Notre Dame Legend meets Malmstrom Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, one of only two Notre Dame football players to ever be carried from the field, toured Malmstrom Air Force Base and spoke with the Airmen of the "First Aces" Aug. 28 and 29.

The real-life Rudy first met with missileers and Airmen from the 341st Operations Group during a pre-departure briefing Aug. 28 in Building 500 after an introduction by Col. Mohammed A. "Mo" Khan, 341st OG commander.

The colonel first met Mr. Ruettiger when he was a major stationed at Patrick Air Force Base and was coaching his son's football team in what he called a "perfect" season, zero wins.

"I saw there was a space symposium scheduled and the guest speaker was Rudy Ruettiger," Colonel Khan said. "I called the [chief master sergeant] coordinating the event and asked him if it was the real Rudy, he said 'yes.' I said, 'sign me up.'"

Colonel Khan said to the room full of Airmen that he brought his son to the symposium before school and had a small window of time for his son to see Rudy. Unfortunately, Rudy was delayed, and Colonel Khan reluctantly began walking his son out of the building.

"We were on our way out, my son's chin was on his chest and I was feeling like the world's worst father. Then Rudy burst through the door, saw my son and walked right over to him, bent down and started talking to him," Colonel Khan said. "I was so happy. I was ripping patches off my uniform trying to stick them to his jacket. His life story is amazing -- a movie can't capture it. He is a philanthropist, an athlete and an American hero."

Mr. Ruettiger spoke to missileers, missile chefs, facility managers and other 341st OG members present for the briefing about paying attention to detail, staying focused and the importance of confidence.

"It is an honor to be here today," Mr. Ruettiger said. "When I saw how early I had to get up, I tried to get to bed early but I couldn't sleep -- I knew I was going to be meeting the best of the best so I was up ironing my shirt, pants and shining my shoes."

Mr. Ruettiger jokingly added he ironed his underwear as well, but explained that the littlest of things can make a big difference. The details are important like taking pride in one's self and being confident -- they make people feel good about themselves.

"Your priorities are so important to this country and the world, and you must be focused on your job and maintain awareness of what you're doing," he said. "You affect the whole world and you are the most powerful people on Earth. Think about that."

Mr. Ruettiger also challenged Malmstrom Airmen to think about where they would be if they didn't try.

"Sometimes I think 'What if I didn't try?'" Mr. Ruettiger said. "What if I quit? I wouldn't be here to see all of you. So don't take this time for granted. When I was at Notre Dame I had no clue how it would affect my future or that I would be here today. When you try, great things happen and the way you think changes and you change."

From the pre-departure briefing, Mr. Ruettiger went to the T-09 trainer for a tour and then to the 3-Bay Hangar where he spoke with Airmen from the 341st Maintenance Group.

"He spoke with as many Airmen in our shop as he could," said 1st Lt. Benjamin Sydnor, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical team officer in charge. "He encouraged everyone to think about where they were going to be in 20 years and to take advantage of the great educational opportunities they have. Everyone was excited to see him and we have a few Notre Dame fans in the shop who were just wide-eyed."

Mr. Ruettiger also visited Airmen from the 40th Helicopter Squadron, the 341st Security Forces Group, Airmen Leadership School and spent time with a local freshmen football team from Charles M. Russell High School.

"He knew a few players on the team had parents in the military who were deployed and he spoke to them for a good 45 minutes," said Coach Stan Moody, CMR High School football coach. "He told the players to give 100 percent, get rid of goofy thoughts and not hang out with other kids who aren't involved with positive things."

Mr. Ruettiger spent more than two hours of his personal time with the team, took pictures with every single one of the some 35 to 45 players and signed autographs.

"He was completely oblivious to time," Mr. Moody said. "Every kid had his undivided attention and he was smiling the whole time."

After meeting with the team Friday, he returned to base Saturday to have brunch with Malmstrom Airmen and NCOs, visit the base chapel and later departed from Great Falls International Airport.