Sailing with Seahawks

“I just enjoyed being able to sit down and talk with them,” Kaiser said. “For guys who make a lot of money, they are all very grounded. They want to reach out to their fans. It never seems like an obligation or a chore.”

Kaiser was surprised with this free cruise after Tina wrote a letter about her husband’s service in the Army and his work as a volunteer for Northwest Battle Buddies and Home With Heroes, organizations that help veterans recover from the injuries and stresses of war.

“I thought we were just going to the store to pick up some swag. And then, there was a lady from the Seahawks and the cruise line saying we won a trip,” Kaiser said. “Being the wife of a disabled veteran, she has to take on more than the average wife does. She took the time to do this for me and my family. The best part about the whole trip was that it focused on family, not just me.”

Kaiser joined the Army in 1997. He came home from his first tour of Iraq with a few nicks and scrapes, thinking he was invincible.

His return to Iraq would be quite different. In October 2006, The Stryker that Kaiser was in was hit by an enemy mortar. Kaiser lost his right eye, suffered multiple skull fractures, broke his jaw and took a gunshot wound to his right shoulder.

“It really shakes you,” Kaiser said. “I thought I was bulletproof. Turns out, I’m not.”

Since retiring from the Army, Kaiser reaches out to veterans and families through Home With Heroes. He just started a fundraising campaign to take 10 veterans on a fishing trip to Seward, Alaska next July. Donations to the Home With Heroes fish camp or deer camp can be made at www.homewithheroes.com.

“Fishing is good medicine,” Kaiser said. “Ever since I could hold a fishing pole, I’ve been with my dad on the Columbia River. He would pick me up after school and we would fish until sundown.”

Northwest Battle Buddies provides service dogs to veterans. Kaiser and Ruger, a chocolate lab mix, have been inseparable since March 2014.

“I’m totally comfortable going everywhere with this dog,” Kaiser said. “Before, I would have so much anxiety. It felt like four walls were closing in on my chest. He took that away from me.”

The Seahawks and the Crown Princess staff enjoyed having Ruger on board. They also thanked Kaiser for his service.

Many activites kept guests entertained. There were comedy shows, dancing, Seahawks trivia games, signing events, and question-and-answer sessions with the players.

Kaiser also enjoyed a day of fishing in Ketchikan. He caught a 10-pound Snapper.

“We’ve always wanted to take a trip like this. We are so grateful to the Seahawks and Princess Cruises. I’m not sure this was something we could have afforded to do,” Kaiser said. “I’m not sure I could be a bigger Sea-hawks fan.”