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February 02, 2006
Troops in Iraq Prepare For Super Bowl Gridiron Battle
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 31, 2006) – Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Sigloh stands with his motivational Super Bowl poster Jan. 31. In Iraq, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks hope their schedules will allow an opportunity to watch the game and support their team. They may not be home with their immediate family to watch the game, but from thousands of miles away a few die hard fans hope for the victory of their gridiron favorite. Sigloh is a field radio operator with Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). Photo by: Lance Cpl. Wayne Edmiston
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CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Feb. 1, 2006) -- Every day, service members in Iraq put on their gear and prepare for battle in the war on terror, but one day a year the two top teams in the National Football League suit up and battle to see who will be the next Super Bowl champion.In Iraq, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks hope their schedules will allow an opportunity to watch the game and support their team. They may not be home with their immediate family to watch the game, but from thousands of miles away a few die hard fans hope for the victory of their gridiron favorite.
Whether they are swinging their “Terrible Towel” or playing as the “12th man,” servicemembers in Iraq are cheering for their squad.
Gunnery Sgt. Stephen B. Johnson, administrative chief for Combat Logistics Regiment-25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) will be watching the game in his normal ritualistic fashion-alone.
He is hopeful for his team and expects their tough defense, which has only allowed six touchdowns in the post season, to get them through the game, said the 30-year Steeler fan.
“Our defense is much stronger than theirs,” said the Washington, Pa., native . “Lately, Pittsburgh’s offense has been rolling, so I think they will win 24-10.”
Johnson especially cheers for his favorite player, Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, whom in his 13 years in the NFL has 13, 662 career rushing yards.
Another Steelers fan of 33 years, Lt. Col. Timothy B. Seamon, executive officer of Combat Logistics Regiment-25 had some words of advice for Coach Bill Cower before the big game.
“Keep doing what got them there: Aggressive, creative, smash-mouth football,” said the Baden, Pa., native . “Don’t go into the prevent defense when you get ahead, that makes me more nervous than indirect fire.”
Seamon will be watching the game with his fellow headquarters Marines and doesn’t want to break the luck that this custom has brought them.
“Bring the trophy back for us Pittsburghers in Iraq,” Seamon said.
Many Pittsburgh area natives can be seen around Taqaddum with their Steelers memorabilia spread around their desks with hopes of their fifth Super Bowl victory.
Sgt. Jeremy M. Frick, II Marine Expeditionary Force liaison noncommissioned officer-in-charge, will have his grandparents tape the game and mail it to him.
He recollects watching the Seahawks at the feet of his grandparents as a young child and the tradition continues even thousands of miles away.
“I have been a Seahawks fan forever,” said the Issaquah, Wash., native . “My whole family is Seahawks fans.”
His favorite player is Shaun Alexander, who has rushed for 1,880 yards and scored 27 touchdowns this season for the National Football Conference champions.
Frick is excited about Seattle’s first trip to the championship and thinks they will walk away with a big win.
“I think it will be a really good game,” Frick said. “But the Seahawks will go all the way.”
Frick said if he could be in Detroit standing in front of the team, he would have some words of motivation for the players.
“Prove everyone wrong and take it for all your boys in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Frick.
He also suggested a strategy for Coach Mike Holmgren on how to defeat the hardened Steelers defense.
“Pound it through the middle,” Frick said. “Catch them off guard, then throw it right through them.”
He feels the key will be the Seattle offense which has generated more than 720 yards in the post season.
Seahawks fan Cpl. Casey J. Burk, the patient’s effects noncommissioned officer for Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon, Combat Logistics Regiment-25, 2nd MLG (Fwd.) feels the tenacity of the defense will be a huge deciding factor.
“I honestly feel the Seahawks will come from behind and win by three,” said the Auburn, Wash., native.
He urges the members of the Seahawks to play from the heart for the service members overseas. When in the United States, Burk attended many Seahawks games with his father.
“They need to hand the ball to Shaun Alexander as much as possible,” Burk said.
Frick and Burk are one of many “12th men” here in Iraq, who will filling the stands from afar supporting the Seahawks on Sunday.
Whether a troop’s loyalties lie with the black and gold or the blue and silver, from thousands of miles away in the fight against the global war on terror they will be encouraging their home team to win one for them.
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CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 31, 2006) – Lieutenant Col. Timothy B. Seamon, Capt. Trent Morrow, Gunnery Sgt. Stephen B. Johnson, Chief Petty Officer Mark F. Bryan, Capt. Charles T. Atwood stand posed with their Steelers memorabilia here Jan. 31. In Iraq, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks hope their schedules will allow an opportunity to watch the game and support their team. These 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) Marines may not be home with their immediate family to watch the game, but from thousands of miles away a few die hard fans hope for the victory of their gridiron favorite. Seamon (left) is the executive officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 25, and Baden, Pa. native, Morrow is Headquarters and Service company commander and his wife is a native of Mt. Lebanon, Pa., Johnson is the administration chief for CLR-25 and Washington, Pa. native, Atwood is a communications officer with CLR-25 and Monroeville, Pa. native, and Bryan is the regimental aid station for CLR-25, and Oil City, Pa. native.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Wayne Edmiston
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 31, 2006) – Corporal Casey J. Burk and Sgt. Jeremy M. Frick, both Seattle area natives, will be watching the game and cheering for their Seahawks Sunday. In Iraq, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks hope their schedules will allow an opportunity to watch the game and support their team. They may not be home with their immediate family to watch the game, but from thousands of miles away a few die hard fans hope for the victory of their gridiron favorite. Burk is the Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon patient’s effects noncommissioned officer and Frick is the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force liaison noncommissioned officer.
Photo by: Lance Cpl. Wayne Edmiston
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CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Feb. 1, 2006) – A Johnstown, Pa. native stands with a “good luck cookie” that was sent from home here Feb. 1. In Iraq, fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks hope their schedules will allow an opportunity to watch the game and support their team. They may not be home with their immediate family to watch the game, but from thousands of miles away a few die hard fans hope for the victory of their gridiron favorite.
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CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (Jan. 31, 2006) -- First Sgt. Timothy C. Tackett, an Upper St. Clair, Pa., native and Steelers fan shows off a Terrible Towel outside of his work space aboard Camp Taqaddum, Iraq. Tackett is the 2nd Marine Logstics Group (Forward), Headquarters Company, company 1st Sgt and is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tackett's parents, Larry E. and Sharon A. Atkins still reside in Upper St. Clair. (Official United States Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Josh H. Hauser)(released) Photo by: Sgt. Josh H. Hauser
* Argghhh!
* The Mudville Gazette
Wild Thing's comment........
If you want to do a really nice thing for your military person....tape the game, including the commercials, and send it to them. The guys would have a second game showing just for the commercials.
Posted by Wild Thing at February 2, 2006 01:55 AM
