1000 mile solo Wounded Warrior Walk

[LMT66]

Before my walk today I noticed someone with a backpack at a crossroads in my area. He looked a little lost. At first I thought he was maybe down on his luck but turned out not to be the case.

He is 70 years old, a retired CPD Detective and was about 100 miles into a solo walk from Rockford, Illinois to all three 911 crash sites. 1000 mile walk for the Wounded Warriors Project.
He said he had thought about this for several years. He trained about a year and started his journey 8.31.2011.

If your so inclined, give him some encouragement via his Facebook page. We talked a bit and he was feeling the first 100 miles pretty bad but he expected that going into it.

 

[java]

Thanks for posting this.....

Slapped Phill on my FB page and will contribute for the Wounded Warrior charity he is doing this for...

Bravo, Thanks, and Go Phill!!!


J

 

[LMT66]

Thanks for posting this.....

Slapped Phill on my FB page and will contribute for the Wounded Warrior charity he is doing this for...

Bravo, Thanks, and Go Phill!!!


J

Thanks! Your encouragement will keep him going. He's 70 but in better shape than most guys around 50. Please spread his FB page around.

He has a Sat Phone on this trip so he can get web updates and email from his friends and family to keep him going.

 

[sheepdog229]

Before my hike today I noticed someone with a backpack at a crossroads in my area. He looked a little lost. At first I thought he was maybe down on his luck but turned out not to be the case.

He is 70 years old, a retired CPD Detective and was about 100 miles into a solo walk from Rockford, Illinois to all three 911 crash sites. 1000 mile walk for the Wounded Warriors Project.
He said he had thought about this for several years. He trained about a year and started his journey 8.31.2011.

If your so inclined, give him some encouragement via his Facebook page. We talked a bit and he was feeling the first 100 miles pretty bad but he expected that going into it. He has a Sat Phone on this trip so he can get web updates and email

Absolutely incredible. Thanks for sharing!

 

[LMT66]

A Bushcraftusa member put him up for the night and provided him with a daypack and hiking staff. Looks like his heavy pack will be forwarded by LEO's as he progresses.

Fresh pics from his host family in the hyperlink above.

Post link
http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showpost.php?p=773697&postcount=30

 

[Esav Benyamin]

That second picture is great!

 

[LMT66]

Phil has a few miles under his belt. His trip tracker spans 3 states! His first destination is the crash site in 911 Pennsylvania.

Give him an atta-boy on his Facebook page if you can. He could use it!

Shows his progress. http://triptracker.net/trip/8732/

This explains why he is doing it.

http://www.911vetswalk.com/

 

[Gravelface]

I was flown into Landstuhl from Iraq wearing ONLY my left sock and covered in wool blanket after being hit by an IED in Baghdad 3 days prior. For 3 days not a gown, a t-shirt.....nothing till a nice blond headed lady, I don't recall her name as I was HEAVILY sedated during this time, came to my room I shared with 3 other guys who had been hurt. One guy was riding in the rear of a Duece and a half when it was struck by an RPG, they pulled bone fragments of his friends out of him the entire 2 weeks I was in Germany, another SF fella had been shot in the neck and the 4th fella ......well, he dehydrated. She gave me a backpack with a pair of sweat pants, a PAIR of socks and a walkman......that was easily the most comforting gift. She thanked me, touched my face and told me everything would be alright and left. I never caught her name, but 7 years later, I still have the bag she gave me. I have given money to WWP over the years, but it never seemed enough.

 

[LMT66]

I was flown into Landstuhl from Iraq wearing ONLY my left sock and covered in wool blanket after being hit by an IED in Baghdad 3 days prior. For 3 days not a gown, a t-shirt.....nothing till a nice blond headed lady, I don't recall her name as I was HEAVILY sedated during this time, came to my room I shared with 3 other guys who had been hurt. One guy was riding in the rear of a Duece and a half when it was struck by an RPG, they pulled bone fragments of his friends out of him the entire 2 weeks I was in Germany, another SF fella had been shot in the neck and the 4th fella ......well, he dehydrated. She gave me a backpack with a pair of sweat pants, a PAIR of socks and a walkman......that was easily the most comforting gift. She thanked me, touched my face and told me everything would be alright and left. I never caught her name, but 7 years later, I still have the bag she gave me. I have given money to WWP over the years, but it never seemed enough.

Thank you for your service!
Any chance you could visit his facebook page and post this? It would really help him to continue on.

 

[LMT66]

Phil will be arriving in Shanksville, PA tomorrow. He will be at the Flight 93 Memorial and it will be a tough day for him.
Please visit his Facebook page and say hello! It would be especially nice if your have been helped by WWP and can post.

 

[LMT66]

Looks like Phil has made it to The Pentagon! Another two weeks and he should arrive at Ground Zero.

If anyone lives near Ground Zero, he could probably use a guide for the day when he gets in town.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Solo...it-returning-Wounded-Warriors/276559165694948

His interview on Fox today.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/loc...11?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

 

[LMT66]

Wow! Phil raised just shy of $7000 himself and an event hosted by a local business to honor his efforts brings the total to over $32,000 for the WWP! Good job Phil!

Shows just how much good a single soul can do!

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x9179617...fundraiser-honors-Phil-Szpicki-helps-soldiers

 

[sykes3170]

:thumbup:Thumbs up to this man and all those that have served.