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This month we have seen many activities by your troopers. We have continued to develop our area and work with the local population with good success. Of course, there have been some setbacks and tragedies along the way. As you already know, we lost PFC Tyler Smith to a mortar attack right here on FOB FALCON. But, we have had good days too. We have a bunch of new trucks, we will soon establish the squadron headquarters at Patrol Base Dolby, and we improve activities at the patrol bases daily.
Angry Troop: Angry Troop has continued their work at Patrol Base Stone. They have welcomed a new U.S. Air Force construction team to teach the locals skills they will need for sustainable employment. Angry Troop has also spread out its battlespace somewhat and begun work in a part of a Shia area of our area that we hadn't really touched before. PB Stone is constant activity with local leaders coming and going and the platoons always headed out on mission. Angry Troop opened a health clinic in Hawr Rajab the other day that we recently refurbished. It is in great shape and will start seeing patients soon.
Bushmaster Troop: Bushmaster now works in two towns, Adwaniyah and Busayefi, from Patrol Base Dolby. They have also moved their troop command post and will soon move some of the troopers to a different portion of the patrol base. The Squadron Headquarters is moving to Patrol Base Dolby ahead of schedule and is already moving in. So, we've had to move a few things around. All in all the move is going well. Bushmaster Troop opened a health clinic and a school that we had redone. The clinic is already seeing patients and the school is in full session. As part of the project, we opened a water purification unit that now provides water to the town at public spigots.
Courage Troop: Courage had the big changes this month. The troop turned over the area it was working in to an infantry battalion. They have moved the troopers back to FOB FALCON and are working in a new area that is mostly Shia, while the rest of our area is Sunni. This area is along a main highway to Baghdad and is industrial in nature with small residential enclaves that are more or less urban. They did a great job and captured one of the larger bad guys from the area the other night. Courage is working very closely with Angry Troop in Warij and is having great success in bringing security to the people who have been terrorized by the Shia militias lately.
Dawg Battery: Dawg Battery continues its great job in Khamasia. The businesses are growing and the children are in school. They've also captured a number of men who were involved in planting IEDs along a major highway. Dawg works with the Iraqi Army everyday and is helping them get better. We are very happy to have the battery with us as they are a great outfit.
Mad Dawg Company: Delta Company continues to provide the best support around. We are now cooking at both Angry and Bushmaster patrol bases. They have increased the capability to hold supplies at these locations and make sure the other troopers have everything they need to make it happen. The company is always moving and delivering something….including many things you would (and we didn't) expect. In any situation, we can count on the FSC to see us through.
Dark Horse Troop: HHT is in the middle of moving the TOC and soon part of the medical platoon to Patrol Base Dolby. The headquarters should be set up there by the 10th and will grow over time, especially as the patrol base grows. The Command Mobility Detachment just got the new MRAP trucks. They provide even better IED protection to troopers.
All in all, things continue to go very well. The troopers are living much better every day and we will continue to improve conditions as long as we are here. In just a couple of days the squadron headquarters will be living at a patrol base in tents until we can build a better option, but the troopers will be comfortable.
We are glad to see the positive effect we are having in our area. Most of what you see on the news in recent weeks doesn't directly affect us. The people we work with seem glad to have us here and are glad to work with us toward a common future of Iraq.
Thank you for everything you do to support your trooper every day. We will soon be at 6 months deployed. The time flies by.
The Command Sergeant Major and I wish all of you nothing but the best.
LTC Mark W. Solomon
Commander
6th Squadron, 8th U.S. Cavalry
SVOIP: 671-1406
DSN: 318-855-3206
