News - Fort Stewart Frontline Online

2A TheFrontline
September 20, 2007 3rd Infantry Division
Brig. Gen. James L. Huggins
3rd Inf. Div. Deputy Commanding General -
Manuever
Operation Marne Huskey ended last
Saturday and was considered a very successful
operation. It was led by our Combat
Aviation Brigade and was one of the numerous
operations conducted here to clear
insurgent safe havens.
Third Infantry Division Soldiers are making
a difference across Iraq by taking the
offensive, and we believe that this is making
a difference. Our number one mission is to
block accelerants into Baghdad, and Marne
Torch II, our latest operation, will help us
block the enemy’s avenue of approach to
Baghdad through Arab Jabour and the Tigris
River Valley.
After being in Iraq only four months, our
2nd Brigade Combat Team is the division’s
main effort for the second time leading
Marne Torch II. Following up on their success
in June with Marne Torch I, the
“Guardian” Brigade Combat Team is attacking
further south into Arab Jabour in order
to rid the area of al Qaeda and eliminate an
enemy safe haven.
We didn’t just want to hold the line and
Marne 6 Sends
Marne Division transitions for upcoming operations
allow the enemy to regain
strength after clearing Arab
Jabour in June. We want to
keep him off balance and
maintain pressure. We want to
strike him whenever and
wherever he is vulnerable.
In addition to continuing
combat operations, Company
B, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry
Regiment established Patrol
Base Hawkes in order to help
secure the population. By living
amongst the Iraqi people,
our Soldiers are gaining their
trust and working with them
to keep the community safe. I visited the
patrol base within the 48 hours of Soldiers
being on the ground, and I was impressed
with their motivation, worth ethic, and
determination to hold that ground.
As Gen. David H. Petraeus pointed out in
his testimonies last week, our ability to
ensure that the Iraqis feel safe helps them to
trust us, and helps reduce attacks. It also
helps our intelligence since the Iraqis show
us where improvised explosive devices are
buried, take us to the houses of the bad guys,
and warn us of attacks.
The future of Iraq
depends on us being able to
help the Iraqis take control,
and while we have been
leading the operations for a
while, it’s coming time to
turn the missions over to
them. We continue to
strengthen our commitment
to partner with the
Iraqi security forces and the
local Iraqi concerned citizens,
and then we can, and
will, provide support as they
take the lead and carry on
the fight to secure their
families and communities.
All over Task Force Marne we are partnered
with capable Iraqi units and capable
Iraqi leaders working hard to make this happen.
We eagerly await the arrival of our Fourth
Brigade Combat Team – its equipment is
currently being loaded on ships, and the
Soldiers will start training in Kuwait next
month. The “Vanguard” Brigade will come in
and help secure the central corridor – the
critical area between the Tigris and
Euphrates River that insurgents use to infil-
trate Baghdad.
Our successes have come at a cost. We
grieve for those heroes that have fallen. And
we pray for the comfort of their loved ones
left behind.
Friday is POW/MIA day and our hearts
turn to two missing Soldiers in Task Force
Marne. Spc. Alex Jimenez and Pvt. Byron
Fouty are members of the 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
(Light) and part of Task Force Marne. The
two were captured by Al Qaeda while providing
over watch for an IED crater May 12th.
Both Jimenez and Fouty are members
of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry
Regiment. Jimenez is from the Bronx,
N.Y. and Fouty is from Waterford, Mich.
Our prayers and thoughts are with their
Families. We are reminded of our duty
given to us in the Soldiers’ Creed, “I will
never accept defeat. I will never quit. I
will never leave a fallen comrade.” Task
Force Marne continues to search for its
missing Soldiers, and we will not rest
until they have been reunited with their
Families.
Rock of the Marne!
Soldiers stand up for America and re-enlist on Sept 11
Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
2nd BCT Public Affairs
FOB KALSU – While September 11 may be remembered for
the Twin Towers falling down, it was also a day when America
stood up.
On the sixth anniversary of the attacks, Spcs. Marcus and
Felicia Reese, intelligence analysts with the 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stood up for America
once again by re-enlisting for five years here.
As part of their re-enlistment incentives, the couple, who
have been married for eight months, received a bonus and
choice of duty station.
Although the two won't be staying with the Marne Division,
having chosen Hawaii as their next duty station, 2nd BCT
commander Col. Terry Ferrell nevertheless praised their commitment
to the Army.
"What wonderful Soldiers; what wonderful people we have
serving our nation. Thank you," he said.
Ferrell also praised the couple's desire to serve, commenting
that it takes a special type of Soldier to re-enlist in a combat
zone.
Praise was also dished out by the couple.
In addition to each Soldier’s chain of command, Marcus,
who works in the brigade's intelligence shop, also had special
thanks for the 2nd BCT command sergeant major, Command
Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhaine.
"I'd like to thank sergeant major for asking me every other
day ‘When are you going to re-enlist?’ Well, today is that day."
Marcus reciprocated the push onto his spouse.
Felicia, who works in the 26th Brigade Support Battalion
intelligence cell, said Marcus was involved in the junior
reserve officer training program in high school and enjoys the
Army life, and thus was a major factor in pushing her to reenlist
as well.
"If this is what he wants to do, I support him. That's why I
re-enlisted," she said.
Just as the two rely upon each other for support, the Army
counts on Soldiers like the Reeves to support its mission,
Ferrell said.
"It is because of Soldiers like you that we are able to do what
we are doing (fighting against terrorism) here for so many
years," he said.
Fort Stewart Museum Staff
This week in 1954, the 3rd
Infantry Division was preparing
to redeploy to the United States
after four years in the Korean War,
750 days of combat behind them.
The Greek Expeditionary
Forces fought alongside elements
of the division. They began as a
battalion-sized force of about
1,000 men and in early 1954 had
been reorganized, with 3rd
Infantry Division help, into a regimental-sized
unit with two battalions.
Harry Truman bestowed a
Presidential Unit Citation on the
Greek Expeditionary Forces and
the South Korean President
awarded them the Korean
Presidential Unit Citation.
The Greeks credited their success
to the American division they
fought alongside and this farewell
speech explains colorfully their
admiration for the 3rd Infantry
Division in 1954.
Greeks’ Farewell Message
"Dedicated to our Mother in
Korea"
Our great omission is that the
Greek Regiment has not formally
thanked, not even once, the 3rd
Infantry Division, our mother in
Korea.
This, our thanks, would only
have been an outward expression.
Inwardly we have always felt deep
respect, gratitude and affection
for our heroic and loving mother.
Under her wings, the Greek
Expeditionary Battalion fought
and the Greek Expeditionary
Regiment was organized; trained
and attained its combat effectiveness.
However, since we have mentioned
the name of the Division,
we must proclaim that we Greeks
are lucky and proud to have
served under the command of the
3rd Infantry Division, the "Rock
of the Marne" in Europe and the
"Blood Giver for Freedom" in
Korea.
The 3rd Division has treated us
like a true child of hers. We have
heard words of esteem and praise
from her lips.
Sgt. Kevin Stabinsky
Spcs. Marcus (back left) and Felicia (back right) Reeve are congratulated by fellow Dog-Faced Soldiers after re-enlisting.
The couple re-enlisted Sept. 11 at Forward Operating Base Kalsu for five years and got to choose Hawaii as their
next assignment.
A moment in Marne history: Korea
Out of happy coincidence, the
3rd Division patch, with its blue
and white stripes, has the same
colors as our own national flag, so
we in turn consider the 3rd
Division Greek.
The 3rd Infantry Division has
been characterized by its unity
and harmonious cooperation in a
spiritual, intellectual and disciplined
sense.
The division has been a modern
christening pool of Siloam.
Anyone entering this pool has a
baptism of personality and takes
the oath, "I will not shame the
sacred weapons of the 3rd
Division."
Perhaps we have been too outspoken
in our praise, for all know
the glory of the 3rd Division.
Perhaps it is a lack of respect to
speak thus, but we kiss her hand
in adoration and ask her forgiveness
for our boldness in praising
her.
Note: The pool of Siloam is in
Jerusalem, mentioned several
times in the Bible and here used to
illustrate a place of honor.