Our soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen have been engaged in the war on terrorism for more than a decade—fighting with great valor and distinction. They have served selflessly and sacrificed much. Sadly, many have received both visible and non-visible injuries. The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to a military person who has given their blood or their life in the service of their nation.
Porsche Club of America San Diego Region has, for three years now, collaborated with Naval Medical Center, San Diego (NMCSD) and Armed Services YMCA to demonstrate our gratitude and our deep appreciation through the Wounded Warrior Tour for the services and sacrifices of our nation’s greatest natural treasure—our young men and women serving in uniform—nearly all of whom have earned the Purple Heart Medal.
On Saturday, 1 December 2012, 47 PCA-SDR drivers joined with 27 Wounded Warriors from Balboa Naval Hospital to strike out on our 3rd Wounded Warrior Tour. It was one of those accomplishments which will stick with me, and I would hazard to guess, each one of our drivers, for a very long time. Think about it—how often do you get to do something involving Porsches with a gathering of ladies and gentleman of such caliber, and contribute to a cause such as this. It was a virtuous expression of our most profound gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our military service personnel.
It was a crisp, blue sky morning on 1 December when Katie, my own Navy nurse and wife of 32 years, and I arrived at the parking lot at Park Blvd and President’s Way (adjacent to Veteran’s Memorial). We rolled in 30 minutes early for the 8:15 AM tour brief, she cocooned in her 2009 green 911 “S” and me in the logistics support truck—my 5500 pound, Leviathan 2005 Ford Expedition, crammed with ice chests, soft drinks and water, and several folding chairs. I was not surprised to see that we were not the first to arrive. Clearly, there were several others as eager as we to get on with the events.
The weather forecast called for partial to broken overcast with a 20 percent chance of rain. We were greeted with high scattered clouds and unlimited visibility on a bright and comfortable 60 degree San Diego morning. Katie now lamented that she had not washed her car the day before. I couldn’t help but point out that had she, we’d be in a downpour.
I was fully engrossed in making final preps and arranging the radios, maps, driver list, and route directions, when in the distance, I could hear the unmistakable roar of flat, opposed cylinder engines. The Porsches … they commeth!
Despite my focus on the pending task it was difficult not to swoon over the spectacular array of these fine specimens of Zuffenhausen craftsmanship as they arrived. Initially they trickled in: Keith’s gorgeous Fly Yellow, 1993 RSA America 964, Steve McKay’s pristine white1989 951, Sharon LaDuke’s exquisite 2008 silver Boxster (the car was built for her), a brand spanking new, Aqua Blue Boxster “S” driven by Ted Witte, and two gleaming 2013 Panameras driven by Joe Allis and Daniel Lewis, courtesy of Porsche of San Diego. I wandered amongst the rolling art work and knew that this would be a grand day.
As we approached the witching hour, 0815, the individual engine notes of inbound cars gradually coalesced into reverberating thunder as a steady stream of Porsches and other cars arrived on scene. When all the drivers assembled I was happily surprised at the variety and pedigree of the cars. We had a stunning sample of nearly every Porsche built and several exotics and collectables—Mike Avitt’s 2011 Supersonic Blue Corvette Z06, Ralph Turner’s 2012 Silver CLS 63 Mercedes Benz, and a heart stopper—a 1965 Shelby Mustang cloaked in white with blue stripes lovingly cared for by John Turpit.
They came for the tour. They came to share the camaraderie that is the bonding agent of gear-heads the world over, but mostly they came for the cause—a mission of the heart, an objective for virtue, to pay tribute, in their small way, to those who gave far more than their time and blood in protecting our nation, our freedoms, and our way of life. Granted, these men and women, now recovering at NMCSD, were but a small portion of all those who served on distant and foreign lands but it was refreshing to see the heartfelt outpouring of support by so many of our club members.
With all the amazing rolling stock assembled it looked more like a car show than a tour. I could have spent the rest of the day just slobbering over these beautiful cars. Ah…it’s good to be an American!
We were extremely fortunate to have the dream team slotted as the Tour Leads. Keith Verlaque planned and led the tour but four other “Flight Leads” and a stinger were interspersed in the group so as to avoid losing any drivers. Included in the team were Mike Brown (Flight #2); Jim Binford (Flight #3); Keith Rampmeier (Flight #4); Ralph Turner (Stand-by Flight Lead); and Joel Bowman (Stinger). (Joel had the unenviable task of sheep-dogging 40 cars to keep them pointed in the same direction.)
At 8:15, Keith welcomed the drivers and opened up with a brief on the route, overall conduct of the tour, safety, arrival at the Leatherneck Museum for lunch, and the ground rules.
Following the brief, 47 Porsches and exotics (and one behemoth Ford Expedition) cranked up and proceeded, en masse, to Balboa Naval Hospital to pick up our guests. Our liaison officers at the Armed Services YMCA, Mr. Cherri Barnswell and Ms. Alysha Christensen, managed to score through-the-gate security privileges and also received permission for the cars to park in front of the hospital barracks.
When our cars arrived at the barracks, we were greeted by 27 very excited Wounded Warriors and guests. Not surprising, I noticed many smiles and a few dropped jaws as the cars pulled in. One gent convincingly explained he had a driver’s license, insurance, was an excellent driver and believed it would be great if he could drive my car. I was all for it and said as much, but he lost all interest when I pointed to my 4-wheel drive Detroit Rhino.
With all drivers and Warriors gathered in front of the barracks, I provided a quick overview of the day’s festivities, stressing the need to account for all hands at each stop. With final questions asked and answered, we turned our guests loose to survey the line-up, speak with the drivers, and strap into their favorite car. (I half expected a confrontation over John’s GT 350 Shelby but cooler heads prevailed.)
Keith Verlaque plotted a stunning route through the hill country of east San Diego county—drive time approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. He planned to run the route and make one pit stop at the Sycuan Casino, where he also finagled parking under the Portico, VIP parking within the valet parking area—right in front of the main entrance of the casino.
In one monstrous conga line, we paraded out the front gate of the hospital, punched the odometer to reset to zero, and proceeded east on HW 94. It was quite a sight, almost 50 cars lined out in single file for nearly a mile with very light traffic. We remained on 94 until we hit Campo Rd, about 16 miles from the front gate, and then things started to get interesting.
Climbing through the hills around Jamul we turned left onto Lyons Valley Rd and entered terrain much as I had envisioned on Mars—brown earth in a patch work of colorful desert fauna and flora.
I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I watched and listened to the deep-throated howling of the cars as they wound through the sweepers, dog legs, chicanes, accelerated into the straights—uphill and down. I suddenly longed for my 1990 964 (slightly modified) but for this event, I was delighted just to be part of the parade and hang on to the fast-movers setting the pace. (Thanks for thinking of me Keith!)
As we climbed, I found myself surrounded by a prism of earth shades and hues of gold and green following 3-days of rain: sagebrush, flat-topped buckwheat, white sage, black sage, laurel sumac, Torrey Pine, cheat grass, red brome, ryegrass, deergrass, wild oats, filaree, mustard, clover, scrub oak, manzanita. To be truthful I have a heck of a time telling a Pine tree from a Palm tree, but on this glorious morning it just didn’t matter. It was all simply magnificent!
From Lyons Valley Rd. we joined Skyline Truck Trail (where do they get these names) and without much of a transition we were back on Lyons Valley Rd. We came left to join Japatul Valley Rd. and drove past a knock-out lake (Loveland Reservoir) I never knew existed. (I gotta get out more!)
At 48.5 miles from the hospital gate, just as Keith had calculated, we pulled into the front parking area of Sycuan Casino. The Casino staff was most gracious and assisted in parking our large gaggle of cars. Chilled bottled water was delivered to drivers and their guest and the casino was open to all in the WW Tour—another stroke of wizardry and statesmanship thanks to Keith.
We spent about 45 minutes at the Casino. It was a great photo op and chance to meet the rest of the Warriors and the drivers.
After some car swapping and a final head count from Springli Payeur, our wonderful volunteer Armed Services YMCA Den Mother (leave no one on the battlefield…or in the casino!) we fired up the autos and proceeded on the second half of the run. At this point, I separated from the rest of the group and made a dash to the US Marine Corps Leatherneck Aviation Museum where lunch awaited. After a few exploratory starts, I finally found I-8 and headed for Miramar Way and the Miramar US Marine Corps Air Station, home of the museum.
A bit before noon, Keith led the line into the Leatherneck Aviation Museum parking lot. Thanks to the contribution and enormous generosity of Mr. Steve Garcia and Mr. Frank Passiglia, president and vice president (respectively) of Patriot General Engineering, our Wounded Warriors were treated to a magnificent Mexican style lunch laid out in grand style by the Palms Restaurant. Based on the demeanor, the laughter, and the many smiles radiating from the faces of our guests, I suspected we hit a home run—something many of them needed desperately.
I was anxious to stroll down memory lane amongst the assembly of magnificent, timeless military aircraft. There were some beauties dating back to pre-WWII. If you haven’t visited the Flying Leathernecks museum at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar you owe it to yourself to make the trip. The museum is operated by volunteers using donations from the community. General Bob Butcher, USMC (Ret) and Mr. Chuck Meadows went way beyond the call to ensure our visit was a comfortable and exciting experience. For their contribution to our project, I humbly thank the entire Leatherneck Museum Staff. What an impressive team!
During the two-hour lunch we had the opportunity to speak with and learn more about our Warriors. I think very few of us had much of an understanding of what these kids did when they went across the wire and very few of us comprehended the full sense of trauma and horror of modern combat most of these kids experienced.
I watched and listened to our guests as they engaged in small talk with their hosts and it occurred to me that not once did I ever hear a word of complaint, not a single nuance of dissatisfaction or self pity. I sat in high reverence of these men, each carrying an injury—physical, emotional, spiritual—and I was utterly and completely humbled in their shadow.
The crowd began to thin about 2:00PM. Drivers independently returned their charges to the hospital. The day was about over but the memory and that irrepressible feeling of accomplishment will never end.
This year’s WWT was an uplifting success story—successful only because of the selfless efforts and energies of 47 of our PCA/SDR’s members who gave willingly of themselves for a cause both worthy and appropriate.
It was also successful (and possible) because of the special efforts and the charitable donations from several patriotic and dedicated individuals. We owe Angela Avitt a tremendous thank you for the sterling coordination with the club and the marketing effort; to Ms. Alysha Christensen of the Armed Services YMCA, whose personal commitment to her Wounded Warriors was so very apparent in the magnificent coordination efforts with the Naval Hospital and security group; to Porsche of San Diego, Joe Allis and Daniel Lewis, who have consistently stepped to the plate with the latest frontline Zuffenhausen masterpieces supporting our club in this and many other projects; to Mike Brown of Computer Integrated Machining (CIM) who not only led one of the tour flights but generously donated to the cause; to John Rickard and Jeff Beckman of Black Forest for their perpetual support and contributions in many PCA-SDR activities; and finally, to the contributor without whose donation would have resulted in Meals, Ready To Eat (MRE) for lunch instead of the scrumptious Mexican Buffet we enjoyed—Mr. Steve Garcia (a ten-year Marine combat veteran) and Mr. Frank Passiglia of Patriot General. My most profound thanks to one and all!
For some time after the tour, I reflected on the event and those for whom the event was designed. I realized the more I knew about these men and women—they who so willingly risked their lives to protect our freedom and way of life—the deeper my admiration and my appreciation. Their depth of character, dedication to their team and nation, and their unsinkable spirit was a lesson in character I will long learn from and cherish.
I believe those few hours on 1 December were both enjoyable and memorable for our Wounded Warriors. Certainly, they genuinely appreciated the charity extended by our supporters and the efforts and deep gratitude conveyed by the PCA-SDR drivers. But no matter how enjoyable their day or great their experience, it will never compare with the supreme satisfaction I took home that day.
All gave some. Some gave all!
Donald Auten
Porsche Club of America San Diego Region
Military Liaison
