Mark Heniser, Center for the Intrepid physical therapist. "Being able to help them is the most rewarding thing I have ever done."

Mr. Heniser has worked closely with the warriors for more than four years, and currently has a case load of 16 people.

"My job is a form of sports medicine most people don't know about," said Mr. Heniser. "We teach them not only to walk, but to run."

During the tour of Tyndall, the warriors visited the 325th Air Control Squadron, the flight simulators and saw an up-close view of the F-22 Raptor and the F-15 Eagle.

"The scuba diving was really fun, and so was the flight simulator," said Army Staff Sgt. Conrad Calderon, one of the wounded warriors. "This is a really nice base and the people have been great."

Sergeant Calderon has been a wounded warrior since Nov. 9, 2007, when the convoy he was in was attacked in Iraq. He is currently on active duty and in the final phases of physical therapy.

The trip itself was sponsored jointly by the Red River Rats associations from both San Antonio and Panama City. There are currently more than 30 members in the Panama City chapter, a few of whom accompanied the wounded warriors on their visit to Tyndall. This follows along with the mission of the organization which is based on their statement of Principles and Objectives. They endeavor to provide a dynamic association of like-minded aerial combat veterans who avow patriotism and the defense of the Constitution of the United States of America as its guiding principles.

"Working with the Wounded Warriors was inspiring," said Capt. Henry Schantz, 325th Fighter Wing executive office and officer in charge of the wounded warrior visit. "The sacrifice made by these Americans is more than many of us will see and is definitely worthy of our country's respect. Their visit expanded my understanding of the current war we fighting and the enduring spirit of freedom we see in these heroes."