1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Unit Update June 2008

Dealer 6

Dealer 7

First Platoon “Reapers” found a new home. We left Bravo Company 4-64 Armor
and we are now a member of Delta Company 4-64 Armor.
We live at the bigger Forward Operating Base (FOB) and one week a month
we live at a Joint Security Station (JSS). It is a Combat Outpost (COP)
with an attached Iraqi Army Headquarters. The past two weeks have been busy.
Between transferring to a new company, maintenance on our vehicles,
and learning an entirely new Area of Operations (AO) there is not a large amount of time
left for sleep or much else.

Our missions now consist of disrupting the enemy. We secure areas
that are historically hot spots for IEDs and prevent the enemy from emplacing more.
We also secure large open areas previously used to fire rockets or mortars.
This protects other soldiers from feeling the effects of indirect fire.
At first, we were skeptical about these missions. There was not a direct positive correlation
with what we were doing. But it dawned on First Platoon that we are out there
protecting other soldiers, just as other soldiers are out there protecting us.
Even though we don’t know the soldiers, or even see them, they are there.
And they are doing the same thing for us.
And through that relationship we keep each other safe.

First Platoon also secured the area for a t-wall to be built. T-walls are tall,
thin pieces of concrete that can interconnect to form a long wall. They are used to
prevent the enemy from moving around freely. Now the enemy must use
an Iraqi National Police (INP) checkpoint to enter the neighborhood.
This keeps the locals safe by not allowing the enemy to intermix with them.
It also allows the INP control of who goes into or out of the neighborhood.

The Reapers are well and continue to fight for the security of soldiers and locals.
Everyday brings its own challenges, but we are meeting them head on and will not quit.

Killer 6

Killer 7

Dear Friends and Family,
I hope this letter finds you all well and enjoying the start of a hot Texas summer.
Here at JSS Jihad and North West Rashid get hotter every day but our Soldiers stand strong as always.
I want to start by congratulating Mrs. and SPC Tmatk for their newly born baby Kimora Leen Masae Tmatk.
Congratulations to you…

It’s been a very busy month for our Soldiers as we continue to assist the Iraqi Government
and our counterparts from the Iraqi Army get better and improve the quality of life
for the local citizens of AO Killer. We continue our integration and joint operations
and patrols with 4th IA Company. They are definitely part of our Killer family.
This month, in addition to combined patrols we have conducted a combined operation
with the Iraqi Army that led to the detention of several criminals and discovery of a weapons cache
that was later destroyed by the Iraqi Army. This has allowed us to keep the area safe and secured,
while simultaneously eroding the resources of criminals’ and extremist special groups’.

All this thanks to the help and assistance of the local populace which continues to fight
and stand up for themselves and a better Iraq. As we continue to defeat terrorism
in our AO, the essential services for the local citizens continue to improve
and show significant progress in our neighborhoods.
This month we have helped the local government to create more projects to include
the initial stages of the installation of several generators to improve the electrical
power shortage in the area. We also assisted the Neighborhood Advisory Council
(NAC) in presenting backpacks and other awards to several local national children
that performed and had the best scores during their final examination of this semester.
Congratulations to them all.

As always, our Soldiers’ quality of life at the Joint Security Station improves daily.
We even had a BBQ on 14 June 08 in celebration to the Army’s Birthday.
Thanks to our Cooks and all the Soldiers that made this happened.
It was a very nice and well deserved meal.

Once again, I want to thank you for your continuous support and sending all
those nice care packages to our Soldiers. And 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.

Greetings from JSS Jihad,
This was a fast paced month in sector, it seems like we were always outside of the wire.
In addition to our typical missions, many of our Company missions were in direct support
of the Iraqi Army. Plus, Sapper and Black Sheep have done a great job
on joint service platoon patrols inside of our area. This transition to joint operations
is a great leap toward our ultimate goal.

On the other side of our sector is our beloved Dog Pound, they have been busy
doing joint service route clearances. But, they took the time to stop by and see us a couple of times
and seem to be doing fine. I spoke with ECO 4-64 1SG today
and he said SSG(P) Tate was doing a great job in SFC TJ’s absence,
and the platoon was doing very well as usual. I plan to go on a mission or two
with them in the very near future, and send pictures as always.

As for the betterment of our daily living, we wired our eating facility, “the Barn,” for electricity;
and it was just in time for the ARMY’s Birth Day. We had an outstanding steak
and lobster meal followed by birthday cake. Our cooks did a great job on the grill.
It far exceeded our typical heat and serve meals, and we fought over the leftovers for the next two days.

Also, this month we welcomed SGT Chamberlin, from our mechanic support team,
and SPC Knell, Sapper PLT, back to our ranks, we were happy to see them again
(family members they are doing well and are already making a difference).
Returning to Iraq may not be considered good news to family members,
so here is some news that might pass the test. We already gave out the dates
for the July leave period and everything seems to be in order.
As for those lucky ones on leave, I hope your having a great time, but know
you are truly missed. We need each and every one to be smart and safe in your travels,
enjoy your family and return on time. May God bless you all!
Engineers lead the way!

Eliminator 6

Eliminator 7

Greetings, family and friends of the Eliminators.
It’s hard to believe yet another month is down and GOD has blessed our company
with no injuries or fatalities. I wish I could say the same for the RAIDER BRIGADE.
Please take time after reading this to say a prayer for the soldiers and their families
who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country.
Several of our brothers at arms have lost their lives fighting for the democratic freedom of Iraq.
Despite what your personal thoughts are, our tour in this country will eventually come to an end.
We will be able to rejoin our families, and talk about the tough times we had in Iraq.
These soldiers that have perished in this War on Terrorism will not have that opportunity again.
Please keep them in your prayers as you think about your Soldier.

On another note, our Eliminators are here doing an outstanding job. Despite all of the changes
that we continue to encounter, the Soldiers remain Steadfast and Loyal.
We continue to remain professionally engaged with sustaining Task Force Regulars
as it rids our area of operations of insurgents. The mission requires manpower
24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Sustaining the Regulars is a huge responsibility
that we take very serious and execute with distinction and pride daily. Please continue to be proud
and supportive of our Eliminators. They are truly unsung heroes.

This edition of the newsletter will highlight our Headquarters Platoon.
Headquarters Platoon is a truly diverse platoon. In the platoon we have Soldiers from supply
to cooks and everything in between. These Soldiers have been doing a remarkable job
for the company and battalion. In our food service section,
we have Soldiers working at five different sites, FOB Falcon, JSS Jihad,
COP 803, COP 881, and COP 828. Each of the areas has very few cooks
to support the number of personnel that are out there.
These cooks do an outstanding job in preparing meals under harsh conditions
and requesting the food that each area needs.

Our supply Soldiers helped with a way to increase our survivability.
They drew and issued flame resistant ACU’s and Nomex shirts for everyone in the company.
They do their best to ensure supplies arrive for the benefit of the unit.
“We work long and hard to make sure everyone gets what they need,”
replied SPC McCall (Supply clerk).

Our communications experts fixed a problem with how far the company
Tactical Operations Center (TOC) could talk to the patrols. The issue was
that the antenna was too short, so they built a tower which raised the antenna another 15 feet,
thus increasing the range of the radio, ensuring that the convoys could talk to the company TOC.
“I just wanted to make sure we could always talk to our guys and see if they are okay,”
said SGT Robinette (Communications NCO).

The company has been on-ground for a little over 3 months now and has done
a remarkable job adjusting to the daily battle rhythm. The Soldiers are finding creative ways
to accomplish tasks and find positive methods to cope with the stresses
of being away from friends and family. The gym here on FOB Falcon serves as a morale booster
for many of the Soldiers and is used regularly by the members of headquarters platoon.
Internet and phone services here on the FOB also provide our Soldiers the capability
to stay in touch with loved ones back in the states.

We have many others working behind the scenes. We have Soldiers on Tower Guard
which watch our perimeter, ensuring the safety of everyone inside the base’s walls.
Soldiers processing administrative paper work such as promotions,
leave forms, NCOERs, and still they time to assist in convoys.
The Soldiers in the company TOC have several functions.
They not only monitor the radio for the patrols, they also track and brief the company leadership
on any incident that has happened in the battalion’s area.
They also ensure that the company has the most up to date information about
the area’s road conditions, and assist delivering much cherished mail to our personnel
staged at forward locations. The diversity of the platoon is what makes this section the life line
in many areas for the company and battalion. Each of the Soldiers has an important piece
in the success of our mission and time here. Finally, may God continue
bless “Task Force 1-22” as we continue our pursuit of making Iraq better one at a time.