CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan – When U.S. Army Spc. Paul Gonsch, Company C, 404th Aviation Support Battalion, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, began his guard shift at Camp Marmal on Christmas day, he was prepared for anything.
When a blue bus stopped at his vehicle check point, he was pleasantly surprised to see six New England Patriots cheerleaders spring out to meet him and ask about his day.
Sponsored by the United Services Organization and organized by 4th CAB, 4th ID, and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, the cheerleaders toured the majority of combat outposts throughout Regional Command (North) from Dec. 26 – 29, where they did meet and greets, visiting with service members, civilians and with U.S. Special Operation Forces.
They also performed a variety show of modern dance routines, singing and skits with crowd participation for International Security Assistance Force service members and civilians deployed to some of the most remote locations in the region.
U.S. Army Sgt. Dan Mack, 35, Celina, Texas, Headquarters Support Company, 404th ASB, 4th CAB, 4th ID, attended one of the performances, Dec. 29. Mack, who is on his third deployment, was happy to have the chance to see the show.
“[I’ve] seen a few shows,” he said.
“A lot of celebrities used to come through and I remember my first deployment when Kid Rock came through,” he said. “This was a really good show too, and it’s definitely going to be a huge morale booster.”
Angela Lavoie, one of the cheerleaders and a middle school math teacher from Middleton, Mass., has done two tours for service members and civilians, her last one in 2007.
“You gain a new kind of appreciation for what the soldiers do here,” Lavoie said. “They’ve given up all of their holidays, we only have to give up one of ours.”
| Date Taken: |
12.29.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
01.04.2011 12:45 |
| Story ID: |
63003 |
| Location: |
CAMP MARMAL, AF |
| Web Views: |
467 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, Patriots cheerleaders tour northern Afghanistan, by SGT Sean Harriman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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