Homecoming

Redeployment Ceremony, April 22nd 2008

Fort Riley Troops — R&R Earned

Fort Riley Troops — R&R Earned
Topeka Capital-Journal
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Welcome-home celebrations for soldiers returning from Iraq have become a regular occurrence at Fort Riley this month.

More than 3,400 soldiers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division who were deployed to Iraq 15 months ago are returning to the fort, and to their families and friends, in groups of several hundred at a time. More than 3,000 had returned by Monday, and the remaining 300 are expected to arrive today.

Fort Riley officials say the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during its 15 months in the Rashid Security District of southern Baghdad conducted operations that resulted in the capture of more than 200 "high-profile targets" and reduced the number of enemy cells in the area from 20 to five. The team also repaired sewer, water, medical and education facilities and electrical projects.

By all reports, it was a job well done.

Deployment of the brigade was part of a large troop buildup in Iraq designed to combat increasing violence from and among the different Muslim sects and by terrorists.

We join the soldiers, their families and friends in rejoicing at their safe return. We also express our condolences to the families of those soldiers who didn't make it back safely. A spokeswoman for Fort Riley said the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team lost 38 soldiers in the war.

Since the war began March 20, 2003, with the invasion of Iraq, more than 4,000 members of the U.S. armed forces have died there.

That human toll, coupled with the absence of any indication our forces won't be fighting and dying in Iraq for a long time to come, has contributed mightily to the public's growing concern that the country has become bogged down in a civil/religious war that has no end.

The emotional strain the war in Iraq and the war against terrorism being fought in Afghanistan are placing on our men and women in uniform is another source of growing concern across the nation. Any soldier who has been in uniform any length of time likely has served at least one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Some have served two or even three tours in those hostile environments. National Guard units in Kansas and across the country also have been called upon regularly to contribute.

The Fort Riley spokeswoman said the Army's goal is to give soldiers returning from a 12- or 15-month deployment at least 12 months in the states before they are deployed again.

But repeated deployments to a war zone in a relatively short number of years can weigh heavily on even the bravest, and the families who can only stand and watch as one of their own heads once again toward danger.

We admire the courage of the soldiers and their families and honor the sacrifices they make.

It's our hope that members of 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team receive the time they need to decompress from the rigors of war and reconnect with family and friends before they are sent into battle once again.

Sand storms cancel air flights, stop US helicopters in Iraq

Sand storms cancel air flights, stop US helicopters in Iraq
Middle East News
Apr 17, 2008

Iraqi airline companies cancelled Thursday all air flights due to a strong sand storm hitting Baghdad and different Iraqi cities.

An official in one of Iraq's airline companies told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that strong sand storms hit Iraq since the early morning of Thursday, which resulted in postponing and cancelling all domestic and foreign air flights.

The storm is considered the strongest since 2008, stopping US helicopters from hovering over Baghdad.

500 soldiers returning to Fort Riley after 15 months in Iraq

500 soldiers returning to Fort Riley after 15 months in Iraq
Kansas City Star
The Associated Press
April 8, 2008

After 15 months in Iraq, a batch of soldiers from Fort Riley are about to return home.

The soldiers were part of the 4th Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division that was sent to Iraq last year, when the U.S. beefed up its troop levels. The units were sent to Baghdad, where officials sought to keep civil unrest in check to allow the Iraqi government time to develop.

Fort Riley officials said Thursday that the first 500 soldiers will return to Kansas, with more expected to arrive over the next two weeks. In all, 3,400 soldiers from the brigade will return.

Gen. David Petraeus told members of Congress that troop levels will continue to decline by 20,000 through this summer, before taking a break. Petraeus is the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

Security Incidents

Security Incidents
McClatchy News
April 3, 2008

A roadside bomb exploded targeting an Iraqi Army patrol in Qahtan Square, Yarmouk neighbourhood, west Baghdad at 11 pm Wednesday, killing 1 serviceman, injuring 3.

A roadside bomb exploded between Qahtan Square and Yarmouk Hospital injuring 2 civilians at 7 am Thursday.

MND-B Soldiers Capture Key Criminal Suspect, Seize Weapons Cache

MND-B Soldiers Capture Key Criminal Suspect, Seize Weapons Cache
DVIDSHUB
03.24.2008

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers capture key criminal suspects also led to the seizure of a weapons cache in the Mansour District in northwestern Baghdad, March 19.

Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), captured the individual during a mission to capture him.

While the Soldiers detained the individual, Iraqi security forces provided a ring of security.

The suspect is allegedly a mid-level leader of al-Qaida in Iraq who is believed to be responsible for conducting several vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks throughout Baghdad and southern Iraq.

“His capture will likely provide us with the information we need to capture other AQI members” said Capt. H. Eric Perez-Rivera, assistant military intelligence officer for 2nd BCT.

After Soldiers detained him, they searched his house and discovered a cache of weapons behind a hidden wall.

The cache consisted of 14 AK-47 rifles, three rocket propelled grenade launchers, six 9 mm handguns, various hand grenades and other munitions. The cache also contained seven landmines, detonation cord and other improvised explosive device making materials.

The cache was turned over to an Explosive Ordinance Detachment for disposal.

“This is another example of what the partnership of Iraqi security and coalition forces can produce”, said Maj. David Hollis, 2nd BCT spokesman. “This arrest, coupled with the cache find, is another step toward a safer and more unified Iraq.”

FACTBOX-Security developments

FACTBOX-Security developments
Reuters
March 18, 2008

BAGHDAD - Seven people, including three Iraqi soldiers, were wounded when a bomb in a parked car blew up near an army checkpoint in western Baghdad's Yarmouk district, police said.

Feeding the Fire: Dragons Take Home More Retention Awards

Feeding the Fire: Dragons Take Home More Retention Awards
DVIDSHUB
by Spc. Nathaniel Smith
Posted on 03.06.2008

Dragons Take Home More Retention Awards

BAGHDAD – For the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, a new year and a new division didn’t change the ‘Dragons’ retention fortunes.

The Fort Riley, Kan., based unit, which led Multinational Division-Baghdad in reenlisting Soldiers for fiscal 2007, started 2008 off in style by being awarded the commanding general’s award from Command Sgt. Maj. John Gioia, the senior noncommissioned officer of the 4th Infantry Division and MND-B, for the first quarter of the new fiscal year in a ceremony at the 4th BCT headquarters on Forward Operating Base Falcon, March 4.

The 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th BCT, currently attached to the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, earned the battalion-level retention award as a key contributor to the 744 Soldiers who have reenlisted in the task force, tallying up to almost $8 million in bonus money.

Sgt. Phillip White, the retention noncommissioned officer for the 610th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th BCT, said the brigade’s success has been collaborative effort.

“Everyone’s come together to reenlist the most Soldiers in the Baghdad area in the first three months. As far as being part of that, it’s just part of my job,” the Salem, Ill., native said. “Any time you get honored, it’s great. It kind of reiterates the fact that you’re a part of something larger than you are. The teamwork and everything else is great.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne, the senior noncommissioned officer of the Dragon Brigade, said the award reflects on every Soldier in the brigade.

“This is a great day for the brigade. This recognizes the brigade for your mentorship, for your leadership, for your coaching,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the Soldiers doing that on a daily basis, our retention would not be where it is today.”

White agreed that some of the brigade’s retention success is due to its leaders.

“It all boils down to the leadership of the Soldiers,” he said. “If the Soldiers didn’t think they were being led, they didn’t like their NCO’s or their commanders they probably wouldn’t be stepping forward to reenlist.”

During the ceremony, Gioia said the retention noncommissioned officers of Task Force Dragon do a good job in a very difficult field.

“Retention right now is hard. The retention NCOs have the hardest job, trying to retain our force,” he said. “We have to make sure we have somebody to replace us. It’s important that we retain as many Soldiers as we can and keep them in the Army.”

Keeping Soldiers around is something Task Force Dragon has done very well, with 50 percent of those eligible, roughly a third of the brigade opted to extend their Army careers.

White said he agreed.Keeping Soldiers in the Army is not always easy, he said. Getting them the right prospects for a career in the service is often easier said than done.

“The toughest part is coupling the needs of the Soldier with the Army. You have Soldiers on their second, third and fourth deployment and they want downtime, but they either don’t have the rank or the knowledge to get that downtime,” he said. “Trying to get those Soldiers somewhere where they won’t deploy for the next year-and-a-half or two years, that’s the hardest part, but for the most part, we’re doing pretty well on it, taking care of Soldiers who have done multiple deployments.

“When you get them that long shot, though, that’s the probably the most rewarding part of the job.”

Even when Soldiers do get the right situation, Col. Ricky Gibbs, the 4th BCT commander from Austin, Texas, said it takes a special person to enlist and reenlist in a time of war.

“After Sept. 11, if you raised your hand, you have something in your heart other Americans don’t have,” Gibbs said. “These Soldiers stepped up to the plate in a time of war, with no draft, and elected to serve their country, knowing their chances of going to combat are very high, and right now, their country needs them even more.”

Radar Team Keeps Eye on Falcon

Radar Team Keeps Eye on Falcon
DVIDSHUB
By Spc. Nathaniel Smith
Posted on 02.29.2008

Radar Team Keeps Eye on Falcon

BAGHDAD – In a small corner of Forward Operating Base Falcon there is a team from an artillery unit, not even on the base, performing a job a lot of Soldiers have no knowledge about.

Such is the life of FOB Falcon’s radar team, detached from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad which performs all their duties in the shadows, working hand-in-hand with the counter-rockets and mortars cell, quietly keeping an electronic eye out for enemy indirect fire attacks.

Staff Sgt. Matt Richter, the radar section chief with HHB, 2nd Bn., 32nd Field Artillery, said while his job may not be high-profile, he gets a sense of fulfillment from performing his day-to-day duties.

“It gives us the opportunity to have a significant impact in places where there’s a lot of indirect fire. If we do a good job, it allows the brigade and their sub-units to do a great job, too. We help the (Iraqis) and we help ourselves,” the Topeka, Kan., native said. “This job has satisfaction; it’s challenging and every day I learn something new. It’s an $8 million radar; there’s a whole bunch of electronics involved. You can’t know everything about it. When you have any problem, it makes it interesting because it’s always something new.”

With more than 1,300 acquisitions, more than 500 rounds tracked, and a 98 percent operational rate since March 21, 2007, things have been interesting for the Falcon radar team.

Spc. Adam Hovelson, from Brookings, S.D., and a radar operator with HHB, 2-32 Field Artillery, said he enjoys the quiet occupation he chose.

“I love my job,” he said. “It’s something that is really technical, but not terribly tough to do. It’s a fun job; I really enjoy doing it.”

Richter said his favorite part of being a “radar Soldier,” which he has been doing for seven years, has been the unique assignments he has received.

He said being in a small, dynamic field has afforded him the opportunity to work with a wide range of elements, from Special Forces to Marines. Richter, who is on his fourth deployment as a radar operator, said he enjoys having the chance to be in situations that most Soldiers would rarely find themselves.

Despite having a rewarding, one-of-a-kind job, like every other Soldier, the deployment has not been without challenges.

Among the difficult parts of the radar teams job is maintaining focus during what can be long hours of inactivity.

Hovelson said he keeps himself sharp over what can be very boring stretches by studying the radar system’s manual.

Despite the team’s difficulties, Hovelson said the camaraderie in the section became stronger due to the team’s relying on each other throughout the course of the deployment and being away from the rest of the 2-32 Field Artillery, “Proud Americans.”

“It’s helped bring our section closer together; it really helped to establish lasting relationships,” Hovelson said. “It’s given us a chance to meet a lot of people.”

Richter also found a silver lining.

“The cohesion of the section definitely went up quite a bit,” he added. “The opportunity to network and work with other people not in the same unit has been great.”

Dismounted Patrol

Dismounted Patrol
DVIDSHUB
Photographer: 55th Combat Camera
Date Taken: February 17th, 2008

Dismounted Patrol 20080225

Gallery includes: 'Controlling a Possible VBIED', 'Daklea Neighborhood Patrol', 'Dismounted Patrol'

• Battery B
• Staff Sgt. Peter McCabe
• Sgt. Benjamin Stoddart
• Pfc. Steven Robbins

Audio: Ironhorse Tracker #48

Audio: Ironhorse Tracker #48
DVIDSHUB
Produced By: Sgt. Marshall Pesta, 27th Public Affairs Detachment
Date Taken: 02-20-2008

Audio Summary
Download MP3

Video Location:
IQ||

Unit(s) Involved:
• 4th Infantry Division
• 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment

Submitting Unit:
Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

• Spc. Christopher Herff reports on improvements in security and technology in Yarmouk's hospital, thanks in part to Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Riley, Kan. Spc. Christopher Herff, 27th Public Affairs Detachment, produced the story.
• Staff Sgt. Brian Rhodes discusses the significance of the 4th Infantry Division's motto, "Mission, Soldier, Family, Team," with the 4th Inf. Div.'s commander, Maj. Gen. Jeff Hammond. Staff Sgt. Brian Rhodes and Sgt. Marshall Pesta, 27th Public Affairs Detachment, produced the story.

Fire Station in Yarmouk

Fire Station in Yarmouk
Army.Mil Images on Flickr

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Patrick Henson, from Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, sprays a fire house at a station in Yarmuk, Iraq, Feb. 17, 2008. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sharhonda R. McCoy)

Soldiers Provide Security at Hospital

Soldiers Provide Security at Hospital
DVIDSHUB
Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter
Date Taken: February 16th, 2008

Soldiers Provide Security at Hospital 20070219

• Cpl. James Baker
• 1st Lt. Quinn Robertson
• Spc. Terrill Welge
• Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Popple

Troops on Patrol in Hateen

Troops on Patrol in Hateen
DVIDSHUB
Photographer: 55th Combat Camera
Date Taken: February 13th, 2008

Troops on Patrol in Hateen 20070219

• Sgt. 1st Class Daniel McKim
• Spc. Daniel Hinojosa
• Sgt. 1st Class Daniel McKim
• Sgt. James Daniel
• Staff Sgt. Frank Woode

Security Incidents

Security Incidents
McClatchy News Service
Feb 9, 10, 2008

Sunday, Feb 10, 2008
Gunmen opened fire targeting Lieutenant General Mohammed Basim Abdul Redha and Colonel Farqad Salman Alwan, both work in the directorate in the general inspector of the defense ministry. The incident took place at 9:00 am in al Yarmook neighborhood west Baghdad.

Saturday, Feb 9, 2008
Around 8 a.m. a roadside bomb targeted an Iraqi police commandos patrol at Qahtan square near Yarmouk neighborhood ( west Baghdad) .Two of them were injured with some damage to their vehicle.

Known Area of Interest Control

Known Area of Interest Control
DVIDS
Feb 3, 2008

Known Area of Interest Control

• Sgt 1st Class Rickie Jackson
• Staff Sgt Jeremiah Brennan
• Sgt Jason Billings

Video: U.S. Army Soldiers Enroll Iraqi Police Volunteers

Video: U.S. Army Soldiers Enroll Iraqi Police Volunteers
DVIDS
Date Taken: 11-21-2007

Video Location:
IQ||Yarmuk

Unit(s) Involved:
• 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment

Submitting Unit:
Joint Combat Camera Center

DVIDS Summary Page
Direct Link to Video

B-roll of U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment enroll Iraqi Police Auxiliary volunteers. Scenes include Iraqi volunteers walking in a line, getting their photos made and performing various exercises.

Assessment Mission

Assessment Mission
DVIDSHUB
Photographer: 1st Sgt. Adrian Cadiz
Date Taken: January 21st, 2008

Assessment Mission

A U.S. military joint civil affairs team comprised of U.S. military personnel from various military units and branches of service go on an assessment mission of the Hateen Industrial Park in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 21, 2008.

• U.S. Army Spc. Gregory Marchand
• U.S. Army Spc. Joshua Barmer
• U.S. Army Cpl. James Baker
• U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Schmidt
• U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Popple
• U.S. Army 1st Lt. Quinn Robertson

Bravo Battery's Christmas Party - II **Updated**

Bravo Battery's Christmas Party
DVIDSHUB
Date Taken: December 25th, 2007

Bravo Battery Christmas

Continued Coverage of LTC Gadson and the Giants

Here are just a handful of the articles about LTC Gadson, his courageous spirit, and inspiration for the Giants:

• CBS Early Show: Wounded Iraq Vet A Can-Do Spirit Giant
• Hartford Courant: Wounded Veteran Brings Out Giants' Best
• Orlando Sentinel: Gadson has been inspiration to Giants
• New Jersey Star-Ledger: THE MAN WHO AWOKE THE GIANTS
• ESPN: Source of inspiration: Injured soldier produces Giant emotions