Story Highlights
- Camp Bucca holds final round of boxing after three years of regular matches
- The ring at Bucca will be transferred to Camp Victory in Baghdad later this summer
The final chapter of a three-year tradition at Camp Bucca ended May 15, 2010, with a night of boxing, door prizes and a well-deserved farewell.
Commonly referred to as Bucca Boxing, the final Morale, Welfare and Recreation fight night included Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Hundreds of Soldiers and civilians gathered around the stage to celebrate the tradition, receiving door prizes and cheering-on their fellow Soldiers during the "final chapter" of Bucca Boxing.
The Camp Bucca commander, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel J. Lund, began the evening with a special tribute to the man who started it all, retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Felix E. Colman. Felix worked for the past three years as a civilian contractor at the camp information technologies department.
"Bucca Boxing began behind the gym with some pickets and engineer tape and grew over the years," Coleman said. "Now it is time for someone else to continue the events as I leave."
The ring of engineer tape is now a professional-quality boxing ring, and boxers have everything they need for an excellent fight.
Lund dedicated two new flagpoles on the stage to honor Felix for his commitment to caring for the Soldiers and providing for their morale and welfare.
Four Soldiers from 3rd BSTB competed in the event, representing the "Phoenix" battalion. Spc. Steven "Bean Town Brawler" McGloin, of Boston, Mass., assigned to Company B, 3rd BSTB, was the first Phoenix Soldier to fight. While he lost the match by technical knockout, he and his opponent won special recognition as the fight of the night.
Pfc. William Aldridge, also of Co. B, competed against Pfc. Brandon Perry of Headquarters and Headquarters Co. Aldridge won the match by a second-round TKO.
Staff Sgt. Candice "Mama Guns" Caudill, also from HHC, fought strong and hard, but lost by decision after three rounds.
Those who attended participated in a raffle for prizes ranging from playing cards to running shoes, and a chance at two grand-prize Hewlett Packard notebooks.
During intermission, Lund challenged anyone to a fight over a box of Doritos.
Only one Soldier was willing to get in the ring with him, but before they could begin the match, Felix stepped in and gave the Soldier the box of Doritos. Inside the box was an HP notebook, a handsome reward for his courage.