The Gulf Region Division (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq) teamed up with the 10th Combat Support Hospital to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the International Zone, March 15.
Soldiers from the 416th Engineer Command, headquartered in Darien, Ill., who call Chicago home but are currently assigned to the Gulf Region Division, were 'adopted' by Chicago's South Side Irish Parade committee and the ComPadres organization, which donated 30 boxes of festive items to use during the St. Patrick's Day celebration.
The donated items were distributed throughout the various March 15 activities, including a 10K run/walk, a 5K run/walk, a visit to wounded warriors at the hospital, and a parade around GRD's Essayons Compound. Soldiers from Wisconsin carried the state flag and wore cheeseheads during the parade.
Although St. Patrick's Day is officially March 17, activities were planned for Sunday in conjunction with the parades in Chicago.