thedrifter
11-02-07, 06:42 AM
November 2, 2007
City Clubs Will Host Wounded Marathoners
BY BENJAMIN SARLIN - Special to the Sun
November 2, 2007
The New York Sun
For most people, the idea of participating in a marathon would be daunting. How about doing so after being wounded at war?
This weekend, the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' and Airmen's Club and the Union League Club will host dozens of troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan who are participating in Sunday's marathon. "They come here, average age of 22 or 23, lost arms, lost legs, with a great attitude and great spirit," the director of the SSMAC, Peter LeBeau, said yesterday. "They don't lament, they don't complain."
Since World War I, the nonprofit SSMAC at 37th Street and Lexington Avenue has provided housing to more than 2.5 million eligible guests: active service members, veterans, U.S. allies, and military families. The average fee is $40 a night.
The club's chairman, Ivan Obolensky, spoke of the visiting troops with pride. "They don't want to be mollycoddled," Mr. Obolensky said. "It's a measure of the strength of these folks, their discipline, their goodwill, and their belief in the United States."
Messrs. Obolensky and LeBeau are veterans themselves. Mr. LeBeau served in Vietnam while Mr. Obolensky served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps during World War II.
The club has cleared its normally busy weekend schedule for the wounded warriors arriving today. Mr. LeBeau estimates that about 50 soldiers from all over the country will participate in the marathon. Military hospitals, such as Walter Reed, Bethesda, and Brooke Army, are sending soldiers and a C130 from San Diego will fly in wounded Marines for the event. "There are probably a couple of troops with runnable prostheses," Mr. LeBeau said. "But about 90% will be operating a hand crank bicycle. They have incredible upper body strength."
Modern prosthetics, such as "C-Legs," contain advanced technology to control movement at the knee. Mr. LeBeau says he sometimes finds soldiers charging their legs in the common room wall socket as they watch TV.
Housed in two 19th century brownstones, the property contains some 29 rooms and 69 beds. Mr. Obolensky says the club is unique in that it provides equal service to enlisted men and officers, as well as foreign allies and students at military academies.
Founded by General John Pershing in 1919 to help handle the thousands of returning soldiers from Europe, Mr. Obolensky says the club has historically seen heavy use during wartime and is dull in peacetime. It survived the Great Depression thanks to the Triple Crown-winning horse Omaha, whose stud rights were donated to the club by its owner, Mrs. William Woodward Sr. It has been busy in recent years, as the manpower requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan have led to short and infrequent leaves for soldiers. Troops on leave often meet their families at the club, saving them valuable leave time they would have been spent traveling to their hometowns.
Ellie
City Clubs Will Host Wounded Marathoners
BY BENJAMIN SARLIN - Special to the Sun
November 2, 2007
The New York Sun
For most people, the idea of participating in a marathon would be daunting. How about doing so after being wounded at war?
This weekend, the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines' and Airmen's Club and the Union League Club will host dozens of troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan who are participating in Sunday's marathon. "They come here, average age of 22 or 23, lost arms, lost legs, with a great attitude and great spirit," the director of the SSMAC, Peter LeBeau, said yesterday. "They don't lament, they don't complain."
Since World War I, the nonprofit SSMAC at 37th Street and Lexington Avenue has provided housing to more than 2.5 million eligible guests: active service members, veterans, U.S. allies, and military families. The average fee is $40 a night.
The club's chairman, Ivan Obolensky, spoke of the visiting troops with pride. "They don't want to be mollycoddled," Mr. Obolensky said. "It's a measure of the strength of these folks, their discipline, their goodwill, and their belief in the United States."
Messrs. Obolensky and LeBeau are veterans themselves. Mr. LeBeau served in Vietnam while Mr. Obolensky served in the U.S. Naval Air Corps during World War II.
The club has cleared its normally busy weekend schedule for the wounded warriors arriving today. Mr. LeBeau estimates that about 50 soldiers from all over the country will participate in the marathon. Military hospitals, such as Walter Reed, Bethesda, and Brooke Army, are sending soldiers and a C130 from San Diego will fly in wounded Marines for the event. "There are probably a couple of troops with runnable prostheses," Mr. LeBeau said. "But about 90% will be operating a hand crank bicycle. They have incredible upper body strength."
Modern prosthetics, such as "C-Legs," contain advanced technology to control movement at the knee. Mr. LeBeau says he sometimes finds soldiers charging their legs in the common room wall socket as they watch TV.
Housed in two 19th century brownstones, the property contains some 29 rooms and 69 beds. Mr. Obolensky says the club is unique in that it provides equal service to enlisted men and officers, as well as foreign allies and students at military academies.
Founded by General John Pershing in 1919 to help handle the thousands of returning soldiers from Europe, Mr. Obolensky says the club has historically seen heavy use during wartime and is dull in peacetime. It survived the Great Depression thanks to the Triple Crown-winning horse Omaha, whose stud rights were donated to the club by its owner, Mrs. William Woodward Sr. It has been busy in recent years, as the manpower requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan have led to short and infrequent leaves for soldiers. Troops on leave often meet their families at the club, saving them valuable leave time they would have been spent traveling to their hometowns.
Ellie