1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Update January 2009 Page 2

(Gator 6)

(Gator 7)

I hope that you all en-joyed a safe and pleasant Holiday Season. In this New Year I’m finding
that the deployed Gator Family is filled with a renewed strength and vigor as they reflect
on their great accomplishments since the beginning of the deployment and continue to watch
a successful Iraqi Government advance towards self-reliance. This has only been made possible
by the hard work and perseverance from your loved ones throughout the deployment.
These great Soldiers are playing a crucial role at a pivotal time in Iraq’s history
as the Iraqi Security Forces start to assume the majority of the responsibility
for the security and safety of their local neighborhoods.

The Iraqi National Police and the Iraqi Local Police are the two main security forces that we are partnered with
in this area of Baghdad. Together we conduct all of our missions and patrols to provide a presence
in the neighborhoods, monitor the completion of essential service projects, search for unauthorized weapons
and munitions, and detain Anti-Iraqi Forces that attempt to disrupt our progress. The Iraqi National Police
and the Iraqi Local Police are comparable to our State and City Police respectively in the United States.
They are an excellent asset and resource to us because their knowledge of the local neighborhoods,
deeper understanding of the culture, and lack of a language barrier enables them to acquire intelligence
on enemy activity much more quickly and efficiently than we can through an interpreter.
The progression of these two security forces during our deployment concerning their tactical and
technical proficiencies has been nothing short of impressive. Their hard work and determination to succeed
in conjunction with the well-disciplined Sons of Iraq program that exists in our sector, is one of the main reasons
why our area has remained so safe and secure. We will continue to support their progress and bolster
our relationship to maintain a united front against any effort on our enemies’ behalf to regain
a foothold in our neighborhoods. Our motto is, “An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us!”

The end of January will mark another very important milestone in Iraq’s emerging Democratic history
when they hold free and fair provincial council elections for the 18 provinces that compose Iraq.
Our recent Presidential election was a great example that the Americans set for the Iraqis to emulate
and the Iraqis that live in our area of responsibility have passed along several praises for the way
in which we conducted our landmark and progressive election. Gator Company has been working closely
with the Iraqi Security Forces over the last month planning the security for each polling site
and for the neighborhoods as a whole. It is the responsibility of the Iraqi Security Forces with Coalition Force’s
support to provide a safe and secure atmosphere in and around the polling sites to afford all Iraqis
the opportunity to cast their vote. We expect a highly successful election in our area which will serve
to further advance this flourishing nation.We again thank you for your outpouring of support that we have enjoyed
throughout this last month. It never ceases to amaze me on mail days to see the massive amounts of support
in the form of boxes stacked up in our front area. I will reiterate again, you all certainly help us keep our heads
in the game and our eyes on the prize. We cannot thank you enough! Though we thoroughly enjoy
ripping open boxes of snacks and luxury items from home, I must highlight that mail should be discontinued
to your loved ones on or about February 15th. Even though deployment orders have not officially been changed,
this is a simple preparation that we can plan for in the event that orders do change. If at any time we get word
that the mail cutoff date is after that, we will quickly inform families and friends through the FRG network
so that you all can continue sending support to your loved ones past mid-February.

In other exciting news, we have promoted one very deserving Soldier this month. This is representative
of not only his outstanding performance but also his willingness to seek higher levels of responsibility
in this profession of arms. We look forward to supporting this great Soldier as he continues to grow
in his professional development. Please join me in congratulating him for his well earned promotion.

As well, we have been extremely honored and fortunate to retain some top tier Soldiers in the Army
through their reenlistment this past month. In the face of tough deployments and arduous training cycles,
these Soldiers and their families have made a selfless commitment to the Army and its mission to fight and win
this nation’s wars. Please join me in thanking them for their desire to continue with this profession of service.

SSG Brian Todd
SPC Joshua Fry
SGT Patrick Herrera (accidently omitted in October 2008)

This month has marked some new changes in our day to day operations and we will continue
to adjust to these changing conditions and ways of operating up until the time we redeploy home.
Please understand though that nothing has changed in the immediate security of your loved ones
and no limits have been placed on their ever present rights to self-defense. Together we are working
to maintain our focus to ensure that complacency does not set in and together we will finish this deployment strong!

I hope this finds each and every one of you doing well and thanks again for all your thoughts,
prayers, and support. Take care and be safe!

CPT Ed Kennedy (Bear 6)

1SG Cameron (Bear 7)

That’s eleven months down for the Bears and we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel
but remain focused on the task at hand. It really is not too much longer before there will be some very happy reunions!
I want to remind everyone to not ask their Soldier or the FRG for specific dates or flight information,
that is classified for everyone’s security. Once it gets closer you will get updated information
on when to expect your Soldier to be home.

So what have the Bears been working on over the past month? Well one of the more important missions
you may have heard about were polling site security assessments for the provincial elections
at the end of January. This is being totally run by the Iraq Electoral Commission with security provided
by the Iraqi Army, Police and National Police. Our role was still significant to assist the Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) in their development of the plan to secure the election sites but we will only be in an overwatch role
during the actual elections. The ISF are in the lead and we are supporting them as best we can.
Almost all our patrols are conducted combined with ISF and as they improve we continue to partner with them
to make sure they stay on the right path and get better everyday.

I have to let you all know that there have been a few changes in Bear Company leadership
as we’ve picked up a few and will have to say good bye to one. We of course are very happy for
our most recent newlyweds as SSG Michael Benton married Analou and SSG Omar Rivera married Maylling
on their R&Rs. I want to say congratulations to them and wish them long and happy marriages.
Over the past few months we also have picked up a few new Bears with SGT Chad Smith and his wife Jasmine,
SGT Justin Henderson and his wife Julia, SGT Yoshico Paz and his wife Brenda, SGT Blake Colson
and his fiancé Jennifer Lynn, and 1LT Rob Ganim and his wife Katie. The NCOs we picked up
are all contributing greatly to their respective platoons and the company as a whole and I welcome
their better halves to the Bear FRG. I have been impressed with the Non-Commissioned leadership
of this company from 1SG on down throughout my command and these NCOs are already fitting in well.
1LT Rob Ganim was a great addition to the officers of the company replacing the senior platoon leader,
1LT John Magri, in First Platoon. That freed John up to replace CPT Chris Tsao as the latest
Bear Executive Officer. I could not be happier to get to keep 1LT Magri in the company as my XO
and also want to congratulate him and Nathalia as they recently got engaged on his R&R in December.
John has done a great job as platoon leader and will continue to excel in his new position.
However, that means CPT Tsao sadly must move on. He has been selected to move to the Battalion S3 shop
and work as a redeployment officer. CPT Tsao has been with the Bears since he arrived to the unit
in March of 2006 and will be deeply missed by the company from Commander on down.
CPT Tsao will not be far away and we all know he’ll keep an eye on the Bears in particular.

Bear White Platoon continues to do great things while attached to Delta Company.
In true Bear style there were discussions about detaching them to work for another battalion, however,
that task passed and they stayed at JSS Risalah. For the families of white platoon, please do not worry,
even if they worked for a different battalion for a little while, they still would have redeployed
with the rest of the company on the same timeline.

This past month we had a few more promotions and I want to congratulate the following Soldiers:

Private Carlos Corona to Private Second Class
Private Second Class Justin Cooper to Private First Class
Private Second Class Brian Gomez to Private First Class
Private First Class James Chambers to Specialist
Private First Class Gil Legaspi to Specialist
Private First Class Michael Mackrell to Specialist
Private First Class Deante Pinkney to Specialist
Sergeant Michael Vo to Staff Sergeant

I would also like to congratulate the following Soldiers and their families for deciding to reenlist
and to continue their careers in the Army:

PFC Patrick Lynch
PFC Jas Rivara
PFC Kevin Skarvana
SPC Robert Bull
SPC Marshall Carrell
SPC William Wuensche

Melissa Marler is still the Bear FRG Leader, please do not hesitate to email her. If you want to be informed
of your Soldier’s most current flight information when it becomes available please email her with your phone number.
As soon as she knows any information she will be sure to get you an update.

The Bears continue to amaze me with their quiet professionalism in getting the job done, this truly is
an outstanding company. The Brigade Commander, Colonel Martin visited the other day and he again commented
on what a great unit this is and that we clearly are having a significant impact on our area of operations.
General Odierno also just visited the other night and had dinner with a few Bears that were not on patrol
and he too commented on the fantastic performance of the company and the deep impact they have had
on the lasting success in Iraq. I may be a little partial, but I could not agree more.

Please continue to keep all of the Bears in your thoughts and prayers.
Captain Ed Kennedy (Bear 6)

Snake 6

Snake 7

The New Year was brought in with continuous hard work from Charlie Company’s Soldiers,
but fortunately our Area of Responsibility has remained comparably quiet. With elections at the end of this month,
our focus is to keep our area calm and safe during this time period. The Iraqi people are extremely anxious
to support their country by voting on who they feel is best qualified to lead them. The Iraqi Security Forces
are doing a great job taking the lead in security, and our role has changed from an active player
to more of a coach on a lot of missions. The Copperhead Soldier’s will be working tirelessly hand in hand
with our ISF counter-parts to see that the Iraqi citizens remain protected through the elections and beyond.
This effort can be seen across the entire Battalion and Brigade.

During the Super Bowl Game, the Division Commander has actually given approval for us to drink 2 beers.
We are anxiously awaiting these beers. It’ll be a small piece of home, even if it only lasts a few sips.
Since the new living trailers have been installed, we’ve been able to dedicate an entire trailer as our “MWR”.
There’s a big screen T.V with AFN, bean bag chairs, and couches. The MWR is a great area for Soldiers to relax.
USO donated DVDs, an X-Box, and a Wii System. You’ll often catch Soldiers huddled around the big screen TV
playing a “Call of Duty” tournament on their off-time. For the Super Bowl we will bring the big screen outside
so we can all enjoy the game while sipping our beers. With the snacks from home and the beer,
it’ll almost be like watching the game back home.

We are all counting down the days till we go home (however many that may be), but remain motivated
to complete what is left for us here until then. We miss you all very much. Soon, we will all be home.