After 15 months in Iraq, Schweinfurt soldiers return

Unit leaders to focus on re-integration process to help soldiers ease away from war mentality
By Charlie Reed, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, October 22, 2007

IMAGES IN GALLERY

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — After spending most of the last 15 months in one of Baghdad’s most dangerous neighborhoods, 126 members of Task Force 1-26 got to go home Sunday night.

The task force, which lost 13 soldiers during the deployment, is among the first wave of Schweinfurt, Germany-based troops expected back from Iraq this week and throughout October and November.

“I’ve been in (the Army) for 16 years, and this is one of the tightest companies I’ve been in, and it’s a result of some of the struggles we’ve been through,” said Cpt. Cecil Strickland, commander of the task force, which is made up of three companies from the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 9th Engineer Battalion and the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment.

In Adhamiyah, a Sunni enclave, the task force played a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the enemy, Strickland said. “As we progressed, they progressed,” he said. “When we adjusted something, they adjusted.”
At least 60 soldiers from Schweinfurt have been killed in combat since the main body of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, known as the “Dagger Brigade,” deployed last year. The brigade has endured the deadliest deployment of any Europe-based U.S. military brigade in Iraq.

“There are some guys that think that alcohol is going to solve their problems or there are going to be some guys that get into trouble,” Strickland said. “But there are some resources we can use to mitigate some of that.”

For Strickland, 36, whose wife and two children were expected to be part of the welcome back party waiting in Schweinfurt Sunday night, just getting back home is a comfort for most.

“We’re all ready to be back,” he said. “It’s been a long 15 months.”
Besides getting to know his family again, Strickland said he was looking forward to sleep and good German beer.

From family counseling to decompression activities, soldiers getting back from deployment go through a seven-day re-integration process.

“The key to success is following that time-proven process of re-integration,” said Lt. Gen. Kenneth Hunzeker, V Corps commander, who greeted members of the task force as they made their way from the flight line to customs.

Hunzeker had led the division in training before the deployment.

“Now I’m here to welcome them back,” he said. “It’s a huge honor.”

The interment service for Warren G. Coffman will be held October 19, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. At Arlington National Cemetry. If possible please post on Blue Spader D-Day group page. Mitch Coffman

This is the first of what I hope to be a number of monthly Commander’s Updates to the Soldiers, families, and friends of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, or the “Duke” Brigade of the Big Red One. My goal is to ensure that all the Soldiers, families, and friends of this Brigade remain informed on what is happening, how it impacts them and their lives, and also what great things are happening in the Brigade, for its Soldiers, and by its Soldiers.
First off, this Brigade has been reactivated and reorganized at Fort Hood, Texas, as of 16 April 2007. The Brigade started building in early February, had its reactivation ceremony on 19 April 2007, and has now built up to a strength of well over 80% of an authorized 3400+. The Brigade was stood down in Germany in early 2006 after return from an OIF-2 deployment to Iraq where it earned the Valorous Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Award for its actions in combat. At that time the Brigade was organized as an Armor Brigade, but has now been reorganized and modularized as an Infantry Brigade Combat Team. This means that the Brigade is now effectively a light or “leg” infantry unit and has no tanks or heavy armor vehicles. This is a first for Fort Hood. The unit now consists of the following Battalions:
• 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, “Ramrods”
• 2nd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, “Blue Spaders” (scheduled to redesignate to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry when that unit redeploys from combat with the Division’s 2nd Brigade).
• 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, “Raiders”
• 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, “Centaurs”
• 3rd Special Troops Battalion, “Valiant Warriors” (with Engineer, Military Intelligence, and Signal Companies and Military Police and Chemical Platoons)
• 201st Brigade Support Battalion, “Duke Support”
The Brigade was scheduled to stand back up at Fort Knox in Kentucky, but was reactivated ahead of schedule here at Fort Hood due to the necessities of the ongoing War on Terror. Facilities are currently under construction at Fort Knox, but won’t be ready for some time. The current plan is for the Brigade to stand up and train here at Fort Hood for about a year with a requirement to be available for deployment by 1 April 2008. Then we would deploy for about a year, return to Fort Hood, stabilize for approximately 90 days, then move the Brigade (minus those PCSing, ETSing, or staying at Fort Hood) with a cadre to Fort Knox and occupy the new facilities there sometime late in 2009. However, to date we do not have deployment orders, so this remains a concept only at this time.
As stated above the Brigade has grown rapidly and we have also received a large amount of equipment. We will continue to receive Soldiers and equipment for the next six months. We have two major training events/time periods coming up in the future. First, in the October/November time period we will be focusing on platoon and company level training, especially maneuver and convoy live fires and combined arms live fires. We should complete this critical training the week prior to Thanksgiving. Second, we will execute a month-long training rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, from early January to early February. This should be our capstone event in our preparation to be ready and available for the Army by 1 April 2008. We are also planning a Brigade Formal on 30 November and should execute Christmas block leave from about 20 December 2007 to 2 January 2008.
We have also sent 27 of our good young Soldiers to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, to learn Arabic in preparation for potential deployment to Iraq. In addition, we finished our Expert Infantryman’s Badge testing this week for our Infantry Soldiers. This is a very difficult and distinguished award to receive, in which the Soldier is tested on all of his critical Infantry skills over 3 days after already having passed several prerequisite requirements. We started with 269 candidates and 108 Soldiers (a few from other Fort Hood units) met the standards and received their EIBs in a ceremony in the Brigade area on 20 July. 2-2 Infantry led the way with 63 recipients, but 2-26 Infantry and 6-4 Cavalry achieved over 30% success rates as well in an event that sometimes sees single digit success rates. The NCOs in the Brigade did an outstanding job preparing and getting their Soldiers through this arduous event—the hallmark of the professional Infantryman.
All of our units are fully functional at this time as are their Family Readiness Groups (FRG) and we are currently working to establish our virtual FRG websites. Contact information will be provided through your battalions, but if you are having problems our Brigade Family Readiness Support Assistant, Mrs. Marion Gilbert, at 254-285-5538, should be able to point you in the right direction.
I am very excited about the way ahead for the Duke Brigade and for the accomplishments that we have achieved already. We are off to a great start and getting better every day.

Duty First!

JOHN M. SPISZER
COL, IN
Commanding

Charlie’s Angels

USPS helps family remember the troops



 On its way to Iraq."The “Charlie’s Angels” shipment is on its way to Iraq. 
One Iraq-based unit of the U.S. Army is getting special attention this holiday season — from Charlie’s Angels.


This is the Cousino branch of Charlie’s Angels, headed by the wife and mother of Private First Class Sean Cousino.




PFC Cousino serves in Charlie Company, 1-26 Infantry. His family decided to spread holiday cheer and much needed supplies to Cousino’s unit. Hence, the “Charlie’s Angels” moniker.



Gathering donations from friends, co-workers and family, the Cousino clan prepared 215 gift packs using Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes ordered through 1-800-ASK-USPS. Each package contained a Christmas card, a
stocking, ornaments, and a box of lights, food and toiletries. The load was big enough to merit a rented truck, which the Cousinos used to haul the packages to the Toledo, OH, Franklin Park Station.

Michael J. Raudenbush


Safety Specialist


Greater Michigan District



616-336-5348


616-336-5384  FAX

For safety
information, visit http://gmd.usps.gov/index.cfm?treeID=2154

THE BLUE SPADER NEWSLETTER

November 15, 2006

“BLUE
SPADERS”

It’s been an interesting week for the Soldiers of Company Team Alpha “Apache,” Task Force 1-26 Infantry. Alpha Company was
told that they would be detaching from TF 1-26 IN in Baghdad and moving North to the city of Taji. In four furious days the entire company packed their bags and shipped their M1A1 Tanks and M2A2 Bradley’s from FOB Rustimiyah to FOB Taji. The Apache family welcomes the soldiers and families of 3^rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1-77 Armor, who are attached to them during this mission. The Soldiers of the “Skull Stacker” platoon joined the
“Hellraiser” platoon with Team Bravo Company, 1-77 Armor at FOB Rustimiyah.

Alpha Company now falls under Task Force 1-66 Armor from 1^st Brigade, 4^th Infantry Division. Coincidentally, it is the same Battalion the Blue Spaders replaced in Samarra in 2004. The Soldiers of Apache face a new mission here in Taji, about 30 miles North of Baghdad. Apache Soldiers will ensure that the rural highways in the area around FOB Taji stay clear of roadside bombs and other insurgent activity; quite a contrast from the urban sprawl of Eastern Baghdad. Whatever the mission, the Soldiers of Team Apache are trained, experienced, and ready.

Living conditions at FOB Taji are markedly different from those on FOB Rustimiyah. The Soldiers currently live together in a single bay in the overflow housing area. There is enough individual space but we will be “roughing it” in the meantime. Internet and phone services are within walking distance, and the mailing address for the company will stay the same. We thank you for continued support and can’t wait to get back to Schweinfurt!

Company Team Bravo “Regulators,” 1-77 Armor, TF 1-26 IN, continues to bring great success in Eastern Baghdad. The Regulators, now composed of the 1st and 2nd platoons from A/1-26 IN, as well as the mortar platoon, have been thwarting sectarian violence in their area of operations. The trust instilled in them by the citizens of East Baghdad, due to the Regulator’s respect for the local nationals’ culture and customs, as well as the security they provide, has lead to numerous tips that have resulted in the capture and disruption of members of sectarian kidnapping rings. The “Blue Spaders” continue to develop a positive relationship with the Iraqi people and exemplify the best of Team Bravo.

This last month has been extremely difficult and challenging for the Soldiers and Family Members of Team Charlie Company “Rock,” TF 1-26 IN. We had to say goodbye to two outstanding Noncommissioned
Officers, SSG Garth Sizemore and SGT Willsun Mock, who both made the ultimate sacrifice on 17 October 2006 and 22 October 2006, respectively. Their Memorial Services were held on FOB Loyalty in Baghdad, where “Outlaws,” Charlie Company “Rock,” and the Blue Spader Task Force were able to pay their final respects to their lost heroes. Despite the painful loss of our fallen comrades, we continue to move forward and honor their memories in every mission we conduct.

Some of the most recent changes in Charlie Company was the release of 2^nd Platoon, Team Bravo Company “Outlaws,” 9^th Engineer Battalion back to their parent company and receiving 2^nd
Platoon “Outlaws” back into the Charlie Rock Team. The Engineers continue to do great work this month south of Adhamiyah. 2^nd Platoon “Outlaws” are completing their first 8-day cycle living at FOB Apache and are enjoying the rugged lifestyle on this small combat outpost nestled between the Tigris River and Adhamiyah. The food at FOB Apache has improved 100% with the new arrival of the battalion’s phenomenal cooks. I think they may even have KBR dining facility food beat…the only thing they lack now is a selection of ice cream! We’ll see, they may even serve us some real turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving. There is a chance that an Iraqi contractor may install a few internet phones at FOB Apache for Soldiers to use to call their families. However, at this time our only means of communication are two computers linked in to the internet and cell phones purchased by individual Soldiers, which can become costly. We are making efforts to install two more computers and an American Forces Network (AFN) satellite dish to watch some TV and football games during their limited free time at FOB Apache.

After three months in combat, the Soldiers of Team Bravo Company “Outlaws,” 9^th Engineer Battalion were recognized by TF 1-26 IN as combat veterans. In a ceremony including the award of Combat Action Badges, Combat Infantryman Badges, and several ARCOMs for valorous achievement on the field of battle for both TM B/9E and TM C/1-26IN, the battalion commander awarded each of the Outlaws 1^st Infantry Division Combat Patch for their hard work on behalf of the Iraqi people.

During the weeks preceding the award ceremony, the Outlaws changed sectors again from Sha’ab to Wazariyah, an area they had held previously. Currently patrolling and conducting operations, the Outlaws are doing their best to keep law and order in a relatively docile sector. Thanks to their presence in the area, and the efforts of the Iraqis in the area, their sector has been one of the quietest areas in Baghdad. In addition to patrolling and keeping anti-Iraqi
Forces from the area, B/9E has continued to focus on improving the quality of life for Iraqis through trash removal programs, improving school programs and facilities, and working with local ministries to improve community business and culture.

The Wolfpack has stayed busy for another month. The support platoon took on providing fuel and rations to TM C/1-26 IN at their forward outpost as well as a neighboring outpost used by a Military Transition Team from the 506^th RCT. Maintenance had a
fast-paced month fabricating and modifying armor for the HMMWVs and repairing battle damage from a rocket attack that left several command vehicles without air conditioning. Air conditioning is much more critical when you can not unbutton your shirt and roll the
windows down. Luckily, the weather has finally cooled and we have plenty of ice and water on hand. We said goodbye to 22 Soldiers from the 299^th Forward Logistics Element as they were pulled back, kicking and screaming, to the 299^th Mothership. We
also had a marriage in the FLE last month. PFC Mendez and SPC Estrada (soon-to-be Mendez) were married while they were on R&R last month. The PSD rolled nearly 1600 miles as a platoon over 58 missions this month. So, it goes without saying that the Commander, Command
Sergeant Major, and the S3 have had a high operational tempo. As for the rest of the staff, most continue to work long hours, eat cold, greasy food, sleep a few hours between shifts, and, despite the Executive Officer’s best efforts, continue to fatten up for the
winter.

The scout platoon is still working for TM C/1-26 IN. They finally have rooms on their “home” FOB with TM C/1-26 IN and due to a change in the tenants at the forward outpost; they have a little more room to
live when they are out there too. The mortars continue to work for TM B/1-77 AR. We occasionally see them around the FOB when they’re not on patrol.

TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS

Absolutely everyone who knew SSG Sizemore knew he was an incredible infantryman, but above all else, he was an outstanding Soldier and Leader. He always set the highest standards for himself and inspired his Soldiers to achieve their absolute best. In the timeless words of
the Non-Commissioned Officer Creed, No one was more professional than SSG Garth Sizemore. He was a Noncommissioned Officer, a true leader of Soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, he realized that he was a member of "The Backbone of the Army". Above all else, Garth
exemplified and instilled a spirit of accomplishment that will live on with every Soldier in the “Outlaw” Platoon, Rock Company and Task Force “Blue Spader.”

On what seemed to be the very typical morning of 22 October 2006, patrol leaders briefed their plans and orders, Non-commissioned officers conducted final pre-combat checks and inspections, and Soldiers
readied themselves for another day of making a difference for the Iraqi people, who must depend on Soldiers like SGT Mock to give them a chance to grasp a life free from the terrorism that haunts the lives of so many people in this country. None of us could have
anticipated the extraordinary price that 2nd Platoon “Outlaw”, C Company would pay as they departed Forward Operating Base Loyalty on a combat patrol to Waziriya. The lead vehicle in the convoy was TC’d by SGT Will Mock who was doing what he had done for the past 2 and ½ months since arriving in theater…being out front, leading his Soldiers and his unit into harm’s way to defeat a cowardly enemy who cannot begin to comprehend the word: honor. By the end of day on 22 October 2006, no one could ask for more and SGT Mock gave nothing less than the last full measure of devotion for our Nation.

Your Soldiers are doing outstanding work in Iraq and everyone at home should be extremely proud of them. I am impressed daily by their bravery and courage while fighting the enemy and by their kind hearts when interacting with the Iraqi children and families in Iraq. Please continue to keep your Soldiers, our units, and the mission in your thoughts and prayers.

“Let him bear the palm who has won it”

BLUE SPADERS

Eric O. Schacht

Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

Battalion Commander