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Actions speak louder

  • Published
  • By Col. Al Hunt
  • 375th Airlift Wing Commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Last week, 20 rookies from the St. Rams came here to meet the Joint Total Force Scott community. They came here for one reason - to thank us for our service.

Led by linebacker Chris Draft, the rookies' visit was their demonstration of support and appreciation for everything we do and to recognize all our families sacrifice.

They say actions speak louder than words and by taking time out of their busy practice schedule to deliver their messages in person, the rookies showed how much they genuinely care. Gestures like these go a long way in keeping our spirits high and in refreshing our desire to serve.

It is important for all of us to routinely hear words of encouragement. Pep talks are an integral part of keeping a team focused and motivated toward reaching the end goal.

This week, JTF Scott welcomed another football star, Rudy Ruettiger, to the base. Rudy is the well-known Fightin' Irish football player whose life story was made into a movie in 1993. He came to Scott to share his story and to offer his own pep talk to our men and women in uniform.

If there is a word to sum up Rudy's life, it is perseverance. Rudy grew up with thirteen brothers and sisters in a working class family. From an early age, Rudy shared his family's devotion to Notre Dame football. Watching the games on television, young Rudy had a dream of playing ball on the Notre Dame field.

Rudy, however, knew early on there would be great hurdles to achieving his dream. At 5'6", Rudy was not the typical football athlete. Rudy also struggled in school.

Told he wasn't smart enough to attend the local community college let alone Notre Dame, Rudy went to work after high school where he met a friend who encouraged his dreams. The friend's tragic death stirred Rudy to action.

Rudy left his hometown and moved to South Bend, Ind., where he was led by another mentor to enroll in a small college across the street from Notre Dame. It was there that a teacher discovered Rudy was dyslexic and helped him overcome the learning disability.

Rudy worked hard to earn the grades to transfer to Notre Dame and after multiple rejections, he finally earned admission to Notre Dame. Closer to his childhood dream of playing for the Notre Dame football team, Rudy willingly joined the practice squad. He stayed with the squad for two seasons, taking beating after beating from his teammates.

In his senior year at the final home game of the season with encouragement from his teammates, Rudy finally got his chance to play. With five seconds on the clock, Rudy tackled Georgia Tech's quarterback, sealing the win for the Fightin' Irish.

As Rudy shared with JTF Scott on Wednesday, that moment on the field was the fulfillment of his dreams.

Rudy came to Scott to share his story and to lift up JTF Scott's service men and women. His messages of never quitting and of going hard after your dreams are ones I hope was taken to heart.

The sharpest Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen are here at Scott, and each of you have rightfully earned the appreciation of the American people. I'm grateful to the Rams rookies and Rudy for coming out to Scott to lift us up with their words of encouragement.

Thanks JTF Scott for all you do. Keep up the good work!