Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Debra Richardson | Maj. Adolph DuBose, the chaplain for the 164th, smiles broadly while riding Kyle, the...... read more read more
CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait— As the first light of the luminescent moon appeared in the dusty sky, groups of soldiers gathered around a large cement block converted into a mounting platform. A lone camel adorned in a colorful orange and brown harness and matching hand-made saddle appeared in front of the excited crowd, calmly waiting for the first soldier to climb atop.
Sgt. Margaret Blake, a Moral, Welfare and Recreation coordinator for Camp Buehring, Kuwait encouraged some of the timid soldiers to calmly approach the camel, Kyle, before climbing on top the cloth covered saddle.
“The camel’s gait isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen before,” exclaimed Spc. Beruk Nessibu, a mechanic for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-201st. “The first time I rode Kyle, I was nervous but when the ride was over I rubbed his ears to thank him and in that moment, I wasn’t scared of him anymore.”
“The camel was a lot smarter than I had originally perceived it to be,” continued Nessibu. “I can’t believe this animal has been the single mode of transportation for nomadic people for centuries. I wish the camel’s handlers could speak English, I had so many questions to ask them.”
As soldiers patiently stood in line waiting for their turn, questions began to circulate. Some wanted to know how much the camel weighed, what he ate, whether his owners used camels for transportation and where the camel was actually from.
“I would like to know what the majority of the Kuwait camels are used for,” questioned Sgt. Jeremy Snyder, a heavy equipment operator in the 201st. “I’ve seen large herds of camels with nomadic herders among them on foot, but I’ve never actually witnessed a local national ride a camel, in Kuwait or Iraq.”
“I know sometimes the camels are sold for food but I wonder what percentage of the Kuwait population actually eat camel meat,” continued Snyder. “I didn’t expect to be so curious about Kuwait, it’s so dismal here, but I think I can learn something from this culture, from this country, if I take the time to research it.”
Snyder and many other soldiers waved goodbye as Kyle and his owner began their long trek back home. Many left with smiles as they admired their pictures from the event while others left with questions and a renewed determination to explore the history of Kuwait and the country’s vast culture.
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2010 09:14 |
| Story ID: | 62326 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 243 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Camel Rides Invoke Culture Curiosity, by SFC Debra Richardson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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