They were there on a peacekeeping mission, on a piece of land riddled with conflict for generations.
Staff Sergeant Guadalupe Chapa, Sergeant Michael Cantu, Specialist James Burkett and Specialist Jose Romo were in a Humvee in the Sinai Peninsula in September.
Members of the Texas National Guard, the four were serving in the Multinational Force and Observers, an international coalition set up to keep the peace between Egypt and Israel.
On that day, they were called to respond to a vehicle that hit an improvised explosive device (IED). The four of them knew the danger. Cantu, an Infantryman for 11 years, had received a Purple Heart in Iraq when he was in a vehicle hit by an IED.
They went out on the road, all four with an uneasy feeling. They’ve heard story after story about how IEDs and Humvees don’t mix. One of them has lived it before.
The IED hit their Humvee, and Romo said he felt like the explosive was right under him. He had injuries to his right leg, Burkett had shoulder and back injuries and all four were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury from the blast.
Two months later, they said they all feel blessed. They’re recovering at the San Antonio Military Medical Center. Most importantly, they’re all together.
“We all feel very lucky to be alive,” Romo said. “It’s definitely the most painful thing I’ve felt in my life. I didn’t know if my foot was still there, honestly. We were taken to a hospital in Israel, and the doctor there said he saved my foot.”
They’re back home now, in a Warrior Transition Batallion as they recover in San Antonio.
They were all honored with the Purple Heart in a ceremony on Sept. 30. On Saturday, they’ll be recognized at the AT&T Center as part of USAA Salute Night when the Spurs face the Hornets.
As part of Salute Night, teams4taps, a program started by TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, also will bring the family of a fallen soldier to the game.
The Spurs will spend Saturday paying tribute to the military as part of the NBA’s Hoops For Troops week, but paying salute is also a nightly event at the AT&T Center.
Burkett grew up in San Antonio and played basketball at Harlandale High School, about 10 miles from the AT&T Center. He’s been to many Spurs games and says he gets chills every time the entire arena applauds military members at the game.
“San Antonio is a big military city, and to get that support from people day in day out, words can’t explain what that means to us,” Burkett said. “It feels good to know that a franchise like the Spurs cares about military. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be overwhelmed on Saturday.”
While the Spurs are a part of San Antonio’s culture, the city’s reputation as “Military City, USA” is much more vital. Air Force bases Randolph and Lackland are in town, along with Army’s Fort Sam Houston. And the San Antonio Military Medical Center has the largest military hospital in the nation, providing care for more than 4,000 patients a day.
The link between the Spurs and the military starts with Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Peter Holt. Holt was a U.S. Army Sergeant and served two years, earning a Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart from a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam.
Holt was named the 2014 Vetrepreneur of the Year, as he’s been involved in an effort to build an education center under the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The center hopes to provide a human face and identity to the names listed at the memorial site.
The Spurs have also made an annual trip to Brooke Army Medical Center for the past decade to visit Wounded Warriors. Last month, players spent the day with soldiers, served food and even played a little wheelchair basketball.
For four appreciative soldiers who recently returned from the Sinai Peninsula, the gestures are impressive. But what really gets them are the simple handshakes and thank yous.
“If you’re in the military, San Antonio is the best place to be,” Chapa said. “When people show their appreciation, you realize it’s not just because of the uniform. It’s because the people here truly care.”
Twitter:@lornechan