Friday, August 31, 2007

3rd HBCT celebrates Women’s Equality Day

Maj. Carla Simmons, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s Staff Judge Advocate, speaks to the Soldiers of the 3rd HBCT during the Women’s Equality Day dinner held at the Forward Operating Base Hammer Dining Facility Aug. 29.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd HBCT celebrates Women’s Equality Day
Story and photos by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER– Soldiers of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team held a dinner in honor of Women’s Equality Day at the FOB Hammer Dining Facility Aug. 29.

Maj. Carla Simmons, Staff Judge Advocate, 3rd HBCT, was the featured speaker for the event.

Simmons highlighted the accomplishments of women in and outside the military in her speech and called attention to the important work servicewomen in the 3rd HBCT are doing during their current deployment.

“I was very excited to speak,” she said. “I thought this was a wonderful opportunity to present that speech to the men and women of the Sledgehammer Brigade.”

Lt. Col. Ryan J. Kuhn, deputy commander, 3rd HBCT, introduced Simmons and stressed the significance of the day.

“Today we celebrate the Army because women are a part of it,” he explained. “The 248 servicewomen that are currently serving in this brigade over here are important and all 248 make an impact every day out here. There is not a single thing that gets done in this brigade that doesn’t have a servicewoman’s touch on it.”

Master Sgt. Lawrence Jordan, the Brigade Equal Opportunity Advisor, agreed with Kuhn.

“This day is very important because it gives us a chance to recognize the women servicemembers who have served this nation’s armed forces in the past,” he said. “At one point, career choices for women serving in our nations armed forces were very limited. We have come a long way from those days and it is good to recognize what our women servicemembers have accomplished and celebrate the opportunities they have now.”

The 3rd HBCT is assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V, since March 2007.

Maj. Carla Simmons, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s Staff Judge Advocate, receives a certificate of appreciation from Lt. Col. Ryan J. Kuhn, deputy commander, 3rd HBCT, following the Women’s Equality Day dinner held at the Forward Operating Base Hammer Dining Facility Aug. 29.

Maj. Carla Simmons, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s Staff Judge Advocate, speaks to the Soldiers of the 3rd HBCT during the Women’s Equality Day dinner held at the Forward Operating Base Hammer Dining Facility Aug. 29.

Soldiers link FOB Hammer with world

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

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Soldiers link FOB Hammer with world
Story by Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq –More than three kilometers of fiber optic cable have been laid at FOB Hammer to provide voice and data communications.

Soldiers of Company B, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team have performed the work to support the HBCT and its attached units.

According to 2nd Lt. William Macleod, the platoon leader for the Joint Network Node platoon, Co. B, the platoon’s efforts have linked the headquarters within the brigade’s battle space.

“Their efforts have opened the door for telephone and internet usage to areas that previously lacked those services,” said Macleod. “They have also made division communication assets supporting FOB Hammer free for usage within the Task Force Marne battle space.”

Planning for this operation began in May. FOB Hammer was outgrowing the company’s capacity to provide reliable communications between the company’s joint network nodes, the brigade’s and battalions’ tactical operations centers, and other outlying nodes.

This idea was quickly expanded to connect the mayor cell, the explosive ordnance disposal compound, Air Force compound, medical dispensary, and detainee holding area.

“The quick-changing plan required a flexible approach with support from a number of sources,” said Macleod. “Soldiers provided the bulk of the work force to accomplish the mission, but were assisted by personnel and equipment from the Air Force, Kellogg, Brown and Root, and local Iraqi contractors.”

Coordinating with these organizations was necessary to complete digging and covering over the trenches as quickly as possible. All the routing and terminating of the cable was performed by Soldiers.

Terminating, or splicing, of fiber optic cable requires special training not usually available for the Soldiers of Co. B. Pfc. Rick Sanchez and Pfc. Jeremiah Gadd traveled to Camp Victory for a class on how to work the cable. For the Soldiers who could not attend the class, the 3rd Infantry Division network engineer came to FOB Hammer to administer on the job training terminating fiber optic cable. 

“Although B Company has finished the current plan, there are more requirements everyday,” Macleod said. “(We) will be expanding services to the FOB for the foreseeable future.”

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Soldiers remember Iraqi man’s sacrifice that saved their lives

On Aug. 23, 1st Lt. Mike Barth, of El Segundo, Calif., 2nd platoon leader, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and Staff Sgt. Sean Kane, of Los Altos, Calif., acting platoon sergeant, 2nd platoon, watch during a ceremony in Jisr Diyala to recognize the valor of a young man that died trying to prevent a suicide bomber from killing U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi civilians.

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

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Soldiers remember Iraqi man’s sacrifice that saved their lives
Story and photos by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – A routine meeting Aug. 18 became a saga of tragedy and heroism when one young Iraqi man gave his life to save his family and his friends in the U.S. Army.

The Soldiers he saved that day say they will never forget the man’s sacrifice.

The plan was to visit a leader of the al-Arafia Concerned Citizens Program. After a hectic month of raids and route clearance missions, the scouts of 2nd platoon, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, weren’t worried about that day’s particular mission.

“It was a pretty darn routine day, honestly,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Kane, of Los Altos, Calif., acting second platoon sergeant. “We were going to head to the house and talk with one of the leaders.”

The scouts had visited the neighborhood before and, according to 1st Lt. Mike Barth, of El Segundo, Calif., second platoon leader, they thought the area was reasonably safe because of the watchfulness of the area’s concerned citizens in the area.

“He (the leader) is a very good friend,” Barth said. “He is a respected man in the neighborhood. We had sat down with him many times and knew a number of his kids. A couple of his children speak a little bit of English, and we had made friends.”

In the early evening, Barth, Kane, Pfc. David Menillo, of Fairfield, Conn., the platoon medic, and Josh Berner, of Tehlequah, Okla., Barth’s driver, along with an interpreter, sat down to talk with the leader about the concerned citizens and how the platoon could help.

Barth had a cordon of several Bradley Fighting Vehicles set up along the road to provide security, as well as a small contingent of security personnel comprised of concerned citizens.

“This is a very respected man in the neighborhood Barth said. “He is always surrounded by family. Basically, the whole neighborhood is his family, so there wasn’t a need for extra security.”

A man approached Barth’s cordon and asked to enter the sealed off courtyard of the house.

“We had seen him before,” said Sgt. William Morris, of Orange County, Calif., a Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander in second platoon. “Our driver speaks a little Arabic, and the guy explained he wanted to go to his house.”

The man had far more sinister motives. He walked up to the local leader’s guards and requested to see the leader about buying a house in the neighborhood. Upon hearing who it was and what he wanted, the leader agreed to meet with the man after he had been searched.

As the guards searched the man, the guards discovered he was wearing a suicide vest. The guards ran toward the leader’s house in an attempt to warn everyone in the courtyard.

“They all came around the corner at virtually the same time screaming ‘Ali Babba, Ali Babba!’” Berner said. The phrase “Ali Babba” is a widely used Iraqi slang term for a very bad person.

The next few moments were a blur of motion as Soldiers and concerned citizens ran for cover.

Barth and Menillo ran to a window to see if the threat was coming from the street, while Berner grabbed the platoon interpreter and attempted to get him behind a wall in the courtyard.

As the bomber rounded the far corner of the courtyard, Kane sprang up with his weapon and started moving toward him. Before he could get off a shot, one of the leader’s sons ran up, wrapped his arms around the bomber and began pushing him out of the courtyard. With his sight picture obscured by the son, Kane could not get off a clean shot.

As the leader’s son wrestled with him, the bomber detonated the vest, killing both men instantly.

“My leg was hit, and my Kevlar was blown off along with my earplugs and eye protection,” Kane said. “My weapon flew out of my hand. The next thing I know, I’m face down in the grass trying to get my bearings.”

Stunned from the attack, Kane attempted to make it to a bathroom in the courtyard for cover.

Meanwhile, Berner was trying to protect the interpreter.

“He stopped to see what was going on, and I just grabbed him and tried to get him behind the wall,” Berner said. “I turned right because I was expecting small-arms fire, and the detonation threw me into the wall.”

Collecting his wits, Berner saw that the interpreter was sprawled out and stunned on the ground. Berner finished getting him behind the wall and thought of the women and children in the courtyard.

“I just ran back out and started grabbing them,” he said. “None of them were hurt, but I wanted to get them into the house or behind the wall. I didn’t know if we were going to take small-arms fire or anything like that. I yelled to (the interpreter) to tell them to get inside.”

The detonation threw both Barth and Menillo into the adjacent courtyard wall.

“For the first 15 seconds after the explosion, everything was real quiet,” Menillo said. “I heard Sgt. Kane yell he was hit and tried to find him.”

When Menillo got into the bathroom, he said he was shocked by what he saw, but Kane was not seriously injured.
“I just grabbed his leg and started checking it,” Menillo said. “I moved on to his ankle and didn’t find anything. I got him up. I thought his leg was busted up from where the blast was in the courtyard and where he was.”

After Menillo retrieved Kane’s gear, Berner started helping him to the vehicle.

According to Barth, the leader’s son took 90 percent of the blast and ultimately saved everyone in the courtyard.

The incident was over minutes after it started.

“The son was definitely a hero for acting the way he did,” Barth said. “His actions saved four American lives that day and the lives of his father and family.”

Barth believes Kane’s actions also saved the lives of his platoon members. As the bomber was running into the courtyard, the first thing he saw was the muzzle of Kane’s weapon. Barth said he believes Kane’s quick reaction and decisive thinking caused the bomber to lose confidence and freeze up.

“A lot of things kept that situation from being worse,” Barth said.

The leader’s son, killed by the bomber, had served chai to Barth and Kane several times before.

“He was high-spirited and really believed in what the group (Concerned Citizens) was doing,” Kane said. “I have no doubt the bomber was trying to kill American Soldiers. It was very calculated the way the bomber tried to do it. If he hadn’t intercepted him, there is no telling how bad it could have been.”

Berner remembers on the ride back, how he and Kane shared a quick smile to let each other know they were all right.

“He just kind of looked over at me and smiled,” Berner said. “We had been in a roadside bomb incident before that, so this was the second time we had been in that situation. I think we both realized that, as bad as it was, we walked away both times.”

Even though the incident is over, it has lasting effects.

Leaders of 3rd HBCT, the Iraqi National Police and Jisr Diyala leaders met with the father to acknowledge his sacrifice and thank him for his son’s actions.

Both Barth and Kane were present at the ceremony to offer support to their friend and to provide security.

The father was given a plaque and a ceremonial pair of spurs from Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, of Louden, Tenn., commander of 3-1 Cav. Regt..

“You cannot put a price on a life, but we would like to give you a few tokens of appreciation for your sacrifice,” Kolasheski said. “This is a tragic event we are recognizing, but it represents an outstanding change in this area.”

Barth admits it has been difficult talking with the family because of the pain they are experiencing. He has thanked the family for their sacrifice.

“They will always be friends,” Barth said. “This tragedy has strengthened that.”

Berner has relied on the experience of members of his platoon to help him with the incident.

“I’ve talked with Sgt. Kane about it,” he said. “He helped me put in perspective. Being younger, I don’t have the life experience to really understand it. He has been a big help. It’s just one of things that I will never forget.”

3rd Inf. Div. Field Artillery supports British troops

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd Inf. Div. Field Artillery supports British troops
(Click headline for video)

BAGHDAD – A news package of U.S. artillery Soldiers lending a hand to British soldiers during fire missions in Iraq is available from the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System.

Scenes include American and British Soldiers at firing positions on Basra Air Station and Col. Wayne Grigsby Jr. commander of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team,  3rd Infantry Division, promoting a British soldier.

Interviews include Sgt. Peter Miley, of Panama City, Fla., gunner, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, and Bombardier James Gordon, Sheffield, England, Supply Chestnut Troop, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. 

Produced by Pfc. Joseph Labutka.

Tips lead to cache find and detention of 13 suspects

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tips lead to cache find and detention of 13 suspects
By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, detained 13 suspected insurgents Aug. 24 and 25, near Salman Pak.

Company B, 1-15th Inf. Regt., conducted a combat patrol Aug. 24 south of Salman Pak after receiving information of the location of a possible weapons cache.

Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, observed three men conducting suspected insurgent activity at the location.

Company B detained the three suspects and two more who later arrived at the site. No weapons cache was found.

Company A, 1-15th Inf. Regt. conducted a separate air assault Aug. 25 south of Salman Pak after receiving a tip of an insurgent location.

At the site, Soldiers apprehended eight possible insurgents, including a man seen running from the objective with $2,500 and an unknown amount of Iraqi dinar.

Soldiers found a cache at the location that included two AK-47 assault rifles, five AK-47 magazines, a Glock automatic pistol, a military ammunition rig, two pistol holsters, five cellular telephones, extremist propaganda and a letter identifying insurgent groups and government officials.

1-15 Inf. Regt. is part of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Inf. Div., from Fort Benning, Ga.

3rd HBCT Infantryman inspires during recovery

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd HBCT Infantryman inspires during recovery
Story by Spc. Ben Hutto
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – On May 8, an explosively-formed projectile struck a U.S. Army vehicle, killing two of the three Soldiers inside.

The gunner, Spc. Saul Martinez, 22, of Bloomington, Calif., an infantryman with Headquarters Troop, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was the only survivor.

“When we pulled up to the vehicle, it was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Henderson, of Vidor, Texas, Martinez’s section sergeant in HHT. “I thought for sure everyone in the vehicle was dead.”

Henderson and Pfc. Stephanie McCulley, of Uniontown, Pa., a combat medic with HHT, immediately began working to get Martinez cut out of the gunner’s harness and get him stabilized.

“When I put my hand under his (Interceptor Body Armor vest), I was praying that he was breathing,” McCulley said. “I was worried about a million things. I was trying to keep him talking so he wouldn’t go unconscious again. In the back of my mind, I was worried he would lose his legs, but I just focused on what I was doing.”

Henderson also kept talking to Martinez.

“He tried to give me a bracelet to give to his wife,” Henderson said. “I took it, but kept telling him that he could give it to her when he saw her. He just kept saying, ‘Make sure she gets it.’ I told him I would just to keep him talking. I knew if he went to sleep he might go into a coma and not ever wake up again.”

Martinez’s legs were both severely damaged, suffering multiple lacerations and shrapnel wounds. He was strapped to a backboard and taken by helicopter to the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad’s International Zone.

Martinez remembers most of the incident clearly, but more specifically, the help Henderson and McCulley provided.

“They were my two angels,” Martinez said. “I remember lying there asking God to help me, and they were there.”

Martinez was heavily sedated for nine days after the incident while doctors removed one of his legs. He does not remember his stay in Baghdad or Germany, the two locations to which he was medically evacuated.

“I woke up and Sarah (his wife) was next to me at Walter Reed,” Martinez said. “The doctors told me I was on the verge of dying every hour of every day. They explained that they had to put me under so they could control my body. I was really close to not being here.”

Two days after waking up, Martinez was given the decision on whether to keep his other leg or have it amputated.

“Before I woke up, the doctors were trying to get Sarah to give them permission to amputate it, but she wanted me to make that decision,” he said. “Two days after I woke up, they explained that I would not be able to roll my heel, move my toes or walk on it. I told them I would rather be up walking with my wife on two fake legs than limping through life on a peg leg. I think they were surprised, but it really wasn’t that hard of a decision.”

Initially, it was hard news for many Soldiers back at FOB Hammer.

“I started crying,” McCulley said. “I felt terrible for him. It wasn’t until I talked to him that I felt better. He told me, ‘I made the decision to walk again. I can heal now.’ He helped me realize it was the best decision for him.”

Martinez’s recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was a good experience for him.

“I got great care there,” he said. “If I would have gone anywhere else in the world, I would have died. They took such good care of me. They were 100 percent confident that my amputation there would be a complete success. They did a great job and made sure there was no inflammation or swelling. From head to stump, they were on top of everything. I have nothing but good things to say about how they took care of me and my wife.”

Soon after his last surgery, Martinez was transferred to the Naval Medical Center in Balboa, Calif., to begin his physical therapy.

“The surgical therapy has been fantastic here,” he said. “We do therapy for three hours a day, every day. They have worked really hard getting my core strong so I can have good balance. We do everything. Arm bikes, abdominal work, push-ups, dips, pull-ups are just a few things in a typical session. It’s a lot of fun.”

Lt. Col. Ryan J. Kuhn, of Clarks, Neb., deputy commander, 3rd HBCT, visited Martinez at the Naval Medical Center while on leave and was impressed with how far he had come.

“I had never visited wounded Soldiers before, and to be honest, I was somewhat nervous,” Kuhn said. “I did not know if they would be down or depressed. To my surprise and betterment, what I found was exactly the opposite. Martinez should be the role model for all of us as Soldiers. He was upbeat and excited. I sensed a great deal of strength and determination in him. He didn’t speak about himself at all. It was always about other people, like his wife or his fellow Soldiers.”

Kuhn was impressed with Martinez and all the wounded Soldiers he visited.

“I got more out of that visit than they got,” he said. “I told my wife that I have had very few life changing experiences, getting married and the birth of a child are examples, but visiting wounded Soldiers was one of them. It was inspiring. When you come out from visiting someone like Martinez, you don’t leave the same Soldier.”

Spc. Andrew Ortman, of Baltimore, Md., who has served in the same platoon with Martinez since he came to 3rd HBCT, said Martinez’s wife, Sarah, has played a major role in his recovery.

“He is absolutely in love with Sarah,” Ortman said. “With Sarah and his faith, what more could he need? I knew that he would be OK as soon as he got back home.”

Martinez agrees with Ortman’s assessment.

“She has been there to support me with everything,” he said. “She is 100 percent behind me with everything. With her, there is no way I was going to let my legs keep me from living my life. She means too much to me to quit now. If I didn’t have her, I couldn’t do this. She’s been a rock through all of this.”

With his work ethic and wife’s support, Martinez’s recovery has been remarkable. In four short months, he has started walking on his new legs.

When told about where he is in his recovery, Martinez’s platoon mates were surprised and happy.
“I didn’t think he would be walking in four months,” Henderson said. “He was in really bad shape when we put him on that bird. I figured he would be recovering, but not walking. It shows you how strong-willed he is. He is walking because he wants to. His determination has made that happen. I think that says a lot about him.”

Kuhn said Martinez has more planned than just walking, however.

“He plans to remain on active duty and continue to serve his country any way possible,” Kuhn said. “He wants to ensure young Soldiers that come into the Army understand the importance of training.”

“He’s a Soldier,” McCulley said. “He’s always been a Soldier. He still believes in what he does after everything he’s been through. That is motivating and the Army needs motivating people.”

“Keeping injured Soldiers, like Martinez, in the service binds us together,” Kuhn said. “Young Soldiers need to see a hero like him in their midst. This war will be over some day, and people like him will help us remember how important our values and training are. If we don’t keep some of these guys around, shame on us.”

Martinez has geared his rehabilitation for the expressed purpose of not only staying in, but coming back stronger.

“I want to come back to Kelley Hill (home of the 3rd HBCT),” he said. “I think I can still help the Army and do everything I could before. I want to be able to do my job and show everyone that everything is OK. If I could motivate one Soldier, I would be happy. There is life, no matter what happens. I was hurt doing something I was proud to do and I’m looking forward to coming back. I’m still proud of what I do after everything that happened. I want to carry an 80-pound ruck on a 20 kilometer march. I want to run in the Brigade run. I can be a better infantryman than I was before.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Military Quotient Quiz

Think you know the military? Try this test of your MQ—Military Quotient.

Maybe you soldiered through Europe during World War II, waded through rice paddies in Vietnam or drove roads paved with IEDs in Iraq—but does that make you an expert?

We offer the chance to make your rank or earn a promotion with your knowledge of military trivia. Every question is multiple choice. Each correct answer earns you a higher rank. Answer every question correctly and you get a star—a general’s star.

Answers are at the bottom. No peeking!

1. Two medical organizations, Project Hope and Operation Smile, embarked this summer on a Navy hospital ship deployed to South America to provide medical care. What is the name of the vessel?
A. Mercy
B. Comfort
C. Hope
D. Consolation

2. The Army is now offering recruiting bonuses to men and women who sign up and agree to enter boot camp by Sept. 30. How much is the bonus?
A. $1,000
B. $5,000
C. $10,000
D. $20,000

3. How many Baseball Hall of Fame honorees served in the U.S. military during wartime?
A. 35
B. 63
C. 198
D. 280

4. The latest bomb in the U.S. arsenal has less explosive bang than its predecessors. What is it called?
A. LCDB—Low Collateral Damage Bomb
B. LWGB—Light-Weight Guided Bomb
C. AGML—Advanced Guided Missile—Light
D. SLIM—Special Lightweight Imploding Munition

5. What critical sea passage has Iran threatened to blockade if the country is attacked?
A. Bab el-Mandab
B. Strait of Magellan
C. Strait of Hormuz
D. Strait of Malacca

6. Wreckage of the submarine Grunion, lost during World War II, was recently located off the Aleutian Islands by an expedition led by three brothers. What is the brothers’ relationship to the submarine?
A. Sons of the skipper
B. Nephews of the skipper
C. Brothers of the skipper
D. No relationship

7. Most U.S. senators visiting Iraq are members of a CODEL, Washington jargon for a “congressional delegation.“ Which senator recently spent 11 days in Iraq serving as a reservist?
A. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
B. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.
C. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
D. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.

8. “Improvised explosive devices,“ a.k.a. IEDs, have been the principal cause of combat deaths in Iraq. What is the leading cause of non-hostile deaths in the war zone?
A. Motor vehicle accidents
B. Gunshots
C. Aircraft accidents
D. Heart attacks

9. Comedy Central’s The Daily Show recently sent correspondent Rob Riggle to Iraq for a week of USO shows and video segments for the fake news program. Riggle is a combat veteran of which service?
A. Army
B. Navy
C. Air Force
D. Marine Corps

ANSWERS:
1. B. The Navy ship is a converted supertanker that can handle up to 1,000 patients and qualifies as the seventh largest U.S. hospital when fully staffed.
2. D. Worried about a drop in recruits, the Army program is apparently working with more than 90 percent of new recruits taking the bonus in the program’s first weeks.
3. B. Two Hall of Famers—Phil MacPhail, an executive for the Reds, Dodgers and Yankees, and Ted Williams, the legendary Red Sox outfielder—served in two wars.
4. A. The name doesn’t guarantee a bomb will hit its target.
5. C. Tankers carry about 40 percent of the world’s petroleum through the 21-mile-wide passage between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
6. A. Bruce, John and Brad Abele are sons of Lt. Cmdr. Mannert L. Abele, who commanded the sub on its first and last war patrol in 1942.
7. C. Graham is an Air Force Reserve judge advocate. His previous assignment was as an Air Force appeals court judge, but a higher court ruled it was improper for a senator to serve as a military judge.
8. A. Next on the list of top non-combat killers are gunshots, both accidental and intentional, helicopter and plane crashes and heart problems. They are followed by drowning and accidental explosions.
9. D. Riggle is a major in the Marine Corps Reserves and has deployed to Liberia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Advance one grade in rank for every correct answer. Here is how you rank:
1—Private. Go back to boot camp.
2—Corporal. Study harder and you may be promoted.
3—Sergeant. Hope you are better on the rifle range.
4—Master Sergeant. Climbing through the ranks.
5—Lieutenant. Half way to the top.
6—Captain. Over the hump.
7—Major. No longer a minor military buff.
8—Colonel. Put an eagle on your lapel to show your smarts.
9—General. Lead the troops ... in a trivia contest!

Compiled by James W. Crawley, national correspondent of Media General News Service. Email him at .

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Fun Run

Here are some pictures that were sent to me of this weekend’s Fun Run in Baghdad.

Monday, August 27, 2007

2-69 Armor holds service for fallen leader

First Lt. Leonard Baklarz, a close friend of 1st Lt. Jonathan Edds, a platoon leader for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, who was killed in an improvised explosive device attack, holds the identification tags of his fallen friend at the memorial service held in honor of Edds Aug. 23, at Camp Rustimiyah, Iraq.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2-69 Armor holds service for fallen leader
By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER– Soldiers of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, honored a fallen leader Aug. 23, during a memorial service at Camp Rustimaya.

First Lt. Jonathan Edds, was injured in an improved explosive device attack Aug. 17, near Baghdad. He later died of wounds received during the attack, at the Forward Operating Base Loyalty aid station.

Edds was a Company D platoon leader. Those who knew him best described him as an outstanding Soldier, leader, husband, and friend.

“First Lt. Edds was pure leadership,” said Lt. Col. Troy Perry, commander, 2-69 Armor. “He built a team that worked together and then spent their free time together.”

“He loved his wife and would always talk about the next time he was going to see her,” said Capt. Alexis Perez, commander, Company D.

Edds best friend, 1st Lt. Leonard Baklarz, remembered him as a brother who was always up for a joke.

“We would joke on each other all the time,” Baklarz said. “I told him one day ‘I had a life before the Army, I went to college.’ Then he came back with, ‘you’re short.’”

Staff Sgt. Michael Skarhus, who served 18 months as Edds’ platoon sergeant said, Edds was always proud of his platoon.

“He used to tell me he didn’t have a job because the platoon would always make him look good,” he said.

Edds will be buried Aug. 27, at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy at West Point.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Edds.

 

Chaplain (Capt.) Tracy Kerr, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, speaks at a memorial service held to honor 1st Lt. Jonathan Edds, a platoon leader for Company D, 2-69 Armor, Aug. 23, at Camp Rustimiyah, Iraq.

Lt. Col. Troy Perry, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment commander and Capt. Alexis Perez, Commander of Company D, 2-69 Armor Regt., stand at attention during the national anthem at a memorial service held to honor 1st Lt. Jonathan Edds, a platoon leader for Company D, 2-69 Armor Regt., Aug. 23, at Camp Rustimiyah, Iraq.

Leaders of the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment bow their heads in prayer at a memorial service held to honor 1st Lt. Jonathan Edds, a platoon leader for Company D, 2-69 Armor Regt., Aug. 23, at Camp Rustimiyah, Iraq.

First Lt. Leonard Baklarz, a close friend of 1st Lt. Jonathan Edds, a platoon leader for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, who was killed in an improvised explosive device attack, speaks at the memorial service held in honor of the fallen hero Aug. 23, at Camp Rustimiyah, Iraq.

An honor guard of 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, presents arms at a memorial service held to honor 1st Lt. Jonathan Edds, a platoon leader for Company D, 2-69 Armor Regt., Aug. 23, at Camp Rustimiyah, Iraq.

1-10 Field Artillery brings a different fight

Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., of Prince George’s County, Md., 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team commander, gives a coin to Sgt. 1st Class Theodore Brock, of Zanesville, Ohio, the senior noncommissioned officer in charge of the battalion fire control for 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, Aug. 22, at Basra Air Station, Iraq.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1-10 Field Artillery brings a different fight
By Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – They are not patrolling the streets of Iraq in search of extremists, nor are they directly winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, bring a different fight to the insurgency.
Headquarters Battery and Battery A, stationed at Camp Bucca, in Umm Qasr, near the southern border of Iraq, bring the fight from inside the wire. With responsibility over a large amount of detainees within the prison walls, Soldiers find themselves working in the Military Police field rather than artillery.

Basic and daily tasks for 1-10 FAR Soldiers include guarding compounds, accounting for prisoners, feeding the prisoners, and ensuring their safety. Soldiers are also responsible for searching the compound for weapons, escape tunnels, and any contraband prohibited by Coalition Forces.

Although some detainees can cause troublesome situations for Soldiers, said Spc. Brent Haataja, of Menasas, Minn., Company B, 3rd Battalion, 194th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to 1-10 Field Artillery, most of the time they are peaceful and conduct their daily routines without any problems.

“Usually during the heat of the day, they just sit around in the shade of the tents,” Haataja said. “In the evenings, when it gets cooler, they move around more.”

According to Staff Sgt. Joseph Holmes, a platoon sergeant on Battery A’s Quick Reaction Force team, some detainees use their time beneficially by reading the Quran or conducting study groups.

Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., of Prince George’s County, Md., commander of 3rd HBCT, and Command Sgt. Maj. James M. Pearson, of Philadelphia,  paid a visit to 1-10 FAR Soldiers at Camp Bucca Aug. 21. During a tour of the base, Grigsby handed out brigade coins to exceptional Soldiers and told them how proud he was of their accomplishments.

After Camp Bucca, Grigsby and Pearson traveled north to Basra Air Station, where Battery B, 1-10 FAR works hand-in-hand with British soldiers of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Brigade.

According to Pfc. Adam Behrend, of Oconomowoc, Wis., Battery B, each Soldier works 24-hour shifts every other day manning an M109 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer. Their job, he said, is to make sure the area is clear of insurgent activity.

“It’s kind of slow,” Behrend said. “We don’t get to fire much, but I have seen a decrease in rocket and mortar attacks since we have been here to help out the (British Army).”

Spc. Jason Bang, of Reno, Nev., a medic from Battery B, said he enjoys working with the British Army at the Basra Air Station despite the differences in culture and military standards.

“They (British Soldiers) bring me medical supplies if I need them and they bring us food,” he said. “The food is pretty good, but it takes a few days to get used to it.”

“Everyone I’ve met is really nice,” Behrend said. “I see a big difference in their standards compared to ours. I would love to be able to wear short sleeves for a uniform.”

Bombardier James Gordon, of Sheffield, United Kingdom, a supply specialist with 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Brigade said, “This is something different. I’ve never had this experience before, working with American Soldiers.”

Grigsby and Pearson returned to Camp Bucca after visiting 1-10 FAR Soldiers at Basra Air Station, for a final remark on the battalion’s performance before heading back to FOB Hammer, where the 3rd HBCT’s headquarters is located.

“I could not be more proud of the accomplishments of the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment,” Grigsby said. “I have only heard great things about this battalion.”

 

Command Sgt. Maj. James M. Pearson, of Philadelphia, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, shakes hands with Lt. Col. Simon Humphreys, commander, 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Brigade Aug. 22 at Basra Air Station, Iraq.

Col. Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr., of Prince George’s County, Md., 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team commander, promotes James Gordon, of Sheffield, United Kingdom, a supply specialist for the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Brigade, from Lance Bombardier to Bombardier Aug. 22 at the Basrah Air Station, Iraq.

1-15 Infantry finds, destroys large enemy cache

A 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, Soldier stands ready before a mission in the Salman Pak area.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1-15 Infantry finds, destroys large enemy cache
Story by Staff Sgt. Sean Riley
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Task Force Marne troops conducted a mission to disrupt terrorist activity and succeeded by destroying a large cache of munitions and improvised explosive device-making materials Aug. 23.

“This should put a big dent in the IED cell operations,” said Capt. Richard Thompson, of West Palm Beach, Fla., commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment.

The cache contained 268 bomb-making items, including four tubes of C4, a powerful, military-grade explosive. Also found in the cache were two five-gallon jugs of homemade explosive material; two mortar charges; five mortar fuses; 20 blasting caps; five pressure activators, crush-wire detonator switches; and 50 microchip transistors and 30 circuit boards.

Thompson said the discovery will adversely affect enemy operations in the Salman Pak area.

“First, it takes the products out of their hands,” Thompson said. “Second, it sends a definitive message to the enemy that we are in the area.”

The 1-15 Inf. Regt. is assigned to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.

 

The contents of the weapons cache discovered by Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, during a patrol in the Salman Pak area, Aug. 23.

Contents of the weapons cache discovered by Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment during a patrol in the Salman Pak area, Aug. 23.

3rd HBCT honors family of fallen hero

Capt. Brian Gilbert, of Boise, Idaho, commander, Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to 3-1 Cavalry, talks with the father of a man who sacrificed his life to prevent a suicide bomber from harming American Soldiers and Iraqi civilians, following a ceremony to honor the man’s sacrifice on Aug. 23 in Jisr Diyala.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd HBCT honors family of fallen hero
Story by Spc. Ben Hutto, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – U.S.  Soldiers, Iraqi police and civic leaders met in Jisr Diyala to honor a man who gave his own life saving others.

Soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, honored an Iraqi Concerned Citizen who was killed when he thwarted a suicide bomber’s attempt to kill Soldiers and members of the al-Arafia Concerned Citizens program during a meeting on Aug. 18.

The Concerned Citizens are groups of Iraqis who have volunteered to work with Coalition Forces to deny criminal elements sanctuary in their neighborhoods and communities.

“This single event, although tragic, may be the most important thing that has happened here,” said Lt. Col. Ryan J. Kuhn, of Clarks, Neb., deputy commander, 3rd HBCT. “I can’t think of a single event that has had more meaning to me. This event demonstrates to the people of Iraq that terrorism will not win. It is an absolute honor to be around such great heroes.”

The father of the slain man accepted a plaque and a set of Cavalry spurs from Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, of Louden, Tenn., commander of 3-1 Cav.

“You cannot put a price on a life, but we would like to give you a few tokens of appreciation for your sacrifice,” Kolasheski said. “This is a tragic event we are recognizing, but it represents an outstanding change in this area.”

Two of the Soldiers saved by the young man’s sacrifice were present to thank the father and pass along their condolences.

Capt. Brian Gilbert, of Boise, Idaho, commander, Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, currently attached to 3-1 Cav., echoed his commander’s sentiments after the ceremony.

“I spoke with the father,” Gilbert said. “He repeated he has no remorse in his son’s death because he died saving American Soldiers. They are good people. They have become good friends to us and we just wanted to let them know how much this young man’s bravery means to us.”

The 3-1 Cav., 3rd HBCT, is assigned to 3rd Infantry Division and based in Fort Benning, Ga. The unit has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007.

 

The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, civil leaders and the Iraqi National Police gather to honor the family of a member of the Concerned Citizens of al-Arafia who was killed when he thwarted a suicide bomber’s attempt to kill 3rd HBCT Soldiers and members of the Concerned Citizens on Aug. 18 in Jisr Diyala.

3-1 Cavalry denies enemy sanctuary in Jisr Diyala

First Lt. Mike Barth, of El Segundo, Calif., 2nd platoon leader, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, searches for contraband during a mission in Jisr Diyala Aug. 23.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3-1 Cavalry denies enemy sanctuary in Jisr Diyala
Story by Staff Sgt. Sean Riley, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs
Photos by Spc. Ben Hutto

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Elements of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, conducted a mission to deny extremists sanctuary in Jisr Diyala, southeast of Baghdad, Aug. 23.

Insurgents engaged Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, a tank company attached to the 3rd Squadron, with small arms and rockets after Company D Soldiers infiltrated the objective and detained one suspected insurgent.

According to 1st Lt. Daniel Bell, of San Antonio, 2nd platoon leader, Company D, 1-15 Inf. Regt., speed was essential to the mission’s success.

“It helped a lot,” Bell said. “We got the cordon set at the same time as we were going in the house. It was a great asset.”

Catching the insurgent was the mission’s main objective, and Bell said his capture is key to the unit’s success in the area. Soldiers from 3-1 Cav. Regt. captured a high-value individual, believed to be a local insurgent cell leader, earlier in the month.  The objective of this mission was to detain his potential replacement and leave extremists in the area leaderless.

“Getting him out of the picture took away a major source of money,” Bell said.

Coming under small-arms fire didn’t slow the unit at all, Bell added.

“Everyone knew what to do,” he said. “We (returned fire and) allowed the search teams to go about their business. My guys were very, very good (Thursday). I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Other Troops of the 3-1 Cav. Regt. participated in the operation as well.

“Missions are always chaotic,” said 1st Lt. Mike Barth, of El Segundo, Calif., 2nd platoon leader, Troop B, 3-1 Cav. Regt., currently attached to Company D, 1-15 Inf. Regt. “We had a great rehearsal, but when we got out here things changed and we had to adapt. It was a complex mission, but we got through it and accomplished our mission.”

No 3-1 Cavalry Soldiers were injured during the operation.

The 3-1 Cav. Regt. and the 1-15th Inf. Regt. are assigned to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga., and have been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March, 2007.

 

Staff Sgt. Nick McKearn, of Milton, Wis., 2nd platoon, Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, clears the chamber of a confiscated AK-47 during a mission in Jisr Diyala Aug. 23.

First Lt. Mike Barth, of El Segundo, Calif., 2nd platoon leader, Troop B, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, briefs his troops before going on a mission in Jisr Diyala Aug. 23.

3rd HBCT detains most wanted insurgent

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd HBCT detains most wanted insurgent
By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Within an hour of notification, Soldiers from 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team’s Time Sensitive Target Platoon detained the brigade’s most wanted insurgent in Jisr Diyala Aug. 21.

The detainee has been linked to kidnapping, intimidation, attacks on U.S. forward operating bases and trafficking of weapons and ammunition from Iran. 

The Time Sensitive Target Platoon is resourced from 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment and is capable of maneuvering on targeted individuals at a moment’s notice. No U.S. Soldiers or Iraqi civilians were injured as a result of the operation.

The 3-1st Cavalry is assigned to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Benning, Ga.

Insurgents target Coalition, but kill civilians

A child’s bike lies in a Salman Pak street after a road-side bomb blast killed the child Aug. 13.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Insurgents target Coalition, but kill civilians
By Maj. Joe Sowers, 3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Insurgents who target Coalition and Iraqi security forces sometimes miss the mark – with grave consequences for Iraqi civilians. 

Soldiers from Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, were targeted by insurgents while patrolling in Jisr Diyala, southeast of Baghdad, Aug. 21. U.S. Soldiers were unhurt, but two local children were caught in a roadside bomb explosion, killing one child and injuring another.

Capt. Darrell Melton, Troop C commander, a native of San Antonio, described the incident.

“The trail Bradley gunner was waving at two kids who were riding their bikes and were waving at my guys,” Melton said.  “The next thing the Bradley commander knew, one of the kids was gone in a puff and he was thrown backward in the hatch.  When he looked back, the other kid was crawling on the ground.”

Melton said his Soldiers immediately dismounted their Bradley Fighting Vehicle and cautiously approached the wounded child. It is not uncommon for improvised explosive devices to be emplaced in groups and detonated on first responders coming to provide aid.

“He (the wounded child) crawled a few feet, when the medic on site, despite the danger, ran out to him, picked him up and ran back to the Bradley to administer first aid,” Melton said.

The medic was able to stabilize the wounded child, Melton said. Troop C then evacuated the child to a U.S. Army medical facility nearby.
Such incidents are not unique to Troop C. Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, came upon a grieving family in the course of a routine combat patrol Aug. 13 in Salman Pak.

Capt. Chris Pearson, of Birmingham, Ala., met with a local banking official in Salman Pak to discuss issues and prospective solutions concerning the banking industry in the local area. After the meeting, a town councilman approached him with a father who had lost his son earlier in the day to a roadside bomb.

Pearson said he did not talk directly to the father, but the councilman explained the father just wanted to bury his son in accordance with Muslim tradition.

“I expressed the Coalition’s condolences,” Pearson said.  “Even though the IEDs target police or Coalition Forces, they can hit children and families.  They are the ones that suffer.”

The councilman informed Pearson that the family was having trouble getting through checkpoints and requested U.S. Soldier assistance in traveling to the cemetery. 

“Just to make it easier, we had them travel with us,” Pearson said.

After dropping off the family, Pearson’s element began movement to Combat Outpost Cahill, north of Salman Pak. While traveling to COP Cahill, Pearson’s unit received word that the grieving family had run into another IED as they were returning from the burial. No one was seriously injured in the second incident.
Pearson further explained that National Police, local Iraqi Police, governmental leaders and Coalition Forces all play a role in maintaining security in the area.  When Pearson’s unit arrived in March, the local populace and Iraqi Security Forces had not yet developed a trusting relationship.
“There are still a lot of improvements that need to be made,” Pearson said.  “Everyday it gets better. There are highs and lows. They’ve begun attending meetings together and as long as they are communicating, it’s helpful.”