875th Engineer Battalion - Arkansas National Guard

Vol. 2 Num. 9 2007Essayons875th Engineer BattalionFinal Issue

“Let us try”EssayonsVol. 2; Num. 8, 2007875th Engineer BattalionBattalion CommanderCol. Patricia AnslowCommand Sgt. MajorCSM Billy WardExecutive OfficerMaj. Kevin L. VinesPublic Affairs NCO/EditorStaff Sgt. Chris A. DurneyThe Essayons is an unofficialpublication of the mobilized 875thEngineer Battalion of the ArkansasArmy National Guard. This newsletterdoes not represent in any waythe opinions of the 20th EngineerBrigade, the U.S. Army, the ArmyNational Guard, the Arkansas NationalGuard, the Vermont NationalGuard, the Indiana National Guardor any command within OperationIraqi Freedom. This publicationis distributed in electronic (PDF)form for the entertainment andinformation of the Soldiers andfamilies of the 875th EngineerBattalion, and all interested partiesin Arkansas, Vermont and Indiana.All photography and articles arecleared for public release. Highresolution copies of photos may beobtained by emailing a request to:christopher.durney@us.army.mil.EssayonsAbove: The U.S. flag flew proudly on the headquarters building of theArkansas Army National Guard’s 875th Engineer Battalion on a blusteryday at Camp Striker, Iraq. The 500-man battalion is preparing to returnhome from a yearlong deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom06-08. The 875th is being replaced by the Alabama Army NationalGuard’s 1203rd Engineer Battalion. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ChrisA. Durney.)On the cover: This is the 13th and final issue of the Essayons for this deploymentof the 875th Engineer Battalion. All 12 covers of the previouseditions of the newsletter are represented on the cover. The publication isofficially on hiatus until the battalion is deployed once again. (U.S. Armyphoto by Staff Sgt. Chris A. Durney.)Page

131st Engineer Co.It has been my great honor and privelege to leadan exceptional group of Soldiers as commander of the131st. This has certainly been a trying year, but onewe will all remember for the rest of our lives.We started out as a pretty good group of freshtroops, coming together from three differnt states.Now, we are a cohesive team of battle-hardend professionalswho have blurred the lines of state, backgroundand culture.I especially want to thank the people of Vermont,Arkansas and Indiana who have supported us and keptour morale high. It’s truly an honor to be an American,and especially an American Soldier. Thanks.Capt. Jacob RoyHHCWow! Time hasn’t really flown by, and yet it has.We have all been anticipating this day for the last 15months, and it has finally gotten here. We are all doingwell, and excited to return back to our loved ones.The journey hasn’t ended, but the pages have beenturned.We have done some amazing stuff while in theater.HHC has supported a battalion that has removed over1,240 IEDs and saved countless lives. That requiredour soldiers to track and maintain administrativerecords, provide maintenance and communications,and provide logistical support. We have had a majorimpact to the surge operations by supporting two othercompanies outside our battalion, which have builtand improved patrol bases throughout Baghdad. Ourwork gave the Soldiers occupying the ground a moresecure place from which to perform operations. Supportplatoon took on the mission of filling in holes ona major highway which denied our enemy a place tohide IEDs.You have a lot to be proud of. Your husbands,wives, sons, daughters and friends have had majorimpacts on the success we have seen. I know howready you are to see us home, and we are all ready tobe there! Thank you for all your support over the longhaul of this mission, we couldn’t have done it withoutyou.Alpha Co.COMPANYCORNERThe men of Alpha Companyare eternally grateful toour friends and families back homefor all of the love and support we’veenjoyed over the last year. It has beena tough, heartbreaking and very rewardingexperience that none of us will ever forget.It has been a priveledge to command the greatAlpha Company and to live and fight with the bravestgroup of Soldiers in the Army. We’re headinghome with our heads high and hearts full of pride.Thank you and God Bless.Capt. Dave MooreCharlie Co.The end is near and we face our final mission: goinghome!! It has been a long road and we have madeit. The guys have stayed on course, worked hard,stayed motivated and have been proud to serve in thiscause. I have always tried to talk about three things:1. How the men were working hard. 2. How the menwere staying motivated. 3. How the men were excitedto serve. I figured if I stayed on those three topicsthen that would keep the rumor mill from running outof control.However, the hard mission is now at hand. Hereshortly we will reunite with you, and it will be a joyfulevent. Once the excitement is over, we will haveto face the fact that we have all changed. We willneed to learn to get along with the little habits thatwe have picked up and, we as men, will have to learnthat we have not been the boss at home. Not that weever were!! There will be some trying times, and wewill make it through it just like we have the past year.Through prayer and support form each other.You have worked hard and stayed motivated.Most of all you have stayed excited about doing yourjob. You have kept the faith and have stayed strongfor each other, and us as well. We look forward to ourreunion. I can never say it enough as a commander: Ithank you with all my heart. And as a company WEthank you for it all. Words can never express what allof you have given. God’s speed, and we will be homesoon.EssayonsCapt. Joshua SimmonsCapt. Timothy NormanPage

Essayons goes on hiatusBy Staff Sgt. Chris A. DurneyOn Sept. 18, 2007, the 875th Engineer Battalionformally ended its mission in Iraq, leavinga legacy of incredible accomplishment andsuccess. The Essayons, the newsletter of the 875thofficially went on “hiatus” the same day.The first issue, published from Camp Buehring,Kuwait and containing 14 pages, covered thebattalion’s move to the Iraq theatre of operations, andthe beginning of a yearlong deployment. That firstfull-color newsletter was the culmination of a lot ofplanning, research and collaboration with battalionleadership. It was also the result of years of trainingand experience.Since that first issue -- Volume 1, Number 1 -- wehave managed to put out 12 more newsletters, averaginga little over 18 pages and containing an averageof 34 images and eight stories. The largest issue wasnumber 12 -- Volume 2, Number 8 -- which contained24 pages, 43 images and 13 stories.Without any way to fund a printing contract,the newsletter was published electronically throughseveral sources, including the Jonesboro Sun newspaperwebsite. Every issue is available for downloadthrough the Arkansas National Guard website at:www.arguard.org/publicaffairs/index.asp. Look onthe left side about a third of the way down.Along the way, the publication managed to gain alittle high level praise. The first four issues, coveringSeptember through December 2006, were submittedto the National Guard Bureau’s annual media contest.Essayons managed to place first in the newslettercategory. This year’s issues will be submitted for theEssayonsPage

2007 contest with high hopes for top recognition.“From the Top” and “Company Corner” weretwo of the most important reoccurring sections of thenewsletter. Col. Patricia Anslow, Command Sgt. Maj.Billy Ward, Capt. Dave Moore, Capt. Joshua Simmons,Capt. Jacob Roy and Capt. Timothy Norman alltook time out from their very busy schedules to provideperspective from the leadership. It’s no surprisethat these two sections received a great deal of favorablecommentary from the home readership.The company commanders and their operationstaffs had a great deal to do with the success of thebattalion Public Affairs efforts, especially the newsletter.They were gracious enough to make room for anold photojournalist with questionable knees on manyof the missions. Actually riding with the line Soldiersand witnessing the war first hand provided an incrediblelook into the hearts and minds of the courageousmen and women of the 875th.It also provided the opportunity to meet andinteract with the local populace, and see first handevery day Iraqi life. From this admittedly narrowperspective, they are a hard working, family-orientedand agrarian people who truly appreciate the coalitionpresence. As you have seen in the pages of the Essayonsfrom time to time, Iraqi children are especiallyexpressive and appreciative.EssayonsFor those of you who are of a technical natureand are curious about how the publication was puttogether, a few main tools were utilized. Firstand foremost, most of the photographs weretaken with either a Nikon D70 with a 70-200mm zoom lens, or a Nikon D200 withan 18-50mm zoom lens--my personalcamera. A Speedlight SB-600 was usedfor flash photography. Photos wereprocessed through Adobe Photoshop,graphics were created with Adobe Illustrator,and page layout and design wascreated with Adobe Indesign. All ofthis was accomplished with my personalMacintosh Powerbook G4.The final layout was checked for typosby Capt. Amy Bell, and then distilled intoa PDF for electronic distribution. Althoughthe original goal was to publish 15 issues overthe deployment period, schedules, other taskings,leave and the battle rhythm made that goalimpractical.I say that the Essayons is on hiatus because the875th is always “ready and willing” to serve the nationwhen needed. It has been my great pleasure toserve Col. Anslow, the 875th and our families. Backhome, I’ll return to my job in the state Public AffairsOffice on Camp Robinson, but I’ll never forget thewonderful Soldiers and people of the 875th.Page 6: The ‘staff’ of the Essayons at his desk inbuilding 45 on Camp Striker, Iraq. Staff Sgt. ChrisA. Durney transfered from the 119th Mobile PublicAffairs Detachment to deploy with the 875th EngineerBattalion. Above: The last issue of the battalionnewsletter takes shape.Page

875th setting replacements up for successMassachusetts troops get first look at mission and war zone hazardsSmiles among troops of the 875th EngineerBattalion have grown wider and more frequentsince they began showing their replacementsthe ropes.The Alabama Army National Guard’s 1203rdEngineer Battalion arrived in Iraq the first week ofSeptember and promptly began the relief in place processwith the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 875th.The Jonesboro, Ark.-based battalion is wrapping upa yearlong deployment in support of Operation IraqiFreedom and is expected to return to home station inlate September or early October.At Camp Striker, near Baghdad, the VermontArmy National Guard’s 131st Engineer Company ishanding their mission reins over to the MassachusettsArmy National Guard’s 182nd Sapper Company,which is attached to the 1203rd for this deployment.The 131st deployed as a unit of the 875th and will returnto Vermont after the battalion redeploys throughFort McCoy, Wis.The 1203rd is assuming the 875th’s critical assuredmobility mission in central Iraq, which is brokendown into route clearance, route sanitation, rapidcrater repair and culvert denial. Over the past year,the 875th has found and cleared over 1,225 improvisedexplosive devices along major supply routes incentral Iraq.Troops from the 182nd have taken to their newmission with typical New England tenacity and verve,champing at the bit to take over the “driver’s seat.”On a recent night patrol, one group of fresh troops gotthe chance to do just that, and one Soldier even got afirst hand look at some of the hazards of the mission.Staff Sgt. Jason Tierny, of Quincy, Mas., and hisfellow third platoon Soldiers are getting war zoneon-the-job training at the hands of the 131st’s thirdplatoon. Tierney, who has been in the MassachusettsArmy National Guard for 11 years and is on hissecond deployment, got the chance to pilot an RG-31gun truck on his third patrol “outside the wire.” It’s anight that Tierney will never forget.Troops from both companies arrive at the battalionmotor pool on Camp Striker about two hoursahead of the mission, and quickly integrate into teamsEssayonsof teachers and students. Battle worn Soldiers goover every detail with the new guys of preparing forthe night’s route clearance mission north of Baghdad.According to Col. Patricia Anslow, the 875thbattalioncommander, “setting up the1203rdfor success is imperative.”On thisnight, questions and answersare passed back and forth in a congenial atmosphereas incoming and outgoing troops discuss theins and outs of the mission.“They are good guys, and really happy to see us,”says Tierny in a thick Boston accent. “They’ve beenreal welcoming and are giving us as much informationas possible.”“For now, we’re working to findout ev- erybody’s strengths and weaknessesso we can place everyone where they canhelp the platoon the best,” explains Tierny. “Rightnow they (the 131st leadership) want to see how wehandle things.”“I think we’re going to be okay because we havegood leadership and good guys. Even the joes arepissahs,” says Tierny, using a New England phrasethat roughly translates into the southern phrase ‘they’rgood ‘ole boys.’After a thorough mission briefing by patrol commanderSgt. 1st Class Tony Wyatt, the combinedplatoon mounts their armored vehicles and heads outto clear IEDs from a portion of a major supply route.Tierny drives a truck that is commanded by Staff Sgt.David Angell of Batesville, Ark. Spc. Jimmy McLainof Russelville, Ark., mans the machine gun mountedon the roof of the vehicle.Angell mentors and instructs Tierny all alongthe route, and provides the new troop with tricksand techniques honed over a year of combat patrols.Tierny seems never to tire from asking questions orfrom absorbing information. McLain keeps a sharplook out across the nighttime Iraqi countryside.About two hours into the patrol, Tierny experiencesan IED up close. A loud bang, accompanied bya bright flash, resonates against the side of the heavilyarmored truck. No one is anything more than a littleshook up, but Tierny becomes the first enlisted mem-Page

Above: Staff Sgt. Jason Tierny of the MassachusettsArmy National Guard’s 182nd Sapper Companychecks out his mount prior to a route clearance missionalong a major supply route in central Iraq. Left:Sgt. Cory Huckabee of the 131st Engineer Companyshows Sgt. Miguel Cintron of the 182nd Sapper Companyhow to properly load a machine gun prior to aroute clearance mission in central Iraq.ber of the 1203rd to experience a detonation. Thevehicle is unaffected by the explosion, and the patrolcontinues on with the mission after thoroughly checkingthe area for further insurgent activity. Tierny issurprised, but otherwise okay.Before the patrol returns to Camp Striker in theearly hours of the next day, the combined team findsand clears another roadside bomb, ensuring that theroute is safe for coalition supply trucks and the localpopulace. Friendly conversation, questions and instructioncontinues as the Soldiers clean weapons andput equipment away. The Iraqi sun is peaking abovethe camp’s concrete barriers by the time the men walktoward their quarters for some well-deserved rest.“They have some very strong leadership and bringa lot of experience to the table, “ says 131 3rd platoonleader 1st Lt. Seth Jacobs through a large smile.“From what I’ve seen, they’re already way ahead ofwhere we were at this time last year.”Continued on page 10EssayonsPage

Left: Spc. Wilfriedo Medrano of Boston, Mas., waitsto begin a route clearance mission. Below: Membersof the Massachusetts Army National Guard’s 182ndSapper Comapny listen in on a pre-mission briefingbefore heading out on a route clearance patrol withthe 131st Engineer Company. Bottom: Sgt. CoryHuckabee of the 131st Engineer Company, 875thEngineer Battalion, right, works with troops from the182nd Sapper Company, 1203rd Engineer Battalionprior to a recent patrol in central Iraq.Essayons Page 10

Arkansas Engineers end mission in Iraq,hand reins to 1203rd Engineer BattalionCol. Patricia Anslow and Command Sgt. Maj. Ward case the 875th Colors during a transfer of authority ceremonyat Camp Striker, Iraq, September 18, 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris A. Durney.)The Arkansas Army National Guard’s 875thEngineer Battalion formally ended its assuredmobility mission in Iraq today during a transferof authority ceremony at Camp Striker in central Iraq.The 500-man unit handed the mission reins to theAlabama Army National Guard’s 1203rd EngineerBattalion, which is made up of six units from sixstates, including Alabama, Iowa, Oregon, Massachusetts,Mississippi and North Dakota. The 875th ispreparing to leave the Iraqi theatre of operations andreturn to Fort McCoy, Wis., for demobilization.The 875th was mobilized in March 2006 anddeployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom 06 – 08 lateSeptember 2006. The battalion is augmented by theVermont Army National Guard’s 131st EngineerCompany, and troops from the Indiana Army NationalGuard’s 1313th Engineer Company.The 1203rd is assuming the 875th’s critical assuredmobility mission in central Iraq, which is brokendown into route clearance, route sanitation, rapidcrater repair and culvert denial. The 875th has foundand cleared over 1,240 improvised explosive devices,and traveled over 340,000 kilometers of roadwaysduring over 2,700 patrols that lasted an average ofeight hours.During the ceremony, Col. Patricia Anslow andCommand Sgt. Maj. Billy ward formally cased the875th’s colors. Lt. Col. Tommy Vickers and CommandSgt. Maj. Robert Baer then carefully uncasedthe 1203rd’s colors. Col. Peter “Duke” DeLuca, commanderof the 20th Engineer Brigade, officiated forthe morning ceremony.“You’ve done an outstanding job 875th. You areto be commended for a job well done,” said DeLucato the assemble troops.“You’ve done an incredible job in setting up the1203rd for success,” said Vickers, “You’ve set the barhigh and now it’s our responsibility to take up thismission and do a great job for the 20th.”The 875th is expected to return to home stationsometime in late September or early October aftercompleting the demobilization process at Fort Mc-Coy.Essayons Page 11

The final wordFrom the ChaplainBy Capt. (Chaplain) Mark GolawayThe time has come for our departure. We havefought the good fight, we have finished therace. We have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7,NIV with plural added)As the days of our mission here in Iraq dwindleto conclusion, it is good to remember where we havebeen and how we have grown. It has been my honorand privilege to serve with your soldiers. We haveknown the pain of separation from home, the fear ofentering the unknown realm of combat, the agonyof injury, and the grief sting of death. We have alsofound joy in friendship, pride in a mission successfullyaccomplished, and the overwhelming support offamily, friends, and our nation.We have found strength as families as each member,young and old, has discovered a level of independenceand self reliance not previously recognized. Wehave grown in our ability to communicate even whenseparated by thousands of miles. We have increasedin our love for each other as the separation has againreminded us of our love and need for each other.Relationships have been strained by this deployment,but most have weathered the storm stronger and moreresilient.For many of us, we have learned to lean on thestrength of our God more than ever before. We havefound comfort in prayer and in Scripture reading. Wehave come to trust and faith and found peace and joyin the midst of the confusion of life. I would encourageyou to continue these habits of study and prayereven as we gather together again. Allow your faith tocarry you through the bumps and hiccups of reunion.Seek the peace, love, and joy of God to strengthenyour families and recreate a home based on faith.Again, I thank you for the opportunity to speakinto your lives this year. May you know the joy ofGod’s presence. May laughter fill your homes. Mayyour hearts be merry and your relationships strengthened.May you grow together in love and may yourdays be many while your troubles remain few. Maythe hours apart be restored to you in the years youhave before you. Thank you for your service.Blessings!Chaplain (Capt.) Mark GolawayThe 875th’s Unit Ministry TeamEssayons Page 12

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYSAlvin Lewis, Jr., SPC 01 HHCKenneth Cunningham, PFC 01 131stLevi Welton, PFC 01 131stRoss Hinkle, SPC 01 131stSteven Ward, SGT 01 131stWayne Watson, SGT 02 A Co.Christopher Lady, 2LT 03 131stLannie Collins, SGT 03 HHCTimothy Goldman, SGT 03 131stChristopher Weaver, SSG 04 A Co.Lawrence Williams, SGT 04 HHCRandall Lyne, PFC 04 131stBrian Lynch, SSG 05 C Co.Brian Odom, SPC 05 C Co.Gregory Stanley, SFC 05 A Co.Gregory Whitlock, SSG 06 A Co.Mark Taylor, SPC 06 C Co.Jason Campbell, SGT 07 131stMichael Tyner, SGT 07 C Co.David Lawrence, SSG 08 131stJoshua Hill, SPC 08 HHCMelvin Clark, SGT 08 A Co.Gregory Rogers, PV2 09 A Co.Jonathon Kendrick, SPC 09 C Co.Amy Bell, CPT 10 HHCBrandon Grote, SPC 11 A Co.Christopher Hicks, SGT 11 C Co.Mark Labonte, SGT 11 HHCLuke McCartney, 2LT 13 C Co.David Moore, CPT 15 A Co.Jackie Lawrence, SPC 15 C Co.Larry Austin, SFC 15 C Co.Michael Rice, SPC 15 131stCarey Rau, SPC 16 C Co.Timothy Smith, SGT 16 C Co.Christopher Anderson, SPC 18 131stKenneth Edman, SSG 18 C Co.Lawrence Jones, PFC 18 131stRandy Bridge, SPC 18 C Co.Glenn Barker, SPC 20 131stBrett Harbour, SPC 21 C Co.Frecdrick Siebert, SGC 22 C Co.Scotty Gage, SPC 22 A Co.Jeromy Householder, SPC 23 A Co.Victor Brulison, SPC 23 131stShannon Kender, SPC 24 A Co.Daniel Tyrrell, 1LT 26 A Co.Riley Donoho, CPT 27 HHCStephen Gilliespie, SPC 29 131stAlex Bishop, SPC 30 A Co.The sun is setting on Camp Striker, Iraq, while a new day will dawn for the 875th Engineer Battalion as it preparesto leave for home. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris A. Durney.)Correction: The August issue of the Essayons improperly listed the rank for Lannie Collins as Specialist. He isa Sergeant. We regret the mistake.Essayons Page 13

ThankYou!Essayons Page 14