The Screaming Eagles Have Landed
The 101st Airborne Division has begun assuming control of areas in northern Iraq.
From the November 2 issue (PDF) of This Week In Iraq:
Do you think the 116th BCT is happy to be going home, and proud of the job they've done?
From the October issue (PDF) of Snakebite:
Here are the words of Brigadier General Alan Gayhart, Commander.
And here are the words of 116 BCT Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Leroy Lewis.
Also, there is this this story at DefenseLINK (dateline Tikrit):
The 42nd Infantry Division has an End of Tour video (WMV) that chronicles the hard work they've done over the past year, and remembers those who aren't going home but who are now walking with the angels.
Go to Task Force Liberty's Video Room, and click the PLAY button next to the Summary of the End of Tour video. (And if you can make it all the way to the end of the video without at least a lump in your throat, you're not human.)
This civilian salutes all those who are homeward bound for a job well done.
In closing, I'll include here a post I did on September 29, as the 101st Airborne Division was in the process of deploying to Iraq.
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The 101st Airborne Division is in the process of deploying back to Iraq. (The Division was last there in 2003). Some advance units have been there since August, and larger units are now starting to deploy, with units going in stages till around November or December.
The colors were cased in a ceremony described here.
The 101st is a storied division. First formed in 1942, the division distinguished itself during WWII. Many people may be familiar with the division from Stephen Ambrose's book Band of Brothers, and the subsequent HBO series.
The Division was involved in much of the most important fighting in the European Theater in WWII. It jumped into Normandy, and in this famous photo, Gen. Eisenhower was talking to soldiers in the 101st as the sticks prepared to board the planes for Normandy.
After the landings,the division saw heavy fighting at Carentan.
In September 1944, the division jumped into Holland as part of Operation Market-Garden, the ill-fated attempt to open a northern route into Germany. The division encountered heavy fighting, but they fought to keep their section of the road north to Arnhem open.
In December 1944, the division held out at Bastogne in one of the most famous defensive stands of the war. When the Germans asked the Americans to surrender, the commander of the 101st in Bastogne, Gen. McAuliffe, gave his famous reply: "Nuts!"
And, elements of the 101st took Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" redoubt.
The division also saw action in Vietnam, including the brutal battle of Hamburger Hill.
The division took part in Desert Storm, as well.
This is a link to a Google satellite map of the 101st Airborne Museum at Ft. Campbell, KY. I visited this museum a couple years ago.
The planes in the middle of the image are part of an "open-air" museum showing some of the planes used by the 101st in various campaigns. There is a C-47 Skytrain-Dakota transport plane, which was used in the Normandy jumps, and a Vietnam era helicopter, among the various aircraft. There is also a memorial to the Market-Garden campaign too.
The building across the street to the left (west) of the aircraft, with the small red structure in front, is the actual museum. There are artifacts and displays commemorating all the Division's major actions, including the ones I've mentioned.
The 101st is scheduled to be in Iraq for a year. That's a long time to be in harm's way, away from home, family, and friends. Let's remember them in our prayers as they begin their journey to Iraq.
Some day this museum will commemorate the many brave deeds the Division will perform in the coming year.
From the November 2 issue (PDF) of This Week In Iraq:
 |
| Unit commanders and command sergeants major from the 116th BCT finish casing their unit colors during the transfer of authority ceremony Monday. (Photo by Spc. Barbara Ospina) |
The 116th Brigade Combat Team relinquished authority for operations in its assigned north-central Iraq sector to the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during a ceremony here, Monday.
The transfer of authority ceremony recognized the service and accomplishments of the 116th BCT in the Iraqi provinces of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah this past year and officially transferred authority to the 1st BCT.
Do you think the 116th BCT is happy to be going home, and proud of the job they've done?
From the October issue (PDF) of Snakebite:
This is the the end of a long, 18 month tour on active duty and 12 months in theater, as National Guardsmen.
Here are the words of Brigadier General Alan Gayhart, Commander.
It is hard to believe that soon we will be rejoining our families, seeing old friends, and transitioning back to civilian life.
...
Each of you has accomplished your duties with extreme professionalism and honor. You should never forget that you are a hero.
And here are the words of 116 BCT Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Leroy Lewis.
We have made our area of operation a lot safer and better place to live in then what it was when we arrived. Remember the number of direct fire attacks, I do, and they have been reduced dramatically.
Look at the number of schools in our provinces that we have opened. Count the number of hospitals, clinics, water projects, agriculture projects, power generating projects that will do so much to increase the quality of life for the citizens. We have helped train the Iraqi Army, the Iraqi Police, Oil Security Battalions, Fire Departments, judges, government officials, and the list goes on and on.
Our BCT rolled up a lot of bad people and have taken them off the streets to include Anti-Iraqi forces from numerous terrorist cells, high value targets from the old regime, kidnappers, and just plain criminals. This has made a difference throughout the providences for the Iraqi people who want to live in a free society.
Also, there is this this story at DefenseLINK (dateline Tikrit):
Task Force Band of Brothers and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) officially took command of military operations in north-central Iraq in a ceremony at Forward Operating Base Danger here Nov. 1.
The ceremony marked the transfer of authority from Task Force Liberty and the 42nd Infantry Division, a National Guard unit from New York that has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for a year, to TF Band of Brothers.
TF Band of Brothers is composed of two brigade combat teams and a combat aviation brigade of the 101st Airborne Division, from Fort Campbell, Ky., and two brigade combat teams of the 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Ga.
The 42nd Infantry Division has an End of Tour video (WMV) that chronicles the hard work they've done over the past year, and remembers those who aren't going home but who are now walking with the angels.
Go to Task Force Liberty's Video Room, and click the PLAY button next to the Summary of the End of Tour video. (And if you can make it all the way to the end of the video without at least a lump in your throat, you're not human.)
This civilian salutes all those who are homeward bound for a job well done.
In closing, I'll include here a post I did on September 29, as the 101st Airborne Division was in the process of deploying to Iraq.
*******************
The 101st Airborne Division is in the process of deploying back to Iraq. (The Division was last there in 2003). Some advance units have been there since August, and larger units are now starting to deploy, with units going in stages till around November or December.
The colors were cased in a ceremony described here.
The 101st is a storied division. First formed in 1942, the division distinguished itself during WWII. Many people may be familiar with the division from Stephen Ambrose's book Band of Brothers, and the subsequent HBO series.
The Division was involved in much of the most important fighting in the European Theater in WWII. It jumped into Normandy, and in this famous photo, Gen. Eisenhower was talking to soldiers in the 101st as the sticks prepared to board the planes for Normandy.
After the landings,the division saw heavy fighting at Carentan.
In September 1944, the division jumped into Holland as part of Operation Market-Garden, the ill-fated attempt to open a northern route into Germany. The division encountered heavy fighting, but they fought to keep their section of the road north to Arnhem open.
In December 1944, the division held out at Bastogne in one of the most famous defensive stands of the war. When the Germans asked the Americans to surrender, the commander of the 101st in Bastogne, Gen. McAuliffe, gave his famous reply: "Nuts!"
And, elements of the 101st took Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" redoubt.
The division also saw action in Vietnam, including the brutal battle of Hamburger Hill.
The division took part in Desert Storm, as well.
This is a link to a Google satellite map of the 101st Airborne Museum at Ft. Campbell, KY. I visited this museum a couple years ago.
The planes in the middle of the image are part of an "open-air" museum showing some of the planes used by the 101st in various campaigns. There is a C-47 Skytrain-Dakota transport plane, which was used in the Normandy jumps, and a Vietnam era helicopter, among the various aircraft. There is also a memorial to the Market-Garden campaign too.
The building across the street to the left (west) of the aircraft, with the small red structure in front, is the actual museum. There are artifacts and displays commemorating all the Division's major actions, including the ones I've mentioned.
The 101st is scheduled to be in Iraq for a year. That's a long time to be in harm's way, away from home, family, and friends. Let's remember them in our prayers as they begin their journey to Iraq.
Some day this museum will commemorate the many brave deeds the Division will perform in the coming year.
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