1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Update 8-15-06 Page 2

Another month has passed and the men of A Company continue to excel in all aspects of operations
in Western Baghdad! Operations are picking up as we are moving from the reconnaissance phase of operations
into more focused missions based on the current situation. The Soldiers have pushed very hard this month
and will continue to do so for the remaining three and a half months in theatre. Second and 3^rd platoons
have begun a rotating schedule where they deploy forward in our area for 48-72 hour periods
without returning to the patrol base. This has proved very effective. They each have been responsible
for numerous cache finds and the detention of dozens of enemy personnel. Second Platoon (Tank)
continues to prove an invaluable asset to this company as well. They recently found a cache
consisting of 138 x 155mm artillery rounds, greatly disrupting enemy forces operating in our area.

The political and enemy situation continues to change rapidly
here in Baghdad and has brought about a number of changes inside our company.
The first major change is the expansionof our area of operation.
With the recent loss of B Company to 2^nd Brigade,
101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault),
the battalion was required to redraw some of our internal company boundaries.
Our company will remain in our previously assigned area
but will also assume responsibility
for additional battlespace formerly owned by D Company.

More importantly, we received two additional platoons of combat power
to offset the assumption of additional battlespace. The cross attachment of the Scout Platoon
will greatly enhance the companies ability to execute full spectrum operations due to their experience over the last six months,
their versatility, and ability to conduct reconnaissance or direct action missions.
Additionally, we would like to welcome 1^st Platoon, C Battery, 4^th Battalion, 27^th Field Artillery Regiment
as our fifth platoon of combat power. They have been staged in Kuwait for the last 9 months as the theatre reserve.
They are well trained, eager to execute operations, and have already provided a positive, energetic boost to this company.

I again had the honor of promoting a number of our Soldiers this month. This is always a positive event
as they are formally recognized by the Army for their outstanding service and their demonstrated potential
for increased responsibility. We in A Company certainly look forward to seeing these young Soldiers progress
through the ranks of the Army. The names of those promoted are:

We also had Specialist Bryan Crowder reenlist this past month. I commend him for his continued service
in the Army and A Company will continue to benefit from his service.

In closing, I would like to say that I could not be prouder of these men. They continue to become more effective
in our area with each passing day. They are aggressive, focused, and are ready for any challenge that awaits them.
Thanks again for your continued support and I will try to ensure that all the Soldiers have adequate resources available
to keep in touch with you all back home.

Hello from Abu Ghraib. I hope this letter finds you well as we complete the eighth month of our deployment.
We have come full circle in the last forty-five days as we have spent our time familiarizing ourselves
with our new area of operations, and then turning it over to the Soldiers of D Company and C Battery,
4^th Battalion, 27^th Field Artillery Regiment.

As you have likely heard, B Company will be moving once again. We will be moving to Camp Striker –
the camp adjacent to the battalion’s headquarters at Camp Liberty. We will once again be attached to 2^nd Brigade
of the 101^st Airborne Division – as a company this time – and operate in South Baghdad.
We do not yet know our specific mission, but we are executing this move as part of a larger plan
to provide enhanced security for the people of the greater Baghdad area. Our 2^nd and 3^rd Platoons
will accompany us in the move while 1^st Platoon will be detached to C Battery.
1^st Platoon will remain with Task Force Regulars in our current area so that they may secure key infrastructure
in the Abu Ghraib district. In exchange for the loss of 1^st Platoon, we welcome the attachment
of Second Lieutenant Moosey, Sergeant First Class McCallum, and the Soldiers of 1^st Platoon,
C Company as we conduct operations together in the future.

I would like to congratulate Sergeant Dustin Wright and Specialist Brian Smith on their decisions
to continue their enlistment in the Army. We thank them and their families
for their continued commitment and sacrifice.

I’d like to extend a special thanks to Erin Jones for her tremendous service to the families and Soldiers of B Company
during the past ten months as our Family Readiness Group (FRG) leader. Her superb work was noticed
throughout the brigade and she was selected to become the 1^st Brigade FRG Department of the Army Representative.
This means she will now be providing assistance to all of the FRGs within the Raider Brigade.
Luckily for us, Erin will still remain active, albeit to a lesser degree, in the B Company FRG.
I’d like to welcome Melissa Marler as the company’s new FRG leader. She has been a great help to Erin in the past
and I look forward to her serving as our new FRG leader in the coming months.
All the Soldiers of 1^st Platoon and B Company congratulate her and her husband, Staff Sergeant Paul Marler,
on their 15 minutes of fame in the DFW International Airport as he returned on Environmental Leave (see attached picture).

I ask that your thoughts and prayers continue to be with our Soldiers…particularly those wounded
during this past month’s operations – Sergeant Keven Sczcublewski, Sergeant Jaysan Arnote,
and Private First Class Jacob Brannon. Thank you for your continued support and patience throughout the deployment.
I understand that the unpredictability of your Soldier’s schedule, amongst all the other unknowns,
adds a good deal of anxiety. Know they are doing an outstanding job in accomplishing all that is asked of them,
and you have much of which to be proud.

First off you may notice our name has changed – we are no longer in a state of Chaos and have become
C Company Copperhead. As we shed the skin of our old name, the company remains the same set of outstanding warriors –
executing a broad range of missions but always ready to strike hard at a moments notice.

As you know, C Company has been conducting the security mission for Abu Ghraib for the past few weeks
and doing an exceptional job. The company has successfully defended this national-level, strategic target
from all potential attacks and is about to hand over the detention facility to the Iraqi Government.
Our Soldiers worked together with the Mortars from Headquarters and Headquarters Company
and A Battery, 4^th Battalion, 42^nd Field Artillery to secure the site.
When this mission closes, it will be time for C Company to move on to new challenges.

For our next mission set the company will operating from Camp Liberty where the Soldiers will be living
with several well-deserved amenities they have not had too much of since being in Iraq.
Soldiers will be living in a trailer with air conditioning, able to shop at the best PX in the country,
and enjoy an outstanding meal at the dining facility with a vast selection of food.
While staying at Camp Liberty, the Soldiers of C Company will once again be able to prove
just how good they are as we transition to yet another area to help provide a safe and secure Iraq.
The Soldiers are excited to get back on their tanks and continue to conduct combat patrols.
The men of Copperhead have impressed me from the start with their professionalism and dedication to the mission,
I can only hope to continue to build on their success through the remainder of the deployment.

We also had three Soldiers reenlist over the past month. Sergeant David Wallace and his wife Brenda
from Headquarters Platoon reenlisted for Germany. Specialist Bob Ward and his wife Shannon of 1^st platoon
and Specialist Robert Patitucci and his wife Shawna of Headquarters Platoon both reenlisted for stabilization at Fort Hood.
I commend these Soldiers, Non Commissioned Officers and their families for continuing their service in the Army
as we all benefit from their dedication to serving our country over the coming years.

Finally, I want to take a moment to introduce myself as the new commander of C Company.
My name is Ed Kennedy. I am originally from Danbury, Connecticut, and I am truly honored
to be working with your loved one here in Iraq. I took command on 16 July
and the Soldiers have been doing a remarkable job, you should all be proud of them all.
We can not thank you enough for all the support and encouragement you provide on a daily basis.
I look forward to getting to know you all and to continue to work with you and your loved ones.