Battalion Commander's Letter to the Battalion

As I sit down to write this letter for the yearbook I am overcome with all that has happened this past year in Iraq. Words cannot describe how proud I am of your many accomplishments and the great sacrifices you have endured for your country and for the people of Iraq this past year. Through great turbulence, danger and uncertainty you have risen to every challenge, held together, accomplishing every mission and have earned the reputation and honor of truly being a Band of Brothers.

First I would like to thank the battalion signal officer, CPT Keith Kelly, who, with company and section representatives, put this yearbook together and it is a "keeper". It is a collection of memories captured in the written word, a gazillion pictures and some music. The pages of this keepsake reflect the 12 months TF Currahee spent in Kuwait and Iraq and there are some articles and pictures of our time in Korea as well. As I looked at each section of this yearbook it took me back and caused me to think about where we have been and what we have accomplished. As you all know, we have certainly been through a lot and our accomplishments are many.

Despite the fact that we were already forward deployed on the DMZ in Korea, we were called to deploy to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was our turn to go, and off we went. Without much preparatory time and with little time to say goodbye to family and friends and to tie up loose ends in our lives, we set off on this great adventure. After a brief acclimatization and training period in Kuwait we found ourselves at Camp Habbaniyah in the heart of the Sunni Triangle in Al Anbar Province. A pretty tough place, and we were soon in the thick of things.

We deployed to this hostile place to make a difference. It has indeed been a tough year, but a year that history will determine to have been a successful one. During our time here the insurgency was at its peak. But due to our efforts and those of the units on our flanks, the insurgency has lost momentum and popular support. The insurgent stronghold of Fallujah fell in November with the help of Apache Tank and C/44 EN who each contributed a platoon of combat power to that important fight. All across AO Currahee we defeated insurgent attacks and killed or captured countless terrorists and policed up their caches. Iraq held their first free election in 50 years and we facilitated the democratic process by securing two polling sites; one of which had more votes and more women voters than any other site in the province. Our many successful operations through the winter kept enemy activity down. We stood down the very unsuccessful and corrupt Iraqi National Guard units in our area and stood up the Iraqi 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division as our partner unit whom we have conducted very successful combined operations with for over four months. In a year's time we conducted over 60 task force level missions and hundreds of company and platoon missions. We have captured tons of weapons, ammunition and bomb making material and sent over 500 bad guys to Abu Graib prison. We have helped build schools and provided school supplies to needy kids. We have upgraded water purification plants that provide water to thousands of people. We provided much needed food and sundries to refugees from Fallujah. We cleaned up the highway, drained standing sewage, filled in huge IED holes, removed trash, stocked clinics with basic medical supplies, and handed out hundreds of soccer balls and candy to thankful kids. Through it all, we guarded our FOB, the ASP and East Camp, and kept Route Michigan open for military operations and civilian commerce through the endless and dangerous grind of Mad Max missions.

As we hand AO Currahee off to our brothers from Pennsylvania, the Panthers of Task Force 1-110th Infantry, we do so knowing that this is a better place than it was when we found it last August. That is because of you and your dedicated service; service to your country, service to your fellow Soldiers who stood and fought by your side, and service to the people of Iraq who have not known peace and freedom and who would not be able to achieve them otherwise. Through the searing heat and dust of summer, the cold of winter, hundreds of attacks by IEDs, snipers, small arms, RPGs, SVBIEDs, VBIEDs, rockets and mortars, you have endured every hardship and successfully accomplished all missions.

Over time, as you look back through this yearbook, I hope you will reflect with pride on your important service. Our Currahee brothers of wars long since past are a proud reminder of our heritage and you have contributed significantly to the great name and reputation of the regiment through your actions in Iraq. Please remember the great Soldiers lost here, their sacrifice, and the hardships their families face. We must never forget them. As we all now know, freedom is not free and the cost is dear.

I am proud to be counted among you as a Currahee and it has been a great honor and a humbling experience to serve with such proud, tough, and professional Soldiers. Best wishes to you all in your future endeavors and journeys, and thank you for your dedicated and courageous service -- you have made a difference here. Stands Alone!