C/1-506 IN Mission Summary

May 2004

Charlie (Hardrock) Company, 1-506th Infantry Battalion (Air Assault), stationed at Camp Greaves, Republic of Korea just 3 kilometers from the southern end of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a subordinate unit of 2BCT, 2ID, Republic of Korea, is notified that the unit will deploy from Korea to the Middle East in under 90 days to conduct combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in early August for one year. It is the first time a forward deployed unit is deployed from one theater of operations to another.

June - July 2004

Soldiers are granted 14 days of block leave in early June and upon return immediately transition to an aggressive train-up plan which included extended field time training on FOB operations, traffic control point operations, cordon and searches, targeted raids, and IED awareness training among other multiple tasks. Additionally the unit begins transformation from air assault to motorized operations, and fielding of new equipment while simultaneously closing down Camp Greaves permanently and preparing for outload of mission equipment to Kuwait/Iraq and shipment of household goods to Stateside locations.

August 2004

On 04 August, Hardrock deploys from Osan Airbase, Korea to Kuwait and moves via ground transportation to Camp Buehring, Kuwait to conduct an additional 3 weeks of combat training, marksmanship density, Rapid Field Initiative (RFI) equipment fielding, and acclimatization to the current 110-120 degree weather. At the end of August, Hardrock Company moves via C-130 to Al Taqaddum Logistics Base and then across MSR Michigan to Al Habbaniyah (FOB Habbaniyah) to what will become Hardrock's home for the next 11 months.

September - December 2004

Hardrock conducts Relief in Place (RIP) operations with Charlie Company, 1-34 Armor during the first week of September. During this time the unit receives detailed briefings on insurgent activities in the area, current SOPs in effect, and conducts joint missions with the departing unit. By the end of the first week of September, Hardrock completes the RIP and begins combat operations within the Battalion's Battlespace. From September to the end of December, Hardrock had several enduring task missions. As the FOB security company, Hardrock was responsible for 24 hour manning of 8 observation posts (OPs) around the FOB perimeter to include Entry Control Point operations at the Front Gate. In this two platoon operation, responsibilities included preventing infiltration and observation onto the FOB, and screening and searching of all civilian personnel at the Front Gate. Additionally, the 3rd platoon of the company not conducting FOB security rotated on a bi-weekly basis between route security missions on the 15 kilometer stretch of MSR Michigan, denying the enemy the ability to emplace and detonate IEDs against Coalition Forces and civilian personnel, and serving as the Battalion's motorized Quick Reaction Force (QRF). During this high OPTEMPO period, Hardrock participated in close to a dozen additional operations from the company to brigade level to include movements to contact, cordon and searches and targeted raids. Enemy contact during this time was high, with as many as 5 IEDs detonating on any given day, and small arms fire, RPG fire, and indirect fire either against Coalition Forces on MSR Michigan or at the FOB an almost daily event. During this time, Hardrock mourned the passing of SSG Huey, and SSG Caddy during the month of November while conducting combat operations. In addition to several other Hardrock soldiers wounded in action, the Company Commander, CPT Will Jones, was wounded in the legs and evacuated out of theater on 12 November, and on 14 November the Company guidon passed to a new commander. Hardrock celebrated Christmas Eve by responding to a civil disturbance on MSR Michigan, and rang in the New Year conducting targeted raids in the city of Khalidiyah.

January - April 2005

In early January Hardrock transitioned from the FOB Security Company to the Mission Company. During this time the three Hardrock line platoons conducted 3 day rotations as the Battalion's QRF, conducting route security missions on MSR Michigan, and having one platoon dedicated solely to Company, Battalion and Brigade missions. During this period, Hardrock conducted over 21 missions at the Battalion and Brigade level, executing targeted raids on dozens of insurgents, and uncovering caches yielding scores of enemy arms and ammunition during cordon and search and cache sweep missions. When operating as the Battalion QRF, Hardrock platoons conducted dozens of presence patrols in the surrounding areas; denying and disrupting insurgent activity, escorting Civil Affairs on infrastructure assessments, and providing security for Counter-Intelligence elements during intelligence gathering missions. Hardrock played a key role during the Iraqi National Elections held at end of January 2005. Working with Iraqi military forces, Hardrock was tasked with securing the polling site in Civil Camp, conducting outer cordon security operations, and safeguarding the Iraqi civilian election workers during this critical event. The overall success of this operation was evidenced by Civil and Coolie Camp residents casting over 50% of the votes cast in the entire 2BCT Battlespace. In late February, 1st and 2nd Platoons took the insurgents by surprise conducting a night infiltration targeted raid on boats piloted by a Marine Boat Company on the Euphrates River. In the middle of April, 2nd and 3rd platoons relocated to Combat Outpost in Ar Ramadi to assist 1-503rd Battalion with ECP operations for a period of two weeks.

May - July 2005

During the first week of May, 1st Platoon conducted security escort for the 3-2-1 IIF (Iraqi Interim Forces) Battalion in support of their monthly leave schedule. Escorting over 350 Iraqi soldiers in their organic vehicles, 1st platoon successfully brought them to their home stations south of Baghdad, and just west of the Iranian border, and then successfully brought them back to Habbaniyah. Immediately following 1st Platoon's return, the Company transitioned to support Operation Thunderdome. In this new role, the platoons over 3 day rotations secured ASP 102 (Ammunition Supply Point); preventing insurgents from entering into this area, and giving the Battalion valuable observation into the back side of Khalidiyah. The Company maintained its rotations as either the Battalion's wheeled QRF, or performing route security operations on MSR Michigan. During this time, Hardrock conducted over 18 Company and Battalion operations consisting of targeted raids and cordon and searches in addition to its almost daily presence patrols, and QRF callout missions. In June and July, 1st and 3rd platoons each successfully conducted the Battalion's first and second air assault targeted raids in theater; moving onto the objective in the dark of night on CH-46 and CH-53 helicopters respectively; and giving insurgent elements in our battle-space yet another avenue of approach to fear. In late June and throughout July, Hardrock took on the additional task of preparing to receive and conduct RIP operations with our replacement unit, and prepping for deployment to Fort Carson while still conducting its daily enduring task operations prior to its much anticipated deployment to Fort Carson and home.