The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Insurance paid special tribute to U.S. Army Captain Terry Mercier from Powers, MI during Thursday's Packers-Vikings game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Mercier entered into military service in June of 1996 and was assigned as a mechanized infantry team leader at his first duty station in Schweinfurt, Germany. He was then deployed in support of a NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
After exiting service in 2000 and meeting his wife, Nycole, he re-entered military service in 2005 as an Army Sergeant. He was commissioned as an active duty medical service corps officer in 2008 and worked as a medical platoon leader and executive officer at Fort Carson, Colorado. During his time as commissioned officer, Mercier conducted two deployments to Iraq.
Over his 16-year military career, Mercier has received numerous awards for leadership and valor, including a Meritorious Service Medal and an Army Good Conduct Medal.
A devoted Packers fan, Mercier also established a satellite connection on base during his last tour overseas that allowed him and his fellow soldiers to watch NFL games. Mercier is now completing his administrative residency at the Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning in Georgia and is an active duty medical service corps officer.
Mercier and Nycole have three daughters, Alyssa, Aryanna and Gianna. Mercier attended the game on Thursday with Nycole, Alyssa and his mother, Joni.
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 Insurance will host a family at each 2014 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 67 families have been recognized through the program thus far.
To choose families, the Packers and WPS Health Insurance 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. Essays also can be submitted to the Packers online at packers.com/gameday/gamedaypromotions/operationfanmail.
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.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families receive four tickets to the game and a care package from WPS.
