Stryker Brigade News

Iraqi Police reported finding an improvised explosive device last night in the Islah Zeral neighborhood on the west side of Mosul. A U.S. explosive ordnance disposal team assisted in destroying the device, with no injuries or damage to property.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Addressing the officials, Sanchez commented, “What you all represent here in the northern part of Iraq is security forces setting the perfect example for the rest of the country. The southern provinces and Mosul are close, but the northern provinces in Iraq have been the leaders in reestablishing security and freedom for the people.”

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation.

On Tuesday afternoon, he was scheduled to arrive any minute and meet his daughter, Ashley, for the first time. [...]

Cherry Capital was the scene of another wartime family reunion Tuesday.

Manejhae Worrell, 23, said her husband, Christopher Worrell, 30, was deployed to Iraq when his son was 6 weeks old and he had not seen the boy since, except for photos she sent via e-mail.

Worrell said she worried the 9-month-old would not remember his father.

"I know he knew us because we are his mother and father, but it's just hard because I don't know if he's going to remember him," she said.

That worry vanished when Christopher arrived to the obvious delight of his son, Justin.

Enjoy the time together!

As far as the Stryker vehicle is concerned, I have logged over 8,000 kilometers while in Iraq and love the vehicle to death. It has weathered roadside bombs and rocket-propelled grenades with minimal damage. [...]

Ask any soldier in the Stryker Brigade if they would trade in a Humvee for a Stryker and 100 percent would say "in a minute." The Stryker is the best vehicle in the Army, or the Armed Services, for the type of operations being conducted in Iraq.

It's worth reading in full.

Jed suffered severe damage to his face, arm and back, and has pieces of shrapnel in two parts of the right side of his brain. He underwent the first of a series of face reconstructive surgeries last week and is doing well, Jon Berman said. Jed is speaking more clearly than before, Jon said, is recalling events from his memory and is slowly regaining use of his left hand, which is controlled by the right side of his brain.

Piek reported that Berman was actually riding in the open hatch of a six-wheeled Fox vehicle when a nearby "vehicle that contained numerous explosives was detonated."

“I love American Soldiers. I want to help them in every way possible, because without them we (Iraqis) would have nothing,” said Logan, who also speaks Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish and is currently learning Spanish.

With tours with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division and the Stryker Brigade, when Logan enlists, he may be the most experienced private to ever join the Army.

(via DVIDS)

UPDATE: I just realized that this article was in one of The Coalition Scimitar newspapers we linked to. Oh well, many of you might not have seen it before.

“It’s important to me that we train them well, so they can defend themselves and their country when we leave.”

When asked why he works so hard to train a group of people he’s likely to never see again, he thinks about his wife, Cordelia, son, Dylan, and his parents, Bryan and Charllote Hess, who live in Merriville.
“I’m not trying to save the world,” he said. “I’m just trying to do what I can to reduce the terrorist threat to give my family a better future.”

(via DVIDS)

“We are not only responsible for being good stewards of taxpayers money, but good stewards of the environment,” Yakovac said. “It’s not glamorous, but we need to save the world for future generations’ use.”

The citation for the award credited Project Manager – Stryker with establishing an interagency environmental management team that significantly reduced the hazards materials used in building the Army’s newest combat family of vehicles and other environment-friendly features designed into the vehicles. Examples include a design that catches spent shell casings and another that traps fluids that are normally released to the environment.

Bush recognized Fort Lewis as the home of the first two Stryker brigades, the first of which is seven months into a yearlong deployment in northern Iraq. And he embellished a little bit of Stryker folklore.

At any rate, by the time the president told the story Friday, he'd added a Wild West twist - the "Ghost Riders" - in a line that got some of the loudest cheers of his speech.

Early this morning, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and knock operation in the Al Karama neighborhood and detained five people suspected of conducting attacks on Coalition forces and recruiting for the anti-Iraqi forces. The suspects are in custody and no soldiers were injured during the operation.

As of today, there are nine days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

In Mosul, Army Brig. Gen. Carter Ham, who leads a brigade of armored Stryker vehicles and other forces, said he expected that his troops would assume a much lower profile.

For U.S. troops in Iraq, the coming political change -- from occupying power to supporting partner -- is supposed to be accompanied by a major shift in military mission and tactics. While legally still authorized under a U.N. resolution to use "all necessary means" to ensure security in Iraq, U.S. commanders say they intend to reduce combat operations, concentrate on training and assisting Iraqi forces, and promote local governance and economic development.

The article continues, describing in depth the change.

UPDATE: Here's a version of the article that does not require registration.

Early this morning another IED was found by soldiers of the 293rd Military Police Company while on patrol in the Bab Al Beez neighborhood. The soldiers secured the site until an EOD team arrived and destroyed the device. No injuries were reported.

As of today, there are 10 days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

Soldiers from Fort Lewis’ I Corps headquarters deployed to Mosul in January to form the command and control headquarters for Task Force Olympia. Last November, the 5,000 soldier-strong 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), also from Fort Lewis, deployed to Iraq. The Stryker Brigade is in Mosul as the largest unit within Task Force Olympia.

With that, a quiet pause filled the battle coordination center in Mosul, the television news feed was clicked off, and the battle major said loudly, “Okay folks, time for our meeting.”

"This is the no-joke voice of Camp Freedom," Pierce belted out to open Friday's "I Love the '70s Lunch" broadcast, which will be burned to compact discs and sent to Camp Freedom.

"You could fit the amount of equipment required to broadcast FM in a trunk," Pierce said. "And the studio's probably not even a studio, but a five-disc CD changer plugged directly into a little transmitter that goes out 40 miles. Probably every major group over there has the capability.

Cool.

"It just doesn't sound like something people might say in Arabic," Goldberg said.

Army spokesmen did not immediately respond Friday to a request for additional details about the nickname for the Stryker forces in Iraq.

Mybe they should look here or here.

Yesterday I met Nadine Gulit. Nadine and her daughter, Cheryl, started what's called Operation Support our Troops. (Applause.) I see a lot of heads nodding. You see, these women are soldiers in the army of compassion. These are volunteers who have decided to take time out of their lives to help others. Oftentimes we talk about the great strength of America being our military -- we'll keep it strong. But the greatest strength of America is the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens, those of you who are willing to mentor a child, those of you who are willing to feed the hungry, or find shelter for the homeless, those of you who are willing to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourselves. (Applause.)

Our government owes you more than gratitude. I've made a commitment -- Senator McCain and Senator Ensign have made the same commitment -- to the men and women of our military and their families: You will have all the resources and all the capabilities you need to fight and win the war on terror. (Applause.) [...]

The soldiers of Fort Lewis are serving on the front lines of the war on terror, and you're on the cutting edge of military transformation, and I thank you for that. (Applause.) This is the home of the Army's first two Stryker Brigades. (Applause.) These combat teams are built around 21st century armored vehicles that can maneuver in urban terrain and get soldiers to the fight with unmatched speed and stealth and power. In Samarra, Iraqis have taken to calling the Stryker Brigades the "Ghost Riders," because they arrive in near total silence, strike the enemy without warning. The terrorists in Iraq have plenty to fear from the "Ghost Riders" of Fort Lewis, Washington. (Applause.) [...]

The Commander of Task Force Olympia -- you might have heard of him -- Brigadier General Carter Ham -- (applause) -- said recently about a response by Iraqi forces in Mosul that the Iraqi forces "stood strong." I suspect General Ham is someone who likes to tell the truth. In Najaf, Iraqi police are back on the streets. The citizens are glad to see them there. See, they want what we want. They want their families to grow up in a peaceful society. In al Kharma, soldiers of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps were awarded medals for valor after battling insurgents and rescuing a wounded Marine. "I feel very, very bad the Marine was shot because they're like my brothers," said one of the decorated Iraqi soldiers, "but I'm ready to go out again. I'm always ready," he said.

A senior Task Force Olympia officer told Wolfowitz the situation in Mosul is nothing like that in the restive city of Fallujah. "You're not going to see a situation here where the city will turn against the coalition," the officer said during an operational briefing.

"Iraqi forces are strong in the north, and Iraqi leaders are making a difference every day," the task force officer said.

Some consider Strykers to be the Porsche of armored vehicles. Weighing 34 tons, they have a top speed of more than 70 miles per hour and are very maneurverable. A crew of six — a driver, a gunner who mans the 50-caliber machine gun and MK-19 grenade launcher, and four dismounts who are heavily armed and can respond with small arms fire — mans a Stryker.

Thanks to Kali for the link.

The Army has indicated it wanted one of the brigades in Europe so it would be closer to the Middle East and the Balkans. The brigades are a medium-weight, highly mobile force that use the eight-wheeled Stryker armored vehicle.

"If we lost one, something else would come," he said.

“Rural education was never a priority of the old regime,” said Seyid Ismel, the mayor of Rawandez, a sub district of Seran in northern Iraq. “Because of this, our children and our communities have suffered.”

“In the long term, education is the key to the success of Iraq,” said Hilfiger. “These projects will leave a positive, lasting image of what the Coalition is here to do and will affect many generations to come.”

Maj. Wayne Bowen, the higher education team chief, recommended the project for funding through the Commander’s Emergency Response Program, in response to requests he got from the security guards.

“This equipment will give the guards a greater sense of confidence in what they do and more tools to perform their job to the best of their ability,” said Bowen. Coalition forces are continually working with the Iraqi people to promote security and stability in Iraq. As June 30, the deadline for the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people, nears, increased security will be stressed throughout the region.

"I can't wait to take a real shower without the fear of a mortar attack."

Many of them live outside Texas, but for the first time D/FW Airport joins Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International as the first U.S. stop for troops serving in the Middle East.

“He’s a great interpreter and a good kid,” said Capt. Matthew Lillibridge, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps liaison officer for Almusowi’s unit, the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry. “He definitely has a lot more responsibility placed on him than your average private first class.”

There are times when Almusowi doesn’t sleep because he’s translating letters thought to be written by terrorists. In his spare time, he teaches ICDC soldiers how to read and write Arabic and English. In the town of Qayarrah, Lillibridge said Almusowi has won over every Iraqi he’s spoken to.

Stryker is the U.S. Army's highest-priority production combat vehicle program. The Stryker is the centerpiece of the Army's ongoing transformation. The eight-wheeled combat vehicle is significantly lighter and more transportable than existing tanks and armored vehicles. Stryker fulfills an immediate requirement to equip a strategically and operationally deployable brigade capable of rapid movement anywhere in the world in a combat-ready configuration. A total of 2,131 Strykers will be fielded to six SBCTs and the training base.

A cordon and search operation conducted yesterday by soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment in the Nablis neighborhood resulted in the detention of three people wanted for questioning regarding anti-Iraqi forces activity.

As of today, there are 15 days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

At a linkup point north of Mosul, approximately 500-700 trucks filled with fuel come each day to be directed to their final destination in Iraq. This site is the largest fuel distribution site in the country right now.

Fuel is an important part of Iraq’s economy. Approximately $6 million dollars worth of fuel is distributed in northern Iraq each day. Money from fuel revenues goes to fund the government ministries and back into the local economy.

This transfer of authority is one of many that will happen as June 30 approaches and the people of Iraq prepare to take full control of the safety, security and governance of their country.

A cordon and search operation conducted by soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment in the city of Ash Shurah detained 10 people wanted for questioning regarding anti-Iraqi forces activity. The suspects are in custody and no soldiers were injured during the search.

As of today, there are 16 days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

But then there was the ringing of the telephone at 2:30 a.m. Friday in the Cordle home in Klamath Falls.

"You always expect that kind of call," Michael Cordle said 12 hours later.

He'll carry the results. Most of the shrapnel was removed and the wounds dressed. But doctors decided to leave two small pieces in his right femur, in the expectation that the bone will just grow around them.

A cordon and search operation conducted by soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment in the neighborhood of Al Aktissdyeen detained one person wanted for attacking Coalition soldiers with an IED during the month of April. The suspect is in custody and no soldiers were injured during the search.

As of today, there are 20 days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

Earlier in the afternoon, soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry reported a mortar round impacted near Tal Afar. They went to the area where it was suspected the attack originated and detained three individuals for questioning. There were no injuries reported in this attack.

Release # 06-37

Three different versions of the ACU have been developed, and more than 10,000 uniforms have been produced and battle-tested in the sands of Iraq and at Army training centers. Even more are on American production lines to be issued by April 2005 to Soldiers in deploying units. Current fielding plans call for fielding to the total Army by December 2007, said officials from the Program Executive Office, known as PEO Soldier.

“This isn’t about a cosmetic redesign of the uniform,” said Col. John Norwood, the project manager for Clothing and Individual Equipment. “It’s a functionality change of the uniform that will improve the ability of Soldiers to execute their combat mission.” [...]

The life of the ACU began in January 2003 when PEO Soldier teamed with Mhyre, Master Sgt. Alex Samoba and Staff Sgt. Matt Goodine – from the 1st Stryker Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

“We would talk to Soldiers right after they had completed a mission while the benefits of the uniform were still fresh in their minds. We wanted to know how did the uniform help the mission.”

This second article includes a photo.

UPDATE: Stars & Stripes also has a detailed article that includes numerous photos of the uniform.

A Stryker crew from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., was chosen for a key role in the pre-race activities at the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, N.C. Spec. Brian Thomas was one of the nine soldiers chosen to represent the Army and Fort Lewis at the race. He said he felt he had won a great prize to take on the role, even though he wasn't a NASCAR fan.

That's how it was wherever Thomas or any of his eight 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment Stryker crewmates roamed during the Coca-Cola 600 race weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway. From the time they rolled onto the speedway's grounds May 27 to become part of an "Army of One Interactive Zone" display and game station, to their departure on May 31, they were assailed by many grateful, and curious, race fans.

On Saturday, May 29, Jed Berman was in command of a lightly armored vehicle in northern Iraq. He was riding in the turret when he was hit by an explosive device, possibly a rocket-propelled grenade. The blast hit the right side of Berman's face, his left arm and his back.

When he was stable, he was flown to Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. There, doctors have been keeping Jed sedated until the swelling subsides in his brain. They can't perform reconstructive surgery on his face until he's taken off the sedatives and the breathing tube can be removed. Jed's body is also battling a persistent bacterial infection.

"The soldiers are going to very much appreciate this," said Julie Rounds, wife of Col. Michael Rounds, brigade commander. Also accepting were Maj. Cynthia Glenister, commander of the brigade's rear detachment, and Master Sgt. Stephen Kessler, the detachment's top enlisted soldier.

Thirteen soldiers from the unit have died since they arrived in the war-torn nation, according to a Fort Lewis spokesman.

Iraqi police detained three suspects in the neighborhood of Al Naja after assailants attacked officers with small arms fire. One officer was wounded in the attack and was taken to a local hospital. All three of the assailants are in police custody.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

There was also an update posted about a previous report from the gulf1 site:MOSUL, IRAQ (June 8, 2004) – UPDATE TO PREVIOUS RELEASE. At 0915 this morning a car bomb was detonated in downtown Mosul several hundred meters from the Mosul City Hall.

Reports of a second car bomb outside of a military compound in north Mosul are inaccurate. Several mortar rounds impacted a military base camp in north Mosul at 10:15 a.m., and two contract employees were injured. They have been evacuated to military medical facilities for medical care.

Soldiers from the same unit conducted a cordon and search in Hammam Al Alil for a suspect wanted for anti-Coalition activities. Although the suspect was not found, two AK-47s, 14 full magazines, one hand grenade, and mortar sights were confiscated. No soldiers were injured during the search

(Editor’s note: Information provided by Task Force Olympia Public Affairs.)

Final farewell to Indiana soldier - NWI Times

"North Judson soldier dies in Iraq" - WNDU News

"Hoosier dies of injuries at Iraq base" - The Indianapolis Star

"North Judson mourns lost soldier" - WNDU News

"Soldier's family waits for answers" - WNDU News

"Grieving North Judson family mourns 'a hero’" - Post-Tribune

"Fallen soldier leaves behind a positive legacy" - Munster Times

"Art talent frames memories of soldier" - South Bend Tribune

"Mom not yet told how soldier died" - The Indianapolis Star

"Funeral plans for North Judson soldier" - WNDU News

"Wiesemann viewing held in north Judson" - WNDU News

"Funeral set for North Judson soldier who died in Iraq" - Munster Times

"FUNERAL Wednesday for North Judson Soldier Who Died in Iraq" - WISH News

"Spc. Wiesemann laid to rest" - WNDU News

"Final farewell to Indiana soldier" - The Times

Hooker was with the Stryker Brigade as a mechanic. When he got home the next day, he went grocery shopping and bought $12 worth of tickets, including one Lucky for Life. [...]

He got a winner. He says he cashed it, "the next day, the very next day."

The reason: Among the 21 chances on a Lucky for Life ticket, he had two winners. One for $2. The other for $20,000.

Congratulations!

He's also struggling with fever and infection, his family reported Monday on a Web site they created to update friends on his condition.

He is the chaplain to the 44th Corps Support Battalion from Fort Lewis and deployed to the Middle East with the unit in November. The 44th - a mix of active-duty and reserve soldiers - provides logistical support to the Fort Lewis-based units working across northern Iraq, including the Task Force Olympia headquarters and the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the Army's first Stryker brigade.

The website mentioned in the article is www.caringbridge.org/mn/timvakoc.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment discovered an IED just west of Mosul that consisted of a mortar round lying near the side of the road. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was notified and they destroyed the device.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Iraqi Police reported to the 293rd Military Police Company that they had discovered a suspected improvised explosive device near a major bridge north of Mosul. An Iraqi Explosive Ordnance Disposal team confirmed it was a surface land mine and destroyed it.

Coalition forces also reported two incidents involving unexploded ordnance on Saturday. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment recovered a 105mm artillery round north of Mosul, which was recovered and transported to a military munitions facility. In southwest Mosul, soldiers from the 296th Brigade Support Battalion reported finding an unexploded mortar round, which was destroyed by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

You could say that this impressive piece of machinery is the soldier's best friend. It's heavily armored, it's fast as lightning. It's so quiet, troops can sneak up on the enemy, and be there before they even know what hit 'em.

There was minimal damage to a Coalition vehicle, a cracked windshield, and no serious injuries.

3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division soldiers requested the media accompany them to a base camp in Mosul to answer questions as witnesses to the incident. The news media representatives left the base camp in the mid afternoon.

Release #040603e

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps conducted joint cordon and search operations in Hammam Al Ali and detained three suspects wanted for planning and conducting improvised explosive device attacks against Coalition forces. During a search of the residence one IED, IED making-materials, one Russian-made rifle, one hand grenade and one AK-47 were seized. No Coalition soldiers or ICDC soldiers were injured during the search.

As of today, there are 28 days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

“I am proud to serve my country,” said Pvt. Amer Yahya. “I want to protect my people from enemies who want to harm my homeland.”

“Part of rebuilding Iraq is rebuilding Iraq’s military,” said Sgt. Jessy Johnston, a primary instructor with Company C, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team). “It’s important that we train them well, so they can defend themselves and their country when we leave.”

An Iraqi citizen called the Coalition Tips Hotline and informed the operator that terrorists attacked Al-Ghazlani Camp in the Wadi Hajar neighborhood with mortars that did not explode. The Iraqi EOD team was notified and they destroyed the rounds. No injuries were reported.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment detained 14 people following a mortar attack on a Coalition military base in Hammam Al Alil. Minutes after the incident, soldiers moved to the point of attack outside the base and engaged the assailants with .50 caliber machine guns and small arms fire. The assailants attempted to flee in a vehicle, but soldiers pursued, stopping the vehicle and detaining nine individuals along with a 60mm mortar tube. Soldiers later detained five additional assailants suspected of involvement in the mortar strike during cordon and search operations of two houses near the attack. No Coalition soldiers were injured during the attack on the military base or during the pursuit and detainment of the terrorists.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

"Soldier from Ford City killed in Iraqi mortar attack" - The Associated Press

"'Team player' from Armstrong killed by mortar shell in Iraq" - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

"Armstrong County soldier dies after Iraq attack" - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Slain Stryker soldier was 19, from Pennsylvania" - The News Tribune

"War in Iraq hits home hard at Elderton" - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Soldier from Ford City buried" - Associated Press

"Elderton graduate and soldier laid to rest in country church cemetery" - Leader Times

...A crew from the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team, made a lap around the track in the infantry carrier....

...“It’s pretty surreal,” said Staff Sgt. David Hughes, a member of the Stryker crew. “We’ve gotten a lot of thank-yous from everyone. It’s nice to know people believe in what we’re doing.”...

Since January, Teichner and the Times have been exchanging sporadic e-mails. Last week, Teichner wrote that he was looking forward to visiting friends and family after the long separation.

“The KW is a wonderful aircraft to fly. Its agility and mission equipment, such as the weapons and sight systems, make it very well suited for conducting its two primary missions, reconnaissance and security,” Teichner said.

``I am the only one in my battalion that has purchased one, and everyone calls it my Kentucky disco ball,'' Barton said in an e-mail to The Tampa Tribune. ``We are dealing with mainly mosquitoes and black flies - also gnats, scorpions and huge ants.''

Howsare began corresponding with Barton, which inspired John DeLisa, co-owner of EZ Auctions & Shipping, to obtain a dozen more bug zappers that he plans to ship to Barton's battalion this week.

[Link to CJTF7 Press Release]

"Stryker Brigade Soldier Dies from Non-hostile Incident"

The incident is under investigation. The name of the Soldier is withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Release #040529e

The MGS is a variant of the Stryker wheeled armored vehicle made by General
Dynamics Corp. As envisioned by the Army, the MGS would mainly be an
infantry-support vehicle, providing bunker-busting capability with its 105 mm
cannon.

Through these demonstrations, the source said, "the system performed
excellent[ly]."

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment detained two individuals in the Al Mamoon neighborhood in southwest Mosul after identifying one suspected of conducting attacks against Coalition forces. The other is suspected of aiding in the attacks. Both were detained for questioning.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

That is technically true. It also is politically useful, given lawmakers' fear of voter backlash from losing the economic benefit of bases in their state. The reality, however, is that some bases are nearly untouchable.

About a dozen miles south of Tacoma, Lewis is the only Army base on the West Coast of the continental United States with major land combat forces and easy access to long-range airlift.

There are a number of articles to choose from on this site. Check them out and don't forget the links within the stories for more information.

I sure wish I had a way to receive BBC television, it would be interesting to see their perspective on our Stryker Brigade.

On the morning of May 26, terrorists attempted to attack a Coalition convoy with an improvised explosive device but failed as it detonated 100 meters behind the convoy injuring nobody. Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment pursed the assailants and detained two people suspected of detonating the roadside bomb while collecting a variety of weapons that included one rocket propelled grenade, two Russian-made RPK rifles, two hand grenades, one AK-47 and a .45 caliber pistol. No Coalition soldiers were injured during search of the building.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Turning the theoretical possibilities of network-centric warfare into real world battlefield operations is the reality of national security in the 21st century.

Success will be defined by how well we can apply network-centric capabilities and lessons learned to achieve strategic and operational effectiveness with next-level initiatives; by how well we turn data into intelligence and into action; and how well we achieve cooperation up and down the supply chain, across governmental and military departments, and with international allies.

The portions of the conference devoted to the Stryker Brigade are as follows:

Case Study: U.S. Army Stryker Brigade This case study will look at the U.S. Army's Stryker Brigade Combat Teams and their use of advanced networked enabled command/control capabilities combined with innovative tactics, techniques and procedures to improve mission effectiveness. Leading the discussion will be Dan Gonzales, Research Scientist with Rand Corporation, and Maj. Mike Johnson, U.S. Army Research Fellow at the RAND Arroyo Center and Strategic Plans & Policy officer, who conducted the analysis of Stryker Brigade's operation with brigade leaders and the OFT. The session will examine what worked, but more importantly the lessons learned and next steps to address what didn't work

White Board: U.S. Army Stryker Brigade Office of Force Transformation and military leaders will work with audience members to develop solutions and enhancements that will take Stryker Brigade capabilities to the next level. Moderating the session will be Dan Gonzales of Rand Corporation and Col. Gary Agron, Office of Force Transformation..

For those interested in digging deeper, the Rand Corporation, among other things, conducts research studies for the DOD. It has a wide variety of national security information, including studies directly related to the Stryker Brigade concept.

SBN: How different were the living conditions from when you first got there, to when you left?

MG: When I first got there, back in April 2003, the living conditions were austere. We slept on cots that we'd set up next to our vehicles at night, and the chow was strictly MREs. It took a couple weeks before we had a makeshift shower up and running. We had generators for electricity so the soldiers could get their coffeemakers going in the morning. When we arrived at the Mosul Airfield we had to mow down the tall weeds and grass to set up an area for our camp. The latrine was where you found it, at least at first. Gradually, though, things got better and better. Tents. Air-conditioners. A field kitchen.

On my second trip, it was a little bit like that when the brigade first moved up to Samarra. We lived in tents and ate MREs, at least at first. You might have read in my stories that soldiers scrounged plywood to put in floors in their tents. This was December, so there was lots of rain and mud was a real problem. We had port-a-johns. It took a long time for all the tents to get electricity, and even at that most folks only had enough to have some lights. It was pretty crappy, to tell you the truth. There were mice, and not a cat to be seen for miles.

Things couldn't have been more different when we got to Mosul. One- and two-person containers with heaters (remember, it was still January). KBR dining facilities. Internet cafes. Hot showers whenever. Porcelain. By the time I left they'd set up a nice new gym, they were building a PX at the palace to go along with the ones at the airfield and at Camp Marez.

I tell people now that aside from the heat, for the most part the hardship of serving in Iraq is emotional and psychological, not physical.

SBN: Why did you want to take on a dangerous assignment like this and what was the reaction of your family when you told them you were going to Iraq?

MG: I'd been writing about the brigade for the better part of three years and I'd always assumed that when they were ready and deployed, I would go along and cover their work. Then the war came, and instead of going to JRTC to cover their last big trainup, I went to Iraq with the 62nd Medical Brigade from Fort Lewis. I went then because for a reporter who covers the military, it was THE story, and the local troops that I covered were going to be part of it. To be honest I did not think much about the danger; I had been out in the field many times to cover training and I felt like I would be OK.

The second time I had to think more about why I wanted to go. Ultimately it was for similar reasons. It was where the story was. But I also felt very strongly that as an American citizen, with a role to play in our open society, it was my obligation to follow the soldiers and write about what they were doing. I don't believe it's right for us to just send them over there and wish them well, and then forget about them. I feel a little bit guilty that I'm not still there.

People ask me all the time if I volunteered to go, and the answer of course is yes. But it's hard to explain that I kind of mean yes with an asterisk. I didn't HAVE to go, but I felt like I had to go, if that makes any sense.

As for my family, well, as you can imagine this was a very difficult thing for them. But they supported me entirely. They knew why I felt like I had to go. Still it was very hard for them. We had to cry together a few times and then get on with it. I know it meant a lot to them to see all the e-mails that folks sent while I was gone - it helped my kids, especially, to understand that what I was doing meant something to other people.

I don't know how they held up as well as they did, and frankly I don't know how you all do it too.

SBN: What area in the States does the Mosul area remind you of?

MG: Northern Iraq in general reminds me of Eastern Washington. It's all rolling farmland with wheat and barley. Farther south, from the times I convoyed through, reminds me more of Southern Arizona. I used to deliver ice to Indian reservations all across the extreme south of Arizona, and that's kind of what it's like. Villages spread out all over the place, narrow two-lane roads, lots of nothing.

Convoying through Baghdad reminded me of San Jose, Calif., or maybe Phoenix, with all its freeway interchanges and cars and traffic.

As far as Mosul itself, it was more European than American in the way it was laid out and the feel of the place. I've spent nearly all my life in the Western U.S., and we just don't have cities out here that go back 3,000 years.

SBN: Are you still in contact with any of the soldiers from the Stryker Brigade? If so, has their viewpoint/mind-set changed since their arrival in country now that they have reached the 6 mth mark?

MG: I stay in touch with several soldiers. I believe their mindset had changed a great deal by the time I left in March from when we all first arrived in November. When we first got there, for most of them, their general reference points revolved around their training experiences at NTC and JRTC. After Samarra, and then after a little bit of time in Mosul, I didn't hear very many guys making references to the training rotations. All their points of reference were based on their real combat experiences. As for how they're feeling at the six-month mark, I don't think I have corresponded with enough soldiers to be able to generalize about that. I suspect they are all glad to have put that much time behind them and looking forward to getting through the rest of the deployment.

SBN: There have been a lot of strong opinions about reporters being embedded with our troops, especially when the war first began. I think that a lot of people were afraid that the additional task of looking out for civilian reporters who were not as trained or self-sufficient as they were would distract the soldiers from what they were there to accomplish, as well as make it more difficult for them to protect themselves and their fellow soldiers. How do you feel about that? Do you think that, at least in some cases, civilians embedded with troops could serve as "excess baggage" for our soldiers?

MG: I don't know. I think a lot of that feeling is driven by peoples' perceptions of the news media. If you tend to think that news reporters are a bunch of useless slobs, then you'll be of the opinion that they were in the way and endangering soldiers' lives. Obviously I do not share that opinion.

I can't speak for the TV guys, because I just don't know enough about how they work. But I can tell you that in my view, most of the print guys who went did so for the same reasons I did - because they believed it was their job to go and tell the story. They were professional.

I know I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible, to blend in as much as I could. I don't believe I was ever a burden on anyone. Many soldiers told me they were glad I was along for the trip.

SBN: Did the responsibility of knowing that you were the primary source of information for Stryker families back home affect your reporting at all?

MG: It weighed on me, that's for sure. I knew that there were thousands of people back home who were hanging on every word. But I knew I had a wider audience than the Stryker families and that my job was to report the news, even if it meant there would be hard things. There were a few times where I braced myself in expectation of angry e-mails from folks with loved ones in the brigade, but that never really materialized. Instead I would get notes from folks who said they appreciated the coverage, even when it was bad news.

SBN: Did you develop any long-term friendships while you were there? If so, did you find it difficult to distance yourself from your subject at times? (I guess this is basically a question about the embed program and its effect on journalistic independence.)

MG: I met many people who I will remember with great respect and admiration for the rest of my life, and I imagine in some cases we will probably continue to stay in touch. That's been true of the folks I got to know with the 62nd Medical Brigade.

In principle, an embedded reporter who makes friends with the troops he's covering would be tempted not to report news that would make his buddies look bad. I did not hold back from reporting things that might've made the brigade look bad, but I did my best to give the brigade every opportunity to explain what happened, and I tried to frame the information in the context of the situation in Iraq.

Most of the folks I lived and worked with knew my role - that of an independent journalist. And though we shared good times as friends would, there always had to be a distance between us as long as I was in that role. It's human nature to bond with the people you live and work with, which I certainly did. But still there was always that distance, so in that respect it was sometimes a very lonely job.

Even after being wounded, Allen grabbed his M-16 rifle and began firing to protect his fellow soldiers. [...]

Presenting the medals were Maj. Gen. Mike Gorman, adjutant general of the South Dakota National Guard, and Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

"Lt. Allen displayed the highest level of initiative in delivering care for combat-related trauma patients," Gorman said.

During cordon and search operations in Al Jededa, Coalition forces detained a member of a well-known terrorist organization who was wanted for planning and conducting attacks against Coalition forces. The terrorist suspect is in Coalition custody and no soldiers were injured during the search.

As of today, there are 40 days until the transfer of Iraq’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Iraqi security forces, government officials, Coalition forces and the people of northern Iraq will continue to work together to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

Gallant, the postmaster at Lincolnville Beach, said mail call was the best part of his day in Vietnam, and the letters he received, many from strangers, kept his spirits up. There was no thought of letting people know where he was, what he was doing or how the war was progressing, though. The media did the communicating, and it was far from direct.

Welcome to the first war in history in which soldiers are sending dispatches from the front that are received instantaneously back home, in which families and friends are better informed than anyone, even the brass, about some aspects of the war.

SUNY Chancellor Robert King and college President Thomas Haas presented the bachelor of technology degree, which was accepted by Robbins' mother, the Rev. Charlene Robbins.

Robbins earned his associate's degree from Morrisville State College and enrolled in Cobleskill's fisheries and wildlife program in 1998 before joining the military. Haas said Robbins continued his studies while in the Army.

"I do it just to symbolize that I remember him every day and say a prayer for him at least once a day. This is just a small way to show support for him and all our troops. They put their lives on the line for us," she said.

"That was the first one. We have had some hard times since then but we nailed it up good and it's not coming down until Jake gets home," she said.

Feeling confused at the time, he says, "I was kind of wondering why they had a picture of Daddy in there."

As more photos of his dad popped up, Jonathan heard a familiar voice. His dad had recorded a special greeting in his honor. "About that time, I lost everything," he says.

Although he dropped out of high school to get away from it all, Reeves received his general education degree in 2000 and joined the Army.

“I want people to know that there’s always a way out of a bad situation. If I’ve learned one thing in the Army, it’s that motivation can help you go a long way,” Reeves said.

Kudos to Sgt. Reeves.

(via Blackfive)

Iraqi Police discovered two IEDs in the neighborhood of Tal Al Ruman which consisted of three rocket propelled grenades in one location and four artillery rounds in another location. The explosive ordinance disposal team destroyed the munitions and no Coalition or civilian injuries were reported. Iraqi Police discovered a third IED in the neighborhood of Bob Shams and the Iraqi EOD destroyed the rounds.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Q (Through interpreter.) Al-Khalidi from Al-Iraqiyah. You mentioned in your previous statements that two military bases would be inside the green zone and six outside in Baghdad. What about the governorates? Will all these bases depart or these bases will remain and the matter is limited to Baghdad only?

As conditions change, as the security situation changes, hopefully improves, and as the Iraqi security forces grow and are able to take on more responsibility, then that would be the time that we would reevaluate the number of forces and their locations and their arrangements. But that won't be for some time.

"Local Soldier Killed In Iraq" - KFOX News

"EL Paso soldier's death rattles neighbors, school" - El Paso Times

"The Birthday Of Isela Rubalcava" - KFOX News

"Birthday party, rosary honor sergeant" - El Paso Times

"Sgt. Isela Rubalcava Funeral Arrangments" - KFOX News

"350 honor soldier" - El Paso Times

"Many Say Farewell At Rubalcava's Funeral" - KFOX News

"Sergeant was 'tough as nails,' kind 'as a nun'" - El Paso Times

"Chesapeake soldier killed Monday in Iraq"- The Virginian-Pilot

"Third ID Soldier Recalled in Memorial Service" - WTOC News

"Friends, family gather to bury soldier killed by sniper" - Associated Press

Coalition Forces conducted three cordon and searches in southeast Mosul and detained three suspects wanted for planning and conducting attacks against Coalition soldiers. The suspects were taken into custody and two AK-47s were confiscated. No Coalition soldiers were injured during the raid.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

“Just because I was almost 62, I did not feel decrepit and felt I wasn’t finished being a Soldier yet,” Griffin said. “It was payback time for all of the privileges I’ve had in this Army.”

The Surgeon General, who was a guest at Griffin’s retirement dinner, said he had overheard that the retirement was not really a retirement and that Griffin was looking for a way to slip around it.

Amazing.

His mother, Pat Davidson, has been sending him care packages that have included butter cookies from Anna's Bakery, which is located just three blocks from the home where Davidson grew up and where his parents still reside.

"The days and nights are long, but morale remains high amidst the constant danger and difficult mission," the letter reads. [...]

Davidson is the plans and operations officer for a scout squadron of Stryker armored personnel carriers. The squadron moves into an area ahead of infantry. It's Davidson's job to plot the course the squadron will take, his father, John Davidson II, said. The squadron has been stationed in northern Iraq, the scene of heavy fighting.

"Local Soldier Dies" - KVAL 13 News

"Marist grad killed in Iraq" - The Register Guard

"Oregon soldier killed while swimming in a pool in Iraq" - KATU 2 News

"Oregon soldier, 21, dies in electrical accident in Iraq swimming pool" - The Oregonian

"Salem family mourns loss of son in Iraq" - Statesman Journal

"Friends in Harrisburg, Eugene mourn soldier killed in accident" - The Register Guard

Protection for the guardsmen is minimal, consisting mainly of a green, 5-ton dump truck with a black Iraqi tank turret welded to the top. Normally, half a dozen soldiers keep watch from the "Iron Maiden," as it is called, while their colleagues perform their landscaping missions.

The berm-mending project is one of several missions juggled by the 276th, which is made up of college students, plumbers, police officers, bankers and computer technicians. Other duties include the construction of roads and buildings, and security patrols in the city of Mosul.

Also during the day, Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment discovered a large weapons cache near the Mosul Airfield that consisted of 50, 60mm mortar rounds; eight 82mm mortar rounds; nine hand grenades and one 60mm mortar tube. An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the rounds.

Release #040516c

When they do, words like "appalled" "disgusted" "shocked" and "disappointed" are on the tip of their tongue.

"I was upset. My first idea was it's gonna set back all the good work we have done here," says Corporal Brown Davis, 27.

Read the rest.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in the southwest Mosul neighborhood of Tal Al Ruman and detained seven suspects wanted for conducting IED attacks against Coalition forces. No Coalition soldiers were injured during the search.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment and Iraqi Police responded with medical assistance and established a security perimeter.

Anyone with information about this terrorist attack should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013.

What they may not know is that underneath all that is the experience and knowledge of a 26-year Special Forces veteran trained as a medic and combat engineer.

After his first enlistment, Godbee became a Special Forces medic.

The article continues - be sure to read the rest.

A hotline call from a concerned citizen alerted Coalition forces to an unexploded mortar round in the Al Baladial neighborhood in northeast Mosul Wednesday. Iraqi police responded to the scene and the explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the round.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Basic training is a six-week program designed to transform Iraqi civilians into soldiers through classes taught by the U.S. Army. Instructions cover basic rifle marksmanship, the law of war, human rights, security and checkpoint operations, basic communication, and maneuver skills. The 60 soldiers will move to their assigned units and work together with the U.S. Army and Coalition partners as they protect and secure Iraq.

Release #040513g

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment conducted a cordon and search in the southeast Mosul neighborhood of Palistine and detained one person wanted for financing and planning anti-Coalition activities. During a search of his residence, one AK-47 and other items were confiscated. No Coalition injuries were reported during the search.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

The operation, planned by the Iraqi police with Coalition assistance, began with police and Soldiers gathering at an undisclosed location to rehearse each team's movements during the raids.

Release #040511d

Meantime, the Defense Department identified the two Stryker brigade soldiers killed over the weekend, one in an accident, the other in a mortar attack.

Patriots outpost is a series of old Baath Party buildings and recreational facilities along the Tigris River in central Mosul. Brigade spokesman Lt. Col. Joseph Piek said brigade officials were investigating the accident.

I actually over heard some one talking about preparations to go home. On the other hand, the glass is still half full. That’s hard to swallow. It seems like we have been here forever and we still have 6 months to go. And it is the HOT months too. What if they extend us? Then we’re not half way. What will we do then? Yes, this is one of those wonderful, confusing, up and down emotional moments that soldier, their families and friends have all come to love.
So, Chaplain Dave what do we do? How about some wise counsel? I’m glad you asked.
1. Don’t worry about what you don’t know or can’t control.
When we come home, whether it is early, late, or right on time is out of our control. So, don’t waste what precious little energy you have worrying about it. Pray for early, pray against late, and plan on what we have been told so far, and that is on time.
2. Do what you can with the things you can affect.
Continue to build your relationships. Keep the lines of communication open and flowing. In fact, this is a good time to re-commit to that goal, and even try something new. Plan for the future. Nothing brings folks together like talking about what they are going to do when they get home. Of course you always have to be flexible, and be very careful of committing time and money to things until it is a sure thing. My wife and I want to go to Hawaii and Alaska when I get back. So, occasionally we go on the web and look at places to go in those places. It makes for great conversation and dreaming together draws us closer. Which one will we go to? Or will we be able to go at all? Who knows, but if the opportunity arises, we are prepared to jump on that MAC flight and go.
3. Stay positive.
One of my favorite movies is “Oh Brother Where art Thou”. One of the best things about the movie is the music. There is a great old, country Gospel song in the movie called, “Keep on the Sunny Side”. The lyrics say, “Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, keep on the sunny side of life. It will lighten all your way, it will brighten all your day, if you keep on the sunny side of life.” That’s great advice. Focus on the positive.
So, we are half way home. We have made it this far, and by the grace of God we will make it the rest of the way. Stay positive. Stay committed to building your relationships. Pray for each other often. We will see you soon.

God Bless
Chaplain Dave Shoffner
From TallaFar, Iraq

At traffic control point southwest of Qayarrah, Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment detained two suspects wanted for planning and conducting anti-Coalition activities. The individuals were identified by a tip from an Iraqi citizen and taken into custody.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

For now, however, medical personnel are making use of what they have. In Iraq, 30 new Stryker evacuation vehicles allow medics to send and receive text messages about injured soldiers to other medical personnel.

‘‘It instills a lot of confidence knowing in a battle, you have someone to fall back on,’’ said Army Sgt. Stephen Dunne of Fort Lewis, Wash., a medic who is set to go to Iraq in September. ‘‘It’s good to have someone else who can sit and think with you.’’

Coalition soldiers who were clearing the roads of improvised explosive devices in southwest Mosul wounded one terrorist after he attacked soldiers with an IED and small arms fire. The wounded terrorist was taken to a local hospital and is currently guarded by Iraqi Protective Services. No Coalition soldiers were injured during the attack.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

The first cache consisted of more than 100 82mm and 120mm rusted mortar rounds lying in the open, exposed to the elements. As soldiers secured the site, a child directed their attention to a second site that consisted of about 45 82mm and 120mm mortar rounds and a variety of high-explosive artillery rounds. The second site was secured; but while soldiers were driving between the first and second site, yet another cache was discovered that consisted of 125 more mortar rounds. The second and third caches were destroyed and Iraqi Police helped secure the first site until the explosive ordnance disposal team arrived to destroy the first cache.

Release #040509c

Earlier Saturday, the command reported the death of the Stryker Brigade soldier in the electrical accident, also in the Mosul area, but gave no further details.

The Stryker Brigade, part of the Fort Lewis, Wash.-based 2nd Infantry Division, takes its name from an armored vehicle used by the command.

Iraqi Police and Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment conducted three cordon and knock operations in the neighborhood of Tal Al Ruman in southwest Mosul and detained four people suspected of conducting an attack against Iraqi Police during the first week of March. All four suspects are in Iraqi Police custody. No injuries were reported during the searches.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Ladd's death came following the monthlong April siege of Fallujah. It was the deadliest month for American forces, with a death toll of 136.

Mourners began packing McClain-Hays Funeral Home more than an hour before services. They wept as a recording of John Michael Montgomery's song, Letters From Home, was played.

Relatives said he was proud and eager to serve in Iraq.

The 44th often has had to navigate perilous routes, where insurgents lay roadside bombs and attack with rocket-propelled grenades. As a support battalion, the unit was not designed with the kind of heavy armor that frontline units receive. Yet in Iraq, attacks can happen all over the country and support units have been frequent targets.

Coalition forces conducted a cordon and search south of Mosul and detained one person wanted for terrorist and anti-Coalition activities. During the search, one AK-47 was confiscated.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

"He always wanted to be in the military and shoot big guns," said cousin Debbie Chisholm.

Ladd's death brings the number of Mississippi's war deaths to 14.

During the afternoon of May 4, Coalition soldiers in a 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment convoy in the northeast Mosul neighborhood of Al Hadba were attacked by an improvised explosive device. No Coalition soldiers were hurt in the IED explosion. As the patrol secured the area, they were attacked by small arms fire from an insurgent who ran into an abandoned building after Coalition forces returned fire in his direction. When soldiers pursued the man into the abandoned building, he jumped from the third story roof breaking his leg as he landed. Soldiers tired to detain him but the individual attempted to stab a Soldier with a knife resulting in his death when soldiers killed him in self-defense. No Coalition soldiers were injured during the confrontation.

As of today, there are 58 days until the transfer of Iraqi’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Let us continue to work together to show Iraq’s progress toward democracy and to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

"The Iraqi kids do not know what it is like to live in a society that promotes education and athletics," Fyfe wrote in an e-mail message from Iraq.

As the civil affairs officer for his battalion, based near Mosul, Fyfe's job is to improve conditions in one small corner of Iraq. With the help of many friends back home, Fyfe was able to take soccer equipment to the children.

On the morning of May 3, Coalition soldiers in a 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment convoy in the southeast Mosul neighborhood of Palastine observed two persons lying near the road in a concealed position. Seconds later, an improvised explosive device detonated as the convoy passed. The explosion caused only minor damage to a Stryker vehicle and three minor shrapnel injuries to soldiers. The patrol immediately engaged and killed both men that had been seen observing the patrol. A search of the bodies revealed an IED initiating device in the hand of one of the terrorists. The three injured soldiers returned to duty shortly after the incident.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

The joint production of NOVA and The New York Times examines the technology-driven changes in the U.S. military and their effectiveness in Afghanistan and Iraq - the "chat room war," as one expert calls it.

The Stryker brigades are highlighted as a leading example of the U.S. military's drive for greater speed, technological superiority and precision weapons.

The mission of the 367th is to maintain and repair parts for the 3rd Brigade, and 2nd Infantry Division.

...One instrument of transformation is the Stryker armored vehicle, which saw its first battlefield deployment in Iraq. "Battle Plan Under Fire" provides an eye-opening look at the Stryker's high-tech interior: a state-of-the-art video system, night-vision imagers, screens for displaying troop coordinates, and a satellite uplink that connects each vehicle to the military Internet.

"I can look at where I'm at, where they're at, where I want them to go and post graphics on my system, which is instantaneously visible on theirs," Army Col. Michael Rounds, commander of the first Stryker brigade in Iraq, says on the program. "That's tremendously powerful."

"It's real realistic training," Goertzen said. "This is as close as it gets to the real thing without getting into the real thing."

Army officials say the 25-acre complex offers soldiers an opportunity to train for situations they might face in Iraq or Afghanistan in a way they've never been able to before. Maj. Gen. John M. Brown, commander of U.S. Army Alaska, noted that this is the sixth such complex built by the military.

Follow the Full Article link to read the rest of the story and view some great pics.

Members of the Coalition for Iraqi Unity, a concerned group of citizens in northwestern Iraq, approached soldiers of 1st Squadron, 14th Calvary west of Tall Afar near the Syrian border and turned in a large cache of weapons consisting of 339 100mm tank rounds, 102 hand grenades and four 152mm artillery rounds.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

He and another injured soldier were taken to an Army hospital in Balad, about 200 miles to the south. The other soldier remained in the hospital Saturday, officials said.

The releases did not indicate which Task Force Olympia units the soldiers were assigned to. The task force includes the Stryker brigade from Fort Lewis as well as other active-duty, National Guard and Army Reserve units from across the United States.

A contract security company working for Task Force Olympia in Mosul originally found a 155mm artillery shell and contacted an explosive ordnance disposal team. When EOD arrived on site, they discovered the chain of explosives.

Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi police, Coalition forces or the Tips Hotline at 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in munitions or weapons, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

Release #040502a

The soldier was killed in a roadside bomb attack on his convoy Saturday near the town of Qarraya, 45 miles south of Mosul, the military said. A second soldier died Saturday of wounds suffered in a Friday roadside bombing in the same area. The latest deaths brought to 140 the number of U.S. service members who have died since the current wave of violence began in early April.

In another Saturday bombing, two foreign contractors were killed and five other foreigners were injured in an attack in the northern city of Mosul, the U.S. military and witnesses said. Nationalities of the victims were unavailable.

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment detained two people 20 kilometers north of Sinjar for attempting to smuggle benzene from Syria into Iraq. The benzene was confiscated and the two men are in custody.

Task Force Olympia continues to work with the citizens and leaders of Iraq to make it a safe, prosperous, and democratic nation. Anyone with information about criminal or terrorist activities should inform the Iraqi Police, Coalition forces, or call the Tips Hotline 813-343 or 780-013. To turn in weapons or munitions, contact any Coalition soldier or call the Hotline (813-343) to arrange turn-in.

The Soldier was transported to the 31st Combat Support Hospital in Balad following the attack, where he died May 1.

Release #040501e

Several vehicles were damaged in the IED attack.

Task Force Olympia extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the Soldier who died and those who were injured from this incident.

CJTF7 has posted an update to this story. Only one other soldier was wounded, not two.

The soldier died from injuries after an improvised explosive device attack on a convoy south of Qarrayah, about 9 a.m.

Two international security workers were also killed Saturday in a separate attack in the area.

The winning basket was scored, in overtime, by Spc. Christien Bolduc of Sanford.

During the game, a female soldier rooting for the Strykers (a regular Army unit) turned to Spc. Tracy Jipson of Gorham and exclaimed, "They can't be a National Guard team! They're too good!"

Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment in Tal Afar reported that six indirect fire rounds impacted in the local school early this morning. A patrol searched the possible point of origin and detained one individual for questioning.

As part of ongoing weapons collection efforts, members of the Coalition for Iraqi Unity approached 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment near Rabiyah and turned in 29 37mm rounds, 29 100mm rounds, 29 90mm rounds, 12 120mm rounds and one 150mm round.

"Kirkland soldier killed in Iraq" - Seattle P-I

"Kirkland man dies in Iraq ambush" - Seattle Times

"Kirkland soldier killed in Iraq" - King County Journal

"Stryker brigade soldier dies of second war wound in Iraq" - Associated Press

'I Didn't Lose A Friend, I Lost A Brother' - KOMO News

"Stryker Brigade Soldier Dies Of Second War Wound In Iraq" - KIRO News

"Task Force Olympia Soldier Dies from Injuries Following Grenade Attack" - Official press release from Task force Olympia

"DoD Identifies Army Casualty" - Official press release from the Pentagon

This week, a memo from U.S. army Gen. Larry Ellis, leaked to the media, stated soldiers need better armour and it was "imperative" the Pentagon accelerate production and deployment of Strykers.

The Stryker is ideal for the "denser combat environment" in Iraq, he added.

There are some other interesting details included in the article.

"We're going to hold the Stryker brigade until it's time to bring it in to replace the one that's currently in the north," Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John Sattler, the Central Command operations director, told reporters in a briefing from Qatar.

The New York Times, for instance, reported this week that the second brigade was a leading option under consideration for replacing the 20,000 soldiers whose tours were extended earlier this month. The Times attributed its report to unnamed senior military officials.

His best friends since grade school said they have lost a big part of who they are.

Jake Herring is survived by his parents and two younger brothers.

And two, the whole issue of precision in an urban environment. Could you give a little tutorial, quick? And how do you accomplish that between coordination with the Air Force AC-130s and the Marines on the ground -- giving the public a little perspective on how you would do that without destroying whole blocks and people.

What we will do is we will take that additional Stryker brigade, when it's time to swap out the one in the north. Because of its capability and its speed and its flexibility to cover large areas, it's the perfect unit to go back up to the north and then cover the entire Multinational Brigade North sector. So rather than bring them in now, Tony, when we don't feel we need them, we have sufficient up- armored Humvees, we have sufficient Bradleys, we have sufficient other mechanized vehicles that give us the mobility that's necessary that we're going to hold the Stryker brigade until it's time to bring it in to replace the one that's currently in the north.

In the second operation an ICDC platoon executed two cordon and searches in Qarariyah, targeting two counterfeiters. Both targets were detained and subsequently turned over to coalition custody for interrogation. Several fake ID cards were confiscated and these operations are the first independent operations executed by Iraqi security forces in the northern zone of operation.

One Task Force Olympia soldier died today from wounds sustained in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on a QRF vehicle yesterday near Tall Afar. Three other soldiers were wounded in the incident, and the quick reaction force was responding to an earlier IED attack on a coalition patrol when it too came under attack.

Maj. Gen. John Sattler, the operations chief for U.S. Central Command, told reporters at the Pentagon that when new Army and Marine Corps commanders arrived in Iraq in recent weeks, they saw a deteriorated security situation and decided more armor was needed for combat. [...]

Kern also said that when insurgents stepped up attacks early this month on U.S. military convoys bringing supplies north from Kuwait, U.S. commanders reduced the number of convoys for about a week. During the slowdown they improved security arrangements. As a result, the general said, in recent days there have been fewer losses along the main supply routes from Kuwait.

Alluding to the same problem, Sattler said an infantry battalion from the 2nd Infantry Division's Stryker brigade was shifted from its usual operating area in northern Iraq to provide extra security along the southern supply routes from Kuwait.

Working with Pfc. Adam Szafran of Portland, another computer whiz, Leary this week will order everything he needs to provide in-room, super high-speed Internet access to any soldier willing to pay the $140 set-up fee and the $20 monthly service charge.

Already, Leary has collected $32,000 to purchase the equipment, including a satellite dish, from a company in Cyprus. He hopes to have all the cable strung and ready to plug in when the rest of the hardware arrives in about four weeks.

He's the son of the late Maui attorney Ed Mason. His mother, Merlene Mason, lives in Kihei.

"They go into the academy a little child, and they come out a man," she observed.

Grimes, a 1997 graduate of Straughn High School said he worked for two years on oil rigs before deciding to join the army in August 2000.

"Ask everybody to pray for us," said Grimes.

Members of the Coalition for Iraqi Unity, a concerned group of citizens in northwestern Iraq, approached a soldiers of 1st Squadron, 14th Calvary west of Tall Afar near the Syrian border and turned in a large cache of weapons consisting of 88 100mm mortar rounds, 75 135mm artillery rounds, 23 115mm artillery rounds, 10 150mm artillery rounds, nine 90mm mortar rounds and 343 14.5mm rounds.

As of today, there are 66 days until the transfer of Iraqi’s sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Let’s continue to work together to show Iraq’s progress toward democracy and to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Mosul is different.

It could allow surgeons to get a bird's eye view of the innards of a patient, offer military units in the field a view of the entire battlefield and provide mechanics with a simulation of the inside of a car's engine. [...]

Already 100 of the see-through laser-based displays have been shipped to Iraq for use by the US Army's Stryker Brigade. [...]

The military got so-called scanned-beam technology off the ground in the 1980s, producing helmet-mounted displays to improve fighter pilots' field of vision.

Microvision licensed the patent that came out of the research done at the University of Washington and has been working on the system ever since.

“This is what it was designed for from the get-go,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ciaran Allison, a platoon sergeant with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment. The unit is part of 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

Contrast that encounter with another assault on the brigade involving an improvised explosive device.

The article includes two photos as well.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment conducted cordon and searches in the northeast neighborhood of Hashimiyah and detained 14 people wanted for planning and conducting attacks against Coalition forces. During the searches, IED making materials were discovered and confiscated.

The same unit reported another weapons turn-in by an Iraqi citizen in Tall Afar that consisted of five 120mm mortar rounds, 22 60mm mortar rounds and five 60mm mortar tubes.