CAMP WESSAM, Iraq – Joe and I visited this American outpost inside the headquarters of the 14th Iraqi Army Division on Sunday, and we had a chance to see two 17th Fires Brigade soldiers receiving the Army Achievement Medal.

Here’s the backstory: The soldiers at the base serve at Wessam to support the Marine-run military transition team stationed there. Spc. Steve Harper and Sgt. Tedrian Carlton, two cooks from the brigade’s 204th Brigade Support Battalion, were asked to cook for 230 people – more than double the number of people at the base – for the Marine Corps birthday in November.

But, hey, it’s the military: Some unforeseen hitch arose, and the dinner was delayed a day – but only after the two cooks prepared the meal. So the following day, they cooked a full spread again.

That led to the pair’s Army Achievement Medal. The military transition team commander, a Marine lieutenant colonel, pinned the two.

I’m posting this quick recap and a photo because the ceremony resonated with me. People work around the clock at these outposts, and the guys that do the background jobs sometimes don’t get the notice they deserve. So it was nice to see everyone take a break from their hectic schedules to give a little credit to Harper and Carlton.