Big Game in Desert: Marines Stir Up a Dust Bowl

It’s probably the only such football field in the world: covered by sand with cot-filled tents running along one sideline. But the Marines on a rare day off on Sunday didn’t mind the dust.

“It’s fun, a good way to let out aggressions,” said Lance Cpl. Dale (Tom) Keller, 20, of Prineville, Ore. “It’s better than sitting back at camp doing nothing.”

Rest and relaxation for the more than 200,000 U.S. troops confronting Iraq in the Persian Gulf has become more important with Operation Desert Shield in its fourth month and no end in sight.

Saudi Arabia is the first potential combat zone where some traditional soldiers’ diversions--visiting area bars and dating the locals--are banned.

In their absence, sports have become an important recreation, especially for the 30,000 Marines. Unlike their Army and Air Force counterparts, the Marines are barred from Saudi cities in order to keep a low profile.

The Marines play football in a stadium at a base turned over to them by the Saudi government. Every game is called the Scud Bowl, apparently after Scud missiles which are part of the Iraqi arsenal.

Dust Bowl would be more like it.

Even though clouds of dust partially obscured some of the play, the 100 fans at Sunday’s main battle between the 174th Marine Wing Support Squadron and the 311th Marine Fighter Attack Squadron yelled just like fans at home.

They cheered good passes and touchdowns, booed interceptions and shouted at the referee for calls they didn’t like.

The Marines played flag football, a variation of touch football in which tackles are made by grabbing strips of cloth worn by the opposing team. Highlights of the game, which the 311th won 15-14, were broadcast on the Armed Forces Radio Network.

Most fans sat in the stadium on one side of the field. But some stood outside the long row of tents running the length of the other side, just a few yards from the players.

“Just step right out and watch the game,” said Lance Cpl. Ellory Myers, 20, of Casper, Wyo., whose tent is on the 40-yard line.

“It’s a good bonus . . . except when it wakes you up,” he said. “It’s kind of fun, especially when people get in fights and stuff.”

“Ringside seat,” said Master Sgt. Dan Rich, 38, of Rochester, N.Y., a maintenance chief with the 311th Tom Cats. “You get to holler at everybody. . . . It’s good for relieving stress.”

But not everyone cares for the tentside view, however.

Lance Cpl. Wayne Lewis, 21, of Reading, Pa., who, ironically, lives on the 50-yard line, said he isn’t interested in football and is annoyed that the Marines hadn’t put up the tents elsewhere.

“You get a lot of dust in your house, and they wake me up around 8 a.m.,” he said.

Chief Warrant Officer Jerry L. Duck, 36, of Malden, Miss., was celebrating a 16-0 shutout by officers over the enlisted men from his unit in the 311th.

“For an old man, I did all right,” he said. “It helps the morale. I think the stadium is the best place in the country.”

“This is great,” said Sgt. John Crone, 23, of York, Pa., a photographer for the 174th. “A lot of Marines out here have it really bad off. They’re out in the sand and the dirt. I kind of feel guilty sometimes.”

The stadium also has volleyball nets, a softball diamond, Ping-Pong tables and movies.