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Written by Spc. L.C. Campbell, 138th MPAD
MOSUL, Iraq -Soldiers from Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery celebrated an injured Soldier’s birthday with a day of fun and exciting events at Logistical Support Area Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq.
Corporal Frank Sandoval, 2nd Platoon, Btry. B, 2-5 FA, was injured by an improvised explosive device in August 2005, and is currently recovering in Palo Alto, Calif. Sandoval’s former Battery Commander, Capt. Tom Caldwell, Btry. B, 2-5 FA, put together a day of commemorative events to include a five-kilometer run, flag football, basketball, dodge ball, and a barbeque.
“It’s important that you take care of Soldiers and that’s the bottom line,” said Caldwell. “They have to have time to decompress and to come together as a team, so I saw that Sgt. Sandoval’s birthday was coming up and decided that would be the day.”
According to Caldwell, Sandoval was to be included in the day’s events.
“He is not here in body, but he is here in spirit, so he will be included to celebrate another day of life on this earth and it’s a day that we will celebrate with him,” said Caldwell.
“Capt. Tom Caldwell has done a fantastic job leading this battery,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Green, 142nd Corps Support Battalion, battalion commander. “He came up with this idea to give a send off and cheer to brighten the spirits of Sgt. Sandoval, which is very important.”
According to Green, Sandoval’s family is very patriotic; his father works for Homeland Security. They have been very supportive of all the efforts in Iraq.
“The bottom line is we are here for the mission, and we can be robots and knock out mission after mission,” said Green. “We are not machines, we are all humans here and we need to feed the spirit.”
(via DVIDS)