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TFBOB Press Release
MOSUL, Iraq – Local Iraqi workers completed construction on two in-ground swimming pools and a sports facility Monday in Mosul, just in time for the hottest months of the year.
The Mosul Olympic Committee, in conjunction with the 172nd Brigade Support Battalion, arranged for local contractors to make the repairs last month to promote sports among Iraqi children.
The sports complex includes a gymnasium and outdoor stadium, which were repainted and repaired. The pools are open to the public for a fee of 15 cents per swimmer, much cheaper than any other public pool in Mosul.
Link to Press Release
MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS – IRAQ
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, CAMP VICTORY
JUNE 30, 2006
TIKRIT, Iraq -A Soldier from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team died Thursday from small arms fire in Mosul.
The deceased Soldier’s name is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
Link to Full Article
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — The newly arrived 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment will partner with the German army’s 12th Panzer (Tank) Brigade — a union that will see the units train alongside each other, share training areas and build personal and professional relationships.
A total of 25 2nd Cav soldiers joined several hundred 12th Panzer troops for a march through the countryside around Amberg on Thursday that included Christian prayer and hymn. The bulk of the 6,000-man German unit is deployed to Kosovo and due to return home in the fall, said Bernd-Dieter Koslowski, 12th Panzer Brigade rear detachment commander.
DVIDS has a couple new photo albums featuring the 172nd conducting operations in and around Mosul recently.
Written by Staff Sgt. Brian Speach
MOSULl, Iraq (June 26, 2006) --As Coalition Forces help rebuild Iraq, basic medical care, and medical supplies for Iraqi people is still an on-going concern. 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Striker Brigade Combat Team addresses this issue on a regular basis.
Helping the Iraqi people take care of basic medical issues is a concern for coalition forces to help stop the spread of disease and to get residents to understand that being healthy is important.
Link to Full Article
Army News Service
Washington D.C. - The Land Warrior and Mounted Warrior Soldier Systems are under operational assessment at Fort Lewis, Wash., by the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.
The U.S. Army Infantry Center conducted a side-by-side comparison between Land Warrior-equipped Soldiers and currently equipped Soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., in late 2004[...]
Link to Full Article
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
VILSECK, Germany — Spaghetti ice cream is one of the European culinary delights 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment soldiers learned about during Head Start classes at Vilseck Elementary School this week.
“We tell them it is frozen spaghetti but actually it is just vanilla ice cream that we put through a press so it looks like spaghetti,” explained Head Start teacher Nina Kuhn, one of a group of instructors running 10 classes a week at the school for 3,500 2nd Cav troops, who started to arrive here in bulk from Fort Lewis, Wash., this week.
Written by Sgt. Ryan Matson and Sgt. Joseph Scott
TALL’AFAR, IRAQ -- “This is an incredible team we have up here,” Maj. David Kramer, 1st Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade Executive Officer said.
Kramer was referring to Task Force No Mercy, a task force comprised of elements from 10 companies and six different Army units throughout the world who have pooled together at Tall Afar to support the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
Link to Full Story
By Claude D. McKinney
Gulf Region North
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Mosul, Iraq — Iraq is a desert. That should come as no surprise to anyone. However, Iraq is also blessed with water. Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, Iraq has more surface water than many of its neighbors. Because of the rich, fertile land along these waterways, most of Iraq’s population lives along the rivers. Unfortunately, this water is of little benefit to Iraqis who live in other parts of Iraq -- away from those life-giving flows. In Northern Iraq, many villages have never had flowing water. Now, another source of water has been found and tapped in this area -- an underground aquifer. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun a well initiative that is due to be completed in mid-summer 2006. At its completion, the initiative will create 49 wells to service 37 Northern Iraqi communities.[...]
Written by Spc. Lindsay Holguin
MOSUL, Iraq (June 23, 2006) -- Not many Soldiers can say that they perceive themselves as being a mentor or tutor for the people of Iraq, but for one infantryman in the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, that is exactly how he describes his job.
Staff Sgt. Melvin A. Clark, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment and native of Minneapolis, Minn. has served in all phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Written by Sgt. 1st Class Petiobone
MOSUL, Iraq (20 June, 2006) --Transfer of authority ceremonies are becoming common place in Mosul. This indicates a progression toward a more independent Iraq. 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division took command and control of more area of responsibilities from their U.S. counterparts, the 1st Bn., 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
The transition of authority took place at a soccer field near Forward Operating Base Marez.
By Capt. Patrick Shepherd, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
QAYYARAH WEST AIR BASE, Iraq (May 1, 2006) -- When a family is separated from their military children during a time of war, it usually takes months, or possibly years, for a father to see his son again. This holds true even throughout Iraq, where fathers and sons serve in the U.S. Armed Forces fighting the War on Terrorism during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Link to Full Article
By Michelle Cuthrell
One of the most physically noticeable changes about Fort Wainwright when the Stryker Brigade deployed last August were the signs.
Entering the front gate and traveling down Gaffney Road, drivers couldn't help but notice the hundreds of painted, printed, sewn and signed banners that hung from the gates of the sports field to the train tracks, and almost everywhere in between. They displayed words of support, messages of encouragement and most of all, symbols of love.
1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment trains at Yakima
By J.M. Simpson
SFC Pablo Castro was feeling pretty good about himself and his platoon when they reassembled in a shed on the Multi-Purpose Range Complex at the Yakima Training Center.
“Yeah, the training has been phenomenal,” said 1st Platoon, C Company’s leader as he sat down and removed his Kevlar. “What you just saw was a ‘deliberate attack’ exercise, and I think these guys did a pretty good job,” he added.
Link to Full Article
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The government said Wednesday it would provide free credit monitoring to millions of veterans whose personal information was stolen last month, and it acknowledged it was not close to catching those responsible.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said the agency would seek to protect veterans and military troops against identity theft after their names, Social Security numbers and birthdates were taken from a department data analyst's home on May 3.
Link to Full Article
By ANNE SUTTON, The Associated Press
JUNEAU -- Gov. Frank Murkowski spent two days this week in Iraq, where he had lunch with Alaska troops in Mosul, spent the night at a palace of deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in Baghdad and spoke with Iraqi vice president Tariq al-Hashimi about the Alaska Permanent Fund.
Speaking by telephone from Kuwait on Wednesday, Murkowski said he'd met with the 172nd Stryker Brigade in Mosul as well as members of the 423rd Infantry from Fort Richardson while in Kuwait.
Written by Spc. Yolanda Moreno Leon
MOSUL, Iraq (19 June 2006) --Before the game started, player on both sides were talking trash about who would win the final volleyball match featuring Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment against 1st Bn., 17th Inf. Rgt., of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
This isn’t the first time these to teams have met in a final match. This is the fourth time in a row that each team has met with 2n battalion coming out victorious each time.
Written by Spc. Yolanda Moreno Leon
MOSUL, Iraq (17 June 2006) -- Being away from family and friends for a year or more is tough for anyone, but being a deployed Soldier in a war zone and with limited contact with loved one raises it to a whole new level.
A Soldier uses any way possible to stay in touch with loved ones, phone calls, internet, but the most popular is still regular mail. Receiving a letter in the mail puts a smile on a Soldiers face and boosts morale.
For Soldiers of 3rd Platoon, 795th Adjutant General Company located on Forward Operating Base Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq, getting mail to Soldiers is a job they take seriously.
Link to Full Article
By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, Staff Writer
When Melissa Harmon asked her husband by phone last week if there was anything special he wanted when he returned from a year in Iraq, he had one request.
"The only thing he said is there better be a 12-pack of Killian's in the fridge," she said.
By Tuesday morning, the beer was chilling, the house was clean and Melissa and her 5-year-old son, Gavynn, had nothing to do but wait. Melissa hadn't told Gavynn his dad was coming home later that night.
And at 11 p.m., Staff Sgt. Craig Harmon, along with 178 members of the advance party of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team arrived in Fairbanks after nearly 12 months in the Middle East and the largest deployment of Alaska-based forces since Vietnam.
Link to Full Article
Daily News-Miner
About 50 U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Wainwright weren't about to let the Iraqi heat or their deployment prevent them from participating in the Midnight Sun Run.
So members of the 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery with the 172 Stryker Brigade Combat Team held their own 10 kilometer event early Friday morning in northern Iraq where it is deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The first 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers deployed to Iraq are expected to return tonight from Iraq.
The advance party of 150 to 200 soldiers is scheduled to arrive at Eielson Air Force Base late tonight and then be bused to Fort Wainwright Army Post around midnight to meet family members, although U.S. Army Alaska officials warn that travel plans for returning groups of soldiers can be unpredictable. The soldiers were slated to return last week but were delayed and it's possible travel plans could change again before this evening.
The advance team is the first of the soldiers from the brigade to return, assigned to take care of administration tasks and other duties in anticipation of the return of the rest of the soldiers. ...
Written by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone
MOSUL, Iraq (June 15, 2006) -- U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Kelly, commander, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright, Alaska and representatives from the Iraqi police, the Iraqi army, the Mosul director of municipalities and the Mosul Islamic Party held another on-going Regional Security Council meeting at the Mosul Social Club to discuss security and municipal concerns.
Iraqi Col. Tahha, new commander of 2nd Brigade, IA, addressed concerns of security and how there needs to be more cooperation from the Muktars, Sheiks and civilians in the city.
Winds of Change has published its weekly Iraq Report, with links to news and analysis of recent events.
Link to Full Article
By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, Staff Writer
The Midnight Sun Run has many fans, participants who have run the race each of its 24 years, people who come in costume or with family and friends. Groups like the students with Rural Alaska Honors Institute take part each year, as does a field artillery unit from Fort Wainwright, even if they're halfway around the world.
More than 3,000 participants were signed up by race time Saturday night, from more than 30 states. But this year the race also drew some international visitors along with the regulars.
Link to Full Article
By Shantell M. Kirkendoll
Area hospitals announced a new war mission Thursday: They are sending ice packs to troops in Iraq, where temperatures are consistently over 110 degrees and often near 130 degrees.
The effort began at the request of Sgt. Larry J. VanderMolen, 22, an Owosso soldier who said drivers in his Stryker unit would pass out from the heat. He called his mother, Julie Innes, a Lansing health care worker, to see what she could do.
(The following is an email from Steve Thorne, Scott's father.)
Dear Friends,
Every once in a while through this process, someone says something that puts things in a clear perspective. Such an occasion occurred today. I received an e-mail from a retired Marine friend who has met Scott on two occasions; once last July in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and this past weekend in Olympia, Washington. I couldn't help but notice how warmly Scott was greeted by John and thought he was just being nice (his usual state). Today, John shared his reasons and I thought you'd appreciate hearing them.
DVIDS has two new photo albums featuring the 172nd SBCT.
Presence Patrol in Mosul (Part One)
Presence Patrol in Mosul (Part Two)
Thanks to Murdoc for the links.
Written by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
MOSUL, Iraq (June 12, 2006) --A fallen comrade is honored during a memorial ceremony held at the community activity center on Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq June 12.
Soldiers and friends of 3rd Platoon, Charlie company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team gathered to praise 2nd Lt. John Vaughan who lost his life while on a combat patrol with his platoon.
Written by Spc. Yolanda Moreno Leon
MOSUL, Iraq (June 9, 2006) --Being in a combat zone for a year is a long time for anyone, Soldier or civilian. Imagine being there for 25 months.
One such civilian has done just that. She is in her 25th month and has not regretted one moment
Michelle McKinney works as a coordinator for the Morale, Welfare and Recreation center on Logistical Staging Area Diamondback located in Mosul, Iraq. McKinney is a native of Jacksonville, Fl., and has spent the last two plus years serving Soldiers at the recreation center.
Families of returning members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team will have to keep the "Welcome Home" banners rolled up for a few more days. The homecoming of the first wave of returning soldiers has been put off until June 20.
About 170 soldiers in the 172nd's advance team, which left Fort Wainwright a year ago ahead of the main brigade, originally were expected to arrive late Tuesday night at Eielson Air Force Base and be bused to Fort Wainwright to meet family members.
The main force will return in 11 flights beginning in late July and running through early August....
Link to Full Article
By MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, Staff Writer
The first 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team soldiers deployed to Iraq are expected to return tonight from Iraq.
The advanced party of 150 to 200 soldiers is scheduled to arrive at Eielson Air Force Base late tonight and then be bused to Fort Wainwright Army Post around midnight to meet family members, although U.S. Army Alaska officials warn that travel plans for returning groups of soldiers can be unpredictable....
Family members have confirmed the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
2LT John S. Vaughan, 23, of Edwards, Colo., died in Mosul, Iraq, on June 7, when he encountered enemy small arms fire during dismounted combat operations. Vaughan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow soldiers during this difficult time. We will add any subsequent articles we find to this entry.
Winds of Change has published its weekly Iraq Report, with links to news and analysis of recent events.
Link to Full Article
By Tom Infield
Inquirer Staff Writer
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Looking like little tanks on wheels, the 19-ton Stryker vehicles sit in a parking lot next to white, wooden buildings dating from World War II. Each carries a sign: "Student driver."
Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard are beginning to learn how to operate the newest and most advanced armored vehicle in the U.S. military.
Stars & Stripes has a Photo Series featuring soldiers from 4-23 INF, 172nd SBCT in Tal Afar, Iraq.
Written by Spc. Yolanda Moreno-Leon
MOSUL, Iraq (5 June, 2006) -- Being an infantry battalion squad leader can be challenging. It takes dedication and responsibility to lead Soldiers. It is a responsiblity that Staff Sgt. Jose Luis Cruz from Comerio, Puerto Rico takes seriously.
Cruz, a weapons squad leader with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, has been a squad leader for more than a year and a weapons squad leader for about three months.
Written by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Petibone
MOSUL, Iraq (5 June, 2006) -- In the Community Affairs Center on Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Iraq, Soldiers of Troop D, 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and civilians gathered to pay their last respects to fellow-Soldier, Benjamin E. Mejia.
Mejia served as an Unmanned Ariel Vehicle operator for the 172nd. “He was a critical member of the Dark Horse surveillance team,” said Lt. Col. Mark A. Freitag, commander, 14th Cav. “This UAV team has new Soldiers, new equipment, new tactics and most importantly, new opportunities. As a UAV pilot, Sgt. Mejia was part of a great team. Day in and day out he flew missions in support of this brigade.”
The following is a very in depth description of the coalition effort to find al-Zarqawi.
Link to Full Article
By Sean D. Naylor, Army Times
In the end, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi could not escape Task Force 145’s “unblinking eye.”
TF 145 is the latest name for the shifting collection of U.S. and British special operations units that has hunted the most wanted terrorist in Iraq for three years, and “the unblinking eye” is what its members call the fusion of intelligence and operations that allowed them to relentlessly peel away the layers of Zarqawi’s al-Qaida in Iraq organization until the terror mastermind was left defenseless and almost alone.
Link to Full Article
By BRAD RHEN, Lebanon Daily News
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP — The Army’s new Stryker vehicles have arrived.
Twenty-one of the vehicles are now at the Gap, where they are being fitted with cutting-edge communications equipment and are being used to train National Guard soldiers.
Link to Full Article
The Engineer Online
Mechanical engineers at Purdue University have teamed up with the US Army to design a portable test system to ensure the safety and readiness of the eight-wheel Stryker vehicle, a ground combat vehicle deployed in Iraq.
The system uses sound waves to detect damage to a key component in the vehicles' wheel assemblies.
Link to Full Article
Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida leader in Iraq who waged a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and beheadings of hostages, has been killed in a precision airstrike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Thursday. It was a long-sought victory in the war in Iraq.
Al-Zarqawi and seven aides, including spiritual adviser Sheik Abdul Rahman, were killed Wednesday evening in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baqouba, officials said.
Written by 101st Airborne Division (AA) PAO
MOSUL, Iraq – A ribbon cutting ceremony was held by Iraqi police to re-open their northeast police station in Mosul June 4.
The station had been closed since 2003 because of numerous anti-Iraqi forces attacks that originally caused the IPs to abandon it.
The original station had been so badly attacked that the local IPs had to move down the street to an outpost, while the original station was rebuilt.
“The opening ceremony marked a re-opening of a police station that was once destroyed and now fully manned with police officers who’ve come back to work,” said 1st Lt. Michael McCasland, battalion assistant effects coordinator, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, who attended to ceremony.
Written by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
MOSUL, Iraq (June 4, 206) --Four Representatives from Congress were greeted by Maj. Gen. Thomas Turner, Task Force Band of Brothers commanding general at Logistical Staging Area Diamondback, Mosul, Iraq June 4th.
The representatives arrived in Mosul to receive a status update on the 2nd Division of the Iraqi army and to spend lunch with individual Soldiers from their home states.
Written by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle
QAIRAWAN, Iraq (June 3, 2006) -- During the month of May, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted medical training for Iraqi police officers in Qirawan, Iraq.
The purpose of the training was to increase or refresh the basic medical knowledge of local Iraqi policemen. This knowledge and training will enable the IPs to treat their own casualties and increases their survivability in the fight against the insurgency.
Link to Full Article
By Don Kramer, Northwest Guardian
Two respected military units conducted a joint reflagging ceremony at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Gray Army Airfield.
The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division deactivated to be reflagged as 2nd Cavalry Regiment; 2nd Cav., in turn, joined the 2nd Infantry Division, activating as the Indianhead Division’s 4th Brigade.
Link to Full Article
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Personal data on about 2.2 million active-duty military and Guard personnel - not just 50,000 as initially believed - were among those stolen from a Veterans Affairs employee last month, the government said Tuesday.
VA Secretary Jim Nicholson said the agency was mistaken when it said over the weekend that up to 50,000 Navy and National Guard personnel - and no other active-duty personnel - were affected by the May 3 burglary.
Kathy had added a number of new photo albums to her site, which is dedicated to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 172nd. Be sure to stop by if you have loved ones with "The Arctic Wolves".
3/2’s deployment ceremony filled with emotion
J.M. Simpson
Lt. Gen. James Dubik’s voice filled with emotion as he addressed the soldiers, family members and friends of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division during its deployment ceremony.
“We’re sending off thousands of people to war,” I Corps and Fort Lewis’ commander said after the ceremony. “It should be an emotional event,” he added.
Written by Staff Sgt. Brian Speach, 138th Mobile Public Affairs
Dahuk, Iraq, (May 30, 2006) –Brigadier General Muthafer Tahir Al-Morori received the Order of Saint Maurice during a ceremony in Dahuk, Iraq, May 30.
Muthafer has been instrumental in the war on terrorism in Northern Iraq as the commander Iraqi Army’s Fourth Brigade.
Muthafer is retiring from the IA with several years of service, the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team wanted to honor him for his dedication to democracy.
Written by 101st Airborne Division (AA) PAO
MOSUL, Iraq – In a ceremony held June 1 at the 3rd Iraqi Army Division Headquarters in Al Kisik, 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army assumed command from 4th Bn., 23rd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Bde. Combat Team over areas in western Ninewah.
This event marked a pivotal moment in the security of Iraq as this IA battalion joins two others in western Ninewah in taking complete control of their own area of operation.
After demonstrating their ability to plan and execute complex missions independently, they were more than ready to assume the mission.
This battalion is now fully responsible for counterinsurgency operations within their area of operation and for the safety and security of the Iraqi people.
Written by Sgt. 1st Class Steve Petibone
MOSUL, Iraq (June 3, 2006) -- In the Community Affairs Center at Forward Operating Base Marez’s, Mosul, Iraq, Soldiers of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat team, and Headquarters and Headquarters Company Medical Platoon, and civilians gathered to pay their last respects to Cpl. Jeremy M. Loveless, combat medic, HHC Med. Plt.
“We all claimed Jeremy as our Doc,” said Lt. Col. Charles Webster, commander, Task Force 2-1. “The loss of a medic is not supposed to happen. “Medics save lives
Written by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle, 138th MPAD
QARA QOSH, IRAQ (May 31, 2006) -- Having the basic necessities in life like water and electricity are important to all people, no matter where you live in the world.
If you live in Qara Qosh, Iraq, having the basic necessities is limited, and there are many needs to satisfy.
That is where the U.S. Army comes in, Soldiers of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, along with the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, recently completed a village assessment to find out exactly what the village needs.
Written by Sgt. 1st Class Steve Petibone, 138th MPAD
MOSUL, IRAQ (May, 31 2006) -- Soldiers count on a lot if items for their protection, but none as valuable as a good set of eyes. For 1st Lt. Anthony Aguilar, platoon leader, Company C, Task Force 2-1, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, this became a matter of life or death while on a routine combat patrol last February.
As his company was moving through Mosul, an unusually large Improvised Explosive Device detonated, sending a bomb-fragment that struck his glasses and knocked them off his face.
Link to Full Article
By Spc. Rick Phelps, U.S. Army
CAMP SLAYER, Iraq
Fewer than seven months after a sniper ended his stepson's life, Spc. Timothy VanDruff of Rossville and formerly of Tonganoxie, who is currently deployed to Iraq with 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, attached to Multi-National Division -- Baghdad, opened up about his son's life and death and maintaining focus while in the country where his son paid the ultimate price.
October 19, 2005, is a day VanDruff says he will never forget.
Link to Full Article
ADAM LYNN; The News Tribune
Several thousand people gathered on the tarmac of Gray Army Airfield at Fort Lewis on Friday to watch soldiers of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division pack their battle standards for the unit’s second trip to Iraq in three years.
The ceremony was mostly symbolic. The brigade’s nearly 4,000 troops don’t begin leaving for their yearlong stay in northern Iraq for a couple more weeks.
But the emotions were real.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Benjamin E. Mejia, 25, of Salem, Mass., died in Marez, Iraq, on May 31, of non-combat related causes. Mejia was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones he leaves behind. We will add any articles we find to this entry.
Link to Full Article
By MELANTHIA MITCHELL / Associated Press
Grace Collazo huddled in the rain under a large red and white umbrella, scanning an airfield where thousands of soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division stood for a deployment ceremony Friday.
"Daddy's coming mommy. Daddy's coming," the 4-year-old said, unable to identify her father, Sgt. Edwin Collazo, among the brigade's seven battalions that will soon leave for their second tour in Iraq.
"See the yellow flag over there baby, see the yellow flag?" Julie Collazo said, directing her daughter to the right. "That's where daddy is."
Link to Full Article
By Christian Hill, The Olympian
FORT LEWIS - The Army post won't be the only thing the second Stryker Brigade Combat Team leaves behind as it moves to Germany this summer.
The 3,600-member brigade received a new name Thursday during a rain-drenched ceremony.
The move and name change are part of the Army's reorganization to increase the number of active-duty combat brigades, and it didn't have to look far to find a new moniker. The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, became the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
By Master Sgt. Denise Slater, 138th MPAD
MOSUL, IRAQ (May 28, 2006) --Soldiers from Forward Operating Base Marez started lining up three hours in advance to get a good seat for the appearance by Toby Keith on his yearly United Service Organizations tour.
As the temperatures neared 100 degrees, Morale, Welfare and Recreation personnel passed out water to cool the crowd, and pulled out as many folding chairs as they could to make room in the MWR tent.
Link to Full Article
David Nichol, T-H Staff Writer
It started with an article on an online bulletin board called "Stryker Battalion News."
Brad and Rush Beavers read it, because their son drives a Stryker vehicle -- described as heavier than a Bradley, but lighter than a tank. Presently, their son B.J. is driving that vehicle in Mosul, Iraq.
The article asked for something that may surprise some folks. It asked for ice. Stryker drivers occasionally pass out from the sheer heat. The actual answer was not ice as it turned out, but chemical cold packs.
Michael Yon, who covered the 1/25 SBCT extensively from Mosul last year, provides a new update on the status of Walt Gaya. It's a must read.
SGT Gaya was previously the subject of a profile by Associated Press reporter Antonio Castaneda.
Link to Full Article
MICHAEL GILBERT, The News Tribune
The 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division is on its way out of Fort Lewis, headed for Germany – and it’s taking the identity of one of its sister units with it.
At a ceremony today, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the oldest continuously serving regiment in the U.S. Army, will surrender its name, colors and lore to the 1-25 in a reflagging ceremony at Fort Lewis.