Stryker Brigade News

The brigade's gear, including the eight-wheeled armored vehicles for which it is named, was loaded onto a cargo ship this week at the Port of Olympia and shipped to Iraq ahead of soldiers.

The shipment drew days of protests from demonstrators opposing the war.

During Friday morning's ceremony at the post's Gray Army Airfield, thousands of family and friends turned out for the casing of flags, signifying the brigade had finished training at this post south of Tacoma.

The crowd heard from 3rd Brigade commander Col. Stephen Townsend, who touted the soldiers' readiness.

"I see a Stryker brigade that's an aggressive team," said Townsend, who took command after the brigade returned in late 2004. "A family of skilled, tough, alert and adaptable warriors ... but who also treat the Iraqi people with dignity and respect."

During the past 19 months, 3rd Brigade has been training to replace the 172nd Stryker Brigade of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Training included simulations of roadside bombs and ambushes, hidden weapons caches and kidnappings by insurgents.

"Less than 1 percent of the nation is carrying 100 percent of the burden of this war," Fort Lewis commander Lt. Gen. James Dubik said, his voice wavering as he spoke of the roughly 2.3 million people in the military.

"God bless you all. Good luck to each and every one of you," he said.

The brigade returned home October 2004 from its first yearlong deployment in Iraq, where it conducted combat missions in several cities, including Samarra, Tal Afar and Mosul. During the mission, 19 soldiers with the brigade died.

About half of the soldiers on hand Friday had previously served in Iraq, said Maj. Rob Parke, a spokesman for the brigade.

"The hardest part is leaving my family behind," Sgt. Collazo said after the ceremony as he held his youngest son, Noel, 2, born during the brigade's first deployment.

Raised in the military, Collazo, 26, said he sees the Army as "just another job."

"I can support my family a lot better going over there," he said, glancing at his wife.

"It's a little more bittersweet because I know what to expect when he's gone. Both the bad and the good," said Julie Collazo, 40.

This time, she said she plans to keep a busy schedule for the couple's three children — Grace, Noel and 10-year-old Christian. "Keep their minds off him being gone. They're so close to him," she said, watching as Christian hung back behind his father while the two youngest clamored for dad's attention.

"It does get lonely," she added.

Also making a return to Iraq, Sgt. Joseph Sloop said he feels better prepared for the stress of war. It's also his second separation from his wife of a year, Brandi, who was in college in Wilmington, N.C., during his last deployment.

While she, too, dreads being apart, Brandi Sloop said it's the unknown that upsets her most.