It's a Small World

KOIN News 6 for Local News Weather and Sports, Portland, OR; KOIN.com - Disabled Vets Ride

The day started out under cold cloudy skies at the Portland VA. As Jack and Co. headed south towards Monroe with a stop at the Salem, OR Anderson Readiness Center, the Oregon headquarters for the National Guard.

Jack, JR and John visit the troops

All Oregon National Guard troops deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan go through this facility. On the way to Salem, the ride went through the central Oregon farming valley. There was plenty of cows, corn, and the biggest pumpkin patch Jack has ever seen.

Halloween is coming...

About 30 miles into the ride, an old friend of JR's, Kerry Kingsley-Smith showed up to ride along. It seems Kerry saw JR on TV the night before in Portland and looked up the route on the Operation American Spirit website. It seems Kerry was the Charge Nurse in the acute burn ward during JR's rehab at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). Kerry was nice enough to buy an Operation American Spirit Jersey to finish off his ride.

It's a small world

JR spent 34 months at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, undergoing approximately 32 different surgeries to repair burns over 40% of his body. He was driving a Humvee in Baghdad and hit an anti-tank mine with the explosion trapping him in the vehicle. He is a testament to the great care the troops receive and this is one of the things that Jack is trying to highlight with this ride.

Jack showing off the OAS uniform

The last 40 miles of the ride went gently uphill with Jack and Co. awaiting tomorrow's ride to the Oregon Coast. The day starts early with Jack and JR appearing on the local morning news show......

The end of Day 3......107 miles....