From Kannapolis to Iraq and back
Minter talks about goodwill tour of Iraq during Super Bowl

By Joanie Morris
Kannapolis Citizen
Mike Minter, retired safety for the Carolina Panthers and Kannapolis resident, never really had a chance to be around the military very much.
That is, until the Super Bowl in February. Minter travelled with two other NFL players and two cheerleaders from the Minnesota Vikings on a goodwill tour in Iraq for 10 days. Before going to Iraq on the tour, Minter didn’t know what was going on over there on a daily basis other than what he watched on the news channels.
“I went over there (and) I saw a group of people that knew their mission and are completing their mission,” said Minter from his office at Minter Enterprises in the Moss Creek subdivision. “A lot of them want the people back home, they need their support. They are getting things done.”
Minter said what he saw is completely different from what he’s seen on the news. He saw Iraqi people, cooperating and even helping the American troops in Iraq, and even “starting to help in getting those bad guys out of there.”
“Really, until you are in it and around it, you never know,” Minter said. “You’ve got to walk in the shoes.”
Minter said going to Iraq, visiting with the troops and even watching the Super Bowl with them, gave him an opinion on a war he didn’t really have an opinion on before.
“The opinion is I’m backing the troops 110 percent,” Minter said. “They know what’s going on. They appreciate that they get a chance to defend our country. Defend our rights. …
“It’s a calling,” he added. “These guys, they are called to do some great things.”
Minter said while he was in Iraq, he got to see many things. One of the things that shocked him was seeing everyone — soldier and civilian alike — walking around with guns on their shoulders.
“That was an eye-opener,” he said. Violence is a way of life in Iraq, and the people there have become so used to it, they don’t even think twice about carrying guns around every day.
The day before Minter arrived, the base where he was visiting was bombed, in an area where soldiers would sleep. Fortunately, he said, it was bombed during the day, and no soldiers were hurt.
Despite that event, Minter said he always felt safe on base. While he was there, he got to do many things he doesn’t get to do in the United States. Rather than chasing a ball, he got to shoot guns and chat with soldiers who know what’s going on.
In addition, as a pastor, Minter said the experience was a real life lesson in history and Biblical culture.
“It was like going back in Bible times,” he said. He got to put images with the places he reads about in his Bible and ministers about on a daily basis. “It hasn’t changed. …
“They had farmers, shepherds and fishermen in the Bible,” said Minter. “Guess what they’ve still got now? It was a little like going back in time.”
Minter said he will go back to the Middle East, but the next time, he will probably go to Jerusalem.
On getting out of Iraq, Minter said the U.S. is definitely going to need a plan.
“I think we’ve got to be very careful on what we’re doing when we leave.”

Contact Joanie Morris at 704-932-3336 or jmorris@kannapoliscitizen.com.