SPC Cody Lee Lamb
Several news outlets have confirmed the death of SPC Cody Lee Lamb, who passed away at his parents' home in Tennessee during his mid-tour leave. Lamb was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow soldiers.
Related:
East Tennessee soldier dies at home on leave from Iraq - WVLT TV
Alaska-based soldier dies at parent's Tenn. home - The Associated Press
Memorial planned for soldier - The Associated Press
Fort Wainwright memorializes soldier - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Election Preparation
Stars & Stripes outlines some of the preparations soldiers from the 1/25 SBCT are making for upcoming elections in the Diyala Province.
U.S. Army Lt. Drew Holt, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, estimated that only half of the residents in Mandali know where and when to vote. He said improving the flow of election information is part of the U.S. outreach effort.The criticism from townspeople, while highlighting the economic devastation wrought by years of war, also shows a strengthening democratic dialogue, said Staff Sgt. Brian Bailey.
"The people complain, but that’s good … They’ve got the right to do so, which means they’ve got a right to change things," he said. [...]
U.S. troops stress that they will have a background role in the elections, in contrast to 2005, when they ferried transported ballots and protected polling places.
Related:
Strykers join Iraqi soldiers in providing election day security - Daily News Miner
Air Assualt Exercise
The Northwest Guardian has a article describing a recent air assault exercise conducted by soldiers from the 2-3 INF, 3/2 SBCT.
Aviators from the the 4th Squadron, 6th Air Cavalry Regiment assisted Stryker Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment Jan. 20 with aircraft familiarization and other aviation-related tasks.In the crisp morning air, Soldiers from B Company hastily exited a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with weapons at the low ready securing an area that could possibly be crawling with enemy insurgents.
Although just a field exercise, the training the Soldiers received will prepare them for upcoming missions.
Military Family
The Lebanon Daily News has a nice column written by Cindy Small, whose husband, son and son-in-law all deployed with the 56th SBCT.
The 56th Stryker Brigade was created, and we knew that activation for deployment was in the future. So, I prepared the best I could for this, wishing my husband could retire instead of going to Iraq. (He will be eligible while he is in Iraq).So, on Sept. 19, I kissed my husband good-bye, and on Sept. 22, I said good-bye to my son and my son-in-law. Yes, all the men in our family are with the Stryker Brigade. My husband is with Co. B 328 BSB from Philadelphia; my son in law is with Co. C 1/111 Infantry Batallion from Kutztown. Our son, Tom Jr., is attached to that unit, and it is comforting to know he is with his brother-in-law.
Seven weeks before he was deployed, my son and his wife separated. I not only take care of my house, bills and cars, but I am in charge of his house, cars and bills. I did nothing but cry for several weeks as the stress was 150 percent. Our daughter ended up supporting me and helping me get organized to deal with the extra things I must do. She knew I was upset about her brother and worried about his state of mind. The guys are so patriotic that my son refused to be removed from the list to stay home. My son-in-law has a flag tattooed on his back, and their home phone rings a patriotic song. We both have the “blue-star flag” proudly displayed in our window and tell everyone about “our boys.”
Advance Party Returns
The first elements of the 2/25 SBCT are returning home to Hawaii. We hope to see many more stories like this in the near future. Congratulations on a job well done.
- Stryker brigade is returning from Iraq - Honolulu Star-Bulletin
- Troops return to Schofield after 15 months in Iraq - Honolulu Advertiser
- Hawaii Stryker brigade makes way home - ArmyTimes.com
DoD News Briefing with Col. Mccaffrey from Baghdad
The commander of the 2/25 SBCT, Col. Todd Mccaffrey, gave a press briefing today from Iraq. You can read the entire transcript at the DoD website. Excerpt:
Good morning. I appreciate the opportunity today to comment on the situation, as we see it, in our area of operations, and discuss some of the progress we've seen, over nearly 14 months, and then to answer your questions. Our brigade operates on the northwest side of Baghdad, from the town of Tarmiya in the north, along the Tigris River, and then stretching southwest to Abu Ghraib on Baghdad's west side. The area, while of mixed sectarian background, is principally Sunni and it's generally rural. Over the last 14 months, we've seen a remarkable drop in violence, and a corresponding development of economic growth and Iraqi security force capabilities. And as you all are very much aware, we find ourselves poised on historic provincial elections later this week. In my mind, being here to watch the Iraqis conduct these elections is a perfect conclusion to this tour, and marks an important milestone on this nation's continuing development in democracy and freedom for its people. While the upcoming elections are a culmination of our tour, there has been much progress that's brought us to this point. And I'd like to comment on a couple of major changes we've seen over the last several months and our continuing priorities as we look toward passing our area off to another coalition force element next month.
IP, SoI degrade IED cell in Tarmiyah
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Police officers and members of the Sons of Iraq thwarted an improvised-explosive device attack and arrested five suspected terrorists Jan. 24 during a joint operation in Tarmiyah, northwest of Baghdad.
IP and SoI apprehended two suspects attempting to emplace explosive devices that were strapped to a bicycle near a funeral site.
After questioning the suspects, IP and SoI were led to a nearby cache containing propaganda, magnets, timers, homemade explosives, mortar fuses and batteries.
The suspects also led the IP and SoI to a site suspected of housing other members of the IED cell where three more individuals were arrested.
Their combined efforts to proceed on actionable intelligence helped to remove five suspected terrorist off the streets, three of which were accused of killing Lt. Col. Ismail on Jan. 23, the leader of the IP force in Tarmiyah.
“The degradation of this cell is a clear victory for the Iraqi Security Forces in Tarmiyah and a demonstration of their increasing ability to ensure security and stability for the local population,” said Col. Todd McCaffrey, commander, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
All suspects are currently in the custody of the IP and Coalition forces disposed of the munitions.
Heading North
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the 56th SBCT is preparing to head into Iraq from Kuwait soon.
More than 4,000 soldiers from Pennsylvania have spent four months training in Mississippi and Louisiana. After a brief trip home for Christmas, they are moving in stages to Kuwait and then Iraq. Pennsylvania has the National Guard's only Stryker unit. All the brigades using the armored fighting vehicle are part of the regular Army.When about 2,000 soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team deployed in 2005, it represented the largest deployment to a combat zone since World War II, but a noncombat deployment during the Korean War was larger. Capt. Cory Angell, public affairs officer for the unit, said the 4,000 soldiers in this deployment make it the largest of any type of deployment since World War II.
Most of the 56th Stryker Brigade is based in central and eastern Pennsylvania, but several soldiers from the western half of the state volunteered to fill gaps in other units, he said.
"Every National Guard unit across Pennsylvania has members in this brigade," he said.
Operations in Diyala
Stars & Stripes checks in with troops from 1/25 SBCT operating in Diyala Province.
First Lt. Thomas Maney said he distrusts anyone in town who stayed despite the insurgent threats."It’s because they’re al-Qaida or supporters of them," said Maney, of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.
The unit, like thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq, occupies a battlefield that lurches between violence and calm during these murky latter days of the war.
As in much of Iraq these days, actual battles are almost unheard of in Diyala. But bombs — under roads, in cars, even on bicycles — still lurk. Insurgents have retreated to the shadows, but there’s a palpable unease about their ability to re-emerge. American troops work daily with Iraqi security forces, with Iraqis ostensibly leading or at least approving all missions, but often don’t trust them enough to share sensitive information.
The soldiers now find themselves trying to stimulate local economies and mediate sectarian disputes. Just figuring who’s on whose side can be dizzying.
Profile: Spc. David Denson
The Honolulu Advertiser has a nice profile of Spc. David Denson.
ISTAQLAL, Iraq Overcoming challenges and defying the odds is nothing new to Spc. David Denson.The 37-year-old infantryman with Multi-National Division Baghdad's Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, currently attached to the 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., has spent his life doing what others said that he couldn't do.
Those people said this Oceanside, Calif., native, couldn't surf the Southern Californian waves with the professionals. However, Denson dedicated his young life to surfing. He surfed hard and began his professional surfing career riding for the Hobie, Life's a Beach, Body Glove and Rip Curl surf teams.
IA, IP, MND-B Soldier seize weapons cache in Baghdad
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi policemen, Iraqi Army soldiers and MND-B Soldiers seized weapons caches in the Baghdad area Jan 22-23.
With a tip from a local citizen, policemen serving with the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st National Police Division discovered a cache on a rooftop in the New Baghdad district of Baghdad at approximately 3 p.m. Jan. 22. The weapons included seven 60mm high explosive mortar rounds with fuses, a 60mm mortar round, three 85mm heat rocket PG-7s, a 85mm heat rocket, two 70mm heat rocket PG-7Ms, a 9mm weapons slide, two 60mm mortar tubes, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and a training RPG launcher.
Acting on a tip, Iraqi Army soldiers serving with 4th Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and MND-B Soldiers serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., found a cache that contained approximately 33 pounds of explosive material at approximately 12:14 p.m., west of Baghdad. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the explosives on site.
Iraqi Army soldiers serving with 4th Bn., 24th Bde., 6th IA Div., working alongside MND-B Soldiers serving with Company C, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., discovered a cache at approximately 1 p.m. northwest of Baghdad. The seized munitions consisted of 27 130mm projectiles.
Iraqi Army soldiers serving with 4th Bn., 24th Bde., 6th IA Div., working in with MND-B Solders serving with Company A, 1st Bn., 21st Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., uncovered a cache that contained a rocket launcher, three 122mm projectiles, 14 hand grenades and approximately 300 pounds of explosive material at approximately 3:15 p.m. west of Baghdad. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the munitions on site.
Embedded with the Golden Dragons
Update 01/26: Here's one more from Tritten.
Travis J. Tritten with Stars and Stripes has a few new articles featuring the 2/25 SBCT.
- Meal with a sheik seals friendship
- Piecing together a battered Iraqi city
- Bombings drop as security tightens in Abu Ghraib
Stryker Vehicle Use Expanding
According to an article in the Ledger-Inquirer, a Ft. Benning unit will be the first non-Stryker unit to deploy with a small fleet of the Stryker vehicle it will use for MedEvac purposes.
Fort Benning’s 3rd Brigade is the Army’s first heavy combat team to employ the Stryker Medical Evacuation Vehicle.The Army’s first armored vehicle since the Bradley came aboard in the 1980s, the Stryker, which is named for two Medal of Honor recipients, may also be its most versatile combat machine.
Its chassis’ modular design supports a wide range of variants, prime of which is the Infantry Carrier Vehicle. While it can be configured to serve at least eight purposes, from fire support to mortar carrier, the version the 3rd Brigade is receiving is the armored ambulance.
“We’ll begin about two to two and a half months of training with four of the brigade’s battalions,” said Faatau Togia, the supervisor for Operational New Equipment Training, the group which will train personnel from the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Battalion; the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment; the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion; and the 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment.
(via FOB Tacoma)
Stryker in Afghanistan?
FOB Tacoma provides analysis of a recent AP article that raised the possibility of sending a Stryker brigade to Afghanistan.
A Stryker brigade could receive orders this month to deploy to Afghanistan, the Associated Press reports.The story focuses on how the new Obama administration and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will handle increasing troop levels in Iraq. More Marines are expected to go, but the story makes it clear a Stryker brigade isn’t a certainty.
From the story: “Their challenge, however, is to get troops out into the hundreds of tiny villages in the volatile southern region, where the Taliban insurgency has been centered. To do that, Gen. David McKiernan, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has asked for more mobile forces and believes the Strykers will allow soldiers to move more easily along the rugged trails to the widely dispersed tribal enclaves.”
Christmas Party
This is a bit after the fact, but we wanted to link to an article featuring a Christmas party for B CO, 2-112 INF, 56th SBCT organized by its Family Readiness Group.
This was no ordinary Christmas party, but then again, these are no ordinary children.Perhaps the only visit these youngsters are looking forward to more than Santa is the brief return of their fathers - the men of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Styker Brigade Combat Team - who are training in Louisiana and leaving for the Middle East right after Christmas.
The company's Family Readiness Group, led by Hope Benning, sister of Spc. Brian Weaver, and Debi Lawson, wife of Sgt. Barry Lawson, hosted a Children's Christmas Party Sunday afternoon at the Frankstown Armory, complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus - riding in on a humvee filled with donated presents - donated food and a volunteer DJ.
IA, INP, MND-B Soldiers seize weapons caches
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi army Soldiers, Iraqi national policemen and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized weapons caches throughout Baghdad Jan. 20.
Policemen with 3rd Battalion, 7th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division working with Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment attached to 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division seized a 155 mm round and a 130 mm round in the Rashid area of Baghdad at approximately 11:10 a.m.
Policemen serving with 1st Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division working with Soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regt., 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division seized five OG7 rockets, a 120 mm mortar fuse, two blasting caps and initiators in the Rashid area of Baghdad at approximately 12:25 p.m.
Later at approximately 1 p.m., a tip from an Iraqi citizen led Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 53rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division working with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, to seize a 125 mm projectile, a 130 mm projectile and two 152 mm projectiles near Taji north of Baghdad.
Photos: 1/25 SBCT On Patrol
Bill sent us a link to a nice photo album featuring the 1-5 INF, 1/25 SBCT on patrol in Mufrek, Iraq.
56th SBCT Deploys
There are a couple new articles regarding the deployment of the 56th SBCT.
- Unit bound for Kuwait - GoErie.com
- Bulk of local Stryker unit to land in Iraq by next week - Meadville Tribune
MND-B Soldiers kick start sanitation program
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
JOINT SECURITY STATION SAB AL BOUR, Iraq – Cleaning up the streets of Sab al Bour is a priority for the city.
To help get the mission done, Iraqi Police from the Sab al Bour IP station, along with Soldiers from Troop B, 2nd Squadron 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, MND-B, helped local sanitation workers distribute trash cans along two of the busiest markets streets in Sab al Bour, northwest of Baghdad, Jan. 13 - 14.
A total of 500 trash cans were signed over from the local city officials to individual shop owners during the two-day span.
“I am proud of this,” said Iraq Police Pvt. Majeed, an IP assigned to the Sab al Bour IP station. “I live here and am so very proud of our clean streets.”
Soldier Profile
The Northwest Guardian has a nice profile of Capt. Chris Hallows, an officer with the 2-3 INF, 3/2 SBCT.
Saying Capt. Chris Hallows is an accomplished runner is to understate his achievements as such, especially since his arrival on Fort Lewis in February 2008.He has won every post race he has competed in, including the Pride Week 10K run, the Army Half Marathon, the Turkey Trot and the Santa Shuffle. He was also part of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment’s Super Squad team that won the military portion of the Sound to Narrows run last June.
In December, Hallows, 2-3 Inf.’s C Co. commander, placed eighth overall in his age group while running on the Fort Lewis 10-Miler team in Washington, D.C., that finished in second place by a mere five seconds.
ISF, MND-B Soldiers discover weapons caches, arrest suspected criminal
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers discovered weapons caches and arrest a suspected criminal in the Baghdad area Jan. 16.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Iraqi Army Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 24th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, working with Iraqi National Police from 5th Bde., 2nd NP Div., partnered with Company B, 1st Bn., 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, confiscated 18 AK-47 assault rifles while conducting clearing operations in the Saydiyah community.
Meanwhile at approximately 9:30 a.m., IA Soldiers from the 1st Bn., 24th Bde., 6th IA Div., partnered with Co. B, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, detained a suspected criminal in the Saydiyah community.
Iraqi Army Soldiers serving with 4th Battalion, 36th Brigade, 1st Iraq Army Division and Soldiers serving with Company B, 52nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, found a large cache north of Baghdad at approximately 11:45 a.m.
The cache consisted of eight 37 mm projectiles, 19 73 mm mortars, ten 60 mm mortars, three 82 mm mortars, a 75 mm rocket, two rocket propelled grenades, 200 12.7 mm rounds, 20 mortar primers, 200 7.62 mm rounds, a 155 mm projectile and a 60 mm warhead north of Baghdad.
Responding to a tip Soldiers from Troop C, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, partnered with 1st Bn., 3rd Abu Risha NP Bde., discovered two improvised explosive devices in an abandoned home in the Abu T’shir community at approximately 2:15 p.m.
Change of Command
According to Stars & Stripes the 2nd SCR, which returned from a long deployment last fall, was turned over to new leadership recently.
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — Senior officers who led the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment on a 15-month mission to Iraq from 2007 to 2008 said goodbye to their soldiers Tuesday at a change of command ceremony here.The outgoing 2nd Cav commander, Col. John S. RisCassi, handed over the regiment — which comprises more than 3,500 personnel stationed at Vilseck’s Rose Barracks — to Col. James R. Blackburn Jr.
At the same time, the commanders of the regiment’s six squadrons handed over duties to their replacements.
U.S. Army Europe commander Gen. Carter Ham, who handed the regimental colors to Blackburn, told 2nd Cav soldiers, families and community members that the brigade’s leaders did a good job on the recent Iraq mission.
56th SBCT Articles
Provided below are links to a few older articles sent by readers regarding the 56th SBCT. Thanks.
- Soldier grateful to be home for holidays - Altoona Mirror
- Lehigh Valley area Guardsmen get brief leave with families before heading to Iraq - The Morning Call
- National Guard unit will be home for Christmas - The Morning Call
1/25 SBCT Commander Interviewed
Col. Burt Thompson, commander of the 1/25 SBCT, recently conducted a press briefing from Iraq with lots of background on the brigade's activities. The full transcript is available at the DoD website.
I'll talk a little bit about the campaign plan. Since we arrived here, our primary effort was to maintain and establish security, a safe and secure environment. That's our critical enabler here in Diyala province. Governance is the primary line of effort for us here in Diyala, working closely with Governor Rah from the Diyala governance here and the provisional council. So we spend a lot of time -- as a matter of fact, my deputy commander is the primary-line- of-effort lead for the brigade in Diyala province. Next to that is essential services, reestablishment of and continuation of essential services in Diyala, on behalf of 1.2 million. And then close to that is economics, helping Diyala province spend three years' worth of budget. And we're working down the list of projects there that they could spend money on. The brigade basically has been partnering with the ISF security forces, Iraqi security forces, the army and police, for the past 60 days. There's four areas I'll highlight real quickly for you, and I'm sure you'll have some interesting questions then.
2/25 SBCT Operations
Travis J. Tritten with Stars and Stripes has two new articles featuring the 2/25 SBCT.
- Refugees return to transformed Saab al Boor, Iraq
- Iraqis learn the efficiency, complexity of U.S. logistics
Back to Basics
The Northwest Guardian has a nice article featuring the 2-12 FA, 4/2 SBCT.
The 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery got back to its roots during two weeks of field artillery training in December. The Vikings, recently returned from a 15-month deployment in Iraq, have been training rigorously to hone their core skills as artillerymen following a combat tour that saw them used in other ways.The 2-12 FA deployed to Iraq with the 4th Brigade from April 2007 to June 2008.
As part of the “Surge” strategy, the battalion was employed as a provisional infantry unit in Northern Baghdad and the volatile Diyala Province. The artillerymen exchanged their howitzers for rifles and patrolled the streets, earning distinction within the brigade as an effective land-owning unit.
MND-B Soldiers seize weapons caches throughout Baghdad
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army Soldiers, Iraqi policemen, Sons of Iraq and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized weapons caches in Baghdad Jan. 6 - 8.
Sons of Iraq members seized 19 57 mm projectiles in Baghdad’s Tarmiyah area Jan 6. They transferred the projectiles to the local Iraqi Police.
Iraqi Army Soldiers serving with the 4th Battalion, 36th Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, and Soldiers serving with Company B, 52nd Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Troop, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, discovered a cache that contained two 155 mm projectiles, a 107 mm rocket, 17 57 mm rockets, 12 60 mm mortars, two 60 mm mortar tubes, 12 rocket-propelled grenades, approximately 8,000 rounds of various calibers of small arm ammunition, 12 blasting caps, a radio and 200 feet of detonation cord at approximately 1 p.m. Jan 7, north of Baghdad.
At approximately 11:15 a.m. Jan. 8, Soldiers with 4th Battalion, 36th Brigade, 9th Iraq Army Division working with Soldiers from Company B, 52nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division working on a tip from a local citizen seized four 60 mm rockets and three warheads in Baghdad’s Al-Raood area.
Approximately an hour later at 12:30 p.m., Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division seized a 107 mm rocket, a bag of improvised explosive making materials and an assortment of small arms near Taji north of Baghdad Jan 8.
Udaim River Valley Patrol
An album featuring the following photo was forwarded by a reader. View other recent Stryker-related photo albums at the DVIDS website.
Photo Caption: U.S. Army Sgt. Steven Mason from Grayson, Ga., of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division looks around a cliff in the Udaim River Valley, Dec. 11, 2008. The U.S. Army is partnering with the Iraqi army to clear the Udaim River Valley and disrupt al Qaida networks and weapons caches in the Diyala province of Iraq.
Weapons cache found in Diyala
Multi-National Division – North PAO
DIYALA, Iraq – Iraqi Army forces, working with Coalition forces, uncovered a weapons cache west of Beijat, in the vicinity of Shilba, Diyala province, Jan. 6.
The cache consisted of 65 rocket propelled grenade rounds, eight shotgun shells, five packages of explosives, three crush wires with battery packs and an automatic weapon.
“This represents another successful combined mission with Iraqi forces in the lead,” said Maj. Chris Hyde, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division spokesman.
Forum Down for Maintenance
A few users have still been experiencing issues with the forum even after our recent upgrade. Tonight while trying to make a few adjustments I made things worse. As a result I am going to bring the forum down until I can reinstall the software. I'll let you know when things are back up and running.
My apologies - this has been as frustrating for us as it has been for those users affected.
SBN Team
Update: We got everything installed again and working. Please let us know if you are still having issues.
Weapons cache found in Shilba
Diyala, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers in Reconnaissance Platoon, 18th Brigade, 5th IA Division, uncovered a weapons cache, after receiving a tip, in the vicinity of Shilba, Diyala province, Iraq, Jan. 5.
The cache consisted of six rocket-propelled grenade launchers, approximately 50 RPG warheads, a 130-mm round with fuse, a 122-mm rocket, approximately 50 miscellaneous rockets, a Dishka machine gun with several cases of rounds, detonation cord, improvised explosive device materials, small arms rifles with rounds and bipods, and three Iraqi Police blue vests.
“Finding this cache is especially significant for two reasons,” said Maj. Chris Hyde, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division spokesman. “First, this was an enormous cache and will certainly make a large dent in the enemy’s ability to project terror on the people of the region. Second, it was the Iraqi Army acting on their own who found this cache. This should send a message to insurgents and terrorists throughout the region that the government of Iraq has a good hold on the situation, and are consistently proving their validity and significant abilities.”
Lifeblood of Iraqi farms returns
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – For thousands of years, the people in the rural areas surrounding Baghdad relied on canals to distribute water from the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers to farms in the area. It is these farms which sustain the people and provide fresh food to the city.
Since the 1960s the irrigation infrastructure fell into disrepair due to lack of maintenance and illegal tapping, said Capt. Mark Gillman, an engineer assigned to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
When violence struck the Taji Qada, northwest of Baghdad in 2003, irrigation systems were further degraded and the people who lived and worked on the land suffered. The hardest blow to the infrastructure hit in 2007 when a mortar round destroyed Pump Station 1. This pump station lies directly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and pumps water to nearly all the farms along the canal systems.
2/25 Memorial
The Neighborhood Star has a nice story about the spouse of a deployed 2/25 SBCT soldier who is working to create a memorial for the brigade's fallen soldiers.
Elizabeth Severin has lived without her husband for a year since he was deployed to Iraq.While he tends to the wounded as a medic, Severin has found a way to contribute to the cause back home in Hawaii - the 2/25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team Memorial Association. The group is hard at work designing a memorial for the brigade's fallen, which will be unveiled this summer. [...]
When the brigade's memorial association approached Severin this summer about joining the board, she jumped at the chance. Severin designed the group's Web site, www.warriormemorial.com, and she's been hard at work planning fundraisers to reach the memorial association's $45,000 goal.
"I personally wouldn't be able to go over to Iraq, so this is one of the most important ways I can contribute," she said.
56th SBCT Prepares to Deploy
There are a number of articles regarding the upcoming deployment of the 56th SBCT.
- Pennsylvania's Stryker Brigade troops spend time with families before deployment - Lehigh Valley News
- Mission-minded soldiers to deploy soon - The Meadville Tribune
- Leave over for Iraq-bound Guard - Lebanon Daily News
- National Guard Soldiers Depart Waynesboro For Iraq Deployment - WHAG News
- Blair County Troops Head Overseas - WTAJ News
- National Guard's Jason Beltz will be 'taking my hometown with me' - Chambersburg Public Opinion
- Departing soldiers say goodbye - The Evening Sun
- Local Guard unit readies for deployment to Iraq - The Herald Standard
- Guard members savor holidays before deploying - The Associated Press
2nd SCR Sniper
The Daily News Tribune has a nice profile of a soldier, Spc. Michael Clark, who serves with the 2nd SCR.
Clark is part of the 3rd Squadron of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment based out of Vilseck, Germany. His unit, during the “surge,” made daily patrols in Baghdad, in al Dora and in Diyala, a province northeast of Baghdad.He found Baghdad less secure than the northern area.
“The outskirts of Baghdad were the last stronghold where there were Sunni fighting Shia and a lot of internal fighting. We did a lot of patrolling to help stabilize things and get the economy back in shape,” he said. “Once they saw that we helped get their markets opened, then we were treated better,” Clark said. “The sheiks and mokhtar tribal leaders welcomed us when they saw how we cleaned up their neighborhoods.”
Patrols were arduous. He carried gear weighing 40 to 50 pounds each day on patrol in temperatures that often exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Improvements in Mushada
Stars & Stripes has a long article on the security improvements in Mushada, where elements of the 2/25 SBCT have been operating for the past year.
Violence in Mushada and Tarmiyah along northwest Baghdad — greatly diminished over the past year — has recently turned from security forces toward individuals, largely targeting those still tangled in the al-Qaida networks that once terrorized the area, according to 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. [...]Fighting was intense when the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment — a Stryker battalion — moved into the area 13 months ago. But by early 2008, the local population was weary of the al-Qaida presence and a major offensive helped clear the group from the area, said Maj. Todd Woodruff, the battalion executive officer.
"It is hard to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t say they had a family member killed by al-Qaida," Woodruff said.
Today, the battalion has a variety of reconstruction success stories from Mushada and Tarmiyah.
IA, MND-B Soldiers find weapons caches west of Baghdad
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
BAGHDAD – Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers seized a large weapons caches north of Abu Ghuraib, west of Baghdad Dec. 30.
At approximately 10:46 a.m., IA Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 36th Brigade, 9th IA Division, along with Soldiers with Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, seized a large cache including 177 73 mm heat rockets, 19 73 mm projectiles, 119 rocket mortars, a 106 mm illumination mortar, an 82 mm mortar, three 40 mm projectile grenades, 20 120 mm mortar primers, six mortar fuses, 40 rocket point detonating fuses, 200 14.5 mm cartridges, a partially constructed improvised-explosive device, and a variety of bomb-making materials.
Later in the day, at approximately 1:20 p.m., soldiers from the same units seized 22 120 mm mortars and a 155 mm mortar north of Abu Ghuraib in west Baghdad.
