Posted on 05/16/2005 6:51:30 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Another couple of letters from my friend's son. Words in brackets are mine. - Swordmaker
Salome-Ma-LA-ka (Peace be unto you).
The Date is now 11 May 2005, and I find myself writing you once again. I know . "WOW, two letters in less than 4 months, he must be bored" (Not that that is a bad thing, except if you are on the receiving end of my mundane letters... (grin).
My newly assembled Team has now been on several large raid/ strike operations with the famous Wolf Brigade and in three raids, and have netted over 156 suspected insurgents. For you curious persons, if you go to google.com and type in "Iraq Wolf Brigade", you will have some interesting reading.
Anyway, the first raid that we did happened at 0100hrs. For you which do not understand the highly intelligent military time group, Mickey's big hand is on the 12, and his little hand is on the 1. (Sorry dad, stole your ancient joke, but couldn't resist.) On this raid, we hit over 40 target houses in just over 3 hours. My U.S. Army team was responsible for the "Breach", this constituted driving a Humvee up to the front gate, and either ramming it open, or attaching a tow chain to it, and quickly backing up, thus popping the gate open. At that time, the great Mongol Horde (approximately 20 Wolf Brigade Soldiers) ran through, and kicked in the door of these "innocent" insurgents. If you don't believe that they are innocent, just ask them. It is not unlike the State penitentiaries back home who are full of "innocent" people.
It is amazing at the intelligence of these operations. The Wolf Brigade has embedded Confidential Informants, and others who assist with operations. They (CIs) are actually riding in the vehicles pointing out the houses, or are inside as well when the arrests happen. They themselves are arrested, and treated the same as well, so as not to raise suspicions as to their identity. The brigade's success relies strictly on surprise and speed. Several of the locations took under 2 minutes each and 2 to 3 individuals were brought out at a dead sprint. This is done to not allow the remaining residents to alert anyone else, prior to the next hits which are sometimes 2 to 3 houses away. Today, we hit two houses that were empty of personnel. However, the back door was still swinging, and in the open position at 3 am. It was obvious that whoever was there, just made it out.
Anyway, as we are continuing the raids about 15 minutes later, we began to receive direct fire from several automatic weapons (AK47's) the distance was about 400 meters, or 4 football fields (rough estimate) watching the green tracers coming in our direction is not a pleasant feeling. After getting my other truck online, so as not to create a fratricide situation with my gunners. My commander attempted to contact our third truck over the radio, which was positioned in the rear of the long trail of vehicles. (Not a good feeling, knowing that [some of] my soldiers somewhere else, and I cannot support them, nor know where exactly they are). Anyway, we left the area where we were (2 trucks) and drove toward the location of the contact in blackout, knowing that the other truck was somewhere in the middle. Several minutes later, we found them, and drove like a bat, out of the kill zone. Once a status check was complete, we drove back to the Wolf compound to re-link with the strike teams.
Well, after it was all complete. It was up to my team to process the detainees by utilizing an explosives identity kit called "X-Spray." Of the 53 detainees, 42 came up positive for either TNT, or "Semtex" which is a type of plastic explosive. 3 of the detainees were "Emirs" or Princes, which translates to 15 or more beheadings to their records. Let me tell you about scum. I am looking at these individuals, and taking their pictures, giving them water, etc, knowing that they were more than likely directly involved with blowing up my buddies who are no longer with us, or killing innocent people who just want to live in peace. It is very difficult to keep my composure, but my Professionalism, and Soldier Ethos must be maintained. At times, I can see my soldiers looking at me, waiting for a reaction.
The Wolf Brigade however, lives under a different code of conduct, and at times I have to remind them as to what is not acceptable. They do not beat them or anything like that, but they definitely inflict a few seconds of discomfort. It is hard not to take joy or be gleeful of the actions especially since we just had two memorial services for a couple of soldiers in my Battalion who were struck by IED's.
The date is now 14 MAY 05, and my team is near exhaustion. We have been going on back to back nights, with little or no sleep, then back to work because citizens are calling the brigade with more intelligence. We are now at over 200 arrested, several weapons, and countless of them, (85-90%) showing signs of explosive residue on their persons. It is at this time, that I reflect as to what I (we) are doing and the tiredness goes away for a brief while. We are putting in over 24hrs non-stop, then off to bed for a few hours.
The "morning" consists of attempting to get supplies for the brigade, as it is this team that is begging, "borrowing", or . . . I hate to use this word as it is such a strong word . . . "stealing". The Army has this saying. "There is only one thief in the Army!! Everyone else is just getting their stuff back." This unfortunately holds true for us. This Unit which we are working with, and is making the most difference, has been left alone to scrape for themselves. My soldiers are running around, digging in the base dump (yes, it's true) finding usable, discarded items which the brigade can use.
The Iraqi government is doing little to support them. They have "Soldiers" who go on these raids wearing flip flops, because of the lack of boots. There are little [few?] uniforms, mainly mismatched sets. The communications are horrendous. The main Cellular phone company is "Iraqna" and they own a monopoly, and all Sims cards [pre-paid cell phone cards] are through this company. Never mind hearing a pin drop, because you can hardly get through. The officers are coordinating during the raids with these personal cellular phones that are pay-by-the-minute, and use these "Sims Cards". My commander, CPT [*******] who is with [***] Battery, [***]th Air Defense Artillery, gave his own personally purchased $30 Sims card up to the Brigades intelligence officer to assist with the cost of talking to informants.
These Soldiers make squat, and are once again using their meager salary, taking away from their families to make this work, and work for a safe Iraq. I feel so helpless, but outside of a few donations from my personal gear, a few purchases at the PX, there is not a whole lot else I can do. I would be bankrupt in 3 months. I have kids for that . (Grin.)
Dad and Mom, if you want to send anything to me, you can get online and buy "Iraqna\"? Sims cards even one would be huge. These and uniforms/boots are the most important things to make this whole thing succeed, and you don't have those. However, I do remember as a kid, other kids telling me "[Your] mom wears combat boots" So, if you can find those boots in the garage, Mom, you can send them to me. (grin )
I do want to add, that there is not a word of grumbling to be heard from them [the soldiers of the Wolf Brigade]. It is a pleasure to watch them work, and we are beginning to have a strong bond and a friendship, that I could never have imagined 1 year ago. When we arrive at the compound, their eyes light up, and they are so happy to see us, as we are them.
There is a bond here that cannot be broken. As it was explained to me by a Lieutenant Colonel with the Brigade ... "There is a bond with Warriors so strong, that it is stronger than with family and brothers." I thought about what he said later, and do agree. As soldiers, we live in the dirt together, watch each others' backs in firefights, do things that I have never done nor will do with my own siblings, and live in the same danger together. Knowing their culture the way I do now, family is everything to them, and male siblings (brothers) are next to everything. For [an Iraqi] to place a warriors bond ahead of his own family [there] is something to be said. I do not doubt the sincerity of his words, and I do embrace them.
Well, I must sign off again and get ready for this evening. Just want everyone to know that we are making huge steps. I am so proud to be a part of this historical change. God bless "MY" Commander in Chief, and pray for him to find wisdom in all that he does, as I know that he needs it as do we all.
Till then Salama, and I love you all,
Greg
"God bless "MY" Commander in Chief, and pray for him to find wisdom in all that he does, as I know that he needs it as do we all. "
You have just compromised their methods on the "internet".
Loose lips sink ships!
Greg has sent home pictures as well.
I suggest going to the bottom of the web page and reading Greg's and his Mom's letters from the bottom (first) one, up to the last letter at the top.
I have Sgt. Greg's permission to post these letters on FreeRepublic. The Wolf Brigade is already well known and the after action reports are already in the news.
Some information has been changed to protect just such methods.
Thank goodness, a disclaimer might save my blood pressure!
In addition, Greg's letters have been already published on the internet. Greg's Mom is now a Freeper.
Just...wow. Thanks for posting this.
Good stuff over here Tonkin!
I realized I had not put the info on the link to the letters in the main body of the post... and you beat me to the punch with your appropriate comment (for revealing information) as I was composing the comment to point people to the letters and pics.
When I first posted the information in his last set of letters, I blanked out "Wolf Brigade" and the names of the Iraqi officer in charge, as well as any specifically named locations. I provided the link to the FR thread to Greg and he wrote me the following:
"Mr. ***** {Swordmaker].Just to let you know, that anything which I have written is ok to print. I have already changed the names of the Iraqi Officer, but added a name for personalization effects. As far as the Wolf Brigade, they are very well known, and have been given a Letter of Commendation from my Commander in Chief. For your interests, go to Google, and type in "Iraq Wolf Brigade" it is very interresting, and you may find some graet reading. Anyway, I do appreciate your looking out, it means a whole lot.
Greg
Thanks for your concern. S
God bless Greg & keep him safe. Prayers for his Mom too!
This is Greg.
I want you to know that nothing which I am writing about is compromising OPSEC. All which I write about has already happened,has been on the news, and has been cleared through my Commander. Thank you Swordmaker for your support.
Swordmaker,
There is nothing in these that are of OPSEC concern. I would not write anything that would draw increased danger to myself or my men. Everything has been cleared through proper channels prior to sending it out.
Greg
Welcome to FreeRepublic, Greg. I think you will find it a place full of people who appreciate what you are doing and who are starved from their Main Stream Media enforced famine of information for what you can provide them... the truth.
Swordmaker
Welcome to FR, Greg! Keep the Faith and thanks for all you do.
Sua Sponte
Bump!
Greg, hearts and thoughts and prayers of people you've never met are with you, probably more than you know. Just remember that ...
Reminder bump for tomorrow! :-)
Dear Greg, you are one of the most amazing men I have read about. You keep on, keepin' on there. Your family has our complete support and so do you, and everyone else over there. Our son was over there so I've learned alot. You're tough and right as rain. God love ya, chena
BUMP
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