'We Play For' - LCPL Omoro Zamann Mitchell
The entire Falcons roster will honor fallen heroes Sunday by wearing initials on their helmets. WR Julio Jones will wear OM for LCPL Omoro Mitchell, a loyal Falcons fan.
Lance Cpl Omoro Z. Mitchell on his wedding day with wife, Erikka.
LCPL Mitchell's wife, Erikka, says, "nothing made him happier than a six pack and his Falcons on TV." He shared the love of his favorite team with his son, A.J.
LCPL Mitchell was once in the newspaper as Defensive Player of the week in Gwinnett County when he played at Meadowcreek.
His wife Erikka describes the family as "a big football family." LCPL Mitchell was not only a Falcons fan, but also a Georgia Bulldogs fan.
Erikka says in 2003, LCPL Mitchell came home "with no visible holes, just a little PTSD."
While he had no visible injury, LCPL Mitchell contracted a virus that attacked his heart while serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan after 9/11. He was implanted with a left ventricular assist device to help his heart pump and was added to a transplant list.
While waiting for the heart transplant, LCPL Mitchell and Erikka were married and had a son, A.J.
They waited for three years.
Finally, the good news came that a match was found. A heart was available.
"My Marine's big strong body rejected the heart in 4 months and he passed away in April of the next year," said Erikka Mitchell.
The couple's son was not even 2 years old when he lost his dad. Erikka says Falcons football is one way the family keeps LCPL Mitchell's memory alive and is a way for A.J. to stay connected to his dad.
The entire Falcons roster will honor fallen heroes Sunday by wearing initials on their helmets.
WR Julio Jones will wear OM for LCPL Omoro Mitchell, a loyal Falcons fan.
