101st Airborne become Honorary Members of Polar Bear Club
Original Post December 30, 2007 | Updated December 31, 2007
Troops with the 101st Airborne Division stationed in Iraq were made honorary members Sunday of the Libby, Montana Polar Bear Club. Due to the failure of their hot water heating system, the troops have had to take (very) cold showers, leading them to ask if they could become members of the Polar Bear Club. With thoughts of the soldiers in mind, club president Polar Bear Rick carried a placard into the water, allowing their honorary status as Polar Bear members. Just short of a dozen brave souls took part in the New Year plunge Sunday in Libby Creek.
UPDATE: December 31, 2007:
Editor's Note: On Monday, December 31st, Polar Bear Rick received a reply back from SSG Wriston in Iraq apologizing that he wasn’t able to get a picture out to the club in time. He said they went into town to buy a new heating element for their tanks and “had a situation come up”, so they had to lock the town down and had a 48 hour lock down.
But Polar Bear Rick had a “Plan B” in case no photo arrived from the soldiers in time. He created a sign to represent them and carried it with him into the icy water on Sunday’s New Year’s plunge so they could plunge “in absentia.” The moment was photo-documented to commemorate it and make it official. Below is the Club’s e-mail back to Keith and his Division.
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“Keith, Let me be the first to welcome you and the other cold shower takers as Honorary members of the Libby Montana Polar Bears. If you go to www.libbymt.com you will see your induction into the Polar Bears. We would still like a picture, but I took it upon myself to do it this weekend, since it was our big yearly plunge.
Because of the weather and other things happening, this was our smallest numbers that showed up. There will be many more pictures of the plunge and the induction of the 101st Airborne Div. as the Website puts the pictures together and the story lines to go with them.
Have a safe day and remember, even though you have the hot water system up and running, a cold show every day will revive you better than anything else you can do.
PB Rick
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