Iced in Iraq: Soldiers dive into the first ever armed forces Polar Plunge for Special Olympics

Personnel at Sather Air Base in Baghdad help to raise money for local programs

By RYAN LANCASTER

Staff Reporter

During last year's annual Polar Plunge at Medical Lake's Waterfront Park, temperatures hovered between 30 and 35 degrees as hardy souls dunked into the lake to raise money in support of Special Olympics.

Contrast that with the 60 degree temperatures experienced during the first Armed Forces Polar Plunge held Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Sather Air Base in Baghdad, Iraq, and you might be inclined to raise allegations of cushiness. Relatively balmy weather aside, however, it should be noted that the soldiers participating in the event were required to jump into a tank full of imported ice.

And if that doesn't earn them the title of true polar plungers, nothing will.

In a typical year there are six polar plunges across the state, organized by law enforcement agencies to raise money for Special Olympics of Washington. Participants must collect a minimum of $50 in pledges before “freezin' for a reason” by diving into frigid mid-winter waters.

The Airway Heights Police Department sponsored this year's seventh statewide Polar Plunge event, held in Iraq with the help of one of their officers, Mikeal Suniga, who has been stationed at the base for the last six months as a staff sergeant in the Washington Air National Guard.

Suniga said it took some time to get everything together. He had to first receive approval from the base safety, medical and legal offices as well as get the base commander's permission. He then secured use of a large water tank to serve as a plunge pool and tracked down a large quantity of ice before the tricky part began – convincing rational human beings to agree to such an irrational undertaking.

“Some of them had never heard of a polar plunge, but once I explained what it was they were very excited to participate in such a unique event, especially here,” Suniga said in an e-mail, adding that about 11 of the more than 30 plungers hailed from Fairchild Air force Base.

“He was always assisting with the Polar Plunge in Medical Lake and this is the first year he's been unable to do so because of his deployment,” his wife, Jennifer said.

Jennifer Suniga has coordinated the Medical Lake plunge every year of its four in existence as well as the one this year, taking place Feb. 27. She said she's not sure exactly when her husband will return from Iraq but that, “Hopefully, it will be very soon. With any luck prior to the plunge in Medical Lake.”

To belatedly donate to the Iraq plunge, visit http://www.firstgiving.com/msuniga. To find out more on the Medical Lake Polar Plunge, visit http://www.sowa.org.

Ryan Lancaster can be reached at [email protected].