TAMPA, Fla. -- When Corporal David Hixon heard the Marine Corps was asking him to deploy again, he started thinking of sun, sand and revisiting a place he had been before; and he was right on all counts…they sent him to his hometown of Tampa, FL. Hixon, along with Lance Corporal Curney Russell and Marine Captains Jaden Kim and Vernice Armour, were recognized at the 2004 Outback Bowl for their service to the country during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This special recognition was an added value to the Marine Corps Recruiting Command's (MCRC) 2nd annual partnership with the Outback Bowl. The Marines were honored during the halftime festivities.
All of the veterans received a warm welcome, but the more than 65,000 fans erupted for the hometown hero, Corporal David Hixon, whose unit fought its way from Kuwait through southern Iraq, all the way to the streets of Baghdad.
"I grew up here in Tampa, and never figured I'd be on the sidelines at the Outback Bowl," said Hixon, a member of the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion. "It feels great to come back to the States and get the reception that we, OIF veterans, have received."
Also honored during halftime ceremonies was Lance Cpl. Curney Russell from the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. Russell gained fame for his role in the rescue of seven American POWs in the city of Sammara, Iraq. Captain Jaden Kim, a Naval Flight Officer from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, was honored as the first Asian American female Marine to fly in combat. Captain Vernice Armour, an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter pilot from Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 169, is the Marine Corps' first African American female pilot.
"It is a great honor to be here representing all of the veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Armour. "Everyone here has been very gracious to all of us and I think it shows the great support throughout our country for the military right now."
Some of the most visible presence of the Marine Corps started with the pre-game parade through Tampa's historic Ybor City district on New Years Eve. Participating in the parade were the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRD) Band and the 6th Marine Corps District's red 'Hummer' marketing vehicle, which drew loud cheers and applause from the more than 50,000 people gathered. Drawing some of the largest cheers was the 2004 Team Marines Racing NASCAR show car, which rumbled and roared its was down the parade route.
"I kept hearing pinging sounds and realized the fans were showering the car with beads as I was driving by," said Shannon Epps, driver of the Team Marines show car.
On New Year's Day, prior to the game, the Marine Corps participated in the pre-game festivities at Raymond James Stadium. The MCRD Parris Island Band played for game fans entering the stadium, the Team Marine Show car and Hummer were on display inside the stadium and a Chin-Up Challenge provided interactive fun as well. Marine Corps recruiters were on hand to provide answers to potential candidates and to award Marine Corps T-shirts, carabineers, lanyards and baseball caps to the Chin-Up Challenge competitors.
"Events of this size and magnitude have several benefits for recruiting," said Captain Maxwell Boucher, special projects officer, MCRC. "We create a positive impression among attendees of the event, increase awareness of the Marine Corps and generate leads for our recruiters. All of these contribute to our recruiting success."
Marines from the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion provided the Marine Corps Color Guard for the opening ceremonies and a group of four AV8-B Harriers from Marine Attack Squadron 231 provided a flyover following the singing of the National Anthem. Major Gen. Christopher Cortez, Commanding General, MCRC, officiated the coin toss to start the game.