The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Army veteran Chad Wessel during Monday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
This year marks the 19th season of Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game.
Wessel enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 at the age of 17. He deployed to Iraq with the 186th Military Police Company from January to November 2008. Following his tour, he joined the OWT program at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin where he trained fellow soldiers for deployment until 2011. From October 2011 to August 2025, Wessel continued his service in Army recruiting, ultimately earning the rank of Sergeant First Class. In January 2025, while serving on active duty, Wessel was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 39, leading to his medical retirement. He has faced this challenge with the same strength and courage that have defined his decades-long military career.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Wessel is a father of two young sons, Casen and Caden, and a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. He attended today's game with his wife, Kara, and their friends, Dale and Mary Winters – fellow military members who have been a tremendous source of support for the Wessel family following Chad's diagnosis. U.S. Air Force Major Dale Winters nominated Sergeant First Class Wessel for recognition.
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 2025 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 223 families have been saluted during the past 18 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 next 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.
