Stryker Brigade News

Interview with MAJ Garcia

Interview with Major Mike Garcia by KNVX ABC15 in Phoenix. MAJ Garcia, a military intelligence officer, says Christmas trees and decorations in Mosul help with holiday cheer; Mosul attack was tough to handle, but everyone became even more dedicated to the mission; says unit gets threat warnings everyday and most challenging part of the job is to get that info to the lowest soldier quickly; says there are only two hotspots in Iraq, but the rest of the country is moving forward and is excited about voting in the upcoming elections.

Interview with SPC Perez

Fox News-New York interview with Specialist Philippe Perez and his fiance. SPC Perez says spirits are up in Mosul because of support from colleagues, friends, and family; says prayers go out to his brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the recent attack. SPC Perez is a civil affairs specialist who deals with reconstructing Iraq; works on development team with the business community.

Interview with CPT Lewis

WISH interview with Captain Lewis, a medical service officer for Stryker Brigade. CPT Lewis coordinates for medical treatments and evacuation of Soldiers. Says everyday is a challenge in Mosul, but the biggest is handling mass casualties; although, she and her team train for them. Her soldiers snapped into training mode after the attack. This is CPT Lewis' second Christmas in Mosul; says the spirit of the season is alive and well because of the generosity of strangers back home; says Iraqis are happy to see Americans; says she's happy to spend the holidays with her Army family since she can't be home in Indiana.

Interview with CPT Ludvigson

WUSA interview with Captain Phil Ludvigson, a Public Affairs Officer for Task Force Olympia. CPT Ludvigson has been in Mosul for almost a year; says he's tired but his morale, and that of other Mosul Soldiers, is high. Says he was not near the attack in Mosul; misses family but apprehensive to leave at end of tour because he wants to see the mission through; plans to finish last semester of law school when he returns home, but says if he country needs him to serve more time in Mosul, he will definitely do it with pride; deals with external media moving with his troops to get a first hand account from Soldiers; says he leads media to more positive stories such as the rebuilding of Iraq.

Interview with SSG McClellan

CNN interview with Staff Sergeant Vincent McClellan in Mosul and family in South Carolina. SSG McClellan says he was nowhere near the Mosul attack, but felt it in his heart because fellow Soldiers lost lives or were injured; says survivors will drive on with the mission.

Interview with SGT Saul

KING interview with Sergeant Nicole Saul in Mosul and her husband and children in Seattle. SGT Saul says morale is pretty good and everyone just wants to continue the mission; says Mosul Soldiers could not contact family until 24 hours after the attack; says Family Readiness Groups have been trying to contact families, but it is a slow process.

Interview with SSG Andersen

CNN Interview with Staff Sergeant Christine Andersen. SSG Andersen says the Secretary of Defense visit was a good surprise. Says Secretary Rumsfeld asked Soldiers about their holiday traditions and what they felt about the war; Soldiers asked about operation considerations and deployment lengths. SSG Anderson asked the Defense Secretary about award policies and how Soldiers would get recognized in different areas of Iraq; says the subject had never been brought up to him before. Says since the Mosul attack, Soldiers are more aware of their surroundings.

Interview with PFC Chacon

Interview with Private First Class Jose Chacon by Chris Rodriguez of KBBC in El Paso Texas. PFC Chacon says it is hard being away from family, but the tour in Mosul is going by fast; talks about Christmas traditions in El Paso; looks forward to going home for R and R in four months; sends holiday greeting to wife and family.

Interview with SGT Sanchez

Interview with SGT Sanchez by KNXV ABC15 in Phoenix. SGT Sanchez works in public affairs, focusing on work with local media in Iraq; teaches journalism ethics and deters Iraqis from working for government-run papers to ones in democratic society; says he has been debunking Internet stories and teaching them to confirm all stories; says best accomplishment was working with media during the prison scandal and ensuring lies did not reach Mosul papers; greatest frustration is not being able to speak Arabic; says, like Soldiers, translators put their lives on the line everyday; says he's stronger mentally since working in Mosul for about one year.