Green Bay Reporter

The Green Bay Packers and Network Health honored U.S. Army veteran George Gosz during their game against the Arizona Cardinals as part of 'Operation Fan Mail.' This initiative, now in its 18th season, acknowledges military families and veterans at each Packers home game.

George Gosz was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957, serving until 1959. His platoon participated in the Desert Rock exercises, a series of atomic nuclear tests conducted by the U.S. military. In one notable test in 1957, Gosz was positioned five miles from a nuclear detonation that involved the largest troop maneuver on U.S. soil, creating a mushroom cloud larger than Hiroshima's during World War II. After the explosion, his platoon marched into the bomb zone and even slept on the scorched ground.

At that time, radiation exposure effects were not well understood. Many soldiers later developed cancer and other illnesses due to their exposure; Gosz was diagnosed with prostate cancer over 25 years ago.

Originally from Rockwood, Wisconsin, Gosz has been a lifelong fan of the Packers. He famously attended the Ice Bowl in December 1967, enduring frigid temperatures by sitting inside an old sleeping bag at Lambeau Field. Now residing in Manitowoc with his wife Nancy of 63 years, they remain active in community volunteer work.

Gosz attended Sunday's game with his daughter Tami, who nominated him for recognition, and his grandsons Wyatt and Walker.

'Operation Fan Mail,' which started in 2007, honors active-duty military members or veterans along with their families. Recognized families receive four tickets to a game courtesy of Network Health and are acknowledged on video boards before kickoff. A total of 210 families have been honored over past seasons.

The Packers and Network Health invite interested families or friends to submit essays explaining why a particular fan should be saluted this season. Essays can be mailed to Operation Fan Mail or submitted online via packers.com/Lambeau-field/operation-fan-mail.