10,000 miles from home, the 4th of July is celebrated as enthusiastically as ever

by Jeff Emanuel on July 4, 2008

The paratroopers of C Co 2-505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne) celebrate the 4th of July at Patrol Base Olson in Samarra, Iraq — halfway around the world from their home country.

This video was taken by a regular digital still camera, so the sound of the guitar bleeds in and out as the “fireworks” go off. Specialist Alexi Scalco, radio operator for Charlie Company commanding officer CPT Buddy Ferris, is playing the guitar (which is plugged in to a radio amplifier and the Patrol Base loudspeaker system), and his fellow paratroopers are providing the sound and light show with a little help from a Special Forces team in the area.

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