The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute to Purple Heart recipient Joshua Krueger and his family during Sunday's Packers-Bengals game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Krueger, originally from Milwaukee, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating high school in 1997 and spent time deployed to numerous places around the world including Australia, East Timor, Okinawa, Egypt and Iraq.
On Feb. 28, 2005, while deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, Krueger's detail was struck by an improvised explosive device. Krueger, who had reached the rank of Staff Sergeant, was critically wounded by the blast. Following his recovery, he was medically retired from the Marines on Nov. 26, 2007.
Krueger was awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of his service, and has also been honored with the Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Presidential Unit Citation.
Krueger now serves as an associate with Wounded Warriors in Action, helping other wounded servicemen and servicewomen during their transition and recovery.
A lifelong Packers fan, Krueger attended Sunday's game with his wife, Jill, and twin daughters, Kylie and Ella. The Krueger family now lives in Hubertus, Wis.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to recognize families with a member who is on active duty. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family at each 2017 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 101 individuals or families have been recognized through the program thus far.
To choose families, the Packers and WPS Health Solutions are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular fan should be saluted. Essays can be sent to: Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or submitted online at packers.com/gameday/gamedaypromotions/operationfanmail.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families receive four tickets to the game. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
