DISCOVERED CACHE - Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, uncover a huge cache of spent and unused munitions, west of Owesat, Iraq,Feb. 25, 2008. Photo by 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs

Labels: 101st Airborne Division, 3-187 Infantry, 3BCT, Iraq, Owesat, photos, weapons cache

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 060507-02
June 5, 2007


BAQOUBA, Iraq – The newly formed Diyala Support Committee met with members of the Diyala provincial government, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces, and local sheiks, including Sheik Ahmed Al-Tamimi, during their first visit to the province, June 5.

The DSC is formed by Iraqi Parliament members who have expressed concern about the current situation in the province and are committed to bringing the challenges and setbacks faced by the provincial government to the attention of the central government, while lobbying for additional support for Diyala.

During the visit, the DSC members received an operational update of the Diyala Operations Center by its chief, Maj. Gen. Ghanim Saleh Hussayn, and Lt. Gen. Ali Gheidan Al Otbi, Iraqi Ground Forces commander. Also in attendance were Governor Ra’ad Rasheed Al-Tamimi; Maj. Gen. Ghanem Al Qureshy, Provincial Director of Police; Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, Task Force Lightning’s deputy commanding general for operations; Brig. Gen. James M. McDonald, Multinational Forces-Iraq effects coordinator, and other members of the provincial government and security forces.

“Today’s meeting was a significant first step in integrating the non-military resources of the national government into security operations in Diyala,” said Lt. Col. James D. George Jr., acting commander for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “The presence of the DSC, on the ground, here in Diyala, will provide vital first-hand awareness of the conditions and needs of the province.”

The DSC will receive updates from the provincial government and ISF to monitor progress in security and the provision of essential services. This awareness will enable the committee to leverage the resources of the central government in support of Diyala.


Maj. Gen. Ghanim Saleh Hussayn, Diyala Operation Center chief and Lt. Gen. Ali Gheidan Al Otbi, Iraqi Ground Forces commander, brief members of the Diyala Support Committee on current operations as well as DOC functionality, June 5. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Raul E. Marquez, Public Affairs Officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division)


Sheik Ahmed Al-Tamimi addresses Diyala Support Committee members during the first DSC meeting conducted in Diyala, June 5. The DSC members are committed to lobbying for additional support from central government for the province. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Raul E. Marquez, Public Affairs Officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division).


Governor Ra’ad al Tamimi addresses Diyala Support Committee members and Diyala sheiks during a DSC meeting conducted in Diyala, June 5. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Raul E. Marquez, Public Affairs Officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division).


Members of the Diyala Support Committee meet with Diyala’s government officials, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces to discuss current operations and express their commitment to the people of Diyala, June 5. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Raul E. Marquez, Public Affairs Officer, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division).

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Baqouba, Diyala Province, Good News, Iraq, photos

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


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070517-01

May 17, 2007

Multinational Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – As Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces continue to provide security and stability throughout Diyala Province, Iraq, many tribal leaders are also uniting to bring peace and stand up against al-Qaida in Iraq.

After a peace agreement was signed between the paramount sheiks of the Karki and Shimouri tribes April 30, other tribal leaders have gathered throughout the region to do the same – provide peace and protection for their people and their lands.

At the Al Abarrah Iraq Army compound, local leaders gathered May 10 to pave a way ahead for peace between some of the rival villages and gain a commitment toward a unified stand against al-Qaida while supporting the government. The leaders also focused on the establishment of a police force in Zaganiyah.

“We’re beginning to have real success in the area,” said Capt. Michael Few, A Company, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment commander, who is attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “As long as we can continue these talks, there is hope for the people of Diyala.”

Sheik Ahmed Azziz, Sistan’s representative in Diyala, led the meeting and clearly stated success will not be achievable unless the tribes unite against terrorist groups throughout Diyala. He encouraged the leaders to push their past aside and talk about how they will secure the city for themselves.

The meeting resulted in five Sunni and five Shia volunteering for an Iraqi police hiring committee to work on the recruiting of local police.

Ahmed also encouraged the leaders to agree upon eight key points to include returning displaced families to the area, opening an IP station in Zaganiyah, securing the area under government supervision, turning to the ISF for assistance, protecting government institutions, committing to fight terrorists without sectarianism and be honest with one another.

“The key message is that issues must be resolved in the political realm, not with acts of violence and intimidation,” Few added.

The leaders will continue to meet to work out grievances and agree upon a peace agreement.

“I am anxious to see this region enjoy a future free of sectarian strife,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas, 5-73 Cav. commander, “These positive engagements where each element openly discuss issues which effect the community as a whole and where their issues are received in a manner of understanding provides great promise.”

Also in Diyala, tribal leaders from the Ambugiya and Ubadie tribes have also begun a series of tribal meetings designed to resolve conflicts between villages from Khalis to Dali Abbas.

The leaders have been meeting with provincial and security force leaders to determine how to resolve their differences, stating terrorists must be eliminated from the province and are pledging to eliminate terrorist activity from their lands.

Further meetings are also planned between the Amugiya and Ubadie tribes to reconcile differences and sign an official peace agreement.


FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH AT: tflightning.pao-AT-us.army.mil

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5-73rd Cavalry, Diyala Province, Good News, Iraq, Iraqi tribes

Scanning his sector, Pvt. Destry Mulloy, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pulls guard on the roof of his compound in Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, May 12. Mulloy was deployed to Iraq almost immediately after basic training and has had to quickly adjust to his new life. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 051307-04
May 13, 2007

By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

KHAN BANI SA’AD, Iraq (May 13, 2007) – Brotherhood – it is a major factor in keeping units together before they deploy so that Soldiers can learn to trust each other. It doesn’t always work out that way though.

Pvt. Destry Mulloy is a new Soldier who went to basic training and was then immediately deployed to Iraq.

He shipped out to basic combat training Sept. 28, 2006 and graduated January 26. After spending a short time with the rear detachment at Fort Hood, Texas, Mulloy deployed to Iraq March 2.

Now, Mulloy is trying to fit into a brotherhood that has spent the last eight months in Iraq together, but he tries to look at things with a positive light.

“I had the chance to actually be in the field,” said Mulloy. “When I get back I will have a (Combat Infantry Badge) and combat experience, which will be better for promotion points.”

His new brothers at the unit treat him like the “new guy” at times, he said, but for the most part they try to help him out.

“You get the natural little bit of jokes because you’re the new guy,” said Mulloy.

Not only is Mulloy the newest guy to the unit, he is also one of the youngest.

“I turned 18 right before I graduated basic training,” he said, as he talked about having to learn many things on his own.

“A lot of the stuff I didn’t know, I picked up as I go,” he said.

For the most part, though, Mulloy has had help from his leaders as well as his peers.

“Everybody here has experience and they kind of make sure you’re not doing something stupid,” he said.

Sgt. Patrick Miller, Mulloy’s NCO, said, “It’s probably pretty tough for him because he came over here and didn’t know any of us.”

Miller tries to help Mulloy out as much as possible, but also encourages him to learn from his peers.

“I’ve taught him as much as I can,” said Miller.

Mulloy said Miller treats him well and tries to help him out by disciplining him.

“He gets onto me every once in a while… but that’s my fault,” said Mulloy. “He keeps me squared away.”

Miller said he tries to be understanding though that Mulloy doesn’t understand everything that goes on yet, and that it will take some time before he does.

“I learned so much in those couple of months that I had before I went to Iraq,” said Miller. “He didn’t really get that time.”

Mulloy knew he was first heading over when he arrived at his duty station.

“They officially told me when I got to Hood,” said Mulloy, who previously anticipated the deployment before being officially notified.

“I knew I was going to Cav. and Cav. was already over here,” he said.

Mulloy said his initial reaction to his hasty deployment was disappointment, but he tries to look at the brighter side now.

“At the moment I thought it sucked, but now I don’t regret it,” said Mulloy. “I’ll have plenty of time to spend when I get back.

“If I were to stay in garrison, I would’ve actually known the guys a little better before I came over here,” he said.

“It hasn’t affected me so far, not knowing the guys when I got here,” Mulloy said. “Plus I’m over here getting on the job training.”

Mulloy’s parents’ initial reaction was shock, he said, but they understood that he had to go.

“It surprised them a little bit that I was coming over here so quickly, but they were already adjusted to the fact that I would be going sooner or later,” he said.

As for Mulloy, he has accepted his deployment with a sense of duty.

“I joined the Army, and I joined the infantry for a reason,” he said. “I knew Iraq was going on, so I knew pretty much that I was coming here.”


Pvt. Destry Mulloy, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pulls guard on top of his compound in Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, May 12. Mulloy was deployed in the middle of his unit’s deployment and has quickly adjusted to life with his platoon. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Cavalry Division photos, 3BCT, heroes, Iraq, Khan Bani Sa'ad, US Army

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

Sgt. Eric Nunn and Pvt. Bradley Griffith, both of Company A, attached to Co. C, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, joke with each other while hanging out at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq. On Nov. 25, 2006, their humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat patrols. Nunn, who was injured by the blast, was carried out of the smoking humvee by Griffith, who also pulled out another Soldier and got the two injured Soldiers to safety. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 041107-01
April 11, 2007

By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- “You never get over something like this; you have to live with it. November 25, 2006, will be a day that lives with me for the rest of my life,” said the solemn Pvt. Bradley Griffith about the day he and his crew were hit by an improvised explosive device while traveling on patrol in their humvee.

“I think about it everyday, because you can smell something that will trigger a memory,” said the Soldier with Company A, attached to Co. C, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

What started out as a routine day for Griffith, also known as “Griff” to his peers, quickly turned into a rollercoaster of events that would forever shape the young Soldier’s life.

Griffith, along with other Soldiers, was gearing up for a routine mission in Diyala province in Iraq. As they were preparing for their journey, Griffith said he felt something in his body that was “just not right.”

Griffith quickly put his “bad feeling” to the side and continued with his mission at hand.

“We got ready to leave -- Sgt. Nunn was gunning and I was driving,” continued Griffith. “We headed out the gate and received word that there was a possible IED [up ahead]. After we made it through that area, we felt alright that we made it but we noticed there was no one around.”

And that’s when it happened. After passing a checkpoint, Griffith’s humvee was hit by an IED, sending the humvee into a swerve as Griffith did his best to regain control of his vehicle.

“I think this was the first day that nothing was said amongst us inside the humvee,” he said. “Usually, something was said. It took me a minute to realize what just happened, because it was my first IED that I’ve gotten into.”

“I tried to keep the vehicle on the road as much as possible and it finally came to a stop,” he continued.

With no time to think, Griffith quickly exited the vehicle and ran to his battle buddies aid. He first saw Nunn in the gunners hatch, jumped on top of the humvee, and started pulling him out.

“The first thing that popped into my mind was everyone needs to get out of this vehicle because there might be a secondary IED about to go off,” he said. “I knew I needed to get these guys out and get them to safety.”

“I jumped out [of the vehicle] to figure out what I was going to do next,” Griffith said with a bit of distress in his voice. “I grabbed Sgt. Nunn out of the humvee; he was still in the gunners hatch. He was asking me how his face was. I told him everything was going to be alright, because I didn’t really know how bad he was.”

“I’ve tried to forget [the experience],” said Nunn, a native of Kansas City, Miss. “I remember the blast and smoke and [Griff] dodging and swerving, trying to keep us on the road. My first reaction after the blast was the pain in my right side. I thought I lost my hand.

“And in the haze and the buzzing noises around me, all I see is Griff yelling, ‘Get out! Get out!’” Nunn said.

“He got me out of the vehicle through the top [gunner’s hatch] and all I remember after that was waking up in another humvee,” he said. “I passed out.”
“At that point, the commander’s humvee had pulled up right next to us, so I took Sgt. Nunn between the two humvees,” Griffith said. “I knew DeNeutte was still inside the humvee.”

Griffith quickly moved around the large vehicle to attend to his comrade but he couldn’t get him out of his door. So, with quick thinking and brute strength, Griffith ran around the other side of the vehicle and pulled the injured DeNeutte out of the smoking humvee.

“I couldn’t get to him because his door was combat locked, I just couldn’t get in,” Griffith said. “So I went around the other side of the humvee and pulled DeNeutte by his [equipment] and pulled him over the seats of the humvee and got him out. I then drug him between the two humvees.”

“DeNeutte kept asking me if he looked alright and I told him everything was going to be alright,” said Griffith. “I laid him down and our [doctor who was traveling with the convoy] came running up.”

As the medic rendered aid, Griffith manned the machine gun, scanning his sector for the triggerman.

Nunn and DeNeutte were quickly evacuated from the area to receive treatment for their wounds. Nunn has since returned to the unit, while DeNeutte is still recovering back in the States.

“I suffered a broken hand, shrapnel in the right side of my face, in my right arm and little pieces of shrapnel in my right thigh,” said Nunn.

Upon Nunn’s return to the unit after being hospitalized for two weeks, he and Griffith finally crossed paths with each other.

“I think the first thing we did when we saw each other was hug,” said Nunn. “It was a big experience for the both of us.”

“I was happy to see him back,” added Griffith. “It was a good feeling. We talked for a few minutes and carried on.”

And the duo has carried on with their missions since. Griffith has been “hit” by a total of four IEDs now, each taking him back to Nov. 25, 2006, but said he has not been fazed by these experiences. Griffith has stood his ground and handled each situation with care.

“This is what my NCOs and Chain-of-Command has taught me,” he said. “Before we came over here, being it was my first time, they taught me what to do in a situation like that. If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have known what to have done.”

“Unfortunately, we didn’t catch the triggerman that day, but we did catch him later on another mission,” Griffith added. “It was an awesome feeling. It just felt good to know we got the guy who did this. It was a relief.”

Griffith also said he has talked with DeNeutte since the attack.
“He wanted to thank me for getting him out,” Griffith said. “He said, ‘Thanks for what you did.’”

Nunn said it was good to be back and didn’t want to go home -- he preferred to stay in the fight and carry out his mission, with Griffith by his side.

“He acted on a reflex,” said Nunn, proudly. “It wasn’t, ‘What should I do? Somebody tell me what should I do?’ As soon as [the blast] happened, he handled the vehicle. Once the vehicle stopped, he quickly analyzed the situation, jumped up and got me out of the vehicle.

“When the other vehicle pulled up, he quickly got me in-between the two vehicles,” he continued. “He jumped back into the vehicle, got DeNeutte out and he knew there had to be a triggerman on the outside of the road. He jumped in the gunners spot and started looking for that guy.

“If you have never been through something like that, it doesn’t matter what anybody teaches you,” said Nunn. “You’re either ready, or your not, and Griff proved his worth that day. It shows a lot about his character and what he’s willing to do for his team.

“It’s reassuring…there are guys who know how to handle a situation and know how to respond without being told what to do. Those are the guys you want riding in your vehicle, sitting next to you and going where you go,” Nunn said.
“This is real,” added Griffith. “I just knew something needed to be done, so I acted.”

Griffith’s and Nunn’s unit knows there is a bond between the two that will never be broken. The two Soldiers joke with each other, give the other one a hard time, but deep down, there is love between the two - love for their fellow Soldier and brother.
“I don’t think proud is the right word for [my feelings toward] Griff…it’s more than that,” Nunn said. “Griff and I are family.”

Sgt. Eric Nunn and Pvt. Bradley Griffith, both of Company A, attached to Co. C, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, are survivors of an improvised explosive device which took the life of a fellow Soldier, Nov. 25, 2006. Nunn, who was injured by the blast, was carried out the smoking humvee by Griffith, who also pulled another Soldier out and got the two injured Soldiers to safety. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1-12 CAB, 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Baqubah, Good News, Iraq, photos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070415-16
April 15, 2007

Multi-National Division - North PAO

BAQUBAH, Iraq - Local citizens in Buhriz, a neighborhood within Baqubah, Iraq, informed Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces of six terrorists in the area, leading to their detention Friday.

The terrorists admitted being responsible for placing and detonating improvised explosive devices and have been transferred to a detention facility.

"The people are getting tired of the terrorists' continued violence, realizing the terrorists wish to bring nothing but destruction and harm to their families and their villages," said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala province. "They will not be swayed by the terrorists' actions and are beginning to turn to the security forces for help as they recognize the ISF are the true protectors of their
country."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - NORTH AT:

TFLIGHTNING.PAO-AT-US.ARMY.MIL

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Good News, Iraq, US Army

On Easter morning, Col. David Sutherland, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, salutes a memorial dedicated to Maj. Alan Johnson, a civil affairs Soldier, who was killed in action Jan. 26. The memorial service was held on Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Before the small unit leaves, Col. David Sutherland, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pins end of tour medals on his outgoing civil affairs Soldiers and welcomes the incoming unit at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq April 8. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Chaplain (Capt.) Jesus Perez, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, gives a benediction on Easter morning after a memorial ceremony for Maj. Alan Johnson, 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, who was killed in action Jan. 26. The ceremony was held on Easter morning at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 402nd CAB, Fallen Heroes, FOB Warhorse, Maj. Alan Johnson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070408-02
April 8, 2007

Multi-National Division – North PAO

BAQUBAH, Iraq – A joint operation, which began March 24 in the Diyala River Valley northeast of Baqubah, cleared two terrorist safe havens and the surrounding palm groves by unearthing more than 15 weapons caches, killing more than 30 terrorists and detaining 28 suspected terrorists.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, partnered with Coalition Forces from 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, cleared enemy territory in Zaganiyah and Qubbah, Iraq and continue to maintain a permanent presence with the newly-constructed patrol base in the heart of the Diyala River Valley.

“To secure the population against terrorists, Iraqi Security Forces are becoming more offensive in their operations,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala.

“They will attack the terrorists in the perceived safe havens. However, the importance of these operations is that the people of the area are showing trust and confidence in their soldiers by providing specific information relative to the whereabouts of the enemy,” Sutherland added.

Aside from discovering more than 20 improvised explosive devices, the security forces uncovered caches consisting of more than 17,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition, 130 mortar rounds, 175 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 80 grenades, IED-making materials and other terrorist equipment.

“The people remain our center of gravity, and each of these discoveries continues to deny the enemy the ability to use force to target the population and security forces,” said Sutherland.

The detainees were transferred to a detention centre for further questioning.

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5-73rd Cavalry, 5th Iraqi Army Division, Iraq, Iraqi Security Forces, Qubbah, US Army, Zaganiyah

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 040607-01
April 6, 2007


Col. David Sutherland (right), commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and Gen. Dave Petraeus, commander of Multi-National Forces - Iraq, exit their Stryker vehicles to attend a meeting about Diyala province at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. During his visit to Diyala, Patreaus traveled to an Iraqi Army patrol base in Tahrir to meet Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


After traveling to visit a patrol base in Tahrir, Iraq, Gen. Dave Petraeus (right), commander of Multi-National Forces - Iraq, meets with Col. David Sutherland, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. The two discussed the problems Diyala province currently faces and the solutions to those problems. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Colonel David Sutherland, General Dave Petraeus, Multi-National Forces - Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 040607-01
April 6, 2007

By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

Spc. Kimberly Smith, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prays at the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Bowing his head, Spc. Hosie Richard, Company C, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prays at the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Capt. Marolyn Pearson, Medical Company C, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prays over her bible at the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


A gospel choir sings praise and worship during the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


At the front of the room, Maj. John Sinclair, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, leads a prayer during the Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Baqubah, Iraq, April 6. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Baqubah, FOB Warhorse, holidays, Iraq, photos

Soldiers of “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, take a knee in prayer before they head out on a mission into Khalis, Iraq, March 30. The prayer is a tradition of the platoon, said before every mission by a different Soldier, asking for security and protection. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 040107-01
April 01, 2007

By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- With the sun rising in the background, Soldiers gather around each other, get down on a knee and begin their prayer. A tradition for the Soldiers, the prayer is said by someone new before the group heads out on a convoy mission into Baqubah, Iraq.

They ask for safety and security so they can properly conduct their mission, and bring the U.S. Army one step closer to its goal -- provide a safe and secure nation for the people of Iraq.

As these Soldiers get ready to “roll out,” they can’t help but crack one last joke at their fellow Soldiers, breaking the tension from the possibility of dangers they might experience outside of the forward operating base. This is also nothing new; it is just as much tradition as the prayer.

The group loads into their humvees and drives out the gate of FOB Warhorse into the brightly gleaming sky, ready for whatever awaits them.

The Soldiers are close, and not as close as friends, rather as close as family. Mission after mission, these Soldiers have experienced everything from successful patrols to heartbreaking tragedies. But all this brought them closer together, solidifying them as a real band of brothers.

“Blue Platoon,” a fierce group of Soldiers from Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, are no strangers to action, violence and improvised explosive devices; but they say none of those things will break their spirits. They get up, dust themselves off and get ready for the next showdown.

“We’ve been through a lot and seen a lot,” said Spc. Mark Henry, a member of Blue Platoon and a native of Cleveland. “But anything you can think of, we’re willing and able to take that mission on.”

It’s this attitude which helped mold this unit into the brutal machine they are outside the wire. But back inside, these Soldiers have nothing but love and amity for each other and their leaders.

“I think we have become closer here [in Iraq] as a platoon… after loosing some of our best friends out here, that brought us closer,” said Sgt. Justin Mayes, a soft spoken but efficient leader for Blue Platoon.

“As each day and mission goes by, I think our love and respect as a family gets bigger,” said the Lumberton, NC native. “We each know the guy beside us will always back us when it’s needed.”

While in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, these Soldiers work hand-in-hand with the Iraqi army to help provide a sustained government and security force to serve the citizens of Iraq.

“We are trying to help the Iraqi army sustain their country right now, so we can go home and sustain our own country,” said Pfc. Charles Brooks, a member of the Blue Platoon and a native of Chicago. “This is their country so this is their job, but they need our help and guidance right now and we’re doing our best to help out.”

“We hope that us being here keeps [the people of Iraq] in a peaceful state of mind,” said Henry. “We provide security for the Iraqi people while their army is being trained. The overall goal is for [the Iraqi army] to completely take over responsibility to where they don’t need our help anymore and we can go home.

“Of course, I want to go home, but I fully understand why we’re here,” he continued. “The IA and the people of Iraq need our help. When we roll through cities and people come out [of their homes] and are clapping because our presence is there, that means something.”

This positive response is what these Soldiers are hoping for every time they leave the wire, though they know it’s not always likely. Either way, these Soldiers, each knowing the other’s job, are ready and prepared for whatever challenges face them while patrolling the streets in Baqubah.

“What we do everyday is go outside the wire,” said Mayes. “You can be a driver one day, run the gun the next. We switch it up and learn the other guy’s jobs. That’s what makes us a good team.

“We do it all. Everybody has to know everyone’s job … we’re all able to step-up and take charge,” he continued.

From conducting patrols to raiding houses or providing security, the team has been through it all and they do it together.

Not every mission has gone the way the Soldiers had planned, but things like IEDs have yet to stop these Soldiers from finishing their mission at hand.

“We’ve had some bad days out there, but we’re hanging in there and trying to stay strong and finish this deployment out,” Mayes said.

After going through combat experiences together, Brooks said they have formed a special bond.

“It definitely makes you closer as a team; you put your trust in the people around you to do their jobs,” he said.

While these Soldiers might have an “all business, no play” attitude outside the wire, the concept changes once children are involved.

With the team’s convoy moving down a busy street in Khalis, Iraq, the gunners of the humvees throw candy to the children and wave to everyone on the street.

“The children are friendly; most of them are really nice,” said Brooks. “They like us. We hand out everything from candy to soccer balls.”

And the families of the Soldiers back home are getting involved with reaching out to the children, too. They pack-up and mail off everything from toys to school supplies for the Soldiers to hand out.

“Family members do send us things to hand out to the children,” said Henry. “My girl back at home just sent me some school supplies to give out.”

“Most of the supplies we hand out on missions come from home,” said Mayes. “That really is a big help.”

After a long day of patrols or fighting, the Soldiers, who work long hours in support of their missions, return back to the FOB, prepare for the next mission and take time for some much needed rest and relaxation.

“When we get back from a mission, we are just so tired and beat,” said Mayes. “But we have to be ready for the next mission. We have to do maintenance [on our vehicles and weapons] whenever we can find the time. But if we get time, we’ll relax, watch movies and get on the internet.”

“I try to jump into the showers as quickly as possible,” Brooks said. “I also try to relax and watch movies. You have to clear your head and get ready for the next day and the next mission. That’s really important.”

As these Soldiers prepare for the next day, looks of relief, exhaustion and contentment fill their eyes. They have made it through another day and are ready for the next.

And there is not a complaint from the group about having to go out again the next day for another mission. They will be heading out together, with their platoon, with their brothers.

“I trust the guys that I work with,” said Brooks. “I can trust that they know what their doing, so we’re going to be ok.

“I love working with these guys,” he said. “After the stuff we’ve gone through out here, you become closer as a family. Being here has been a bonding experience.
“It’s great because we’re so close now; it’s more of a family than a platoon,” said Henry. “Everybody knows everyone’s wife’s names, their kid’s names – this really is a family.”

And tomorrow, as the sun rises, the band of brothers will gather again, take a knee and pray. They pray for the day ahead, remembering their fallen comrades. They do this not because they have to, but because they choose to.

“It’s been hard at times,” said a very solemn Henry. “Everybody in the platoon thinks about them every single day. We talk about them constantly.”

“We pray every day before we go out, every mission,” said Mayes. “It’s something that helps us and brings us even closer together. It’s a good thing.”

“We try to keep going, move on… these guys would want us to,” Brooks said in solace. “Those guys were vital members of our team and they are going to be terribly missed.”


An Iraqi child hands Sgt. Justin Mayes, “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Lumberton, NC, a small stack of playing cards March 30. Mayes quietly joked with the child for a few minutes and continued on with his mission during his platoon’s visit to Khalis, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Spc. Mark Henry, “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Cleveland, pulls guard in front of the site of a previously exploded vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Khalis, Iraq, March 30. Henry’s platoon patrolled the city, visiting the Iraqi Army and Police, to determine what supplies they might need to help the citizens of Khalis. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Sgt. Justin Mayes, “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and a native of Lumberton, NC, pulls guard around a street corner in Khalis, Iraq, watching out for any possible danger while his platoon patrols the surrounding area, March 30. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


“Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division’s attitude of “all business, no play” is in effect while they patrol a major street in a local market of Khalis, Iraq, March 30. The night prior, the market was hit by three vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, prompting Blue Platoon to visit the area the next day. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


A Soldier with “Blue Platoon,” Company D, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, vigilantly stands guard March 30, protecting his platoon leader while he talks with the local Iraqi army and police about attacks in Khalis, Iraq, the previous night. The market was hit by three vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, March 29. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Company D 1-12 CAB, Fallen Heroes, Iraq, Khalis, photos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070402-11
April 2, 2007

Multi-National Division – North PAO

ZAGANIYAH, Iraq – Iraqi Security Forces from the 5th Iraqi Army Division, working with Coalition Forces, discovered a terrorist training camp in Zaganiyah, Iraq, while conducting clearing operations in the Diyala River Valley palm groves Thursday.

Soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 5th IA and Company B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, discovered a fortified underground bunker with three exit points, four prepared fighting positions and a training camp building.

While clearing the area, the Soldiers unearthed five weapons caches consisting of more than 100 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, more than five RPG launchers, approximately 70 mortar rounds, bomb-making materials, home made explosives and terrorist planning and training materials.

“The terrorists from Al Qaeda have no place to hide. Their safe havens do not exist and their training camps are being destroyed,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander. “We will continue to attack these organizations and bring the perpetrators of violence to justice in order to secure the population.”

“The people in Diyala are disgusted and disillusioned by the fact the terrorists have nothing to offer but destruction through actions like this and they are gaining confidence in their ISF,” he added.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION – NORTH AT:

TFLIGHTNING.PAO-AT-US.ARMY.MIL

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5-73rd Cavalry, 5th Iraqi Army Division, Diyala, Good News, Iraq, Iraqi Army, US Army

Spc. Steven M. Devries, a medic with 1st Platoon, Company B, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and an Iraqi Army soldier with the 5th IA Division, take cover from a sniper behind a Bradley fighting vehicle March 28 in the Tahrir neighborhood of Baqubah, Iraq. Soldiers of 1st Platoon Co. B and Iraqi soldiers encountered sporadic sniper fire for about two hours during a house clearing mission in Tahrir. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Spc. Steven M. Devries, a medic with 1st Platoon, Company B, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, points out the position of a sniper to a fellow Soldier March 28 in the Tahrir neighborhood of Baqubah, Iraq. Soldiers of 1st Platoon Co. B and Iraqi soldiers encountered sporadic sniper fire for about two hours during a house clearing mission in Tahrir. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


A Soldier with 1st Platoon, Company B, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, guards a street in the neighborhood of Tahrir in Baqubah, Iraq, March 28. Soldiers of 1st Platoon Co. B and Iraqi Army soldiers encountered sporadic sniper fire for about two hours during a house clearing mission in Tahrir. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Pvt. Eric Rundquist and Pvt. Jason Taylor, both with 1st Platoon, Company B, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, hold on to a strap inside a Bradley fighting vehicle after the Bradley hit a roadside bomb. The Soldiers were en route to the Forward Operating Base Gabe medical station after one of their fellow Soldiers was injured when they encountered sporadic sniper fire for about two hours during a house clearing mission in the Tahrir neighborhood of Baqubah. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Spc. Orlando Jesus Garcia, 1st Platoon, Company B, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and an Iraqi soldier with the 5th Iraqi Army Division await news, outside the Forward Operating Base Gabe aid station, on the condition of two Soldiers injured during a firefight in the neighborhood of Tahrir March 28. One American Soldier and one Iraqi soldier were injured when Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Co. B, and the Iraqi Army encountered sporadic sniper fire for about two hours during a house clearing mission in Tahrir. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)


Soldiers of Company B, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, rush a fellow Soldier on to a medical evacuation helicopter in Baqubah, Iraq, March 28. One American Soldier and one Iraqi soldier were injured when Soldiers of 1st Platoon Co. B and the Iraqi Army encountered sporadic sniper fire for about two hours during a house clearing mission in the Tahrir neighborhood of Baqubah. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Antonieta Rico, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Labels: 1-12 CAB, 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5th Iraqi Army Division, Baqubah, Iraq, Tahrir, US Army

The Unmanned Aerial System launches into the open sky to patrol the surrounding area, looking for improvised explosive devices and other obstacles Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division might face. (U.S. Army photo be Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 032307-08
March 23, 2007

By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division


BAQUBAH, Iraq -- The skies were empty with no clouds in sight as the Unmanned Aerial Systems team from Company A, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, loaded their small plane, otherwise known as a “bird,” onto a launcher to be shot into the sky.

The bird’s job will be to scope out the surrounding area of Forward Operating Base Warhorse, located in Baqubah, Iraq, for surveillance purposes through the area.

The bird is a new tool the armed services have been using to help save the lives of the Soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.

Soldiers quietly and thoroughly inspect the launcher and the bird, making sure all the pre-flight checks are complete. They then huddle on the opposite side of the runway, headphones on to protect their ears, and wait for the launch. Moments later, the bird launches with a speed up to 80 miles per hour, off the launcher and into the open sky, ready to begin its mission of surveillance.

“This job is important because [the troops] might not be able to see what’s beyond a hill or what’s happening ahead of them,” said Spc. Renay Forney, Co. A, 3rd BSTB, “So we give the Soldiers an idea of what’s going on around them so they can get a better feeling of their surroundings and feel more comfortable [on the battle field.]”

Forney is one of the UAS operators, controlling the launch and monitoring the progress of the flight until the bird reaches a higher altitude. Once the bird reaches a certain point, Forney will hand over control to the ground-control station, which will monitor the flight, control the camera and provide further information to the Soldier, she said.

“We do surveillance, reconnaissance and support missions to help the troops on the ground,” Forney said. “A lot of our time is consumed by looking for insurgents.”
“We also assist units by having a bird in the air and giving them a tail number,” said Spc. Sean Sowles, Co. A, 3rd BSTB. “When they plug the number into their systems, they can see what we’re seeing and that really helps them out. They can’t control the birds but they can request us to go to an area that might help their unit with their current mission.”

Sowles is one of the team’s UAS repair Soldiers, maintaining the birds, launcher and conducting pre-flight checks to secure a successful launch into the sky.

After flying for a maximum suggested time, the bird will land and the team will begin its routine checks and preparations for its next flight.

“I love this job,” said Sowles, a native of Madison, Ala. “There’s just so many capabilities this bird can do. It’s amazing to work with and it’s very exciting. You get used to the system and you learn new things everyday.”

“I also love this,” added Forney, a native of Traverse City, Mich. “You do learn something new everyday. The guys teach me about their jobs and the maintenance of the bird. This is a unique experience and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Though UAS, formally known as UAV, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, is new to the services, Forney believes it will become a major asset to units in future deployments.

“I think this field is going to continue to progress,” she said. “Right now we are spending a lot of our time assisting the brigade and surrounding battalions. They have noticed the difference in their mission when the UAS is up in the air.

“They really appreciate it and ask for it,” Forney added. “It’s a good feeling to be needed and appreciated like that. And it feels good to get to help.”


While inspecting the Unmanned Aerial System, Spc. Renay Forney, Company A, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, takes a quick look at the “bird’s” propeller during her preflight checks before the bird takes off into the sky. UAS is used as surveillance of Soldiers of 3rd BCT during their missions outside Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Baqubah, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo be Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Spc. Renay Forney, Company A, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, inspects a portion of the Unmanned Aerial System’s tail during her preflight check. “This job is important because [the troops] might not be able to see what’s beyond a hill or what’s happening ahead of them,” said Forney. “So we give the Soldiers an idea of what’s going on around them so they can get a better feeling of their surroundings and feel more comfortable [on the battle field.]” (U.S. Army photo be Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


Spc. Renay Forney, Company A, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, monitors her Unmanned Aerial System that was launched to provide security and surveillance to the Soldiers on the ground. The UAS is equipped with a real-time camera to show the Soldiers of 3rd BCT what might be waiting on the roads and villages during their missions outside Forward Operating Base Warhorse. (U.S. Army photo be Spc. Ryan Stroud, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 3BSTB, aircraft, photos, UAV, US Army

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR# 032307-01
March 23, 2007

KHALIS, Iraq – Coalition Forces from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, detained two key terrorist suspects this week in Diyala province.

“Corruption is a significant impediment in the progress of democracy and freedom within the province of Diyala and it adversely affects the confidence of the people,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3-1 Cav. commander and senior U.S. Army officer in Diyala.

Sadun Ibrahim Rashid Karim, a member of the Khalis judging council, was detained Monday for suspected ties to rogue militias and terrorist organizations. He is believed to be involved with the importation of weapons and explosives into Diyala, as well as association with cells responsible for attacks against the Iraqi people.

Juwad Bashir, the Khalis Iraqi Police Chief, was detained Wednesday for suspected ties to rogue militias, and the support and direction of death squads responsible for murders and kidnappings. Multiple reports indicate Juwad tortured Sunni prisoners and killed Sunni citizens.

“The Government of Iraq and Diyala are committed to the destruction of corruption in the government and security forces,” Sutherland added. “Coalition Forces within Diyala will assist them in their fight against fraud, just as we support the Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against terrorists.”

Both detainees were transferred to the Forward Operating Base Warhorse detention facility for further questioning.

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, Good News

STRYKER BATTALION
Soldiers from the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conduct their first mission in the Diyala province, engaging anti-Iraqi forces in Baqubah, Iraq, March 14, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 2ID, 3BCT, 5-20 Infantry, Baqubah, Iraq, photos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR# 031707- 01
March 17, 2007

BAQUBAH, Iraq – Iraqi soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, shot and killed a suicide bomber today, south of Shakarat, Iraq.

Coalition Forces near the area where the incident occurred reported that the suicide bomber was running toward an Iraqi tactical check point, and after failing to obey several verbal warnings to stop, the IA shot him, which prompted the vest to detonate.

This is the second suicide bomber incident in two days in the Diyala province.

Friday, a suicide bomber targeted the Balad Ruz Chief of Police during his visit at the Balad Ruz Hospital.

Iraqi Police reported that the suicide bomber was walking toward the hospital between the Iraqi Police’s posted vehicular security. The IPs warned the individual to stop, but were forced to engage him when he continued toward them. When the individual was shot, the vest detonated, injuring three IPs on site.

“The terrorists are now seeing and experiencing the effectiveness of the Iraqi Security Forces,” said Col. David W. Sutherland, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division commander, and senior Coalition Force officer in Diyala province. “This is why we are seeing an increase on audible attacks — attacks that are attempting to create fear within the local population.”

“I applaud the ISF members who’s vigilance and attention prevented those suicide bombers from achieving their targets,” said Sutherland. “Those are the actions of a professional force, which is helping gain the support of their people.”

Labels: 1st Cavalry Division, 3BCT, 5th Iraqi Army Division, Baqubah, Diyala Province, Good News, Iraqi Army, Iraqi Security Forces