2016 TESTIMONIALS

Susan Dent
Hi Tank and all the team members and supporters of the 2016 team. The highlight of my summer Baseball “career” was playing against the U.S. Military All⭐Stars in Hannibal, Missouri. I was the first and only female to play in the Prospect League with the Hannibal Cavemen. I should also mention that I am 56 years old and the Manager was my husband, LT Dent, who served in Vietnam in 1970. LT was included in the emotional and poignant pre-game Flag ceremony. Truly an honor to watch!

As you mentioned in your summary of the summer, both teams were short of players, so LT, myself and the owner of the team, my brother, Bob Hemond all got to play together. A memory to last a lifetime that was further enhanced by the honor of playing with and against the fine men that you put together for the traveling team. The comradery, banter, and fun of playing together will forever be remembered!

I must also add that the post game pizza, beer, chats, watching the MLB All-Star game on TV and even putting to tarp on the field with all the guys added to the whole wonderful night. Thanks for the memories and good luck in 2017. Safe travels to all and safe return of all our Military in action!

Joe Fitzpatrick
Hi Tank! It was a pleasure to meet you tonight at the game against the Winter Garden Squeeze and an honor to sing the National Anthem for the game. Thank you for the amazing opening ceremony regarding our flag! What a way to lead up the the Anthem. I so hope I can work with you guys again in the future. Please keep in touch and safe travels for you and the crew. Thank you to all of you for your service to our country!

Miguel Burgos SSG (US Army retired)
I am a retired SSG from the army that just before discharge had picked up baseball umpiring as a way to stay in the game. After having played baseball for most of my life (since 4 years old to 1 year in college) some softball in Camp Casey post team and some adult league, I had to hang my spikes and take on coaching my young son. Since he was very young (4 years old) he couldn’t understand most of the stuff I was trying to teach him, and it was making him hate the game he loved playing for fun (the right reason to play any game). I decided to let others coach him while I stayed in the game as an official (umpire).

I have made some good progress in my new baseball career and my son, now 15, has made himself quite a decent ball player. He’s playing travel ball for one of the largest organizations in Florida and his HS year was pretty good. My umpire schedule has been very busy and so has been his summer schedule, so we hadn’t had much time to train together.

My assignor had requested officials to do pro bono work since the USMA had been stranded by some sponsor. I immediately volunteered for a game, I was about to turn the game back in, because I needed the time to do some things with my family. At the last minute my assignor hadn’t made the change, and I had an idea. 3-4 days prior I had the honor to call a game between USMA vs Deland Suns (FCSL) were I had met with Tank post game, and since I was calling balls and strikes, was able to talk to some of the service members, specifically Chris (USMC) the catcher. USMA pitch Zack that night, a knuckleballer that mesmerized a very stacked Suns lineup. 130 pitches for the 3-2 victory. During the 7th inning at exactly 9:11 pm the Suns had planned to stop the game and pay tribute to the guys by playing God Bless the USA, my partner for the game was my assignor who stood next to me. It was a very touching moment, not many people were able to contain their tears (myself included).

My idea (a long shot request) went like this: hey boss I need some time of to spend with my family, I know I took that pro bono game and I’ll hate to turn it down. Do you think you can ask Tank if it’s possible for my 15 year old son to come with me early so that he can do the pre game workout with the team?  My boss: I’ll call you right back…Minutes later he texts me a transcript of his conversation with Tank; absolutely it will be our pleasure (or something in those lines). Needless to say we get to the field about 1:30 before game time, I introduced myself, my son and my father in law (also a vet) to player coach Bodacious, who’s throwing BP to some of the players. I tell him about the talk with Tank, he said: no problem, get ready and hop in the cage! He pitched to my son while I talked to Chris, Zack and some of the other servicemen. They all asked me how old he was, that he looked good, what position he played, what school he attended…all very interested in him and very genuine. He then jump in the field and tossed with a couple of the guys and help them with their pre game routine.

During the game, Zack the knuckleballer called him to the bullpen to catch for him. What a great experience… I called the game (USMA didn’t do as good this time) but I got to spend the day serving those who serve while having some family time. Thank you guys for your service on and off the field, on and off the military uniform. God bless all of you.

Pat Wise
On behalf of the CWBC Hawks we wanted to say thank you so much for the opportunity to play your team! It was an honor and privilege for our boys to be on the same field as true American heroes! The game was over a month ago and the guys are still talking about the game. To Twin Pines Drive Inn thank you so much for such great food and helping bringing the entire community together! To Ellensburg American Legion and Gene Ketezenburge thank you so much for helping organize this event in such a quick amount of time! I truly hope the All-Stars will be back next year! Thank you all for your service to our country!

Josh Bender
My wife and I own a little burger joint called Twin Pines. We had the distinct privilege of donating a BBQ feed to the US Military All Stars when they visited Ellensburg, WA this past month. Neither my wife nor I have served in the military but we have many family members that have. Having spent the past 17 years in law enforcement I have the ultimate respect for what the men and women of our military do for us. We were fortunate to watch a great game and got to meet a lot of wonderful men after the game. Everyone was so respectful and appeared genuinely grateful to be fed and appreciated. I know the turn out was not what we hoped it would be for this event but I am hoping we can get the US Military All Stars to return next year!

John, Stori, and Keegan McIntyre
What Dreams are Made Of: On Monday, May 30th, 2016 my husband, John, and I decided to take our 8 year old son, Keegan, to opening night for the Forest City Owls in Forest City, NC. After looking at their website and seeing the advertisement of the exhibition game against the US National Military All-Stars I figured it would be a great way to spend some family time on a hot Memorial Day. We started the 30 minute drive to the stadium and Keegan was already excited about seeing some baseball! Keegan started playing baseball when he was 4 and has a genuine love for the game. He practices hard and always seems to find a way to incorporate baseball into almost everything.

Once we arrived at the stadium and got our tickets Keegan was in a foot race to get to our normal seats. We have taken Keegan to several games before and he always wants to sit on the visitor side in the foul ball section to the right of the visitor dugout. At the Owls stadium there are nice lawn chairs in that section that are first come first serve. We were lucky enough to get the last three remaining chairs for this game. Keegan picked his seat, the farthest away, and sat down with his ball glove. See, those seats aren’t the greatest seats in the house. The sun shines directly in your eyes for the first hour or so of the game and it’s nearly impossible to get a good view of home plate. None the less, that’s where he chooses to sit, just in case a foul ball comes that way he’ll be close enough to grab one before the game ends. This game was like all the others to him, the end goal: return home with a foul ball.

The pregame ceremonies were beautiful and getting to watch the team in formation was astounding. As the ceremonies ended the players began to flood the dugout. Keegan was already on his feet at the fence, just waiting for the game to start. You never know, that first pitch could lead to a foul ball off the third base line. Several of the All-Stars walked past Keegan on their way into the dugout. Most spoke to him in some way or at least offered a bright smile. I couldn’t help but notice his face as those players walked by him. He stared in adoration at each and every one of them. I was certain they appeared as living heroes to him. Keegan has been raised to honor and respect all those that serve, past or present, on the home front or overseas. After all his own father has protected and served for 18 years with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. So here he was, looking at these grown men that serve our country, in awesome camouflage uniforms, and GET TO PLAY BASEBALL!! That glow I saw in my son’s eye, THAT’S WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!

The last few players were trickling into the dugout when I saw one of them approaching the fence at Keegan. “You ready for a ballgame buddy?” the player asked. “Yes, sir!” Keegan responded. “I want to catch a foul ball!” The player smiled a huge smile and disappeared down the dugout stairs. A few moments past and the player returned. “Would you like to hang out in the dugout with us and then help me warm up in left field between innings?” He asked. Keegan spun around and looked at John and me with a huge, semi toothless smile. Another team member, I’m assuming the manager, walked up and told the player he would have to find Keegan a helmet and that Keegan would have to wear it the entire game. Both John and I nodded with our consent and John walked him to the stairs of the dugout.

Keegan was grinning ear to ear as he stepped foot onto that field. I saw him look down at the perfectly manicured sand and grass as he stepped in. It was so different from the peewee fields he’s played on. The dark brown sand, bright green grass and perfectly straight, bright white foul lines that seem to stretch for miles. Keegan reached out and shook the hand of the #17 introducing himself. The player placed a batting helmet, at least four sizes too big on Keegan’s head and they disappeared into the dugout. As I sat back down in my seat I couldn’t help but think THAT’S WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!

The US Military All-Stars were first to bat and I noticed immediately that the #17 was the starting hitter. As he walked to the plate I had a worried mommy moment and leaned over to John and asked “Do you think Keegan is ok down there in the dugout?” I mean, he is my only son and at this point I couldn’t see him at all. John looked at me and said “He’s in a dugout with a bunch of young service men. How much safer could he be?” I laughed and quickly shook my head in an attempt to rattle my mommy fears out either of my ears. The first three outs seemed to come quick and it was time for the All-Stars to take the field. #17 jogged out the exit of the dugout headed to left field, about 10 feet behind him, just barely able to keep up with his shadow was Keegan. Glove in hand and oversized helmet on his head he was headed for left field, during an actual game! I clapped and said “Go Keegan!” but he didn’t even look my way. I had seen that look before, it was go time and he had his game face on! I sat and watched as he threw the ball back and forth to #17. Seemingly unaware of the crowd or anything else that was going on. I watched him catch some tough passes and miss some easy ones. I watched him make some good throws and some not so great ones. When warm up was over he hustled back to the dugout. This time he turned and looked and his dad and me, baring a smile like I’ve never seen! THAT’S WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!

For the next eight innings I watched much of the same. Warming up #17 in left field, standing arm to arm with other players on the dugout fence and occasionally peaking around the corner to smile at mom and dad. At one point he tossed us a foul ball and we got him a pen so he could get all the team to sign it. The National Guard stand was selling team jerseys and I went and purchased one for him. I had high hopes that he might wear it the remainder of the game, but even the smallest one swallowed him whole. Through it all one thing was the same, those sparkling eyes and that infectious smile.

The game came to an end and John and I walked down to the dugout to retrieve our little baseball junkie. We both shook hands with #17, who introduced himself as Lesean Thomas. We thanked him for his service to our country and for the opportunity that he gave our son. Keegan came running up the stairs of the dugout, his cheeks packed pull of Big League gum that a player had given him, a half empty bag of sunflower seeds hanging out of his back pocket. He had taken his time leaving the dugout to thank all the players and shake hands. He was now carrying two bats, both cracked being used during the game, one was displaying #17 on the handle. We took a quick photo of him and Lesean Thomas and headed back to the car. The 30 minute drive home was full of 8 year old stories from the dugout. Too many to recount them all. The following days have been full of Keegan retelling those stories to anyone that will listen. Every version just the same with the same smile and sparkle in his eyes that he had that very night. The signed ball and two bats sit proudly in his room. He was sure to instruct me that the #17 bat had to sit out in front of the others.

I’m not really versed on how the military works when it comes to recognition. Maybe it ranges from pats on the back to medals of honor but I can tell you that from my perspective, Mr. Lesean Thomas deserves something! The call for duty in itself meets the status of “above and beyond” on a daily basis, but this was something more to us and to my son. I don’t know yet if all of Keegan’s dreams will come true. He’s still 8 and dreams pretty big, but I can promise you that after this experience given to him by Lesean Thomas, and the rest of the team, Keegan knows WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF! Most Humbled,

Aaron Woodall
I think that the US Military All*Stars is one of the best baseball programs in the US. Being currently active duty and running a baseball team in Landstuhl, Germany, I think it would be great to get an European Military All*Stars team going! By bringing one of the best programs to Europe where baseball is starting become more and more popular! And don’t forget about all of the service members and their families who are stationed over here in Germany and the rest across Europe! I look forward to seeing you in Europe one day!!

Jake Scott
U.S. Military All*Stars is one of the best programs and opportunities we veterans have. So many of us grew up playing ball our whole life. So many like myself gave up what we loved to sacrifice each day for this country. The Military All*Stars allows us to take the field another time and it makes it all worth it. We get to play with our brothers in Arms. I am looking forward to playing with members of other branches all around the world. It will be a humbling experience taking that field with American heroes.  Thank you so much to the U.S. Military All*Stars for allowing us to take the field once more!

Marshall Rogne
While I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, GA in the spring of 2012 I came across information on the U.S. Military All*Star baseball team. From the moment I first started reading up on the team and everything they do for current soldiers and Veterans I knew that I wanted to be apart of something this big. With great support from my chain of command and my family, I departed for my “tour” on the US. Military All*Stars. We had a great summer traveling the United States and promoting and raising money for wounded warriors and Veterans alike. After my tour of duty with the US Military All*Stars I went back to my unit as we prepared for our deployment to Afghanistan. Thank you U.S. Military All*Stars for the joy you brought to me and all the Veterans and military members that we helped and continue to help!

Pete Williams
The U.S. Military All*Stars is one of the greatest ideas this country has thought up. An idea that will gather many Americans together to show respect and honor to those who have, will, and currently do serve in the U.S. military is just amazing. There is no other way to continue the American tradition than an American game of Baseball. Im truly excited to be apart of the 25th anniversary team. Traveling and upholding this tradition across the United States is going to be one of the greatest feelings anyone could feel. I appreciate this opportunity and can’t wait to meet the HEROES of America. Thank You and God Bless.

Joe Scherrman (Owner of the Ghost Players of “The Field of Dreams”.
Congrats for 25 years

Ryan Sires
It was an honor to play against the all stars today. Really humbling to talk to those guys and realize how lucky I am to get to play baseball everyday. Those men and many others put their lives on the line everyday to allow guys like me to do what I do. My best friend is on active duty in the USMC and everyday he tells me how much he misses the game. I am thankful for his and every other man and woman in the armed forces. On behalf of the Yakima Beetles I would like to thank the All Stars for coming to play us and for their service. God bless you all and God bless America.

Karla Chrismon
You and Karl put on the best shows for the vet I have been to many games. Thanks for all you do!

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The ”Old Glory” Story
2016 Testimonials
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