Roscoe brings attention to wounded warriors through bike ride

Randy Roscoe is on a mission.

The El Paso, Texas, resident is riding his bicycle across the country to bring awareness to the Wounded Warrior Project. He has ridden more than 12,000 miles in the last two years, going from California to Florida and many states in between. Roscoe made his way through Kimball County Monday afternoon after starting the day in Stoneham, Colo.

"I'm not a veteran, but it's my way of saying thank you to all veterans, especially Vietnam veterans," he said. "I grew up during those years, so that's special to me. I saw how they got treated when they came home. It was a disgrace, I thought."

Roscoe is a carpenter by trade and got the idea for the journey after volunteering as a cook at a homeless veterans shelter in El Paso.

"They said, 'Why don't you ride a bike across Texas? I said, 'You know what, I think I'd rather go across country than ride across Texas.' 'Why's that?' 'It takes too long to ride across Texas. I'd rather ride from state to state," Roscoe said.

The 58-year old Michigan native started his journey two years ago by riding from El Paso to Bartlesville, Okla. He continued on to Indianapolis, Ind., down through the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and stopped in Jacksonville, Fla., at the headquarters of the Wounded Warrior Project. From there, he went to Mobile, Ala., and returned to Tulsa to stay for the first winter. Roscoe returned to El Paso after winter and headed west, eventually arriving in San Francisco. Roscoe said he was injured on the Golden Gate Bridge and was flown home to recuperate.

Roscoe said he is currently on his way to Williston, N.D., for an oilfield job that starts in May. He is taking his time, however, and enjoying the scenery.

The El Paso man tries to average about 1,000 miles per month on his bicycle, depending on weather conditions and the terrain. He also takes long breaks during the winter.

"I left out of Stoneham about 7 o'clock (Monday) morning and I just got into town about 1 o'clock. I did 45 to 50 miles in that time," he said. "That's not bad pulling 150 pounds of gear."

Roscoe pulls a small trailer behind his bicycle that includes camping gear and other needed equipment.

He has seen many wonders throughout his trip, some of which includes the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Death Valley, the Smoky Mountains, Mount Rushmore and more. He was given a coffee cup and pin from a Texas Ranger, and has received other interesting items from public officials. Along the way, Roscoe said he has been published in 59 newspapers and appeared on 22 radio stations and five television stations as a way to promote his trip and donations to the Wounded Warrior Project.

These trips are not the first time Roscoe has taken a cross-country bicycle ride. He first did so in 1986, but that time was for personal reasons.

"I did something like this in '86, but it was just on a fluke," he said. "I rode from Detroit to Miami. I did that in 16 total days, 14 traveling days. It was 1,633 miles, to be exact. That was for nothing, for kicks, because I wanted to leave Detroit and go to Miami. Who wouldn't want to go to Miami from Detroit?"

Roscoe said that anyone who wishes to donate should do so online by going to http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org. He would appreciate anyone who donates to let the Wounded Warrior Project know that they did so because of his bicycle ride.

As Roscoe continues his journey north this week, he knows the adventure with a mission will continue.

"It's been quite an adventure," he said.