Soldiers honor lost heroes ‘Workout to Remember’ memorializes 31 fallen warriors

Photo By Sgt. Crystal Hudson | Staff Sgt. Manuel Montanez, night joint operations center fires non-commissioned officer with 4th Infantry Division, and Houston native, completes a round of towel pull-ups during a 31-minute workout to honor the 31 fallen service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan, Aug. 6, 2011. The event took place on Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Sept. 2.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IRAQ

09.02.2011

Story by Spc. Crystal Hudson 

United States Division-North

By: Spc. Crystal Hudson
29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
USD-N Public Affairs

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Members of 4th Infantry Division, United States Division–North, participated in a “Workout to Remember” at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Sept. 2, 2011, to remember the 31 service members who lost their lives in Afghanistan Aug. 6.

“Physical fitness is an important part of being in the military. It was an important part to the SEALs, and special operations [service members] who were lost,” said Maj. Josh Davis, night chief of operations for 4th Infantry Division and event organizer. “We thought it was a good way to honor their sacrifice.”

The team-based workout challenged participants to complete as many rounds as possible in 31 minutes. Each round included one teammate running 400 meters with a 45 or 25lb weight while the other teammate completed as many repetitions of selected exercises during the lap.

The exercises included thrusters (full front squat into a shoulder press), towel pull-ups and box jumps. The number of repetitions completed in each round was chosen based on the date the service members were lost, said Maj. Matt Clark, operations battle major with 4th Infantry Division and Tucson, Ariz. Native.

“I like the camaraderie. It shows that we are one team,” said Staff Sgt. Manuel Montanez, night joint operations center fires non-commissioned officer from Houston.

Davis said the participants wanted to show some solidarity and support for the families of the service members who were lost.

“[The goal is] to get out and sweat and work hard as a team. It was one team going to rescue another team [in Afghanistan], so that’s what it’s all about, hard work and teamwork,” said Davis, a native of Fayetteville, N.C.

The fallen service members included 17 U.S. Navy SEALs, two U.S. Navy explosives ordinance disposal technicians, three Naval Special Warfare Combat Support sailors, two U.S. Army aviators, three U.S. Army air crewmen, three U.S. Air Force special tactics operators, and one military working dog.

• Date Taken: 09.02.2011
• Date Posted: 09.07.2011 03:09
• Story ID: 76556
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ