Fort Riley ? After climbing out of a desert-colored M1A1 Abrams tank, 9-year-old Breckin Cubie described the ride as “loud” and “bumpy.” But even under those conditions, it was a ride he will never forget.

Breckin, a third-grader at Amanda Arnold Elementary School, got a personalized tour of Fort Riley, courtesy of the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor. A year-and-a-half ago Breckin was diagnosed with chronic muscular dystrophy, a chronic disease that is characterized by a progressive wasting of muscles.

“I respect the military probably more than any other job,” Bruce Cubie said. “When we see tanks we talk about them. We play Army (video) games at home. He likes to do that kind of stuff.”

The tour was made possible through the efforts of Capt. Aaron Leonard, a member of the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery of the National Guard. Leonard, who worked with Cubie in the Manhattan Fire Department, has known Breckin since he was born and was aware of the boy’s medical condition.

“I told (Leonard) that Breckin probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to do this later in life and he said he would see what he could to make it happen,” Bruce Cubie said. “When we were told he might get to do this we were pretty overwhelmed.”

Leonard wasted no time in checking out the legalities of such a visit and got clearance to make the arrangements.

“It must be tremendously difficult for the family and Breckin to realize he is not going to have a normal childhood with all the difficulty he will face,” Leonard said. “Everything he gets to do like this just adds to his memories.”

Bruce Cubie said muscular dystrophy usually puts children in a wheelchair by age 12.

“Right now he uses one for long distances,” Bruce Cubie said. “He still gets around well right now.”

Breckin spent the first part of his visit at a tank simulator center where he tested his skills at maneuvering a tank under attack. Breckin’s experience playing video games came in handy.

“We spent probably 45 minutes there,” Bruce Cubie said. “He really loved that.”

Staff Sgt. Cory Kozielski called Breckin a “tankin’ stud” and awarded him a medal for his expertise in tank maneuvers.

“There are a lot of guys around here in green suits that don’t have this medal,” Kozielski told Breckin.

Kozielski reported that Breckin hit eight of 10 targets on both the tank and Humvee simulators.

“He was driving a Humvee in downtown Baghdad shooting an M-16 at simulated insurgents attacking him,” Kozielski said. “He was having a ball.”

The Cubies ate lunch at the “Devil’s Den,” the mess hall for units of the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

From there it was out to the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor’s motor pool for the tank ride. The battalion had presented Breckin with his own green tank suit earlier in the day.

After a crash course on the mechanics of an M1A1 Abrams tank, Breckin and his father climbed into the tank and made two trips around the exterior of the motor pool grounds.

When the ride was over, battalion commander Lt. Col. Michael Higginbottom presented Breckin with a pin symbolizing the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor. He also gave Breckin a pin for his mother, Carol, who was unable to attend. He explained that it is the same pin given to the wives and mothers of soldiers who are deployed to Iraq.

Breckin was a little shy in expressing himself to his newly found soldier buddies. But then words really weren’t necessary.

“He had a smile on his face all day long,” Bruce Cubie said.