Charlie Company boosts morale in Tallil   

Although Camp Adder, in Tallil, Iraq, has several Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Facilities, the troops of Charlie Company, 834th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB) have set up their own ‘morale area’ for just their use. 

They have two separate buildings where they conduct daily operations, with plenty of room for expansion, so the Soldiers took the extra room and turned into an MWR for their use.

The space has grown to be popular, on any given day you can find at least one Charlie Company Soldier watching a movie, bowling on the Wii© or playing Rockband© on their reset day or during meal breaks.  There have also been holidays or the occasional Sundays when much of the company gets together for a grill out. 

Despite the limited resources, the Soldiers cleverly painted a “movie screen” on the T-walls outside their area.  This proves to be very entertaining for the Soldiers to watch while they are cooking or eating.

Sunday March 8th was a day they held a grill out … for a special occasion.  Dennis Ford, a civilian contractor who works with the unit, was celebrating his birthday.   Mr. Ford asked the Soldiers if they could have a “birthday party” for him.   The Soldiers agreed and he wanted to treat all the Soldiers, so off he went to the Post Exchange to purchase all the supplies. 

Once Mr. Ford made it back to the site with the food, SGT Matthew Corman, Satellite-communications Transportable Terminal (STT) Operator from Savage, Minn., got to work on preparing the birthday feast for the Soldiers.  With the help of SSG Tracy McConnell, Networks Operations NCO from Austin, Minn., and SSG Megan Allen, Supply NCO from Mankato, Minn., everyone got to enjoy the wonderfully grilled steaks as if everyone was back home again.

“Because SGT Corman loves to cook, and is very good at it, he has become our company chef,” joked SSG Allen. 

While the rest of the Soldiers waited for the food to be cooked, they kept busy by either playing Rockband or bowling on the Nintendo Wii. 

“If you aren’t familiar with Rockband, it consists of a drummer, two guitarists and a singer,” explained SSG McConnell.  “SPC Doan, JNN operator from Faribault, Minn., likes to rock it out on the drums while Jim (civilian contractor) and other Soldiers are on the two guitars and SPC Rachel Nyberg, Lima Crew Team Chief from Felton, Minn., or SSG McConnell are our talented singers.”

Others who enjoy playing are SSG Thomas Fox, UMO from Rochester, Minn., who is great on the microphone or the guitar; SSG Neil Thompson, Network Operations NCO from Minneapolis, Minn., who also sings and plays the guitar; SGT Eric Holmboe, STT operator from Minneapolis, Minn., who is quite amazing on the guitar; and sometimes even 1LT Brian Fitch, C Co. 834th ASB Commander from St. Louis Park, Minn., will join in on the fun.

Once the food has been consumed and the games are done, Charlie Company Soldiers head back to their compact housing units with a feeling of home for another night’s sleep in Tallil, Iraq.  The Charlie Company MWR has become a comfortable place to relax for the units’ Soldiers and has provided somewhat of a feeling of home.   

SGT Lacey Oyer
C Co., 834 ASB Unit Public Affairs Representative
8 Mar., 2009