Unofficial 1st Infantry Division Magazine of Soldiers and Families April 2009

www.1id.army.mil

Duty Honor Country

Duty First! Duty First!
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

Creed

TEAMWORK is the foundation of the Big Red One. I shall

never fail my team, for I maintain the standard. My conduct and selfdiscipline set the example for others to follow.

1

HONORis what I stand for – an American Soldier on duty

for my country. My loyalty is intense. I display care for

my fellow Soldiers and my chain-of-command through courage, respect,

integrity and compassion.

I have learned to ENDURE, to thrive in adversity.

The harsh reality of combat gives me the enthusiam for

realistic training. I am physically and mentally strong to

meet the demanding situations my unit encounters.

We are one in the Big Red One. Our BROTHERHOOD

gives us strength to fight on to any objective and accomplish the mission 

as our veterans have done before us. I live the legacy of my division.

READINESS is my priority. To be ready for any mission,

anytime, anywhere. My business is first-class training and living high 

standards of care and equipment, weaponry and tactical and technical 

competence.

My ORGANIZATION is my strength. The BRO is bigger

than any one individual. It gives me purpose, self-confidence, 

competitive spirit, intestinal fortitude and the desire to fight 

with all my heart.

The Big Red One No Mission too Difficult. No Sacrifice too Great.

April 2009 www.1id.army.mil

Duty First!

The Duty First is an unofficial 

publication produced under 

the provisions of AR 360-1, 

published by Soldiers of the 

1st Infantry Division. Editorial 

views and opinions expressed 

are not necessarily those of 

the Department of Defense, 

the Army or the 1st Infantry 

Division. All photos are 

Army photos unless otherwise 

noted. Circulation is 6,000 per 

issue, printed monthly. Story 

and photos submissions are 

welcome and should be sent to: 

1st Infantry Division

Public Affairs Office 

ATTN: Editor 

Bldg. 580

RM 317

Fort Riley, Kan. 66442. 

Telephone number

COM 239-8857 

 DSN 856-8857 

or visit Duty First online at 

www.1id.army.mil.

1st Infantry Division 

Commander

Brig. Gen. Perry Wiggins

1st Infantry Division CSM

Command Sgt. Maj. 

Jim Champagne

1st Infantry Division PAO 

Lt. Col. Matt Hackathorn

Editor

Gary Skidmore

Staff Writers

Ty Abney

Anna Staatz

Illustrator 

Tammy Dinger

Brigades

 1st BDE....5

 1st CAB....7

 1st SB.......8

 2nd HBCT...... ..9

3rd IBCT.... 10

 4th IBCT......11

 1ID at War.....21

 

Command

 Danger 6........3 

 Danger 7...... 4

contents

2

Features

 BRO History ....13

 Paving The Way ..15

 Pride In Your Accomplishments........16

 Motorcycle Safety ......17

 Fighting Polio.....19

 MOS Of The Month...20

 Staying Healthy After Deployment..........22

 Kansas City Royals Visit .....24

 Legal Team Helps With Quality Of Life....25

 

Cover photo: From left: Sgt. 

Maj. Corbett Whitmore, 1st Bn., 

28th Inf. Regt., 4th IBCT; 1st Inf. 

Div. Command Sgt. Major Jim 

Champagne; and Command Sgt. 

Maj. Darrell Wallace, 1st Combat 

Aviation Brigade.

Duty First!/Skidmore
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

Commanding General Danger 6

 Safety First

Brig. Gen. Perry Wiggins

3

Now that spring is officially here, we’re all looking forward to 

enjoying the warm weather and time outside with friends and loved 

ones. But with the increased temperatures 

also comes an increased responsibility 

to remain focused on safety. This means 

being alert and aware of everything from 

fire hazards to children playing outdoors.

I remember as a young child my parents 

opened the door, kicked me outside to play 

and didn’t worry about me until dinner 

time rolled around. They didn’t have 

to worry much about cars racing down 

the street or suspicious people hanging 

around the playground. The neighbors 

were friendly and they looked out for us. 

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the 

case today. I’m not advocating keeping 

your kids locked up inside the house. 

In fact, most kids today probably don’t 

spend enough time outside. But make 

sure they’re responsible enough to be out 

on their own. And if you happen to be 

enjoying a good book on your front porch, 

keep an eye on the kids riding their bikes 

down the sidewalk or playing soccer in the parking lot. We’re all a 

Family and we need to look out for each other.

Another aspect of keeping our children safe is making sure they 

understand the dangers of playing with matches and fireworks. 

It’s our responsibility as parents to educate them on what can 

happen when a fire gets out of control, particularly with extremely 

dry conditions.

This spring I’ll be attempting to take my first turkey 

and I’m looking forward to getting back out in the woods

again. But I know I won’t be the only one out there. We 

have plenty of nature enthusiasts who will also be out and 

about, taking a stroll, watching birds or 

perhaps looking for morel mushrooms. 

We all need to be cognizant of each other 

and remember that there are procedures 

to follow when venturing off the beaten 

path in our training areas. To get a list 

of current open recreation areas on Fort 

Riley, visit :

http://www.riley.army.mil/view/article.as

px?articleId=622-2002-10-31-35221-8. 

Be sure to check the link daily to confirm 

the area you want to go to is open. 

Lastly, I want to address traffic. 

Fortunately, we don’t have to deal with 

icy road conditions anymore. But you’ll 

begin to see more motorcyclists on the 

roads as the temperatures climb. All 

motorists need to be aware of motorcycles 

and give them the same amount of space 

that you would any other vehicle. And 

the riders need to be sure they’re riding 

in a safe manner, too. Burn-outs at the 

stoplight and weaving in and out of traffic do not constitute 

safe riding. Danger 7 addresses safe motorcycle riding 

specifically in his column and you can read even more on 

pages 17-18.

Though this winter was relatively mild compared to last 

year, we still had our share of bitter cold temperatures and 

slick streets. I’m just as excited as you are about the warm 

temperatures. We just all need to keep safety in mind as 

we get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Duty First!

Command Sergeant Major Danger 7

Division Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne

Motorcycle Safety

4

If sports history has taught us anything, it’s that even the 

world’s best athletes aren’t safe from accidents. In June 2006, 

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who at 23 

became the youngest starting quarterback to guide his team to a 

Super Bowl victory, was badly injured in a motorcycle accident. 

The NFL star, who had been riding motorcycles for years, 

wasn’t wearing a helmet in the accident. 

That’s just stupid!

What this accident should show 

motorcycle riders in the 1st Infantry 

Division is the necessity for safety each 

and every time you get on your bike.

First of all, no one is allowed to ride 

their motorcycle, ATV or moped scooter 

on post without the proper training and 

safety equipment.

Every rider must have a U.S. Department 

of Transportation approved helmet. Riders 

must also have impact or shatter resistant 

goggles, wrap around glasses or a full face 

shield properly attached to the helmet that 

meets the American National Standard for 

impact and shatter resistance. Additionally, 

riders must wear full-fingered gloves 

designed for motorcycles, a long sleeved 

shirt or jacket and sturdy footwear like 

leather boots that at a minimum cover the 

ankle. Reflective vests or belts must also be 

worn anytime you ride on post.

But before you worry about all that, you need to take a 

Motorcycle Safety Foundation-based Basic Rider Course. 

Don’t think that since you’ve ridden for years, you won’t need 

the course. You will! 

The classes are free to Soldiers, their Family members, 

Department of the Army Civilians and retirees. They are aimed 

at riders who haven’t attended a basic course. You don’t need a 

motorcycle to take this course, we provide that for you.

After successfully completing the basic course and at 

least six months of riding experience, I recommend you take 

the Experienced Riders Course. The course is designed who 

riders who have a motorcycle license.

Once all of the requirements are met and you’re ready to 

take off, remember a few little secrets I’ve learned for riding 

my bike.

Drive defensively, more so than if you were driving a car. 

Many motorists don’t feel comfortable 

sharing the highway with motorcycle riders. 

Nerves often set in and drivers of cars or 

trucks tend to drive more offensively than 

they normally would, hoping to pass a 

motorcyclist as quickly as possible. This 

makes things extra difficult for bikers who 

don’t have nearly as much protection from 

an accident as someone driving a heavy 

truck. Always pay attention to what the 

drivers around you are doing and always 

keep your eyes on the road. A good rule of 

thumb is to imagine you’re invisible to other 

motorists. When driving down the highway, 

position yourself to be seen by your fellow 

motorists and never sneak up on them. 

Know the road conditions. While 

a pothole won’t do much damage to a 

car, it can be dangerous for anyone on a 

motorcycle. Even puddles can be danger 

spots for bikers. 

When driving on wet roads, realize 

that even the painted lines and directionals on the roads are 

substantially more dangerous when wet than when they’re dry, 

so always slow down when crossing such spots. 

The weather is getting better for riding every day. For those 

of us who have motorcycles, the urge to get on the road is 

growing. For those that feel the urge to get a motorcycle and 

get on the road, that urge is calling as well... I know. But before 

you jump on your bikes remember: safety first. Know your 

motorcycle; check it over before you get on it. Know what to 

wear and how to display your reflective garments and finally, 

have fun! I hope to see you on the road.

Now...Get after it!
5 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

BDE ST 1

Transition team members execute a humvee recovery drill at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

By Tyler Abney

Duty First! Magazine

Big Red One Soldiers recently visited Kuwait to learn more 

about transition team training in theater and how to improve 

training done at Fort Riley to prepare transition teams for 

battle. 

Small group advisors teach tactical maneuvers, proper 

weapons handling and urban operations to service members 

tapped to become part of transition teams sent to Iraq and 

Afghanistan. Capt. Mike Barnett, commander, Company C, 1st 

Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, and Capt. Wynne 

Beers, commander, Co. B, joined seven other SGAs from the 

battalion during a two-week trip to Camp Buehring, Kuwait. 

Transition team members undergo further training in Kuwait 

before heading to Iraq. Barnett and Beers not only took notes, 

but also participated in drills to get a better understanding of 

the tasks. 

“We were asked to observe the training that is supported by 

the Iraqi Assistance Group, Kuwait Detachment and how they 

support and get the combat advisors ready to go further north 

into Taji,” Barnett said.

Barnett and Beers are both in the same battalion, but the 

training they supply at Fort Riley is aimed at troops headed for 

two separate locations. Barnett’s cadre trains Soldiers headed 

for Afghanistan while Beers deals with Soldiers routed to Iraq. 

Barnett said even though the things he saw at Camp Buehring 

were not aimed directly at his Soldiers, he was able to bring 

home some beneficial information.

The group’s two weeks in Kuwait allowed them to take part 

in weapons training, improvised explosive device identification 

and avoidance, driving schools, communications and medical 

training, along with dry and live-fire situational training 

exercises.

Although the scope of the training covered all aspects of 

upcoming missions, a major portion of the training was devoted 

to weapons training.

“The weapons training classes were very extensive and very 

well conducted,” Barnett said. “The primary marksmanship 

instruction was conducted hands on, run step-by-step, but in 

such a way you had to work the weapon, take it apart, put it 

back together and understand why certain things had to be a 

certain way.”

The same type of training has since been implemented at 

Camp Funston.

The SGAs also went through courses designed to familiarize 

them with IEDs used in theater. Barnett said the training 

was divided into classroom and training lane settings. The

6

classroom part consisted of a briefing on historical and current 

examples of IEDs while the training lane tested Soldiers’ 

responses to a situation involving explosives. In one case, 

Soldiers were lined up and a car was driven toward them to test 

their reaction time. 

Barnett said the instructor counted as the vehicle moved 

toward the group, but before he reached two, the vehicle had 

already passed them.

“I thought this was very insightful because that’s something 

we can replicate here and reinforce that learning objective.” 

Barnett said. “SGAs could take our teams out to the back end 

of Funston where nothing is going on and run the same drill.”

In addition, Beers said Soldiers learned how to operate mine 

resistant ambush protected vehicles – something he thinks 

could be replicated on Fort Riley. Even though the vehicles 

are not identical, Beers said he would like Soldiers to drive 

five-ton trucks as part of their training. If feasible, it would 

allow transition teams to be more familiar with driving a much 

heavier vehicle and understanding its capabilities. 

In the final portion of the training, Soldiers completed a 

two-day capstone exercise in which advisors operated from 

a forward operating base. The teams were taken to a remote 

location where they linked up with a host-nation counterpart 

and traveled through various training lanes. Beers said exercise 

included both blank and live rounds.

Barnett, Beers and the other SGAs participated in the 

majority of the exercises, but decided to observe the capstone 

rather than play a part. Observing helped them recognize 

improvements that need to be made in the training teams get 

at Camp Funston.

“There are some things we took away that he [Beers] sees 

as a benefit and I see as a benefit,” Barnett said. “Then there 

were some things we’re doing about the same and some we’re 

doing better. I don’t think anyone who is training advisors or 

any kind of troops has the end-all-be-all of training. There’s 

always something you can learn from any location you go to. 

I think we got a pretty good insight and ability to take things 

back to bring in our training.”

Soldiers participate in close-quarters marksmanship training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Courtesy Photos

Transition Team Trainers Visit
7 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

ST CAB 1 Unit Wins 

Parker Award

By Anna Staatz

Duty First! Magazine

They dealt with dust 

and sand storms, difficult 

combat conditions and 

long, hard hours, but at 

the end of a 15-month 

deployment, the Soldiers 

of 2nd General Support 

Aviation Battalion, 1st 

Combat Aviation Brigade, 

proved they were the best 

in the Army.

The battalion was 

awarded the Lt. Gen. Ellis 

D. Parker Award as the top 

battalion in the combat 

support category. The unit 

accepted the award during a 

week-long Senior Aviation 

Leaders Conference Jan. 

26-30 at Fort Rucker, Ala. 

The “Fighting Eagles” 

deployed to Iraq in 

September 2007 as part of 

the 1st Combat Aviation 

Brigade. The unit returned 

to Fort Riley in December 2008. The “Fighting Eagles” are the 

largest flight unit in the CAB, with 643 Soldiers who carry out 

seven different missions. During deployment, the unit operated 

with 10 UH-60 command and control Blackhawk helicopters; 

12 CH-47 assault and heavy lift Chinook helicopters; 12 UH60 MEDEVAC helicopters; six air traffic control towers; two 

24-hour aviation and ground maintenance companies and a 

battalion headquarters company.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Michael Tetu said during 

deployment, the unit’s pilots faced some of the most austere 

weather conditions Iraq has seen in the last 30 years.

“We had an 

unbelievable amount of 

sand and dust storms 

during what the weather 

people said was the 

driest year in more than 

30 years,” Tetu said. 

“After the sun would set, 

the dust would just hang 

in the air.”

Tetu said the 

battalion really began 

to come together during 

the deployment. Even 

with seven companies 

performing a wide 

variety of missions, Tetu 

said his Soldiers went 

above and beyond to 

support and take care of 

each other.

“Fifteen months 

requires a ton of trust 

and commitment from 

the guys and gals in 

uniform, and also an 

incredible amount of 

trust and faith from 

Families back home,” Tetu said. “We hang our record on our 

NCOs, from sergeant to first sergeant. They did the long, 

hard work in the worst of the dust and heat or the bitter cold, 

and made everything else look easy for the officers, warrant 

officers and Soldiers.”

Tetu also credited the Families of his Soldiers for helping 

the unit complete a successful deployment.

“A significant part of this battalion’s success was due to the 

sustained support from the Families over a very long 15-month 

period,” Tetu said. “It was a lot to ask. They help tremendously 

and allowed us to focus forward. They know sacrifice. This is 

as much their award as it is the people in uniform.”

Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 1st Avn. Regt., received the Lt. Gen. Ellis 

Parker Award as top battalion in the combat support category. 

Pictured from the left are retired Lt. Gen Ellis Parker, Maj. Gen. 

James Barclay, commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation 

Center of Excellence, Battalion. Commander Lt. Col. Mike Tetu, 

Chief Warrant Officer Jess McGee, Battalion. standardization 

officer, and Battalion. Command Sgt. Maj. Don Wright.

Courtesy Photo

8

STSB 1 Walker Assumes 

brigade Command

By Tyler Abney

Duty First! Magazine

Col. Flem B. “Donnie” Walker, Jr. and Command Sgt. 

Maj. Miguel Rivera took the reins of the 1st Sustainment 

Brigade as Col. Kevin O’Connell and Command Sgt. 

Maj. Frank Cardoza bid farewell.

“Today is a bitter sweet day because we’re going to say 

goodbye to an incredible command team,” said Brig. Gen. 

Perry Wiggins, commanding general of the 1st Infantry 

Division and Fort Riley. “That makes it bitter. What 

makes it sweet is what the Army always does. It always 

finds quality people to step into your footsteps, carry on, 

and continue the mission.”

The “Durables” recent 15-month deployment was 

lengthy and challenging as they provided logistical support 

to seven battalions — approximately 90,000 Soldiers and 

50,000 contractors. Wiggins said the brigade’s ability to 

provide support for such great numbers was mind boggling 

and O’Connell’s command team will be remembered 

more for their dedicated service to Soldiers and Families 

rather than for the statistics of their deployment. 

“Today we proudly turn over the formation to a great 

new command team,” O’Connell said. Both are proven 

warriors and sustainers and there are no two individuals 

I’d rather see take on the brigade. 

Walker said he was very grateful for the opportunity 

to command the “Durables” and vowed the brigade’s 

philosophy would be based on leadership, governed by 

common sense and Soldiers and their Families would be 

taken care of during deployments.

Former 1st Sustainment Brigade Commander, Col. Kevin 

O’Connell passes the unit’s colors to 1st Infantry Division, 

Brig. Gen. Perry Wiggins commanding general, 1st Inf. Div. 

and Fort Riley on Feb. 9 at King Field House. O’Connell handed 

his command responsibilities over to Col. Flem B. “Donnie” 

Walker Jr.

Duty First!/Abney
9 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

NDHBCT 2 Teeing Off The 

Stress

By Spc. Dustin Roberts

2nd HBCT PAO

BAGHDAD – Soldiers serving 

with the 2nd Heavy Brigade 

Combat Team can now work 

on their golf swing and teeoff the strains and stresses of 

deployment. 

Named the “Ridgefield Country 

Club Driving Range in Iraq,” the 

range pays tribute to a group of 

golfing veterans in Ridgefield, 

Conn., who donated the equipment 

for the range. 

“The men are friends of mine 

through my parents and in-laws 

and are great supporters of the 

military,” said Lt. Col. Christopher 

Beckert, deputy commander, 

2nd HBCT. “When they heard 

our brigade was deploying, they 

felt one thing they could do was 

contribute to the morale of the 

Soldiers by sending used golf 

clubs and used golf balls, along 

with some mats. Soldiers could 

relax and pass time when they 

have free time.”

Beckert said the group 

of golfers in his home state 

sympathized with his Soldiers’ 

situation.

“They are all veterans 

themselves so they know what 

Soldiers go through. They 

also understand that it is hard 

sometimes to be away for a long 

time without things to do,” he 

said. 

Sgt. Ryan Greve, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Heavy Brigade 

Combat Team, shows off his golf swing at the driving range on Camp Liberty. 

The new range is a way for golf-loving Soldiers to hone their skills after work. 

2nd HBCT/Roberts

IBCT RD 3 Scouts Watchin’ 

Over Me

During the mission, the scouts took up their position on a 

plateau along the river giving them a vantage point along the 

road. Members of the Afghan National Army watched from a 

mountainside position. 

The scouts saw some suspicious signs along the road and 

mountain ridges, but the mission went off without incident. 

The supplies were delivered and no shots were fired.

“I’m really proud of my guys,” Roberts said. “They’ve been 

doing exactly what I expect of cavalry scouts. They are out 

there all the time doing a tough job.”

The scouts’ leadership has many hopes for the future of their 

troop, but their main hope is for the Afghan National Security 

Forces.

“My biggest hope for the future of the unit is for the ANSF 

guys,” Roberts said. “My hope is that all the ANSF guys get 

better and take on more responsibility, extending the face of 

the government, take the fight to the bad guys. Until then we’ll 

be there doing our job.”

By Staff Sgt. David Hopkins

3rd IBCT PAO

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Cavalry Scouts 

of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th 

Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, along 

with the Afghan National Army, perform regular missions along 

the unpaved roadways in the Konar province of northeastern 

Afghanistan.

“We do about 20 to 25 missions a month,” said troop 

commander Capt. Paul Roberts. “We do combat logistics patrol 

overwatch, night patrols and route recon.”

Recently, 3rd IBCT conducted an CLP overwatch at one of 

the most frequently attacked locations running through its area 

of operations. 

“CLP overwatch missions are the hardest. They require 

the most combat power and there are a lot of moving parts,” 

Roberts said.

A Humvee belonging to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry 

Brigade Combat Team sits on a plateau overlooking the route of a combat logistics patrol delivering supplies to 

the area. The scouts were there to watch for enemy activity and protect the patrol from attack.

3rd IBCT/Hopkins

10
11 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

THIBCT 4

By Anna Staatz

Duty First! Magazine

The efficiency of combat operations is completely dependent 

on the efficiency of training before Soldiers deploy. Soldiers in 

the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team spent part of March 

in the field, testing communications systems and honing the 

assets needed to make their pre-deployment test at the National 

Training Center a success.

The brigade headed to the field in early March and set up 

a tactical operations center and then spent the following days 

testing equipment and communications systems. 

Battalions also set up TOCs — while most of them 

were conducting their own ranges and field training. 

The field training exercise is the largest exercise 

the brigade has completed before heading to the 

National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., where 

it will be tested on its ability to handle 

full spectrum combat operations.

Maj. Mike Volpe, brigade plans 

officer, said the training exercise 

validated unit systems and operating 

procedures and brought to the forefront any shortfalls 

that needed to be fixed prior to going to NTC. 

Battalions conducted a wide range of field training prior 

to the brigade exercise, drilling in needed combat skills. 

Soldiers in 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, spent 

time at the end of February perfecting skills needed to clear 

houses and gather intelligence. For members of 3rd Platoon, 

Company B, the training was also about gelling as a team. 

“Some of the guys were here for the previous deployment,” 

said 1st Lt. John Enderle. “But we’ve got a lot of new guys, 

either coming from somewhere else in the Army, or who are 

coming to their first duty assignment in the Army. Having 

those veteran guys who were here for the last deployment 

to show them how it’s done adds a lot to the team.” 

Capt. Joshua Hunsucker, commander, Co. B, said the

situations his Soldiers faced during field training were very 

similar to what they would see both at the NTC and while 

deployed to Iraq.

“This is the same kind of stuff,” Hunsucker said. “It’s good 

preparation for the bigger operations we’ll be doing at NTC.”

Soldiers in 2nd Bn., 32nd Field Artillery Regt., also headed 

to the field in late February for combat artillery drills. It wasn’t 

all about the big guns that an artillery unit brings to the field, 

however. 

Soldiers from Company B, 2nd Bn., 16th Inf. Regt., head towards a building during a training exercise Feb. 25.

12

1st Lt. John Enderle and Pfc. Andrew Mueller, Co. B, 

2nd Bn., 16th Inf. Regt., listen to radio traffic during 

a field training exercise Feb. 25.

Because Soldiers are asked to be ready to meet a wide 

range of missions, the battalion also sent its Soldiers 

through several other scenarios — such as mounted 

convoy training and battle drills in close quarters combat. 

Two of the unit’s batteries also conducted an air assault 

mission – when the Howitzers are moved by Chinooks to 

another location to support infantry units in a hostile area.

“My objective is to provide them an opportunity 

that puts them out of their comfort zone as much as 

possible,” Lawson said. “That forces them to have to 

deal with a variety of complex things at the same time.”

The brigade is slated to go to the NTC for a month of 

training sometime in May. Operations at the NTC will focus 

on using all of the brigade’s elements in a variety of combat 

operations. The “Dragons” are scheduled to deploy to Iraq 

later this summer.

Sgt. Phillip Goral, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, loads 

an M119A2 Howitzer during training on Feb. 19.

Duty First!/Staatz

Range ready means 

combat prepared
13 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 14

By Anna Staatz

Duty First! Magazine

Hours after the guns and battle cries 

of combat faded, Big Red One Soldiers 

taken as prisoners of war found themselves 

fighting for survival. Many prisoners of 

war didn’t survive the grueling conditions, 

severe weather, lack of food and long road 

marches. However, some managed to beat 

the odds and survived with plenty of stories 

to tell.

Robert Roenna

Robert Roenna was drafted in 1943 at 

the age of 18. After some intelligence and 

communications training, Roenna was sent 

to the 3rd Ranger Battalion where he became 

a member of “Darby’s Rangers.” The Darby 

Rangers were attached to the 1st Infantry 

Division, and commanded by Col. William 

Darby. The famed unit became well known 

in World War II, initially for its campaigns 

in North Africa. In early 1943, the unit 

pushed out of North Africa toward Italy. 

Roenna worked in the communications 

cell for Headquarters and Headquarters Company as the unit 

completed the Anzio landing and moved towards Cisterna. The 

3rd Ranger Bn. pushed ahead of other units working with them 

on the campaign, a move that turned the odds against them. The 

unit became separated from its supporting forces and smacked 

up against an entire German motorized infantry division.

“We were out of ammo in about five hours,” Roenna said. 

The major he was handling radio communications for was one 

of the first killed in the battle.

Roenna and other Soldiers were captured by the Germans, 

who took them in trucks to spend the night in an old castle. 

They were then taken to the Coliseum in Rome, where they 

were tossed in with another group of American POWs and 

paraded through the streets of Rome.

Roenna was wounded in the leg during 

the battle, but managed to limp along 

with the other Soldiers.

“If you didn’t walk, you didn’t come 

out of that battle,” he said.

The Americans were then put on a 

train and taken to Germany. Roenna 

volunteered to work during his time in 

captivity.

“I had done some farming in Illinois, 

so I volunteered to go to a potato farm,” 

Roenna said. “I was at least able to feed 

myself a little.”

Towards the end of his time as a 

POW, Roenna said the Germans took 

the Soldiers on a march for about three 

months, moving the Soldiers daily in 

order to stay in front of the Russians. 

“One morning, we got up, and all 

the guards had taken off,” Roenna said. 

“Next thing you know, three American 

tanks came rolling along. Some Soldiers 

popped out of the gun turrets and said 

‘who the heck are you guys?’”

The tanks and Soldiers were on their 

way to link up with another unit. They 

told the POWs to go down the road to 

the next town and that they would call for trucks to come and 

pick them up. Roenna weighed 90 pounds when he was picked 

up by his fellow American Soldiers. 

After some recovery time in the states, Roenna spent his 

remaining duty days closing American POW camps full of 

German Soldiers in Wisconsin.

“I had to go pick up those fat Germans and get them on their 

way back to Germany,” Roenna said with a chuckle. “I did that 

until my discharge papers came in 1945, and two hours later, I 

was gone and on my way home.”

Roenna worked for a printing plant and then sold packaging 

for large franchises for many years. He lives in Illinois now, and 

volunteers for a national organization, American Ex-Prisoners 

of War, which assists former POWs.

James Everett

In 1941, James Everett was assigned to the 

1st Anti-Tank Bn., which later became the 601st 

Tank Destroyer Bn. The 601st Tank Destroyer 

Bn. invaded North Africa and Sicily with the 1st 

Inf. Div., but eventually ended up in the 3rd Inf. 

Div.

When the 1st Inf. Div. invaded North Africa, 

the 601st landed in Arzew, then drove 800 miles 

to Tunisia.

Everett’s time with the 601st came to an abrupt 

end on Jan. 2, 1943, when he was captured in the 

Ousseltia Valley. That day, Everett was sent out 

on a reconnaissance mission when he spotted 

about 37 tanks. He was told to take eight men 

and go forward to destroy a German tank with 

rifle grenades so that it would block the road and 

slow down the rest of the tanks. Later, Everett 

learned that the French officer who had been 

placed with his unit was feeding the Germans 

information.

After he and his men had picked a spot at 

the top of a hill about 100 yards from the tanks, 

Everett went back down the hill to his vehicle to 

radio back to the unit. When he turned, he saw 

three Germans coming down the hill toward 

him; his men had already been captured. The Germans fired 

on him as he hid behind the vehicle, trying to load his rifle. 

After a brief struggle, they took him prisoner.

Everett was kept in North Africa for three days and 

interrogated. From there, he was flown to Rome. There, they 

put him in a box car with other prisoners for a very cramped, 

crowded and extremely uncomfortable trip to Germany.

Everett was taken to a small shack to have his POW 

photograph taken. As he stepped up for his photo, the German 

photographer told him not to smile. Everett decided he would 

smile, just to spite the photographer. He was helped along in his 

intentions when up popped a tassel, followed by a face, in the 

little window behind the photographer. A Scottish POW who 

had never seen an American before had decided to sneak a peek.

 Everett was a prisoner in Germany for two and a half years and 

attempted to escape three times. On the first attempt, he didn’t even 

get out of camp, and was placed in solitary confinement for 25 days.

With his second attempt, Everett was able to 

get out of camp and hide on a train. He was about 

200 miles away when the train slowed up and then 

stopped in a spot with guards surrounding the 

train. He was recaptured and beaten severely. He 

spent 10 days in a hospital and then was shipped 

back to the camp, where he spent another 33 days 

in solitary confinement.

On his third attempt, Everett finally succeeded. 

While the German Soldiers marched POWs along 

the road Everett saw a little ditch along the side 

of the road and was able to dive into it when the 

guards were distracted. Once the group passed 

him by, he headed toward American lines.

On his first day of escape, Everett’s feet hurt 

so much he took his shoes off. Unfortunately, 

they were so swollen that he couldn’t put his 

shoes back on and had to walk the next day and a 

half in his socks. Everett met three other escaped 

American POWs on the road. Fortunately, one of 

the others had come by some rubber boots that 

didn’t fit, so he gave them to Everett. The group 

was hungry and cold and eventually resorted to 

eating grass to fill their stomachs and using snow 

to drink.

In early April, after about 10 days of walking, 

the small band of POWs had almost reached the 

American lines north of Magdeburg. To reach it, though, they 

had to cross the Elbe River. In a small town along the Elbe, the 

four were able to find a rowboat and its half-drunk German 

owner. They convinced the owner to ferry them across the 

Elbe.

By the time he reached American lines, Everett weighed 

about 98 pounds. He was so thin that the American unit he 

had stumbled upon decided not to send him back in his current 

state. They kept him at the front lines until the first week in 

June to try to fatten him up. They even gave him a gun and put 

him on guard duty. 

Eventually, the Americans put him on a plane and flew him 

to France. From there he took a ship back to the U.S.

Everett eventually retired from the Army after 20 years of 

service.

Rebecca Tharp of the Bridgehead Sentinel contributed 

to this story. Photos courtesy of Cantigny First Division 

Museum.

James Everett was captured 

in North Africa in 1943, 

while serving with the 601st 

Tank Destroyer Battalion. 

The unit was attached to 

the Big Red One during the 

invasion of North Africa.

Bob Roenna at a POW Reunion on Oct. 

17, 2007. Roenna was captured while 

serving with the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 

attached to the 1st Infantry Division.
15 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

By Spc. Brandon Sandefur

3rd IBCT PAO

JALALABAD AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Soldiers 

from the 3rd Infanry Brigade Combat Team, are improving 

accessibility into the Lal Por District of the Nangahar province 

by building a bridge and improving three miles of road. 

Prior to the construction, access was limited to small 

vehicles and those able to walk, isolating the villages in the 

Reneh-Parchaw area of the district. 

“Isolation creates a situation that can and will be exploited by 

enemies of the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said 

Lt. Col. Patrick Daniel, Special Troops Battalion commander. 

“People who are not reached by the legitimate government will 

be reached and exploited by the enemies of the government in 

an insurgency.” 

Since the completion of the project, Mine Resistant Ambush 

Protected vehicles and large cargo trucks can now gain access 

into the area, enabling International Security Assistance 

Forces to reach out to local citizens that may not have seen 

them before.

Daniel explained that projects like this help establish trust

Local Afghan citizens stand by as Staff Sgt. Olen Ice with 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade combat 

team, lifts a plank to be used for a bridge in the Lal Por District of the Nangahar province. The bridge, along with 

road construction, will allow the Afghan government to reach the people of remote areas like Reneh and Parchaw. 

3rd IBCT/Bessey

and confidence in the Afghan government and the U.S. forces 

assisting them. “The best way we can counter the enemies of 

Afghanistan in these areas is by assisting the government in 

creating access and reaching the people of remote areas like 

Reneh and Parchaw. This operation was a definite positive step 

in that direction,” he said. 

Despite terrain and security issues, the project was completed 

in three days by Soldiers from Troop C, 6th Squadron, 4th 

Cavalry Regiment.

The unit also helped widen, smooth and harden certain 

stretches of the road between Lal Por Village and Reneh while 

integrating with Afghan National Security Forces to establish 

security along the route.

“Because the road has been so restrictive, the government 

has not been able to provide large-scale projects in the area. 

As a result of this inability, the people have felt abandoned,” 

said Capt. Jay Bessey, officer in charge of the project. “We 

wanted to use this project to show them we could and would 

support them. Hopefully, this project ties them closer to the 

government and opens the door to increased security through a 

prolonged ANSF presence.” 

16

By Tyler Abney

Duty First! Magazine

Soldiers of the 1st Sustainment Brigade spent 15 months in 

Iraq, and now that they have boots back at Fort Riley, they can 

look back at a long list of accomplishments.

The 1st Sust. Bde. deployed from Fort Riley in September 

2007 and returned to the post in December 2009.

The brigade’s Soldiers provided all aspects of logistics, 

human resources, financial management, force protection and 

convoy security to Soldiers and contractors and assisted with 

projects that promoted Iraqi self-reliance. The “Durables” were 

spread across approximately 1,613 square miles in the Baghdad 

area, but succeeded in supporting approximately 90,000 

Soldiers and 50,000 civilian contractors. The brigade also 

commanded seven subordinate battalions, supported as many 

as 14 brigade combat teams and five different brigades from 

two divisions during their deployment. They also supported at 

least one brigade combat team from every active division in the 

United States Army.

“We were so proud to be in Baghdad; we’re probably partial, 

but for us, Baghdad is where it is,” said Col. Kevin O’Connell, 

former brigade commander. “That’s the strategic hub where we 

were able to support the different forces.”

While at Camp Taji, the Durables assisted with restoring 

law and order and improving Iraqi life. Daily responsibilities 

included producing and delivering goods, starting a financial 

management program, rebuilding the Iraqi Army and civic 

institutions and instilling a sense of Iraqi self-reliance.

The “Durables” also worked to build relationships with 

Iraqi Security Forces. They ate together, trained together 

and accomplished missions together. O’Connell said the two 

organizations did everything alongside each other so coalition 

forces would eventually be able to step aside and give full reign 

to the ISF.

 “The individuals we dealt with had a strong work ethic and 

they wanted to improve their Army,” O’Connell said. “They 

wanted their Army to be as good as the U.S. Army. As far as 

the work ethic, they are hard working. They want to do well 

and they have good attitudes. On a social side, they are very 

gracious; they want to treat their guests well and they were 

very kind and giving to us.”

In partnership with the ISF, the brigade delivered everything 

from tanks and medical supplies to repair parts, mail, food and 

school supplies – all by truck. Over the course of 15 months, 

6,963,923 rounds of ammunition and 17,218,971 cases of water 

were delivered. About 4,152,766 meals were served at the

Cantigny Dining Facility on Camp Taji and 47,305 tons of ice 

were produced. 

Convoy security was vital to accomplishing missions. The 

brigade’s location had the second highest improvised explosive 

device attack rate in Baghdad, so security was always on high 

alert. O’Connell said the convoys operated mostly at night 

because a curfew prohibited civilian vehicles on the road past 

a certain time.

Besides distributing goods, Soldiers were also asked to 

install cement barriers to section off safe zones to protect Iraqi 

civilians. O’Connell said just like the transport convoys, these 

missions also took place at night and included approximately 

60 Soldiers – some responsible for setting the barriers and 

some providing security. In an eight hour night, as many as 

60 barriers could be set up and at the end of the 15 months; the 

“Durables” had put about 70,000 in place.

A financial management plan was put into place and human 

resource services were contracted out to Iraqi employees. While 

the brigade was in Iraq, $4.1 billion was processed by brigade 

Soldiers to help pay contractors. Iraqi civilians were helping 

U.S. forces by hauling supplies, bottling water, working in 

the dining facility and post office. Paying civilian contractors 

boosted the Iraqi economy.

O’Connell noted that providing Iraqis with a feeling of selfreliance was the overall mission of the Durables’ deployment 

and allowing the Iraqi people to see their own countrymen 

participating in the effort sent a message that things were 

turning around. O’Connell also said that the Iraqi Army and 

civil institutions such as banking, railroads and trucking 

companies were vastly improved from when his Soldiers first 

arrived.

“It puts Iraqis first, so the local population sees the Iraqis are 

moving supplies and equipment and their trucking industry is up 

and running,” O’Connell said. “Secondly, it takes our Soldiers 

off the road, which reduces risk to our Soldiers. Thirdly, it puts 

money in the economy by paying these contractors. That dollar 

then gets spent two or three more times. There were definite 

advantages to contracting Iraqi trucking.” 

O’Connell credits the brigade’s success to an attitude 

focused on doing the job right every single time. 

“I think the focus of ensuring the maneuver commanders 

had what they needed to do their job was the key,” O’ Connell 

said. “The sheer attitude that we’re going to do this right, do 

anything we can to ensure our supported units had what they 

needed to accomplish their mission. That took a climate, a 

drive, an attitude and team effort all focused on getting the 

job done.”

Pride In Your Accomplishments
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 18

“Far too many Soldiers, Family members and civilian 

employees are injured every year in preventable accidents,” 

said Hearron.

“Take a safety course. Fort Riley offers the Army standard 

motorcycle rider’s course which is the basic riders course,” he 

continued. “The course is free and future riders don’t even 

need a motorcycle to attend.”

Hearron said the course is primarily for operators who have 

not attended a safety course before or have not ridden for some 

time and are returning to motorcycle riding. 

Fort Riley also offers an experienced riders course. 

That course is for riders who have a valid state license with 

motorcycle endorsement and for those who have completed the 

basic course and have at least six months riding experience. 

Aside from the courses offered, Hearron said every rider 

on Fort Riley and every Soldier riding off the installation are 

required to wear specific safety equipment.

“All personnel, including Soldiers, civilians, contractors 

and their passengers operating a motorcycle, moped, scooter 

or an ATV on Fort Riley will wear a helmet that meets the U.S. 

Department of Transportation standards, impact or shatter 

resistant goggles, wrap around glasses or a full faced shield,” 

said Herron. “Riders need to wear full-fingered gloves designed 

for motorcycle riding, a long-sleeved shirt or jacket and boots 

that cover their ankles.”

Finally, Hearron said riders need to wear a high visibility outer 

garment or reflector that can be seen during the day and night.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Wright is the 1st Infantry Division 

senior motorcycle riding mentor, an additional duty he picked up 

because of his years and experience with riding a motorcycle.

“Mentors are located in battalions and brigades,” Wright 

said. “The whole idea behind the program is to have the most 

experienced riders act as mentors and role models for new and 

less experienced riders.”

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 

statistics are dominated by the usual suspects that have 

appeared since traffic studies first gained national attention. 

Fifty-five percent of fatalities are white males most likely 

caught in a multi-vehicle accident.

In 2005, 27 percent of all fatally-injured motorcycle 

operators had BAC levels of .08 or greater. 

 An interesting term used in all traffic accident studies is 

single vehicle accident.” In plain English, it refers to accidents 

where no other vehicle was involved, much of the blame for the 

accident and death solely on the vehicles operator.

The statistics tragically reach 41 percent among those who 

died in single vehicle crashes in 2005, and drivers who had BAC 

levels of .08 or higher. Move over to weekend nights and the 

number increases to 61 percent. According to these numbers, 

the majority of riders who lost control of their motorcycles had 

alcohol in their bloodstream at the time of the accident.

Findings from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System 

illustrate possible reasons for motorcyclist fatalities in single 

vehicle motorcycle crashes:

• More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural 

roads

• High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among 

motorcycle operators

• Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve 

prior to the crash

• Undivided roadways account for a majority of the 

fatalities

• Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated 

with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the 

crash

• Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at 

night

• Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in 

more than half of the fatalities

• More riders age 40 and over are getting killed

• Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not 

have a proper license

• Head injury is a leading cause of death in motorcycle 

crashes. 

• In 1998, 46 percent of fatally injured motorcycle drivers 

were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. 

• Nearly one out of five motorcycle drivers involved in 

fatal crashes in 1998 was operating with an invalid 

license at the time of the collision. 

• Motorcycle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1998 had 

higher intoxication rates than any other type of motor 

vehicle driver.

Motorcycle Safety

17

By Gary Skidmore

Duty First! Magazine

The weather is getting warmer, which is a sure sign 

motorcyclists are about to hit the highways. Some diehard 

early birders are already out and about, but the majority will 

be on the roads soon. 

Motorcycle riders face an unfortunate and brutal reality: 

make a mistake and the consequences can be grave. Permanent, 

catastrophic disability, physical therapy or even death, are just 

around the next corner the rider takes too fast. 

Motorcycle riders are not 10 feet tall and bulletproof. 

The laws of physics apply to them just as much as anyone

else. Go into a turn too fast: crash. Misjudge the speed of an 

oncoming car and turn in front of it: crash. Accelerate too fast 

for the roadway and traffic conditions: crash. 

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a notfor-profit organization, 90 percent of riding a motorcycle is 

mental. The other 10 percent — physical activities involving 

balance and operating the controls — becomes second nature 

as riders become experienced with their bike. But doing things 

right involves keen judgment, no impairments or distractions, 

and the proper attitude.

 According to Rick Hearron, Fort Riley installation safety 

officer, there are a few things to remember before you push that 

bike out of the garage and turn the ignition key.

A group of motorcycle riders head onto post for Apple Day Sept. 22, 2007.

1st Inf. Div. PAO
19 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

By U.S. Navy Lt. James Dietle

3rd IBCT PAO

KONAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — With the help of the 

Konar Provincial Reconstruction Team, the government of 

Konar province began an extensive vaccination drive targeting 

polio. 

Although vaccinations of the polio virus are common and 

have been very successful throughout established nations, 

Konar’s developing health services, road quality, and regional 

conflicts have all created an environment that makes it 

challenging to administer the vaccine. 

“The [Konar] PRT has used more than $71 million from 

the Commanders Emergency Response Program to build and 

enhance roads and bridges, which is one of the first means to 

getting better quality health care to the people of Afghanistan,” 

said Capt. George Hupp, Konar PRT Civil Affairs. 

The oral polio vaccine was provided by Afghanistan’s 

Ministry of Public Health. 

“These vaccinations will prohibit the people from several 

diseases that can be life threatening. Not only have we worked 

on this with roads, but we have also contributed money to

Konar’s Provincial Governor, Sayeed Wahidi, administers the oral polio vaccine to a young Afghan girl, starting 

off the 2009 vaccination campaign. 

20

What is your name, your age and your 

hometown?

My name is Staff Sgt. John Wichgers, I’m from Muskego, 

Wis. and I am 31 years old.

Why did you join the Army?

It’s kind of a family tradition and I felt obligated. I think 

every male should join the military. My dad, his dad and his 

dad before that were all in the Army.

How long have you been in the service?

Nine years.

What responsibilities does this MOS entail?

I’m the CREW (Counter Radio Controlled Improvised 

Explosive Device Electronic Warfare) instructor and alternate 

instructor for IED training. We have several different systems 

in country, so I brief the transition team guys on ones they 

might be working on, the issues they might have with each 

other, their interoperability and then the fundamentals of how 

the systems work.

What skills have you learned from this 

MOS that may help you after the Army?

I’m able to teach a large group and I have research ability. 

I also went to several schools that are going to be beneficial 

on the civilian side. I went to the Tactical Electronic Warfare 

courses, all the other IED courses we go to mostly transition 

to college credit so it’s beneficial towards the degree. I have 44 

credit hours from Barton County Community College so far.

What is your favorite part of being a CREW/ IED 

instructor?

My favorite part is giving training that saves lives and 

aides in catching the enemy.

Staff Sgt. John Wichgers, Headquarters and 

Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 

1st Infantry Division, gives hands-on instruction 

to a group of Afghanistan-bound Soldiers.

Duty First!/Abney

attaining ambulances for people on a more routine basis,” 

Hupp said. 

However, Konar Provisional Governor Sayeed Wahidi 

understands that ambulances are limited by the primitive road 

infrastructure, and that health care professionals are difficult 

to train and educate in this area. These factors have slowed the 

implementation of vaccination programs until now. 

With plans to contract pack animals to reach remote areas, 

Wahidi and his volunteers plan to distribute the vaccine to the 

most remote areas in the province. 

“Where we cannot go, we will take animals and walk” said 

Wahidi.

 “The vaccine should reach more than 130,000 children 

across the province,” Dr. Sayed Ameem Fatimi, Konar’s Public 

Health Minister, explained to the crowd.

Local officials are hoping this will be enough to vaccinate 

every child under the age of five across the region in two 

months.

Ambulances in Sarkani Clinics, provided by AMI, help 

volunteers and clinicians reach village locals. 

3rd IBCT/Dietle

Fighting Polio
21 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 1st Infantry Division at War

1st Infantry Division

Oldest continuously serving division in the United States Army. More than 7,000 

Soldiers from two brigades are deployed.

Primarily located in Fort Riley, Kan.; training responsibility extends to four other 

states: Kentucky, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.

The Division modularized in fall 2008.

1st Brigade, Fort Riley

Trains transition teams. So far, more than 11,000 servicemembers have trained and 

deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and more than 1,800 have redeployed.

Transition Teams live and work with Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Afghan National 

Army (ANA). The brigade is scheduled to begin in late 2009.

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Fort Riley

Currently resetting at Fort Riley, Kan., the brigade is training for a second 

deployment to Iraq. The brigade is scheduled to deploy in late summer 2009.

1st Sustainment Brigade, Iraq

Provides logistic, human resource and financial management support.

The brigade redeployed to Fort Riley, Kan., in December 2008.

1st Combat Aviation Brigade Combat Team, Iraq

Completed a 15 month deployment to Iraq and is redeployed to Fort 

Riley, Kan.

75th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill

Integrates attached ground and air maneuver forces and on 

order functions as a maneuver headquarters in support of 

full spectrum operations. Separate battalions currently 

deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 

Afghanistan

 Deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June 2008. The deployment is 

scheduled to last 12 months, during which Soldiers will conduct counterinsurgency and 

stability operations.

4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood

The 4th MEB has unique staff is composd of engineer, military police, and chemical cells and 

organically has a brigade support battalion and a signal company.

The brigade was activated at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in October 2008.

3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Iraq

Provides theater logistics command and control for the theater commander 

supporting the Army Forces (ARFOR) and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) 

mission. Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in May 2008.

2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Iraq

The brigade departed Fort Riley, Kan,. in October 2008 on a 

scheduled 12- month deployment in support of Operation 

Iraqi Freedom.

22

By Carla E. Jones

Directorate of Health Promotion and Wellness

It is not uncommon for Soldiers to report health concerns 

after deployment. According to the Armed Forces Health 

Surveillance Center, during post-deployment reassessment, 

39 percent of active duty Soldiers reported they had health 

concerns (not a wound or injury) and 29 percent reported that 

their health was worse than before deployment.

Many Soldiers experience minor, temporary 

changes in their health after returning from a 

deployment. These short-term changes are 

mostly due to reintegration into home and 

Family life, deployment travel, jet lag, and 

getting used to a different schedule and 

diet. Soldiers also may feel tired, have a 

change in appetite, or experience sore or 

achy muscles. These effects should be 

temporary and decrease as the days go by. 

If these effects do not improve, or if they get 

worse, Soldiers should be sure to see a health 

care provider as soon as possible.

It is important to be aware of your health after 

returning home. Most illnesses related to deployment 

occur while troops are still in theater. However, some 

diseases and other medical conditions may not cause 

noticeable symptoms until several months after Soldiers 

arrive at their home station.

Almost all symptoms will show up within the first six 

months after returning from deployment. If you experience 

any of the symptoms below in the first few weeks or months 

after returning home, you should get medical care as soon as 

possible: • Fever • Muscle or joint pain • Stomach or bowel problems • Swollen glands • Skin problems • Excessive tiredness • Emotional problems • Difficulty sleeping • Shortness of breath • Weight loss

Staying Healthy After 

Deployment

It is very important to tell your health care provider that 

you were deployed and tell them where you were deployed. 

The earlier that tests are done to determine the cause of the 

symptoms, the sooner the correct diagnosis can be made and 

treatment can begin.

It is not unusual for Soldiers to experience difficulties 

when readjusting to their home duty station. A number of 

strategies can be used to stay healthy during this time: • Eat regularly. Make healthy food choices. 

Stay away from high-fat, high-sugar foods. • Get plenty of exercise. • Don’t let medical problems go untreated. 

Keep regular appointments with your health 

care provider. Keep up with preventive 

medicine screenings. • Make sure you get a good night’s 

sleep. • Balance the amount of time you 

spend at work, with friends and with 

Family. • Make time to relax. Take 

time to do activities you enjoy.

Remember to pay attention 

to your health after 

you return home from 

deployment. If you have 

any health concerns, 

be sure to contact your 

health care provider, the 

chaplain or your chain 

of command. They are 

all excellent sources of 

information that can help 

you and your Family. 
23 Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil

With warmer weather here, 

more motorcycles are back 

out on the road – drivers of 

passenger vehicles NEED 

to be alert.

24

By Tyler Abney

Duty First! Magazine

Applause echoed through the Post Exchange on Custer Hill 

as players, office personnel and hall of famers from the Kansas 

City Royals made their way through the crowded foyer.

Baseball fans or not, everyone wanted to catch a glimpse 

of Royals pitchers Kyle Davies and Brian Bannister, Royals 

Hall of Famers Frank White 

and John Mayberry and 

radio announcer Steve 

Stewart. The Kansas City 

Royals Caravan stopped at 

Fort Riley on Jan. 22 as part 

of a six-day, 35-stop trip. 

Before heading to the 

Post Exchange, the caravan 

stopped by Camp Funston 

to eat lunch and mingle with 

transition team members.

The two organizations 

shared a meal and interacted 

as friends rather than 

professional athletes and fans. 

White and Mayberry 

were a hit with the older 

demographic as many 

remembered watching them 

play in the 1970s, 1980s 

and 1990s. Davies and 

Bannister took their place 

at the other end of the table 

talking baseball, upcoming 

deployments and making 

general conversation with interested Soldiers. 

Transition team member Maj. John Gillespie took the rare 

opportunity to chat with White. Gillespie said that even though 

he is from Baltimore, Md., and raised as an Orioles fan, it was 

still a great honor to talk with the Royals’ Hall of Famer.

“I think the majority of Americans definitely care about 

the Soldiers deploying,” Gillespie said. “I know the ongoing 

conflict has been six years running...but the mission is not over 

and won’t be for the foreseeable future. We may be winding 

down, but there are still troops having to go in and complete 

the mission, so it’s good not to be forgotten. Everybody in the 

very beginning was gung-ho, but six years later to have this 

kind of commitment and to have these Hall of Famers come out

here, I think is just fantastic.”

Gillespie was just one of many Soldiers who spent their 

lunch hour talking with the Royals. Staff Sgt. Darrin West 

and Lt. Robert Holmes, both transition team members from 

Georgia, were happy to see Davies was part of the caravan. 

Holmes said since he is from Georgia, he mainly roots for the 

Atlanta Braves and used to watch Davies when he played for 

the Braves from 2005-2007. 

“It shows a lot of support 

and that Americans are 

supporting us and what 

we’re doing,” Holmes said. 

From the dining facility, 

the caravan made its way to 

the PX where Brig. Gen. Perry 

Wiggins, commanding general 

of the 1st Infantry Division 

and Fort Riley, and 1st Inf. 

Div. Command Sgt. Maj. 

Jim Champagne were joined 

by Soldiers and Families to 

welcome and thank the Royals. 

Aside from meeting fans, 

the Royals donated a total 

of $25,000 to the family 

readiness groups of the 2nd 

Heavy Brigade Combat 

Team. 

Leann Martin, wife of 

2nd HBCT Commander, Col. 

Joseph Martin, said it was 

fabulous the Royals gave such 

a large amount of money and 

showed the Families located 

on Fort Riley they have not been forgotten. 

As presentations concluded, Soldiers and Families were 

invited to get autographs and talk to members of the Royals 

organization. Some joked they were fans of other teams, but 

were very appreciative of the time and donations the Caravan 

made.

“I think it’s very easy for us to come to a fort like this and 

show our support back to the people who have supported us,” 

Davies said. “Soldiers are a different breed in the fact that they 

give the ultimate sacrifice. I can sit here and say I play baseball 

for a living so it’s just pretty humbling to come to a place like 

Fort Riley and see so many fans of ours, where I don’t think 

they realize how much we’re fans of them.”

KC Royals Visit Fort Riley

Radio announcer Steve Stewart, Royals Hall of Famers 

John Mayberry and Frank White, along with pitchers Brian 

Bannister and Kyle Davies pose with Royals fans at the PX.

Duty First!/Abney
Duty First www.1id.army.mil Duty First www.1id.army.mil 26

Victory Week 

July 27-31

25

By Anna Staatz

Duty First! Magazine

There are three attorneys and seven paralegals. The 

list of responsibilities is long, but for the legal team 

of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, that list is 

summed up with the words, “we do a lot of cool stuff.”

The “Dagger” legal team focuses its efforts in several 

areas of the law: financial and humanitarian; the detention 

process; the Rule of Law, and the prosecution process.

Capt. Jeremy Jacobs primarily oversees financial issues 

– such as grants given to local entrepreneurs or money that 

goes to fund projects like placing solar panels in a hospital, 

solar powered lights along a busy market and others. 

Jacobs and Sgt. 1st Class Mark Dennison, senior paralegal 

noncommissioned officer, Spc. Nick Heystek, Spc. Kristy 

Phillips, and Spc. Marc Brito also work with the Iraqi people 

to process claims made under the Foreign Claims Act, 

which allows local citizens to file a claim for compensation 

when property is damaged. Claims are filed for things 

from traffic accidents to damage caused to a home and its 

contents during a cordon and search mission by U.S. Soldiers. 

“In all aspects of what we do, we do it with an eye toward 

ensuring peace and security, and winning the hearts and 

minds of local Iraqis,” Jacobs said. “Paying claims for damage 

caused by U.S. forces allows us to do all of these things at once 

by communicating to Iraqis that we will pay legitimate claims 

– possibly preventing an ally from becoming an enemy.” 

As the brigade prosecutor, Capt. Vincent Shuler’s 

primary responsibility is assisting the command group with 

preventive and corrective measures to enforce troop discipline. 

Shuler also focuses on overseeing the detention process of 

insurgents and terrorists detained by Soldiers. A new security 

agreement between the United States and Iraq took effect Jan. 

1, requiring Soldiers to have a warrant to detain suspected 

terrorists and criminals. The exception is if Soldiers witness 

the individual engaging in terrorist or criminal behavior. The 

new agreement has required a higher level of engagement 

between U.S. forces and Iraqi National Security Forces the 

transfer of detainees to Iraqi custody. As the cases come to 

trial, Shuler and his staff ensure that the Iraqi judge has all the 

evidence collected in the case and that witnesses are present 

for the trial.

“It is exciting and inspiring to work with these brave Iraqi 

officials who put their life on the line every day to make Iraq 

a safer and more secure place by upholding the rule of law,” 

said Capt. Jeff Dietz, brigade staff judge advocate. “The judges 

have continuously demonstrated that they will not compromise 

when it comes to adhering to the rule of law — an excellent 

demonstration that Iraq is a nation of laws where justice will 

overcome terrorists, insurgents or sectarian division.” 

Dietz oversees operations of the entire legal office. On a 

day-to-day basis, Dietz focuses on engaging Iraqi judges and 

helps develop cases for prosecution before a warrant is issued 

to detain a terrorist. Part of Dietz’s job also includes advising 

the brigade’s senior leaders on the best ways to use force and 

conduct operations under the new security agreement, the 

Geneva Conventions and other applicable international laws. 

Dietz also contributed to the development of a “prosecution 

based targeting” concept which helps Soldiers target an enemy 

while focusing effort on the follow through of successful 

prosecution in an Iraqi Court of Law.

The responsibilities of a legal team deployed are very 

different from what SJA attorneys and paralegals deals with 

while stateside.

“The military justice system dominates operations at Fort 

Riley, whereas operational issues dominate the deployed 

environment,” Shuler said.

Dennison added that paralegals do not have much exposure 

to the Foreign Claims Act, targeting, detention operations or 

other international law issues at Fort Riley, except in select 

field exercises, so this deployment has given them an incredible 

opportunity to broaden their professional experience and 

capabilities.

Legal Team Helps With Quality 

Of Life, Quality Of Combat

The 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Legal team, from left: Spc. Nickolas Heystek, Cpt. Vincent Shuler, Sgt. 1st 

Class Mark Dennison, Capt. Jeffrey Dietz, Spc. Kristy Phillips, Staff Sgt. Dalphnie Terrell, Spc. Marcos Brito, Sgt. 

Ryan Greve and Capt. Jeremy R. Jacobs. Not Pictured: Spc. Efran Leal.

Courtesy Photo