Photo By Sgt. Daniel Schneider | A referee raises the hand of Maj. Sung Won, deputy of intelligence assigned to Company...... read more read more
BAGHDAD – Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and civilians had their chance to step into the ring and battle it out during a boxing smoker hosted by Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Division, at the Camp Liberty Field House July 3.
The night was filled with 29 matches, each of three, 2-minute rounds, pitting boxers against each other based on weight class.
The gym was filled with the cheers of friends and battle buddies.
“It makes you proud as a leader to see your Soldiers competing and doing well,” said Lt. Col. Lane Turner, battalion commander of DSTB, 1st Armd. Div. “It’s great to listen to Soldiers in the audience cheering on their battle buddies, and it brings out unit pride.”
The goal was to enhance morale among service members and Department of Defense civilians by letting both audience and participants enjoy a night of excitement and adrenaline, said Turner. Because of this, DSTB leaders opened it to all who wanted to participate.
“The event is not just for USD-C, or even Soldiers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Sal Katz, senior enlisted leader of DSTB, 1st Armd. Div. “There are boxers from all branches of the military – Marines, Navy, Air Force, soldiers and civilians. Some of the boxers have even come here from outside of Victory Base Complex to participate.
“Bringing groups of people together, the fighters were just a small piece of the puzzle. Our goal was to bring everyone together as one to watch their … buddies battle it out at the Bangout.”
Almost 800 turned out to watch the bouts, including all three USD-C deputy commanding generals.
“We wanted to come out and show our support,” said Brig. Gen. Kenneth Tovo, deputy commanding general of USD-C West. “I used to box in high school and college, so I’m looking forward to watching these soldiers compete.”
One of Tovo’s personal security detail members fought in the smoker.
Other officers also got the opportunity to congratulate boxers with medals for having the courage to step into the ring. The winner of each bout received a gold medal; the contender, a silver medal.
The boxing smoker showcased fighters from all levels of experience. Some boxers came into it with years of boxing experience, others with no experience; their first time stepping into a ring in front of a crowd.
Following his match, Maj. Sung Won, the deputy G-2 assigned to Company A, DSTB, 1st Armd. Div., spoke about his experience.
“It was exhilarating,” said Won. “Not having any previous boxing experience, I was nervous going into it. It’s harder than you think. It drains you.”
Though entertaining, Won said the smoker also provided an additional benefit.
“It gets Soldiers back into warrior mode,” he said. “Being in the ring with the audience yelling and cheering gave me the motivation to not give up.”
Maj. Brad Hanson, company commander of 492nd Engineer Company, 367th Eng. Battalion, United States Forces – Iraq, was one of the older boxers. He used to box 10 years ago.
In the ring, age and rank didn’t matter, he said.
“Competition is competition,” said Hanson. “In the ring, it doesn’t matter if you’re a private or an officer. Punches still hurt either way.”
Hansen won his bout.
“During the fight, Sgt. [1st Class] Walker told me [to use] good combinations, and I did just what he said and it worked,” Hanson said. “I figured I’d go in the ring and do my best, and am glad I didn’t get knocked out. If I could, I’d go in the ring and fight another match, tonight.”
Though there wasn’t time for him to get in a second match, his enthusiasm seemed infectious among the boxers and the audience. Unit pride and rivalries showed themselves during a few matches as the competition in the ring spread to cheers and bantering back and forth among the audience.
The audience’s enthusiasm was apparent throughout as they encouraged the fighters with loud cheering and standing ovations; one member of the audience even ran around the outside of the ring between rounds carrying his company guidon and yelling, spawning cheers and jeers at the top of his lungs for the competing soldiers. The entire crowd was involved in the event, which is exactly what event coordinators hoped for.
“The primary goal of this event was to boost [the] morale of everyone serving in Iraq,” said Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Guerrero, noncommissioned officer in charge of automations and signal assigned to DSTB, 1st Armd. Div., and one of the three lead NCOs involved with putting the event together.
“Everybody seemed to have a good time,” the East Los Angeles native said. “If the opportunity presents itself, I’d love to put another one of these on.”
Guerrero also trained some of the boxers who fought during the night and expressed his pride when watching his students fight.
“I have full respect for those fighters I trained,” he said. “They’re the ones in the ring sacrificing themselves, and they won their matches on their own.”
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2010 08:16 |
| Story ID: | 52454 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 273 |
| Downloads: | 207 |
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