MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania - Soldiers, Marines and Airmen popped softballs on Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base over the Fourth of July weekend as an alternative to traditional fireworks. Five teams including base firefighters, military police, Marines with the Black Sea Rotational Force and two Army units in transit from Afghanistan to the U.S. competed in a three-day installation softball tournament hosted by Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
M.K. Air Base installation commander and director for the Black Sea Area Support Team, Col. Ronald Bahr, supported the tournament by competing with the team of firefighters. Bahr, a reservist on an active-duty assignment, works for the West Pierce Fire & Rescue in Lakewood, Washington. At M.K. Air Base, he is responsible for all base activities.
"We try to organize as many of these events as possible for morale and get as much participation as we can," said Bahr. "We're here to celebrate the Fourth and give these guys something to do."
M.K. Air Base has become the "go-to" hub for service members in transit back to the U.S. from Afghanistan. MWR provided service members with a fun, relaxing event with which to decompress before many of them integrate back into the less tactical environments of what many call "home."
"This is great for morale," said Capt. Charles "Jerod" Dalton, 365th Engineering Battalion assistant operations officer (and pitcher). "We've worked a lot of long hours over the last nine months. Now everyone can get together and continue to build camaraderie just like we have been the last year together."
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