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SUNBURST 1

2 SUNBURST SUNBURST 3

CONTENTSThe SUNBURST is a monthly magazine distributed in electronic and print format. It is authorized for publication by the 13th SC (E) Public Affairs Office.The contents of the SUNBURST are unofficial and are not to be considered the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, including the Department of Defense.The SUNBURST is a command information publication in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1.The Public Affairs Office is on LSA Anaconda on New Jersey Ave. in building 4136, DSN telephone: (318) 829-1234. Website at www.hood.army.mil/13sce.Contact Sgt. Joel F. Gibson via e-mail at [email protected]

13th SC (E) Commanding GeneralBrig. Gen. Michael J. Terry

13th SC (E) Chief of Public Affairs Maj. Jay R. Adams

COVER STORIESBUILDING IRAQ’S FUTURE p. 10

IRAQ TO CONTROL GROUND FORCE BY YEAR’S END p. 9

IRAQI BORN AMERICAN SOLDIER PROUDLY SERVES p. 15

Q WEST TROOPS UNITE p. 22

RED BULL VISITS PART OF HISTORY p. 31

82ND SB LEADERS STRENGTHEN WARRIOR SPIRIT p. 21

M1114 ARMOR UPGRADES IN FULL SWING p. 14

COMMANDERS CROSS LANGUAGE BARRIERS p. 26

Cover: An Iraqi interpreter keeps a sharp eye for trouble during a recent medical assistance visit to the village of Al Jamiah with 13th SC(E) elements and the 2nd Bat-talion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment. - Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Bell

30 ILLINOIS GUARDSMEN REENLIST p. 30

‘THEM IHOP BOYS’ p. 24


STAFF SECTIONS

p. 4 CG COMMENTSp. 5 CHAPLAIN’S CORNERp. 6 TRIVIAp. 7 PUT IT ON PAPERp. 16 CENTERFOLDp. 20 TRIVIA ANSWERS

Staff Writers

Sgt. 1st Class Mark BellSgt. Gary Witte

Sgt. Kevin McSwainSgt. KaRonda FlemingSpc. Amanda Solitario

Spc. Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown

Contributing Units

1/34 Brigade Combat Team15th Sustainment Brigade45th Sustainment Brigade82nd Sustainment Brigade164th Corps Support Group593rd Corps Support Group657th Area Support Group

Editor

Sgt. Joel F. Gibson

Graphic Design & Layout

Sgt. Adryen Wallace

210th MPAD CommanderMaj. Kirk Slaughter

210th MPAD NCOICSgt. Maj. Mark Schulz

Sunburst Forward Print OfficerMaj. Robert Catlin

RED BULL VISITS PART OF HISTORY p. 31

COMMANDERS CROSS LANGUAGE BARRIERS p. 26

Back Page: An Iraqi soldier looks out of his turret as the vehicle passes the stage of reviewing officers during the5th MTR transfer of authority ceremony.- Illustration by Sgt. Adryen Wallace


CG’S COMMENTS

COMMAND SERGEANT MAJORTerry FountainThe challenges facing the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) mean that leaders have to be more focused and more aggressive this year than ever before. We need to continue to make sure that all classes of supplies are delivered throughout the battlefield and that all servicemembers remain prop-erly equipped.

With the extension of 1/34, this is especially true. The Red Bull Soldiers will have to con-tinue to perform their missions at the stellar levels they have already set for themselves. Leaders, keep looking forward.

These past 5 months have gone by fast. We need to continue to take care of the mis-sion and at the same time, our families in the rear.

Always, Be professional, Know your job, and Do what’s right.

Phantom Support

The New Year brought tough news to our Soldiers from the 1/34 BCT. As part of the President’s plan to place renewed emphasis on securing Baghdad, 1/34 BCT was extended.

The Red Bulls have established a reputation across the theater as tough, seasoned fighters. They have performed every task asked of them with superior discipline and tactical prowess.

Their ability to handle this tough news and continue to excel is an example and inspiration to every Soldier in Iraq. I feel privileged and humbled to work with such fine citizen

Soldiers.

It is now up to the rest of us to follow their example and continue to provide the total sustainment operations our forces need to succeed. The Red Bulls have accepted this challenge and I know our other Soldiers are equally committed to

support increased operations in Baghdad and throughout Iraq. We truly operate as one integrated team.

I am proud of the Red Bulls, and every unit and Soldier in the 13th SC(E) for making logistical sustainment almost transparent to our combat units. They don’t worry about logistics and instead focus on combat and reconstruction because we never fail them.

Keep up the great work.

BRIGADIER GENERALMichael J. Terry

About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and -- WHUMP! -- it smashed into the Jag’s shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.

Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, “What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!” Building up a head of steam, he went on. “That’s my new Jag. That brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?”

“Please, mister, please...I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!” pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop!” Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother, Mister,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheel-chair and I can’t lift him up.” Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”

Moved beyond words, the young executive tried des-perately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12-cylin-der Jaguar XKE - a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.

At times in our lives, we tend to become so wrapped up in other things. We become focused on ourselves or our job we do not realize there are others around us that need our help. We can react in a negative way to a situa-tion without fully realizing or taking the time to look at the other persons situation. Or to take the time to find out the reason the other person has taken the action that they did.

Don’t let the bricks in life hit you.

Be sensitive to those around you.

A BrickContributed by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Kirkendall


CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

JUST A LITTLE TRIVIA

GUESS WHERE ? The Sunburst staff and contributors are constantly out there where ever you can find a 13th SC(E) unit. While on the road we take pictures of places that we visit. Can you guess where we took this picture. Look on page 20 for the answer.

1. What small medieval multi-point weapon, when scattered in numbers, will lame horses or puncture truck tires and is currently the symbol of a U.S. Army Corps?

2. How many types of discharges are there in the U.S. Military?

3. What is the highest rank ever held by a Soldier? ( Here’s a hint, it’s not General of the Army)

4. What battle is the subject of the book (and movie), “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young”?

5. True or False? The total number of casualties inflicted during the Battle of Lexington, during the American Revolutionary War exceeded twenty killed and wounded.

Answers on page 20



“It gives me a since of satisfaction to be able to help people that are less fortunate than the American people. Seeing the children’s faces light up lets me know that our servic-es are appreciated.”

~ Master Sgt. Tessie Coe

[email protected]


“This year will be a battle of wills in Iraq, as the coalition and the majority of Iraqis struggle against those who don’t want a democratic, representative society that responds to the rule of law.”

“ The stakes are very high.”

British Army Maj. Gen. Simon Mayall, Deputy Commander of Multinational Corps Iraq


Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell lV speaks to members of the media during a press conference Wednesday at the Combined Press Information Center. Photo courtesy of Combined Press Information Center

By Gerry J. GilmoreAmerican ForcesPress Service

Iraq to Control Its Ground Forces by

Year’s End

The Iraqi government will have command-and-control of all of its ground forces by the end of 2007, a senior U.S. military officer based in Baghdad predicted.

The Iraqi government will have command-and-control of all of its ground forces by the end of 2007, a senior U.S. military officer based in Baghdad predicted. The year 2007 “is truly the year of transition and adaptation” for Iraq, Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, Multinational Force Iraq spokes-man, told reporters at a news conference in Bagh-dad. All Iraqi army divisions will be under Iraqi Ground Forces Command by summertime, Caldwell said. And, all Iraqi provinces, he said, will go back to Iraqi provincial control by the fall. “So that by the end of the year 2007, a sig-nificant year of transition, the multinational force and the U.S. mission here in Iraq will be truly in support of the efforts of the government of Iraq and not commanding and controlling those things, but working as a support mechanism.” The Feb. 22 terrorist bombing of the Golden Mosque religious shrine in Samarra triggered a surge of Sunni-Shiite sectarian violence across

Iraq in 2006, a development that has led to the formulation of a new U.S. strategy for Iraq,he said. Caldwell pointed out that, despite the violence, the Iraqis have made considerable advances in the past year. “Iraqis achieved many accomplish-ments in 2006 that serve as the foundation for future progress.” “Iraqis have stepped up and begun taking re-sponsibility for their own security,” Caldwell said, noting that responsibility for security in Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Najaf provinces has been transferred to Iraqi provincial control. “The Iraqi Army and police now have overall responsibility for all law enforcement and security activities in those provinces (and) answer to their respective provincial governors and councils.” Just one of Iraq’s 10 army divisions was respon-sible for operations within its own territory at the beginning of last year. Today, 80 percent of Iraq’s army divisions are responsible for their own battle space, he said.

Local children of Al Batha rushing to the top of the slide at the playground.

Photo by Spc. Dustin Perry

A line of Humvees parade around the unit’s mo-tor pool during a transfer of authority ceremony in Kirkush. The unit is made up of heavy and light-wheeled vehicles along with ambulances and tow trucks.

The 593rd Corps Support Group transferred authority of the 1st Motor Transport Regiment to the 1st Iraqi Army Division in a ceremony Nov. 2 at Camp Habbaniyah just a day after the Iraqi Army regained control of the 5th Mo-tor Transport Regiment in Kirkush.

“A new brother has joined our family,” Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Tariq Abdul Wahab Jasim el Azawi said of the 1st MTR.

“It has been a tremendous privilege and honor for me and my team to be here,” said Maj. Todd Offill, a 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Soldier assigned to the Mili-tary Transition Team leader with the 5th MTR,

as he addressed the Soldiers.

The 593rd CSG, which falls under the 13th SC(E), advised and trained the Iraqi soldiers to operate independently from Coalition Forces. “The ceremony is the official statement that the MTR is trained and ready to be a contribut-ing part of the Iraqi Army,” said Capt. Harold Young, III, maintenance advisor for the Trans-portation Military Transition team with the 1st MTR.

“The Iraqi Army continues to make progress… and this ceremony is a part of that progress,” said Lt Col. David Wilcox, chief of Iraqi secu-rity force training cell with the 5th MTR.

Iraqi soldiers pass in review at the5th MTR transfer of authority ceremony after spending months of training with coalition forces.


The transition team with the 1st MTR consists of 20 Ameri-can servicemembers who have been advis-ing their Iraqi Army counterparts on motor transportation operations.

Addressing the 1st MTR, el Azawi stated, “It is a great honor today that you are receiving the

complete responsibility in managing and car-rying out the tasks and responsibilities within the parameters of the division.”

The soldiers of the 1st MTR started training in February of 2006 and the ceremony marked the official attachment of the regiment to the Iraqi Army, said Master Sgt. Charles E. Davis, transition team NCO in charge. Davis said the regiment has been conducting missions independent of Coalition Forces since Oct. 1. “They are ready,” he said. “The 1st MTR is very competent … they have moved supplies for us and we feel confident that they can ac-complish supply missions.”

“We will witness today the greatest achieve-ment of our battalion, receiving the responsi-bility of carrying out the tasks and duties of the division,” said Lt. Col. Mukadum Abdu Razak, Commanding Officer of the 1st MTR, “This achievement was not completed easily,

but by the efforts and dedication of all the bat-talion officers and en-listed soldiers.”

Capt. Thomas Smith, an advisor in the MiTT with the 5th MTR, said the MiTT faced many obstacles throughout the training process. Besides language and cultural barriers, he said it was a challenge to try to get the Iraqi soldiers to transi-tion to better ways of doing things.

Smith said the 10-man embedded transition team tested the unit on everything from basic soldier skills to logistical management, and in-

Iraqi Army soldiers stand in formation during the 1st MTR transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Habbaniyah.


vested endless hours in the development of the regi-ment. “The 5th MTR was the only MTR to validate their soldiers in the amount of time we had and with very limited resources,” he said. Smith said he is con-fident in the abilities that he helped to instill in the soldiers of the 5th MTR, and the unit will stand up next to any other MTR in the Iraqi Army and shine.

“They are all natural leaders and are very good at what they do,” Offill said.Many of the soldiers in the 5th MTR were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the fight.

Col. Megan P. Tatu, commander of the 164th Corps Support Group currently deployed to Camp Anaconda, and an Iraqi officer handed out certificates of achievements to those sol-diers before the close of the ceremony.

According to Wilcox each successful transfer of authority to Iraqi forces helps accomplish an overall goal of an independent Iraq. “Mili-tary history tells us that without a plentiful and dependable source of fuel, food, and ammu-nition, a military force falters,” said Wilcox. “The MTR is a much needed part of that capa-bility to the Iraqi Army.”

The battalion-sized regiment, led by a lieu-tenant colonel and a sergeant major, is tasked with the mission to support the 1st Iraqi Army Division with transportation services in the Anbar Providence.

Col. Richard Burns, commanding officer of the 593rd, looks on as Iraqi Army Maj. Gen. Tariq Abdul Wahab Jasim el Azawi passes the 1st MTR guidon to Lt. Col. Mukadum Abdu Razak, Commanding Officer of the 1st MTR.

Army Materiel Command is set-ting up shops across Iraq to meet the large demand for the latest safety addition to the M1114, the new Objective Fragmentation 5 (OF5K) door and side panel add-on armor kit. The armored kits, which are the newest upgrades to Humvees, help better protect servicemembers from explosive devices and other haz-ards on the battlefield. The new armor enhancements offer the troops many features not available until now. Spring-loaded and counter-weighted windows allow the Soldier to roll the 100-pound window up and down with ease, said Lt. Col. Frederick Den-nison of Radcliff, Ky., commander of the 1st Battalion, 402nd Army Field Support Brigade. The improved Gunner’s Protec-tive Kit (O-GPK) enhances the gunner’s protection, visibility, and maneuverability within the turret, according to Ted Rhoades, a civil-ian logistics planner from Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The gunner sits in a suspended, cushioned harness, which swings 360 degrees in a powered turret he operates with a joystick. He also said the ballistic glass offers greater peripheral vision as well as added

protection. “It’s like NASA,” said Jim Hea-ton, process improvement man-ager for 1-402nd, concerning the emergency hatch system, “The doors give the troops a single-point emergency release.” Heaton said, “Should a fire break out in the vehicle, the standard door handles also serve as an emergency hatch release, breaking the door away from the hinges.” Dennison said his battalion, also known as the Sustainment Battal-ion, wants to be the primary source of the add-on-armor installs to supported units. “We have ex-panded the number of install sites within Iraq,” he said. “We wanted to reduce the travel distance and minimize time on dangerous routes for the Soldier.” Thomas C. Labonte, the instal-lation site leader for Taji, said the upgrades will catch on quickly. “As long as the customer brings the vehicles prepped for install, we can move a vehicle out in two days,” said Labonte. “Prepped for install” means the vehicle is clean, and clear of debris and personal effects in order for the installation crew to start work immediately. Unfortunately, Dennison said units cannot drive up to the Sus-

tainment Battalion expecting armor installs like they would an oil change at a service station. The MNC-I has instituted an induction schedule, he said. Every major command in Iraq has an appointed Add-on-Armor Induction Manager who issues Add-on-Armor alloca-tions based on the commander’s guidance. Dennison expects maximum unit participation in the program. Den-nison wants units to take advantage of this upgrade opportunity so the number of vehicles inducted closely matches his battalion’s pro-duction capability. “The two new armor systems provide over 2,000 pounds of extra protection,” Dennison said. “And every Soldier saved makes it well worth its weight in gold.” With crews working long hours to ensure Soldiers get the latest armor up-grades quickly, changes were made to the installation process. George Eaton, 402nd Historian, said that MNC-I has reinforced the unit participation by assigning more than 100 Soldiers to assist in the installation of the kits. “This will allow for 24-hour operations at the install sites,” he said. Eaton said there are now Soldiers work-ing in the program at every install site in Iraq. “I expect maximum usage of all our add-on armor facilities thereby enhancing force protection for those that need it most -- the war fighter,” Dennison said. “It is worth the 40 man-hour install time. Soldier’s will be saved.”

Story andPhoto bySgt. 1st Class Mark Bell

m1114 upgradedarmor installsin full swingfor u.s. forces



Eight years and many small miracles later, U.S. Army Spc. Jotyar Tile retuned to his native land and will be serving both his countries. Tile remembers the day his family fled northern Iraq after years of bombing and terror by Saddam’s government. “If we had

stayed one more day we would not have made it out alive; they were using chemicals against us and destroying our villages,” Tile said. “My father was a hard headed and proud Kurd and did not want to leave our home. We were the last family to leave Qumri,” he said. For years his family had endured the anti-Kurdish campaign led by the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein “I remember every Friday we had to dress up and wear army clothes to school and march around and raise the flag and act like soldiers,” Tile said. “Saddam demanded we do this from about age 5 and up.” In August 1988, then 18-year-old Tile, his parents, five sisters and seven brothers fled his home in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq to a refugee camp in Turkey. Tile said the conditions in the refugee camp were appalling with approximately 16,000 refugees in tents covering an area of four to five square miles. Refugees were not allowed to work and all had fled with no belongings; not even bringing pots to boil water in. Many became ill and died because of the poor health and hygiene conditions and simple preventive medical issues like frostbite were rampant, he said. “Then, one day, the U.S. and U.N. visited us and asked if we wanted to go to the U.S. or Europe,” Tile beamed. “I said yes, I want to go to the U.S.,” he said, but his parents declined and they returned to their home in 1992 along with his siblings. On Sept. 29, 1992 Tile arrived in New York City as a refugee and received a green card. Within days he moved in with a sponsor in Fargo, N.D. “I did not know anything about the U.S. except California and New York,” he said. “And I didn’t speak a word of English.” Tile explained how “a very nice and beautiful lady volunteer named Karen Harris” changed his life.

This lady, whom he has not had contact with in years, taught him how to speak English, drive a car, and got him his first job for $4.25 an hour. “I would love to contact her and thank her but don’t know how,” he said regretfully. “When I received my first paycheck, I went back to the social service and thanked them and told them I didn’t want any more of their help,” he smiled. He said they tried to tell him that he could continue to receive support for months, but he said he wanted it go to someone else who really needed it. “I wanted to join the U.S. Army ever since I came to the U.S.,” he said, “to show my appreciation for everything they did for my people,” but he did not have a high school diploma and did not know how to obtain a general equivalency diploma. The next several years meant several moves for Tile. He moved to Sioux Falls and worked in a meatcutting factory cutting pork “even though, as a Muslim, I do not eat pork.” He also lived in Nashville and Georgia. Eventually he learned through a friend of his that there was a special program created for allowing native language speakers to join the army as interpreters. “I contacted this guy and they flew me out to California and I joined the army as an E-3 after taking the ASVAB test, physical, language exam and others. “Since then I have also recruited two others,” Tile said proudly. After completing basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, S.C., Tile found out he was assigned to a unit scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan. “I went to my commander and told him I would do my duty as a Soldier and I would go anywhere they told me to go. But I asked him not to rely on me as an interpreter for Afghanistan because I do not speak those dialects,” he said. Within a few weeks, and with some help from his first sergeant, Tile was reassigned to a unit deployed to Iraq. Upon arriving in Iraq, he joined his new unit, the 352nd Corps Support Battalion from the Army Reserves out of Macon, Georgia. This unit performs a wide variety of logistical support for Coalition Forces serving in northern Iraq. Tile said he has spoken with his family and they now know that he is back in Iraq and they are proud of him for serving both his countries. He will spend his deployment in the Kurdish region serving as an interpreter, and will be only an hour or so from his original home and family. “My first goal is to make enough money to fix my family’s roof, and to help them.” When Tile’s family returned to their village in 1992, there was nothing left and the family was forced to start over and rebuild a house in a different location. Tile, now 35 and a specialist in the Army, said that he loves his family and wants to help them and still misses his mother’s cooking even though he has not seen them in more than 14 years. “The U.S. did a lot for my people and this is only a little bit that I can give back,”Tile said.

Iraqi Born American Soldier Proudly Serving in HomelandStoy & Photo by Maj. Juanita Chang

25th ID TAC PAO

Spc. Jotyar K. Tile, 35, an interpreter with the 352nd CSB, 13th SC(E), returns to his homeland in northern Iraq to serve both his countries.

“I wanted to join the U.S. Army ever since I came to the U.S., to show my appreciation for everything they did for my people.”

Trivia answers

Guess Where Answer: LSA Anaconda East [email protected]

1. The Caltrop, which is featured on the shoulder sleeve insignia of III Corps. III Corps, a Fort Hood unit, is currently assigned as Multi-National Corps – Iraq, based out of Baghdad.

2. Five, Honorable, General, Other Than Honorable, Bad-Conduct, and Dishonorable. You may receive a dishonorable discharge only by a general court-martial and as appropriate for serious

offenses calling for dishonorable separation as

part of the punishment.

3. Many people believe that General of the Army is the highest rank, but there is one rank higher, a six-star equivelent: General of the Armies of the United States. John Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies in recognition of his World War I service, however, the only man to hold the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, George Washington, was posthumously promoted by a congressional joint resolution in 1976.4. The Battle of Ia Drang was the first major battle of the Vietnam War between the United States Army and the People’s Army of Vietnam. The two-part battle took place between November 14 and November 18, 1965, at two landing zones northwest of Plei Me in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. The battle derives its name from the Drang River which runs through the valley northwest of Plei Me. Representing the U.S. forces were elements of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 7th Cavalry, and the 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry, both under command and control of the 1st Cavalry Division, which is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

5. False, Eight members of the Massachusetts

militia were killed in the first battle of the Revolutionary War and ten were wounded. The British only suffered a single man wounded, however, Major John Pitcairn, the executive officer of the British forces at Lexington, lost his horse to two American musket balls.


Many of us have seen the war movies de-picting a battled-hardened Soldier running out of ammunition then charging up a hill with brass knuckles or a knife and engaging in some serious hand-to-hand combat. Since the Global War on Terrorism began, the Department Of Defense has restructured and re-introduced hand-to-hand combat training to troops known as combatives. As far back as World War I, combatives has been a part of military training, but it wasn’t until after World War II, that combatives went from being a side note, to being an integral part of training. It was an Army colonel from that era, Col. Rex Applegate, author of “Kill or Be Killed,” who said it best: “Unarmed combat is just what the name implies- a system of fighting intended for use when weapons are not available or when their use is not advisable.” The instruction of combatives is so imperative to-day, that Non-Commissioned Officers in Drill Ser-geant School are required to undergo an eight-hour block of instruction and must be level one qualified in order to graduate. “I was instantly hooked and hungry for more. I was the first DS in my company to be certified level one and two,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Bravo, 82nd Sus-tainment Brigade Battle NCO. The 38-year-old New Yorker continues to teach combatives and said the heart of combatives is to instill the Warrior Ethos. “To have the courage to (come) close with the enemy and never accept defeat or quit,” he said. “That’s what I want all the troops I come in contact with to walk away with more than any drill I can ever teach.” The Modern Army Combatives Program level one teaches three basic drills, which form a core. Each stu-dent learns to maneuver between positions constantly and how to use the opponent’s weight against them. “At first I didn’t want to do combatives, but the hands-on training left me wanting more,” said Sgt. Arnaud Bouhan, 82nd Sustainment Brigade. “The training was good. Not only was it an opportu-nity to do something different for PT, I feel it enhanced cohesion within the section,” said Staff Sgt James N. Blake, 82nd Sustainment Brigade. “I’ve seen Ultimate Fighting Championships before and that’s what I was

expecting. What I learned was that you do not have to be a big person to take someone down. It’s all about technique, timing and confidence in what you know.” With the high operations tempo, especially in urban terrain, combatives is crucial to the development of our modern fighting force. Gen. George S. Patton once said, “Very few people have ever been killed with the bayonet or saber, but the fear of having their guts ex-plored with cold steel in the hands of battle-maddened men has won many a fight.”


Sgt. 1st Class William Bravo demonstrates proper submission methods.

82nd SB LeadersStrengthen Warrior Spirit


Q-West Troops Unite to Aid VillageStory bySpc. Kyndal Hernandez

Before departing the base, Maj. John Treufeldt of 2-123 Armor Regiment and troops from seven units atQ-West take notes as they are briefed on the humanitarian mission to Ad Walla.

Troops from Forward Operating Base Q-West continued the Christ-mas spirit Dec. 26, 2006 delivering gifts and medical care to more than 25 families in a nearby village.

Organizers said this mission was de-signed to bring Soldiers from seven different units together and promote base wide camaraderie, as well as provide much needed humanitarian assistance for the Iraqi people.

The troops visited Ad Walla, a small village often neglected because of its remote location. “One of the main reasons that we are here is to win the hearts and minds of the local commu-

nity and this is one of the events that we do in order to achieve that goal,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Ramos, 45th Special Troops Battalion command sergeant major.

Soldiers, including Iraqi Army troops, arrived with truckloads of gifts and water to give to the local people of the villages. They gave away 54 boxes filled with things such as clothes, candy, personal hygiene products and school supplies. The village of Ad Walla does not have running water, so troops also brought five pallets of water for residents.

Medics from Q-West’s Troop Medi-cal Clinic provided basic medical care as well as medicines and antibiotics to treat colds and other ailments. “Any-thing we get out here is a big help to us,” said Ahmed Ashab, a resident of Ad Walla. “The people here do not have a lot of stuff. We don’t have run-ning water; the children can’t even go to school because there is not electric-ity and no heat, so we are very thank-ful for whatever we can get.”

Ramos said people in villages like Ad Walla rarely ever get new things. They usually get used, or second hand items from other families. “The stuff that we brought them was all new. Seeing the expressions on their faces and making the children happy is just a good feeling,” Ramos said. “News media covers a lot of the nega-


In a remote area less than 30 miles from Q-West, an Iraqi woman in the village of Ad Walla waits to be seen by a U.S. Army doctor visiting from the nearby base.

Soldiers from Q-West and residents of the Ad Walla pose for a group picture durring a recent hemanitarian mission.

tive things that happen here [in Iraq], and we don’t see a lot of positive.”

Well this is some of the good stuff that Soldiers are doing to help the Iraqi people and to ensure a good relationship with them.” Ramos said that it is a great feeling to know that these troops are doing a small part in achieving such a big goal.

“I think its important that we do stuff for the Iraqi villages not based on what they have or what they

don’t have,” said Pfc. Theresa Colvin, personnel clerk with Headquarters and Headquarters Com-pany, 45th Sustainment Brigade.

“It isn’t about their poverty level. This is about just establishing a rapport between Iraqis and Americans. It is about getting to see first hand what Americans are willing to do for people and getting them to trust us. That’s what wins the war -- people trusting you and being on your side instead of be-ing against you.”

US Soldiers are working with Iraqi Secu-rity Forces in Southern Iraq to improve both groups’ effectiveness and provide a more secure environment for all Iraqis. The Iraqi Highway Patrol (IHP) is working with the 134th Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), based in Little Falls, MN, to improve their training, tactics, and credibility with the Iraqi people. Led by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Emery of Albert-ville, MN and Sgt. Michael Wells of Gwinnett County, GA, both military policemen, a team of BSB Soldiers is conducting joint patrols with the IHP on a regular basis near An Na-siriyah, Iraq. Capt. Tim Engle of Sartell, MN, works with Emery, Wells, and Maj. Ali, the IHP Commander, to plan and evaluate the joint operations. The IHP joint patrols combine with the 134th BSB’s civil military efforts to form a multi-faceted approach to reinforce Dhi Qar Province’s recent transfer to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) and allow the Iraqis to establish a firm base on which to build their new, demo-cratic future.

IHP Patrol Leader Ghazi Sarghan explained the benefits of the patrols, “these patrols have given us the opportunity to take the skills we learned in the academy and actually see them work. Additional training in vehicle place-ment, responding to unexploded ordinance (UXO), and First Aid has increased my ability to serve the people of Iraq.” IHP Patrol Officer Sammy Jacob elaborated, “[the joint patrols] have given me the opportunity to use my skills and make a positive impact in my province.” Both Sarghan and Jacob expressed gratitude for the training and respect the American Soldiers shared with their group. IHP-Coalition joint patrols allow both groups to share their respective expertise. American Soldiers possess experience in patrolling and police work while the Iraqis contribute invalu-able knowledge and experience in their culture and the attitude and actions of Iraqi citizens in their area. This collaboration of professionals has contributed to an increase in security and service to the people of Dhi Qar.

Iraqi Highway Patrol Leader Ghazi Sarghan conducts a rock drill as Sgt. Michael Wells, center, looks on. – photo courtesy of Sgt. Michael Wells


Story by Staff Sgt. Bill Snellman with help fromSgt. 1st Class Eric Emeryand Sgt. Michael Wells

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Emery, left, and Sgt. Michael Wells, right, work with the Iraqi Highway Patrol in Southern Iraq. – photo courtesy of Sgt. Michael Wells

Before, during ,and after joint patrols, Em-ery and Wells explain tactics during “rock drills.” During these drills, Soldiers and IHP officers use US and Iraqi flags to represent the response of each vehicle in the patrol to various situations they encounter. After the Americans present their tactics, the Iraqis provide their input and the two groups dis-cuss their options. The Iraqis then present the rock drill back to the group. Finally, the patrol executes their plan on the roads and highways of Iraq. During the patrols, the IHP are always in the lead with the US vehicles and Soldiers acting in a support and mentor-ing role. Engle explained, “These joint pa-trols are helping secure Iraq by encouraging the IHP to conduct the patrols, helping them resource the patrols, and by educating them to patrol effectively. These patrols also show the civilian population in the area that their security force is out there to help and leading the way.” Speaking of the benefits the joint patrols provide to American Soldiers, Emery said, “[working with the IHP] has given me a

greater sense of pride that I am able, person-ally, to help out the people that want to make a difference in Iraq with what knowledge I know.” Wells shared similar feelings, “This opportunity to work with the IHP is one of a lifetime. Being a police officer back home, it gave me an opportunity to see difficulties and diversities of an Iraqi police force. These police officers face dangers on and off the job that we as police officers in the States could not imagine. These men are truly heroes of Iraq, knowing the dangers they proudly put on their uniforms and patrol the highways of Iraq. I am in awe of their dedi-cation and the sacrifices they make in build-ing a better Iraq for future generations.” As the Americans and Iraqis gain expertise through their cooperation, the citizens of Dhi Qar province see their IHP performing pro-fessionally and with the respect of Coalition Forces. The IHP are demonstrating to the entire world the success Iraq is having as its citi-zens and security forces take responsibility for their security and their future.

“THEM IHOP

BOYS”ihp joint patrol



In one of the most dangerous and poverty-stricken areas of Mosul, two battalion commanders set out to bring happiness to Iraqi school children. Lt. Col. Steven Eveker, commander of the 352nd Corp Sup-port Battalion, and Lt. Col. Mohammed Ibrihim Belal, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the Iraqi Army, worked numerous days coordinating between Mosul officials, the chap-lains office at Forward Operating Base Diamondback, and Iraqi and American troops.

“This was one of the largest joint humanitarian mis-sions conducted in Mosul during daylight hours since Operation Iraqi Freedom began,” Eveker said. “Most missions conducted by the 352nd CSB occur under curfew hours, which really limit the Soldiers’ contact with the local population.”

The operation included more than 1,400 small bags

of school supplies, 35 kerosene heaters, more than 50 boxes of clothes, more than 200 umbrellas, and 42 backpacks that were ready to be delivered to about 1,350 children at two schools in downtown Mosul, Capt. Mark Cisco, a chaplain with the 352nd, said.

“The initial planning for the mission began in early October,” Cisco said. “Numerous email messages and letters were mailed to friends, families, churches, and supporters of the 352nd CSB requesting school sup-plies, clothing, and heaters for the classrooms.”

Approximately 30 soldiers from the 352nd CSB, 1345th Transportation Company, 714th Ordinance Detachment (Corps Support Company), and the 399th Combat Support Hospital, went out into the communi-ty and interacted with residents while being protected by the Iraqi Army, which was pre-positioned on roof-tops and street corners during the two hour mission.

Positioned on a nearby rooftop, an Iraqi soldier keeps a watchful eye out for any trouble during the recent mis-sion into Mosul.26 SUNBURST SUNBURST 27

Sgt. Michael Hunt, with the help of an Iraqi soldier, unloads a portable heater dur-ing a recent goodwill mission in Mosul.

American and Iraqi forces work together during a recent mission to help the people of Mosul.


A casual conversation took place between the two commanders as they walked down the middle of the streets of Mosul from the first school to the second school. Iraqi adults and children seemed excited, and smiles could be seen on their faces, as they walked along the sidewalks and occasionally made contact with IA and American soldiers. The two commanders led the parade of soldiers, the unit ministry team, and reporters through what used to be labeled as a very dangerous street in Mosul.

“Lt. Col. Eveker is very well-liked, trusted and respected in the 222nd IA and throughout the commu-nity of Mosul,” Mohammad said. “He is a good man

and we work well together, and that is why we can do humanitarian missions like this.”

“Lt. Col. Mohammad understands the complexi-ties of the military, economic, political, and religious challenges for the city of Mosul,” Eveker said. “This is what makes him a great leader and commander. He is fighting for a free Iraq and a more democratic Iraq. His soldiers are very disciplined and that is why we were able to walk down the streets of this city while they protected us.”

Once inside the second school, the two commanders met with the school principal, who appeared surprised

Protected by an armored vehicle, an Iraqi soldier keeps his automatic weapon pointed toward any possible trouble spots during a recent mission.

American and Iraqi soldiers unload donations during the recent trip to Mosul.


at the visit. A short meeting – with tea – took place, then both commanders went into a classroom and started handing out school supplies to the students.

“When we first went into these schools the children appeared terrified and scared of the Iraqi soldiers and me,” Eveker said. “The most rewarding thing about this mission was how quiet, timid, and thankful these children were. And as we left their classrooms they would burst out with laughter and excitement as to what had just hap-pened.” “Can we make an impact on every child in Mosul? Probably not,” he said. “But we did make an impact on the children we saw today.”

More than 1,000 children, ages 7-13, received school book supplies and candy during this joint humanitarian mission. “For our soldiers to see the indigent popula-tion and feeling the effects of a war torn nation in the daylight was a memory that will be forever etched in their minds,” said Sgt. Charles Sebok.

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30 Soldiers of the 1744th Transportation Company, an Illinois National Guard unit operating under the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), participated in a reenlistment ceremony held Jan. 6 on LSA Anaconda. “As a first sergeant, it feels great to have your Soldiers reenlist,” 1st Sgt. Royal Schaefer, first sergeant of the 1744th, said. “This is a great benefit to the Illinois Na-tional Guard.” Spc. Jimmie Wong-Soto, a driver for the unit convoy commander, has been in the Army for nine years. He

said his family accepted and supported his decision to continue his career in the military. “I think it is impor-tant that we keep the Army strong with the experience of older Soldiers and the motivation of younger ones.” Schaefer said no matter what reason each Soldier chose to reenlist, it was beneficial for both the servicemembers and the military. “Some Soldiers may have reenlisted for the money,” he said. “But the Illinois National Guard gets 30 good Soldiers.

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by Sgt. Kevin McSwainBrig. Gen. Michael J. Terry, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) commanding general reenlists Soldiers of the 1744th Transportation Company.

With their armored security vehicles and uparmored Humvees surrounding their formation, Soldiers reenlist during a Jan. 6 ceremony on LSA Anaconda.

“I think it is important that we keep the Army strong.”


Story by Spc. Dustin Perry Last September, while Maj. Mark Hoyne was in Italy for two weeks of Rest and Recuperation leave, he took a day off from seeing the sights to connect with a dual piece of his history – and to make good on a promise. Hoyne, the aviation officer for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th (Red Bull) Infantry Division, was asked by his aunt’s mother-in-law, Mary Jane, to visit the gravesite of her husband, Cpl. Raymond E. Schmierer, who died Oct. 5, 1944. Raymond is not only a distant relative of Hoyne’s but also served under the “Red Bulls” during World War II. Hoyne, a native of Coleraine, Minn., agreed and made his way to the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, located off the Certosa- Florence exit of the Rome-Milan autostrada. The cemetery covers about 70 acres, mostly on the west side of the Greve River. Its hills are covered with symmetrically-curved rows of headstones, 4,402 of which belong to American military dead – and at Plot D, Row 13, Grave 5 sits Raymond’s. “Mary Jane asked if I would look up the gravesite because she had never visited it … I was honored,” said Hoyne. Schmierer lived in St. Paul, Minn., with his wife and their son John, where he worked at a bank. In the Army, he served as a rifle squad leader with Com-pany C, 133rd Infantry Regiment. His division was deployed in mid- 1944 and participated in six major campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He died during the 5th Army’s attack on Bologna. Hoyne said he never knew much about the de-cades-old family ties he had within his unit but was still extremely proud when he finally came upon the headstone. He made a pencil etching of the inscription and placed one of his own unit patches at the site. “Wearing the Red Bull patch and knowing he was a Red Bull was kind of awe-inspiring,” said Hoyne. “Looking at that, you realize the history you’re part of is something much bigger than you are.” Prior to taking the trip, Hoyne was loaned several keepsakes from Mary Jane – photos, newspaper clip-

pings, the last two letters she received from Raymond, and even a letter she wrote to her hus-band on Oct. 5, the day he died. In it, she tells him a care pack-age with “Fanny Farmer” candy is on its way and recounts a visit from her cousin Vesta, during which their then- 2-year-old son “carries on quite a conversation” with them both. The letter ends, “I love you so, Darling – my days are so little without you. I’m just half of a whole; and the other half is you, my Darling. God be with you and bless you and keep you. I love you so.” The visit to the gravesite provided “a sense of closure” for both Hoyne and his family, he said. Even though he didn’t know much about Ray-mond before the trip, he says he now feels a lot closer and has a deeper understanding of what it’s like for generations of family to serve in a war. “I think the feelings Soldiers experience during a war are pretty constant throughout time,” said Hoyne. “Really, the only thing that’s different, in my opinion, is the years that have passed. You’re doing a job, but you can’t wait until it’s done to get home to your family.”

Red Bull Soldier visits part offamily / unit history in Italy

“Wearing the Red Bull patch and knowing he was a Red Bull

was kind ofawe-inspiring,”


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