82nd Airborne troops to provide force rotation security

Army News Service ^ | Jan. 20, 2004 | Joe Burlas

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

82nd Airborne troops to provide force rotation security

By Joe Burlas

Sgt. Joe Pagliai, an infantryman with Company B, 2/505th Infantry Battalion, gets a handshake from Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 15. ~ Joe Burlas

POPE AFB, N.C. (Army News Service, Jan. 20, 2004) -- Deploying in harm’s way for the second time in two years, the first contingent of the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade departed for Iraq from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 15.

The brigade had been deployed to Afghanistan for seven months between 2002 and 2003.

The latest deployment is scheduled to last between three and four months in order to provide security for the transition of Operation Iraqi Freedom forces, officials said.

The majority of the division’s other two brigades are prepping to come home after spending about a year in Iraq. Some Soldiers from those brigades recently returned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee visited the Iraq-bound 82nd Soldiers for two hours just prior to their departure via two C-17 aircraft. Four additional flights took the remainder of the brigade Jan. 16.

“Over the next two months, 250,000 Soldiers will be on the move in and out of Iraq -- the biggest Army movement since World War II,” Brownlee said. “To minimize the danger, we need somebody who already has combat experience. Sorry you got picked on again. When you are really good, you get picked on.”

Brig. Gen., Richard Rowe, 82nd assistant division commander, told the departing troops to heed what Brownlee had to say as with two Vietnam combat tours, a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts, the secretary also has vast experience going into harm’s way as a combat Soldier.

Brownlee warned that the War on Terrorism will test Soldiers’ souls. He added that he and the American people appreciate the service and sacrifice Soldiers and their families make in keeping this nation safe.

“Not only are you bringing hope, freedom and democracy to millions of people in Iraq, you are also safeguarding your country from those who would do it harm,” Brownlee said.

Sgt. George Stultz, an artillery forward observer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2/504th Infantry Battalion, is one of the 1st Brigade Soldiers who made the deployment to Afghanistan and now to Iraq.

Married, with four children, Stultz said his wife is just as anxious as the deploying Soldiers because they know their Iraq experience is going to be different than those they had in Afghanistan. “But she understands that this is the job we do -- it is what we are trained for and we are well prepared,” he said.

For Spc. Jason Wheeler, an infantryman with the brigade’s Company C, 2/505th Infantry Battalion and who is also making his second deployment in two years with the 82nd, going to Iraq is what he enlisted for.

“What better people than us to go over and provide security for the force rotation,” Wheeler said. “I like seeing new places and experiencing other cultures. The Army gives me a chance to do that.”

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee visited the Iraq-bound 82nd Soldiers for two hours just prior to their departure via two C-17 aircraft. Four additional flights took the remainder of the brigade Jan. 16.

“Over the next two months, 250,000 Soldiers will be on the move in and out of Iraq -- the biggest Army movement since World War II,” Brownlee said. “To minimize the danger, we need somebody who already has combat experience. Sorry you got picked on again. When you are really good, you get picked on.”

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                     Ping!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[mystery-ak]

*when you are really good*, you get extended again...

[BushisTheMan]

For Spc. Jason Wheeler, an infantryman with the brigade?s Company C, 2/505th Infantry Battalion and who is also making his second deployment in two years with the 82nd, going to Iraq is what he enlisted for.

I admire this soldier and his attitude. And thank him for his service.

[68skylark]

Sgt. George Stultz

How many Hogan's Heroes jokes do you think this guy has heard?

[68skylark]

I think there may be a deeper story here. If so, I wonder if anyone has more info.

I've heard that this brigade from the 82d has been ordered to Iraq partly because at least one of the 3 National Guard combat brigades going to Iraq has been found to need an extra month or two of training before they deploy.

Now I know there are people in the active-duty side of the house who don't like the Guard much -- so I realize this story may be true or it may just be an untrue rumor to put down the Guard.

Does anyone have more information?

(I've been in the Guard in the past. I'm now applying to re-join and I've volunteered for deployment. I'm a believer in the National Gurad concept. So I have a personal interest.)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Bump!!!

[blackie]

82nd Airborne is on the job ~ Bump!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I don't know, 68skylark.

I do know that much is happening today, between the rotation of the 250,000 troops, and the transformation of the military. I'm still learning about what they used to do. *g*

A few transformations for the National Guard:

1/12/04 -

 

The National Guard is retraining more than 4,000 citizen-soldiers from other military occupational specialties, including artillery and transportation, to bolster the Army police force that officials claim has been stretched to its limits because of security and force protection demands around the world.

Military police personnel are needed to guard detainees in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and to provide security at air bases and other military installations in this country and overseas.

Police Soldiers

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1/20/2004 -

Washington DC - The Defense Department plans to stand up more National Guard-staffed civil support teams trained to assist local authorities in the event of a weapons of mass destruction attack on the American homeland, a senior DoD official said Jan. 16.

There are currently 32 WMD civil support teams with the skills and equipment to detect chemical, biological, nuclear and explosive agents in support of emergency first responders in event of an attack, noted Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense.

Guard-Staffed WMD Civil Support Teams Slated for Increase

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[ALOHA RONNIE]

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NEVER FORGET



.."WE WERE SOLDIERS".. Sgt/Major BASIL L. PLUMLEY =


-Paradropped with the 82nd Airborne Division into Nazi-Occupied France the night before the Battle of Normandy.

-Faught in the Last Major Battle of the Korean War at PORK CHOP HILL.

-Helilifted into the First Major Battle of the Vietnam War in the IA DRANG Valley.


See this Lion in Winter's IA DRANG Photo at the...



..'RONNIE GUYER PHOTO COLLECTION'..

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm



NEVER FORGET

.