Arctic Sappers run with Wounded Warrior supporter

  • Published
  • By Capt. Richard Packer
  • 6th Engineer Battalion
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Matt Montavon, an Alaska mountaineering guide, just finished his 1,100-mile run across Alaska mission to raise funding and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Averaging 30 miles a day, Montavon set out from Deadhorse May 2. He pushed a cart loaded with supplies, as there were stretches of up to 250 miles without services.
His trek led him past Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson June 6 where he was joined by Army Lt. Col. Marc Hoffmeister, commander of the 6th Engineer Battalion (Combat)(Airborne) and Soldiers of the 6th Engineers who ran with him along the base and into Anchorage.

Hoffmeister, a wounded warrior himself, had previously climbed with Montavon during Operation Denali 2009, a wounded warrior expedition Hoffmeister organized to enable four Wounded Warriors to overcome devastating combat injuries and successfully summit Denali, the highest mountain in North America.

That climb inspired Montavon to continue working with wounded warriors on other climbs and to support their recovery with his latest adventure across Alaska.

The 6th Engineer Battalion colors led the way as Montavon and his motivating escort of troops ran to cadences and the honking horns of passing vehicles on the highway.

Troops wearing various uniforms, everything from summer PTs to ACUs to body armor and rucksacks, whooped and hollered encouragement to Montavon and each other.
Montavon finished his run in Homer on June 10, having raised $4,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project through his website, www.endorphinchase.com.

Now, he is heading back up Denali, leading more wounded warriors to the top of North America.