1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Display at National Infantry Museum

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1-22 Represented At National Infantry Museum

The National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia

The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center is a $100 million, 190,000-square foot facility located right outside the gates
of the Fort Benning Maneuver Center of Excellence, home of the Infantry.

This state-of-the-art facility tells the story of the United States Army Infantryman, from the fields of the American Revolution
to the sands of Afghanistan. The museum houses an amazing display of artifacts from all eras of American history
and contains numerous interactive multimedia exhibits, bringing our nation’s past to life through the latest in technological innovation.

Photo from the National Infantry Museum website

The National Infantry Museum on the grounds at Fort Benning

Photo from the National Infantry Museum website

The National Infantry Museum opened its doors to the public with a Grand Opening ceremony
on June 19, 2009. The museum is a $100 million facility, located in Columbus, Georgia,
just outside the gates of Fort Benning, home of the Infantry.

The following description of the museum is from its Chairman, Major General Jerry White:

"For more than two centuries, United States Infantrymen have fought to protect our freedom.
Their missions have brought them face-to-face with the enemy. Their courage, pride and sense of duty stood tall
above any fear they faced. But the battle for our freedom has been costly. As many as 80 percent of all the servicemen
and women who have died serving their country were part of the Infantry.

We believe it’s time to give the Infantryman his due.

A new, world-class museum has now been built to honor the Infantry. It will tell the story of our ground soldiers
from the colonial period to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lessons of the past will be retold to help lead us in the future.

We invite you step back in time with us, to better understand the Infantry’s legacy of valor and sacrifice."

MG Jerry A. White
Chairman, National Infantry Foundation

One of the displays in the museum is an actual M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
(Bravo 1-4) of B Company 1-22 Infantry, that saw service in Iraq 2003-2004,
with the 4th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ). On October 12, 2003 this Bradley
was hit by an improvised explosive device, killing SPC James E. Powell
and wounding several other B Company Soldiers.

The B Company Bradley on display in the museum

Photo by Bob Babcock

Rear view of the 1-22 Bradley
Note designation on rear of vehicle for 4th Infantry Division,
1-22 Infantry and vehicle number B14 (Bravo 1-4)

Photo by Bob Babcock

Plaque identifying the vehicle

Close-up of part of the plaque

The uniform of Major Steve Russell, as he wore when deployed to Kosovo with 1st ID in 1999.
Steve Russell would later command 1-22 Infantry as a LTC from 2003-2005.

Photo by Bob Babcock

The plaque identifying the above uniform of MAJ Steve Russell also identifying him as
later commanding 1-22 Infantry

Photo by Bob Babcock

In the Leadership exhibit of the museum is this picture of LTC Matt Elledge,
Commander of 1-22 Infantry giving a briefing to BG Robin Swan, Iraq August 2008.

Photo by Bob Babcock

On display at the Museum is one of Saddam Hussein's presentation swords which was captured by 1-22 Infantry. The placard reads:

Captured by 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, the gold inland portion of the blade is inscribed in Arabic.
Translated it says "The Sword of Qadissivat-Saddam", the name of a famous Arab victory over the Persians in 637 AD. Additional
translation is "made from the weapons of the martyrs and the gold of Iraqi women donated in support of the combatants fighting
in defense of the Great Iraq". Hussein would have awarded very few swords like this to high ranking Baath Party officials or his military.

photo by Taylor Davis from the flickr website

On display is the uniform of 1st Lieutenant Osbaldo Orozco, the first Soldier of the 4th Infantry Division
Killed In Action in Iraq, April 26, 2003. 1LT Orozco was a Platoon Leader with Company C 1-22 Infantry.

Photo by Bob Babcock

The dog tags of 1LT Orozco on display at the museum.
The circular disc attached to the dog tag chain is a 22nd Infantry coin
presented to the members of 1st Battalion by the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society,
prior to the unit's delpoyment to Iraq in 2003.

Photo by Bob Babcock

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