1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Display at National Infantry Museum

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1-22 Bradley On Display At National Infantry Museum

Photos by Bob Babcock

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
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

Rear view of the 1-22 Bradley

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.

The plaque identifying the above uniform of MAJ Steve Russell

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.

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.

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.

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