Family and
Friends,
It has been a while since my last update. This last
month has passed
quickly. We have been very busy and it has often felt more like one long
day instead of multiple days and weeks.
Most of you have heard by now that earlier this week one of
our squads came
under fire from an insurgent using an AK-47 Assault Rifle. Staff Sergeant
Mike Sams and Sergeant Eric Bock received injuries
from shrapnel caused by
the bullets striking the protective armor of the vehicle. Staff Sergeant
Sams was treated and released for a small laceration
and bruising on his
cheek. Sergeant Bock was taken to the Air Force Hospital at a base near
ours and treated for wounds to his right forearm. Both soldiers are in
good
spirits and will make a full recovery.
The actions taken by the squad and their equipment helped
save their lives
and helped minimize the injuries. They were wearing their full body armor
and ballistic eye wear. The armored shield and body armor protected
Sergeant Bock and limited the injuries he sustained to his lower arm.
Sergeant Sams’ ballistic eye wear took the brunt of
the shrapnel and likely
saved his eyesight.
The squad reacted quickly and violently, just as they have
been trained, to
neutralize the threat. The incident happened in a matter of
seconds. The
Soldiers did not have time to think. They only had time to react.
Their
ability to react, along with the skill in which they did, is a testament to
their training, discipline, and courage.
First Sergeant Lepowsky and I
visited Sergeant Bock at the hospital
yesterday. I was so impressed with his bravery and attitude. His
only
concerns were making sure his wife was all right at home and getting back
with his squad as soon as possible. He told us that his wounds were a
small
price to pay in order to make sure there was one less insurgent terrorizing
the Iraqi people and trying to prevent the new Iraqi government from taking
hold. Sergeant Bock is a great hero, Soldier, and American.
I mentioned in my original message about the incident that
it was “good
news” there was one less terrorist in the world. I guess that may seem a
little harsh. However, I hope you can understand that this man, whoever
he
may have been, and for whatever reasons he may have thought he had, tried to
kill our soldiers. We will continue to pray for peace, but we will not
show
remorse for defending ourselves and doing every thing we can to survive and
come home.
Our Soldiers continue to do great things here every
day. Over the past
several weeks our Soldiers have responded to more severe civilian accidents.
They have also responded to the aftermath of an ambush of an Iraqi Army
convoy. In both cases our Soldiers rendered medical aid, called in
helicopters to take the severely wounded or injured to the hospital, and
saved the lives of the innocent. One of the people our Soldiers saved was
a
little nine-year old Iraqi girl. I was on the scene and able to see
firsthand the compassion our medics and Soldiers have.
Regardless of whether they are forced to engage insurgents
with deadly
firepower, or they are attending to a severely injured child, our Soldiers
are true professionals. Their actions here continue to bring great credit
upon them, their families, and our great Country.
We recently had the opportunity to promote Walter Remick, Mike Stanek, and
Scott Whittemore to Sergeant. We also promoted
Robert Durham to Staff
Sergeant. It was great to see these deserving Soldiers take the next step
in their development as leaders. Additionally, Staff Sergeants Keith
Toenies and Brian Friedrichs
received long overdue Army Achievement Medals
for their tremendous work during the deployment. Also, Specialist Daniel
Peterson was awarded a Battalion Certificate of Achievement for his work in
building a bulk fuel point on our base.
The temperatures are starting to cool down a little.
The highs are around
120, instead of the 130’s of a few weeks ago. The lows have actually been
in the 70’s the past few days, which feels incredible. The temperatures
will continue to fall slowly until October when we will be able to say
goodbye to the triple digits. We also expect to see the rain return
sometime near the end of October or early in November.
The trailers are still on track to be completed in time for
the arrival of
our replacements. We are looking forward to their completion so our
replacements can move directly into them. It will prevent us from having to
double-up and share our living area with them as we transition. Our
replacement unit is currently in
and is on schedule to arrive here some time in November.
We are still planning to arrive back in the
of December. We do not expect to have hard dates of our redeployment
until
early November. Regardless, the time is passing and we are only a little
over three months from coming home.
The Soldiers are very tired right now. However, their
morale is high and
they are doing well. They have great confidence in their abilities, know
they are in a great unit, are feeling the temperatures starting to cool, and
are beginning to see the “light at the end of the tunnel”. We will
continue
to do our mission and will not let down our guard until we are back at home
with all of you.
Honor is the courage to fulfill your obligations.
God Bless,
Mike Pazdernik
Captain, Armor
Commander, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 194th Armor