Photo By Maj. Johnpaul Arnold | Miss USA 2007 and Clarksville, Tenn., native Rachel Smith greets the crowd during a...... read more read more
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By Maj. Johnpaul Arnold
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CONTIGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, visited 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Soldiers at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq, during a United Service Tour event today.
The Clarksville, Tenn. native met Clarksville Soldiers and admiration was equally divided between the two. "This trip has been so surreal for me because I get to see what is going on over here in the Middle East with our troops firsthand, and I get to personally thank them," said Smith.
"It made my deployment (to see Miss USA). It was outstanding and I am glad that the USO has these type functions because it gives Soldiers the opportunity to see celebrities and mingle with them," said 1st Brigade Assistant Operations Sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Deontrez Albury.
Another unique dimension is that Smith's parents have a current Screaming Eagle connection. "My father actually retired from the Army at Fort Campbell. After he retired, I grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee, and my mom continues to work at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital as a family nurse practitioner," she said.
Miss USA went on to comment about notifying her parents about her Iraq travels. "I definitely told my parents that I was going to the Middle East. They were excited and had no reservations about me traveling over here because they knew it was something I was not going to back down from."
Clarksville's own was accompanied by a few world-wide notables such as: Robin Williams, Lance Armstrong, Lewis Black, and Kid Rock. Smith said, "I am traveling with some of the biggest celebrities that are out there right now and just to see them giving their time back to the troops, the people who make it possible for us to entertain back home, is great."
As an ambassador for the United States, Smith's close ties to the Army and Fort Campbell came to a unique focal point in Tikrit, Iraq. "I never thought in a million years I would be here in this moment, but I will definitely cherish this experience that I have had here in the Middle East with the our men and women in combat," said Smith.
To symbolically recognize the combat visit by Smith, Sergeant 1st Class Albury chose to make it a little more official for Miss USA. Albury said, "I got the opportunity on behalf of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to present her with our right-shoulder sleeve insignia for former war-time service, giving her a combat patch. I told her to make sure that she wears it proudly wherever she goes throughout her trip in Iraq."
Smith realizes the tremendous sacrifices taking place, saying, "We have to continue to support them (troops) and not only the troops, but their families back home. I can't imagine. I have talked to men and women who are staying for 12 or 15 month long tours. They need all of our support."
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2007 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 14847 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 655 |
| Downloads: | 536 |
This work, Miss USA meets Bastogne Soldiers in Iraq, by MAJ Johnpaul Arnold, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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