East Tennessee troops leave an unmistakable icon in the desert (Vols paint Iraqi water tower)

Knoxville Metro Pulse ^ | 9.11.03

[mhking]

Imagine this: You're an Army Reserve soldier from Knoxville sent to Mosul, Iraq in support of "Operation Iraqi Freedom." Driving up a dusty hill on your way to the former house of "Chemical Ali," now converted to the Headquarters of 101st Division Artillery, you're daydreaming about home. You're slightly depressed, thinking of what you'll be missing this fall; Boomsday, the Smoky Mountain seasonal change, your girlfriend, family, and the whole atmosphere that comes along with UT football, all enough to put one in a foul mood.

As the hot 120-degree Iraqi sun beats down, made worse by the heat-retaining flak vest and helmet you wear, you look up to the sky and ask if it will ever get any better. Then you crest the top of the hill and see it. On the top of this hill, shining like a big orange beacon of hillbilly light, you see an Iraqi water tower painted "UT Orange" complete with the "Power T" on top facing west...towards home. Your first reaction would force your jaw to drop in astonishment. Second, check to see if you're not going crazy, and then finally smile and shake your head in amusement.

The story, or small legend rather, as it goes is this. An officer in the 101st Airborne Division, where most soldiers live in Clarkesville, TN, was given the task of painting the water tower. Buying paint he specifically ordered from the U.S., he set about putting the Iraqis working for him to good use. (His superiors never said what COLOR to use!) The next morning, Iraq had its first experience of what we call "Big Orange Fever."

I really don't know who did it, or why, but I think the other soldiers here prefer it that way, letting it speak for all of us as we let those back home know we're still here. Maybe it was this officer's wish to go back home so bad that drove him to paint the tower. Maybe it was his disgruntlement of missing this year's season, and in turn performing his own little rebellion against those who are the cause of his displacement. Maybe he was just sharing with the Iraqi people the time-honored southern tradition of painting over public structures to show the world what they thought. However it happened, or why, is still up for speculation. All I know is that there's a water tower up there with one letter facing west, hoping to reach out over 8,000 miles to say "Go Vols."

[mhking]

How do you say "Rocky Top" in Iraqi?

[mhking]

Georgia is still gonna win the SEC this year...

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[faithincowboys]

Hysterical! What about the Florida State Seminoles. SEC football is fun, but I love my Noles. By the way, Vol fans should love us, our backup QB laid an egg in the Nat'l Championship game and y'all won.

[Straight Vermonter]

What the heck is a Boomsday?

[Terry Mross]

Woooo, Pig, soooie! I'm originally from Arkansas and my wife is originally from Tennessee. We have a blast when they play each other. We hope it's for the western div championship this year.

[ArneFufkin]

This tower was not theirs to paint.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Now all they need is an orange doublewide and a big satellite dish ;)

[oyez]

I guess it could be worse, you know. USC, Fightin" Irish or some kind of "Hook 'em Horns" kind of garbage.

[The South Texan]

Geaux LSU!

[Will_Zurmacht]

If the locals complain, then I'd probably change it.
Last thing we need to do is to defame the "High Holy water of Al-Fukein Ensein"
Otherwise it could be a good thing to establish a relationship. I'm sure the guys get asked where you are from etc.

Some liberal somewhere will throw a hissy but remember, it could be worse...
Imagine a big ole Rebel flag on that thing...hehe.

[Roux]

"Georgia is still gonna win the SEC this year..."

If you get past the Tigers this weekend. Geaux Tigers!!!

[Fledermaus]

Where are the HOGS?

My poor Arkansas just had to beat Texas and get way too much press and rated way too high.

We have a tough SEC schedule this year.

[Fledermaus]

Terry, Tenn and Ark are in different divisions. Tenn is in the East and Ark in the West. They don't play in the regular season this year...but that does mean they can possibly meet in the SEC championship game.

But I think Georgia is going to win the East again. LSU will probably win the West.

[eddie willers]

LOL!

Of course....the Dogs got there first!

[Fledermaus]

This tower was not theirs to paint.

Beats graffiti that is covering our country.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

A big ole' Tuscaloosa Bump!

[ArneFufkin]

Like gangsta graffiti? Now you're getting the statement this kind of crap makes to the locals.

[faithincowboys]

Arkansas? I'm sure it's a great place, but it gave Bubba to America.

Well, I hope your Razorbacks kick tail. I just hope the Noles win it all. Do you think the Gators or LSU look tough? It should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

I used to work for a call center service (when I was at FSU) and it handled MS, AL, FL and GA. It was hysterical the most diehard fans are Alabama fans, everybody and their brother who I spoke to from AL would always say, "Roll Tide."

[Terry Mross]

I sure thought they were in the same division. I thought I remember them playing twice a few years ago, once during regular season and once for the championship. Do they sometimes play each other during regular season? I'm in TExas and we get little SEC news down here. Of course last week the news was big!

[meyer]

This tower was not theirs to paint.

The Iraqis painted the tower - the 101st supplied the paint.