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Iraq-Jordan
U.S. Marines in Iraq break pre-battle tension with chariot race
2004-11-07
For U.S. Marines awaiting orders to attack Iraq's rebel-held Fallujah, the bags are packed, trucks are loaded and letters have been sent home, leaving one final, pre-assault diversion: the ''Ben-Hur.'' Blowing off steam, hundreds of Marines took their cue from the 1959 Charlton Heston classic and gathered Saturday at a base near Fallujah for a slapstick chariot race featuring cobbled-together carts and confiscated Iraqi horses. ''These men are about to face the
Among the highlights for the assembled Marines: When the camp dog, Butch, limped onto the racecourse and grazed on the horses' droppings.
greatest personal and professional tests of their lifetimes,'' said Lt. Col. Willy Buhl, commander of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. ''We wanted to lighten things up, take the tension off what we're about to do,'' said the 42-year-old commander from Los Gatos, Calif., who dreamed up the ''First Annual 'Ben-Hur' Memorial Chariot Race.'' The Marine charioteers, wearing togas over their body armor, waved baseball bats done up as spiked maces and jumped into carts forged from cast-off vehicle parts. The makeshift chariots were pulled by Iraqi horses commandeered from looters in the area.
Snip
Posted by:Mrs. Davis

#20  As my 'moderate' brother in New England said, you can tell the election is over, because the MSM covered it, and fairly.
Posted by: Pappy   2004-11-07 9:33:58 PM  

#19  Only the Corps could combine the martial culture, warrior spirit, and frat boy sense of humour combining the best antics from the movie M.A.S.H. and Animal House - Ooh-Rah!

"Aussies would've had more beer. LOTSA, LOTSA more BEER!"

-Shit, these lads were stone sober when they did this - we're not allowed to have any brewskies in muslim-land - just goes to show that we don't need any suds to show the rest of the world how fucking nuts hard core we are when it comes to throwing a pre-battle party!
Posted by: Jarhead   2004-11-07 8:18:44 PM  

#18  >Y'all do realize, don't you, that the only people in the entire world who would do this is Americans? Well, yeah, probably the Aussies would too. But when I looked at the pictures the first thing I thought is, "That's so American!" :-D


Aussies would've had more beer. LOTSA, LOTSA more BEER!
Posted by: Almost Anonymous9229   2004-11-07 6:35:02 PM  

#17  Y'all do realize, don't you, that the only people in the entire world who would do this is Americans?

Well, yeah, probably the Aussies would too.

But when I looked at the pictures the first thing I thought is, "That's so American!" :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-11-07 3:02:53 PM  

#16  Just showed y son the pics."Boy those Marines sure know how to do fun!"his words.
Posted by: raptor   2004-11-07 1:08:39 PM  

#15  ... the camp dog, Butch, limped onto the racecourse and grazed on the horses' droppings.

Government mandated recycling programs gone horribly wrong ...

Next Geraldo!
Posted by: Zenster   2004-11-07 12:56:22 PM  

#14  Among the highlights for the assembled Marines: When the camp dog, Butch, limped onto the racecourse and grazed on the horses' droppings.

"Ack... no, Butch... no kissies... you sleep over there... *cough* *gag*"
Posted by: eLarson   2004-11-07 12:06:59 PM  

#13  This is good. Looks like they put the cart before the horse in that one photo.

I would hope that the MSM would cover this.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2004-11-07 11:31:19 AM  

#12  Cheers for that Nick VTX, the guys look like they're having a great time. Hope it goes well for them when they clear out Fallujah.
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-11-07 11:28:47 AM  

#11  Photos are up here, here and here courtesy of Yahoo.
Posted by: Nick VTX   2004-11-07 11:18:18 AM  

#10  Well, if it's an English horse that explains it - it's 'having a word' with that Marine with the trident! :)
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-11-07 10:59:54 AM  

#9  What did the trophy look like?
Posted by: raptor   2004-11-07 10:50:24 AM  

#8  LOL Mrs. D.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-07 10:06:28 AM  

#7  I always thought the horses were supposed to point the other way!

It was en English horse. That is why it is pointing the wrong way.
Posted by: JFM   2004-11-07 9:57:46 AM  

#6  I believe that photo is a demonstration of the ancient dictum of war that no chariot survives first contact with the race course.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-11-07 9:56:09 AM  

#5  That's a good photo - but I must agree with Barbara, I always thought the horses were supposed to point the other way! :)
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-11-07 9:52:35 AM  

#4  LOL, Mrs. Davis.

Though I don't think they've quite got the concept. I'm pretty sure it would work a whole lot better if the horse were facing in the other direction. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-11-07 9:28:34 AM  

#3  Here's one though not as good as the one in the local paper.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2004-11-07 9:24:53 AM  

#2  I'm very glad to see a funny story like this coming out of Iraq. I'd also love to see pictures as this will be a classic told for a long time. Semper Fi Marines and thanks for laughs.
Posted by: Silentbrick   2004-11-07 9:23:02 AM  

#1  I'd love to see photos of this!
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2004-11-07 9:17:14 AM  

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