Engineers celebrate Independence Day with sports tournament

14th Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Spc. Opal Vaughn

Date: 07.05.2008
Posted: 07.05.2008 21:34
News ID: 21217
Engineers celebrate Independence Day with sports tournament

By Spc. Opal Vaughn
14th Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq – What would the Fourth of July be without food, fun and games?

The 326th Engineers Battalion (Air Assault) sponsored a two day Fourth of July tournament between their four companies' followed by an award ceremony and a barbeque at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, located in Tikrit, Iraq, on July 3.

The Headquarters Support Company, the 232nd Construction Effects Company, the 58th Combat Effects Company and the Forward Support Company, all under the 326th Eng. Bn. (AA) competed in the twelve game tournament to include foosball, Halo 3, volleyball, Texas hold'em, a 4x1 mile relay run, ultimate football, horseshoes, softball, bench press, dominoes, spades and tug-of-war.

The big game highlights of the two day Fourth of July tournament surrounded Halo 3, volleyball, horseshoes, softball, bench press and tug-of-war, where most of the trash talking went on between the four companies.

Halo 3 consisted of two players to represent their company which was identified by a color. HSC was represented by green, 232nd CEC was gunmetal grey, 58th CEC was blue and FSC was represented by yellow.

HSC took the lead by winning Halo 3 early on in the two day Fourth of July tournament by getting the most kills during the game. Following Halo 3 was a night game of volleyball.

Beating out the three other companies, 58th CEC took the win with a final score of 15-12 against HSC, during the championship volleyball game.

"This game was a good stress reliever," said 1Lt. Dwight Howell, executive officer for the 58th CEC, 326th Eng. Bn. "They help to stop some of the melancholy of work and deployment," he said as he left to get some rest for the next day of events.

The third event for the second day of Fourth of July games was a game of horseshoes.

"Ha, that's game!" celebrates Sgt. 1st Class Gary Glover Jr., the communications non-commissioned officer in charge along with his teammate Spc. Chris Turner, a communication specialist, both with HSC, 326th Eng. Bn. Getting the most points in the event to get the win, the two Soldiers smile ear-to-ear about their victory.

Later on in the afternoon, a game of softball was played ending with the final game and 58th CEC with the final win.

Bench press was the only event during the tournament that demanded an individual effort.

Only one Soldier was chosen to represent each company. With a maxed weight of 335 pounds, Capt. Jonathan Walden, a battle captain with HSC took first place with a maxed weight of 295 pounds.

Sgt. Derrick Powe, a team leader with 58th CEC, took second place.

Tug-of-war completed the two-day Fourth of July tournament.

"Pull, pull, pull" each company chanted as their teammates were on the rope trying to take the win. But In the end, only one winner would emerge, HSC, taking both the tug-of-war win and the overall win for the grand prize.

Lowering their prized guide-on, Maj. Silas Martinez, the battalion executive officer and Command Sgt. Maj. Henry Hart III, the senior noncommissioned officer of the battalion, both with the 326th Eng. Bn (AA), tied a red streamer with the word "vengeance" on the guide-on to acknowledge HSC's achievement.

"Hooah three-two-six," Hart shouted to the four companies.

"We put these events together to not only celebrate the Fourth of July but to destress you guys. Each and every day we ask you all to go out and do a job and you go and do it," Hart added. "This is our way of thanking you."