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Panthers
prowl Indiana
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Jeff
Lowry
Posted: May 7, 2008
Decelerating from 230 mph to 60 mph and returning
from combat zone missions.
They might seem like incongruous experiences, but
Indiana National Guard Soldiers and Panther Racing Team members
think they're very similar.
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John Barnes, left, Panther Racing Team
owner, listens and watches Sgt. Justin Ludwig, a 3175th
Liaison Mission Team patrolman, give a briefing about his
M-16 rifle Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Camp Atterbury.
Panther Racing Team members visited Indiana National Guard
sites. The National Guard sponsors the team's Indy Racing
League car driven by Vitor Meira. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff
Lowry, Indiana
National Guard
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"The hardest thing he (Vitor Meira) does, is
not drive 230 mph at
Indianapolis
(Motor Speedway), but decelerate from that speed and hit the pit
box," said John Barnes, team owner.
The National Guard sponsors the Indy Racing League
car driven by Meira and owned by Barnes. The two, along with other
Panther Team members, visited Indiana National Guard sites
Wednesday, April 30, and saw Company F, 151st Infantry return from a
year-long deployment to southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
According to
Indiana's top enlisted Soldier, some combat
veterans have a difficult time re-adjusting from a
combat zone to civilian society again.
"It's hard to pull that warrior mentality back out
of them," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Brown, a Vietnam War veteran.
The racing team flew in a UH-60 Blackhawk, and
visited
Camp Atterbury training sites. While there,
they chatted with mobilized Soldiers who will deploy to Kosovo.
On simulated ranges the team fired MK-19 grenade
launchers, M-2 .50 caliber machine guns, M-249 squad automating
weapons, and other weapons in the Army's arsenal.
"He was knocking them down," said Sgt. Melton
Thompson of Meira's shooting skills. Thompson helped supervise the
Panther team as they fired the weapons.
The team also ate lunch with mobilizing Soldiers
and visited Indiana's Youth Challenge
Academy. Then it was on to
38th Infantry Division armory to see the Company F homecoming
ceremony.
"It's a helluva pleasure to be here with you in Indianapolis," said Barnes
to the Soldiers' family members as they awaited the company's
return. "This is a special opportunity to be here with you on this
occasion - welcoming family members back home."
"It's a pleasure, privilege and honor," reiterated
Barnes. "What you're sacrificing for us, so we can live in freedom."
Meira also gave kudos to the returning Soldiers.
"America
is not the most powerful country in the world for nothing," said
Meira. "It's because of the people like those arriving today."
Caption, photo, home page
thumbnail: Indiana Army National Guard Sgt. Melton Thompson loads an
M-2 .50 caliber machine gun as Indy Racing League race car driver,
Vitor Meir, left, watches Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Panther Racing
Team members visited Camp Atterbury and other Indiana National Guard
sites. The National Guard sponsors the team's Indy Racing League car
driven by Meira. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
Indiana
National Guard
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