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[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 29, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-54
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anticoalition activities and recovered weapons and other explosives in northern Iraq Saturday.
Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon-and-search operation in Hammam Al Alil and detained one person suspected of selling weapons and participating in attacks on Iraqi police. During the operation an enemy grenade exploded, wounding one soldier. The solder is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
[Link to Full Article]
Military Operations Continue
By Gerry J. Gilmore; American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2004 – Although it was apparent the Iraqi General Council would miss the U.S.-suggested deadline to establish an interim constitution, IGC member Mawaffak Rubaie asserted late Feb. 28 that the signing of the document is imminent, noting, "Failure is not an option."
This article mentions the SBCT, excerpt below.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Task Force Olympia hosted a traveling party of leading U.S. corporate executives Saturday, who met with soldiers and local economic development officials.
The group included Cisco Systems Chairman John Morgridge, American International Group CEO Maurice Greenberg and America Online co-founder James Kimsey.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Geraldo Rivera arrived at the Task Force Olympia and Stryker brigade headquarters Saturday.
His first broadcast was about himself.
[Link to Full Article]
LISA KREMER; The News Tribune
Eight weeks ago, Liz Jackson decided she wanted to send care packages from local police and fire departments to the local troops in Iraq.
She started calling departments - and got a lot of support.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 28, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-52
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, recovered several caches of weapons in northern Iraq Friday.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 28, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-51
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia in conjunction with Iraqi Police in Mosul detained personnel suspected of anticoalition activities in northern Iraq earlier today.
I'm starting to feel like a broken record, but I just wanted to remind everyone that Geraldo is still in Iraq. I guess he was in Tikrit or Kirkuk recently and is planning on returning home from Turkey, so perhaps his exit strategy includes Mosul? Follow the link for show times etc.
(Thanks to Lorraine for the reminder)
UPDATE: Lorraine and others confirm that he is in Mosul. Tune in tonight.
We wanted to highlight a portion of an article we linked to yesterday written by embedded reporter Michael Gilbert. He described some of the efforts soldiers are making to improve the lives of Iraqis in Mosul, particularly children. Staff Sgt. Christopher Loverro, with help from volunteers back home, is trying to gather donations of school supplies and blankets to distribute. Provided below are the instructions included in the article if you would like to help:
The Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade is accepting donations of blankets and school supplies for elementary-level children at the Ghizlani Community of Freedom.
Mark the package "Operation Pencil, Operation Blanket" and send it to:
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, detained one suspect and continued ongoing weapons-collection operations over the past 24 hours in northern Iraq. Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon-and-knock operation early this morning in Qayyarah and detained one subject wanted for anti-coalition activities.
Ralph Peters, a columnist and former Army officer, has two pieces this week worth reading. The second mentions the Stryker program specifically.
[Link to Full Article]
BILL HUTCHENS AND MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Lesson for the afternoon:
"What should we write to soldiers in Iraq?"
Steve Leifsen posed that question Thursday to his Pope Elementary School sixth-graders, and the kids came up with several ideas.
Well, we're going to remove the links to the brigade newsletters until we get a more definitive answer on "official" policy. The guidance we received is different from what others have heard. Our suggestion to all of you that depend on websites (ours included) to view the newsletter is to contact the FRG for your soldier's unit in order to be placed on the distribution list.
[Link to Full Article]
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2004 – Attacks on U.S., coalition and Iraqi security forces in Iraq will not stop the country's march toward self-governance and democracy, a senior U.S. military officer said today.
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, recovered several caches of weapons in northern Iraq Wednesday.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 26, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-46
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia recovered weapons and explosives during ongoing collection operations in northern Iraq Monday and Tuesday.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 26, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-47
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anti-coalition activities in northern Iraq Wednesday.
Frontline Photos has two pictures (here and here) of the memorial for 1st Lt. Adam Mooney, who was laid to rest Tuesday in Maryland.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Stryker brigade soldiers are putting a small army of men and boys to work clearing the rubble of what used to be an Iraqi military base at the southern edge of the city.
For $2 a day, these locals will build their own new villages on what is now a refugee camp - a place where some 2,000 people left homeless after the war live in battered concrete army barracks.
Provided below is a link to the most recent 3rd Brigade Newsletter. If you would like to save a copy for future reference, right click the link and select "Save Target As..."
February 22, 2004 Newsletter (.pdf file)
UPDATE: Link removed, explanation here.
[Link to Full Article]
By Dave Ryan, Daily Banner
CAMBRIDGE - The Mooney family did not grieve alone Tuesday.
More than 1,000 friends, neighbors, elected officials, and military personnel joined them in saying farewell to 1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney. The soldier, a native of Cambridge, lost his life in Iraq after his helicopter crashed Jan. 25 during a search-and-rescue mission. He was 28.
[Link to Full Article] A memorial service will be held today at Fort Lewis.
BILL HESS; Wick News Service
A 1998 Buena High School graduate was killed in action when an improvised explosive device was set off near a convoy he was riding in northern Iraq Monday.
According to the Associated Press, Spc. Michael M. Merila, 23, was returning to his base camp at Tall Afar from the Mosul Airport after he and others escorted soldiers of his unit who were departing on leave.
Army Magazine has two online articles detailing the recent activities of the Stryker Brigade. Both are PDF files, so we can't excerpt them here. Follow the links below to view the complete articles. Great pictures included
(Thanks to Rob & Sue for the links)
Every so often I visit the Army's Soldier Stories website to read a few of the amazing accounts collected there. I ran across an older story I hadn't seen before that was truly incredible. Excerpts:
[Link to Full Article]
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 24, 2004) -- As units return from Iraq, the Army will “reset” brigades into the fighting formations that will be needed in the future, a senior Army official said.
Under Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker’s “modularity” focus area, the 33 maneuver brigades in today’s active-component Army will be reset into 43 to 48 brigades. The Army will be temporarily “plussed up” by 30,000 troops to fill the added brigades, officials said.
I was going to link to a couple items at Jason Van Steenwyk's site Iraq Now, but instead I would recommend you start at the top and scroll down. An Army officer in Iraq preparing to redeploy, Jason has written a number of great entries recently on a wide variety of topics. Check him out.
JIM KRANE; The Associated Press
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Nearly a quarter-million U.S. soldiers are within weeks of passing through this desert kingdom on their way to or from the war in neighboring Iraq, the largest such rotation of American forces in history, according to military planners overseeing the project.
Brian Taylor was a Marine who participated in the initial invasion of Iraq last March. During his time there he kept a journal, excerpts of which he is sharing in a five-part series for OpinionJournal. Here are parts one, two and three. I'll post his subsequent entries over the next couple weeks.
UPDATE: I'm moving this entry back to the top b/c parts four and five are now available.
(via Sparkey)
We are finally making the two older Brigade Newsletters available for download on our site. These are not new, but previously we linked to other sites that had the documents. Since they're no longer available, we thought it would be nice to have permanent copies here.
To save a copy to your computer for future reference, right click the links below and choose "Save Target As..."
December 22, 2003 Newsletter
UPDATE: Link removed, explanation here.
Download January 22, 2004 Newsletter
We wanted to highlight one item from the Winds of War briefing we mentioned below. Capt. Morgan, who is former commander of HHC, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, has written a lengthy article outlining lessons learned while in Iraq. It is very much worth reading since the SBCT has taken control of the region formerly occupied by the 101st.
By Capt. Daniel Morgan
I have spent eleven months in Iraq fighting this war as a company commander, starting from the berm in Kuwait to Mosul, Iraq. My soldiers and I have learned a tremendous amount of lessons, shared many successes, and witnessed horrific injuries on our fellow soldiers. We never failed to conduct an AAR or hotwash after an operation, despite the success, failure or casualties. I want to share some TTPs and SOPs with as many as possible because this fight ebbs and flows with short, shocking violence that “always being prepared” becomes more than just a cliché. You will never know when you will be attacked — it just happens.
Here's the latest Winds of War briefing from the Winds of Change team. Take a look for links to, and analysis of, the latest news in the war on terror.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By DEXTER FILKINS
Published: February 23, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 22 — Iraq's interim leaders said Sunday that they could not negotiate a formal agreement with the American military on maintaining troops in Iraq, and that the task must await the next sovereign Iraqi government.
The delay could put the Americans in the position of negotiating an agreement with leaders they did not appoint on such sensitive issues as when the use of force would be allowed...
MOSUL, Iraq - During operations conducted from Feb. 15 through Feb. 22, soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, collected more than 5,000 weapons and explosives and detained 21 suspects in connection with anti-Coalition activities.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Someone threw a grenade at Brig. Gen. Carter Ham's convoy on his way to a meeting Sunday morning with a local security commander.
The general's aide, Capt. Phil Mundweil, suffered a small cut on his hip from flying shrapnel, but otherwise no one was hurt in the 9:20 a.m. attack.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Another batch of Iraqi Civil Defense Corps recruits was due at the Mosul palace, but Stryker brigade soldiers didn't know how many would actually show up.
Here's some additional information regarding the memorial statue we've mentioned previously. I did not see any new pictures, however.
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2004 -- A bronze statue of a soldier mourning a fallen comrade traveled from Tikrit, Iraq, to Fort Hood, Texas, this week to become the focal point of a memorial to the soldiers of Task Force Ironhorse who have died during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
[Link to Full Article]
'His selfless service ... will never be forgotten'
Chris Barron, Sun Staff
February 21, 2004
As the bright sun burst through the clouds, a bugler blew "Taps" in the cool breeze of the afternoon.
Frontline Photos at Army Times has a photo from the memorial at Ft. Lewis for Bunda and Robbins, and another from Robbins' funeral in NY.
[Link to Full Article] 5th Bn., 20th Inf. Regt.
By Sgt. Jeremy Heckler
Task Force Olympia Public Affairs
MOSUL, IRAQ (Feb. 20, 2004) – The security of Hamam Al Alil, a small town south of Mosul, grew this week as the first company of Iraq Civil Defense Corps personnel who are tasked with securing the city graduated Thursday at the Northern Iraq Regional Training Center.
Lorraine wanted to remind everyone that Geraldo is still in Iraq. His show is on Saturday and Sunday nights at 10 PM EST, with repeats at 1 AM EST. We're hoping he makes the trip to Mosul.
Articles from Combined Joint Task Force 7 (CJTF7) were not being released for an extended period of time, perhaps because of a change of staff in Baghdad. Included below are links to items from the time period in question that were recently made available. Some of these might be repeats, but better safe than sorry.
"Stryker Brigade Collects Weapons In Iraq"
"Task Force Olympia Detains Suspects, Collects Weapons"
"Task Force Olympia Detains Suspect, Collects Weapons"
By Joe Burlas
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 19, 2004) -- Army Knowledge Online now offers a stripped-down version that loads up to 10 times faster than the regular service.
[Link to Full Article]Captures Suspect With Help Of Informant
CJTF7 Release #040220e
MOSUL, Iraq - With the help of a concerned citizen, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, took explosives and an arms dealer off the streets of a small village outside of Qayarrah Feb. 19.
Company A responded to a tip from an informant who came to battalion headquarters and reported the presence of mortars in the village and identified a weapons dealer who was responsible for selling them.
[Link to Full Article]
Thinking of Others
Chris Barron; Sun Staff. February 20, 2004
The day before Valentine's Day, Michele Bunda received a delivery of three roses and a card signed by her husband.
It said, "I love you, Chris."
It came nearly three weeks after Bremerton resident Christopher Bunda, a highly respected Army staff sergeant with the Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade, had died during a mission on the Tigris River. He was 29.
Liz Jackson is busy with another great project.
By MIKE BARBER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Karen Leming of the Tacoma Fire Department's Engine 10 is giving U.S. troops in Iraq the shirt off her back.
So are Stacy Waterworth, Bruce Bouyer and scores of fellow firefighters, police and other public-safety officers around the region at the one-year anniversary of the start of war in Iraq...
There is a very brief article about the memorial for Staff Sgts. Christopher Bunda and Thomas Robbins at Ft. Lewis yesterday.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - For a while, Capt. A.J. Newtson considered removing the slat armor cages from his company's Stryker infantry carriers. The big steel cages make it tough to maneuver the vehicles through some of Mosul's narrow streets.
Shawburb has a couple photos of Spc. Michael Merila in her photo album. Thanks for sharing those.
The Army has released additional details regarding the gurdsman accused of attempting to pass sensitive information to Al-Qaida.
By Ray Rivera
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Army has formally charged a National Guardsman from Lynnwood with attempting to supply military intelligence, including methods of killing American soldiers and destroying U.S. weapons systems, to the al-Qaida terrorist network.
The Army has released additional details regarding the gurdsman accused of attempting to pass sensitive information to Al-Qaida.
By Ray Rivera
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Army has formally charged a National Guardsman from Lynnwood with attempting to supply military intelligence, including methods of killing American soldiers and destroying U.S. weapons systems, to the al-Qaida terrorist network.
USA TODAY
February 19, 2004
The U.S. invasion of Iraq may have rolled over Saddam Hussein's forces in a matter of weeks -- but it could be a poor model for future fights, a draft of an Army study of the war warns.
By PAUL GRONDAHL, Staff writer
Army Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, a 1994 Bethlehem High School graduate who died in Iraq, was laid to rest Wednesday amid the snowy fields of Saratoga National Cemetery.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - When Capt. Patrick O'Brien, a Stryker brigade lawyer, was preparing to spend two weeks handling claims for damages during the December offensive in Samarra, he knew he'd need the best assistant he could get.
It was an easy call: Spc. Michael Merila.
This morning our web host had a big spike in traffic, which slowed down all of the sites hosted on our server. Eventually they had to reboot the server, which caused our site to be down for a short period of time. Sorry for the inconvenience.
UPDATE: While we're on the subject, one of our visitors let us know that the main page was causing her browser to crash. It turns out that the clock script we were using was the culprit. Once again, we removed it and Dan found one that seems to be much more stable (we now have Ft. Lewis time also!). If you ever experience an error or problem, please let us know.
Here's an interesting article regarding the realistic training provided to troops preparing to deploy.
By Jeff Linkous
Associated Press
FORT DIX, N.J. — Ryan Szeczesniewski could have as easily been warring with friends on a paintball battlefield.
Instead, he found himself on a southern New Jersey Army base, playing the role of an irate Iraqi citizen, part of an angry crowd marching on U.S. soldiers who denied medical aid to a fictional, wounded villager.
By Sgt. 1st Class Marcia Triggs
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 17, 2004) -- All Soldiers can now wear the U.S. flag insignia on the right shoulder of their utility uniform, as a continued reminder that the Army is engaged in a war at home and abroad.
I thought this was an interesting article given that the brigade seems to have adopted at least one mascot of its own.
Sunday Gazette-Mail
February 17, 2004
ST. LOUIS - Yo-ge has made it out of war torn Iraq. So have Cookie, Ratchet and Private.
But to the dismay of Missouri National Guard Pfc. Jeremiah Smith of Fulton, Mo., and scores of other soldiers and Marines, Niki and dozens of others like her have not. And as the clock ticks down, the chances of their survival diminish.
Spc. Merila was part of HHT, 1-14 CAV. Our thoughts are with his family and his fellow soldiers.
The News Tribune
The Pentagon has identified the Fort Lewis Stryker brigade soldier who died in a roadside bomb blast Monday in Iraq.
Spc. Michael M. Merila, 23, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., died after being seriously wounded near Tall Afar, about 35 miles west of Mosul, when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. It was the first death of a Stryker soldier from hostile fire since the 5,000-member brigade crossed into Iraq in early December. Eight others have been killed in accidents.
I don't think we've posted this article before. Correct me if I'm wrong.
By Robert Hodierne
Times staff writer
MOSUL, Iraq — Brig. Gen. Carter F. Ham, 51, took control of this northern Iraqi town of 1.7 million and the surrounding four provinces with a force a third the size and possessing almost none of the experience of the troops commanded by the man he replaced, Maj. Gen. David Petraeus.
Dog Sitter just alerted us to the fact that another SBCT, the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division based at Ft. Lewis, will be featured tonight (February 17th) on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. The broadcast airs on the West coast at 6 PM. If you miss it check MSNBC; they often repeat stories there throughout the evening. Sorry for the short notice.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, 28, of Cambridge, Md., died from non-hostile injuries when his helicopter went down in the Tigris River during a search for a missing soldier. Mooney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation (Fort Drum), however, in support of mission requirements, he was attached to 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
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 death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Michael M. Merila, 23, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., died Feb. 16 in Talifar, Iraq, when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. Merila was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
Associated Press
ANNISTON, Ala. — Like many recruits, the Army’s new Stryker combat vehicle needs to lose some weight before it’s fit to be deployed.
The Stryker, an armored vehicle being built in Anniston by General Dynamics, was designed to be a medium-weight vehicle that could be sent anywhere in the world within 96 hours.
Here is the official press release from Combined Joint Task Force 7.
MOSUL, IRAQ – A Task Force Olympia soldier was killed and one other was wounded when their convoy was attacked by an improvised explosive device at approximately 5:15 p.m. today near Tall Afar.
Word has it that the Stryker Brigade might be featured in an upcoming issue of Time Magazine. If any of you are regular readers of Time (I'm not), let us know if you see anything.
Thanks for the tip Krystle.
The Department of Defense announced today it has changed the status of 1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, 28, of Cambridge, Md., from duty status whereabouts unknown to a non-hostile casualty. Mooney was listed as duty status unknown on Jan. 25 in Mosul, Iraq, when his helicopter went down in the Tigris River during a search for a missing soldier. On Feb. 14, his remains were recovered. Mooney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation (Fort Drum), however, in support of mission requirements, he was attached to 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 17, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-33
MOSUL, Iraq - Members of Task Force Olympia met with leaders of nongovernmental organizations in northern Iraq Sunday.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Assistance and Cooperation hosted the meeting that was attended by 15 nongovernmental organizations with representatives from Great Britain, Japan, France, the United States and Iraq as well as civil affairs soldiers from Task Force Olympia.
This report relies heavily on the Michael Gilbert article we linked to below.
February 17, 2004
By KOMO Staff & News Services
TACOMA - In two of the latest U.S. casualties in Iraq, a Stryker brigade soldier from Fort Lewis died and another was wounded when their Humvee struck a roadside bomb in Iraq, military officials said.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - A Stryker brigade soldier was killed and another wounded Monday when their Humvee struck a roadside bomb, brigade officials said.
The incident near Tall Afar, about 35 miles west of Mosul, marked the first death of a Stryker soldier as a result of hostile action since the Fort Lewis brigade arrived in Iraq nearly three months ago. Eight others have been killed in accidents.
A while back we mentioned a story about an Iraqi artist who was using metal from old Saddam statues to create a memorial for American soldiers that fought and died in Iraq. The sculpture is now complete and John has a great photo at his site. The memorial stands at the HQ of the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq and will eventually be displayed at Ft. Hood, TX. Great story.
(via Sgt. Hook)
Here's the latest Winds of War briefing from Winds of Change. Head on over for the latest news and analysis of the global war on terror.
By Melanthia Mitchell
The Associated Press
FORT LEWIS — Today's military has switched from the traditional "Uncle Sam wants you" message to high-profile, high-tech recruitment tools: NASCAR sponsorships, online games and "PowerPoint rangers."
Other news organizations have picked up on the story originally reported by Michael Gilbert in the article below.
February 16, 2004, 8:23 AM EST
TACOMA, Wash. -- The body of a missing Army helicopter pilot has been recovered from the Tigris River in Mosul, The News Tribune of Tacoma reported.
Mel found some photos (2 that I could find) of Stryker soldiers in a Yahoo! News slideshow. Here's the first; click "Next" to see the second.
UPDATE: Hhhmmm...it seems that they keep adding photos to the slideshow, which makes the link above useless. Some good advice from the comments is to go to the Yahoo! News page and type "Stryker" or "Mosul" into the search option.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - It was the very last thing Lt. Walter Hicks expected to encounter in Iraq: Snow.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Stryker brigade soldiers remembered their comrade Christopher Bunda on Sunday as one of their best - a skilled infantryman, a natural leader and a devoted husband, father and son.
MOSUL, Iraq: Two Iraqis were arrested Thursday for carrying a barrel of material suspected to be uranium, a high-ranking police officer told AFP Sunday.
"Iraqi police stopped two Iraqis at a checkpoint north of Mosul. They were carrying a huge quantity of uranium to northern Iraq," said General Hikmat Mahmud Mohamed of the Nineveh province's police department.
We learned via the 14th Cavalry Association website that the SBCT will be featured in the March edition of Army Magazine. The magazine's website does not have any articles from the upcoming issue online, but they do have a picture of the February cover, which is a photo of a soldier from Troop A, 1-14 CAV. Take a look.
Patti has created a beautiful tribute page for Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda on her site. Please take a minute to visit.
Thank you Patti for all you're doing.
Carolyn Blashek started Operation Gratitude to supply deployed troops with care packages. If you have a loved one serving, or know of a soldier that hasn't received a package of their own, visit her site for more information. Provided below is a description of the organization I received from Carolyn.
Patti, a frequent visitor who runs the Soldier's Angels Foundation, is seeking donations for her Wounded Soldier's Backpack Project. Provided below are the basics, but you can visit her website (link above) to learn more and make a donation.
Mike (usmc7680) and Dog Sitter discovered that the Styker Brigade is featured this weekend on the CNN show "Next@CNN". The program originally aired at 3 PM EST today (Saturday), but will be replayed twice tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 AM EST and 5 PM EST. Set those VCRs.
The Warhorse web site has added three new entries in doc format for the month of Feb. I would recommend downloading the files for easier viewing instead of opening them up from that location. I am not sure how much bandwidth they are alotted.
By Karen Jowers
Times staff writer
To help protect service members, Defense Department civilians and military retirees from identity theft, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will begin dropping the first five digits of Social Security numbers from all leave-and-earnings statements and other pay statements.
There are a couple new albums here and here. Additionally, A Troop, 1-14 CAV has added photos of the memorial the brigade held for SGT Robbins and SGT Wong.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Sgt. Thomas Robbins was known as "Ghost" and "RoboCop" to his buddies in the Stryker brigade's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, a 27-year-old tireless worker and capable leader who always put his soldiers first.
Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong was a patient, upbeat 42-year-old bomb disposal expert from Mesa, Ariz., who as a young man fought as an infantry ranger in the Israeli Defense Forces.
We heard a while back that Geraldo Rivera was going to be in Iraq, possibly visiting Mosul and the SBCT. Lorraine sent us a heads up that he will be broadcasting Saturday and Sunday from Iraq, although it doesn't say where. Tune in and find out...and pray that he doesn't draw any more maps in the sand.
A Troop, 1-14 CAV has posted a wonderful picture of SGT Robbins in their album. Thank you for sharing.
UPDATE: They've added photos of the memorial service for him as well.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 13, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anti-Coalition activities and recovered weapons and other explosives in northern Iraq Thursday.
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 13, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, recovered weapons and explosive devices in northern Iraq Wednesday.
BREMERTON — A trust fund has been set up at Washington Mutual for the family of Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, a soldier with the Fort Lewis-based Stryker Brigade, who disappeared in the Tigris River after the boat he was in capsized Jan. 25...
Donations can be made at any Washington Mutual branch by requesting to donate to Michele Bunda's account.
Another article from Paul Grondahl regarding the death of Sgt. Thomas Robbins.
By PAUL GRONDAHL, Staff writer
First published: Friday, February 13, 2004
None of her work in reiki, the art of healing touch, or counseling bereaved families as a Spiritualist minister prepared Charlene Robbins for the shock of learning her son, Thomas, an Army sergeant, died in Iraq during a conflict she didn't believe in.
Rather than post each article individually, here's a roundup of articles regarding the Ft. Lewis soldier suspected of attempting to pass information to Al Qaeda.
Here is another article about Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins from a local New York newspaper.
By CATHY DYSON
Date published: 2/13/2004
An Army scout--whose grandmother, uncles and cousin live in the Fredericksburg area--was killed in Iraq on Monday after an explosion of Iraqi ammunition.
Thanks to Fred Kiesche for the following article.
StrategyPage
February 13, 2004: The Army’s new Interim Combat Vehicle is proving itself in Iraq. Encased in a cage of slat armor, a Stryker recently shrugged off a direct hit by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), with minor damage and no casualties. The incident reportedly happened in the Mosul district of Northern Iraq.
[Link to Full Article]
Another great article by MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Capt. Eric Molfino is making his way through his weekly meeting with community leaders in Qara Qosh, a town of 26,000 about 15 miles east of Mosul.
Many people sent the following article to us.
The Associated Press
SEATTLE -- A National Guardsman stationed at Fort Lewis was arrested Thursday and charged by the Army with trying to provide information to the al-Qaida terrorist network, a federal law enforcement official said.
Interesting story from the Seattle P-I.
By CHRIS McGANN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Juan Escalante was not a patriot, not even an American, when he joined the U.S. Army two years ago.
He was just looking for a way to pay for college.
New albums here, here and here. Additionally, the soldiers in A Troop, 1-14 CAV set up an album of their own, and I've added some new ones to my album. Did I forget anyone?
When you visit the main gallery page you should see a note describing when each album was last changed. Check these dates to see who has added photos recently to their album.
Katy found the following blurb on the Army's Stryker site:
Three block improvements are planned for the Stryker. A crew-installable add-on armor kit that provides 360-degree RPG-7 protection, an internal recoil-mounted 120mm mortar system, and embedded training that will be provided beginning with the third SBCT. Block improvements will be retrofitted to SBCTs 1 and 2 in subsequent years.
I'm glad to hear the cage is working in the meantime.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By THOM SHANKER
Published: February 12, 2004
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 — A complacent Saddam Hussein was so convinced that war would be averted or that America would mount only a limited bombing campaign that he deployed the Iraqi military to crush domestic uprisings rather than defend against a ground invasion, according to a classified log of interrogations of captured Iraqi leaders and former officers.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A convoy carrying Gen. John Abizaid, the commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East, was attacked Thursday during a visit to Iraqi defense forces in Fallujah, U.S. officials told CNN.
Attackers fired on the convoy with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades as it entered a military compound near Fallujah.
Army News Service
MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, Feb. 9, 2004) – The next step in building a stronger Iraqi army began as the first officers graduated from the Northern Iraq Regional Training Center Platoon Leader’s Basic Course in Al Qayyarah Feb. 9...
I meant to post this last week.
Thursday, February 5, 2004
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
KIRKLAND -- Ruth Ann Young was honored yesterday with an "Everyday Hero Award" for coordinating a Christmas drive of 6,000 gift packages for U.S. military personnel in Iraq.
Donald Sensing takes a look at recent events in Iraq and draws some interesting conclusions about the continuing insurgency. Excerpt:
On the matter of national will, Zarqawi's letter seems clearly to indicate that al Qaeda's leadership is recognizing they cannot outlast us.Neither can they overpower us. The core purpose of military operations is to compel, not persuade, your enemy to conform to your will. Through attrition, maneuver of forces, political processes, psyops and civil affairs, al Qaeda is discovering it is being checked at almost every turn, starting with the fact that 70 percent of its leaders known to America are dead or captured. Their first team is pretty much off the field and the benchers trying to carry on aren't up to the job. They don't have the personal renown of the terrorists who have been killed or captured, and among the societies they most need assistance from, personal reputation is extremely important. But they are virtual unknowns for the most part.
Let's hope he's right.
Here is the Styker Brigade's February 6, 2004 Newsletter. Right click the link and choose "Save Target As..." to save it on your computer.
UPDATE: Link removed, explanation here.
Here is an article from a local Bremerton paper.
Chris Barron
Sun Staff
February 11, 2004
The body of a Bremerton soldier missing in Iraq since Jan. 25 was found Tuesday, dashing his family's last hopes that he might be found alive...
There is information about the explosion in Sinjar in the article as well.
By MIKE BARBER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
On a day when the Puget Sound area relaxed under warm Northwest skies, news of soldiers' deaths came from Iraq.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Divers recovered the body of a missing Stryker brigade soldier Tuesday, 17 days after he was lost in one of two accidents on the Tigris River.
Helicopter pilots spotted the body of Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, 29, on the surface just after 2 p.m. The body of the Bremerton man was found north of the third of five bridges that span the Tigris in Mosul, the brigade reported.
The Department of Defense announced today the Feb. 9 death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, 27, Schenectady, N.Y., was killed in Sinjar, Iraq, when a collection of unexploded ordnance, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds detonated while being moved to a demolition point. Robbins was assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), Fort Lewis, Wash.
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 recovery of remains of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraq Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, 29, of Washington, was originally listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) when his boat capsized during a river patrol on the Tigris River on Jan. 25. His remains were recovered today. Staff Sgt. Bunda was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, based at Fort Lewis, Wash.
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 Feb. 9 death of two soldiers in Sinjar, Iraq, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom when a collection of unexploded ordinance, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds detonated while being moved to a demolition point. Killed were:
Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, 27, Schenectady, N.Y. Robbins was assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), Fort Lewis, Wash.
Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, 42, of Mesa, Ariz. Wong was assigned to the 363rd Explosive Ordnance Company, Army National Guard, Casa Grande, Ariz.
The incident is under investigation.
[Link to Full Article]
KOMO News February 10, 2004; By Molly Shen
PIERCE COUNTY - A member of the Fort Lewis-based Stryker Brigade, Matt Staples is able to call his wife every few weeks.
Usually the conversation is dominated by talk of how the family is doing.
But Debi Staples knew something was wrong when she answered the phone Monday.
The Department of Defense announced today the recovery of remains of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraq Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, 29, of Washington, was originally listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) when his boat capsized during a river patrol on the Tigris River on Jan. 25. His remains were recovered today. Staff Sgt. Bunda was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, based at Fort Lewis, Wash.
The incident is under investigation.
(Thanks to Adra for the link)
[Link to Full Article] (Photos included)
By Pfc. Thomas Day and Sgt. Jeremy Heckler
NAVISTAR, Kuwait (Feb. 10, 2004) – The last 101st Airborne Division convoy rolled across the Iraqi border just before 5 a.m. Kuwaiti time this morning, leaving behind a mission that spanned almost a year...
[Link to Full Article] (Brief registration required)
By Thomas E. Ricks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 8, 2004; Page A01
As the insurgency in the Sunni Triangle was heating up last fall, Lt. Col. Steve Russell was dealing with a new wave of attacks in which bombers were using the transmitters from radio-controlled toy cars: They would take the electronic guts of the cars, wrap them in C-4 plastic explosive and attach a blasting cap, then detonate them by remote control.
Interested in reading first-hand accounts from soldiers stationed around the world, including Iraq? Citizen Smash has a complete roundup of military bloggers that is worth exploring. Many of them are already listed on our links page, but there are a few I didn't know about.
As news trickled in yesterday regarding the explosion in Sinjar, I did something I told myself I wouldn't do - I posted an update based on word of mouth. That update turned out to be wrong. In an attempt to clear the confusion, I inadvertantly added to it. I'm sorry.
This is precisely why I try not to add analysis, commentary or conjecture to any news item we link to. I'd rather point you to the news and have you draw your own conclusions. From now on if I see a news story of interest I'll post it, but until I see an official press release or news story that provides additional details, I'll keep other information off the main page.
Regards,
Todd
EIJIRO KAWADA; The News Tribune
As thick fog began clearing above McChord Air Force Base, a dew-covered Stryker combat vehicle appeared on the tarmac and approached a C-17 cargo plane for a lift.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these soldiers.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Two soldiers were killed and five others injured Monday when a rocket-propelled grenade accidentally exploded at an ammunition dump near Sinjar, Stryker brigade officials said.
This story includes additional information.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES
Two Fort Lewis-based soldiers were killed and five others were injured while disposing of explosives in northern Iraq, the Coalition Press Center in Baghdad said Monday night.
A news center spokesman said the explosion occurred around 12:45 p.m. Baghdad time, or shortly before 2 a.m. PST. The identities of the soldiers and the exact unit to which they were attached were not released pending notification of relatives. The soldiers were with Task Force Olympia, a subelement of Fort Lewis' I Corps, of which the 4,000-member Stryker Brigade Combat Team is the largest force.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
KING5.com
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two U.S. soldiers were killed while disposing of explosives in northern Iraq.
The accidental explosion of a mortar shell also wounded six others in the vicinity of Sinjar near the town of Mosul.
All of them are reportedly members of the Stryker brigade.
According to this Associated Press report, Task Force Olympia has released a statement regarding the explosion in Sinjar.
Monday, February 09, 2004
Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq — A man wearing an explosives belt blew himself up Monday outside the home of two tribal leaders who have cooperated with American forces. Two U.S. soldiers were killed while disposing of explosives in northern Iraq...
[Link to CENTCOM Press Release]
February 9, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-14
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOSUL, Iraq – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) under the operational control of Task Force Olympia detained personnel suspected of anti-Coalition activities and recovered weapons and other explosives in northern Iraq Sunday.
It is unclear whether any SBCT soldiers were involved in this incident. Let us know if you find any additional details in the news.
The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq Feb. 9 — Two U.S. soldiers were killed and six wounded Monday during an explosion while troops were trying to dispose of explosives, a U.S. officer said.
The blast occurred near Sinjar near Mosul, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told reporters. Kimmitt said the explosion appeared to have been an accident and not a result hostile action.
Ok, we're pretty excited about this submission. Dan, who has helped us out quite a bit with site content lately, has created a Styker Tribute that he wanted to share with all of you. It is a photo slideshow set to music, with pictures from news articles, Army websites and our own gallery.
This is a fairly large multimedia file, so the best way to play it might be to download it to your computer first. That will also help reduce our bandwidth requirements. To save a copy, right click the link below and select "Save Target As". If you don't want to save a copy, simply click the link to play it.
Let's give Dan a big thank you - I know he spent a long time creating this for us. Enjoy!
By Joe Burlas
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 6, 2004) -- Despite the misconception of some members of Congress and the media who have raised the issue in recent weeks, the Army is meeting Central Command’s requirements for up-armored Humvees for operations in Iraq and doing it in a timely manner, according to Maj. Gen. N. Ross Thompson III, commanding general for the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
Today Winds of Change publishes both its "Winds of War" and "Iraq Report" updates. Head on over for links to, and analysis of, the latest developments in the war on terror and the situation in Iraq.
This week Rich Galen, a DOD consultant in Iraq, makes a visit to Fallujah.
Monday, February 9, 2004 (Mosul):
A US military convoy came under attack in central Mosul on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses claimed three US soldiers were injured when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) detonated. But there was no confirmation of casualties from the US military.
There was some discussion on the bulletin board that the upcoming PBS Frontline documentary "Beyond Baghdad" might include some coverage of the Stryker Brigade in Mosul. The feature airs this Thursday, February 12th at 9 PM. Visit the show's website (link above), or view the press release for additional information. Check your local PBS station's schedule here for exact times.
There was some discussion on the bulletin board that the upcoming PBS Frontline documentary "Beyond Baghdad" might include some coverage of the Stryker Brigade in Mosul. The feature airs this Thursday, February 12th at 9 PM. Visit the show's website (link above), or view the press release for additional information. Check your local PBS station's schedule here for exact times.
We have a few new albums in our Photo Gallery.
Since the Weather Channel magnet displaying the current temperature in Mosul hardly ever worked, we replaced it with a simple link to a more accurate forecast. We'll keep looking for a better solution.
UPDATE: Never fear, Dan found a new and improved weather magnet that is much more reliable (looks better too). Thanks Dan!
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. forces are offering a reward for information leading to the recovery of two soldiers missing in the Tigris River.
The Stryker brigade plans to run messages on Iraqi TV and radio and in local newspapers seeking help in the search for Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda and Lt. Mooney Adam Mooney.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - The lifeblood of northern Iraq flows through a muddy truck yard north of Mosul that U.S. forces call Linkup Point Foxtrot.
Six hundred to 800 fuel trucks laden with gasoline, diesel, kerosene and propane roll in from Turkey each morning for delivery to gas stations and depots across Nineveh, Dohuk and Irbil provinces.
National Public Radio's Anne Garrels reports on the transition of control from the 101st to the SBCT. To listen to the five-minute report, click on the "Morning Edition audio" link at the top of the page.
(Thanks to ChinaDoll for the link)
A couple people have sent us the same collection of photos taken last spring as coalition forces advanced through Iraq. Rather than post them again here, we thought we would point you to another site that already has the photos displayed. The last photo of Baker Company is one that I linked to back in September. Very moving.
Kim sent us a link to a great tribute poem - photos included. Thanks.
Shawburb sent a link to this moving commentary. As they say, read the whole thing. (Tissue Alert)
[Link to Article] (Full text provided below)
By Lt. Col. Andrew Straw
February 4, 2004
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 4, 2004) -- At kickoff, I was touching up the shine on my combat boots. I thought of calling my wife in Charlotte, N.C., but she had already gone across town to a Super Bowl party.
In his most recent photo essay, Kevin Sites profiles Wisam Rady, a former artist for Saddam's regime. Viewing the capture of Saddam on television inspired Rady to create a new series of paintings that are a drastic departure from his work glorifying the ex-dictator. After viewing the photographs, scroll down to read his full story.
Learn more about a new group of soldiers transforming the Army. The SBCT concept was one of its projects.
by Sgt. Chuck Wagner
Pentagram staff writer
There is a new breed of officer walking Pentagon corridors. He understands financial markets, diminishing rates of return and capital investment. His civilian counterpart might sit on a board of directors at Coca-Cola or IBM: He wears service stripes instead of pinstripes.
If you're interested in learning more about how deployed soldiers can vote absentee, the following article has some good information.
By Andrea Takash
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 5, 2004) – Americans across the country are now voting in presidential state primaries, but many Soldiers can’t make it to the polls, said Jim Davis, the Army’s voting action officer.
[Link to Full Article] (Full text provided below)
Michael Gilbert; News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Seven soldiers and sailors were tossed into the Tigris River on Thursday afternoon when their boat capsized as they searched for two missing servicemen. All seven made it safely to shore.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - The Fort Lewis contingent formally took over U.S. military operations in northern Iraq on Thursday.
Senior coalition commanders from across the country and dozens of local Iraqi leaders looked on as the 101st Airborne Division gave way to Task Force Olympia and the Stryker brigade.
The Wall Street Journal has a very interesting article today regarding civilian Halliburton employees that agree to work for a year in Iraq. Unfortunately, you need a subscription to read the entire article, but I've included a few excerpts below.
[Link to Full Article] (Subscription required)
By RUSSELL GOLD
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
HOUSTON -- In a shuttered J.C. Penney store here, more than 500 job recruits sat at long tables and leafed through packets of information. John Watson, a staffing supervisor for Halliburton Co., welcomed them with a somber introduction.
We've enabled the site feature that allows you to email entries. To do so, click on "Link to this Entry". Scroll down until you see the email form, fill in the required fields and hit "Send". To send an entry to multiple recipients, separate each address with a comma. Voila!
February 5, 2004
Release Number: 04-02-08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION TRANSFERS AUTHORITY TO TASK FORCE OLYMPIA
MOSUL, Iraq – As hundreds of regional Iraqi leaders and Coalition partners looked on, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) transferred authority and operational control of Ninewa, Irbil and Dahuk provinces to Task Force Olympia today at the palace headquarters complex in northern Mosul.
Blogger Phil Carter examines the Improved Explosive Device ("IED") problem facing U.S. troops in Iraq and what measures they are taking to combat the situation. He provides a number of links to informative articles as well.
Winds of Change has posted their regular update on the war on terror with links to, and analysis of, recent developments.
News is a bit sparse today, but sapperwife sent an article that you music fans might be interested in.
By Lee Elder
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Army News Service, Feb. 4, 2004) -- Like many Americans, country songwriter Dave Gibson was glued to the television and the Internet the Sunday morning when the world learned of Saddam Hussein’s capture.
“I thought to myself, ‘Somebody ought to write a song about this,’” said Gibson, a former front man for the famed country act, the Gibson/Miller Band.
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), under the operational control of the 101st Airborne Division, uncovered two weapons caches during operations Friday in and around Mosul.
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz held a press conference during which he addressed the current situation in Iraq, including the handover of authority in Mosul and the capabilities of the Stryker vehicle. Excerpt:
I've seen the handover issues first-hand both up in Mosul and here in Kirkuk. It's like wrenching a limb away I think to take these good guys out for the people here, but I feel very very good about the thought that's gone into the handover already and the fact that we're able to go around with the successor commanders right next to the people that are leaving. I think before long they'll say - who was Odierno? And who was Petraeus? But we won't forget you. [Laughter]
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
VILLAGE OF HOPE, Iraq, Feb. 3, 2004 – Who got new homes and how they came to be was the big news Feb. 2 at this village near Mosul.
A total of 18 families representing all ethnic and religious groups received new homes during a ceremony at the aptly named Village of Hope.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Jan. 29, 2004)—“I told the two Iraqi males to get in the back of the truck,” said Capt. Juan David Pena, displaying concern for the property of two innocent strangers while in the midst of commandeering their truck at gunpoint during an anti-Coalition ambush of Pena’s small reconnaissance convoy.
CJTF7 Press Release
MOSUL, IRAQ – The 101st Airborne Division will transfer authority for AO North to the Multi-National Brigade North in Mosul Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m.
Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, 101st commander, will encase the unit colors and they will not be unfurled again until the last of the division’s Screaming Eagle soldiers have returned to Fort Campbell, Ky.
Media are encouraged to attend and should arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. A press conference will follow the event at 11 a.m. directly in front of the main palace.
Jason Van Steenwyk, who is currently serving in Iraq, shares a good finance tip for military families. While you're there, make sure you read this incredble story.
We have another new album in our Photo Gallery.
The broadcast of the Super Bowl televised for the troops overseas was commercial-free, so they missed out on some good ads. Never fear, they can now view streaming versions of all the ads at IFILM. What was your favorite?
American Forces Press Service
MOSUL, Iraq, Feb. 3, 2004 - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division -- Stryker Brigade Combat Team -- detained people suspected of anti-coalition activities and recovered weapons and other explosives in northern Iraq Feb. 1.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By John Hendren, Times Staff Writer
MOSUL, Iraq — For Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, climbing into a Stryker armored personnel carrier for a tour of this northern city marked a vote of confidence in a controversial new technology untested in combat conditions until it made its recent debut in Iraq.
Critics had said the wheeled vehicle could not survive an attack by a rocket-propelled grenade, or RPG, even with mesh-like grilles added for perilous patrols in Iraq.
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
MOSUL, Iraq, Feb. 3, 2004 – A change made to the Stryker infantry vehicle has proven itself in combat.
The 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division – also called Task Force Olympia after its Fort Lewis, Wash., home -- is replacing the 101st Airborne Division in this city.
The News Tribune
Coalition forces continued to search the Tigris River on Monday for a Fort Lewis soldier and a pilot based in Fort Drum, N.Y., who went missing more than a week ago.
There are a few photos of the transfer of authority ceremony in Mosul between the 101st and the Stryker Brigade. They're towards the end of the slideshow.
Lorraine found an online store where you can purchase a framed copy of the cover of Time magazine's Person of the Year issue, which honored "The American Soldier". Two sizes are available.
In related news, the three soldiers featured on the cover are currently on a goodwill tour across America.
"Stryker battalion stays active during VIP visit by assistant defense secretary"
By Michael Gilbert; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq – The last time Paul Wolfowitz ventured to Iraq, the guerrillas rocketed his Baghdad hotel.
For the deputy defense secretary's visit here Monday, it fell to the Stryker brigade's 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment to make sure there was no repeat of the Oct. 26 rocket attack that killed an American officer and injured 15 others...
UPDATE: This article has been updated since yesterday. The new one includes a photo.
The Frontline Photos that were not displaying correctly last week can now be viewed. They are worth waiting for.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By THOM SHANKER
Published: February 2, 2004
KIRKUK, Iraq, Feb. 2 — Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz, on a mission to highlight successes in the new Iraq, heard first-hand today of the ethnic and religious tensions that are vastly complicating American efforts for an orderly return of sovereignty to a new government in Baghdad by July 1...
Associated Press
Feb. 2, 2004 06:50 AM
MOSUL, Iraq - Attackers fired a rocket propelled grenade at an army vehicle Monday as Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz met with local officials across town.
No one was hurt and the Stryker infantry carrier vehicle was only slightly damaged, said Brig. Gen. Carter Ham. Attackers in a passing car fired the RPG at the vehicle but its protective armor deflected the blast, Ham said.
If you have a loved one with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment (2-3), you need to pay a visit to the Unofficial 2-3 Website. Sign the guestbook and check out the large gallery of photos from the unit. Great site.
UPDATE: In the comments, jlp points out that the site is focused on A Co., 2nd platoon.
The latest edition of the Winds of War has been posted over at Winds of Change. Check it out if you're interested in recent news and analysis regarding the war on terror.
By Robert Hodierne; Times staff writer
MOSUL, Iraq — The last of the 23,000 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) will pull out of northern Iraq on Thursday, turning the occupation over to a replacement force just a third that size.
The 8,000 soldiers of the Fort Lewis, Wash.-based 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division — the Stryker Brigade — under the command of Brig. Gen. Carter F. Ham, 51, will assume control that day of a four-province region roughly the size of South Carolina.
Rich Galen is a communications consultant working for the DOD in Iraq. Essentially he is helping to highlight the coalition's successes. He also writes a weekly column detailing his activities during the past week. His entry this week is titled, "G.I. Janes & G.I. James." For a unique perspective on recent events in Iraq, go explore Rich's column archive.
Defend America has a new photo essay of soldiers attending a school opening in Kirkuk. The first picture is especially moving.
Here's a profile of a SBCT soldier with some interesting first-hand observations.
[Link to Full Article] (Brief registration required)
Monday, February 02, 2004
By Jim Six
Daniel Wojciechowski, of Mickleton, has the important job of providing troops with solid and dependable communications as his 2nd Infantry Division gets ready to relieve the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq.
Charlotte has added another album to our Photo Gallery with a ton of great pictures. Go see if you can spot a loved one - she has almost a hundred in that album alone.
For OPSEC purposes we should all read this article.
By Andrea Takash
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 30, 2004) – The Army is working to ensure that thieves can’t steal the personal information of Soldiers, their families and Army civilians.
Over the past five years, 27 million American adults have been victims of identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2003 Identity Theft Survey Report...
By Karen Jowers
Times staff writer
Television coverage of Super Bowl XXXVIII begins in the middle of the night in Iraq and Afghanistan, but plenty of U.S. troops will be watching.
The game between the Carolina Panthers and the New England Patriots will be broadcast live in all corners of the war zones, including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Djibouti, said Joe Pettoni, the Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation manager for the theater.
UPDATE: Greyhawk, who is on active duty in Germany, has a great Super Bowl post over at his blog. He also mentions The Fallen Heroes Fund, a charitable organization supported by the NFL.
I was sure we posted this article when it was originally published on January 5th, but I couldn't find it in our archives, so here it is. Thanks to Carol for the link.
By Matthew Cox
Times staff writer
SAMARRA, Iraq — The 5-foot tall masked Iraqi man guides the night patrol, leading the C Company soldiers on foot into the midnight-dark of neighborhoods here in the core of the Sunni Triangle.
SondraK. recently stopped by to say hello to the dedicated OSOT folks at outpost 122 near the entrance to Ft. Lewis. They are there every Saturday to show their support for the troops. Oh, and she also got to ride in a Stryker recently.
(via Greyhawk)
And you thought the Stryker Brigade was equipped with the latest gear. Check out what the future uniform of soldiers could look like (scroll down to the "Objective Force Warrior" section). Thanks to Dan for the link.
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
MOSUL, Iraq - Visitors to the 101st Airborne Division headquarters in Mosul get treated to a rockin' video highlight reel of the storied unit's exploits in Iraq.
The Screaming Eagles fought their way to Mosul, and once here they used many more dollars than bullets to put the region back on its feet.