1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Transfers Authority March 2009

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1-22 Transfers Authority & Cases Colors

March 2009

‘Iron Knights’ assume authority of Baghdad’s West Rashid District
By Pfc. Evan Loyd
2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div., MND-B

BAGHDAD – The ‘Iron Knights’ of Task Force 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division—Baghdad, assumed authority of West Rashid from the Soldiers
of 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., during a transfer of authority ceremony
at Forward Operating Base Falcon March 4.

The 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. deployed to Iraq in February 2008 and made great progress towards
rehabilitating the West al-Rashid district, in the southern portion of Baghdad.
“It is great to have a seasoned unit to assume responsibility of Rashid,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge,
commander of the 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. “I am confident the “Iron Knights” will do a fantastic job.”
Security conditions continue to improve within the Rashid district and the assumption of authority transfer
demonstrates the steady progress of the area and the commitment of MND-B to provide security
for the Iraqi people, according to Elledge.

BAGHDAD- Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge (center), commander, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT,
4th Inf. Div., and Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Guden (left) case the battalion’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony
at Forward Operating Base Falcon March 4. The battalion ceded responsibility of the West Rashid district area to the ‘Iron Knights’
of Task Force 1st Bn., 35th Armor Regt., 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.

(U.S. Army photo by Capt. Kellen Blythe, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div., MND-B)

The two units have conducted side-by-side operations over the past week with the 1-22nd Inf. Regt.
showing the “Iron Knights” the new area and preparing them to conduct full spectrum operations in the neighborhoods
of West Rashid along with their Iraqi Security Force partners.
Soldiers of Task Force 1-35 Armor already assisted the citizens of Mada’in Qada to reestablish them
as the “breadbasket” of the Baghdad province and are ready for any challenges they’ll meet in the coming months,
according to El Paso, Texas native Lt. Col. Rich Morales, commander, TF 1st Bn., 35th Armor Regt.
“Task Force “Regulars”, with the help of Gen. Faisal and his Iraqi National Police, have made amazing progress
in Rashid,” said Morales. “Task Force Knight will not let you down in the coming months.”

BAGHDAD- El Paso, Texas native, Lt. Col. Rich Morales (left), commander, Task Force 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, listens as Lt. Col. Matthew Elledge,
commander, 1st Bn., 22nd Infantry Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., speaks during a transfer of authority ceremony at FOB Falcon
March 4. The Soldiers of the Fort Hood, Texas based unit ceded responsibility of the West Rashid district area
to the ‘Iron Knights’ of TF 1-35.

(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st. Class Lawrence Ebert, 2nd BCT PAO, 1st Armd. Div., MND-B)

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