Warriors...

Two U.S. Army soldiers focus on the door revealed in the beam of a flashlight as they prepare to breach the door during a search for weapons caches in Baghdad on April 16. The soldiers are from Echo Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.
(DoD photo by Spc. Lester Colley, U.S. Army)

"Some people were meant to be 911...some people were meant to call 911"
Ilario Pantano
Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps

"Warriors are born, they are not created.
Certainly they are trained, but to be a warrior is a calling.
We should be forever grateful to our warriors and to their families who are all so courageous.
We should honor our warriors.
Warriors are NOT, as they are commonly portrayed, victims with no where else to go but the military."
Warriors...In Their Own Words

Evening and happy hump day...

How's your week been? Mine has been busy but busy is good as we await Chris' arrival and the wedding of our oldest son. Christmas in May and a wedding...how's that for loving life?

Tonight's blog...

First, if you haven't seen the trailer for the movie, Warriors, click here...

Special thanks to Ms. Val for the situational awareness on that movie....

So, your thoughts? Quite a message in that clip, eh?

Next, a quick spin around the net and articles covering the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment...


Iraq: Violence On Downturn In Southern Al-Sadr City

MND-B Soldiers Find 2 Significant Cache Finds in Baghdad

MND-B Soldiers Find Explosives Cache

MND-B Soldiers Find Munitions, Detain Key Criminal in Southern ...

MND-B Soldiers Seize Emplaced EFP, Rocket, Munitions Cache

Finally, did you know the birthday for the 2nd SCR is coming? Yep, May 23, 1836 this unit became active. Here are some video birthday wishes for the 2nd SCR from Iraq - 172nd years!










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Chris, I love you son. We are counting the days until we see you face-to-face...

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

Next Mission...

A U.S. soldier from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment eats a local Iraqi meal in the house of a local tribal leader in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)


Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

(Casting Crowns - Who Am I)

Evening...

Happy Friday - ready for the weekend?

Tonight's blog is filled with a video package about two 7-10 cavalry commanders meeting Rashid district leaders along with the Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment commander to assess the area of operations before assuming authority.

This caught my eye as D Co., 2-2 SCR is Chris' unit. Also, based on this video Chris' unit is handing the baton over to the 7-10 Cav and refitting for their next mission.

Please pray for D Co., 2-2 SCR as they make this transition...

And...

There are a number of photos out tonight on a 2-2 SCR unit operating in the Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad. Unfortunately, the actual unit is not identified so it is unclear which squadron from the 2nd SCR these warriors are from. Maybe you can identify them and their unit? Leave me a comment if you will...I am interested.

Maybe someone can identify the young warrior in the lead photo above?

Also, I included some more photos of the 1-2 SCR operating in and around Sadr City...

Finally, I spoke with Chris on Wednesday - he is doing well. We talked through the IED hit on their stryker. Needless to say, the stryker did its job, took the brunt of the explosion and protected all of the warriors inside. As a result, they all walked away...I am thankful to God for his hand of protection over the young men traveling in that stryker. For those who build these armored monsters - thank you!

Chris is anxious to get home and begin his R&R - its been a long time coming. Overall, he sounded good. I enjoyed hearing his voice and spending time on the phone with him. It helped calm the storm in me...

Chris, I love you son and think of you daily. Thanks for the phone call - I really enjoyed it!

v/r,
- Collabman




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A U.S. soldier from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment kisses a local leader in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008.
REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

An Iraqi translator (L) takes a picture of U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008.
REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment take position outside the house of a local tribal leader in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008.

REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

A U.S. soldier from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment sits atop an armored vehicle in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008.
REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

Children walk with U.S.soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and Iraqi soldiers in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

A U.S. soldier from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment stands guard near a poster of Shi'ite Mehdi army fighters killed during clashes, in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008.
REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

U.S. soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment greet a local tribal leader in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

Children look at a U.S. soldier from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Abu Dsheer district in southern Baghdad April 25, 2008. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ)

U.S. Army soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, April 25, 2008.
(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

U.S. Army soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, April 25, 2008.

(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

A U.S. Army soldier from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment patrols in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Friday, April 25, 2008.
(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Reflections...

U.S. Army Spc. Matthew Wagner, 21, from Bedford, Ind. eyes an alleyway after his platoon from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment came under fire in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

"Through the mirror of my mind

Time after time

I see reflections of you and me"

(Reflections - Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Edward Holland, Jr.)

Evening...

As I look back on the photos I have uploaded recently...and especially the ones taken today of 1st and 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment - I am touched by what I see...

However...

In the middle of the political landscape that is underway in our great country...I wonder if we have forgotten what has been asked of these warriors? Is it left to those of us who have a spouse, son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, etc....in the fight? Do the others just not care? Tell me I am wrong...

Look at the face of SPC Matthew Wagner above...have we forgotten his sacrifice? I pray we haven't...there is way too much at stake here.

Every day these are the faces that flicker in the mirror of my mind as I pray for Chris and the entire 2nd SCR.

Reflections...who do you see?

Some quick snippets from the info hounds show...once again, Sadr City and the work being done by the 1-2 SCR is quite impressive...

PHOTOS: Cougars Provide Backpacks to Iraqi Orphans

Troops Kill Terrorist, Detain Others During Operations

MND-B Soldiers Kill 15 Criminals

MND-B Engage Criminals, Seize Weapons in Multiple Operations

Sadr City residents caught in the middle of Iraq showdown

Chris, I love you son and I see you and me everyday in my reflections...

Be safe!

v/r,
- Collabman

An Iraqi woman is seen in the background as U.S. Army soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment questions her family during a patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

An Iraqi woman watches U.S. Army soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment as they question her family during a patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

U.S. Army soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment lead a blindfolded man suspected of planting a roadside bomb near their patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. The man later tested positive for traces of explosives on his hands.
(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

U.S. Army soldiers from from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday, April 23, 2008.

(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Warriors from Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment on patrol on the streets of Baghdad, Iraq.

(CDS Photos, Inc.)

Warriors from Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment on patrol on the streets of Baghdad, Iraq. (CDS Photos, Inc.)

SPC Chris Stevenson, Dog Company, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment takes a break while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. (CDS Photos, Inc.)

Iraqi children reach for butterflies as Dog Company, 2-2 SCR conducts a patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.

(CDS Photos, Inc.)