TIGER STRIPES - Steel Tigers to all our family members and STEEL TIGERS around the world as we enter the festive time of the year. ... TIGER STRIPES . Tiger 6

Inside this issue:

Tiger 6 2

Tiger 7 3

Tiger Shepard 4

HHC/ 1-77AR 5

B/ 1-18IN 6

B/ 1-26in 7

C/ 1-77AR 8

C/ 9E 9

Birthdays & Promotions

10

Jokes 11

Greetings to all our family members and STEEL TIGERS around the world as we enter the festive time of the year. Yes, the Holi-day Season is once again upon us, and we too are preparing for it here on Camp Ramadi. On Thanksgiving, the Dining Facility served a tre-mendous spread, with all the traditional trimmings and a few new ones.

Everyone had a chance to enjoy Thanksgiving meals, including Team Predator (B/1-18 IN) and Team Bushmaster (B/1-26 IN) as they manned positions throughout our Area of Responsibility. As this is our second edition of the newsletter, I would like to continue to encourage your feedback on how we can make it better and more informa-tive. Our continued thanks go out to spouses and families world–wide who support us and our mis-sion on a daily basis. We wish you all a joyous and happy holiday season.

As I visit our Soldiers across the Battlefield, I am not amazed, but in-creasingly confident that I am blessed to lead the most competent and proficient warriors ever. Their professionalism and work ethic is unsur-passed, and for that, I am thankful. On Thanksgiving, I was able to visit Team Bushmaster; they are doing well and making a difference every day. Continued next page…

TIGER 6 NEWS FROM THE FRONT LTC Miciotto O. Johnson

STEEL TIGER MAILING ADDRESS: Soldier’s Name Unit, TF 1-77AR APO AE 09396

2 B C T / 1 I D U . S . A R M Y

NOVEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER TIGER STRIPES

Steel Tiger Combat Patch Ceremony, November 11.

Check us out on the web: http://www.1-77ar.2bct.1id.army.mil

BLOOD ON THE AXE!!!

TIGER STRIPES

Editor: 1LT Trevor Chambers [email protected]

Page 2 NOVEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER


The populace of Ramadi is truly safer, because CPT Calihan and the boys are in town. That day, I also had the honor of having dinner with Team Predator at Combat Outpost STEEL.

As I sat there and talked to the Soldiers, and listened to their jokes; the camaraderie and holiday sprit was evident. Even in the middle of a combat zone, our Soldiers have found joy, friend-ship and esprit de corps, as we continuously conduct operations. The galvanization of Task Force STEEL TIGERS has never been stronger.

This month, we increased combined operations with our Iraqi partners from the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police. Their proficiency is continually improving as we work together to bring stability to western Ramadi. Infrastructure improvement projects continue to gain irreversible momentum, as we also maintain an environment which is conducive to governmental and economic affluence. The move is complete and we are now in our permanent living and offices spaces. However, we will continue to exploit every opportunity to improve our foxhole. Speaking of foxholes, from mine, the FRG and Rear-D (TF Sentinel) continue to do a GREAT JOB taking care of our families and us. I know I am joined by every Soldier in saying thank you for your efforts and unconditional / never-ending support.

Of course, there is a cost for freedom and prosperity, and on November 14, 2006 CPL Eric Giovanni Palacios-Rivera of Bravo Company, 1-18 IN, paid the ultimate sacrifice. While leading from the front, as he so often did; he was fatally wounded. He was an outstanding leader who had so much more to offer and was loved by so many. I dedicate this edition of TIGER STRIPES to the memory of our brother, CPL Eric Giovanni Palacios-Rivera. We know that he is now watching over us, and our thoughts and prayers remain with him and his family. Until next time, BLOOD ON THE AXE!! V/R MICIOTTO O. JOHNSON LTC, AR Commanding

From left to right: 1SG Morris, CPT Dick, 1SG Gear, SFC Aceves, and CPT Bickley serve sol-diers their Thanksgiving meal at the DFAC.

CPL Eric G. Palacious-Rivera

The Steel Tiger band performs here during the Marine Corp Birthday Celebration.



TIGER 7 CSM ERNEST EDWARDS Family and friends of the Steel Tigers, Your Soldiers continue to receive accolades from the leadership at the highest level. Com-mand Sergeant Major Mellinger CSM of Iraq Multi National Forces, visited the Steel Tigers this past month. We were also visited by our very own Command Sergeant Major Fortune, 2BCT. Your Soldiers have impressed all with their professionalism and dedication to duty. Congratulations to the following members of the Steel Tiger Task Force who were selected for promotion to Master Sergeant, SFC Almario of B Co. 1/18th IN, SFC Heikkinen of B Co.1/26th IN, SFC Rebolledo of HHC 1-77th AR, selected for promotion to SSG; SGT Heetderks of HHC 1/77th AR. The following Steel Tigers are to be Congratulated and Commended for reenlisting the past two months. SSG Davis HHC CPL Hicks 9th Eng SSG Stark HHC CPL Quinteros 9th Eng SSG Lopez B Co. SPC Phillips HHC SSG McCarthy B Co. SPC Purdy HHC SSG Kelly 1-7 SPC Tran A Co. SSG Morgan C Co. SPC Cohn C Co. SGT Davis HHC SPC Quay HHC SGT Roberts C Co. SPC Stoy A Co. SGT Martin HHC SPC Aten A Co. SGT Reynolds HHC SPC Grace HHC During the past month we have also seen some trying times, but we have found strength in each other. We are truly a Band of Brothers, each one looking out for the other. We shall not fail those with whom we serve or those we love. V/R Ernest Edwards CSM, AR

SFC(P) Heikkinen is frocked to 1SG.

CPL Hicks, from C 9E takes his oath of enlistment in the hours of darkness at Camp Ramadi.

holiday season is about taking the focus off our problems and looking at what God has given. It is a time to thank God for all his gifts, material, familial and spiritual. The images and memories of fun and good times with family are wonderful be-cause I know that the giver of those memories is the one who provides for all our needs and is indeed the gift of hope and peace to our world. My prayer for soldiers here and families at home is that God will fill you with that hope and peace. Chaplain Doug Downs Tiger Shepherd

With the passing of Thanksgiving and the soon ar-rival of Christmas, I’m sure most of us find ourselves en-trenched in a variety of thoughts, memories, and im-ages of holidays past as we miss not being able to spend these current holidays with our families. Holiday time during a deployment has a way of do-ing that. Some of my most treas-ured memories of holidays cele-brated with Debbie and our children are centered around some of our half hazard at-tempts to do the traditional Christmas kind of things like a big traditional meal with all the trimmings and an ornately decorated, tall beautiful Christmas tree that everyone gawks at, and aspires to do next year. You would think the preacher and his family would be “that family” who has the picture perfect Christmas “leave it to Beaver” (yes I did grow up watching the originals before Nick at Night re-runs) family traditions. I will likely disappoint you by revealing the deep dark Downs family Christmas secrets. Our typical Christmas dinner usually is pork chops and chicken breasts on the back yard grill with

fixings like home made fries made in the old iron skillet. Our most memorable Christ-mas tree was when I was still in seminary and was not plan-ning to have one for financial reasons. While I was working out my guilt and shame for be-ing a dead beat provider, I hap-pened to be trimming a tree in our yard. Our then 9 year old son Luke looked at the branches on the ground, looked at me, I looked at him, and we said, “It will work.” We took the tree branch into the house, planted it in a bucket, deco-rated it, and proudly displayed it in the picture window. Holiday time is about family memories and holiday images, but it’s also about a gifts. These memories and im-ages are indeed wonderful gifts, but the most supreme gift is not one that we have given to others, but one God has given to us. That most precious gift is the “only begotten Son“ and Prince of Peace whose name is Immanuel, God with us. The holiday season is a time to, as the song says, ”count your blessings see what God has done.” Yes, this year the holidays will seem strange and will be difficult being sepa-rated from family. But the

Tiger Shepard CH Doug Downs



“...the holiday season is about taking the focus off our problems and looking at what God has given.”

Greetings to all Hellcats!

As the Holiday Season comes upon us, we wanted to take a moment and update you on what has kept us busy and what looks to keep us even busier. These past few weeks have proved to be extremely challenging for all us in so many ways; some for better and some for worse. In any case, please take a minute to remember those who have given all for the greater benefit of our great nation. We thank them for their sacrifice, and we are for-ever indebted to them.

While times have been hard, the Hell-cat HQ Platoon has kept their spirits up through outstanding camaraderie, hard work ethics, and the celebration of the Marines 231st Birthday! We’ve never returned to the FOB in such a timely manner as that day. The platoon has been busy supporting multiple logistical and supply missions throughout the Steel Tiger area of operations; but rest as-sured this just keeps us all out of trouble and focused on the job at hand.

We wanted to take a minute and thank you for the Thanksgiving banner (Mrs. Gear, it made it here) as it adds a lot of warmth to the company command post. We are also very grateful for the presents, gifts, and donations that many of you have sent, as your support is the lifeline of this company.

Finally, the next few weeks should see the Hellcats continue to accomplish great things throughout the Ar Ramadi area. With the weather becoming gradually cooler, and rain ever present, it is truly looking to be a very Ramadi Holiday Season!

Very Respectfully, Jabari M. Miller CPT, Armor Commanding

HHC/ 1-77 AR CPT Jabari Miller, 1SG John Gear

NOVEMBER 2006 NEWSLETTER Page 5


PVT Bodrick and PFC Hawk, Maint., change the fluids in order to keep this HMMWV fully mission capable.

SPC Brooks , Maint., poses with satisfied Iraqi Police during a night time barrier mission.

SPC Gimont, PVT Schurr and SPC Snyder perform mainte-nance on their weapons upon returning from a nighttime security mission with C/9E.

To the Predator Families and Friends, The company continues to do well here in Ramadi. We suffered some very emotional blows this month but the Soldiers have faced these tragedies and are per-

severing in their mission. This has been a tough month for the Predators. PFC Jace Badia was severely injured when the vehicle he was driving was hit with an Improvised Explosive Device. He was evacuated to Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. and is recovering after his left leg had to be amputated from the injuries. We were still recovering from the shock of PFC Badia’s departure when we lost CPL Erik Palacios-Rivera to enemy fire while he was on a dismounted patrol. He was known for his smile, and his platoon made it clear with a heartfelt tribute at his memorial ceremony just how much he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with these soldiers and their families during these difficult times. Things continue to improve here in our part of Iraq. We are able to make small improvements every day, slowly but surely improving the security in our sector so that our counterparts in the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police forces will play an increasing role in the city. We are realiz-

ing that the population here is very weary of the destruction and poverty that has resulted from the pro-longed insurgent activity here. Many just want a safe place for their families and are willing to provide bits and pieces of information that is very useful to us in our day-to-day activities. The soldiers continue to make improvements to their living space and overall quality of life. I see a lot of Soldiers with Play Sta-tions, X-boxes, Laptops, and DVD Players to use in relaxing when not out on a mission. Some of the guys have managed to get themselves a good feed from the AFN satellite. Each platoon has their living area set up differently, but everyone seems to be comfortable where they’re at. I’m sure it won’t be long before the Christmas decorations are up.

I would personally like to thank all the families and volunteers who send packages and help to bring a piece of our normal lives to us here in Iraq. The little things truly do make a difference. We celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday when we were able to find time to do so. You may have seen the Stars & Stripes article about celebrating at COP Steel. The Steel Tiger Command Group came out bringing Thanksgiving dinner that included turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and fresh pie. The rest of the company partook of the lavish spread at the Camp Ramadi DFAC. Everyone took a little time to think about home and reflect on all the things in their life they have to be thankful for.

On behalf of 1SG Almario and the rest of the com-pany, I hope that all the Predator families and friends had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving. Our next newsletter will be the Christmas edition and we’ll be one holiday and one month closer to coming back home to Schweinfurt.

PREDATORS! CPT RUDY

B/ 1-18 IN CPT Adam Rudy, 1SG Jerry Almario



COP Steel Thanksgiving.

SSG Jarris in the gunners hatch of his HMMWV.

Thanksgiving in the DFAC.

Our brothers from B/1-26 IN remain on the edge of the frontier in Ramadi. They continue to disrupt enemy activity through constant engage-ment and patrols. Every Soldier relayed their thanks through me to the families, FRG, and Rear D for your support and packages. Next edition, I will get you more pictures of your heroes in action. V/R Tiger 6

B/ 1-26 IN CPT Chris Calihan, 1SG Jody Heikkinen



CPT Calihan at COP Eagle Nest. The Bushmaster’s call “COP Eagle’s Nest”, home.

SGT Vo puts on his gear before heading out on another patrol.

SGT Thomas & SGT McGruder wake up to another glorious day at COP Eagles Nest

Once again, greetings friends and families of the Steel Tigers and Charlie Company: We have settled into a battle rhythm here in Ramadi and the Soldiers of Charlie Company are now fully engaged in this noble endeavor. In the past month we

have shared numerous experiences, across a spec-trum of emotions, which many us would have other-wise never experienced in our lives; all the while growing stronger as an organization. The Soldiers have developed the necessary street smarts that will keep them safe while allowing them to execute their missions professionally. I am very proud to watch this incredible organization adapting to this new en-vironment while maintaining the panache of the ar-mor community and the unique character of the House of Pain. Our operations have been both humanitarian and offensive in nature as we support the develop-ment of Iraqi governmental institutions in the area. With your support, we have been able to distribute toys and candy to children, while at the same time preventing munitions from being employed against Soldiers or the populace. Soldiers work long hours, but their dedication and sacrifice is indispensable.

On behalf of all the Soldiers in Charlie Company I want to extend to you our greatest appreciation for the sacrifices you are making. While keeping the home-fires burning, you still find opportunities to send us a note, even when time does not afford us the luxury of reciprocat-ing. The kindness and thoughtfulness that ac-companies every care package and postcard sent echoes in the Soldiers’ dedication to their mis-sion. DUTY FIRST! BLOOD ON THE AXE! HOUSE OF PAIN!

C/ 1-77AR CPT Ian Lauer, 1SG David Pitts



SGT Shawn Roberts re-enlists atop an Iraqi Police Station as a symbolic gesture of the commitment that both he and the Iraqi Police have made to the cause of Iraqi freedom. In the background SPC Troy Langley and Sam Hackwell proudly hold the American Flag.

Here you see Charlie Company in its element. The awesome presence of this tank prevents enemy forces from moving freely across open desert roads.

There are many names we could have called this month, like “How to build a COP in 4 days” or “There’s no more traffic problem at the University Now.” I had the opportunity to work with and to command Seabee Sailors, Marines and additional Sapper Platoons as we became the main effort and constructed a Combat Outpost in the city of Ramadi. The Marines that now live at the 17th Street Security Station are well protected due to the hard work from the Dawg’s of War Sappers and others involved. These Sappers have conducted improve-ments at three Iraqi Police stations as well as completing drastic improvements at the nearby University. The force protection structures that we built have already stopped VBIEDs, small arms rounds and have deflected RPGs that have saved the lives of Soldiers, Marines and Iraqi civilians alike. One of our own, SSG Michael Reed, was wounded while building a sniper screen for a Marine company. Our thoughts are with him and his family as he recovers at Walter Reed Army Hospital. The mail is certainly coming in now and many friends and families have already sent Christmas boxes. Our thoughts and prayers are with you daily as we do our best to make Ramadi a little bit better. Happy Thanks-giving. Very Respectfully CPT Carl Dick Charlie Company Commander

C/ 9E CPT Carl Dick, 1SG Michael Morris



Every Sapper in Charlie Company was presented with a 1st Infantry Division Combat Patch on 11 November 2006. Many of us already have pre-vious combat tours, but it’s always a special occasion to receive one for the first time. We have been busy as of lately and it seems to make the time go by fast for the guys. That is good on our end but we all realize that time drags for most of you. Thanksgiving has come and gone and all though we could not be with our loved ones to give thanks, every Soldier here took some time out of their schedule to give thanks for all of you. Thanksgiving Dinner was quite good. Myself and CPT Dick got to serve the dinner for about an hour to everyone on post which was a real privi-lege for us. Congrats to our spouses on winning the Lady Sapper Day Competition. Way to take HHC to the cleaners. Not only do we have the best Soldiers in the Battalion but we have the best spouses. Hoooooahhh Lady Sappers. Christmas is fast approaching and though all the guys will not be able to be home for R&R leave during this holiday our thoughts and prayers will be with you. We have a tree lighting ceremony here on the 1st of Decem-ber and are in the process of making a little surprise for all the wives. We’ll see you all soon. Talk to you next month. V/R Michael T. Morris First sergeant P.S. They have grapefruit juice in the mess hall again.

SGT Butcher & PFC Mar-low pre-

pare to fire an AT-4 during

marksman proficiency operations.

SPC Mckin-ney and SGT Dan-hof pull security at a recent project site.

SPC Mckinney and SGT Dan-hof pull secu-rity at a recent project site.

November Birthdays



We would like to wish these Steel Tiger Soldiers a Happy Birthday!!!

November 02 SPC Hogan, John November 03 SSG Meehan, David November 03 PFC Rogers, Brandon November 04 PFC Carpio, Christopher November 04 SGT Gilbertson, Kevin November 05 SPC Martin, Antoine November 05 SSG Tiffany, Joshua November 06 CPL Hinote, Ricky November 06 PFC Purdy, Randy November 07 SPC Andersen, Matthew November 07 SGT Wilkins, Willie November 08 SGT Hameed, Omar November 08 SPC Olvera, Jesse November 09 SPC Gillett, Grant November 11 CPL Olsen, Stephen November 11 SGT Waters, Peter November 14 PFC Feathers, William November 14 SPC Leon, Elvis November 15 SSG Peoples, Demarcus November 16 SFC Tention, James November 17 PFC Fulforf, Justin

November 17 MAJ Jacobi, Kevin November 18 PV2 Wells, Tyrone November 20 SGT Grayson, John November 21 SPC Cohn, Michael November 21 SPC Wells, Ryan November 21 PFC Wilson, Courtland November 22 PV2 Reed, Andrew November 23 SGT Thomas, Christian November 24 PV2 Smith, William November 25 SPC Simeon, Erastus November 26 SPC Neureuter, Jeremy November 27 CPT Downs, Douglas November 28 PFC Dunn, Davian November 29 PFC Bowles, Dustin November 29 SGT Core, James November 29 PV2 Hancock, Kevin November 30 SGT Dickerson, Jordan Sr. November 30 PV2 Esposito, Samuel November 30 SPC Spears, Jared November 30 SPC Wells, Aric

November Promotions

PFC TO SPC Butin, Nicholas Rogers , Brandon Arviso, Adrian Seymour, Robert

PV2 TO PFC Clingerman, Christopher Landon, Trenton

SFC TO MSG Almario, Jerry Heikkinen, Jody Rebolledo, Danny

Congratulations to these Steel Tigers for their hard work in being selected for promotion during the month of November!!!

SGT TO SSG Heetderks, Daniel

Jokes



Murphy’s Laws of Armor

1. Just after you report “Redcon 1” for your qualification run, you will realize that you desperately need to take a leak. 2. Tanks don’t float. 3. Attempting to help recover a mired tank will only result in your tank becoming mired also. 4. The primary purpose of an operations order is to ensure that all blame falls on the line units. 4a. For this reason, the staff will not publish an operations order until after the exercise is completed. 5. Night vision devices will only fail at night. 5a. They will function perfectly once the sun rises. 6. The dirtier and more tired you are, the less appreciative you become of “constructive criticism” from some-body in a pristine uniform. 7. The heater on your tank will fail in October. The part to repair it will arrive in April. 8. No matter how minor the ailment, a visit to the medics will result in an I.V. 8a. Arguing with the medics about this will result in your being evacuated in a neck brace and back board (in addition to the I.V.). 9. When loading the main gun, remember: “pointy end first.” 10. The only times you will throw a track are: a. At night, b. in the rain, c. during the movement back to gar-rison, or d. one hour after you installed the new ones. 11. Your vehicle will go NMC right after the contact team leaves the AO. 12. All infantry fighting vehicles don’t look alike. 13. When you are told your engineer support was needed elsewhere, the bridge will be out. 14. If all else fails, shoot at the muzzle flashes — the larger ones are the dangerous ones, the smaller ones are infantry. 15. “Rebel yells” are not proper FM radio procedure after a successful Table VIII. 16. Close air support is safest from far away. 17. Proving that three feet of frontal armor protection will defend against any threat is probably best demon-strated on someone else’s track. 18. Hearing an “Aw, shit” soon after an “on-the-waaay!” means you’re probably not getting that promotion. 19. Tanks are very easy to see unless you’re dismounted and they’re backing up. 20. “GUNNER, SABOT, SNIPER” is not an appropriate use of ammunition. 21. It is cruel to tell NBC types “Damn, that Fox looks like a BMP particularly when live rounds are being issued. 22. Unsecured turrets will only swing freely mid-way through a rail tunnel. 23. When doing a gunnery, the tank is always operational until you get to the ready line. 24. If you are promised “downtime,” what they really mean is: You will be breaking track.

The Steel Tiger Soldiers have a good time during the Marine Corps 231st Birthday.

Doc Gordon administers aid to a injured Iraqi Policeman.

Adopt a Steel Tiger Soldier As a wife of a soldier in the Battalion, Cathy Jacobi started an “Adopt a Steel Tiger Soldier” program. The purpose of the program is simple – to connect state-side Americans with soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The adoption is simple – Would be adopter’s send a monthly care package and or letters of support to your soldier. These are soldiers who may or may not have an extended family who can send the soldier the “Home Town” support that they so need and deserve. What is a care package you ask? – This is also very simple. Care packages are boxes of “Creature Comforts” that a soldier may not have the access to or time to obtain himself. These care packages are so important to a soldier. Many of our troops who are fighting in Iraq often spend between 12 and 18 hours a day on patrols in Iraq. At the end of their day they are tired mentally and physically. When mail time comes for this soldier, it often is the best part of their day. Receiving a note of encouragement, or a box full of “goodies” from his adopter makes all the difference to these men. This one simple gesture of support on your part can help keep up the morale of those who are making huge sacrifices for us. Please be aware that there are items that you cannot send to your soldier by mail. These items are forbidden by order of the military and by the U.S. Postal Service. Fireworks; explosives; matches; lighters; alcohol, pornography or tobacco products are against the law to send through the mail and/or to a soldier. You can visit the web site of the U.S. Postal Service at www.usps.com to get a more detailed list of prohibited items, and information about APO addresses, which is how you will be sending your soldier care packages If you are interested in participating in the program, please send your name and contact information to: [email protected] Cathy can also be reached via mail at: Cathy Jacobi CMR 464 Box 2350 APO AE 09226

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TIGER STRIPES - Steel Tigers to all our family members and STEEL TIGERS around the world as we enter the festive time of the year. ... TIGER STRIPES . Tiger 6