Trooper Ledezma Prepares for his bout against Gabriel Rivera.(storys and photos by Esteban Erik Stipnieks)
Michael Yon former Green Beret now war correspondent who has spent more time in Iraq on patrols with various units of the military then practically everybody else has stated that the secret ambition of many Iraqi boys is to be a US Army Soldier. The US military has proven to the Iraqi's to be ferocious on the battlefield and totally compassionate. The same force that lead to Al Queda dead by many is the same one handing out candy and smiales. The attitude remains after the uniform is hung up and civilian life is reentered. For most military who box it continues. Trooper Ledezma is as nice in person as Ron Simms (he fooled subsitute for John Whisler once)No I do not want to face him in the boxing ring as an opponent!
You can talk about faith and talk about sportsmanship or you can show it. Trooper's persona when he arrived brought back a pleasant memory from years past Ron Simms. The Iraq war vet training for his fight without pretense, hostility to old trainers, being gracious to the site.....and his attitude was as real as the heroism of military men passed.