1st Battalion 22nd Infantry April Newsletter Page 3

CPT Nathan Davis (Dealer 6)

1SG Hignight (Dealer 7)

Family and friends of Team Dealer and Dealer Company, Greetings from Iraq.
The last month and a half have brought about a whirlwind of changes. Dealer Company deployed to Kuwait
at 102% strength and immediately set about the task of preparing equipment
and conducting refresher training prior to movement in Iraq. Once we arrived in Iraq
we were detached from the 1-22 Infantry "Regulars" Battalion. We detached two platoons
and added some new members to the team. 1st Platoon was detached and attached to Bravo Company,
4th Battalion, 64th Armor (B/ 4-64 AR), part of the Third Infantry Division,
from Fort Stewart, Georgia. 2nd Platoon was detached and attached to Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor (HHC 4-64 AR), also part of the
Third Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia. Team Dealer welcomed the addition of our medics
and communication personnel from HHC 1-22 IN, and the mechanics, cooks, and fuelers from E/ FSC.
We also added 1st Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 4 th Infantry, from the 10th Mountain Division
at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Team Dealer is currently operating out of a Coalition Outpost in southern Baghdad.
Our area of operations contains a sectarian fault line which increases local tensions.
Criminal groups in the area work to destabilize the area through attacks on Coalition
and Iraqi Security Forces. Thus far, Team Dealer has made tremendous progress,
earning the trust of the local population, capturing an Iranian trained criminal groups leader in a predawn raid,
seizing a cache of Iranian manufactured explosives, and severely disrupting the local propane black market
which funds the criminal groups activities while forcing the local population to pay exorbitant prices
for a resource that they need to cook their food. All this has been accomplished with the increasing participation
of the National Police and Iraqi Police. I was greatly impressed to see the increased capabilities
of the Iraqi Security Forces between 2006 and now.

They improve daily and have now assumed many missions without Coalition support.
1st Platoon is operating in southwest Baghdad in an area that also has a sectarian fault line.
Their tanks were a welcome addition to the infantry company in the area,
and they have had many an occasion to use them on patrol. Their presence allows Coalition force
in the area to maintain a credible deterrent against many criminal attacks to include IEDs and rocket attacks
that had previously plagued the area. 2nd Platoon is operating southwest of Baghdad in a region
known as Diwaniyah. This is a rural Sunni community and has recently come under the control
of the Sons of Iraq. The Sons of Iraq, who grew out of the Anti-Al-Qaeda "Awakening" movement
in al-Anbar Province have abandoned the insurgency, declared their loyalty to the government,
and made this area one of the safest on the battlefield. All members of Team Dealer and Dealer Company
whether with the headquarters, or attached to other units have been doing an outstanding job by all accounts.
The soldiers are safe in their operations, professional in their conduct, and respectful of the Iraqi people.
This is a respect that we are earning in return. As the days go by the memory of home
will become even more important. Please make sure that you take the time to remember your soldiers
and send them the care packages and small cards, notes, and gifts that keep their spirits up and morale high.

CPT Olan (Killer 6)

1SG Sammy Sparger (Killer 7)

Dear Friends and Family, I hope this letter finds you all well and that you are enjoying the nice Texas weather.
I want to start by congratulating Mrs. and SFC Tijerina and SPC Manley for their newborn babies.
I hope they are all doing very well. I also want to thank you for your care packages.
It is a great feeling to see our soldiers' faces when they receive packages and letters from our loved ones.
As we near the end of our second month, I remain in awe of the daily contributions your loved ones make
to the military mission and the equally important task of taking care of each other.
We are currently living at the Joint Security Station (JSS) Jihad. Our Soldiers have made
and continue to make great improvements to the JSS. All our Soldiers have all the necessary accommodations
to include internet and phone services to stay in touch with our families. This month we have undertaken
our new mission to help the citizens of Shurta continue to maintain a safe area for their families
and make improvements in our Area of Operation. Our Soldiers and the citizens of Shurta
have done an outstanding job improvement and keeping our Area of Operation safe.
While 1st Platoon continues to make a great difference and contribution conducting patrols
and assisting the Iraq Security Forces in our AO. 2nd Platoon and A&O continue to keep our routes clear
as part of the Brigade's Ironclaw Team. In addition to this we have received 1st Platoon
from Charlie Company as an attachment to assist us in maintaining a safe environment.
They are led by 1LT Behler and SFC Sotomayor and they have been a great asset
and have integrated greatly to our team and family. The Headquarters boys turned out a wonderful effort
to keep the company running smoothly and as always cover down where needed
to accomplish the company's many disparate tasks. With soldiers tasked out to many different missions,
the headquarters troopers conducted convoy operations, secure our Soldiers and ISF at the Joint Security Station.
All of the Killers contributed greatly to our successes this past month and all are helping
to keep each other's spirits up during the long and hot months As always, I pray for your safety
and well being, as well as that of our beloved soldiers. Please continue to support your loved ones
as they continue to serve with courageous professionalism, and I promise that I will continue
to do everything in my power to accomplish our mission while ensuring the safety and welfare
of those you hold dear. Thank you, and God bless.

Greetings from Iraq,
After departing Ft Hood, we went to Kuwait, to build combat power and "shake out the bugs",
before moving north. We initially moved our personnel and equipment to Camp Falcon,
for about a week, until we finally came to rest in our new home away from home,
Joint Security Station Jihad. Since arriving at the JSS we have worked nonstop at making it better.
We have spent numerous hours cleaning and repairing the area in order to make it more livable.
This is in addition to patrolling and guarding the walls to protect ourselves.
Under the current operational tempo it is easy to see how busy we have been.
It appears that we have about gotten into our rhythm based on our MWR Internet Café and Gym utilization.
During the first week or so on location, the facilities were typically empty,
now there seems to be a steady flow of traffic. The steady improvements keep us busy
and help make life a little bit better. As for 2nd PLT and A&O, they are patrolling almost daily
in order to make the roads clear for the rest of the coalition forces in this area,
and are doing a great job.

CPT Franklin (Eliminator 6)

1SG Allen (Eliminator 7)

Soldiers, family, and friends, I bring you motivated greetings from Forward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq.
First and foremost I would like to inform you that all Eliminators have arrived safely in theater.
Additionally we are still patiently awaiting the arrival of six Eliminators who deployed late
due to unforeseen circumstances. This past month has been somewhat of a shock
to those who are deployed for the first time and a reality check for all who have been to Iraq in the past.
I know you have received reports of the Base receiving mortar attacks
but I can assure that your loved ones are okay. We have received all equipment necessary
to support the battalion and more importantly have transitioned to full sustainment operations.
I am fully aware that family members deserve to be informed and I can assure you
that we will keep you posted on how the company is doing and the many accomplishments
we achieve while making history during this deployment. I want to thank you for your time, patience,
and your soldier. I hope that this message finds everyone in the best of health and spirits.
Please have your family and friends continue to pray for all of the soldiers here in Iraq.

Leadership Quote of the Month:
In no other profession are the penalties for employing untrained personnel so appalling
or so irrevocable as in the military. -- GEN Douglas McArthur