B/5-5 ADA Commander's Letter to the Company

I would like to take a moment to congratulate the "Bushwhackers" of Bravo Battery 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, on their commendable performance over this past year in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. What you have been able to accomplish is nothing short of a miracle. Every one of you went from being trained air defenders guarding freedom's frontier in the Republic of Korea, to some of the most respected infantrymen in the entire 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. It all began in June of 2004 at the Korean Training Center, training to be a mechanized infantry company with 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment. Upon observing the Bushwhackers' training, the Task Force Commander, LTC Southcott, said that those air defenders are more motivated and focused than any of his infantry companies.

Before 2BCT, no unit had ever deployed from the Republic of Korea to another combat theater. Despite all the obstacles in the way, the Bushwhackers were the first unit in Task Force 1-9 to complete all deployment tasks. When we finally got to our forward operating base at Camp Ar Ramadi, Iraq, every Bushwhacker demonstrated tremendous discipline executing various infantry missions. Unit discipline and flawless execution in support of brigade and battalion operations, as well as company raids, compelled CSM Tinsley of Task Force 1-9 to label the Bushwhackers his best company.

After finally settling into a battle rhythm at Camp Ar Ramadi, the Brigade Commander, COL Patton, specifically chose the Bushwhackers to relieve a beleaguered infantry company from Camp Habbaniyah. The move to Camp Habbaniyah was unexpected and would send everyone to the most dangerous portion of the Strike Force battle space. Upon arrival to our new battle space, every Bushwhacker stepped up their game without hesitation. Your discipline allowed us to have the lowest casualty rate of any other company in the brigade, because each and everyone of you took care of each other. When we suffered our first and only fatality of the deployment, SSG Garcia, you honored him for being the hero he was to us all, and you never lost your vigilance in our day-to-day missions.

I will remember every one of you for as long as I live; you made my job easier, and kept each others' spirits high. From 3rd Platoon "Outlaws" who we left behind at Camp Ar Ramadi, to 2nd Platoon "Chaos" who were no strangers to enemy contact, to 1st Platoon "Bad Boys", to the battery headquarters platoon whose mechanics worked the longest hours behind the scenes and whose medics did their job while in the line of fire, each and every one of you has been my hero, and it has been my life's honor to fight side-by-side with you.