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By Maj. Sean J. Ryan 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – It’s not unusual for Soldiers
of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division to receive daily mortar fire or hear
the explosions of detonating devices outside the walls of this small compound located
within Sadr City, but receiving three distinguished visitors in one week is out of the
ordinary.
The distinguished guests included Gen. George W. Casey, the commanding
general of Multi-National Force-Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commanding
general of Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Brig. Gen. John F. Campbell, the deputy
commanding general-maneuver for Multi-National Division – Baghdad. Casey visited on
Christmas morning, with Campbell coming in later that night. Odierno visited the FOB
six days prior.
Casey’s visit started off with a 20-minute operational brief that included the
leadership of both the 2nd BCT commander and the commander of the 2nd Infantry
Division’s 3rd “Arrowhead” Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The Stryker Brigade is
currently conducting operations with the 2nd “Strike Force” Brigade for the first time in
over 40 years. The 2nd and 3rd Brigades first fought together during World War I and
later reunited in Korea during the 1960s.
Casey also spent time with Soldiers in the dining facility for breakfast
Christmas morning, signing posters commemorating the brigade’s joint operation and
presenting 15 coins to grateful recipients.
One of the recipients was Sgt. Benjamin Clemmons, a native of Sacramento,
Calif., and team leader for Company B, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment.
A day earlier, Clemmons was on a clearing mission looking for insurgent
snipers with his team. Clemmons was on the roof of an apartment complex when he
was struck in the head by a sniper’s bullet. Coincidentally, it was the same sniper his
team was looking for while on patrol.
Clemmons said he turned his head to let his Soldiers waiting on the stairs to
come up onto the roof with him, when the bullet entered the side of his Kevlar and
exited out the back.
Clemmons first thought was, “I can’t believe I just got shot in the head!”
Clemmons said his Soldiers witnessed the debris from the Kevlar flying out of
the back and side of the helmet and assumed he was a dead man. But Clemmons
received a only small flesh wound to his skull. He was treated, and fortunately was able
to return to duty within a day.
He’s been tabbed the luckiest Soldier in the brigade.
Casey asked Clemmons what he thought of the equipment that saved his life
as the Kevlar is not made to withstand a sniper’s bullet.
“Sir,” Clemmons said, “obviously in this case, it worked.”
Later the same night, Campbell visited and also received an operational brief
before joining the Soldiers in the dining facility for dinner. Campbell walked around and
greeted all the Soldiers eating and asked how operations are going.
Earlier in the week, Odierno received a brief in the TOC and also handed out
some coins to deserving Soldiers. He said the mission of the Strike Force was in the
most contested, sensitive and political areas within Iraq. He urged the brigade to set the
conditions to allow local officials and security forces to start taking their country back.
Having so many distinguished visitors in such a short time was a morale boost,
according to one Soldier, even if it meant more work for him, personally.
“I think it’s great and it means a lot to Soldiers to see that the top brass care,”
said Master Sgt. Mark Mansfield, 2nd BCT’s senior food operations supervisor. The
Las Vegas native oversees the care of visiting dignitaries. “It has a tremendous impact
on them and leaves a positive impression of the command.”