445th Airlift Wing reservists spend evening with Bengals coach

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Four NFL coaches participating in the NFL-USO Coaches tour at the end of June met with military members serving overseas, which included reservists from the 445th Airlift Wing that happened to be in the right place at the right time at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Coaches Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles; John Fox, Carolina Panthers; Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings; and Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals, were spending some time meeting troops in different parts of Germany when they made at stop at Ramstein and stayed the night. This stop is where reservists from the 89th Airlift Squadron and 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on a routine mission enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience that made their time in Germany memorable.

"I was taking our cornhole boards to an area outside of billeting when I heard from behind me, 'Hey, who has those Bengals cornhole boards?'" It was Marvin Lewis, the coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was standing with Andy Reid, John Fox, and Brad Childress. He seemed excited that I was carrying these boards with the Bengals helmet on them," Master Sgt. Jon Winters, 89th Airlift Squadron, flight engineer, said.

Sergeant Winters said Coach Lewis showed up later that evening and joined the group. He signed the cornhole boards and stayed more than an hour; visiting with the reservists and playing a game of cornhole.

"This was such a great experience for all of us that we'll never forget. What are the odds of that happening?" Sergeant Winters said.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Conkle, 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, also enjoyed meeting the coach.

"It was very nice of him to take the time to hang out with us. He only had a few hours before his flight back to the states and he spent a good portion of that time with us," Sergeant Conkle said.