CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — March madness is here and the 2113th Transportation Company from Paducah, Ky., is at Contingency Operating Location Q-West, Iraq, but that hasn't hindered these Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers from watching their beloved Kentucky Wildcats and showing they are true blue no matter how far they are from the Bluegrass.
"For the games that weren't televised in Iraq, I had my wife Jenifer put the web cam on our TV at home so our guys could watch it on my computer here in Iraq. At the same time, we had the score streaming and the University of Kentucky commentators on CBSSports.com. The funny thing was each source was seconds apart, so we were cheering three different times for the same play. We would see the streaming score, hear the commentators, and then see the play. It was great," said Spc. David S. Cavitt, the 2113th TC's armor and weapons expert from Paducah, Ky.
The 2113th TC is attached to 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment headquartered in Henderson, Tenn., but that Tennessee connection has certainly not swayed the loyalty of these Wildcat fans. They are brothers in arms on missions; still yet, after the mission, Kentucky basketball reigns supreme in the hearts and minds of 2113th TC Soldiers.
As a police officer for the University of Kentucky Police Department, I thought it difficult to watch games on TV, because I am used to watching them from the floor of Rupp Arena in front of a thunderous student section wearing head to toe blue. But now that I'm in Iraq, I find it even more touching to see proud Kentucky men in women in head to toe Army green cheering for their home team. Kentucky Soldiers have even adopted wearing blue reflective belts to show their loyalty to the Cats.
As a tribute to Kentucky's SEC Championship, the Soldiers even organized and videoed their version of the Wall Dance. John Wall, the standout freshman for Kentucky this year, pulled out some dance moves at Midnight Madness, and those moves became the Wall Dance. With the Wall Dance now in Iraq, it has now gone international.
The basketball season is coming to a close and Kentucky Soldiers are anxious to see their Cats hang another banner in Rupp Arena. With the large time difference and games coming on later, Cavitt and his section of guys say they'll be taking a nap and setting an alarm for three in the morning just to see Kentucky take it to the house.
No colors run deeper than good ole' Kentucky blue.