Posted on 09/28/2005 6:59:13 PM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Families and Friends of the Vanguard Brigade
This next week the temperature is finally expected to drop below 100 degrees during the day and it will stay in the 70s at night. It feels so much cooler, especially the soft night breezes. Not sure if we ever mentioned that there have been no clouds since May, just dust storms. Clouds are an October event here in Iraq.
This week continued like last week: a very tough week for the brigade. We had more incidents, but activity has decreased over the past few days. Yesterday, we had a suicide car bomb attack that killed two Iraqi Soldiers and wounded three others. These Soldiers belong to an Iraqi battalion that we have been training since April. The Iraqi patrol had arrived at a site where they were going to set up a traffic control point. The point where Soldiers get off their vehicles onto the ground is always a point of vulnerability because a suicide bomber can inflict high casualties on the entire patrol when they are concentrated in one spot. Events like this have happened before in Baghdad so we taught the Iraqis to put some Soldiers out front to stop traffic while the rest of the Soldiers dismount and disperse to their positions. Two Soldiers stopped traffic, and it appears that the second car back in growing traffic jam was a suicide car bomb. The bomber realized he was now trapped between the Soldiers and traffic stopping behind him. He detonated himself killing the two Soldiers. Some innocent Iraqis were wounded as well. These Iraqi Soldiers are on the front line of a war on terrorism in Iraq’s capital – they gave their lives while defending the local population. Today, that same Iraqi Army unit is already back out in the streets of Baghdad. Contrast this story with constant news reports on the problems with Iraqi security forces. Our experience is that the Iraqi Army is getting better every day – Iraqi Soldiers on the ground are good Soldiers who are willing to defend their country from its’ enemies. Our biggest frustration is the slow growth of support capabilities within the Ministry of Defense – there is no real logistics system other than local contracts.
We are constantly conducting offensive operations on a daily basis with Iraqi Security Forces – this past week we had a combined total of 93 detainees as a result of our operations. This is all part of preparing for the ratification of the Constitution which is less than three weeks away. As expected, those who are working against this political process have tried to resort to increased violence, but operations are made more difficult every day due to the growing strength and competence of the Iraqi security forces. As a result, there may be less attacks, but some of those attacks may be more lethal on both Iraqi citizens and security forces. Despite all the violence, every poll continues to show that Iraqis will vote in huge numbers.
We are very sad to announce the deaths of three great Soldiers in 1-184th Infantry. Specialist Sonoda was killed by a roadside bomb on 21 September, and on 23 September, a large roadside bomb killed Sergeant Neubauer and Staff Sergeant Scheile. Our prayers go out to their families and friends.
Given the continued tragedy this week, we think these words spoken at a recent memorial ceremony gives some small insight into the minds and hearts of our Soldiers. “There is only one thing left for us to do: that is, to devote what strength and powers we have to pursuing the victory to the cause for which we have sacrificed too much... we must see Iraq stand proud, independent and free…we cannot fail them by failing.” Our Soldiers understand the stakes; they understand what they must do to advance our mission; they summon the courage to pursue a noble cause despite adversity. When we visit a wounded Soldier, often the first words are not about his injuries – they are about the welfare of those that were with them and going back out on missions. It brings a tear to your eye when some actually apologize for getting wounded. Soldiers are remarkable Americans.
We appreciate all the support, especially in these times. It is the unwavering support of those back home that keeps our Soldiers focused on their mission, and it keeps them safe.
Vanguard! Rock of the Marne!
Very Respectfully, Colonel Ed Cardon and Command Sergeant Major Louis Torres
Bears repeating.
The latest installment.
God Bless you all. Our hearts are with you.
Many thanks again to Col. Cardon, CSM Torres and all the men under their command. May God keep them safe.
Outstanding! America's finest. Thanks for posting.
Thank you, but please don't confuse me with the people who are putting their lives on the line for us. I am just a middle man in the communications network.
Your efforts are very important, just the same. The people who tend the supply system, and those who communicate the truth are just as essential to the cause as those who risk their lives on the line.
You may not be risking death every day, but getting the word out here at home, against the relentless defeatism of the MSM, is every bit as important as supplying fuel and ammunition to the troops.
I too, thank you for your efforts.
BTT. So let it be written; so let it be.
Thanks for the post. Prayers for these brave patriots.
Feed me ammunition
Keep me in the 3d Division
Rock of the Marne!
Thanks, add me to your ping list please.
fyi
Thank God for the internet and the "new" media that allow us to get "unfiltered" reports (read truth) from the front like this one.
You be on.
Iraqis's can now take pride in their forces. This has to be a motivating effect. They keep signing up to become security police, border patrol guards, regular army, airforce, navy personel, and recently Iraqi Special Forces Commandos. And they are being trained like no other ME military. They have now the required element we have discussed last year. Esprit de Corps.
It is the unwavering support of those back home that keeps our Soldiers focused on their mission, and it keeps them safe.
======
Yes, it does bear repeating, HJS.
We may not have our faces on the nightly news, or have gallons of ink used to print stories about it, like the leftist led anti-American crowd, but I hope our troops know that they have our undying love and our unwavering support.
Our prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives (American and Iraqi). Our continued prayers for the troops and their mission. God bless them.
Pray for W and Our Hero Soldiers
I am from the U.K. but my heart goes out to all the troops U.S. and U.K. who are currently serving in Iraq.May god keep you all safe and bring you all home safely to your loved ones..
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