The Silent Fight

The Silent Fight
Dagger's Edge Magazine: Vol 1, Issue 25
Capt George Morrison
November 12, 2007

Pictures Include:

• US Army Soldiers from A co, 2-32 FA and Iraqi Army Soldiers deliver educational supplies and Dental Hygiene products to a school in Hateen, Iraq on Oct 29th.
• Staff Sgt Mullen speaks with residents about their security and essential service concerns in their neighborhoods.
• Iraqi Police distribute Handbills created by the 2-32 FA Battalion IO Officer about a rocket attack in AO Patriot.

Task Force Patriot fights with a steady presence in Hateen and Yarmouk to stop the terrorism that infects these neighborhoods. We do it through combat patrols in the area, capturing terrorists and removing caches. We also wage a campaign to persuade the people to reconcile their sectarian differences and help put an end to the violence. The myriad of ways in which we influence the people is part of our information operations campaign. Outward effects on the people are only a portion of the overall campaign.

The information operations campaign also includes our efforts to understand the people, specifically what their feelings and opinions are about various aspects of their day to day lives. An example of this is the popular opinion of the progress of the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police developing into legitimate professional forces. Every neighborhood, every block, even every house can have a different opinion about this issue and many other issues like it. Our information operation campaign looks at all of the different feelings and opinions from throughout all of these different areas; this information is then consolidated to show commanders and staff what people are saying and how they feel based on the demographics of the area. These feelings and opinions aid the staff in the planning process and the Commanders in their decision making and daily engagements.

TF 2-32 influences the people of Yarmouk and Hateen through several different methods. The most common form is through face-to-face engagements with the populace. During these engagements, Soldiers, first line leaders and commanders discuss themes and messages that the battalion information operations officer recommends based on the Battalion Commander’s mission intent. These themes and messages focus the discussion on topics that will communicate our ideas to the populace and influence them to think in a certain way. An example of this is the idea that the Iraqi Security Forces need the support and help of the Iraqi people in order to defeat terrorism, and that the Iraqi Security Forces are the ultimate solution to stopping terrorism in Iraq.

The populace is persuaded not only through spoken means, but printed and broadcast means as well. Handbills are an effective and common method used by Task Force Patriot. Handbills are simply flyers that communicate a message, much like you might find under the windshield wiper of your car. Sometimes the handbills are created and printed with the help of the Tactical Psychological Operations Team (TPT) that is attached to our unit, but also sometimes by the Battalion S7. Posters, newsletters, and newspapers are other print methods that can be produced by the TPT, billboards are another print product but on a much larger scale that requires coordination with other units responsible for their contracting. The TPT, led by Staff Sgt. William Mullen, consists of three specialized Soldiers that go on patrols with each battery and our Civil-Military Operations Platoon. These Soldiers talk to the populace to gather atmospherics about the opinions and feelings of the people in each neighborhood, convey focused messages in their discussions, advise the S7 on the planning of his information operations campaign and act as a liaison between the Battalion and other Psychological Operations units in utilizing different print and broadcast products.

Broadcast methods are the most effective ways to influence the local population, but also are the hardest asset to obtain. Broadcast forms of communication include radio and television advertisements and announcements. These mediums influence a wide range of people, exceptionally larger than our area of operations. In order for our Task Force to communicate a particular theme or message through broadcast means the message must affect the majority of the listening area, such as a Baghdad-wide curfew change or the institution of a new law. Broadcast methods are rarely used at the Task Force level because of these requirements.

The information operations campaign compares closely to the marketing campaign of a corporation. The scheme of the campaign centers on understanding our customers’ (the Iraqi people) wants and needs (security, governance, economic and essential services concerns) and then convincing them to buy our product (believe in the Iraqi Security Forces, support their local government, revive their local markets, put trash in its place, be active in their community). The campaign encompasses aspects from research and development to publication and advertising.

Task Force Patriot’s Information Campaign is strong and effective and an important part of the fight. Much like man cannot live on bread alone; our fight cannot be won only through combat actions. It takes a fine-tuned, culturally aware, mission ready Soldier to accomplish today’s mission. This means our Soldiers are trained to fight the enemy when necessary and talk to the people to help them with their problems. Our Soldiers are more than just war fighters in a combat zone; they are ambassadors in a foreign country and they are making progress every day.

The Joint “Service Station”

The Joint “Service Station”
Dagger's Edge Magazine: Vol 1, Iss 23
Capt. Brad Bandy
October 2, 2007

Being a 63B Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic in a Field Artillery battalion serving as an infantry unit is a tough task, but rotating to Joint Security Station Torch makes being a mechanic even more challenging. At any given time, the JSS is manned by two full platoons, the quick reaction force and the force protection platoon, and numerous other patrols use the JSS as a staging point throughout the day. With upwards of 20 HMMWVs coming through the JSS every day, the mechanics have learned that it takes plenty of duct tape and shoelace quick-fixes to keep the trucks going… and this isn’t even the hard part.

With a notoriously unreliable, 20-plus year-old 100KW generator powering the lights, air conditioners, radios, computers, televisions, and security cameras at the JSS during its first six months, the mechanics quickly found themselves cross-trained as MOS 52D, generator mechanics. Of course, several field grade officers were always there to inspire and motivate them, since the generator always seemed to break during important security meetings.

Repairing generators is only one half of the 52-series’s training, so the mechanics figured why not go all the way and qualify as a 52C Air Conditioner Repairer. The JSS boasts no less than fourteen split-unit air conditioners haphaphazardly installed with as much as thirty feet of tubing and wires running between the condensers outside and the cooling units inside. They provide endless opportunities to learn how to recharge Freon and re-do the electrical wiring.

Speaking of wiring, the mechanics have become part-time electricians as well. The eleven perimeter flood lights mounted on the JSS’s concrete barrier walls are connected by hundreds of feet of cable to a switch panel featuring a combination of European, Asian, and Middle Eastern plugs and outlets, each with its own peculiar amperage and voltage. Somehow, the mechanics have made them all work together on a nightly basis.

Welding often comes into play, too. Whether it is constructing a man-size security gate, fabricating brackets to mount anything and everything imagin-able, or re-sealing the metal rooftop water tanks that constantly develop leaks, the mechanics have become artists with a welding arc. By the way… those water tanks have a whole lot of pipes running throughout the house, and a good plumber goes a long way too!

While the HEMTT wrecker dedicated to the JSS has not been used to recover any disabled vehicles yet, the wrecker and its crew of mechanics have certainly gotten plenty of work as a heavy lift asset. Whether it is repositioning barricades at the entry control point, downloading pallets from cargo trucks for the twice-a-week logistics push, or going out with the distribution platoon to emplace concrete barriers in the middle of the night, a ten-ton capacity crane with a skilled operator at the control levers is never short of work.

The mechanics’ trips back and forth from JSS duty are usually a quiet half-hour ride… usually. However, one maintenance team can boast of a slightly more exciting experience. When their escort platoon halted to conduct a dismounted inspection of a wire obstacle, AIF engaged the platoon with heavy small arms fire from the opposite side of the highway. In the twenty-five minute engagement that ensued in the early morning darkness, the mechanics-turned-gunners fired 70 rounds from their .50 caliber machine guns at enemy muzzle flashes to provide covering fire while the dismounted personnel maneuvered back to their vehicles.

This group of maintenance specialists has truly given new meaning to the term “multi-functional logistics,” and has demonstrated that every Soldier is a rifleman first. When it comes to getting the job done in, on, or outside of the JSS, you can count on a couple of good mechanics to be your one-stop service shop.

THE INFAMOUS ROUTE POPEYES

THE INFAMOUS ROUTE POPEYES
Dagger's Edge Magazine: Vol 1, Iss 24
Pfc. Stephen Williamson
Oct 16, 2007

It was early evening in late September and I found myself appreciating the chill in the air for the first time in a long time. I sat in the gunner’s hatch scanning the rooftops as I swiveled to the right and to the left. This was our first mission since the later Ramadan curfew had gone into effect, and I was shocked to see so many people out so late. I adjusted quickly to the crowd, however, and kept a vigilant eye on them. Our mission that night was to provide security for barrier emplacement along Route Popeyes, and as I scanned my sector I noticed the huge billboard from which the road derives its name.

Popeye the Sailorman, a character created by the American cartoonist Elize Segar in the late 1920s, adorns the front of Popeye’s Coffee Shoppe, one of the most prominent structures on the road. I always found it ironic that this stretch of road was named for the rough seaman because just as he was always ready to take the fight to the bad guys with a can of spinach and his arms a-swinging, it was on this road that the men of Bravo Battery so often had to face the IEDs of the enemy in the early stages of our deployment. I will never forget hearing things like, “When we turn onto Route Popeyes the mood just sort of tightens up,” or “We just cross our fingers and push through.” Remembering these eye-opening comments as I sat in my turret, often made by hardened veterans, I looked out at the crowds of people and thought of how far this area had come in the past seven months.

Thanks to the steadfast commitment of the Bravo Battery Bulldogs and the rest of Task Force Patriot, the Yarmouk neighborhood of western Baghdad has experienced a myriad of successes since our arrival here in March. From the countless reconnaissance patrols to combined training operations with the Iraqi Army personnel who man checkpoints along Route Popeyes, we have all put in long hours in this area and many others like it throughout the Patriot sector.

Whether you work in the motor pool maintaining the vehicles, in the TOC tracking the battlefield, at the Aid Station providing for the health and welfare of the Soldiers, or on patrol providing security for the Iraqi people, we must all remember that successes like the crowd along Route Popeyes are the reason that we are here. Thanks to us, the Iraqi people can sit at their coffee shops enjoying a cup of chai. Thanks to us they can come to their businesses to work and shop without fear. Thanks to us they can move to and from the Al-Showaf Mosque, a prominent mosque on Route Popeyes, in safety. And for giving the Iraqi people the opportunity to do all of these things, we members of Task Force Patriot can all truly feel like Proud Americans.

Disabling the Insurgency

Disabling the Insurgency
Dagger's Edge Magazine Vol 1, Iss 21
Sgt. 1st Class Sean O’Brien
September 5, 2007

The Distribution Platoon of G Company, 610th BSB (Forward Support Company for 2-32 FA) continues to do an outstanding job here in Iraq, providing “service to the line, on the line, and on time.” This diverse group of Soldiers is comprised of various military occupational skills ranging from mechanic to cook to driver; all of whom come together as one team to issue ammo, transport food, deliver fuel, dispose of trash and provide barrier emplacement in support of Task Force Patriot and the
2nd Brigade Combat Team.

On occasion, enormous transportation requirements arise to which the platoon must react quickly and aggressively. These requests have become somewhat of a learning experience and a challenge. This month, besides the normal weekly battle rhythm, Task Force Patriot called on Distribution Platoon to transport over 2,500 50-kilogram bags of ammonium nitrate from an abandoned factory in Hateen to Camp Liberty’s hazardous material disposal area.

We began the planning process with the idea of using connex inserts and ratchet straps, an idea which seemed great until one of the maneuver platoons brought us a bag of the material in question. At first glance, the awkward shape and solidity of the 110-pound bag presented a problem. The adaptive Soldiers of the platoon experimented with multiple configurations using an insert, reaching the conclusion that about 10 bags would maximize an insert without compromising its structural integrity. In doing the math, 2,500 bags of ammonium nitrate would require about 250 connex inserts. This meant Distro Platoon would have to make multiple trips to and from Camp Liberty to accomplish the mission. In order to maximize the capabilities of our five heavy transport vehicles and save time, we knew we had to adjust fire.

We next acquired Air Force pallets and cargo nets and coordinated forklift support from B Company, 299th FSB. The platoon made training on the Air Force pallets its priority, since none of the Soldiers had any experience with the Air Force’s nets and pallet systems. The platoon pulled together in preparation for the mission and became proficient on the equipment, experimenting with the best ways to use it until a new plan was in place.

At “O’dark thirty”, we staged our vehicles and conducted PCC/PCI, the mission
brief, and battle drills. The convoy moved out and set up at an abandoned warehouse in the Hateen Industrial Area. When the contracted Iraqi workers arrived, the security platoon searched them and led them into the factory, where they would upload the ammonium nitrate bags onto our equipment. All of the workers were excited; most had not been able to find work in nearly a year. The first warehouse was covered with inches of bird droppings, which we inadvertently stirred up into a kind of dust as we worked. We provided the workers with face masks and rubber gloves, but it was a dirty and hot first day’s work for everyone involved. Fortunately, the second and larger warehouse storing ammonium nitrate was not nearly as bad.

Over the course of five days, each truck averaged about an hour or so to upload and then a little extra time to tie and secure each load with cargo nets. On the final day, we loaded damaged and ripped bags into connex inserts for containerized transport. Despite the mid-afternoon heat, which soared each day to over 120 degrees, everyone consistently displayed exceptional motivation and teamwork throughout the duration of the mission.

Distribution Platoon, in conjunction with local national contractors, and elements of Alpha Battery, 2-32 FA, removed over 250,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate, preventing the insurgents from using the volatile compound against our forces in the form of home made explosives. With ingenuity, teamwork, and dedication, the Soldiers of this platoon continue to live up to the spirit of the Big Red One. “No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great, Duty First!”

ONE HOT SUMMER

ONE HOT SUMMER
The Dagger's Edge: Vol 1, Issue 22
1st Lt. Quinn Robertson

First, congratulations are in order for the Soldiers of Task Force Patriot and the rest of the Dagger Brigade for withstanding a brutally hot summer. The past three months have been filled with gusting winds and sand that seemed to blow into every crevice of our equipment, our gear and our uniforms. With temperatures soaring well into the 120s, common sense would dictate that we slow down and stay inside our air-conditioned tents and housing units. Our Soldiers, however, braved the heat on a daily basis to maintain security in Yarmouk, our area of operations in western Baghdad. Despite having to wear fifty pounds of body armor under the blazing Iraqi sun, our Soldiers found success by employing that age-old Army maxim: “Drink water and drive on.” I cannot imagine what our enemy must think when he sees us conducting dismounted operations under such harsh conditions. This is part of our arsenal, this apparent imperviousness to the heat, and I have nothing but respect for the men and women who display it with such ease day in and day out. It is still hot out, to be sure, but September marks the beginning of fall in our Western minds and though it might still reach 113 degrees this week, we all know that cooler temperatures are just around the corner, and for that we are thankful.

Over the course of this summer, the Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, performed exceptionally well across the full spectrum of combat and civil-military operations, proving that the Field Artillery has never been more diverse in its skill set. Today’s Cannon Cocker – an affectionate term – not only knows how to shoot a projectile miles across the battlefield, only to have it impact with pinpoint accuracy, he has also mastered the Infantry skills needed to evict Al-Qaeda and Jaysh al-Mahdi from western Baghdad. Our Artillerymen have also become proficient in the kinder, gentler side of warfare, learning to plan and execute civil-military projects which have beautified our area of operations and fostered increased levels of governance and social cohesiveness. These projects have given an overwhelming sense of pride to the local residents. For those who have helped clean streets and repair schools, these projects afforded them the opportunity to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq, a process which cannot succeed without a spirit of ownership at the local level. The Iraqi people want to strengthen their communities; we have simply given them the means with which to do so.

As Soldiers, we all live by the Army Values. As Soldiers at war, we have come to see that we share our values with those Iraqis who are committed to rebuilding their nation. We identify with the Iraqis who call us to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods; cooperating with US forces means risking discovery by insurgent elements and takes a great deal of personal courage. Iraqis are also becoming more self-reliant, in terms of governance, economy, and security, and the men and women of Yarmouk have made it clear that they will not tolerate those individuals who stand in the way of progress. The average Iraqi understands the fact that those of us in ACUs want to empower his community, while the insurgents are destructive and self-serving; an anathema to his vision of a new Iraq.

In any counter-insurgent fight, it is tempting, but ultimately unproductive to look to numbers and percentages as measures of success. We learned in the Vietnam War that the body count did not correspond to victory, and in this war no set of metrics will predict the outcome. Instead, we must turn to the subjective, to the intangibles, to get a sense of our progress, and for that we rely heavily on our interpreters. Baghdad is a metropolis teeming with millions of residents, yet, according to our interpreters the streets stood empty in the years following the growth of the insurgency. Now, however, men and women crowd markets and bustle through the streets. Our interpreters attribute this behavior to the level of security that we and the Iraqi security forces provide. As the people of Baghdad come outside to enjoy their communities, they provide us with a great sign of progress. We do not need to count the number of people on the streets to measure the effectiveness of our efforts; simply seeing them go about their lives without fear of a terrorist attack is proof enough.

Bravo Battery’s successes in Yarmouk come not from the pens and keyboards of strategists and analysts, but rather from the pounding of boots heard daily throughout the city. Our Soldiers have walked the same streets thousands of times over, shaken the same hands, and sweated through uniform after uniform. It has been a long six months so far, but we have built relationships in Yarmouk that are now paying dividends. Local citizens are taking more and more responsibility for their affairs each day, and the Iraqi Army continues to become more effective and independent. Best of all, we have made it through the hottest part of the year. Cooler days are in store for us, and I hear that Iraq even has a winter. I just hope it does not get too cold…

ONE STEP, ONE DAY, ONE HELPING HAND AT A TIME

ONE STEP, ONE DAY, ONE HELPING HAND AT A TIME
Daggers Edge Magazine Volume 1, Issue 20
By Pfc. Phillip Goral
August 21, 2007

1st Platoon, Alpha Battery, the “Lightfighters,” was built up from the ground up at Fort Riley, Kansas, as part of a 105mm Field Artillery unit using guns we jokingly called, “the Pop Guns.” We trained to fight as artillerymen for a year. We spent countless days in the field shooting numerous fire missions to support the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The Lightfighters knew their job and knew it well. That all changed in November 2006 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California, when we were informed of the upcoming deployment to Iraq.

Even then, we did not know what our mission would be, so some of the platoon trained for an artillery mission while the rest trained for a motorized Infantry mission. All our questions were answered in January 2007 when we found out that we were going to Baghdad and were going to be Infantry. We had one month to train on small unit movement tactics, close-quarters marksmanship and light Infantry combat missions before we made the long trip over the pond to the “Big Sandbox.”

In Kuwait, we received the best Infantry training we could experience outside of being on patrol on the streets of Baghdad. Since then, we have done much to improve our area of operation, the hayy (neighborhood) of Hateen. On the map in our command post, one can see that Hateen is labeled “Aceland.” Aceland is our neighborhood and we patrol it like police officers looking for the bad guys.

For five months, we have worked hard to help rid Hateen of terrorists and to make life better for the local population. We played a part in building Joint Security Station Torch and participated in Operations Arrowhead Strike 9, Ace Strike 1, Patriot Strike, and Alexander Hamilton. We continue to conduct the Patriot Census, an effort aimed at better identifying and understanding the population demographics of our sector. The Lightfighters have conducted numerous combined patrols with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police, teaching them our tactics to help them better themselves so that one day, they can take over total control of the security of Hateen.

We have escorted civil affairs teams to assess the schools in the area and find out what they need to better educate the students. The platoon also played a role in a cooperative medical engagement, an operation in which Army doctors and medics established a free clinic for a day to help people get proper medical treatment and the medicine that they need to treat themselves for months to come. To the average person, it may sound like we have done our fair share here in Iraq, but we still have plans to do more to improve security and help the people of Hateen.

I think that this has been the hardest change for me while being here – helping the people. I was trained for a fight since basic training way back at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I think everyone comes here for the first time thinking that it will be just like the movie “Black Hawk Down,” but it is really not. Most of the people want us here not just to protect them, but to teach their Army how to accomplish the things that they cannot yet do on their own.

Since the first day I sounded off with the name Lightfighters in formation until now, I have been through a lot - from transforming from an artilleryman to an Infantryman, to getting on-the-job training on the streets of Baghdad. My time here, the sights I have seen and the missions I have been on, these are things that I will remember for the rest of my life. Besides my brothers in arms, who can say that they have done the things I have done or been where I have been? Nobody, that’s who, and that gives me a great sense of pride. It is the same for the rest of the men in my platoon. We all come from different backgrounds, hometowns, and lifestyles, but we have all gathered in this one place to do what is right. We are here to uphold freedom and preserve and promote democracy. We are doing this one step, one day, one helping hand at a time.

RIPPLES ON THE WATER

RIPPLES ON THE WATER
Daggers Edge Magazine Volume 1, Issue 19
Sgt. Matthew Bryan
August 7, 2007

Also in this issue of Daggers Edge, pictures of:

1LT John Nguyen, SGT Jonathan Harowicz, SGT Jeremiah Brennan (pg 2)
PVT Steven Roberts (pg 20)

(this article also appeared in issue 7 of The Patriot Call)

There has been much speculation and endless debate on the legitimacy of the War on Terror and our mission in Iraq. Many high ranking officials and widely broadcasted personalities have spent countless hours adding their opinions and theories as to why we are here and what good we are doing. Some have pointed towards the number of lives of American Soldiers lost since the start of the war while others have noted the change and progress that has been made in what was once a dictatorship living in constant fear. At what point does one consider the conflict in Iraq as a victory?

I was sitting near a small canal that snakes its way through our Forward Operating base located in western Baghdad, watching as the fish were jumping and making tiny ripples on the water. It is kind of amazing how something so mundane and unimportant can open your eyes to the bigger picture of life in general. Those ripples, in their own way, represent the whole spectrum of operations within this violence-ridden country. As an American, I grew up with many of the enemies and fears that one would find common among an American child. My enemies and my fears were real however, but they were nothing more than a bully in school or an opponent on the football field. My fear was of not getting a good grade on a math quiz or growing up without a solid path in life. The enemies and fears of children in Iraq vastly differ from those of American children, who live in a country where walking down the street in safety is taken for granted and the only thing to worry about is making it to soccer practice on time.

While on my first patrol, I took notice of families in the neighborhoods we passed through and the condition of the neighborhoods themselves. Upon first glance I witnessed mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. I saw children walking here and there performing the necessary tasks for sustaining a livelihood amongst the trash and filth. These men, women and children carried bags of food for their families and did what they had to do to carry on despite piles and piles of trash and decay. I took notice of their demeanor while carrying out such responsibilities. While they were carrying their groceries or simply walking down the street, there was fear in their body language. It was a fear of the unknown; a fear of their own neighborhood; a fear of me, an American Soldier. To them, I was an armed, unknown figure who spoke another language and rode around in an armored vehicle. I was a nameless and faceless Soldier who could not be trusted because they did not know what my intentions were and how I would conduct myself. If put in the same situation, I cannot honestly say that I would feel any different.

In the short amount of time since we began operations in this mulhalla (neighborhood), we have seen the people make significant strides. While on a recent patrol in the neighborhood, I made it a point to watch the emotions on the citizens’ faces and their body language as we drove by. It did not take much analysis to understand the true mind-set in their opinions of me and their “new” neighborhood. Small children, once afraid to even wave at us as we passed, now approached soldiers just to say hello and ask us our names. They were elated when we played catch with them. One event that will forever stand out in my mind was when I saw a father walking with his two children down the street - once considered the most dangerous street in our sector - at night. As a father of two small children, it is hard to imagine how visible a sign of progress that is in Iraq.

The trash and decay has been a normal part of life for Iraqi citizens, and to some extent they tolerate it. The general consensus was that this was how it is and this was how it was going to be. What could be done about it anyway? Some took their time to pile up the trash and burn it, though there were still numerous unsightly pockets of debris. Since the first month after our arrival, a trash truck has started to make its rounds through the neighborhoods on a regular basis. The unpleasant piles of garbage have since disappeared.

Some may question the significance of seemingly normal parts of life and sanitation in this area. Others may ask what this has to do with the security concerns or the welfare of the country as a whole. The answer is simple: When someone has a purpose and something to be proud of, something worth taking care of, there is a sense of pride worth fighting for. We believe that the Iraqi citizens within our area of Baghdad are becoming more proud of their neighborhoods and actually enjoy being a part of the cause to protect and improve it. There has been a disruption among the seemingly stagnant waters, a disruption that caused a ripple effect and inspired many to take action against all that is demanding around their homes. It started with one street and quickly stretched beyond the boundaries of the neighborhoods.

It has taken a lot of work and money to break the stagnant waters but, how can you put a price on a way of life? What we as Americans have taken for granted for so long is a ray of light in the eyes of an Iraqi family. The people of Iraq must now take the lead and create their own ripples in the water in order to live freely in a secure and stable environment. Who are we to tell that man walking with his children at night without fear that his ability to do that is not worth what we sacrifice as American Soldiers? As a husband and father, I worship my ability to live free and safe in a land where my family doesn‘t have to fear for their life while doing everyday tasks. Don’t you think he wants the same for his family? Don’t you think he deserves that chance?

Are These Your Soldiers Too?

Are These Your Soldiers Too?
Daggers Edge Magazine
By 1st Sgt. Robert Cook
July 26, 2007

So there I was, no kidding, right in the middle of Baghdad when I began to ponder, what is it that I can say or write about for our newsletter that has not already been mentioned? What was out there or what has happened that I can highlight and still bring credit to our hard working Soldiers? As I began to drive on with my daily workload of paperwork, I came across the Battalion Commander's "Command Philosophy". What stuck out the most to me were the three words that drive him daily and how he expects the Soldiers to internalize these same three words. The three words are: competence, confidence, and courage. I thought to myself for a moment and realized, our Soldiers are already living by and using these three words.

I believe our Soldiers are very competent. When we first learned of our mission prior to going to the National Training Center (NTC), I had a lot of doubts. Here we were, a new unit still training within our own field of expertise and we were going to have to switch our focus to becoming infantrymen. This required a lot of man hours and a lot of training and retraining, not to mention working closer to our infantry counterparts to acquire information on tactics not common to us. There were quite a few reasons to be doubtful and it had been clearly stated numerous times as we took on this mission.

As we began to go through the training at NTC, the worries lessened just a bit. It seemed as if the training we did prior to departing Fort Riley had paid off some. I mean, we still had areas we needed to work on, but we were able to see how quickly our Soldiers had adapted. Now, as they patrol the streets of Baghdad, they appear to be no different than the infantrymen who once trained us. Sometimes, and even quite often, they seem to do it better than the infantrymen we see out in Baghdad and on FOB Liberty. Our guys and gals are becoming more and more skillful by the day and are truly a force to be reckoned with, when and if encountered.

The word courage in the dictionary is defined as the "mental or moral strength to venture, preserve, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty." This definition could not even begin to describe what our Soldiers display each and everyday. In fact, I will tell you what courage is. Courage is going across the seas to face an enemy who has no face, an enemy who can be anywhere at all times. Who faces such a thing on a daily basis? Your Soldiers do. Courage is going into a foreign city to bring peace to its residents. Courage is working in a place, day in and day out, where you encounter different cultures, languages, and people; people displaying the mixed emotions of relief and anger that you are in their city. Daily we send our Soldiers out to gain the respect and trust of people they do not even know in the hope that we will gain an ally or a friend who can help us defeat our enemies. Could you do a thing of this magnitude? Your Soldiers do.

Courage is moving from a semi-secure place into a dangerous city full of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), machine gun fire, rocket explosions, blocked streets, and harsh temperatures well above 110�. Who in their right mind willingly faces such dangers? Your Soldiers do. So, if you were to look at the dictionary definition of the word courage, I will bet it is incomplete because the true definition of courage includes the American Soldier.

Finally, if there is one thing our Soldiers have plenty of, it is confidence. They believe that they are bringing about a change in the area we secure, and why not when they see new shops opening and people openly cooperating with us? They watch the black marketers flee the area when their vehicles turn the corner. They hear the residents tell story after story about improved safety, they see more children outside without fear of violence, and they see more families moving home for the first time in months or years.

As our Soldiers ride through the city, they see the trash being picked-up, fences being repaired, and sewage waste and sewage systems being cleaned-up and redone. All of this is a result of their efforts to establish a safe and secure environment. So ask yourself, why not be confident in our mission or our accomplishments? I think that you would be and you would show it with as much pride as our Soldiers do. They are not the only ones who feel this way - leaders at every echelon of command talk about the work that our Soldiers do every single day.

The only thing extra I can say of our Soldiers is that they are relentless because they know if they do not do this mission, no one will. We are a field artillery battalion with less than half as many Soldiers as an Infantry Battalion, and yet, we make it happen. It has not been easy and there has been sacrifice. Our young guys and gals are drained, but they know they will be replenished. They are worn by exhaustion and fatigue, but they know that they will be re-energized when their mission is done. They fight complacency, shaking it off and returning to the basics to stay focused and vigilant. Our Soldiers endure all of this not for recognition or glory, or even some promised fortune or fame; they do it out of pure dedication to duty and the simple fact that staying loyal and committed to this fight may, one day, free this country from the tyranny of violence it has endured for over 35 years. They do it because they are American Soldiers, joined with others fighting for a cause, but most importantly, they do it because they are PROUD AMERICANS!

Changes

Changes
2BCT Newsletter : The Dagger's Edge
By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel McKim
July 12, 2007

Waking up at 3 o’clock in the morning to head out to my truck and go hunting holds a different meaning here in Iraq than it does in the States. For one, my typical packing list of a shotgun, reflective safety vest, and a thermos of coffee does not help much with the conditions here. Instead of ducks, I now hunt terrorists, and as I get in my truck, I bring my rifle, tactical vest, and a block of ice that will eventually melt into the cold water I will drink while on patrol. It is funny that all of us think about what we would rather be doing; for some of us, it is drinking a beer with family members at a summer barbecue, or taking a swim with the kids at the beach. Despite the separation from our friends and family, the memories we create here are still significant. Time in Iraq moves slowly, and free time is a rare and precious commodity, but the constant support that the men show each other creates a home away from home. The men that I work with on a daily basis are at the forefront of all my thoughts here; their safety, health and welfare are my greatest concerns. But like me, I know they fight everyday to create a small world in their minds where they are ‘not a Soldier.’ This is not to say that they do not love Soldiering, it simply means that their families, friends, and stateside ways of life are among their fondest memories. Following each mission, as I walk back from the command tent, I pass through the Soldiers’ tent make sure the guys are doing well.

On any given day, I can find Pvt. Andrew Walker trying to master the latest riffs on his Guitar Hero game or Sgt. Jason Billings on his way out to call his wife. Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Brennan manages to squeeze in an afternoon nap, while Spc. Jonathon Larson continues to pursue his correspondence courses online. One fact stands out, these men, like all Soldiers deployed around the globe, have managed to forget about those long missions and the inherent dangers of being deployed, and have created a piece of home in Iraq. Even I have occasionally cracked open a book to escape the intensity that surrounds us.

But what of the families we left behind? I know that regardless of our mission, the people we left behind are still anxiously awaiting our return. Our biggest fears are the natural changes that occur during deployments. Yes, we will be gone for over a year, and yes we will adapt according to our new environment, but just as the part of our minds which remains fixated on memories of home, so too do our memories of those we left at home stay the same. That being said, we imagine that people are still the same… But we know that is not the case.

All of us have and will continue to change during such a long time away from our loved ones. I recall my last tour in Iraq when we received a redeployment briefing from the chaplain at the tiny FOB on the border of Iran that had become my home. It was time to begin to let the thoughts of combat seep to the back of my mind, and time to start focusing on redeploying and reuniting with family and friends. The changes that we underwent from being gone for so long framed every experience in a different light. As I begin to think of what the chaplain said, I realize that we have not had much contact with our families, and the simple sensors of our minds are disjointed as a result of being members of an all-male unit. Some of us surely will say a few more curse words than we did in the past, and some table manners have certainly fallen by the wayside. But these small changes can only be expected when you live, work, sleep and eat next to each other day-in and day-out in such close quarters.

Thinking back to the chaplain's words of wisdom, I am reminded that our parents, wives, children and friends will also change in many ways. Wives may undertake new careers or find new hobbies to pass the time. Children may become accustomed to different treatment from one parent when the other is deployed, and may even get away with things that Dad would not have allowed. Friends normally do a great job of staying in touch, but some have surely gotten married and started families of their own.

We are closing in on the five month mark of our deployment, and the R&R program is in full swing - roughly two soldiers per platoon (10 soldiers from the Battery) are home at any given time, visiting family and friends while getting some well-earned rest. Some plan on getting married, while others will hold their newborns for the first time. No matter what their plans, it is good to see Soldiers get this time off. The excitement they show upon their return and the stories that they bring back with them help pass the time on long patrols and never-ending guard shifts at Joint Security Station Torch.

During this deployment, each person will discover something about themselves that they did not know prior to arriving in Iraq. Some will find newfound strengths to bring home with them, while others may find weaknesses to correct while we are abroad. Some Soldiers will sustain their discipline and make the most of their time here; others may be able to embrace the many changes on home front because war has taught them to be adaptable in nature.

Iraq is an ever-changing, fast-paced world unlike anything else we will ever experience. As the war here continually changes, so too does every other part of our lives, and a phrase keeps coming to mind that I heard growing up..."Sometimes change is good, even if it’s bad."

Fixing Anytime, All the Time

Fixing Anytime, All the Time
2BT Newsletter: Daggers Edge V1, Iss16
SGT 1Class Gary Sarapa
June 27, 2007

The motto of the Maintenance Platoon of Golf Company, 610th BSB, which supports 2-32 Field Artillery is, “We fix anytime, all the time.” It is a motto by which every Soldier in the platoon lives. They know that their way of supporting the war is ensuring that all of the equipment used by the “Proud Americans” is not only fully mission capable, but to high operational standards as well. The platoon itself is a miniature maintenance company, capable of performing field level maintenance on every piece of equipment owned by 2-32 FA. It is comprised of an automotive section, ground support equipment (GSE) section, service and recovery (S&R) section, communications and electronics section, armament section, and a maintenance control section.

During the past month alone, the automotive section has put in over 200 man-hours, bringing most deadlined vehicles back to FMC status the same day. They work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the call comes in that a broken vehicle is returning from a patrol, the parts, tools, and mechanics are all standing by, waiting for the vehicle, ready to pounce on it like a NASCAR pit crew. The section also provides a three-man team with a wrecker and contact truck each week at Joint Security Station Torch. The forward team repairs equipment utilizing minimum resources until it can be brought back to the Forward Operating Base. They also provide welding and lift support for JSS improvement, as well as maintenance and repair of the generators on site that provide the JSS with power.

With the hot temperatures of late, the GSE section has also stayed busy repairing and recharging 14 vehicle air conditioners, earning the GSE section sergeant the nickname “Mr. Freeze” from the Soldiers in the battalion. He is the only air conditioner mechanic by MOS in the platoon, but he has ensured all of his Soldiers are crosstrained to provide seamless support to the Proud Americans and keep them cool. They have recently started replacing all of the front and rear evaporators in our battlehardened M1114 fleet, making a significant improvement in their cooling efficiency.

The S&R section, besides providing the recovery and lift capabilities for the battalion, has made its biggest impact on the battalion performing annual services on the battalion’s vehicles. Over the past month, they have completed services for ten vehicles, with an average turn-around time of only 24 hours each. This performance is impressive because, according to the Maintenance Allocation Chart, it should take them close to 37 hours each. This quick turn-around allows a vehicle to get back in the fight with the assurance that it is in the same shape as when it rolled off the showroom floor. A key part of the S&R section are the welders who have fabricated anything the battalion has asked for from warning light and pope glass brackets to crew-served weapons stands at the JSS.

Besides the vehicle services, there is also the requirement to maintain night vision devices, weapons, and communications equipment and this is where the C&E and Armament shops jump in to do their part. The C&E section inspected, purged, and repaired over 40 NVG during platoon services and the armament shop inspected, gauged and repaired over 60 individual and crew-served weapons. In their “spare time,” the C&E shop installed MP3 players into our vehicles’ public address systems so the platoons can transmit messages during their patrols.

The speedy repairs accomplished by all of the sections in the Maintenance Platoon could not be accomplished without the parts provided by the Maintenance Control Section. The parts specialists are constantly on the road, requesting and picking up parts from every warehouse on every FOB on the entire Victory Base Complex. They have already logged hundreds of miles without even leaving the wire.

The Importance of Shaking Hands

The Imortance of Shaking Hands
2BT Newsletter: Daggers Edge V1, Iss15
1LT Matthew Offiler
June 23, 2007

When our Battalion first began patrols in Baghdad in early March, it was a shock to hear that our commander wanted us to dismount for our patrols and just talk to the locals as if they had been our long-time neighbors. It was a shock because on every one of our first patrols, we had been shot at. While it was an event we gradually became accustomed to, we continued to ask ourselves, “Why would I leave the relative safety of my HMMWV to get out and walk around in a neighborhood where people are shooting at me?”

It was a relevant question, but we began to dismount anyway. We would use our vehicles forgetting to and from our area and would spend the rest of the patrol conducting dismounted operations. It was an uneasy feeling at first since we were still new to combat. Keep in mind that the majority of the Soldiers in our platoon had never deployed and all of them, being Field Artillery, were new to the infantry mindset.

We learned quickly which tactics worked in which neighborhoods. In some areas, there were only certain people who would speak with us, while the rest ran back into their homes. In other areas, the locals would empty out of their homes and into the streets at the sound of our patrol coming around the corner. We adapted our vehicles’ maneuvering depending on the neighborhood as well. We either pull them up the middle of the patrol or let them stay towards the back. It is a balance between having your protection there if something happened and lowering your appearance of aggression when speaking with the friendly locals. This tactic adapted well for our platoon since our area has changed several times since our first patrols.

Correctly maneuvering the vehicles was only one part of creating a friendlier, but still safer atmosphere for the locals and my Soldiers. The one thing I never learned in any officer training course was how to be a politician, but it feels like that is where I have ended up. When I dismount, I greet the locals with hand shakes and smiles, feeling more like I am running for an election than fighting a war. But shaking hands has worked. It helps give them an understanding that you are there to work with them, not for them.

We shake hands and then begin the “small talk” of tactical questioning. Questions like “How long has the sewage been here?”, “Do you have a weekly trash service in this area?” and “How are the schools that your children attend?” Those questions get them to talk about their major problems and let us know what they are willing to speak about. Those questions, however, can also lead to more helpful intelligence. Information like, “We don't walk that way when we take our kids to school because we don't like the men in that house; they are dangerous men”. This is information which leads us to weapons caches and targets, information we would not have been able to gather if we had conducted our patrols by remaining in our “urban submarines” instead of shaking hands.

By talking with the locals, it shows them that you care and are at least trying to help. They all know you are just doing your job and we have encountered many locals who do not believe we are going to change anything. I cannot count the number of times I have heard, “You have been here for 4 years and you haven't fixed anything!”

Things have been fixed though, and it shows. Since we started dismounting, we have not received any small arms fire attacks on our patrols and have not had any IEDs placed in our area. There may be a number of factors to account for that, but I do not question for a moment that our tactics, shaking hands and sampling the local food offered to us have contributed greatly to this result.

Service Support… It Ain’t as Easy as it Looks

Service Support… It Ain’t as Easy as it Looks
2BT Newsletter: Daggers Edge V1, Iss14
1st Lt. Chris Lowry
May 30, 2007

Flashback: So there we were, southern California at the National Training Center (NTC). This was supposed to be the ultimate test of our platoon. It was supposed to be the culmination of all of our training as a Forward Support Company (FSC). We were wellrehearsed and trained to standard in all aspects of Service Support, everything from vehicle load plans to Combat Logistic Patrol (CLP) battle drills. According to NTC standards we did exceptionally well. We were ready for deployment… Or were we?

Fast-forward to present day. As you may have already guessed, things did not turn out the way we had planned. Instead of running CLP, we were instructed to do something that none of us had ever done before. We were told that we were to be one of the battalion’s infantry platoons.

I know what you are thinking, “what does a service support platoon know about operating in the combat arms world?” Well, to be quite honest, we did not know much at the time. We had been training for the past year and a half doing nothing but combat logistic patrols. We had to cram a year of training into a little less than 10 days, because we were to augment an infantry company as it conducted route reconnaissance and observation missions for Arrowhead Strike IX. Since we were only operating at night, it was mandatory that we work only in blackout conditions. Luckily, we were already well trained in night operations from conducting our CLPs, so we incorporated that experience into our new mission of dismounted patrols. We went straight from the crawl phase to the run phase and were expected to function as a fully-trained infantry platoon. The standards were set forth by the infantry company Commander we were to operate under, all we had to do was meet them.

On the first night of operations, I could tell the guys were a little nervous and to be quiet honest, I was nervous myself. I had butterflies the size of a 10K generator flying around in my stomach. It felt like the night of the big game, and for us it was the big game. This was the time to show all those people who think the service support branches should be “in the rear, with the gear” that we could hang with the big dogs. And you know what? That is exactly what we did. We ran with the big dogs and not only met the standard, but exceeded it on multiple occasions.

First Platoon / G Company is now a full-time maneuver element, conducting the full spectrum of “combat arms” missions. We do everything the combat arms guys do with not only less training, but different equipment and a variety of different MOSs. We all have different types of backgrounds and schooling within the platoon. We have communications specialists, truck drivers, mechanics, and cooks, as well as fuel, wrecker, and crane operators. Some might look at that as a disadvantage, but I look at it as a major advantage. We are a wide assortment of Soldiers put into an extraordinary situation, but we have risen to the challenge and exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Where the Sun Don’t Shine: HQ Platoon—The Unsung Heroes of the Battle

Where the Sun Don’t Shine
HQ Platoon—The Unsung Heroes of the Battle
2BT Newsletter: Daggers Edge V1, Iss13
1st Lt. Neal Rice
May 15, 2007

Headquarters Platoon, historically loathed as a duty position, is turning the tide. Never ending inventories, detailed battle tracking, mind boggling maintenance schedules and endless days within the confines of the Battery CP - all where the sun don’t shine - is finally paying off. With the help of Alpha Battery’s best in the business headquarters team, the world is beginning to recognize the added value of the ‘silent warriors’ of the Headquarters Platoon.

Every morning, not later than 0530, Sgt. Matthew Woodburn of Owego, NY, makes the trek from his sleep tent to the confines of the Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Command Post. Sgt. Woodburn runs the daily operations within the command post. A Chemical Specialist by training, Woodburn anxiously awaits the month that chemical protective masks are included in the cyclic inventories. As he runs the show for Alpha Battery, Woodburn dreams about his planned move to Lancaster, Pa., where he will finally become a citizen of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. But for now, he has duties to tend to. With the help of his headquarters team, the Alpha Battery “Aces” are on the ball.

Soon after Woodburn’s arrival, the battery supply team punches the clock. Sgt. Michael Evans, of Concord, Calif., and Spc. Carlos Caraballo of Ponce, Puerto Rico, work tirelessly to ensure Alpha Battery has everything needed to accomplish any mission. Evans brings the cunning wisdom of a seasoned supply sergeant to the fight. There is no question, Evans’ work is essential in allowing Alpha Battery to meet any task. When he isn’t working his supply magic, Evans is thinking up new culinary creations. Schooled in hospitality management, he looks forward to enjoying his leave by preparing dinner with his wife, Nicole, a trained pastry chef.

Spc. Caraballo lets a little sun in. As the Alpha Battery Supply Specialist, he works hand in hand with Evans to track equipment, order supplies and keep the maneuver platoons well stocked with all they need to perform their tasks. More than that though, Caraballo brings a spirited and infectiously positive attitude to the team. To find the lighter side of the situation, the Aces need only call on him. On April 12, Caraballo and his wife, Ashley, welcomed the birth of their first child, Carlos Isaiah. The headquarters team and all the Aces have greatly enjoyed Caraballo’s pictures from home, showing the happy and healthy little one.

Together, the Alpha Battery Headquarters Platoon is making a tremendous impact. When the headquarters runs smoothly, the maneuver platoons can focus solely on their immediate tasks. In Alpha Battery, the headquarters is smooth and the platoons are getting the job done.

The ‘Patriot Pool’

The ‘Patriot Pool’
Daggers Edge Magazine Volume 1, Issue 12
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richard Jones
May 3, 2007

There I was, standing in a small, square piece of desert with a swamp in the middle. A member of the Camp Liberty Mayor Cell told me that for a small price this could all be mine. My future home looked bleak, but we had trucks coming and vehicles to fix. It was time to get busy, so the mechanics got to work establishing the “Patriot Pool” for 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment.

After receiving 130 vehicles and 30 large shipping containers in a period of only four nights, the maintenance platoon quickly established repair facilities for the Patriots. The two maintenance tents were erected in no time, but lacked the necessary concrete pad for a floor. The search was on for aluminum Air Force pallets, and with the help of the Mayor Cell, we found enough to establish hardstand floors in both tents. Finally, the toolboxes came out and the Gladiators of Golf Forward Support Company were ready for action.

Action is what we got as the battalion had signed for an additional 18 HMMWV’s from other units on Camp Liberty. These trucks lacked additional armor and had been previously used only on the base. It was our mission to get these vehicles up to standard and back in the fight. 11 of the vehicles came to us in Non-Mission Capable status, with faults ranging from brakes and ball joints to air conditioners and engines. I issued the challenge and the mechanics were ready to meet it. Spc. Crane and the PLL crew quickly learned their way around the Victory Base Camp as they set out to chase down parts. Within just a few days, the list of deadlined trucks began to shorten. But as that challenge went away, another presented itself. The next task was to execute a regeneration process to refit and re-arm vehicles returning from combat patrols and make them ready to fight again on a moment’s notice.

The Gladiators had developed a system at the National Training Center, and now it was time to put the plan to use. The distribution platoon established Class I, Class IV, and Class V issue sites and the maintenance platoon manned the “Jiffy Lube” for checks and services. The Communication’s Shop set up an area in the motor pool to address all communication issues. Diagrams were drawn and briefed to key leaders and the maintenance battlefield was prepared. We were ready.

When combat patrols complete their daily tour of duty on the dangerous streets of Baghdad, their first stop is the motor pool. The vehicle crews are required to complete an after-action maintenance check and resupply their trucks with everything from ammunition to MREs. The mechanics move in, poised to handle any issue that might have developed during operation. At first, the vehicle crews were a little disgruntled since all they wanted after missions was to shower and hit the rack. Maintenance was the last thing on their minds. However, after seeing that regeneration ensured the timely repair and return to duty of their equipment by the next day, they realized the program was the way to go.

From receiving equipment, unpacking shipping containers, and setting up their maintenance fox holes, Golf Company has prepared for any mission that the Proud Americans and the Dagger Brigade sends their way. So bring your broken equipment and hungry Soldiers, because the Gladiators are ready to “Sustain the Fight!”

1st Platoon’s First Patrol

1st Platoon’s First Patrol
Daggers Edge Magazine Volume 1, Issue 11
1st Lt. Brian Cooke
April 21, 2007

The night of March 10 was a tense one. 1st Platoon, Alpha Battery 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, was going on its first patrol the next morning, and the air hung thick with a feeling of unease that most of us had not before experienced. We sat wordless throughout the tent; the only sound filling the void was the snick snick snick of our rounds as we loaded them into our magazines. Soon though, silence gave way to conversation, stilted at first, mundane in its topics, as we sought to distract ourselves from the next day’s mission. We keep our tents free of food to prevent bugs from entering, yet butterflies flew in and around our stomachs. Someone turned on Black Hawk Down, and then the sounds of Hollywood’s interpretation of battle echoed throughout the space, at once both comforting us and getting us excited for tomorrow’s patrol. We are a generation that has come of age watching the movies of war, and for the last time the big screen was our only preview of the day to come.

We awoke early the next morning, because this is the Army and no morning truly exists unless we rise before the sun. Our vehicles, Humvees with the best armor and electronics the Army can buy, sat in their neat row, ready to be mounted. We installed our crew-served weapons and made our final radio checks, making sure we could talk to each other first, then the Battery and Battalion operations centers. We donned our Interceptor Ballistic Armor, pulled snug our knee pads and snapped closed our helmets. A few men put a final two drops of oil into their rifles, wanting to be sure that they would work perfectly if called to. We gathered around my truck and I gave the mission brief. A map fixed to the hood of the truck before us, I explained the mission, our goals, objectives, and the routes that would take us from the safety of the FOB to the unknown and back. We talked as a group, making sure that we all understood what would happen, and then the sections split off on their own, Section Chiefs ready to reassure their Soldiers one last time before we rolled.

Staff Sergeants Roger Richards, Mark Tutman, and Adam Freeman, all veterans of prior tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, gave their men a few final words of wisdom, relaying to them some of the lessons they had learned, instructing their Soldiers how to apply these lessons just as soon as we exited the gate. Sgt. Vorenkamp was not an OIF or OEF veteran, but his time in Kosovo was spent with a round locked and loaded in the chamber of his rifle, ready to fire if the situation required it, and he used this experience to mentor his young section. As the Section Chiefs conducted their final inspections, readying men and equipment, Sgt. 1st Class Rickie Jackson and I sat back against one of the trucks, discussing our plan for the patrol. Neither of us has been to combat before, but we were as ready as we were ever going to be. The platoon had been together, in one form or another, for over a year. Seven months of artillery training, a month of full-spectrum combat operations training at the National Training Center, and two weeks of intense urban operations training in Kuwait had all culminated in this moment. It was time to leave the wire.

We returned from our first patrol a little over four hours after we departed. I’m not going to discuss the details of the mission, because they do not really matter. This was our first mission, the first of probably two or three hundred missions, and we’ll all have plenty of time to tell our stories when we return to Fort Riley. The details do not matter, but the big picture does. For the first time, 1st Platoon, Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, had accomplished its mission in combat. Never again could someone call us untested; never again would we be considered strangers to war. The rest of our year in Iraq sits before us, but we know that it is all downhill from here. We twenty-one men were now bonded, and stand ready to accomplish any mission sent our way.