1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Update 4-15-06 Page 1

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Unit Updates
2006

1-22 BN CO, CSM, HHC, Chaplain

April 15, 2006

FROM THE COMMANDER

Happy Easter from FOB FALCON in southern Baghdad!
We have completed our fourth month here and continue to improve every day.
Our Soldiers are doing very well and I am incredibly proud of each one of them and what they have accomplished.
I am convinced that there is no unit in the 4^th Infantry Division that is executing such a diversity of missions
and achieving such great successes as the Regulars are in our area of operations.
We are increasing the tempo of combat operations against the insurgents
and our collective efforts are reducing their abilities to operate in our area of operations.

In our area, the number of insurgent actions continues to fall as a result of our efforts.
Although we still have enemy contact, there is a significant reduction in what the enemy is able to do.
We have killed and detained insurgents, destroyed their weapons and munitions stores,
impacted their ability to move freely, and eroded their bases of support within the population.
Of note, we have conducted six air assault operations in the past four weeks –
the most air assaults of any battalion in all of Iraq. These operations allow us to quickly strike at enemy locations
without warning and without traveling roads that may be mined by the insurgents.
As before, our Soldiers have earned their Combat Infantryman’s Badges, Combat Action Badges,
Combat Medical Badges, and, unfortunately, some Purple Hearts as well.

We attempt to conduct very precise combat operations and cause minimal disruption to the Iraqi civilians
while massing overwhelming combat power on known enemy forces. When we detain an insurgent,
we must collect all of the evidence according to a very specific procedure to ensure that the detention will be supported
by the Iraqi Justice system. It sometimes seems excessive and is frequently very similar to police work,
but when done correctly it ensures that the enemy will be sent to long-term detention facilities such as Abu Ghraib.
Due to our Soldiers’ professionalism and attention to detail, our rate of getting insurgents imprisoned
in long-term facilities is 50% higher than the Brigade and Division averages.

This past month, we discovered significantly more Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
before they detonated than were detonated against us. In general terms, most units find about half of the IEDs
before they detonate in their area. We are far ahead of that rate and it is a testament to our Soldiers and their abilities.
The local people are starting to call us and tell us where some of the devices are –
a significant step that shows we are making inroads into the community.

Our projects to rebuild the infrastructure of our area continue and are an enduring focus for us here.
For example, we are currently rebuilding eleven schools in our area – one of those schools was built in 1946
and has seen no significant repairs in the past 60 years. That particular school houses 600 students
and they have been without electricity, sanitation, water, and basic supplies for years. We are changing that.
The Iraqi people in our area are starting to believe that the coalition is not an occupying force
and that we want to help them rebuild their lives. As a result, the insurgents are shunned in many areas
because they are viewed as inhibiting progress and the amount of information we receive about insurgent activity
from the people continues to rise.

Although we suffered fewer wounded this month than previous months,
we lost Private First Class Sean Tharp of B Company to enemy fire on March 28, 2006.
We held the Memorial Ceremony on FOB FALCON a few days later where we said goodbye to him
and I was happy to see the unit truly support each other during that time. I spoke to Sean’s mother shortly after his death
to offer her our condolences for her loss and she told me how much Sean loved being a Soldier in B Company
and how much he wanted to be here with his brothers – it is where he felt he belonged.
Because he touched our lives and lived as a Regular,
I know that he will never be alone and he will never be forgotten.

We are all very proud of each one of our Soldiers that reenlisted this past month
– we had another 18 great Americans raise their right hand and recite the oath.
Any reenlistment is special and shows a commitment to our Army and to the nation,
but reenlistment in a combat zone is even more distinctive and shows that our Soldiers knowingly
and willingly accept the risks and hardships associated with our service.
It is an affirmation that they are willing to fight and die for the ideals of our nation.
I want to thank all of the family members of those who have reenlisted as well.
Thank you for continuing to support your loved one as he continues to serve –
you all have sacrificed as well and I thank you for your commitment and support.

As some of you may know by now, we will likely move from FOB FALCON to another location in Iraq
in the coming months. When it occurs, it will be a planned operation and in response to a need
for our forces to operate elsewhere based on the threat that exists in that area.
Our address will change, but we will ensure that the Family Readiness Group has the required information
at the appropriate time.

If you have any concerns or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact the Rear Detachment Commander—
CPT Warren Litherland. His duty is to assist our loved ones in the states while we conduct our mission here
and he is doing a great job for all of us.

The Regulars continue to operate at a high standard and I am humbled to be associated with them—
I consider it a privilege to lead them each day. I cannot overstate how important your support is to us
and I cannot tell you thank you enough for what you have done. Our Family Readiness Group leaders continue
to take care of the home front and, without them, we would fail.
Please keep all of the Regulars in your thoughts and prayers.

Regulars, by God! Deeds, Not Words.

— Lieutenant Colonel Craig A. Osborne (Regular 6)

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FROM THE COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR

Hello Folks,

Yet another month has come and gone and we are officially one-third complete with our deployment.
It has been another month of exceptional performance by the Soldiers
of the “Regulars, By God” battalion here in Baghdad, Iraq. Again, I am incredibly pleased and proud of all of them.

We gauge our effectiveness here on two categories: effectiveness against the enemy and effects of our efforts
in support of the population and government. As you read this newsletter further, you will find more details
about each of these subjects discussed within each company’s column.
But, let me just take a moment to provide a quick summary:

Effectiveness against the enemy: in our own assessment – excellent. Our companies, although executing varied missions,
each contribute to weakening the enemy’s efforts to dominate the population and inflict their influence in our area of operations.
Our presence on the battlefield, our missions to interdict supply caches, safe houses, and known enemy locations
are disrupting the enemy’s operations in our area. We know this through several sources of information
and by battle tracking patterns of enemy activity. Several of the companies have executed some outstanding air assault missions
this month that yielded great results. We will continue to put the pressure on the enemy as long as we work in this area.

Effects on the population and government: in our own assessment – excellent. The center of gravity in any insurgency
is the population and whichever side controls the population will succeed. We engage the population in our area daily.
The people tell us that since we arrived, they feel safer, they feel like we are actually there to help them,
and that life is getting better overall. In our area, we went from zero community support projects under the previous unit
to 42 planned projects – many of which have already been started. The people of the area are presented daily
with the evidence that cooperation with the coalition brings benefits to them and their families.

And, as always, at the “tip of the spear” on all of these endeavors are the Soldiers of this great battalion.
They work incredibly long hours each day but they have never failed to accomplish anything they were asked to do.
Their spirits, their morale, their incredibly patriotic dedication to duty are the hallmarks to their profession
that will leave lasting impressions upon the people we interact with daily.

The Soldiers of the Regular battalion are doing outstanding work over here and you should be proud of them all.
Until next month, thanks for your great support to the battalion, and may God continue to bless America.

- Command Sergeant Major Richard Beal (Regular 7)

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HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY – HAMMER

It seems hard to believe that we have been gone for about four months now, but I assure you
that the Soldiers of Hammer Company remain committed to ridding southern Baghdad of terrorists and insurgents
and to improving the quality of life for the areas’ inhabitants. Each day your husbands, sons, relatives, and friends
make this place just a little better than it was before we arrived – and that is all anyone could ask of them.
I am proud to command such fine Soldiers.

The Scout Platoon continued to provide the Personal Security Detachment (PSD) to the battalion commander,
and served as his security element as he traveled the battlefield. They spend many hours out in the area of operations,
talking to local political leaders, sheiks, and farmers, always trying to find out information on what the people need
and how we can better help rid the area of terrorists. Our scouts and snipers attached to B and D Companies
set up ambushes and observation posts that have proved highly effective in preventing the enemy from emplacing
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and have kept them from moving freely around the battlefield.
The insurgents are constantly wondering if they are being watched by our Soldiers
and this disrupts their ability to plan effective attacks against us.

The Mortar Platoon conducted many escort missions for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Team
as they destroyed IEDs that our battalion continues to find. They have recently been assigned an area of operations
and conduct daily patrols to disrupt enemy activity and to find out what the quality of life is like in their assigned villages.
The have gained the trust of the people so that enemy activities are quickly reported.
The local children also flock to them because they have been known to give out candy and soccer balls.
Additionally, the mortars conducted several counterfire missions at enemy mortar positions that attacked our forces.
They provide lethal, long-range fire support to the battalion and are extremely accurate.

The Medical Platoon continued to treat our wounded and helped keep the rest of us healthy through education
and preventive medical procedures. We execute our missions with the confidence that our medics are superbly trained
and will provide the best possible medical care should we require it.

The Bradley Fire Support Teams attached to each company made great progress this month
by identifying basic needs in many villages and recommending projects to improve the quality of life of the people.
Through their efforts the battalion has submitted 42 projects thus far that will enhance the local economies
and increase the quality of life in each village tremendously.

The Fire and Effects Coordination Cell continues to support the battalion’s scheme of maneuver
delivering accurate and timely indirect fire as well as linking non-lethal assets to achieve the commander’s desired effects.
The digital fire mission processors – newly promoted SPC Jacob Lutje and PFC William Sifford –
routinely answer and process both digital and voice calls for fire and report the data to the Tactical Operations Center.
When they are not battle tracking fire missions, they serve as part of the FOB FALCON security force
to protect friendly forces inside the compound. SFC Paul Nice and SFC Stephan Battiest work long hours
both as Battle NCOs and assisting the Fire Support Officer with fire planning.

2LT Matthew Parsons – our Targeting Officer – continues to work around the clock in the targeting process.
He is responsible for collecting and analyzing patrol debriefs in conjunction with the Battalion Intelligence officer.
Through their efforts, they develop target packets of high value individuals and locations
that our battalion then conducts operations against to defeat Anti-Iraqi Forces.
The Battalion Fire Support Officer, CPT Robert Stoffel, manages both lethal and non-lethal enablers.
On the lethal side, he is responsible for advising the Battalion Commander on the use of indirect fires,
manages radar coverage, and coordinates with the Air Force Joint Tactical Air Controllers for close air support.
Non-lethally, he develops talking points to be delivered to the local people to gain trust and confidence
in the coalition and the Iraqi government.

The Command Group, Staff, and Headquarters Section – in addition to our normal duties –
focus our efforts on interaction with local leaders, conducting village assessments, and preventing the outbreak of civil war.
The staff works long hours, well past midnight on many nights. But it is this tireless effort and force of will
that has provided the fuel for the small victories that we win everyday. In the short time our battalion has been in control
of our area, we have significantly disrupted the enemy’s plans and established promising, cooperative relationships
with many sheiks and local leaders.

Congratulations to both SPC Earnest Adkins (S3) and SPC Kenneth England (Scouts) on their promotion to SGT.
SGT Aaron Hildebrandt (Scouts) was also recently recommended for promotion to the rank of SSG.

Our admiration and thanks go to SGT John Dallier (Scouts) and his family
for his continued dedicated service to and support of our nation by reenlisting.

We thank you for your prayers, support, and all the packages you send.
We draw strength from knowing that you are behind us one hundred percent.
We admire your handling of the tough tasks back home, and we are keenly aware that your sacrifices
allow us to remain mission focused and “Steadfast and Loyal” to our cause.
Thank you for all that you do to keep things going back in Texas. God bless you.

—Captain Craig Childs (Hammer 6)

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FROM THE CHAPLAIN

I submit to you that found within the pages of Holy Scripture we are given a tremendous promise of divine presence
and protection. The Psalmist writes, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
(Psalm 91:1) The rest of the text tells us how God protects and provides tremendous peace to those who call on His name.
As we continue the mission here I constantly proclaim this message of hope and assurance of presence.
God is proving Himself faithful to His word and many of us can see this on a regular basis.
Belief is a powerful tool Soldiers can rely on to help them through the tough times when things are chaotic and confusing.
This same belief also helps us become better with our families and friends. Sometimes life has a way
of throwing curve balls our direction and we must find a way to swing the bat effectively.

As the chaplain, one of my missions is to help your loved ones learn and know how to convey this to families at home.
Promises like this from Psalm 91 provide us with peace and assurance that we can play a good game in life.
Many here rely on the promises from the Almighty and several of you back home rely on these same promises.
Trusting in this promise of God is one way you can know God is watching over your loved one here in Iraq
and it might help you sleep better at night. Other promises you can focus on are those made to each other
before we left and those made since we have been here.

One of the things I tell our Soldiers is, “geographical separation does not mean emotional disengagement.”
This means we must find ways to stay connected to each other. How are you staying connected?
Relying on the promises of God and the promises made to each other are two ways this can be accomplished.
Recall these promises; renew these promises and refresh your communication together by actively seeking
to fulfill your promises to each other. This time apart will become much less stressful when we focus
on how we can connect instead of how much we are apart. Until we meet again may God bless you and yours…

—Chaplain (Captain) John Hill

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