April 2006  Vol. 1, Issue 6 Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division take up security after dismounting a UH-60 Blackhawk from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade’s Task Force No Mercy during an air assault mission in the Al Jazira Desert, , March 22.

photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon Inside... In every issue... Answering a cry for help... Page 6 Health and Fitness: Page 9 Iraqi forces take control of Narwhan Setting your fitness goals

Days of Remembrance: The Holocaust Page 8 Inspiration: As long as God is awake Page 11

Enduring the odds: Page 10 BOB on the FOB Page 22 Soldier survives IED blast Hutch’s Top 10 Page 23 Experience behind the wheel Page 12 Through the lens Page 26 Rakkasans lead Iraqi Soldiers through Page 16 machine gun training On the cover... IA proves worth in validation exercise Page 17 A specialist with the Iraqi police: Training to protect Iraq Page 18 Quick Reaction Force, 1st , 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Pathfinders’ new mission Page 19 Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Divi- Reconstruction: Rebuilding a nation Page 20 sion searches an area in the Al-Siniya village. Soldiers of the QRF air Iraqi security ops Page 21 assaulted to the loca- tion to search for a Golf... Just a chip in the sand Page 24 weapons cache. photo by trains Iraqi Soldiers Page 25 Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika Everyday we march closer to that I would also ask you to increase end state, in large part due to the ac- your efforts at risk assessment and tions of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, mitigation. Do not become compla- Marines, and those allies that are as- cent, expect the unexpected, prepare signed, attached or under the tactical and take care of each other. control of Task Force Band of Brothers. Once again, thank you for the The capability and professionalism incredible job you’re doing. Dedicate of the new Iraqi army and police forc- yourself now to defeating the terror- es improve daily, largely through your ists, training the ISF, and providing hard work and your visible example of the Iraqi people the future they de- professional Soldiers living the Warrior serve. We have paid too high a price Ethos and Army values. in the blood of our sisters and broth- We will not achieve the end state ers to do any less. prior to our departure. With your con- tinued hard work, however, we will posture the units that follow us for success, by training the Iraqi Army, coaching them through operations to kill or capture AIF elements, and aid- ing local and provincial governments Greetings from Tikrit, to deliver essential services to the people of Iraq. I would like to thank each and every As we begin the second half of Soldier of Task Force Band of Brothers our mission in Iraq, I’d ask you to for all you do every day. redouble your efforts to achieve our The end state of this mission has objectives. We will not achieve our never changed; “An Iraq at peace with objective if we remain static, tied to a her neighbors, an ally in the War on FOB and establish patterns that make Terror, with a representative govern- life comfortable for us. ment that respects the human rights Those traits we took pride in prior of all Iraqis, with security forces ca- to arrival are more critical today than pable of providing domestic order and ever – agile, adaptable, flexible Sol- denying safe haven for terrorists.” diers and formations.

TF Band of Brothers PAO Band of Brothers is published month- Lt. Col. Ed Loomis ly by the Task Force Band of Brothers Public Affairs NCOIC Public Affairs Office, HHC 501st STB, Master Sgt. Terry Webster 101st Abn. Div., FOB Speicher, APO AE Editor-in-Chief 09393, DSN 318-849-2118. Sgt. Dallas Walker Band of Brothers is an authorized Copy Editor publication of the Department of De- Spc. Joshua Hutcheson fense. It is distributed free to members Contributors 1st BCT, 101st Abn. Div. PAO of TF Band of Brothers. Circulation is TF Band of Brothers Commander 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. PAO 10,000. Major Gen. Thomas Turner 101st CAB, 101st Abn. Div. PAO Contents of Band of Brothers are 3rd HBCT, 4th Inf. Div. PAO not necessarily the official views of, or 138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment endorsed by the U.S. Government or the TF Band of Brothers CSM 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Department of the Army. Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe Cartoonist/Illustrator Editorial content is the responsibility Sgt. Albert Merrifield of the TF Band of Brothers PAO. This operation projected Iraqi govern- ed hesitation to escalate force. This of ment influence into an area that was a course can lead to innocent casualties haven for terrorists -- a haven no more. or Coalition casualties. Prior to Swarmer, a combined raid Some Soldiers believe they will face west of Samarra netted a mother lode punishment if their decision to engage of caches and intelligence. an unknown approaching vehicle leads Operations with Iraqi forces in the to the death or injury of an innocent lead on the Jabouri Peninsula have led Iraqi. Bottom Line: we will never sac- to that piece of terrain actually be- rifice the right of our Coalition Forces ing pacified for the first time in three to protect themselves and others by years. The residents of the Jabouri using the appropriate amount of force Peninsula are eagerly giving Coalition in self-defense. Forces vital intelligence and cache lo- You are all well-trained and well- cations in the quest to bring normalcy equipped. You understand the steps to to their lives. escalate force and the standards. You In the Hawijah area, Iraqi Security will not be second guessed or pros- Forces are conducting Operation Scor- ecuted for making a reasonable judg- pion and routing out terrorists who ment call in combat. The Commander’s thought they had found a safe operat- inquiry, or Army Regulation 15-6 in- ing area. Our successes in Mosul and vestigation, that is conducted after an Tall Afar are still being expanded and EOF incident is to bring out all facets are allowing the free peoples of Iraq to of the engagement to ensure we are to enjoy prosperity in those regions. standard and to highlight to our Iraqi Also, we cannot forget about our two allies that the safety of Iraqi citizens is brigade combat teams operating in paramount to our operations. and around and our battalion We can not allow the enemy to use Fellow Warriors of operating in Ramadi. our EOF incidents as an “Information Task Force Band of Brothers, These Screaming Eagle forces are Operations” victory to further their The month of March was an out- continually setting high standards of deranged cause. Task Force Band of standing month for our Task Force in combat effectiveness in some of the Brothers FRAGO 158 to OPORD Caren- terms of successful combat operations. most contested areas in Iraq. Keep up tan, published on Mar. 30, is our new- We conducted numerous operations the great work. est EOF standard. throughout each Brigade Combat Team America is proud of you and the free I directed all our BCT CSMs to en- sector. Our Iraqi allies led the way on peoples of the world thank you. sure that a hard copy of this FRAGO is all of these operations and really came Let’s switch gears now to an issue distributed all the way down to team into their own. that all Soldiers on the battlefield face level. Learn and train to its standard, Without a doubt, our operations in daily -- the proper use and understand- use the prescribed equipment and March have set the standard for how ing of Escalation of Force measures. signaling devices, and we will stay on we will continue to operate for the First, I want to thank all our combat the path to protecting ourselves and remainder of our time in theater. A tes- leaders for the proper training and the Iraqi people. tament to our awesome success is the equipping that has led to our sector You all are doing fantastic out there fact that American forces had the few- of Iraq, Multi-National Division-North, on the battlefield, keep up the great est number of Soldiers killed in action having the lowest rate of innocent work. God bless America, our Task for a one-month period in two straight Iraqis killed by EOF incidents. Al- Force Band of Brothers and each and years, even with our continued pres- though our statistics show a positive every one of you ……HoooAhh…….. ence off the forward operating base. side to our operations, some Soldiers Air Assault! The enemies of a peaceful and pros- I speak to are a bit confused as to perous Iraq are really feeling the talons proper EOF procedures. This a major Command Sgt. Maj. of the Eagle. Operation Swarmer concern of mine. Although this is not inserted hundreds of Coalition Forces widespread, confusion can lead to un- Frank Grippe by Air Assault to the east of Samarra. justified warning shots or unwarrant- Division Command Sergeant Major

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 4 AROUND DIYALA

photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski

Clockwise from top: Iraqi Army Soldiers patrol an area in the Diyala Province. Sergeant Mat- thew Woosley, squad leader, Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry photo by Sgt. Zach Mott Division, inventories a weapons cache unearthed in Al Buhisha- ma, Iraq. Sergeant Carlos Loya, 2nd Platoon, 978th Military Police Company, watches as friends, family and loved ones visit inmates at the Diyala Prov- ince jail in Baqubah, Iraq. Sol- diers from Company A, 1st Bat- talion, 8th Infantry Regiment, and the Iraqi Army uncover a barrel full of weapons that had been buried in an orchard on the Jabouri Peninsula. Iraqi police from Jedediah, Iraq, practice walking in a line formation. photo by Sgt. Zach Mott photo by Sgt. Zach Mott

photo by Sgt. Zach Mott

photo by Sgt. Zach Mott

photo by Spc. Lee Elder Answering a cry for help... Iraqi forces take control of Narwhan Staff Sgt. Mark Wojciechowski 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

NARWHAN, Iraq -- Periods of civil unrest have long been a problem in northern and north-central Iraq. Attacks in the area spiked after the Golden Dome mosque in Samarra was bombed. The most heinous of these attacks came against the citizens of Narwhan in February. Gunmen killed 47 civilians from the small village that lies in the southern part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division’s area of operations. Iraq was going to break out,” said Maj. Byron Sarchet, infor- “Narwhan was believed to be the spot where civil war in mation operations officer for 3rd HBCT, 4th ID. “The inflam- matory cartoons of Mohammed released by Dutch news- papers, followed by the bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra brought ethnic tensions to a boil, and then the murder of the 47 people in Narwhan happened.” According to Sarchet, Narwhan did not have much Iraqi police presence in it at all, and the Iraqi Army was not working much outside the city. Shortly after the murders, about 300 demonstrators gathered in town to petition the police. They were concerned about the lack of security. Units from 3rd HBCT began patrolling the area within days of the demonstration, Sarchet said. At the same time, the unit began working with both the Iraqi Army and police to help synchronize their efforts in securing Narwhan. “The IA showed up on the scene and established check points [in Narwhan], which helped [security] a lot,” Sarchet said. “The Iraqi police pushed further out of the city and photos by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika that helped [security as well]. We engaged the police chief and got them working with the Iraqi Army to better syn- Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Divi- chronize their efforts.” sion search Narwhan for insurgents and weapons caches in re- During a recent mission in Narwhan, troops from the 2nd sponse to increased violence in the area. The patrol was a joint Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and 3rd operation with 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry HBCT Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Division, which netted several suspected terrorists and four Regiment set off to patrol the area and search for any signs weapons caches. of insurgent activity. (Top left) Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division inventory a weap- ons cache discovered in Narwhan. (Top right) A Soldier from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division prepares to move out on a foot patrol on the bank of the Diyala River. (Bottom left) Two Iraqi Soldiers discuss the day’s mission. (Bottom right) A squad of Iraqi Soldiers moves through an area of Narwhan, searching for signs of insurgent activity.

The combined patrol descended upon a village known to the locals as “the corner,” a suspected hide-out for terrorists. “The mission was to capture, kill or detain the anti-Iraqi forces responsible for the murders of the 47 people that were killed north of Narwhan,” said 1st Sgt. David Pasquale, Co. A, 1-68. The patrol also searched for weapons caches. Coalition Forces and their Iraqi Army counterparts searched their designated sectors, walking the streets, searching the houses and questioning the residents. After a sweep through the village, the Soldiers moved to the Diyala River’s edge and found four caches consisting of mortars, anti- missiles, shells, anti-personnel mines, rocket-propelled grenades and thousands of rounds of assault rifle ammunition. The Iraqi Soldiers found a cache with machine gun ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades and also detained several suspects linked to the murders. Iraqi security forces have maintained a strong presence in the region, with little help from the coalition. Their success has been reflected in the calm that has descended upon the area, renewing the confidence of Narwhan residents. 

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 7 Days of Remembrance May 1-8 H O L O C A U S T 193 4 is appointed Chan- Sgt. 1st Class Dawn Perry cellor of Germany, a nation with a Jewish population of 566,000. By March, Hitler Equal Opportunity Office had dictatorial powers and had opened four concentration camps. The Holocaust of history in Days of Remembrance. was a state-spon- Established in 1942, the 101st 193 8 At Evian, , the U.S. con- sored, system- parachuted into , France, venes a League of Nations conference with atic persecution of on D-Day -- June 6, 1944. There, the delegates from 32 countries to consider Jewish people by Screaming Eagles division engaged in helping Jews fleeing Hitler, but results in the Nazi German fierce fighting with German forces. inaction as no country will accept them. Regime from 1933 The 101st was deployed to Belgium to 1945. It is esti- during the in De- Nazi troops seize 193 9 mated that over cember 1944 and was subsequently (Jewish pop. 350,000) and invade Poland, six million people surrounded in Bastogne by German which had a Jewish population of 3.35 were murdered troops. million -- the largest in Europe. World War -- most of them The unit refused to surrender and II begins Sept. 3 as England and France Jewish. held out until the 4th Armored Divi- declare war on Germany. This act of sion arrived to provide it with badly 19 40 Nazis invade Denmark (Jewish genocide occurred needed support. pop. 8,000), Norway (Jewish pop. 2,000), because the Nazis During the 101st’s drive into south- France (Jewish pop. 350,000), Belgium thought the Jew- ern Germany, the unit uncovered (Jewish pop. 65,000), Holland (Jewish ish people were Kaufering IV, one of 11 camps in the pop. 140,000), (Jewish pop. inferior. At the time the Holocaust Kaufering complex in the Landsberg 3,500), and Romania (Jewish pop. 34,000). began, there were over nine million region. The Kaufering complex was Approximately 29,000 German Jews are Jews living in areas that became oc- under the administration deported to Vichy, France. cupied by the Third Reich. of the Dachau concentra- In the end, almost tion camp. 19 41 Nazis invade Yugoslavia (Jewish two out of every three At its height, the pop. 75,000), Greece (Jewish pop. 77,000), Jews were killed in camp held more than and the Soviet Union (Jewish pop. 3 mil- what is known as 3,600 prisoners, but in lion). Hitler declares war on the United the Final Solution. In the days before U.S. States Dec. 11. United States President reference to this hor- troops arrived, the SS Franklin Roosevelt then declares war on rible act of genocide, had evacuated many of Germany, concentrating nearly 90 percent Congress designated the prisoners on a death of the military resources to defeat Hitler. this time of year as march south in the direc- the Days of Remem- tion of Dachau. 19 4 2 Mass killings of Jews using brance -- a time to When the 12th Ar- Zyklon-B begin at Auschwitz-Birkenau in reflect on those who lost their lives. mored Division and 101st Airborne Di- Bunker I with the bodies being buried in The Remembrance Day falls on the vision arrived at Kaufering IV on April mass graves in a nearby meadow. 27th of the Hebrew month of Nisan. 27 and 28, respectively, the Soldiers The Israeli Parliament chose this date discovered some 500 dead inmates. The number of Jews killed passes 19 4 3 because it falls between the dates In the days that followed, the U.S. one million. Nazis then use special units of of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Army units ordered the local towns- slave laborers to dig up and burn the bod- began Israel’s Independence Day. people to bury the dead. ies to remove all traces. Germans surren- Before the Holocaust came to be, The 101st Airborne der at Stalingrad in the first big defeat of it was the Nazis who began building Division was rec- Hitler’s armies. concentration camps for the sole pur- ognized as a 19 4 4 In response to political pressure pose of imprisoning Jews and other liberating unit to help Jews under Nazi control, Roosevelt victims of racial hatred, as well as by the United creates the War Refugee Board. D-Day: political opponents of Nazism. These States Allied landings in Normandy June 6. camps came to be known as ghet- Holocaust tos, transient camps or forced labor Memorial 19 4 5 Hitler commits suicide April 30 camps. Museum in his Berlin bunker and Americans free There were a thousand of these in 1998 33,000 inmates from concentration camps. camps in Europe, and each had a dif- for their German troops surrendered May 7, signed ferent way of identifying captives. The actions by Gen. Jodl at Reims. 101st Airborne Division holds a piece in war.  H E A L T H & F I T N E S S

Capt. Reva Rogers, RD Progression Endurance 101st Airborne Division Dietician To continue to improve at an exercise, To achieve overall fitness, you should sport, or task you must continue to run plan an endurance activity into your s we crest the six-month farther or lift more to train those mus- workout, even if your workouts are mark of the deployment, cles, depending on your goal. primarily strength training. Bumping up Athis is a good time to revise A good rule of thumb to follow when cardio can help increase muscle defini- and revitalize your workout plan. weight lifting is the two-for-two rule -- if tion. Think six-pack abs -- you probably The first step in revising your work- you can perform two additional repeti- already have the muscles, increasing out program is to establish goals. tions on your last set for two consecu- cardio will help you see them. What do you want to get out of tive workouts, you should increase the To increase muscular endurance, you your workout program? Do you want amount of weight. can increase the number of repetitions to run faster, bench press more, The recommended increase for up- and sets, or decrease the amount of rest increase flexibility, or simply look per-body and lower-body exercises is in between sets. To increase your cardio- better naked? After you have de- five to 10 pounds and 10 to 20 pounds, vascular endurance, you should plan at termined you goal, it’s time to start respectively. least one long workout per week. planning. When increasing the distance you When developing a workout run, be careful not to increase your mile- Recovery program, keep in mind some gen- age by greater than 10 percent, which eral training principles. A popular greatly increases your risks for becom- During strength training you should acronym for remembering the fitness ing injured. rest your muscles for at least 48 hours. principles is PROVERBS. For example, if you work your chest Regularity muscles on Monday, the earliest you should work your chest muscles again is To see an increase or Wednesday. maintain your fitness level, High-intensity cardiovascular work- you need to workout outs, such as interval training or road regularly. Working marching, also require recovery time. out three times a Plan a low-impact cardio workout for the week should help next day. you maintain fitness levels, while working out five to six days a Balance week should increase your Your workout plan should train the level of fitness. antagonistic muscle groups. That is, if you are doing exercises that target your pecs, or chest muscles, you should also Overload plan in exercises that work your lats, or To get stronger or faster, the upper back muscles. Unbalanced work- load you put on your muscles outs can increase risk for injury and give must continue to push you an unbalanced appearance (think you. Once you get used to huge upper body, tiny legs). lifting a certain amount or running at a certain speed, you should Specificity progress to a higher If you want to improve performance load and faster pace. of a particular exercise or activity, you have to train for that exercise. To do more pull-ups, you must perform pull- Variety ups and target your lats and biceps in Adding variety into your workout your training program. To run faster, you plan can help keep you motivated must practice running faster by adding and continue to change the stress intervals, tempo workouts, or fartleks you are placing on your muscles. into your training plan.

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 9 Enduring the odds: Soldier survives IED blast; credits faith Sgt. Waine D. Hailey any signs of an IED, they “circled the wagons,” moving 133rd Mobile Public their humvees into a perimeter around the site. Affairs Detachment They still could not see the IED. At that point, Rivette, accompanied by Staff Sgt. Kenneth Poss, walked towards a AD DAWR, Iraq -- Donning body armor, adhering to proper small pile of dirt in the center of the road. military tactics and techniques, and maintaining situational “[The dirt pile] didn’t look possible that it was anything awareness can help a Soldier come home in one piece, but serious, but it was the only thing that, we thought, looked sometimes a little something else comes into play. out of place,” Rivette said. In March, 1st Lt. As the two Soldiers Adam Rivette, platoon walked towards the leader, Troop A, 2nd mound -- Poss about five Battalion, 9th Cavalry “For some reason, no one was feet to its left and Rivette Regiment, attached about 15 feet in front of to the 101st Airborne hit. There were 30 bullet holes it -- the explosives were Division, and his troops surrounding the truck, but not detonated. were chasing down a Both men recall the suspicious vehicle. The one person was hit.” mushroom cloud of fire, pursuit did not pan out smoke and dust. Rivette -- it did however lead to 1st Lt. Adam Rivette said all he had time to do the event which Rivette Platoon Leader was cover his face. Poss refers to as “a blessing fell and rolled to one side. from God.” “I started walking back As the Soldiers were to the truck in a cloud of releasing the driver of a vehicle, a group of locals re- dust… in a daze, like --wow, what just happened?” Rivette ported an IED to the Iraqi Army troops with Rivette’s said. “I saw the medic running at me, screaming my name. team. Poss comes rolling out of the dust cloud with his thumbs in The team was told the IED was at a nearby loca- the air yelling, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine!’” tion on the road, so they went to check it out. Both men were checked for wounds, only to discover As the team moved into position near the loca- that not only were they uninjured -- they weren’t even tion, they took precautionary measures, trying to dirty. discover the explosives from a distance. When it The medic, then back at the truck, was knocked to was clear that no one could see the ground. A couple of the trucks were hit

Courtesy photo Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Troop A, 2nd Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, pose for a unit photo in Ad Dawr, Iraq. Two Soldiers in the platoon, 1st Lt. Adam Rivette, platoon leader, and Staff Sgt. Kenneth Poss, recently survived an IED blast while standing within 20 feet of the explosives.

10 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers with shrapnel and the gunners reported hearing metal and dirt whizzing by their heads. The InspirationInspiration force of the shrapnel and per- cussion of the blast were so in- tense, they shattered windows As long as God is awake in the surrounding homes. When the Soldiers returned step of the journey. You and to the blast site, they saw I are here by no accident. Rivette’s boot-prints and shards It is God who has brought of shrapnel all around them. us here for a mission, and Where Poss had lain on the He will walk beside us and ground was more shrapnel. enable us to complete that The Explosive Ordnance mission. Disposal team was called to the God’s instructions through site. From information gathered, Moses are four-fold. a 155mm artillery round, with a 1. “Fear Not” -- He in- 40 to 50-meter kill radius, was structed the people first of used with a remote-controlled all not to be afraid. detonator. 2. “Stand Firm” -- Reflect- “I grabbed Sgt. Poss and said, ing on faith and confidence ‘Dude, there’s no reason for us in the delivering power of to be alive,’” Rivette said. Chaplain (Maj.) Scott Hammond the Lord. Now is not the time to shrink Rivette considers himself a away from the battle, but to stand firm, spiritual man and reads Psalms ast month, we lost two great realizing that we stand together as 91 before going on patrol every heroes from the 101st on Contin- a Band of Brothers and that the Lord day. Lgency Operating Base Speicher. stands besides us. “God is definitely the only one I sensed the Lord walking beside me as I 3. “Watch” -- Moses said, “See… what that can be given the glory for said a prayer over these dear fallen com- the Lord will accomplish for you today.” this incident,” said Rivette, a rades. I was deeply touched to see the We must keep our eyes on the Lord and West Point graduate from Au- tender care given to our fallen as they not on the storms and battles around us. gusta, Ga. “It’s really uplifting were being moved on to their next des- We cannot ignore the battles, but must to us and lets us know God is tination. As I said a prayer over them, it never forget it is the Lord who battles watching over us.” was brought to my mind that the Lord with and for you. This is not Rivette’s first en- continues to carry these Soldiers as I 4. “Keep Moving Forward” -- God tells counter with a close call. Two committed them into His loving arms. Moses to tell the people to go forward. days prior to the IED blast, a I was also reminded vividly that He “Stretch out your hand over the sea and rocket-propelled grenade hit 100 carries you and me in our troubled and divide it. And the children of Israel shall meters from his truck and the difficult times. go on dry ground through the midst of area around his humvee was In Exodus 14, the Israelites had an the sea.” riddled with small-arms fire. enemy all around them and impossible The Angel had been in front of them, “For some reason, no one was obstacles in front of them. but now He repositions Himself and hit,” Rivette said. “There were Exodus 14: They were terrified and moves behind them. 30 bullet holes surrounding the cried out to the Lord. Moses answered God moves to our back to keep the en- truck, but not one person was the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm emy from overcoming us. In other words, hit. Not a single one of my guys and you will see the deliverance the Lord. God stands between our circumstances have been hit since we’ve been The Lord will fight for you. Then the Lord and us. God is saying to us, we must go here. It is amazing -- God has said to Moses, Tell the Israelites to move forward. He is saying I did not bring you been taking care of us.” on. Then the angel of God, who had been here to stop. Even though his men face ad- traveling in front of Israel’s army, with- God told Moses to stretch out his hand versity on a daily basis, they go drew and went behind them. The pillar over the sea, and he caused the waters out the next day with a smile on of cloud also moved from in front and to go back, and made a way for them their face, renewing their hunt stood behind them, coming between the to walk over on dry land. You see that for the bad guys. armies of Egypt and Israel. Then Moses is what God does, just when you feel Rivette realizes not all Sol- stretched out his hand over the sea, The that you can not make it, you can not diers are as fortunate as his waters were divided, and the Israelites see your way clearly, just when you are troops. went through the sea on dry ground. about to throw in the towel and give up, “I feel like our squadron has How do you and I face an enemy all God opens a way. been blessed,” Rivette said. around us with some challenges that He is ready to move in front of your “It’s rough to think about those may appear bigger than we can handle enemies and be a light to your dark path guys who haven’t made it, but in front of us? so that you can see the way. for some reason, God hasn’t Realize that God’s guidance does not God never slumbers or sleeps. He con- wanted me to die yet -- maybe necessarily keep us from the battlefields. tinues to watch over us and walk beside tomorrow, but not yet.” He does promise to walk beside us each us each step of the journey.

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 11 Experience behind the wheel... “ Chinook pilot advances career Iraqin It was always a dream for me. If you would have talked to my parents when I was little, they would have told you ‘Oh Scotty, he’s going to be in the Army. He wants to fly helicopters.

Sgt. Ryan Matson 101st Combat Aviation Brigade “ Public Affairs Office

TIKRIT, Iraq -- You name it, Chief Warrant Officer Scott Moore, Company B, 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, has probably flown it during his 14-year military career. He started with UH-1 Hueys in 1992, immediately after he had graduated from college and then from flight school, while serving in the Missouri National Guard. During this time, Moore also flew AH-1 Cobras. From 1998 until 2001, he was an AH-64 Apache attack pilot. Since then, Moore has settled into the cockpit of his newest, and quite possibly last, Army aircraft, the CH-47D Chinook helicopter. “I envisioned myself as one of those guys who spent 20 years flying the same aircraft,” he said. “I didn’t plan on photos by Sgt. Ryan Matson flying several types of helicopters, it just kind of worked out Chief Warrant Officer Scott Moore, Company B, 6th Battalion, that way.” 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, conducts some pre-flight inspec- During his career, Moore has flown every type of Army mis- tions prior to a night mission. He has flown Chinooks for five years, sion -- attack missions with Apaches, air assaults and troop and will soon be evaluated to become a PC -- pilot in command. and cargo transport with Chinooks, medical evacuations

12 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers with Hueys, and just about everything else in between. And flew all the time,” he said. “My dream was to fly. If you have while he said he has loved flying the different airframes, the a dream, you have to go for it.” Chinook is a particular favorite. So Moore went to Warrant Officer “The Chinook is the most awesome School and in May of 1998. He became airframe I’ve ever flown in my life,” a warrant officer, climbed back into Moore said. “It’s the best instrument- the cockpit, and hasn’t looked back ed, the best total package, it virtu- since. ally flies itself. It really is the nicest Now on his second deployment, airframe to fly in the Army.” Moore said his primary mission in Iraq Moore affectionately refers to the is to fly battlefield circulation missions Chinook as “the workhorse.” It is throughout Iraq on a mission known capable of lifting a combined gross as the Eagle Express. maximum weight of 50,000 pounds. If you name a town in Iraq, Moore Besides its tremendous power and said he’s probably been there. He lifting capacity, the Chinook is also takes passengers around the country known for its troop and cargo haul- and flies on a constant basis, usually ing ability. The aircraft has seats for several times a week. 32 Soldiers and more can be carried if In addition to these missions, Moore necessary. also flies combat missions, primar- To the people who knew him grow- ily air assaults, in which troops and ing up, Moore said it is no surprise he equipment are moved through the air ended up an Army helicopter pilot. to a combat area. “It was always a dream for me,” he After all these years of flying, he is said. “If you would have talked to my about to reach yet another milestone parents when I was little, they would in his career. Already a certified Huey have told you ‘Oh Scotty, he’s going instructor pilot, Moore is about to to be in the Army. He wants to fly be evaluated to become a PC -- pilot helicopters.” in command, for the Chinook. This Moore’s passion for flying is so great means his senior pilots have enough that he turned down more money confidence in his knowledge and abil- and higher rank to continue doing it. ity to operate Chinooks, that they will He was a when he went to Moore sits in the cockpit of a Chinook heli- give him a comprehensive flight test Panama as a staff officer, and every copter prior to a night mission Feb. 5 at Con- for the chance to be in charge of the day that he was sitting at his desk tingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq. aircraft. instead of in a cockpit, Moore said he After 14 years of flying, there is one was miserable and longed to get back more flight Moore is looking forward in the air. to -- the flight home at the end of this deployment. Back in “When I entered the Army, I really didn’t understand what Tennessee, he and his wife Cynara have two daughters, warrant officers were, and that they were the pilots who Megan, 15, and Alexa, 13, and a son, Scotty Jr., 6.

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 13 machine gun training Rakkasans lead Iraqi Soldiers through machine gun training

Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika from the sitting, kneeling and stand- found it to be quite challenging to 133rd Mobile Public ing positions. coach the Soldiers, so we gave them Affairs Detachment Upon completion of the training, a lot of trigger time to learn the tech- each Iraqi Soldier will be respon- niques,” Loveall said. BAYJI, Iraq -- Coalition Soldiers held sible for training other Iraqi Soldiers One week and around 20,000 a seven-day crash course for Iraqi within their respective units. rounds later, the Soldiers were ready Army Soldiers on the fundamentals of Iraqi Army Sgt. Saheed from Kirkuk to engage the enemy, said Staff Sgt. firing a PKC-47 machine gun on For- quickly led the way by hitting 97 out Matthew Evans of Fort Collins, Co. ward Operating Base Summerall. of 117 targets. “We gave them a good building Weapons squad leaders of 1st “Every Soldier exceeded our ex- block, and it is now up to them to Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, pectations by successfully zeroing teach their Soldiers what they have 101st Airborne Division, known as their weapons,” said Staff Sgt. Tracy learned this week,” Evans said. “I’m the Leader Rakkasans, gave select Loveall of Crocker, Mo. 100 percent confident that they will Soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 2nd Bri- The Soldiers were taught to work pass on their new skills. You have gade, 4th Iraqi Infantry Division each as a team when operating the weap- to remember, these Soldiers have no a belt of ammunition to zero their ons. [enlistment] contract to be here. They weapons. The Soldiers were required “Because of the language barrier are here to learn how to make Iraq a to demonstrate their ability to fire and having only one interpreter, we safe and peaceful country.”

They are here to learn how to make Iraq a safe “and peaceful country. ”

photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika

16 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers IA proves worth in validation exercise 1st Lt. Will Bardenwerper to work on the details and they’ll be 1st Brigade, 1st Armor Division alright,” said Staff Sgt. James Light, as Public Affairs he watched 2nd Platoon, 4th Company search an underground room. TALL AFAR, Iraq -- Soldiers of 3rd Bat- First Lt. Jason Rose, observing 1st talion, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Iraqi Army Divi- Platoon, noted that the Iraqi platoons sion embarked on a validation exercise were doing a fine job staying on line -- a real-life cordon and search mission and keeping communications with of the Sinjar Cement Factory April 5. each other. Coalition Forces were most The mission was designed to prove concerned about how Iraqi Soldiers whether or not the battalion was ready would control civilian workers within to assume control of land in Iraq’s the search area. But as it turned out, western Ninawa Province. they had an effective method of dealing The Sinjar Cement Factory is a with the personnel. large, semi-modern facility, employing After the lead search teams swept hundreds of workers from the area, but an area, ensuring that none of the also believed to possibly harbor anti- civilians present posed an immediate Iraqi forces and weapons. threat, a follow-on team policed up all The battalion began the mission by personnel and escorted them to a hold- setting a cordon around the facility, ing area outside the gate to the moving from south to north. The unit factory. In all, it took 3rd Battalion several was aided by a platoon from Company photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon B, 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment. hours to conduct a thorough search of One platoon leader and platoon ser- the cement factory. By the evening, A Soldier from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, geant was sent with each Iraqi platoon the unit was prepared to conduct night 3rd Iraqi Army Division looks at a map and for further oversight. operations on-site and further, more prepares to cordon and search the Sinjar “They’re pretty good. They just need detailed searches the following day.  Cement Factory April 5. Operation Red Light II nets detainees

Spc. Matt Wrzesinski the early morning as 173 troops, 3rd Brigade Combat Team both Iraqi and U.S. forces, were 101st Airborne Division dropped into their target area. A ground assault convoy brought TIKRIT, Iraq -- Rakkasans from 3rd 80 additional troops to meet up with Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regi- their counterparts. ment partnered with Soldiers from The Soldiers quickly cordoned and 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Iraqi searched the area, setting up tacti- Army Division, to conduct Operation cal check points and stopping all Red Light II west of Tikrit March 31. vehicles coming into the area. The objective was to kill or capture Over the two-day mission, 45 sus- known anti-Iraqi forces in the area pects were detained and screened. and to search for weapons caches. Seventeen of which were taken in Intelligence gathered from a previ- for further questioning, including ous mission, Red Light I, led to the six who were on the battalion’s high follow-up mission. value target list. After the initial operation, which Four caches were also found dur- netted a stock of weapons, citizens ing the raid, including 108 mines, from the area contacted Iraqi Secu- four surface-to-air missiles, 32 rock- rity Forces to report information that ets ranging from 57mm to 122mm, led to Red Light II. small arms ammunition and materi- “The intel was developed by the als used to make IEDs. IA,” said Maj. Tom Hansbarger, “With the people detained and photo by Spc. Matt Wrzesinski operations officer, 3-320th FA. “This the caches found, I think we dis- Specialist Mike Schultz, 626th Brigade Sup- shows that the local populace is rupted an IED cell that operated in port Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, helps starting to trust the IA enough to and around Tikrit,” Hansbarger said. load a detainee captured during Operation Red give them information.” “The mission also validated with the Light II in Tikrit, Iraq, March 31. The air assault mission began in locals, the capabilities of the IA.”

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 17 Iraqi Police: Training to protect Iraq

Sgt. Zach Mott this before,” Stearns said. “When we do our own AIT in the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, MP , it is very similar.” 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs The Iraqi police will continue to be an important part of the future stability of security in Iraq. Because of this, each BAQUBAH, Iraq -- Army training is typically broken down station is responsible for varying tasks. Some stations might into three phases -- crawl, walk, then run. As Coalition be assigned as a quick reaction force, while others are Forces continue to train the Iraqi Security Forces to protect primarily responsible for patrolling the roads or conducting and secure their country, they have adopted the same three- traffic control points. step philosophy. “We try to do training that is suited to that station and “We go there, we teach [the Iraqi police] a certain thing, plus a little outside the boundaries,” said Sgt. Andrew and we’ll just work on that for a couple days,” said Sgt. Turner, an instructor from 2nd Platoon, 978th MP Co. “If Frank Zavala, who a lead instructor in police training. “Then you’re doing a checkpoint, you might have to stop and we’ll just keep building up on that until they get it down.” search a vehicle, which might lead to an arrest. We’ll also Zavala and other members of 2nd Platoon, 978th Military teach them how to search a person and handcuff a person Police Company, attached to 3rd as well because obviously that will Heavy Brigade Combat Team, be applicable.” 4th Infantry Division, conducted Iraqi police units are increas- training on proper procedures for ing their presence in both size room clearing at a police station and location and becoming more in Baqubah, Iraq, April 4. integrated into Coalition Forces The 978th is responsible for missions. training more than 15 Iraqi police As the grass-roots training ef- stations in Diyala Province. The forts of Police Transition Teams, unit instructs on everything from such as the 978th MP Co., continue the most basic police procedures to take hold, the intent is for IP from hand cuffing a suspect to units to become fully integrated securing and conducting raids into Coalition Force missions, and and clearing rooms. ultimately, assume those missions “The toughest thing to grasp is completely. your fields of fire,” said Spc. Rob- “In the overall picture, what ert Stearns, 2nd Platoon, 978th we’re trying to do is to get the IPs MP Co. “You don’t want to hurt to transition to working by them- your own buddy, and those are selves instead of [with] Coalition the guys on your left and right. Forces,” Zavala said. “[We want You have to make sure they’re them] to be independent so they coming out with you every time.” can know how to train and they The learning curve for the new can train other IPs and they can IPs can be likened to that of a become efficient.” new enlistee learning the ropes With each new technique the IPs through basic and advanced master, they are one step closer to photo by Sgt. Zach Mott individual training. The Soldiers assuming control of the security of 978th are now trying to pass A member of the Iraqi Police in Baqubah, Iraq, and future of Iraq. that training, as well as lessons instructs Sgt. Andrew Turner, 978th Military “We don’t want them to fail,” learned through experience, Police Company, to place his hands behind his Stearns said. “We want them to be along to the IPs. head. Turner was acting as a hostile resident able to stand up on their own to “We can obviously tell that a as part of a police training exercise. make sure they know what they’re lot of these people have not done doing every time.”

18 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers Pathfinders’OPERATION new VICTORY miion... BOX Spc. Jeanine Kinville 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Task Force Band of Brothers Soldiers make an impact in Iraq everyday with their continued efforts to bring peace and prosperity to Iraq, but some take extra time and effort to contribute. Soldiers from Pathfinder Co., 4th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, currently attached to 501st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, began conducting mis- sions known as Operation Victory Box, a humanitarian aid effort to bring much needed hygiene products, clothing and toys to Iraqi families who live around Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit. Collaboration between Maj. Jennifer Bailey, the division aviation maintenance officer, and the Pathfinders began the effort to provide relief with donations made possible by Americans back home who were interested in helping Iraqis. “Our company performs these missions because we all want to help the local population with a better way of life,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Armstrong, the Pathfinder opera- tions NCO who coordinates the missions. “We assist them in improving their condition of living and providing educational supplies for children, which are vital for their progress here.” Highly-skilled infantrymen, specializing in reconnaissance and sniper operations, the Pathfinders conduct protective services for the division command group and combat patrols in the 501st area of operations. When out on patrols, they bring along boxes of supplies to hand out whenever they get an opportunity, which has helped build trust and support from the Iraqis. “The trust we have established with the Iraqis has already provided our Pathfinders with extremely valuable human intelligence on insurgent activity in our [area of operations] photos by Spc. Jeanine Kinville and has led to the capture of anti-Iraqi forces operating against Coalition Forces,” Armstrong said. (Top) Major Jennifer Bailey, 101st Airborne Division aviation main- In what started as an online posting, the operation has tenance officer, hands out supplies to a group of Iraqi women liv- grown to a flood of care packages arriving each day. ing outside Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Tikrit during “The main source of donations are thanks to Mary Marga- an Operation Victory Box mission March 25 with Pathfinder Co., ret Halleck, who began the organization out of her home in 4th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. (Above) First Lt. Colleyville, ,” Bailey said. “Word keeps spreading and Joshua Brown, Pathfinder Co. executive officer, hands out donat- the generosity has been overwhelming.” ed school supplies to an Iraqi boy living in the outskirts of Tikrit.

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 19 Stories by Sgt. Dennis Gravelle Rebuilding a nation 138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

MOSUL, Iraq -- The 401st Civil Affairs a school project in Arij and planned Battalion followed up on several proj- completion dates for both. ects in Hammam Al Alil to verify the “The fire station will be done soon,” reconstruction progress currently under Jabouri said. contract. According to Outcelt, the fire station The reconstruction projects will im- will cost $165,000 and the school project prove the quality of life for the residents will cost $63,000 to complete. of this northern town once controlled by “I was very impressed to see the anti-Iraqi forces. [school] principal working as a laborer “Ten months ago, we could not walk on the project, to get the most out of down the streets without worrying the money, and work to improve his about being shot at,” said Maj. Roy Out- school,” Outcelt said. Hammam Al-Alil Fire Station celt, team leader, Team A, 401st CA Bn. The CA team has also completed a According to Outcelt, the first major school renovation for $15,000, the re- project was upgrading and paving 16 construction of two municipal buildings kilometers of a local road, at a cost of that were destroyed by anti-Iraqi forces $1.89 million. at a cost of $40,000, and the Arij medi- He said the residents of Hammam Al cal clinic project for $227,000. Alil tried for 30 years to get this road “We are also working with higher repaired. refused to headquarters to complete an unfinished fix the road, as it would benefit the Al UNICEF clinic left abandoned at the Jabouri tribe. start of the war,” Outcelt said. Outcelt met with Mayor Khalif Jabouri According to Outcelt, his team is ac- to discuss reconstruction projects in complishing what they were sent here Balkis School Hammam Al Alil. He said the mayor has to do, to establish relationships with been instrumental in helping Coalition Iraqis and to coach and mentor men like Forces work in the area, despite intimi- Jabouri to become democratic leaders. dation and instability. “It has not always been easy, and “Contractors are still afraid to work we haven’t always achieved what we there, and we can do little without his attempted,” Outcelt said. “I am very assistance,” Outselt said. “I don’t know proud of our achievements and helping if anyone could do what he has done in get a new democracy established. Iraq the last two years.” will not be perfect when we leave, but Jabouri and Outcelt discussed will be better in a small way then when projects such as a new fire station and we arrived.”  Al Hadi School NCO deploys with Corps of Engineers MOSUL, Iraq -- Whether it is peace souri Army National Guard. Today, Green has the respon- time or war time, the U.S. Army Corps of sibility of managing reconstruction projects in Iraq and Engineers is there to help the Coalition making sure quality of life issues are met. Forces rebuild nations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides vital engi- Rebuilding a war-torn country is a neering capabilities as a public service, across the full daunting task that will take years to spectrum of operations, from peace to war, in support of complete. One Soldier is helping bring national interests. the process along, one day at a time. Green strongly believes in what Coalition Forces are do- Command Sgt. Maj. James Green, U.S. ing in Iraq, and is very proud to be able to be a small part, GREEN Army Corps of Engineers, works closely helping the Iraqi people. with Iraqi government officials to ensure “It’s been very rewarding, I am able to get out and see security issues are met and projects are successful. Iraqi faces, walk with them, talk with them, and see the “We are the ones that help them get construction going possible changes we can make in their lives for the better, -- projects that will help their people,” Green said. and healthier,” he said. “It’s been a great experience. I A year ago, he was in DeSoto, Mo., working in the Mis- wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

20 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers IRAQI SECURITY

Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika 133rd Mobile Public OPS Affairs Detachment

BAYJI, Iraq -- More than 600 Iraqi security personnel conducted an inde- pendent operation throughout the city of Bayji and surrounding villages in northern Salah Ad Din Province in an effort to rid the area of criminals and anti-Iraqi forces. The operation was one of the first solely planned and executed by Iraqi Security Forces in the area. The plan- ning and direction was spearheaded by Maj. Gen. Hamid, provincial police chief, and other ISF leadership, with Coalition Forces taking on only a pe- rimeter security role. The mission kicked off the morning of April 4 with Soldiers from 1st Battalion, photos by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Air- borne Division, and the 4th Iraqi Army (Above) Emergency services units Division providing blocking positions patrol the streets of Bayji, Iraq, and tactical check points around the during a sweep of the city that outskirts of the city. involved more then 400 ESU per- Two special police known as emergency services units conducted sonnel. The sweep netted 25 sus- the main portion of the operation along pected insurgents throughout the with members of the provincial Iraqi city and surrounding area. (Left) police department. First Lt. David Howald of Company “As we came in, [ESUs] were ev- A, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry erywhere. You couldn’t turn the street Regiment, 101st Airborne Divi- without seeing one of these guys sion, and his translator check over stopped in a blocking position,” said a citizen’s paperwork before let- Capt. Michael Starz, assistant op- ting him through a checkpoint in erations officer for the 187th Inf. Reg. the city of Bayji. “[This was] a very effective operation and we are excited to see the results Bayji’s most wanted criminals. Later, the ISF and a good day for Coalition from it. We know that two pretty bad the cities of Al Suniyah and Al Suliyah Forces, Starz said. guys that were directly tied to kill- were searched netting nine more sus- “They maintained operational secu- ing four of our Soldiers were caught. pected criminals. rity… they hit time on target exactly… We have been looking for them since The operation is a significant step to- [and] they caught guys they said they November.” ward establishing self-sufficient secu- were going to catch,” Starz said. “We The ESUs began by searching two rity operations for the ISF in the Salah are excited to see this kind of progress villages south of Bayji during the early Ad Din province. In all, 25 suspected -- ISF running around the battlefield,… morning hours. The searches resulted criminals and insurgents were de- [engaging] the enemy, developing their in 16 detainees, including one former tained and transferred to Tikrit through own intelligence [and] operating like colonel in Saddam Hussein’s army and Iraqi channels for questioning. you would expect a country to have its three henchmen connected to one of It was a very successful mission for forces operating.” 

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 21 Got a phrase for BOB on the FOB? Email it to [email protected], and if your suggestion is used, you’ll receive credit in the strip!

22 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers Top 10 Things To Do While You’re On Leave by Spc. Joshua Hutcheson

10. If you’re male, grow a big ole Grizzly Adams beard, one so 5. Organize trips to run errands that include at least three vehicles. unkempt that by the end of leave you’re fishing out food from Give convoy briefs prior to going to the mall. Make sure to have meals at the beginning of leave. Extra points if birds confuse it insertion and extraction plans for getting into and out of Hecht’s. for their nest. Remember to take pictures. 4. As soon as you get off the plane, buy a lot of headache pills. 9. If you’re female, wear so much make up that people on the You’re going to need them -- hangovers can get rough. street confuse you for a Kabuki actor. Wear hoop earrings large 3. Go to your favorite restaurant and buy one of every item on enough for dolphins to leap through. Remember to take pictures. the menu. Gorge yourself and savor the taste of real food. Prom- 8. Put out a restraining order against anybody in the military so ise to begin a diet as soon as leave ends. they can’t come within 1,000 feet of you. Avoid Army posts like 2. Climb on the roof of your house wearing nothing but pajamas vampires avoid church. and cammo on your face. Pretend that your broom is an M16 and 7. Play up the Soldier-on-leave angle wherever you go. Recount begin overwatch of your neighborhood. You can never be too the time you saved five, no 10, no 25 lives. careful; those garbage men look pretty shifty. 6. If you don’t already have one, set up a myspace.com page. 1. Come back to Iraq. Amu Shabi residents get much-needed dental care

Spc. Anna-Marie Hizer people maintain their teeth. 133rd Mobile Public “It’s a lack of knowledge,” the Affairs Detachment SF medic said. “We’re giving them classes on proper dental hygiene.” AMU SHABI, Iraq -- A smile can light Another reason for the assessment up a face and brighten someone’s was to show the Iraqi Army’s and day. Minister of Health’s presence in the Iraqi Army troops and U.S. Special area. Forces medics gave more than 200 “It helps enforce the [position Iraqis a reason to smile April 12 in of] the IA and the Iraqi Ministry of Amu Shabi, Iraq. Health,” medics said. “It shows the The Soldiers teamed up with the Iraqi people that their health care 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Air- system does work.” borne Division, and 451st Civil Affairs Major Jack Scharrett, Company B, Battalion, and traveled to a school in 451st CA Bn., added that their pres- the town to provide a dental assess- ence will help reinforce the people’s ment and care clinic for local citizens. belief in their government. “[We are] concentrating on dental “We have seen some problems support,” said a Special Forces medic, and some unrest [in the area],” he who asked that his name be with- said. “So we want to ensure that the held. “It allows us to give something people know that the government of back to the community.” Iraq is helping them.” The group spent five hours evaluat- The medics noted that the response ing and treating patients of all ages. was good, reflected by the massive photo by Spc. Anna-Marie Hizer They performed extractions and tem- turnout at the small school. porary fillings and gave tips on prop- “The response has been fantastic,” A U.S. Special Forces medic works on an er oral hygiene -- tips that, according they said. “They’re grateful for the Iraqi woman’s teeth during a dental as- to the medics, are vital to helping the IA’s interest in their community.”  sessment and care clinic April 12.

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 23 It’sIt’s jjustust aa chipchip inin thethe sandsand Spc. Jeanine Kinville ton, commander, Headquarters and balls or improving their stroke,” said 101st Airborne Division Headquarters Company, 445th Civil Chap. (Maj.) Mike Yarman, 18th Field Public Affairs Office Affairs Battalion, was in attendance Artillery Brigade chaplain attached and hosted a free golf clinic for those to Task Force Band of Brothers. “So TIKRIT, Iraq -- Tee time in Iraq offi- on hand at the event. many people play golf in the rear that cially began March 31 with the grand The driving range, with a desert it was a no-brainer to make one here opening of the Band of Brothers Golf view and 350 yards of open terrain, for Soldiers.” and Country Club for Soldiers on Con- offers Soldiers a chance to keep their The idea to start a driving range tingency Operating Base Speicher in swing up to par while being de- came to Yarman, who had already Tikrit. ployed. successfully creating one during a Professional Golfers’ Associa- “The course is open 24 hours-a-day 1995 deployment to Bosnia. He got to- tion Tour member Capt. Mark Flit- for anyone interested in hitting a few gether with the 101st Airborne Divi- sion operations and provost marshall sections to make it happen here. “Edwin Watts Golf donated all the equipment, which included golf clubs, balls and retrievers,” Yarman said. “It is a team effort to keep the range up with maintenance and re- trieving the balls, but everyone puts in their part to keep it up and run- ning.” The range opened to a positive reception of Soldiers from around the COB who traveled to take in a few strokes. Yarman coordinated with Flitton on giving a clinic after a friend told him a professional golfer was in the ranks at Speicher. “Mark Flitton was happy to come out and provide the Soldiers who attended the opening a few lessons and give pointers to new golfers,” Yarman said. Since all Soldiers can’t make it to COB Speicher to work on their game, Yarman is working on those Sol- diers receiving golf equipment in the future. For more information, e-mail Chap. Yarman at mike.yarman@us. army.mil and be sure to include con- photos by Spc. Jeanine Kinville tact information.  (Left) Major Tim Hight, G7 plans officer, takes a swing at the Band of Brothers Golf and Country Club driving range. The grand opening of the range was held by Chap. (Maj.) Mike Yarman in a ceremony March 31. Hight won the longest drive contest, whacking the ball over 225 yards into the desert. (Above) Captain Mark Flitton, com- mander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 445th Civil Af- fairs Battalion, and Professional Golfers’ Association Tour member, helps a golfer with his swing.

24 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers Bastogne trains Iraqi Soldiers in Hawijah Sgt. 1st Class Paul Schultz 1st Brigade Combat Team 101st Airborne Division

HAWIJAH, Iraq -- More than 60 Iraqi Sol- diers, from three separate units, graduated platoon-level training in Hawijah March 30, increasing the effectiveness of the Iraqi Army in the War on Terror, and taking an- other step toward autonomy in protecting citizens of the region. Bastogne Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, cur- rently stationed in northern Iraq, are using a series of week-long classes to teach Iraqi Soldiers how to use a variety of weapon systems as well as room clearing techniques used during cordon and search missions. The platoon training course gives the Iraqi Soldiers confidence in their ability to work as a cohesive unit, as well as experience at performing the tasks they will perform in the photo by Spc. Barbara Ospina defense of the country. Thirteen platoons from the 5th Iraqi Army Specialist Justin Prince, native of Clifton, Texas, discusses shot patterns with an Battalion have completed the first phase of Iraqi Soldier during training in Hawijah, Iraq. Prince, assigned to 1st Battalion, the course, and six platoons from the 1st 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Iraqi Army Battalion have completed the has been in Iraq training and fighting alongside Iraqi Security Forces since No- second phase. vember of last year. U.S. Pacific commander visits Stryker Soldiers Spc. Lindsay Holguin diers are making during their training here, and visit with 138th Mobile Public Soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Affairs Detachment During his time in Mosul, he went to the compound where Iraqi Soldiers conduct classes and training. He spoke to a MOSUL, Iraq -- The commander of the U.S. Pacific Com- group of Soldiers and provided them with some words of mand, Admiral William J. Fallon visited Forward Operating encouragement, at a firing range. Base Marez March 13 to see the progress Iraqi Army Sol- “I was on the ground in 1991 [in Iraq], so I think I under- stand a couple of your challenges in this country,” Fallon said to the Soldiers. Fallon commanded Carrier Air Wing Eight on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt to the Arabian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm in 1991. “You have an opportunity to make a new future for your- selves, for your families and for all of your people, but it is not going to be easy,” he said. “It is going to require leader- ship. It will require you to step up, to have initiative to do things that maybe you wouldn’t think you could do before. You are the future leaders of the Iraqi Army and it’s impor- tant that you learn as much as you can and that you’ll be willing to be the leaders for the younger people.” Fallon encouraged the Iraqi Soldiers to step-up to the chal- lenge of fighting the Global War on Terrorism in their own backyard, and to be resilient. “In my experience, you can’t just rely on the guys at the photo by Spc. Lindsay Holguin top, the old men like me,” Fallon said jokingly. “You must Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of the U.S. Pacific Com- have your own leadership skills and must be willing to step mand, stands on the hatch of a Stryker and talks to the crew. up and do things everyday.”

Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 25 Through the Lens photos by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

26 -- April 2006 Band of Brothers Band of Brothers April 2006 -- 27 T A S K F O R C E B A N D of B R O T H E R S I N M E M O R I A M Once firmly grounded upon this earth, these Screaming Eagles now soar in brighter skies.

March 30

Pfc. Joseph J. Duenas, 23 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team April 6 Mesa, Ariz. Spc. Dustin J. Harris, 21 172nd Brigade Support Battalion, April 2 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Pfc. Jeremy W. Ehle, 19 Bangor, Maine 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team April 8 Richmond, Va. Pvt. Jody W. Missildine, 19 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, April 4 1st Brigade Combat Team Plant City, Fla. Spc. Ty J. Johnson, 28 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team Elk Grove, Calif.

(These are the names that have been released as of April 12)