Knee Deep in the Hooah!

I didn’t realize that it was a 4th BCT soldier who won the new Jeep Liberty from Operation Gratitude! Wow! Congratulations to Spc. Gallagher, and to all of the Dragoon Raider Brigade. A special welcome home to my wonderful son who is a soldier in this Brigade. It’s wonderful to know their colors are uncased and they are home from their mission!

4th Stryker BCT to uncase colors at Fort Lewis

Soldiers from 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, will be welcomed home during a ceremony Tuesday at Fort Lewis, Wash.

The brigade, known as the Dragoon Raider brigade, was deployed from April 2007 through June 2008.

During the ceremony, the brigade will uncase its colors to signify the completion of its deployment and its return to Fort Lewis. Silver Star awards will be presented to several soldiers during the awards portion of the ceremony.

Prior to the ceremony, representatives from Operation Gratitude and Chrysler will present a 2008 Jeep Liberty to Spc. Michael Gallagher, who received the keys to the sport utility vehicle in Operation Gratitude’s 300,000th care package while he was deployed.

Gallagher designed a mural for the SUV to honor fallen soldiers from his unit, and the customized SUV will be unveiled during the presentation.

Tags: Army Mom Posts, Shack Pack news, Troop Surge, deployment, military, redeployment, veterans, war on terror by Claire
1 Comment »

When the time came for redeployment I went through a huge array of feelings and emotions that I really was not ready for. I had envisioned over the past 15 months that when the end of my son’s deployment came up that I would feel joy, elation, relief, and happiness. Don’t get me wrong. I have certainly felt all of those feelings, more so than anything else. It’s just that they were accompanied by other feelings that took me quite by surprise, to be honest. [Read more →]

Tags: Army, Army Mom Posts, Iraq, Terrorism, Troop Surge, combat, deployment, family life, memorial, mental health, military, prayers, redeployment, reunification, veterans, war on terror by Claire
12 Comments »

We have a returning theme this week. Last week many of the stories highlighted the accomplishments of the Iraqi Army, the SOI and the IP. Keep up the good work, guys!

Iraqi Troops capture mid-level AQI leader, six other suspects

BAGHDAD (May 4, 2008) –

Soldiers with the 5th Iraqi Army Division and a Muqdadiyah Special Weapons and Tactics team, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a mid-level al-Qaeda in Iraq leader and detained six other suspected terrorists in an operation in As Sa’diya, approximately 55 miles northeast of Baghdad, May 3. Read more…

……………..

‘Sisters’ are doing it for themselves

by Lance Cpl. Robert Medina 1st Marine Logistics Group

http://www.centcom.mil/en/press-releases/285.html

FALLUJAH, Iraq (May 8, 2008) – Marines on a female search team and Iraqi women with the “Sisters of Fallujah” program have been working together at an entry control point here to help make the city of Fallujah a safer place.

The program was formed because females were needed to search other females. In Islamic tradition, a man touching a woman who is not his wife is considered offensive.

Just like Iraqi security forces that have been assuming more responsibilities, Iraqi women are striving to do the same with the help of Marine FSTs.

“(The Sisters of Fallujah) are our eyes and ears inside the booth, where we cannot go,” said Sgt. William A. Lamascus, sergeant of the guard of ECP-1. “It helps to have them here because when they find things, they bring it to our attention.” Read more

[Read more →]

Tags: Army, Good News (Iraq), Iraq, Terrorism, Troop Surge, combat, deployment, military, politics, updates, war on terror by Claire
No Comments »

I knew that this was coming, but to see it in print was enough to make me nearly giddy this morning. Home coming time is sweet and scary. Keep our Surge troops in your prayers in the coming weeks. Their boots are one step closer to US soil!

3,500 U.S. Troops Set to Leave Iraq in Coming Weeks

Tuesday, May 06, 2008
(AP found on FOX News)
(excerpt)

BAGHDAD — About 3,500 American soldiers who were part of last summer’s troop “surge” are scheduled to leave Iraq in the coming weeks, the U.S. military said.

The soldiers, part of the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, will redeploy to Fort Benning, Georgia, said a statement released late Monday. The U.S. sent some 30,000 additional troops into Iraq last summer to help stem growing violence.

Those troops, along with the rise of Sunni fighters who allied with the U.S. and began battling al-Qaida and a truce called by a key Shiite militia, were credited with a sharp decrease in violence during the last 10 months.

The soldiers are part of the third of five “surge” brigades scheduled to redeploy. The other two are expected to return to the U.S. by the end of July.

“The continued drawdown of surge brigades demonstrates continued progress in Iraq,” Brig. Gen. Dan Allyn said in the statement. “After July, commanders will assess our security posture for about 45 days and determine future force requirements based on these conditions-based assessments.”

Tags: Army, Army Mom Posts, Good News (Iraq), Iraq, Morale, Troop Surge, combat, deployment, military, prayers, redeployment, reunification, war on terror by Claire
7 Comments »

I have decided to do a blessed blitz each week. Our troops are doing so much good work, and the majority of it is swept under the rug by the MSM. Well, who needs them when we have so many other avenues of information open to us now? If this post doesn’t put a smile on your face for the weekend, then I don’t know what will.

So, here’s a handful of my favorite finds this week:

Iraqi Police Regional Training Center Opens in Diyala Province

(Excerpt)

TIKRIT — The Iraqi Police Regional Training Center celebrated its grand opening in Diyala Province, commemorating the establishment of an Iraqi Police professional training academy May 1.

Coalition forces built the interim facility in order to make possible the immediate training of thousands of Iraqi Police and to help place additional police forces throughout communities in Diyala.

“We would like to thank Coalition forces for helping stand up this academy,” said Staff Maj. Gen. Ghanem abbas Ibrahim Hasan al Qarayshi, the Diyala Provincial Director of Police.

Sons of Iraq Help Secure Fuhail Village

PATROL BASE YATES — As part of their commitment to keeping insurgents away, members of the Sons of Iraq built a checkpoint on a narrow stretch of road through Fuhail Mujeer Village, 25 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, last week.

As recently as December, Rakkasan Soldiers of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), established a presence in the area, which was previously an insurgent safe haven.

[Read more →]

Tags: Good News (Iraq), Troop Surge, updates, war on terror by Claire
4 Comments »

Thinking of the stir that was created in me last night when I read some blogger’s comments about the troops and his opinion of our bravest and finest, kept me up late. It’s in the midnight hours that most mother’s of deployed soldiers do some of their best worrying and praying. I used to think it was due to the fact that the distractions of the day were calming and suddenly our minds and hands were left with nothing to do. That was a good theory when Mr. Hooah! was gone to Ft. Benning while Mike was first deployed. I have come to realize that, for me personally anyway, it’s because I know that as my day is ending his is beginning. It’s a funny assumption on my behalf because I know he pulls shifts all hours of the day. I got a call today from him, first one in a long time, he sounded tired, but considering it was after 1am there I am surprised he was still awake. I’m a mom. I can’t help it.

So, this stir that was caused within was a flash in the pan, and it’s because the words that were typed on that screen were baseless, senseless, tasteless, and gutless. They were typed out for one reason, and one reason alone — to attract attention and make some big splash. There is a huge difference when someone uses hyperbole as a tool to excite interest or drive home a point, but it’s another when someone uses a constant, heightened offensive tone to bring attention to himself. Ultimately I find comfort in reminding myself that it is not men like this who shape our world. The men who shape our world do not do it by provocatively stomping on the grave of men better than themselves. Instead men who shape this world respect those who defend them. Not only is it true that … “A Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten,” but I would say the same is true for the individual who thinks that a tantrum will bring him any notoriety and that using the graves of the fallen will accomplish that end for him.
[Read more →]

Tags: Army, Army Mom Posts, Iraq, Morale, Shack Pack news, Troop Surge, Troop appreciation, deployment, family life, looney leftists, military, politics, redeployment, reunification, veterans, war on terror by Claire
8 Comments »

Look at the latest failure of the surge. Improved security, refugees returning to their homes in droves, and communities are being rebuilt. What next? Next thing you know this failure of a surge is going to bring about an upswing in the Iraq economy, children in school? What in the world was General Petraeus thinking? [/ sarcasm off ]

Read more below: [Read more →]

Tags: Army, Troop Surge, combat, deployment, military, politics, war on terror by Claire
3 Comments »

This is what I would call a “naturally occurring community resource” from my days of resource mapping and working in mental health. I think the concept is right on target, it’s culturally sensitive, and it shows respect to the civilians in Iraq, while also providing a way to to protect them from hidden bombers. Good thinking, and good planning! [Read more →]

Tags: Army, Troop Surge, military, politics, war on terror by Claire
No Comments »