Taking Care of Business...

Evening! I trust you all are well on hump day for this week. As we approach the end of October, how are you holding up? Where are you on this long journey? How do you manage your quiet times and deal with the dry spells of not hearing from your warrior? It's not easy is it?

For me, this blog has been very therapeutic - another outlet for sharing my thoughts, emotions and virtual tears. From where you sit, it probably isn't pretty. No worries - I appreciate all your comments that you have shared along the way. They have been a tremendous source of encouragement - thanks!

We still have much to do as we continue to support our warriors and loved ones.

Lots of press reporting hitting the virtual world on the work of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Baghdad. Here are some short takes on current activities by multiple squadrons assigned to the 2nd SCR.

Enjoy...

Attack aviation crews engage extremists placing roadside bomb
By Sgt. 1st Class Rick Emert, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
Oct 24, 2007 - 11:40:07 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Multi-National Division-Baghdad attack helicopter crews killed one extremist and injured five Oct. 22 in a northern section of the Iraqi capital after the insurgents were observed trying to place a roadside bomb.

Ground forces from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, called for attack aviation support after observing the terrorist activities. The air weapons team subsequently was directed to support ground forces from the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

The Apache helicopter crews from the 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, worked with the ground forces from 2nd SCR to gain positive identification of the extremists placing the roadside bomb.

After being cleared to fire by the ground unit, the Apache crews engaged the emplacers, killing one and injuring five.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20071024-08
October 24, 2007

Dragon Talon II: MND-B troops find two caches, detain four

4th IBCT, 1st Inf. Div. PAO
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers found two caches and detained four individuals during ongoing clearing operations in the Rashid District Oct. 22.

An Iraqi citizen’s tip aided troops from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment “Warriors,” attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div, in finding a cache and arresting three military-age males for possession of two hand grenades, an AK-47 assault rifle and four magazines. Under Iraqi law, citizens are allowed to own an assault rifle and one full magazine for their protection.

That evening, Soldiers from Company C, 2-12th Inf. arrested a man suspected of preparing an improvised explosive device emplacement site. A few hours later, the Soldiers from Co. C were searching a house when they found 26 full AK-47 magazines, four full sniper rifle magazines, a drum of 7.62 mm rounds, a bag of shotgun shells, a spool of wire, a bag of flares, 40 mortar primers, a rifle scope, binoculars, four assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade. An explosive ordnance disposal team collected the cache for detonation.

On Oct. 16, while conducting a targeted raid in support of Operation Dragon Talon II, troops from the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment “Wolf Pack,” captured an alleged al-Qaeda weapons trafficker and weapons maker during a raid in the Hadar neighborhood of East Rashid. The suspect is being held for further questioning.

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Handing out gifts to local Iraqi girls, 1st Lt. Tiffany Bilderback, squadron personnel officer for Fires "Hell" Squadron, 2nd "Stryker" Cavalry Regiment and a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado receives smiles from the children during a combined medical effort (CME) Oct. 19 in Fira Shia, Iraq. Bilderback who is actually a medical officer by trade, said she enjoys participating in the CMEs. The day's event involved the coordinated efforts of the 3rd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division and the Fires "Hell" Squadron, 2nd "Stryker" Cavalry Regiment.



Willard, Ohio native Lt. Col. Dan Barnett, commander of the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division talks with one of the teachers at the Yarmook Girl's School in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood during a visit to the school to see improvements made during a recent renovation effort sponsored by the Iraqi Government, the INP, and the U.S. military. The students all received free backpacks during the visit.



A Stryker combat vehicle used by the U.S. Army Soldiers, from 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany "pops" smoke for cover and concealment during troop movements in a neighborhood in the East Rashid District of Baghdad, Iraq, Oct. 15.