Site Essentials
- » Site Introduction
- » Comment Policy
- » Stryker Brigade 101
- » FAQ
- » Thank The Troops
- » Support Our Site
- » Contact Us
- » Terms & Conditions
In Memoriam
Browse Archives
Search Archives
Subscribe to SBN
Browse Our Shop
Awards
We've received a few emails from soldiers with the SBCT recently, and others have left comments, so we wanted to officially welcome you to the site. Glad you found it. Thanks for everything you are doing for us over there and know that there is a large group of us following your progress and waiting for your safe return.
What else do you guys want to add? Leave a comment for them.
[Link to Full Article]
(No Strykers were involved)
By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press
MOSUL, Iraq (AP) - A car bomb targeting a police station in Iraq's third largest city killed nine people and injured 45 others Saturday, while three American soldiers died when a roadside bomb ripped through their convoy near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.
Witnesses in Mosul, Iraq's major northern city, said what appeared to be a suicide attacker drove through a security barricade in front of the police station before blowing up his vehicle outside the building. Officials confirmed a car bomb but wouldn't say if it was a suicide attack.
BILL HUTCHENS; The News Tribune
Stryker is coming to video games, and Fort Lewis is playing a pivotal role in the move.
Developers of the popular "America's Army" online game visited the military base Friday to take notes, photos and videotape to help them with upcoming art and programming sessions.
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) uncovered two caches during operations Jan. 30 in and around Mosul.
Company A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment uncovered a cache of weapons after an unknown number of enemy engaged a patrol with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades in northern Mosul. The patrol returned fire, and broke and moved to a location several blocks away. They then consolidated, reorganized and returned to secure the site. The patrol secured a cache consisting of one grenade, and six expended French Roland surface-to-air missile casings.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - The Army's new Stryker vehicle had its first combat encounter with a rocket-propelled grenade Friday.
The round struck the front of the vehicle above its slat armor cage, cutting a hose inside the engine compartment. The vehicle commander suffered a superficial cut near his nose, officials said.
There are a few more Stryker photos today as well.
Here's a transcript of the online discussion with Hal Bernton of the Seattle Times from earlier today.
Melody found a story with a link to some ABC video news coverage of the Stryker Brigade as it rolled into Mosul on January 12th. The link is on the right hand sight of the story.
You'll need Quick Time installed to play the video portion. I haven't been able to get it to play, but that's likely operator error.
UPDATE: Looks like no one can play the video. I sent a message to KOMO to see if they can give us some advice. I'll let you know if/when I hear back.
UPDATE II: Here's what the guy at KOMO said:
"I have just checked this on Comcast cable modem outside our system. It works fine. If you have anything less than DSL or cable it probably won't work. Also, if you do have cable or DSL, make sure your QuickTime player is set to port 80 on the transport. This is set in the preferences of the player."
Check your settings and try again.
There are a number of Stryker pictures today at Frontline Photos. For some reason many of the photos are not displaying correctly right now, so check back periodically to see if the problem has been fixed.
Thanks to Steve for the notice.
Fox news channel just showed some footage of the Strykers in Mosul. There was an RPG attack on four armored vehicles with no injuries, according to the report. They did not have a lot of information but did say one vehicle was hit but appeared to be not affected. I will keep checking the web for additional information and post it here when available.
Direct from Mosul, here is a poster created by the Brigade 31U Team, which it wanted to share with all of you. Displayed is a small version, but directly underneath is a link to a larger, higher-quality version. The caption reads, "When you care enough to send the very best." Thanks guys! Stay safe over there.
There have been a few recent additions to our Photo Gallery. Kimberly and Sondra both have new albums, and Charlotte has added photos to her existing gallery.
Thanks again to all of you that have contributed so far.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Navy divers on Thursday recovered the body of one of three soldiers missing since Sunday night's boat and helicopter accidents on the Tigris River.
A diver found the remains of one of two pilots whose OH-58 Kiowa Warrior crashed into the fast-moving river while they were helping to look for a Stryker brigade infantryman who'd fallen in after his boat capsized an hour earlier.
The search is scheduled to continue today for the soldier, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, and the second pilot.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Stryker brigade Lt. Col. Gordie Flowers went into a neighborhood of concrete block tenements near sundown Thursday to meet and pay his respects to Ali Unas, the father of a man troops shot to death two days earlier.
The battalion commander from Fort Lewis tried to make things right with the Iraqi family, bringing personal condolences and $1,000 in restitution.
Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton, who just returned from a trip to Iraq, will be featured in an hour-long online discussion Friday, January 30th at noon PST. Follow this link for more information or to submit a question.
Out thoughts are with his family and the families of the other missing soldiers.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The body of a missing Minnesota soldier was found in Iraq Thursday, days after he was reported missing after a helicopter crash.
The Defense Department said Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Dorff, 32, of Minnesota, was one of two men piloting a helicopter that crashed into the Tigris River in Mosul on Sunday while searching for four soldiers whose boat capsized.
In testimony before a Congressional hearing yeterday, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker outlined the short and long-term transformation plans of the Army. The Stryker program is mentioned briefly. The restructuring is supposedly the largest in 50 years.
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON, (American Forces Press Service, Jan. 29, 2004) – Although the Army has been given the green light to temporarily increase its size by up to 30,000 troops, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker said he opposes a permanent end-strength increase.
I've found two separate volunteer groups sending books to soldiers abroad. If you have any extra books, DVDs or supplies, stop by Books for Soldiers or Operation Paperback (thanks Melody) for more information about how you can help.
I was glad to see that Congress recently boosted funding of the Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) in Iraq.
By Dan Murphy, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
BAGHDAD – In November, the deadliest month for US soldiers in the occupation of Iraq, angry and sometimes desperate calls began streaming back to the US from commanders, complaining that the government wasn't giving them what they needed to battle an intensifying insurgency.
By Ray Rivera
Seattle Times staff reporter
Rescuers continued to search the waters of the Tigris River near the northern Iraq city of Mosul yesterday for a missing Bremerton soldier and two helicopter pilots.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, 29, was one of four soldiers from the Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade who were on a river patrol with Iraqi police when their boat capsized Sunday. Three of the soldiers made it to shore. In the ensuing search for Bunda, a Kiowa helicopter crashed into the river; its two Army pilots from Fort Drum, N.Y., have not been found.
ROBERT BURNS; The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The Army's top general said Wednesday that he is making plans based on the possibility the Army will be required to keep tens of thousands of soldiers in Iraq through 2006.
Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, told the House Armed Services Committee that "for planning purposes" he has ordered his staff to consider how the Army would replace the force that is now rotating into Iraq with another force of similar size in 2005 - and again in 2006.
The Associated Press; TNT
BREMERTON - Michele Bunda does her best to answer her children's questions about their father, Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, missing in Iraq since Sunday when a boat he was on capsized.
"Our 3-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter are aware of what is going on and they are sad, but I don't think they understand yet," she told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer at the family's home.
The latest FRG newsletter is now available at the Warhorse web site. Saving the Word document to your computer will allow for faster viewing. There are some images in the document. HOOah!!!
[Link to Full Article] including picture of Christopher Bunda.
By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News [update of previous story from parents perspective]
BREMERTON, Wash. - The past few days have been agonizing for the Bremerton family of a missing soldier in Iraq but they are still hoping for a miracle.
This has been a pretty tough week news-wise, so I thought I'd throw out a few diversions. At my other site I have a humor category that has some good fluff. If you're short on time, here are a few of my favorites.
Associated Press
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The deployment of the 81st Armored Brigade of the Washington National Guard to the Middle East will begin next month, officials have announced.
Did anyone else have trouble reaching the site this morning? Our web host was experiencing some technical difficulties and visitors using certain internet providers we unable to access the site, including myself. If you sent me an email this morning there's a chance I never received it. Everything seems back to normal now.
By Karen Jowers; Times staff writer
Items are being pilfered from some boxes mailed to service members in Iraq, according to troops, family members and morale-mail organizers.
The Military Postal Service Agency has received occasional complaints about rifled or stolen mail, but has no indication from command sources that “this is a widespread or organized problem, nor of major loss or theft,” stated Marine Capt. Luke Gové, an MPSA spokesman, in an e-mail response to questions.
“In each case that we have encountered, the parcel was not insured,” Gové added.
Michael Gilbert; The News Tribune has posted another short update.
MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi teams Tuesday continued their search for a Stryker brigade soldier and two helicopter pilots missing in the Tigris River since Sunday.
Officials said they would return to the river today with U.S. Navy divers, Iraqi police and Army engineers with river boats.
By MIKE BARBER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Ever since she received word Sunday that her 29-year-old husband, Christopher, a Fort Lewis Stryker brigade soldier, was missing in Iraq, Michele Bunda has been waging her own war, wielding hope and prayer against the forces of fate.
Army Times has another reporter, Robert Hodierne, with the SBCT in Mosul. Strykerparent sent me this article, which describes the joint missions between the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st and the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment of the Stryker Brigade. Lots of color in this piece.
By Robert Hodierne
Times staff writer
MOSUL, Iraq — Cpl. Jerred Horn had just searched the second floor of a house here and was headed for the stairs.
Paul Bremer made a recent visit to Mosul and received a demonstration of the Stryker vehicle by Maj. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the 101st. Not sure why he was giving the tour. Here's a photo of Bremer in the vehicle.
No. 052-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today the identity of three soldiers listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division were involved in two incidents in Mosul, on Sunday, Jan. 25. During a river patrol with local police, four soldiers fell into the Tigris River after their watercraft capsized. Two OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters conducted a search, and one of the search helicopters crashed into the river.
Patti, whose son is currently serving in Iraq, maintains two websites you might like to visit. A Soldier's Blog is dedicated to providing news from Iraq, while Soldier's Angels aims, "to provide aid and comfort to any and all armed forces and their families." Keep up the great work Patti!
We'll add these to our links page for future reference.
Patti, whose son is currently serving in Iraq, maintains two websites you might like to visit. A Soldier's Blog is dedicated to providing news from Iraq, while Soldier's Angels aims, "to provide aid and comfort to any and all armed forces and their families." Keep up the great work Patti!
We'll add these to our links page for future reference.
According to his website:
Kevin Sites is a freelance solo journalist currently on assignment for NBC News in Iraq, but this site is a personal website not affiliated with or funded by NBC News...Sites’s war blog [uses] text, digital images and audio to provide readers with a more intimate behind-the-scenes look at the people of Iraq, the war and how it was being covered.
He has some amazing photo essays of his time in Iraq, including one from Samarra published a month before the Strykers arrived there. Go explore.
The Wave A Flag! site is worth a visit. It allows you to sign and fly an online flag in support of the troops. Almost 1,300,000 people have participated.
Thanks Amber.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
The Stryker brigade's nuclear, chemical and biological reconnaissance platoon detected high levels of radiation on four trucks attempting to cross the Iraq-Turkey border, officials said Monday.
Here's another report from Michael Gilbert in Mosul, who provides a detailed account of events leading up to and following the incident.
[Link to Full Article] (Updated since last night)
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Three Stryker brigade soldiers and at least two Iraqi policemen remain unaccounted for Tuesday in Iraq after a tragic sequence of events Sunday along the Tigris River.
The search will continue today for a Stryker soldier lost when the Iraqi police boat he was aboard capsized, and for two pilots attached to the brigade whose helicopter crashed while they were looking for the missing soldier.
Frontline Photos has pictures of the search for the missing Stryker soldiers in Mosul.
This is not Stryker related, but I thought I would warn all of you that a new virus is spreading via email. According to the Symantec website:
Security Response is currently investigating a new mass-mailing worm. Initial submissions have been received with file extensions of .exe, .pif, .scr, and .zip. Additional information will be made available as soon as possible.
I've received about 10 infected emails today with various subject lines, including, "Hi", "Hello", "Status" and "Test". If you receive an email with an attachment and don't know the recipient, I would suggest deleting it, then emptying your trash.
This article from Army Times was supposedly for subscribers only, but I managed to access it just fine. My thoughts are with the families of these soldiers.
By Robert Hodierne
Times staff writer
MOSUL, Iraq —Three soldiers are missing and it is feared they drowned Sunday afternoon in the Tigris River here.
The soldiers are all members of the Fort Lewis, Wash.-based Stryker Brigade, which had taken operational control of military operations in this northern Iraqi city only hours earlier.
Associated Press
January 26, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military lost its fifth helicopter this month in Iraq, which crashed in the Tigris river while searching for a soldier whose boat had capsized. The aircraft's two crew members and the soldier remained missing Monday.
By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq (January 26, 10:11 a.m. PST) - U.S. forces aided by Iraqis searched the muddy waters of the Tigris River on Monday in northern Iraq for a soldier and two pilots missing after a helicopter crashed while searching for a patrol boat that had capsized.
This article also includes a great photo of a Kiowa helicopter flying over the Tigris river and additional information from around Iraq.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - It was inspection day at the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps barracks, and 1st Sgt. Eugene O'Day did not have high expectations.
The last time he was through, the place was a mess - "just nasty" is how the Stryker brigade soldier put it, with dirt and trash all over. And this time didn't start out well when O'Day found a melting ice cream bar in the first locker he checked.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces were searching for a Stryker brigade soldier and two helicopter pilots missing late Sunday after two apparent accidents along the Tigris River.
The missing American soldier was one of four brigade soldiers and several Iraqis aboard a boat that capsized in the river about 5:15 p.m. local time, officials said.
Dan forwarded this poem, author unknown written by Chaplain Jack Stanley.
UPDATE: Jan wanted to let us knwo that the actual author is Autumn Parker, the wife of a Green Beret.
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
CW2 Michael T. Blaise, 29, from Tenn., was killed Jan 23 when his OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed on its way back from a combat mission near Mosul in northern Iraq. Blaise was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Aviation Brigade based at Fort Campbell, Ky.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Brian D. Hazelgrove, 29, of Fort Rucker, Ala., was killed Jan 23 when his OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed on its way back from a combat mission near Mosul in northern Iraq. Hazelgrove was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) based at Fort Drum, N.Y.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton is leaving Iraq, but he filed this interesting story about an Iraqi exile returning to his homeland. He lived in Seattle prior to his return.
By Hal Bernton
Seattle Times staff reporter
QAL'AT SUKKAR, Iraq — The daily livestock auction is a roadside affair. A collection of scruffy sheep and goats appears at the highway intersection, led by a clutch of farmers eager to deal.
Molly sent a link to AAFES's "Gifts From the Homefront" program, which allows you to purchade a military exchange gift certificate for soldiers serving overseas. If you don't know a soldier personally, there are a number of other services available that match you with a soldier in need.
Thanks for the link.
Many thanks to Jenn for letting us know.
The new January 22nd Newsletter has arrived !!!! It is really long too-- 11 pages!!! (maybe because we had to wait??) Hopefully everyone will hear about their soldiers unit.
UPDATE: Here is a direct link to the Newsletter. Apparently some people are having trouble accessing the page referenced above.
UPDATE II: For those of you wanting a very detailed map of the areas mentioned, the following two links are the best I have seen. Almost every little 4 building town in the country seems to be listed on these maps.
Low Resolution map in PDF
High Resolution map in PDF
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Two U.S. Army pilots - one of them from a unit attached to the Stryker brigade - were killed late Friday when their helicopter crashed not long after takeoff from their base in Qayyarah.
The Photo Gallery is up and running. For future reference, we've added a permanent link on the sidebar.
Thanks to all of you that have submitted photos so far. If you have any Stryker Brigade related pictures, send us an email and we can get you set up as a contributor (please DO NOT send photos - just a note saying you would like to create an album of your own). Just a reminder, we don't want any photos pulled from news articles or military websites - original content only.
For those of you visiting the Gallery, please be reminded that all images belong to the album owners. If you would like to display these photos elsewhere, contact us and we will put you in touch with the right person. It is ultimately their decision whether or not to share the photos. Thanks for your understanding.
This is a CJTF7 report from their website.
MOSUL, Iraq - Coalition Forces detained six people and confiscated illegal weapons and ammunition yesterday in northern Iraq.
The 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker) 2nd Infantry Division, which is attached to the 101st, received from the Coalition for Iraqi National Unity, a concerned group of local citizens: 50 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, seven complete RPGs, nine hand grenades, 750 14.5 mm rounds, three Night Vision Goggles for use with RPGs, 2,200 7.62 mm rounds, six 40 mm rounds, one 82 mm mortar tube, 20 82 mm rounds, one 60 mm mortar tube, three sniper rifles and one 23 mm twin gun anti-aircraft artillery.
"Twins have buddies, officers seeing double"
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - That Desterhouse guy, they say. He must be the hardest-working kid in the company.
Until they figure out that "he" is actually "them" - identical twins James and David Desterhouse, who both work on the computers in the Stryker brigade's tactical operations center.
I ran across this web site maintained by a pilot, CPT. John C. Tucker, 1-4 AVN Regt. over in Iraq. He has some great pictures on his pages. So far, I have only found one Stryker vehicle photo.
This article from the WaPo gives a very nice summary of military progress in Iraq over the past few months.
[Link to Full Article] (brief registration required)
By Thomas E. Ricks and Liz Spayd
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, January 23, 2004; Page A01
MOSUL, Iraq -- Senior U.S. commanders say they are making progress toward defeating insurgents in Iraq, but caution that political disputes over the country's path to sovereignty could prolong or worsen security problems, according to a range of interviews with military officials.
Reading this entry by Sgt. Hook at his blog reminded me of the conversations on the bulletin board regarding care package items (steaks, lawn chairs etc.). Hook will be deploying to Afghanistan this spring and has decided to stockpile charcoal so he can host weekly BBQs for his troops while they are over there.
(via Robert Prather)
Bob sent a link to this tribute poem written by Allison Coxsey.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Senior officers from the Stryker brigade and the Fort Lewis-based I Corps staff that will soon run U.S. military efforts in northern Iraq met the Mosul press on Thursday.
Marcel sent me this amazing series of time-lapse photos documenting the recovery of the USS Cole, the destroyer bombed by terrorists in 2000.
FYI - The Cole returned to service in April 2002.
According to Phil Carter, the Transportation Security Administration has issued new guidelines which allow family members of soldiers arriving from, and departing to, Iraq to proceed past the security checkpoints at airports in order to maximize their time together. Small gesture, but a nice one.
CENTCOM Press Release
January 22, 2004
Release Number: 04-01-55
MOSUL, Iraq - The 1st Brigade, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) handed over control of the Tigris River Valley area of northern Iraq today to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker) 2nd Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony at the Qayarrah West Airfield.
Here's a lengthy pre-deployment article that provides a good overview of the SBCT's training.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., National Journal
Fort Lewis, Wash. - Dust clings to everything, and the air smells of smoke. It's as if the Pacific Northwest, after one of the driest and most brushfire-prone summers on record, is trying to add a little extra realism to the last big war game before this Army unit deploys to Iraq.
Dan sent a couple related articles regarding the standard equipment issued to soldiers. The USA Today article is from last summer and explains why many soldiers resort to buying their own gear.
"Buying own gear is common for troops"
By John Diamond, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — When Army Col. Mike Smith got the order to deploy to Afghanistan in 2001, he reached for his wallet. Smith wanted a pair of boots that could stand up to the rocky terrain, something he knew his Army-issue footwear wouldn't do.
The second SBCT at Ft. Lewis (1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division) will be featured in two new "Army of One" recruitment commercials.
BILL HUTCHENS; The News Tribune
Director Andrew Douglas raised a white megaphone to his mouth and shouted toward a circle of about three dozen Stryker brigade soldiers milling around a cold, muddy field at Fort Lewis...
CENTCOM Press Release
January 21, 2004
Release Number: 04-01-53
MOSUL, Iraq – Weapons and discarded Iraqi military equipment were turned in or discovered by soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker), 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), in northern Iraq yesterday.
CENTCOM Press Release
January 21, 2004
Release Number: 04-01-53
MOSUL, Iraq – Weapons and discarded Iraqi military equipment were turned in or discovered by soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker), 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), in northern Iraq yesterday.
CENTCOM Press Release
January 20, 2004
Release Number: 04-01-50
MOSUL, Iraq – Former high-ranking members of the Ba’ath Party renounced affiliation with their political party in today Rabiah on the Syrian border, in a meeting with the leaders of the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker), 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
CENTCOM Press Release
January 20, 2004
Release Number: 04-01-50
MOSUL, Iraq – Former high-ranking members of the Ba’ath Party renounced affiliation with their political party in today Rabiah on the Syrian border, in a meeting with the leaders of the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade (Stryker), 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Here's a breaking news story from Michael Gilbert regarding the roadside bomb incident in Mosul this morning. Thanks to Sue for the link.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Three Stryker brigade soldiers were injured when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb as their convoy rolled down a highway Wednesday morning.
One soldier was struck in the abdomen by shrapnel and was reported in stable condition after surgery at an Army field hospital. His wounds are not considered life-threatening, but he will require further surgery after he's flown home to the United States, brigade officials said.
Now that the Stryker Brigade is assuming control in the Mosul region, you might be interested in browsing an archive of news stories from the 101st's time there. Kali, who sent me the link, said it eased her mind a bit to learn more about the tremendous progress that has been made in the area.
If you really want to dig into the details, the 101st has published 55 Iraqi Destiny Newsletters since it entered the country last April. That should keep you busy.
Deb sent a graphic she created using a map of Mosul with an overlay of a black and white satellite photo of the palace. Click on the link below to see a full-size version. Thanks!
[Link to Full Article] (registration required)
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 21, 2004
Filed at 8:46 a.m. ET
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A roadside bomb exploded Wednesday near the northern city of Mosul, wounding three U.S. soldiers and seven other people, the military and local police said.
Dan found a couple older articles we missed related to a unique tool that has become standard issue for breach teams, including those with the Stryker Brigade.
"Hatchet Job"
By David Tillett
ABC News
Aug. 18— Modern versions of the frontier tomahawk have been quietly finding their way into the hands of members of the U.S. armed forces for a couple of years now. But now it's one step closer to becoming a standard-issue item.
UPDATE: We removed this entry for the time being b/c there was sensitive information listed on the page we linked to. I'll contact the site and let them know what our concerns are. If they change it I'll put the link back up.
This article draws on the CJTF7 press release we linked to yesterday.
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2004 – Soldiers equipped with the Stryker -- a transformational, multi-wheeled armored vehicle -- are soon slated to take up duty in the Mosul, Iraq, area of operations, according to a Combined Joint Task Force 7 news release today.
By MATTHEW KORADE
ANNISTON, Ala. -- Imagine a fuel as cheap and available as gasoline that could get 90 miles to the gallon. If scientists at Auburn University have their way, cars of the near future may get just that - and the technology is already here.
Fuel cell technology is the future of the automotive industry, and soon could be part of the Department of Defense's next wave of combat systems...
I'm always impressed by the wealth of information provided by GlobalSecurity.org. Today I found a section devoted to information about all of the U.S. military's facilities in Iraq. Here's an introduction, followed by a complete list. If you know where your loved one is located, simply click the name on the list to learn more about the facility, including photos and maps if available.
Another must read article from MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
[Link to Full Article]
MOSUL, Iraq - The Stryker brigade's headquarters staff was ready to roll out its best red carpet Monday for Gen. John Abizaid, the four-star in charge of the U.S. Central Command...
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, January 13, 2004
ARLINGTON, Va. — Working full-tilt, nine contractors have finished crafting 160,000 Interceptor body armor vests, and the equipment is now en route to units preparing to deploy to Iraq and a central distribution point in Kuwait, according to Army officials.
We've added Deployment Connections to the links page in the "Support Network" section.
Thanks for the link Bob.
I found this joke, which does a good job of explaining the definition of the phrase (word?) HOOAH!.
(via Budaechigae)
Here's another article from CJTF7 describing the transfer of authority in Mosul.
[Link to Full Article]
[Update, 1-21-04] Here is another article with a great picture of the uncasing of the colors during the ceremony. Definate wallpaper material for us 14th CAV folks.
CJTF7 Press Release
MOSUL, Iraq – On what was described as a bittersweet day for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the soldiers of 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division formally relieved 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division of its responsibilities in the western Nineveh province.
The ceremony marked the first turnover from the 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) to the Arrowhead Brigade.
CJTF7 Press Release
MOSUL, Iraq – Amid preparations for redeployment, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) hosted its final meeting of the Tigris River Valley Commission at the Qayyarah West Airfield in northern Iraq Jan. 17.
Dan forwarded a link to some great Stryker vehicle photos at the Fort Wainwright website.
UPDATE: A couple of the photos now adorn the site banner up top.
Here are some interesting biblical facts about Iraq that were forwarded to me by a reader.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Heading north on Highway 1 out of the refinery town of Bayji, a road sign emblazoned with a familiar screaming eagle welcomes travelers into 101st Airborne Division turf.
Dan is the man! When I asked if anyone knew a way to insert a clock with Mosul time, Dan immediately sent me a script that works quite nicely. We are now able to display a real-time clock featuring Fort Lewis and Mosul time on the sidebar under the "Mosul Info." heading.
The page may load a bit slower because it has to go and retrieve the current time, but I think it's worth the wait. Don't you? Now if we could only find a way to keep the Mosul weather station reporting consistently we'd be set.
Thanks for helping us out Dan. Very cool!
UPDATE: We're taking down the clock for the time being; it was causing problems for Nescape and Mozilla browsers. Once we figure out the glitch we'll put it back up. Sorry for the pump-fake.
FIXED: I think we're back in business. Dan sent a simplified script which displays Mosul time. Let us know if you have any problems with this one.
Combined Joint Task Force 7 (Operation Iraqi Freedom), which includes the Stryker Brigade in Iraq, has relaunched its website. It's now much easier to browse, plus they have added a new page for the Strykers.
We've also added the site to our links page.
Here is another article by MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune (Our favorite embed) :-)
MOSUL, Iraq - The Stryker brigade formally took over the first piece of its northern Iraq mission Friday.
For the better part of the next year, a Stryker task force led by the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment will patrol Iraq's northwest borders with Syria and Turkey. Continue...
This article was posted on the bulletin board, but I thought it needed to be shared here as well. Click below to read it in its entirety.
I didn't even get the name of the woman who sent this to me, but it's kind of funny so I'll pass it along. Apparently a friend sent this nifty tourist map of Iraq to her husband serving with 3-2.
When you follow the link, make sure you enlarge the photo of the map. In the upper-left corner it reads, "Map for Businessmen & Tourists." I guess they are taking care of business.
Winds of Change has the additional photos of Saddam's capture that have been floating around the net for the past week or so. Jerry sent these to me as well, but since the WOC team already has them up, I'll send you there.
The photo that seems surreal is where he is sitting in the kitchen by himself, with the sugar and coffee maker on the counter behind him. I don't know why that one seems so strange to me?
Also, while you're over there check out their great entry, "How to Support the Troops." Some good ideas to be found.
Here's an Associated Press article that talks more about the troop rotation in Iraq, including a bit about the Stryker Brigade. Excerpts:
He said the military will also lessen the concentration of heavy equipment like tanks, multiple rocket launchers and heavy artillery, which were essential at the time of Iraq's invasion in March last year.Instead, the troops will be given 323 new high-tech fighting vehicles known as Strykers, reinforced armored Humvees and infantry armored personnel carriers to counter the hit-and-run attacks and roadside bombings that the troops have been increasingly facing...
Much of the reduction will be in northern Iraq, where minority Kurds are the closest Iraqi allies. The number of troops will go down in the north from about 19,000 to 9,500, but they will be equipped with the highly mobile Stryker vehicles, said the official.
The Stryker is an eight-wheeled vehicle with onboard computers and can carry as many as 11 soldiers, capable of traveling faster than 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour.
"That is a smaller force but a more capable force on a man to man basis," he said.
MOSUL, IRAQ (January 16, 2004):
The 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) handed over control over part of Northwest Iraq today to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in a ceremony outside the town of Tallafer.
The article includes a photo of the ceremony as well.
UPDATE: Here's an Associated Press article describing the transfer as well.
Defend America has a gallery of sketches by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jack Carillo from his time in Iraq during 2003. Give them a look.
Knight Ridder has an interview with General Peter J. Schoomaker, Army Chief of Staff. Excerpt:
Knight Ridder: The 101st Airborne Division has responsibility for northern Iraq and covers the borders with Syria and Iran. They have 18,000 soldiers to do that job. When they depart, they will be replaced by the Stryker Brigade, which is less than a third that size. How can they do the job?
Schoomaker: The Stryker Brigade won't have same footprint as the 101st AB. Gen. John Abizaid has said the Stryker Brigade will have a footprint that it can handle. We generating a lot of Iraqi forces, border forces, and we want to turn over more local and regional control to them. But rest assured, those border areas will be covered.
The rest is worth reading as well.
January 16, 2004
TONIGHT'S FOCUS: The final part of Nightline's week-long series: "Report from Iraq." Tonight Ted Koppel tours a Baghdad that few ever see with a man known around the world by his pseudonym and by his internet diary. Seeing Iraq through the eyes of the Baghdad Blogger--tonight....
On the sidebar you should now see a weather magnet from the Weather Channel displaying current conditions for Mosul, Iraq. You can click it for a 10 day forecast, I believe.
I've been testing this for a couple days and the stats are iffy; for obvious reasons the reporting station in Mosul is not very reliable. If you see "N/A" from time to time, it's only because the Weather Channel can't get a current reading. It was working today so I decided to put it up.
I have to laugh at the "Airport Delays", "Sporting Events" and "Pollen Reports" links they include. Can't change that.
Oh, I was also going to display a clock with the current time in Mosul, but I couldn't figure out how to do it. Most of the clocks I found pull the current time from your personal computer, not a specific location. Instead I inserted a link to the World Clock, which displays the current time in Mosul. Any web gurus out there? I'm just an amateur.
If you're interested in learning more about some of the high-tech gadgets utilized by the Stryker Brigade, check out this link sent to me by Jim. One-third of the SBCT's vehicles are equipped with Microvision's Nomad Augmented Vision System. Excerpt:
The modified Nomad Augmented Vision System will provide the vehicle commander with a helmet-mounted, head-up, daylight-readable, remote display of the Stryker’s onboard battlefield computer while operating from the commander’s hatch opening. The commander will have an enhanced ability to observe the surroundings, choose the optimum path ahead, command the vehicle and use tactical information to his advantage. This enhanced capability can improve the fighting effectiveness, situational awareness, force protection and survivability for each vehicle and the combined forces.
Here's the Army's new airfare reimbursement policy for R&R. Excerpt:
The Army is now reimbursing troops for commercial plane tickets home for troops returning for two-weeks vacation from Iraq and Afghanistan.Troops tapped for the two-week vacation away from the war zones under the Rest and Recuperation program will have to pay their own way up front, and then file the necessary reimbursement paperwork.
NYT reporter Eric Schmitt makes a visit to Freedom Rest, the Army's R&R depot in Baghdad. Excerpts:
Called Freedom Rest, it offers a sauna, outdoor swimming pool, 100-seat movie theater, weight rooms and 24-hour food service, including T-bone steaks and lobster. In the renovated marble lobby with glass chandeliers glistening overhead, uniformed attendants sweep up cigarette butts and serve cold drinks...The Army has long provided rest and relaxation escapes to improve morale for troops on extended assignments. With virtually all soldiers in Iraq now pulling yearlong tours, the Army — sensitive to potential recruiting and retention problems — has one of its most ambitious programs ever to keep soldiers' spirits high...
Still, after nights of rocket and mortar attacks, some soldiers say it is hard to break old habits of scanning the hotel rooftop for snipers or momentarily panicking when they don't find their weapons by their sides at bedtime.
"Last night," said Sgt. William Schramm, 25, of Lancaster, Wis., "it was so quiet I could barely sleep."
Let's hope there's one up north.
Here's a poem by Robert Gall that was sent to me by Kattarina. Enjoy.
I found the Fallen Heroes Memorial website in an article and was very moved by what I found there. There is an individual memorial for every fallen soldier in Afghanistan and Iraq. Visitors and family members can leave messages of rememberance for each.
The website was created by Tim Rivera, whose brother serves in the Air Force. Excerpt:
[O]n March 27, 2003, I decided to create this website hoping it would be a source of comfort and encouragement for the families during this tragic time. While I was searching for an available domain name, I came across a website that linked to FOXNews' list of "Fallen Heroes". I felt that title to be very fitting.
Sapperwife wanted to let everyone know about a site she frequents that might be of interest to others called Army Wives. An excerpt from the website:
Who, like the Soldiers they married, proudly serve their country. Dedicated to Army Wives everywhere. Although oft' left behind they are NEVER forgotten.
I'll add this link to the "Support Network" section on the links page.
Here is the latest from MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - They're turning the mail back on now that the Stryker brigade is in Mosul.
The troops from Fort Lewis living on the Mosul palace grounds got hundreds of packages delivered Wednesday, with many hundreds more on the way over the next few days.
In coming weeks, 18,000 troops in northern Iraq will be replaced with a force half that size.
By Dan Murphy | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
MOSUL, IRAQ – It's been dubbed the "Mosul model" - where US soldiers have been in the vanguard of everything from setting up local governing councils to running a "Star Search" program on local TV.
HOOAH!!! I found this document on the Warhorse web site. The document has a picture attached if you visit the web site.
Dear Bronco Families,
It has been a long time since I have been able to update everyone on how we are doing. Let me begin by saying that everyone here is doing great, we are all safe and sound, and we should be in a pretty stable place for a while. I’ve been truly honored to work with such an outstanding group of men. We have led the way with our performance and discipline and as a result we have had no major accidents or incidents. Now that we have reasonable access to the internet I will attempt to give regular updates. Please feel free to forward this or future updates to anyone that may be interested in our soldiers....
There's been some discussion about the flag patch worn on the right sleeve by U.S. troops deployed overseas. Here's some relevant info:
The reverse orientation is mandated by Army regulations (go to pg. 268). This is a large .pdf file, so if you have a slow connection you can just take my word for it.
The Army is considering allowing soldiers to wear the patch at all times, not just when they are overseas. Troops in Europe have already been ordered to keep it on when they return home (via ACE).
Finally, on a lighter note, this photo will make you smile regardless of your politics. Take a close look at his sleeve patches (via InstaPundit).
UPDATE: Sapperwife sent me a great link, which has all of the flag etiquette info you'll ever need. The right sleeve, reverse-field patch is discussed as well.
Through an entry on our bulletin board system we learned that you can sign up to send a free calling card to a deployed active service member. Visit the VFW website to learn more.
Victoria wrote to let me know that she talked to received an email from her husband and apparently 5-20 received a large shipment of mail and packages yesterday. Maybe yours got through?
January 14, 2004
TONIGHT'S FOCUS: Part three in Nightline's week-long series: "Report from Iraq." Tonight Ted Koppel tours Baghdad's American controlled "green zone" and the more chaotic neighborhoods outside of this sphere of safety. It is a tour that illustrates how far Iraq has come since the Saddam Hussein regime was toppled--and how far it still has to go to bring Baghdad's five million residents the quality of life they seek.
The folks at Winds of Change link to us, so we link back. Joe Katzman has a great entry focusing on counterinsurgency techniques in tribal societies, which are crucial for our success in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Joe points out, the Stryker Brigade's recent operations in Samarra illustrate one successful approach.
Here is another article from Michael Gilbert of the Tacoma Tribune.
I received a beautiful email from Michele Fortenberry asking me if I would publish a poem she wrote to her husband currently serving with the Stryker Brigade in Iraq. Michele is also soliciting submissions for a project she is currently working on. Attached below is her description of the project, the photo included in her email to me, and the poem itself. Read and enjoy.
You guys are an amazing group.
Nightline News
Tuesday, Jan. 13
Ted Koppel reports tonight with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fallujah, Iraq. The 82nd is responsible for searching out men carrying out anti-American violence. Last night Nightline went along on one particular raid looking for three men involved in the downing of a Black Hawk Helicopter last week.
Since ABC did a special on the Strykers last time, I hope they incorporate some coverage with this report. I have no further information other than this series runs all week.
Nightline News
Tuesday, Jan. 13
Ted Koppel reports tonight with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fallujah, Iraq. The 82nd is responsible for searching out men carrying out anti-American violence. Last night Nightline went along on one particular raid looking for three men involved in the downing of a Black Hawk Helicopter last week.
Since ABC did a special on the Strykers last time, I hope they incorporate some coverage with this report. I have no further information other than this series runs all week.
Scott forwarded a link to a great Stryker presentation from the Army website. Follow this link, which will take you to a map of the U.S. Click your mouse on the dot in California, which will take you to a multimedia presentation about the Stryker. The presentation includes three separate video clips, plus some other detail about the Stryker vehicle and its personnel. If you only want to view the video clips, try this link.
FYI - be prepared to wait if you have a slow connection.
Hill reporters Jonathan E. Kaplan and Hans Nichols recently spent two weeks in Iraq. The Hill will publish their exclusive reports this week and next. Today: Personal impressions gleaned during their travels around the newly liberated and occupied Middle Eastern nation.
There are only a few sentences about the Brigade in this story, I have copied them below.
For three hours, we sat at an isolated Army outpost, home to the new Stryker Brigade Combat Team, six weeks in country, relatively fresh from Fort Lewis, Wash.
They seemed awed by the unexpected touchdown of Black Hawks, and a few young soldiers came by to have their pictures taken in the cockpit. The pilot, with 11 months in country, just smiled.
Another NYT reporter, John Burns, has a great profile of Lt. Gen. Sanchez, commander of all allied forces in Iraq. Sanchez discusses his background as well as the remaining challenges for U.S. forces in Iraq. Excerpt:
"It's about gaining and retaining the consent of the people," General Sanchez said to the officers who gathered in front of a satellite map of the Abu Saida area in the dim interior of the command post. "That's what we're here for, fighting a war, and building a nation."
It is a task that General Sanchez believes is within grasp. In a conversation at his headquarters in the Republican Palace in Baghdad a few days before the trip to Abu Saida, he said that despite the scale of warfare that has disappointed and even shocked many Americans, allied forces here could fail only if the political will of the United States faltered. "I really believe that the only way we are going to lose here, is if we walk away from it like we did in Vietnam," he said. "If the political will fails, and the support of the American public fails, that's the only way we can lose."
(article via Just One Minute)
This document was placed on the Warhorse web site News and Events section. A copy follows:
Welcome from FOB FULDA in Northwestern Iraq. We would like to thank all the families in the HHT FRG for their continued support and prayers.
NYT reporter Eric Shmitt wrote an interesting article last week detailing the logistics involved in the upcoming troop rotation in Iraq. Excerpt:
During this rotation, about 110,000 fresh troops will flow into Iraq to replace 125,000 who have been there for about a year. The first 200 returning soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division arrived home this week in Fort Campbell, Ky. Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were also heading home, to Fort Bragg, N.C.
At the peak period of overlapping forces, commanders will be able to capitalize on having as many as 200,000 troops in Iraq. But the rotation also poses new risks as American officials say they fully expect guerrillas to try to exploit the transition to new, less experienced troops.
"The shifting focus of their attacks is relentless," said Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Speakes, the senior Army officer here overseeing the troop rotation. "But this will not be a period of vulnerability."
Blogger Phil Carter, along with other observers, thinks that the Army might use this overlap to conduct increased offensive maneuvers in Iraq this spring.
(article via Intel Dump)
Stuart has more photos of the Stryker Brigade up at his site. The newest ones begin at #38.
Here is a collection of photos taken during the Seattle Times' visit with the Stryker Brigade. All of these have appeared in articles, but it's nice to have them in one convenient spot.
It looks like the SBCT Engineers will be able to continue what the 101st has started.
By Spc. Joshua Hutcheson MOSUL, IRAQ (January 11, 2004) - A ceremony was held in the city of Mosul today in honor of the first fiber optic communications network to be laid in Northern Iraq...
Bob sent us some photos taken by a friend of his, a civilian contractor with the SBCT. I don't have all of the details of each picture (who, what, where, when etc.), but they are great regardless. Click on each link to view a full-size version.
(FYI - These photos are provided courtesy of a site contributor. If you would like to display these photos on your own site, please email me and I will put you in touch with the right folks to get permission. Thanks.)
I received this information via email and thought I would pass it along. It appears in the Army Times, By Karen Jowers, Times staff writer
An e-mail from a sergeant first class in Iraq looking for ideas to improve Internet access for soldiers in her unit has mushroomed into something far bigger than the sergeant ever imagined...
Here are a couple tributes I received recently via email:
Lorraine forwarded a link to a video by a musician named Rebecca St. James. Look for the second video listed, which is titled "I Thank You (Remix) Video".
The second tribute comes from Amber and is an email written to participants in an escort detail for a fallen soldier. Very moving.
Bob forwarded this link from GlobalSecurity.org that has some great current and historical information on the city of Mosul.
Hal Bernton profiles the 44th Corps in this article in the Seattle Times.
FORWARD OPERATING BASE PACESETTER — The soldiers of the 44th Corps Support Battalion call their morning briefing "the last rites."
I came across a very detailed map of the city while checking some web sites. Granted, a lot has probably changed since this map was created, but it will give everyone an idea as to how large the city really is. This is a large color image file and will take a couple minutes to download/open with a dialup connection.
Hal Bernton from the Seattle Times has submitted another story about the Stryker Brigade. There are some great pictures that accompany the article.
MOSUL, Iraq - It looks nothing like the land of milk and honey. Another entry from the Tacoma Tribune's Michael Gilbert.
There is a great picture that accompanies the article as The Stryker brigade's headquarters company moves out of Camp Pacesetter in central Iraq at dawn Saturday, headed for its permanent base camp in Mosul. Sgt. 1st Class Andre Diuguid mans the .50-caliber machine gun and Pvt. Anthony Schiessl rides in the back of company commander Capt. Vinnie Bellisario's Humvee.
Ever wonder what time it is in Iraq? How far is Mosul from Tikrit? Check out this link for some interesting information.
While you are at it, check out the weather in Mosul.
Stryker soldiers busy from get-go in Sunni Triangle.
By Matthew Cox, Times staff writer as published in the Army Times.
SAMARRA, Iraq — They’ll probably never write a holiday carol about how Sgt. Raymond Soto’s platoon passed the hours waiting for Christmas morning.
Many thanks to Bob and Annie for the information and link to the story.
Brigade gets the word: Off to Mosul
The TNT has published a more comprehensive report from our favorite embedded reporter, MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
A 23-year-old soldier from Auburn, Calif. died Wednesday in a mortar attack near Fallujah. He was assigned to the 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion, 593rd Corps Support Group at Fort Lewis.
This story from the komotv web site has a tissue alert.
May Bless his soul and watch over his family.
Thanks to Michelle for pointing out that Michael Gilbert from The News Tribune has some late breaking news
posted on the papers web site.
CAMP PACESETTER, Iraq – With a month of combat operations under its belt, the Stryker brigade is moving onto its next mission: Mosul.
I'll be travelling through Sunday evening, so Mike's the man if you have any questions/submissions in the meantime.
Take care.
No mention if these troops will be assigned to the Stryker Brigade or not in this Associated Press article released on KIRO TV web site.
After reading Michael Gilbert's article in the TNT today, I was reminded of another Starbucks story worth sharing. Yes, there's one (sometimes two!) on every corner in my neck of the woods, but give credit where credit is due.
Any other stories like this?
For those of you visiting this site for the first time, I just wanted let you know that we also have a very active bulletin board system installed. Click on over and register if you want to check it out.
Here is the latest blog entry from the Seattle Times reporter dated January 8.
I guess most of us already knew this, but now it is official. The latest Associated Press news brief is out. Military begins huge rotation of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan
Needless to say I am shocked at the detail of the report, but I guess the military is ok with it.
One paragraph of the story is about the SBCT...
A brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, known as the Stryker Brigade, will operate in the Mosul area of northern Iraq where the 101st Airborne has had its headquarters. The 101st is one of the last major Army units left in Iraq that also participated in the initial invasion and defeat of Baghdad. The Stryker Brigade is already in Iraq and moving north to Mosul.
I received the following from StrykerWife, who got it from cantrellgirl, who pulled it from the soldier's bible:
Lord, grant me the greatness of heart to see,
the difference in duty and his love for me.
Give me the understanding to know,
that when duty calls, he must go.
Give me a task to do each day,
to fill the time while he is away.
And Lord, when duty is in the field,
Please protect him and be his shield.
None of us knew who the author was. Do you?
Stuart has developed a great website dedicated to his brother, Spc. James Rowntree, who is serving with the Stryker Brigade in Iraq. His brother sent back some photos, which you can browse here.
Great shots. Thanks Stuart!
P.S. - I'm looking into some photo software we can use for the site that would allow users to upload pictures and create galleries. Stay tuned.
[I wanted to bring this entry back up to the top b/c of a recent comment. This was originally posted on January 3.]
NCTimes Editor's Corner: Worry takes a respite By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
For my sister, worry took a welcome respite on Christmas thanks to a reporter from the Tacoma News Tribune in Washington state.
Fort Lewis to Honor Winchester Retiree By Hillary Copsey
The Winchester Star.
Winchester resident Richard Bever will stand rank with two U.S. congressmen and three Seattle-area mayors when he is honored next week as an exceptional supporter of American troops.
UPDATE: Excerpt from Sue in the comments:
The article from the NorthCounty Times was written by my brother, Mark Walker, about my son, SSG Sean Dack. The NYCT will have an embedded reporter in Iraq soon and my brother is going to see if the reporter will do some stories [on] the Strykers while he is in Iraq.
Can we write to the editor or something? ;)
If you're interested in broader news regarding the war on terror, I highly recommend reading "Iraq Briefing" and "Winds of War" - both regular features from the Winds of Change team.
The Army has released a photo essay that's worth taking a look at. Stryker photo included (#20). (Macromedia Flash player required)
You may have already seen this, but did you know that Ft. Lewis received the "2002 Army Times Best Post Award"?
Another entry from MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
This is another focus on a soldier story that Michael and the reporter from the Seattle Times are starting to do in addition to their regular reports. This story features Cpl. Kevin Mincio, 32, who left a Wall Street job to join the Army.
Speaking of Hal Bernton of the Seattle times, it looks like he may have moved on. Today's dispatch from reporter Hal Bernton and photographer Thomas James Hurst comes from the town of Ad Dujayl. Capt. Jim Riely, with the 4th Engineers Battalion out of Fort Carson, Colo. is featured in the article. Army officer struggles to win trust of Iraqi imam wary of U.S. motives
While we wait for the Seattle Times reporters to start filing stories about the Stryker Brigade, you might want to browse "Inside Iraq", the site the paper created to chronicle their visit. At the top of the page there is a link called "Maps & Graphics" that has some good maps of Iraq and graphics detailing the Stryker vehicle.
Yes, it's been a slow couple news days, but it gives us an opportunity to highlight items sent via email.
Robert wanted to pass along the website for "Operation Support Our Troops", a group you've probably seen on the news before if you live in the Puget Sound region. OSOT organizes rallies for the troops, and can often be found on the Madigan overpass on I-5. Go to the website to learn more.
Liz Jackson from "Operation Heartstone" is involved with this group as well.
There were no photos of the Strykers yesterday, but there was one photo from the memorial for Spc. Charles G. Haight at Ft. Lewis. Haight served with the 14th Engineer Battalion.
We all know that the inaugural Stryker Brigade is being watched closely as it conducts operations in Iraq. Any new vehicle or weapon system is going to be scrutinized by its users and the military community at large. Donald Sensing has posted an entry at his blog which puts such discussion in proper perspective. Click over if you're interested.
FYI - I've received a number of emails from people wondering why we don't post more information on the Stryker vehicle. My answer is that this website is dedicated to news about the SBCT, not the vehicle. I'll link to an article that discusses the vehicle as it relates to the current deployment, but this site will not become a portal or discussion forum for the Stryker. Our focus will remain on the soldiers, not the machinery.
I like this story. An Iraqi artist used metal from old Saddam sculptures to create a memorial for American soldiers.
I went ahead and created a new Category called "Tributes". Here are a couple more to share.
Victoria sent her favorite slide show. Another best suited for high speed.
The next one I found via Donald Sensing; it's a tribute page to Sheldon Hawk Eagle. Excerpt from website:
21 year old PFC Sheldon Hawk Eagle, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was among the seventeen soldiers who were killed on Friday, November 14, 2003, in a tragic crash between two U.S. helicopters in Northern Iraq, believed to have been caused by enemy fire.
Sheldon was a descendant of Chief Crazy Horse, who helped defeat Custer at Little Big Horn. Beautiful memorial.
Operation Homefront is an organization dedicated to, "supporting our U.S. troops by helping the families they left behind." I don't have any first-hand experience with this group, but their website has some good information to browse.
I found the site via an email from Bill. He sent me a link to a great slide show set to an original song by Neil Ford. The gallery and song are best suited to a high-speed connection (large file), so if you have one click on over.
Thanks Bill!
UPDATE: Victoria also sent me a link to another slide show that is equally powerful (graphic photos included). This one is more suitable for a slow connection. After it's over, be sure to click the almost invisible "info" link at the bottom of the page to read more about it.
STILL MORE: Bill sent another one, which I will pass along sight unseen. I'll have to wait for the high speed connection at work for this one.
I've seen this article published elsewhere, but didn't link to it before. Since Army Public Affairs has released it as an official press release, I feel comfortable posting it. Let me know if you disagree and I'll take it down for the time being. Some good info if you read the whole thing.
UPDATE: In the comments Carla points out that they have removed the paragraph in question. Hhhmmm...I probably shouldn't have posted this. I'm going to remove the active link for the time being.
Here's a short article on the Stryker Brigade's recent activity in Iraq from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Alaska will be the home of a new SBCT in 2005.
Today's entry from MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
CAMP PACESETTER, Iraq - Topic du jour of the soldier grapevine last weekend was the purportedly imminent arrival of the traveling post exchange - the PX.
The January 5th 3rd Brigade Newsletter, Parts I & II, are now online.
UPDATE: Here is a direct link to Part I & Part II. Both are .pdf files and may take a while to load on a slow connection.
Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton has joined the Stryker Brigade and has posted an entry on his "Iraq Dispatches" blog. I expect we'll see a few articles from him soon as well. Excerpt:
Other soldiers in this battalion want to say hello and send their love to their families. These are the guys on the Internet with me now: Pfc. Juan Trevino, Sgt. Daniel Hall, Staff. Sgt. Brian Gilmer, Spc. Brandon Adair, and Spc. Josh Wettlin.
Some other good details about their new camp are included.
It looks like there are a few new pics at the 1-14 Cav website.
UPDATE: I guess these aren't so new. They were new to me...
I received another email from Steve, the gentleman kind enough to lend us the use of the strykerbrigade.com and strykerbrigade.org domain names, which had a poem attached. The poem was written by Toni Hadley, whose brother Micky is serving in Iraq right now.
Steve used to display the poem on his site and wants to find a new home for the tribute. I'll find a nice spot for it where we can display a permanent link to it. Here is Toni's introduction, followed by her poem titled, "HOWL to Military Members."
Thanks Steve and Toni.
I found this short paragraph on the task force page wrapup on the 4th ID.
--Arrowhead Brigade soldiers searched a number of locations during the afternoon of Jan. 3, five kilometers northeast of Ad Duluiyah and discovered weapons and ammunition. The confiscated items included three AK-47 assault rifles, one rifle, one SKS automatic weapon and a small amount of AK-47 ammunition.--
Gene forwarded this prayer, which I wanted to pass along to all of you:
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen
I just created a new entry category called, "Mail & Care Packages." If you want to find all entries related to this topic, you can find a link on the sidebar under "Entries by Category".
I thought I would pass along a couple unconventional care package possibilities that I found via Joe Katzman at Winds of Change. If your soldier has contact with the locals over there, consider the book, "Modern Iraqi Arabic: A Textbook," which includes audio CDs as well. A cheaper alternative is, "Your First 100 Words in Arabic," which comes with tear-out flashcards. For what it's worth.
Also, there has been some good care package advice on the bulletin board. Stop by if you haven't registered already.
If any of you live in northwest Indiana, there is a support group forming for families with loved ones in Iraq.
KOMO 4 News has this summary of recent activity by the Stryker Brigade. Nothing new...it looks like they relied on reports from Michael Gilbert and the CJTF-7 press release our Mike linked to yesterday.
UPDATE: Here's a slightly different version from the Associated Press I found at Army Times.
You'll notice that the Google Ads are gone from the sidebar for the time being. The only ones that were being displayed were public service ads, for which we receive no revenue for clicks. After searching the online support forum and trying to contact customer service, I still can't figure out why we're not receiving targeted ads.
Consequently, we're moving on to Plan B, which I have some reservations about. We've gone ahead and added a donation link on the sidebar. Our time is free, so any donation would go to offset maintenance costs associated with the site, especially as it grows. Absolutely no obligation, we'll still be here no matter what.
I know I speak for Mike and I both when I say that this has been a very rewarding experience so far. Thanks again for visiting.
Alright - back to the news!
UPDATE: We now have a PayPal and an Amazon Honor System link.
Not only will Hal Bernton be filing stories from Iraq, he'll be posting entries on a blog hosted by the Seattle Times called, "Iraq Dispatches." Should be a good source of information when they meet up with the Stryker Brigade. We'll keep any eye on it and link to entries when the SBCT is mentioned.
Good catch Mike!
Shannon sent a good one from the Scranton Times. See how many mistakes you can spot in this article mentioning the Stryker Brigade.
Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton, along with photographer Thomas James Hurst, have arrived at FOB Vanguard. Bernton has two articles (here and here) about the 4th Engineers Battalion of Fort Carson, CO. The Stryker Brigade is mentioned in both. The two journalists will be spending time with the SBCT during their visit to Iraq.
Editor's note: "Faces of the Stryker Brigade" will be an occasional series by News Tribune reporter Michael Gilbert. It will introduce some of the soldiers in the Fort Lewis-based Army unit and explore their skills, backgrounds and interests.
Soldier-gourmet dreams wistfully of Il Fiasco's scallops...
A picture accompanies the article.
Another great story by MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
CAMP PACESETTER, Iraq - Spc. Christopher Byers got a 21st birthday "present" he'll never forget: an explosion directly under his backside...
There is a picture with the article showing Soldiers with Company A of the Fifth Battalion, 20th Infantry, patrol the town of Samarra, Iraq, on Dec. 23. Their Stryker vehicle is at right.
This was the pic of the day on Cencom's web site. Great wallpaper material for your computer. A high resolution pic is also available.
TIKRIT, Iraq – The U.S. Army’s first Stryker Brigade Combat Team, a part of Task Force Ironhorse since early December, recorded numerous successes in Operation Ivy Blizzard, which began December 17. This is, the first major operation for the Stryker Brigade, which is also known as the Arrowhead Brigade.
You can read the news release from CJTF-7 Public Affairs BAGHDAD, Iraq here
For those of you that missed the Nightline episode last night featuring the Stryker Brigade, you can now order a copy from the ABC website for $29.95. I thought it was very well done.
A couple of days ago I received an email from Steve, who owns the domain names strykerbrigade.com and strykerbrigade.org. He explained that his friend's son is deployed with the brigade and he was considering developing a site dedicated to the unit. He happened upon this site and instead decided to donate use of the names to us. Consequently, if you type in either of those domain names, you will be automatically forwarded here.
I think that's the main reason why we are moving up the ranks.
Thanks Steve!
For G.I.'s, Pride in War Efforts but Doubts About Iraq's Future
By ERIC SCHMITT Published: January 4, 2004
This story is an overview with one reference to the brigade. I have copied that entry in the link below. This is another article from the NYT that requires registration.
Now that we have the site up and running, I just wanted to check and see if everything was working ok from a visitor/user perspective? I'm a feedback junkie, so share your thoughts in the comments.
One thing I have to admit - administratively it has been a busy few days. You are always free to send an email to me or Mike and we'll try to reply as quickly as possible. However, if you think you can get answer on the bulletin board (lots of smart people there), try there first.
I've received a few emails wondering how to get in touch with brigade soldiers in Iraq (mailing/email addresses etc.). I need to reiterate that, to date, I have had no contact with Ft. Lewis or the FRGs (I'm not in "the official loop", so to speak). Official questions need to be directed elsewhere; I just can't help, unfortunately. There are a number of bulletin board visitors that would probably be willing to help, so that's a good place to start.
Thanks for your patience.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A mortar attack on a forward coalition operating base near Balad, Iraq, killed a U.S. soldier and wounded two others, a 4th Infantry Division spokeswoman said Saturday.
Many people have emailed me with problems they've had trying to register for the BBS. They sign up, but never get the confirmation email needed to become an "active" user. My best guess as to what is occurring is that the confirmation email is sent to your trash folder b/c your email system thinks it is junk. Check your trash, or change your settings until you get the confirmation email.
If all else fails, send me an email with your user name and I will activate your account manually.
Thanks,
Todd
We're all set to go with the bulletin board system (BBS) for the site. I just wanted to set out some guidelines and instructions before we open it up for business.
Additionally, if you plan on using this feature regularly and would like to help us moderate the forum, please send me an email.
Email from Nightline confirms the story will be aired tonight. Copy of email below...
Armywife posted a comment that there is supposed to be a special about the stryker brigade tomorrow night on ABC News Nightline.(Friday night at 11:35pm) After your local news.
WOW Annie hit on the motherlode of pics from the SBCT. She found these on a local TV channel's web site www.king5.com I usually monitor their combined site, nwcn.com northwest cable news, but they did not list the pics like king5 tv did. Unfortunately, you have to register to gain access but it is relatively painless. Once you are into the main page, click on the left side nav bar for Conflict in Iraq. The pic link is on that page. Thanks again Annie, you are the best.
This story is from a New York Times reporter, Eric Schmitt. It is graphic in detail and may not be suitable for young people. The story does not appear on the NYT as of yet but is published on iht.com. (Some of the text is from an earlier story by the reporter)
UPDATE (Todd): The article is now posted on the NYT website and includes a picture.
Lorraine forwarded a list of coalition accomlishments in Iraq that had some great information. However, since we didn't know the source of the information, we didn't feel like we could post it. I remembered seeing a similar list distributed by the Coalition Provisional Authority ("CPA") a couple months back and I managed to find it on their website.
This information is dated (October), but it gives a good sense of the amazing work U.S. and coalition forces are performing in Iraq. You can read the entire press briefing here, but I'll excerpt it below.
Even though most of us know the Stryker Brigade has been living on the lean and basic side of deployment, this story sheds some light on what may be in store for our troops as their base becomes more operational.
Michael Gilbert of the Tacoma Tribune has another story from FOB Pacesetter in today's TNT.