President Bush made some remarks this morning about the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq.
Here are some links to video:
President Bush’s Remarks 1
President Bush speaks about the mission in Iraq
President Bush’s Remarks 2
President Bush talks about the troop increase strategy
President Bush’s Remarks 3
President Bush talks about the challenges America faces in Iraq.
Today marks the fourth anniversary of “shock and awe”. The United States has been involved in Iraq now for four years.
Here’s an article from the Associated Press (link).
I got a couple of e-mails and comments from folks who had links to other blogs.
Here’s one link: My Slice of the Web
Here’s one more link to a site where you can find links to a whole lot of blogs: Milblogging
I should have an update later today from the Sledgehammer Brigade in Kuwait… so check back later today.
***UPDATE***
I was scheduled to talk with soldiers from the 3rd Brigade in Kuwait. But, they never called me. Unfortunately, the only way I am able to contact them is via e-mail, and communications can be really sketchy in Kuwait. I’ll update you when I hear from them.
It really amazes me what you can find on the Internet these days. I have a number of sites I try to check every day. It’s part of my job to keep up with all the latest news and information.
One of the sites I check every day is called The Sand Box (link). The site hosts a collection of blog entries and links from soldiers who are, or have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost all of the entries are extremely compelling.
Here’s the beginning of one I came across today:
“The following is a very short work of fiction. I wrote it through the eyes of a local Iraqi man, who is a figment of my imagination. Much of the information and actual events I am privy to here in Iraq are classified, but in this fashion I can share some of the realities about the Iraqi people that many Americans may not think much about or realize. Of course, it is not intended to represent a whole society or culture, but I know for a fact there are men like Abu, and I thought you might like to hear his “voice”. Like all fiction, Abu’s words and experiences are based, to some degree, in reality.
My name is Abu Hassin. I am sitting right now outside of my small home on a chicken farm east of Ramadi, only miles from the fishing village where I grew up. I am smoking a cigarette and drinking my evening tea while I write these lines in a notebook.”
-From Wordsmith at War
How many of you keep your own blogs? Send me your links! It would be great to feature some of your writings here on the HammerSlogger.
Sledgehammer Update:
Most if not all of the Sledgehammer Brigade should be in Kuwait right now. Soon, they’ll be moving into Iraq. I have been in touch with the brigade’s Public Affairs Office. We should have some updated information on the Sledgehammer Soldiers by early next week.
I have received a lot of e-mails from soldiers’ families and friends lately. Many of them have offered their help to any military families out there in need, for any reason.
Here is an excerpt one e-mail I recently received from a woman named Kristen:
“If you hear about any ways that I might help the families with moms and dads and sons and daughters fighting this battle, PLEASE email me. Also, here’s a stupid question, but oh well, how far is Kuwait from Baghdad?“
I’ll keep Kristen’s e-mail address on file for any of you who may want or need it. Just drop me a line.
As for Kristen’s question…
When I was embedded with the Sledgehammer Brigade in 2005 the flight from Kuwait to Baghdad what about an hour and a half. I have no idea how long it takes to drive that distance, or how many miles it may be.
On another note, I was a bit surprised that none of you reacted to my previous post. Yesterday, I came across an article from Salon.com about 3rd ID soldiers being sent to Iraq, even though they claim they have a medical profile that makes them unfit to fight.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
“As the military scrambles to pour more soldiers into Iraq, a unit of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga., is deploying troops with serious injuries and other medical problems, including GIs who doctors have said are medically unfit for battle. Some are too injured to wear their body armor, according to medical records.“
Is this a relevant story to you? Do you think the media is making a big deal out of nothing? Should this be investigated further?
What do you think?
Today, another wave of soldiers is scheduled to depart for the Middle East.
While those soldiers say their good-byes to family and friends, some are raising questions about who is “fit to serve”. Here’s an article (link) that looks raises that question.
As many of you know, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms ripped across Columbus and South Georgia last week. Many people were affected, inluding Fort Benning soldiers who live off post.
A group of people are offering their help to these soldiers. Here’s how you can get involved.
The deployments for the soldiers of the 3rd Brigade are underway, and soon the Fort Benning soldiers will be in Iraq.
I’m out of town this week, getting some training from our corporate headquarters. But, I hear from the folks back at the station, the deployments are being covered on News 3.
I know a lot of the folks who read the Slog are family members of soldiers who are about to deploy. I also know many of you have gotten to spend some valuable time with your soldier on long weekends before they deploy. There is no doubt in my mind that those hours are something you cherish, and will hold close throughout the deployment.
Send us your thoughts by “commenting” on any post or by sending me an e-mail (link on the right). I’d like to share your thoughts and experiences here on the HammerSlogger. I’m sure there are many more people in your shoes right now, who would enjoy knowing they’re not alone.
The first wave of deployments for 3rd Brigade soldiers is scheduled to begin this afternoon.
Despite some severe weather we’re expecting here in the area, we’re planning to cover the good-byes.
Check back for updates…
This story comes from News 3 reporter Megan Bradley…
Angel and Gary Andrade have been married for over three years, but Wednesday night they renewed that commitment alongside those Gary will fight with overseas.
For the Andrade’s it’s the closest they’ve had to a traditional wedding service.
“When my wife and I first got married,” said Gary, “we did not have a nice wedding so this is perfect for us.”
SFC Gary Andrade’s recent orders to deploy have made a candle-lit night of romance and ambiance invaluable.
“Any chance we can have to spend time with each other-we are open to anything,” said Angel.
“When I leave I want her to remember this night for at least months to ease her pain and suffering while I’m gone,” said Gary.
Chaplain Anthony Randall organized the event.
He believes the ties made Wednesday night will keep these couples strong through the rough-road ahead.
And with their vows said, and in one case sang, couples of the 3-1 Calvary Battalion stand ready for action, but even more important they now stand united.
I got word this afternoon that some couples from the 3rd Brigade’s 3-1CAV battalion will be renewing their vows at the Fort Benning Chapel this evening.
News 3 reporter Megan Bradley is going to be checking it out tonight. Watch News 3 at 11pm ET, 10pm CT for the story.
If you miss it, or don’t live in the area, check back tomorrow. I’ll post the video.
When the soldiers of Fort Benning’s 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division step foot in Iraq in the next few weeks, it will be hard to say they’re under-trained.
The soldiers of the 3rd Brigade, also known as the Sledgehammer Brigade, are spending their last few days before deployment training.
Tuesday at Fort Benning’s Booker Range, the soldiers were polishing their MOUT skills. That’s Movement Over Urban Terrain for those civilian readers out there. The Army has an acronym for everything.
Over and over, soldiers were seen kicking open doors and storming into buildings. On the other side of those doors “anything’s possible,” said Sergeant Cliff Wallace of the 3rd Brigade’s 2-69 Armor battalion.
It’s a situation they’ll no doubt encounter in Iraq.
Originally slated to deploy to Iraq in the middle of this year, the soldiers of the Sledgehammer Brigade are now part of President George W. Bush’s troop increase strategy in Iraq.
Now, the Sledgehammer Brigade is expected to be in Kuwait by the middle of March, and in Iraq only a few weeks later. The soldiers are expected to be serving in southern Baghdad, where they would fall under the command of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Non-Commissioned Officers who have been to Iraq before say Tuesday’s training exercise is a valuable opportunity to pass along lessons learned to younger, less experienced soldiers. “I just don’t want them to mess up when they’re in Iraq. It’s their life they’re working with,” Wallace said.
This will be Wallace’s third tour in Iraq. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” he said with a face of contradiction, his eyes serious and stern, his mouth turned up on one corner, a slight smile.
“As long as they know how to get in, establish a foothold in a room or building and clear it all correctly without shooting their buddy or getting shot by the enemy, then that’s all I’m here for,” Wallace said, explaining the lessons he’s trying to pass along to his younger comrades.
The skills practiced Tuesday are nothing new for Sledgehammer soldiers. They’ve been training for months and are fresh off a rotation at the Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California only a few weeks ago.
While the skills are not new, soldiers say training right up to deployment keeps the mind and the body sharp. Their movements through buildings and urban terrain have become instinct. “They’ve gotten some very good training, good leadership. So, I think these guys are pretty much ready to go,” Wallace said of the young soldiers.
Fort Benning officials announced today that the Secretary of the Army, Francis Harvey, will be visiting Fort Benning Friday.
Harvey is expected to meet with soldiers who are preparing to deploy to Iraq.
About fifty soldiers from Fort Benning’s 3rd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division are leading the way to an early deployment back to Iraq.
(article)
Last week, on February 13th, I wrote about Congress’ Resolution on Iraq. I was looking for some response from you, the people closest to the conflict.
This morning when I got to work, the HammerSlogger got it’s first comment on Resolution (link to the comment). The response came from Some Soldier’s Mom, who runs her own blog (link). SSM offers an interesting perspective and some provocative writing.
I’d also like to open this blog to you, the soldiers, the wives, the moms and dads. Send me your writings or links to your blogs. We’ll publish them here. Just click the link to my e-mail address on the right.
And then there’s this interesting development…
While soldiers from Fort Benning and Fort Stewart are preparing to “surge” INTO Iraq, British soldiers may be “surging” OUT of Iraq. Here’s the AP Video Report and the article.
This while Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss is standing by President Bush. This report from the Associated Press:
Chambliss, visiting Ga. Capitol, supports war strategy
(AP) Senator Saxby Chambliss said today that he will only give up on the new Bush administration strategy in Iraq when General David Petraeus does.
In only a matter of weeks, soldiers from Fort Benning’s 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division will be bound for the Middle East. The deployment comes some two months earlier than originally expected.
Monday, the commander of the brigade, Colonel Wayne Grigsby, spoke with reporters. He asserted the soldiers in his unit are ready for their deployment to Iraq.
The unit is expected to be in the Central Command Area of Responsibility by mid-March. According to the Brigade’s spokesman, Major Joe Sowers, the brigade will likely be in Kuwait by March 15th, preparing to move into Iraq.
Monday, Grigsby said the 3rd Brigade, will likely be operating under the command of 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major General Rick Lynch.
“Right now it looks like we’re going to be in Southeast Baghdad, which would fall under the 3rd Infantry Division,“ Grigsby said Monday.
The Sledgehammer Brigade is fresh off a training rotation at the Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. Grigsby said his soldiers will continue to train for their deployment to Iraq over the next few weeks. He also said family time will be among the top priorities for his soldiers in the weeks leading up to deployment.
“Families are the foundation of the Sledgehammer Brigade,“ Grigsby said. “Support of family members and loved ones add greatly to our morale and capability to complete such demanding missions we have been ordered to conduct. We will make every effort to balance family time with the myriad of tasks we must accomplish prior to our deployment in March.“
Grigsby said most 3rd Brigade soldiers are being offered long weekends and adjusted working hours to accomodate family time.
HammerSlogger is an online account of the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division’s training and deployment to Iraq. At the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 the Sledgehammer Brigade helped lead U.S. forces into Baghdad. The soldiers of the 3rd Brigade deployed to Iraq again in 2005. Now, the unit is in its third deployment to Iraq.
The articles and pictures published here are written and produced by the soldier-writers of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
 David Spunt | 706-324-6397 |