The 598th is marching. (Tramp, tramp, tramp ...).Veterans of the world's largest international walking event, the Vierdaagse, in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, view it with respect. While there are different categories to the "Four Days Marches," the military category requires that you complete a 40-kilometer course each day for four days in a row. That is a distance of approximately 24 miles. Military marchers must compete in the field uniform carrying a rucksack with a minimum weight of 10 kilograms, or 22 pounds. This year a team of six people competed from the 598th Transportation Group. They were Lt. Col. Roger (Butch) Sorrell, Deputy Group Commander; Capt. William Peel William Peel may refer to:
NCOIC Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium ; Sgt. 1st Class Robert Perkins, Chief Personnel Services, Staff Sgt. Roosevelt Elliott, Personnel NCO NCO abbr. noncommissioned officer NCO noncommissioned officer NCO n abbr (Mil) (= noncommissioned officer) → Uffz. ; and Esther Keneipp, Operations Administrative Assistant. We began our training in April, and had logged in close to 300 miles, beforehand. Our adventure began July 16. The team's military members were housed at Camp Heumansoord, located in a large wooded park in the south of the city. We were housed with approximately 6,000 military personnel from around the world. The camp included an enormous beer tent, which served cold beer for two Dutch guilders (about 80 U.S. cents), with live music nightly. It was a great place to meet service members of other nations and swap rank insignia, badges, pins and patches. Reveille was at 3 a.m., when every light in the camp came on and loud rock-and-roll music was piped through the public address system. We began marching at 5 a.m. in a din DIN - Deutsche Institut fuer Normung. The German standardisation body, a member of ISO. of cadence cadence, in music, the ending of a phrase or composition. In singing the voice may be raised or lowered, or the singer may execute elaborate variations within the key. calls in a dozen languages. Most of the calls seemed to be in English--the kind you hear at any American Army post. Soon, our route merged with civilian marchers. We were never actually able to march with Keneipp, our civilian team member, because of the different starting times Noun 1. starting time - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her" commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, start, kickoff, beginning, first and routes. Most of the time, the march was a swirling motion of thousands of people from dozens of countries all with the common goal of successfully completing the Vierdaagse. The Dutch citizens that live along the marching route turned the entire event into a huge festival. Thousands of them were on the route shouting encouragement and providing food and drink. The marching itself is the most part enjoyable. You have good miles and bad miles. Miles where nothing hurts very much and you are enjoying the scenery and miles when you wonder why you signed up for this torture ... I have to say that the Dutch Landmacht and the British Army The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the governments and armed forces of England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. were the most professional, well-prepared, and truly concerned support element I have ever encountered. The Dutch medics Med´ics n. 1. Science of medicine. are able to work miracles on abused and blistered feet, returning a hobbling soldier to the march. On day three, I was soaked soak v. soaked, soak·ing, soaks v.tr. 1. a. To make thoroughly wet or saturated by or as if by placing in liquid. b. To immerse in liquid for a period of time. 2. to the bone from the pouring rain, chilled and in intense pain. British medics let me rest and dried my uniform. They patched my blistered feet and gave me some Motrin. In one hour, I felt like a new man and walked on another 13 kilometers to the finish line. Many passing units--American, British, Dutch or German--would invite me to march in their formation and sing cadence with them. That would always boost my morale and make the miles flow by. By day four, you were ready for the finish line. The crowds of supporters were even more enthusiastic than on the final day. The last five-kilometer stretch is along Sint Annastraat, which is renamed for this one day to Via Gladiola. Bystanders passed out gladiolas, which were soon festooned in soldiers' rucksacks, belts and battle dress uniforms Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) in the United States was the standard military uniform worn into combat, battledress as opposed to 'display' dress uniforms worn at parades and functions. BDUs may be either plain fatigues or in camouflage colors. . When you cross the finish line, you are immediately pinned with your "Vierdaagse Kruis" medal. The award has been recognized as an official foreign military decoration A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform. , and the Army has approved it for uniform wear. When this medal is pinned to your uniform, you truly experience a sense of accomplishment. Unit members, friends and family were there to greet us at the finish line and to share in the experience. The 598th team completed the marches, with the exception of Peel, who developed serious shin splints Shin Splints Definition Shin splints refer to the sharp pains that occur down the front of the lower leg. They are a common complaint, particularly among runners and other athletes. on the third day. He and I will be back for another Vierdaagse--next year. The Dutch walking association KNBLO organizes this event annually on the third Tuesday in July. Participation is wide open. This year's 85th Vierdaagse included 40,219 people from 44 different countries. A total of 34,434 completed the event. You can get more Vierdaagse information on the Web at www.4daagse.nl/english. |
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