A slice of home, a welcome sight for Soldiers in Diyala

Photo By Maj. Ramona Bellard | Soldiers assigned to Forward Operating Base Warhorse line up during lunch hour to place their order. Pizza Hut opened Sept. 10, and has sold over 1,500 pizzas in the first three days.  

09.14.2007

Story by Maj. Ramona Bellard 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Maj. Raul E. Marquez
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

BAQOUBA, Iraq — Pizza – the quintessential food for most Americans, especially Soldiers. "That pizza pie," as it's known in New York, with it's cheesy and saucy goodness, has made it's way to one of the smallest Forward Operating Bases in Iraq – FOB Warhorse, outside Baqouba.

Pizza Hut, one of the most famous fast-food restaurants in the U.S. that is partnered with Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the military's Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, caters to Soldiers throughout most major FOBs in Iraq. On Warhorse, it has joined another Soldiers' favorite, the Green Bean Coffee Shop, when it opened one of its short-order shacks, Sept. 10. And as expected, it has become a favorite for Soldiers throughout the day and night.

According to the local Pizza Hut manager, Charles D'Souza, a native of Karnataka, India, who has managed restaurants for the past three years throughout Iraq, his restaurant has sold over 1,500 pizzas in the three days the restaurant has been open.

Spc. Travis Neal, a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Gainesville, Texas, said he loves Italian food, but especially the Chicago-style pizza. Regardless, he, as well as hundreds of other Soldiers, have purchased the pizza and said it is pretty good.

"It is a good morale booster for the Soldiers here," said Neal, who would also like to see other fast-food chains making it to the FOB in the future. "I would like to see a good Taco Bell or Sonic...I love Sonic. Arby's! Definitely Arby's."

Capt. Jennifer S. Karim, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, is the FOB mayor and was instrumental in the establishment of this restaurant, as well as other new amenities now offered to Soldiers assigned to Warhorse.

"We initially requested for the Pizza Hut in January," said Karim, a Houston native. "The major issue we encountered was getting the food across the Kuwaiti border. It took more than three months to finally get the food to our FOB."

Karim's next project is to bring a Turkish restaurant to the FOB.

Most Soldiers believe that having a franchise of fast-food restaurants, regardless of the company it comes from, is beneficial for the Soldiers.

"Even if you miss lunch or dinner, you can still get something to eat," said Spc. Jessica Rafanan, 571st Military Police, and a native of San Diego. "I would love to see a McDonalds here too."

Staff Sgt. Darryl Reaves, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, and a native of Philadelphia, also agrees with Neal and Rafanan, and would like to see a McDonalds like in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait.

Other Soldiers view this new addition to the FOB as a step toward a more permanent presence in Diyala – a sign that coalition forces will remain in the province for a long time.

At one point, FOB Warhorse was scheduled to close, along with other smaller FOBs throughout Diyala. However, due to the increased violence created by al-Qaida earlier this year, and the surge of troops sent to quail this violence, those plans were scratched. Now, the FOB is in continuous growth.

In spite of of those who feel this is a sign of a more permanent stay in Diyala, and what a Pizza Hut represents to them, everyone still enjoys a slice of home.

• Date Taken: 09.14.2007
• Date Posted: 09.14.2007 08:04
• Story ID: 12336