Posted on 02/25/2007 7:41:28 PM PST by 68skylark
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE - Weakened by his lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis, 14-year-old Riley Woina dreams of being strong like the war heroes he watches in movies.
The Army's 6th Ranger Training Battalion on Eglin Air Force Base recently helped him realize this unusual dream.
Susan Woina joked that her son could have taken his Plymouth, Conn., family to Walt Disney World or gone on a shopping spree through the Make-A-Wish Foundation instead of spending a week crawling in the mud with soldiers in the Florida Panhandle.
Inspired by his favorite movies, Black Hawk Down and the HBO World War II series Band of Brothers, Riley researched the 6th Ranger Training Battalion.
Riley said he couldn't think of anything better - not even visiting a chocolate factory - than seeing Camp James E. Rudder, where Rangers face their final and most difficult training challenges.
The 80-pound teen, weakened by his degenerative illness, said what he likes most about the Rangers is "their determination to leave no man behind."
Cystic fibrosis causes a buildup of a thick mucus that makes breathing difficult and inhibits absorption of nutrients, stunting growth. Riley takes nutritional supplements, respiratory medications, uses an inhaler and sleeps with a special vest that helps to shake up and clear out the mucus in his lungs while he sleeps.
Riley is the first child to ask Make-A-Wish to visit a Ranger camp, said Capt. Jeremiah Cordovano, a spokesman for the 6th Ranger Battalion.
The crew presented Riley with his own flight suit, a "U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detach" patch and his pilot's wings.
They also helped him radio his mom from the helicopter while hovering above the beach.
"Mom, this is Riley, this is awesome," he said.
"Riley, I'm glad you're having a good time," she said.
For a young teen 'riddled' with CS, he';s sure got 10 times more spine than half of our Congessional Legislators.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/aprangerwish070225/
The slide show is here:
http://www.armytimes.com/projects/flash/2007_02_23_slideshow/
I like this quote from two Ranger instructors (both Master Sergeants), near the end of the story:
“He has the intestinal fortitude. Because of his medical condition, he’s tough,” Barnett said. “I was shocked he asked to do this. He’s from Connecticut, he’s a city boy. He could have asked to go the Super Bowl. I have a touchy moment every day with him.”Morengo agreed.
“He’s got nothing to prove to us; he’s tough enough.”
Awesome story.
Half?
The kid had stones. Good on him.
Outstanding!
As someone who has a close relative with CF, I can assure you they pack more in their life than many with no so-called "defects".
I couldn't have said it better.
Real cool! Thanks for posting.
Great post and great kid.
Didn't the Make a Wish Foundation reject money from the NRA because of guns.
Kid's not carrying an umbrella going thru the door in slide one. Gotta Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"From the mouths of babe's..."
Great story, prayers for him as well.
Riley will join the successful Ranger students at Fort Benning, Ga., for their graduation ceremonies March 9, where he will get to ride in a tank and shoot live rounds.
How cool is that? ;-)
Thanks for posting this story.
Something in my eye BTTT
Yeah, me too.
I would ask to fire all the toys they could muster, included would be targt practice with a gatlin gun out the side of a huey
Agreed--a young man like this deserves our prayers, for restoration and healing.
Just imagine what it did for the Rangers!
Me too.
Riley is the first child to ask Make-A-Wish to visit a Ranger camp, said Capt. Jeremiah Cordovano, a spokesman for the 6th Ranger Battalion.
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