Red Dragon Newsletter, September 2011

Red Dragon Families and Friends,

The Red Dragons continue to accomplish much here in Southern Salah ad Din

as we keep the pressure on the enemy through rock solid partnerships with our Iraqi Se-

curity Forces, unwavering dedication to population security with local leaders and resi-

dents, and disciplined and precise execution of all missions. The routine 120+ degree

weather in August was no doubt hot, but your Soldier and all Red Dragon leaders were

vigilant to ensure we were properly cared for and ready for the extreme heat. August

was also the month of Ramadan and as such, many of us spent numerous nights with our

security force partners, Government leaders, and local tribal leaders by breaking of the

fast at dinner. It was a great time to get to know each other better, learn more about the

area where we serve, and discuss security topics. I am always impressed by the hospi-

tality of our host nation. These leaders insist on providing meals for entire platoons and

will not rest until they are certain everyone has eaten and are satisfied. I suggest that all

should experience an Iraqi style meal that is complete with lamb, chicken, rice, toma-

toes, cucumber, bread, yogurt, humus, dates, watermelon, and many condiments. It is

delicious and different than what many of us are accustomed to in the United States.

Most of the time, we are standing to eat and rarely do we use any utensils other than our

hands. It is a very social scene and emphasizes what is most important to our Iraqi part-

ners – family!

While each of the batteries continue to perform with distinction throughout our

area of responsibility, I will share one particularly special event. As part of the end of

Ramadan, there is a three-day festival where everyone spends time with family. An ini-

tiative with both the US Air Force and the Red Dragons was to provide a small gift to about 300 of the children that live

nearby. It was a great opportunity to build our relationship with the local community and ensure the children could spend

time with Iraqi Police, Iraqi Army, and Iraqi Government leaders in a festive environment. The children were given

stuffed animals, soccer balls, and toys to brighten their day. It was a great success and a superb event coordinated by our

Civil Affairs Team and the Hellraiser Battery.

We have a lot to look forward to over the next few months. Our Rear-D continues to schedule fantastic events in

support of our Families. The FRG Family Nights continue to be a wealth of information and a good meal too. October

will bring the second Town Hall via video teleconference as well as our second iteration of Trunk or Treat! We are also

looking forward to the Red Dragon Spouses showing us how it

is done in the Spouses Spur Ride! We have added one more

goal for the battalion and that is to be over 1,000 likes on our

Battalion Facebook page by January! So, c‘mon ya‘ll, get your

Families and friends connected with us and let‘s keep the com-

munications lines wide open.

Red Dragons and Red Dragon Families and Friends, you

continue to inspire all that have the privilege to work with or

simply be around you. Thank you!

BlackJack!

Red Dragons!

Sincerely,

LTC Nate Cook

Inside this issue:Inside this issue:

Red Dragon 9 22

Headquarters Battery 33--66

Alpha Battery 77--1010

Bravo Battery 1111--1212

Golf Company 1313--1515

Chaplain’s Corner 1616

Rear Detachment 1717

Promotions &

Re-enlistments

1818

Photo Collage 1919

September 2011September 2011

LTC Cook talking with CPT Hammond during the paladin live fire

Get the most up-to-date information

on the Red Dragons:

www.facebook.com/382FARedDragons

http://www.facebook.com/382FARedDragons

Another month has gone by and we are now about a quarter of the way done with the deployment. The Red Drag-

ons continue to do well and I have been incredibly impressed to see how we have grown and adapted to meet the demands

of this deployment. I have had the privilege of being a member of this great organization for thirty-eight months, and have

seen how all the long hours of training have made a difference against the enemy and over the people of southern Salah Ad

Din province.

Our living conditions here on Joint Base Balad (JBB) are very comfortable compared to our previous deployments.

The Soldiers have the opportunity to enjoy multiple facilities such as a 24 hour gym, two dining facilities, PX, Local Na-

tional Bazaar, and MWR. Additionally, each battery has their own SPAWAR internet and phone service available at their

Command Posts. Each Containerized Housing Unit (CHU) is wired for American TV reception through the service of the

Armed Forces Network (AFN) and either cable or wireless internet service for a fee. Our living conditions in the Samarra

Joint Coordination Center (SJCC) are a little more austere due to the facility location and capacity; however, I can‘t find a

Soldier in Samarra that would like to voluntarily rotate to JBB. Overall, our Soldiers have access to a myriad of facilities

to relax or stay connected with friends and loved ones.

I wanted to take this opportunity and recognize SGT Roberto Velasco from the Gator Battery and PFC Marcus

Jones from Thunder for their performance and selection as NCO and Soldier of the Month for August. SGT Velasco and

PFC Jones performed exceptionally well and continue to meet and exceed the ‗Red Dragon‘ standard of performance.

Over the past month the battalion sponsored a GT improvement class, led by SGT Bracken from Gladiator to pro-

vide Soldiers an opportunity to raise their GT score. A total of 15 Soldiers volunteered to attend the evening GT improve-

ment program. The program is designed to educate our Soldiers in the areas of reading comprehension, grammar, vocabu-

lary, and mathematics. Soldiers with a GT score of 110 or above have the best chance to reenlist for their dream job

[Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)] in the Army.

Finally, I wanted to inform you that our

Morale, Rest and Recuperation Leave started this

month and a total of 57 Soldiers took advantage of

the program. We are in glide path to send another 54

Soldiers in September.

Thanks again for reading, and I look forward

to updating you all next month,

CSM Soto

Red Dragon 9

CSM Soto atop of a rooftop in front of Samarra‘s famous Golden

Mosque

33--82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter 82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter

Greetings Hellraisers!!! This month was a big learning experience for our platoons as the Iraqi people celebrate

Ramadan. Throughout August we improved our relationships with the local leaders in the Balad Qadaa as well as our Iraqi

Security Forces counterparts. On numerous occasions our Soldiers have been invited to Iftar dinners, to break the fast with

the local people. These dinners have been great and filled our bellies with complete satisfaction. Every day our Hellraiser

Soldiers work incredibly hard to enable the Iraqi Security Forces and provide security to the local populace. Our Soldiers

have remained focused and motivated and have made a significant impact throughout Balad.

We appreciate each and every one of you remaining patient throughout this deployment. We understand that there

are a lot of rumors as to when we are expected to return. As of now we are still focused on a 12 month deployment with all

Hellraiser Soldiers taking mid-tour leave. If there are any questions in regards to this don‘t hesitate to ask on the ‘Red

Dragon‘ Facebook page. We appreciate everyone‘s support throughout the month of August. Our Soldiers very much ap-

preciate the gifts, letters, and care packages. It‘s the greatest part of our day to hear from our Hellraiser family and to

know everything is well back home. Your support and service never go unnoticed.

Finally we want to say thank you to Mrs. Megan Haynes for her service as the Hellraiser FRG leader. Megan is

moving to South Carolina with CPT Robert Haynes as he continues his service in the United States Army. Megan has

been the Hellraiser FRG leader since October 2010. Her dedication and commitment to the unit and ensuring Families are

receiving accurate information has been incredible. We‘d also like to welcome Mrs. Leslie Tyree to the Hellraiser FRG

team as she will be assuming co-leader responsibilities with Mrs. April Thornton.

Thank you for everything you do for us. Your continued support throughout the deployment is much appreciated

by each and every one of us. Take care and we hope to see you soon!

Very Respectfully,

Michael Roscoe

CPT, FA Commanding

Hellraiser 6

CPT Roscoe with BG Mohammed of the Balad Iraqi Police

4 Sept. – SPC Ronald Magpayo

6 Sept. – SPC Delwin Smith

9 Sept. – PFC David Cho

10 Sept. – PFC Douglass Miller

15 Sept. – SPC Rafael Laureanoreyes

16 Sept. – CPT Maxwell Carroll

17 Sept. – CPL Kevin Grannes

19 Sept. – SPC David Treccariche

20 Sept. – SGT Eddie Brown

28 Sept. – SGT Jilly Gonzalez

4 Sept. – SFC Mark Sneed and his wife, Teresa

4 Sept. – SPC Timothy Humphries and his wife, Rebecca

15 Sept. – SPC Kevin Barry and his wife, Jessica

29 Sept. – SSG Elbert Smith and his wife, Christine


During the month of August, 1st Platoon has been working hard conducting missions throughout the Hellraiser Area

of Operations. The Soldiers have remained diligent in their efforts to keep the area around Joint Base Balad as safe as

possible. We continue to demonstrate what a close knit group we are. Members of the platoon do everything

together, from the small things such as haircuts and going to chow, to the big things like prepping for a mission. First

Platoon is a group of Soldiers that continue to make the Hellraiser Battery proud every single day.

We have been busy during the hot month of August. We had the honor of escorting Red Dragon 6 to an Iftar dinner

with a local Sheik. The feast that was prepared was a great demonstration of the relationship being developed between the

local Iraqi people and the United States Army. The men continue to strive to develop the close relationships that are crucial

to the end state the United States has been working towards for so many years, as the withdrawal from Iraq continues to

draw closer.

The platoon was fortunate enough to promote two Soldiers this month.

Both PFC Beck and PFC Green were promoted to Specialist. These two Sol-

diers are great examples of strong dedication to their jobs and the

desire to be the best at what they do. Soldiers of First Platoon strive every day

to be the best they can be, taking pride in their work and accept nothing but the

best out of each other.

On the third week of August, we conducted refit. This was a week

that allowed us to rest, recover, and conduct maintenance on our equipment

and vehicles. All Soldiers updated their records, retrained in combat life sav-

ing, and prepared themselves to get back into conducting missions with great

enthusiasm. First Platoon thanks everyone once again for your continued

support as we look forward to another month in Iraq.

2LT Zach Williams

1st Platoon Leader

August has been a busy month for 2nd Platoon. Soldiers have been working hard getting to know the people who

live near Joint Base Balad. We are working incredibly hard to secure the future of Iraq, leaving a lasting impression on the

Iraqi people and to safely return home once our mission is complete. We‘d like to congratulate SSG Schones for his service

to the United States Army. SSG Schones has served four combat tours in Iraq and is currently planning on attending Okla-

homa University to begin a career in nursing and to continue his service as an officer upon graduation. His leadership will

be greatly missed in Second Platoon and we wish him the best of luck in his future quest.

We would also like to congratulate SGT Lape, who joined the NCO corps this month. We look forward to his fur-

ther contributions and leadership with his promotion. Also, Second Platoon

would like to congratulate the O‘Malley family for the birth of their son, Connor.

We hope he brings you happiness and joy through the coming years. Second

Platoon continues to influence the people of Iraq, and due to the contributions of

every Soldier, Iraq is becoming a safer place.

Thank you all for your efforts in keeping our Soldiers happy by giving

them the support they need. Your service and dedication to the unit has been a

great help to us. We appreciate each and every one of you and ask you to keep

up the good work. Thank you all once again.

2LT Andrew Roberts

2nd Platoon Leader

SSG Bartley preparing 2nd Platoon

Soldiers for a patrol in a local town

outside of Joint Base Balad

1st Platoon Enjoying a dinner with a

local sheik and his family


I hope all is well back in Texas. 3rd Platoon has had a successful August out here in Joint Base Balad. To our re-

lief, the weather actually started to cool down around the middle of the month. The middle of the day can still be brutal,

but we are enjoying cooler nights and the platoon looks forward to every night patrol. It is not unusual for Soldiers to find

themselves cold when they spend a lot of time inside air conditioned buildings, and they need to take periodic breaks to

step outside and warm back up. The patrol has had a chance to see the gorgeous Iraqi countryside during some dismounted

operations. Contrary to what all of us expected, the terrain here is surprisingly lush with vegetation. The platoon has

navigated canals, aqueducts, palm groves, orchards, and thick grass. The local farmers are very friendly and will often

offer some of their produce when the platoon passes through. The patrol has enjoyed grapes, pomegranates, figs, and dates

straight from the farm.

August has roughly corresponded with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the platoon has witnessed a

significant change in the daily routine of the locals. During the heat of the day all of the villages are like ghost towns, with

not a soul in sight. At about 8PM the local populace is rejuvenated from breaking their fast and the streets are packed.

Children are playing everywhere while adults chat with their neighbors; every evening

in the village is very similar to a block party back in the United States. The platoon has

certainly learned quite a bit about the local culture firsthand.

I have moved to the 1-8 Cavalry Battalion to work as a Fire Support Officer. I

did a one-for-one swap with 1LT Jon Coffield who will be taking control of the pla-

toon in September. It has been a true honor and a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead

your sons and husbands in theatre. I thank them for their dedication to their country

and their willingness to follow me every day on patrol.

1LT Christopher Koppel

3rd Platoon Leader

Once again greetings Hellraiser family and friends from the Radar Platoon on FOB Warhorse. We are another

month down in our deployment to Iraq. The Soldiers of the Radar Platoon remain focused on the task at hand and continue

to do an excellent job day in and day out. Since the last time we spoke, the Soldiers here have taken a Physical Fitness

Test, completed section level Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) training, and conducted equal opportunity training.

The morale of the platoon remains extremely high as we begin to transition and pack up equipment in preparation

for our move to Joint Base Balad where we will reunite with the Battalion in the near future.

If you have not yet been informed, there has been a change of address for the Soldiers here. The new address was

sent out in an email from the FRG. You may continue to send your care packages to your Soldiers. They are greatly appre-

ciated. I would like to continue to applaud you on the support you have shown to your Soldier. You make our jobs here a

little easier knowing that things are taken care of at home. We thank you for your support and look forward to reuniting

with you.

CW2 Robert T. McDonald

Radar Platoon Leader

SSG Fields and SSG Rodriguez

with local Iraqi Police

CW2 McDonald and

SFC Bradford

New Mailing Address Rank, Name

3-82FA, 2/1 CD (AAB)

Joint Base Balad

APO AE 09391


Q37 Section at FOB WARHORSE.

Q36 Section at FOB WARHORSE

The Personal Security Detachment (PSD) ‗Spartan‘ Platoon has had a rather busy month this August. PSD has a

unique mission as we are a battalion asset that works directly for the battalion commander. Members of the platoon have

to be very flexible and willing to adjust to the ever-changing schedule of the battalion commander. We have conducted

operations throughout the entire Red Dragon operating environment from our northernmost boundary all the way to the

southernmost boundary. Each and every mission PSD conducts directly affects not only the mission of the ‗Red Dragon‘

battalion but also the Blackjack brigade. For every Key Leader Engagement (KLE) the battalion commander attends, the

Spartans escort him there and ensure his safety throughout the entire engagement.

Soldiers within the ‗Spartan‘ platoon have experienced the Iraqi culture first hand by joining the battalion

commander in the breaking of the fast meals known as Iftar dinners. These dinners, only conducted during Ramadan, are

very important to the Iraqis as it is the first time they have eaten or drink anything all day and are a big celebration. Many

of the Soldiers have especially enjoyed the Chai (Tea) that is served after the meal

and are seeking out ways to take some back with them when we re-deploy.

This month, some Soldiers have gotten a chance to enjoy a week of refit

and recovery in which they ensure their administrative information is up to date

and also take their truck through a maintenance refit. The Soldiers have taken

great pride in their mission and feel they are truly making a difference with the

local population in the Red Dragon Operating Environment and look forward to

the coming months as they further build on those relationships created with the

populace.

2LT John Manning

PSD Platoon Leader

The Hellraiser Company Intelligence Support Team (CoIST) and Command Post (CP), has continued to provide

intelligence analysis and target development to Hellraiser 6 and the platoon leaders of the Hellraiser Battery. SGT Benson

and PFC Stakem have both been off of Joint Base Balad quite a bit over the past couple of weeks conducting Key Leader

Engagements and searching for weapons cache sites. It is very beneficial to the intelligence gathering and targeting

processes to be able to send CoIST Soldiers out into the area because they are trained in intelligence collection and have a

much more in depth view and understanding of the people they go to meet.

SPC Sarkady is really the ‗Big Brain‘ of the team. He is able to wrap his head around a lot of the intelligence in a

way that helps it make sense to the rest of the team. PFC Stakem is the calm, collected one who is able to see the battle

field in a unique light. SGT Benson is the one who wants to do everything to get the bad guys. The three of them, as the

CoIST, collectively assist the Commander with planning and execution of operations whether it be from JBB, or out on the

ground.

SGTs Weed and Thorpe are the key players for the Command Post.

These two individuals came on board a little later than the rest of us and

quickly integrated themselves as crucial members of the team. Their different

military experiences and backgrounds do nothing but enhance the mission

effectiveness of the Battery. They add their take on many of the intel-driven

operations and have been able to assist with them on several occasions. While

the CoIST is focusing on the intel driving the fight, the CP is focusing on

tracking it. The two teams together make sure that everything happening on the

battle field is tracked, assessed and exploited from every angle.

SGT Marcus Benson

HHB COIST NCOIC

PFC Meza and SGT Stewart providing

security for Red Dragon 6

PFC Stakem pulling security with SPC Greene

outside a local nationals home


Members of the Gator Family,

Greetings from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, I hope this letter finds you all doing well. We have just completed our third

month of the deployment and morale is still high. The Gators continue to take the fight to the enemy at every turn, denying

him refuge, and preventing his attacks against Joint Base Balad. The Gator‘s positive influence is felt by those both inside

and outside Joint Base Balad. These men continue to develop their skills and improve their abilities at a variety of tasks on

a daily basis working to make the Gators the best outfit it can be. The heat of the Iraqi summer continues with daytime

highs reaching over 120 degrees in the shade, marking the hottest part of summer. August also was marked by being the

Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. During this month Muslims fast during daylight hours and adjust their daily schedules

accordingly. At sunset they have a large ceremonial meal known as Iftar to mark the end of that day‘s fasting.

These traditions impacted the way the Gators conducted our day to day business during this month. Many

meetings with key local leaders were shortened or held after sunset to be respectful of those who fast. Additionally, many

Gators were privileged to be invited to Iftar

dinners with various local Sheiks and Iraqi

Security Force leaders.

Gator Soldiers continue to lead the

way. The Gators still lay claim to the Red

Dragon NCO of the Month with SGT Velasco

earning the coveted honor for August. R&R

leave began this month and I know those

selected to go this month were glad to get

home and get some well deserved rest and

relaxation. August also marked a change in

leadership for 3rd Platoon, 1LT Anthony

Forstner transferred leadership of Blue Platoon

to 1LT Brian Degen on the 23rd. 1LT Forstner

moves to 1-5 CAV from where 1LT Degen

came. No stranger to the Red Dragons, 1LT

Degen served on the Battalion staff for five

months in 2010. I welcome him and his Family

into the Gator Family and wish the Forstner

Family the best of luck in all things. I continue

to be impressed with the skill, stamina, poise,

and initiative of the Gators; there is no other

outfit I‘d rather be in.

Each and every member of the Gators continues to look forward to the road ahead as we get a little closer to

completing the mission and coming home every day. We thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, love and support.

I personally want to thank you again for what you mean to these men.

Very Respectfully,

Bryan S. Hammond

CPT, FA Commanding

Gator 6

CPT Hammond checking the area on a dismounted patrol

3 Sept. – SPC Ritchie Nielson and his wife, Katie

10 Sept. – SPC Rafael Resendiz and his wife, Kenia

11 Sept. – PFC Phillip Fouqette and his wife, Victoria

15 Sept. – SSG Christopher Rifenbury and his wife, Kelly


It‘s been another exciting month in Iraq, with multiple accomplishments by the Gator Battery and 1st Platoon.

Gator Red continues to lead the way having fired the first artillery rounds downrange for the Red Dragon Battalion during

Operation New Dawn. The artillery missions were the first in the battalion and the only artillery rounds fired in the

Division‘s area of operations. This gives everyone from the platoon to the brigade a new, highly effective tool to use while

in country. We continue to prove that artillerymen are flexible and adaptable by maintaining our maneuver patrols in the

area and being able to fire artillery; we‘re like the post office, we always deliver.

The weather continues to be what everyone expects it to be in Iraq: Hot! The temperature should begin to drop

sometime next month. PT continues to be conducted almost daily and the boys are doing well and looking fit. On the me-

dia front, look for brigade to be publishing an article on the great things Gator Red is accomplishing in the Artillery world;

I do not have a time table on it, but it gives you something to look for-

ward to.

As always, the men appreciate the letters and packages you have

been sending, especially the food; they can‘t get enough of that stuff.

Enjoy the last bit of summer as the new school year begins and know

that your men in this platoon are doing great; we‘ll also ensure they have

time to contact you via email or a phone call as often as possible. Stay

safe and keep us in your thoughts, Gator Red 6 out.

1LT Michael Hobgood

1st Platoon Leader

2nd PLT has been keeping busy since you heard from us last. A

lot has been going on in the Gator area over the last month. The

Soldiers‘ hard work is paying off as SGT Shepard joined the ranks of the NCO Corps early in August and SGT Velasco

recently won the Battalion NCO of the Month board! In addition to missions, everyone has been working hard inside the

wire in preparation for the Physical Fitness Test coming up quickly in October. NCO‘s have taken turns leading the

platoon through vigorous PT sessions that include cardio, muscular strength/endurance and functional fitness. You‘re

barely going to be able to recognize your Soldier by the time he comes back.

Gator White Platoon recently went through services in the month of August. During this time they conducted a

comprehensive refit period in which they rest and prepare for future missions. All of the vehicles go through extended

maintenance while the Soldiers perform their own refit. Each Soldier

went through all the battery and battalion sections and made sure their

medical records, finance, security clearance, administrative data,

etcetera were updated while cleaning and inspecting equipment to make

sure it is ready to go for future missions. The platoon was also able to

catch up on some much needed rest, talk to their loved ones, and take care

of any other individual business that the Soldiers may have had.

It hasn‘t been a complete walk in the park for the platoon, though.

They‘ve been out winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people on

their daily missions while trying to stay cool in the sweltering heat.

It hasn‘t been as bad of late, with some days‘ temperatures only in the low

110s! Until next month, keep your Soldier in your prayers as we move

one month closer to completing the mission.

2LT Scott Smith

2nd Platoon Leader

SGT Velasco working with the Iraqi Army

while conducting a dismounted patrol

SGT Cornier pulling security during dismounted patrol

Gator Blue has been keeping busy since you heard from us last. A lot has been going on in the Gator area over the

last month. The guys are working harder than ever at keeping enemy attacks down. In addition to missions, everyone has

been working hard inside the wire in preparation for the Physical Fitness Test and the coming up quickly in October.

3rd Platoon had a good old fashioned BBQ last week; it was a great turn-out and every Soldier really enjoyed

themselves. I think the BBQ always helps the morale in the platoon. SGT Alvarez is studying to win the NCO of the Year

board that he will be attending in the coming months; he has the support of the whole platoon. Overall, Gator Blue Platoon

is in the fight and will always be ready to go.

Congratulations go out to the seven Soldiers in the platoon who were awarded Combat Action Badges during the

month of August. SGT Rodriguez was awarded an Army Achievement Medal (AAM) on 1 August for getting nominated

NCO of the Quarter in July. PFC Leddick, another outstanding asset to the platoon, was awarded a Certificate Of Achieve-

ment (COA) on 1 August for being the Soldier of the month during June.

The platoon has gone through some changes this month. 1LT Forstner is leaving the platoon and will now become

a Fire Support Officer with our sister battalion, 1-5 CAV. He has done a lot for our platoon and we wish him well in his

new position. 1LT Degen, myself, will be the new Gator Blue 6. I arrived to Alpha Battery from C Company, 1-5 CAV,

where I was the Company Fire Support Officer.

Just arriving here from 1-5 CAV, I am already impressed with the Platoon. Their professionalism and motivation

to get things complete is outstanding. They made sure everything was ready for my first mission with them. For a little

about myself, I have a bachelors in Management Information Systems from Park University and, shortly after finishing my

degree, I decided to join the Army. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters in Missouri. I look forward to meeting all of you when

we get back from deployment. Until then, I will put forth the effort that your Soldiers expect from their leader.

1LT Brian Degen

3rd Platoon Leader


CPL Vazquez giving muffins to local children


Hello from Joint Base Balad. We hope everyone at home is doing well and enjoying the last of their summer as

school starts again. The temperatures are beginning to drop here, thankfully, into somewhat cooler temperatures. While

109 may not seem cool, we can definitely feel the difference from 125. Everyone over here is doing well and has fully

settled into their jobs.

Headquarters Platoon continues to set the maneuver platoons up for success. Under the leadership of SSG Torie

Williams, the headquarters coordinates command and control to and from battalion, coordinating for assets and keeping the

maneuver platoons successful in their missions. New SSGs Fred Williams and Jonathan Sikes have helped lead the troops

in their skill sets and jobs. SGT Glendell Evans manages a shift while performing the vital task of managing all the Battery

interpreters and assisting the Platoon Leader in setting up Key Iraqi Nationals in the Bazaar. The Radio and Telephone Op-

erators (RTO) continue to handle their duties with competence and motivation. PV2 Juan Escobar has especially stood out

in his role as an RTO. SGT Justin Netherland and PFC Frank Blas continue to handle large amounts of property, ensuring

the platoons have everything they need to succeed, while preparing for future missions. New coming SPC Kevin Kruger

has handled the battery arms room with a skill belying his rank. Finally, SPC Jeffery Quinn and SPC Brian Allen have pro-

vided the battery with mail and accurate personnel accounting while helping the Battery finish awards for all the

Soldiers.

HQ Platoon sent five Soldiers home on EML this month, and will send two more in September. All the Soldiers

who go on EML look forward to seeing their Family and friends. Although we are happy for them and look forward to our

own EML, these Soldiers are severely missed here while they are gone. We look forward to the day when we see everyone

back safe at Fort Hood, having successfully completed Operation New Dawn.

2LT Caleb Gaasch

HQ Platoon Leader

PFC Padden during a dismounted patrol

5 Sept. – PFC Fenske, Thomas

15 Sept. – PFC Brickner, Jacob

15 Sept. – SFC Gray, David

21Sept. – SSG Sikes, Jonathan

30 Sept. – SPC Resendiz, Rafael


Thunder Family and friends, it is an honor for me to tell you all that your Soldiers here are doing great things.

Your Soldiers, on a daily basis, advise and assist the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to ensure that the ISF are as prepared as

possible for when the United States Forces leave Iraq as per the Iraq/U.S. security agreement. Your Soldiers have con-

ducted

combined patrols with the ISF, taught forensics classes with the ISF, and assisted them in tactical operations center man-

agement. Your Soldiers have seen a great improvement in the capability of our ISF brethren and have taken pride in im-

proving their capabilities. I‘m also happy to report that morale here at the Samarra Joint Coordination Center (SJCC) is still

high. Your Soldiers are allotted the time to call you all at home, in which your support is vital to their morale staying high

here.

I‘d also like to recognize Mrs. Elizabeth Bartley for being named volunteer of the month. She has done an excellent

job with the Thunder Families at Ft. Hood, and the Thunder Soldiers, especially me, are more than thankful for her contin-

ued efforts to support the Thunder Family Readiness Group.

Lastly, we had a Thunder Soldier leave the battery and battalion to represent our Battery in a different Battalion.

1LT O‘Donnell, an outstanding Platoon Leader, was selected to represent the ‗Red Dragons‘ as a Company Fire Support

Officer for the ‗Black Knights‘ of 1-5 CAV. He has done an

excellent job as a Thunder Platoon Leader, and I have no doubt he will succeed as a fire support officer. 1LT Kevin

Conners, from HHC, 1-5 CAV, will be taking over as 1st Platoon‘s leader; I‘d like to give him a warm welcome to the

battery. The Thunder Family and friends would like to thank you for your contributions to Thunder—you have greatly

assisted in our success as a Battery.

Very Respectfully,

Jason A. Williams

CPT, FA Commanding

Thunder 6

CPT Williams on patrol through Samarra with Iraqi leaders and with

LTC Cook (far left) and COL Peeler

11 Sept. — PFC Garcia

24 Sept. — SSG Santiago

29 Sept. — PV2 Schnider

Thunder White Platoon has had an eventful month providing security for the battery and battalion leadership

throughout the Salah Ad Din province. White Platoon has worked diligently to ensure our Iraqi counterparts are trained and

proficient to assume sole responsibility for the security

of the province in the near future. We have continued

the weekly functional fitness challenges pushing each

Soldier to achieve fitness excellence while putting a

competitive spin on it. The platoon continues to set the

standard in tactical and technical proficiency,

conducting weekly training on our artillery and warrior

skills. SPC Curtis attended the promotion board this

month and has been selected for promotion to sergeant;

he has since been latterly promoted to the rank of

corporal and has assumed responsibility of the battery‘s

Tactical Operations Center (TOC) as the day shift

NCOIC. CPL Curtis was also presented with the award

for the Brigade Soldier of the Week for actions during

the month of June. This month we welcomed SGT Stahl

and PFC Nolasco from Headquarters Platoon to White

Platoon as well.

1LT Michael O‘Donnell

1st Platoon Leader

Thunder Headquarters platoon has done an outstanding job of upgrading our compound since we arrived here in

early June. SSG Mitchell and SGT Gifford have worked diligently to make Samarra an enjoyable place to live. Both the

day and night shifts of the battery operations center have done a fantastic job coordinating with our Iraqi counterparts and

ensuring that all battery operations run smoothly.

SSG Welch and PFC Lyon have joined 2LT Murphy and

SPC Clemeno on the Company Intelligence Sustainment Team

(COIST). The new team members have substantially increased

the COIST capabilities. They work hand in hand with our Law

Enforcement Professional, Mr. Charles Matthews from Arlington,

Texas. The COIST has worked tirelessly to uncover terrorist

networks in the Samarra area and to exploit evidence brought to

the Samarra Joint Coordination Center (SJCC) by our Iraqi

brothers. We would like to congratulate SGT Parker for

re-enlisting on August 24th and furthering his Army career.

The men are most appreciative for the constant prayers

and support from everyone back home. We all miss you and keep

you in our thoughts.

2LT Sean Murphy

COIST Leader


1LT O‘Donnell Leading his soldiers during a dismounted patrol

PFC Lyon teaching Soldiers how to gather evidence


Greetings, friends and loved ones of Gladiators! August has been an eventful month for our company. Whether

partnering with Iraqi Security Forces or sustaining our Battalion, the fact remains that our Soldiers are being challenged in new

and different ways on a daily basis.

Your efforts to maintain contact with our Soldiers has not gone without mention. Your continued support is evident in

your Facebook posts, letters, and care packages that are sent to our Soldiers. Remember that getting mail is one of the most sig-

nificant morale boosters Soldiers have while deployed, so keep the packages coming. You may also be interested to know that

Environmental Leave (known to some as R&R) has begun for our Soldiers. If your Soldier has not already been home, expect to

see him or her in the approaching months.

Our company is well into its mission to support the battalion‘s operational needs and still they are making their impact

on the transition to a safer, more secure Iraq. Headquarters Platoon is mission-focused on the priority of ensuring all personnel at

the Samarra Joint Coordination Center are sustained fully with Class I (food and water). The Distribution Platoon has the duty to

consolidate and deliver all classes of supply and personnel to our Soldiers in a more austere location in Samarra. This is no easy

feat with the prevalent enemy threat, but the mission is accomplished. The Maintenance Platoon continues to turn wrenches and

complete services, ensuring that all vehicles and equipment are maintained in a mission-ready stance. We have also added a

facet to their mission by training members of the Iraqi Security Forces on properly maintaining their equipment. This partnership

will only reinforce the bond we share with the Iraqi Army, and further the ISF maintenance skill sets.

Very Respectfully,

Crystal E. Chatman

CPT, LG Commanding

Gladiator 6

CPT Chatman and CPT Saddiq in the Golf FSC Motor Pool Bay

5 Sept. — SPC Graves

9 Sept. — SPC Humphrey

10 Sept. — PFC Denton

12 Sept. — SPC Malone

18 Sept. — SGT Gafford

19 Sept. — SPC Buchanan

20 Sept. — 2LT Fonk

22 Sept. — SPC Manansala

23 Sept.— SPC Clark

23 Sept.— PFC Cook

24 Sept. — SPC Thornton

24 Sept. — PV2 Brady


As the month of August draws to a close, the Headquarters Platoon has

accomplished numerous tasks ensuring that we support the overall mission for Golf

Company and the ‗Red Dragon‘ Battalion.

First off, SPC Steadmon and his supply section have worked tirelessly day in and

day out to support the company with the ordering of supplies and ensuring proper

accountability of the battery‘s equipment. They are currently working diligently on the plan

to turn in over $10 million worth of combat equipment throughout the coming months .

Next, SPC Malone and the orderly room staff have spent countless hours working

on awards. They have processed over 53% of the current awards for the company,

ensuring our Soldiers get recognized for their dedication and hard work throughout the

deployment.

Working the field feeding mission, SGT Taylor and his 92G (cook) Soldiers have

ordered over 9,000 meals in order to support the operations at the Samarra Joint

Coordination Center (SJCC). This facilitates dining facility operations and feeding personnel

at Samarra, led by SSG Martin with PFC Simmons and SPC Drayton as assistants, to sup-

port the Soldiers and contracted civilians. SGT Stoller has been working vigorously to pro-

vide the maneuver platoon with the most valuable and current intelligence information for

their upcoming missions. This provides the Maneuver Platoon with the knowledge of the

areas surrounding Joint Base Balad and gives them situational awareness in the areas they

will patrol. PFC Legardo has been working closely with SGT Taylor to ensure that Soldiers

are getting letters and packages from their loved ones. They have picked up and distributed over 3,000 letters/packages. This

has boosted the Soldiers‘ morale and helps them get through their working day faster. So please, keep sending the letters and

packages to your loved ones. As always, we‘re keeping friends and Family in our thoughts and look forward to coming home.

2LT Hoang Le

XO/HQ Platoon Leader

This month, Distribution Platoon has contributed to the success of Golf Company

through patrolling the streets of Southern Salah Ad Din, serving as a Quick Reactionary

Force (QRF) and pushing tactical logistics to ‗Red Dragons‘ in Samarra. The challenges we

face in accomplishing each mission has only caused the Soldiers of the Gladiator Red ele-

ment to grow closer. Because so much of our mission is leveraged on team work and team

building, we have become a more cohesive platoon. We have also combined our efforts with

the Iraqi Security Forces, ensuring our presence and combined missions are effective against

any malicious activity that may hinder the development of a safe and more secure Iraq. The

local populace

recognizes the faces of the ‗Red Dragons‘ and understands the dynamics of a fruitful

partnership. During our down time, we work out at the gym, read the letters we get from our

loved ones, or catch up on the latest in sports and news. We also enjoy the baked goods that

are prepared with love and sent to us so we can enjoy a home cooked treat! We may have to

spend more time in the gym burning the calories we eat, but, overall, we are happy to get

anything sent from our Families!

2LT Matthew Cline

Distribution Platoon Leader

SPC Wallace conducts a

technical inspection on a .50

Caliber Machine Gun

SPC Buchanan securing his

sector on a dismounted patrol


Wow! August flew by with the platoon completing task after task and planning for the upcoming weeks;

Maintenance Platoon has had a busy month. The month began with support operations of repairing and preparing the

M109A6 Paladins for the first live fire of Operation New Dawn. All the preparations required long hours under the hot sun

to complete total technical inspections and repairs on the equipment to be fully operational. They did it! Hot guns were

emplaced and shots were fired from the Paladins. The hard work and time paid off.

Maintenance platoon also strengthened their Iraqi partnership by training with the 17th Iraqi Army Brigade on High

Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). Overall, the training was a success in that it gave our Soldiers an

opportunity for showcasing their skill sets while serving in the advise, train, and assist capacity.

The days are becoming regimented for our Maintenance Platoon as they work tirelessly at accomplishing our

mission and keeping our equipment mission-ready. No two deployments are the same, but as our Soldiers acquire combat

experience, one can see that, although the Maintenance Platoon is filled with combat veterans who have extensive

deployment experience, first-time deployers also have their outlook on the new experience. SPC Sala from Cebu, Philip-

pines stated, ―This deployment (my first) has shown me a lot of new skills which should prove valuable in future deploy-

ments.‖

As our Soldiers continue to sacrifice their time, they garner experience that they wouldn‘t have had serving the

United States. We all know that it would be much more difficult to gain this valuable deployment experience without the

support from our Families back home. I thank you for that and we will always keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

2LT Amanda Fonk

Maintenance Platoon Leader

SGT Modock teaches 17th Iraqi Army BDE Mechanics on the

M1114 HMMWV wiring schematic

CHAPLAIN’S CORNERCHAPLAIN’S CORNERCHAPLAIN’S CORNER


Greetings from the Red Dragon Religious Support Team (RST)! Another month has passed for you without your

Soldier. That, however, also means you are one month closer to getting your Soldier back from this deployment. Some of

you have been experiencing the joy of having your Soldiers come home for Environmental Leave (EML). Most of you

have not had that brief reunion yet…but you will. So, rejoice with those who have experienced it and anticipate your own

experiences of the same.

Many changes occur even over short periods of time. You have changed and so have your Soldiers. Change itself

is usually neither good nor bad. But change is stressful no matter what the circumstance or outcome, even the change as-

sociated with having your Soldier back for fifteen or so days of leave. Change is the only thing that does not change. So,

you can expect to notice changes in your Soldiers and expect they will notice changes in you as well. The greatest issue

with changes that occur during deployment is that Soldiers and their Families are changing independently of each other.

That makes handling the change more challenging because both Soldiers and Families get acquainted with the changes all

at once instead of gradually as they happen. Everyone knows the plane bringing Soldiers home on leave is not a time ma-

chine; nevertheless, it can still be overwhelming to see that May, 2011 is long gone.

During pre-leave briefings, we cover the topic of change and how to handle it over the leave period. We hopefully

and prayerfully share these tips with you as well. First, change occurs over time. Give yourself time to digest change

before trying to ―fix‖ it. Fifteen days is not enough time to sufficiently understand months worth of change, so relax and

enjoy your leave. Second, assume change is good, positive, and necessary. Fifteen days is not enough time to determine if

the changes are bad, negative, and unnecessary. Third, do not make

potential, or actual, life altering decisions under the stress associated with

the sudden realization of change. Finally, express love and affection often.

Making the show of love a top priority leaves little time to brood over all

that change you may encounter. Leave is only fifteen days so give and

receive love while you have the chance.

Thanks for all you have to do so that your Soldiers can be here

accomplishing the mission at hand.

CPT Darrell Burriss

3-82 FA Chaplain

―Red Dragons!‖

3-82 FA Chaplain, CPT Burriss, and his assistant,

PFC Kim

August Newborns!August Newborns!August Newborns!

SGT Pettyjohn of Golf Company and his wife,

Jessica, on the birth of their daughter, Lilly Ann —born 2

August!

SPC JC Vanpelt of HHB and his wife, Amanda,

recently had their daughter, Avery—born on 30 July!

PFC Freddie King of HHB and his wife, Deanna, re-

cently had their daughter, Kadence Rose-Marie—born on

17 August!

SGT Elliot Omanson of HHB and his wife, Aubrey, re-

cently had their daughter, Evelyn—born on 15 August!

SPC O‘Malley of Bravo Battery and his wife, Lacey,

gave birth to their son, Connor, on 14 Aug.

PFC Michael Warren of HHB 26 July—2 Aug.

SGT Jarrett Giddens of Bravo Battery 3 Aug.—10 Aug.

2LT Amanda Fonk of Golf Company 11 Aug.—18 Aug.

SPC Ricardo Williams of HHB 19 Aug.– 26 Aug.

Red Dragon Strong Warriors of the WeekRed Dragon Strong Warriors of the Week

Rear Detachment LetterRear Detachment Letter

Rear Detachment Upcoming EventsRear Detachment Upcoming Events

8 Sep 2011 — Red Dragon Family Night @ 5:30 PM @ Oveta Culp 3 Oct 2011 — Town Hall Meeting @ 6:00 PM — Location TBD


Soldiers, Families, and Friends,

Another awesome month has passed, and another month closer to your Soldiers returning! This past month I have

seen an awesome transition through the Families and Family Readiness Groups in truly making this a team effort to ensure

everyone is taken care. The constructive efforts, questions, and support has been growing, and I commend you all on your

tireless work. I know it will only continue to improve as we grow together as a team helping our fellow Families and our

Soldiers forward.

Thank you for all your work in supporting our pot luck dinner during our Red Dragon Family Night in August! I

hope you all enjoyed the food, information, our awesome guest speaker (Dave the Brigade Military and Family Life Con-

sultant), and discussion. I want to thank you for aggressively nominating me as Dave‘s volunteer as my wife appreciated

the flower! I hope to see an even greater turnout in September; always feel free to make suggestions for anyone or any

resource/program you would like as our guest speaker.

The Back-to-School Pool Party on 19 August was an amazing event and a chance to escape the heat while

enjoying some good food and even better company! Thank you all who made this event possible for those who attended.

We will continue to execute fun events every quarter, so look for the next one in emails from your FRGs and through

Facebook.

Your Soldiers continue to work hard each and everyday because of your support. I am in constant contact with the

forward unit, and I hear nothing but positive things about the work they are accomplishing. I hope you are proud of what

they are doing as they advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts in Joint Base Balad and Samarra. They are equally as proud

of you for holding down the home front and taking care of your children and Families!

As issues or questions arise, remember to use your FRG Leaders and Rear Detachment and we will assist you in

any way possible. Keep up the great work!

Red Dragons!

CPT Chris Freeman

Rear Detachment Commander

Relocation Assistance: 254-213-2857 AER Assistance: 254-213-3991

Military Family Life Consultants: 254-213-2857 Chaplain On-Duty: 254-213-3967

Chaffee Child Development Center TJ Mills Boulevard, Bldg 198

254-287-4749

Great Support Services

FRG hosting a back-to-school pool party


PFC Ashe (HHB)PFC Ashe (HHB)PFC Ashe (HHB) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

PFC Cook (Golf) PFC Cook (Golf) PFC Cook (Golf)

9 Aug9 Aug9 Aug PFC Juan Escobar PFC Juan Escobar PFC Juan Escobar (Alpha)(Alpha)(Alpha)

27 Aug27 Aug27 Aug

CPL Curtis (Bravo) CPL Curtis (Bravo) CPL Curtis (Bravo) 18 Aug 18 Aug 18 Aug

* * * Come one come all!!! * * *

Buy your Red Dragon T-Shirt today!

Only $10 Contact the Rear Detachment Commander

to get yours today!

CPT Hammond and 1SG Minton promoting SSG Sikes and

SSG Williams

SGT Clair (Alpha) re-enlisted for 4 more years of service

SGT Parker (Bravo) re-enlisted for 5 more years of service

SPC Manansala (Golf) SPC Manansala (Golf) SPC Manansala (Golf) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

SPC Wallace (Golf)SPC Wallace (Golf)SPC Wallace (Golf) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

SPC Green (HHB)SPC Green (HHB)SPC Green (HHB) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

SPC Beck (HHB)SPC Beck (HHB)SPC Beck (HHB) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

SPC Browning (HHB)SPC Browning (HHB)SPC Browning (HHB) 6 Aug6 Aug6 Aug

SPC Ybarra (HHB)SPC Ybarra (HHB)SPC Ybarra (HHB) 14 Aug14 Aug14 Aug

SPC Kodep (Golf)SPC Kodep (Golf)SPC Kodep (Golf) 21 Aug 21 Aug 21 Aug

SSG Williams (Alpha)SSG Williams (Alpha)SSG Williams (Alpha) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

SSG Sikes (Alpha) SSG Sikes (Alpha) SSG Sikes (Alpha) 1 Aug1 Aug1 Aug

Red Dragon Newsletter, September 2011

Self Improvement

Transcript of Red Dragon Newsletter, September 2011