The Bowie Edition October 29, 2004 - Arkansas National Guard

On the cover…
Inside This Edition
The Bowie Edition October 29, 2004
Staff Sgt. William Ensey, a Task Force 1-206 Soldier from Alma, Ark., prepares to move up the
stairs of an Iraqi home during a cordon and search operation on October 27 th , in Taji, Iraq. Ensey
continues to serve in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, while nearly 400 39 th Brigade Combat
Team Soldiers prepare to return home. The departing Soldiers are nearing the completion of two
years of deployed service within the past five, due to an earlier deployment to Egypt. The Soldiers,
having performed their duty when called upon, are now returning home based on the Department of
Defense policy, which states Guardsmen can not exceed two years of involuntary deployed service
within a five-year period. (Photo by 1 st Lt. Chris J. Heathscott, 39 th Brigade Public Affairs Office.)
Baghdad Island: Amusing Memories Revived
Task Force 3-153 gets “Big on Baghdad” with a restoration project for Baghdad’s version of
Disneyland …………………………………………………..……………………………………..…
Continuing the Push Towards Peace
Despite the continued threat of violence by insurgent forces, 1 st Lt. Isaac Shields, of Task Force 3-
153 says he refuses to give up helping the Iraqi people……...……………………………………….
This One’s for Sarah…Tracking Down a Killer
Soldiers of A Company, 3 rd Battalion 153 rd Infantry seek out justice for the murder of Sahara Latiff,
a beloved interpreter better known to them as ‘Sarah’.…………………………… …………………
Helping the Agricultural Industry ‘Grow’ in Taji
Operation Amber Waves kicks off with a delivery of 156 tons of wheat seed for distribution to
farmers in the Taji area of Iraq.………………………………………………………………………… 8
3
4
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Timely Response Saves Lives
An early morning mortar attack on an Iraqi National Guard Patrol Base brings heroes to light as
Soldiers from Task Force 2-7 and Task Force 2-162 saves several lives with quick medical
response…………………………………………………….……………………………………… 10
American Medic Disregards Own Life to Save Iraqi Soldiers
Sgt. Max Picco, a Task Force 2-7 Soldier, is recognized for his heroism and quick response
during a mortar attack on an Iraqi National Guard Patrol Base………….………………………...
Handheld Aircraft Provides Birdseye View
The 239 th and 629 th Military Intelligence
Companies are working together to provide the
units on the ground with an eye in the sky……..
‘Charlie Med’ Soldiers Awarded CMB
Forty Soldiers of the 39 th Support Battalion’s
Company C are honored for their efforts during
a deadly mortar attack on April 24 th ,
2004…………………………………………....
Soldiers Pay Final Tribute to Fellow Rifleman, Cook
Spc. David Wayne Johnson, a Task Force 2-162 Soldier, is remembered
at a memorial service in his honor………………………………………..
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39 th Brigade Commander
Brig. Gen. Ron Chastain
Command Sergeant Major
Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Isbell
Public Affairs Officer
1 st Lt. Chris J. Heathscott
Staff Writers
Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae N. Bruns
Cpl. Benjamin Cossel
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The Bowie Edition is a publication of the 39 th
Brigade Public Affairs Office. This family
support group newsletter contains official
information and complies with the provisions of
AR 360-1. Questions or concerns can be
directed to the editor at
christopher.heathscott@us.army.mil

The Bowie Edition October 29, 2004
Baghdad Island: Amusing
Memories Revived
By Sgt. Dan Purcell
122 nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
It’s not Disneyland, but in it’s heyday it
could boast no other rival in Iraq—
Baghdad Island, once the premiere
amusement park in Iraq, is being revived.
The foundation for the island was laid in
1979 and completed in 1982. It
encompasses two million square meters
(approximately three kilometers long by
one kilometer at it’s widest point) and
daily attendance averaged from five to six
thousand people, but during holidays and
special days could peak around 50,000 to
100,000 said Nasser Murad, Baghdad
Island project restoration director.
“The park was open until the beginning
of the last war in 2003. Prior to that it was
the largest theme park in Baghdad and the
whole of Iraq…and conceivably, even the
Middle East,” Murad said.
Since its closure, the island has fallen
into a general state of disrepair, much of
which was caused by looting.
“Our main goal now is to restore the
island and open it to the people again,”
explained Murad. “To achieve this goal,
we are approaching it in two ways. First,
we are asking for help from the [Multi-
National Forces] through their civil affairs
teams. Secondly, we are receiving
assistance from the Ministry of Tourism
and Culture, which is in charge of this
project.”
“We got started here when we saw them
working on a project to bring the island
back,” said Maj. Charles Anderson, of the
478 th Civil Affairs Battalion, which is
attached to the 39 th Brigade Combat
Team’s 3 rd Battalion, 153 rd Infantry. “We
met with the director here, and one of the
key things he did was show us some videos
of the park from the past. They really
opened our eyes to what this park is all
about…the crowds of people, the
attractions and landscaped gardens.”
Due to the width and breath of the
restoration project, the short-term plan is to
have a partial opening to the public within
the next year so that people will have a
place to go and enjoy themselves. The
revenue will help generate funding to
complete the restoration, one phase at a
time.
“This isn’t just a place for families, but a
place for young men and women to come
and hangout,” one Iraqi said. “It’s a place for
school field trips. The people of Iraq have
a history of coming to the island, many even
got married here.”
According to Murad, in addition to
receiving help from the Multi-National Forces
(MNF), the Ministry of Tourism and Culture
has authorized funding for five new projects
at the park.
“The more we commit to do, the more the
ministry is willing to help,” explained
Anderson. “For example, we just completed
the children’s theater and the ministry is
going to install a projector system…it’s like a
partnership, matching effort for effort.
Neither of us has the funding for the entire
project because it’s very expensive.”
The problem, as Anderson sees it is that
with most money being diverted to address
infrastructure repairs in Baghdad, the island
project has become a work in progress.
“It’s a fantasy to think that we can do this
project all at one time like we want to. So we
are doing our infrastructure, roads, schools
and these projects here altogether,” Anderson
cited. “That’s why getting this park going
will take time, because we have to do it in
phases.”
Nasser Murad,
the Baghdad
Island project
restoration
director and Maj.
Charles
Anderson, a team
leader with the
478th Civil
Affairs Battalion,
discuss ongoing
renovations at
Baghdad Island.
(Photo by Sgt.
Dan Purcell,
122nd Mobile
Public Affairs
Detachment)
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In addition to the financial help received from
the MNF and the ministry, public support has
also been forthcoming.
“The public has been generally
supportive. We have volunteers tearing down
walls, put up by the [MNF] when they
temporarily occupied this area after the war, and
hauling the material away,” Murad said.
When the park, which is located along the
banks of the Tigris River, is completed it will
sport the most modern rides found world wide,
a hotel, and a lake with boats to name a few of
the attractions.
“Currently, we have completed a sewage
system project, installed a children’s theater,
and are working on an athletic center. We are
also about to start putting in a swimming pool,”
Anderson said, detailing some of the ongoing
projects. “There are many more projects in the
planning because it’s a huge facility, but this is
a good start in the right direction to bring this
island back to its original state.”
“It’s been a team project all the way, but it’s
been a personal pet of mine,” added Sgt. Jason
Jones, of the 489 th Civil Affairs Battalion. “I
figure if you can get people off the streets and
give them something to do, then they’re less
likely to harm someone.”

The Bowie Edition
Continuing the Push Towards
Medical Assistance Missions Persevere Despite Challenges
by 1 st Lt. Chris J. Heathscott, 39 th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office
Returning from an medical assistance
visit at the Al Saab Clinic in Baghdad, a
convoy of 39 th Brigade Soldiers and
medical personnel pulled up to a ‘parking
lot’ on the highway. Nearly locked in
traffic, this mission with the intent to help
the Iraqi people was now at a greater risk
of attack by insurgent forces.
“Every time we go out there and try to
help, obviously, the threat’s there,” said 1 st
Lt. Isaac Shields, medical platoon leader
for the 39 th ’s 3 rd Battalion, 153 rd Infantry.
“We have encountered [Improvised
Explosive Devices], we’ve stumbled
across caches…it happens, but the key to
success is we keep going.”
The line of vehicles negotiated the curb
on the side of the road and continued past
the traffic when they encountered the
problem ahead. Some Iraqi citizens were
trying to free their minivan, which had
bottomed out when their left front tire hit
a drop off on the side of the road.
The convoy came to a halt, the heavy up
armored doors swung open and out step
two American Soldiers to assist. Now
with all four tires on the ground, Spc.
Terry Kittrell Jr., of McCrory, Ark., and
Sgt. David Johnson, of Colt, Ark.,
returned to their armored shelter, while
exchanging waves with the Iraqis they had
helped.
Back to the mission at hand…returning
to Forward Operation Base Solidarity
(formerly labeled FOB ‘Gunslinger’),
wrapping up a two hour visit to the Clinic.
The good Samaritan deed on the highway
was a fitting end the mission that was
focused on helping the Iraqi people,
despite the potential threats. Despite the
risk involved, the missions to help the
Iraqi people overcome continue.
“The reason we came here today is part
of what we call our ‘medical journal
project,’” said Shields. “During this
project, American physicians and dentists
have donated books out of their homes to
give to the Iraqi physicians and dentists.”
Shields, who is an Arkansas National
Guardsman from Starkville, Miss., said
assessments of the local clinics appeared
they were ‘behind the times’ on medical
technology as we know it in the United
States. Working on his Doctorate in
Clinical Psychology at the University of
Tulsa, Shields decided to ask his wife to
ship his old medical textbooks, so he
could give them to the clinic.
Shields said, “The first clinic was so
grateful for it, I emailed some of my
buddies and said ‘hey guys I got a good
response for this. Can you send me some
of your old textbooks?’”
As a result, his buddies responded and
passed along the message. The initial
request awarded Shields with books from
his friends, as well as from several other
individuals, medical schools and hospitals.
“So every time we go out to a clinic, we
try to bring more books out there,” said
Shields. “We’ve received several
thousands books.”
“The greatest thing about this project is
that it’s the American people doing it,” he
said. “It’s not a government organization.
These are American citizens that are
taking stuff off of their shelves and
sending it to the Iraqi people.”
The mission for this day was more than a
book drop however. Two military doctors
participated in the operation in an attempt
to mentor the Iraqi doctors and dentists,
evaluate their methods, and help them in
any way possible. Col. Jim Orsini, of
Little Rock, and COL Jim Green, of Fort
Smith, Ark., both accompanied the
convoy to the Al Saab Clinic in order to
provide their professional expertise. The
men, who serve in the 39 th as the Brigade
Dentist and the 3 rd Battalion Physician
respectively, both perform the same roles
in their civilian occupations.
As the men visited with their
counterparts inside the clinic, a call came
over the radio, warning that an Improvised
Explosive Device was located nearby and
was going to be blown in place.
The bomb would now cause little
damage, yet the unnerving thought of a
potential life-threatening explosion
created a tense moment for the Iraqi
physician who was first told of the
finding.
As the man was ensured everything was
under control, he took on the challenging
task of informing his patients of the
upcoming explosion.
“Its unfortunate and disappointing, but as
long as Iraqis need help were going to
come here and help,” said Shields. “I’m
not going to give up on them, it doesn’t
matter what the threat level is. We came
here to help them build a new strong
government and until that happens were
going to keep doing it.”

October 29, 2004
Peace
Background – An Iraqi
child sits in a pile of trash,
looking through a book he
found along the road near
the Al Saab Clinic in
Baghdad. Scenes like these
often inspire Soldiers to
continue with the mission to
help the Iraqi people despite
the challenges. Left –
Spc. Terry Kittrell Jr., of
McCrory, and Sgt. David
Johnson, of Colt, Ark., help an Iraqi man move his car from
blocking traffic on the highway. Clockwise from top right
– An Iraqi child shows his support to the 3 rd Battalion convoy as it
rolls by; 1 st Lt. Isaac Shields, of Starkville, Miss., finds an alternate
use for a surgical glove as he tries to make an Iraqi child smile at the Al
Saab Clinic; A 3 rd Battalion Soldier helps carry some donated food items to
the patrons of the clinic; Spc. Dusty Nations, of Conroe, Texas, mans a .50
caliber machine gun and a Squad Automatic Weapon from the turret of his
humvee. Security elements remain vigilant during assistance missions,
which could quickly turn to combat. This day’s mission
concluded successfully, and the efforts continue with the
goal of bringing this volatile nation closer to peace
one mission at a time. (Photos by 1 st Lt.
Chris J.
Heathscott, 39 th Brigade Combat Team Public
Affairs
Office.)

The Bowie Edition
This One’s for Sarah…
by Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122 nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
FOB SOLIDARITY, Iraq – For Soldiers of
the Bowie Brigade’s Company A, 3 rd
Battalion of the 153 rd Infantry, Sahara
Latiff, known as Sarah to the guys, was
more then just a translator. Her constant,
radiant smile brightened everyone’s day,
making some of the darker moments just a
little easier to bear. Sarah was assassinated
on the morning of September 20 th , 2004.
Company A has searched for her killers
ever since.
During an early morning raid in the
village just outside Camp
Solidarity, (formerly
Camp Gunslinger),
Soldiers of Company A
detained five individuals
believed to be involved
in the death of Sahara
Latiff on October 23 rd .
“Sarah was one of the
good ones,” said Pfc.
Jimmy Harris, an
infantryman from
Camden, Ark. assigned
to the company.
“Nothing ever seemed to
really get her down too
much, she would gladly
go on any mission we
asked her to.”
When not going out on
missions, Sarah was
stationed at the back
gate, where she was an
indispensable asset with
the many local nationals
who approached the gate.
It is believed Sarah was
identified by Anti-Iraqi
Forces (AIF) during her
time working at the back
gate.
“So many people came
up to that gate,” said Sgt.
William Simkins from
Conway, Ark., “one of
the bad guys must’ve
seen her back there and
put a mark out on her.”
The news of Sarah’s
slaying hit the company
hard, everyone was
devastated and vowed to
bring her killers to
justice, but they faced a
problem. Tracking down
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a murderer is difficult even for police
back in the States where they can
move about the community,
questioning witnesses. In a hostile
land, where traveling “outside the
wire” requires gun truck convoys and
each Soldier wearing all their
protective gear, freedom of movement
is limited at best.
“We were forced to rely on the
intelligence gathering abilities of the
locals in our area, and they came
through,” said acting first sergeant,
Sgt. 1 st Class Floyd Herron of
Crossett, Ark. “Friends of Sarah and
her family took it upon themselves to
seek out who did this and when they
thought they had enough information,
they brought it to us (A Co.)”
Any intelligence brought to the
Multi-National Forces must go
through a process, where it is verified
for accuracy. Multiple sources with
the same information are typically
needed before action is taken.
“Once we got the information, we
started checking into it,” explained
Herron. “The last thing anyone wants
is to go busting into someone’s house,
detaining individuals only to find out
the information you were working on
was completely bogus.”
Weeks elapsed between the time of
Sarah’s brutal killing to the raid
leading to the detention of five men
suspected of involvement. Planned out
in excruciating detail, the operation
centered on three houses only a few
miles away from Camp Solidarity, a
location that has seen a recent surge in
Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
placement and increased resistance
from AIF.
Herron noted that during the
investigation, evidence indicated the
men they were tracking were not only
potentially involved in Sarah’s death
but were leaders in a cell that was
spreading their brand of terror
throughout the neighborhood.
“This area has been quiet for a long

October 29, 2004
…Tracking Down a Killer
time,” he explained. “People were
friendly; never saw too much
insurgent activity. But as our
investigation continued, the constant
fear…in the locals…of these men kept
coming up.”
Under the cover of darkness the
company rolled out and brought their
Humvee gun trucks around the
location, creating a cordon to prevent
any escape. They quickly entered the
houses and a full search began. Much
to the Soldiers’ dismay, the
individuals they were looking for were
not there. But all was not lost…
A local living in one of the searched
houses indicated the individuals A Co.
sought were just across the street. The
man’s fear was apparent when he
refused to go with the Soldiers to
positively identify the suspects and
yet, a solution was found.
Fearing they had lost their
opportunity, the A Co. Troopers
sprinted across the street, lined
up against the outer gate and
launched into the building.
Within minutes, an excited call
of “I think we got them!” came
across the radio.
“Someone get digital pictures
of them and get that camera
over here!” responded the
resourceful Capt. Joel Lynch, a
resident of Shreveport, La. and
A Co. Commander.
The man who gave the
information had agreed to
positively identify the
individuals via digital
photographs.
Noting that along with the
apprehension of the five men,
several pieces of armament and weaponry were found in the building,
Herron commented.
“Know that we got these guys,” he said, “we’ll start questioning them and
figure out exactly their involvement in Sarah’s death, maybe even find the
trigger puller. The other stuff, the rounds and such seems to confirm our
suspicion that these guys, if not leaders, were involved with an insurgent cell
operating in the area. So maybe we can bring some justice to Sarah’s family
and make the neighborhood a little bit safer for its residents.”
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Far Left - Soldiers of Company A, 3 rd Battalion
153 rd Infantry, of the 39 th Brigade Combat Team,
descend a flight of stairs after clearing the upper
portion during a raid. Intelligence gathered
indicated that the individuals were responsible for
the assassination of Sahara Latiff, a translator with
Company A. The operation would net five detainees
for questioning to determine their involvement in the
murder.
Left – Capt. Joel Lynch, of Shreveport, La., and
Commander of Company A, reviews the progress as
his Soldiers search the house of an individual
suspected of having a role in the assassination
Top - Magnolia, Ark. resident, Spc. John Hill
prepares to enter the home of one of the men
suspected of involvement in Sarah’s death. “You
miss her,” he said, “We all miss her, she always
greeted everyone like they were her friend.” (Photo
by Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122 nd Mobile Public
Affairs Detachment.)

The Bowie Edition
Helping the
Agricultural
Industry
‘Grow’ in
Taji
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By Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122 nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
TAJI, Iraq – Long rooted as a symbol in
the human psyche, the seed is often
considered the genesis of all things
possible. Launching the beginning phase
of Operation Amber Waves on October
19 th , the 39 th Brigade Combat Team,
delivered 156 tons of wheat seeds, to a
central distribution point for farmers of the
Taji area.
“Operation Amber Waves is a three phase
plan to help strengthen the agriculture
community within Taji,” explained Maj.
Gordon McCoy, Assistant Civil Military
Operations Officer for the 39 th , “Today we
begin the first phase,
distributing wheat seeds,
then we’ll be distributing
fertilizer and finally we’ll
work with the Ministry of
Agriculture to fix the
irrigation infrastructure.”
The Forrest City, Ark.,
resident went on to say
that bringing the seeds to
farmers of the area was a
joint effort between the
Multi-National Forces,
members of the Interim
Iraqi Government, and
council members of the
Taji area.
“This whole thing was a
series of different
organizations working
together. We worked
with the council members
to make sure farmers
knew when and where the
seeds were to be
distributed as well as
working with the
Ministry of Agriculture to
help store the seeds once
they arrived in country.”
Agriculture is the center
of the Taji economy in
which all other forms of
commerce rotate, noted
several small businessmen gathered at the
seed distribution point.
Speaking through a translator, one
businessman, who asked that his name be
withheld, commented, “Most of the work
I do in my garage is fixing equipment
farmers use, from their tractors to the cars
and trucks they use to bring their harvest
to market. Most of the businesses in the
area operate that way, as a direct
extension of the farmers.”
Prior to Operation Amber Waves,
addressing deficiencies in the farming
community was always a priority for the
Bowie Brigade as evidenced by the many
Civil Affairs projects undertaken. From
developing roads…thereby facilitating
the travel of rural farmers to bring their
crops to market…to fixing water pump
stations in the area in an effort to irrigate
the parched desert land, helping the
farmer was always at the forefront.
“The importance of farming to this area
can’t be understated,” said Maj. Terry
Robey, 478 th Civil Affairs Battalion.
“Most of the projects my team has
worked on have kept that as the focus in
determining the projects which will
return the most impact for this area.”
With so many farmers in the area and
tons of seeds to pass out, before any
distribution could begin, a system was
needed to ensure each farmer got their
fair share.
“What the Area Council members
decided to do,” said McCoy, “was have
each farmer bring in the deed to their
lands. Based upon how many hectares
(one hectare = 2.47 acres) they owned,
that would determine how many bags of
seed they would receive.”

October 29, 2004
Evaluating the progress and the process of
the distribution, McCoy was pleased at the
relative smoothness of the operation.
“Looking at things, it would appear that
every farmer is getting their share and most
everyone seems to be happy,” he said.
“The council members have done a good
job of documenting everything so we can
keep track of all this as this is just the
beginning.”
Farmers collecting their seeds did indeed
seem happy, as they waited their turn to
The Bowie Edition October 15, 2004
load the 110-pound bags in their vehicles.
“We really appreciate this wonderful gift
from US Soldiers,” said one excited farmer
who went on to note that receiving the
seeds during the time of Ramadan made it
especially thoughtful. “It shows the US
understands about our culture, about the
giving to the needy at this time. It is
wonderful. This will help me feed my
family and provide wheat to sell in the
markets. God is great.”
One farmer estimated that one ton of the
seed could yield as much as four to five
tons of wheat.
But McCoy went on to explain that,
more then just a gift, the delivery had
another purpose.
“If a man has food in his belly, has
money to pay his bills, that man is
generally happy. If a man is generally
happy, he’s less likely to pick up a gun
and fight against us.”
Background -A farmer from the Taji area reaches
for a 110-pound bag of wheat seed for his farm. The
Soldiers of the 39th Brigade Combat Team recently
facilitated the delivery of 156 tons of the wheat seed for
the area farmers. The delivery was the first part of what
is planned to be a three-phase operation called Operation
Amber Waves.
Top Left - Maj. Gordon McCoy, the 39 th ’s Assistant
Civil Military Operations Officer, hangs a sign warning
farmers not to feed the wheat seed they are receiving to
livestock.
Bottom Left - A farmer loads several of the bags of
Wheat seed onto the back of his truck during the October
19 th distribution in Taji.
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Top – Sgt. 1st Class Edward Malone, from Bauxite,
Ark., inspects a farmers deed to calculate how many
pounds of wheat seed the farmer would receive (Photos
by Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122 nd Mobile Public Affairs
Detachment.)

The Bowie Edition
Timely Response Saves Lives
Soldiers React as Mortars Rain Down on Iraqi National Guard Patrol Base
by Sgt. Dan Purcell, 122 nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
PATROL BASE ANIMAL, Iraq -
Amidst the noise of incoming medical
evacuation helicopters, calls for
stretchers could be heard as
multinational forces single-mindedly
tended to the wounded and prepared
them for transport back to Camp Taji,
Iraq for medical treatment.
Their helpful aid came quickly after
Anti-Iraqi Forces launched an
indiscriminate mortar attack on an Iraqi
National Guard (ING) patrol base in
northern Baghdad that killed six ING
troops and wounded 38 more on October
19 th . The ING Soldiers were from the
307 th ING Battalion and were outside for
their morning formation when the
mortars first struck.
“Those people who attack Iraqis
everyday don’t care who they kill,”
lamented one Iraqi at the scene of the
attack. “If they had missed us they
could have hit the primary school next
door. Thank God the children didn’t get
hurt.”
During the ensuing chaos, Soldiers
from the 39 th Brigade Combat Team’s
2 nd Battalion, 7 th Cavalry Regiment, who
were nearby, immediately began to
assess the damage, rendering first aid
and calling for assistance.
Soldiers from the 39 th Brigade’s
Company C (Medical), 39 th Support
Battalion, and 2 nd Battalion, 162 nd
Infantry, also responded immediately by
providing life-saving first aid and
casualty evacuation.
Preempting their original mission to
go to a nearby Iraqi police station to train
policemen in first aid, Capt. Demian San
Miguel, commander of Company B, 2 nd
Battalion, 162 nd Infantry Regiment,
volunteered to assist in the casualty
evacuation.
“We were getting ready to go out and do
our mission, which is to train and mentor
local Iraqi policemen, when I heard from
battalion that the forward operating base
was under attack, so I got my Soldiers ready
and went up to the Tactical Operations
Center to see how we could assist,” San
Miguel explained.
Charged with providing convoy security
for the Support Battalion’s Company C
(Medical), the Soldiers of the 2 nd Battalion,
162 nd played a pivotal role in treating the
wounded and securing the casualty
evacuation.
“As soon as we got there, our medic and
all our combat lifesavers secured their rifles
and began the process of helping with
bandaging the wounded and transporting
stretchers,” San Miguel said. “I didn’t have
to say anything, they all grabbed their bags
and went to work triaging and assessing and
bandaging those in need. We even got our
translators involved to help interpret the
needs of the injured ING.
“The ING are fighting for their country
and the way I look at it, they are just like
any American Soldier…fighting for a free
Iraq, which is why my Soldiers took it very
seriously when they heard the ING needed
assistance and were there to support them
100 percent,” San Miguel said.
“When I first heard what happened I
thought it was a bad joke, but when we got
there and I saw what had happened, I
immediately started checking the bandaged
wounds of ING personnel that didn’t have
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Staff Sgt. Gabriel Sapp, a squad leader
with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 162nd
Infantry Regiment of the 39th Brigade
Combat Team, checks on the status of his
Soldiers. Sgt. Karl Kligel (center) and
SPC Ryan Miller (right) are preparing to
treat a wounded Iraqi National
Guardsman following a mortar attack on
October 19 th . (Photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell,
122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

October 29, 2004
Soldiers evacuate wounded Iraqi National Guardsman on a Blackhawk
Helicopter following an early morning mortar attack on an Iraqi National
Guard patrol base in northern Baghdad on October 19 th . (Photo by Sgt.
Dan Purcell, 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
an attendant with them, and the only
thing that goes through your head is
the training,” Sgt. Andrew Morey, a
member of 2-162 Infantry,
remembered.
“Looking back at what I saw, the
first thing that came to mind was
figuring out where to start and the
extent of the injuries,” said Spc.
Ryan Miller, a medic with 2-162.
“Ultimately, it all falls back on
training. You don’t really think
about it, you just act on what you
know.”
San Miguel said after the casualties
were safely evacuated he went with
his men to the Iraqi Police (IP) station
to explain why the first aid training
was postponed.
“They said they understood,
expressing their concern for what
happened to the ING,” San Miguel
said. “It was good see that the IPs
were concerned about the ING,
because it shows that there is a
professional relationship starting to
build between the two security
forces.”
Medic
Disregards
Own Life to
Save Iraqi
Soldiers
by Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae N. Bruns
39 th Brigade Public Affairs Office
Sgt. Max Picco, 31, of N. Manchester, Ind., said
after the first mortar, he never heard the rest
coming down. He was to busy trying to save the
lives of Iraqi Soldiers.
During the mid morning hours of October 19 th ,
Forward Operating Base Animal, located outside
Taji, Iraq, came under attack by insurgents.
Mortars rained down inside their five-acre base
wounding over 75 Soldiers.
Between six an eight mortars landed in their
area but Picco said he only heard the first one.
Upon seeing injured on the ground he ran out to
save the lives of wounded Iraqi Soldiers despite
the barrage of mortars still falling.
“I saw people down and I knew if I didn’t get to
them, people would die,” said Picco, an eightyear
veteran medic.
Picco was the only medic on the base and it
would be another hour and a half before others
were able to arrive.
At one point, witnesses say they saw Picco
working on a chest wound with one hand, and at
the same time he had another hand holding on a
head dressing for a different patient while talking
a combat lifesaver through treatment steps for yet
another wounded individual.
“You get so focused that you don’t ever really
realize all the things going on around you,” said
Picco. “You just get focused on saving people’s
lives.”
Five Iraqi Soldiers died that day but Picco’s
actions contributed to saving 75 others.
Sgt. Max Picco, 31, a member of the 2 nd
Battalion, 7 th Calvary Regiment, 39 th Brigade
Combat Team is honored for his heroic actions
during a mortar attack on an Iraqi National
Guard Patrol Base on October 19 th . Picco
treated 75 wounded Iraqi Soldiers while under
mortar fire at Patrol Base Animal near Taji.
(Photo by Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae N. Bruns, 39 th
Brigade Public Affairs Office.)

Handheld Aircraft
Provides Bird’s Eye View
By Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122 nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
The Bowie Edition
CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- “LIFT, LIFT!”
came the excited cry from the darkness.
Slowly the little glider ascended into
the night sky. “We’ve got a video feed,
heading to first location” confirmed a
disembodied voice.
Adding another tool to their already
impressive arsenal, Soldiers of the 39 th
Brigade Combat Team’s 239 th Military
Intelligence Company (MI Co.) use the
Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) to provide reconnaissance and
surveillance in support of Brigade
missions.
“Prior to the Raven being fielded by
the Army,” explained Sgt. Tim Enright
of the Maryland National Guards 629 th
MI Co. attached to the 239 th , “UAVs
were strictly a division-level asset.”
The Baltimore, Md.
resident went on to
explain that many
of the attributes of
the aircraft, it’s
size, the weight
and the ability
to launch
virtually
anywhere
make it an
ideal
asset
for a
brigadesize
element.
“At its longest point, the wingspan, it’s
only four feet, five inches. It only weighs
four pounds,” he said, “and you launch it
by getting a running start and throwing it
into the air. With no requirements for an
airfield and so easily carried, this little
baby is perfect for a brigade.”
The small size of the Raven UAV
becomes more clearly apparent when
compared to the division-level asset, the
Shadow UAV. The hand held Raven is an
extreme light weight in contrast to the
Shadow’s 320 lbs and wingspan which
stretches more then 10 feet larger then that
of it’s “little brother.”
The entire system is contained within
three large suitcase sized trunks. Within
the cases is the antenna receiver system,
the disassembled body of the Raven and
the spare parts occasionally needed due to
the aircrafts unique landing style.
“Landing this bird (the Raven) is the
craziest thing,” explained Conway, Ark.
resident Spc. Michael Rodenberg. “You
get the aircraft reasonably close to your
position, you get the altitude down to
about 50 – 20 feet and then you just cut
the engines and let it drop out the
sky!”
Enright then elaborated that the design
of the Raven is intended to handle the
impact of the landing.
“The fiberglass construction of the
body and the fact that it comes
dissembled; thus the aircraft falls apart
on pre-made seams, prevents it from
breaking when it lands,” he said. “But it
doesn’t always work, that’s why we
carry extra parts with us.”
While small in stature, the Raven
comes big on capabilities all the while
requiring just three soldiers to operate.
“Within ten minutes of an order being
given,” said Enright, “my team can be
set up and ready to fly. As long as we
get air space clearance, we are up in the
air, heading to our first coordinate,
feeding back real-time reconnaissance to
our ground control units.”
The control team on the ground is
comprised of two Soldiers. One Soldier
works as the Navigator, the other works
as mission control. The final member of
the team coordinates with air control
towers clearing airspace as well as
relaying any intelligence the Raven
detects to commanders on the ground.
“We can fly using preprogrammed grid
Background -Sgt. Joshua Harris with the Maryland National Guards
629 th Military Intelligence (MI) Company attached to the 239 th MI of the 39 th
Brigade Combat Team, launches the Raven UAV into the early evening sky. A
brigade-level asset, the Raven needs no airfield to launch and the three Soldier
team required to fly the aircraft can be setup and ready to launch within ten
minutes.
Opposite page, clockwise from top left - Harris attaches pieces
of the Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Weighing only four pounds, the
Raven travels in three suitcase size boxes allowing for easy mobility and rapid
response to reconnaissance and surveillance need.
Spc. Michael Rodenberg (left) of Conway Ark. assist Harris in performing
preflight checks of the Raven. Capable of providing real-time intelligence of
an area, the Raven only requires three Soldiers for its operation.
Soldiers of the 239 th MI work together operating the Raven Unmanned Aerial
Vehicle. The Raven is used to gather intelligence, reconnaissance and
surveillance information that the team then relays to commanders on the
ground. (Photos by Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122 nd Mobile Public Affairs
Detachment.)

October 29, 2004
coordinates or we can go fully manual,”
said Sgt. Joshua Harris of the 629 th MI .
“As the navigator makes sure the Raven
is heading to the proper location or
guides it during manual operations,
mission control calls out what is being
displayed on the screen.”
Lodged in the belly of the Raven sits a
video camera the team can swap out
depending upon the mission, one for
night and one for day.
“We truly are able to operate at
anytime and just about anywhere,”
Enright commented, “and when you add
in the training cycle to get a Soldier up
to speed to operate the Raven, the
benefits just keep adding up.”
Within the MI Company, Enright was
one of the few trained on the Raven’s
operation prior to deployment.
“We sent a couple of our Soldiers
down to Kuwait to get them qualified.
The whole course is only two weeks.
With such a short training cycle, you can
more afford to loose a Soldier for that
time frame knowing what they will come
back qualified to do.”
Extolling the virtues of the Raven, Enright
noted that there was only one, in his opinion,
drawback to the Ravens capabilities.
“The only place where I can really see the
size of the Raven working against it is its
inability to carry any sort of weaponry. It
would be nice to be able to identify, say, an
enemy mortar team, request permission to
engage, and to then destroy the enemy.”
Offensive capabilities notwithstanding, for
commanders on the ground who rely on
13
critical immediate intelligence, the
Raven has
been an overwhelming success.
“We’ve heard several times from
company and battalion level
commanders how appreciative they are
of the intelligence we provide,”
said Enright. “Anytime you can let a
commander know what they’re
walking into without risking a
Soldier’s life… well, that’s pretty
much what it’s all about.”

The Bowie Edition October 29, 2004
“Charlie Med” Soldiers Awarded
Combat Medic’s Badge
by Capt. Wendell Taylor and Spc. Bobby Trujillo, 39 th Support Battalion Public Affairs Office
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Forty medical
personnel from the 39 th Support Battalion’s
Company C were recently honored with
the award of the Combat Medic’s Badge.
The badge was awarded for their efforts
to provide medical support during an April
24 th rocket attack, which claimed the lives
of four Support Battalion Soldiers and
severely injured several others.
Brig. Gen. Ron Chastain, Commander of
the 39 th Brigade Combat Team said, “This
is the first time I have pinned the Combat
Medic’s Badge. I salute all of you because
you are always there. You are doing a
great job. I appreciate people who can do
this job and take care of the Soldier. It is a
great honor to present this medal to you.”
Although having to deal with individuals
with severe wounds or amputations can be
a traumatic experience, many of the
Medical Soldiers felt they were just doing
the job they were trained to do.
“This is just something I do,
not to get a medal, but to help
save lives,” said Sgt.
Verna Freeman, of
Jacksonville, Ark. “I accept
this honor and recognition,
but this medal can’t replace
the lives that I have helped
save.”
The combat medics and
medical team here are well
trained and have proven on
many occasions that they are
proficient at any medical
support mission given to
them.
Chastain concluded his
remarks to the formation by
saying, “You should be
proud to have this badge.
Wear it with pride and know
that you are among the best.”
14

The Bowie Edition October 29, 2004
Soldiers Pay Final Tribute to
Fellow Rifleman, Cook
2 nd Battalion Mourns Loss of Fellow Comrade to Improvised Explosive Device
by Staff Sgt. Rebekah-mae N. Bruns
39
th Brigade Public Affairs Office
“Let me not mourn for the men who have
died fighting, but rather, let me be glad
that such heroes have lived.”
…General George S. Patton
Hidden in the early evening folds of
darkness, a lone trumpet played from
behind a large crowd of standing
Soldiers holding their salute. Its melodic
tune of Taps moved through the solemn
group signaling the loss of another
comrade. It was the 2 nd Battalion, 162 nd
Infantry’s eighth loss since their arrival
in Iraq early April.
Spc. David Wayne Johnson, of
Portland, Ore., died behind his gun in a
humvee turret pulling security for a
convoy. He was killed when an
Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
struck his vehicle on an early morning
supply run from Baghdad to Camp Taji
just 20 miles north.
Johnson, who was a cook, became
gunner for the transportation section
after learning the task force had no need
for a mess section.
During the memorial service Maj. Ed
Tanguy, the current acting battalion
commander, noted that Operation Iraqi
Freedom II was not the
lineal war expected and
required a full spectrum
of resources to include
soldiers shifting their job
skills from cooks to
riflemen. And many
had done so without the
prospect of a badge or
tab on their uniforms he
said.
“In this war everyone
is a rifleman. This is
especially evident for our
combat service support
Soldiers who must run
IED and ambush
gauntlets practically on a
daily basis,” said
Tanguy. “Unfortunately
we do not have the
legions
of
infantrymen to provide
security for out logistical
patrols. Our combat
service support Soldiers must secure and
fight for themselves and they often do
this in trucks without armor while
towing five thousand gallons of fuel or
other supplies.”
On a wall high up, a large, heartening
photo of Johnson smiling in his humvee
turret overlooked the sea of somber
Soldiers.
“He took his gunning position very
seriously, always keeping his eyes open for
his teammates,” said fellow platoon member
Sgt. James Korpi. “[He was a] Soldier from
the word go.”
Johnson, a man who loved motorcycles
and video games, had the ability to find
good in everybody said Korpi. He was a
gentle giant whose heart was as big as he
was if not bigger. Soldiers lined up in front
of a display of Johnson’s boots, dog tags,
and rifle to pay their final respects with hard
salutes. Many kneeled down clutching his
tags to say their last goodbye.
“If we have comfort in Dave’s death, it’s
to realize that he is now reaping the rewards
of a life lived well, and that he’s keeping
guard now in the clouds above, said Cpl. Joe
Fleschman. “I would like to think, knowing
the Dave I knew, he finally has that
motorcycle he’s always dreamed of,
speeding through the streets of heaven, and
probably getting a speeding ticket from the
big Sheriff in the clouds.”
“Ride on my friend, ride on.”

Dedicated to the
Memory
of Our
Fallen Soldiers
Spc. David Wayne Johnson
Portland, Ore.
Headquarters and Headquarters’ Company
2 nd Battalion, 162 nd Infantry
Spc. Ronald Wayne Baker
Cabot, Ark.
Company C
39 th Support Battalion
39 th BCT PAO
APO AE 09378
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