Combat Controller to ride in Sea to Shining Sea

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Doctors had bleak expectations for Esposito, who was only 25.

But nearly a year later, he's proving those doctors wrong. Esposito and 19 other veterans are cycling across the country to inspire wounded military men and women. They will ride through Emmitsburg on Sunday.

The Sea to Shining Sea ride, organized by World TEAM Sports and sponsored by State Farm Insurance, began May 22 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It will end July 24 in Virginia Beach, Va., after 63 days and 4,000 miles.

Sunday's 70-mile trek through Emmitsburg will mark the 58th day of the ride.

Many of the cyclists are wounded veterans who pedal with help of prosthetic limbs and specially designed bikes.

"The goal of the ride is to honor the courage of our service men and women, recognize the strength of the American spirit and challenge perceptions of how we view athletes," said Melissa McKinley, a spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance.

Esposito said he hopes the ride will inspire other recovering soldiers.

"This time last year, I was just out of the hospital in a wheelchair and back brace," Esposito said. "Hopefully, when other veterans see us go 4,000 miles with different injuries and problems, they'll say, 'If they can go from sea to shining sea, I can get back to therapy and the life I love.'"

On Sunday morning, the riders will depart from Breezewood, Pa., and travel through Mercersburg. They will have lunch in Greencastle, Pa., before traveling into Gettysburg for a water break at 3 p.m. Their day will end at 5 p.m. in Emmitsburg , where they will stay at the Sleep Inn and Suites on Silo Hill Parkway.

Similar to many of the stops along the way, riders will be welcomed with a dinner reception hosted by local State Farm agents. Ride organizers do not have the details of the reception until a few days before.

Emmitsburg officials were unaware the veterans were arriving as of Tuesday, but Councilman Tim O'Donnell was trying to make contact with ride organizers, Town Planner Susan Cipperly said.

In Emmitsburg , a large banner that has traveled across the country with the riders will be displayed. Locals can sign the banner, and for every signature, State Farm will donate $1 to helping wounded military members, Esposito said.

He said he and his teammates are excited about reaching Emmitsburg .

"We've been through some great places," he said. "One of the things it's doing is spreading motivation. It's contagious and we're really hoping it'll spread from our team to throughout the country."

HEBRON – A team of exceptional athletes, many of whom are wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans representing all military branches, will be traveling across Ohio July 9 -14, as a part of World T.E.A.M. Sports’ inaugural bike trek across America called Sea to Shining Sea.

The goal of Sea to Shining Sea is to honor the courage of our service men and women, recognize the strength of the American spirit and challenge perceptions of how we view athletes. The ride kicked off in San Francisco on May 22 and will conclude in Virginia Beach on July 24.

Spanning 63 days and some 4,000 miles, the cyclists are testing their physical limits and inspiring people, disabled or not, to live active and enriched lives. On their way to Ohio, the group has cycled through deserts, mountain passes and historical landmarks providing dramatic proof that disabled Americans can lead productive lives and accomplish feats most people only dream about. Several riders have specially-designed bikes that make it possible for them to participate.

The riders will travel through Licking County along historic National Road (US 40) on Monday, July 12. After departing from Columbus, riders will have their first water stop in Etna at the Etna United Methodist Church, lunch will be served in Jacksontown at the Licking Township Fire Company and a final water stop in Hopewell before they leave Licking County. The day’s journey will end with a celebration in Cambridge.

Community members are invited to cheer the riders on as their make their way through Licking County.

Among the supporters joining the group will be Army Brig. Gen. Arnold N. Gordon-Bray, retired Marine Corps Gen. Robert Magnus, and Ambassador Paul Bremer, who oversaw the reconstruction of Iraq from May 2003 to June 2004. Ohio native Marc Esposito, a Combat Controller in Air Force Special Operations, is among the wounded riders.

State Farm is sponsoring the Sea to Shining Sea ride across America as a way to show support for service men and women and their commitment to being there for our country. In addition to funding, State Farm agents across the country will be there for all 63 days of the Sea to Shining Sea ride, serving as community coordinators -- providing local information, helping with logistics and route planning, and rallying folks to turn out to celebrate the riders along the way.

"In May 2009 I was operating in Afghanistan as a Combat Controller in support of an Army Special Operations team," said Sergeant Esposito. "We were going after the bad guys when we hit an IED - everyone in the vehicle was thrown out. I was in the rear of the vehicle, where the concentrated blast came from. I was instantly left unconscious and catapulted from the vehicle. "When the special operations medical technician found me, he said I was on fire, I had no heart beat and wasn't breathing," said Sergeant Esposito. "I had a tibia and fibula breaks in my left leg, a broken back, hit really hard in the face, and a lot of my teeth were smashed. I also suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury." Following these injuries, most people would have extensive physiological and psychological damage, but Sergeant Esposito isn't most people. Remarkably, he was able to keep his legs and his memory was not affected, which he credits directly to the support he received throughout his recovery. "The medic did some great things that day to really affect how everything came out," the Combat Controller said. "Despite the injuries I had, I have no memory loss and was able to keep my legs. I've been tested so many times it's amazing everything has come back so positively. I was really lucky that day. "I've been really blessed to have the all support from the 21st STS," said Sergeant Esposito. "They've done an insurmountable number of good things and I can't say enough about them-- I could start, but I'd be talking for hours. I've had 100 percent of the support from my squadron and the Air Force and Army Special Operations Commands." Sergeant Esposito is using his experience and recovery as motivation to compete during the 2010 Inaugural Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is one of 20 Airmen to participate in Games slated May 10 to 14. "About this time a year ago, Sergeant Esposito was laid up in a hospital bed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with broken legs, broken feet, and a broken Back," said Lt. Col Michael Hughes, 21st Special Tactics Squadron Commander. "Yet it was not the severity of his injuries that was most notable, it was his unyielding determination to make a full and speedy recovery.

Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, stands on a plateau in Afghanistan during his 2009 deployment. Sergeant Esposito suffered several broken bones and traumatic brain injury when his convoy hit an improvised explosive device. He has since recovered and is competing in the 2010 Inaugural Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. He is one of 20 Airmen to participate in Games.

Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, poses with a military working dog during his 2009 deployment to Afghanistan.

The games are a joint effort between the Department of Defense and the U.S. Olympic Committee and are part of an effort to inspire recovery, capitalize on physical fitness, and promote new opportunities for growth and achievement, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee Web site. Since 2003, the U.S. Paralympics Committee has worked in partnership with Veterans Affairs, providing adaptive sports therapy to veterans. Events will include shooting, swimming, archery, track, discus and wheelchair basketball, among others. Sergeant Esposito is participating in the swimming, cycling and shooting events. Although he never has been a competitive swimmer, the sergeant loves to swim and does so during his therapy sessions, which doubled as training for the event, he said. "Initially I was unable to put any impact on my feet and loving the water the way I do, it was just fun to get in the water and swim around," he said. "The cycling I also love. Prior to getting injured, I did triathlons all over the world. The bike rides and swimming are fun, I've never liked the running though, but I'll get back into it. The competition provides more than just the opportunity to contend for the Wounded Warriors, said the sergeant. They show participants that although they're still limited in some areas, they're still able to get out and do things. "The games are a proverbial diving board," said Sergeant Esposito. "They prepare you to do bigger and better things, if not physically then mentally. They help service members accept challenges throughout the day. "Mentally, participants benefit most from knowing they can overcome their obstacles. Physically, they benefit because the games

CCT'er takes gold in Warrior Games

Congratulations SSgt Esposito. He goes from a 20K bike competition (bronze medal) straight into the shooting competition and kicks ass. While serving in Afghanistan a bomb shattered his lower legs and broke his back. 5/14/2010 - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) -- Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito, a Combat Controller from the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., brought home gold May 13 in the pistol-shooting competition at the inaugural Warrior Games here moments after earning bronze in the 20-kilometer upright bike competition. "It's exactly what we're trained to do as U.S. Air Force special operators," he said. "The battlefield is as dynamic as the sports field, and you're going to have to go from one extreme to the other. And, you have to do it quickly, and you have to do it flawlessly, without fault." Sergeant Esposito is no stranger to shooting. His job as a Combat Controller often put him at risk in situations where he had to return fire on the enemy. He said he was able to use that experience to his benefit, despite the differences between shooting in combat and shooting competitively. "It's different in the sense that there are no distractions," he said. "When you're shooting in combat and you're shooting here, you are going to the same spot in your mind." Sergeant Esposito attributes his ability to transition from the cycling match to the calm of competitive shooting to his training and the special tactics mission. "It's what's taught in the special tactics career field. You learn to calm yourself. You may have to run twenty miles and then do a swim for 50-meters underwater, but they expect you within a minute to get your heart rate down to a resting heart rate." Though his calm was apparent in his performance, Sergeant Esposito had distinguished spectators cheering him on. "Having him on the battlefield, I'm at ease. I'm at rest," said Chief Master Sgt. William Markham, also from 21st STS and Sergeant Esposito's chief. "I know he's going to take care of business. Having him compete here and represent the Air Force and special tactics, I have the same calm."