Written by Staff Sgt. Todd Christopherson
4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, KY – Non-commissioned officers and officers from 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, restarted a storied Army tradition with a clash on the gridiron in the first annual Turkey Bowl, November 21st, 2012, at Fort Campbell, KY.
“We love football!” said Lt. Col. Gregory Beaudoin, commander of the 1-506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “Used to be when the Army was slower paced, every Thanksgiving you would have a football game of NCOs against officers.”The two teams, made up of battalion’s NCOs on one side in black T-shirts and the officers on the other side in red T-shirts, were looking across the field at each other with the thought that someone is losing their lunch money expression.
Just another friendly game of flag football indeed!
“The NCOs and officers came together to have a good game”, said Command Sgt. Maj. Franklin Velez of the 1-506th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “This game helps to bring everyone together and develop an esprit de corps and teamwork in the unit.”
In the end after all the running, yelling, shoving and throwing the pig skin around the time limit expired and the officers won by one touchdown.
To recognize the loosing team, a toilet seat with a picture of a command team member representing the respective losing side was presented immediately upon completion of the game.
“This award will be given to the losing team”, said Sgt. Maj. Eric Davis, the operations sergeant major for the 1-506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, “and unfortunately the NCOs lost this time.”
“At the end of the day we will all be on the same team with this level of energy, focused on winning no matter what, that’s where it counts!” said Col. Val. Keaveny the commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. “With this level of energy no other team can beat us at the end of the day.”