Photo By Cpl. Daniel Eddy | Paul Hamm (right), a 2004 Olympic gold medalist and Washburn, Wis., native, signs an...... read more read more
Subscribe
BAGHDAD – Several American Olympic gold medalists visited service members Aug. 6 at Camp Liberty, Iraq.
It is not uncommon for people to travel thousands of miles to watch world-class athletes like these perform, but this time around Moushaumi Robinson, Paul Hamm, Allen Johnson and Carly Piper did the traveling.
On the first day of the athletes’ visit, soldiers lined up in the 1st Armored Division headquarters to meet them and have their picture taken with the athletes; on the second day, troops were given the chance to meet them while eating lunch at the Iron Oasis Dining Facility. During this meet-and-greet, the gold medals that the athletes won in the 2004 Summer Olympics were on display and soldiers were given the opportunity to touch and wear the medals themselves.
“We compete for our country, so we know how important it is to do the right thing and represent the United States, and people here in the military are doing the same thing,” said Paul Hamm, a Washburn, Wis., native, who received a gold medal in the 2004 Athens, Greece, Olympic Games by winning the men’s gymnastics individual all-around competition. “We are trying to do our part for the country and we are trying to show that we understand and care about the fact that the military is doing its part for us also.”
Hamm said he is really enjoying just meeting people and seeing their face light up, and also the mutual respect given to both parties.
“It’s nice for them to say the nice things to us and then we also say back to them, ‘thank you… for your service,” Hamm said. “It’s a great thing for all of us.”
Capt. Matthew Killoran, a future operations planner for the 1st Armored Division G-3, and a Durham, Calif., native, said it’s nice to have a break in the work day and to be able to get out and do something different. Killoran also said he really appreciates the athletes taking time out of their busy schedule to encourage and thank soldiers.
The athletes talked about how much they enjoyed being able to talk with and be around deployed Soldiers.
“[It is great] actually seeing people who are tangible, who you can touch and look at and truly thank for something that many of us are not equipped to do mentally, emotionally and physically,” said Robinson, a Columbus, Ohio, native, and winner of a gold medal in Athens by participating in the 4x400 meter women’s relay. “I think it takes a lot to be a service member to be away from your family members for that long and serve your country; it’s a huge honor to be in their presence and I am really excited to be here.”
Robinson said she knows soldiers are excited to see them and their gold medals, but what they probably don’t realize is how excited the athletes are to meet the service members. Being away from one’s family for months at a time is something she said can only imagine, and would come back to Iraq every year to visit U.S. service members, if the opportunity was offered.
One particular part of the military both Hamm and Robinson both said they enjoy is flying in military aircraft. Hamm said he liked being able to don body armor, and also found the tactical landing to be quite a rush.
Camp Liberty is not the only stop for the athletes, as they are visiting other bases in the coming week on their Olympic Heroes Tour.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2010 12:38 |
| Story ID: | 54155 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 51 |
This work, Soldiers receive golden opportunity, by CPL Daniel Eddy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
