Mater Dei grad Grant Gillenwater hiked 150 miles to raise awareness for veteran suicide

Ray Couture
Evansville Courier & Press
Iron Ruck participants pose for a photo at the Johnny Lawrence Memorial Iron Ruck Thanksgiving Feast

While many of us sat lazily around the Thanksgiving table, letting our bellies digest multiple servings of stuffing and cranberry sauce, William "Grant" Gillenwater hiked in the dark.

Gillenwater, a senior at the University of Alabama and a 2018 graduate of Mater Dei High School in Evansville, walked, hiked and trudged 60 miles over the course of three days — all while carrying a 30-pound rucksack — as part of Operation Iron Ruck, a joint campaign by both UA's and Auburn University's student-veteran associations to commemorate veterans who've lost their lives to suicide.

He was joined on the journey by two former U.S. Army Rangers whom he met and befriended in college. 

"I've been running around with them for a long time now and when they said they were doing it (participating in the Iron Ruck), I was like, 'Well, I might as well join you,'" Gillenwater said.

More:This wasn't the ending Mater Dei wanted. But this team's resiliency will be remembered.

On Nov. 24, Gillenwater, his friends and 70 others embarked on their hike. They walked from Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium through campus and down Tuscaloosa streets for more than three miles before breaking into three groups — a "Red" team, a "Blue" team and a "White" team.

The teams took turns marching in 7- to 10-mile stretches all the way from UA's campus to Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn, a total of 151 miles. Gillenwater's red squad took the first 10-mile stretch while the other two teams rode in the back of a support vehicle before switching out. 

And that's how it went for three-plus days and 151 miles. The group slept on cots in a National Guard armory (there weren't enough cots for everyone, so Gillenwater said he slept on the floor) the first night and on padded pews in a Prattville church "out in the sticks" on Thanksgiving, Gillenwater said. 

Luckily, the teams didn't miss out on a Thanksgiving meal. A local group donated traditional Turkey Day fare.

"Three smoked turkeys, a bunch of mashed potatoes, a green bean casserole, it was the whole nine yards for that Thanksgiving dinner," Gillenwater said. "We had a real nice dinner out there."

Walking more than 60 miles in three days on gravel roads and concrete highways (the group had a police escort the entire time) put some wear and tear on Gillenwater. 

"On the second day, that's when the body issues started happening," he said. "My knees started hurting pretty good, then of course your feet get a little bruised. And on the third day, as we were getting closer to Auburn, my hips and knees started really hurting."

University of Alabama senior Grant Gillenwater carries a football on day 3 of the Iron Ruck

Gillenwater and the rest of his team fought through the pain, though, reaching the finish line — an RV park outside of Auburn — Friday night. They were greeted with a grand party: fireworks, a huge bonfire, food and even an Eagles cover band.

Part of the reason Gillenwater signed up for Operation Iron Ruck was his family's close relationship with people in the military. His grandfather was in the Air Force and his dad, Billy, a former deputy with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department, worked with several veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 

The next morning, the group marched into Jordan Hare Stadium, taking part in the Tiger Walk, an Auburn University tradition. They got to stand on the sidelines 2-1/2 hours before the Iron Bowl — the rivalry football game between Auburn and Alabama.

More:No. 2 Alabama needs four OTs to upend Auburn and keep College Football Playoff hopes alive

Gillenwater said the group wanted to stay on the sidelines as long as possible, hoping stadium officials wouldn't notice them so they could take in the big game up close. But they were all so sore that, after about 10 minutes, they agreed to go back to the hotel. They ended up watching the game from the bar. 

Even though he missed out on a Thanksgiving dinner with his family, Gillenwater doesn't regret a thing about his laborious holiday weekend.

Iron Ruck participants marching into Auburn.

"Veterans went and risked their lives for us, without them we wouldn't be able to have this interview," Gillenwater said. "Walking from Tuscaloosa to Auburn? That's the least I could do for them."

Contact Ray Couture at rcouture@courierpress.com or on Twitter @raybc94