August 4, 2008

From American Athletic Communications

Washington, D.C. - American University Men's Basketball Head Coach Jeff Jones will travel to the Persian Gulf and visit troops as part of the fifth installment of "Operation Hardwood: Hoops with the Troops," a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment program. The tour will feature a week-long basketball tournament and championship game with some of the best military players stationed overseas.

"Operation Hardwood V" will begin in Washington, D.C., where the group will meet with wounded service members receiving care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. Following their visit, the coaches and sports personalities will journey overseas to spend time with troops, tour military vessels, pose for pictures and sign autographs.

"It's an honor to travel with the USO and visit our troops stationed overseas," commented Jones. "I'm looking forward to meeting service members, listening to their stories and talking basketball with them."

Created to boost morale and bring a touch of home to those in uniform, the "Operation Hardwood" series has toured with the USO since 2005. Continuing with its mission of bringing sports figures and sports-related events to troops overseas, "Operation Hardwood" has deployed more than 35 NCAA basketball coaches and sports personalities to Kuwait and Japan. Two of this year's participants, Fran Fraschilla and Reggie Minton, are tour veterans with both having toured on installment IV and Minton having toured on installment II.