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'Arctic Wolves' head home from Iraq

Nov-27-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

By Spc. L.B. Edgar, 7th MPAD

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 27, 2006) - The Arctic Wolves are returning to Alaska after 16 consecutive months of operations here.

The Soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team cased their colors in a Nov. 24 ceremony outside the Division Morale Welfare and Recreation complex. The ceremony marked the official end of combat operations for the unit deployed primarily from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and partially from Fort Richardson.

"The Arctic Wolves have accomplished a great deal in the last 16 months; successful partnership and COIN (counter insurgency) success in Northern Iraq, protecting the population and reducing the EJK (extra-judicial killing) violence in our focus areas of Baghdad," said Col. Mike Shields, brigade commander.

In accomplishing the mission, Shields said the 172nd suffered the loss of some great Soldiers. The unit lost 26 Soldiers and 350 were wounded in action, according to Maj. Michael Blankartz, brigade public affairs officer.

"It is time for one of the greatest brigades in our Army's history to case the colors and return home. We will never forget the sacrifices of our Soldiers, our families and our children," Shields said during the ceremony.

After 12 months of service in Northern Iraq, mainly Al Anbar, Rawaha and Mosul, the Arctic Wolves were ordered to Baghdad for an additional four months of service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 172nd spent the final 106 days of its deployment conducting combat operations in Baghdad.

"Just in support of Operation Together Forward (the last four months of the deployment), we cleared over 70,000 buildings in Baghdad," said Blankartz.

A return to their natural habitat of Alaska has been a long time coming for the Arctic Wolves.

"Hopefully our presence here brought a lot of organizations together so that we have a sense of what we need to do next, without sacrificing lives of Soldiers and Iraqis," said Staff Sgt. Yvonne Smith, a command group administrative assistant for the brigade. "It should be taken as a lesson learned. It's not the Strykers alone. It's engaging the people and showing them you are human."

Blankartz said the Arctic Wolves had five Silver Star Medal recipients and the pack received the Valorous Unit Award from Gen. George C. Casey, the commanding general of the Multi-National Force - Iraq, for its exceptional service.

"For the strength of the pack is the wolf," Shields quoted Rudyard Kipling to close the ceremony, "and the strength of the wolf is the pack."


Comments For "'Arctic Wolves' head home from Iraq":

To all of the men and women of the 172nd. Thank you for all that you have done. You truly help make america what it is. Welocme Home!

Posted by: 172ndwife [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 27, 2006 5:01 PM

i am glad my husband has landed safely at wainwright, i am looking forward to having him home for Christmas....thanks for all you great soldiers do and thanks to the families for the support and endurance. may the holiday season fill you with peace and love. keep praying for the other troops....GOD SPEED

Posted by: TE [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 27, 2006 6:33 PM

im so thankful that 1/4 of the guys and gals are home. soon my husband and the rest of the brigade will be back on american soil. fantastic job soldiers. you all deserve a hero's welcome. blessings to all those who lost their loved ones, your sacrifies are not forgotten. to the families of the soldiers, im just amazed how well we all as a group we all held our own and supported our troops we all deserve a pat on the back. blessings to all! enjoy your reunions!

Posted by: locksgal [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 27, 2006 7:19 PM

Thank God are soldiers are coming home. My Son said he should be home by the 28th. But all I care about is that him and his unit are finally out of harms way. We can all be so very proud for their accomplishments. They did alot of good over there. They are our hero's. But my heart goes out to the families of the one's who didn't make it. May God give them the strength to get through this. And our soldiers still need our prayers to get through what they've been through in Iraq. They are an amazing group of men. David can't wait to hear from you. Love to all of you.
Spc.Long's MOM

Posted by: teachernancy [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 27, 2006 10:14 PM

I thank God my son-in-law SFC Danny Lockaby and the rest of the 172nd are on their way home. Welcome home to the ones who have already arrived and to all the 172nd a big THANK-YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.Thanks to all of you we have the priviledge to be writing to you and the biggest THANKS OF ALL IS OUR FREEDOM TO DO ANYTHING WE CHOOSE THANKS TO YOU. I thank God times have changed to where there is welcome homecomings banners flags flying and someone appreciates what you have done.My husband and other Vets werent as lucky as you all are today during the Viet Nam War. Be thankful for all the greetings you will have by your loved ones, friends,neighbors and your community. You deserve it all you can get. You gave up 16 months of your lives without your families to try to give the same freedom to complete strangers who we all know some appreciated it and some are so brainwashed they'll never understand the sacrifices that you all made to try to give freedom to all of them. Once again THANKS SFC LOCKABY AND THE REST OF THE 172ND. I hope all of you wives families friends and community do your hearts best to welcome your soldiers back home. Danny we love you( Mom and Dad Ferguson)-WELCOME HOME WISH WE WERE THERE.
Our deepest sympathy and God's blessings go out to the families whos loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice. I know they had the best home coming of all for they are in God's hands and forever in your hearts.

Posted by: locs-m-in-law [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 27, 2006 10:41 PM

Welcome home to the 172nd. Thanks to each of you for your service and sacrifice for our country. May God bless each of you and your families. My sympathies and prayers for the families of the fallen soldiers of your unit. Six months to go before my stryker comes home. I am praying everyday.

Richard's stryker mom

Posted by: strykermom [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 28, 2006 9:09 AM

It's great to know that our heroes with the 172nd are arriving home finally. Welcome back! We are all grateful for the sacrifices made by all of you and your families. I know it has been very hard for the families of the soldiers that were extended, and especially for those of us that have lost a precious loved one in Iraq, or Afghanistan.If there are any members of the brigade, and especially the Sappers of the 562nd eng. co., that served with our son in Rawah and ,or Mosul,that could contact us upon your return to Wainright, if would be most apreciated. We would like to share about your time with our son, and if you have any photos of, or with him, we would love to see them. We have free long distance so if you can e-mail us a phone number, and a good time to call, that would be great. Our number is (813)884-5123, my e-mail is pbluck@yahoo.com, and our address is, 5455 Sweetwater Terrace Circle, Tampa, Florida. Also, any of his buddies that have an oportunity to visit us in Florida are welcome at any time. Bryans' wife Catherine, gave birth to their only child on October the 12th. She named him Bryan Christian Luckey Junior, in honor of his dad. I know Bryan is proud of them both as he looks down from Heavens' Brigade.He likes to eat and sleep alot, just like his dad. We teased Bryan when he came home at the end of January that he needed to get started on his family, since his younger brother already had two boys. Well it worked, and what a blessing he left us.

Please keep Catherine,our family, the families of the other soldiers that gave the ultimate sacrifice in duty to their GOD and country, as well as our other son, Sgt. Matthew Christian Luckey, serving his second tour in Iraq with the U.S. Marines, in your prayers.We love and thank GOD daily for you all.

Again welcome home, and we are so proud of you all!

In CHRIST' Love:
Patrick Bryan Luckey

Posted by: pbluck [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 30, 2006 4:40 PM

A correction for my e-mail address, to the post above, from pbluck. It is pblucke@yahoo.com. Sorry. Again, wecolme back, and GOD Bless. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a great Happy New Year.

Patrick Bryan Luckey

Posted by: pbluck [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 1, 2006 8:46 AM

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