1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Unit Update Spetember 2008 Page 2

CPT Drew Conover (Gator 6)

1SG Bandy (Gator 7)

I hope this letter finds everyone doing well. We are just out of the summer months here
and it has cooled off quite a bit recently. We have finished the renovation of our COP
and I am happy to report that all of our electrical systems are fully functioning and working properly.

Things have generally remained calm over the last month as we have seen little enemy activity
and had few cache finds. We have spent the majority of our time overseeing
the renovations of new and existing shops in Aamel. We spent nearly 1 million dollars
over the last month on this economic plan in hopes of jumpstarting the economy
and minimizing unemployment. Additionally, we continue to maintain our focus on security
in all that we do through patrolling and raids against enemy combatants that still remain in the AO.
We have detained a number of targets recently to include the head of one of the criminal cells
that recently returned from Iran.

Lastly, I regret to inform everyone that 1SG Bandy will be leaving the company at the end of the month.
He will be moving to take over duties as the HHC First Sergeant. Although a step forward
for his career, he will be sorely missed around the COP. I would like to thank 1SG Bandy
for his outstanding work and accomplishments over the last year and a half.
I would also like to sincerely thank his wife, Anita, for her tremendous support for this company.

On a positive note, 1SG Dean from HHC will be coming over to assume the new A Company
First Sergeant position. 1SG Dean has over two years First Sergeant experience
working in both an engineer company and a headquarters company during both garrison
and combat operations. He will surely be an asset to this company
through the remainder of this deployment.

Please continue to provide support to your loved ones.
We definitely appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and support every day.

SSG Jordan, SGT Avalos before patrol

SGT Galliher, SGT Shcuck, SPC (P) Sisson

CPT Ed Kennedy (Bear 6)

1SG Cameron (Bear 7)

That’s seven months down and the company is still doing great. No change to our area of operations,
still enjoying all that Jamia, Adl, Iskhan and Washash have to offer. We are getting close
to operating mainly out of the JSS and less out of Camp Liberty,
but for now we operate a little out of both.

This past month the company has continued to have great success in a lot of areas.
The company by itself and along with the Iraqi Army unit we are paired with have continued
to detain a lot of insurgents including many High Value Individuals. In addition
to detaining insurgents, two of the main groups of people we are working with that you may be
hearing about right now either from your son or on the news are the Internally Displaced Persons
(IDP) and the Son’s of Iraq (SOI) or Concerned Local Citizens (CLC).

The IDP issue involves the people that were forced to leave their homes, predominately in 2006
during the rise in Shia Sunni tensions. As a result of the improved security in Baghdad,
recently the IDPs have been moving back as part of a Government of Iraq resettlement program.
The company has been assisting the Iraqi Army with their efforts to ensure this is a safe transition
as this really is a great event to help the people of Iraq get back to a normal life
and is a great indicator of how well things are going.

Over the past year or so the SOIs have been helping the Iraqi Army, and us, secure the streets of Baghdad
through a variety of means but mostly by assisting at checkpoints and providing intelligence on insurgents.
This past month the company has assisted the IA in gathering documentation to register the SOIs
with the Government of Iraq so they can assume responsibility and transition the SOIs into either
the Iraqi Army and other security positions or civilian jobs. This is an excellent opportunity to improve
the security of Iraq and get back to a normal life as the SOIs really did do a great job to help
us all secure Baghdad and the IA taking control of this program is a definite indicator of success.

As far as back at Texas, Melissa is still the FRG Leader and if you need something or
have a question, please do not hesitate to email her.
She can usually answer all your questions or get the answer pretty quick and for the ones she needs
an answer from down range she gets me an email and as quick as I can, I get her an answer.

This past month we had quite a few more promotions, and I want to congratulate the following Soldiers:
• Private Second Class Joseph Juarez to Private First Class
• Private Second Class Joseph Tabb to Private First Class
• Private Second Class Scotty Eoff to Private First Class
• Private Second Class Matthew Plicque to Private First Class
• Private Second Class Charles Salotti to Private First Class
• Private Second Class Deante Pinkney to Private First Class
• Private First Class Michael Patterson to Specialist
• Private First Class Justin Dutton to Specialist
• Private First Class Matthew Wheeler to Specialist
• Private First Class Mason Moore to Specialist
• Specialist Teddy Angulo to Sergeant
• Specialist Garrett Bane to Sergeant
• Specialist John Robinson to Sergeant
• Specialist Roger Peterson to Sergeant
• Sergeant Jason Gibson to Staff Sergeant

Well my ranger buddy is on leave right now as 1SG Eric Cameron is enjoying time with his wife Jana
and their kids back in Texas. He has earned it, in addition to his 1SG job, keeping me in line
24 hours a day is a full time job in itself! But I am looking forward to him returning, not just
so I have my partner back, but so I can also go on leave. We made sure all the company leadership
wasn’t on leave at one time and we wanted to make sure as many of the Soldiers had the opportunity
to take leave over the holidays so we took the random months, which getting home to
see my daughter, girlfriend and the great United States is all I need. So next month you should get
an update from the XO, Captain Chris Tsao, while I’m trying to relax on a beach in Mexico or
playing with my daughter in Texas.

I know I’m going to sound like a broken record, but the Bears continue to do great things and
exceed my expectations daily. Please continue to keep all of the Bears in your thoughts and prayers.

CPT Gavin (Copperhead 6)

1SG Navarro (Copperhead 7)

What a difference it’s been over the past month. You can tell that the summer months
are coming to an end with the constant dust storms and hazy weather. The steady haze of dust
in the air keeps the sun down throughout the afternoon hours which allows the guys on the ground
to stay cooler. Despite the cooling temperatures, it’s still hanging around 100 degrees.

We are continuing to assist the Iraqi Government in letting them take over more responsibilities
throughout the AO. Recently, we have given them the responsibility for the Sons of Iraqi (SOIs).
The SOIs are an organized group of local nationals who stand guard at their neighborhood streets.
This is an important part to the security of Iraq and it is even more important
that we let the Iraqi Government control this program. It’s another big step in the right direction.

Currently we’ve finished one school rehabilitation project and two more under construction.
Also, three generator projects have been awarded. These generators will be responsible to
supplying power for three Muhallahs consisting of several hundred families. These families
usually get only 3-4 hours of city power a day. Now, they will get a consistent and reliable
power source. Both the schools and generator projects are all contracted through local nationals.
These contracts play an important role in improving the local economy by creating jobs and
instilling a sense of trust with Coalition Forces.

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get a “kiddy pool” due to recent restrictions.
For obvious reason, it just didn’t happen. This was probably for the better.
Other than that, Soldiers are still motivated. For many, the midtour leave has helped revitalize
senses and motivate them to push forward. Upcoming promotions to Specialist (E4) are soon to come.
PFC Williams and PFC Florvilous from Headquarters Platoon are looking forward to October.

During the month of September comes the Ramadan Celebration. The Company is
often invited for Ramadan dinners when they break fasting for the day. The dinners are traditional
Iraqi food and most of the Soldiers are brave enough to try it. Sheiks and local leaders are invited
to celebrate this event together. But after eating all this Iraqi food, it really just makes us
miss a home cooked meal.

Copperhead is rolling along. Thank you for all your support and prayers.
Another month down…
Copperhead