SPC Chris Stevenson, Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Baghdad, Iraq - 2008 (CDS Photos, Inc.)IT IS THE SOLDIER, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
IT IS THE SOLDIER, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
IT IS THE SOLDIER, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.
IT IS THE SOLDIER, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
IT IS THE SOLDIER who salutes the flag,
Who serves under the flag and
Whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Charles M. Province
Has it been quiet or what? The info hounds have been hunting but there just hasn't been much out there on the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. During the past nine months I have learned to accept quiet and no news...it has not been easy - how about you?
For those who know our situation - you understand the title of this blog article. We are excited to the point that sleep is hard to come by :-) Our oldest is getting married in a few short days plus - we are expecting a visitor. Couple all of this with Memorial Day this coming Monday and we are...well, we are so humbled and very proud of all of our boys. To have our youngest serving with the 2nd SCR in Iraq is just icing on the cake. I'm not sure there are any words to express all these feelings...except, Jake, Aaron and Chris - I love you all!
Tonight's blog...
It's been a long journey to this point, eh?
A 15 month deployment is as you know...one heck of a long time to be in a combat environment and away from your loved ones. Remember last September when we all thought about the long haul ahead...the not knowing...the stress of not hearing...and our need to establish a battle rhythm.
For me, I remember looking forward to the telltale signs when we could see the end of this deployment. Sure, it's never over till it's over but...note this blog:
Keeping that Stryker math problem in mind, an observer can deduce a little bit more about what happens next for the Strykers at Fort Lewis following the troop rotations announced this week.
The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team from the Pennsylvania National Guard will be mobilized in mid-September and then go to Iraq after training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi.
That means there are two Stryker brigades – the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division from Alaska and the 56th from Pa. – going in the fall. They'll replace the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment from Germany and the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division from Hawaii.
So it stands to reason that Lewis' two soon-to-be-ready Stryker brigades – the 5/2 and the 3/2 – would be next up for the box in the summer and fall of 2009. We wouldn't be surprised if it's sooner, as commanders in Iraq may well want to again have three Stryker brigades to work with.
Two X factors:
• I Corps goes over in early 2009 to assume day-to-day command of U.S. military operations in Iraq. Makes a certain amount of sense they'd want to get some of their Lewis homeboys and homegirls over there to help as soon as possible.
• And there's no accounting for how any of this might change when new occupants move into the White House in January.
Purely a reading of tea leaves, so make of it what you will.
===================Seeing a replacement unit identified (as the blogger says...make of it what you will) for the 2nd SCR is an indicator to me that we may be getting a glimpse that this journey is - not over...but we finally are getting there.
Chris, I love you son and we are counting...and still praying for you and the entire 2nd SCR.
Be safe!
v/r,
- Collabman
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5 comments:
Collabman & Family
Wishing you and yours a fabulous reunion with Chris. I know that all his flights will be effortless and you will have a memorable time during his visit.
Congrats on the new family addition - the wedding will be flawless!
Godspeed to Chris and may your time together be unlimited!
Yet another password has expired and I cannot log in but you know who I am :)
CJ
Hi - I stumbled across your blog because it was picked up in my Google Alert for Strykers.
So happy to hear your soldiers are soon to be home! You've done a wonderful job with your blog, wish I'd found it sooner. :)
I've been following a couple of bloggers from the 4/2 - also heading back to Ft Lewis SOON - Toy Soldier and Suspect .. different styles of writing and different ways of coping, both great young men!
Best wishes to you all!!
PS: try sitting a tape recorder in a handy place during this joyous time .. its fun to relive those moments later!
~P~
themorethingschange - thanks for your comments and encouraging words - Ms. Collabman and I appreciate them :-)
v/r,
- Collabman
Thanks for all the hard work....keep it up if you can when Chris is home. I will miss seeing and hearing how the group is doing. My son and Chris are friends. My son had his R&R in April. It was awesome! He got to rock climb and spend alot of time with friends. Have fun with Chris. God Bless Your family.
gen - thanks and count on it...I will be blogging throughout his R&R...
v/r,
Collabman
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