Transporters bring favorite past time to Iraq

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Corn-hole toss, a favorite mid-western U.S. game, has become a popular past time for the Indiana National Guard Soldiers based here. Soldiers from the 1538th Transportation Company gather each week for a tournament of corn-hole toss at the company Morale, Welfare and Recreation building here. "While growing up in Montana, I played lots of horse shoes. The game of corn-hole (toss) reminds me a lot of those days, but without the complications of finding a place to build horse shoe pits," said 1st Lt. Colin Curry, a native of Billings, Mont., with the 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. Corn-hole toss games are frequently seen at most Indiana family picnics and other family-oriented events. "I look forward to getting home and building a set of corn-hole boards to bring out during family functions and barbecues," said Curry. Corn-hole, or corn hole toss, is similar to the horseshoe game except a wooden box is used with corn-hole platforms and corn bags are thrown instead of horseshoes and metal stakes. Each contestant take turns pitching their corn toss bags at the corn-hole platform until a contestant reaches a score of 21 points. Each hole scores three points, while landing on the platform scores one point. "This weekly, simple game allows Soldiers to have a break from the normal day- to-day life here as well as a connection to home while serving in Iraq," Sgt. Lynn D. Ellyson, native of Indianapolis said, "I know it may be hard for some to believe, but our activities are very limited here. Therefore, playing corn-hole and introducing it to others here from other states is fantastic. This simple game has boosted morale and helped many Soldiers relax in hard times." "It was the first time I ever played and I had a blast," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Donald Dillon, a Johnson City, Tenn., native, and the maintenance officer for 991st Trans. Co. "You can be competitive or just have a good time. It helps ease the stress and promotes a good environment." The Soldiers of the 1538th are scheduled to return to Indiana in the summer of 2009.