Courtesy Photo | Pfc. Kevin Galarza, left, a mechanic with Company D, 1st “Dragon” Battalion, 63rd...... read more read more
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By: 2nd Lt. Patrick Leroy Beaudry
2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C
BAGHDAD — A group of soldiers with Company D, 1st “Dragon” Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division– Center, based out of Fort Riley, Kan., were visited by cheerleaders with their closest National Football League team, the Kansas City Chiefs, July 7 at Joint Security Station Deason, Iraq.
JSS Deason is a small base and hasn’t had many visitors who come to boost the morale of deployed soldiers. Soldiers with Company D hadn’t had any United Service Organization-sponsored visits at their small JSS since February, though this event would prove well worth the wait.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Pfc. Charles Chamberlain IV, a radio transmission operator with Company D, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, and a Christiansburg, Va., native. “This was more exciting than in January when I saw Joan Jett…the entire day was incredibly exciting.”
Co-located with the 17th Iraqi Army Division headquarters, these soldiers are mostly a standby quick reaction force and advise and assist trainers for the 17th IA Division.
The regular routine of advising, training, and assisting the IA made the chance of a day with the Chiefs cheerleaders very appealing. Not only were the soldiers able to relax for a day and enjoy time with the girls, but they got to experience a little piece of home.
“We were so glad we could be here,” said Krystal, a senior software engineer and Chiefs cheerleader from El Paso, Texas. “It was exceptionally special. We heard that we were the first group to come out to Deason in a long time.”
I am amazed at the strength and enthusiasm the soldiers display in spite of their deployed status, she said.
Many of the soldiers didn’t even know that the girls might be coming. When the flight landed to receive them, everybody was gathered together and spirits soared.
“It isn’t every day we get visitors out here, let alone cheerleaders,” said Pfc. Kevin Galarza, a mechanic with Company D, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, and a Moreno Valley, Calif., native. “That just made it all the more exciting.”
The visit coincided with the promotion of Spc. Bobby Tipton, a gunner with Company D, and an Amarillo, Texas, native, who was promoted from the rank of private first class to the rank of specialist. A patriotic cheerleader jumped at the opportunity to pin on his new rank.
“It was an honor to step up and pin him,” said Liz, a visitor services coordinator with the city of Kansas City and Chiefs cheerleader. “I talked with him for a bit. I felt like we all got to really know all of the soldiers.”
The cheerleaders have been touring Iraq since July 3 and have already been to at least eight different U.S. bases with more to follow before they return back to Kansas City. However, because of the relatively small number of American soldiers on JSS Deason, the cheerleaders were able to spend more time with each individual soldier.
“We normally only get about 5 minutes to talk to each individual person,” said Katie, an exercise physiologist and Chiefs cheerleader. “Here we were able to talk for 15, 20, in some cases 30 minutes. It was really cool because we were able to open up to you guys, to our heroes. I felt as if a lot of the soldiers opened up to us as well.”
The visit was also a reminder for them of the sacrifices soldiers make in order to protect freedom.
“Americans in general just don’t understand or get it,” said Lindsay, a wellness coordinator and captain of the Chiefs cheerleaders. “They don’t really know what you guys go through…everyone should be able to see the sacrifices that our soldiers make.”
After a long wait for someone to visit their little base, the soldiers could not have been more appreciative of the time they were able to spend with the Chiefs’ cheerleaders.
“It was great,” said Spc. Christopher Zuniga, a driver with Company D, 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, and a Waco, Texas, native. “You know, not only were they from home, but they were real people. It was nice to see they care about us, that they understand our sacrifices for our family as well as the country.”
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.16.2011 07:34 |
| Story ID: | 73838 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 394 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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