Monster Energy’s Jason “Wee Man” Acuna Takes The Time To Visit Some American Military Troops
A trip to Jamaica or meet with some dudes who’ve got it rough? Wee Man opts on the latter and stokes out some dudes while finding some inner solace himself
CORONA, Calif., (Nov. 24, 2008) – Though he’s only a click over four feet tall, Monster Energy’s Jason “Wee Man” Acuna’s got a heart as big as a Thanksgiving turkey (or in Monster terms, BFH). And this past week it was pumping out a whole ‘lotta love for wounded American troops stuck in military hospitals from D.C. to Maryland and troops stationed in nearby Virginia and North Carolina.
Beginning at D.C.’s Walter Reed Medical Center and traveling to Maryland’s Bethesda Naval Hospital, – with a stops in between to visit Marines at Camp Lejeune (N.C.) and Quantico, Va. – Wee Man’s goodwill tour with Monster Energy really made the day for a bunch of guys, many of whom he spoke with eye-to-eye on account of their legs were blown off fighting the war.
“I was hanging with the dudes that were out with metal detectors looking for mines and other guys that were in vehicles that hit IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices),” explained Wee Man in as sincere a tone as he’s got. “I saw like 20-year-old dudes with no legs, but hearts of gold just going for it man, just living, you know? I mean I’ve been through some stuff in my life, but for me to have to go through what those guys are going through? Man, it’d be tough. Just a gnarly situation to go through.”
With Monster Energy readily available and, according to Wee Man, by far the most popular energy drink at American military bases around the world, Monster’s stable of action sports athletes has built quite a following with our troops. So much so that when called upon to help out, Wee Man gladly bailed on a trip to Jamaica to visit with troops here stateside – both injured and healthy.
“Sign me up, I’m in,” said Wee Man when Monster Army HQ called. “I just went ahead and cancelled another trip I had going during this time.”
In between visiting the injured troops – which can be a heavy trip for those of you who haven’t seen that sort of thing – Wee Man and several Monster Army officials stopped by a number of other ‘on-base’ Marine facilities to make the most out of their time while on the goodwill tour. “Troops are WAY stoked on Monster,” said Wee Man. “At Lejeune and Quantico they had these ‘exchange’ stores where military people can buy stuff they need. Well, I was at one of these places signing some autographs for the dudes living there and I hear this one guy who waiting in line for an autograph telling his buddy ‘This is why Monster’s blowing all the other energy drinks out of the water.’ These dudes were so stoked.”
In the end the trip meant so much more for Wee Man that he’d even thought of before he agreed to go. An ‘epiphany’ of sorts that certainly can’t be found in a bottle of Jamaican rum, Wee Man wanted to make sure we portrayed his visit in a way Monster Army members could relate to.
Said Wee Man: “All these guys at the hospital were stoked that I was there and I kept telling them ‘Dude, I don’t mean nothing. I mess around and have fun. And when I wake up in the morning I don’t have to worry about somebody ‘snipering’ me or whatever. And you guys are to thank for that. You’re out there making sure of that. You wake up and think ‘Holy moly, am I going to get ambushed today?’ And you’re there doing that for all of us. Me getting on a plane to come see you guys? That’s nothing, man.”
Wee Man’s back in SoCal and rolling around the LA parks on his skateboard. Got some top secret stuff cooking that he says is going to be “off the grid” this spring. Until then he’s spreading that Jackass love that we can all relate to – especially our brothers who’ve been busted up overseas.
To stay on top of Wee Man’s escapades, check out his re-vamped website (which is under construction right now) at www.wee-man.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it hanging with military troops, skateboarding, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, insane distance jumping, FMX, MTB, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Jason “Wee Man” Acuna digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
