U.S. troops at Camp Bondsteel
get an early jump on Halloween
By Rick Scavetta,
Stars and Stripes
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — Halloween came early for U.S. troops serving with Kosovo
Force as hundreds of soldiers gathered Sunday to celebrate with costumes, games and
pumpkin carvings.
About 400 soldiers joined the festivities at the base fitness center and sponsored by
Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Some creative soldiers designed their own costumes, using everything from sleeping bags
to plastic "shrink wrap," MWR coordinator Conrad Cooper said. A few soldiers
wrapped themselves like a mummy, in toilet paper, he said.
"We provided makeup and hats for soldiers to make their own costumes," Cooper
said.
Event coordinators bought 20 pumpkins on the local economy, which troops quickly carved
into jack-o-lanterns.
Soldiers with the best carvings received prizes. Instead of candles, troops used
"chem-lights" to illuminate the pumpkin heads, and most brought them back to
their quarters to light for Halloween.
Rather than have a Halloween party mid-week, the event was held on Sunday because many
troops from the outlying areas in Kosovo return to the base camp.
Soldiers also had the opportunity to participate in a sumo wrestling competition,
Cooper said. Troops donned oversized padded suits and wrestled each other.
"That was a big hit," Cooper said. "They were flying through the air and
having a lot of fun."
Red Cross workers handed out gifts to any soldier who had a birthday in October.
Earlier in the day, soldiers took part in the "Werewolf Strut," a 5-kilometer
race around the base. Contestants earned T-shirts to commemorate the run.
While many soldiers took part in the Halloween events, others were on guard duty. While
they see the recreation centers and mess halls decorated for Halloween, many soldiers
don’t have the opportunity to celebrate, said Sgt. William Janes, of Lehi, Utah.
Janes’ unit, the 141st Service Battery, is due to rotate back to Fort Stewart, Ga.,
in the coming weeks.
"We are not doing nothing for Halloween," Janes said. "We’re just
looking forward to going home in 20 days."
Back to October stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from September, 2001
Stories from August, 2001
Stories from July, 2001
Stories from June, 2001
Stories from May, 2001
Stories from April, 2001
Stories from March, 2001
Stories from February,2001
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home |
