Military motorcycle group takes pride in staying alive

LAS CRUCES — Too many members of the military have returned from combat only to die on their motorcycles.

White Sands Missile Range's "Wolf Pack" riding club aims to change that.

"We've got soldiers overseas coming back with a pocketful of money," said retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Sammie Hubbard, motorcycle safety program manager at WSMR. "This is prime riding weather. They're going to go out and buy the biggest, baddest motorcycle they can get ... Out of a unit of 4,000 soldiers, 1,000 are normally going to be motorcycle riders."

Navy Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Nick Walker, 23, got back from Iraq in January and has already put 4,500 miles on his 2006 Yamaha R6 Anniversary Edition. He said the allure of motorcycles among veterans is simple: one easy purchase fulfills a need for thrills.

"You've got money," Walker said. "When you're over there, most guys are single, so they've got nothing to spend money on. The biggest issue is, you survive combat and think you're bulletproof. You lose that adrenaline rush."