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Smack talk begins for Hoops for Heroes

JBLM troops to face off with local responders

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There are those who make sacrifices for their country; we call them soldiers. Then there are those who sacrifice for their communities; we call them police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Most of the time these two work in support of each other. But there's an undercurrent of something feudal in the air, and it smells kind of like testosterone and high tops. It's all part of a basketball game pitting troops against first responders to benefit AUSA's Single Soldier Project and Community Connector units called Hoops for Heroes. It plays March 10, 6:30 p.m. at Steilacoom High School, and the smack talk has already begun.

Master Sgt. Gabriel Orquiz with the 6th Military Police Group (CID), talking about the training going on behind closed doors, said "we train as we fight, and really we're ready to fight every day."  He added, "we're just hoping the first response team brings their own first response team."

Countering the statement Orquiz made, John Cheesman, chief of police for the City of Fircrest, suggests, "they might want to start up a Med-Evac and MASH unit of their own."

Shaking off Cheesman's thinly-veiled threat, Master Sgt. Keith Carraway, with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers), scoffed, "we're in the business of crushing opponents.  We're not about to stop now."

This epic battle of the brawn may make March Madness look like kindergarteners playing four-square. Organizer Karen Getchell, president of the DuPont Sub-Chapter for the Captain Meriwether Lewis Chapter of AUSA said there was a recent meeting with DuPont's Police Chief Bob Sheehan and West Pierce Fire and Rescue, and the statement she heard loud and clear was a resounding "We don't intend to lose."

Master Sgt. William "Jerry" Clardy, operations NCO for A CO 1-19th SFG (A) with the Washington National Guard, brings it all together, saying, "we don't have to talk a lot of trash - it will be a one-sided affair with the soldiers dominating in every aspect of the game. I know the first responders do phenomenal work saving lives in the community but, really? We are better conditioned and play ball all the time. It should be fun to see the first responders gasping for air. Make sure they have the O2 tanks ready."

First responders from the South Sound are putting together a team to play against a group of soldiers chosen from the units the DuPont sub-chapter supports; funds will be used to provide support for more than just those units, however: Every individual single soldier coming home to JBLM after deployment is met with a welcome home basket from the AUSA sub-chapter.

The half-time show promises to rival that of the Super Bowl, with policemen providing entertainment followed by the true professionals (DuPont's Pioneer Middle School Dance Team).  Door prizes, food and drink will be offered and the Seattle Seahawks Beast Bus will be on site for even more fun and libations.  To cap off the event, former Sonic legend Slick Watts and his son, former University of Washington star Donald Watts, will be on premises as honorary coaches.  Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry will officiate by throwing out the first ball.

Denise Dhane, vice president of the AUSA DuPont Sub-Chapter, who has also been working on the event, said, "our goal is to pack that gym ...  it's just about having a great time." Admission is by donation, so filling the gym won't break the bank.

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