Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | The 500 Festival Mini-Marathon begins at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, May 8. More than 600...... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Race participants lined up more than three abreast, unlike the automobile race they were celebrating, the Indianapolis 500, in a 13.1-mile race here. Unlike the race car drivers who compete in the Memorial Day weekend race, the participants here ran, hiked or walked the streets of Joint Base Balad.
More than 20 Indiana National Guard Soldiers with Headquarters Company, 38th Combat Aviation Brigade competed in a remote, not in Indianapolis, 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, and nearly a dozen more volunteered to run a water point at the halfway mark. According to race officials, more than 600 troops and civilians competed in the race here.
"It's a big event, and a tie to back home. It's a little bit of home for me," said Command Sgt. Maj. John Watson, the unit's command sergeant major and Indianapolis native.
He ran eight 500 Festival Mini-Marathon's in Indianapolis, but this was his first remote mini. And according to Watson it had a hometown feel.
"I thought it was really neat the 500 Festival committee donated all the goodies - the start line banner, the signed banner, the T-shirts, hats, and finishers medals. It was really cool they did that for all the service members here," said Watson, who finished first among 38th CAB Soldiers in just under two hours.
Watson also commented that this race was big event for his unit.
"We're in the 11th month of our deployment and the 10th month of our time here in Iraq. It's just another major event as we get close to drawing down our mission," said Watson. The unit has been in Iraq since August, and its primary missions supported the battalions that are within its command. The Soldiers planned, coordinated and executed fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft missions.
Watson said since the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon is a hometown and home state event, it was a significant race for himself and his troops.
"Because it was home state event it really meant a lot to me," said Watson. "Our Soldiers showed their Hoosier pride; a lot of them had their sights set on it (this race) a long time ago."
Indiana Army National Guard Master Sgt. Renee Anker, of Wolcott, Ind., and the unit's medical non-commissioned officer in charge, said the race brought the unit together.
"It was an event that brought all the sections together, and they worked as one," said Anker who was in charge of running the water point. She also coordinated volunteers who helped make Indy Car inspired decorations for the unit's sponsored water point, which included a race car made from used, plastic water bottles and a winners' circle-like water stand with a black and white checkered design.
"I knew I wanted to make a car," said Anker of designing the unit's water point.
Another Hoosier Guard Soldier was inspired at the end of the race when the last of the 38th CAB Soldiers crossed the finish line more than three hours after the start.
"I'd like to dedicate this next song to all Indiana Soldiers," said Capt. Richard Uggen, of Hartford City, Ind., and a 38th CAB battle captain, who took the public address microphone in hand and then sang "Back Home Again in Indiana."
Despite being thousands of miles from home the race provided a chance for the Hoosier Soldiers to continue their Indiana traditions that reminded them of home.
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2010 19:01 |
| Story ID: | 49335 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 297 |
| Downloads: | 261 |
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