SM: "Happy Fourth of July
to you, and Happy Fourth of July to all the lads of the
82nd Airborne."
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Length: 3:12
LARGE (37.2 MB)
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SMALL (3.9 MB)
The sandstorm in Iraq continues, and Michael
spends the day with the troops at Forward Operating
Base Hammer. There is a softball tournament
underway and a good time being had by all.
Happy Independence Day to all the troops, and thank
you for your service!
TJ HOLMES:
In Iraq, though, they're keeping the spirit of
Independence Day alive.
Our international correspondent Michael Ware with the
troops at Camp Hammer just outside Baghdad, where
Fourth of July celebrations have kicked off.
Michael, we were talking here just a few minutes ago
about Iraq there had essentially their own kind of
sovereignty or Independence Day on Tuesday. But the
soldiers are celebrating American Independence Day
now.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT:
Exactly right, T.J.
Happy Fourth of July to you, and happy Fourth of July
to all the lads of the 82nd Airborne.
We're here at FOB Hammer, which may you guess from
the sandstorm and all the sand, is in the deserts in
Iraq.
Right now, we've got a softball game going on, on the
Fourth of July tournament for the coveted
championship, what would it be, a mug or a rock.
What we've got going on right now is a brigade
support battalion is playing the 573rd Cav. And just
to give you an idea of what it's like here on Fourth
of July, here's a soldier I've prepared earlier, 1st
Sgt. Muznicki (ph). He's here with the 82nd Airborne.
Sarge, what's it like, Fourth of July? Happy Fourth
of July.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is it. This is what it's
like. You can't see about -- what? -- 500 feet in
front of you. And this is it -- dusty, sandy Iraq.
Hot, too.
WARE: So we're going to have a barbecue, hot dogs.
What's going to go on? Fireworks? Hopefully not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not in this.
WARE: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We probably won't last long if we
shoot up some rockets here.
WARE: So how are the lads celebrating?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we had a -- we will probably
have a cookout tonight, and then the softball game
all day. And I wish you could film the mess hall; the
dining facility is really pimped out with a lot of
cool stuff.
WARE: So I saw.
So there's a massive happy Fourth of July cake.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, there is. There is.
WARE: And bunting and the whole deal. So...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
WARE: At least we're giving it a go, hey?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.
WARE: Trying to make it feel like Fourth of July.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are. We are. We're trying to do
our best.
WARE: And that's what it's like over here, T.J., from
the beautifully sandblown FOB Hammer in southeast
Iraq.
HOLMES: Well, we appreciate you showing us that. It's
interesting to see Fourth of July in -- in Baghdad
and in Iraq. I guess you're limited in what you could
do with your fireworks there.
But also, on a serious note here with Joe Biden, tell
us about how he's going to wrap up his trip. Is
Michael still with me?
WARE: Yes, I'm still here, T.J. It's a little bit
difficult to hear you, but I'm here.
Yes, that's right; the vice president is here in
Iraq. He arrived last evening. He has a number of
meetings, obviously, as one would expect, with both
American commanders on the ground; members of the
U.S. mission; the ambassador, Christopher Hill; and
of course, with senior Iraqi officials.
We are obviously, we're not told about how they're
going or how they're faring. One thing I do know is
that because of the arduous conditions here, plans to
host several events at the embassy had to be
relocated because they weren't able to chopper him
across the city.
But just before we go, I want to give the first sarge
a chance to give a bit of a shoutout.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to say happy Fourth of
July to my wife, Diane Muznicki. She's probably
getting up right now and going to work. I love you
very much and I'll be home soon.
WARE: And that's straight from the heart. You -- I
couldn't have said it better myself, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. We are glad we could get that in.
We appreciate you dealing with those conditions. I
know it's tough to hear and see, Michael. But thank
you so much. We'll talk to you guys again
soon.