December saw Charlie Rock reunited, minus 1st Platoon, and once again experiencing a high volume of missions at the company and task force level. Unfortunately, the successes and joys of the month were overshadowed by the loss of one of our own. SSG Arthur C. Williams was shot by a sniper on 8 December in the city of Ramadi while conducting a mission with D/1-503rd Infantry. The loss of SSG Williams was a harsh and sudden reality of the dangers faced every day in this volatile region of Iraq. The company, with support from the battalion and from 1-506th Infantry, conducted a memorial service with all of the appropriate military honors in memory of SSG Williams on 12 December at Camp Habbaniyah.

The company's missions this month can best be described as diverse and highly productive. We teamed with the Marine small craft unit from Taqqadum Air Base to conduct two days of "boat ops" during OPERATION CASTAWAY. The operation consisted of cache sweeps on islands and along sections of riverbank that have been otherwise inaccessible by traditional land routes. We conducted rehearsals with the boat unit on Lake Habbaniyah prior to the mission and had some "Normandy-esque" attempts to go ashore in water that was deeper than expected. The two-day mission saw the fair-weather-Sappers feel the chill of morning temps that dipped into the low 20s as we motored down the Euphrates River. AND, everyone was treated to the colorful stylings of "Gunny" Triollo of the boat unit. In addition to this great mission, we executed a number of standard cache sweep missions that resulted in excessive quantities of weapons and munitions being located and destroyed. We conducted three separate missions on the main supply route to clear dirt piles, trash, and debris from the shoulders to prevent the enemy from using these areas to easily emplace IEDs. Our Sappers were also called on to destroy a number of buildings with demolitions shortly after insurgents used them for cover to fire on our units.

December also produced significant changes within the officer ranks of the company. 1LT Brendan McEvoy could not run fast enough from the battalion staff ranks to claim his platoon from 1LT Will Walsh. After being displaced from his platoon, Will was bumped up to the definition of pain and suffering that describes the job of company executive officer. Will replaces 1LT Tim Vandewalle as the executive officer, affectionately known as the "ox", and will drink from the proverbial fire hose until he gets his bearings and settles into a very challenging lane. We reluctantly give Tim up to the hallowed battalion staff ranks to learn immense amounts of Sapper information under the tutelage of the battalion S3. Tim has done incredible things for the company over the last 10 months as the XO. Beginning with his standard XO duties under armistice conditions in Korea, through a PAINFUL deployment process under very short notice, and continuing during a high OPTEMPO mission cycle in Iraq, Tim has given the company 110% every day. His professional work ethic, knowledge, and commitment to the company will be sadly missed. Our loss is definitely the battalion's great gain.

Lastly, many Charlie Rock Sappers spent their first Christmas away from home this year. We tried to take their minds off of this... by giving a Christmas Day physical fitness test!! Following those festivities, the NCOs edged out the enlisted men in a Christmas Day football game. The rumor was that SGT(P) Maddox feared playing against the CO, and THAT is why officers were not playing in the game. The CO and 1SG led a Christmas convoy to deliver care packages and Christmas gifts to 1st Platoon at the Combat Outpost, and the usual ops meeting crew conducted a gift exchange. Most of the soldiers just enjoyed having a day off (minus the PT test!) and being able to relax without having any distracters for a day. A fine Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner style, was served in the dining facility and everyone enjoyed a long, well deserved, night's sleep.