http://marsmen.org/ Marsmen.org en-us Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:39:01 GMT 1440 CPG-Nuke Dragonfly Marsmen.org News http://backend.userland.com/rss http://marsmen.org/images/logo.gif http://marsmen.org/ http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=208 Cavalry Ball Info as follows: 5 December 2009 7:00 PM Waco Convention Center Waco, Texas RSVP NLT 18 November 2009 to your Troop Readiness NCO Tickets:$40 E6 and Above and Guests (E5 and below still have to pay for guests) Dress/Attire:Dress Blue/Mess or Class A’s with white shirt and black bow-tie; Civilian Formal Official invite with directions: Download PDF Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:39:01 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=207 Not sure if anyone would come to this site to find info but I noticed that it's difficult to find any phone numbers to Fort Hood to find out if your family is ok. Since a lot of people who would be interested in the site also have ties to the military and, consequently, to Fort Hood, I thought I'd post what I've found. Family Hotline numbers: toll free: 866-836-2751 local: 254-288-7570 Rumor has it, the phone circuits are overloaded, and I suspect that's a reasonable conclusion given the circumstances. Cell phone towers will be overloaded as well so if anyone is having difficulty contacting family and friends in the Killeen area, that would probably be the reason. Texting may be a little more reliable but even that will take longer than usual. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:49:42 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=206 I received an email from Para about the pistol I posted about below. Apparently, there are only 9 pistols ordered so far. Until we meet the 32 pistol minimum, they won't process the order. They will keep it open a while longer to see if they can get more orders in, so if you're still interested, you still have time to place your order. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:28:01 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=204 As I'm sure everyone is aware, the Cav is coming home. Combat Spurs were awarded this week to members of the Squadron and, for the most part, we're all relaxing and waiting for our redeployment. The Squadron will be home shortly and after a demobilization at Fort Bliss, we'll be ready for some much deserved leave. I can't say I'll miss this place much, though it has definitely been a much more comfortable and uneventful tour than my last foray in the sandbox. In other news, Para USA is offering a great deal on a custom pistol to commemorate the deployment. This will be a limited production run and you can view the details on the linked flyer. A separate Excel spreadsheet version of the order form is also available for download. Pistols are purchased through a factory direct payment and shipped to either Praco Pawn in Waco or Guns Galore in Killeen. Para USA Flyer Order Form Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:26:35 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=203 Troop A has lost one of their own. Sergeant Christopher Loza died on 10 April 2009 at Walter Reed Medical Center. He was promoted to Sergeant prior to his death in a ceremony in his hospital room. His mother and wife were present for the presentation of his awards and combat spurs. Many were praying for his recovery and are now praying for his family during this trying time. Sergeant Loza was a member of my platoon, 2nd Platoon, and he will be missed. As a Platoon Sergeant, you prepare yourself for combat deaths. But the relative safety of an ECP minimizes that possibility. Losing a soldier to illness, let alone an illness with no known cause or treatment, is especially hard. A memorial service will be held at Camp Slayer in the next couple of days and funeral arrangements will be posted here as soon as I learn them. UPDATE: Funeral information can be found at the following link: http://elmwoodfuneralhome.com/services.asp?locid=32&page=odetail&id=8709 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:40:17 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=202 Given the steady state operations, there just isn't much to write about. I'll try to catch everyone up on the latest happenings in the Troop and the Squadron...though Squadron information is a little sketchy since we're all spread out on different missions and I don't get many opportunities to speak to the other Troops. Troop A has now taken over all ECP operations in the VBC with much needed help from troopers in HHT. Though it doesn't seem as glamorous as running patrols outside the wire, it has it's moments. Take the recent surprise visit by President Obama. It's always amazing to see Air Force One land, especially against the dust filled skies over Baghdad. And to see his convoy pass by is a pretty interesting sight, especially with the helicopter gunship support flying overhead. We've come to see the local government officials (the Iraqi President, Prime Minister, and various Vice Presidents) as a boring daily occurrence, so a new foreign head of state is a pleasant change in pace. I had an opportunity to speak with Troop B's First Sergeant last week and he says they're equally hard at work on ECPs in the International Zone. The IZ has been turned back over to the Iraqi government but there is still US oversight and Troop B still sends troopers out to the ECPs to make sure the Iraqi Army soldiers do their job right. HHT has taken over the defensive operations centers for the entire VBC and has oversight of Troop A's ECP mission. I haven't really had any opportunity to follow-up with Troop C, but I'm told they're enjoying their Joint Visitor's Bureau mission...and who wouldn't, given the various celebrities and dignitaries they get to meet. I have uploaded a few more pictures and am sorting through more that I've received from 1st Platoon, Troop A. I've spoken with the CSM about getting more pictures from him and will work to get those uploaded and posted as soon as possible. I apologize for the infrequent updates, but there's only so much to say about life in paradise and the running of ECPs. On a more somber note, please keep Specialist Christopher Loza in your thoughts and prayers. He is a member of my platoon and has become seriously ill...enough to be sent to Walter Reed for treatment. I'm told his wife and mother are there with him and he's stable. Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:10:16 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=201 Greetings from Iraq! I wanted to take a few moments to update you on your soldiers, as well as share some information with you. We have been executing our mission for over two months now. For many of us, the time is flying by. As you may have heard, we have had some changes in our mission. Currently, A Troop is responsible for many of the Entry Control Points on the Victory Base Complex (VBC). Our role is that of a Force Protection unit, providing security to the VBC. While this mission isn't the most exciting, it's just as important to the safety and security of the Coalition Forces and the Iraqi people. Many of your soldiers will have the opportunity to take leave while they are here and some of them have already been able to do so. My goal is to send as many of your soldiers home on leave as possible. Unfortunately, we are required to keep a certain percentage of the unit in Iraq at all times, and that, coupled with the short duration of the deployment, prevents us from sending everyone home. For those that are able to come home, I would ask that you be patient. We are only able to forecast leave about a month in advance. For example, I will get the leave allowance for March on or about the 15th of February. So the soldiers will know what day they will leave Iraq, however, they will not receive their final itinerary until they arrive in Kuwait. They will be able to call you from Kuwait to tell you when they will arrive in Texas. I will try to give you and your soldiers as much predictability as I can when it comes to leave. I know there are some rumors out there concerning our return to Texas. However, they are only rumors at this point. The most common rumor is that we will redeploy to Fort Bliss in El Paso. There are many factors that will determine when and where we redeploy. Any changes in the timeline, will likely result in a change to the date and location of our redeployment. I expect that we won't know anything for sure for another month or two, at the earliest. As soon as I know the details of our redeployment, I will pass it on to the FRG. CPT Shaw Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:30:00 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=200 I have finally gotten around to uploading a few pictures that I've taken here. I'm not as prolific with the camera this time around, but you can only take so many pictures of the same thing everyday. Being static here just isn't quite as exciting as last time I was here. I'm still working on gathering pictures from other people in the area. In other news, the Squadron is spreading out here and taking over some pretty important force protection missions. It's not exactly what the guys want to do, but you follow the orders you've been given and make the most of it. Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:47:44 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=199 So, what has been happening with the Squadron since my last update? I know I promised some articles about the history of this place, but that involves a little research and I haven't had much time to sit down and work on that, let alone an update for this site. I've been asking around for pictures and want to get some equal contributions for the other Troops, but given how spread out we are, it's been a little difficult to not be heavier on the Alpha Troop news. With regards to Alpha Troop, I'm still in the process of gathering photos so expect a pretty huge update when I finally get those uploaded. We've had some exciting visitors to our basecamp over the holidays, culminating in a visit by Governor Rick Perry, who wanted to come to Iraq to see his Guardsmen at work. Kid Rock, Zac Brown, Kelly Pickler, Lewis Black and a few other comedians visited in mid December to put on a great comedy and music filled show. I have a few pictures from that and even some video that I need to shrink and convert for streaming. Expect to see those in the near future. Granger Smith spent Christmas Day in Baghdad and put on a great show as well. Governor Perry visited Camp Slayer and said hello to HHT and Troop A. Photo ops were abundant and the Governor spent time talking to the soldiers of 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, Troop A prior to their rolling out on a combat patrol. Six soldiers from HHT and Troop A were selected to be pinned with the Iraq Campaign Medal and all received a Governor of Texas coin. The Governor also posed with the Aggies in the Squadron for a photo that will be published in a future issue of Texas Aggie Magazine. The Squadron continues to perform well on their various missions. 1st Platoon, Alpha Troop has become very familiar with their area of operation and have been working with the Sons of Iraq to current level of security remains in our area. Things have been relatively quiet and some of us that were here in 2004 have commented on a regular basis about how different it is around here. Know that your Troopers remain safe and life is pretty good here in "Paradise". Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:58:08 GMT http://marsmen.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=198 Better late than never: To the friends and families of 1-124 CAV: Greetings from Iraq. All your loved-ones have made it to their assigned locations safely. While operational security prevents me from sharing many details, I can tell you the Squadron is doing many different and important missions in the general Baghdad area. We are making a positive difference for the Iraqi people during this important time in their country's history. Your soldier is well trained and has been given the best equipment the Army has to offer. In fact, I have seen active duty units with older equipment than our own. Times have changed. My Troop Command Teams, Squadron Staff and I want to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. This is a time for inward reflection and to count the many blessings we Americans have been given. We enjoy a freedom that is not common in this part of the world. The personal sacrifice of you and your family has helped ensure that Americans will continue to enjoy our freedom. I am extremely thankful for your soldier's dedication to his duty, our unit and the country. In closing, I want you to know you all are in my prayers, please keep us in yours. Sincerely, -Rob LTC Robert Gaudsmith Commander, 1-124 Cav (TF KNIGHT) Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:36:49 GMT