Warrior of the Week Episode 12: Hank Blumenfeld

In this week’s episode of Warrior of the Week, TickPick is proud to highlight Hank Blumenfeld from New York. We are incredibly grateful for Hank’s service in the Air Force and couldn’t be happier to honor him as Warrior of the Week!

Veteran: Hank Blumenfeld

Branch of Military: Air Force

Military Career: Enlisted in the United States Air Force, age 19, in 1967. Stationed in San Antonio, Tx., Petersburg, Va. (Army base) , Orlando, Fl. (Naval base), Tanagra, Greece isolated/remote AFB 80 miles south of Yugoslavia with just 82 Airmen & fighter pilots (NATO Support), RAF Bentwaters, Ipswich, Great Britain (NATO Support) San Bernardino, Ca.

Inspiration: I had sent a letter to Robert F. Kennedy while I was in high school as a school project, and his response began to make me think about enlisting. He supported our involvement tentatively and urged us to join the fight to stop the flow of communism. Of course in 1968 he changed his tune as we all know, as he began to run for President of the United States.

Most of my friends were getting drafted and went to serve willingly just before I enlisted and shortly after I was sworn in as an Airman, President Johnson had sent just under 500,000 men & women to Vietnam. It was a scary time, but necessary for us to protect, defend, and serve our country. I ended up staying in the Air Force until 1973; six years, but had to leave due to health reasons.

Athlete that inspired me: Yankees starting pitcher Jim Abbott probably inspired me more than any other modern day ballplayer. He was born without a right hand and not only was a successful pitcher for 10 major league seasons, but in a game I saw on Sept. 4, 1993, while on the Yankees, he pitched a no-hitter! How much more inspiration does one really need!

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TickPick – Warrior of the Week

TickPick is proud to announce Warrior of the Week! We would like to thank US veterans for choosing to serve our country with free tickets to sporting events all across America. There are never enough ways to thank our veterans and their families.

While still far from enough, we hope that a memorable night cheering on their favorite team will begin to show our appreciation.

Do you know a veteran or active duty soldier deserving of TickPick’s Warrior of the Week?

Nominate them now.