Courtesy Photo | Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, Army chief of chaplains, performed the role of re-enlisting...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, the commander of the United States Division-South, and Maj. Gen. Douglas Carver, Army chief of chaplains, paid a Thanksgiving Day visit, Nov. 25, to soldiers with the 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and other residents of Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.
Brooks and Carver, joined by members with the 1st Infantry Division Army Band and leaders of the 224th Sust. Bde., visited the Warrior’s Café dining facility for lunch at COB Adder to meet with soldiers and wish them a happy Thanksgiving holiday.
After meeting with several soldiers with the 224th Sust. Bde., Brooks joined the serving line alongside Col. Lisa Costanza, commander of the 224th Sust. Bde., and a Long Beach, Calif., native, to serve lunch and wish all a happy Thanksgiving.
Carver made Thanksgiving truly special for one soldier by performing the role of re-enlisting officer and administering the Oath of Re-enlistment.
“This is my fifth Thanksgiving over here in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Carver. “If I can’t be with my wife and my kids, it’s great to be here with my Army family, and just to see the great work that’s being done here. The morale is high, and the troops’ spirits are up on a holiday like this. It’s great to see all the great food that’s being set before you like Thanksgiving at home with your loved ones. Again, my thoughts and my prayers are here with you.”
U.S. Army 1st Lt. James Kim, a chaplain with the 224th Special Troops Battalion, 224th Sust. Bde., and an Oakland, Calif., native, spoke with Carver and ate the holiday lunch at Warrior’s Café. He shared his thoughts on the event.
“It puts me in awe, for them [Brooks and Carver] to visit us,” said Kim. “Thanksgiving means to be grateful for what we have and [for] serving our country, but also being [grateful] for everything in our lives, our family, and everything we have.”
Spc. Ishmael Alvarez, a chaplain’s assistant with the 224th STB, and an Ontario, Calif., native, was happy to meet the generals and to share the holiday meal with his fellow Soldiers.
“It was great he [Carver] stopped by to see us, and he served us some good food,” said Alvarez. “I got a picture with him. I thought I would never be able to meet him.”
Before leaving, Carver gave a special message: “Happy Thanksgiving to all the troops serving here in U.S. Division-South, and all the family back home in the United States. All the American people continue to keep you in their thoughts and their prayers, and I’m so proud of what you do on a daily basis over here on this mission.”
| Date Taken: | 11.25.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.04.2010 13:22 |
| Story ID: | 61372 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 56 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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