Arizona Cardinal visits Incirlik

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey (AFPN) --  Running routes in 94-degree heat is nothing new to Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. He does the same thing every summer in Tempe, Ariz., for training camp.

But Tempe is a long way away from Incirlik, where Mr. Fitzgerald was running routes June 21 with a bunch of unlikely teammates -- Incirlik youth.

Mr. Fitzgerald visited Turkey for the first time as part of an Extreme Summer Tour sponsored by U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

"I did the tour last year and visited England, Italy, Portugal and Spain," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "I was excited to come here and do the tour again. I try to take every opportunity to support American troops and their families."

While out on tour, Mr. Fitzgerald seeks to find see what makes each base unique and meet the people stationed there.

"I try to get involved in each base's community and see what makes them different from each other," said the two-time National Football League Pro Bowl player.

His first observation here: "Incirlik is so close to the action."

"I've never been to a base that had a curfew and was in (Force Protection Condition) Charlie," he said. "It puts what's going on in the world into perspective."

Mr. Fitzgerald started his tour at the child development center.

"I had a blast with the kids. They were so excited to listen to what I had to say and for me to sign some autographs," he said.

Afterwards, Mr. Fitzgerald put on a football camp for base youth.

"The kids were so eager, ready and willing to learn," he said. "We did some passing and ran some routes. I was just happy to teach them something I know.

"I'm appreciative every day of my talent and that kids want to learn and emulate what I do," he said. "I also try to be as good a role model as I can. With all these kids watching me it is important that I present a person they can look up to."

Once the football camp was over, Mr. Fitzgerald got a hands-on look at the cargo hub mission.

"We took him around the cargo, the jets and many other areas," said Staff Sgt. Michael Averill, 728th Air Mobility Squadron passenger services supervisor. "He looked genuinely interested. He paid attention, asked questions and really wanted to get a feel about what we do here."

"They told me that nearly 58 percent of cargo that goes by air comes through here," said the Arizona wide receiver. "When I see stories about air drops over different locations I get a good feeling because I was at the base where that comes from. I saw the people (who) make that mission happen.

"I love doing these tours because it gives me a chance to thank the men and women who are out here every day," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "I'm proud to be here, proud to support the members of Incirlik, and let them know that people back home support them, too."