Soldiers celebrate freedom in the desert of Iraq

BY DAVID PATTON
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER

TIKRIT, Iraq – Bunting decorated the food tables and a giant American flag backdropped the entertainment stage as soldiers at Contingency Operating Base Speicher celebrated Independence Day.

They had ice cream served from the tables decorated by red, white and blue bunting – even if only the metallic-looking plastic variety. They had party hats. They had a beach ball to bat and kick around. They even had a small fireworks display on the far side of the base. They also had beer – the real stuff.

There were limits, just two per soldier, but several members of the 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee Army National Guard deployed here said the beer tasted awfully good.

Normally prohibited from consuming alcohol, on this special occasion, the soldiers were allowed to taste the real thing, which they said was a far cry better than the Army dining hall, alcohol-free version.

“Yeah, man,” one young soldier said while holding an empty cup in his hand. “This is way better, this is BEER! I’ve got one more coming.”

The limits were enforced with Xs marked on the back of the soldiers’ hands as they received a cup of brew. Two Xs and they were done.

The Independence Day celebration on this U.S. Army base in the middle of the Iraqi desert, about 100 miles north of Baghdad, might have been a bit subdued compared to the parties back home, but the day included award ceremonies for the soldiers. Several were honored for bravery, diligence and dedication to duty. One received a Purple Heart, for being injured in the line of duty.

During the award ceremonies, 3rd Squadron Commander Lt. Col. James A. Blevins told the soldiers that the American people owe a great deal of debt to the men and women in uniform.

“I am proud of you and in the pride you take in what you do to defend our country and freedoms,” Blevins told the soldiers gathered for the ceremony. “There is no way we can repay the debt for the sacrifices you have made to be here.”

With sweat running down his head and face, Blevins wiped his face and spoke specifically to a group of soldiers known as the K Troop, including National Guard soldiers from all over the state of Tennessee who volunteered to be part of the 278th’s deployment.

“I only have one more thing to add,” Blevins said, “and that is I want to personally give each and every one of you one of these squadron coins, with the hopes you will always carry it in your pocket and remember your time as a ‘Bootlegger’ and the good job all of you accomplished here in Iraq.”

Breaking with tradition somewhat, Blevins then said, “Let’s get out of this heat first. I will give you your coin as you leave.”

After a short rest for many soldiers from the mid-afternoon ceremony, it was chow and then the live concert held on the base’s main entertainment stage, in front of the war-damaged concrete seats inside an old soccer stadium on the base. That’s when the soldiers could order up their beer allotments.

Dwarfed by the 30-by-50-foot American flag backdropping the stage, the four-man rock band Vertical Horizon played a number of songs for the troops. Before they began, however, the band members thanked the soldiers for their service and for keeping America safe.

The band members also said it was an honor to travel to Iraq to perform for the troops, which garnered a whirlwind of cheers and yells from the soldiers.

Vertical Horizon started in 1991 in Washington, D.C., organized by two Georgetown University graduates, Matthew Scannell and Keith Kane.

The band arrived that afternoon, started the performance at 8 p.m., and afterward signed autographs and met with soldiers before leaving the base.

The soldiers were having fun, drinking real beer and enjoying the concert. Two of them, sporting red, white and blue cardboard top hats and patriotic leis, ran around the compound kicking a beach ball to one another. Others from the 3rd Squadron were thinking of home, and getting read to pack up. The squadron’s replacements have arrived, and the regiment is getting ready to end its deployment.