CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Although deployed to Kuwait, “Devil” brigade Soldiers celebrated Independence Day with water balloon dodge ball, water balloon slingshot, a watermelon-eating contest and carnival-style events.
The 120-degree temperature of the midday sun didn’t keep Spc. Brian Batten and Pfc. Zavion Applegate, both combat engineers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, from enjoying the holiday festivities.
“This event let us take our minds off working all the time and gave us an opportunity to relax,” Applegate said.
The all-day event was sponsored by Morale, Welfare and Recreation as a way to boost morale.
“We wanted to provide troops an opportunity to have some fun, fellowship with friends and enjoy some good barbecued food,” said
Cherry Burch, Camp Buehring MWR supervisor. “We know they are thousands of miles away from family and friends and wanted to give
them a hometown experience to pick up their spirits.”
The goal of Camp Buehring’s MWR is to provide service members with the same quality services they would get back home in the United States, said Fredericka Hampton, recreation lead, MWR.
Hampton said Camp Buehring MWR offers almost 40 different events a month for service members to relax and unwind.
Activities began at 10 a.m. July 4 at the camp’s Oasis area with a variety of events each hour. The final event of the day was the five-kilometer color run, which began at 7 p.m. as the sun set across the desert.
As each runner crossed the finish line, they were soaked with ice-cold, red and blue colored water.
“It was awesome to participate in something like this,” said Spc. LaBarron Simmons, a fire support specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div. “Being able to participate
in this event made me feel like I was having fun somewhere else.”