Multi-National Division Baghdad First Team...Team First Thursday, April 16, 2009 Medal of Honor recipients visit Dagger Brigade By Sgt. Dustin Roberts, 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div. Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Battle, who hails from Greenville, N.C., senior enlisted advisor, 2nd Heavy Dagger Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, introduces Col. (retired) Robert Howard (center, in background) and Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) Gary Littrell (right, in background), who are Medal of Honor awardees, at the Warrior Chapel on Camp Liberty April 14. The two Vietnam War Veterans try to visit deployed Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan every April. By Sgt. Dustin Roberts 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div. BAGHDAD Presented by the President of the United States, the Medal of Honor is the highest and most distinguished award given to U.S. servicemembers for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Because of the level of criteria in a Medal of Honor citation, the award is often presented to servicemembers posthumously. Two Vietnam War veterans who survived combat and were awarded Medals of Honor visited Soldiers serving with the 2nd Heavy Dagger Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Multi-National Division Baghdad at Warrior Chapel on Camp Liberty April 14. The two veterans spoke to the Dagger Soldiers about keeping morale high, maintaining a sense of urgency and took the opportunity to answer questions from the Soldiers. We try to visit Soldiers here and in Afghanistan every April, said Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) Gary Littrell, who spent four days on a hill in Vietnam fighting enemy mortar and small arms fire. It s very important that we visit the men and women who are preserving the same freedom we preserved many years ago. Littrell and Col. (retired) Robert Howard, who also earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and eight Purple Hearts for his actions in Vietnam, gave words of encouragement and advice during their visit. Many of you have family at home and because of the technology today, keep them informed and tell them how are doing, said Howard. This is good for everyone s morale and it will help you focus on the mission. The two took turns speaking to the troops, adding that accomplishment of the mission is what motivates leaders to get the job done. After reading my citation, I felt that I did deserve the Medal of Honor, said Littrell. At the time, all I was thinking was I was a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army with a job to do and Soldiers to take care of. Littrell continued by saying to the Soldiers that if they were placed in the same predicament, that they had the same level of integrity and courage to put total effort into the fight, no matter how long it took. You are fine young men and women who have outstanding tools and leadership, he By Sgt. Dustin Roberts Col. (retired) Robert Howard, who earned the Medal of Honor while in combat in the Vietnam War, speaks to Soldiers serving with the 2nd Heavy Dagger Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. said to the Soldiers. We are behind you all the way and as long as we are able to make the trip, we will continue to visit the servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the time came for Soldiers to ask the veterans questions, Staff Sgt. Andres Redondo, a native of Overland Park, Kan., who serves with the 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd HBCT, asked the gentlemen how they stayed motivated and motivated their Soldiers during the time they spent thousands of miles away See HONOR, Pg 2
PAGE 2 April 16, 2009 By Sgt. Joshua Risner, MND-B PAO Detroit native Spc. Jason Sleeper (left), Company A, Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Bde., 82nd Airborne Division, does pre-combat checks on Co. A Soldier, Pvt. Timothy Rickett, before a logistics mission, April 6. This is the first mission for Rickett, who is from Cincinnati. 82nd BSB keeps supply lines open By Sgt. Joshua Risner MND-B PAO BAGHDAD Soldiers serving in the field of logistics may not be clearing routes of improvised explosive devices but they are taking the fight to the enemy in a different way. Without a steady supply of food, fuel and ammunition, an army cannot sustain itself for long. Enter the 82nd Brigade Support Battalion who keep the supply lines open for the 3rd Bde., 82nd Airborne Division. Nearly every day, convoys move out of Forward Operating Base Hammer laden with provisions bound for various sites in and around Baghdad. The BSB, which has been in theater since December, has carried out so many logistical missions, none of them can readily recall exactly how many. Soldiers in Company A, 82nd BSB accomplish the mission, though it is fraught with dangerous roads, long hours and near constant moving, according to Canton, Mich. native, 1st Lt. Jeff Majer, platoon leader, A Co., 82nd BSB. It s not unusual for us to do 24 to 30 hour missions, he said. Some of these guys have been By Sgt. Joshua Risner, MND-B PAO Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles belonging to Company A, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion arrive at Forward Operating Base Loyalty, April 6. Alpha Company s mission takes them to various locations in and around Baghdad, day or night. on back-to-back-to-back missions. It s been rough on them but they get the job done. The convoys carry materials including fuel, ammunition, food and automotive parts, according to Majer. To help shoulder the load, drivers with Kellogg, Brown and Root, Inc. are included in the convoys. These guys help give my Soldiers a little bit of a break by taking on some of our mission, he said. To ensure the safety of everyone involved, Co. A provides its own security detail, according to Greenwood, Fla. native, Sgt. David Washam, Co. A, 82nd BSB. Before every mission, the Soldiers perform battle drills to keep their troop tactical procedures fresh in their minds, Washam added. Troops mount up in their vehicles and drive around the staging area to simulate convoy operations. Soldiers of 82nd BSB face a daunting, open-ended mission but they face it with pugnacious tenacity. Because of them, Soldiers will be fed and their logistical needs met, ensuring continued operations in the 3rd Bde., 82nd Abn. Div. area of responsibility. They are heroes and we owe them great respect and thanks for coming to visit us. HONOR, From Pg 1 from their families. We had no choice but to stay motivated as leaders, said Howard. As for our Soldiers, we reminded them that God and country came before our needs. Littrell added that today s Army has a lot more recourses in quality of life, weapons systems and medical care to reach the needs of Soldiers. Greenville, N.C. native Command Sgt. Maj. Donald Battle, the brigade s senior enlisted advisor, who introduced the Soldiers honorable guests, said he was thankful for them to share their knowledge and support with the Dagger Soldiers. It s because of Americans like Col. Howard and Command Sgt. Maj. Littrell that we can still serve in America s Army, said Battle. They are heroes and we owe them great respect and thanks for coming to visit us. By Sgt. Dustin Roberts, 2nd HBCT PAO, 1st Inf. Div. Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) Gary Littrell (left) and Col. (retired) Robert Howard (center), sign and hand out copies of their Medal of Honor citations.
PAGE 3 April 16, 2009 Louisiana Soldiers pock eggs in Baghdad for Easter Sgt. Rebekah Malone 225th Eng. Bde. PAO BAGHDAD For the deployed Soldiers of the 225th Engineer Brigade, headquartered in Pineville, La., an Easter tradition held on the popular holiday in Louisiana made a debut on Camp Liberty April 12. The tradition known as egg pocking has its roots when some of the first French settlers brought it to Louisiana more than 200 years ago and the 225th s Soldiers jumped at the chance to carry on that favorite holiday pastime which is essentially an egg-tapping competition. Contestants in the competition, all Soldiers from 225th Eng. Bde. currently deployed to Iraq, held hard boiled eggs in their hand and using a variety of techniques, they used their egg to tap the top of another contestant s egg until the egg cracked. Whoever s egg did not crack was declared the winner and proceeded in the tournament. In some Louisiana communities, the winner of an egg pocking competition might receive a $100 prize or more. Although there was no money prize in this competition, the Louisiana Soldiers didn t seem to mind. I ve fought eggs my whole life, said the winner of the competition, Sgt. Maj. Tommy Brouillette, of Pineville, La. Pocking eggs really brought the Cajun culture (to Baghdad), which brought me back home. It was like being at home with my family, but here with my 225th family. I had a blast. Soldiers participated in an Easter egg hunt, egg race, egg eating contest, water-balloon toss and of course pocking egg contest. Decorations, candy and prize baskets were made by the unit s family readiness group and family members who try to make the holidays served while on deployment as enjoyable as possible. Without the support and generosity of our families and friends it would be impossible to have an Easter celebration in Iraq, said event organizer Sgt. Maj. Raymond Lavespere of Tioga, La. We are unable to obtain things like decorations, plastic eggs and Easter candies here in theater. With just a little coordination within a couple of weeks, we had more supplies than we ever expected. By Scott Flenner, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO Sgt. Tommy Allen of Baton Rouge, La., crosses the finish line ahead of Sgt. Maj. Tommy Brouillette of Pineville, La. Both are Soldiers with the 225th Engineer Brigade, during an Easter celebration egg race April 12 on Camp Liberty. By Scott Flenner, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO An egg pocking or fighting competition brought lots of smiles for the deployed Soldiers of the 225th Engineer Brigade from Pineville, La., April 12 on Camp Liberty. Sgt. Maj. Tommy Brouillette of Pineville, La., was declared the winner of the popular French tradition. Command sergeant major conducts mission with Steel Spike Soldiers CAMP LIBERTY 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) Soldiers listen intently as Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Grippe (seated far left), Multi-National Corps Iraq, native of Frankfort, N.Y., gives his assessment of their convoy briefing, April 9 at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Grippe said their briefing was very professional and he was ready to get going on the mission. By 1st Lt. Janeene Yarber, 46th ECH (H) PAO, 225 Eng. Bde. PAO
PAGE 4 April 16, 2009 MND-B chaplains conduct Easter services BAGHDAD Chaplain (Capt) Timothy Meier, MND- B deputy operations chaplain, engages two Soldiers of the Company B, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to Joint Security Station Hope on Easter Sunday. Regardless of the size of the audience, two MND-B chaplains, convoyed out to the stations where the paratroopers may otherwise not have had an Easter service at all. I m grateful to have the opportunity to come out here, Chaplain Meier said. Besides the fact that I love Soldiers, for liturgical Christians, Easter is the most important holiday of the year. BAGHDAD Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Barbara Sherer administers communion to Sgt. Sheena Barnett of the 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion, at Joint Security Station Hope on Easter Sunday evening. Assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Sgt. Barnett is one of many grateful Soldiers the MND-B chaplains reached on a four station trip. BAGHDAD Chaplain (Capt) Timothy Meier, MND- B deputy operations chaplain, speaks with Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Joint Security Station Zafaraniyah as he conducts an Easter service April 12 for troops that may not have access to a fulltime chaplain. The paratroopers expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to take part in Easter communion as a duo of Division chaplains and their assistants convoyed out to four stations to reach Soldiers who were not on a large military complex. BAGHDAD Soldiers of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Joint Security Station Hope gather in prayer with Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Barbara Sherer after receiving Easter communion. JSS Hope was the last of four stations two MND-B chaplains visited in order to conduct Easter services to troops without fulltime chaplain support. Although the entire trip traversed Baghdad twice and lasted approximately 16 hours, Chaplain Sherer was more than happy to visit each relatively remote station. On Easter Sunday, where else would I be? There is no where else I d rather be than out here with the Soldiers.
PAGE 5 April 16, 2009 On This Day In Military History On this day in 1967, a Soldier s courageous actions on the battlefield in Vietnam earned him the Medal of Honor. Spc. 4 George Alan Ingalls of Hanford, Calif., was serving in Co. A, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), in Duc Pho, Vietnam. Company A was on a night ambush mission when an enemy soldier entered the kill zone and was shot when he tried to evade capture. Other enemy soldiers were expected to enter the area, and the ambush was maintained in the same location. Two hours passed without incident and then suddenly, a hand grenade was thrown from the nearby dense undergrowth into the center of Iraq 3-Day Weather Report Today 82 F 59 F Tomorrow 77 F 57 F Ingalls the squad s position. The grenade did not explode, but shortly thereafter a second grenade landed directly between Spc. Ingalls and a nearby comrade. Although he could have jumped to a safe position, Spc. Ingalls, in a spontaneous act of great courage, threw himself on the grenade and abosrbed its full blast. The explosion mortally wounded Spc. Ingalls, but his heroic action saved the lives of the remaining members of his squad. Saturday 82 F 57 F David Letterman s Top Ten Ways To Make Military Life More Fun 10. Forget Reveille, let us wake up to Regis and Kelly. 9. The higher your rank, the larger your hat. 8. Humvees with novelty horns that play La Cucaracha. 7. Thursday night Boggle tournament against neighboring base. 6. Casual Fridays when you re allowed to wear a different shade of khaki. 5. Every night, 1st Sergeant required to put a mint on your pillow. 4. Only deploy in a country where you can get a decent cappuccino. 3. Just once, let me take an Apache helicopter home for the weekend. 2. How about some camouflage uniforms that don t make me look fat? 1. More fun? I don t think that s possible.
PAGE 6 April 16, 2009 Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker Quote For Today Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It s no use. I can t go on. If you do, you re licked and by your own thinking too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on. Norman Vincent Peal, 1898-1993 American minister, author, motivational speaker 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 Bolger Public Affairs Officer: Lt. Col. Philip Smith Public Affairs Chief: Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner Editor: Spc. Jon Soles Staff Writers: Sgt. 1st Class Ron 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 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, email the Editor at jon. soles@mnd-b.army.mil