Garden of Remembrance
Today my wife Julie and I visited the Garden of Remembrance in Seattle and left some flowers by the Persian Gulf panel. Similar to the Vietnam Memorial, the Garden includes a wall with the names of all Washington State servicemen and women that have lost their lives since 1941. Christopher Bunda and Jacob Herring were among the most recent names added to the wall. Provided below are a few photos we took.
Iraq Report 5/31
Winds of Change has published its most recent Iraq Report with links to the latest developments there. Plenty of good information this week.
Taking pains to make friends in Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
By Charlie Coon, Stars and Stripes
MUSHADA, Iraq — The convoy of trucks and armored Humvees kicked up dirt as it rumbled down the one-lane road into the village.
“Sometimes you wonder what they think,” said Maj. Karen Ryan. “Can you imagine rolling in like this to the place where you lived?”
Task Force Olympia Soldier Dies of Wounds
The news doesn't get any easier this Memorial Day.
MOSUL, Iraq - A Soldier assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), under the operational control of Task Force Olympia, died May 30 from wounds following a mortar attack the previous day.
The Soldier had been transported to the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad following the attack.
The identity of the Soldier is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
Release #040531c
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann, 20, of North Judson, Ind., died May 29, at Forward Operating Base Q-West (Quyarrah Air Base, Iraq) of non-combat related injuries. Wiesemann was assigned to the Army's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Memorial Day
"Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men." -- Pericles (c. 600 B.C.E.)
Our coverage of Memorial Day continues below.
Hero's unadorned grave now marked by monument
Here's a story about one of the Stryker vehicle's namesakes.
THROOP, N.Y. -- Robert F. Stryker was a Vietnam war hero who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.
In 2002, the Army further honored him by naming its new Interim Armored Vehicle, the "Stryker."
Zapper Lifts Morale
Thanks to Mike and Karen for sending us this story.
[Link to Full Article]
By STEVEN ISBITTS
PALM HARBOR - With a bid of $5.24, Army Sgt. Marcus Barton won an Internet auction for a bug zapper that is the envy of his 3rd Brigade Stryker Combat Team stationed near Mosul, Iraq.
The portable electric pest killer allows Barton the freedom to sleep without a thick, mesh mosquito net covering his cot, and it doubles as a powerful blue night light, undetectable by night vision goggles used by the enemy.
WWII Memorial Dedication
The new World War II Memorial was officially dedicated today. Provided below are two articles describing the festivities. According to the WaPo, "about 150,000 were expected to attend the ceremony...the country's largest organized gathering of surviving veterans in 60 years."
"WWII Veterans Honored for Sacrifice, Service" - The Washington Post
"'Greatest Generation' gets its due as World War II Memorial is dedicated" - Stars & Stripes
Stryker soldier dies in non-hostile action
I have not seen any additional details other than what is included in this brief article.
[Link to Full Article]
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOSUL, Iraq -- An American soldier from the Stryker Brigade has died from non-hostile causes, the U.S. military said Saturday.
The soldier died Friday, the military said in a statement.
No further details were released.
UPDATE: Provided below is the official Army press release.
Iraq picks interim leader
[Link to Full Article]
HAMZA HENDAWI; The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Iraqi Governing Council chose a longtime anti-Saddam Hussein exile to become prime minister of Iraq's interim government, making the surprise announcement Friday despite U.N. concerns over his ties to the United States and the CIA.
The selection of Iyad Allawi - a Shiite Muslim council member who headed an exile group made up of former Saddam military officers - was an assertion of influence by the U.S.-picked body.
Adopt A Stryker Soldier
Marilyn wanted to let everyone know about a group organizing an adoption program for Stryker soldiers. Click on over to Adopt-A-Stryker Soldier for more information if you're interested in adopting a soldier, or want to submit a soldier's name to be adopted.
Operation "Support Our Troops"
A couple weeks ago we linked to an article about a VFW post in Michigan that, along with a project manager for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, decided to adopt the Stryker Brigade. Keith Whitten, the project manager, sent us an email yesterday to give us an update on the group's progress. To date Support Our Troops has shipped 1,848 pounds of goods, which are now en route to the brigade from Germany. Keith said he would forward photos of the donations arriving in Iraq.
This is an ongoing effort so if you happen to live near St. Clair Shores or Warren, Michigan and would like to get involved, we've provided contact information below. Thank you Support Our Troops for your efforts, they are much appreciated.
Stryker Gun 'On Glide Path' To Production Decision
This article was sent to us via email, but we can't link to it because it is for subscribers only. We can't publish the entire story either, but an excerpt is provided below.
By Nathan Hodge, Defense Today
After ironing out kinks in the system, the Army this month successfully
concluded an important series of tests on the Stryker Mobile Gun System (MGS),
Defense Today has learned.
According to an Army source, the MGS is now "on a glide path" toward approval of low-rate production, a decision that is due in August or September.
Possible Downtime
We have been notified by our web host provider that there is a possibility that our site could be down for 6-12 hours this weekend as it moves our server to a new datacenter. If this happens the downtime will likely be on Saturday. Consequently, don't be alarmed if you try to access the site and find it unavailable.
This sounds like a good opportunity for all of us to step away from the computer for a bit. In the event that the downtime is longer than 12 hours, check in at my old site and I'll let you know what's going on.
Smiles From Iraq
We've put together a collection of photos from our gallery that illustrate a different side of life in Iraq that perhaps doesn't get the attention it deserves. All of the photos were taken by soldiers in the Stryker Brigade and Task Force Olympia currently operating in the Mosul region. Take a few minutes to browse the album titled Smiles From Iraq.
United States Central Command Briefing 5/28
The SBCT and TFO get a mention in this briefing as well.
GEN. SATTLER: [...] We've got the Task Force Olympia, the Stryker Brigade up to the north, mainly focused in the Mosul area, continuing to patrol the main supply routes to ensure they stay open. And they're conducting quite a bit of work with the Iraqi security forces in the north.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/28
Just a brief excerpt today.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations this morning coalition forces conducted cordon and search south of Hammam al Alil targeting anti- coalition forces associated with Khalid and Rayeed Ayeed Ahmad al- Jaburi (ph). Six suspects were detained, along with several documents, CDs and papers.
Iraqis Pay Tribute to U.S. Service Members
[Link to Full Article]
By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service
ARLINGTON, Va., May 27, 2004 — As the sound of "Taps" wailed from Army Sgt. Major Henry Sgrecci's bugle today, seven Iraqi citizens pressed their new prosthetic hands against their hearts at the Tomb of the Unknowns here to honor U.S. service members who have given their lives in Iraq.
The Coalition Scimitar 5/28
The May 28 edition of The Coalition Scimitar is now available.
The Coalition Scimitar is a weekly paper published by the Multi-National Force - Iraq and Multi-National Corps - Iraq Joint Public Affairs Office. It is distributed throughout the Baghdad area inside the Stars & Stripes every Friday. It is also available here in PDF format.
I saw one article about the SBCT.
Iraqi Border Patrol wounds terrorist near border
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 28, 2004) – The Iraqi Border Patrol reported being attacked with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire Thursday southwest of Bajar. They returned fire, wounding one of the attackers. No injuries were suffered by the Iraqi Border Patrol and no equipment was damaged.
Also on Wednesday, soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained a total of eight individuals suspected of anti-Coalition activities and destroyed an improvised explosive device in the Mosul area.
Some bases appear safe despite cutbacks
[Link to Full Article]
By ROBERT BURNS, AP MILITARY WRITER
WASHINGTON -- From the moment Congress grudgingly accepted the Pentagon's request for a new round of base closings in 2005, military officials have insisted that no base would get a free pass. It doesn't matter how big the base is or where it's located.
"All installations are on the table," the Pentagon's lead official on base closings, Raymond DuBois, told reporters on Dec. 20, 2002. "All installations are going to be judged equally."
Frontline Photos 5/27
Shannon let us know that Frontline Photos has some pictures of the SBCT today (One, Two, and Three).
Memorial Day Calendar
The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs has a nice calendar of events for the Memorial Day weekend. Of particular interest is the unveiling of the names of 16 state residents that have been added to the Persian Gulf panel at the Garden of Rememberance outside Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle. Christopher Bunda and Jacob Herring will be among those names. For more information, please see this press release. Let me know if any of you plan on attending.
D-Day Stories?
This site is proud to be a member of the MilBlogs Web Ring, which is a collection of military-related weblogs. In anticipation of the 60th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, the MilBlogs group is collecting stories of people directly or indirectly involved in the invasion. Do you know of any family or friends that participated in some measure? Would you be willing to share their story with others? Or perhaps you served with a unit whose lineage can be traced to D-Day?
Our goal is to post any submissions on June 3rd so they can be shared in advance of the anniversary. Matt at Blackfive will be posting links to the various MilBlogs that collect stories. If you would like to participate please send me an email (todd at strykernews.com). Thanks for your consideration.
Wires from the front line: Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
The information is dated but it sounds like the BBC will be airing footage today.
Article contains a nice pic of the soldier profiled showing 2id patch in Mosul.
Juan Alvarado
By Dodge Billingsley
Video producer in Iraq
Private Juan Alvarado, almost 19 years old, from central California, joined the army after his tumultuous teen years, where he found himself in and out of trouble.
However, he does not believe it was because of his situation that he joined the army. Rather, he says he just felt like doing it. He is not overwhelmingly vocal about patriotism. He says he did not join the military for that reason either.
Good News - Part 2
Last week we linked to a summary of good news from Iraq. Here is Part 2.
(via Blackfive)
A Different Street Fight in Iraq
Interesting article regarding reconstruction efforts in Baghdad.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By Scott Wilson, Washington Post Foreign Service
BAGHDAD, May 26 -- The American counterinsurgency effort in Iraq's largest urban war zone is being fought in the sewers. Maj. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, an earnest tank officer who recalled that he once dreamed of commanding "large mechanized formations across vast open deserts," is instead knee-deep in a very different fight.
Coalition detains two
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 27, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) wounded one terrorist and detained two others wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Thursday in Northern Iraq.
Contract flights to resume for R&R
[Link to Full Article]
By Joe Burlas
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 26, 2004) -- The Army plans to resume military contract rest and recuperation flights from the Central Command area of operations to the United States on or about June 15, according to officials.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/26
We'll highlight some good news.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern zone of operations, coalition Public Works Team delivered over $1.1 million U.S. worth of USAID donated and CERP funded equipment and supplies to the Nineveh water and sewer department in order to repair breaking infrastructure.
Today 156 former regime police officers graduated from the three- week transition integration program course in Mosul. To date, 14,628 police officers have been retrained. The TIP training educates former policemen and reenforces democratic policing methods, emphasizing respect for the rule of law, as well as training, professional standards of conduct.
CERP stands for Commander's Emergency Relief Program.
NetCentric Conference
Aviation Week will be sponsoring a NetCentric Conference in June to examine the topic of, "Battlefield Strategies: Transforming Theory into Reality". The reason I mention this is because the Stryker Brigade concept will be a topic of discussion. According to the conference website:
Iraq News
There have been quite a few developments in Iraq this week. Provided below are links to various news stories of interest.
Michael Gilbert Q&A - Part 1
Michael Gilbert, The News Tribune journalist who was embedded with the Stryker Brigade last fall and winter, graciously agreed to participate in a question and answer session. Visitors to our bulletin board submitted questions, which we then forwarded to Michael. Provided below are his initial responses - there were too many to answer all at once.
Thanks Michael for participating. We appreciate it!
‘On Point’ shares OIF lessons learned
[Link to Full Article]
By Joe Burlas
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 26, 2004) -- A little more than a year after the end of major hostilities, the Army released May 25 its first major study on operations that liberated the Iraqi people.
Hard copies of “On Point: The United States Army in Iraqi Freedom” is available through regular Army publication channels, and an online version can be view at http://onpoint.leavenworth.army.mil.
Guardsman Talks About Experience in Iraq
Here's an update on one of the National Guardsmen injured in a convoy attack near Mosul last month.
[Link to Full Article]
By Shae Crisson
A National Guardsman injured in Iraq is sharing his story of survival. Lieutenant Matthew Delk is back home with his family and friends in Halifax County.
Five weeks ago he was critically burned in a convoy attack in the town of Mosul. Eyewitness News sat down with him to find out more about how he made it out alive. "I was sitting right here," said Lt. Matthew Delk, pointing at a photograph. "By that time the roof had blown off. Everything that my Kevlar did not cover was burned around my eyes, nose and chin."
Soldier receives Purple Heart
[Link to Full Article]
By Bill Cissel, Journal Staff Writer
RAPID CITY — Fighting back tears and speaking with a voice choked with emotion, a Rapid City reserve officer accepted his Purple Heart and Army Commendation medals Tuesday during a ceremony at VFW Post 22.
Lt. Jeff Allen, an Army Reserve anesthetist with the 348th Combat Support Hospital in Albany, N.Y., was awarded the medals after being wounded in Iraq on April 6. Allen received shrapnel wounds to both legs. The blast also blew out his right eardrum and left eight pieces of metal around his right eye.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/25
An excerpt from the latest CPA briefing in Baghdad:
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations, coalition forces executed two cordon-and-searches in western Mosul against a former regime cell leader and weapons dealer. Two of the primary targets were detained.
And two days ago coalition forces conducted a cordon-and-search in eastern Mosul, targeting a former regime cell leader responsible for attacks against Iraqi security forces. That target, too, was detained.
Bush pitches handover plan to UN
Yesterday the US and Britain submitted a new Iraq resolution for review by the UN's Security Council.
[Link to Full Article]
By Howard LaFranchi, The Christian Science Monitor
WASHINGTON – The United States and Britain face little mystery over the prospects of the Iraq resolution they began circulating in the United Nations Security Council Monday.
The resolution, ending the coalition occupation by specifying what US officials say will be "full sovereignty" for Iraq, is expected to win broad support even among countries that opposed the war.
Top US General in Iraq to Be Replaced
U.S. defense officials say the Pentagon will replace Army Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez as the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the move does not reflect the general's handling of the prisoner abuse scandal at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.
81st BCT Photo
Lori found this photo of a soldier with the 81st BCT (WA Army NG) on patrol near Balad, Iraq. The caption reads:
Sgt. James Heaney conducts a patrol near Balad, Iraq. Heaney is an infantryman assigned to the 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard, operating from Logistical Supply Area Anaconda in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by Department of Defense.
Iraq Reconstruction Moving Ahead Again
[Link to Full Article]
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2004 -- Security challenges in Iraq put a significant wrinkle into reconstruction efforts in early spring, but work is once again progressing rapidly on $5 billion in contracts awarded in March, the U.S. head of reconstruction in Iraq told Pentagon reporters May 24.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. David J. Nash, director of the Iraq Program Management Office in Baghdad, said rebuilding continued throughout the tumultuous April 9 timeframe, even when 75 percent of the Iraqi workforce stopped showing up for work due to security concerns. [...]
U.S. Forces Move Into Stronghold Of Cleric
The following article provides a good summary of recent coalition activity in the southern Iraqi cities of Najaf, Karbala and Kufa.
[Link to Full Article] (Registration required)
By Daniel Williams and Scott Wilson
Washington Post Foreign Service
KARBALA, Iraq, May 23 -- U.S. forces expanded an offensive against rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr on Sunday by pushing into his stronghold of Kufa for the first time, as his armed followers vanished from the streets of this Shiite holy city.
Photo Essay
Defend America has another great photo essay highlighting the work of Comanche Company, 1-23 INF - this time they're handing out school supplies. When you contrast these images with the previous photo essay you see the full spectrum of responsibilities given to these soldiers. Pretty incredible.
Military hustles so troops can vote
[Link to Full Article]
By Guy Taylor, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Military officials are hustling to ensure that troops deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere abroad know their widely varying state rules on absentee ballots, the result of the Pentagon's abandoning plans to have them vote via the Internet.
With deadlines and procedures varying considerably depending on the home state of a given soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, the process is more complicated than it sounds.
Iraq Briefing 5/24
Winds of Change has published its latest Iraq Report with links to, and analysis of, recent developments. Of particular interest is a link to the Carnival of the Liberated, a weekly roundup of opinions from Iraqi bloggers.
SBCT Photo
The Army website has another photo of a C Co., 1-23 INF soldier. Thanks to Lori for the link. The photo caption reads as follows:
A Soldier provides security with a 50 caliber machine gun in Mosul, Iraq. He is assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson.
Reaching for Power
This month National Geographic has an in depth feature on the Shiites of Iraq. Although the full article is only available in print, the NG website has a summary with links to a variety of supplemental information.
Iraq Can Decide On Keeping Troops
[Link to Full Article]
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS - The United States says it will give Iraq's new interim government a decisive voice in whether a multinational force remains in the country, and has agreed with other Security Council members to transfer full sovereignty to the Iraqis on June 30.
The extent of the caretaker government's powers has been a subject of intense discussion among members of the U.N. Security Council as they await a new resolution dealing with the end of U.S.-British occupation and the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty. [...]
Coalition detains four
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 23, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained four people wanted for anti-Coalition activities while Iraqi Police foiled two improvised explosive device attacks Saturday in Northern Iraq.
Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in the neighborhood of Tahreer and detained one suspect wanted for smuggling foreign fighters into Iraq. The suspect is in Coalition custody and no soldiers were injured during the search.
GIs, IMs & e-mail
[Link to Full Article]
By Jay Davis
BELFAST (May 23, 2004): When he was a soldier in Vietnam, Mike Gallant called his mother collect when he was on R and R in Taiwan.
He heard from her later: "Son, I love you, but $17 for three minutes; don't do that again."
Soldier awarded posthumous award at graduation
COBLESKILL, N.Y. -- An Army sergeant who died in an explosion in Iraq earlier this year was awarded a posthumous degree Saturday from SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill.
Army Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, 27, of Schenectady, was killed Feb. 9 while disposing of explosives at an ammunition dump near Sinjar, Iraq. Robbins was a Calvary scout with Fort Lewis Stryker's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment.
Photo Essay
Defend America has a new photo essay of a cordon and search operation conducted by Comanche Company, 1-23 INF on May 13. Coincidentally, the same unit just created a new photo album in our gallery.
Madigan plays key role for injured soldiers
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Ford's injury - shrapnel wounds to his left forearm - doesn't sound so bad in the context of all the traumatic things that are happening to U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
Not bad, that is, until one gets a close look at the two wicked scars that run from his elbow to his wrist. Or until one sees the powerfully built platoon sergeant struggle in therapy to pinch open a clothespin with his left hand.
Every day Jake Hausman is in Iraq...
"...his aunt ties a ribbon to her tree that's become a sea of yellow"
[Link to Full Article]
By Jarid Shipley/Daily Sun staff writer
Everything is ready for Jake Hausman to return. He has a car that he has never driven, a family ready to hug him and trees full of yellow ribbons to cut off.
Spc. Hausman joined the Army even before he turned 18, during a time when war was imminent, and has spent the last 177 days in and around Mosul in northern Iraq.
For every day he is gone, his aunt, Teresa Hausman, ties another yellow ribbon on the trees in her front yard.
Overload
My email account has been rejecting messages since last night because my inbox was too full (Doh!). The problem has been fixed, so please resend any messages if you tried to reach me recently.
8 to 10 percent won’t get leave
More R&R info.
[Link to Full Article]
By Steve Liewer, Stars and Stripes
The loss of thousands of Rest and Recuperation slots for troops in the Middle East during May and June has been met mostly with stoic resignation, say some deployed soldiers and family readiness group leaders in Germany. [...]
On April 25, Coalition Joint Task Force 7 — the name of the unit overseeing allied military operations in Iraq until it was realigned last week as Multi-national Force-Iraq/Multi-national-Corps-Iraq — quietly notified units it would be dramatically cutting back R&R slots between May 1 and June 15.
Congratulations From Iraq
Here's a great story involving a Task Force Olympia soldier.
When high school graduates walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, moms and dads are usually there. For Athens Bible School senior Jonathan Jett, having both parents around was not possible. However, his childhood friend made sure Jonathan's dad was still a part of the celebration.
During Thursday night's commencement, the school played a slide show with photos of each graduating senior during different stages of their lives. When Jonathan's turn came, his dad popped up on the big screen.
The Evolution of a Soldier
Sgt. Hook's website is one of my favorites. Although currently deployed in Afghanistan, he continues to publish well written narratives that always share his hard-earned wisdom. Here's a recent series describing his entry into the Army.
Part 1 - "Marking Time"
Part 2 - "Welcome to the Army"
Part 3 - "On Discipline"
Part 4 - "On Leadership"
Part 5 - "Seventeen Years of Soldiering"
Part 6 - "On Compassion"
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/21
Here is an excerpt from the latest CPA briefing in Baghdad.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations, coalition forces conducted four cordon and searches in eastern Mosul targeting individuals of executing attacks against coalition forces. Three individuals were detained and numerous small arms were confiscated.
Forty-eight police officers from Najaf completed advanced skills training at the Erbil police academy yesterday. These graduates developed additional capabilities and exchanged tactics, techniques and procedures with their colleagues in another part of Iraq.
Sergeant escapes drugs, violence
We must have missed this one when it was first published.
[Link to Article] (Full text provided below, but the original includes a photo.)
Sgt. Corey Reeves grew up surrounded by drugs and constant violence, but he was able to escape and is now serving his country in Iraq as a team leader in the Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
“When I was just a kid, I knew people getting killed by gangs,” said Reeves from southwest Oklahoma City. “It was hard growing up in that kind of environment, but I knew I didn’t want to be around it for the rest of my life.”
Where moms get their news about the war
Another editorial that many of you can probably relate to.
[Link to Full Article]
by Tim Chavez
Don't come up to Jamie Young, Martha Morris or Donna Clemons and ask these local mothers what they think about the war in Iraq.
That's a stupid question.
MercyMe Receives Emotional Letter
I've never heard of this band before, but obviously many others have.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning band MercyMe has recently announced that the June 22nd release of the I CAN ONLY IMAGINE gift book by J Countryman publishers will include a letter the band received from Lt. Col. Joseph Piek, currently stationed in Mosul, Iraq with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the U.S. Army's first Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
In Iraq, key US ally falls from grace
This is certainly an interesting development. I'll be anxious to see how this one plays out.
[Link to Full Article]
By Annia Ciezadlo, The Christian Science Monitor
BAGHDAD – A year ago, Ahmed Chalabi was the darling of American policymakers, a political powerhouse with unprecedented access to the highest levels of the Pentagon. [...]
But Thursday, US troops raided his house and the offices of his Iraqi National Congress political party. Earlier this week, his party's monthly US stipend of $340,000 was abruptly cut off.
The Coalition Scimitar 5/21
The latest edition of The Coalition Scimitar is available now.
The Coalition Scimitar is a weekly paper published by the Multi-National Force - Iraq and Multi-National Corps - Iraq Joint Public Affairs Office. It is distributed throughout the Baghdad area inside the Stars & Stripes every Friday. It is also available here in PDF format.
To speed up the download time visit the site above, right click on the "21 May 2004 Edition" link and select "Save Target As..." I did not see any articles mentioning the SBCT or Task Force Olympia.
Seeking Out Insurgents
Here's another photo I found at Defend America. The caption reads:
A soldier with Comanche Company 1st Battalion, 23 Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team looks through his scope of an M-14 sniper rifle in Mosul, Iraq, May 13, 2004. C Company was conducting a search for insurgents. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson.
UPDATE: Here's another.
Delivering Supplies
Ladymaine found this photo of SBCT soldiers delivering school supplies to children in Mosul.
UPDATE: Here's one more that I found.
Family relies on faith, fellowship
[Link to Full Article]
By BECKY SHAY, Of The Gazette Staff
Bryan and Ruth Gifford have prayed for their children since they were in the womb.
More than 20 years later, with their boys both serving in Iraq, the family's prayers are the same: May they be in God's protection.
Shop Owner Turns Bad Luck into Good
Congratulations to Ruth Ann Young. We linked to a story about her a while back.
[Link to Full Article]
By Rudi Williams, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2004 – When tragedy struck Ruth Ann Young of Kirkland, Wash., during the summer of 2003, she turned her bad luck into good luck for more than 6,000 service members on the battlefields of Iraq.
A Marine sees what defeatists don't
[Link to Full Article]
By Ben Connable
RAMADI, Iraq — This is my third deployment with the 1st Marine Division to the Middle East.
This is the third time I've heard the quavering cries of the talking heads predicting failure and calling for withdrawal.
This is the third time I find myself shaking my head in disbelief. [...]
Positive Developments
Here's an interesting report on a variety of positive developments in Iraq, many of which were news to me.
Iraqi Police foil three IED attacks
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 19, 2004) – Iraqi Police foiled three improvised explosive device attacks while soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) collected a variety of weapons and munitions Tuesday in Northern Iraq.
Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing 5/18
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern area of operations, coalition forces conducted five offensive operations in western Mosul, targeting anti-coalition cell leaders. Four individuals were detained for interrogation along with several weapons. [...]
Sgt. Isela Rubalcava
Listed below are articles regarding Sgt. Isela Rubalcava. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. We will add other articles as we find them to this entry.
UPDATE: Friends and family said a final goodbye to Rubalcava yesterday. We've added a couple articles to the list below.
Pfc. Andrew Tuazon
Provided below is an article regarding the death of Pfc. Andrew Tuazon. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. If we find additional information we will include it in this entry.
UPDATE: A memorial service was held today for Pfc. Tuazon. Articles describing the ceremony are included below.
Elsewhere
News seems a bit light today so here are some other items to browse:
Judge Us By Our Actions - Blackfive shares another email from a Marine Colonel in Iraq.
Iraq Report 5/17 - From Winds of Change.
The Man Who Would Be Khan - Long, but very interesting article from The Atlantic Monthly describing a, "new breed of American soldier—call him the soldier-diplomat."
Sarah Smiley - Great website loaded with info from a military spouse.
Insults Unpunished - Robert Prather is trying to reach the 500,000 visitor plateau by 5/26. Can you spare a click?
Elsewhere
News seems a bit light today so here are some other items to browse:
Judge Us By Our Actions - Blackfive shares another email from a Marine Colonel in Iraq.
Iraq Report 5/17 - From Winds of Change.
The Man Who Would Be Khan - Long, but very interesting article from The Atlantic Monthly describing a, "new breed of American soldier—call him the soldier-diplomat."
Sarah Smiley - Great website loaded with info from a military spouse.
Insults Unpunished - Robert Prather is trying to reach the 500,000 visitor plateau by 5/26. Can you spare a click?
2ID brigade deploying from Korea to Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON (AFPS/ARNEWS, May 18, 2004) -- About 3,600 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division will deploy to Iraq this summer from the Republic of Korea, Defense Department officials said May 17.
New Commands in Iraq to Replace CJTF
[Link to Full Article]
By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2004 – Two new military commands will stand up in Iraq May 15, replacing the current coalition military organization.
Multinational Corps Iraq and Multinational Force Iraq will replace Combined Joint Task Force 7.
Snipers in need have friend in States
[Link to Full Article]
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
ARLINGTON, Va. — Attention, deployed snipers: Your brothers-in-arms back home want to send you gear.
A group of police and military snipers has started “Adopt a Sniper” to donate equipment to deployed military members.
Snipers in need have friend in States
[Link to Full Article]
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
ARLINGTON, Va. — Attention, deployed snipers: Your brothers-in-arms back home want to send you gear.
A group of police and military snipers has started “Adopt a Sniper” to donate equipment to deployed military members.
Coalition detains two, collects weapons
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 17, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 2 people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions while Iraqi Police foiled and improvised explosive device attack Sunday in Northern Iraq.
Soldier reaches 40 years, keeps on serving
[Link to Full Article]
By Spc. Aaron Ritter
MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, May 14, 2004) -- For some Soldiers, one enlistment is enough. Others serve 20 years so they can collect retirement benefits. For one Soldier, however, even 20 years was not enough service.
Col. Gerald Griffin, commander of clinical services and the chief of emergency medical services for the 67th Combat Support Hospital, celebrated service anniversary for 40 years April 12, while deployed to northern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Bomb kills head of Iraqi Governing Council
[Link to Full Article]
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA, ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The head of the Iraqi Governing Council was killed in a suicide car bombing near a checkpoint outside the coalition headquarters in central Baghdad on Monday, dealing a blow to U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq ahead of a handover of sovereignty on June 30.
A taste of home in Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
By LAURA INCALCATERRA, THE JOURNAL NEWS
Cookies have never tasted as good as the ones Maj. Joseph Davidson has been eating.
The 37-year-old Davidson, who grew up in Congers, has been stationed in Iraq since November.
Korea-based troops could be tapped for Iraq duty
Another brigade from the 2nd Infantry Division, currently based in South Korea, may be sent to Iraq. There is speculation that it might not return to Korea once redeployed.
[Link to Full Article]
By Robert Burns, Associated Press
In a sign of the Iraq war’s increasing strain on the Army, the Pentagon is considering an extraordinary shift of troops to Iraq from their garrisons in South Korea, where they have stood guard for decades against a feared invasion by forces of communist North Korea, official say.
The Chase Experience
It was my priviledge and an honor this weekend to attend the memorial service for Spc. Chase Whitham. The following is my account of the day.
The service was so beautiful and full of emotion. Family and friends came forward to share their experiences with this fine young man who touched so many lives in his short time with us. I had not met him, nor his family before the service, but by the end of the day I felt I had known them for years. His mother is such a great lady and I feel priviledged to have met her.
Iraq The Model
An increasing number of Iraqi citizens have discovered the power of the internet and have started their own weblogs to share their experiences. Some are pro-coalition, others are anti, but they are all interesting and provide a valuable insight into the everyday lives of Iraqis. Iraq The Model is published by three brothers, all of whom are doctors. I read one entry by Mohammed today that is worth sharing. He recently made a trip from Baghdad to Samawa and was amazed by the changes since his last visit. Excerpts:
Spc. Chase Whitham
Provided below are a number of articles regarding Spc. Chase Whitham, one of the two Stryker soldiers that died over the weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Any additional articles we find will be added to this entry.
Update: Published today, Sunday May 16.
Goodbye to a son, a friend, a soldier - The Register Guard
A very well written article about the ceremony in the local paper.
Memorial Service info posted on our forum.
"The service is at 1 pm Saturday May 15 at 1207 Satre St, Eugene 97401 at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Full military burial will be at Springfield Memorial Gardens, Main St. Springfield, at 4 pm the same day."
The Whitham Family will also be attending the service at Ft Lewis on Tuesday May 18 at 1330.
Spc. Chase Whitham
Provided below are a number of articles regarding Spc. Chase Whitham, one of the two Stryker soldiers that died over the weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Any additional articles we find will be added to this entry.
Update: Published today, Sunday May 16.
Goodbye to a son, a friend, a soldier - The Register Guard
A very well written article about the ceremony in the local paper.
Memorial Service info posted on our forum.
"The service is at 1 pm Saturday May 15 at 1207 Satre St, Eugene 97401 at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Full military burial will be at Springfield Memorial Gardens, Main St. Springfield, at 4 pm the same day."
The Whitham Family will also be attending the service at Ft Lewis on Tuesday May 18 at 1330.
Far from Virginia
Kirk sent us this nice long article about the Virginia National Guard's 276th Engineer Battalion, a support unit for Task Force Olympia.
[Link to Full Article]
By Maya Alleruzzo, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
ALONG THE IRAQ-SYRIA BORDER - The 372 miles of arid, hilly border with Syria is a terrorist sieve, and the Virginia National Guard's 276th Engineer Battalion is the plug.
Every day, about 75 young men drive bulldozers and earth movers to fill in gaps in a massive sand berm running the length of the border; U.S. officials say this is where insurgents pour through on their way to join the fight against American forces.
Iraq soccer team earns berth in Olympics
Good for them. I'll root for the team this summer in Athens since our men's team failed to qualify.
AMMAN, Jordan — Iraq's soccer team, whose players were brutalized and whose stadium was used as a torture chamber under the regime of Saddam Hussein, qualified for the Olympics with a victory over Saudi Arabia.
The 3-1 victory, coupled with a 0-0 draw between Kuwait and Oman, gave Iraq a spot at the Athens Games this August. It's the nation's first Olympic berth in the world's most popular sport.
U.S. Soldiers Detain 15 Suspects
MOSUL, Iraq - U.S. Soldiers detained 15 suspects in two raids May 15 in Northern Iraq, and collected or destroyed large caches of weapons.
In the Mosul neighborhood of Al Jededa, Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained 10 people suspected of conducting improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces. In the eastern Mosul neighborhood of Al Karama, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment detained five people suspected of planning and conducting attacks against Coalition forces. No Soldiers were hurt in either raid.
Fort Lewis opens gate for Armed Forces Day
[Link to Full Article]
SCOTT GUTIERREZ, THE OLYMPIAN
FORT LEWIS -- Juanita Dunas watched as her son, Vince, climbed into the turret on the Bradley armored vehicle and waved down at her. Minutes earlier, he had bounced from a military police car to a Stryker and then up inside the giant Bradley.
"He loves anything that has to do with Army vehicles," said Dunas, of Eatonville.
Hero to Hero '05
(We're posting this entry again because Liz has confirmed her itinerary, which has been updated below.)
Most of you are probably familiar with Liz Jackson - she's involved with numerous projects through her Patriotic Pastime website. One of those projects was "Hero to Hero" (Seattle P-I article here), where stateside heroes donated a signed hat or t-shirt to send to the troops overseas. It was a big success and Liz is now getting ready to kick off the 2005 "Hero to Hero" pledge drive, which includes a cross-country trek.
Provided below is an email from Liz with all the details. You'll notice that the project is dedicated to Sgt. Jacob Herring, who was a relative of Liz's. Please let her know if you can help, especially if you have contacts in any of the cities she and her son will be visiting. Good luck Liz & Bo!
UPDATE: If you would like to make a contribution you can do so on the Donation Page at her website.
US troops fear retribution for prison scandal
[Link to Full Article]
By Deborah Pasmantier
Mosul, Iraq - American soldiers patrolling the mean streets of Mosul are livid the barbaric abuses committed at the Abu Ghraib prison will expose them to vicious retribution.
Most Task Force Olympia soldiers, based at one of Saddam Hussein's glitzy former palaces in the northern city, are reluctant to talk about the abuses by their fellow soldiers.
Coalition detains 8, foils IED attack
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 15, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained eight terrorists wanted for anti-Coalition activities, foiled on improvised explosive device attack and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Friday in Northern Iraq.
Terrorists attack Iraqi Army Recruiting Station
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 15, 2004) – Terrorists attacked the Iraqi Armed Forces Recruiting Center this morning with either rocket or rocket propelled grenade fire killing four Iraqis and wounding 15 others in the neighborhood of Al Sinaai in eastern Mosul. The victims were either new army recruits at the recruitment station waiting to enlist or civilians.
VFW Post works to get comforts to our troops
Gene, you should try and get in touch with these guys - they're in your neck of the woods.
[Link to Full Article]
By:Tom Watts, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
Baby wipes and flea collars could mean the difference between misery and sanity for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While such items are not readily available overseas, Allen Galdys of the VFW Bruce Post Men's Auxiliary in St. Clair Shores, along with Keith Whitten, are leading the call for donations by collecting more than 30,000 items and preparing them for shipment.
Newlyweds
We learned from an entry on the bulletin board that Josh and Amber were married yesterday...live on the air of a morning radio show in Michigan. The catch? Josh is in Iraq as part of the Stryker Brigade. Here's an excerpt from the station's website (follow the link for photos):
Amber & Josh are Lincoln High School sweethearts. After 9/11, Josh enlisted to serve his country. He was soon deployed to Iraq but not before proposing to Amber. They asked us to help them get married! Our legal team found that Mojo could legally marry the couple by "double proxy." We linked our studios with Josh in Iraq and the couple was happily married... live on Mojo In The Morning!
Congratulations!
Thank You
We thought it would be appropriate to post an open entry where everyone could express their thanks to all of the Stryker Brigade and Task Force Olympia soldiers currently deployed in Iraq.
Thank you!
Feel free to leave a note in the comments section. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to add your message.
CJTF7 SCIMITAR
14 May 2004 edition is now available.
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.
Remember to right click on the pdf file to Save Target As for a faster download.
HOOAH!!! This edition has two articles about the SBCT that I have found so far. 2-3 Inf regiment and 1-14th CAV. Great human interest stories you do not see on the major networks. Definately a must read this week.
UPDATE: 296 BSB wiffle ball game is also included. I highly recommend reading this issue. Lots of great stuff from the Mosul area and the SBCT units.
R&R in Iraq scaled down
Further explanation of the R&R program.
[Link to Full Article]
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
ARLINGTON, Va. — Though ground commanders in Iraq have the authority to deny their troops R&R leave, the U.S. Central Command program that grants deployed fighters leave time still is operational, officials said.
The program, dubbed Rest and Recuperation, "has never been canceled or suspended," said Army spokesman Hank Minitrez, in spite of units in theater being told otherwise.
Former Special Forces Medic Becomes Doctor
Defend America has a nice profile of U.S. Army Captain Dan Godbee.
[Link to Full Article]
By U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremy Heckler / Task Force Olympia
MOSUL, Iraq, May 14, 2004 — To many, Capt. (Dr.) Dan Godbee, 351st Military Intelligence Company, is the image of the typical country doctor, mild mannered, quick with a handshake and a kind word.
McKinley kids aid Iraqi students at Mosul
[Link to Full Article]05/14/04
By JACK STOREY/The Evening News
SAULT STE. MARIE -- There may be no McKinley School next fall but first-graders there are making it their business to see that school kids in Mosul, Iraq have some of the school supplies they need.
All next week, the McKinley first-graders will be selling "Mr. Freezies" frozen fruit-flavored treats from 11:50 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. at the school. Earnings from the lunch-hour sale will be used to fill a school "care package" for one of several schools in the Mosul area repaired or rebuilt by US Army units in the region.
ARMY ANNOUNCES RECONFIGURATION OF 4th SBCT
May 14, 2004
The Army announced today that it will adjust the design of the fourth Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) from a Cavalry to an Infantry configuration.
The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light), stationed at Fort Polk, La., will begin the transformation to an Infantry-based Stryker Brigade upon its return from Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit is expected to attain an initial operational capability (IOC) as an infantry-designed SBCT by late 2006.
Iraqis destroy unexploded ordnance
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 14, 2004) – Iraqi police and the Iraqi Explosive Ordnance Disposal team destroyed an unexploded 60mm mortar round and soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained four people wanted for anti-Coalition activities over the past 48 hours in Northern Iraq.
Town Hall Meeting With U.S. Troops
As you may know the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Richard Myers, are in Iraq right now. Today they addressed some of the troops at a town hall-type meeting. Provided below is a brief excerpt from Gen. Myers' speech.
Northern Iraq RTC Graduates Iraqi Soldiers
MOSUL, Iraq - Two ceremonies were held May 13 to celebrate the graduation of 60 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers from basic training and 20 ICDC soldiers from the Primary Leader Development Course at the Northern Iraq Regional Training Center in Qarrayah.
PFC Andrew L. Tuazon
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, 21, of Chesapeake, Va., died May 10, in Mosul, Iraq, from hostile fire while on guard duty. Pfc. Tuazon was assigned to the Armys 293rd Military Police Company, 3rd Military Police Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
Emails From The Troops
In light of the stories dominating the news cycle right now, I thought you would be interested in two more emails sent by a soldier and a marine in Iraq. Blackfive shares an email from a Marine Captain in Fallujah, and Amy Ridenour posts an email from an Army Specialist in Sadr City. (via Instapundit)
UPDATE: Here's another from a Marine to his dad. (via Smash)
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, 21, of Chesapeake, Va., died May 10, in Mosul, Iraq, from hostile fire while on guard duty. Pfc. Tuazon was assigned to the Army’s 293rd Military Police Company, 3rd Military Police Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
R&R slots for 1st ID troops cut
The following article discusses the reduction of R&R slots for the 1st ID, but the reasons cited apply to the entire Iraqi theater, I'm sure.
[Link to Full Article]
By Steve Liewer, Stars and Stripes
WÜRZBURG, Germany — The 1st Infantry Division has announced that rest-and-recuperation slots for its soldiers have been cut by nearly 85 percent for the period May 1 through June 15.
Coalition detains one, collects weapons
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 12, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained one terrorist suspect wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Tuesday in Northern Iraq.
Iraqi Police, Coalition Conduct Raids
MOSUL, Iraq - More than 50 Iraqi police officers conducted three simultaneous cordon-and-knock operations in southwest Mosul May 7 to attempt to capture three people wanted for attacking Iraqi police in the Tal Ar Ruman neighborhood a week earlier.
Task Force Olympia supported the raid by establishing the cordon around each targeted location.
Vote For Rudy
Interesting.
[Link to Full Article]
By C. Mark Brinkley, Times staff writer
A vote for the military’s favorite “Survivor” could pay off big for the families of service members killed in Iraq.
If selected for the $1 million “fan vote,” retired Navy Master Chief Rudy Boesch vowed Monday to give half to the families of troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Fort Lewis task force soldier dies after attack
Michael Gilbert provides additional details regarding recent events.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Another soldier from the Fort Lewis-based Task Force Olympia was killed in Iraq on Monday, officials said.
The soldier was struck by small-arms fire while on patrol in western Mosul and later died at the Army field hospital at the Mosul airfield, task force officials said.
War through the eyes of a Marine's dad
How many of you can relate to the emotions expressed in this column?
[Link to Full Article]
By Frank Schaeffer
THE UNTHINKABLE: My youngest son, my friend, my fishing partner, the little boy I had patted to sleep, was at war. The traditional father-son roles were reversed. My child risked his life to protect me. And I was powerless to help him. I had unwittingly joined the ranks of the tens of thousands of family members for whom sick dread has been a way of life since we went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mother's Day
Kelly from R Place of Refuge wanted to pass along a message to those of you that were able to attend the Mother's Day celebration last Saturday. She also wanted to get any feedback you might have. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
SPC Chase R. Whitham
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Chase R.Whitham, 21, of Ore.died May 8, in Mosul, Iraq, while he was in a swimming pool when an electrical current charged the water. Spc. Whitham was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,3rd Infantry Regiment,, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash..
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
SPC Isela Rubalcava
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Isela Rubalcava, 25, of El Paso, Texas, died May 8 in Mosul, Iraq, when a mortar round hit near her. Spc. Rubalcava was assigned to the 296th Combat Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
Words of Wisdom from Chaplain Dave Shoffner
I found the Chaplain's message on the Warhorse site and thought I would pass it along.
1-14th Cavalry Squadron
By the time most of you will be reading this, we will either have passed the halfway point or be rapidly approaching it. The halfway point in any deployment is one of those strange moments where soldiers, their family members, and friends may be simultaneously feeling conflicting emotions. Joy, we are half way done with this thing. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve made it this far; we can make the rest of the way.
Three more American soldiers die
The Associated Press reports that a Task Force Olympia soldier was among three coalition soldiers killed in Iraq on Monday.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) Three more American soldiers have died in Iraq, two from hostile fire and one in a traffic accident, the U.S. command said Monday.
One soldier from Task Force Olympia, based in northern Iraq, died Monday of wounds suffered in an attack on his patrol, the command said. It did not say when the attack occurred.
Navy Cross Recipient
Blackfive shares another amazing story, this one about Marine Captain Brian Chontosh. Chontosh was recently awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the initial drive to Baghdad last spring. The Navy Cross, which you can learn more about here, is the second highest combat award for bravery. You can also read he official Marine press release regarding the award ceremony.
Iraq Report 5/10
Winds of Change has published its latest Iraq Report with links to, and analysis of, the latest news from Iraq.
Natsios Lists Accomplishments in Rebuilding Iraq
[Link to Column] (Full text provided below)
"Iraq: Work To Be Proud Of"
By Andrew S. Natsios
The last time I was in Iraq, I met with a delegation of graduate students from Baghdad's best universities. Two hours into the discussion, one student said something extraordinary to me. He likened us to "doctors" and Iraq to a "patient" who needed radical surgery: "You [Americans] have started the operation. We are on the operating table. You can't leave now. You've got to finish," he pleaded.
Coalition detains two, foils IED attack
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 10, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained two terrorists wanted for anti-Coalition activities, foiled an improvised explosive device attack and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Sunday in Northern Iraq.
Coalition detains two, foils IED attack
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 10, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained two terrorists wanted for anti-Coalition activities, foiled an improvised explosive device attack and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Sunday in Northern Iraq.
LI soldiers abroad call home
[Link to Full Article]
BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, STAFF WRITER
[...] In Rocky Point, the mother of an Army captain stationed in northern Iraq waited for her Mother's Day greeting.
"I'm kind of hoping he will call this morning," Susan Fyfe said. "That, to me, will be the best Mother's Day present."
A Soldier’s Thoughts
I was pleasantly surprised to find the following poem from Specialist Danny Allen Barrett Jr. in my email this morning. Spc. Barrett is a soldier with the Stryker Brigade and he wrote this while in Samarra this past January. Thanks for sharing.
Military medics turn to telemedicine
TAMPA, Fla. — The use of telemedicine, in which doctors practice from afar using everything from telephone consultations to remote-controlled surgical tools, is rapidly expanding as the military upgrades medical care.
‘‘We see it as a force multiplier — that’s the buzz word,’’ said Army Col. Ron Poropatich, a critical-care doctor who is also the telemedicine consultant for the U.S. Army Surgeon General. [...]
A band of runners
[Link to Full Article]
LYSA PON GARBER, THE OLYMPIAN
Days after their husbands were sent to Iraq, Janene LeMay, Debbie DiRocco and Janice Kern started training for their first half-marathon.
"We needed something to do that was productive and had a purpose," said LeMay of Lacey. Their husbands left for Iraq in January.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
[Sgt.] Isela Rubalcava, 25, of El Paso, Texas, died May 8 in Mosul, Iraq, when a mortar round hit near her. Spc. Rubalcava was assigned to the 296th Combat Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.
The incident is under investigation.
UPDATE: One of her fellow soldiers informed us that the DOD listed her rank incorrectly. We've made the correction above.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Chase R. [Whitham], 21, of Oregon died May 8, in Mosul, Iraq, while he was in a swimming pool when an electrical current charged the water. Spc. Whitman was assigned to the [2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment], 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
The incident is under investigation.
UPDATE: Apparently the DOD did not spell his name correctly or list his unit properly. We have made the changes above.
Coalition wounds one terrorist, collects weapons
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 9, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) Coalition wound one terrorist, and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Saturday in Northern Iraq.
Sgt. Herring's Memorial
Listed below are two articles describing the memorial service yesterday for Sgt. Jacob Herring. I have a detailed description on our bulletin board as well, under the Stryker Brigade forum.
"Family, friends honor fallen soldier - Kirkland's Herring rememberd as `ultimate leader'" - King County Journal
'Jake Is My Hero' - KOMO 4 News
One SBCT Soldier Died, One TFO Soldier Wounded
Here is the official press release regarding the second incident.
MOSUL, Iraq - One Stryker Brigade Soldier died and one Task Force Olympia Soldier was wounded during a mortar attack on a Coalition base in Mosul on May 8. The wounded Soldier was evacuated to the combat support hospital in Mosul. The deceased Soldier's name is withheld pending notification of next of kin. Task Force Olympia and the Stryker Brigade extend heartfelt condolences to the Soldiers' families.
Release #040509b
Discovery of Weapons Caches
MOSUL, Iraq - Information provided by two Iraqi adults and a child led to the discovery of three weapons caches May 7 and the seizure and safe disposal of more than 250 artillery rounds, mortar rounds and other munitions west of Mosul.
Stryker Brigade Soldier Dies in an Electrical Accident
Here is the official press release.
MOSUL, Iraq - A Stryker Brigade Soldier died May 8 near Mosul in an electrical accident. This incident is under investigation. The name of the Soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The Stryker Brigade extends its condolences to the Soldier's family.
Release #040508f
Two Stryker Brigade soldiers killed in Iraq
UPDATE: The article we originally linked to has been changed. It now says that two soldiers were killed - one in an electrical accident and another in a mortar atack.
[Link to Full Article]
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Two U.S. soldiers from the Stryker Brigade were killed Saturday, one in a mortar attack and another in an "electrical accident," the U.S. command said.
One other American soldier from the Army's Task Force Olympia was wounded during the mortar attack, which took place on a coalition base in the northern city of Mosul, the command said in a statement.
Death, Beat Fiat Bomb by Seconds
Freelance jounalist Kevin Sites recounts a close call with an IED while he was embedded with the Marines near Fallujah recently.
Good Photo
Although not Stryker related, I thought this was a pretty amazing photo.
Joint Iraqi Police and Coalition operation
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 8, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained four people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Friday in Northern Iraq.
Coalition Forces Detain One in Mortar Attack
MOSUL, Iraq - Soldiers from Stryker Brigade Combat Team detained an individual May 7 suspected of a mortar attack here May 6 that killed one Iraqi citizen and injured three others.
Soldiers searched three houses in the vicinity of the suspected point of origin and detained the suspect. The Soldiers also confiscated U.S. military equipment the suspect had in his possession.
Philadelphia buries a fallen soldier
[Link to Full Article]
By Lora Hines
PHILADELPHIA — Residents lined streets Friday to honor Sgt. Joshua Ladd and mourn with his family.
Ladd, 20, of the 367th Maintenance Company, died May 1 near Mosul, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his convoy. He is the 14th soldier from Mississippi or with Mississippi ties to die since fighting in Iraq began last year.
7 May 2004 Edition Scimitar
The new Scimitar pdf file is available online at the CJTF7 web site.
I have just skimmed over it, no SBCT info that I could find but a lot of good stories.
Remember, right click on the link at the web site and select Save Target As
That will work faster for slower connections to get the file to your machine.
7 May 2004 Edition Scimitar
The new Scimitar pdf file is available online at the CJTF7 web site.
I have just skimmed over it, no SBCT info that I could find but a lot of good stories.
Remember, right click on the link at the web site and select Save Target As
That will work faster for slower connections to get the file to your machine.
Student soldiers serve in Iraq
Another local publication with a story about two students serving in Iraq. Notice one of the pics shows the 2id Patch on a soldier in a Stryker.
[Link to Full Article]
Sarah L. Lamb, Carey Guhlke; Staff writers
While students at Whitworth hunker down for finals in one week, two Whitworth students are hunkering down to fight insurgents in Iraq.
Daniel Bauch, who attended Whitworth from the fall of 1998 to the spring of 2001, was sent to Iraq after a yearlong tour in South Korea.
“Once I heard it was time for us to ship out, I knew that it is my lot in life at this time,” Bauch said in an e-mail interview. “Being in the military, you prepare for ‘war.’
CPA Briefing 5/7
Not much from today's briefing in Baghdad.
GEN. KIMMITT: [...] In the northern zone of operations, coalition and Iraqi security forces conducted 76 patrols and detained (77 ?) anti-coalition suspects. In general, the area in the north is quite quiet.
There's more information in the transcript about the situation in Najaf and the prisoner photos if you're interested.
Brother escorts brother in convoy
[Link to Full Article]
by Airman 1st Class J.G. Buzanowski
Combined Air Operations Center Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- When Lt. Col. Greg Harbin landed at the airport in Mosul, Iraq, he knew he had to travel to the operational headquarters on the other side of town. He also knew an Army convoy would be escorting him. What he did not know was that his brother would be the convoy commander.
Roadside bomb kills four Iraqi police
MOSUL, Iraq, May 7 (Reuters) - A roadside bomb killed four Iraqi policemen and wounded one in the northern Iraq city of Mosul on Friday, police and hospital officials said.
The bomb detonated as a patrol was passing through the al-Jadida district in the southern part of the city. Police said there was an exchange of gunfire with the attackers immediately after the attack, but no one was arrested.
League Staff Aids Iraqi Schoolchildren
NEWINGTON, CT, May 7, 2004--Fourteen large boxes filled with school supplies, books and toys are on their way to needy schoolchildren in Northern Iraq, thanks to the generous spirit of ARRL Headquarters staff members.
Port-O-John of Horror
Beck in the Box, a Marine deployed to Iraq, recounts his confrontation with a camel spider in the honey bucket - as if dark outhouses weren't scary enough. Must read comic relief.
Postcards From Fallujah
North County Times has published a great series of photographic postcards from Marines in Fallujah. NCT's Darrin Mortenson continues his excellent reporting from that city.
(via Smash)
My Soldier Boy
We're lucky to have some very poetic visitors. The latest contribution is from Kathy Fairbanks and is called "My Soldier Boy".
Soldier Formerly Based At Fort Lewis Killed In Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
POSTED: 10:57 am PDT May 6, 2004
CANTON, Ohio -- An Ohio soldier formerly based at Fort Lewis, Wash., died Wednesday in Iraq after trying to stop an attack on a U.S. Army checkpoint, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.
Pfc. Jesse Buryj, 21, of Canton, fired more than 400 rounds at a dump truck trying to crash the checkpoint near Karbala. He shot the driver of the truck that then crashed into the Humvee in which he was riding, an Army sergeant told his mother, Peggy Buryj, on Wednesday morning.
"Everyone was fine, but Jesse's stomach was hurting him," she said she was told. "They took him to a hospital where they found he had massive internal injuries, and he died on the operating table."
Stryker Mike
I was hoping this would happen at some point. Mike, who recently deployed to Iraq to join the Stryker Brigade, has created a blog to share his experiences there. I found his site a while ago, but it wasn't until recently that he began posting regular entries. Take some time to explore his site, Stryker Mike - The Journey of an American Soldier, then bookmark it.
Fort Lewis soldier is killed in Iraq
[Link to Full Article] Photo Accompanies article.
Sgt. Joshua Ladd, a 20-year-old soldier deployed with the Fort Lewis-based 44th Corps Support Battalion, was killed last weekend when his supply convoy was attacked outside Mosul, Iraq.
Ladd, identified Tuesday by the Department of Defense, served in a Mississippi National Guard unit attached to the 44th Corps.
Ladd signed up for the Mississippi National Guard at the age of 17, while still in high school, according to The Neshoba Democrat, a hometown newspaper.
Military Spouse Day May 7
Many of you should take a bow tomorrow.
[Link to Full Article]
By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2004 — U.S. military installations worldwide will host a wide range of activities — from receptions to workshops to "pampering parties" -- in observance of Military Spouse Day, May 7.
Military Spouse Day was first celebrated in 1984 when then-President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the observance to honor the contributions of military spouses. The military now sets aside the Friday before Mother's Day each year to pay tribute to the spouses who play a vital role in the nation's defense.
Coalition detains three, collects weapons
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 6, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) detained three people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Wednesday in Northern Iraq.
Neshoba man killed in Iraq fulfilled quest
Here's a nice article about Sgt. Joshua Ladd from a hometown newspaper.
[Link to Full Article]
By Lora Hines
PHILADELPHIA — Sgt. Joshua Ladd knew he wanted to be a soldier from the time he was a boy.
Ladd, 20, first joined the 298th Corps Support Battalion National Guard after turning 18. He volunteered to go to the 367th Maintenance Company after he found out it was leaving for Iraq before the 298th, said Philadelphia Mayor Rayburn Waddell.
Gallery Software
I'll spare you the details, but we seem to be having a problem with the software that loads photos in the gallery. If you have tried to transfer pictures to your album during the past week and received an error message, this is likely the reason why. We'll be contacting our web host today to try and get the problem resolved.
UPDATE: I think we know what the problem is, but I won't have a chance to troubleshoot until this evening. I apologize to all of you that have tried to load pictures lately (especially new gallery contributors) - it's probably been frustrating to get the same error message again and again.
FIXED: Please try to load your photos again - I'm pretty sure we fixed the problem. Let me know if you receive any additional error messages.
Big Rig Honors Those Who Perished 9/11
I've seen photos of this truck via email, but this is the first article about it I've come across.
[Link to Full Article] (Photo included)
By K.L. Vantran, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2004 – More often than not, as John Holmgren drives his big rig along the nation's roadways, he is greeted with honks, cheers and sometimes tears.
Coalition kills one, detains three
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 5, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), killed one anti-Coalition terroriest and detained three people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Tuesday in Northern Iraq.
20,000 more troops headed to Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
By Vince Crawley, Times staff writer
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is sending another 20,000 troops to Iraq this summer to replace those on emergency extensions, and the Pentagon plans to keep a force of 135,000 in the county through all of 2005.
Mosul Photos 5/1
Yahoo! News has two photos from May 1 (one and two).
SGT Joshua S. Ladd
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Joshua S. Ladd, 20, of Port Gibson, Miss, died May 1 in Mosul, Iraq, when his convoy vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Ladd was assigned to the Army National Guards 367th Maintenance Company, DeKalb, Miss.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers he leaves behind.
Coalition kills two, detains five...
[Link to Full Article]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 4, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), killed two anti-Coalition personnel and detained five people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a variety of weapons and munitions Monday in Northern Iraq.
Stryker Interactive
The News Tribune also has an interactive feature where you can compare the Stryker vehicle to other Army fighting vehicles, as well as the Volkswagen Beetle.
Stryker brigades at center stage in documentary
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
From the opening scenes, the Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade figures prominently in the new NOVA TV special "Battle Plan Under Fire" tonight on Channel 9.
The documentary features extensive coverage of the Army's first Stryker brigade operating in Mosul and the second Stryker brigade training at Fort Lewis.
The highs and lows of high-tech
[Link to Full Article] Updated Reminder PBS special
By Alan Boyle
Science editor
MSNBC
Updated: 6:27 p.m. ET May 03, 2004
PBS documentary analyzes impact on U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq
Computer networks and satellite technology have revolutionized the way battles are being fought in Iraq and Afghanistan — but there are limits to the revolution. “Battle Plan Under Fire,” a “Nova” documentary premiering on PBS Tuesday, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the gee-whiz of modern warfare as well as the potential pitfalls that face America's high-tech soldiers. ...
Army unveils urban combat facility
[Link to Full Article]
WAINWRIGHT: 25-acre complex is wired for video, sound and smell.
The Associated Press
(Published: May 3, 2004)
FAIRBANKS -- The Army's new urban warfare training facility at Fort Wainwright is the closest thing to battle and the rigors of survival, as far as Cpl. Jared Goert- zen is concerned.
He should know, having just returned from Iraq.
The Olympia Observer 26 April edition
The latest edition is now available in PDF at their web site.
Remember to right click and select Save Target As. This will allow you to download the file without opening it up over the net.
CJTF7 Scimitar
30 April 2004 edition is now available.
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.
Coalition detains two, collects three large weapons caches
[Link to Full Article]
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 3, 2004) – Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), detained two people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and collected a large variety of weapons and munitions Sunday in Northern Iraq.
Coalition forces conducted a cordon and search in the AL Amel neighborhood in Mosul and detained two people suspected of planning and conducting anti-Coalition activities. No Coalition injuries were reported during the search.
Brave 133rd to remain in journalists' hearts
[Link to Full Article]
Sunday, May 2, 2004
NOTEBOOK FROM MOSUL: Bill Nemitz
Brave 133rd to remain in journalists' hearts, minds
Today marks photographer Greg Rec's and my final dispatch from Iraq. When these words go to press, we will be in Kuwait on the first leg of our long journey back to Maine.
We depart Camp Marez, after three weeks with the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion, eager to see home again. Our days and nights here in Mosul often found us missing not just our families and friends, but also the everyday peace and prosperity that we Americans take so much for granted.
In Memoriam
We recently created a new page on the site, one that we were hoping would not be necessary. Please take a moment to visit the Memorial Page honoring those Stryker Brigade and Task Force Olympia soldiers that we've lost.
I want to personally thank Charlotte for gathering all of the content for the page. We will be adding a permanent link to the memorial on the sidebar shortly.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Our thoughts and prayers are with this Task Force Olympia soldier.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Trevor A. Wine, 22, of Orange, Calif., died May 1, in Tikrit, Iraq, from injuries sustained on April 30 when his convoy vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Spc. Wine was assigned to the Army’s 24th Quartermaster Company, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Two soldiers from Ft. Lewis' TFO killed in Iraq
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
Two more soldiers in the Fort Lewis-based Task Force Olympia died Saturday in northern Iraq in attacks on U.S. military convoys, officials reported.
One of the soldiers died of his wounds after his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb about 10:35 a.m. Friday south of Qayyarah, officials said in a Task Force Olympia news release.
Inside Scoop?
Based on a few inquiries today, I'm afraid some people have the impression that the contributors to this site have access to information that is not public knowledge. We don't. We search for news using a variety of public media sources, most of which are listed on our links page. Let us know if you find something we've missed.
TFO EOD Disarms Large IED
MOSUL, Iraq - Task Force Olympia contract security forces discovered a "daisy chain" of more than 10 live mortar and artillery rounds near Mosul on Saturday.
Numerous inert mortar and artillery shells were also found in the same area.
U.S. soldier, 2 civilians killed
This Associated Press article mentions both of the attacks in the same area south of Mosul (emphasis added).
[Link to Full Article]
By KATARINA KRATOVAC, Associated Press
FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - Insurgents killed a U.S. soldier and two civilian contractors in northern Iraq and attacked a U.S. convoy Saturday in Baghdad, as scores of people took to the streets of Fallujah to celebrate a deal to end a monthlong siege of the city.
Coalition detains three, destroys IED
[Link to TFO Press Release]
by Sgt. Joseph Sanchez
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 1, 2004) –Soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), detained three people wanted for anti-Coalition activities and destroyed an improvised explosive device Friday in Northern Iraq.
National Military Appreciation Month
As Susan reminded us on the bulletin board, May is National Military Appreciation Month. Visit the site set up by the Pentagon for more information.
Thanks to all of the men and women serving overseas. Your sacrifices are definitely appreciated by us here. We are all hoping for your swift and safe return.
TFO Soldier Dies of Wounds
It appears that another soldier has died from wounds received in a separate attack from the one mentioned below. This attack occurred on April 30 (Friday), while the other occurred on May 1 (Saturday).
MOSUL, Iraq - A Soldier assigned to Task Force Olympia died today from wounds following an improvised explosive device attack on a convoy south of Qarrayah at about 10:35 a.m. April 30.
Stryker families share hope, grief on Web forum
I know I've said it before, but I continue to be amazed by the evolution of this site. Visitors, especially those that contribute regularly on our bulletin board, have created a very special support community. Other people have noticed. I feel very fortunate to be associated with all of you.
[Link to Full Article]
MICHAEL GILBERT; The News Tribune
When Spc. Michael Merila was killed in Iraq in February, relatives and friends of Stryker brigade soldiers grieved online. One message in particular stood out.
"During the long few months he's been deployed, I've already experienced 2 near misses and it never gets any easier trying to relax," wrote a young woman who called herself JakesKatie.
