Master Sgt. Ricky Bakke (left) smiles as he receives an autograph from the celebrities of the Stars for Stripes Ringin' in the New Year Tour at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Jan. 1. The three-day tour stopped at 12 camps throughout Iraq and Kuwait. Photo by Staff Sgt. Patrick N. Moes


Jan 03, 2007
BY Staff Sgt. Patrick Moes
40th Public Affairs Detachment


CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (Army News Service, Jan. 3, 2007) - Football fever took on a new dimension Monday as Third Army/ U.S. Army Central servicemembers watched the last game of the NFL regular season and members of Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl Championship team signed autographs on camp. Stars for Stripes, a nonprofit organization that provides entertainment to internationally deployed servicemembers, sponsored the three-day Ringin' in the New Year tour with former Bears players Jim McMahon, Kevin Butler, actress Karri Turner and news personality Dave Price.

"It's a big moral booster," said Capt. Anthony Manning, the 863rd Engineer Detachment commander. "The troops are happy. They will talk about this for the next week."

The Soldiers gleamed joy as they waited in line with pictures, footballs, Bears baseball hats and Bears banners. The 863rd Soldiers watch every game they can - even those airing at 4 a.m.

"When you come in the barracks (on a Sunday night) you can hear the Soldiers hollering during the Bears' games," said Manning. The Soldiers' exuberance was shared by those on the tour.

Visiting 12 camps in three days, the tour was a chance for the celebrities to meet and see the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.

"These people are serving our country," said Price, weather anchor for CBS News' The Early Show. "We owe our debt of gratitude."

Price added "if anyone has any doubt about the current state our country is in they need to spend a week with the men and women (in the Middle East). Our country is in great hands."