James Lonergan ’16
Athletes are often viewed as heroes after they make a key play or score the deciding goal. But on May 11, members of the Colorado College men’s basketball team competed against veterans who are real heroes.
The 14 Tigers played paintball with veterans from the Army, Marines, and Air Force with combat injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Forward James Lonergan ’16 worked with Susan Holmes of Operation TBI (traumatic brain injury) Freedom to organize the activity.
“Obviously, a basketball team and a bunch of war veterans are about as different as you can get,” Lonergan said. “But we had the opportunity to talk with them, hang out with them and get to know them. It wasn’t about what had happened in the past, it was about what was going on that day.”
Each player was paired with a veteran and then everyone was split into two teams at the indoor facility that featured low lighting and inflatable obstacles. The veterans tried to help the players stay “alive,” but more often than not, the Tigers were splattered with paint.
The idea was conceived during a team function at Holmes’ house, and she made sure they knew what they’d be getting into.
“I asked them how they would feel about playing paintball with some of our veterans and every single one of them thought that would be awesome,” she said. “Then I said, ‘You realize you would be playing with snipers and other highly trained people.’ ”
With the team on board, Holmes’ next step was to select the veterans who would be able to participate. Unfortunately, not all veterans involved in the program are ready for events like this.
Operation TBI Freedom was created in 2008 as part of Rocky Mountain Human Services.
“We offer non-clinical case management for veterans, active duty soldiers, and their families,” Holmes said. “Anyone who has served one day on or after Sept. 11, 2001, who has a medically diagnosed TBI is eligible to be in our program. It could be a mild to severe case, or they could be hospitalized or be in rehab.
“We will never turn a veteran away. If a soldier comes to our door and does not meet our criteria, we take them to a program that can help them.”
The program, which lasts an average of two years and costs about $3,500, helps wounded veterans with basic needs, including medical assistance, education, and employment.
Lonergan’s teammate, Jason, served one tour in Iraq as an Army cavalry scout.
“Jason taught me things like ‘cover me,’ ‘hold the position,’ and some other things I had never heard
of,” Lonergan said. “But as soon as we started, I forgot everything he had told me.”
Jason enjoyed the experience and his teammate.
“I don’t open up easily, but James kept asking me questions,” Jason said. “I showed him what to do and he hit his target a couple of times. All of the veterans had a good time and would like to do it again.”
One game pitted the players against the veterans.
“That game lasted about two minutes,” Lonergan said. “I remember pulling the trigger and hoping by some miracle it hit somebody. The basketball players did not hit any of the veterans and we all got hit. In basketball terms, we were playing a zone defense and everyone was getting dunked on at the same time.”
The experience is one the Tigers will carry the rest of their lives.
“It was a real reality check for the CC guys playing with veterans who went to war,” Holmes said. “The veterans sign on the bottom line because they are going protect our rights and freedoms, including the CC guys’ ability to play basketball. The CC guys understood the sacrifice and they were so respectful. They were amazing.”
The experience surpassed everyone’s expectations and there already is talk of making it an annual event.
Information: www.rmhumanservices.org/program/operation-TBI-Freedom
James Lonergan ’16
