Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth Houx | Army Sgt. Sid Burgoon, Task Force 38 project manager, and Master Sgt. Wayne Leuthold,...... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Service members stationed here worked together to provide a sanctuary for people here and to memorialize Soldiers who lost their lives.
Red River Place was dedicated to seven Company B, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment Soldiers who lost their lives in the CH-47 Chinook crash September 2007 and was named after the aircraft's call sign: Red River.
Task Force 38 chaplain, Maj. Robb Barlow, said through a joint service effort between Airmen and Soldiers, two trailers were transformed into a recreational area everyone at Joint Base Balad could enjoy. Barlow recognized two Task Force 38 Soldiers in particular: Staff Sgt. Jesse Bradbury, Task Force 38 chaplain's assistant, and Army Sgt. Sid Burgoon, Task Force 38 project manager.
"The Air Force owns it, Sgt. Bradbury has been coordinating it, and Sgt. Burgoon has handmade most of the interior," said Barlow, Shelbyville, Ind.
Barlow said the hard work and donated time and supplies left Red River Place possessing all of the conveniences people could need to relax or hang out.
"It's a good opportunity, it's something good for our Soldiers, and it's a nice lounge and hang out area," said Barlow.
Airmen and task force Soldiers renovated the Red River Place trailers to create the lounge feel by installing a custom-made, hardwood floor, leather couches, computer and telephone stations, and a reading center.
"It's a little bit like home," said Burgoon, Prior Lake, Minn. "It's got that nostalgia."
Burgoon said that renovating the Red River Place trailers to their current home-like state will benefit the people who will use it once it opens, and the project provided personal gain for himself.
"It feels like I accomplished something," said Burgoon. "I feel good about doing something for the good of everybody."
"It's probably one of the things I will remember most about this deployment," he added.
Master Sgt. Wayne Leuthold, Task Force 38 liaison for the corps operations in Baghdad, shared Burgoon's sentiment of improving the hang out area.
"We put a lot of hours into it, but it was an enjoyable project and I loved doing it," said Leuthold.
He said due to the shared knowledge of carpentry and assets of the Task Force 38 wood shop, he and his fellow Soldiers were able to create something lasting.
"It's something we can leave behind that all service members can enjoy," said Leuthold.
Master Sgt. Benita Futrell, Indianapolis resident and Task Force 38 chief paralegal, said that Burgoon, Leuthold and Bradbury's dedication to providing a comfortable place to relax and mingle home was admirable. She plans to follow their example by not only using Red River Place, but also by helping run it.
"I will use it when it opens, and I plan to volunteer to help run it because it's a good cause and has a good mission," said Futrell.
She also said she is optimistic Red River Place will further assist task force unity since people work in different offices and on different duty shifts.
"It will hopefully be a spot where troops can come together and socialize since we seldom see each other while we are working," said Futrell.
Red River Place is located next to Freedom Chapel on JBB's west side. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by mid-December.
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2009 10:52 |
| Story ID: | 42612 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 259 |
| Downloads: | 200 |
This work, TF 38 provides memorial, home-like getaway for deployed troops, by SFC Elizabeth Houx, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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