It's Still an American Tradition

Photo By Pfc. Susan Blair | Soldiers from Task Force Falcon watch Billy Joel perform 'The Star Spangeled Banner' before the Super Bowl Feb. 4. Even though they're in Iraq for this years Super Bowl, they were still able to watch the game. (U.S. Army photo by, Pfc. Susan Blair Task Force Falcon PAO)  

02.07.2007

Courtesy Story

82nd Airborne Division

Pfc. Susan Blair
Task Force Falcon PAO


NORTHERN IRAQ - It wasn't your typical Super Bowl party; normally you'd find bowls of chips, pizza's stacked almost sky-high, a few dozen buffalo wings, several cases of beer and an assortment of team jerseys; instead there were snack- size bags of chips, hamburgers and hot dogs from the dining facility and Army uniform tops instead.

This year the Soldier's of Task Force Falcon might not have been able to watch the Super Bowl in their typical fashion, but they were able to keep the tradition alive as much as possible.

"I would've normally had a super bowl party that would've taken place at my house," said 1st Sgt. Joseph Goebel, of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. "I would've had about 10 to 15 people over to watch it on the big screen and had a lot of food and a couple of beers."

Staff Sgt. Jason Carrico, a platoon sergeant for Anti-Tank 4, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, TF Falcon, who is a passionate Chicago Bears fan, normally would have decked his house out with football and Bears memorabilia and, like Goebel, would have had a party.

This year Carrico shared his Super Bowl experience with his platoon in the tiny tent where the TV was. The platoon earlier that day had ordered several pizzas for the game. Carrico watched The Bears go head-to-head with the Indianapolis Colts in a battle for Championship title.

"The kick-off was the best part of the game," said Carrico. "It showed that the Bears were ready to play."

Even if a Soldier's team wasn't playing in the Super Bowl he still chose a team to cheer for regardless.

For Goebel his team of choice wasn't competing, however he was keeping his fingers crossed for the Chicago Bears to win.

"Neither of my teams were playing so it made it easy for me to root for either or and not really care which one wins," said Goebel.

Even though Goebel was cheering for the Bears, once the second half started it became evident that the Bears were not going to take the win this year.

"I would've liked Chicago to have won but it became funny in the end at how poorly [their quarterback] performed," said Goebel. "It became a comedy of errors."

Carrico on the other-hand was not as upbeat about the defeat.

"They (the Bears) wanted it but they just fell apart as they kept playing," said Carrico. "After their second touch down it went downhill from there." Carrico still remains optimistic for next year.

The biggest difference between last year's football experience and this year's in Iraq was being unable to watch the Super Bowl commercials, which have become part of the unofficial American Holiday.

"I think a couple of years ago I would've said, 'I really don't care about the commercials,'" said Goebel, "but it's become such a major part of the Super Bowl. You get to see everything, all the new sets of commercials and all the new series for the year."

Super Bowl commercials or not, the Soldiers were still happy they were able to watch the game.

"Of the past seven Super Bowls this has been my fourth one (deployed)," said Goebel. "This has become pretty much the norm."

• Date Taken: 02.07.2007
• Date Posted: 02.07.2007 09:20
• Story ID: 9073