Photo By Spc. Shea Butler | CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Johndrow, 1st Cavalry Division Command...... read more read more
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Pfc. Shea Butler
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Before heading into Baghdad, Soldiers here put on layer after layer of protective gear. There's the Army Combat Uniform first, then an Outer Tactical Vest and, finally, they top it off with an Army Combat Helmet. All of that is great for physical safety, but sometimes it takes digging a little deeper under the uniform to see what really makes Soldiers feel at ease.
It's in the depths of their pockets where you find a Soldier's "lucky charm," the item that makes them smile, reminds them of home and never leaves their side.
"Twinkie the Kid" is a trinket for children to carry their Twinkies to school for lunch. That was until Command Sgt. Maj. Philip Johndrow, the 1st Cavalry Division's senior noncommissioned officer, got one.
Now, it's his lucky charm.
"My wife sent me Twinkie the Kid during Operation Iraqi Freedom I as a joke, and it hasn't left my side since," the Townsend, Mont., native said.
Twinkie the Kid has developed many Cav-like characteristics since spending so much time with him. He even got a new name – "Cav Kid."
The Cav Kid blends in with the rest of his Cav battle buddies. His apparel includes a Stetson and cowboy boots.
"The Stetson isn't authorized in theater ... yet, but we let it slide for the Cav Kid," Johndrow said.
After three deployments and many missions all over Iraq the Cav Kid has definitely earned his spurs, Johndrow said. He has battle scrapes to prove it and he even has his own place in Johndrow's humvee. The Cav Kid doesn't leave the wire without protection, though. He has a small plastic gun that he carries for effect.
"He (the Cav Kid) is more than just a lucky charm. He is my wingman," said Johndrow.
The toy also serves as a sentimental reminder to Johndrow of his wife, Vickie, back home. He said makes him smile when he looks at it. It also helps keep him connected back home.
"I send my wife pictures of The Cav Kid and I, and it makes her smile," he said. Johndrow said his wife even went and purchased a "Ms. Cav the Kid." She sends pictures of the adventures they go on together. Having a little token of home helps the division's top NCO get through each day.
"No matter how bad your day is you can look at The Cav Kid, and he's always smiling," Johndrow said. "You can't help but smile, too."
The First Team's command sergeant major isn't alone when it comes to carrying tokens from home.
For Staff Sgt, Brian Grinshaw, it's a golden wedding ring that fits tightly around his right ring finger that brings him comfort.
"My dad gave it to me when I was 21. I promised to never take it off and I haven't," said Grinshaw, an Oklahoma City native with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Cavalry Division. "It was my dad's wedding ring from when he was married to my mom."
The ring has traveled with Grinshaw to Kosovo and now to Iraq for a second time.
"I plan on passing this ring on to my son to keep the tradition alive," he said.
For Capt. Elizabeth Witowski, a Pittsburgh native also from HHC, 1st Cav. Div., a Saint Christopher medal that once belonged to her great grandmother is her good luck charm. She keeps it tucked away in an ear plug case connected to her protective vest.
She said her father gave it to her for luck on her first deployment and she has kept it with her ever since.
"It seems once something gets you through one deployment you have to bring it on the next," she said.
If you look deep in the pockets of Lt. Col. Eric Winkie, HHC, 1st Cav. Div., you will find a crucifix blessed by a chaplain during Desert Storm.
"All of my kids have touched it and I don't leave home without it," he said.
The crucifix has traveled with him through Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Kuwait and now back to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Whether it be religious, sentimental or superstitious, many troops carry some sort of "lucky charm" that helps get them through the day, or brings back memories of a home thousands of miles away.
| Date Taken: | 11.15.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 11.17.2006 13:33 |
| Story ID: | 8314 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 273 |
| Downloads: | 87 |
This work, Soldier's find comfort in "lucky charms", by SPC Shea Butler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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