You’ve probably seen them. Twin brothers standing in the first row of the manager’s seating section at midfield at Red Bull Arena, proudly holding their team scarves aloft and cheering the Red Bulls on since the beginning of last season. And though they don’t sit in the South Ward, their loyalty and fervor is as strong as anyone among the team’s loyal fan base.
What you don’t know about them is their story. And it’s an incredible one.
Vince and Vance Moss, 44-year-old doctors from Upper Marlboro, Md., served a combined five tours in the Army in Afghanistan and also spent time in Iraq, performing operations in the war-torn regions of both countries. On Sunday, when the Red Bulls host the Philadelphia Union on Military Appreciation Night, there will be no prouder people in the building holding their hands over their hearts during the National Anthem than the Moss brothers.
“It’s gratitude, not just for the veterans, but for the people that have sacrificed so much. It’s a nice time to recognize that,” Vince Moss said. “When we heard about it we jumped to sponsor as many individuals as we could to experience the arena. It’s a small amount of sacrifice to show our brothers and sisters what we’ve done.”
Added Vance: “We’re just honored that the Red Bulls management is even recognizing us. There are a tremendous amount of patriots that come to these games, not just in uniform. Some know that we were soldiers and they thank us for our service, but we recognize them and thank them for their service as well.”
Vince, a general and cardiothoracic surgeon, and Vance, a urologic surgeon, were avid soccer players growing up near Washington, D.C. While they remain rabid Redskins fans, they also became MetroStars fans. There was a point where they wondered how far they could go in soccer but, as Vance put it, “There was another calling.”
Judging by the incredible work they have done, it’s obvious they made the right choice.
“Being an American we all have a special sense of pride, and so much of that has to do with how the military represents our country and defends our country,” Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. “I know that when I’m traveling or on the plane or you see people publically that are in the military, I try to go out of my way to show appreciation for everything that they’ve done for our country.
“At times in sports there are words that are thrown out there like war and battle, and I try not to use those words too much because I think it’s disrespectful for those who are actually putting their lives on the line to protect our freedom. Certainly to have two passionate fans that are very connected with the military means a lot to us and I hope that they feel a part of us. When we do these military appreciations we hope that it’s done in a way that is honest and thoughtful.”
And it will be. The Red Bulls sent out information to their corporate sponsors and other businesses about sponsoring military personnel. They were grouped in packages of 40 and Vince and Vance purchased one apiece, so they are sponsoring 80 members of the military at the game. They will also participate in the pre-game flag ceremony.
It will no doubt be an emotional moment.
“When we started our first tour in Iraq it was emotional for us,” Vince Moss said. “At that time (2008) another trauma surgeon was killed. That changed our life in terms of priorities. When you look at life’s experiences, we’re fortunate to be able to be true to ourselves because life’s too short. We recognize what we are doing now, but it’s important to recognize what they are doing as well.”
Both men were right on the front lines, and if you ever saw an episode of M.A.S.H. you know how dangerous that can be.
“We went over and operated on kids in Afghanistan and Iraq,” Vance Moss said. “In a forward surgical team, you’re as close as you can get to the action. There were battles going on and we were operating in a cave to save lives. It got pretty hairy. There were definitely times we thought we might not come home.
“When the National Anthem is played I’ll be thinking about some Marines that we couldn’t save. This is the weekend to think about them and the sacrifices that were made. Our job is to save these guys, and when you save them, great. It’s the ones that you lose that are the most devastating.”
The brothers share a practice in Howell and Staten Island, but they rarely see each other during the week. That’s one of the reasons why they love coming to Red Bulls games. They get to spend time together and let loose a bit.
“We connected with the players,” Vince Moss said. “One of the things we really look forward to during the week is to watch them on television or at the stadium. We’re proud Red Bulls fans not only because of soccer and the organization, but when we travel we try and represent what the entire MLS should be.
“We’re ambassadors, so when we show up to Philly or L.A. we want everyone to see not just an amazing organization or the team, but we want them to come to Red Bull Arena and see for themselves. We’ve been to every playoff game since we were season-ticket holders, and we travel to Philly and New England. It’s something in our lives that has invigorated us.”
And the players appreciate it.
“We had a dinner with them one time, me, Ryan Meara and a few guys from Red Bull,” midfielder Lloyd Sam said. “We took out some fans and we had a really good chat with them. I feel like I know their story. It’s an amazing story. They’re so passionate. You should see them when the National Anthem came on. They were so intense. At that time I didn’t know they had been to Afghanistan. It’s a privilege to have them come to every game, and I salute them before every game.
“Before the game and at halftime we always hear them when we’re walking out and we always give them a little acknowledgement. They’re well known to the team.”
And that means a lot to the Moss brothers, who feel they couldn’t have made a better choice.
“It’s one of the components in our lives that really brought us together in our community,” Vince Moss said. “We played soccer in college and medical school. At that point decided to concentrate on residency and fellowship, and once we got deployed we got busy with other things. We realized that our best way of getting involved with soccer was either coaching or going to Red Bulls games, so we chose the Red Bulls.”
“It’s such a reward for us, win or lose. We feel like we’re a part of the team.”
Frank Giase has covered Major League Soccer since the league's inception in 1996. Follow him on twitter at @Frank Giase. He can also be reached at fgiase@gmail.com.
