JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST – Two-time Purple Heart recipient Lt. Col. Christopher Carbone got a big surprise recently courtesy of New York Jets’ military and first responder liaison, Steven A. Castleton.
Castleton revealed the Army Reserve Soldier had been chosen as the “Veteran of the Game” for an upcoming bout with the Buffalo Bills.
Carbone received two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained in 2005 in Iraq and 2011 in Afghanistan. He has also been awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, two Bronze Stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Combat Action Badge.
The soldier currently resides in Bayville and has worked for 13 years as a police officer in Wayne. Carbone continues to serve in the Army Reserve as chief of operations for the 99th Readiness Division’s Mission Command Support Group.
“I’ve been blessed to have worked here (at the 99th Readiness Division) and at the 78th Training Division, paying back those who got me ready for my five deployments,” Carbone said.
The 99th Readiness Division headquarters is located at the Joint Base and is responsible to more than 51,000 Army Reserve Soldiers in more than 550 units at 332 reserve-component facilities and 33 maintenance facilities throughout the entire northeastern United States including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.
Carbone recalled his time serving overseas, often in harm’s way stating, “it was rough, it was honorable, and it was awesome. I got the greatest gift this country could ever give someone – I got to lead her sons and daughters in combat. I was trusted with that.”
Carbone was overwhelmed with the news of his selection by Castleton, who called into a recent staff meeting at Division headquarters to reveal the news.
“We would be honored for you to be our Veteran of the Game for our October 14 game against the Buffalo Bills,” Castleton informed Carbone as the latter’s fellow soldiers broke into applause.
The Jets’ Veteran of the Game program is part of the NFL’s Salute to Service Initiative. Each year, the NFL and its 32 teams honor and support service members, veterans, and their families by means of this initiative, which represents the NFL’s commitment to honoring, empowering, and connecting with the nation’s service members, veterans, and their families.
Castleton explained, “I set up a program several years ago for the Jets called our Veteran of the Game Program. We do this between the first and second quarter of every game. During that time, we actually bring a veteran out, all alone on the field, in front of 80,000 fans.”
The program is grounded in deep partnerships with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pat Tillman Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, United Service Organizations, and Wounded Warrior Project. Since 2011, more than $66 million dollars have been raised for these Salute to Service partners.
Previous honorees have included World War II Purple Heart recipients, numerous Bronze Star recipients, honorees who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Wounded Warriors and many more deserving nominees.
