Tuesday, July 03, 2007

1-15 Soldiers strengthen ties with Salman Pak

Multi-National Division - Center
Media Release
HQ, MND-Center
Baghdad, Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1-15 Soldiers strengthen ties with Salman Pak
Story by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment stationed at a combat outpost in Salman Pak are getting to know the town’s citizens up close and personal.

Soldiers from 1-15th Infantry are spending more times these days interacting with the Salman Pak citizens during dismounted patrols.

Maj. Steve Delgado, the executive officer for 1-15 Infantry, explained that Soldiers live amongst the people they are trying to assist, and are able to respond to threats quicker than if they were living on Forward Operating Base Hammer—miles away.  Living in Salman Pak also helps the 1-15 Infantry Soldiers understand their environment better.

“This helps us in two ways,” said Delgado.  “One, we become closer to the populace by sharing some of the same experiences and trials as they do, and it helps us think like the threat force.  We now know where they live, hide, run to and attack.”

All of this information has been very helpful to 1-15 during Operation Marne Torch, a Multi-National Division-Center operation which aims to eliminate insurgent sanctuaries southeast of Baghdad.

“We have been extremely successful in accomplishing our purpose for this operation, disrupting the extremists’ activities and denying them safe havens,” said Delgado.  “We have accomplished this by conducting numerous operations which have uncovered a plethora of caches and we have detained numerous individuals.”

All of the operations, according to Delgado, will help secure the area making it safer for troops operating in the area and the people who live there.

“Generally, the response from the populace has been positive,” said Delgado.  “The good people of Iraq know we are conducting operations to secure them and disrupt insurgent activities.  They want to help us and try to provide assistance by giving us information.  This operation is another opportunity to demonstrate to the populace how we are here to help.”

1-15th Infantry honors fallen hero

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment render honors to their fallen comrade during a memorial ceremony held at Combat Outpost Cahill on June 30.

Multi-National Division - Center
Media Release
HQ, MND-Center
Baghdad, Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1-15th Infantry honors fallen hero
Story and photos by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, honored one of their fallen Soldiers in a memorial service held June 30, at

Spc. Carter A. Gamble Jr. was killed June 24 when his unit took small arms fire on a combat patrol in the town of Al Dura’iaya.

Gamble, 24, of Seymour, Ind., was assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, September 2006 as part of 1-15 Infantry.

During his current deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Gamble served as a tank loader in 3rd Platoon, Company D, 1-15 Infantry.

“(Gamble) was a hard worker,” said Spc. Jay Massiet, a tanker in 1-15 Infantry.  “His sprit was always upbeat.  That attitude and personality will be greatly missed by all of us.”

amble’s importance to Company D was expressed by Spc. Jason Silva, a tanker with 1-15 Infantry, during the ceremony.

“Tankers become one family,” said Silva.  “The platoon will not be the same without him. There is no Soldier I would have rather come to Iraq with.”

Gamble is survived by his wife, Peggy Gamble, his daughter, Deborah Gamble, his stepsons, Dallas and Skyler Nicholson, and his father, Carter A. Gamble Sr.