As the helicopter approached the landing target, a green light blinked letting Daniel Stepanian know he had five seconds to jump. He should have been closer to the ground, however, and pilot error had him jumping higher than normal. Stepanian served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm, from 1991 to 2000 and things didn’t go well with his landing.
As the first man out the door, he was in full battle gear and as a combat medic, also carried an aid bag. He hit the ground hard and the next man landed right on top of him. Stepanian knew he was injured, but didn’t know how badly. The copter circled back to pick him up 20 minutes minutes later.
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“I'm 100 percent disabled with two fake hips, spinal surgery, and both shoulders reconstructed,” he says.
Stepanian, 48, shares an experience in military service with many poker players who took a seat in the $500 Salute to Warriors on June 26 at the World Series of Poker. Originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, he now calls Las Vegas home and works as a craps dealer at Encore. He began playing poker several years ago while dealing at the Mohegan Sun.
A friend asked him to go play at Foxwoods. He didn’t know how to play, but gave it a shot and was soon hooked. He’s now a regular player in Vegas in his free time including in the WSOP Casino Employees Championship.
The sharp mind needed in keeping up with all the numbers involved in craps helps a bit at the poker tables as well, Stepanian says. He loves the Warriors event and appreciates the poker world shining a spotlight on those who served the country. Adding some winner’s hardware would only add to the experience.
“It would mean the world to me,” he says. “I want the bracelet. That's it. I don't care what the cash price is. I want the bracelet.”
Honoring Service to Country
The Salute to Warriors began in 2019 to honor those who served in the U.S. military, donating some of the proceeds to the USO. The event has grown popular among vets, with many playing each summer. Paul Mathers, 63, served four years in the Air Force after graduating from high school in the Dallas, Texas, area. He was stationed in Florida and worked on F-15 aircraft radar.
After leaving the service behind, Mathers worked as a police officer for 30 years. Seeing a WSOP tournament benefiting veterans inspired him.
“As soon as I saw it, I wanted to play on it,” he says. “I probably will play it from now on.”
That was the sentiment among many veterans in the field. Carlo Arevalo is a friend of Mathers’ and is also among those in the Salute to Warriors. The 37-year-old from Austin, Texas, served in the Marines from 2003-07. That included a tour in Iraq from 2004-05, fighting in Fallujah, Ramadi, and Baharia as a machine gunner.
Plenty of action came his way and that included some poker along the way. He began playing in boot camp, where money wasn’t even allowed. Stamps and other paper products substituted for cash. Arevalo’s now hoping to win at the WSOP or at least have one of his fellow servicemen find the bracelet.
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“This is a great event,” said Arevalo, who now works as a consultant for people with disabilities and also as an occasional commentator on Austin card room poker streams. “It’s a good structure and everything's going to the USO. It would be nice if a veteran can actually take it down and win the bracelet.”
Sacrifice for Country
Sacrifice was a regular theme among many veterans in the event. Ernie Holtheson, of Lake Stevens, Washington, sported his Purple Heart hat as he played in the Paris convention space. The 74-year-old was among those in the Salute to Warriors and knows sacrifice first hand. He entered the military in 1967 and sustained injuries that left him permanently disabled.
While serving in Vietnam in Khe Sanh, a helicopter was bringing in a chaplain to conduct a Sunday service for troops. As it approached, the Viet Cong opened fire on the copter. A mortar shell landed right next to Holthusen and exploded.
“Once that mortar shell hit, the helicopter took off because they’re pretty accurate with the second round,” he said. “I got shrapnel in both legs, my hip and side, ruptured a disc, and I ended up in the hospital for about four months.”
Eventually Holthusen was put on light duty work and received an honorable discharge after serving two years. He dealt with injuries for years and doctors even discovered more shrapnel still in his back a year after his discharge. Pain from the injury stayed with him for years and several more surgeries on his back were necessary including spinal fusion.
Holthusen loves seeing the Salute to Warriors honoring military men and women. Simply spending some time at the WSOP after such an ordeal is also nice considering he feels fortunate to be alive.
“I just like to play poker tournaments,” he said simply. “And I like seeing all the veterans.”
Playing Poker While Serving
Jacqueline Pennington, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is one of the few female veterans in the tournament and served in the Air Force from 1985 to 2009. She served in pharmacology and also played on the Air Force traveling basketball team. Military life took her to Alaska and later to Kirtland Air Force Base in her hometown.
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“I grew up,” she said of her days in the military. “I grew up fast.””
Life on an Air Force base also led to Pennington’s love of poker and eventually jumping in the action at the WSOP. Several women in Alaska played a regular game and she began joining in, also playing against men on base as well. A lifelong love of card playing was born.
That’s something many military members have experienced, passing some hours playing cards. Pennington loves the spirit of the Salute to Warriors, but also has an idea to build on the concept.
“I think they ought to do one just for the veterans too,” she said. “Because you get a lot of the vets that are intimidated and not come because they might be handicapped. With a tournament just for veterans they might come play.”
In the end, the Salute to Warriors brought in 3,209 entries for a $1.4 million prize pool. The event also raised $74,809 for the USO and James Todd, of Wellington, Colorado, took the title for $161,256. While not a veteran himself, Todd was pleased to see a nice turnout for the event and the cause.
'”It's going to help a hell of a lot of people,” he said. “I did not serve, but my father served in the military. I love our service men and women.”
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