La. Guard pins first African-American general officer

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1 Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 La. Guard pins first African-American general officer Sgt. Rebekah Malone 225th Eng. Bde. PAO, MND-B BAGHDAD Four weeks to the day after the inauguration of American s first black president, the Louisiana National Guard promoted its first African-American officer to the rank of brigadier general. Owen Monconduit, the commander of the 225th Engineer Brigade, received his first star during a ceremony on Camp Liberty, Iraq Feb. 17. This honor is bigger than me, Monconduit, of Pineville, La., said. Many great Soldiers have come before me to allow this event to take place today, and many more will follow. February is Black History Month, a time to remember the many great African- American s that paved the way for equal opportunity for all. I am proud of the National Guard, Louisiana and our country for the progression of equal opportunity for all races and genders. The first bill President Obama signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; Louisiana just elected the first Vietnamese U.S. Representative, Anh Cao, and last year the first governor of Indian decent, Gov. Bobby Jindal. This is a sign of our times; moving forward on equal ground. Monconduit graduated from Louisiana State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Engineer Technology, a Master of Arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix in 1998 and from the United States Army War College in 2007 with a master s in strategic studies. During his 28-year career, Monconduit served as a platoon leader, company executive officer and as a company and battalion commander with the 225th Eng. Bde. He became the chief of the environment management section for the Louisiana National Guard in 1991 where he served before becoming the Construction Management and By Scott Flenner, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO Maj. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Multi- National Division Baghdad, places Brig. Gen. Owen Monconduit s first star during his promotion ceremony Feb. 17. Monconduit, of Pineville, La., is the first African-American general officer in the Louisiana National Guard. Facilities Officer in Before accepting command of the engineer brigade in 2007, Monconduit served as the executive officer to the Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard, Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau. The National Guard is a great organization it s a value based organization and it certainly expresses equality and has many opportunities available for any young person that is interested in the military, Monconduit said. It s a humbling experience to achieve your dreams, but through perseverance and hard work, it pays off. A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, he commanded the 528th Engineer Battalion from Monroe, La., through a year-long tour to Afghanistan in 2005 before leading a battalion for six months on state-active duty for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Monconduit s wife, Anges Chenevert, and Maj. Gen. Landreneau viewed the promotion via video teleconferencing from Louisiana to Baghdad. Most importantly, he leads in the direction of taking care of Soldiers; because of that, he has earned the respect of the Soldier and NCO corps he leads, Landreneau said. Owen s a great Soldier, a great patriot, very dedicated to his Soldiers and a great leader. Monconduit s awards include; the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon.

2 PAGE 2 February 19, 2009 Soldier in Focus PFC Taylor Crooks By Scott Flenner 225th Eng. Bde. PAO, MND-B CAMP VICTORY, Iraq Pfc. Taylor Crooks, a combat engineer, 225th Engineer Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad works in the operations section of his brigade s command center. A native of Deville, La., Crooks enlisted in the U.S. Army seven months ago and received a promotion to private first class Feb. 16. Working with the Army s command post of the future, he can track and report, in near real-time, events and units all over the greater Baghdad area. As a CPOP operator in the tactical operations center, Crooks functions as the eyes and ears for the commander during combat operations, route clearance missions and joint MND-B/Iraqi Security Force patrols. Crooks, who joined the Army to get a head start on life and deploy, didn t deploy to Iraq all alone. In addition to his Castle teammates, there s a man who has been with Crooks since the beginning. He knows there will be no special treatment for him while he is deployed with me, but I am very proud of my son, said his father and deputy commanding officer of the 225th Eng. Bde., Lt. Col Jerry Crooks. Tough, with no special treatment, is how the young private expects life to be here in Iraq during his first deployment. I am just proud to be a Soldier and follow in my family s footsteps. By Scott Flenner, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO Lt. Col. Jerry Crooks (left) stands with his son, Pfc. Taylor Crooks, after the younger 225th Engineer Brigade Soldier was promoted to private first class. IA Soldiers discover, prevent IED attack at checkpoint U.S. Army Photo BAGHDAD An Iraqi Security Forces member points to a vehicle that was damaged after an improvised explosive device detonated underneath it at an Iraqi Army checkpoint in northwestern Baghdad Feb. 17. IA soldiers discovered the IED and alerted the vehicle s driver; saving his life. 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div. BAGHDAD Iraqi Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, 54th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, discovered an improvised-explosive device in the Mansour district of northwest Baghdad Feb. 17. While conducting checkpoint security at approximately 12:30 p.m., IA soldiers reported finding an IED attached underneath a vehicle at an Iraqi Army checkpoint. The soldiers immediately advised the driver to pull the car over and exit the vehicle. Moments later, the IED detonated. As a result of the IA soldiers quick thinking, the blast caused damage to only the vehicle and no injuries. Soldiers from the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad responded to the site to assist their IA counterparts. An Iraqi Army explosive ordinance disposal team supported by an MND-B EOD was called in to conduct an analysis of the blast. The discovery of this improvised-explosive device is an encouraging sign that the Iraqi Army is checking more carefully in response to this threat, said Maj. Kone Faulkner, spokesman for the 2nd Heavy Brigade combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi- National Division Baghdad. We will continue to work with our Iraqi Security Force counterparts to secure the people of northwest Baghdad.

3 PAGE 3 February 19, 2009 IP, Paratroopers stand watch by night JOINT SECURITY STATION MUTHANA, Iraq 2nd Lt. Andrew Smith, a native of Leesburg, Va., a platoon leader assigned to Troop B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, gives a command to his men during a nighttime foot patrol Feb. 16 in the Rusafa district of eastern Baghdad. Paratroopers conduct joint operations with Iraqi Police officers to check on the area s security. JOINT SECURITY STATION MUTHANA, Iraq A Paratrooper assigned to Troop B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, checks his surroundings during a nighttime foot patrol inside a Rusafa market, Feb. 16. Paratroopers partner with Iraqi Police officers during the patrol to conduct counter-improvised explosive devices operations and check on the area s security. JOINT SECURITY STATION MUTHANA, Iraq A Paratrooper assigned to Troop B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, checks out his surroundings during a nighttime foot patrol Feb. 16 in the Rusafa district of eastern Baghdad. JOINT SECURITY STATION MUTHANA, Iraq Staff Sgt. Anthony Dewolfe (right), a native of Edmond, Okla., a squad leader assigned to Troop B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, talks to his interpreter during a nighttime foot patrol.

4 PAGE 4 February 19, 2009 When you plan your daily battle rhythm, make time for yourself. This should be a quiet time, just for you, when no one can disturb you. Then use this time for prayer, meditation, reflection, writing in a journal -- whatever works for you. Even 10 minutes a day can make a big difference in your ability to deal with the pressure in your life. (Paraphrased from Clive Williams The 100 Steps Necessary for Survival in a Stressful Environment) Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7 Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 64 F 51 F Tomorrow 75 F 51 F Friday 68 F 48 F Arabic Phrase of the Day: You are going the wrong way Defined: Inta raayih bit-tariiq il-ghalat David Letterman s Top Ten Signs You Are At A Bad Airport 10. The luggage carousel is first-come, firstserve. 9. Technician asks if he can borrow your cup of coffee to de-ice a Runway littered with stripped chevys. 7. Gift shop selling items from your just-checked luggage. 6. Nacho cheese at the snack bar doubles as jet fuel. 5. The Arrivals and Departures monitor is payper-view. 4. Guard at metal detector asks you to turn your head and cough. 3. Some little beer-loving dweeb takes Dr. Galazkiewicz s limo. 2. You see someone pre-boarding a flight 1. Passengers have the right to fly topless.

5 PAGE 5 February 19, 2009 Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker Daily Laugh Knock knock. Who s there? Water. Water who? What are you doing?!! PEGASUS OASIS DFAC HOURS BREAKFAST 0530 TO 0830 LUNCH 1130 TO 1330 DINNER 1700 TO 2000 MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 TO 0100 SUNDAY ONLY BRUNCH 0730 to 1330 DINNER 1700 to 2000 MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 to 0100 Trigger s Teasers The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9. Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in. Yesterday s Answers Multi-National Division - Baghdad Public Affairs Office Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Daniel P. Bolger Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Philip Smith Public Affairs Chief: Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner Editor: Spc. Jon Soles Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Burke Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp Staff Sgt. Peter Ford Sgt. Joshua Risner Spc. Howard Alperin Spc. Laura Johnson Spc. Phillip Adam Turner Contributions by MND-B Chaplains The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Daily Charge are not official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army, or the 1st Cavalry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry, or The Daily Charge of the products and services advertised. All editorial content of The Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Multi-National Division Baghdad Public Affairs Office. Do you have a story to share? The Daily Charge welcomes columns, commentaries, articles, letters and photos from readers. Submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs NCOIC nicholas.conner@mnd-b.army.mil and include author s name, rank, unit and contact information. The Daily Charge reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper. For further information on deadlines, questions, comments or a request to be on our distribution list, the Editor at jon. soles@mnd-b.army.mil