I can't imagine what all the parents thought about their children being hurt in Iraq or sleeping on cots or in sleeping bags with no electricity or running water and not enough food to eat. I can't sleep good thinking my baby was out there in the middle of the war, it's not easy being here. The pain inside is getting better now that you're home. My heart feels much lighter now. God answered my prayers.
Love you a lot Chris, Mom
Thursday, July 10, 2008
He's Home! He's Home!
Chris is back! I just spoke to him on the phone. They got in late yesterday evening and had a big parade. He and his buddies spent today moving into their apartment.
What a great relief to have him home!
From the Coastal Courier regarding the Welcome Home Ceremony:
Though the field was dark, the colors of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stood out clearly on Cottrell Field here as more than 380 Spartan Brigade Soldiers came home Wednesday tonight at a late ceremony.
Spartan Brigade commander Col. Terry Ferrell was among the soldiers welcomed home by roughly 800 friends and family.
Third Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch welcomed home Ferrell and the other Spartan soldiers. Lynch said he is proud of the Spartan Brigade's service during its 13-month deployment.
"Regardless if you were in Arab Jabour or in Baghdad, you made history," he said. "Job well done."
The brigade was mainly located in Arab Jabour and detained more than 800 terrorist suspects and helped foster Iraqi self-governance. Second Brigade Soldiers blocked weapons from entering the Iraqi capital, protected the local population, and trained Iraqi security forces. To date, more than 2,380 2BCT Soldiers have come home.
Following Lynch's welcome and the singing of the national anthem, the Marne Song and the Army Song, the family members and friends rushed from the bleacher's reviewing stands to greet their Soldiers.
The ceremony was the most recent in a series of events welcoming home the 2nd BCT from Iraq.
Tuesday, More than 250 soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, came home to thunderous applause, stomping feet and deafening cheers of roughly 700 friends and family in Fort Stewart's Newman Fitness Center.
Third Infantry Division Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Robert Reynolds greeted the torch party and thanked them for a job well done during the brigade's 13-month deployment to southern Baghdad.
"Each of you standing before me has helped make history," Reynolds said.
"You can look into your mirror at home and see the reflection of a person who has made a difference by securing the blessings of liberty for both the Iraqi and U.S. people. Be proud of the history you've made."
Also, more than 400 Spartan Brigade soldiers came home over the weekend in two ceremonies. To date, about 1,750 2BCT soldiers have come home.
What a great relief to have him home!
From the Coastal Courier regarding the Welcome Home Ceremony:
Though the field was dark, the colors of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stood out clearly on Cottrell Field here as more than 380 Spartan Brigade Soldiers came home Wednesday tonight at a late ceremony.
Spartan Brigade commander Col. Terry Ferrell was among the soldiers welcomed home by roughly 800 friends and family.
Third Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch welcomed home Ferrell and the other Spartan soldiers. Lynch said he is proud of the Spartan Brigade's service during its 13-month deployment.
"Regardless if you were in Arab Jabour or in Baghdad, you made history," he said. "Job well done."
The brigade was mainly located in Arab Jabour and detained more than 800 terrorist suspects and helped foster Iraqi self-governance. Second Brigade Soldiers blocked weapons from entering the Iraqi capital, protected the local population, and trained Iraqi security forces. To date, more than 2,380 2BCT Soldiers have come home.
Following Lynch's welcome and the singing of the national anthem, the Marne Song and the Army Song, the family members and friends rushed from the bleacher's reviewing stands to greet their Soldiers.
The ceremony was the most recent in a series of events welcoming home the 2nd BCT from Iraq.
Tuesday, More than 250 soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, came home to thunderous applause, stomping feet and deafening cheers of roughly 700 friends and family in Fort Stewart's Newman Fitness Center.
Third Infantry Division Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Robert Reynolds greeted the torch party and thanked them for a job well done during the brigade's 13-month deployment to southern Baghdad.
"Each of you standing before me has helped make history," Reynolds said.
"You can look into your mirror at home and see the reflection of a person who has made a difference by securing the blessings of liberty for both the Iraqi and U.S. people. Be proud of the history you've made."
Also, more than 400 Spartan Brigade soldiers came home over the weekend in two ceremonies. To date, about 1,750 2BCT soldiers have come home.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, at 10:15 PM!
A representative from the Army called Dad to let him know that Chris will be arriving at Fort Stewart at 10:15 PM on Wednesday, July 9. Announcements about the welcome home ceremony are posted at the Ft. Stewart website. Chris' flight is presumably Flight 11.
Can't wait! Wish we could all be there when he arrives!
Friday, July 04, 2008
CHRIS HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
Have happy Independence Day over there. Hope you guys have a special day. Maybe you'll get a special meal, they'll have a picnic or something. You only have a couple of day left now, so stay safe and come home soon.
Love you alot, Mom
Love you alot, Mom
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Recounting the 3rd ID's Iraq Deployment
I found this article on the Coastal Courier's website:
*****
While most people only read about history, the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division helped to make history during their 15-month deployment to Iraq, the division's commander said Friday at Fort Stewart.
Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch had lunch with Savannah and Coastal Georgia new media at Club Stewart and thanked them for their efforts in telling the division's story. Lynch expressed his pride in and appreciation for the "Rock of the Marne" soldiers whose dedication and sacrifice helped secure and improve life for the Iraqi people, and he recognized the sacrifices and efforts of family members who supported his soldiers while they were deployed.
In Iraq, Lynch commanded Task Force Marne, which comprised about 20,000 coalition soldiers, 27,000 Iraqi soldiers and 47,000 Iraqi police operating in an area the size of West Virginia.
"Our job, once we got over there, was to block the accelerants of violence into Baghdad, secure the population, and defeat sectarian violence," Lynch said, noting the effort was successful. When they first arrived, the general said, his soldiers were being attacked about 25 times a day. By the time the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters left, attacks were down to fewer than two a day.
The success of the "surge" strategy in Iraq is evident in the reduction of violence during the division's deployment, Lynch said. Total attacks decreased 89 percent, indirect fire attacks stopped, small-arms attacks saw an 88 percent decline, and roadside bomb attacks decreased 79 percent, he said.
The reduction in violence was accompanied by sharp declines in casualties, Lynch said. During the deployment, civilian casualties fell 95 percent, coalition casualties saw a 91 percent reduction, and forces casualties decreased 79 percent, the general said.
Lynch said that while the 3rd Infantry Division was there, the Iraqi people got tired of insurgent intimidation and violence and took action to prevent it. More than 36,000 Iraqis joined the "Sons of Iraq" citizen group in the Task Force Marne area of operations to help the security effort in their communities.
"The people of Iraq want what we want," Lynch said. "They want freedom from fear. They want to be able to send their kids to school. They want jobs, and they want to be able to go out to the market."
One of the reasons for the surge's success, he told the audience, was the decision to have most of the soldiers living and working at patrol bases in the Iraqi communities. Lynch said the response was positive, noting that when the Iraqi people saw the patrol bases being built, they had two questions: "Where are the soldiers going to stay?" and "How can we help?" The new sense of security the people felt with the soldiers living among them led to improved cooperation from local citizens, the general added.
The shift in attitudes facilitated a transition for the soldiers from conducting combat operations to capacity-building, Lynch said, as they worked on projects to benefit employment and the economy and helped the local government further establish itself.
For example, the general said, Task Force Marne worked to develop more than 3,000 fish farms, to improve the flow of water in their area, and to revitalize the chicken-farming industry. "We imported 90,000 chicken eggs from Holland," Lynch said. "We brought them into our area, built incubators so the chickens could hatch, and sent 90,000 chicks to the local poultry farmers so they could raise chickens and bring them to market."
Lynch attributed his soldiers' success to their dedication, commitment and belief they were making a difference. He said their commitment was evident when the division achieved its 12-month re-enlistment goal in just five months - an unprecedented accomplishment. And he noted that the soldiers were able to focus on their missions because they knew their families were being taken care of back home.
Although the mission was successful, Lynch said, it wasn't without cost, as 152 Marne soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the deployment. He said he won't forget their heroic actions, nor those of their brothers and sisters in arms. Lynch said he was continuously moved by the soldiers who would come in for memorials, share their emotions, then turn around, put their body armor back on and continue the mission.
Lynch said he was honored to work with the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division, and although he would be turning over command in mid-July, he would continue to wear the Marne Division combat patch on his right shoulder in remembrance of their service together.
By Pat Young
Special to American Forces Press Service
Posted: June 30, 2008 10:37 a.m.
*****
While most people only read about history, the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division helped to make history during their 15-month deployment to Iraq, the division's commander said Friday at Fort Stewart.
Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch had lunch with Savannah and Coastal Georgia new media at Club Stewart and thanked them for their efforts in telling the division's story. Lynch expressed his pride in and appreciation for the "Rock of the Marne" soldiers whose dedication and sacrifice helped secure and improve life for the Iraqi people, and he recognized the sacrifices and efforts of family members who supported his soldiers while they were deployed.
In Iraq, Lynch commanded Task Force Marne, which comprised about 20,000 coalition soldiers, 27,000 Iraqi soldiers and 47,000 Iraqi police operating in an area the size of West Virginia.
"Our job, once we got over there, was to block the accelerants of violence into Baghdad, secure the population, and defeat sectarian violence," Lynch said, noting the effort was successful. When they first arrived, the general said, his soldiers were being attacked about 25 times a day. By the time the 3rd Infantry Division headquarters left, attacks were down to fewer than two a day.
The success of the "surge" strategy in Iraq is evident in the reduction of violence during the division's deployment, Lynch said. Total attacks decreased 89 percent, indirect fire attacks stopped, small-arms attacks saw an 88 percent decline, and roadside bomb attacks decreased 79 percent, he said.
The reduction in violence was accompanied by sharp declines in casualties, Lynch said. During the deployment, civilian casualties fell 95 percent, coalition casualties saw a 91 percent reduction, and forces casualties decreased 79 percent, the general said.
Lynch said that while the 3rd Infantry Division was there, the Iraqi people got tired of insurgent intimidation and violence and took action to prevent it. More than 36,000 Iraqis joined the "Sons of Iraq" citizen group in the Task Force Marne area of operations to help the security effort in their communities.
"The people of Iraq want what we want," Lynch said. "They want freedom from fear. They want to be able to send their kids to school. They want jobs, and they want to be able to go out to the market."
One of the reasons for the surge's success, he told the audience, was the decision to have most of the soldiers living and working at patrol bases in the Iraqi communities. Lynch said the response was positive, noting that when the Iraqi people saw the patrol bases being built, they had two questions: "Where are the soldiers going to stay?" and "How can we help?" The new sense of security the people felt with the soldiers living among them led to improved cooperation from local citizens, the general added.
The shift in attitudes facilitated a transition for the soldiers from conducting combat operations to capacity-building, Lynch said, as they worked on projects to benefit employment and the economy and helped the local government further establish itself.
For example, the general said, Task Force Marne worked to develop more than 3,000 fish farms, to improve the flow of water in their area, and to revitalize the chicken-farming industry. "We imported 90,000 chicken eggs from Holland," Lynch said. "We brought them into our area, built incubators so the chickens could hatch, and sent 90,000 chicks to the local poultry farmers so they could raise chickens and bring them to market."
Lynch attributed his soldiers' success to their dedication, commitment and belief they were making a difference. He said their commitment was evident when the division achieved its 12-month re-enlistment goal in just five months - an unprecedented accomplishment. And he noted that the soldiers were able to focus on their missions because they knew their families were being taken care of back home.
Although the mission was successful, Lynch said, it wasn't without cost, as 152 Marne soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice during the deployment. He said he won't forget their heroic actions, nor those of their brothers and sisters in arms. Lynch said he was continuously moved by the soldiers who would come in for memorials, share their emotions, then turn around, put their body armor back on and continue the mission.
Lynch said he was honored to work with the soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division, and although he would be turning over command in mid-July, he would continue to wear the Marne Division combat patch on his right shoulder in remembrance of their service together.
By Pat Young
Special to American Forces Press Service
Posted: June 30, 2008 10:37 a.m.
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