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Icy water, warm hearts

  • Published
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The fourth-annual Matthew S. Schwartz Memorial Polar Plunge took place, Jan. 16, in Cheyenne’s Sloan Lake with the largest showing of jumpers since its inception.

The event hosted 25 teams adding up to a total of 101 jumpers who displayed their support by bravely leaping into the cold waters of Sloan Lake. Those that wished to face the plunge were asked to donate $20.

The event is held each year in memory of an Airman from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal team, who was killed in action while deployed to Afghanistan Jan. 5, 2012.

Proceeds from the dive were donated to the EOD Warrior Foundation, a group that provides financial assistance to wounded EOD personnel, along with families of those wounded or killed.

“We do this to remember Matt,” Staff Sgt. Dan Mickelson, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, located at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and former 90th CES member. “He was a good friend of mine and it’s incredible to see all of these people show their support.”