Site Essentials
- » Site Introduction
- » Comment Policy
- » Stryker Brigade 101
- » FAQ
- » Thank The Troops
- » Support Our Site
- » Contact Us
- » Terms & Conditions
In Memoriam
Browse Archives
Search Archives
Subscribe to SBN
Browse Our Shop
Awards
Here is a new photo of the 1-23 INF, 3-2 SBCT, participating in Exercise Foal Eagle in South Korea.
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone
UPDATE: C-Span called today and said Michael's interview be played again tonight, the 29th, at 9:30PM on C-Span2 and then again next Sat. at 8:00PM on cspan as stated below.
Greetings everyone,
Tomorrow is a big day for us. New arms are supposed to arrive and final fittings will be on Wednesday. I hope all goes well. We just finished watching Michael's interview on Cspan, Wounded Soldiers from Iraq, and he did really well, IMHO. :-) Anyway, it was on at 8PM east coast time and will re-air again on Saturday at 8PM. I was glad they did not edit out anything. It lasts about 45 minutes. Hopefully, many of you will be able to see it.
Susan Sutter sent an email last week to let us know that she recently attended the dedication of a training room at the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment (5/20) HQ at Ft. Lewis as "The Herring Room". Her son, SGT Jacob "Jake" Herring, was killed on April 28, 2004 in Iraq. I know Susan has remained very close to Jake's platoon - you can view photos of the potluck she hosted for them when they returned in November.
Recent events in Iraq are covered in depth in the following articles.
Link to Full Article
By Albert Eisele, The Hill
Mosul, Iraq -- They're one of the worst nightmares for American military personnel or anyone traveling with them on the dangerous roads of Iraq, even if you're surrounded by tons of armor plate and moving at high speed.
They're called IED's, military speak for Improvised Explosive Devices, and they're the devil's own invention.
Link to Full Article
By Rowan Scarborough, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
In the privacy of their E-ring offices, senior Pentagon officials have begun to entertain thoughts that were unimaginable a year ago: Iraq is turning the corner.
Military officials and analysts say the clearing out of enemy-infested Fallujah in November, the Jan. 30 elections and the increasing willingness of Iraqis to fight and die for a democratic country are contributing to the momentum.
(Email From Steve Thorne)
Dear Friends,
Julie and I arrived sometime after 9 a.m. and found Scott up and watching Stuart Little on his laptop. His bandages were off his head and the IV's were disconnected. He was happy to see us and we talked a bit about his morning so far.
MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) - A suicide car bomber blew himself up in the path of a US military convoy in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, police said, but it was not immediately known if there were any US casualties.
(Email from Steve Thorne)
Dear Friends,
Scott slept pretty much all day, which is fine by us because we know he needs the rest. It was a good day to sleep as it's been raining all day. Reminds me of my 18 months up here with the 9th Infantry Division.
Greetings everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well and Happy Easter to all. Things are a bit weird around here for the past few days. An internet worm has invaded the system here at the Mologne House so connections are sporadic at best.
Dear Friends,
We arrived today a little before 9 a.m., the “official” start of visiting hours. Scott is still a bit groggy due to the morphine he’s getting every six minutes (the Return of the PCA Device), but he is getting noticeably better. He looks less and less like somebody who just had an operation and more like Scott.
Here are two photos of the 4-23 INF at the Wilson Battle Command Training Center, Fort Richardson, Alaska.
Photos by 1st Lt. Jeffrey Canning
Dear Friends,
It’s been a busy couple of days since the last update. Preparation for travel, travel, pre-op, operation and recovery.
Here are two new photos of the 3-2 SBCT in Korea, courtesy of the DOD Image Gallery. The first photo depicts SSG Jason Ramsay of the 1-23 INF, while the second photo shows a Stryker exiting an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Daegu Air Base.
Photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone and Petty Officer 1st Class James Christopher, U.S. Navy
The following is an email and photo we received from Bobby W. Rosendahl following his trip to Walter Reed to visit his son, PFC Bobby T. Rosendahl. Bobby was seriously injured in an attack last week. We're glad to hear PFC Rosendahl is improving - he and his family will remain in our thoughts and prayers.
[Link to Full Article] with 3 photos
Spc. Corey Strand
Fort Wainwright PAO
FORT WAINWRIGHT – Hangar 1 was transformed during the first week of March from an aircraft hangar to a warehouse piled high with boots, helmets, uniforms and everything else needed to outfit a brigade with all the gear they will need in Iraq.
Soldiers of the Forward Maintenance Company, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team reported to the hanger in their physical training uniform, carrying their duffel bags and ready to collect their gear.
“We will have another issue in the summer before our deployment for Soldiers unable to make it to this one,” said Cpt. Charles Bovey, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, SBCT.
Tomahawk Soldiers Train for Urban Convoys
[Link to Full Article] with 7 photos
FORT RICHARDSON – Company A, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment trained on convoy operations on Camp Carroll March 9-10 to help prepare for their upcoming deployment. The scenario called for the convoy to move through the built up area where local civilians mixed with insurgents. As the convoy entered the area, an improvised explosive device damaged one Stryker, forcing the rest to circle the wagons and set up a secure perimeter during recovery efforts. The locals fled when the IED went off, but filtered back into the area along with armed insurgents.
Photos by Master Sgt. John Pennell
If you scroll past the images of the 3-2 SBCT in Korea, on Getty Images, you will find a number of photos of the 1-25 SBCT in Mosul from early March, that I've not seen elsewhere.
Yahoo! News Photos has two recent photos of the 3-2 SBCT training in South Korea.
Here are two more photos (one, two) of the 1-23 INF in Korea, from the DOD Image Gallery.
Photos by JO2 John J. Pistone, U.S. Navy
Getty Images has eight more photos of the 3-2 SBCT conducting a joint training exercise with South Korean troops.
There are a few new photos of 1-25 Stryker Brigade soldiers in Mosul at Yahoo! News Photos and Getty Images, since the last time we posted these links. Some are members of the 1-24 INF. 82nd Airborne soldiers can also be seen.
SFC Jeb Bishop, of the 4-14 CAV, is pictured in this recent photo posted on Army Images.
Photo by Army Photo
By Monte Morin
MOSUL, Iraq — Army hatch gunner Brandon Jones may have missed the man who fired potshots at his head, but the sergeant managed to destroy something else: the insurgent's car.
As U.S. and Iraqi forces have battled guerrillas for control of the northern city of Mosul in recent weeks, the insurgents have been putting their wheels to work.
Instead of packing their vehicles with explosives and detonating them in suicidal attacks, insurgents are more likely to fire on troops as they speed past their patrols and combat outposts.
Soldiers say the insurgents seem to favor Opels, because they have a reputation for being fast. Cars are also becoming insurgents' preferred hiding place for weapons.
By Steve Walsh / Post-Tribune staff writer
First Sgt. Earl Deal Jr. said he may win the prize for being the oldest American soldier in Iraq.
Deal may not be far off the mark. He turned 59 on Feb. 6. If the Indiana National Guard 113th Engineer Battalion were to have its tour extended for the full 18 months allowed by law, Deal could be forced into mandatory retirement, at 60, while his unit is in Mosul, Iraq.
He isn’t the only older soldier with the unit that has bases in Gary, LaPorte and Valparaiso. More than a dozen soldiers with the 113th Engineers are older than 50, including most of the senior sergeants. [...]
The Olympian has a section devoted to the 2nd anniversary of the start of the Iraq war. Included is the following story about the nephew of a frequent contributor to this site.
Link to Full Article
CHRISTIAN HILL, THE OLYMPIAN
Two years ago, Rob Varpness was shooting pool at a Fort Carson tavern as he watched the bombs fall on Baghdad. Within weeks, he was marching toward the desert city as a scout for the 4th Infantry Division.
(Email from Steve Thorne)
Dear Friends,
As I wrote earlier, no updates unless there's something to tell you.
Here's what has been happening (as reported by Scott and various other interested parties):
Greetings everyone,
Michael is recovering from having all four wisdom teeth removed on Monday. Ouch!!! He is doing well and went to the movie with Cindy and a couple of other soldiers tonight. I sure hope they don't see a comedy, it really hurts him to laugh.
Two news summaries highlighting recent events.
Gunner Palace, the new documentary we've mentioned previously, opened in wide release yesterday. Additionally, the filmmakers won their appeal to have the rating changed to PG-13 (from R). Provided below is a list of local theaters showing the film.
CRT-2 and ICLS, which support the 1-24 INF, have created a photo site they wanted to share with family and friends back home. We'll add this site to our Links Page as well. Thanks for sharing.
Steve Thorne sent me a couple photos, which we've added to his album. One is Scott's recent official Deptartment of the Army photo; the other is Steve's from 1976.
Link to Full Article
THE OLYMPIAN
LACEY -- Lt. Gen. James Dubik, commander of I Corps and Fort Lewis, told a Thurston County Chamber of Commerce reception Thursday evening that his troops will remain at the forefront of the global war on terrorism for years to come.
The Army post has 5,600 of its soldiers deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the globe, he said.
"That (number) will stay constant for the foreseeable future," he said. [...]
Provided below are links to, and descriptions of, recent public affairs videos.
(TFF Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (March 11, 2005) – Multi-National Forces from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) discovered a weapons cache in northern Iraq today.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment uncovered a weapons and ammunition cache during a search operation in western Mosul. The cache included over 600 rounds of ammunition and five grenades. The weapons and ammunition were confiscated for further destruction.
BRENT CHAMPACO; The News Tribune
The legacy left by Army Staff Sgt. Juan Solorio may be seen most clearly through the eyes of the youths he influenced most.
Friends and family knew the Fort Lewis soldier killed March 4 in Iraq as a loving husband and father. Fellow soldiers referred to him simply as “Solo.”
But to those in the post’s Boy Scout Troop 62, Solorio was a role model who coached them through a 50-mile hike near Chehalis last year. The 32-year-old from Dallas was a fixture at their weekly meetings and a father figure to boys whose parents are fighting overseas.
Spirit of America (SOA) is teaming up with the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team (CMATT) to try and improve the living conditions for the Iraqi Security Forces at Fort Tal Afar in Iraq. If you're not familiar with SOA, the non-profit, civilian organization works directly with deployed service men and women to provide goods and services to local people. Provided below is a description of the project.
Soldiers from the WA National Guard (81st BCT) continue to trickle home to warm welcomes.
Link to Full Article
ADAM LYNN; The News Tribune
LaRee Holcomb looked a little tired as she watched her four young children scramble around inside Soldiers Field House at Fort Lewis early Wednesday morning.
For the better part of a year, she’s played single mom while her husband, Spc. Errol Holcomb, served in Iraq with the Washington National Guard’s 81st Brigade Combat Team.
FORT LEWIS, Wash. -- Twelve members of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team who were wounded in action in Iraq will receive Purple Heart medals in a ceremony Friday at Fort Lewis, army officials said.
The medals will be presented at the American Lake Club to the following:
Link to Full Article
BY STEVE GRAZIER, Journal Staff Writer
Army 1st Lt. Garrett Berry, of Cortez, has been deployed to Tal-Afar, Iraq, located east of Mosul, since October 2004. This week he was able to correspond from his base with the Journal via e-mail about the recent Iraqi elections and his thoughts on the overall mission of the war.
Berry, 25, is an executive officer for the C/2-14 CAV, a reconnaissance surveillance and target acquisition squadron. His primary duty is to act as second in command, but he also helps patrol the Iraq-Syrian border. In addition, the lieutenant maintains his commander's property and commands dismounted troops.
The Freedom Post, the official newsletter of Task Force Freedom, is available online. You can also visit their homepage and search for other content as well.
(TFF Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (March 9, 2005) – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces detained 81 individuals suspected of insurgent activity during operations in Iraq today.
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) along with Multi-National Forces (MNF) detained 58 individuals suspected of terrorist activities in Hamam Al Alil and also detained 20 more individuals suspected of terrorist activities in Salamiyah. ISF and MNF detained three individuals suspected of terrorist activities during a raid in western Mosul. Suspects are in custody with no ISF or MNF injuries reported.
The cover story on Army Times this week is about military blogs. Colby Buzzell of the 3/2 SBCT (My War) is featured, and LTC Paul Hastings of Task Force Olympia is quoted.
(via Blackfive)
Staff Sgt. Oscar Holt is pictured in this 1-25 SBCT photo posted on Army Images.
Photo by Spc. John S. Gurtler
Provided below are links to a number of stories (non-Stryker) you might find worthwhile.
The following is a press release from HomeMovie.Com, which has just announced a special program for families with loved ones deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Love allows friends and family to share up to 30 minutes of personal video footage through the HomeMovie.Com website. Details below.
The Army National Guard unit profiled below spent time in Mosul attached to Task Force Freedom.
Link to Full Article
By DENNIS ANDERSON/Antelope Valley Press
CAMP ROBERTS — The best part of surviving hot combat in Iraq for Bravo Co. tankers was getting sent home to California instead of being parked at Ft. Lewis in Washington state.
"That's my best experience, that we got to come home, got to come home to California, because California is home," Sgt. Patrick Hux of Palmdale said Saturday. [...]
The DoD has announced the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Juan M. Solorio, 32, of Dallas, Texas, died March 4 in Mosul, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle as his unit was being attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire. Solorio was assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of SSG Solorio. We will add any subsequent articles we find to this entry.
Link to Full Article
By JACK LEWIS, GUEST COLUMNIST
NORTHERN IRAQ -- He's young enough to be my son. Annoying enough, too.
When I beat on his hooch door this morning to get him up for a mission, he was his typical floppy-jointed, addle-headed, eye-rolling self. It was pouring down rain, I was standing out in it wearing PT shorts and a raincoat, and I had no patience: "Get up, time to move. You're going down with Apache."
(TFF Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (March 4, 2005) – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces detained 42 individuals suspected of insurgent activity and confiscated weapons in northern Iraq yesterday.
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Multi-National Forces (MNF) conducted multiple cordon and searches resulting in the detainment of 42 individuals suspected of terrorist activities in Biaj. ISF and MNF also confiscated 75 AK-47s, one rocket propelled grenade, two shotguns, three bolt action rifles, four pistols, one hand grenade and over 350 rounds of various ammunition. Suspects are in custody with no ISF or MNF injuries reported.
We wanted to make people aware of a few email scams that are targeting the military community. Included below is a link to a press release by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement ("ICE") with the details. Additionally, I'm including the full text of another scam email I received. ICE advises that you simply ignore and delete these emails if you receive them - do NOT respond.
A group of Strykers from the 4-23 INF cruise the back roads of Ft. Richardson, Alaska.
Photo by Mark Farmer
Getty Images has a number of new photos from Mosul not posted elsewhere. Several include members of the 1-24 INF.
Army Images also has a new photo of Cpl. Torria Maynard of the 1-24 INF.
U.S. Army Photo by Pfc. John S. Gurtler
Provided below are a few articles describing the homecoming of two Task Force Olympia units.
It's still unclear from these reports whether the Stryker Brigade mentioned would be an existing or newly formed unit.
Link to Full Article
By Jon R. Anderson, Stars and Stripes
ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. military officials are in negotiations with host nations to consolidate Army, Navy and Air Force special operations units now spread throughout Europe to a consolidated outpost either in Spain or Sicily, according to the top commander of military forces in Europe. [...]
The Army will see the most changes, with 239 installations spread across 16 major communities mostly in Germany whittled down to a few dozen installations at five main hubs — four in Germany and one in Italy.
Link to Full Article
Chris Roberts, El Paso Times
Soldiers stationed in Alaska, who are used to below-freezing temperatures, are just now finishing a mission that not only provided them invaluable desert training for their coming mission in Iraq but also snared thousands of undocumented immigrants and thousands of pounds of marijuana.
More than 400 soldiers in the U.S. Army's 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, stationed in Wainwright, Alaska, were part of "Operation Bootheel," which paired them with U.S. Border Patrol agents in southwest and south-central New Mexico.
(TFF Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (March 2, 2005) – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces discovered two weapons and munitions caches during operations in northern Iraq yesterday.
Troops from the 107th Iraqi Army discovered a large weapons cache during a cordon and search operation south of Al Had. The cache included 170 mortar rounds, hundreds of rocket propelled grenade rounds, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The weapons and ammunition were confiscated for future destruction.
Today's edition of Frontline Photos has two images of the 1-24 INF conducting operations in Mosul. One of these is new. Page forward through the gallery to find them.
(TFF Press Release)
MOSUL, IRAQ (March 2, 2005) – Multi-National Forces detained one suspected insurgent, killed two and injured another insurgent during operations in northern Iraq today.
Multi-National Force Soldiers killed two insurgents and injured another during an ambush in northern Mosul. The insurgents had previously conducted rocket propelled grenade attacks against Security Forces. No MNF injuries were reported during the operation.
Included below is an email sent by 1LT Fassieux to his family, which describes a recent trip outside the city of Mosul. The scene he describes is similar to those seen in our Smiles From Iraq album.
Yahoo! News has posted several new photos of the 1-24 INF in Mosul, since the last time we featured this link.
We just wanted to remind people that PBS will air a documentary called "The Soldier's Heart" tonight. You can read a description, and find a link to the program website, in this previous entry.
The following articles examine the security situation in Iraq. The Newsday article takes a close look at Mosul, in particluar.
Link to Full Article
By William Cole, Advertiser Military Writer
Soldiers returning from war, new soldiers coming to Hawai'i and large-scale family housing and barracks renovation projects have created a housing crunch at Schofield Barracks.
Some 880 people are on the waiting list for family housing, and the situation is expected to peak in the summer with the soldier overlap and arrival of 800 more personnel plus their families for a new Stryker brigade.