The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Army veteran Steve Froeschle during Sunday afternoon's game against the Minnesota Vikings for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
This year marks the 18th season of Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game.
Froeschle served in the U.S. Army for three years, from 1966-69. In 1967, he began a yearlong deployment to Vietnam with A Company 3/22 Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. While stationed at Dau Tieng Base Camp, he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and rank of Sergeant E5.
Upon his return from Vietnam, Froeschle served at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) in Killeen, Texas, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant E6.
A native of Wilson, Wis., Froeschle followed the Packers throughout his youth, but became an especially passionate fan of the team when his oldest son was born. He has passed his fandom on to his children and grandchildren, despite them living in different parts of the country. He and his wife, Gay, currently reside in Wilson.
Froeschle attended the game with his sons, Shawn and Chad, daughter-in-law, Alison, grandchildren, Owen and Reese, and family friend, Christine. He was nominated for recognition by his granddaughter, Reese, following an impactful school trip to Washington, D.C., where she saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor those who are on active duty or are veterans of the military, along with their families. In addition to being recognized on the video boards prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game, courtesy of Network Health. The Packers and Network Health will host a family at each 2024 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 209 families have been saluted during the past 17 seasons.
To choose families, the Packers and Network Health 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 this season.
Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at packers.com/Lambeau-field/operation-fan-mail. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member of their family serving on active duty, or a member of their family who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
