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Americas Army game to add Real Heroes
WEST POINT, N.Y. (Army News Service, Sept. 12, 2006) Americas Army online video game will launch its newest version, Americas Army: Special Forces (Overmatch), Thursday.The new addition features Americas Army: Real Heroes, a program that honors Soldiers whove shown heroism in the war on terror. So far, Real Heroes are modeled after eight Soldiers whove received an award for valor for actions in operations Enduring or Iraqi Freedom. In addition to being virtual in-game characters, the heroes are being modeled for action figures that will be sold in retail stores. This will be good! New GI Joes and Janes Chris Chambers, deputy director of the Army Game project, said the new characters were created to inspire Americans and highlight the values, teamwork and courage that are the fabric of todays Army. There are thousands of enlisted Soldiers who have been awarded medals for bravery and valor in combat, but their stories are largely unknown to the American public, said Chambers. In the past century, most Americans were well aware of, and looked up to, Soldiers like Sergeants Audie Murphy and Alvin York, he added. There is a great need for the public to learn the stories behind our current generation of Soldiers. Americas Army shows more than 7.5 million registered users what its like to be a Soldier. Players assume virtual roles as special forces, infantry or medical Soldiers, explore individual and collective training, and eventually participate in simulated war on terror missions. In the games latest version, players will be able to meet and interact with the Real Heroes, and hear their stories told through a video and in the real Soldiers own words on the Americas Army Web site, www.americasarmy.com. The first four Soldiers to become Real Heroes are Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Wolford, Maj. Jason Amerine, Sgt. Tommy Rieman and Sgt. Matthew W. Zedwick. Action figures and in-game characters will launch later this year for Master Sgt. Scott Neil, Sgt. Leigh Hester, Spc. Jason Mike and Staff Sgt. Timothy Nein. Wolford was most recently a reconnaissance platoon sergeant assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and is currently attending Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. A Silver Star recipient, Wolford was chosen for the program for his actions during the fight for key river crossings across the Euphrates River during offensive operations to defeat the Iraqi army in the early stages of OIF. He repeatedly placed himself and his vehicle in direct contact with the enemy while protecting the advance of friendly dismounted infantry. Even after he and two members of his section sustained shrapnel wounds from RPG fire, Wolford continued to expose himself to hostile fire in order to evacuate casualties, reposition his men and redistribute weapons and equipment. Wolford said hes honored and humbled to be a part of the Americas Army Real Heroes Program. Im hoping that through this program people can read of the experiences of myself and others and find the motivation to succeed and work harder at what they do, whether in the Army or civilian life, he said. Wolford also hopes the program inspires others to join the Army after seeing that heroes are really just ordinary people who face extraordinary situations and react in a way most people would hope to if faced with something similar. Its important for people to realize Soldiers are doing the right thing and living by the values that we have had instilled in us, he said. Most Soldiers do exceptional acts everyday and are so seldom recognized. Wolford has worked closely with game developers to record his own in-game lines and ensure his character correctly conveys his story. Like other Soldiers in the program, Wolford wants to make sure the spotlight is not on him, but rather on his team. With or without the recognition of the Silver Star, or anything that comes with that, when I led my men in Iraq that day on the Euphrates, I had four of my men who had received bronze stars for valor, and that validated everything that I had been taught, he said. Real Heroes is the 22nd addition to the Americas Army game. Players will have access to such new weapons systems as the Javelin Missile and the Crew Remote Operated Weapon Station, as well as increasing mobility, action and firepower. The game is available for download at www.americasarmy.com. Posted by: Sherry 2006-09-13 |
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