The New York Yankees Make Warrior Wishes Come True!

One of the really interesting things about our mission is, that just like a snowflake, no two missions are ever alike. One night you have families with little kids (like Cincy), one night you have a young couple like last night in Pittsburgh and then you have today with 5 veterans just hanging out together.  We have hosted warriors WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq & Afghanistan as well as Gold Star Families.  Every mission is different & special in its own way.  After making warrior wishes come true in Pittsburgh, my dad took his second straight overnight bus and arrived in New York just before sunrise.  

My wife – and probably most women – were little jealous – as my dads bus arrived just in time for Good Morning America’s “Dancing with The Stars “After Party. He got video of champion Nyle carrying the Mirror Ball Trophy in,as well as photos of some of other dancers including Ginger Zee – who was instrumental in getting our warriors behind the scenes at GMA IN the first place in 2012.

After hanging out in times square outside GMA, my dad took time to catch up on a little work and secure dinner spots for rest of mission before he hopped on the D Train to the Bronx to meet up with Navy Warriors Richard Schulz & Guillermo David as well as Army Warriors Jaime Bayona-Serrano, Luis Gomez Franco & Luis Soltero.

The Hard Rock Cafe at Yankee Stadium provided everyone a meeting place and a delicious PreGame meal.  The Hard Rock cafe is decorated with some awesome memorbilia including an autographed “Yankees” Guitar.  The restaurant is actually located at Yankee Stadium and is the premier spot to hang out before and after Yankees games.  

After dinner, the Yankees (as they have done all four years of our mission) provided a Pre Game Museum Tour. This your gives you a nostalgic look at the history of the Yankees, from Babe Ruth to Derek Jeter.  It’s an amazing tour filled with a lot of baseball history.  Thank you Heather and Cristina (from the Yankees) for giving the warriors this awesome opportunity!

My dad loves providing these experiences to warriors, especially when it’s their firs game ever.  Tonight, 3 of the warriors were attending their First Yankees Game.

As far as the game itself, The Yankees kept things close until the Blue Jays hit back to back home runs and could never catch up.  Despite the Yankees losing 8-4.  The Warriors still had a great time!

We couldnt have made it all possible without the Hard Rock Cafe who provided dinner, New Era Cap who provided Yankees caps to all the warriors & the New York Yankees for providing Museum Tour and awesome seats behind Home Plate for the 4th Straight Year!!!

TOGETHER WE MAKE WARRIOR WISHES COME TRUE!!!

Most importantly THANK YOU to our veterans for their dedicated service to our country and especially to Richard Schulz who just retired a couple months ago after 23 years of service.

After the game my dad headed for the bus station and will be spending his 3rd night in a row sleeping on his overnight “bus” hotel.  He will be in Boston tomorrow moring to make Warrior Wishes come true at Fenway!  

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www.WarriorWishes.org

Dont forget to nominate your hero for an upcoming game on our Battlefields to Ballfields mission!

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MEET THE WARRIORS

Richard W. Schulz LCDR/NC/USN (retired)

Enlisted in 1992, became a Hospital Corpsman and then specialized as a Radiation Health Technician. In 1996 was selected to the Enlisted Commissioning Program after winning Junior Sailor of the Year for the Northeast Region in 1995, and completed Bachelors in Nursing in 1999 earning a commission as an Ensign. Specialized in Critical Care and Trauma Nursing with deployments to Djibouti Africa,  Zamboanga Philippines, North Arabian Gulf, and Kandahar Afghanistan as a trauma/critical care/flight nurse. Was selected to attend the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences and received degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in 2013. Retired in 2016 after 23 years of Naval Service.

LTJG Guillermo David

Joined the US NAVY on September 30th 1996.

In his 19 year he has served the following commands:

– CHB-SIX from 1996 – 1999.

– MIUW203 from 1999 – 2008

– MARESDET 203 2008 – 2009

– MESDET 203 2009 – 2011

– Construction Battalion 2011 – 2012

– Littoral Combat Ship Seaframe NYC 2013 to date.

Was commissioned on October 1 2012 as a Naval Officer (Ensign)

-Deployed in 203 in support of OIF

-Deployed in 2009 to Kuwait and Iraq in support of OIF/OEF

-Currently serving a Executive officer of Littoral Combat Ship Seaframe NYC reserve unit.

In his 19 years of service LTJG have served in multiples missions/ Operations in country and abroad in support of our freedom and way of life.

Army Warrior Luis GomezFranco

My name’s luis GomezFranco I am a veteran of the U.S. Army.  When I finished my basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I was sent to my first duty station in Yongsan , South Korea. I was in the unit 121 medical brigade and worked as a postal clerk for that year. My MOS was Automated logistics specialist or 92A.  After Korea, I was sent to Fort Bragg, N.C. and got to do more of my actual job as a supply specialist working in a warehouse. After a year in Bragg, I was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. When we first got there we were stationed in a black out FOB or forward operating base working as the quick reaction force for the base.  Over time, we started rolling out on convoys delivering packages and whatever resources were needed to other bases.  After military I stayed in Fayetteville NC for a while then decided to move back to NY. The rest is pretty much history.

Army Warrior Jaime Bayona-Serrano

I was born in Puerto Rico San Juan, moved to New York when I was 8 years old. Join the army when I was 19 years old. I went to boot camp in Fort Benning Georgia to be a 11b infantry. My duty station was in ¼ Infantry Germany, Hohenfels. I was a M113 driver and trained tank forces and troops before they got deployed.

Army Warrior Luis Soltero

I was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the Bronx.  Shortly after graduating high school I enlisted in the US Army as an E-1 private.   After attending boot camp in Ft. Jackson and Advanced Individual Training in Ft. Sill acquiring the Fire & Support Specialist (13Fox aka FIST) skill set, my first duty station was at Ft. Wainwright, Ak where I was stationed for 3.5 years.  I deployed from there in supports of various missions in country such as JRTC (3X) AND NTC (2X). I reenlisted after 3.5 years as a sergeant promotable to Ft Drum, NY.  I deployed with my Ft. Drum unit to Baghram, Afghanistan providing indirect fires for Infantry units in supports of Operation Enduring Freedom 03-04.  My awards are as follows;

-3x army commendation medal

-3x army achievement medal

-Good Conduct Award

-2x Supervisory Certificate Award

-Physical Fitness Award

-Global War on Terrorism
-Expeditionary Medal
-Overseas Tour of Duty Ribbon
-Airborne Course
-Expert Infantry Badge
-Advanced Individual Training
After receiving an Honorable Discharge, I graduated from Lehman College receiving a Bachelors in Computer Science and a Masters in Business of Science.  I now serve as a Budget Analyst for Lehman College and volunteer my off time to helping Veterans thru Team RWB thru social and athletic activities.