Operation New Dawn Begins for U.S. Forces in Iraq Today, Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraqi Troops in Targeted Counterterror- Have Been Wounded
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume 1, Issue 125 Page 1 • September 3, 2010 Operation New Dawn begins for U.S. forces in Iraq Today, Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraqi troops in targeted counterterror- have been wounded. We should use to- ends and Operation New Dawn begins. ism missions, and protect our civilians day as an opportunity to pause and re- This transition represents a significant who are moving into the lead to support member them, and to renew our com- milestone and a huge accomplishment Iraq. We will complete these missions mitment to never forget them or their for the men and women of the United with the same focus, determination, Families. States Army. Our congratulations go to and professionalism that have seen us We could not be prouder of our Army Gen. Ray Odierno, to the USF- I Team, through the last seven years. on this historic day. You remain the and to the nearly 800,000 Soldiers Our Soldiers have been the key to our Strength of this Nation. Army Strong! who served in lraq and contributed to successes in Iraq. They have adapted to this success. While we reflect on our a new form of war - accomplishing the accomplishments, it is important to re- near-impossible every day; and led the member that our mission there is not way in providing the 28 million people yet complete. of Iraq with the opportunity for a better In cooperation with the Government future. This success has come at a cost of Iraq, we will continue to advise and - more than 3,200 American Soldiers assist the Iraqi Security Forces, support have given their lives, and over 22,000 New Beginnings Photo by Spc. Cassandra Monroe, 135th Mobile Public Affairs Det. United States Forces-Iraq Commanding General, General Lloyd Austin III, places the rank of sergeant onto the chest of Sgt. John McNeely, a mail clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Support Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Sept. 3, at the Division Headquarters, Contingency Operating Base Speicher, near Tikrit, Iraq. The North Star Page 2 • September 3, 2010 Photo by Pfc. Robert England, 2nd AAB, 25th ID PAO Staff Sergeant Raymond O’stil, a Hayward, Calif., native and paralegal noncommissioned officer for HHC., 2nd AAB, 25th ID, samples sounds on a music sampling and drum machine, Aug. 30, in the studio he created in his housing unit at FOB Warhorse, Diyala province, Iraq. Paralegal mixes beats, pursues passion By Pfc. Robert England, the equipment effectively, Staff Sgt. tar, and I have since high school,” Maj. 2nd AAB, 25th ID PAO O’stil said that anyone can master the Vinton said. “We decided to merge our art of producing music digitally. creative efforts and throw together a The term “recording studio” spawns The editing equipment used is of couple songs with Hawaiian-themed mental images of small, dimly lit no consequence if the producer lacks background music.” rooms. One blanketed in an eerie the creative mind to put it to good use. One of the qualities that sets Staff silence with a lone microphone in the Fortunately, Staff Sgt. O’stil does not Sgt. O’stil apart from most modern center, the other sustaining a control fall into this category. He draws from artists is the intrinsic message in his panel littered with myriad dials and his own experiences as well as the ex- music. It’s not about money or fame; sliding adjusters. Staff Sergeant Ray- pertise of his peers to move his music, his songs, inspired by his own chal- mond O’stil has configured a version striving to constantly improve as an lenges, tell stories with deeper mean- based on his environment. artist as well as a producer. ings than those that can be dismissed Staff Sergeant O’stil, a Hayward, “I’m inspired by life, but I’m influ- at face value. Calif., native and paralegal noncom- enced by other musicians,” he said. “Anyone can go out and get the missioned officer with Headquarters “It doesn’t even matter what kind of equipment, but at the end of the day, and Headquarters Company, 2nd music they play.” are you putting out a message?” he Advise and Assist Brigade, 25th Infan- “I just like to be surrounded by questioned rhetorically. “Are you say- try Division, is a music producer and talent,” Staff Sgt. O’stil said. “If the ing something to somebody or do you recording artist who brought his talent people I record with are good, it makes just want people to hear your voice?” and tools with him to Iraq. me want to be better as an artist, too.” Staff Sergeant O’stil has no specific Being deployed was not going to After he fine-tunes an audio file, audience in mind when he writes and stop Staff Sgt. O’stil from indulging his Staff Sgt. O’stil stockpiles his beats, produces his music, but he said certain creative passion. raps over them and offers them to vo- songs will strike a chord in people who “I knew I wanted to bring my studio calists who need background music. can relate to the meaning of his lyrics. because it was just sitting in my house, “I play my samples for other people “I have a song called ‘Looking and I wanted to do something creative so they can rap to them, too,” he said. For Soul’ where I’m mostly talking with this stuff,” Staff Sgt. O’stil said. Staff Sergeant O’stil has worked to my son who is five years old, and This studio consisted of profession- with a number of Soldiers in 2nd AAB, I guarantee you, there’s another kid al-quality recording tools that help 25th ID, providing beats and even out there who is like 13 years old in him capture, place and edit audio in a recording with them. Major Matthew California or Missouri that can relate digital format. Vinton, a Burke, Va. native and the to it,” he said. The set-up has a complex appear- officer-in-charge of the Legal Office for There is glorification in being able ance with enough buttons and dials to 2nd AAB, 25th ID, collaborated with to touch a wide audience through an intimidate novice producers, but with O’stil on a few songs. alternative form of communication, some formal training on how to utilize “It just so happens I play bass gui- Staff Sgt. O’stil said. The North Star Page 3 • September 3, 2010 Infantryman lives out childhood dreams By Capt. Heather Lee Guck TF Marne Public Affairs Sergeant First Class White, a 30-year-old Infantryman, who’s cur- rently serving with the 3rd Infantry Division in northern Iraq, grew up playing with G.I. Joes as a boy and knew he was destined to be a living, breathing G.I. Joe himself. He joined the military in 2000. Ten years later, Sgt. 1st Class White stands as a seasoned Soldier and Family man, who continues to serve his nation proudly. Sergeant First Class White has the challenging job of being a personal se- curity officer to the Commanding Gen- eral of Task Force Marne and 3rd ID, Major General Tony Cucolo, whom he commonly refers to as “the boss.” His job is to keep Maj. Gen. Cucolo safe at all times so that he may accomplish his mission statement while in Iraq. Photo by Sgt. Chad D. Nelson, 135th Mobile Public Affairs Det. Major General Cucolo proudly said (Left) Sergeant First Class Garry White stands next to Task Force Marne Commanding Gen- eral, Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, while posing with the CG’s personal flight crew. of Sgt. 1st Class White, “I’m blessed to have him as my personal security made possible due to the loving sup- Troy University, attend the six-week officer running my personal security port of his wife, Linda. They recently long Senior Leaders Course, and at- detachment … when you look at him celebrated their 10th wedding anniver- tend Ranger School for two months. in all full combat gear you just see a le- sary. There’s no doubt this Purple Heart thal human weapons system. He’s 110 Sergeant First Class White said of and Army Commendation with Valor percent Soldier …. the complete pack- his wife, “I just love her, she’s a great device recipient will do nothing less age, when you get to know him, he’s woman. I take care of my mission than impact the lives of those Sol- a regular guy, he’s just a fine human [in Iraq] and she takes care of hers - diers around him. being, a dedicated husband and father which is the house and the Family … “Sergeant First Class White is who wants to serve his country.” I don’t have to worry about anything actually one of the finest NCOs I have Sergeant First Class White loves the while I’m gone.” ever worked with. He exemplifies dynamics of his current job. He can be They have two children, a 7-year- what the modern day noncommis- in Baghdad escorting the boss to a high old son, Trajan (named after the sec- sioned officer is supposed to be and level meeting and then fly out to Diyala ond greatest Roman Emperor to ever he’s the example of technical and and see Soldiers on a check point later live) and an 11-month-old girl, Mia, tactical expertise. He’s an example in the day. who was only 2 months old when Sgt. for me,” said Capt. Rick Turner, Maj. His additional duties encompass 1st Class White deployed to Iraq.