Photo By Master Sgt. Jerry Saslav | Staff Sgt. Gordon Lynes, a native of Rupert, Idaho, who serves in the brigade engineer...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE WAR EAGLE, Iraq – It was a Sunday and approximately 15 Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, gathered on a small patch of grass at Forward Operating Base War Eagle – ready for battle. The Soldiers split into the blue and green squads. They had their mission and their goal was in sight.
The green squad kicked off the action.
"It's football. It's about as American as it gets," said Sgt. Justin Buck, a native of Wilson, Okla., who serves as a brigade fire support non-commissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Toward the end of September, a small patch of grass was installed at the FOB. Shortly afterward, the Soldiers started playing ball.
"Sundays ... a lot of people have down time; there's nothing to break up that monotony. It's such a small FOB. It's not like you can escape anything and get out of the usual areas," said Staff Sgt. Keith Reiss, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., who serves in the supply section, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Reiss and others tried to start a flag football league. They had all the necessary equipment. Unfortunately, the operational tempo made it impossible. Instead, a small core group of players meet every Sunday – walk-ons are always welcome – and play for a few hours, until it becomes too dark to see the ball. They have only missed a few weeks.
This week's game began like all the rest - two captains picking players at random.
Blue received the kickoff and proceeded to drive down the short field for a touchdown. Green, on its first possession, drove down the field and tied the score.
Five minutes of game time had passed.
Blue received the kickoff and proceeded to drive down the field, only to have a pass intercepted. Green capitalized on this for a second score.
The game then turned ugly for Blue. Green proceeded to hold Blue scoreless while racking up five unanswered touchdowns in 15 minutes.
After 20 minutes of playing time, it was over. Final score: Green 6, Blue 1.
New teams were picked and the Soldiers started playing again.
"It's something normal," said Buck. "It's a couple hours out of the week that I can feel like I'm back home."
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2008 04:55 |
| Story ID: | 26523 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 220 |
This work, Small patch of grass brings touch of home to Strikers, by MSG Jerry Saslav, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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