The plane full of soldiers arrived on a breezy afternoon at Fort Benning. Something much different than the deserts they are used to.

“The feeling… it doesn’t get, it just gets better each time you come home you’re just so happy that you made it home,” Grigsby said.

Grigsby is no stranger to deployments. He says it’s been tough over the years, but thanks his wife Cynthia for all of her help during the tough times.

“It’s just like we were 18 years old again. I met her in Panama on a blind date and gave her a kiss we married 4 months later and it will be just the same way. She’s my hero and I love that woman to death,” he said.

The Sledgehammer soldiers followed their leader into the limelight, while Grigsby’s family waited to be re-united. Once they were together again, he had the chance to hold his new grandson.

“He is in uniform so he’s ready to grow so I have to introduce myself to him. Whenever that is we’ll be good,” he said

Grigsby says the majority of the brigade is now back home with their families, but there are more flights coming home, so stay tuned, because more Sledgehammer soldiers will soon return.

In the meantime, you can visit our 3rd Brigade blog, Hammerslogger.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – U.S. Soldiers discovered a weapons cache belonging to a local criminal group known for targeting Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition forces, while patrolling the town of Wardia May 3.

Soldiers with Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, and Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, found the cache through a tip received from Sons of Iraq and National Police sources.

Explosives ordnance disposal Soldiers confirmed the cache included three Iranian rocket-propelled grenades, three RPG launchers, propellant, multiple trip flares, one heavy machine gun, ski masks and ISF uniforms.

The Soldiers from 1-15th Inf. Regt. are currently attached to 3rd Squadron,1st Cavalry Regiment, which is scheduled to redeploy soon to Fort Benning, Ga. They conducted the reconnaissance mission as part of a scheduled transition of the area to the 1-6th Inf. Regt. Soldiers, attached to 1st Squadron, 35th Armor Regiment.

A key element in the transition is that the relationship with the Iraqi NP brigade will stay in place, said Maj. Andrew Koloski, from Juneau, Alaska, the executive officer of 3-1st Cav. Regt.

“The National Police have increased their abilities so they can provide the continuity in our area of operations,” said Koloski, adding the NP have given intelligence leading to several cache finds.

The 3-1st Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and deployed to Iraq in March 2007.
The 1-6th Inf. Regt. and 1-35th Armor Regt. are assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, from Baumholder, Germany.

For queries, contact the Multi-National Division – Center Public Affairs at MND-Center_PAO@iraq.centcom.mil or by phone at Commercial 912-767-3373 during the day and 912-767-4966 from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. For MND-C news, go to http://www.taskforcemarne.com.

The TST specializes in raid and search operations against criminals in the Mada’in Qada; their searches are not limited to one battalion area of operations, said Maj. David Guthrie, from Hampton, Va.

“The TST is really a master of all areas,” said Guthrie, the operations officer in charge of planning the TST missions. “They do missions all over the Mada’in Qada.”

First Lieutenant John Lorme, from Aberdeen, Md., the unit’s platoon leader, received information of possible rocket-propelled grenades and launchers hidden in a house in Jisr Diyala. Leaders of 3-1st Cav. Regt. suspected criminals of using a house to prepare attacks against Coalition forces, said Capt. James Capobianco, from Middleton, N.Y., intelligence officer for 3-1st Cav. Regt.

“My men hope for the best and are prepared for the worst,” Lorme said before the mission.

When they arrived at the target house, the TST platoon Soldiers quickly set up a perimeter. They began the mission by clearing the target houses and securing the people inside. Their search for weapons and explosives lasted about an hour, but none were found.

“You don’t always find something on these missions,” Lorme said. “But … everyone comes back safe, it’s a success to me.”
Guthrie agreed with Lorme’s assessment.

“Going out there disrupts the extremists,” he said. “When we raid into their sanctuary, it disrupts the extremists’ networks and they feel hounded.”

In the 14 months that TST has operated in the Mada’in Qada, their efforts have been successful, Guthrie said. They have captured five brigade-level high value individuals, 12 squadron HVIs and numerous weapons caches.

On this mission, the 3-1st Cav. Regt. Soldiers were joined by several members of the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, who is in the process of replacing the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team in the Mada’in Qada.

The 1-35th Armor Regt. is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, from Baumholder, Germany.
The 3-1st Cav. Regt., assigned to 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., has been deployed in support of Operation Iraq Freedom since March 2007.

The cache contained three rocket-propelled grenade warheads and propellants, three RPG launchers and a heavy machine gun.

Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, found the cache in an open courtyard. Other items found in the cache included several ski masks with an Iraqi National Police brassard, a light machine gun with a small amount of ammunition and multiple trip flares. The RPG items are believed to be of Iranian origin.

Capt. Charles Cannon, of Moultrie, Ga., commander of Battery A, and Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, from Huntsville, Ala., commander of the 1-10th FA, expressed his appreciation to Yassim for their strong relationship, and introduced Capt. Mathew Hustead, commander of Battery B, 4-27th FA, and Lt. Col. Michael Mammay, commander of the 4-27th FA. Cannon planned the ceremony to allow Hustead and Yassim the opportunity to meet and continue the working relationship with the SoI group.

The SoI group has played a key role in key infrastructures, such as roads and water distribution facilities. They have helped secure humanitarian aid missions, and identified numerous caches and improvised explosive devices, said Capt. Josh Beard, of Opelika, Ala., civil military operations officer for the 1-10th FA.

Yassim expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by Cannon.
“I hope to continue the same relationship with Lieutenant Colonel Mammay and Captain Hustead so that Tessah Nissan will stay secure,” Yassim said.
Sullivan thanked Yassim for the warm welcome of the new SoIdiers, “I hope you continue to treat them (4-27th FA) as you’ve treated us.”
Yassim closed the meeting by saying, “We hope and pray we can continue to work together as well as we have.”
The 1-10th FA, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, since March 2007.
The 4-27th FA, 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div., from Baumholder, Germany deployed in support of OIF in April.

Col. Pat White, commander of 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div., met for the first time with the Mada’in Qada Support Council, Iraqi Army, National Police and Sons of Iraq during the Support Council security meeting at FOB Hammer.

The seven-meeting tradition is just the beginning. As their relationship and trust grows together, the 2nd BCT Soldiers will assume more control and support of the local area.

Colonel Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., commander of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, spoke during the meeting and reviewed several of his brigade’s successes on their tour here.

Many of the council members introduced themselves to White and thanked Grigsby and his Soldiers for their work over the past year.

Sheikh Abu Hatem, from the Mada’in Qada, said, “The number one recruiter for terrorism is unemployment, and therefore unemployment must continue to be addressed.”

The meeting came to a close with Sheikh Nori Zabar Khamiss, Support Council leader, expressing feelings of trust and safety.

“I feel I can say that today, thanks to the Sons of Iraq, Coalition forces, and Iraqi Security Forces, our area is now safe,” he said. “I look forward to continuing the success with the new leaders.”

The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Inf. Div., from Fort Benning, Ga., has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March 2007. The 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Div., from Baumholder, Germany, has been deployed in support of OIF since April.

Lt. Col. Ricardo Morales, from El Paso, Texas, stressed the need to maintain positive momentum and continue working closely with the council as the 1-35th Armor Regt. takes responsibility for operations in Jisr Diyala.

The meeting took place as part of a planned transition between 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment to 1-35th Armor Regt.

The 1-35th Armor Regt. is assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Division, which will take responsibility of the Mada’in Qada from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

The Jisr Diyala Nahia Council – comprised of local and Iraqi Security Force leaders and local business managers – has enjoyed a good working relationship with 3-1st Cav. Regt. for the past 14 months, said 1st Lt. Kellan Blithe, from Paso Robles, Calif., fire support officer for 1-35th Armor Regt.

“Members of the Jisr Diyala Nahia Council expressed a desire to see city ordinances enforced, as opposed to early times when they were unwilling to or perhaps frightened to enforce them,” Blithe said. “It’s exciting to see council leaders take the initiative to better the community.”

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

Members of the Jisr Diyala Nahia Council, Sons of Iraq and 3rd Brigade, 1st National Police Division, along with leaders of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment leaders and 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, took part in the event.

The upgrades include a new concrete lining and three functioning water pumps.

“The Iraqi people contracted all the workers and did all the labor,” said 1st Lt. Jeff Ritter, from Waterloo, Iowa, military operations officer for 3-1st Cav. Regt. civil military operations officer. “We just supplied the funding and influence to make it happen.”

Ritter said the canal opening resulted from cooperation between the Jisr Diyala Nahia Council, the local community council and Coalition forces.

Ritter said continued partnership during the 3-1st Cav. Regt. and 1-35th Armor Regt. transition will allow the nahia leadership to maintain confidence in their Coalition force counterparts.

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

The 1-35th Armor Regt., 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armor Division, from Baumholder, Germany, is currently replacing the 3-1st Cav. Regt. east of Baghdad.

The expo resulted from efforts by the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team, attached to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, to revitalize farming and agribusiness.

The 3rd HBCT ePRT leaders emphasized agricultural initiatives in the qada to provide long-term economic stability in the primarily agrarian district east of Baghdad.

Fifty-eight percent of the Mada’in citizens are farmers, and another 15 percent are in farm-related businesses, said Col. Bud Jameson, from Sherwood, Ark., ePRT deputy team leader.

During the expo, Baghdad PRT members, Iraqi Agriculture Center representatives and successful farmers demonstrated technology beneficial to farming.

Since the Mada’in Qada is an arid region, leaders also promoted different techniques to improve field irrigations.

“There has been a lot of wasted water because they have been ‘flood’ irrigating their fields like they did in the old days,” Jameson said. “This doesn’t work because some of the land is not even and the water runs down into the low ground. Seed in the high ground does not get irrigated.”

During the expo, farmers filled out ePRT questionnaires to facilitate farmers associations in their communities.

“It used to be farmers associated by village,” Jameson said. “But the problem with that is one guy might be into fish farming and another into wheat.  While they both need water, their priorities are totally different.”

Jameson said many farming communities lack diversification.

“If a wheat farmer is having a bad year or wheat prices are down, they have to have another way to support their family,” he said.

Jameson said the expo was aimed at revitalizing agriculture in the qada, reinstituting faith in the government and returning a sense of normalcy to the local population, but he hopes it will provide even more over time.

“There is also a reconciliation aspect to the expo,” he said. “People have talked to their local leaders and said they didn’t feel safe going out in public and doing things as a family. Now that security has improved, we are hoping they see this as something they can do as a family. We want them to see that peace has arrived.”

The 3rd HBCT, 3rd Infantry Division, is from Fort Benning, Ga., and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2007. The brigade is one of the most deployed brigades in the Army.

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The only secondary school for girls in the Salman Pak area opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 24.

Leaders of the Salman Pak Council, the Iraqi Army, the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, gathered in Salman Pak for the ceremony, which marked the completion of a $200,000 project initiated Feb. 28.

Members of the Salman Pak Council brought the decrepit school to the attention of 1-15th Inf. Regt. leadership in January. The school was in disrepair and local leaders’ desire to improve educational facilities matched the goals of the battalion leadership.

“We were looking for a big school to refurbish to make an impact,” said Capt. Matt Givens, from Columbus, Ga., the civil-military operations officer for 1-15th Inf. Regt. “It was the only female secondary school in the area. Before the refurbishment, the school was pretty much falling down. It had no electricity and students couldn’t use the restrooms.”

Givens said the project completely overhauled the building. Iraqi contractors repaired structural damage, erected a security wall, rewired electrical outlets, replastered the outside and repainted the inside. 

Two of the most significant improvements were connecting the restrooms to a septic tank and the construction of a concrete courtyard.

“Unpaved courtyards get quite muddy when it rains,” said Givens, who has facilitated 13 different school refurbishment projects during his unit’s 14-month deployment. “School administrators commonly ask for concrete courtyards for assemblies and recreation.”

Givens said these projects make a difference in the community.

“People view it as you’re helping take care of their children and it helps to build trust within the community,” he said. “They are excited when they see you helping their children.”

The 1-15th Inf. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga. and has been deployed to Iraq since March 2007. The 2-6th Inf. Regt. is assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division from Baumholder, Germany, and will soon replace the 3rd HBCT in the Mada’in Qada.