Army to wear helmets representing 17 branches in Army-Navy Game
PHILADELPHIA - Army football will wear special helmets for Saturday's Army-Navy Game presented by USAA. The helmets feature 17 different branches of the U.S. Army.
The team will also be wearing patches broken down by position and individual team members will also be wearing patches based on a special bond with that unit.
Here is the list of patches the positions will be wearing:
Quarterbacks – 3rd Infantry Division
Fullbacks – 4th Infantry Division
Running Backs – 25th Infantry Division
Tight Ends – 7th Infantry Division
Offensive Line – 1st Armored Division
Wide Receivers – 82nd Airborne Division
Defensive Line – 1st Cavalry Division
Linebackers – 10th Mountain Division
Cornerbacks – 2nd Infantry Division
Safeties – 101st Airborne Division
Special Teams – 1st Infantry Divison
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Individual cadet patches and reasons behind wearing them:
No. 17 Ahmad Bradshaw – 82nd Airborne: Teammate Christian Reed's branch
No. 19 Michael McFadden – 82nd Airborne: Father's Unit
No. 21 Mitchell Howard – 25th Infantry: Cousin, Dallas Axup, did a tour in Afghanistan in 2010 with the 25th Infantry
No. 31 Caleb McNeill – 2nd Infantry: Grandfather served in the Signal Communications unit attached to the 2nd Infantry Division in the Korean War and received a Silver Star for his service.
No. 40 Matt Giachinta – 4th Armored: Worn by his grandfather
No. 40 Chandler Ramirez – 75th Ranger Regiment: Representing his prior service friend Ryan Kreps. He is an outstanding individual and is one of the key reasons for Ramirez's success.
No. 42 Calen Holt – 173rd Airborne: Grandfather's unit in the Vietnam War
No. 44 Zach Saum – 1st Infantry: Best friend, Zachary Gilliland, was deployed to Kandahar Province Afghanistan from June 4, 2013 until February 28, 2014. He deployed with the 1-26 Infantry Regiment "Blue Spaders," 3rd Brigade 1st infantry Division. He was a 68 whiskey during his deployment, which is a combat medic. During his deployment he also got attached to the 7th group Special Forces teams ODA teams 7422, 7316, and 7322. Gilliland saw a lot of action while he was down range and saved countless lives, but there was also many that he couldn't save, so wearing his patch will not only represent him but all the men and women that he was with during his deployment.
No. 51 Justin Fahn – 3rd Ranger Battalion: My father, Greg Fahn, served in the 3rd Ranger Battalion from 1987 to 1991 as an S2 and took part in Operation Just Cause. He has been a big role model for me and is the reason I came to Army.
No. 66 Joshua Boylan – 2nd Cavalry: Father's unit
No. 75 Evan Finnane – 173rd ABCT: Uncle, Karl Peter, was an FA officer and was deployed to Iraq with the 173rd ABCT.
No. 77 Tim Gant – 3rd Infantry Division: Cousin, Sergeant First Class, Abe Weatherby, served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 2nd and 3rd Infantry. A very heroic selfless individual who lives in Missouri now with a wife and two kids.
No. 80 Alex Tardieu – 1-186 Infantry: Best friend and long snapper from high school, Hunter Fields, deployed to Afghanistan with this unit in 2014.
No. 83 Scott Flanick – 3rd Infantry: Father served in the 3rd Infantry Division and it was his favorite unit he served in during his commitment.
No. 95 Daniel Grochowski – 27th Infantry Division: Grandfather's unit on Okinawa
No. 98 J.D. Mote – 12th Armored: Family friend's unit, who inspired him to come to West Point
