Click here to subscribee June 8, 2009 Highway 1 reopened to Iraqi motorists By Spc. Darryl Montgomery MND-S CONVOY SUPPORTRT CENTERCENT SCA- NIA – The Governor of Babil Province, Salman Al Zargany, and the United States Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher R. Hill, joined together here to cut the ribbon offi cially reopening Highway 1 and signifying the U.S. Military’s coop- eration with recent security agreements made with the government of Iraq. Highway 1, which has been closed for six years, runs through Basra, up to Baghdad and further north. Accord- ing to Lt. Col. Jim Barren, of the 3rd Batt alion, 16th Field Artil- lery Regiment, the road is probably the most modernized highway in the country. Since all six lanes of the highway Photo by Spc. Darryl Montgomery were closed off by barriers, it forced Iraqi motorists wait for the offi cial reopening of Highway 1 here. During the six years the road has been closed, motorists were forced to take a bypass that runs adjacent to the highway. motorists to use a bypass road that ran adjacent to the highway. The bypass engineers were very enthusiastic to “It has been a long time coming and was a one lane dirt road, which passed help, because they knew how impor- is defi nitely a step in the right direc- through a salt marsh. tant this road is to the people of Iraq.” tion,” Barren said. “I think it’s about According to Master Sgt. Hollis The 54th Engineer Batt alion and time we did this.” Champlain, an operations sergeant the 8th Iraqi Field Engineer Regiment “Two years ago, you would never with 3rd Batt alion, 16th Field Artillery worked together to make reopening have thought about reopening the road, Regiment, due to the road being so the highway possible by moving over because the area was gett ing att acked small, there was an average of four ma- 1,800 barriers to the inside median of oft en,” said Brig. Gen. David Elic- jor incidents per week where Coalition the highway. erio, a Ham Lake, Minn. resident and forces had to respond and assist with “Opening the road to the public will deputy commanding general of opera- the removal of overturned vehicles. save a huge amount of time,” Barren tions, 34th Infantry Division. “Twenty “This is a great project and a great continued. “There are always traffi c months later, we are able to reopen the example of the partnership between jams. If a vehicle has a roll over or gets highway again, right beside the convoy the U.S. and Iraqi people,” said Lt. Col. stuck on the bypass road, it just stops support center. It shows the signifi cant Christopher Lestochi, commander of all traffi c fl ow until someone can come improvement in this area.” the 54th Engineer Batt alion. “The Iraqi and get that vehicle moved.” “We stand on a road that people have used for many thousands of years,” Hill said about Highway 1. “When we have a moment like this, we should re- ThisT hometown was called “Ham Lake,” member those tough times that got us here and will help us build a bett er fu- aftera the lake which had acquired that ture for Iraq.” name on account of its shape. For all of Spc. Montgomery’s stories, go to: www.TheRedBulls.org/Montgomery The Red Bull Report June 8, 2009 ™ Page 2 The three (plus) system Commentary by Staff Sgt. Dave Lankford MND-S I’ve heard the comment “you suree carry a lot of ” numerous times in the years since I’ve retired my crossed rifl es. The fact of the matter is Soldiers and outdoorsmen have been using the three-knife system for generations. I just take it a step, or two, further. The basic three-knife system is a simple concept. It’s comprised of one fi xed , one folder and one multi-. Each knife serves its own purpose. In the case of the outdoorsman, the system usually includes one fi xed-blade , a medium duty folder and a multi-tool, such as a . With these three knives, any task the outdoors- Photo by Staff Sgt. Dave Lankford man may need to accomplish should be possible. He can hunt and kill game, skin his catch, cut fi rewood Soldiers and outdoorsmen have been using the three-knife system, comprised of one and even start a fi re. fi xed blade, one folder and one multi-tool, for generations. Like the outdoorsman, Soldiers have used, and even in a unique way so that the edge of the blade is harder than been issued, a three-knife system. Take for example the bay- the blade itself. This is so that the blade does not snap when onet, switchblade and multi-tool. These knives are rarely being used to pry, yet the knife will hold a suffi cient edge for issued together anymore, much to my disappointment, but chopping and cutt ing. we tend to fi ll in the blanks. Now you may be thinking this will dull the knife and The most important factors in any system are that you make it less eff ective in a last ditch combat situation. This have the right equipment and you employ it properly. Do is not so. The fi xed blade knife is not intended to be the terms technically a tactically profi cient ring any bells? sharp. The damage is caused by the sheer size and weight of Let’s start with the fi xed blade. the knife. Do you remember the instructions that came with Your choice in a fi xed-blade , if you’re not the ? They said the att ached sharpening stone was to issued a bayonet, should be based on two primary factors. remove burs only, and not to sharpen the knife. How much abuse can it take and how much damage can it The most important reason not to sharpen your combat infl ict. This knife will be used to cut, pry and chop. How- fi xed blade is that heavy, sharp knives tend to cut into bone ever, if the enemy ever gets past your muzzle it will be used when used for thrusting, and therefore “stick to ribs.” to kill. KNIFE A well made fi xed-blade combat knife will be heat treated Page 3

The Red Bull Report is an authorized 34th Inf. Div. PAO: Lt. Col. Kevin Olson 172nd Brigade Combat Team publication for members of MND-S. OIC, Command Information: Maj. Page Baldwin 2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division Contents of The Red Bull Report are not NCOIC: Staff Sgt. Dave Lankford 4th BCT, 1st Armor Division necessarily offi cial views of, or endorsed Managing Editor: Staff Sgt. Derek Smith 41st Fires Brigade by, the U.S. Government, Department of Design Editor: Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Defense, Department of the Army or the Graphics Designer: Sgt. Eric Jungels 193rd Military Police Battalion 34th Infantry Division. All editorial content Photo Editor: Spc. Tyler Maulding Special Troops Battalion, 34th Inf. Div. of The Red Bull Report is prepared, edited Layout/Design: Spc. Stephanie Cassinos Task Force 28 provided and approved by the 34th Infantry Staff Writers: Sgt. Brandon LeFlore, Sgt. Frank 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) Division Public Affairs Offi ce. Vaughn, Spc. Darryl Montgomery, Media Queries please contact 34th Inf. Div. Public Pfc. J.p. Lawrence Affairs Offi ce at [email protected] The Red Bull Report June 8, 2009 ™ Page 3

From Page 2 uses it is designed for. For example, not many Swiss army KNIFE knives come with heavy-duty wire cutt ers. Like the folder, A slightly less sharp knife will defl ect off of bones and it is your job to determine what are most used in your into soft tissue where it will do the most damage. Your knife military occupational specialty. does you no good if it’s stuck in the guy on the ground. This is where I stray from, or I should say expand upon, The tactical folder is used if your fi xed blade is lost, bro- the three-knife system. I carry two additional knives; a ken or stuck. This knife should be kept razor sharp, as it pocket knife and a back-up. does not have the size or weight of the fi xed-blade, and will Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me, be used primarily for slashing. This knife serves only one “have you got a knife”. The pocket knife is the one I hand purpose in the world and should never be used for com- them. This is by no means a cheap or disposable knife. That mon, everyday tasks. Its sole purpose for existence is to would just be embarrassing. On the other hand, this is a end the life of your enemy. knife specifi cally intended for common tasks such as cut- When choosing a tactical folder you will want something ting 550-cord, hundred mile-an-hour tape or opening mail. that is low maintenance, can be opened with one hand and The only mail I’ll open with my tactical blade is spelled has hard enough steel to hold an edge. A very solid locking M.A.L.E and caries an AK47. system will also be imperative. Many tactical folders now The back-up, or last-ditch knife, is usually small and come with features including secondary locking systems, carried in the boot or around the neck on a chain. What- assisted or automatic opening and glass breakers. Keep in ever you do, don’t carry anything around your neck on mind that with every additional feature there will be addi- 550-cord, and only carry a knife around your neck specifi - tional cost. This knife, however, is not something you want cally designed for that purpose. This knife is meant to save to scrimp on. Decide what features are important to you, your life, not end it by strangulation or accidently impaling keeping in mind the blade is the most important feature, yourself; and, yes this knife goes to the shower with me. and be prepared to spend a few bucks. So, now you know the three (plus) knife system. I haven’t The multi-tool is just that; it is a tool that can be used for found much use for a in Iraq yet, but if I do… a multitude of tasks. The multi-tool used for military ap- To leave a comment or share this story, visit: plication diff ers from your typical Swiss army knife in the www.TheRedBulls.org/Lankford The Red Bull Report June 8, 2009 ™ Page 4

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