Worry takes a respite [thanks to Michael Gilbert, from a Stryker Brigade Soldier's uncle]

North County Times ~ San Diego ^ | Jan. 2, 2004 | MARK WALKER

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Opinion: Columns

Last modified Friday, January 2, 2004 9:51 PM PST

Editor's Corner: Worry takes a respite

By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

My sister has a new 24/7 companion these days. It's called worry, and it's a companion a lot of Camp Pendleton spouses will again soon have.

For my sister, worry took a welcome respite on Christmas thanks to a reporter from the Tacoma News Tribune in Washington state.

My nephew, Staff Sgt. Sean Dack, is in Iraq with the Stryker Brigade, the U.S. Army's new fast-attack fighting force, also known as the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. The brigade stationed at Fort Lewis near Tacoma was sent to Iraq in November, staging in Kuwait before rolling north, and Camp Pendleton units are now gearing up for a similar deployment.

Nothing had been heard from Sean since he left Kuwait until the News Tribune's Christmas Eve story by its embedded reporter with the brigade, Michael Gilbert. "As targets go, cavalry prefers to be moving," read the headline.

Here is an excerpt from Gilbert's story: NEAR DULUIYAH, Iraq ---- Troopers from the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment are back to working a more traditional role after a week working the checkpoints outside Samarra, Iraq.

The squadron is the eyes and ears of the Fort Lewis-based Stryker brigade, typically conducting reconnaissance ---- finding the bad guys ---- and then directing the infantry to the attack.

Since a Sunday morning rocket attack on Camp Pacesetter, the base camp for the brigade, the squadron has been patrolling the wide-open areas around the base.

But out on the checkpoints they pretty much were stationary and got shot at from time to time ---- two things they don't much care for in the cavalry.

"I think we've been shot at more than any other unit in the brigade," said Maj. Joe Davidson, the squadron operations officer.

Lt. Michael Irvine, Staff Sgt. Sean Dack and Sgt. Michael Haley were among the troopers at the checkpoint north of Samarra when guerrillas fired four rocket-propelled grenades their way. One landed wide right, three others wide left. One hit about 30 yards in front of them, close enough to make everybody a little nervous."

So there it was. Sean Dack was regularly getting shot at, but he was OK.

My sister read the report Christmas Eve morning and began screaming, prompting my brother-in-law to initially fear the worst. She said she was surprised to see Sean's name and filled with relief to learn he was all right.

After the Christmas Eve surprise, Sean called his mom at about 1 a.m. on Dec. 26. They talked for about 10 minutes. His voice was hoarse, but he said he was fine. He was a little homesick and asked for some magazines.

A few days ago now, my sister was dutifully putting together another care package to send to Iraq. As she did so, her new companion was right back there with her.

Mark Walker is editor of the Fallbrook/Bonsall edition of the North County Times. Reach him at (760) 731-5794 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Ping.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

My nephew, Staff Sgt. Sean Dack, is in Iraq with the Stryker Brigade, the U.S. Army's new fast-attack fighting force, also known as the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division...

Nothing had been heard from Sean since he left Kuwait until the News Tribune's Christmas Eve story by its embedded reporter with the brigade, Michael Gilbert. "As targets go, cavalry prefers to be moving," read the headline.

My sister read the report Christmas Eve morning and began screaming, prompting my brother-in-law to initially fear the worst. She said she was surprised to see Sean's name and filled with relief to learn he was all right.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Allied press ping for Michael Gilbert, traveling w/ the Stryker Brigade for the WA Tacoma News Tribune, and honoring their service with his work.

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[Criminal Number 18F]

It's only the editors of these small town papers who have a relative, however distant, in the service... can you imagine what would happen if a New York Times staffer's kid joined up?

[liberal whiny voice]: "Son..? I have no son!"

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F

[blackie]

Worry takes a respite [thanks to Michael Gilbert, from a Stryker Brigade Soldier's uncle] ~ Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!

[truthandjustice1]

God Bless these brave soldiers. What an outstanding job they're doing.