Mission First...

Well, here we are on the eve of 2008. In a few short hours we will not have to talk about our warriors coming home next year. Soon we can say, they will be home this year. Sounds good doesn't it? For me, it sounds really good.

What do I remember most about 2007? As I look back across the 115 blogs I have written since Chris deployed I think it is safe to say we have all been through a lot of ups and downs, fear and heartache that goes with having your son or daughter deploy to a combat zone. However, we have also experienced great pride as we watched our men and women of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment perform marvelously in Baghdad. What professionals they are, eh?

We have talked about the McDonald Doctrine...battle rhythm...hearts and minds...train like you fight...combat patches...and so much more. Who would have thought we'd experience this much in just the first five months?

Embedded reporters...what insight they have provided to date. We rode along and got a feel for the fight through the eyes of David Smith, Guardian Unlimited and Seth Robson, Stars&Stripes. Thanks guys for the look - I wish I could write like you...

What will 2008 hold? For me, continued prayers for our warriors, looking forward to May when Chris will be home for his R&R...and then a trip to Germany in November to welcome the 2nd SCR home. I can't wait - how about you?

Before we get too far down the road let's make sure we don't lose sight of the fact that the 2nd SCR still has much to do in the Baghdad area. Here is the latest article describing the work of a combat medic. How important are these men and women? Life and death important...what more needs to be said?

Enjoy the article and here is wishing you and yours a Happy New Year. I would also like to say thank you to Ms. Marti for her efforts in building a wonderful, caring support group - well done ma'am!

Hold fast and check your battle rhythm ...we still have a ways to go.

A native of Port Angeles, Wash., Staff Sgt. Craig Sotebeer, an emergency care medic with the Medical Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, inspects the contents of his combat lifesaver bag at the 2nd SCR Troop Medical Center in preparation for a convoy mission, Dec. 28. Since combat medics are always on call in case of emergency, Sotebeer checks his equipment and vehicles daily. (U.S. Army photo/Pfc. Samantha Schutz)

By Pfc. Samantha Schutz
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Today’s Army is an interdependent network of Soldiers who are as unique as the jobs they do, with more than 150 military occupational specialties available to choose from.

When a unit deploys to a combat zone, the Soldiers within it depend on each other more than ever, along with their occupational knowledge, to keep operations running smoothly.

Staff Sgt. Craig Sotebeer, a native of Port Angeles, Wash., and an emergency care medic with Medical Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, said he has numerous duties both in the United States and while deployed, and he takes all of them seriously.

While his primary job as a medic is taking care of sick and injured troops, Sotebeer also performs maintenance on the Medical Troops’ gun trucks and forward land ambulances, which are the primary evacuation vehicles used when a convoy encounters an emergency.

“I go out on convoys more than any other medic in the Troop,” said Sotebeer. He said he is the combat medic for a Stryker team mission two or three times per week. Each group of three or more vehicles must include a medical vehicle.

It is extremely important for combat medics to check the vehicles and equipment daily in preparation for each mission, Sotebeer said.

When Sotebeer isn’t treating the troops, preparing for missions or out on a convoy, he spends a lot of time helping add on to the three-year-old building that serves as the 2nd Stryker Regiment’s Troop Medical Clinic. In the four months since he arrived in Iraq, Sotebeer has added a deck, some doors, a television cabinet and other repairs to the TMC.

However, construction is not one of Sotebeer’s hobbies when he’s not deployed, he said. He enjoys just spending time with his family.

Sotebeer has two sons and a daughter – David, Luka and Ella – with his wife of seven years, Dragana.

“Unfortunately, we’re getting used to me being deployed,” he said. During the eleven years Sotebeer has been in the Army, he has been deployed three times.

Although, he said he receives mail, almost daily, whether it’s a care package or a home video via e-mail.

“Personally, I have to keep myself really busy,” said Sotebeer. “I don’t take a lot of days off. That would just give me more time to think about missing my kids.”

Officially, Sotebeer works a 12-hour shift seven days a week, but he said he often stays at the TMC up to two hours after his work hours end. Combat medics are also constantly on call in case of emergency. With the stress from long work hours in a combat environment, Sotebeer said he has found it works best to “pace yourself.”

“Don’t try to be too ‘gung-ho’ right off the bat; pace your energy levels and your work schedule,” Sotebeer said he’d tell newly-deployed Soldiers, “otherwise you’ll run out of steam.”

Long Island, N.Y., native Maj. John McMurray, the commander of the Medical Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, described Sotebeer as “a true leader of Soldiers.”

“He not only has my full trust, but – more importantly – he has the full trust of his Soldiers,” McMurray said of Sotebeer. “He has trained them to be confident, technically proficient and capable medics.”

The lower-enlisted Soldiers who work at the TMC under Sotebeer’s guidance have a noticeable amount of respect for him and his knowledge, and he is always busy because he truly understands his duties, said McMurray.

As busy as Sotebeer keeps himself, he said he is grateful this tour in Iraq has been stable so far. During his last deployment, five of Sotebeer’s close friends were killed in action.

“This time it’s been good. Last time was pretty chaotic,” added Spotebeer, who prayed for a safe tour and getting it thus far.

Whether the conditions on the battlefield are chaotic or not, it is comforting to know there are Soldiers like Sotebeer who always place the mission first.

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Chris, I love you son and we are so proud of you. I remember your sacrifice every day - be safe and check in when you can.

Love, Dad

p.s.
Here are a couple of photos of 2nd SCR warriors that the info hounds provided...

Eyota, Minn., native, Spc Trey Lund, 21, with the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Visleck, Germany, shares a laugh with fellow infantryman, Pittsburgh native, Sgt. Thomas Brown, 29, as they wait for the opening ceremony of an Iraqi police station in Saha, Dec. 27. The ceremony was postponed.

American Samoa native, Sgt. Siatini Siatini, an infantryman with Recon Platoon, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, stands guard before a scheduled opening of an Iraqi police station in Saha, Dec. 27.

Rebuilding...

I am frequently asked about Chris, the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and whether their efforts are making a difference in the Baghdad area...in Iraq. You probably get the same question. So, how do you answer? What do you tell someone who asks if your son or daughter is making a difference with the 2nd SCR?...is the surge working or are there others factors in play? Can an all-out civil war be avoided? Time, who owns it?

What do you think? Maybe it's something that hasn't crossed your mind?

An interesting opinion piece, written by Mr. Joel Brinkley, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning foreign correspondent for the New York Times, appeared 21 December in a number of papers around the U.S. Mr. Brinkley is currently a professor of journalism at Standford University. Have you seen it? If not and you're interested, give it a read...it's called Surge is Working...For Now.

Speaking of making a difference. Check out this article about the Regimental Support Squadron ‘Muleskinners,’ 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. Their work is making a difference...I wonder if anyone notices?

I do...how about you? To the Muleskinners - well done guys and thanks!

An Iraqi worker demilitarizes an old Iraqi army vehicle as part of a combined effort by the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment’s Regimental Support Squadron and Iraqi Business and Industrial Zone as well as Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service to put Iraqis to work demilitarizing old armed vehicles. (U.S. Army photo/Capt. Derek Hoffman)

By Maj. Charles Rote
Regimental Support Squadron
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – The Regimental Support Squadron ‘Muleskinners,’ 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, made a small difference today to the economic well being of Iraq. Dec. 21, 14 Iraqi workers reported for work as part of an equipment demilitarization crew. They will work in the Defense Reutilization Material Office yard reducing damaged and unusable vehicles into scrap metal which will be sold to an outside business and eventually find its way into an Iraqi foundry.

Since arriving in theater the ‘Mule Skinners’ took an idea to put Iraqis to work, and in collaboration with the Iraqi Business and Industrial Zone as well as Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service, it began to come together.

A signing ceremony at the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office on Oct. 31 marked the start of a Multi-National Force – Iraq initiative to improve the living standards of area citizens through increased employment opportunities. The DRMO received tools were received, hired employees, and established facilities in preparation for the opening.

On the first day of operations, recently trained Iraqis met with personnel from the Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. The military unit will provide technical oversight, escort and transportation support for the Iraqis during their workdays on the base.

“This is getting the Iraqis one step closer to standing on their own” said Spc. Robert Edsel from Snellville, Ga., (the inspector of the demilitarized vehicles and the escort for the Iraqis) when questioned about the project. As part of the growing effort to encourage partnership with the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country, the troopers will work as facilitators with the workforce.

The Soldiers went through a lot to make this happen as well attending a week long training course at the beginning of the program taught by Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service representatives. Team members have also undergone security and escort training. Through the course of the program they received cultural awareness training and learned about their Iraqi counterparts in weekly group meetings.

“The Iraqi people want to succeed, and they are looking to us for help”, said Capt. Derek Hoffman, from Yelm, Wash., maintenance troop commander, Regimental Support Squadron, “by understanding this and their needs we can provide the most effective assistance.”

The goal is to build solid and stable Iraqi businesses capable of working with the American or Iraqi army on a regular basis to provide logistics support. Lt. Col. Danny Tilzey, Regimental Support Squadron commander, stated at the contract signing, “jobs contribute to building a dynamic citizen, which ultimately helps society become more productive.”

In addition to the initial reception, orientation, safety courses, and demonstrations, the Iraqi team managed to demilitarize 16 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle turrets in just hours. When they reach full capacity they should be able to process several quarter-ton truck-sized vehicles or their equivalent daily. With the prices offered for scrap metal this idea should quickly become a profitable enterprise.

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Chris, thanks for your efforts and sacrifice son. I remember...

I love you - be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

No Rest...

Evening all! Have you recovered from all that Christmas food yet? How will we work off all those carbs? ;-)

A virtual show of hands from those of you who were out at the stores by oh-dark thirty this morning looking to cash in on more sales? One, two, three...I thought so ;-)

For me, it was an early breakfast with one of my best friends and then I began the process of painting our bedrooms prior to our remodeling project. This should keep my wife and I occupied throughout the spring as we look forward to Chris' R&R this coming May.

Now to some news about the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment who continue to hunt the bad guys and build trust amongst the Iraqi people...no rest for our warriors.

This article broke today and indicates that the insurgents continue to plan and prepare to attack coalition and Iraqi forces in the Baghdad area. Make no mistake, this battle is far from over...


Iraqi National Police discover two caches in Mosque in south east Baghdad
By 2nd Stryker Cav. Reg. Public Affairs
Dec 26, 2007 - 2:10:00 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi National Police found two caches after receiving a tip regarding the location of terrorists near the Al-Kartheemain Mosque Dec. 24 in east Rashid.
When INP and Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers, from Company F, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and of the 1st Company, 7th Battalion, 2nd Brigade arrived, the suspected terrorists had fled into the mosque. The national police searched the mosque and found two caches. The first cache included 107 mm rockets. The second cache consisted of mortar rounds, plastic explosives, TNT, grenades and other components needed to make improvised explosives.

"The discovery of these caches by the Iraqi national police confirms reports that Shia extremists continue to use mosques to plan and stage attacks against Coalition Forces, Iraqi Security Forces and the people of Iraq," said regimental spokesman, Maj. Jon Pendell. "These groups are actively working to undermine the improving security situation in Baghdad."

The cache was recovered by explosive ordnance disposal personnel for disposal.

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Street Festival Celebrates Reconciliation
Courtesy Story
Posted on 12.26.2007 at 02:37PM
4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

BAGHDAD – Local Leaders with Iraqi security forces and Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers held a reconciliation street festival in the Saha neighborhood of the Rashid District, Dec. 23.

Local Iraqis as well as Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, and policemen from 1st Battalion, 7th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division attending the festival witnessed an impromptu signing of a reconciliation pledge by Sunni Sheik Faisal of northern Saha and Shia Sheik Ali from the southern part of the neighborhood.

“Today over 200 residents from Saha met to resolve their differences peacefully and pledge cooperation for the future,” said Lt. Col. Myron Reineke, 2nd Sqd. 2nd SCR commander. “This is an important step towards improved security and a better life for all Iraqis.”

The event, held on 30th Street, would not have been held had the security situation in Baghdad not improved over the past few months.

Col. Ricky D. Gibbs, commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. and Iraqi Brig. Gen. Abdhul Kareem, commander, 7th Bde. 2nd INP Division, attended the event to show their support for reconciliation efforts in Saha and surrounding neighborhoods.

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Chris, we miss you and love you son! Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Christmas in Iraq...

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas! Check out the photo our son Aaron took earlier today. No, it is not Iraq. This is what we woke to this morning, a white Christmas! Unfortunately, Santa did not bring me a new snowblower. Maybe next year?

The info hounds have been hard at work throughout the night and what turns up? A story from CBS News highlighting the work our warriors from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment performed in Baghdad - route clearance and hunting bombs to keep the streets safe and secure for the 2nd SCR, Iraqis and other units operating in the area.

The CBS video can be seen by clicking here. While you relax and enjoy your day, spend a little time reading the the story filed by Jeff Glor, CBS Early Show. Holiday or not, our men and women worked it just like any other day...taking care of business - and I couldn't be any prouder.

Merry Christmas....remember our warriors because they are thinking of us...

Jeff Glor in Baghdad, with members of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment (CBS)

(CBS) Early Show national correspondent Jeff Glor filed this exclusive piece from Baghdad on the chance he got Sunday to accompany a "bomb squad" of U.S. soldiers seeking to help keep Baghdad secure.

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Technically, it’s called a “route clearance” mission, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a bomb hunt. On this night, two members of our CBS News crew were invited to join.

Producer Randall Joyce and I traveled with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. We were there as they looked for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), an insidious scourge that has killed thousands of troops in Iraq. The work performed by the regiment is dangerous, but necessary. It keeps the roads safe for Iraqis, and for fellow soldiers. It’s work that takes place every day, whether it’s a holiday or not.

Our convoy left Camp Liberty at 4:30 in the afternoon, and within minutes we were outside the wire, rolling down Baghdad’s Airport Road. Our destination was Dora, a neighborhood south of Baghdad’s center. Dora used to be a hotspot for violence. It has improved dramatically since the surge began, but new information indicates insurgents are trying to make a comeback there. Some 200 IEDs have been found in the neighborhood since September.

Because groups like Al Qaeda are constantly inventing new ways to attack, the military has to come up with new ways to foil their plans. The vehicles in our convoy carry equipment that’s expensive, and impressive. We can't even talk about many of the tools because it would give valuable information to potential enemies.

Halfway through the trip, the sun had set. We approached a fruit stand and butcher shop. There was a small crowd in the street. The leader of the mission took a look around and decided it was safe enough to get out. The back door of the Stryker opened, and Randall and I exited.

What followed was a fascinating, up-close look at what the surge is all about: local contact. Soldiers hit the streets and talked to neighbors. There was a translator on the team, which enabled Lt. Taylor McMaster to speak to a group of Iraqis who gathered at a small marketplace. He explained what his team was doing. He asked them about a shooting that took place nearby a few days ago. He asked what changes they’d like to see. They told him they want more checkpoints, and more electricity. Right now, residents on one side of the street get power for only five hours a day. On the other side, they don’t get any at all. It’s not a comfortable way to live, and the locals made sure their message was heard.

The team moved up and down the street, gathering intelligence, but maybe more importantly, gathering goodwill. More neighbors emerged from their homes, especially kids. The soldiers brought buckets of candy, and children lined up for chocolate. One little girl rushed into the arms of Sgt. Thomas Kirkwood. He picked her up and they both smiled. It was a tender, moving moment. Kirkwood told me it reminded him of his little boy back home, and of a little girl on the way. His wife is pregnant, scheduled to give birth this month. He chose to stay in Baghdad so he could be with his team.

After half-an-hour on the street, it was time to say goodbye. We got back in our vehicles and the clearance mission continued. The convoy had to be careful, and moved slowly. The team picked up a number of suspicious objects, and each one of them had to be “interrogated,” meaning examined and tested. If a bomb had been found, the team would typically have performed a controlled explosion. This night, that wasn’t necessary.

It was 10 p.m. by the time we returned to base. We dismounted, and thanked the team for their time. The troops would get a night’s rest, and go on a similar mission tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.

It’s a grueling routine, but we heard no complaints, even though these soldiers know family members are relaxing and celebrating thousands of miles away.

Part of what sustains them is their new family, here at Camp Liberty. As Sgt. Ray McGrew told me, “I have 10 guys in my squad, and they are just like my brothers. I’d do anything for them.”

That, in a nutshell, is Christmas in Iraq. It’s not pretty, but if you’re back home, it’s hard not to feel proud.

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Chris, we love you son and miss you more than words can say. Our Christmas with you will be celebrated in May during your R&R - we can't wait.

We love you and remember your sacrifice every day - be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Candles Lit...

U.S. soldiers stand behind a Christmas tree at Camp Prosperity in Baghdad December 24, 2007. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen

Christmas Eve 2007. The shopping is done, our home is decorated, snow is expected overnight and we are looking forward to attending a candlelight service in the early evening hours. What more could I ask for?

Christmas, a time for reflecting on the reason for the season. I love the Christmas season but I have to be honest...there is no denying that this year feels different...Chris is away...in Baghdad with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment ...in a combat zone.

So tonight when I light my candle it will be for Chris and the entire 2nd SCR. I will lift it up high for all to see..and I will continue to pray for his safety and the continued calm in Iraq.

Sure, tears will roll down my face...

Tears for our fallen angels and their families...we will not forget...

Tears for the sacrifice, courage and commitment of our warriors who have taken up where they fell - we will not forget...

Tears that will say to those standing around me...I am proud of my son and what he is doing for our great country and for the people of Iraq...I will not forget...

What does Christmas Eve look and feel like for the 2nd SCR?

By Peter Graff
Mon Dec 24, 10:34 AM ET
Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Christmas Eve, late afternoon, and U.S. soldiers from 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment piled into their Stryker armored vehicles for a patrol out on the streets of Baghdad.

This is the fifth Christmas that U.S. troops have been out in Iraq, and commanders say the best way to keep morale up is to keep moving.

There are special dinners, packages from home, religious services and decorations around camp, but no let-up in patrols.

"My personal goal would be to try to go ahead and keep the mission constant," said Ray Ramsey, who has spent 23 years in the army and his third Christmas in Iraq, looking after about 100 men as the first sergeant of a Stryker troop.

"We want to recognize it, go ahead and acknowledge it and wish everybody a Merry Christmas. But if you make too much of it you give them probably an opportunity to dwell on where they're not and what they're not having right now," he said.

Iraq has become far less violent in recent months, and the mood among troops is visibly lighter than in Christmases past.

So far in December, 17 U.S. service members have died in Iraq, putting it on course to be the safest month for Americans since the war began, according to figures on Web site icasualties.org.

Forty U.S. service members died in Iraq in November, compared with 131 in May.

The 4th Squadron received a flood of goodwill packages this Christmas from friends and family of a soldier who was killed.

The squadron chaplain, Captain Bryan Smith, was giving out the gifts by opening up a Christmas Eve "store" where everything is free. He said he had given out Xbox controllers and portable CD players as well as soft-drinks and snacks.

Presents from home keep soldiers' spirits up, he said.

"You get the blues around Christmas time," he said.

"When they get boxes from home like that, they say: 'Hey, my family is thinking about me' and it gives them that touch, just like they're at home still."

Specialist Corey Jones, 20, found a stuffed reindeer in one of the care packages and was wearing it perched on top of the soldier's cap on his head. It's his second Christmas in Baghdad.

"I'd rather be home with my family, but I get used to hanging around everybody here," he said.

"This is my buddy Moe Moose," he said of the reindeer. "I figured I like to keep him on my head because it's like a second buddy for Christmas, so now I can spend the holidays with him."

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Let me close with this wonderful video of Christmas at Arlington Cemetery...spend a moment with it and tonight...light a candle for our warriors...we have much to be thankful for...

Chris, we love you son. Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Commander's Coin...

The other night I was out info hounding and stumbled across a picture of soldiers from Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment receiving awards at their first award ceremony. What caught my eye was a soldier in the bottom picture, 3rd from the right, that...well...looked like Chris. I pinged him and asked "Son, is that you?"

Chris responded the next day - "Ha ha - yes, that's me."

Our first photo of Chris in Iraq is shown below. Four months in and there he is - nice! Now, I am not one to make a big deal of individual awards because just as I am sure Chris would tell you - it's all about the combat team, not an individual.

Here is to the 2-2 SCR and the great work they are doing in their area of operations. Congratulations and keep taking care of business!

Maybe your loved one from Dog Company is in the picture?

Chris, congrats on the work you and your team did to be recognized with a Commander's Coin for excellence in combat - well done! Continue to keep your head on a swivel in all that you do when you are outside the wire. We love you son - be safe!

Below are a few more photos of Dog Company soldiers from the 2-2 SCR...enjoy!

v/r,
- Collabman

Ten Thousand Words...

A picture's meaning can express ten thousand words. A simple statement...it crossed my mind as I viewed some of the latest photos of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

Take a look at this photo...what visual message do you walk away with?

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Kees, of 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, crawls out of a hole in the wall of an abandoned shopping center during a presence patrol in the Dora district in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz) www.army.mil

The next photos tell an interesting story of those who put eyes in the sky. Huh? You know, those unmanned aerial vehicles that support our warriors. At first glance they look like model airplanes. Take a second look - this is pretty impressive technology. What a responsibility these men and women have who launch, fly and recover these assets. Whatever it takes to keep our soldiers safe. These folks get little attention and notoriety. However, they play a major role in day-to-day operations in Iraq.

Here is a hearty well done to Task Force XII and their marvelous UAV support to all the forces supporting MND-Baghdad - thanks for the support guys!

Let the pictures speak for themselves...what visual message do these express?

Sgt. Jeremiah Bull, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator from 4th Brigade, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, assigned to Task Force XII’s Company G, ‘Guardian Angels,’ pushes a UAV toward its launcher ,Dec. 14. Bull is one of more than 50 Soldiers representing each of Multi-National Division-Baghdad’s six maneuver brigades who are assigned to Task Force XII, and responsible for UAV coverage for the entire MND. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Chris Seaton, Task Force XII Public Affairs)

North Ridgeville, Ohio’s Spc. Eric Hansen (left), and Delaware, Ohio’s Staff Sgt. Yancy Shattuck, unmanned aerial vehicle operators from 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, wait for clearance to launch a UAV in support of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, Dec. 14. The two Soldiers are assigned to Company G, Task Force XII. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Chris Seaton, Task Force XII Public Affairs)

A Company G, Task Force XII unmanned aerial vehicle lifts off its launcher as UAV controllers Spc. Eric Hansen and Staff Sgt. Yancy Shattuck, from 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, watch over the operation, Dec. 14. The aircraft will fly surveillance and reconnaissance missions for troops on the ground in Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and is one of about 20 missions to launch from Taji each day. (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. 1st Class Chris Seaton, Task Force XII Public Affairs)

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Chris, we really enjoyed the phone call yesterday and are still smiling today. Thanks for all you do son - we love you! Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Angels...Along On Every Patrol

At about 4:00 am Baghdad time our phone came alive. That call we had been hoping, praying for was here and we almost didn't make it to the phone...but we answered just in time. On the distant end was Chris - what a joy it was to hear his voice and catch up on his journey with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. For almost 30 minutes we carried on with question after question - it was marvelous!

Chris' voice was tired but then again, it was after 4 in the morning and he had just finished a patrol. Here is a summary of what we learned since our last phone call...

• Chris is doing well both emotionally and physically - no changes on either account.
  
• He is so very grateful for the many care packages he has received; Under Armour clothing, REI socks, books, pictures, DVD's, toiletries, food, etc...all of which he was very thankful to have received.
  
• Chris' team, the 2-2 SCR, continues to take care of business in and around Baghdad; today they had to dispose of a dead cow on the side of the road - they just never know what each day will bring.
• His team ventured into the Green Zone on official business and he said it was like being in another world - very different from the Red Zone area in which the 2-2 operates.
  
• Morale in his unit is good as soldiers continue to rotate out and back in from R&R; he is really looking forward to his turn in May '08; supposedly in April of '08 he will have an opportunity to lock in his 18-day window.
• Chris indicated he prefers being at the COP vice the FOB; their COP is in good shape at this time; they have invested a lot of work in it; he has five buddies in his room and they make the best of their space; each just received their own electrical wall outlet - it's the simple things that make a difference, eh?
  
• The 2-2's battle rhythm is consistent and he is in a good groove; they are busy but Chris said the days move by quickly.
• Chris' weight has leveled off; he said he hasn't seen a scale since he arrived in Baghdad.
• The weather in Baghdad has been pretty chilly lately - he said he could see his breath early this morning on patrol.
• Chris is looking forward to coming home for his oldest brother's wedding in May '08; hitting the mall for some civilian clothes will be first on his list of many things to do.
• We talked of his interaction with Kellan B. and David J; Chris knows them both (Kellan's room is next door) and we shared our story about getting to know their loved ones; Chris has great respect for the warriors he serves with in the 2nd SCR.

K, I will leave it there. Again, you just can't imagine how wonderful it is to talk with your son or daughter who is deployed in a combat zone. We miss Chris more than words can say but at that same time...we are so very proud of his courage, service and commitment. He and his fellow soldiers are well-trained professionals. Often we speak of doing the right thing - these warriors meet that challenge every day without question, without reservation.

Chris and the 2nd SCR is in the fight - could we be any prouder? Nope...

I am smiling from ear to ear...it's quite amazing what a single phone call can do for your spirits. I pray that you have connected with your loved one in the 2nd SCR...

Thanks to all of you who pray for Chris and his team and reach out to them with care packages - thank you...

Finally, I asked Chris about the Angel Coins I wrote about in Light in the Darkness. These were the coins that CD, a close friend of mine, gave to Chris before he headed down range.

He said, "Dad, it's with me all the time..."

My prayer is that this army of angels continue to surround and protect Chris, his teammates and the entire 2nd SCR...

Father God, continue to put those angels along on every patrol.

Amen? Amen!

v/r,
- Collabman

So Much to Say...

Dear Chris,
It's been a while since I wrote you a short note so what better time than now? You have been on my heart all of this week. Maybe it's because we haven't spoken with you in a while - then again, to be honest it's been this way since you left for Iraq last August. I had no idea how difficult this deployment would be - but trust me, I understand now.

I have so much to say and look forward to your next call. In fact, I can't wait for the phone to ring so I can hear your voice. Maybe tomorrow morning. I pray for you every day and there are many times when your face suddenly appears in my mind. I pause and wonder what you are doing, feeling...what you are thinking and how you feel about being in Baghdad. Sometimes I cry when I think about you but I have learned to hide it pretty well. Yes, I care that much and you mean the world to me...

As I sit in the comfort of our home I am humbled by your sacrifice and so very proud of what you do every day with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in difficult conditions. Be encouraged and know that you are doing the right thing...for our great country and the people of Iraq.

I look forward with anticipation to your R&R - Christmas in May! I can't wait...we can't wait.
Be safe buddy!

Love, Dad

---------------------------

For those following this blog, remember David Smith, Guardian Unlimited? Here is an up-close look at the three weeks he spent embedded with the 3-2 SCR in al-Hadar, in southern Baghdad. It is a fascinating look at these young warriors...

Gallery: On patrol in al-Hadar

Video profile: Staff sergeant Jason Redick
Staff sergeant Jason Redick is on his third tour of Iraq. In the first of three exclusive films for Guardian Unlimited, David Smith talks to him about why he is proud to serve, what his girlfriend thinks of the war, and how he plans to vote in next year’s presidential election.

Video profile: Specialist Jared Yoon
Specialist Jared Yoon is the son of Korean immigrants to America. In the second of three exclusive films for Guardian Unlimited, he tells David Smith why he enlisted in the US army, how he feels about his first tour of Iraq and what he remembers about the day he got shot.

v/r,
- Collabman

VEE-bid...

Evening. I trust your week is going well. Halfway home to the weekend. For those asking, still nothing from Chris virtually or across the phone lines. I am sure he is busy so that call will come when it comes. Is it tough not hearing? Yep but...no news is good news and we are ok - one day at a time.

On to tonight's blog. VBIED (pronounced VEE-bid) is an acronym that when spelled out breaks to Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device. Are you familiar with the term? Our warriors are because it is one of the deadliest devices used by the insurgency in Iraq against civilian and military personnel.

Fortunately, as you will see in the following report from the Stars&Stripes, the threat of VBIEDs has subsided somewhat but...they remain a concern for the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

Here is a close-up look at this deadly tool and how the 2nd SCR works to defeat them.

Enjoy the read...

Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, December 13, 2007

BAGHDAD — A U.S. military convoy drives in bumper-to-bumper traffic in downtown Baghdad.

While not a common scene in the past, it’s happening more often as security improves and the threat declines from car bombs —– Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) in Army-speak.

Repeated car bombings in Baghdad had devastating effects on civilians and the military. They were also a major threat last time the 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment deployed to Mosul from 2004 to 2005, according to 2nd Cav commander Col. John RisCassi.

“VBIEDs are not a major threat against coalition forces in Baghdad right now,” RisCassi said in a recent interview.

Indeed, according to figures released by the military in October, car bomb attacks throughout the country have gone down 65 percent since the “surge” in June.

There are still high-profile incidents: car bombs killed 23 people in Baghdad and three other Iraqi cities on Dec. 5 as Defense Secretary Robert Gates said a secure, stable country was within reach.

But for 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cav soldier Staff Sgt. Ian Kriebel, 32, of Oaks, Pa., the main threats in Baghdad soldiers worry about are deep-buried roadside bombs.

“You are more relaxed around vehicles but just because we haven’t had any doesn’t mean it’s safe,” he said. “Guys still need to treat every car like it is a threat because you never really know.”

Third Squadron commander Lt. Col. Rod Coffey said his unit didn’t have a single car bomb detonate during three months in the volatile Hadar neighborhood in southern Baghdad — despite heavy fighting with insurgents.

Tips from Iraqis are the main reason for the decline in car bomb attacks against Americans, Coffey said.

“You get reports about a VBIED factory being around,” he said. “It’s just some place where a guy is working on a car. They say: ‘So-and-so, who belongs to al-Qaida, has this black Peugeot. It is parked in this street.’ It’s a very easy target to get information on because most Iraqis don’t want a VBIED being built in their neighborhood, let alone going off.”

Nobody is more detested in Hadar than an insurgent who has been known to place larger bombs, Coffey said.

“These guys now have to constantly change their appearance,” he said. “That is how disliked they are by the local population, especially the guys with a lot of blood on their hands.”

The fact that building a car bomb normally involves a large group of insurgents makes the process easier to spot, he said.

“Someone buys or sells a car,” Coffey said. “It is brought to a place where some initial preparation is taken to make it into a VBIED. Someone moves the vehicle around. Someone parks the vehicle. Another guy might be involved in detonating it. You can interdict it anywhere along that chain.”Once soldiers know where a car bomb is being built, they can ambush the person making it and detain them or seize the vehicle to make sure it can’t be used, Coffey said.

Soldiers are also getting better at spotting potential car bombs, Coffey said.

“Once you get to know the neighborhood, a car that sits there and nobody seems to own, you can start to ask questions about,” he said.


--------------------------

I love you Chris - be safe! Check in when you have time son - we are praying for you and the 2nd SCR.

v/r,
- Collabman

Fallen Angel...

I wondered why my inbox was bursting at the seams tonight when I opened it. However, there was no mistake once it opens. It has been a while since we have had to face this type of information - but the alerts are crystal clear. There is a fallen angel from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

I take a deep breath and prefer to look away. I don't...I mutter to no one in particular - not again, not now...it's almost Christmas. This is not right...how, why?

My heart aches and I cry for a family I don't even know...

You know the drill...let the words wash over you and please, pray for this family that is hurting, really hurting.

Spc. Randy W. Pickering, 31, of Bovey, Minn., died Dec. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Vilseck, Germany.

To the Pickering family - we are praying for you during this time of loss. Spc. Pickering will not be forgotten.

To Chris, be strong and be safe buddy. I love you.

v/r,
- Collabman

One Checkpoint at a Time...

A U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, pull security on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.

Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

Jeez, where did the weekend go? Tomorrow we begin another work week. For the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment they work 24x7...weekends? They would laugh and ask, what is a weekend?

Chris and the entire 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment will be on my heart and mind as they make adjustments to stay ahead of the ever changing environment on the ground in Baghdad. In Moving On... Seth Robson, Stars & Stripes wrote about the ongoing changes for the 3rd Squadron. I expect that other units in the 2nd SCR may also be flexing in their own Area of Operations (AO). The insurgents adapt and so do our warriors.

I am grateful for the calm but as Marti commented in Moving On... the 2nd SCR is not done. Each area they clean up and hand over leads to one more that requires possibly the same effort. Will the new AO require a kinetic engagement? It could, but either way the 2nd SRC will be ready for whatever is ahead. And remember, the calendar does not lie - November '08 is still some 11 months off. So for the 2nd SCR and each one of us it's one day at a time...one patrol at a time...one checkpoint at a time. Keep praying for them.

Let me leave you tonight with two items you might find interesting. The first is a report from the Stars & Stripes and shows how the combination of biometrics, human intelligence, and the screening of sworn statements and data on insurgents is helping our warriors detain fewer innocent Iraqis...and those who are held, stay in jail. It's called GIs Getting Better Intel on Detainees. Thanks to Seth Robson for providing the report. Give it a read if you have the time.

The second piece is a series of photos from a combat cameraman traveling with the 1st Squadron, 2nd SCR in Baghdad. The photos show the joint effort of the 1-2 SCR and Iraqi Policemen pulling security in Baghdad.

Hmmm, what do you see?

The photo of the young boy on crutches...

For Chris - we love you son and look forward to talking with you soon. Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Elcort from, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, talks to a crippled Iraqi boy on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

Iraqi police stop from their convoy to meet with 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

U.S. Army Soldiers from, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, pull security on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

An Iraqi policeman goes on a patrol on Nov. 20, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq.
Photographer: Cpl. Jeffrey Sandstrum - Joint Combat Camera Center

Moving On...

The 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment has had a difficult and by all accounts, challenging area in which to operate. You've read the stories and seen the reports - the 3-2 SCR was in a fight in the Hadar neighborhood of Baghdad.

Through it all they have done a marvelous job removing the insurgency and building relationships with the local Iraqi people. The 3-2 has rejuvenated a neighborhood that had been held hostage by al-Qaida in Iraq and for that I want to say thank you and well done. We may never know all of what they experienced but we do know...they got the job done.

Moving on...that's what the 3rd Squadron is doing at this time. What follows is the latest article from the Stars &Stripes tracking the efforts of the 3-2 SCR in Hadar. It is a great look at the positive influence these warriors have had on this piece of Baghdad. Spend some time with the photos - they tell quite a story. All photos are by Seth Robson, S&S.

I won't speak for you but I am gonna follow along and continue to support the 3-2, just like I do all the other units in the 2nd SCR. My prayer is that their next Area of Operation is nothing like Hadar...but even if it is, we know they will be ready.

By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, December 8, 2007

BAGHDAD — Less than three months after they arrived, soldiers from 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment said goodbye Tuesday to dozens of Iraqi friends on the streets of southern Baghdad.

The unit, which is needed elsewhere in Iraq, fought bloody battles to free the Hadar neighborhood of insurgents who terrorized locals and used the area as a base for attacks in the Iraqi capital.

The 4th Platoon, Company H leader, 1st Lt. Jonathan Borders, 25, of Kailua, Hawaii, visited several families that his unit had special relationships with, reassuring them that Strykers from 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry will continue to patrol their streets.

In one poverty-stricken household, a single father cared for four sons and a daughter while eking out a living as a generator repairman in the local market.

The 4th Platoon soldiers stepped in when a bully was taunting one of the children, who has a hunchback. They soon found out that the family was short of food and money, so the young soldiers chipped in $100 to buy the kids their first new clothes in a year, Borders said.

Later, they persuaded a baker to take on the oldest son as a courier, a job that comes with free bread as part of the salary. They’re trying to get the father a job with the Iraqi Security Volunteers — armed neighborhood guards credited with reducing violence in many parts of Iraq.

“When we first came here, some people resented us,” Borders recalled. “Operations were a part of it. We got in firefights. We’d get shot at and shoot back. But people appreciate the fact that we were up front with them and made an effort to visit their houses, take photos of any damage (caused by the fighting) and pay for it,” he said.

The soldiers visited the pregnant wife of an al-Qaida sniper detained several months ago.

“He’s been in prison for a while. She has a 3-year-old kid to look after and she’s six months pregnant with no income,” explained Borders.

The platoon brought the woman food and clean water and asked a neighbor to help her around the house and take her to the hospital for check-ups.

An Iraqi doctor living in Hadar said he’s glad al-Qaida is gone. The terrorists used to steal fuel from his generator, he said.

“We are happy. Before we could not go outside. … There was shooting every day and people were killed,” he said.

Sgt. Mikal Vik, 23, of Hartford, Conn., said he came to Iraq expecting only to kill the enemy, but he’s seen things change.

“It is not like when we came in here (in 2003) and removed their government and left them to it. People have stopped calling terrorists ‘freedom fighters.’ People feel like we really helped them,” he said.

“The first time I realized the neighborhood had changed for the better was when people were inviting us to their houses for lunch,” Borders said.

In the market area, the soldiers stopped and said goodbye to the shopkeepers.

“You see the people in the market painting, putting in new doors and fixing up the shops. We tell them: ‘We are here to provide security and make sure you can start living your lives without someone shooting you because they don’t like you for religious reasons,’ ” Vik said.

In another street, Staff Sgt. John Christopher Mills Jr. of Petaluma, Calif., said goodbye to a group of local teenagers hanging out on the corner. One showed off a hat that said: “MSR Irish,” the Army’s name for a local road, and everyone laughed.

“They are just the kids in the neighborhood. We’ve been in all their houses,” Borders said, adding that the platoon started building a soccer field nearby on land that insurgents used to use to park cars and plan operations.

In another house, a pair of teenage sisters looked close to tears when they heard the soldiers were leaving.

“Tell them we are the best Stryker unit in Iraq and the Army needs us to go fight al-Qaida somewhere else,” Mills said to his interpreter.

“It was sad for us to leave them,” he said afterward. “We helped out that whole neighborhood and that family, we really had a liking for. There were several families like that. They were the people who helped fix their neighborhood.”

===================

Chris, we continue to pray for you son - be safe and give us a shout when you have time.

v/r,
- Collabman

Holiday Greetings from Downrange...

I think you will enjoy these holiday greetings from some of our warriors with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Baghdad - I did!

See anyone you know?

Special thanks to AFN Bavaria for providing the look.

Enjoy!

v/r,
- Collabman

Greetings from 1st Squadron, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from 2nd Squadron, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from 3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from 4th Squadron, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from Fires Squadron Groups, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from Fires Squadron, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from RHHT, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from RSS, 2nd SCR from Iraq Greetings from the Command, 2nd SCR from Iraq

Time Slowed Down...

We are almost at the end of another work week and the news from Baghdad is still quiet. My wife and I are looking forward to hearing from Chris at anytime but we know he is busy. Thus, we are grateful for whatever we get. That reminds me - in our world of fast food, drive through, gotta have it now expectations this deployment is teaching me a lot about patience. What am I learning? That I need to work on being more patient. Boy, do I ever. So, don't give up on me...I am still a work in progress.

Also, for those of you who have been with this blog from the beginning, commented or sent me an email - thanks! Your words of encouragement mean so much to me and I am humbled that you would consider taking time out of your day to check in. This is all about Chris and his fellow warriors...

K, lets get to the heart of this blog tonight. For those of you with warriors in the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment the latest article from the Stars & Stripes may be a little difficult to read. You probably know where this is going.

Seth Robson recounts the vicious fight the 3-2 SCR had removing al-Qaida from the Hadar neighborhood in Southern Baghdad. A fight that took six of our best men..a fight that will forever remain in the memories of our warriors.

As you would expect, it is a gritty, unflinching and at times, raw look at close-in combat operations in an urban environment. For some who had warriors in the fight, it may be a read you decide to pass on...your call.

Find a quiet spot and read the recollections from the warriors who fought these battles. Remember the six who paid the ultimate sacrifice to bring quiet to this neighborhood. Remember their loved ones. Remember those from the 3-2 SCR that have moved on to other missions - pray for their safety and peace of mind.

After my first read I almost felt like I needed to wipe the sweat from my face. On the second read I did wipe my face...but it wasn't sweat...it was tears and I am not quite sure why.

All of the photos that go with this article were taken by Seth Robson, S&S. The one above shows First Lt. Andrew Teague, 24, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., who leads 4th Platoon, Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment, as he points out enemy positions from a room where his soldiers took cover Sept. 18 during a battle with insurgents in Baghdad's Hadar neighborhood.

By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, December 7, 2007

BAGHDAD — The streets of southern Baghdad where 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment fought through September to root out a nest of al-Qaida in Iraq fighters were quiet Tuesday.

In the Hadar neighborhood, near the epicenter of the violence, a couple of young Iraqi men sat outside a small shop frowning at soldiers from the squadron’s 2nd Platoon, Company G. The Americans, on their way to another mission outside Baghdad, were taking a last look at the place where one of their toughest battles happened, on Sept. 16.

“This street seemed a lot longer that day and a lot wider,” recalled Staff Sgt. Jared Utter, 34, of Columbia, S.C., who took cover on a nearby rooftop when the enemy opened up with machine-gun fire on his platoon.

“Time slowed down,” recalled Sgt. Angel Fernando, 25, of Marietta, Ga., an expert sniper who gunned down a fleeing insurgent during the fight.

The battle was one of many fought by 3rd Squadron, which bore the brunt of heavy fighting by the regiment, losing six soldiers killed in action in three months in Iraq.

The squadron’s mission was to remove al-Qaida from Hadar, a task that involved clearing hundreds of houses in an area that insurgents had fortified with numerous explosive devices and where many chose to make their last stand.

Soldiers, who cleared the neighborhood in a pincer movement from the north and south, recalled nights sleeping in wrecked rooms, getting so thirsty they drank cups of dirty liquid offered by locals and blowing down walls so they could move from house to house without exposing themselves to fire in the street.

Spc. Scott Fuller, 32, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., said he pushed down from the north with Company G, clearing about 14 blocks of mostly empty houses.

All was quiet until a deep buried bomb went off 10 yards in front of his Stryker armored personnel carrier, raining shrapnel and concrete on his head as he peered out of a roof hatch.

“As soon as that went off they dropped 10 to 15 mortars on us,” Fuller said, adding that by then he was safely inside the Stryker with his buddies.

Utter found a giant cache of artillery shells, rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons in one house as his squad pushed through. The 3rd Squadron soldiers still find weapons in the neighborhood and blew up two bombs found in empty yards on Tuesday.

Utter said he and another soldier avoided having their heads blown off after peeking over a wall, just before a bomb detonated, showering them with ball bearings.

“We were laughing about it and then they opened up with machine guns and small arms. We huddled up against a wall while they hammered us. Bullets were zinging right over our heads and going through the walls and kicking up dirt around us,” he said.

In the same fight, Spc. Jay Jacobs was knocked unconscious by a blast that left him with a fractured cheek and shrapnel wounds to his face and neck. His teammates pulled him into a house and he was medically evacuated while Sgt. Robert Ayres (who was killed in action on Sept. 29) fired an AT4 anti-tank weapon at the enemy, recalled 2nd Platoon leader 1st Lt. Eric Owens, 28, of Richmond, Va.

Two days later, Company G’s 4th Platoon was clearing a nearby street when heavy machine-gun fire erupted around them.

Platoon leader 1st Lt. Andrew Teague, 24,of Glen Ellyn, Ill., said soldiers put as much fire as they could into an insurgent position, but the enemy kept shooting until an Apache helicopter slammed a Hellfire missile into the building.

The house hit by the airstrike still has a gaping tear in it, as do many buildings in the neighborhood, while others are pockmarked with bullet holes.

Soldiers from the 4th Platoon was supposed to watch an intersection, but they couldn’t get close because the building next to it was merely a skeleton and didn’t provide cover, Teague said.

“I walked up to the intersection and could see wires coming from the ground and all of a sudden a [bomb] went off, knocking us over,” he said.

Insurgents moved from building to building, taking shots at the platoon, which was inside a partially built brick house. Spc. Aaron Walker was hit in the neck by a ricochet and the platoon called for an evacuation. But when they dropped smoke to obscure the rescue, head-high grass around the house caught fire and medics had to rush through the flames to get Walker to a field ambulance, Teague said. Walker later died of his wounds.

On Sept. 26, 3rd Platoon, Company H was in Hadar’s market street. Shops were closed and soldiers expected an attack that they’d been warned about.

The platoon’s leader, 1st Lt. Douglass Locke, 25, of Acton, Mass., said an insurgent ran into an intersection in the middle of the market with an RPG, but misfired and the round exploded in the middle of the street as the Americans fired back.

Sgt. Keith Thompson, 36, from Miami, Fla., said he shot at an insurgent approaching the market but wasn’t sure if he hit him.

“The next thing the insurgents did was send children into the street as spotters. That was something I didn’t expect to see,” Thompson added.

After numerous engagements, including a 72-hour operation — Wolfpack Avalanche — to clear the entire neighborhood, al-Qaida has been soundly beaten in Hadar, soldiers said. These days, any insurgents there keep a low profile, avoiding the Americans and bowing to pressure from locals who want them out of the area, soldiers said.

Hadar’s market is a hive of activity, with shoppers browsing dozens of shops, mechanics fixing cars and motorcycles on the footpath and children following the soldiers to beg for sweets. The 3rd Squadron soldiers said they were sad to leave, but glad they’d made a difference in this troubled part of Iraq.

============================

Aren't you proud of the work the 2nd SCR has done and is doing every day? What would you say to your warrior if you could look them in the eye at this very moment?

I know what I would say to Chris...

Chris, I love you son...

v/r,
- Collabman