Wounded Warrior Climbers Call into Purple Heart Radio Using Satellite Phone from Notorious “Windy Corner” on Mt Denali

Purple Heart Radio is proud to air an exclusive interview with team members from Operation Denali 2009 on its website today at www.purpleheartradio.com. Visitors can listen to the unedited telephone call with team leader, Marc Hoffmeister via satellite phone while at an altitude of 13,500 feet on Mt. Denali. 

“We’re roped in near Windy Corner and the team is holding up great – everyone is acclimating well,” Hoffmeister reported to PHR Radio Host, Mr. Z. “The other night a climber from another team stopped by our tent, and was complaining of a cramp in his leg, and well, he stopped complaining when he saw the condition of our limbs, and we all had a good laugh.”

The Operation Denali Team consists of 4 wounded warriors; Lieutenant Colonel Marc Hoffmeister, team leader and active duty Army officer, lost significant use of his left arm and hand by a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Iraq in 2007; Matt Nyman, lost his right leg in a helicopter crash in Iraq in 2005; David Shebib, almost died from multiple injuries caused by an IED detonated against his dismounted patrol in Iraq in 2006; and, Jon Kuniholm, lost his right arm as a result of wounds received in Iraq in 2005. 

Also climbing with the team is Gayle Hoffmeister, team mentor and wife of the team leader, and Bob Haines, also a team mentor and retired US Army Infantry NCO who is currently an Anchorage Fire Fighter.

The team departed Anchorage on June 1 for the Denali Base Camp, where they will begin their ascent which is expected to take 3 weeks to complete.  The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, primary sponsor of Operation Denali, also provided the team with the satellite telephone for interviews and communications during the climb.

Purple Heart Radio (PHR) - www.purpleheartradio.com

Launched in the spring of 2008, as an Internet-based radio station, PHR is dedicated to veterans who received the Purple Heart medal. PHR is run by disabled veterans and is continuously streaming on the Internet. PHR continues to grow with listeners in more than 40 countries worldwide. Featured interviews are Secretary Peake, Congressman Kagen, Senator Brown, Congressman Gonzalez and WWI Veteran Frank Buckles, the oldest living American veteran.

Purple Heart Service Foundation (PHSF) - www.purpleheartfoundation.org

PHSF raises funds for service, welfare, and rehabilitation work in connection with the members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. (a congressionally chartered veteran’s organization), those who are eligible for membership therein, or any wounded, disabled and/or handicapped veteran, his widow, orphan or survivors. PHSF is the primary sponsor of Operation Denali, 2009.

CONTACT:

Ms. Tempie Thompson, MOPH Service Foundation

(703) 635-3531

tthompson@purpleheartfoundation.org

Or

John Bircher, III, MOPH National Public Relations Director

352-753-5535