After taking a week off to hang out with family, and learning My Dad is going to have a granddaughter in October…
He was back on the road for an 11 day road trip to make Warrior Wishes come true in 10 different cities. This is the 3rd leg of the Battlefields to Ballfields Tour – hosting and honoring wounded vets and fallen hero families at all 30 baseball stadiums. So far this Baseball season we have hosted heroes in Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, Houston & Dallas. Over the next week and a half, my dad will be making warrior wishes come true in Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston, Back to New York again, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia & Cleveland.

Our newest Board Member, Bill Heaton, pickes up my dad around 3:00 AM to get to Cincy in time for brunch, thanks to Moreleins Lager House. They arrived a few minutes late, but thanks to Andy at Moreleins, Marine Larry Draughn Jr, his wife Katylin and 2 kids , along with Melissa Sluss -Tiller and her 9 year old daughter were seated and ordered before they arrived .
Melissa is the widow of Army SFC Mattnew Sluss-Tiller. SFC Matthew Sluss-Tiller made the ultimate sacrifice in 2010 when his daughter was just 3. (See SFC Matthew Sluss-Tiller’s full bio below.)
Marine Corporal Larry Draughn was on his second deployment in May 2009 when an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Helmand Province, Afghanistan caused the traumatic amputations of both of his legs as well as the amputations of two fingers on his right hand. (See CPL Draughn’s full bio below.)


The families felt very special cuz they were the only ones on the field other than staff and players. We can’t thank the Reds enough for their incredible hospitality from Phylicia (who set it up) to Donovan (who was our guide). It was an incredible experience!


After snapping a few pictures from the field, The Warriors & their families made their way up to their seats. The Reds brought Gift Bags to them, and probably the most exciting thing for the kids was having the opportunity to announce the lead-off batter on the Jumbotron!!!
In the words of both families, “this was a great day ” We couldn’t have made it all possible without the Cincinnati Reds who provided a once in a lifetime experience at the game, Moerleins Lager House who provided brunch, New Era Cap who outfitted everyone with new Reds caps. & Bill for providing transportation and helping us Make these Warrior Wishes come true! Thank You All!
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Dont forget to nominate your hero for an upcoming game on our Battlefields to Ballfields mission!
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MEET THE WARRIORS
ARMY SFC MATTHEW SLUSS TILLER
SOURCE : http://www.soc.mil/Memorial%20Wall/Bios/Sluss-Tiller_Matthew.pdf
MARINE CORPORAL LARRY DRAUGHN
SOURCE : https://www.hfotusa.org/building-homes/veterans/draughn/
We will be seeing Larry again in a couple months , as he is coming to Chicago to be one of our 36 Military captains of a foursome at our 3rd Annual Warrior Wishes Scramble on Aug 8. Get more information about the scramble HERE