the grey wolfstatic.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_2578.pdf · soldier must go through. sure there are...

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INSIDE:3-8 Troopers Awarded for Valor Pg. 4

Lightning Hammer Disrupts AQIZ Pg. 5

Troops Compete in Squat Competition Pg. 8

Grey Wolf Celebrates Women’s Equality Pg. 9

From Attorney, To Enlisted, To Officer Pg. 10

Paratroopers Push Through The Pain Pg. 11

CDR/Chaplain’s Corner Pg. 2CSM Corner Pg. 3 Grey Wolf in Action Pg. 6-7FOB Photos Pg. 12

By Col. David W. Sutherland3BCT, 1CD Commander

Grey Wolf!We are half waythrough with theeleventh month of ourdeployment, while wehave less than 80 daysto go, we still a lot leftto accomplish. Anyonewho had been to

Baqubah prior to the month of May and hasseen Baqubah now can attest to the signifi-cant changes taking place in the city.Baqubah was a city where the locals wouldnot venture out on the streets or go to themarket due to the fear of being attacked,killed or kidnapped. That fear no longer ex-ists. People are swarming the streets, mar-kets are thriving, and the people are safer.Those changes are because of the hard workand dedication of our Greywolf Soldiersand the 3rd SBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. I am hon-ored to have served with our Arrowheadbrothers and sisters, and continue to be in

awe at your continuous focus on our mis-sion and the safety of the Iraqi people. I amproud for all you have done and will con-tinue to do, and will never forget your serv-ice and sacrifice.

Starting this month, and for the secondtime in our deployment, our host nation,along with all other Muslim countries willbegin celebrating the month of Ramadan.The third pillar of Islam, which is fasting,is practiced during this month. It is consid-ered the most venerated, blessed and spiri-tually-beneficial month of the Islamic year.Prayers, fasting, charity, and self-account-ability are especially stressed during thistime; religious observances associated withRamadan are kept throughout the month.The most significant night during the monthof Ramadan is the Night of Power, in whichMuslims commemorate the gift of theQuran from Allah to the Prophet Muham-mad in 610 AD. This night is also known asthe Night of Glory. Muslims will spend thenight asking for forgiveness of their sinsand reciting the Quran.

As professional Soldiers, I expect you

to support the Iraqi people’s right to cele-brate their national identity and enrich theirheritage during this holy month. It is criti-cal for our Soldiers to be culturally sensi-tive. We have taken great strides to secureDiyala. Our successes are seen on a dailybasis. The Iraqis feel secure and are nowcooperating and becoming part of the solu-tion in Diyala; and we cannot allow an errorof judgment or our lack of knowledge topush us back to where we were six monthsago.

I would like to conclude this messageby expressing the gratitude I feel for the un-wavering support we continue to receivefrom our families. As each of you know,this has been a difficult deployment, but ourfamilies have shown they are the foundationof our lives and those families they supportback home. Their love and support has be-come our strength during our most difficulttimes, and I can never thank them enoughfor that. May God continue blessing ourfamilies, our Soldiers, our Armed Forces,and our nation.

Greywolf 6

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Commander’s Column

You may be asking yourselfwhat the deal is with the title.After all, redeployment is atopic that brings smiles tofaces and lifts the hearts andspirits of our troops. But thefact is that many things havehappened that have changedboth us over here, and familyand loved ones back home.There have been marriages anddivorces, births and deaths,jobs and unemployment, androle changes that forever alterthe core of who we are.

Everyone here is antici-pating the return home asmuch as many of our lovedones are, but many have unre-alistic expectations of whatawaits them. The Soldiershave entered a time warp ofsorts and expect there to be lit-tle to no change when they re-turn; but the reality is thatfamilies have continued tolive, learn and change, contin-uously shaped by the thingsthey have experienced.

We, too, have changed.

Most of the time we don’t evenrealize it, but it will becomemore and more evident afterthe honeymoon period of ourreturn is nearing the three-month mark. Sure, we havetraining all lined up that everySoldier must go through. Surethere are programs for the fam-ilies to attend to help themthrough the transition. Butanyone who has been throughthis experience before can tellyou, it’s compulsory, so allwill go but few will listen andglean something of worth.

It is kind of like when aman is driving a car. Althoughhe is implored to stop and askfor directions, he does not. Thereason is because he never re-ally believes that he is lost.When he believes it, he willstop and ask but not until. Theprincipal is sometimes youhave to get someone lost be-fore they can be found, or con-vince them that they’re sickbefore they will go to a hospi-tal.

So, what has all this to dowith the price of tea andChina? Well, as a Chaplain, Ilove my Soldiers – all of them,from my Commander to thelowest-ranking private. Wehave shared some real toughtimes here and gone throughsome serious issues, circum-stances and situations. I haveseen some people come tofaith in a life-changing way.Yet, others continue in hardheartedness and continue totake advantage of grace. It ispainful, but equally painful isthis very issue.

There will be help avail-able to Soldiers and familiesbut in their arrogance or igno-rance, they will not see thatthey need it. I have heard testi-monies from some Soldierswho have gone through this re-deployment process before saythat they wish they would havelistened because in retrospect,they could have avoided someserious and sometimes irre-versible errors that in some

cases cost them their mar-riages.

So in essence, my rede-ployment blues stem from thefact that there will be a multi-tude of avoidable situationsand problems that could bemitigated or avoided alto-gether if Soldiers and familieswould take advantage of thehelp that is available to assistin the redeployment transition;not just with their attendancebut with a searching, teach-able, and humble spirit.

Don’t get me wrong, Ican’t wait to be with my fam-ily and loved ones again but Ianguish over the tide of prob-lems that Soldiers will facethat could have been avoided,because for me, the mostpainful thing I experience inthe Army is to see a Soldier inpain in any form. So my anx-ious and earnest prayer is that Imay reach them through theirstupor so that they may rejoinfamily and friends, and get themost out of the experience.

Chaplain’s Corner Redeployment BluesChaplain (Capt.)Eric Bay, 1-12 CAB

By Command Sgt. Maj.Donald Felt3BCT, 1CD CSM

Murder. Suicide. Accidentaldeath. Negligent homicide.Sounds like life on a soapopera. It’s not. It’s life in

Greywolf. We have an individual in pretrial confine-

ment for alleged murder; a Soldier has died aftercommitting suicide; we’ve had another attemptthe same; we’ve had a Soldier killed due to an ac-cident arising from unsafe ammunition handlingprocedures; another died because of unsafeweapons handling techniques.

In a “community” of 4,000 people, these andother life issues occur. They occur in greater num-bers and frequency when the “community” straysfrom values and discipline. The U.S. Army Valuesare a guidepost for our behavior. Our strict adher-ence to discipline is an extension of those values.

I struggle with these situations because eachone of them was preventable. I struggle becauseas a person, I care about the people around me. Istruggle as a leader because each one of these sit-uations robs us of our most important resource –people.

From a strictly military perspective, thatalone is cause to work to prevent these situations.Each time a Soldier dies, every time a Soldier isabsent from his or her place of duty, the missiongets harder. Someone else bears the burden.Someone else puts out 110 percent just to make upthe difference.

This strains the team. It affects our ability toaccomplish all that we can. We are less effective.As a person, it is cause to work to prevent these sit-uations because of our love for our brothers andsisters. I struggle with the pain and hardshipplaced on a family because of these situations. Itis unnecessary. It is preventable.

These situations are compounded in organ-izations where Army Values are not upheld.Where Army Values fall by the wayside, the con-ditions are set for problems – for failure; fortragedy. One must have the personal moralcourage to do the right thing and correct otherswho fall short. It takes integrity to follow the rules,and it is the honorable thing to do.

One must be selfless in their pursuit of excel-lence. This is our duty as American servicemenand women to perform in accordance to the stan-dard. Our loyalty, which we pledge as part of ouroath of enlistment, drives us to live the Army Val-ues. Out of respect for ourselves and the others

with whom we serve, we must do the right thing.Organizations that take these concepts for grantedare not reaching their full potential.

Discipline is the cornerstone on which goodmilitary units are built. “When you overlook thesmall things, the big things soon follow.” That’s aquote from a Greywolf 9 “ancient,” CSM (retired)Sellards, the Greywolf Brigade CSM during Op-eration Iraqi Freedom II.

When a leader starts to overlook thesmall discipline standards on which webuilt the foundation of our unit discipline,the effect is like a cancer. It gradually

broadens in its scope and effect. The rippleeffect soon attacks larger disciplinary is-sues. Safety is soon affected; morale is af-fected. Before you know it, the unit is ashell of its former self. Just because we’vebeen there and done that, it is no reason tochange our standards. We must stay honedto a fine edge until the end. This is the bestway to fight complacency. It is the best wayto save lives. It is the best way to accom-plish the mission. It is the best way to be re-membered.

I received an e-mail the other daytelling the story of an American’s welcomein Western Europe a few years ago. He waswelcomed with open arms because he wasan American. An old French farmer remem-bered the way he was treated by AmericanSoldiers during the Second World Wartreated he and his family. The old man re-

joiced at meeting an American – the first hehad met since the D-Day invasion!!!! Hebroke out a bottle of champagne and cele-brated the return of Americans. This is theway the American GI is remembered acrossthe globe.

The story went on to describe a statue inEastern Europe. The statue is of a soldier from adifferent army – one who “liberated” the local vil-lage. The statue has a name. It also has a nick-name, “The Unknown Rapist.” There are statuesall over Eastern Europe just like it. They all havethe same nickname.

I am glad it’s not a statue of an AmericanSoldier. I am glad that my Army’s heritage is notof rape and plunder. The American GI is knownthe world over for his or her spirit and demeanor;and it is the way I want you to be rememberedhere in Iraq.

Our discipline and our values are what makeour Army. You have worked very hard, and havereaped the benefits of your labor. Baqubah is amuch better place than when you got here. TheDiyala province is a much better place than whenyou got here. Iraq is a much better place thanwhen you got here.

Your efforts have not been in vain. You haveprovided security for the Iraqi people. You haveprovided essential services for the Iraqi people. Indoing so, you have moved Iraq closer to self suf-ficiency. You have bought time for the govern-ment while it stands up the security forcesnecessary to accomplish the mission. You havehelped establish a government that operates forthe good of the people. In doing so, you have con-tributed to the future of this region.

The security and stability of the Middle Eastregion is crucial to the security and stability of theworld. Imagine what the future holds for this re-gion based on your accomplishments. Imagine aMiddle East with open borders, common cur-rency and a regional parliament founded on dem-ocratic principles. Sixty years ago, no one wouldhave thought that possible in Europe, yet the ef-forts of the American GI made it possible there.Your efforts make it possible here.

I am in awe everyday at the work you doand the manner in which you do it. Maintain yourdiscipline, maintain your values. Hold your headhigh when you leave, knowing that you have donean honorable thing.

Live the Legend,Greywolf 9

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‘Hooah’ Corner


3rd BCT CommanderCol. David Sutherland

3rd BCT PAOMaj. Raul Marquez

[email protected]

3rd BCT PAO NCOIC/EditorSgt. Serena Hayden

[email protected]

3rd BCT PAO Staff WritersSpc. Ryan Stroud, Pfc. Ben Fox

The Grey Wolf Howl is published in the interest of theSoldiers, families and friends of the 3rd Brigade Com-bat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Contents of The GreyWolf Howl are not necessarily official views of, or en-dorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of De-fense, Department of the Army or the 1st CavalryDivision. All editorial content of The Grey Wolf Howl isprepared, edited, provided and approved by the 3rdBrigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Af-fairs Office.

On the cover ...Useful Iraqi PhrasesAnswer the questions.

ja-wib aal-‘as-‘ilah

Local children from Sheik MazenVillage, an area within the DiyalaRiver Valley, follow Coalition Forcesfrom the 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div., asthey return to their vehicles afterclearing operations in support ofOperation Lightning Hammer.Photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3BCT Public Affairs

Soldiers Awarded for Courage During Enemy AttackStory by Sgt. Joshua R. Ford3-82 BCT Public Affairs

BALAD, Iraq—Three Soldierswith Company A, 3-8 Com-bined Arms Battalion, 3rdBrigade Combat Team, 1st Cav-alry Division, recently receivedvalor awards for their actionsFeb. 15, when their patrols wereattacked by multiple roadsidebombs on two different occa-sions.

The Bronze Star medal forvalor was awarded to Spc.Gabriel Stone, infantryman,

Company A, 3rd CombinedArms Battalion, June 29, 2007,for saving the lives of seven ofhis comrades during combat op-erations. The Army Commenda-tion medal for valor wasawarded to Sgt. Martin Olivarezand Sgt. Nicholas Ruggiero,both infantrymen with Com-pany A, 3rd Combined ArmsBattalion, Aug. 18, 2007, forpulling wounded Soldiers froma Bradley fighting vehicle afterit was attacked with a roadsidebomb.

Stone, native to Gallop,

N.M., and his comrades were ona mission when their Bradleyfighting vehicle was struck bymultiple roadside bombs. Im-mediately afterward Stone low-ered the vehicles exit ramp totry and evacuate the mentrapped inside.

As soon as the ramp waslowered flames began to blazeinto the troop carrier forcingStone to put the ramp up.

Knowing that lowering theramp would be the only way hiscomrades would escape, helowered it again and his com-rades ran through the flames toa secure location.

“Private Stone could haveexited the vehicle immediatelyafter the first attempt at lower-ing that door to save himself aspart of the battle drill. But hekept his cool and despite seeinghis vehicle burn around him hestayed to ensure his buddiescould get out,” said Lt. Col.Kevin Dunlop, commander, 3-8Combined Arms Battalion. “Be-cause of his quick thinkingevery one of those Soldiers re-ceived comparably minor in-juries from which most have

already fully recovered. If hehad not done what he did, wewould have lost seven Soldiersthat night.”

In another incident thesame day Olivarez and Rug-giero were on a mission withtheir platoon when a roadsidebomb struck a Bradley fightingvehicle in their platoon.

Olivarez, hailing fromSacramento, Calif., and Rug-giero, native to Naugatuck,Conn., ordered their men to se-cure the site immediately.

Ruggiero climbed on top ofthe vehicle to pull out the un-conscious gunner while Oli-varez forced the troop dooropen to get the wounded Sol-diers out of the back of the vehi-cle.

“After a full week of oper-ations, and a day of nearly con-tinuous contact, these two juniorleaders calmly took charge andlooked to their comrades with-out regard for their own safety,and as a result, every one ofthose Soldiers they pulled fromthat vehicle is going to be al-right,” said Dunlop.

Spc. Gabriel Stone, infantryman, Co. A, 3-8 CAB, re-ceived the Bronze Star medal for valor June 29 for hiscourageous actions Feb. 15 when his vehicle was struckby a roadside bomb.

Photo courtesy of 3-8 CAB

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Lightning Hammer Disrupts al-Qaida in DiyalaBy Sgt. Serena Hayden3rd BCT Public Affairs

Operation Lightning Hammer concluded Aug. 22 after a 12-day, large-scale operation to disrupt al-Qaida and other terror-ist elements in the Diyala River Valley, a complex area ofvillages and palm groves in Iraq’s Diyala province.

The operation, which involved approximately 16,000Iraqi and Coalition Forces clearing approximately 50 vil-lages, was a key element in Multinational Corps-Iraq’s over-all operation, Phantom Strike; and resulted in 26 al-Qaidamembers killed, 37 suspected terrorists detained and the dis-covery of 10 weapons caches.

“The strength and determination of the fighting men andwomen from the Iraqi and Coalition Forces showed great re-sults during Lightning Hammer,” said Col. David W. Suther-land, commander of Coalition Forces in Diyala province.“We have continued to diminish their supplies and disableal-Qaida’s abilities to disrupt the population.”

Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav-alry Division, partnered with members of the 5th Iraqi ArmyDivision, initiated the operation with a late-night air assaultinto targeted locations Aug. 13, and conducted an additional threeair-assaults during the course of the operation.

Residents of most villages welcomed the security forces, pro-viding tips and intelligence about recent activities in their towns;and were interested in joining the Iraqi Security Forces. Followingclearing operations, the Iraqi army provided medical assistance andhumanitarian aid to the local citizens, many of whom said their vil-lages were recently influenced by al-Qaida.

More importantly, more than 80 tribal leaders and representa-tives, some of whom had not spoken in over a year, met Aug. 19 todiscuss their grievances and swore on the Quran to unite in theirfight against terrorists and become one tribe of Diyala.

“As I conducted my battlefield circulation and talked withmany of the citizens, they repeatedly thanked our Soldiers, but more

importantly, their security forces, for liberating their towns fromthe terrorists – specifically al-Qaida,” Sutherland said.

“Because their villages have been cleared, the local and centralgovernments will now be able to provide those essential services al-Qaida destroyed; and the people feel a sense of security they havenot known for some time.”

Throughout the operation, the Task Force Lightning Soldiersalso discovered 22 improvised explosive devices, 11 of which werediscovered based on tips from a police chief in the river valley; andreduced three house-borne IEDs and six vehicle-borne IEDs, all ofwhich could have been used to harm a large portion of the popula-tion or security forces.

Additionally, an al-Qaida company command post was discov-ered in the village of Shadia, and an al-Qaida medical clinic was lo-cated in Qaryat Sunayjiyah.

The command post, which was surrounded by fighting posi-tions, contained bed space for 20 individuals, supply requests,records of munitions, a list of families supporting the element, alist of al-Qaida members detained by Coalition Forces and otherterrorist propaganda.

“Although we didn’t find many of the terrorists, the operationproved to be a great success because we disrupted al-Qaida, causingthem to run,” Sutherland continued. “Their fear of facing our forcesproves that the terrorists know there is no safe haven for them inDiyala.

“And though this specific operation is over, our fight is notover,” he continued.

“We will continue to aggressively target al-Qaida, and ulti-mately, they will be brought to justice,” he added.

The results of Lightning Hammer cleared the Diyala River Val-ley of al-Qaida and allowed Iraqi and Coalition Forces to maintaina permanent presence in Mukeisha, a village in the heart of the rivervalley area.

Spc. Justin Redmond, a dismount with Troop C, 6-9 ArmoredReconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav-alry Division, provides security during clearing operations insupport of Operation Lightning Hammer in Abu Tina, Iraq, anarea in the Diyala River Valley, Aug. 17.

Iraqi Army soldiers with 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Divi-sion, conducts clearing operations in Abu Sayda, Iraq,Aug. 13, in preparation for Operation Lightning Hammer,a joint operation targeting al-Qaida elements throughoutthe Diyala River Valley.

Photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3BCT Public Affairs


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GGrreeyy WWoollff In Action


Above, while conducting a foot patrol in support of Operation Lightning Ham-mer in Mukeisha, Iraq, Sgt. Nic Root, a Soldier from Headquarters and Head-quarters Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to 3rd BrigadeCombat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, holds the door open for a local woman re-turning from the canal

Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Humvees from 6-9 Armored ReconnaissanceSquadron, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, begin clearing AbuSayda, Iraq,

U.S Air Force photo by A1C Christopher Hubenthal, Joint Combat Camera

Above, Soldiers of Company B,1st Battalion, 38th Infantry, 4thStryker Brigade Combat Team,2nd Infantry Division, attached to3-1 Cav., conduct security outsidea house in Baqouba that was justcleared in support of OperationRock Hammer, Sept. 7.

At right, firing teams “Gunny”and “Storm” from the 2nd Battal-ion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rdBrigade Combat Team, 1st Cav-alry Division fire an M109A6 Pal-adin, a Self-Propelled Howitzer,into the Diyala River Valley insupport of Operation LightningHammer, which was just under-way when the rounds werelaunched late into the night, Aug.13.

USAF Photo by Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr., 1st Combat Camera Squadron


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Grey Wolff IInn AAccttiioonn

Above, Soldiers of Company B,1st Battalion, 38th Infantry, 4thStryker Brigade Combat Team,2nd Infantry Division, attached to3-1 Cav., conduct security outsidea house in Baqouba that was justcleared in support of OperationRock Hammer, Sept. 7.

At right, firing teams “Gunny”and “Storm” from the 2nd Battal-ion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rdBrigade Combat Team, 1st Cav-alry Division fire an M109A6 Pal-adin, a Self-Propelled Howitzer,into the Diyala River Valley insupport of Operation LightningHammer, which was just under-way when the rounds werelaunched late into the night, Aug.13.

USAF Photo by Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr., 1st Combat Camera Squadron

Photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3BCT Public Affairs

At right, Spc. Ricardo G. Romero of Co. C., 1-12CAB, crosses a canal while searching palm grovesfor weapons caches during combat operations Aug.28, 2007 near Baqubah, Iraq.

Below, children and local citizens pose while 1st Lt.Anthony Von Plinsky, Troop C, 6-9 Armored Recon-naissance Squadron, discusses the results of theirclearing operations in support of Operation Light-ning Hammer in Abu Tina, Iraq.

Photo by Sgt. Serena Hayden, 3BCT Public Affairs USAF Photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller., 1st Combat Camera Squadron


3 BCT Senior Counselor Master Sgt. Jeffrey Helmes3rd BSTB Staff Sgt. Luis Carter 1st-12th CAV Staff Sgt. Jason Folmar

Staff Sgt. Alegray Hamer215th BSB Staff Sgt. Annamarie Conklin

Staff Sgt. Margaret Smothers3rd-8th CAV Staff Sgt. Don Jewell6th-9th CAV Staff Sgt. Richard Erickson

Staff Sgt. Keston Dyer2nd-82nd FA Staff Sgt. Daniel Beltran

‘Grey Wolf’ Retention Team

‘Grey Wolf’ Soldiers Compete in Squat CompetitionBy Spc. Ryan Stroud3rd BCT Public Affairs

Soldiers stationed at Forward OperatingBase Warhorse, outside of Baqouba, weregiven the chance to flex their muscles andshow their stuff during a squat competitionat Salie Gym, Aug. 18.

The competition gives the Soldiers,who are stationed at FOB Warhorse in sup-port of operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, achance to train for a competitive event andbuild their morale while stationed abroadfor over a year.

“This is a typical squat competition,”said Sgt. Genaro Gutierrez, A Company, at-tached to C Co, 1-12 Combined Arms Bat-talion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. “It’spretty much a chance for [Soldiers] to cometogether and show of their strength.”

And that’s just what they did. As many Soldiers and civilians entered

the gym to watch the competition, a smallgroup stretched and loosened up to attemptsquatting weights well over 400 lbs.

“The weight being lifted is really get-ting up there,” said Gutierrez, a native ofBonham, Texas. “It really works your legsa lot. I don’t work my legs as much but Ifigured I love competition and thought itwould be a good idea to compete.”

Gutierrez also said these competitionsare a great chance for Soldiers to buildmorale and brag about their strength.

“Honestly, this does build morale, es-pecially when you get a crowd like we didtonight. This was amazing,” he said. “It’snice to get support from the Soldiers watch-ing you.

“It also boosts your morale becauseyou’re getting the chance to compete with

everyone on the FOB from different units,”he continued. “It proves who the best of thebest is.”

“This is a great morale booster for theSoldiers,” said Sgt. Victoria Parker, 571stMilitary Police Company, attached to 3rdBCT. “This gives the Soldiers something todo and train for.

“I think these events are very importantfor the Soldiers because it gives them some-thing to keep training for and working to-wards,” said the Reno, Nev. native.“Working towards something makes thetime go by out here.”

The crowed cheered and clapped foreach Soldier lifting, showing appreciationfor the feat of strength they were witness-ing. As the competition winded down, the

competitors congratulated each other ontheir lifts, bragging about how well they didand for the other Soldiers to be ready for thenext competition coming up.

“Everyone who competed tonight doesget some bragging rights because they wereout here giving their all while others mighthave too scared to compete,” Gutierrez said.“This is a hard event that takes a lot out ofyou, but it shows everyone who the bestlifters [out here] are.”

Gutierrez and Parker will begin train-ing for their next event, the Iron Man Chal-lenge, further bettering themselves to gofurther and achieve more.

“A lot of people enjoy working out andthis is their chance to show what they cando,” said Gutierrez.

Sgt. Genaro Gutierrez, A Company, attached to C Co., 1-12 Combined ArmsBattalion, attempts to lift the weight of 375 pounds during the squat compe-tition at Salie Gym, Forward Operating Base Warhorse.



SSG Joan DuranC Trp. 5-73 RSTA

3BCT, 1CD

By Spc. Ryan Stroud3rd BCT Public Affairs

Over eighty years have passed since Con-gress passed the 19th Amendment givingwomen the right to vote, and many Sol-diers at Forward Operating BaseWarhorse, outside of Baqouba, Iraq, cele-brated the anniversary of this amendmentwith a group run, Aug. 26.

“Today, we all gathered to run theWomen’s Equality 5K,” said Staff Sgt.Kristen Vulich, Headquarters and Head-quarters Troop, 3rd Brigade CombatTeam, 1st Cavalry Division, and a nativeof Esterville, Iowa.

“This was a good opportunity to showour support for the things that we believein,” she said.

Before the sun had risen at FOBWarhorse, the Soldiers participating in therun were up and stretching as Staff Sgt.Maj. Caterina Veronesi, 3-58 Civil AffairsBrigade, attached to 3rd BCT, began tospeak to the Soldiers about the importanceof the 19th amendment and the run.

“We are here to celebrate the auspi-cious occasion of commemorating wom-ens’ right to vote and the 19thAmendment, which gave them that right,”said Veronesi. “This means to me that Iactually count, my voice counts in the de-cisions that are made that effect us as citi-zens of the United States.”

Veronesi said she really wantedto shed extra light on the subject so theSoldiers could see how important thisevent really is.

“We continue to be a minority, notthat being a minority is a bad thing, butit’s so we enjoy that achievement thatmuch more,” she said. “Serving in themilitary, it’s one more thing in our backpocket that we need to be proud of andneed to be mindful of with our status aswomen, especially as women in the mili-tary.”

Also for Veronesi, speaking to theSoldiers in Iraq held an importance to her.

“I feel very honored to speak with theSoldiers,” she said. “It really is an honorto speak to my fellow Soldiers here, espe-cially in a combat environment like FOBWarhorse.

“I was delighted to speak on such animportant topic,” Veronesi said. “There isan importance to keep educating Soldierson these special events andholidays.

“I could see in the facesof the Soldiers today thatthey were enlightened andlearned something today,”she said. “I think theylearned another sence ofvalue and personal pride.”

“It was a good event,”said Vulich. “Everyone triedto help each other through therun and push each other to gofurther and give it their alland I think we all learnedsomething new and importanthere.”

But for Veronesi, shewas also pleased to see the

high turnout of male Soldiers in a female-celebrated event.

“I was delighted to see the turnout inthe male Soldiers today because it doesshow their support and standing besidetheir female counterparts, which is themilitary today,” said Veronesi.

“Back when I came [into the Army],we were segregated, the training was seg-regated,” she continued. “Today, maleSoldiers are the battle buddies to their fe-male counterparts – in fighting positions,out there in the battle field, running and[physical training].

“These males look to these women,not just as women, but to what they are,and that’s a warrior and a Soldier – that’swhat this run is really all about,” she con-cluded.

3rd BCT Celebrates Women’s Equality with 5K Run

In Memory Of...

CPL William WarfordF FSC, 215th BSB

3BCT, 1CD

PFC Dane BalconHHC, 3-8 CAB3BCT, 1CD

SFC David Allen Cooper Jr.B Co., 2-23 INF4SBCT-2ID

Greywolf Soldiers talk about their run after com-pleting the Women’s Equality 5K Run celebratingthe passing of the 19th Amendment over 80 yearsago. The run was at Forward Operating BaseWarhorse, outside Baqouba, Iraq, Aug. 26.



From attorney, to enlisted, to officer…Judge Takes Journey Through Ranks To Find NicheBy Spc. Ryan Stroud3rd BCT Public Affairs

He was a successful attorney in his homestate of New Jersey, holding a partnershipthat had him working 16-hour days duringhis busy work week. But at the age of 30,the attorney felt he was missing something.

A supporter of the war in Iraq, theflourishing attorney decided to do the un-thinkable – quit his practice to join the U.S.Army as a cavalry scout.

Today, and now at the age of 33, thisformer cavalry scout has once again jumpedback into the whirling world of law, thistime as the Legal Systems Judge Advocateand Operations Judge Advocate in supportof the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cav-alry Division, who is stationed in Baqouba,Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom06-08.

But the change hasn’t been easy forCapt. Paul Curry, Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, 25th Infantry Division.Just over nine months ago, he was a special-ist, one rank below the non-commissionedofficer, preparing for deployment to Iraq.He now is a part of the proud group of offi-cers who run the “Grey Wolf” Brigade.

“I supported the war since its onset,”Curry said. “I felt that a lot of people in myneighborhood in New Jersey didn’t feel thesame. I supported it and felt it was my re-sponsibility to serve.

“I enlisted as a 19D, cavalry scout, and

was reassigned into the training room, a jobI didn’t really enjoy,” said Curry while dis-cussing his reasons for becoming an officer.

“My colonel and sergeant major pre-sented me with the opportunity, since I wasalready an attorney, to put in an applicationfor [Judge Advocate General],” he contin-ued. “Three months later, I was picked upfor JAG and in October, I left for commis-sioning.”

From an outsider’s perspective, Curryprogressed through his new rank quickly.

“I was given first lieutenant rank, but Iprogressed no faster than anyone else in myclass,” Curry stated. “[We all] got our rankwithin three or four days in July.”

Curry said he was often asked why hewasn’t an officer when, in his previous job,he was an attorney. For Curry, he needed totake some time to look deep inside to findthe right decision for his future. Once de-ciding, he said it took a while to get used to.

“People told me it would be better tobe an officer… but I have found that youhave just as many bosses, senior as an offi-cer, just as you do enlisted,” he said. “Butit feels like you’re changing teams, [though]your basic military bearing stays the same.The biggest difficulty I’ve had is convinc-ing myself up here,” as he points to hishead.

“When you’ve spent your entire mili-tary career as a junior enlisted, and I see agroup of junior enlisted together, I expect

that I should be there with them,” he said.“I have to remind myself, that’s not whoI’m with anymore. That’s the biggest hur-dle.

“For the first couple of weeks after Ihad pinned on my rank, I would see a firstsergeant, sergeant first class, walk by andsnap a salute,” Curry joked, “and I wouldquickly go into panic mode to find out whothey were saluting and ready my explana-tion for why I hadn’t.

“[Others saluting me] caught me off-guard for a while,” he continued. “It was agood feeling but also an embarrassing feel-ing. I wasn’t used to it; it took some time toget comfortable with.”

While he’s since overcome his shynesstowards salutes being directed to him, Currysays he enjoyed his time as an enlisted Sol-dier but now looks forward to his future asa leader.

“Definitely one of the best decisionsI’ve ever made,” he said about joining theArmy and becoming an officer. “This iscertainly more fulfilling. When I was in mypractice, I didn’t identify myself with myjob. Out here, you really live your job a lotmore and I simply find that fulfilling.

“I was working 16-hour days at homeand struggled to find time to go to the gym,”Curry said with a smile. “[After joining theArmy], I was paid to workout all day. Itwas a great time.

“But if had to choose whether to stayan officer or be enlisted, I would stay an of-ficer because I hadn’t completed the jobyet,” he said.

“When I left being a 19D, I feel that Iwas a very good shot and a good scout,”continued Curry. “I don’t feel as accom-plished yet at this job. I still have more toaccomplishe and I won’t be finished until Ifeel I have done that.”

Curry does have advice to those whoare thinking about “switching sides” fromenlisted to officer.

“Find out internally what you want todo with the Army,” he said. “The Armygives you so many opportunities… whetherit is to stay enlisted or become an officer,check into the different [Military Occupa-tion Specialties] or different posts.

“But if someone is unhappy being en-listed, becoming an officer is not always theanswer,” Curry warns. “You shouldn’tmake your decision [to become an officer]on money or on perceived respect. Find outwhat you really want to do, and do it.”


Capt. Paul Curry, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 25th Infantry Di-vision, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, is sta-tioned in Baqouba, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08. Currychose to leave his job as an attorney, join the Army as a cavalry scout and thenbecome a member of the Judge Advocate General before deploying.


Paratroopers Push Through The PainBy Pfc. Ben Fox3rd BCT Public Affairs

A CH-47 Chinook helicoptertouched down in a small clear-ing outside Had Maksar, a vil-lage in the Diyala River Valley,Iraq.

Immediately, the ramp low-ered and a group of Iraqi andU.S. Soldiers streamed out ofthe chopper to prepare for theirmission.

The Soldiers were about toendure two days of OperationHoplite, where they would clearhouses and palm groves in andaround Had Maksar – all whilefighting temperatures in the120s.

“There is a lot that goesthrough your mind,” said StaffSgt. Adam Jeter, Company A,5th Squadron, 73rd CavalryRegiment, 3rd Brigade CombatTeam, 82nd Airborne Division,attached to the 3rd BrigadeCombat Team, 1st Cavalry Di-vision, in support of OperationIraqi Freedom 06-08. “You’renot sure what you’re gettinginto.

“As soon as the wheels hitthe ground, your immediatethought is if you are going tomake contact or not when youhit the (landing zone),” saidJeter.

“You don’t really knowwhat to expect,” said Spc.Mario Mendoza, also with Co.A, 5-73 Cav.

“When you hit the LZ youcould take contact immediately,but that’s why you pull secu-

rity,” said Mendoza.After the Chinook took off,

the Soldiers left the field andbegan clearing houses. Each ofthe men knew the harsh condi-tions of fatigue – referred to bymany Soldiers as “the suck,” –they were going to face in thenear future.

“The suck starts to hit afterabout two or three hours ofclearing, even though we startedat roughly two o’clock in themorning,” said Jeter. “It doesn’ttake long because you’re wear-ing (individual body armor), inother words, 40 to 50 pounds.

“Since we did an air assaultmission, all the gear that you’retaking with you is on yourback,” he said. “So you’re look-ing at carrying 110 or 120pounds on your back.

“It doesn’t take long forthat to set in,” said Jeter. “It getsrough.

“I mean it’s only a coupleof hours until your body iswanting to give out on you,” hesaid.

“For this particular missionit just started to suck when itstarted getting hotter,” saidMendoza. “Your gear starts toweigh down and your water isall hot.

“You just want to get donewith it,” he said.

With the harsh conditions,the Soldiers have to find waysto continue on and keep focus.

“It’s up in the head,” saidMendoza. “You just have tokeep going.

“Sometimes I think ofworse situationswe’ve been in,” hesaid. “Some of thetime you just don’tthink about it and justcontinue on withwhat you are doing.”

“The way that Ihave always gottenthrough and… main-tain my focus is, firstof all, my immediatesituation – me andmy men,” said Jeter.

“My goal fromday one was to makesure myself and my

men made it home alive,” hesaid. “I can pretty much dealwith anything as long as I makesure that my guys get homealive.

“Secondly, my family,”continued Jeter. “I have a wifeand three kids, and I want tomake it home to them.

“Dealing with that short bitof pain is worth it to make sureI have my focus and stamina tomake it through,” he said.

After all of their assignedhouses had been cleared, theSoldiers found a house to stay inthat night. The next morning,they had to complete the laststage of the mission, which wasto clear the palm groves.

“We call the palm grovesVietnam,” said Mendoza. “Thehumidity is just (ridiculous)there.”

Getting up in the morningand knowing that they are goingto go through possibly worseconditions than the day beforedid not faze Jeter.

“It almost becomes kind ofcomedic,” said Jeter.

“You get up and you knowit’s going to suck,” he said.“You know you are gettingready to go through hell, andyou know your backs going tohurt… you’re going to get dehy-drated and feel light headed.

“The palm groves aregoing to be humid, and you’regoing to be bent over trying towalk down under the (vine-yards),” said Jeter.

“You get to the point whereyou know it’s going to happenone way or the other, so youmay as well laugh about it,” hesaid.

Mendoza said it could havebeen worse.

“We did it when it was stillrelatively cool out, so it wasn’tthat bad,” he said.

“When it gets hotter in theday, it’s not dry anymore -- it’shumid,” said Mendoza, “whichmakes it that much worse.

“The vineyards are theworst because they are so low,”he said. “It sucks to be bent overwalking around in the IBA.

“The only thing that wasgoing through my head was‘Last day of this (stuff),’” saidMendoza.

Jeter said that each missiongives him something to reflecton for future operations.

“It does get easier eachtime, because each time you canfine tune what you didn’t doperfect the last time,” he said.“With each mission comes thatadditional refinement thatmakes you that much better forthe next one.”

Carrying an M249 squad automatic weapon, Spc. MarioMendoza, Company A, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Reg-iment, clears palm groves near Had Maksar, Iraq, duringOperation Hoplite.

Photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3BCT Public Affairs

As the Iraqi Army clears the house,Spc. Mario Mendoza labels the gate toa compound during Operation Hoplitein Had Maksar, Iraq.

Photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3BCT Public Affairs


Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S.Central Command, presents a coin of excel-lence to Spc. Dustin Morrissey, a Soldierwith Headquarters and Headquarters Troop,3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Divi-sion, following a tour of Baqouba, Iraq. OneSoldier from each battalion was recognized.

EAGLE CASH CARD

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