At Ease - Wisconsin National Guard Department of Military Affairs

Troop E completes the run
By Lt. Col.
Tim Donovan
At Ease Staff
April 2008
saw Troop E,
105th Cavalry,
safely home from 8
months in Iraq. The
180-Soldier unit,
based in Merrill and
Antigo, accomplished
more than 360
combat missions.
They conducted
convoy security
operations throughout
Iraq, out of Logistics
Support Area
Anaconda near Balad,
using 19 M-1117
“Guardian” armored
security vehicles and about 30 armored Humvees. The troopers
drove more than half a million miles and engaged repeatedly in
combat.
The unit escorted 10,000 vehicles including tankers that
hauled 13,110,400 gallons of fuel, performing significantly
more missions than any other element in its task force.
Troop E Soldiers on security missions experienced 20
improvised explosive device detonations, 16 small arms fire
attacks, two complex attacks, and six attacks using mortars or
rocket-propelled grenades. They also discovered three roadside
Troop E, 105th Cavalry in Iraq. Photo courtesy of 105th Cavalry
Wearing traditional cavalry hats, Lt. Col. Mike Murphy and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Easterday
— the last commander and first sergeant of Troop E, 105th Cavalry — solemnly furl the unit's
guidon before sheathing it in a canvas case to signify the inactivation of the unit. Photo by Staff
Sgt. Joe Streeter
bombs that were disabled before they could be detonated. The
cavalry troops also endured attack by 900 mortar rounds fired at
or into LSA Anaconda during their eight months at the base.
One of Troop E’s soldiers was wounded in action and was
awarded a Purple Heart Medal. Unit soldiers were also awarded
31 Bronze Star Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, more
than 100 Army Commendation Medals or Army Achievement
Medals, more than 100 Combat Action Badges or Combat
Infantryman Badges, and several Combat Medical Badges.
But the commander’s ultimate goal wasn’t achieved until
the unit arrived at Volk Field April
19: Everybody came back from
Iraq safely.
“I have never commanded
better Soldiers in my life,” Lt.
Col. Mike Murphy told troopers
and family members. “I’ll tell
you, every time we left the gate
the insurgents threw everything
they could at us, but we were
blessed because we brought
everyone home.”
The Iraq of 2008 was
different from the country the
Soldiers found when they got
there in 2007.
“Unfortunately the public
doesn’t see it,” Murphy said, “but
when you can go to places and
be dismounted, or you see water
being turned on or read about the
schools that are opening up or
the teachers that are being trained
over there… there’s still a lot of
work to be done but things are
definitely changing.” n
80 at ease