As we mentioned a while back (follow link for more info), PBS - Nova will air an hour long segment featuring the Stryker Brigade on Tuesday, May 4. For local listings click here. The film crew spent time with the Brigade during its training and in Mosul.
A Styker Captain gets a mention in this Bill Nemitz article.
[Link to Full Article]
By Bill Nemitz
MOSUL ‹ He could be an Army hotshot. He could be traveling all over the Operation Iraqi Freedom theater, piling one adventure after another onto his ability to speak fluent Arabic.
But Sgt. Kameel Farag of Damariscotta is first and foremost a Mainer.
Today Gen. Abizaid briefly mentioned the Stryker Brigade in his press conference from Qatar. Included in his briefing were a number of presentation slides, a couple of which you might find interesting. The first clearly outlines the area of operations for the coalition forces in Iraq (Task Force Olympia is up north). The second illustrates some of the troop movement in response to the situation in Najaf, which involved elements of the SBCT.
Bill Nemitz reports the sports scores from Mosul as well.
THIS JUST IN: The 133rd Sleepers, Headquarters Support Company's basketball team, beat a team from the 3rd Stryker Brigade in a 39-36 cliffhanger Thursday evening.
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, Iraq (April 30, 2004) – Over the past 48 hours soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) collected munitions, detained one person suspected of an attack on a school in Tal Afar, detained two others attempting to gain illegal entry into Iraq and destroyed a boat carrying weapons.
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (April 30, 2004) – Dr. Rabei Yasim Alkhahl, Director General of Health, received a $10,000 check from the Coalition forces during Ninevah Governor Osama Kashmoula’s weekly press conference held at Mosul’s Provincial Hall.
The money was donated for the reconstruction of the Al Salam hospital that was damaged in a rocket attack on April 29, 2004.
Listed below are a number or articles regarding the death of Spc. Sgt. Jake Herring. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, many of whom we've come to know through their contributions to this site.
We'll add other articles to this entry as we find them.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Jacob R. Herring, 21, of Kirkland, Wash., died April 28, in Mosul, Iraq, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device in Talafar, Iraq struck his vehicle. Herring was assigned to the Armys 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By THOM SHANKER
WASHINGTON, April 28 — A Pentagon intelligence report has concluded that many bombings against Americans and their allies in Iraq, and the more sophisticated of the guerrilla attacks in Falluja, are organized and often carried out by members of Saddam Hussein's secret service, who planned for the insurgency even before the fall of Baghdad.
Some good news out of Fallujah?
[Link to Full Article]
By Jason Keyser, Associated Press
FALLUJAH, Iraq — Marines announced Thursday an agreement to end a bloody, nearly monthlong siege of Fallujah, saying American forces will pull back and allow an all-Iraqi force commanded by a former Saddam Hussein-regime general to take over security.
[Link to CJTF7 Press Release]
MOSUL, Iraq - Seven Iraqi Police and one civilian were killed in two attacks targeting Iraqi security forces in Mosul April 28.
The first attack occurred when two Iraqi Policeman were shot in front of their homes. Both officers were taken to Al Razzi hospital after the shooting where they later died.
[Link to CJTF7 Press Release]
MOSUL, Iraq - Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers conducted three cordon and search missions in the Qayyarah area April 27, resulting in the detention of two known counterfeiters and the confiscation of counterfeiting material supporting anti-Coalition activities.
This mission was the first independent operation planned and conducted by the ICDC.
[Link to Full Article]
NORMAN DE BONO, Free Press Business Reporter
A second brigade of London-made Stryker armoured vehicles is poised to enter Iraq as concern grows over the vulnerability of U.S. army troops. The thinly-armoured Humvee has been the focus of attacks by Iraqis that have killed numerous U.S. soldiers and heavier armour is needed in military hotspots, say observers.
Michael Gilbert summarizes much of the recent speculation regarding both Ft. Lewis-based Stryker Brigades in the following article.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
The second Fort Lewis Stryker brigade will go to Iraq, but not until it's time to bring the first one home, a senior general with the U.S. Central Command said Wednesday.
[Link to Full Article] A picture accompanies the article online.
09:54 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2004
KING5.com
SEATTLE – Jake Herring, a specialist in the Fort Lewis Stryker Brigade, died Wednesday following a hand-grenade attack near Mosul, Iraq.
His friends at home in Kirkland, Wash. describe 21-year-old Jake Herring as a humble person who finished what he started.
Some interesting comments from General Sattler at CENTCOM regarding both operational Stryker Brigades. He said that the current plans (which can always change, right?) include the 1-25, now at Ft. Lewis, replacing the 3-2 in Mosul when it redeploys.
Q Sir, this is Tony Capaccio with Bloomberg News. Had a couple questions. One, on the force requirement issue, on armor. You did not mention Strykers at all. Do you see a need to bring in that second brigade from Fort Lewis? You're aware of this memo from Lieutenant General Larry Ellis at FORSCOM suggesting more Strykers vis-a-vis up- armored humvees.
From today's CPA briefing we learn that a Task Force Olympia soldier was killed in a RPG attack on a vehicle near Tall Afar on Tuesday. Three other soldiers were injured in the attack.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern zone of operations Iraqi security forces executed a series of cordon and searches in zone. The first operation took place northwest of Hammam al Alil, targeting an enemy cell. The ICDC established the outer cordon and the Iraqi police service established the inner cordon and conducted the searches.
This Asociated Press article provides a brief explanation of what the SBCT elements are doing in central Iraq.
[Link to Full Article]
By Robert Burns, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) In a sign that the Iraq conflict is deepening, a senior officer said Wednesday that Army and Marine Corps units have begun receiving more tanks and other heavy armor.
The move is in response to the growing Iraqi insurgency and the lengthening list of U.S. casualties.
Based on comments from our bulletin board it's obvious that many of you also have a personal connection to the Marines fighting in Fallujah. Consequently, I thought you might want to read this article from Darrin Mortenson, who continues his excellent reporting as an embedded reporter there.
[Link to Full Article]
By: DARRIN MORTENSON - Staff Writer
FALLUJAH, Iraq -- One Marine was killed and at least eight more wounded in Fallujah on Monday in a bloody street battle fought close enough that the combatants tossed grenades and fired pistols at each other, officials said.
Gabriel let us know on our bulletin board that Michael Gilbert will be interviewed on a local PBS television show about his time in Iraq. Show details below.
Better internet access might be in store if your soldier is stationed at FOB Marez.
[Link to Full Article]
By Bill Nemitz
Spc. Patrick Leary came back from Dohuk on Sunday with Internet cable - and lots of it.
Leary moved last fall from Portland to Winter Springs, Fla., where he owned and operated Hometown IT Services before his deployment to Iraq. His experience as a computer network consultant left him with a unique first impression upon his arrival at Camp Marez: This place needs better Internet access.
[Link to Full Article]
By BILL NEMITZ, Portland Press Herald Staff Writer
DOHUK, Iraq - Every soldier should have this problem. Spc. Joshua Nalbandian of Scarborough has his truck running and ready to depart the thriving marketplace in the middle of this small northern Iraq city - but it's still too dangerous to move.
The kids won't get off the tailgate.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Fort Lewis formally closed the books Tuesday on the program that for the past 4 1/2 years made it one of the most-watched posts in the Army.
Now that they've finished building the first two Stryker brigades, the planners, procurement officers and tacticians who led the effort are moving on. The Brigade Coordination Cell, as it was known, will take up permanent residence at the Army's Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga.
Another local paper turns the spotlight on a Stryker soldier.
[Link to Full Article]
By BRIAN PERRY, Assistant City Editor
One of Maui's best and brightest is leading American soldiers in Iraq.
Damien Mason, a 1992 graduate of Baldwin High School and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, is a captain with a Stryker Brigade.
Someone asked us if we would share this story with everyone. Rather than post it again here, I'll point you to Blackfive, who has the complete story already. As he says:
The following is Marine Lieutenant Colonel Strobl's account of escorting the remains of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. It's long and beautifully written and it deserves to be read in it's entirety. It's about Valor, Honor and Respect.
Warning - get your tissues ready.
Today's Pentagon briefing with Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers mentions the Stryker vs. Humvee comparison.
Q General Myers, I need to ask you a capability equipment question that's floating around the building here. General Ellis, the FORSCOM commander, wrote a memo that's getting some circulation where -- he's getting reports from the field that all these up-armored Humvees that the military has moved heaven and earth to get into Iraq are not doing the job, or his words, "are not providing the solution the Army hoped to achieve," and they need to build more Strykers and get those into Iraq. This raises -- it feeds the notion that there's a readiness capability problem over there. Can you address this? How should one interpret this memo, and did you hear any of these complaints when you were in the region?
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] Pretty quiet in the north. The area around Mosul had a couple of incidents the other day with some indirect fire attacks on a hotel, on a mosque, on a coalition base, but generally speaking, the area around Mosul has been quiet, as well as the area of north-central -- the zone of operations. We continue to see most of the activity up and down the Baqubah-Samarra-Tikrit-Baiji-Kirkuk area, but in general the province remains fairly quiet. Same with the western zone of operations.
Here is a local paper's article about a soldier with the SBCT home on R&R.
[Link to Full Article]
Above link will open main page. From there, click on the Trees... story link. (I could not get the page to load directly)
Trees a welcome relief for 1997 Straughn graduate
By Esther Taylor, Star News
"It's nice to see trees again," said William Grimes, a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Grimes has just returned home for two weeks R and R from serving time in Iraq with his platoon as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Grimes said he took his shoes off and walked around the yard barefoot.
"The smell of the pines just hit me," he said with a smile.
[Link to Full Article]
MOSUL, IRAQ (Apr. 27, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), detained two people, destroyed two improvised explosive devices and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Monday in Northern Iraq.
Soldiers 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment detained two people hiding in a house after the suspects attacked the patrol with small arms fire. During a search of the residence, one rocket propelled grenade and one hand grenade was discovered. No Coalition Soldiers were injured during the attack.
Former Bamberg County administrator awarded Purple Heart for act of bravery
[Link to Full Article]
By LISA B. STOKES, T&D Bamberg Correspondent
BAMBERG -- A former Bamberg County administrator was awarded the Purple Heart Friday as he lay in a hospital bed at Camp Diamondback in Mosul, Iraq.
Donnie Delk, 33, a first lieutenant and company commander of the 268 ENGR DET HQ out of McCrady Training Center in Eastover and the son of Donnie and Mary Ann Delk of Bamberg, received second- and third-degree burns on his face and hands when his convoy was attacked near the Tigris River last week. Delk sustained the burns after the ambush when he crawled over a burning Humvee to provide aid to two wounded soldiers. News of Delk's act of bravery has been reported across the U.S.
Here's a lengthy article describing the Nomad laser vision system employed by the Stryker Brigade.
US firm Microvision has developed a system that projects lasers onto the retina, allowing users to view images on top of their normal field of vision.
We mentioned a while back that General Dynamics has developed a 105mm howitzer prototype for the Stryker vehicle platform. The system was successfully tested at Elgin AFB this month. The folks at GDLS sent me a few photos from the test, which can be viewed in our photo gallery (one, two and three). The following articles describe the event.
Sgt. Hook, who is deployed to Afghanistan, was a witness to the KIA ceremony for Pat Tillman, whose passing we mentioned last week. Look around while you're at his site - he has plenty to read regarding his experiences in "The Stan" so far.
Latest coalition briefing from Baghdad.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] Today in the northern zone of operations, coalition and Iraqi security forces conducted 72 patrols, three offensive operations and detained two anti-coalition suspects.
An Iraqi child and an adult were injured this afternoon when an attacker threw a hand grenade at a coalition convoy in Tall Afar. Both civilians were treated and seen by medics, and evacuated to a local hospital. There is an ongoing cordon-and-search at the location where the attacker is believed to have fled.
Yahoo! News has a number of photos from Mosul (one, two, three and four).
[Link to Full Article]
By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2004 -- Acknowledging that problems persist in the military mail system, Defense Department officials said they are taking steps to improve the process.
A report this month by the General Accounting Office, which oversees government agencies and spending, said long-standing problems with military mail delivery need to be resolved.
[Link to Full Article]
By BILL NEMITZ, Staff Writer
MOSUL, Iraq - They sat shoulder to shoulder Saturday morning, 34 to a row and 15 rows deep, an entire battalion besieged by grief.
Many dabbed at their eyes as the lyrics to "Arms of the Angels" wafted through the hangar-sized building at Camp Marez. Others just stared at the impeccably arranged memorial - an M-16 rifle standing barrel-down between a pair of boots, a helmet perched atop the rifle stock, a set of dog tags hanging off the weapon's handle, a soldier's shirt with the name "Gelineau" stitched above the left pocket - as if they still didn't believe what they were seeing.
[Link to Full Article]
by Bill Nemitz
MOSUL, Iraq - He walked slowly into the small room just off the entrance to the small hospital at Camp Diamondback, his face and left hand covered with burns, his lower right arm buried beneath a mound of gauze.
"Hey, sir, how you doin'?" Lt. Matthew Delk said in his deep southern accent as Maj. Dwaine Drummond, executive officer of the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion, stepped forward to greet him.
[Link to Full Article]
By Kevin Dougherty, Stars and Stripes
MOSUL, Iraq — The midday explosion engulfed the vehicle in a cloud of smoke and dust, knocking two soldiers from their perch and rattling those inside the armored cocoon.
But like a scene out of an action movie, the cloud parts to show vehicle and occupants unscathed and ready for retribution. Although a car is seen fleeing the area, the squad opts to report the incident and press on, as if nothing happened, though clearly something had: further validation of a new Army vehicle named Stryker.
It's nice to share good news whenever possible, in this case a birth announcement I received via email from Marie:
This is a picture of my newly born grandson, Anthony Jonathon Kirk Combs, born while his Dad, Sgt. Daniel Combs is on deployment with the Strykers, 1-23 Charlie company. He was born April 21, 2004 at 03:50 at Madigan Army hospital, weighing 8 lbs 7 oz, 21 inches long. Mom, Callie Combs, along with big sister Caitlin, and new baby brother Anthony are anxiously awaiting Dad's safe return.-Marie M.
Click below to see the picture.
[Link to Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, Iraq (April 24, 2004) – Nearly 1,300 children are returning to school after the Al Janeen and Al Bayariq primary schools celebrated the end of renovations during ribbon cutting ceremonies April 18.
The projects, funded by the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid program, is part of the Coalition forces’ continuing efforts to rebuild Iraq’s infrastructure.
[Link to Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (Apr. 24, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) interdicted three smugglers attempting to gain illegal entry into Iraq and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Friday.
Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment reported killing one smuggler who pointed his weapon at the patrol and fired. The other two smugglers surrendered without incident. One AK-47 and a set of binoculars were confiscated.
Another mention of the possible deployment of the 2nd SBCT at Ft. Lewis to Iraq.
[Link to Full Article]
By ERIC SCHMITT, New York Times
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar -- The top U.S. commander in the Middle East suggested in an interview on Friday that he was likely to ask for another extension in the current troop levels in Iraq, now at 135,000, and might even ask for more troops beyond that. [...]
One leading option to replace the 20,000 troops now on extended tours in Iraq would include sending a second Army Stryker brigade and at least one, and possibly two, Marine expeditionary units, senior military officials said.
[Link to Full Article]
BY KATIE WANG , Star-Ledger Staff
They shared everything, father and son.
They shared the same name, Frank Kevin Rivers.
They shared dreams, advice and words of inspiration. They often leaned on each other through rocky times, such as the death of younger Frank's mother a decade ago.
Lori sent us this great article from the U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command website. Thanks!
[Link to Full Article]
By Sgt. Kim Dooley/The Bayonet
FORT BENNING, Ga. (April 16, 2004) – When 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, hit the ground in Iraq in November, it set a precedent for the Army’s mode of fighting.
The brigade, based at Fort Lewis, Wash., is the first unit to conduct combat operations using the Army’s newest fighting vehicle, the Stryker.
The 81st BCT, or Washington National Guard, recently made the trip up to Iraq from Kuwait and assumed control at a supply base near Baghdad.
[Link to Full Article]
ADAM LYNN; The News Tribune
Members of a Washington National Guard brigade are in charge of security at one of the most important bases in Iraq.
The 82nd Airborne Division transferred responsibility for defending Logistical Support Area Anaconda to the 81st Brigade Combat Team on Sunday, the brigade reported. The base, about 50 miles north of Baghdad in Balad, is the main supply hub for U.S. forces in Iraq.
A tragic end to an amazing story. Pat Tillman turned down a multi-million dollar NFL contract to join the Army Rangers after 9/11. This was not a publicity stunt - he never spoke publicly about his decision. On Thursday Tillman was killed on a mission in Afghanistan. Every servicemember deserves recongnition for their sacrifices, but it's a rare individual that would give up $3.6 million to serve his country. Peggy Noonan wrote a column about Tillman immediately following his decision to join the Army.
Even though he is not embedded with the SBCT, we'll probably carry all of the articles by Bill Nemitz. His articles still provide a good sense of what life is like for the soldiers of Task Force Olympia.
[Link to Full Article]
by Bill Nemitz
MOSUL, Iraq - They grimaced. They squirmed. Some looked down at the floor. Others interlocked their fingers behind their heads and squinted at the ceiling.
But not one of the 31 soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion missed a word that Maj. John "Doc" Nelson said Thursday morning as he held an intravenous-needle kit high in the air.
[Link to Full Article]
The Department of Defense announced today that any American can now help troops in contingency operations call home. The Defense Department has authorized the Armed Services Exchanges to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops who are deployed. The “Help Our Troops Call Home” program is designed to help servicemembers call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
[Link to Full Article]
MOSUL, IRAQ (Apr. 23, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained two people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions in northern Iraq over the past 48 hours.
Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment conducted five cordon and searches in Tal Afar and detained two people suspected of planning and conducting attacks against Coalition forces.
23 April 2004 addition is now available. (2368kb file size)
The Coalition Scimitar is a weekly paper published by the Combined Joint Task Force 7 Public Affairs Office. It is distributed throughout the Baghdad area inside the Stars & Stripes every Friday. It is also available here in PDF format.
[Link to Full Article]
by Bill Nemitz
Thursday's intravenous-injection training at Camp Marez gave one soldier from the 133rd Engineer Battalion a rare opportunity to stick it to the media.
With 31 people in the class, it was impossible for everyone to break into pairs. Sgt. Michael Francis of Indian Island suggested drafting a volunteer - maybe the guy with the notebook.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Christopher D. Gelineau, 23 of Portland, Maine, died April 20 in Mosul, Iraq, when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Gelineau was assigned to the Army National Guards 133rd Engineer Battalion, Gardiner, Maine.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
News from the latest press briefing by the coalition in Baghdad.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern zone, coalition and Iraqi security forces remain active in the Task Force Olympia area of operations. There were 10 attacks in the past 24 hours, five directed against coalition or Iraqi security forces.
In Mosul, Task Force Olympia conducted a transfer of authority ceremony for the Albanian company, which departed today, having been replaced by another Albanian company. They departed Iraqi having completed their mission with distinction, and on behalf of the coalition, we appreciate their contributions.
Here are two separate accounts of the same battle between insurgents and the Marines in Fallujah. Amazing story. This incident occurred last week.
(Reposting this entry as a reminder since Barbara will be at the Ft. Lewis main exchange this week)
A Washington artist is selling prints of an original piece honoring the troops serving in Iraq. Details on how to view and purchase a copy are provided below.
As always, thoughts and prayers for the family and friends he leaves behind.
[Link to Full Article]
By JOHN RICHARDSON, Portland Press Herald Writer
Christopher D. Gelineau was one semester away from earning his college degree and starting a promising career and a new life with his wife, a fellow student at the University of Southern Maine.
But his strong sense of responsibility would first lead the bright 23-year-old student to Iraq, where he was fatally wounded Tuesday morning in an ambush on a military convoy in Mosul.
[Link to Full Article]
By BILL NEMITZ, Portland Press Herald Staff Writer
MOSUL, Iraq - He always knew that if it came to this, his would be one of the hardest jobs at Camp Marez. But only now, sitting in his cubbyhole office in the back of the camp's Olive Garden Chapel, did Chaplain David Sivret appreciate how hard.
"Yesterday was a horrendous day for all of us," Sivret, an Episcopal priest from Calais, said Wednesday afternoon.
Here's a notebook entry from Bill Nemitz.
[Link to Full Article]
Bill Nemitz
As details about Tuesday's attack on a 133rd Engineer Battalion convoy continue to emerge, it's clear that the soldiers in the convoy did everything they were trained to do in fending off an attack.
I just wanted to take a minute and recognize a volunteer organization that deserves a bit of attention. Spirit of America has decided to, "help Americans serving abroad assist people in need." According to its website:
Triple Nickel returns to Fort Lewis. HOOAH!!!
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
The troops of the 555th Combat Engineer Group were last all together at their home post in early 2003, preparing to go to war.
On Tuesday, with all but the last few dozen troops finally home, Fort Lewis turned out to welcome and honor soldiers who spent a year working all over Iraq.
"It's a special day to welcome home the special soldiers of the Triple Nickel," said Fort Lewis commander Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano
Although not specifically about the Stryker Brigade, the following article describes the training provided by soldiers from the 75th Division to the new Iraqi Armes Forces in Tall Afar.
[Link to Full Article]
By Maj. Wayne Marotto
TALLAFAR, Iraq (Army News Service, April 20, 2004) -- Amidst mortar attacks, fire fights at the front gate, drive-by shootings, and the ever-present danger of Improvised Explosive Devices, a team of the 75th Division (Training Support) is training hundreds of soldiers of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
Head over to Winds of Change to read their latest Iraq Report with links to, and analysis of, the latest news over there.
