Navy dethrones Army during Army-Navy game at Goodfellow

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Chapman
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

Goodfellow’s Army and Navy detachments went face to face in spirit of the original Army-Navy games, which started in 1890 at the United States Military Academy West Point, at the Mathis Fitness Center field Dec. 1.

Before the game began, the joint color guard presented the colors and after them an invocation was spoken. U.S. Air Force Col. Ricky Mills, 17th Training Wing commander, said a few words to the crowd about the importance and similarity between the comradery on the field and that on the battlefield. With his closing words he performed the coin toss.

The Navy, with Marine teammates broke their nine year losing streak with a score of 19 – 13.This win marks their second in 14 years on Goodfellow.

With winning comes bragging rights, trophy and the Navy’s mascot a goat named Marshmallow, being led by U.S. Army Lt. Col. Yukio Kuniyuki, 344th Military Intelligence Battalion commander.

The different parts that made up the game, from crowd interactions by carrying flags around the field to the comradery on the field, are what make the Army-Navy game and other sporting events important. It was said that on the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days, on other fields, will bear the fruits of victory. The teamwork between the Navy and Marines and the rivalry with the Army, all play into those ideals of comradery and brotherhood.

“We had a lot of Marines come out here and join us and help us win the game,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Cody Sykes, 312th Training Squadron fire instructor. “It’s awesome to have the Marines out here. 2008 was our last win and this will be our commander’s last Army-Navy game here so it was good to get a win for him before he left.”

The victory for the Navy may have knocked the Army off their throne, but in the words of Kuniyuki: Even a blind squirrel can find a nut some times. With words like that the Army sounds ready for the rematch.