GS Hub sorts it TRV security Q-West Academy all out. council meets trains Iraqi NCOs. Page 4 Page 4 Page 5 LIFELINERWESTWEST “If you want it done, call the 101!” Volume 2, No. 8 Deployment Edition Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, IRAQ February 1, 2006 454 Trans: On the road again By Sgt. Rachel A. Brune Editor Soldiers, start your engines! One by one, the huge tractor trail- ers and tankers rumble to life, filling this muddy corner of Q-West with the sound of diesel. It is mid-afternoon on a cloudy January day, and the 454th Transportation Company is about to get back on the road. One large trailer, loaded with con- tainers, idles as Spc. Keith Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune Hawkins, a truck driver from Coalition forces transfer authority to Columbus, Ohio, tightens a load Brig. Gen. Ali’s 1st Battalion Jan. 28. strap. Sitting on the hood of the truck cab, Sgt. Justin Jacobs, a truck driver from South Amherst, IA takes charge Ohio, polishes clean an already- sparkling mirror. On the other side of the motor of local area pool, the gun truck crews pull on By Sgt. Rachel A. Brune their gear, make a final check of Editor their vehicles and make sure their With musical pomp and colorful weapons are ready. pageantry, the troops of another Iraqi At the center of activity, Staff Sgt. army battalion assumed responsibility Daniel George, the mission com- for the safety and security of their mander from Lansing, Mich., seems country in a ceremony Jan. 28 here. to be in three places at once as he Commanded by Brig. Gen. Ali, the makes sure the vehicles and per- 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi sonnel of the Delaware, Ohio, Army Division, will now be the author- Reserve unit are ready to get the ity for an area of operations stretching mission rolling. from west of the Tigris River to the “Everything that happens on a Mosul-Baghdad highway. convoy falls back on the convoy “The terrorists are taking their last commander,” said George. “Our unit breaths, and the end is near,” said Ali, seems to work pretty well getting through an interpreter, during his things done.” remarks. “They are looking for a place Preparation for a mission begins to hide, but there is no place for them.” three days prior to a mission, said Ali spoke before an audience that George. The commander makes included such distinguished guests as sure that the right amount and Duraid Kashmoula, governor of types of vehicles are available and Nineveh Province, Brig. Gen. Rickey L. that any Soldiers on the mission are Rife, assistant division commander, correctly manifested. 101st Airborne Division, and Maj. The commander is also responsi- Gen. Jamal, 2nd IAD commander. ble for preparing a risk assessment, The 101st Airborne Division Band making sure mission personnel get played a stirring rendition of the Iraqi enough sleep and rest, ensuring national anthem, as all the guests logistics such as ammunition and stood. A local leader, Sheik Achmed, other gear are ready and conducting recited verses from the Koran, his pre-combat checks and inspections. Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune voice ringing tunefully across the bat- As the sun sinks closer to the A gun truck from the 454th Transportation Company, a Reserve unit from Continued on Page 2 Continued on Page 2 Delaware, Ohio, waits to roll out on another mission Jan. 19. Page 2 LIFELINER WEST February 1, 2006 454th Trans. LIFELINER WEST Continued from Page 1 STAFF horizon line, the tractor trailers begin to move out to the Convoy Support Center, or CSC. A small amount of confusion arises. The medic Brigade Commander scheduled to ride with the CLP has not arrived. George Col. James D. Scudieri tasks a gun truck to wait to see if he or she arrives at the motor pool. Brigade Command Sergeant Major Soon the word comes that the medic reported to the Command Sgt. Maj. CSC, and the gun truck also heads for the CSC. At the Stephen D. Blake Center, troops listen to a brief on recent activity in the areas scheduled for travel. Public Affairs Officer George then takes the floor to give a safety brief. Sgt. 1st Class Lori Simmons When he is done, the gun truck crews go over drills, Lifeliner West Editor then join their fellow troops in helping themselves to Sgt. Rachel A. Brune snacks and drinks for the road ahead. Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune Art & Graphics Before leaving, George makes sure to delegate all the Staff Sgt. Daniel George confers with a gun truck NCO Sgt. Patricia Marquez tasks for completion at the mission destination. One prior to heading out on a mission Jan. 19. Soldier is given charge of the fuel trucks, while anoth- Spc. Rachel Moore er is tasked to accompany the third country national, night, for example, five more TCN trucks are added to Contributing Writers or TCN, drivers to the TCN yard. the mission. James F. Jennings “Once we hit the gate, we split up our separate “[My Soldiers] do all the work,” said George. “You Dan Lucas ways,” said George. “Nobody needs their hand held.” don’t see me doing a lot of hair pulling.” The road is long, winding and extremely cold. In the On this night, the mission takes the 454th to Brook McClain rear gun truck, assistant driver Sgt. Steven Seward, Forward Operation Base Warrior. The fuel trucks down- 1st Lt. Michelle Menges truck driver from Alma, Mich., sweats with the heat load their cargo, and the trailers get new loads. Capt. A. Michelle Moore, M.D. turned all the way up as gunner Spc. Tyson Todd, from The gun truck crews head for the dining facility to get Vermilion, Ohio, fights frigid winds and extremely cold hot meals and bring them back for the tractor trailer Tech Sgt. Sean E. Risner temperatures from his seat in the turret. and tanker drivers. All drivers conduct another check of John Williamson In the driver’s seat, Sgt. Corey Malone, from Berlin their vehicles, including fluids and hoses. Heights, Ohio, keeps his eyes on the road. When George returns from receiving another intelli- The Lifeliner West, Deployment Issue: Vol. 2, No. 8, is This is George’s fourth time acting as CLP command- gence brief, he conducts another safety brief, caution- published bimonthly by the 101st Sustainment er. He has not yet had to face any serious incidents, but ing the drivers about staying alert on the trip home. Brigade Public Affairs Office to disseminate com- feels confident his troops would revert to their training “They know what their jobs [are],” said George. “It mand information throughout all subordinate ele- to handle any situation successfully. makes my job a lot easier.” ments of the brigade and units residing on Q-West George relies on his Soldiers to know their jobs, free- The temperature drops as the trucks get back on the Base Complex, and to raise and promote the morale ing him up to handle any mission changes. On this road and dawn draws nearer. A light rain begins to fall of the troops. • Contents of this publication are not on the gunners up in their turrets. necessarily the official views of or endorsed by, the Once again, the CLP completes the mission with lit- United States government or the Department of the tle incident, although the lead gunner fires a flare once Army. • The editorial content of this publication is to alert a local national driver venturing too close to the the responsibility of the 101st Sustainment Brigade CLP. Public Affairs Office. • Articles and photos of inter- The job isn’t over until the paperwork is complete. est to the brigade and its elements are invited and George heads back to finish the administrative tasks may be submitted to Sgt. Rachel A. Brune, Editor. • associated with the mission, including the after-action To contact the PAO, please call VOIP: 243-5104, review and the vehicle dispatches. or e-mail: [email protected]. On this night, the mission makes it back before the The Lifeliner West can be viewed online in the sun rises over the other side of Q-West. As George “Military Publications” section of: Photo by Sgt. Rachel A. Brune returns, another mission commander readies his troops http://www.dvidshub.net The 454th CLP rolls out of the Convoy Readiness Center and trucks, and the 454th gets ready to get back on the yard on a mission Jan. 19. road. Iraqi army TOA Continued from Page 1 On the other end of the second transfer of authority in talion parade ground. parade field two large, colorful the Tigris River Valley in as “Today, 1st Battalion is signs proclaimed positive mes- many months. On Dec. 27, receiving complete authority sages in flowing Arabic script. 3rd Battalion, 3rd Bde., 2nd over its area of operations,” “The twenty-eighth of IAD, assumed control of about said Lt. Col. Ebrahim, battal- January is the birthday of the 4,000 square kilometers at a ion executive officer, after heroes of 1st Battalion,” pro- ceremony in Makhmur. reading a short history of the claimed one of the signs. “This “Congratulations to Brig. unit. day will remain a sunny day in Gen. Ali and the sergeant As an interpreter translated history.” major, your troops looked very his words, the clouds gath- After the opening remarks, good out there today,” said ered, then parted to let the the band struck up a march- Maj. Glenn Gambrell, 4th sun shine warmly over the ing tune as the honor guard Battalion, 11th Field Artillery assembled troops and guests.