long knife - el paso times...

The Long Knife A MAGAZINE BY AND FOR THE 4TH BCT, 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION

Vol. 1, Issue 11 October, 2007

4

LONG KNIFE

PUBLICATION STAFF:Commander, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div................................................................................................................................................................................... Col. Stephen TwittyCSM, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. .................................................................................................................................................................Command Sgt. Maj. Stephan Frennier4th BCT Public Affairs Officer, Editor-in-Chief, The Long Knife.........................................................................................................................Maj. Roderick Cunningham4th BCT Public Affairs NCOIC, Senior Editor, The Long Knife............................................................................................................................... Sgt. 1st Class Brian Sipp4th BCT Public Affairs-Print Journalist, Editor, The Long Knife...................................................................................................................................Staff Sgt. Paula Taylor4th BCT Public Affairs-Print Journalist............................................................................................................................................................................... Pfc. Bradley Clark

BN PA REPRESENTATIVES:1-9 Cavalry Regiment............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1st Lt. Scott Beal2-7 Cavalry Regiment............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1st Lt. John Ames2-12 Cavalry Regiment.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1st Lt. Moonerah Lao 4-6 Cavalry Regiment.........................................................................................................................................................................................................1st Lt. Jason Genard5-82 Field Artillery Regiment........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1st Lt. Michelle Baer4th Special Troops Battalion............................................................................................................................................................................................... Capt. Bridgette Bell27th Brigade Support Battalion......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1st Lt. Kendra EversCommander, 4th BCT, Rear Detachment........................................................................................................................................................................... Maj. Jerry Sheppard

DISCLAIMER: The Long Knife is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The Long Knife are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or Department of the Army. Any editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office. This magazine is printed by a private firm, which is not affiliated with the 4th BCT. All copy will be edited. The Long Knife is produced monthly by the 4th BCT Public Affairs Office.

SUBMISSIONS: Any Soldier or civilian assigned or attached to the 4th BCT, 1st CD is eligible to submit stories and photos to the editor at: [email protected]. Stories must be written in Associated Press style writing. Photos must have complete cutline information, including; rank, full name, job title, unit, hometown and state, and a brief description of what is happening in the photo. For questions about submissions, please contact the 4th BCT Public Affairs Office. Stories are due no later than 10 days from publication date.

Inside this issue

5

6

8

10

13

15

16-17

19

26-31

Outsiders deliver after devastating blasts

Sergeant reunited with Soldiers

New library opens its doors in northern Iraq

Black Dragon success due to IP partnership

MNC-I commander offers reassurance to ISF

Soldiers aid Iraqi Police with missions

Soldier builds studio, records music in Iraq

Enforcer’s ingenuity saves his unit hours

Around the brigade

2 HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE OCTOBER 2007

COVER PHOTO: Staff Sgt. Mike Rice (front cover) and 1st Lt. Andrew Kochli (back cover), D Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, clear a staircase during a raid on a flour factory in Mosul, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)

For Full story, see page 26

Chaplain (Capt.) Darin Mitchell, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment consoles an A Troop Soldier at a memorial service honoring the unit’s fallen troopers September 12. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Scott Beal)

3HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE OCTOBER 2007

A message from Long Knife 6

Recently I spoke with Chris Roberts, the El Paso Times reporter from back at our home station in Fort Bliss. I asked him to communicate the latest information we have on our redeployment to the El Paso community and our family members waiting for us there.

I would like to take a few moments now to answer a couple of your questions I have heard from around the AO concerning that redeployment.

Q: When will we begin our redeployment back to Fort Bliss?

A: Your brigade and battalion staff and leaders have already begun laying

the groundwork for our redeployment by forward planning and weekly meetings addressing the issues we will have in bringing this BCT home. We will have an advance party of about 100 Soldiers leaving in November and the main party will arrive back in Fort Bliss by mid-December.

Q: Soldiers have accumulated more property (TV, DVD, etc.) than we deployed with. Will additional connexes be supplied for personal items?

A: No. Our connexes are for moving the military equipment that we brought over here with us as well as additional Brigade equipment acquired while here. There will be room for all of the Soldier’s basic items that they deployed with, but additional comfort items will need to be sent home through the post office, or left for our replacement unit.

Q: With troops from the 1st Armored Division already beginning to arrive at Fort Bliss, will there be housing and office space available for us when we return?

A: Yes. Our Rear Detachment has been working hard to ensure that we will be able to move back into Long Knife Village and will have all of the tools necessary to set up and begin operations on resetting the Brigade. All Soldiers will have housing available, if needed, and there will be storage space ready for when our equipment arrives.

I will continue to keep all of you informed with the latest information and inevitable changes that will come as we prepare to hand over our battle space and head back to Fort Bliss. I will also keep your family members informed by utilizing the local El Paso media as well as the Family Support Groups and Rear Detachment.

I need every one of you to stay focused and keep doing all of the things that have brought us success up to this point. This is the most vulnerable time for us during this deployment. Stay alert, avoid complacency, and let’s return home together.


A message from Long Knife 9

I would like to add to the guidance that Col. Twitty gave regarding complacency and staying focused during our final few months here in northern Iraq.

First of all, the commander and I understand the operational tempo that we all operate under in accomplishing the missions tasked to us. Everyone here gets tired and fatigued at times, and it’s at these moments that the little things we have always done to maintain safety tend to get overlooked.

I need each and every one of you to stay focused on the task at hand;

whether it’s a new mission or something you have done hundreds of times in the last 11 months. Safety is every Long Knife Soldier’s responsibility, and every one of you has an obligation to look after your fellow Soldiers to the left and right of you.

Standards of conduct and safety need to be enforced. This point is non-negotiable. The way I see it, if you are a leader, and you allow Soldiers to commit an unsafe act without stopping and correcting them, you are just as guilty as they are. No distinction will be made when handing out punishment and corrective training.

Direct supervision is the mainstay in avoiding preventable accidents and ensuring we continue accomplishing missions and returning safely. Take nothing for granted, especially those situations that you have grown accustomed to and seemingly never change (i.e. handling weapons, loading and clearing the crew-served weapons, maneuvering of vehicles, etc.) The moment you let down your guard, these things will rise up and bite you.

In fiscal year 2007, there have been 69 accidental deaths in the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. I do not want any Soldier in this BCT to have to live with the knowledge that a buddy died because he or she didn’t do what they knew was the right thing.

I will close by adding that the commander and I are very proud of the professionalism and conduct you have displayed so far during this deployment. Each of you is the reason for the success of the Long Knife Brigade here in Ninevah province. Your efforts and energy are what accomplishes our mission and allows us to bring a better standard of living and more security to the Iraqi people.

We are not done yet, however. Let’s re-energize ourselves to finish as strongly as we started and return safely back to Fort Bliss for some well-deserved rest and recreation with family and loved ones.

OCTOBER 2007 HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE 5

TAL ‘AFAR, Iraq—Soldiers of D Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have a unique mission that requires several trips outside the security of Forward Operating Base Sykes.

The Soldiers, who belong to D Company’s “Outsider” Platoon, have conducted more than 350 re-supply missions since their operations began in November, according to Spc. Joseph Moore, motor transportation operator.

Most recently, the Outsiders completed their 100th mission within the past two months, delivering food and water to local villages that were devastated by

vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices that killed hundreds of local citizens.

The explosions, which began the evening of August 14, set in motion a chain of events that would test the fortitude of the Outsiders and keep them on the road and in harm’s way for several days.

“We got word that the villages needed emergency supplies around 11 o’ clock at night,” said Pfc. Mathew Fisher, motor transport operator. “Within an hour, we were loaded up and ready to go.”

The next day, the Outsiders drove 10 pallets of water and eight pallets of food and met with the reconnaissance element near the villages of Al Jezeera and Khahtaniya.

“We linked up with B Troop who showed us where we needed to go and drop our supplies,” said Moore, an Albion, Penn., native.

Story and photo by Staff Sgt. paula taylor

4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

(sEE VBIED, Next Page)

Sgt. Marshall Wright, D Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, who is attached to the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, helps members of his unit and the Iraqi Army distribute water in Al Jezeera, Iraq, during a humanitarian mission. The mission, which was formulated after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated in the village, was to deliver 10 pallets of water and eight pallets of food rations to the local people affected by the blast.

Outsiders deliver food, water, after devastating blasts


“Fisher and Sergeant [Jason] Bedore unloaded the food and water—they were walking around and delivering to people’s doorsteps because there were children and elderly people who couldn’t carry it. They were just helping everyone out as much as possible because the destruction was pretty massive. One of the [blast] holes was about the size of a bus.”

After delivering the emergency supplies to the villages, the platoon returned to Forward Operating Base Sykes, where they had just enough time to eat dinner before loading their trucks for their next supply mission that required a trip to Combat Outpost Nimur the following morning, August 16.

“They went out there to deliver a forward repair system, a field feeding kit, Class I rations such as food and water, and Class III fuel supplies,” explained their

Troop commander, Capt. Kenneth McGraw. “The forward repair system is a maintenance system for repairing vehicles. It has tools and a lift for hoisting engines; it’s a mobile garage. Within the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment’s area of operations, wherever there are Soldiers, it’s our job to provide them with necessary supplies, in addition to delivering emergency supplies to locals in times of crisis.”

The platoon continued their emergency deliveries on August 17 where they delivered an additional 16 pallets each of water and food to the Iraqi police stations in the villages, Fisher said.

“The [VBIED sites] were pretty sad to see,” explained Spc. Randy Johnson. “I’ve never seen anything like that before. The destruction—the houses were just leveled. There were women and a whole bunch of people crying. The terrorists were cowards for attacking innocent civilians like that; they had no

means of defending themselves. They destroyed innocent lives for no reason.”

Although Johnson admits these types of catastrophes are hard to witness, he appreciates the opportunity to help the people when they need it the most.

“It’s good to see smiles and watch the little kids running around with the food and water. Hopefully they forgot, at least for a couple seconds, what happened,” the Lindenwold, N.J. native explained. “I enjoy my job—driving to different [combat outposts] where our troops are and supporting them. Even the humanitarian missions are rewarding, just knowing we’re helping people out.”

McGraw shares the platoon’s enthusiasm for helping people and lauds his Soldiers’ tenacity.

“I’m so proud of them. They work really hard and never complain. It’s been nice to be able to watch them grow and learn every day.”

(VBIED, cont’d from Page 5)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq—A mechanic in B Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion was reunited with his Soldiers after being separated from them for 15 months while he received treatment for and recovered from cancer.

That mechanic, Sgt. James Willis, was one of the first three sergeants of his maintenance platoon who arrived to Fort Bliss, Texas, August 2005.

When Willis got assigned to his new unit, he was promptly made a squad leader and waited for his squad to make an appearance. The first of his Soldiers to arrive was Spc. Amanda Prager.

“I felt pretty alone

Story and photoS by 1St lt. Kendra everS

27th Brigade Support Battalion

Sergeant Reunited With His Soldiers

(sEE CANCEr, Next Page )

Spc. Amanda Prager and Sgt. James Willis both of B Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, inspect an Iraqi vehicle on Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq, that was brought in for maintenance.

7HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE OCTOBER 2007

when I first got there, but he welcomed me and showed me around,” she recalled. “He helped me get set up in the barracks and took some of his personal time in the evening to help me when I had car problems. He always put his Soldiers first.”

Another Soldier, Pvt. Justin Lupien, also remembers meeting Willis when he first arrived to the company in January 2006.

“He’s a great guy,” he said. “He invited me and my wife over for dinner and made us feel so welcome. He was always enthusiastic about his job. As the new equipment arrived, he would show us everything he knew about it and would make sure we conducted all the right procedures while working on it.”

After being in the unit for a few months, Willis began feeling sluggish and tired a lot of the time. His Soldiers commented on how pale he looked. When he went in to see the doctor for a renewal of his profile regarding his arthritic shoulder, he asked them if they could do some blood work to see what might be causing his symptoms.

“I thought maybe I could be getting diabetes because it runs in my family but nothing else ever crossed my mind,” explained Willis.

When he arrived home from the doctor, after they drew blood, he hadn’t even stepped out of the car yet when his wife came running out the door.

“The doctor’s office called and they want you to go right back,” she told him.

When he returned to the waiting room, the nurses pulled him right in and put him into an examination room. Their levels of urgency and seriousness started to make him feel uneasy.

“When the doctor came in, I almost had myself convinced he was going to tell me I had diabetes,” recounted Willis. “He showed me a screen with a bunch of numbers on it that didn’t make any sense to me. He told me my red blood count was really low, and that I needed a blood transfusion immediately. I asked him, ‘Then will I get to go to work?’ ‘No,’ he tells me, ‘We’ll probably admit you.’ That’s when I started to get a little scared.”

Willis ended up getting four bags of blood that day and two bags later that night and never left the hospital until about two weeks later. After a myriad of tests and poking and prodding, the doctor finally concluded that he had non-

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.“He said he was an

oncologist– which I didn’t know what that meant–and he told me I would need to start chemotherapy immediately, and if that didn’t work, then I only had one month to live. I didn’t understand how they could say I have cancer when I’ve always been very healthy, and no one else in my family ever had cancer. I didn’t really believe him because I didn’t feel that sick.”

After asking several questions about where he’s from and where he’s worked, they concluded that Willis had possibly gotten the cancer from when he was previously deployed in Iraq.

“I was deployed to Taji, Iraq, 2004-2005, and I drove a

[tank recovery vehicle] and cleaned up blown-up armored vehicles. The tank rounds have a lot of depleted uranium in them, and they think my exposure to them must have had an effect. Blood tests before I deployed were good, but after I returned showed I had cancerous blood,” said Willis.

He started chemotherapy the following Monday after he was discharged from the hospital.

“I had to sit in a chair for five hours one day, and then two hours the next while they hooked up a drip line for the chemo,” he explained.

“That wasn’t giving them the effects they wanted, so then they had me sit in a chair for seven hours at a time. It made me really sick. I couldn’t eat, and I was nauseous all the time; it sucked the energy right out of me.”

Prager said that hearing about her sergeant

(CANCEr, cont’d from Page 6)

(sEE CANCEr, Page 9)

“ . . . he told me I would need to

start chemotherapy immediately, and if that didn’t work, I only had one month to live . ”

—Sgt. James Willis—

TAL ‘AFAR, Iraq—Local government officials, including Tal ‘Afar city mayor Najim, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of the city’s newest project, the General Library.

Located near the heart of the city, the library marks the most recent major project to be completed since Najim was elected mayor nearly two years ago.

“The planning and building were done by Coalition Forces,” said Najim. “This library will provide services to the people of Tal ‘Afar.”

Also present at the ceremony were several city council members; Brig. Gen. Ibrahim, Tal ‘Afar Police Department; Brig. Gen. Qais, Iraqi Army; Coalition Forces from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment; Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division; and

several local Iraqi townspeople.“About 400 or 500 people turned out for the

ceremony,” said Maj. Mufutau Taiwo, squadron executive officer, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment. “It was nice to see so many people there. They liked seeing the improvements to their city.”

The library, which was the first one constructed since the 4th BCT’s arrival to Iraq in October 2006, was built from funds provided by both the Iraqi government, as well as Coalition Forces.

“We helped facilitate the contracts,” Taiwo explained. “This library is very significant to the people because it will lay a foundation for future generations. Children can go there to read and better themselves. It serves as a crux for future intellects, and education and reading is one of the first major stepping stones in developing future leaders.”

Squadron special projects officer, 1st Lt. Brendan Fry, 1-9 Cavalry, said the library is open to the public and currently has a collection of over 1,000 books. Plans to expand the library are on-going.

New library opens its doors for business in northern Iraq Story by Staff Sgt. paula taylor



Tal ‘Afar city mayor Najim cuts the ribbon for the new General Library. The library, located near the heart of the city in an area that links Shiite and Sunni neighborhoods together, currently stocks over 1,000 books and is open to the public.

(U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Brendan Fry)

9 HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFEOCTOBER 2007

scared her at first.“I didn’t know what would

happen, and I was afraid he might die.”

She was dedicated to her visitations with Willis while he was in the hospital as well as when he was recovering from the chemotherapy. She said she would sit by his bed and support him and try to get him through it all.

Willis received chemotherapy once a month for six months and said his wife was a great help.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. She was such a big help; I couldn’t do anything. She quit her job running a daycare to take care of me.”

After six months of chemotherapy, further testing showed that the cancer was in remission, and by April 2007, he was tested and cleared to deploy to Iraq and re-unite with his Soldiers.

He arrived to Mosul in late June.“I really love my job, serving my

country and wearing this uniform,” Willis said. “I’ve spent my entire adult life in the military. I don’t want to be doing anything else.”

Willis is known for his compassion and mentorship toward the younger enlisted Soldiers and had a hard time staying behind at Bliss knowing they were all in Iraq.

“I felt bad that I couldn’t go with them. Most of my Soldiers were straight out of [advanced individual training], and this would be their first deployment. I felt like I was letting them down by sitting at home just ‘hanging out’ while they were over here.”

Getting permission for him to come out here wasn’t easy, he had to fight for it. His wife, friends and unit

all were a great help in supporting his decision to come to Iraq.

“I volunteered to go to 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss just so I could deploy with them,” explained Sgt. Willis. “That’s where I wanted to be. It’s great to be working again.”

Although Willis was not assigned as squad leader for the same Soldiers he had before the deployment, he still gets to work with them on a daily basis in B Company’s motor pool.

“It’s so good to have him back and looking healthy again,” Prager said. “He’s the same old Sergeant Willis – still there for his Soldiers, still helping me out.”

Being able to deploy and earning hazardous duty pay will also help him with some upcoming bills he’ll be having.

“My wife and I are adopting a baby girl. She’ll be born in August

or September. This will be our first child together. We’ve wanted kids for a long time and can’t wait until she gets here.”

“The baby will help keep my wife pre-occupied, so hopefully she will not worry about me too much. I know she does, but she tries to hide it. There’s always a chance that the cancer could come back.”

His brother, Spc. Billy Willis, will also soon be joining him in theater. He is in the Texas Army National Guard, and this will be the second deployment the two brothers will share together.

“My mom thinks she raised a couple of crazy kids—with us both volunteering to deploy; she’s worried sick;” Willis chuckled, “but right now I’m healthy, I’m back with my Soldiers, and I’m doing what I love, so she won’t need to worry too much.”

(CANCEr, cont’d from Page 7)

A recovering cancer patient, Sgt. James Willis, wheeled vehicle mechanic, B Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, discusses guages on a humvee with his work counterpart, Spc. Amanda Prager in the motor pool on Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq—Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division have been working side-by-side with the Iraqi Police since November in southern Ninevah province.

During their 11 months of deployment, the 5-82 FA troops have seen the Iraqi Police improve in their capabilities to conduct operations and ultimately secure Iraq.

“A lot has changed since the beginning of the war and the beginning of our deployment,” said Sgt. Kurt Schroder, artillery surveyor and dismount patrolman. “The IP are doing better on their own and they are doing more on their own.”

Due to the size of area the artillery troops cover, the IP have had the chance to step up to the plate and do more without the help of Coalition Forces.

“We have the largest battle space in [the brigade’s area of operation],” said Sgt. Kelvin Dedrick, petroleum supply specialist and dismount patrolman. “We are always trying to establish our presence in those hard to reach areas. The IP can see that we get busy and they are taking up the slack, going out and doing operations

on their own because they know it needs to be done.” Even though the Iraqi Police are doing more solo

operations, they still go out with the field artillery Soldiers for many different reasons.

“Going out with them is better than going out by ourselves,” said Schroder. “They help out a lot and they are taking more initiative; you can see they aren’t scared.”

Dedrick agreed with Schroder and added, “They are more confident and more professional when we go out with them now as opposed to the beginning of the war and even the beginning of the deployment.”

Another reason why the Iraqi police and Coalition Forces still conduct joint operations is to help with the perception the Iraqis have of their own policemen.

“The Iraqi population likes to see us working together with them,” said Schroder. “When they see our confidence in the IP, it builds their confidence in them as well.”

Getting the local populations confidence up when it comes to their security forces is an accomplishment that will help reach our goal of leaving Iraq in a safe and peaceful state.

“The leadership has taken the appropriate measures to fight the insurgency here,” said Dedrick. “That’s the biggest step to secure Iraq so the locals, tribal leaders, and every other citizen can take control of their country and live in peace.”


Story and photoS by pfc. bradley J. clarK


Black Dragon success due to partnership with IP

Petroleum supply specialist, Sgt. Kelvin Dedrick, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, searches a car with an Iraqi policeman during a raid near Qayarrah, Iraq. The Akron, Ala., native has seen the confidence and professionalism grow in the Iraq Police force since the beginning of his unit’s deployment over 11 months ago.

Artillery surveyor, Cpl. Jayrjr Mcintyre, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, calls in the all clear to the ground commander after searching a home during a raid near the city of Qayarrah, Iraq. The Long Beach, Calif., native believes the Iraqi Police have come along way since the last time he was deployed in 2004.

11HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFEOCTOBER 2007

BAGHDAD—Ghazaliya, a neighborhood in the western portion of the Iraqi capital, has seen its share of insurgent activity, security concerns and a lack of essential services.

Enter the Soldiers from B Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Bliss, Texas. The company, known by the moniker “Bad Bet,” is improving the odds for Ghazaliya residents’ lasting success.

Just three months in the area, the Bad Bet troops started by building Joint Security Station (JSS) Maverick from the ground up. This would allow them, along with members of the Iraqi National Police who they are teamed with, to live and work in the neighborhood, providing security on an around-the-clock basis. This was the first step in bringing security and prosperity to the area.

“First and foremost, we are living out in the populace to provide the locals with security,” said Capt. Courtland McLeod, commander of JSS Maverick and B Company. “We can then help establish essential services to improve the quality of life.”

The Soldiers have taken this idea to the next level. NPs went deeper into the community and set up safe houses, allowing them to keep a constant eye on the streets. Living in these safe houses and becoming more visible has helped them neutralize insurgent activities.

“The NPs have conducted many search and clear operations here and it’s made a huge difference in violent acts by not allowing insurgents the freedoms to plant improvised explosive devices, among other things,” said Sgt. 1st Class Fernando Fernandez, a tank platoon sergeant with Bad Bet.

Violence in the area has been suppressed significantly since the arrival of Coalition Forces. McLeod said the difference is “night and day.” With these improvements, he said citizens of Ghazaliya can now live their lives in a more normal manner.

With violence in the area down dramatically, Coalition Forces then turned their efforts to helping the local population with humanitarian aid; providing an open “sick call,” where residents could get medical care; and by providing job opportunities such as building

projects and trash removal projects.“We are giving them alternate

means of making money,” he said. “When the men have jobs, it’s harder for them to be recruited by insurgents.”

Keeping jobs and money circulating within the community has given residents a chance to take care of themselves. According to McLeod, it could not have happened without the efforts of his Soldiers and the NPs, who are in the streets every day, ensuring the safety of the citizens. After gaining the trust and loyalty of the residents, Soldiers have seen marked improvements in the community and a decrease in insurgent activities.

Eventually, a new company of Soldiers will take over JSS Maverick, but, for the citizens of Ghazaliya, their future is no longer a “crap shoot,” thanks to welcoming a Bad Bet.

Story and photo by Spc. benJamin gable

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

“Bad Bet” a winner in western Baghdad

An Iraqi boy watches as his father fills the family vehicle with gasoline at the Al Shurta gas station in the western Baghdad Ghazaliya neighborhood. Coalition Forces provide security at the gas station to prevent insurgents from stealing fuel for the black market.


BAGHDAD—Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers continue to work in conjunction with the local Iraqi government to provide power and other essential services to the citizens of western Baghdad.

In the neighborhood of Al-Katieb, in the northwestern region of Baghdad, a major project for providing electricity has been on-going since 2004 to help provide much-needed electricity.

“This project is one of eight throughout Iraq, which is focused on restoring electricity to the people” said 1st Lt. Mike Gilotti, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment’s fire support officer.

The station incorporates the use of 10 generators powered by 137 ton engines. The project was contracted through a Lebanese company and incorporates multiple ministries within the Iraqi government to provide this vital essential service.

“During reconnaissance patrols conducted by Alpha Company…interest in this project developed as the patrols began assessing the infrastructure of its area of operation,” said Gilotti.

The A Company essential services team began making the project a main effort in providing visibility to higher headquarters.

“The project had been making progress and is well on its way but suffers from discrepancies that prevent completion,” said Gilotti.

Pfc. Ryan Kitchens, the field specialist in charge of consolidating information on the project, identified gaps in necessary deliveries and problems in the civil construction capabilities necessary for forward progress. Gilotti and Kitchens revisited the project site in order to build a relationship with the project engineers and obtain technical knowledge of design and project structure.

The team then used their findings to make the next step in the project.

Recently, due to the team’s interest and reporting capabilities, visibility has been brought to the Joint Projects Management Office. This group works directly with the government of Iraq in order to provide

guidance in providing and sustaining central services to Iraq.

The JPMO then sent in a team of specialists, Capt. Christian Thompson and Bob Perry, to conduct an expert analysis of the project and finalize the assistance the U.S. Army would provide. Gilotti and Kitchens spoke with Thompson and Perry on their findings and were able to set an appointment for them to speak with engineers whom they had already established a working relationship. At the meeting, Thompson and Perry spoke with the physical and mechanical engineer on issues regarding time lines and milestones of the project.

“Alpha Company has done a tremendous job with this project and bringing it to the attention of JPMO. Because of them, a lot of people in Al-Katieb and neighboring areas are going to get the help they need,” said Perry.

“Every day is a new challenge to engage and help the community that we work with; helping the people of Baghdad doesn’t always mean finding and shooting up insurgents,” Kitchens said. “Sometimes it is about the little things we do that matters the most.”

New power in neighborhood Cavalry troops work to bring electricity to western BaghdadStory and photo by 1St lt. moonerah lao

2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment

(Left to right) 1st Lt. Mike Gilotti, fire support officer, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment; Naseer, Jawadine electrical power plant mechanical engineer manager; Bob Perry, Joint Project Management Office analyst; Capt. Christian Thompson, JPMO specialist; Kaleel, Jawadine electrical power plant physical engineer manager; and Pfc. Ryan Kitchens, fire support team member, A Co., 2-12 Cav., meet at the power plant during to discuss electrical issues that impact the local population.


MOSUL, Iraq—On the first day of Ramadan, which marks the start of the holy month for Muslims in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, and deputy commanding general for Gen. David Petraeus, arrived to the area by helicopter.

The purpose of the visit to Iraq’s north by this key figure in the day-to-day operations of all U.S. Army forces in Iraq, was to meet with and discuss operations being conducted in Ninevah province with Col. Stephen Twitty, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and Lt. Col. Eric Welsh, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment at Forward Operating Base Marez.

As part of the visit, he was taken to Iraqi Police headquarters in a section of Mosul and had an extensive briefing from Col. Abid, an Iraqi Police commander based in the city. During the hour-plus long meeting, Odierno heard many details on the situation in Ninevah. Odierno asked Col. Abid, “What is the threat of al-Qaeda in the Mosul area?”

Abid, who is a former Iraqi Army officer with 18 years-of-experience under Saddam Hussein’s rule, replied, “The Al Qaeda threat here is not as big a problem as is the insurgency, comprised of former Iraqi Army officers who were discarded by L. Paul Bremer early on in the war after the fall of Baghdad.”

“We have found that al-Qaeda forces have been pushed out of areas such as Anbar province in the west, Baghdad, Baquba, as well as other places, and are trying to regroup unsuccessfully here in Mosul,” said Odierno.

As the meeting continued, many points were discussed, including the cooperation between the 2-7 Cavalry and the Iraqi Police here in Mosul and surrounding areas that make up Ninevah province. Through translators, a steady flow of communication about other issues, including concerns by Abid in regards to America’s future course in Iraq were discussed at length. Abid explained that prior to Odierno’s visit today, he (Abid) had been watching on television the report that Gen. Petraeus was giving to Congress.

Abid pleaded to Odierno and the others present that, “If America leaves now, or at any time in the very near future, there will be massive killings all throughout Ninevah province, including especially here in Mosul”.

Odierno replied emphatically to Abid, “Don’t worry colonel, we’re not going anywhere.”

Abid went on to explain that in the last two years, many great strides had been accomplished in conjunction with the previous units before 2-7 Cavalry, but even greater strides were made in the last 11 months under the direction of Lt. Col. Eric Welsh who personally spearheads day-to-day combat operations in the Mosul area.

Other issues that were brought up during the meeting included formulating

Story and photoS by Jim Spiri

Freelance War Correspondent

MNC-I commander offers ISF reassurances

(Left to right) Lt. Col. Eric Welsh, commander, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment; Col. Stephen Twitty, commander, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division; Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq; and Iraqi Police Col. Abid discuss the current situation concerning Ninevah province in Iraq. Odierno was in Mosul to discuss security and conduct a battlefield circulation among the 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Soldiers and Iraqi Security Forces who patrol the city.

(sEE VIsIt, Page 14)

HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE OCTOBER 200714

QAYYARAH, Iraq—Soldiers checked their gear and loaded bottles of water into ice-chests in their humvees. The order came to “move-out,” and the trucks left Forward Operating Base Q-West to rendezvous with the Qayyarah Iraqi Police to conduct a raid on suspected counterfeiters in the area. The Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment assisted the IP with the raid.

The mission was to detain suspected counterfeiters who were facilitating al Qaeda in Iraq supporters, and seize and disrupt their activities.

“We got intelligence from a local informant,” said Capt. Daniel Lloyd, HHB’s commander. “The IPs were in front, primarily the IPs in coordination with the Iraqi Army. The two targets were suspected of facilitating AQIZ through financing, and producing counterfeit documents, IDs, money and government fuel coupons.”

The Soldiers, deployed out of Fort Bliss, Texas, alongside the IP, conducted a cordon and knock in the neighborhood, and questioned residents about the operation. The suspect residence was located, and a Sensitive Site Exploitation search began.

“During the search we found a printing press, printer plates and gold leaf used to reproduce official gold seals on document, IDs, and coupons, as well as ink and accessories used in creating false documentation,” Lloyd, of Indiana, Penn., said. “We also found fake IDs with different aliases, and also confiscated five computers and 10 printers, which will all be assessed through computer forensics, to exploit any information on them. We also confiscated three cell phones and will use technology to extract necessary numbers and things to link other terrorists.”

The IP and Soldiers from the battery’s White Platoon provided security, helped search the residence and detain and question the suspects. After the SSE, the Soldiers and IP loaded the two detainees and all of the seized equipment into IP vehicles and trailers provided by the

battery’s Red Platoon which provided the quick reaction force during the raid.

The IP and White Platoon then moved into the marketplace in Qayyarah to search the suspect’s photo shop.

“We got the key from the owner and made soft entry,” Lloyd said. “We got more hard drives and printers for forensic exploitation. This mission specifically was targeting people that are facilitating foreign fighters and al Qaeda. We are trying to stop the money going to the terrorists funding, the financial path. It is a crime operation and they are making money from the whole thing, but at the same time, that money and the services they provide aid to the terrorists who operate in the area.”

Story and photoS by Spc. eric a. rutherford


(sEE rAID, Page 18)

Putting Them Out FrontSoldiers aid Iraqi Police with missions

Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division load a printing press believed to be used in a terrorist counterfeiting operation, while other Soldiers provide security in Qayyarah, Iraq.

a plan to recall the once discarded former Iraqi Army officers, Baathists, who were ordered to have no part in the new Iraqi Army. All the parties in the room agreed that current plans are indeed to find a way to bring those previously not allowed into the new Iraqi Army into positions in both the Iraqi Police as well as the Iraqi Army.

Abid explained to those in attendance, “Those former army officers previously excluded now make up much more of a threat than the al-Qaeda forces operating and being eliminated in Iraq now.” He also went on to detail that in the last couple of years he has lost over 1,200 Iraqi police officers who were killed in action, yet still their motivation for continuing alongside the U.S. and Coalition Forces is more determined than ever.

Abid then demonstrated, using a computer, the recent cache sweeps that netted many weapons and materials destined for use against the U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as Iraqi civilians. Before the meeting closed, other issues were brought up concerning the matter of Iraqi police officer death benefits that were supposed to be paid by the Iraqi

government, and have yet to be forthcoming.

“There are many terrorists operating today inside the current Iraqi government,” Abid added. Abid diligently made his point. “We must find a way to bring in the once excluded former Army officers into our forces to help eliminate this problem.”

Abid mentioned directly to Odierno that his only complaint is that each time a change of unit occurs, such as the inevitable upcoming redeployment of 2-7 Cavalry back to Fort Bliss, Texas, that subversive forces will try to undermine his position by telling lies to the new units when they take over.

Twitty directly

addressed this concern by stating, “You know colonel, whenever anything like that has been attempted here in the past toward you from the Iraqis you speak of; we have always supported you and let it be known our trust and confidence in your leadership. We are sure the next units will be well briefed concerning your position and will cooperate fully with the progress that has already been accomplished with the 2-7 Cavalry.”

At this Abid smiled and stated, “I will miss Lt. Col. Welsh and his men.”

“And these men will have been away from their families for nearly 15 months by the time they arrive home,” replied

Odierno. “They do not have the luxury to go home everyday to their families as you do.”

One final question was asked by Odierno to Abid, “What is your biggest threat or fear?”

Abid took a deep breath and solemnly replied, “Our families. The insurgents always threaten our families and are able to carry out on those threats at times. This is my number one concern.”

As the meeting closed, Odierno, Twitty and Welsh assured the Iraqi Police colonel that the units that replace them will continue to work toward finding and implementing progress here in Ninevah province.

Mosul has had a higher

(VIsIt, cont’d from Page 13)

Specialist Matthew Joyce, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, is seen pulling security during a morning patrol the first day of Ramadan in Mosul, Iraq. Small arms fire was heard in close proximity during this patrol.



QAYYARAH, Iraq—Soldiers checked their gear and loaded bottles of water into ice-chests in their humvees. The order came to “move-out,” and the trucks left Forward Operating Base Q-West to rendezvous with the Qayyarah Iraqi Police to conduct a raid on suspected counterfeiters in the area. The Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment assisted the IP with the raid.

The mission was to detain suspected counterfeiters who were facilitating al Qaeda in Iraq supporters, and seize and disrupt their activities.

“We got intelligence from a local informant,” said Capt. Daniel Lloyd, HHB’s commander. “The IPs were in front, primarily the IPs in coordination with the Iraqi Army. The two targets were suspected of facilitating AQIZ through financing, and producing counterfeit documents, IDs, money and government fuel coupons.”

The Soldiers, deployed out of Fort Bliss, Texas, alongside the IP, conducted a cordon and knock in the neighborhood, and questioned residents about the operation. The suspect residence was located, and a Sensitive Site Exploitation search began.

“During the search we found a printing press, printer plates and gold leaf used to reproduce official gold seals on document, IDs, and coupons, as well as ink and accessories used in creating false documentation,” Lloyd, of Indiana, Penn., said. “We also found fake IDs with different aliases, and also confiscated five computers and 10 printers, which will all be assessed through computer forensics, to exploit any information on them. We also confiscated three cell phones and will use technology to extract necessary numbers and things to link other terrorists.”

The IP and Soldiers from the battery’s White Platoon provided security, helped search the residence and detain and question the suspects. After the SSE, the Soldiers and IP loaded the two detainees and all of the seized equipment into IP vehicles and trailers provided by the

battery’s Red Platoon which provided the quick reaction force during the raid.

The IP and White Platoon then moved into the marketplace in Qayyarah to search the suspect’s photo shop.

“We got the key from the owner and made soft entry,” Lloyd said. “We got more hard drives and printers for forensic exploitation. This mission specifically was targeting people that are facilitating foreign fighters and al Qaeda. We are trying to stop the money going to the terrorists funding, the financial path. It is a crime operation and they are making money from the whole thing, but at the same time, that money and the services they provide aid to the terrorists who operate in the area.”

Story and photoS by Spc. eric a. rutherford


(sEE rAID, Page 18)

Putting Them Out FrontSoldiers aid Iraqi Police with missions

Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division load a printing press believed to be used in a terrorist counterfeiting operation, while other Soldiers provide security in Qayyarah, Iraq.

a plan to recall the once discarded former Iraqi Army officers, Baathists, who were ordered to have no part in the new Iraqi Army. All the parties in the room agreed that current plans are indeed to find a way to bring those previously not allowed into the new Iraqi Army into positions in both the Iraqi Police as well as the Iraqi Army.

Abid explained to those in attendance, “Those former army officers previously excluded now make up much more of a threat than the al-Qaeda forces operating and being eliminated in Iraq now.” He also went on to detail that in the last couple of years he has lost over 1,200 Iraqi police officers who were killed in action, yet still their motivation for continuing alongside the U.S. and Coalition Forces is more determined than ever.

Abid then demonstrated, using a computer, the recent cache sweeps that netted many weapons and materials destined for use against the U.S. and Coalition Forces, as well as Iraqi civilians. Before the meeting closed, other issues were brought up concerning the matter of Iraqi police officer death benefits that were supposed to be paid by the Iraqi

government, and have yet to be forthcoming.

“There are many terrorists operating today inside the current Iraqi government,” Abid added. Abid diligently made his point. “We must find a way to bring in the once excluded former Army officers into our forces to help eliminate this problem.”

Abid mentioned directly to Odierno that his only complaint is that each time a change of unit occurs, such as the inevitable upcoming redeployment of 2-7 Cavalry back to Fort Bliss, Texas, that subversive forces will try to undermine his position by telling lies to the new units when they take over.

Twitty directly

addressed this concern by stating, “You know colonel, whenever anything like that has been attempted here in the past toward you from the Iraqis you speak of; we have always supported you and let it be known our trust and confidence in your leadership. We are sure the next units will be well briefed concerning your position and will cooperate fully with the progress that has already been accomplished with the 2-7 Cavalry.”

At this Abid smiled and stated, “I will miss Lt. Col. Welsh and his men.”

“And these men will have been away from their families for nearly 15 months by the time they arrive home,” replied

Odierno. “They do not have the luxury to go home everyday to their families as you do.”

One final question was asked by Odierno to Abid, “What is your biggest threat or fear?”

Abid took a deep breath and solemnly replied, “Our families. The insurgents always threaten our families and are able to carry out on those threats at times. This is my number one concern.”

As the meeting closed, Odierno, Twitty and Welsh assured the Iraqi Police colonel that the units that replace them will continue to work toward finding and implementing progress here in Ninevah province.

Mosul has had a higher


Specialist Matthew Joyce, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, is seen pulling security during a morning patrol the first day of Ramadan in Mosul, Iraq. Small arms fire was heard in close proximity during this patrol.


1716 HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFEHTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE OCTOBER 2007 OCTOBER 2007

He hopes to keep the group together when he returns to Texas. His next duty station will be Fort Hood, and there, he will have more opportunities to get his music out into the larger cities. He’s currently working on compiling a CD with his label, So Throwed Entertainment, of everyone who recorded out here in Iraq. It’ll

have about 17 songs on it. In addition to recording music,

Carter continually goes out on missions, pulls guard duty, and takes care of the maintenance on the vehicles. He keeps the music as a side hobby, and is interested in going to school for landscaping at some point in the future. For now, he makes some CDs and sells

them for $10 back at Fort Bliss. Carter and his crew have

been played on a few local radio stations in El Paso and get pretty good publicity at the clubs.

“Sometimes we get treated like VIPs when we go to the clubs because we are friends with the owners, and they play our music,” said Carter.

(Photo above) Sgt. Matthew Carter sits at the computer in his room on Forward Operating Base Marez and finalizes some of the equipment as Spc. Dejarnette Jackson gets ready at the mic to record a song. Carter, a Soldier assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, built a recording studio in his living quarters as a hobby to fill his spare time while deployed in northern Iraq’s Ninevah province.

(Photo opposite page) Sgt. Matthew Carter and Spc. Dejarnette Jackson, both of A Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, make a tight fit to record a song in their homemade recording studio on Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq.

Musician helps other singers beat deployment blues

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq—Listen carefully in the evening near the living quarters of Soldiers here and you’ll hear faint beats from rap and hip-hop music in the air.

Following the sound will lead you to Sgt. Matthew Carter’s room, a Soldier in A Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion.

Carter, also known as “Blaze” for Blazzin Hott, with the help of Spc. Dejarnette Jackson and other Soldiers, built a recording studio in his small, yet sufficient Container Holding Unit that serves as his living quarters.

This is his third deployment, his second in Iraq. In previous deployments he said he wrote a lot of music but this time decided to record.

“When I was stationed in Germany, I met some guys who also had a love for making music and recording, and I recorded some tracks with them. One of my friends, Sgt. Brian Smith, who is currently deployed with G Company, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment out of Forward Operating Base Q-West, really was the mastermind behind the music. I didn’t really know anything about producing, so he helped me get started with some classes online that would teach me. He makes all the beats, and then also records and sings.”

Carter ordered most of the equipment for the studio online and had it shipped here, including a self-condensing mike that helps to take away some of the emphasis singers might put on certain letters and make them sound softer.

Carter and fellow Soldiers, Sgt. John Herbert and Jackson, started a rap group in El Paso called “Stash House” which held at least five shows and received recognition in the El Paso Times and other newspapers. They performed at clubs, for birthday parties, and even had a show at Sunrise Event Hall at McKelligan Canyon.

“Sergeant Carter got me back into the groove of things; I have a lot of fun with him working on songs together,” explained Jackson. “We fuss at each other and sometimes listen to one track 25 times until we get it right. One of us always hears something that sounds off.”

So far during this deployment, Carter said he has recorded over 15 people in his studio.

“We’ll record anybody. We don’t record just one type of music. We’ve had alternative, country, and rap singers come in.”

Carter said a lot of work goes into getting each person’s recording just right.

“I don’t mind staying up all night to get a song right. You want to make it sound good; you want to make the singers sound good. Sometimes we have to download instrumentals, and with this internet connection, it can take a long time. But I don’t mind staying up to help people with their songs.”

Carter’s room isn’t very big, but he has had up to ten people in it for a recording. On Friday nights he holds “Freestyle Fridays” in his CHU. Soldiers can come and sing their songs, and whoever shows up for the night acts as the judges. Some nights go pretty late, but his neighbors don’t mind.

“I checked with everybody who lives around me, and they don’t mind if the music gets a little loud sometimes. They’re cool with it,” said Carter.

Soldier builds studio, records music in IraqStory and photoS by 1St lt. Kendra everS



During the raid, Cpl. Mason Radcliff conducted searches and provided security for the mission. Radcliff feels that working alongside the IP is helping to make a difference.

“It is important to work with the IPs,” said the Prattville, Ala., native. “The Iraqi people will see Coalition Forces, but they also see the IPs out there doing good things to help catch bad people in their community. With the IP, they [Iraqis] see us working with them—it is kind of like bonding with them. It lets the Iraqis know that we are there to help.”

That help came in the form of having a suspected

terrorist financier, and illegal document forger being removed from their neighborhood. For this raid, the intelligence pointed in the right direction.

“We got a lot of information, so I think they will be going away for a while,” said Radcliff. “It was a big success.”

Lloyd agrees with the mission being a success, and points out why it helps the Iraqis.

“Obviously it’s like anything -- you are going to have bad guys in your neighborhood,” said Lloyd. “If bad guys are in your neighborhoods, then foreign fighters and al Qaeda are going to be coming into Qayyarah because they know they are getting their help from that

area. We are cutting the jugular right there. If we get rid of the facilitators, then they are not going to come to Qayyarah to try to get money, passports, or documentation, to legitimize themselves. As a whole, operations like this help out the public because we are pulling bad guys out of the city. If the bad guys aren’t there to create documents and aide in operations of the safe houses, they have to move somewhere else, or cease to exist.”

During the raid, in which no shots were fired and no injuries occurred, Soldiers of HHB once again helped build relationships with not just the people of Iraq, but with the IP as well, by allowing their Iraqi counterparts to lead, and

by taking a supporting role in the mission.

“We transitioned from unilateral to bilateral operations almost immediately after we got here, said Lloyd. “We immediately adopted the whole idea of Iraqis in the lead. They are going to be the ones that actually control the operations. We are going to be there to aide and facilitate in the operations. Sometimes we have to help out a little more than others. Yesterday we had to help out a lot.”

The Soldiers may have had to help out a lot, but they conveyed trust in the IP and aided them in getting used to conducting their own missions and policing their own country.

(rAID, cont’d from Page 15)

Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, load a printing press believed to be used in a terrorist counterfeiting operation, while other Soldiers provide security in Qayyarah, Iraq.


degree of success in dealing with insurgent activities and al-Qaeda forces than other parts throughout Iraq. A competent Iraqi Police force and Iraqi Army forces have displayed a joint working relationship with U.S. and Coalition partners contributing to that success.

Many speculate that Mosul, and all of Ninevah province, may be the prototype for what the new Iraq might look like in the months and years ahead, in regards to progress and cooperation of all parties concerned.

After the meeting finished, Lt. Gen. Odierno traveled back to Forward Operating Base Marez where he met with Army mechanics working on improving

and armoring Iraqi Police vehicles. The mission never stops, and

tomorrow will be a brand new day.

U.S. Army Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division are lined up on the streets of Mosul as small arms fire erupts in the vicinity.


FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq—In E Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion’s motor pool, Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, senior enlisted Soldier, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, presented a coin of excellence to Spc. Joshua McDonell and several other Enforcers during his visit to northern Iraq.

McDonell was rewarded with the coin because he came up with an idea that could possibly save the Army time and extra work in the future.

E Company’s ‘Enforcers’ are responsible for convoying weekly to the different combat outposts throughout Mosul and the surrounding areas.

Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, senior enlisted Soldier, Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Spc. Joshua McDonell, E Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, take a look at the new sewage sucking tank that McDonell created.

Story and photoS by 1St lt. Kendra everS


(sEE CoIN, Page 21)

ENFORCER’S INGENUITY SAVES HIS UNIT HOURS

Issue: Can you change the time on my computer? I’ve been late to several meetings because of this!Response: Aren’t you wearing a watch?

Issue: How do I change my font color to red?Response: Are you serious? Do you even OWN a computer?

Issue: I can’t hear on Team Speak and I can’t talk.Response: Take the microphone jack and plug into the microphone, then take the headphone jack and plug it into the headphone.

Issue: I can’t get to the Internet.Response: You can’t get to microsoft.com using the SIPR.

Issue: Instead of printing like this can you make it print like this

Response: No, change your page layout!

Issue: I can’t send my e-mail.Response: You can’t send 10 gigabytes of e-mail at a time.

Issue: My Internet is slow.Response: O.K., what do you want me to do? At least you’ve got Internet.


One of the many jobs of the 4th Brigade Combat Team automation shop, or S-6 as they are called, is to help staff fix computer problems and issues they are having.

Occasionally, people make some pretty strange requests and ask what seem like the most obvious questions and we thought we would share them with you, so here we go...

One of the company’s many logistic responsibilities is the movement of sewage sucking trucks (SSTs) to the various COPs.

The large SSTs must be transported on an M-916, which is like a large semi-truck with a flatbed trailer. Because of their size, the tractor trailers are often difficult to maneuver through the city’s narrow streets

Once the truck arrives, it is downloaded, the septic systems are pumped, and the truck is loaded back onto the flatbed; the process takes about an hour.

Because the septic truck only holds 2,500 gallons of waste and most of the septic tanks hold about 10,000 gallons, the unit frequently

has to make multiple trips. Since there are no M-916s in E Company, it is necessary for them to coordinate with other units to move the equipment.

So, after much coordination with the contracting company stationed on FOB Marez for the septic trucks, the drivers to drive them, and after making several trips back and forth, McDonell came up with a plan to put a septic pumping system on the back of a Palletized Load System.

“I’ve seen PLS flat racks with different things mounted on the backs of them – dump trucks, concrete mixers, and water tanks – why couldn’t we have a septic pumping system mounted onto one as well?

This idea eventually led him to his platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Donald Lane, who often goes out

with him on the missions. “I thought that was a great idea,

and I told him I’d get with [the contractor] and see if they’d be able to help us out,” said Lane. “The contractor has the tanks and pumping systems as well as welders who’d be able to make this idea a reality.”

After Lane contacted the construction superintendent, who informed the Enforcers that they had an extra 5,200 gallon tank they’d be able to use, they began welding the tank onto a flat rack and eventually hooked it up to a pump and the project was complete.

1st Sgt. Carl Strand was impressed with McDonell’s ingenuity.

“It’s amazing what the younger Soldiers will come up with these days,” said Strand. “This is an excellent idea.”

(CoIN, cont’d from Page 19)

Senior enlisted Soldier of Multi-National Corps-Iraq, Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola talks to Spc. Joshua McDonell and his platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Donald Lane, both assigned to E Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, during his most recent visit to Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq.


22 HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE OCTOBER 2007 23HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFEOCTOBER 2007

BAGHDAD—Soldiers have been trying to slow illegal activities as part of the safe neighborhood project, by emplacing temporary barriers of all sizes throughout the Iraqi capital to route traffic through checkpoints.

Since January, this has been the main mission for troops with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. These combat engineers from Fort Bliss, Texas have moved and emplaced every type of temporary barrier there is in the country. From the smallest, Jersey barriers, to the largest, Alaska barriers, they have done it all.

Soldiers with E Company helped move and emplace the tallest Alaska barriers that encircle the four joint security stations in their area of operation, the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliyah. They have also been tasked with smaller barrier missions such as placing Jersey barriers which help funnel traffic to Iraqi Army check points. Other operations have called for them to place protection around the entrances to main streets in Ghazaliyah to help secure the areas.

According to 1st Sgt. Robert Spivey, the combat engineers have emplaced more than 52,000 short tons of concrete since January.

“That’s a lot of barriers and it’s only possible because of the hard work of the Soldiers on the ground,” he added.

All those tons of concrete represent approximately 30,000 temporary barriers. Most of these were moved using “nontraditional” methods. Instead of contracting cranes and forklifts, the troops of E Company have used M-88 tracked vehicles, sometimes known as “Hercules” for their ability to lift extremely heavy objects, and heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks, or HEMTTs, with the capabilities of hauling heavy loads.

The security impact of placing the temporary barriers around neighborhoods and on main streets shows in the dwindling number of hostile activities in the area.

“We’ve seen attacks in our area go down and it’s a much safer place for us and the locals,” said Sgt. Joseph Pena, a combat engineer and platoon leader with E

Company “It’s been a win, win situation.”The combat engineers have seen a marked

improvement in the overall quality of life in their area. Markets have opened, kids are playing soccer outside their houses and residents are moving freely in the streets. They have even started to clean up the trash in the area to make it a more livable neighborhood.

“It’s been a drastic change since we arrived and started securing the area,” said Spivey. “You can see the overall attitudes have really changed with the locals.”

Engineers shoulder load in barrier placement operationsStory and photo by Spc. benJamin gable


A Soldier with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, guides a temporary barrier as it is placed onto a heavy equipment transporter in the late-night hours in Ghazaliyah, a western Baghdad neighborhood.


BAGHDAD—Joint security stations (JSS) have become vital in keeping the security in the Iraqi capital. Soldiers live in the same

neighborhoods as local Iraqis and patrol the streets to keep the areas safe. For troops operating in the western Baghdad Ghazaliyah neighborhood, living away from Victory Base Complex (VBC) requires Soldiers to rely on outside help for everyday supplies to maintain mission success.

That problem is solved by the troops of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Bliss, Texas, who operate in western Baghdad as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. These Soldiers run convoys every day to JSSs Maverick, Casino and Thrasher, supplying the outposts there with everything from Soldiers to staples.

“We send out everything a unit could possibly need in order for them to function effectively,” said Capt. Linwood Hilton, the forward support commander for 2-12.

Logistics packages, or log-packs, weren’t always the company’s main mission.

The mission they were originally tasked with was delivering barriers to Ghazaliyah where three JSS’s would be built. Soldiers with F Company, known as “Full House,” helped transport barriers of all sizes for ten months to help make the joint security stations more secure. When the mission changed from security to supply a month ago, they didn’t miss a beat.

“The transition was seamless,”

said Hilton. “These guys did an outstanding job picking up a new mission.”

Now, they are tasked with ensuring joint security stations Maverick, Casino and Thrasher are well stocked with whatever the mission may call for.

“Pencils, paper, wood, hot chow, people and mail; you name it we need it,” said Sgt. Jimmy Cadenas, a supply sergeant with C Company, 2-12 Cavalry, who currently works out of JSS Casino.

Soldiers patrolling the streets in armored vehicles throughout the day and night can work up a big appetite. That’s where Full House steps in and helps provide hot meals. Their daily supply run is loaded with food items from the main menu in the dining facility for that day. Whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Soldiers in the field get the same meal as those back on VBC.

“They get anything from steaks and lobster tails to sandwiches and salads,” said Sgt. Vanessa Sanchez, a native of Roswell, N.M. with Full House. “Whatever it is, it beats (meals ready-to-eat).”

The log-packs roll out everyday on a mission to help Soldiers in the field get a hot meal. According to Hilton, it is a mission that must be carried out.

“It’s not important; it’s essential,” he said. “It helps their morale knowing after a hot day they can come back to the JSS and look forward to a good meal.”

Story and photo by Spc. benJamin gable


Norristown, Penn., native, Pfc. Kevin Troemel, an infantryman with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, loads drinks from the dining facility at Victory Base Complex to be delivered to troops living at Joint Security Station Casino in western Baghdad’s Ghazaliyah. Troemel and Soldiers from his company deliver supplies to three JSSs daily. They deliver hot meals, mail and water, and a host of other supplies needed to keep Soldiers equipped and mission ready.

Supplies in Demand Daily ‘run’ makes life at joint security stations possible


FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq— The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers in Iraq are often faced with unusual and difficult tasks, but the drive of these troops is what allows them to accomplish the mission no matter how challenging.

This was just the case when welders from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, currently assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, were tasked with creating an uparmored truck for the Iraqi Police.

The metal workers tasked with the project believed

the hardest part of the project was coming up with a design for the vehicle since it was the first time this was ever done.

“Especially the doors,” said Sgt. Jewell Loving, “because we had to make our own hinges and fabricate a lot of stuff for them, but we had all the supplies that we needed. The project took us two and a half weeks from start to finish.”

Even though designing the vehicle was difficult, the actual job came natural for the metal workers.

“We did run into some fabricating trouble,” said Spc. Joshua Wingo, “but we figured it out as we went along and it turned out great.”

One of the things the Soldiers worried about was the added weight as a result of uparmoring the pick-up

Welders design, build first-ever uparmored IP truckStory by pfc. bradley J. clarK


Pfc. David Durham, metal worker, B Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, completes the final part of welding on the first-ever uparmored pick-up truck for the Iraqi Police on Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq, September 20. The project took Durham and five other Soldiers just over two weeks to complete.

(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bradley J. Clark)


Metal worker, Sgt. Jewell Loving, E Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, currently attached to 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, explains how the first uparmored Iraqi Police pick-up truck works to its new owners, two Iraqi policemen, on Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq, September 22. Loving, a Detroit native who has served in the Army for over nine years, was the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the project to build the uparmored truck.

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Paula Taylor)

Ninevah’s provincial director of police, Maj. Gen. Wathiq, conducts an inspection on his new vehicle, the first-ever uparmored Iraqi Police pick-up truck on Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq, September 22. Five Solders from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, were tasked with designing and building the truck for the IP. The project took two weeks to construct. The 4th BCT plans on building four more trucks before the end of their deployment in December.

truck.“Even though the vehicle isn’t

intended to chase after insurgents,” said Loving “when it was taken on a test drive it had pick up, it wasn’t top heavy and it handled well, very well.”

The purpose of the truck is to provide security for the IPs manning checkpoints.

“I think the IPs will like it and appreciate it a lot,” said Wingo. “It provides better protection and more security from small arms fire and shrapnel.”

Because the welders did such

a good job accomplishing the task put before them, they have been tasked to uparmor four more pick-up trucks.

“The next ones will be less time consuming,” said Pfc. David Durham, “because we already have the design and we are in the process of receiving more equipment for them.”

Accomplishing a mission as difficult as inventing something that can not only help save lives, but also help secure a nation, made these Soldiers feel great.

“I get a sense of pride by having

the ability to do this for the IP,” said Durham. “We were able to work with the equipment and materials that we had. On top of all of that, I gained much more job experience due to this project.”

(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Paula Taylor)

Background photo: The first-ever uparmored Iraqi Police pick-up truck is driven off of Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq, September 22. The truck took five Soldiers from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, just over two weeks to design and build. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Paula Taylor)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SYKES, Iraq—The 1st “Headhunter” Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment held a memorial service September 12 for three scouts who were killed when the vehicle they were riding in hit an improvised explosive device during a mission in Mosul, Iraq, September 6.

Killed were Cpl. Jason J. Hernandez, Cpl. Thomas L. Hilbert, and Sgt. Lee C. Wilson, who were all assigned to A Troop, 1-9 Cav., and attached to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, based on Forward Operating Base Marez.

The memorial service was held at the Multi-Use Facility on FOB Sykes and included readings and eulogies from friends of the fallen Soldiers to honor their memory.

One of the Soldiers who spoke was Staff Sgt. James Mills, cavalry scout, A Troop, who said, “Sergeant Wilson was the epitome of a [noncommissioned officer]. He was fair, just, and loyal to his soldiers. No matter how much trouble you were in, or what time of the night it was, or if you needed more training, he would go the extra mile for his soldiers. If you needed him, he would be there to help you out and to lend a shoulder for you to lean on.”

Hilbert, a Texas native, was remembered by Pfc. Ron Dunbar, who said, “The thing he showed me was how much he really cared about others.”

Hernendez was also remembered during the service by one trooper who said, “Jason loved the military in general, but he especially loved being a cavalry scout; he was fearless, and a physically and mentally strong individual.”

The service concluded after Soldiers from the squadron each paid their respects to their three fallen comrades and said their final good-byes.

HeadHunter NewsStory and photo by 1St lt. Scott beal

1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Yaryan, operations sergeant (left), and 1st Lt. Christopher Markos, platoon leader, both assigned to 2nd Platoon, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, render a final salute to their fallen comrades during a memorial service held on Forward Operating Base Sykes, September 12. The service honored Cpl. Jason J. Hernandez, Cpl. Thomas L. Hilbert, and Sgt. Lee C. Wilson, all assigned to A Troop, 1-9 Cav., who were killed September 6 when the vehicle they were riding in hit an improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq.


GarryOwen News

Spc. Michael Evans, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment stands guard and pulls security during a raid on one of the largest caches of homemade explosives found in Mosul. More than seven tons of ammonium nitrate were confiscated during the raid. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Adam Gochenour)

Capt. Steven Kendall, commander, B Troop, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, confiscates bags of ammonium nitrate during a raid on a suspected enemy warehouse in the Al Uruba neighborhood of Mosul, Iraq. The group loaded and secured over seven tons of ammonium nitrate, a key compound used in homemade explosives. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Quinton Russ)


Thunder Horse News

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq—Texas-based “Thunderhorse” Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, are pushing projects to improve the quality of life for the residents of northwestern Baghdad.

During a patrol through the streets of the Iraqi capital’s Shula neighborhood, the tan-colored humvees, manned by A Company’s 2nd “Dirty Deuce” Platoon, made several stops, one at a near-deserted all-boys school and another at an electric substation.

“We’ll go in there and get a quick assessment and see what we need. If it is something we can handle at the battalion level through surplus funds we’ll go ahead and start initiating a project,” 1st Lt. Jonathan Gilotti said.

School’s OutOn their first stop, the Soldiers

set foot into an all-boys primary school.

Gilotti, the officer in charge of the information operations campaign, initiated a conversation to find out what the unit could do to help the community. The native of Avon, Conn., said that when he asked what the school, one of seven in their sector, needed assistance with, he got a somewhat expected response.

“There was very little electricity, water problems, the walls needed slight renovations, more tables and chairs were needed, but nothing too big,” he said. “Things like tables and chairs or a small project like a basic sewage problem we can usually handle at the battalion level through our surplus funds, which is basically the commander’s emergency relief fund.

“The battalions are allocated a certain amount of money they can use for civil military operations related projects,” he said. “Basically, any project that we can perform that benefits the community.”

With notes scribbled on a pocket size pad of paper and a couple megabytes of digital images loaded onto his camera, the Dirty Deuce rolled out to their next stop.

Power to the PeopleWhen the wheels came to a halt

once again, the Soldiers found themselves parked in the gated area of the Hurriya Kabil electrical substation, which provides power directly to the neighborhoods in

their area of operation: Shula’s Al Katieb, Rhamanyia and Jawadine.

With a jolly, big-bellied interpreter by his side, Gilotti discovered a serious obstacle between the people of the area and their electricity. Gilotti said that the substation is located right next to a busy route known for its improvised explosive devices. On June 13, one of their lines was damaged by crossfire that cut the plant’s capability in half, forcing people to rely on personal generators.

When issues arose about two months ago, the unit sent out Soldiers to distribute neighborhood generators. The community responded with resounding contentment with the electrical situation, said Gilotti.

Providing VisibilityGilotti is the liaison between

patrol reports and the next level of civil military operations.

“I’ll turn it over to the civil military operations team and they’ll bring out actual specialists who will look at the project, see where the loose ends are that need to be tied together and they will start working with ministry of electricity and government of Iraq to start (to) get the ball rolling,” he said.

“I am a simple reporter,” Gilotti said, adding that he will continue reporting and pushing projects to his higher-ups. “Sometimes when you really do want to make a difference, you have to be a pain … you got to keep pushing and pushing … and that’s what makes a difference.”

Story and photo by Spc. Jeffrey ledeSma

1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs


Avon, Conn., native, 1st Lt. Jonathan Gilotti, the officer in charge of the information operations with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, gets information from employees of the Hurriya Kabil electrical substation in Baghdad’s Shula neighborhood.


FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq—Soldiers from A Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were able to do the job of their military occupational specialty for the first time in over a year at Combat Outpost Nepsa, Iraq.

The field artillerymen in A Battery went through the certification process, which allows them to fire live rounds from their howitzers. This was the first time the troops would fire since July 2006 at Dona Ana Range near Fort Bliss, Texas.

“It’s been a challenge for some of these guys to not be able to do their normal MOS,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jack Larsen, battalion fire control noncommissioned officer.

Larsen is referring the fact that many artillerymen have been put into the role of infantrymen due to the demands of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but having the chance to do the jobs these men signed up for brings a sense of excitement throughout the battalion.

“Every week we go through ‘dry run missions,’” said

Sgt. 1st Class Toris Knight, a platoon sergeant for A Battery. “We keep our skills sharp and practice all the time, but to actually shoot at real targets, there’s nothing better.”

Larsen agreed with Knight and added, “It’s really exciting for everyone to go through the certification process because they finally get to fire again.”

There are five types of fire missions that can be completed in order to become certified: adjust fire, fire for effect, time on target, immediate suppression, and illumination. The certification process begins with doing these missions in a dry run stage, which means going through the motions, but not actually firing live rounds.

“The battalion began the certification process at the end of July,” said Larsen. “These guys haven’t had a chance to certify because the have been at Combat Outpost Nepsa since then, so they are one of the last to get recertified.”

Prior to the day’s events, confidence filled everyone involved.

“These guys passed their dry fire certification two days ago without a problem,” said Larsen.

Knight agreed with Larsen and added, “With all of the time we practice and passing the dry run two days ago, I know our guys are going to do great.”

Just as Knight and Larsen predicted, the Soldiers from A Battery passed the certification process.

“They have done a great job,” said Larsen. “On top of preparing for the certification process they have still been going out on patrols and setting up this COP. They now have 360 degree security for indirect fire with just two Howitzers, that’s great.”

Black Dragon NewsStory by pfc. bradley J. clarK


An M-109A6 Paladin is engulfed in dust, sand and smoke immediately after firing on Forward Operating Base Speicher, Iraq.

(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Richard Bartoszuk)

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq—Soldiers of A Company, the Special Troops Battalion’s Military Intelligence Company, have been a key player in accomplishing the brigade’s mission in Ninevah province. The company provides the 4th Brigade Combat Team with intelligence collection, analysis, assets, and timely support from multiple outposts throughout the province.

The Human Intelligence Platoon conduct interrogations in support of detainee operations at the Mosul Detention Facility and source operations are conducted by the Tactical HUMINT Teams. The THTs have worked with members of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, as well as the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, to uncover multiple improvised explosive device factories and five key insurgents.

The Signal Intelligence Platoon has supported in denying the enemy the use of safe houses and meeting areas in order to reduce attacks against Coalition Forces and Iraqi security forces. As an integrated part of the 4th BCT staff, the SIGINT Soldiers help intercept and analyze important intelligence data, producing over 60 reports daily. The platoon’s Close Tactical Reconnaissance teams are imbedded with the 2-7 Cav. and the

1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment maneuver units where they lend their intelligence expertise in daily tactical operations.

Sgt. 1st Class Darrell Pena and Sgt. Brian Clarke, both assigned to the Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platoon, operate a forward tactical UAV site at FOB Sykes in support of the 1-9 Cav.

“With the TUAV we can see suspicious activity as it happens,” said Pena. “We are here to provide support for the commanders on the ground and give them as much information as possible.”

So far, the TUAV Platoon has provided over 5,500 hours of aerial surveillance between Mosul and Tal ‘Afar and other areas throughout northern Iraq.

Coordination between the

“Unlucky” TUAV Platoon and Scout Weapons Teams has been extremely helpful in the destruction of over 15 IED teams and the capture of over 17 enemy insurgents.

On September 5, 2007, TUAV operators identified multiple IED emplacers along a main supply route in Mosul.

Due to the proficiency of the TUAV Platoon and the 2-7 Cav’s Quick Reaction Force, two insurgents were detained and taken to the Mosul Detention Facility on FOB Marez.

Soldiers in A Company continue to excel, and their efforts as the eyes and ears of the battlefield are a testament to the Military Intelligence Branch motto “Always out Front.”


Task Force Ready NewsStory and photo by capt. bridgette bell

Special Troops Battalion

Command Sgt. Maj. Stephan Frennier, senior enlisted member of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, rewards A Company Soldiers for their hard work.


FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq—Every day, Soldiers from the 27th Brigade Support Battalion are leaving here to go out on missions.

Some of the places they go are nearby, while others are several miles away. Many of the missions can be dangerous; a routine combat logistics patrol can bring everyone back safely or have many issues along the way. Some of the routes are easy to stay alert on; others are a constant struggle with only dry brush passing by.

Every once in a while, some Soldiers will luck out and get to go to a FOB or combat outpost that has something a little different.

Recently, a few Rough Riders were able to take

advantage of a mission that brought them to FOB Q-West—a coveted trip that is usually rewarded with the opportunity to eat Pizza Hut pizza.

Staff Sgt. Charity Walka and Spc. Kristi Phifer, both of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and Spc. Star Kimple of C Company were able to enjoy a night of much-needed pampering. Offered at Q-West is not only a Pizza Hut, but a beauty salon that offers Soldiers pedicures, manicures, and hair styling. Time allowed them to take full advantage of the salon by ordering pedicures and having their hair styled—all while enjoying some pizza. It might not be much, and not very comparable to the services offered in the States, but these three Soldiers agreed it was quite the morale booster to be able to have a “girls’ night out” while deployed to Iraq.

Rough Rider News

Story and photo by 1St lt. Kendra everS


Staff Sgt. Charity Walka (left) and Spc. Kristi Phifer (right), both of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and Spc. Star Kimple (center) of C Company, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, eat pizza while getting their hair done during a trip to Forward Operating Base Q-West.

HTTP://ELPASOTIMES.TYPEPAD.COM/LONGKNIFE

long knife - el paso times...

Documents