The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Insurance paid special tribute Chief Warrant Officer Charles Iles during Sunday's New Year's Day Packers-Lions game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Iles, a Watertown, Wis., native, serves the U.S. Army in the 25th Infantry Division Headquarters out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His division deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in November 2010 and returned on December 13, 2011, and was one of the last soldiers to leave as US Forces departed Iraq.
Iles has received commendations from multiple U.S. generals and admirals, as well as generals from the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Bangladesh. His awards and decorations include the Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 4), the Army Service Ribbon, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (with three service stars), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Bronze Star.
Iles was accompanied by his wife, Lynn, and his daughters, Haley and Emma, while being recognized on Lambeau Field.
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 2011 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. More than 38 families have been recognized during the past four-plus seasons.
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 http://nfl.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 mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game and a care package from WPS.
