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Second goodbye tougher for 172nd Stryker BCT troops

Aug-25-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By Anita Powell, Stars and Stripes

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — For some of the American troops whose Iraq tour has been extended in a new attempt to secure Baghdad, saying goodbye a second time was the hardest part.

Earlier this week, about 200 soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team — many of them pulled back three weeks to two months after redeploying to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and others who stayed in Iraq throughout — gathered under the boiling Iraqi sun to hear brigade commander Col. Michael Shields talk about their extended tour.

“Our influence down here is already being felt,” he said. “Your reputation from Mosul is known here. They understand you will hunt terrorists down.”

The 4th Infantry Division’s Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling also attended, to thank returning soldiers and to pass out free phone cards. The 4th ID has operational control of all troops in the Baghdad area.

“I just want to say thanks for coming back,” he told the crowd. “When the nation called for the best, they called for you.”

For the most part, soldiers in the fairly subdued crowd said they would rather be home, but were committed to their duty as soldiers.

“I’m willing to be here as long as I have to be, so my son doesn’t have to be here,” said Sgt. Joe Lopez, 22, of Grand Prairie, Texas.


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