Fourth of July for Deployed Troops
Sgt. Ivan Acevedo, a metal worker from Los Angeles, Calif., enjoys a camel ride at a bazaar held at Contingency Operating Base Adder's Iraqi-Based Industrial Zone. Acevedo is deployed with the 121st Brigade Support Battalion "Iron Hammers" of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas.
Photo by Sgt. Mark Miranda
Staff Sgt. Michael Wambsgans, support operations/transportation non-commissioned officer-in-charge for 204 Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division and resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., runs toward home plate as his teammates cheer him on during an Independence Day weekend softball tournament held at Contingency Operating Base Basra
Photo by Sgt Frank Vaughn
(From left) Sgt. Andrea Drost of Luverne. Minn., Staff Sgt. Angela Bedessem of Woodbury, Minn., Staff Sgt. Jacqueline Cornwell of Fountain, Minn., and Spc. Tamarra Dreier of Glencoe, Minn., represent the human resources section of Special Troops Battalion, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division in an Independence Day weekend celebration parade held at the Red Bull Life Sustainment Area of Contingency Operating Base Basra.
Photo by Sgt. Frank Vaughn
Sgt. 1st Class Jose Urrutia proves his title as Combat Outpost Penich's "grill master" during an Independence Day celebration July 4. The outpost, home of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, shipped in more than 200 pounds of burgers, bratwursts, steaks and ribs for the event.
Photo by Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Kim Harris
Photo by Pfc. Bryan Willis
Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Quinones, guitarist for the Combined Joint Task Force-82 rock band "No Reserve" plays while vocalist Spc. Christine Permenter sings to the beat of band-leader Sgt. 1st Class James Donahue at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, during a 4th of July celebration, marking America's 233rd birthday.
Photo by Capt. Michael Greenberger
Photo by Capt. Michael Greenberger
Sgt. Maj. Enrique X. Hines, sergeant major of 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (left), 1st Sgt. James Telley, company first sergeant for Bravo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (middle), 1st Sgt. Mario R. Artalejo, company first sergeant for Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (right), barbeque steak and hamburgers for the Marines and Sailors aboard USS Boxer during a fourth of July celebration. The 13th MEU/Boxer Amphibious Ready Group are in the sixth of their seven-month deployment and are journeying through the Pacific Ocean in route home.
Navy Courtesy Photo
Capt. Andrew Kuen (right), of Montville, N.J., the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, places a First Team combat patch on the shoulder of Capt. Chuck Dickhart (left), of Wayne Penn., a battle captain for the 1st ACB, during a July 4, combat patch ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq, a basecamp north of Baghdad.
Photo by Sgt. Nathan Hoskins
Photo by Bradley Evans, Naval Visual News Service
Away from home, away from family, our troops find many ways to celebrate the Fourth of July -
Despite heat and sand storms, they had parades, "Fun Runs", BBQ's on land and sea, competitions, music, reenlistment ceremonies, deployment patches were issued, a diploma, baseball and parades -
heck, they even had a camel ride!
Gratitude to each of them - on the Fourth of July and everyday!
3 comments:
Great post! Saw it on twitter and came over in the spirit of #military monday. Linked you back on my blog http://www.pearlsofhonor.blogspot.com
It's funny/strange the details one picks up in these sorts of photos. I noticed the troops have a lot better sort of grill than we had back in the day... when it was VERY rare to find something other than half of a 55-gallon drum topped off with hand-cut mesh decking. :D
Especially those Navy grills on the ships decks - saw several of those pictures!
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