Army Helping Build All-American Team

Army Helping Build All-American Team
Army News Service | Elizabeth M. Lorge | December 17, 2007

WASHINGTON -- They're not just strong. They're Army strong.

But they're not Soldiers -- they're America's top high-school football players using the same leadership, discipline and teamwork that Soldiers put into play on the battlefield. These students will battle it out Jan. 5 in this year's Army All-American Bowl, an East-West match-up in San Antonio sponsored by U.S. Army Accessions Command.

More than ninety Soldier heroes -- recipients of the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals -- will be recognized for their heroism in combat during the game. They will also be paired up with the players so the athletes can see first hand what being a true hero is all about.

"I would hope that what we're able to do is show that we're all people, not just who have received awards, but we're all members of the military," said Capt. Lee Vandewater, a Bronze Star with Valor recipient from the Iowa National Guard. "We all are role models and hopefully we can show the high level of integrity we all have, and can pass it on to them. I'm hoping that we can positively influence these athletes because some of these guys are going to be in the NFL. They're going to be role models."

According to Coach Herman Boone, namesake of the bowl's most-valuable-player trophy, and his former assistant, Coach Bill Yoast, the seven Army values -- loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage -- are crucial in building any sports team.


Rest of this recruiting event at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,158422,00.html