Game 4 – Tyler Eifert Makes Warrior Wishes Come True In Cincinnati!

We have had an amazing start to our 2017 “All32in17” mission making wishes come true in New England, Chicago & Minnesota.

To kickoff week 2, my dad is headed to Cincinnati to host a group of warriors at the Bengals game.  

After returning from Minnesota early Tuesday morning, my dad had a few days to rest and hang out with family before catching his early Thursday morning to Cincy. 

Over the years, we have made some unforgettable memories making Warrior Wishes come true in Cincinnati!

Upon arrival, around 3pm, he immediately made his way to Moerlein Lager House to meet the warriors for dinner. The Moerlein Lager House has been helping make Warrior Wishes come true since 2013.  They offer a guest experience unlike any other with a working microbrewery producing a full line of Moerlein craft brews, and delectable fare featuring grain spent breads, hand carved sandwiches and smoked rotisserie meats… foods reminiscent of those served in the city’s celebrated 19th century beer gardens.  We cannot thank them enough for their support over the years!  

Today we were honored to be hosting Desert Storm Veterans Dale Spiller and Paul Mann. As well as Army SPC Christopher Warren, his battle buddy, Marine Mike Humbert & one of our original guests from 2012, Buck Clay.  

Dale, Paul & Buck were treated to delicious meal thanks to Aaron and Michelle at Moerleins Lager House.  They had fun getting to know one another & were presented with new Bengals caps courtesy of our friends at New Era.  

After dinner, they made their way down the street to meet up with Chris & Mike who were already at the Bengal Bomb Squad tailgate waiting for them to arrive.  The Bengal Bomb Squad tailgate is one of the best tailgates in the NFL!  Bengals Superfans “Who Dey Baby” & Big John have been big supporters of our mission throughout the years. 

They always make sure to introduce the warriors to the group.  They also do their signature “Bengal Bomb” toast to them to show their appreciation for the warriors service & sacrifices.  

The tailgate crew truly went above and beyond, as they always do, and also gave each of the warriors autographed mini helmets!  While the warriors enjoyed the tailgate, my dad made his way over to the stadium to pick up the tickets.  Bengals Tight End Tyler Eifert and his family have a deep appreciation for the Brave men & women who serve our country.  They have graciously donated tickets to the warriors for the past few seasons.  On top of that, Tyler even wore custom Warrior Wishes Cleats last year to help raise money for our mission! We cannot thank the Eifert family enough for their support!  

With the tickets in hand, my dad went back to the tailgate to get the warriors and they headed inside to watch the Texans take on the Bengals!

The warriors were all excited for the game.   They were all huge bengals fans!  Unfortunately, the bengals were shut out last week and we hoped the warriors would bring the team some luck!  Both teams struggled on offense.  On a 3rd and long, late in the 2nd quarter, Texans QB, Deshaun Watson, scrambled for a long TD run which turned out to be the difference maker in the game & the only TD in a low scoring affair.  

Tyler did catch a TD pass in the 3rd quarter to give the Bengals their first touchdown of the season and the lead for a minute, however, he had stepped out of bounds just before catching the pass making him an ineligible receiver which wiped out the score and the Bengals had to settle for a field goal.  In the end, the Texans came out on top and beat he Bengals 13-9.  

During the game, Tyler’s mom stopped by to thank the guys for their service.  She also surprised them with post game passes so they could meet Tyler & some of the Bengals players!  The smiles on their faces stretched from ear to ear!  

After the game was over, everyone headed  over to Club West to meet back up with Julie Eifert to go down & meet the players.  As usual,the entire Eifert family was awesome & enjoyed hanging out with the warriors.  Tyler sincerely thanked each of the guys & took the time to take some pictures and sign some autographs for them. 

The guys also got to met up with a couple of other Bengals players including QB Andy Dalton!  Despite the loss, it was an overall amazing experience!

We couldn’t have made this experience possible without the support of Eifert family, Moerlein Lager House, The Bengal Bomb Squad & New Era!  THANK YOU!  

TOGETHER WE MAKE WARRIOR WISHES COME TRUE!

Most importantly, Operation Warrior Wishes would also like to thank Dale, Paul, Chris, Mike & Buck for their service & sacrifices!  

 At around 1:00am, My dad thanked the warriors one last time & walked over to Bengal Bomb Squad,where they were just finishing up taking down tailgate.  He ended up hanging out at a local restaurant that was open til 3am and eventually got a couple of hours on a park bench befor catching his 9am Megabus back home.  We will be back in action this Sunday Making Wishes come true in Pittsburgh.  Stay tuned for more details!

MEET THE WARRIORS

Marine CPL Mike Humbert

Corporal Mike Humbert was recruited by his brother into the United States Marine Corp in 1991. Mike started out in Marine Corp Security Forces London England as a Marina Security Guard from 1991-1993.  He was then stationed at Camp Lejuene North Carolina where he was assigned to 2nd Battalion 8th Regiment Weapons Company 81mm Mortar Platoon.  Mike was Honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1995 and then returned to Northern Kentucky where he was born and raised as a Bengals fan. He resides there today with his wife and 2 kids.

Army MP Paul Mann

 I was a MP in the Army from 1989-1993. I was stationed in Korea for 18 months because of Desert Storm. I went to Ft Drum after. And was assigned to HHC/LEC the garrison unit that patrolled the base. I was reassigned to 511th MP Co to go to Somalia, East Africa for Operation Restore Hope. I ETD soon after that. I was in a car accident with my father in 2001 and I broke my neck at the C-6 vertebrate. And became a quadriplegic. I learned of the sport Murderball or Quad Rugby at the Dayton VA hospital. And competed in it at the NVWG a year later. I found a club team in Columbus, Ohio a couple of years later. I still compete with the Ohio team. And I’ve started competing with a all veteran team sponsored by a organization called Oscar Mike. It was started by a fellow quadriplegic veteran Noah Curriur. Their goal is to keep veterans “On the Move”. By sending veterans to various places for many different camps and events around the nation. They have a military based clothing company that sells American made clothing to help support the cause.

Army SPC Christopher Warren

SPC Chris Warren was a medic in the United States Army stationed with the 31st Combat Support Hospital out of Fort Bliss, Texas. He was deployed to Iraq in January 2004. On April 10, 2004, his unit came under attack injuring multiple soldiers including Chris. He received a Purple Heart for his injuries.  Chris was medically discharged in November of 2016 due to the injuries sustained in Iraq. He was born and raised in Cincinnati and has been a lifelong fan of the Bengals.  He currently resides on the west side of Cincinnati with his wife and 3 children.

Air Force Dale Spiller

I grew up an Air Force brat, born in England in 1962, and living all over the US and Guam and Phillipines. We settled in Ohio where I graduated from Xenia High School in 1980. I joined the Air Force in 1982 as a Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist, or better known as TACP (Tactical Air Control Party), and was a qualified Enlisted Terminal Attack Controller (ETAC). We provided command and control of air support for Army maneuver units in the close battles. I spent most of my career in Germany, and even deployed from there in support of Third Armor Division in Desert Shield/Storm on Christmas Day 1990. I was medically retired in 1996 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina after a tree fall accident left me a T7 complete paraplegic. After retirement, I settled back in Ohio with my wife, Renee, and two daughters. Currently I volunteer with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), as the Volunteer Liaison Officer at the Dayton VA Medical Center. I’ve always been a sports fan and athlete, playing football and baseball growing up. After my injury I coached girls fastpitch softball at Little League and High School levels. I’ve competed in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) 13 times, along with numerous Ohio and Buckeye Wheelchair Games. My main recreational hobby is handcycling. I have completed 2 Air Force Marathons on my bike, and hoping for a third this year. I’m a huge Cincinnati Reds and Bengals fan, as well as The Ohio State Buckeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide!

SSG Buck Clay

11 years of federal active service, 4 deployments – Kosovo ’02, Iraq ’03, Iraq ’05 – ’06, Iraq ’08 – ’09, Airborne Combat Engineer Staff Sergeant

Awards 

Bronze Star Medal

Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Army Commendation Medal, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2010
Army Achievement Medal, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd Knot)

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Kosovo Campaign Medal (Bronze Service Star)

Iraq Campaign Medal (Silver Campaign Star)

Overseas Service (Numeric 6)

Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development (Numeric 2)

Meritorious Unit Citation (Bronze Oak Leaf)

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal

Navy Unit Commendation

Driver Badge Track & Wheel

Combat Action Badge

Parachutist Badge

Graduate Student Xavier, Private Interest and Public Good, Current

Graduated BAC 2014 University of Cincinnati

Graduated AA 2012 Cincinnati State

Graduated BBA, 2006 UMUC

Founded and turned over veterans non-profit Modern Veterans of America to go volunteering in Syria and Ukraine.  The MVA merged under the Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s veterans program, acceptable as one of the founding national board members, a veteran i served with, operates the program