ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- Troopers and family members of the 2d Cavalry Regiment participated in a number of sporting events and attended memorial dedications during a four-day event called the Week of The Dragoon to promote Esprit d' Corps within the unit, May 19-22, 2014, at Rose Barracks, Germany.
The event started Monday morning with a Regimental run. Unit guidons and colors were present and Troopers held them high as they ran through the streets of the small U.S. base in Bavaria. Colonel D. A. Sims, commander of the Regiment, gave a small speech before the run about the week and what it would entail.
"This is the beginning of a week to celebrate you guys," Sims said to the Troopers as they stood in formation prior to the run. "It's called the Week of the Dragoon. This is a week to commemorate all the amazing work you've done over the past year. We will memorialize the two we lost in Afghanistan and we will pay our respects to those amazing Americans who gave their lives in Afghanistan."
Troopers competed against each other in a number of sporting events including dodge ball, soft ball, golf, basketball, flag football, as well as, a video game tournament. They also competed in the Dragoon challenge, a series of events designed to test their soldiering skills. The challenge included a foot march, stress shoot, litter carries, weapons assembly and tire flips to test their physical abilities.
The week did not just include sports and recreation. There were a number of memorial dedications held in remembrance of two Troopers who gave their lives to their country in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during the Regiment's recent combat deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan.
The Rose Barracks Fitness Center was renamed after Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams. Williams was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2 CR, and native of Elkhart, Ind. He died in a helicopter crash Dec. 17, 2013, in southern Afghanistan. OEF 13-14 was Williams' third combat deployment in service to his country.
Additionally the recently built Unmanned Aerial Support Facility at Rose Barracks was also dedicated to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli, also with HHT, 2 CR. Balli was killed Jan. 20, 2014, during an insurgent attack at Forward Operating Base Pasab, Afghanistan. He was 42 and native of Kapolei, Hawaii.
The week-long event culminated with Family Day activities consisting of food, music and a "Dragoons Got Talent" show for Soldiers and family members at the Vilseck Army Air Field. The celebration of the end of a combat deployment to Afghanistan and a remembrance of two American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice are what this year's Week of The Dragoon was all about.
For more photos of the Week of The Dragoon, visit www.flickr.com/photos/dragoon2scr
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