It's all fun and games for injured soldiers

Many soldiers risk their lives each day fighting in the Middle East.

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Racing on a go-cart track is a little less stressful.

Michael Welsh, a co-owner of Adventure Crossing, is providing injured soldiers with a place for recreation while they recuperate at Fort Gordon.

"This country has a great history of supporting its service members, so we shouldn't be any different," Welsh said.

About 10 soldiers, part of the Warriors in Transition program at Fort Gordon, visited the Martinez park Tuesday afternoon and participated in the facilities' indoor and outdoor activities at no cost.

The group was given 20 tokens to play arcade games and had two hours of unlimited access to the outdoor attractions, which included three go-cart tracks and two miniature golf courses.

More than 300 soldiers stationed at Fort Gordon's Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center are members of the Warrior Transition Battalion, which is part of the Warriors in Transition program, said Thom Tuckey, the executive director of the CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon.

The soldiers have either been wounded during war or suffered other noncombat injuries and were assigned to Eisenhower for medical appointments, physical therapy, or determination for continued service by the hospital's medical board, Tuckey said.

Warriors in Transition units were formed at Fort Gordon about a year ago and are offered to injured soldiers throughout the army.

Go-carts appeared to be a favorite among the soldiers.

Sgt. Lester Marise, of the Tennessee National Guard, said he loved to race, citing Dale Earnhardt as an inspiration.

"It's nice and relaxed," he said. "It gets your mind off other things."

Staff Sgt. Jose CruzCruz was enjoying the day with his wife, Gladys, who traveled from Puerto Rico to visit him. He rode the go-carts and they both played arcade games.

"It's really good just to get out from the daily stuff that we do with appointments," said Cruz, who had a heart attack before leaving for Iraq in September.

Welsh said Adventure Crossing will be open to members of the Warrior Transition Battalion once a month and that he hopes to make the event a permanent activity.

"It's the right thing to do," he said. "They've done their part and we should do ours."