March has come and gone, but Charlie Company is still fighting the good fight. The month saw our Sappers conduct many of the same missions as the months prior but sadly, a cowardly act of terrorism left the company changed forever. We are sad to bid a Soldier's farewell to two of our own, SSG Andrew L. Bossert and PFC William W Franklin. SSG Bossert was a tremendous NCO and a treasured friend; PFC Franklin had the heart of the giant and the love of his comrades. Both will be sorely missed.

We have welcomed a section of construction support equipment and Soldiers led by SFC Coulman and SSG Sommers from Camp Ramadi. They have quickly proven themselves a valuable asset through their hard work in building a new road for the 1-506th Infantry Battalion at Camp Habbaniyah and increasing the force protection of Camp Corrigedor for the 1-503rd Infantry Battalion on the east side of Ar Ramadi. The Rock appreciates their contributions and looks forward to enjoying several more months of hard work with them in the improvement of our camp.

The month kicked off with Operation Rush Hour, a cache sweep along the Euphrates where the company found seven munitions caches and detained five insurgents who planned to use them against coalition forces. The battle space was made a safer place after Operation Walking Tall when the company executed a raid on by nabbing a known insurgent who conducted hijackings and mortar attacks. From Operation Animal House to Barbershop, we tirelessly searched homes and found caches. Our hard work over the past months has paid off: the number of IEDs detonated on the main supply route that runs through Al Khaladiyah has decreased over the last five months from 70 per month to 7. In addition, the Iraqi Intervention Force has moved in next door and executes missions side by side with our Sappers. March has proven to be a month of progress, seeing much headway in making Iraq safe for the Iraqi people.

Goodbye SSG Bossert and PFC Franklin. As we fight on, you will be in our hearts and in our memories. Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your sacrifice. It was an honor to have served with you.