Photos From the Front...

Happy Saturday all. I have been thinking and praying for you - I hope your week was a good one. We are hanging in as we continue to take one day at a time. How are you doing?

Here are three photos Chris shared of him and his warrior buddies with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. I will post more as they come in.

For those wondering, we last spoke with him on Christmas evening (our time) - he was tired but doing ok.

Enjoy the photos...

Chris is on the far right under the the Iraqi Victory Arch, a monument to the war against Iran, a huge sculpture of two hands said to be Saddam's holding two swords crossed - downtown Baghdad.

Oops! Note the sign on the left. Can they ticket a Stryker?

Every place has to have a hard Rock Cafe, yes? ;-)

Chris, we love you son. Thanks for sharing the photos. We look forward to receiving more of them. Continue to take care of business and know that we are covering you and the entire 2nd SCR with our thoughts and prayers - be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Ghosts on Patrol...

Evening all. Almost the weekend, eh? I am looking forward to it - how about you?

Its been a while since we have had video of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment working operations. Tonight, I stumbled across a B-Roll video clip of the Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd SCR as they patrol in the town of Sheik Sa'id, Iraq - just north of Baquba.

Gear up and tag along with the Ghosts as they walk the streets and check the area out. This may be as close as you get to combat operations.

Scan the faces... maybe your loved one is in the video?

We are blessed to have dedicated, professional, courageous men and women serving our country.

Video Location:
IQ||Sheik Sa'id

Unit(s) Involved:
• Company G, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment

Submitting Unit:
4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

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

Chris, thanks for the recent photos son. You look good! I will get them up on my blog this weekend for all to see. I love you son - be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Tough Fight...

A man lifts up his clothes to show he is unarmed as he approaches U.S. army soldiers from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment during a foot patrol on the outskirts of Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

Back to the grind. Can anyone identify? Then again, for our warriors with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment on the ground in Iraq every day is tough and unrelenting...yet they press on and embrace the suck. So who am I to complain? I have it easy...

Tonight the info hounds provided a number of photos of our warriors from 3rd Squadron (Ghostrider Company) and 4th Squadron (Pale Horse Troop), 2nd SCR- taking care of business in difficult areas in the Baghdad area.

If you have time, take a close look at them one by one. The first four are from today and linked to an AP report Al-Qaida Targets Sunni Tribal Groups. Note the background, the environment our warriors are working in. Look easy? Tell me what you see...

Chris, I love you buddy. Stay sharp and keep your head on a swivel...this is still a tough fight...

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

A U.S. army soldier from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment jumps over a wall during a foot patrol on the outskirts of Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

U.S. army soldiers from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment search a man who tried to approach one of their vehicles during a foot patrol on the outskirts of Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

U.S. army soldiers from Ghostrider Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment run across an open space after throwing smoke grenades to conceal their movement during a foot patrol on the outskirts of Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)

Sgt. 1st Class Leon Clayton, platoon sergeant and native of Brick, N.J., with Mortar Platoon, Pale Horse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Approximately 1,000 Iraqi citizens, both of Shia and Sunni religions, gathered to march amongst one another to bring the two sects together as one. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Yuba City, Calif., native Sgt. Joshua Brown, with Headquarters Platoon, Pale Horse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

New Lexington, Ohio, native Pvt. Joe Nelson, with 1st Platoon, Pale Horse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Citrus Heights, Fla., native Spc. Alex Marsolais, with 1st Platoon, Pale Horse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), talks with Iraqi children in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Brick, N.J., native Sgt. 1st Class Leon Clayton, platoon sergeant, Mortar Platoon, Pale Horse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Brick, N.J. native, Sgt. 1st Class Leon Clayton, platoon sergeant, Mortar Platoon, Pale Horse Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

A Soldier with 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Soldiers with 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Stryker Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) pulls security in the Karkh District of Baghdad, Dec. 19. Photographer: Sgt. James Hunter 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs