Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr. was supposed to visit Joint Reserve Base Ellington last year and meet with the 147th Attack Wing but the government shutdown canceled the visit.
But on Tuesday, Anderson finally made his way to the base in Southeast Houston, getting a tour of the operation and meeting with dozens of Air National Guard members ahead of Veterans Day.
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“It’s amazing, and it says a lot about him,” said Julie Honeycutt, the 147th Operations Group Commander. “Like he’s here on his day off to come out here and show support.”
Anderson’s tour started with a brief presentation on the history of Ellington Field and the 147th Attack Wing before going to a ground control station where local unmanned flights are conducted. He sat in the pilot’s chair as someone explained to him how the operation works.
Then they went to a hangar where different units had demonstrations for him to learn more about what they do.
“It was a 10 out of 10 experience,” Anderson said. “I had a lot of fun today. It’s always great when you get to step off the field and you get to do something different.”
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The service members appeared to have a great experience as well. Many brought items for Anderson to sign, and the Texans star autographed everything brought his way and took photos with everyone who asked.
Football is a topic of conversion on the base, said Honeycutt, who grew up in Friendswood as an Oilers fan, converted to Texans fandom when the team started and also said “I don’t like the Cowboys. You could put that in print.”
Service members will have games playing on Saturdays and Sundays in an operations center. Members have Texans patches for their uniforms. Some participate in fantasy football.
“With the military, sports is a shared language,” Honeycutt said. “It brings people together.”
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Anderson said he was even talking with someone at one point about the similarities between their two professions and how they are both based around teamwork.
But there are also plenty of differences. For example, Anderson, at one point, tried on some gear he said weighed 75 pounds – which was “way heavier” than a helmet and pads.
Some in the military might train with them on but Anderson doesn’t want them at Texans practice.
“We don’t need those right there,” Anderson said. “Somebody might fall out there.”
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This article originally published at Texans star Will Anderson Jr. gets his day with the Air National Guard ahead of Veterans Day.
