More than 100 U.S. military personal on the USS Green Bay (LDP 20)  will take part in the Cellcom Green Bay 5K on the ship’s deck on May 14 as thousands of runners take to the streets of Green Bay.

The simultaneous 5K (3.1-miles) on the USS Green Bay will involve service men and women deployed with the ship. Participants on the ship will don official race bibs and receive finisher shirts and medals for their participation. Organizers of the Cellcom Green Bay 5K taking place on May 14^th sent complimentary t-shirts, bibs and even a start/finish banner for the soldiers.

“It is going to be a fun event for the sailors and marines, and gives them something to look forward to,” said ENS Tim Mahoney, who is organizing the event on the USS Green Bay and is originally from Green Bay. “We deployed in late February, and now is the time that the sailors and marines are really missing their loved ones back home. Having this event gives people something to train for daily, improves morale, and makes time pass faster.”

“I’m participating in the USS Green Bay 5K to show pride in my Navy service as a new Junior Officer and to invoke a spirit of physical readiness amongst my shipmates,” said ENS Jathan L. Davis, Damage Control Maintenance Officer  from Chicago, Illinois. “To me, being involved in this joint event with the city of Green Bay is an honor and a chance to connect with the citizens back home. Even though this is our first deployment and we are far from home, we are with them more than in spirit but also in physical stride. The people back home give us strength to continue to stay the course.”

“The USS Green Bay 5K is our way of honoring the courageous men and women of our armed forces who put their lives on the line every day,” said Sean Ryan, race director of the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon. “It’s a small gesture for the work that they do every day to protect our freedom.”

The sailors and marines onboard have been deployed since late February and will return late in 2011. They service men and women aboard are from all over the world.