Team Lightning Family,
It was absolutely wonderful to return to Schweinfurt and the Dragons of Delta Battery last month. I enjoyed meeting with you and sharing our incredible accomplishments here in Iraq. There is certainly a tremendous value to the R&R program, as I can now personally attest! By the end of November we will be 87% complete and remain confident that our 100% objective will be met in December. I am so very proud of your undying support and performance as a community. The Brigade Rear Detachment Commander was just here on FOB Summerall and commended the superior performance of your D/1-7 command team. Through your willingness to support one another you enhance our success here in theater.
Over the past month we have continued offensive operations while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming Iraqi elections in January. Establishing a secure, democratic environment is certainly our Army’s future ticket out of Iraq, so we work diligently towards this goal each day. My area of focus for the remainder of our time here is to properly equip and train the Iraqi National Police and Iraqi National Guard. They are our First Lightning legacy. Over the past month I have signed over 400 awards recognizing our Soldiers for their tremendous efforts towards mission success and providing a lasting security for the Iraqi people.
The First Lightning family suffered another tremendous loss on 6 October. SPC Morgen Nathaniel Jacobs was killed in action as the result of an IED while on patrol with the “Outlaw” platoon in A/1-7. This young American from California was an outstanding Soldier who set the standard for his brothers in arms. We will forever remember his ultimate sacrifice and dedicate ourselves to accomplishing this mission that he believed in so greatly.
During this month I hope you will take time to honor Veteran’s Day, 11 November, with a new found respect as your loved one is now a part of America’s proud history of revered veterans. I also wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving. Amidst this time of hardship we all have much to be thankful for. My favorite example is that of SPC John Pirinelli from C/1-7. Nearly mortally wounded, he continues to recover in Washington D.C.as the proud father of John Louis Pirinelli who was born only a week ago. We all wish him and Katrin God speed and the best of luck as they begin a new chapter in their lives. Our fighting veterans are incredibly thankful for all of your love and support. You make us extraordinarily proud and we strive to do the same for you each and every day until we return home. All gave some, but some gave all!!
LTC Kyle M. McClelland—Commander, Task Force 1-7
Lightning 7 Comments…
Hello Task Force Lightning Family,
With Halloween soon over and the holiday season around the corner, this is the time to be thankful for what we have. Recently, a Task Force 1-7 Soldier and his family lost everything in a house fire. They are in need of money, cookware, and clothing (children; daughter 7 and son 3 years of age). Any donations can be dropped off at the TF 1-7 Headquarters staff duty desk. The point of contact is 1SG Ebbs.
30 Oct is the FOB Summerall Sports Day. We will have several individual and team event along with a KBR Barbecue. On 11 Nov we will have a Veteran's Day ceremony honoring all Soldiers past and present who made the ultimate sacrifice. We will also be dedicating a wall built in the Jones-Mallet Memorial Hall for all the Soldiers who passed away in Task Force 1-7 during OIF II. This wall will remain standing after our departure, symbolizing the courage of each one of our band of brothers. This ceremony will also include the dedication of the John J. Henry Fitness Center and the Morgan Jacobs Army Air Field.
As of November, we will have completed 87% of all the TF Soldiers for R&R and will finish up with everyone else by the middle of December. With the Christmas season upcoming, I encourage everyone who is planning on sending packages to do so early. This will help avoid problems with the unpredictable mail system. We are also having problems with our units Internet service. Soldiers are now forced to use the Internet cafe at the TOC location; this will mean a longer wait and lines. We are doing our best to correct this issue.
Again, I would like to thank all the families and loved ones for what they do. If it wasn't for your support and love, we could not complete our mission successfully. God bless all of you!!
Command Sergeant Major Wayne L. Sanders —CSM Task Force 1-7
Alpha Company Comments...
“Amazing”
“Amazing” is a word I use often when describing our operations here in Iraqand how Alpha Company is performing overall. I am truly amazed by all the hard work, undying dedication and positive motivation displayed by every Soldier in the Company. So many tasks and missions are completed here everyday by our Soldiers, Sergeants and Officers that it truly impresses me on a consistent basis. When work needs to be done, it is done. No one needs to be told to do something. Everyone knows what has to be done and does it. Maintenances on vehicles, physical training, administrative paperwork to keep Soldiers records correct, counseling’s, supply management, ordering parts for vehicles, and the list goes and on. This does not even account for the continuous missions that are executed by the Paladin platoon who operates 24 hours a day as well as for the Infantry and Armor platoons who operate in sector everyday to destroy our enemies while simultaneously providing stability and support to the people of Iraq. It is truly amazing.
Another example of the just how phenomenal our Soldiers are, was their professional response to another great loss the Company was dealt. On October 6, 2004, SPC Morgen Jacobs of our “Outlaws” Platoon, B/1-18 IN, was killed during an enemy ambush in the town of As Siniyah. The memorial service soon after was beautifully done and an honorable and deserving tribute to a true hero and a brother to all the Company. The entire Company displayed their amazing courage and incredible strength by paying their respects to another fallen comrade, for the second time in less than a month, then continuing their missions with the same vigor, tenacity, and honor they had for the last 7 months. Without question, the entire Company’s actions during this difficult time was indeed amazing and a true testament to Soldiers and Warriors everywhere.
Never before in my military career, or my life for that matter, have I seen the kind of pure determination and steadfast commitment to a mission Alpha Company displays every single day, under the harshest of conditions. Despite an unrelenting heat, sand storms, strenuous mental and emotional conditions, as well as the constant danger, these men stand tall and proud, always ready to continue the fight and complete their missions. For our 169 Soldiers, amazing sometimes does not accurately describe all that they are and everything they do.
We have not forgot however, the sacrifices of the families and the amazing work that all of you do on an daily basis. All the family members of our great Soldiers struggle everyday. You miss us, pray for us, weep for us and think of us everyday with little recognition for YOUR dedication to the same mission your men fight. Everyday the world continues to turn back in Germany and the United States. Children are still being raised, meals are still cooked, shopping is still done and bills are still being paid. For the past 7 months, one person now does all of the work previously done by two people. As we simultaneously fight the enemy and provide stability and support to the Iraqi people, you pray and care for us, while simultaneously providing stability and support to your own family. Everything you are doing there at home is again truly amazing.
I have tried to explain just how amazing this entire operation is, from the home front to the front lines. We all continue to sacrifice so much to defend the freedoms of people worldwide and establish freedoms for the people of Iraq. I want you all to know how proud First Sergeant and I are of every single Steel Knight, family member and warrior alike, and all that you do. We will continue to take the fight to the enemy and defeat them until the day we come home to the families we all have sacrificed so much for.
Respectfully,
CPT Deric Holbrook
1SG Roger Jacobs
BRAVO BATTERYCOMMENTS...
Greetings once again from Iraq! As usual, the Bulls have had another busy and successful month providing deadly and accurate fires for the 2nd Brigade Combat Team from FOB Remagen, FOB Paliwoda and FOB Brassfield-Mora. In addition, the battery is preparing to conduct Artillery platoon certifications and qualifications as we move closer to redeployment to Central Region. R&R is still in full swing and looks as if 100% of the soldiers will get a chance to participate.
First let me take this opportunity to congratulate the entire Bull family. We have been selected by DIVARTY to represent 1st Infantry Division for the Knox Award. The Chief of Field Artillery presents the Knox Award, named after the first Chief of Field Artillery, Major General Henry Knox, annually to the best battery. This is a total team effort that is being rewarded for the soldiers and families hard work and dedication. High standards were set and the Redlegs of the Bull battery stepped up and answered the call. Keep us in your prayers as we compete against batteries throughout the Army. Once again, congratulations and thank you all.
The battery continued its tradition of providing timely and accurate fires to the Dagger Brigade and 1-4 Cavalry. The battery provided Field Artillery fires in Operation Baton Rogue that was successful in regaining the ancient city of Samarra back from Anti Iraqi Forces. The Dagger Brigade recognized SSG Guzman, SPC Brown and SPC Alexander before and during the operation for their actions.
It was another great month for personal achievements for the battery. SPC Emard was promoted on the first of the month. SSG Guzman and SPC Alexander both received the Army Commendation Medal and the Task Force 9th Engineer Commander recognized SPC Brown as the Hero of the day for Operation Baton Rogue. In addition, the TF 9E Commander recognized SSG Laughlin and SPC Haney as Heroes of the Day. CPL Postnikov and SPC Brealey won the TF 1-77 and TF 9E NCO and soldier of the month boards, respectively. SPC Gressley also won the Soldier of the Quarter. SSG Pincay, SSG Perez, SGT Belt and SGT Gregory will represent the battery for the NCO of the year award and SPC Brealey, Gressley, Postnikov and Helwig will represent Bull for the Soldier of the year. SPC Brealey participated in the Army Ten Miler on FOB Speicher and placed 3rd in his age group (18-25) with a time of 1:07:12.
The Battery has also been able to retain some quality soldiers to stay on the Army team. SGT Delarosa re-enlisted for 4 years for duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. CPL Hammond re-enlisted for 4 years for duty at Fort Riley, Kansas. SPC Brooks re-enlisted for 6 years and decided to stay with the Big Red One in Schweinfurt.
We have been fortunate enough to have additional solders join us in our fight. SPC Benton, SPC Boyd and PV2 Biebley, welcome aboard and we look forward to you being in the battery.
With the holiday season approaching, I beg of you to continue to be safe and to remember those that are less fortunate. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers and to remember the families and friends who have suffered losses throughout the year that they may be comforted. God bless!
Sincerely,
ERIC GRAHAM
CPT, FA
HAROLD J. CARTER
1SG, USA Commanding First Sergeant
CHARLIE COMPANY COMMENTS...
Dear Cobra Family,
Greetings from Snake Mountain! Summer is finally coming to an end, and although temperatures still range around 90 degrees it is much, much cooler. Your Cobras are doing an incredible job, both day and night, ensuring a secure environment in and around Bayji. October has been equally as busy here as the previous months, but that makes the time seem to go by faster. Hopefully many of you have already seen your loved one’s and friends as they cycle back for R&R. We are still on track to ensure each Cobra that came here on the initial deployment will get a well earned break for a couple of weeks.
This month started off with a great company BBQ and sports day. The day began with a promotion ceremony for a large amount of soldiers. Congratulations to SFC Shuck our much loved tank platoon sergeant on his promotion. Also SSG Delaney and SGT Evangelista both received deserving promotions. Finally, eight Cobras were promoted to Specialist and continue to excel within their separate platoons. After the promotions, we dined on burgers, steaks and a variety of extras while enjoying a brief break from missions. I just have to mention that the “Old Guys” (led by 1SG Grinston and myself) repeatedly demolished the “young guys” on the volleyball court 6 games in a row. Better luck next time youngsters! Another congratulations goes out to SPC Wagasky for winning the Battalion Soldier of the Month. We wish him luck as he represents the battalion at the Division Artillery competition. The month finished off with more great news when SFC Hardin, our Bradley platoon sergeant, and SFC Monegro found out they were selected to become Master Sergeants soon. Congratulations to those two fine NCO’s and future First Sergeants. Our own 1SG Grinston received one of the highest honors of a Non-Commissioned Officer can receive when he was selected for promotion to Sergeant Major. We are all extremely excited and happy for him and his family, knowing he will have much success!
Throughout the month we conducted daily operations within our sector providing stability and safety to both citizens and military. Our focus remains on the main highways keeping the routes clear, while at the same time keeping a presence in the city of Bayji. When school re-opened, our platoons made multiple trips to various schools in order to distribute school supplies to the kids. I want to personally thank all those who sent items for the kids. The Iraqi schools just barely get by, with so little, that each and every gift is greatly appreciated by the children.
The Cobra family has grown with the births of four babies. Congratulations to SSG Hernandez and SPC Pirinelli on the births of their son’s; and SPC Williams and SPC Lindstrom on the birth of their daughters. Our prayers and well wishes always go out to our injured Cobras and the families of our lost brothers. Unfortunately this month, Alpha Company lost another great soldier, SPC Jacobs, and our deepest sympathies and prayers are with his family as well.
Finally, the Cobras want to send a special thank you to the Zangara family for their extreme generosity, and concern, with the shipment of over 20 care packages for the soldiers in the company. You are in our thoughts daily, and we pray Z continues to watch over us and keep us from harm. We all look forward to Spring as we enter our final season here in Iraq. Thank you all for your continued support, prayers, and love. You can be proud of each and every one of your Cobras for an incredible performance under the most extreme conditions.
COBRA STRIKE!!
CPT Michael K. Byard
1SG Michael A. Grinston
HHB COMMENTS...
It has been another busy month for the Hurricane Battery, here in Bayji, Iraq. We successfully participated in two task force level operations, as well as continuing to provide both logistical and command and control support of daily task force operations. Further, we continue to send our soldiers home, for much needed R&R leave and believe that we should be able to have one hundred percent of all soldiers complete before we redeploy to Germany.
Currently we are all busy making preparations for our replacements to arrive and our redeployment to Schweinfurt. At the same time, we are continuing our day-to-day operations, as well as training and equipping of the C/201st ING soldiers. Needless to say we are all staying very busy! Luckily, the extreme heat has gone away making it much more tolerable during the afternoon hours.
I would like to congratulate SSG Viera, one of our ING trainers, for his recent promotion to Staff Sergeant and commend him on a job well done. I would also like to recognize SPC Deleon of the battery supply section who recently took the oath of reenlistment in a ceremony at one of Saddam’s old palaces.
As always I would like to personally thank all of you for your continued support of all of us here and ask that you continue that support throughout the next few months until we all arrive safely home in Germany. Take care.
Ride the Storm!! HURRICANES!
BRIAN D. VAUGHAN
CPT, FA
HOWARD C. PATRICK
1SG, USA Commanding First Sergeant
SVC BATTERYCOMMENTS...
Can you believe it? It is November!! Time is indeed on our side!! As time continues to move quickly to destination unknown, Service Battery continues to perform a myriad of complex tasks every day to keep the task force logistically sufficient.
The battery has been receiving numerous care packages from various families and organizations. To name a couple I would like to thank Mr. Bill and Jan Guzman for all of the snacks, coffee and other various items their group have given to our soldiers for the past six months. I would also like to thank the USO in Schweinfurt and Stuttgart for the phone cards and stamps they have donated to our soldiers. These groups and families are true stewards to the soldiers’ morale and I really appreciate all they have done.
R&R has been in full motion for the past six months and at the end of this month we will be 100% on soldiers going on R&R!! This is another morale booster for the soldiers. It allowed the soldiers to download for a couple of weeks and enjoy themselves. Finally, they return refreshed; ready to finish the deployment.
As always there are a few newly soldiers in Service Battery. Congratulations goes to 4 newly promoted Specialists; SPC Bland, SPC Tyndall, SPC Lloyd and SPC Rogers. These soldiers have been simply outstanding throughout the deployment and I am confident that they will continue to do great things.
Before closing, on the next page PFC Justin Bigelow from the Headquarters Platoon wrote down a couple of words on what he thought about Iraq and how it has affected him; an article that will serve you just a taste of what and how soldiers think about Iraq. Again, I would like to again thank all families and friends for their never-ending support as Service Battery continue to do great things on a daily basis. SERPENTS!!
CHRISTOPHER A. WASHINGTON
CPT, FA
MARVIN C. CROMARTIE
1SG, USA Commanding First Sergeant
Could Iraq possibly be the worst place on the face of the earth? It is by far the worst place I’ve ever been. There are many things that I could lament about, the weather, the obscene amount of details and work that is expected out of such a small amount of soldiers, the seemingly distant objective of our main mission. These are all things that every soldier has complained about in some fashion at one time or another. But, I think that looking back over the last eight months that I’ve spent here, I can consider this deployment a positive experience.
It’s surprising what you learn about a person when you spend two hours with them in a mortar pit at 0100. I was on a mission, attached to a unit for a two-week rotation. This place was tiny, in an area that wasn’t exactly considered friendly. My buddy and I had been working all day with details and our normal duties. We were trying to relax and unwind before hitting the cot. At about 2400 hours, the first mortar hit. It was a ways off, and no one really jumped or thought much of it. NO follow up explosions, so we went back tour business. At almost exactly 0100, another round impacts, this one about 200 meters from the tent compound. So we all scramble into the mortar pits my buddy and I just sitting back to watch the mortar guys do their thing. Two hours later, we’re still sitting there. But by this time, we’ve smoked through a pack and a half of cigarettes and swapped more stories about back home than either of us thought we knew. I always considered this guy a buddy, as things go, but I realized that I knew practically nothing about this guy before then. And you’ve got to consider this learning experience happened in a 5 foot by 5 foot hole, filled with the noise of mortar and tank rounds been fired.
The bond that is shared by people that have been shot at together. Driving down the road, I’m on a patrol to drop off vehicles to another Base. We get within five miles of our objective and the enemy pops up out of nowhere. There were rounds flying everywhere, rockets flying back and forth across the road, and the radio squawking like crazy from the other trucks yelling which way to shoot back. Of course, it didn’t help that it was my second day as a gun truck driver either. We all make it through unscathed and even take out one of the attackers. After we arrive at the Base, we immediately begin discussing the ambush, of course. Within minutes the truth is so much watered down soda. Jokes start flying about how I reacted, which in retrospect was pretty funny. It will suffice to say my nickname became “Turtle.” But even now, four months later, if it’s brought up around any of us that were there, you see a gaze in the eyes. And we understand, it’s the “We made it. We could have died, but we made it” look. After this rotation, some of us may never see each other again, but we will have the bond of facing death, and staring at it until it blinked.
PFC Justin Bigelow
DELTA BATTERY COMMENTS...
October was another great month for the Dragon Battery. We continued to support the unit forward, take care of our families and the community, and even found time for partnership events with our host nation’s military. Early in the month, ten Dragons went to Hammelburg to participate in a German small arms range. Our Soldiers were able to shoot some of the German weapons, and the German soldiers were able to shoot our M16s. All of the Soldiers that participated thought it was a worthwhile event. Later in the month, another 5 Soldiers went to another German range to earn the German proficiency badge for marksmanship, the Schutzenschnur. All five earned the right to wear the badge on their Class A uniforms. Finally, six Dragons went to participate in the German Infantry School’s annual biathlon. The event consisted of a six-kilometer run with two rifle ranges thrown into the mix. At each range, the contestants had to shoot five rounds at a fifty-meter target, with a .22 competition-style rifle. For every shot the contestants missed, they had to run an additional 100 meters. Each team consisted of three members that ran one at a time. Delta Battery
had two of the First Infantry Division’s four teams. Needless to say, we took the top two spots among the Division…and 1-4 CAV lost their bet with 1SG Ebbs.
1SG Ebbs and I would like to congratulate a few folks for their accomplishments during the month of October. SGT Mitchell reenlisted during the month of October and also elected to stay in 1-7 FA for a couple of years. SSG Genaro and Leiby Hernandez had a baby boy, Genaro Jr, on 20 October. Additionally, SSG Hernandez and SSG Brown were the only two Soldiers selected from the First Infantry Division to go to the Corps Sergeant Morales Board, on 16 November. Finally, SGT Crooks made the leap to SSG. LTC McClelland promoted SSG Crooks while he was on R&R in early October.
There are a couple of family oriented events rapidly approaching. The first event is the Thanksgiving Dinner in the 1-18 IN Dining Facility, on Conn.The Delta Battery Leadership will be serving food to 1-7 FA families on Thanksgiving, from 1:30 PM
to 2:30 PM
. Finally, on 09 December, Delta Battery will host a Reintegration Briefing, a buffet-style dinner, and a Christmas Party at the Conn Club. In order to eat dinner (for free) you must attend the Reintegration Briefing. The hour-long briefing will include speakers from ACS, the Chapel, and the BSB. Child Care will be available at the Conn Club, during the briefing. After dinner, Santa will visit and take photos with all of the children.
As always, we are here to support the unit forward and its most precious resource, the families. Our phone number is 09721-96-6484 (from the German economy), 011-49-9721-96-6484 (from the United States), or 354-6484 (DSN).
Dragons!
MATTHEW LENNOX
CPT, FA
W. LEE EBBS
1SG, USA Commanding First Sergeant
If you have any suggestion, questions, or feedback to improve this newsletter, please feel free to contact CPT Lennox, DSN 354-6484 or email matthew.lennox@cmtymail.98asg.army.mil .
This internal newsletter contains official information, and complies with the provisions of AR 25-30 for dissemination to Family Readiness Group internal newsletters. Individuals concerned have given their consent (under the provisions of AR 340-21, The Army Act Program) for newsletter to be published. All addresses are cautioned that personal information (Home Address/ Home Telephone Numbers, etc.) Included in the attached newsletter must be protected with AR 340-21 (The Army Privacy Act Program). Unauthorized disclosure of information is also prohibited without consent.
KYLE M. McClelland
LTC, FA
Commanding
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