During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sgt. Tommy Rieman distinguished himself through gallant acts of courage and bravery under fire, and he believes his years of playing football helped him become an honored soldier.
Rieman was introduced to football at the youth league level and earned the status of captain as quarterback and safety for Simon Kenton High School in Independence, Ky. Rieman received offers to play football at several small colleges, but he instead chose to enlist in the U.S. Army.
The same determination that drove him to succeed in football pushed Rieman through many of the Army's challenges including Airborne School training and achieving expertise as a "light fighters" infantryman.
After volunteering for service in Kosovo as part of Operation Noble Freedom, Rieman re-enlisted for an assignment in Germany where he joined Echo Company, 51st Infantry Long Range Surveillance (LRS), where he completed Special Forces training.
In early 2003, Rieman and his LRS unit were charged with scouting the way for ground operations in Iraq. Echo Company entered ahead of armored units spearheading Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In December of 2003, Rieman and his unit were on a surveillance mission deep in Iraq when they encountered enemy fire in the form of three rocket-powered grenades (RPGs) and three roadside bombs.
During the ensuing firefight, Rieman returned fire while positioning himself between his fellow soldiers and the enemy. He sustained severe bullet wounds in the chest and arm but continued returning fire until his unit was safely outside the kill zone. The sergeant later came under fire again until machine gun fire silenced the enemy.
Following his return to the United States in 2004, Rieman was awarded the Silver Star for "acts of conspicuous gallantry and courage under fire while serving as an Assistant Team Leader in Echo, 51st Infantry Long Range Surveillance Company."
As a kid, I always wanted to be G.I. Joe, and as a teenager, I always wanted to play college football or join the Army. I've been lucky to include football and the Army in my life.
Basically everything I learned in football I have also used in the Army. In fact, I live every day of my life using the lessons football taught me.
Discipline, camaraderie, teamwork; I think they work hand-in-hand. Both require fighting for something much greater than yourself. That's what being part of a team is all about - coming together to accomplish a goal. That's what we do in the Army, and that's what I did when I played football.
Football is the greatest sport in the world. The game symbolizes America. When you think of America, you think of football - youth football, high school football, college football, pro football - you think of greatness. Every boy wants to grow up to play in the NFL.
From my first years playing for the Boone County Pee Wee Football Redskins through high school, I always loved to hit. At Simon Kenton, I played quarterback, but also loved to play safety. I also learned how to be a leader, a quality that carried over into my Army career too.
And football doesn't leave your heart just because you spend months overseas fighting for your country. My fellow soldiers and I always talked football, and thanks to AFN (Armed Forces Radio Network), NFL.com and other Web sites, we could keep up with our favorite teams and stay in the know. Football gave us something to think about - something important in our lives back home - when we had some time between missions. Sometimes we would stay up all night to watch NFL games - they didn't kickoff until 3 a.m. in Iraq - but it was worth it.
I encourage kids to go out for their youth football leagues as soon as they are old enough. And for those kids who choose other sports, I encourage them to try out again in their freshman year of high school. It's not too late to benefit from the lessons football can bestow on you.
