June 2
We left Europe on Sunday (May 30) and got back to Andrews Air Force Base yesterday morning (May 31). The hardest part of the trip was the last 13 hours. I ended up driving back to Champaign last night because I missed my flight coming into Chicago. I got home at about one o'clock this morning (June 1). What an amazing trip! So much happened in such a short time that I'm still trying to piece everything together. What I do know is that what our troops do over there...it's amazing what they go through. They don't complain and have great attitudes, it's just impressive. I'd definitely go back if I get that chance. Maybe not right away, but after a little bit of time I'd love to go back.
The schedule we had was unbelievable. I think we flew over 20,000 miles to get in there and see the troops and thank them for what they've done. We went to a couple hospitals and saw some wounded warriors. We actually had two wounded warriors with us and it was just an unbelievable experience, all the way around. It's so impressive to see what our young people go through over there. A lot of them are very, very young and the conditions, the heat...I thought I'd lived in heat before, but it was just flat out hot, dusty and dirty and that's how they live every day. They all have a great attitude. It was really impressive.
We signed a lot of autographs and gave out a lot of t-shirts. I gave out a lot of Illinois coins. Mainly though we just thanked them and got a chance to talk to them about their experiences. I think the one thing I would say is that a lot of people, and I was one of them, don't realize what they're going through or even why we were in Iraq. Right now the situation is supposed to be a little bit settled down, but there were two strikes while we were there. One of them was right on the base and one of them was right outside the base.
One day in Iraq the soldiers were playing a flag football game. Coach Murphy and I were coaching one team and the other two coaches were on the other side and I mean we're getting pretty into it. Gunny, one of the guys that was kind of our protection, he comes up to me and says, "A mortar just hit inside the base. It didn't go off, but if it goes off don't worry." and I'm like "What???" That certainly puts a whole new perspective on coaching. When they made the announcement, I lost interest in the game. It took the stinger out of it for me.
Then I looked around at the troops and that's just the way of life for them. It's like a thunderstorm to them, something they deal with every day. The land base in Iraq, the defense system is the best in the world. It's unbelievable. I always felt like I was in good hands.
This trip definitely changed my perspective greatly. What they do so we can live the way we live, to see what they go through, makes you look at things differently. And they don't have a `you owe us something' type of attitude. Instead they have a prideful attitude. They're proud of what they do and they're proud they're able to serve America and keep us safe.
There were some very touching times - the hospital in Ramstein, Germany. There was one guy with us who lost a leg in Vietnam and one who came through the hospital in Kuwait. He doesn't remember it; he was in a coma for 18 days and lost and arm and a leg. He was with us the whole time. That was a pretty emotional time hearing his story. Once you see how they handle it - no complaints, no anything - it's just so impressive that they do that for us.
This was a welcome sight after a long flight! Enlarge Photo |
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I saw so much team work and I told some of our players this morning that if we could get everybody to work together like those men and women do over there we'd be set. Everybody has a job and some of them are in the limelight and some of them aren't, but it's all for one thing. If our players could see the pride that these guys have, the teamwork these guys have, I think it would change anyone's thought of what's going on. That attitude is what I'll try to instill in on our football team.
It also was amazing how many people have connections to Illinois and how much pride they have. In Kuwait I walked into breakfast and the first person that comes up to me is a young girl from Champaign. Then we get off the airplane and we're coming down the steps and there's an Illinois mat that one of the majors left there at the bottom of the steps, a lady that was a '95 graduate of the University of Illinois. Wherever you went everybody had their schools and their areas of pride showing. It was kind of a neat thing.
Coach Zook's Photo Gallery
May 30
After a couple intense days in Iraq we spent the night in Kuwait last night. Like I said yesterday, it is the real deal here. Here is a photo of a bunker that we'd use if needed.
Right now we are in Spain and getting ready to head back to Washington D.C. in the morning. I'll have a lot more to say about this experience once I get back home...
May 29
I haven't been able give many updates lately because the communication isn't that great here in Iraq and we've been so busy the entire time. I took a lot of video and pictures, though, so look for those once I get back.
All I can say is this is the REAL DEAL. I feel like I'm messed up because of all that we have to do and how fast we have to move here. I'm so grateful to our troops because of how hard they work so that we can live the way we do.
May 26
We spent the last day on the USS Eisenhower carrier and it was just an unbelievable experience. The Eisenhower is a Nimitz-class super carrier that has been deployed in the Middle East since January. More than 4,000 men and women live on the ship and the job they do is amazing. We took a helicopter to the destroyer USS Farragut where we had a chance to interact with many more men and women. The heat is extremely intense...well over 100 degrees...but everyone needs to wear long sleeves, turtlenecks and clothing to protect themselves from the sun.
As I got off the plane back from the Eisenhower, I met two people from Illinois who were waiting at the bottom of the plank. The number of people who I've had a chance to meet from Illinois has really been amazing. We have gone hard and we haven't gotten a lot of sleep on this trip. It's been hard to keep track of what day it is and what time it is, but the experience has far exceeded what I expected. We're about to get on a bus to go pick up our body armor for the next leg of the trip, so that should give you a clue to where we're going.
Here is some video from the USS Eisenhower visit
With Maj. Jennifer Nevus, a '95 Illinois grad. She greeted me with an Illini welcome mat! Enlarge Photo |
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With Fairview Heights native, Katina Richardson. Enlarge Photo |
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May 25
With Chicago native Erik Fisher who is taking us to the aircraft carrier. Enlarge Photo |
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We got to Bahrain today. I've finally figured out where in the world I am. The last two days, we've flown over 7,000 miles, including more than 2,000 miles today. It was another 5-hour flight today in the C-135 and we flew over Iraq and Turkey on the way here and are right in the middle of the Persian Gulf. It is hot, windy and sandy here. It's amazing what our troops do for us. There's an eight-hour difference in time here from Champaign-Urbana.
I haven't met any troops here yet, but right now I'm getting ready to go to an autograph session and am looking forward to meeting the soldiers. So far on the trip I've run into a lot of people with Illinois connections. Last night I was with Major General Mark Zamzow who has had two sons graduate from U of I with engineering degrees, one this year and one last year. Also, Carly Harris, who is with the USO and has been instrumental during this tour, has a daughter who just finished her freshman year at Illinois. It has been great to meet and thank them for their sacrifices.
Tomorrow we are going on the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is somewhere in the Persian Gulf. I have been fortunate enough to experience a carrier before on the USS John C. Stennis, and the teamwork that you see is just unbelievable. I'm looking forward to this experience as well.
I recently did an update on the trip for Tom Dienhart of Rivals, who is on the trip with us. You can read it here: Zook: It's all about team in military, too
May 24
First off, one of the most impressive things I've seen so far is the unbelievable efficiency of the men and women who are coordinating this trip and taking care of us. It's very evident why the women and men in the U.S. Armed Forces are the best in the world at what they do. We arrived in Germany at about 11:30 this morning after the 10-hour flight from McConnell Air Force Base on a C-135. The time difference from Champaign-Urbana is plus seven hours. I got to sit in the jump seat for takeoff and landing, and had a great visits with Brigadier General Richard Devereaux and Col. James Crowhurst, commander of the air refueling wing at McConnell. I had chance to go in the back of the plane with the boom operator to see how they refuel planes. It was loud and cold, but it is amazing how professional our troops are. I've never been to Germany before. It's exciting to be able to thank our troops for what they do for us. It's easy to see why they are the best in the world.
After arriving in Ramstein, we got cleaned up from the trip, got a briefing, and then made a hospital visit at the Landstuhl Medical Center in Ramstein. Every major incident that happens to a U.S. soldier on this side of the world comes through this hospital, and the survival rate for those injured people who get here within a short time is extremely high...like 99 percent. Right now, it's a good thing that there aren't many people admitted to the hospital. The Wounded Warrior program has a strong presence here in supporting the injured soldiers and their families.
We had an autograph session today as well at a shopping mall on the base, and the turnout was incredible. I couldn't believe all the folks who had connections to Illinois, Chicago or the University of Illinois. Here are a couple photos of SFC Keven L. Jaques, USA MP, who I met today. He is a huge Illini fan!
SFC Keven L. Jaques, USA MP, shows off his Illini gear. Enlarge Photo |
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I ran out of items to autograph there were so many! We leave early tomorrow morning for the next leg of our trip.
May 23
Today we depart for Ramstein Air Base in Germany. I don't have time to write much, but here is a photo of the armor we have to wear:
And here are a few shots of the C-135 we're flying to Germany on:
May 22
Leaving Champaign and heading to McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kan. en route to Germany.
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Left Champaign early in the morning and arrived at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, to prepare for trip overseas.
