Sony Online Entertainment is proud to announce the winners of the Field Commander Serving Gamers Abroad Contest.
The response to this contest has been overwhelming, we sincerely appreciate all the entries we received. From all of us at Sony Online, we thank all the brave men and women who are serving our country. Here are the five winning essays:

Shannon Langdon on behalf of her husband MSGT David Langdon

I am nominating my husband, David Langdon, for the Field Commander contest.

David has been in the US Air Force for 17 years as a security forces police officer and is currently a Master Sergeant. He is currently in Iraq as an NCO and has quite a few guys he’s in charge of. I wish I could give details about his current role out there, but I cannot as that would be breaking OPSEC. He’s an avid gamer, especially when it comes to military games. When he’s home, he’s gaming every free moment he has and I’m gaming right along with him. He hasn’t been out in Iraq very long, but he will be there for quite a while. He’ll need all the extra entertainment he can get, and what better way than with Field Commander on PSP? Most of the guys have PSP’s and play games together and this is just another way for him to boost moral with the guys under his command as well as his spirits. Just like every other person out there, he’s had to leave his family behind including his daughter and I. Giving us another great game to play together will help us feel closer together even though we’re thousands of miles apart.

Thank you,

Shannon Langdon
MSGT David Langdon’s wife

SGT Eric Frock

The dust storm rolled through the desert with incredible force, covering the sounds of dogs barking in the distance. Suddenly, gunfire erupted from somewhere in the distance; from where though? Taking a closer look at the source if the silence-breaking roar of weapons fire; it comes not from the barrel of an enemy AK, but from the small television set of a Soldier in a tent in the middle of a great big, hot desert.

Three Soldiers huddle on a cot, staring menacingly at a screen, their shoulders jumbling with the rhythm of fingers mashing buttons on a plastic controller. These Soldiers, are doing what Soldiers do best, killing and blowing stuff up, only for now it's on a console system. During the day, these Soldiers patrol roads in Iraq, ever ready for an IED or enemy attack. Remaining vigilant and alert for any sign of something not right. At night these Soldiers huddle together, working together, using skills they train to learn in real life.

Wondering if each day will be their last, these Soldiers struggle daily to hold on to their sanity, coming to grips with something that is altogether much larger than they will ever be. Securing freedom and peace for a country they never set foot on before. Aiding and assisting with an open mind, yet cautious all the same. The daily worries build and build; the Soldiers struggle to keep occupied and not think about the horrors and terrible bombings occurring every day. There must be some way these Soldiers can escape! It is through these video games, that Soldiers find needed respite and whittle away the fears, tears, and bloodshed they face daily. These video games keep up morale, build teamwork, and generate an overall sense of relief knowing that when all seems troubled, there is a fantasy world that awaits them to appease the discomforts of being away from home.

SGT Eric Frock
Task Force Pacific Vigilance

Major Julian Bond

I recently read the "Field Commander" article in the Mideast Stars and Stripes edition, ref: 4 May 2006. I am currently a field commander stationed in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am the Company commander for the 756th Transportation Company, "Road Dawgs." I currently have 154 of the bravest, patriotic and HOOAH soldiers a commander could ever expect. Our unit is tasked with providing support to coalition forces conducting Combat Logistic Patrols. The purpose of my submission is to compliment the game makers of Sony and related corporations that provide the technology and ingenuity to the video markets. During the soldiers down time the games offer an oasis away from the high optempo, extreme heat and unpredictable hostilities.

As a Company Commander I am tasked with my soldier's welfare to include Combat Operations and soldier care. The soldiers that possess the PlayStations have the opportunity to play in a Superbowl against NFL Stars, conduct simulated combat operations in Blackhawk Down, do a slam dunk against the greatest ball players in the NBA, go from green to blue and transform into a Navy Seal, drive fast & furious and/or tee off against the best on the greens! The aforementioned offers a reprieve to the extreme heat and challenges of being stationed 8,000 miles away and up to twelve months away from home. The entertainment when playing individually, conducting tournaments and/or linking systems strengthens the unit cohesion. Most importantly enhances the challenges of being deployed.

I am submitting this piece in hopes of securing additional equipment for the "true patriots" of America, the 154 sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, uncles, friends, neighbors and most importantly defenders of America, SOLDIERS! The 756th Transportation Company "Road Dawgs" have an arduous job however the products from Sony makes the time go by a little easier. I salute the manufactures for providing "an oasis" and I implore you to find a more deserving group of soldiers for the contest. As the Company Commander I have one final thought, keep on producing products that entertain America you never know where your products will end up, the smiles and entertainment it will provide.

Very Respectfully, Major Julian Bond & the "Road Dawg" command team!

Christina Nicholson on behalf her brother of David Nicholson

My brother the Air Force Man

The one I wish to nominate is my brother, David Nicholson. He is currently working in the Communications Squadron at Osan Air Base, in the Republic of Korea. He maintains Air Traffic Control Equipment. My brother currently plays PlayStation 2 games and computer games. During my brother’s technical training he was stuck in Biloxi Mississippi when hurricane Katrina hit. For days we didn’t even know if he was alive. He stayed there despite the tragedy and helped in the clean up. For months he had to face the sheer destruction and learn to do without. Now that my brother is presiding in Korea he seems so far away. We haven’t seen him since Christmas in 2005. The whole family misses him dearly. Recently we learned he won’t be able to come home for Christmas this year. I believe my brother deserves to win because he has been through so much in the pursuit to defend our country. He currently works near a potential war zone in South Korea. Even though my brother is currently serving our Nation, he enjoys playing PlayStation 2 and online games in his free time. My brother deserves to win because he selflessly helped people after hurricane Katrina and because he is devoted to protecting the United States of American and its citizens. If he won it would be easy for him to keep in touch with his family and also to be able to interact with us.

Christina Nicholson

Chris Iorio on behalf of his son David J. Colon, TSGT, USAF, Forward deployed, Baghdad Iraq

My son is stationed in Iraq,

He is stationed there in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom........freedom for Iraqis. He is a military K-9 handler and kennel master who is responsible for the living conditions and ultimately the health of the Bomb dogs who along with their masters work diligently and in very hazardous situations searching out hidden explosives which currently are the number one killer of servicemen and women and civilians alike in this war torn nation. They work daily without fanfare or reward, without intelligence or spy satellites telling them where the enemy is....and at night or perhaps during the day while he's off duty...but never really off duty, he'll stop to write us a quick e-mail requesting the usual, Microwavable Raviolis, lasagna, a few new games to play on his game system. Something that will keep his reflexes quick he says, so his eye and hand coordination are always focused. I've seen the pictures of the mortar attacks which have fallen too close to his compound and you're powerless to do anything about it because you don't know where they're coming from. I've heard the concern and anger and fright in his voice when he tells me of the death of a comrade who perished while attempting to clear an area of explosives, and I've read the e-mails that come at all hours of the night while he's awake playing a game to help forget about the days stresses.

Every troop currently in Iraq or Afghanistan deserves the rewards you mention. They serve their country with pride and courage daily. My son deserves this contest's prizes for 4 reasons.

When you do something that scares you, your brain normally registers a memory and you remember NOT to do whatever scared you again. When you're in the military, there is a lot that scares you, a lot that reminds you NOT to do that again. Unfortunately making deployments to a war zone is not one of those things you have control over.....or is it? My son deserves these prizes because he has deployed to this war zone...he has registered that memory of warning....and has chosen to disregard it........4 times.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of my son

Chris Iorio, USN, Retired