Courtesy Photo | Players count their chips at the Sunday night Screaming Eagle Poker Club tournament....... read more read more
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By Spc. Amanda Morrissey
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
COB SPEICHER, Iraq (Oct. 8, 2006) -- Cards were dealt and bets were made, but the players weren't sitting at any Las Vegas card table.
The Screaming Eagle Poker Club, along with Morale, Welfare and Recreation, was hosting its weekly Texas Hold'em Poker Night Sunday, at 6 p.m., at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
The tradition of the Screaming Eagle Poker Club was started more than a year ago by members of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault.) Although tournaments here are now being played by Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division, they have evolved into more than a friendly evening of playing cards.
"It was started, really, to get more soldiers involved, and eventually it grew to where (the players) could make it better by helping the Wounded Warrior Program," said Maj. Ray Fallaria, who organizes local tournaments.
Last year, the founders of the competition contacted professional poker players in the United States to generate support for deployed Soldiers. Their efforts paid off by drawing the interest of some of the top poker players in the world, said Fallaria.
Club members in the United States have arranged championship tournaments between some of those professional players. They've also provided items to be auctioned to generate donations to the program, he said.
Poker tables with the Wounded Warrior logo, one of which was sold for $50,000, are among the items that have been auctioned. Various flags signed by deployed Soldiers who participate in the Screaming Eagle poker tournaments in Iraq have also been sold. One such flag was sold for $30,000, said Fallaria.
Last year, the Screaming Eagle Poker Club raised more than $170,000 for the Wounded Warrior Program, with the help of deployed Soldiers.
The Wounded Warrior Program, which began in April 2004 as the Disabled Soldier Support System, provides severely wounded Soldiers with a system of advocacy and support. It helps Soldiers make the transition back to active duty. It can also help with their reintegration into civilian life, according to the organization's website, www.armyfamiliesonline.org.
"We don't physically raise money here, we raise awareness," said Fallaria, who also works as a contracting officer in the Joint Contracting Command.
"The great thing about (the tournament) is that we enjoy the environment and playing the game...and also we help fellow Soldiers that were wounded in the battlefield. I think it is a win-win situation," said Fallaria.
Sgt. Byron Baro of the 82nd Brigade Support Battalion has participated in the tournament for the past three weeks. He won the tournament two weeks ago.
"It's something to do on a Sunday to break up the monotony," he said.
The Sunday tournaments provide a release valve for the pressures many Soldiers experience while deployed.
"It's something that the soldiers can do on a Sunday evening after a whole week that's been pretty stressful. They all kind of go back and talk and relax, and just enjoy playing the game of poker," said Fallaria.
More than 80 Soldiers, some from outlying forward operating bases, take part in the event, said Fallaria.
"Everything is free. You just show up, have a good time and show your poker skills," said Fallaria.
Soldiers deployed to Iraq aren't permitted to gamble. Tournament players make bets with chips, which represent no monetary value. The winner receives a unique bracelet like those won by players in the United States. Winners also receive pins, T-shirts and other various prizes, as well as bragging rights.
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2006 11:36 |
| Story ID: | 8049 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 128 |
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