Multi-National Corps - Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070418-08
April 18, 2007

Multi-National Division - North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq - Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces continued operations in Buhriz, Iraq, Monday, clearing the Baqubah neighborhood of terrorist cells responsible for murders, kidnappings and emplacing improvised explosive devices.

Soldiers from the Iraqi police Emergency Reaction Force Two, 2nd Battalion, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conducted an early-morning air assault into Buhriz, resulting in five caches being seized, seven detainees and one terrorist killed.

The caches included items such as hand grenades, small-arms munitions, artillery rounds and IED-making material.

"The sustained and continuous operations by the ISF and Coalition are the response to a need for persistent, aggressive operations to defeat anti-Iraqi forces operating inside Diyala," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala Province. "The people's response is an added confidence in their security forces, resulting in increased calls to the TIPS line and direct information and intelligence on terrorist resources.

"The response by four tribes to these operations is a peace agreement in principle to stop antagonistic actions against each others people," Sutherland added. "The people understand their future is in the stability offered by their ISF and not in the depth of despair offered by terrorists."

According to the unit, one of the seven detainees is "a known al-Qaida emir." The detainees have been transferred to a facility for further questioning.

ISF, partnered with CF, are maintaining a permanent presence within Buhriz to ensure the population remains secure.

"There is a 'strength through unity' campaign being waged by the people, the ISF, the tribal leaders and the government of Diyala, to bring security to the province. The Coalition will support all peaceful factions," Sutherland said.


A Soldier with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment watches a Chinook helicopter land April 16. The battalion air assaulted into a farming area south of Baqubah in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment load onto Chinook helicopters April 16. The battalion air assaulted into a farming area south of Baqubah in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment travel in a Chinook helicopter en-route to a mission April 16. The battalion air assaulted into a farming area south of Baqubah in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with Company A, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment overwatch fellow Soldiers moving through a farming community south of Baqubah April 16. The battalion air assaulted into the area in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers with 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment move toward a Chinook helicopter south of Baqubah April 17. The battalion air assaulted into the farming community in search of al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists that might have fled there during a clearing operation in Buhriz two days earlier. Soldiers of 5-20 Inf. Regt., 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, from Fort Lewis, Wash., captured a dozen suspected terrorists during the 24-hour operation, including an entire cell responsible for mortar attacks on coalition forces in Baqubah. They also found several small caches which included grenades, AK-47s, ammunition, bomb-making materials and terrorist propaganda. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)




FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - NORTH AT:
TFLIGHTNING.PAO-AT-US.ARMY.MIL

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5-20 Infantry

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. (April 17, 2007) – Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Lance Leafers of the Navy Parachute Team arrives on the football field during a performance at North Bullitt High School. The Leapfrogs performed throughout the Louisville area as part of Navy Week festivities. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Terry Matlock

Labels: Leapfrogs, Navy Parachute Team, photos, US Navy

Guitarist Pfc. Jamie Holder, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division performs in front of a live audience of fellow troopers, while Spc. Amy McCafferty, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, plays the drums. Holder and McCafferty are two members of the newly-formed band, The Long Knife Edge, performing at the Transformation Chapel April 13 on Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 041407-51
April 14, 2007

By Sgt. Paula Taylor
4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq—Five members of the newly-formed Long Knife Edge band took to the stage for the first time to entertain their fellow troopers assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at the Transformation Chapel April 13.

The band, whose concept was originally formed while the unit was still at Fort Bliss, Texas, awaiting deployment orders, had been practicing once-a-week for the past month in order to prepare for the concert.

The band leader, Maj. Marianne Madrid, an automation management officer for the 4th BCT, said the Long Knife Edge was the idea of the brigade commander, Col. Stephen Twitty.

“Colonel Twitty asked, ‘What do you think about getting a brigade band together?’ He knew I had an interest in music and that I played an instrument. I think it was because we were going to be here without our own division band,” she said.
During the hour-long concert, the group played several rock and a few country songs to the cheers of the crowd.

“The songs came from all the band members,” explained Madrid. “Whatever they bring to the table, we all try to learn. We’re going to be working on more country, rock and R & B for the next concert,” she added.

“Every single one of them is very dedicated,” she said. “They all have a great passion for all types of music. It’s stress prevention. It lets them have fun, relax, and it gives them confidence.”

One of those band members is Pfc. Jamie Holder, guitarist and vocalist from Hemphill, Texas, who said his interest in music began when he was a senior in high school.

“My grandfather showed me three chords. From there on, I just progressed,” he said. “When I finally got my first guitar in Germany, my first duty station, I really started playing a lot more. I used to practice every weekend, four or five hours a day. I found people to play with and had a good time with it.”

Aside from being a stress-reliever, Holder said the opportunity has served to break up the every-day routine of his job.

“I’ve always wanted to perform live. Besides doing like a groundhog day-type thing, where everything is the same every day—work eight hours-a-day, go home, watch movies; this keeps me busy. It keeps me entertained.”

Audience member and Abilene, Texas, native, Pvt. Samantha Limones, 18, said she was glad she came to see them play.

“My battle buddy, Holder, is in the band and he told me about the concert, so I wanted to go and see it. It was a great experience to hear music that we listen to. It was a relaxing time that kept our minds off everything that’s happening over here. They were awesome—really hot!”

The group is currently planning their next concert for summer, 2007. They said they intend on performing at least once every quarter for the Soldiers stationed at FOB Marez and would like to arrange to visit other FOBs through the Ninewa Province.

Other members of the band included Spc. Amy McCaffery, drummer, 27th Brigade Support Battalion from New Canery, Texas, Capt. Matt Miller, keyboard player, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment from Dresher, Penn., and Sgt. Chris Mills, bass player and vocalist, 27th BSB from Theodore, Ala.


Members of The Long Knife Edge band perform live during their debut concert at the Transformation Chapel on Forward Operating Base Marez, Iraq, April 13. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)


Bass player Sgt. Chris Mills, 27th Brigade Support Battalion, keyboard player Capt. Matt Miller, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, and Spc. Amy McCafferty, drummer, 27th BSB, perform in the band, The Long Knife Edge, before a live audience at the Transformation Chapel on Forward Operating Base Marez April 13. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Paula Taylor, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

Labels: 1-9 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division photos, 27th BSB, FOB Marez 4th BCT, military musicians