www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/ Merry Christmas! Monday, Dec. 25, 2006 (Photo by Pfc. William Hatton, 7th MPAD) Santa’s little elves (From left to right) Sgt. Alison Bates, from Chattanooga, Tenn., Sgt. LeAnne Jackson, from Arlington, Texas and Veronica Flores, from La Joya, Texas, sing a Christmas melody for Soldiers at Camp Liberty Dec. 23. The singing group, 'Minority Report,' is part of the 1st Cavalry Division Band. The band put on a concert for the troops, offering the sounds of home during a holiday season spent away from home. 'Santa's Helper' delivers gifts to foreign-nnationals at Taji By Spc. Nathan Hoskins Division, sees the smiling faces of the men holidays. They work hard there for 15 1st ACB Public Affairs who work at the "bag farm," a bulk fuel hours a day." resupply point where the fuel containers The large influx of care packages to CAMP TAJI, Iraq - One of the tough- look like oversized bags. These employees the 1157th gave the idea to Daly's squad est times of the deployment for Soldiers is are third country nationals who are from leader, Appleton, Wis., native Sgt. normally the holidays, but it isn't just the Philippines, said Daly. Dominic Renteria, a motor vehicle opera- Soldiers who are homesick and miss their "They celebrate Christmas just like tor, to give away the extras. That is when loved ones. Crivitz, Wis., native Spc. you and me; they even have Christmas tree she took the idea and ran with it - sprinted Nicole Daly, a motor vehicle operator, for competitions and give gifts," Daly said. "I with it, in fact. the 1157th Transportation Battalion, know that they all have families back home Wisconsin Army National Guard, attached and they all want to be home just like to 15th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry everybody here wants to be home for the See Gifts Page 3 Page 2 News Dec. 25, 2006 (Photo by Spc. L.B. Edgar, 7th MPAD) “Is that head gear authorized?” Sgt. 1st Class Lloyd Welty, Jr. shakes hands with Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker in the division headquarters at Camp Liberty, Iraq Dec. 23. Urged on by co-workers, Welty donned a Santa hat to meet the Army's top general officer. Schoomaker met with troops following a meeting with division leaders. Arabic Phrase of the Day Iraq 3-DDay wara Weather Today Tomorrow Wednesday Defined: High: 50 High: 55 High: 59 behind Report Low: 39 Low: 35 Low: 32 Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr. Contact the Daily Charge at VOIP 242-4093, DSN 318-847-2855 or e- Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl mail [email protected]. Command Information Supervisor: Master Sgt. Dave Larsen NCOIC, Print Production: Staff Sgt. Mary Rose The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of Editor: Sgt. Michael Garrett the Daily Charge are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Staff Writers: Sgt. Nicole Kojetin, Spc. L.B. Edgar, Pfc. Jeffrey Ledesma, Pfc. Ben Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 1st Cavalry Division. Gable, Pfc. Shea Butler, Pfc. William Hatton All editorial content of the Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Contributing Writers: Sgt 1st ClassKap kim, Spc. Nathan Hoskins 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Office. Page 3 News Dec. 25, 2006 Soldier brings Christmas to those who can’t be home Gifts From Page 1 "We have a lot of care packages that we get from people all over the place. We have rooms full of stuff and there's no way we can use that in nine months," said Daly. "I got the idea to put together smaller care packages and wrapping them and giv- ing them to the third county nationals there - giving it to them so that they can cele- brate Christmas, too." With a total of 60 boxes, the cost to gift wrap all of these was extremely high, so Daly, the battalion's area beautification specialist, decided on another method. "I got brown packaging and I drew pictures on the outside of every box. They each have their own personalized card [too]. We work with them every day so we (Photo by Spc. Nathan J. Hoskins, 1st ACB Public Affairs) know [all their names]," she said. Spc. Nicole Daly, a motor vehicle operator, with the Wisconsin Army Along with the 60 care package gifts, National Guard, wraps a Christmas present that will be handed out to a third Daly has gathered up enough Christmas country nationals at Camp Taji, Iraq come Christmas Day. stockings so that every one of the base ever done. I've never been [involved in] "That morning when we get there and camp workers will get one. charitable things," she said. they're expecting it to be like any other day Before heading out to Iraq for her There is always a first time for every- … It will probably be the first gift they've deployment, Daly did not dabble much in thing, and for Daly, being able to bring gotten in months," she said. "To be able to charity work. cheer to someone else's life brings with it be that person who can hand them that gift "I think this is the coolest thing I've her own feelings of joy. - moments like that make it worthwhile." (Photo by Sgt. Lance Wail, 2nd BCT, 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs) “Simon says, raise your right foot...” Gen. Peter Shoomaker, Army Chief of Staff, reenlists ten Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Camp Liberty, Iraq Dec. 23. During his visit, Gen. Schoomaker also participated in a roundtable dis- cussion with the brigade leaders and met with Baghdad-based troops. Page 4 News Dec. 25, 2006 Gun truck pride pushes supplies safely along By Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry humvee with big, bright halogen lights. 2-1 Cav. Public Affairs Division. "My biggest thing is lights," he said. Under the cover of darkness, Soldiers "If I don't see it, it might get me." FORWARD OPERATING BASE from the "Gambler" Battalion mount up to Greves' way of thinking has proven FALCON, Iraq - While most Soldiers are deliver fuel, food, auto parts and any need- safe throughout dozens of missions during asleep, a small contingent of the 15th ed supplies to the surrounding base camps the time the Black Jack Brigade has been Brigade Support Battalion carries out the in a mission they call "The Clip," or in Iraq. mission of supplying the rest of the 2nd Combat Logistical Patrol. Yet, he also credits his buddy, Spc. The supply mission, which comes Joshua Boal, a machinist assigned to Co. B with its list of dangers, is done quietly in from Olanta, Penn., with keeping a good the night because they want to limit the eye on things in the lead vehicle. hazards and be able to get the necessary Boal, who also is an Operation Iraqi supplies to the Soldiers as safely as possi- Freedom veteran, said he jumped at the ble, according to 2nd Lt. Desiree Breaux, chance of going back on a gun truck when one of the convoy commanders and the the battalion was forming the teams up. Headquarters Company, 15th BSB execu- "I just feel comfortable on the road," tive officer. he said. "A lot of people say it's more dan- There are, however, those who have gerous … but when I get in the turret, I'm the title of convoy protector: the gun truck in a zone. I'm in the lead gun truck." crew members. He attributes his love for the job to one Soldiers like Spc. Joshua Greves, a thing: saving lives. heavy equipment operator with Company "I've been on over 100 convoys, fire- B from Auburn, Calif., push the thoughts fights … I've been the spear point of a lot of danger to the side in order to get the pre- of the convoys," he said. "Scared? I don't cious cargo to its final destination. Greves think about it. I'll handle it in the rear. I fig- serves in the top of humvee turret as the ure, I can't control it." gunner. For Boal, who has only spent a total of During the hours of darkness on the three hours working in a machinist work- different roads the CLPs go through, shop, along with the prestige of riding in Greves keeps a roving eye on every part of "truck one," he has assigned it with a huge (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, 2-1 Cav.) the road he can. responsibility. 2nd Lt. Desiree Breaux, convoy The one addition he made to the out- "I know, in my heart I do my best commander, takes some notes side of his humvee, makes it stand out a lit- [when I'm out there]," he said. "If it means before a Combat Logistical Patrol at tle more than most the ones in his platoon. I die - then I die, but at least I'll have saved FOB Falcon in southern Baghdad. He has outfitted almost every side of the other people." Ice Bats Honor 1-77 Cav. troops The Austin Ice Bats hock- ey team holds up a banner which will be sent to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment in Baghdad. The banner was signed by fans who attended the Ice Bat's home game against Rio Grand Valley during "Support Our Troops Night" Dec.