Photo By Master Sgt. Jerry Saslav | Staff Sgt. Jeremie Olive, a native of Oahu, Hawaii, who serves as a liaison officer...... 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 wasn't the sound of a sleigh and the hoof beats from eight tiny reindeer that broke the early morning tranquility at Forward Operating Base War Eagle, in Baghdad's Adhamiyah District on Christmas Day.
Rather, it was the sound of Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division cheering-on about 60 of their comrades participating in a 5K fun run.
"Christmas is all about being with your loved ones. While we're over here ... this is friends and family right here," said Sgt. Justin Buck, a native of Wilson, Okla., who works in the fire and effects coordination cell, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi- National Division – Baghdad. "This is all we've got, so we just make the best of it."
The Christmas marks the second one during the deployment that the Soldiers will be separated from their loved ones. They've decorated some of their work areas with holiday decorations sent by folks back home: small Christmas trees, complete with lights and ornaments, have taken up positions on desks, tables and shelves throughout the base.
Sporting events have become a holiday tradition at Forward Operating Base War Eagle, and Christmas was no exception. A flag football tournament began at 9 a.m. and finished at 3 p.m., and then a pick-up game ran for another two hours.
Spc. Matthew Vitug, a native of Crofton, Md., showed up for a little esprit de corps.
"It sucks not being with family, so why not spend it with friends ... the family we've become out here" said Vitug, a military policeman with the Military Police Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., who serves on a personal security detachment.
While the football games were taking place, a volleyball tournament started and also ran for hours. Of course, in addition to the myriad of sporting events, Christmas services were held at a newly built chapel, which was completed just in time for Christmas Eve candlelight services.
But it was not all fun and games for all the Soldiers here; somebody had to cook and serve the Christmas dinner, such as Sgt. Al-Lorenzo, a cook, who is a native of Charleston, S.C.
"We're trying to give everybody a taste of home," said Williams, who is part of HHC, 3rd STB. "We have been working since nineteen hundred yesterday – Christmas Eve – and we still are. Currently it is 11:30 [a.m.] Christmas. and we're still working."
The dinner began at noon. Troops dined on shrimp cocktail, roasted turkey, baked ham, prime rib, lobster tails, crab legs, steamship round, glazed sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing and various other sundry items. Cakes and cookies, eggnog and sparkling red and white grape juice decorated the facility and were an added treat.
Many of the commanders, senior non-commissioned officers and officers served the special holiday meal.
"It's just a way the leadership in the unit can show their appreciation for everything the Soldiers do throughout the year," said Lt. Col. Troy Otto, a native of Mount Holly Springs, Md., who serves as the commanding officer of the 3rd STB, 3rd BCT. "We do this as a tribute to them."
The cooks also prepared homemade cookies for the troops. 1st Lt. James Talbott, a native of Lafayette, Ind., who serves as the executive officer of HHC, 3rd STB, walked from table to table passing out the fresh treats.
Finally, what would Christmas be without caroling? The Soldiers rang out the holiday with a Christmas karaoke party knowing that next year will be spent with their families back in the states.
| Date Taken: | 12.26.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.26.2008 09:56 |
| Story ID: | 28162 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 177 |
| Downloads: | 130 |
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