"Dragon" Brigade Celebrates Thanksgiving

By Spc. Shantelle J. Campbell

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs, 1st Infantry Division

SALAH AD DIN, Iraq - As many back home celebrate Thanksgiving with their loved ones, the spirit and meaning of the holiday was not lost in Iraq among Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan.

"Dragon" brigade Soldiers located on various forward operating and patrol bases throughout Salah ad-Din Province celebrated Thanksgiving with a simple dinner and some games.

Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment partook in a friendly competition with a "Turkey Bowl" flag football game that pitted the officers of the regiment against the Noncommissioned Officers.

Lt. Col. Robert Cain commander of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort Riley, Kan., catches a high snap as some of the battalion's Noncommissioned Officers rush in to snatch his flags during the 2-32 FAR "Turkey Bowl" flag football game. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Rebecca Walsh, 4IBCT PAO)

Other 4th IBCT Soldiers on Contingency Operating Base Speicher ate and listened to music during a Thanksgiving chapel program held at the "Dragon's Den" dining facility.

Col. Henry A. Arnold, III, and Lt. Col. Michael Lawson, the Dragon brigade commander and deputy commander, decided to spend the holiday visiting Soldiers throughout the province.

In Bayji, Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th IBCT enjoyed a good meal and appreciated the visit of the brigade's deputy commander.

Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at the unit's dining facility. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shantelle J. Campbell, 4IBCT PAO)

"An opportunity to go and visit with the Soldiers to just say 'hi' to them and 'thanks' for a job well done is something I take very seriously," said Lt. Col. Lawson. "To spend time with the Soldiers is a big deal for me. I get to see their smiling faces; they get to relax and have fun or play some football."

"It shows the guys that their chain of command does support them, and it's a good morale booster," said 1st Sgt. Jerry Dodson, an Elsmore, Kan., native and the top noncommissioned officer with Company C, 2-16 Inf. "It reminds [them] that they haven't been forgotten ... that someone does care that they're out here."

"I think [it's] pretty awesome," said Spc. Bradley Baldwin, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-16 Inf., "when the [leadership] takes their time to come and check on Soldiers and check on morale. [It] shows that they're willing to get in there with their Soldiers at the same time and go through all of the same hardships - it means a lot."

1st Lt. Young Kim intelligence collection manager for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., plays guitar as the choir sings during the Thanksgiving chapel service at the "Dragon's Den" Dining Facility on Contingency Operating Base Speicher. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jake A. Newman, 4IBCT PAO)

As many had a lot to be thankful for, several Soldiers of the "Ranger" battalion said that they were thankful for still having each other.

"I'm thankful for a good company, good Soldiers and a great group of guys," said Sgt. Christopher Dumont, of Stratham, N.H. and a squad leader with Co. C, 2-16 Inf. "I can't really ask for more right now."

"The most important thing is knowing that we're here, all of us are still here," said Staff Sgt. Douglas Saunders, of Fort Riley, Kan., and a task force medic with Co. C, 2-16 Inf., "that's very important and that's what I have to be thankful for."

Being thankful for the support of their family and friends was a common theme among the Soldiers this Thanksgiving.

"I'm very thankful for the support back home from all the families especially from my wife and kids," said Staff Sgt. Petero Taufago, of Pago Pago, American Samoa and a squad leader with Co. C, 2-16 Inf. "For that, I'm very thankful."

"I'm definitely thankful for my wife and my kids," said Spc. Baldwin. "I got engaged to my wife on Thanksgiving and [the holiday] is real close to two of my kids' birthdays. So, it's a pretty nice holiday...I have a lot of good memories."