Photo By Spc. Maurice Galloway | Sgt. 1st Class Caleb P. Underwood, 17th Fires Brigade equal opportunity advisor and...... read more read more
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — The 17th Fires Brigade held a 5 kilometer run in honor of Molly Pitcher for military service members and Defense Department civilians on Contingency Operating Base Basra, March 21.
Over 100 participants showed up for the run. Some came to compete for first place amongst the base's best runners, while others simply looked at the event as another morning of physical training.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Bryan R. Brandon, 1st Logistics Readiness Squadron out of Langley Air Force Base, Va., was first to cross the finish-line early Sunday morning with a time of 17 minutes, 9 seconds. Finishing first among the female competitors was 1st Lt. Jennifer L. Purser, 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion; who came in at 22:37.
"I had just run the St. Patrick's Day run the week prior, which had the same course, so my goal was just to beat my time on this run," said Purser, a Chesapeake, Va., native.
Sgt. 1st Class Caleb P. Underwood, 17th FiB equal opportunity advisor, ensured that everyone who competed received a signed certificate of appreciation and those who finished in the top three spots received certificates of achievement.
Bryan, a resource manager and logistical planner attached to the 486th Civil Affairs Bn., also placed second in the 17th FiB's St. Barbara's Day run back in December.
"I try to run about three-to-four times a week at a distance of four-to-six miles per run," Bryan said. "This run was right around were I normally would finish for a run of this distance."
Second place for the males was decided by a single second, as force protection Sgt. Maj. William J. Sutton, 1st Infantry Division, edged out Spc. Francisco J. Carrillo, 308th Brigade Support Bn., 17th FiB, with a time of 18:48.
Master Sgt. Jillanna M. Malachi, 308th BSB, 17th FiB, came in second place among the women, at 22:41, while Capt. Jodi L. Marang, 840th Distribution Support Bn., took third at 23:10.
While endurance was needed to finish the recent race at COB Basra, it was all-out sprinting that earned Mary Ludwig Hays, more commonly known as "Molly Pitcher," her heroine title during the battle of Monmouth.
When John Hays enlisted in the continental army in 1775, Mary packed her bags as well and became a camp follower, providing aid to her husband and his fellow troops.
It was her efforts in carrying pitchers of water to the parched Soldiers and gunmen who also needed to cool their hot artillery that earned her the name Molly Pitcher.
During the battle of Monmouth, Hays' husband was shot and wounded right before her eyes. After quickly assessing that he would survive, she took his place at the cannon and continued to fire round after round at the approaching enemy.
She was recognized by then Gen. George Washington for her bravery and courage and was awarded the honorary, non-compensatory commission of sergeant.
"I thought it was pretty cool that George Washington actually awarded her the honorary rank of sergeant," said Purser.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2010 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 47587 |
| Location: | BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 350 |
| Downloads: | 306 |
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