Fort Lewis unit in Iraq cheers Seahawks

OLYMPIA – When the Seattle Seahawks took on the Carolina Panthers, fans as far away as Iraq were hoping to see their team triumph.

Seahawks fans were not disappointed as the team overwhelmed the Carolina Panthers 34-14.

But before that, members of a brigade from Fort Lewis working with members of a battalion attached to the North Carolina National Guard enjoyed some rousing debates about which team was superior.

At the request of the Olympian newspaper, Lt. Blake Saksa of the 555th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Provisional) from Fort Lewis gathered some comments from Seahawks fans based in Iraq.

Spec. Justin Crowley, a gunner on the personal security detachment, told Saksa that he talks to soldiers from the North Carolina-based 505th Engineer Combat Battalion and they had a friendly rivalry running up to the game.

“There’s a lot of joking around and giving each other a hard time,” Crowley told Saksa. They were at a small-arms qualification range last week and Crowley told a couple of his friends in the 505th, “I hope (Carolina quarterback Jake) Delhomme is a whole lot more accurate than you guys are or it’ll be a long day.”

Sgt. 1st Class Craig Clayton, a career counselor, attended three Seattle home games this year, but didn’t get season tickets because of his deployment. Any game he didn’t attend in person he watched with a group of his buddies. He grew up in Alabama and has been at a number of duty stations in the Army, but this is the first time he has felt a hometown affiliation with any team.

He watched last week’s game against Washington with a few other die-hards because the game was on in the middle of the night in Iraq. They watched it in a big tent in the 555th living area on a 60-inch screen.

Spec. Julius Blanco, a driver with the personal security detachment, said he fell in love with his wife after they went to a game last season and she told him it was the most fun she’d ever had on a date.

“Blanco is always running his mouth and has something witty to say to people,” Saksa wrote. “There is a 2nd lieutenant from the North Carolina National Guard who works at the 555th as a liaison between the two units and Blanco is always busting his chops and giving the lieutenant a hard time about how the Seahawks are going to win.”

Capt. Joe Zulkey, a signal officer, has been a Seahawks fan since he knew what football was.

“Units, from time to time, are giving away free tickets to the game,” Zulkey said. “I just keep my eyes and ears open and make sure to grab a couple. Nothing beats the atmosphere of a live game. It’s cool to be part of the 12th Man here.”

Pfc. June Park said she started watching the games with her guy friends in the Army. She likes their blue uniforms.

“They look a lot better than the other teams I’ve seen them play,” she said

Park said she plans on going to a game after she returns home.

“Hopefully I’ll be watching the defending Super Bowl champions by then,” Park said.