UFCs Rich Franklin to visit with troops at Quantico and Walter Reed

Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin is once again headed out to meet some U.S. troops, visiting with Marines stationed at a military base in Quantico, Va., as well as injured veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, on May 23, according to ArmyTimes.com.

"Ace," remember, traveled with Randy Couture and Octagon vixen Rachelle Leah to Iraq in 2006 to boost morale and also offer up some mixed martial arts tips. In fact, according to Franklin, he feels that it's his civic duty to give back to those who defend our freedom.

Here's the snip:

"My career took me to a place in professional fighting, but part of me feels like it’s a civic duty and a chance for me to give back."

The report indicates that Franklin's two older brothers also happen to be Marines.

He'll be the latest fighter to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center -- the American Kickboxing Academy tandem of Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck just returned from a visit.

It's a situation Franklin knows will be "emotional," but worthwhile.

Here's another snip:

"I just didn’t prepare myself for what I saw [at Camp Lejeune]. That’ll help me for what I might see when I’m at Walter Reed."

Score another one for the good guys ... this is always good news to hear.

Franklin is coming off a second round technical knockout of Travis Lutter at UFC 83: "Serra vs. St. Pierre 2" on April 19. His next fight or opponent has not been made official at this time.