Heroes meeting heroes

NASCAR drivers make pit stop to visit wounded soldiers

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Winston Cup drivers who visited rescued prisoner of war Jessica Lynch and other wounded U.S. soliders on their way to Richmond recalled the experience as one that moved and changed them.

"I hope I carry that with me forever," Michael Waltrip said Friday of the perspective he gained from visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington on Wednesday. "I know that I'll never forget that day."

Waltrip, teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., points leader Matt Kenseth, U.S. Army-sponsored Jerry Nadeau and four others made the trip after NASCAR received an invitation from the Army, NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said.

"It was definitely moving, but the thing that was the greatest was how great the morale of the troops was, even though they were missing limbs or had been shot in the back," Nadeau said. "They were very optimistic about life. They kept telling us how brave we are, but we're not even close to what these people are. These guys fought for our country."

The drivers were among the first public figures to see Lynch, the then-19-year-old POW from the Army's 507th Maintenance Support Company who was captured March 23 and freed in a commando raid on April 1.

Lynch sustained a head wound, a spinal injury and fractures to her right arm, both legs and her right foot and ankle, and her family and the hospital have closely guarded her privacy during her recuperation.

The drivers were stunned by how small, pretty and hurting she was.

"One thing that Jessica said that touched my heart was when we were just sitting there looking at her and she looked great," Waltrip said. "She said, 'I'm just in a lot of pain.' "

The drivers saw about 20 soldiers wounded either in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Some were missing both limbs, and others had suffered debilitating gunshot wounds.

"Every once in a while you have things that put everything into perspective," Kenny Wallace said. "I was amazed. We get devastated when we take a provisional [pole position] or qualify 28th. ... We had to ask them what had happened to them. They wanted to talk about racing."

Ken Schrader was impressed by the team spirit demonstrated by the soldiers, many of whom seemed more concerned about their buddies still in Iraq than their own injuries and the enormous life changes they face.

One soldier, wounded when a building collapsed on him and buried him under six inches of concrete and steel, had been revived and rescued by a 19-year-old paramedic. He didn't wake up until two days later, he said.

"When he opened his eyes, he asked 'Am I in heaven?' " Schrader said. "They said, 'No, man, you're in Kuwait.' He said, 'That's OK, too.' "

Hearing stories of war was unsettling and eye-opening, Waltrip said, especially when the people telling the stories hadn't turned 20 yet.

"To hear them personally talk of taking their guns and turning and firing, it put it all in perspective," he said. "It made it so real."

And the heroes' welcome the drivers received made it surreal.

"I just can't believe that us running around in circles is that big a deal," Schrader said. "But I guess it is."

 

Related information

Stories

Ricky Rudd Around the Track: Richmond is for racers Setting Up with Chad Knaus: Richmond B. Duane Cross: Cope has unique sponsorship plan Richmond offers drivers rare opportunity for Saturday night racing

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video