Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 1 Issue 49

Page 1 Sep. 29, 2008

Task Force Iron Soldiers compete The Warrior Competition pulled together designed to test the physical fitness as well Story and photo by the best Soldiers Task Force Iron had to as the mental dexterity of each of the Iron Spc. Ryan Elliott offer. Soldiers. 14th Public Affairs Detachment “We’ve asked each Multi-National Fifty-four soldiers pulled pushed and Division North Brigade and Battalion, to sweated as they took part in events such as ifty-four Soldiers from across Task provide their best NCO as well as their an Army physical fitness test, a three mile FForce Iron gathered on Contingency best soldier to compete in a round-robin combat in full gear and various ranges. Operating Base Speicher to take part in a competition, said Sgt. Maj. Allen Ashton, “They’ve completed a physically three day Multi-National Division North First Armored Division Master Gunner and challenging and grueling regiment of tasks Warrior Competition. Operations sergeant major. over the past three days; they’ve done The main goal of physical events like the range and tested the competition was their knowledge on a written test and board, to crown the best non- while maintaining exceptionally high commissioned officer and moral,” Ashton said. the best junior troop of “The Soldiers are highly motivated, MND-North. physically fit and well trained in their “The NCOs represent Warrior Task and Drills,” said Blackwood. the strong, competent, The competition was designed to test caring and engaged soldier’s basic soldiering skill and determine leaders who challenge their proficiency. their Soldiers to “This competition recognizes the strength develop and meet their of units. It features the small unit leaders, fullest potential,” said and the Soldiers conducting operations daily Command Sgt. Maj. to create a secure environment for Iraq’s Roger Blackwood, 1st citizens,” said Blackwood. Armored Division and Staff Sgt. Aldo Mercado of the 728th Multi National Division- MP Battalion took first place among the North command sergeant NCOs, followed by Sgt Christopher Nelson, major 3-3 Armored Cavalry Regiment and Sgt “This competition is Zackary Bumanglag, 18th Engineer, who a representation of the placed third place. troops training readiness Spc. Micheal Pravalenko of the 728th and their mission MPs took first place among the junior readiness, the competition enlisted, followed by Spc. David Walker is a measurement of Special Troops Battalion, 101st in second the excellence these place and Spc. Derrick Ckeighton, 3-3 individual soldiers and Armored Cavalry Regiment, who took third units have maintained,” place. Ashton said. All the Soldiers who have competed in The Warrior this three day competition have performed Soldiers put rounds down range as part of the Multi-National Division Competition consisted of excellently and their units should take a lot North Soldier Competition, which took place on Contingency Operating Base Speicher. The range tested the Soldier’s accuracy. seven individual stations of pride in them,” said Ashton. Page 2 Sep. 29, 2008

Oktoberfest Feast

(ABOVE) The Main Dining Facility on Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, celebrates Oktoberfest with a feast. The dining facility cooked a wide variety of traditional German delicacies for hungry Task Force Iron Soldiers.

(LEFT) A buffet consisting of a wide variety of traditional German foods was served in the overflow room of the Main Dining Facility on Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, in celebration of Oktoberfest.

Photos by Spc. Ryan Elliott, 14th PAD Former MLB boost Dragoon morale Heroes of the Diamond Tour™ Goose Gossage, Jack McDowell, Story and photos by while at the dining facility at , Mike Remlinger and Spc. Opal Vaughn Forward Operating Base Warhorse Turk Wendell. 14th Public Affairs Detachment located in Diyala, Iraq. Even though Ashby, Hitchcock The tour began September 19 and Palmer have been out of the ormer major league with the three former major league media spotlight for some time now, Fplayers , of the San baseball players making several Soldiers still lined up in the dining Diego Padres, , appearances at bases across Iraq facility to meet and greet the former of the and and is scheduled to conclude players. Dean Palmer, of the , September 30. “The response we’ve received hung out with 2nd Stryker Cavalry Previous tour participants have Regiment Soldiers during the 2008 included: , Tim Salmon, See MLB on Page 3

Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Spc. Ryan Elliott, Spc. Opal Vaughn Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Layout and Design: Spc. Karla P. Elliott, 14th PAD Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment

Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 Sep. 29, 2008

MLB from Page 2 from the Soldiers has just been so overwhelming,” said Ashby. “I never thought that being over here in Iraq would not only have an impact on the Soldiers, but me as well. Being able to really see what Iraq is all about is totally incredible.” As a former , Ashby is thankful for what baseball has brought him. “I’ve been blessed because of baseball and I would like to take that and give it back in any way that I can. The lord has blessed me with a lot of gifts and when you can give something back, that is something to be proud of,” Ashby stated. “For all of you who are serving and fighting for our country, I thank you,” Ashby continued. “And I Former major league baseball players Andy Ashby, of the , Sterling Hitchcock, of the would particularly like to thank you New York Yankees and Dean Palmer, of the Detroit Tigers, sign souvenirs and chat with 2nd Stryker for allowing us to partake in a part Cavalry Regiment Soldiers during the 2008 Heroes of the Diamond Tour™ while at the dining facility at of your daily lives. It has been an Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in Diyala, Iraq. The tour focuses on increasing morale and showing support for deployed Soldiers. honor.” Being on the Heroes of the Diamond Tour™ has been a on the frontlines as well as around Spreading the word to support different experience for each of the the different bases. I come from a the troops has become something players. But the enthusiasm of the family of service where my father that former , Palmer, tour is still mutual. was in the Air Force and served is passionate about. His first tour “This tour has been amazing,” in Nam, and my older brother included a visit to Afghanistan and said Hitchcock. “It’s been incredible is currently in the Navy and has now he is touring Iraq. to see what you guys do here in Iraq served several tours in Iraq.” “I’ve been able to see what So far the tour has included troops do on a day to day basis signing autographs, taking and experience a little bit of their pictures and hanging out with lives while on tour of Iraq,” Palmer servicemembers at different bases. stated. “The biggest thing for me is Being able to sit down and eat to be able to take what I have seen dinner with 2SCR Soldiers was also and experienced back with me to a highlight of the evening. the states.” Coming from a military family “It has been great for me to background, Hitchcock could just talk about whatever with the not thank the Soldiers enough. Soldiers and to hang out with you “We appreciate you guys being guys,” Palmer added. “There have over here,” stated Hitchcock, also been a lot of baseball fans I’ve been a former professional baseball able to talk with and who have pitcher. “I know Soldiers don’t hear thanked me for supporting them. that enough, but we really do.” Unfortunately, it is I who must “You’re over here with a thank you guys for everything that difficult mission but the great you’re doing over here. nation that we are and the freedoms “It has been wonderful hanging that we enjoy at home, you guys out with you guys,” Palmer stated. are helping to bring to the Iraqi Ashby, Hitchcock and Palmer Former major league baseball players Andy Ashby, people,” Hitchcock added. “You’re ended the evening by giving out of the San Diego Padres, Sterling Hitchcock, of the some baseball pins and a couple of New York Yankees and Dean Palmer, of the Detroit helping to bring a country out from Tigers, sign souvenirs and chat with 2nd Stryker under oppression and embrace a jerseys to the Soldiers. Afterwards Cavalry Regiment Soldiers during the 2008 Heroes new found freedom. I have a deep, they ate dinner with some of the of the Diamond Tour™ while at the dining facility at Forward Operating Base Warhorse located in deep respect for each and every one Soldiers and thanked them for Diyala, Iraq. of you.” having dinner with them. Page 4 Homefront News Sep. 29, 2008

PAUL NEWMAN feature films over the past half- said Martin Scorsese, who directed century, it's the range that leaves him in "The Color of Money." (AP) Paul Newman couldn't have an impression. You never forgot you Newman himself didn't enjoy existed today — at least, not the way were watching Paul Newman. He talking about acting, and could come we came to know him. was a superstar, after all. He was off as a bit distant in interviews when Sure, the talent would have the draw. But he could fit into a wide asked about it. He did offer some been there, the classic good looks, variety of parts — unlike some other insight to his motivation, however, the magnetism, the easy charm. But actors with longevity and stature, in 2002: the privacy he demanded (and won), who shall remain nameless for these "I used to make three pictures which helped establish and solidify purposes, who have devolved into a year, and now I make a picture his mystique as a bona fide movie caricatures of themselves as they've every three years. Things change. star, never would have been afforded aged. There have been a lot of good him in our tabloid-driven, celebrity- In just a sampling, Newman things out there, but they weren't obsessed culture. played: the kind of pictures that I wanted to Sad but true. Part of why • A washed-up football player in make. I didn't want to do pictures we were fascinated with Newman, Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot about explosions. I don't want to do who died Friday at 83 of cancer, Tin Roof" (1958). pictures about shattered glass and was because we didn't know every • Pool shark "Fast Eddie" Felson broken bodies and blood. That just gory detail of his life, even though in "The Hustler" (1961), the role doesn't interest me." he'd reached the zenith of fame and he would reprise in "The Color of Of course, we came to popularity. He left us craving more — Money" (1986), which, surprisingly, understand what interested him and that he lived and died far from earned him his only Academy Award through his off-camera pursuits later Hollywood's glare in the small town in 10 nominations. in life. His passion came shining of Westport, Conn., in the converted • A bad-boy cowboy in "Hud" through in his love of, and talent farmhouse he shared with his wife of (1963). for, auto racing. But it's through 50 years, Joanne Woodward, speaks • A rebellious prisoner in "Cool Hand his philanthropy — the Newman's volumes not only about who he was Luke" (1967). Own Foundation, which has raised but who he didn't want to be. • A train robber alongside Redford, more than $250 million for charities It's hard to think of an actor iconically, in "Butch Cassidy and the worldwide, and the Hole in the today who compares in that regard: Sundance Kid" (1969). Wall Camps for children with life- someone who's blazingly confident • The player-coach of a small-town threatening diseases — that he on-screen but maintains some hockey team in the comedy cult showed his true heart. mystery about who he really is off favorite "Slap Shot" (1977). Maybe Paul Newman wasn't of it, someone who would make • A wrongly accused suspect in a so hard to figure out after all. even hardened, cynical journalists rare film that gets journalism go weak in the knees upon meeting right, "Absence of Malice" face-to-face. Newman's longtime (1981). friend and co-star, Robert Redford, • A cantankerous grandfather certainly qualifies. But of the current in "Nobody's Fool" (1994). generation of stars? We know too • A formidable mob boss in much about Tom Cruise. Will Smith? "Road to Perdition" (2002). Leonardo DiCaprio? Johnny Depp, Newman came up in maybe — though he's carved out the Method-acting tradition, a path of quirky character roles, a la Brando, but there was despite his leading-man looks. never anything obviously George Clooney springs studied about him; he made to mind, but even he has fought the swagger look natural. public battles with the paparazzi And his evolution over the over the need to respect celebrities' years — from young and privacy. Clooney himself seemed to dangerous to middle-aged recognize the legacy Newman left and struggling to older and in reacting to his death Saturday wiser — constantly carried morning: "He set the bar too high for with it the aura of dignity. the rest of us ... not just actors, but " H i s p o w e r f u l all of us. He will be greatly missed," eloquence, his consummate he said — through his publicist. sense of craft, so consummate Larger than life? Sure. But that you didn't see any sense looking back at Newman's career, of effort up there on the which encompassed nearly 60 screen, set a new standard," Page 5 SPORTS Sep. 29, 2008

FOOTBALL (Reuters) The Washington Redskins in the fourth. ousted the Dallas Cowboys from the Tony Romo rallied Dallas unbeaten ranks with a 26-24 upset to within two points with his third victory Sunday. touchdown 1:42 from time and the Jason Campbell passed for Cowboys tried an onside kick. The ball two touchdowns and Shaun Suisham bounced off the hands of Dallas's Sam kicked four field goals as the Redskins Hurd and went out of bounds before (3-1) ended a three-game winning Washington ran out the clock for the streak for the Cowboys (3-1). victory. The victory was only the second Romo's 10-yard touchdown for Washington in Dallas in 13 years. pass to Terrell Owens early in the third "To come down here in a quarter tied the scores at 17-17 before rivalry game like this and everything, Suisham kicked three successive field it just means a lot," Campbell told goals. reporters. Owens, who had seven catches Clinton Portis contributed for 71 yards, said the Cowboys should 121 yards rushing, more than the have used him more often. total managed by the Cowboys who "Everybody recognized finished with 44 yards to the Redskins' that I wasn't really getting the ball 161. in the first half," Owens said. "I'm Suisham broke a 17-17 tie with pretty sure everybody watching the a 33-yard field goal midway the third game recognized it, people in the quarter, his second of the game, and stands recognized it, I think my team added field goals of 33 and 29 yards recognized it. I didn't quit."

BASEBALL in the second. They took the lead in the end the inning. fifth with the help of Oakland's Josh J.J. Putz struck out the side (AP) Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and Outman, who was making his fourth in the ninth for his 15th save in 23 scored the decisive run as the Seattle major league start. chances. He finished with 25 fewer Mariners rallied for a 4-3 victory over Rookie Luis Valbuena chopped saves than he had last season while the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, an infield single leading off, then Suzuki becoming an All-Star. ending a pair of forgettable seasons. hit a comebacker that may have been R.A. Dickey (5-8) allowed three The perennial All-Star finished a play had Outman not thrown runs in the first inning, Buck's first the season tied with Boston's Dustin the ball wide of second base and into leadoff of his career and a Pedroia for the most hits in the major center field. two-run double by Chris Denorfia. The leagues at 213. It is the fifth time Yuniesky Betancourt lined his knuckleballer later retired 12 in a row to Suzuki has led the majors in hits. Only next pitch into the right-center gap. get his first win as a starter since July Cobb, Rose, Musial and Gwynn have Center fielder Ryan Sweeney offered 31. He allowed six hits, struck out two done that. to cut off the ball then pulled his glove and walked one in 5 2-3 innings. Suzuki finished the season back, tricking right fielder Travis Buck Outman (1-2) allowed four batting .310, his 15th consecutive and allowing the ball to reach the runs, three earned, on eight hits in six season above .300 in Japan and the wall for a . Valbuena and Suzuki innings. major leagues. scored to put Reloaded Seattle expected Seattle up 4-3. to win the AL West this season, or at Suzuki least make the playoffs for the first time preserved the since 2001. Instead, the Mariners fired lead in the sixth their manager and general manager, with a strong became the first team with a $100 throw home from million payroll to lose 100 games and right field on a endured their worst season (61-101) single by Bobby since losing 102 games in 1983. Crosby, Oakland's The young A's (75-86) finished third consecutive with their worst record since going 74- single. The throw 88 in 1998. They lost 44 of their last kept Daric Barton 68 games, after being just four games at third. Reliever out of first place on July 11. Randy Messenger The Mariners cut a 3-0 deficit to stranded him 3-2 on RBI groundouts by Raul Ibanez there by retiring in the first and rookie Matt Tuiasosopo Jeff Baisley to Page 6 WORLD Sep. 29, 2008

FRANCE on June 6, 1944, and unleashed range from 2,500 to more than 5,000 some 156,000 soldiers, mostly dead. (AP) The U.S. Navy was honored Americans, British and Canadians, A total of 1,068 U.S. sailors Saturday for its key role in the massive in a massive assault known as died in Normandy or off its shores amphibious wartime invasion that D-Day. between June 6 and 10, 1944, Beaty helped propel the Allies to victory in The statue, with the figures said. Among their main roles were World War II. crouching or standing around one to carry ashore or give cover to the Hundreds of uniformed another, is meant to portray three Allied troops storming the beaches. American sailors and French well- phases of the landings: the planning, wishers — as well as a few Navy the launch and the follow-up. One veterans of the war — joined U.S. and figure holds a mortar shell like those French officials on Utah Beach for fired during the invasion. the inauguration of Normandy's first The statue was a project of the monument honoring the sacrifices Naval Order of the United States, and of U.S. sailors in the conflict against was designed by Stephen Spears of Nazi Germany. Fair Hope, Alabama, according to The U.S. Navy Monument at Eric Beaty, an official with the U.S. Normandy features a 12-foot bronze consulate in the western French city statue of a Navy captain and two of Rennes. sailors overlooking the beach — Casualty estimates for the where a 5,000-vessel armada landed Allied forces on D-Day vary, but

SOMALIA died in an attack overnight near the casualties," Islamist commander presidential palace, Villa Baidoa, Mohamed Mohamud Dulyadeyn told they said. AFP. "Three people, one of them Ethiopian troops intervened to a Somali government soldier, died prop up the feeble Somali government near Villa Baidoa when two mortar at the end of 2006 and eventually shells struck buildings," said Hamad drove the Islamists from much of Ali Ahmed, a witness. the country's southern and central Another civilian died in regions, where they had established crossfire in southern Mogadishu's Sharia law. Holwadag district, bringing the death Since then, the Islamists toll to four. At least seven others were have killed numerous government wounded, residents said. officials and vowed to fight until the Islamist rebels confirmed Ethiopians, whom they regard as (AFP) Somali Islamist insurgents they first attacked the base hosting occupiers, withdraw. attacked African Union peacekeepers African Union, Somali and Ethiopian Somalia has lacked a and government forces in the capital troops. functional government since the Mogadishu, and at least four people "We attacked the bases of 1991 ouster of president Mohamed were killed in the clashes, witnesses Ugandan forces, Ethiopians and the Siad Barre touched off a bloody said Monday. Somali stooges. Five of our men were power struggle that has defied Two civilians and a soldier wounded, but they sustained heavy numerous peace initiatives.

LEBANON by remote control as the military bus It was the second bomb attack drove by at the southern entrance to in less than two months targeting (AP) A car bomb exploded near a the northern city of Tripoli. troops in Tripoli, which has been military bus carrying troops to work in The explosion happened rocked by sectarian fighting between northern Lebanon on Monday, killing during morning rush hour, the pro-government Sunni fighters and at least five people and wounding at officials said, speaking on condition pro-Syrian gunmen. least 21, Lebanese security officials of anonymity because they were not On Aug. 13, 18 soldiers and said. authorized to speak to the media. civilians were killed by a roadside Most of the casualties were Local TV showed soldiers bomb packed with nuts and bolts soldiers, the officials said. sealing off the area and preventing near a bus carrying troops in Tripoli. The officials said the car was people from approaching. The blast It was Lebanon's deadliest bombing booby-trapped and parked on a shattered windows in several cars in more than three years. roadside. The bomb was detonated parked in the area.