Commander's Comments (Nov 04)

I extend a Currahee welcome to all the friends and loved ones of the 1-506th family. Our time at Camp Habbaniyah is rapidly passing by. We departed Korea on 4 August, and already we are in the throws of the Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving at home. Many thanks to you all for your support and prayers. I have enclosed a copy of the message I sent to the Soldiers, Marines and Airmen of Task Force Currahee:

As our forefathers set aside a special day to give thanks for their good fortune; a good harvest, the health and welfare of their families, and the success of their new found country, in much greater measure should we today give thanks for the many good things with which our lives are so richly blessed. For most of us prosperity, good health and happiness are ours beyond even the dreams of those first Pilgrim people, immigrants to a strange and undeveloped land.

And so we offer a heartfelt thanks for so much that is ours... our country's freedom and prosperity, our families and friends, freedom to worship that enriches our American way of life, the food we share with our Currahee Brothers here today... and for our service to our Nation and to the country of Iraq.

On this important holiday, many of you are away from home and loved ones for the first time in your lives. Many of us spent our last Thanksgiving on "Freedom's Frontier" at Camp Greaves, ROK. This year we will spend our Thanksgiving together here at Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq. Despite our austere setting here, make the most of this day and do your part to celebrate this great holiday with your fellow Soldiers, Marines and Airmen; this "Band of Brothers" which constitutes Task Force Currahee. Enjoy this time together.

I would be remiss if I did not place into perspective the sacrifices of others who have come before us. Our own regiment's campaigns in both World War II and Vietnam marked significant and prolonged combat. At our past home at Camp Greaves, ROK we sat astride the Imjin River and the location of the initial invasion route and subsequent counteroffensives and offensives that marked that war which culminated in the present DMZ only a short distance from our front gate. Our nation enjoys many blessings because of these and countless other wars and conflicts waged by men who had much to lose, but who stepped forward when their nation called. We enjoy these hard earned freedoms today and have much to be thankful for. So here we sit in Iraq doing our part to bring peace and freedom to a region that has known only strife. You make a difference here everyday in this tough place. Remember those who have paid the ultimate price and keep their memory alive thru your positive actions and deeds.

As you leave the mess hall today I ask three things of you:

1. Reflect upon all the many opportunities and blessings we have as Americans.
2. Remember our fallen comrades killed and wounded in combat and bless them and their families.
3. Fight hard and smart to win every engagement and take away the enemy's will to fight while we protect the people we were sent here to liberate.

In this spirit of Thanksgiving, the Battalion Command Sergeant Major and I along with the Battalion Staff and Company leaders, greet you today and wish you and your families every happiness of this great holiday. Remember to take the time to call home. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day 2004; you deserve it. "STANDS ALONE"

As we reflect on the Thanksgiving Holiday, we are aware of how much we truly have to be thankful for. As our forefathers set aside a special day to give thanks for their good fortune; a good harvest, the health and welfare of their families, and the success of their new found country, in a much greater measure should we give thanks for the many things with which our lives are so richly blessed. For most of us, prosperity, good health, and happiness are ours beyond the even the dreams of those first Pilgrim people, immigrants to a strange and undeveloped land.

We offer a heartfelt thanks for so much that is ours...our country's freedom and prosperity, our families and friends, freedom to worship that enriches our American way of life, and for our service to our Nation and the country of Iraq.

I would be remiss if I did not place into perspective the sacrifices of others who have come before us. Our regiment's campaigns in both World War II and Vietnam marked significant and prolonged combat. At our past home at Camp Greaves, Republic of Korea, we sat astride the Imjin River and the location of the initial invasion route and subsequent counteroffensives and offensives that marked that war which culminated in the present De-militarized Zone, only a short distance from our front gate. Our nation enjoys many blessings because of these and countless other wars and conflicts waged by men who had much to lose, but who stepped forward when their nation called. We enjoy these hard earned freedoms and have much to be thankful for. So here we sit in Iraq doing our part to bring peace and freedom to a land that has known only strife. We make a difference everyday in this tough place, and are honored to do so. We will never forget those who have paid the ultimate price and keep their memory alive through our positive actions and deed.

We thank you for your unwavering support, and we covet your continued support. Continue to uplift the "Band of Brothers" in prayer. Our mission continues, and we faithfully and dutifully answer the daily call to fight on freedom's frontier. The Battalion Command Sergeant Major and I, along with the Battalion Staff and Company leaders bid you God-speed and pray his choicest blessings over you and yours. Stands Alone!