1st Recon Bn. September Update Provided by LtCol. Higgins
As we turn the page into September and speed pass Labor Day, I wanted
to take a quick minute to provide an update on life here in Iraq.
I know it's been a while so I apologize for being remiss in providing
updates. The good news here is that the media back home seems to have
finally discovered that Al Anbar province is doing very well these
days. Overall attacks are way down, the Sunni tribal leadership is
more engaged each day, and the local populace are spending less time
worried about security and more on improving their infrastructure
and well being which is a significant change from the past. As far
as the Battalion goes your Marines continue to exceed my expectations
on a daily basis. And while the vast majority of areas in Al Anbar
are vastly improved, their still remain a couple small pockets of
resistance. Those pockets are where your Marines have been spending
their time of late with extremely positive results as far as eliminating
enemy threats in those areas and developing local security forces
to fill the vacuum being created from enemy elements being forced
out. It is stressful and physically demanding work, yet the Marines
have never let me (and you) down in accomplishing the mission no matter
how difficult the challenge. You should all be proud of the efforts
of your husbands, Dad’s, sons, brothers, cousins, and friends in the
Battalion as it truly is a team effort and the Recon Battalion team
is the best that I have ever had the privilege of being a part of.
The other good news story out here is that we have less than 2 months
remaining on our deployment; however, we are not looking ahead too
far yet as the worst thing you can do out here is become complacent,
but it's nice to know that their is only one more calendar flip left
before we get back home. As always I thank you all for your continued
prayers and support and I look forward to thanking all of you in person
upon our not to distant return.
Semper Fidelis,
LtCol Higgins
As the deployment starts to wind down we are looking forward to a couple of key events during November. The Div Officer and SNCO ball on 2 Nov, and of course the Battalion Ball on the 9th of Nov.
Also thanks for all the cards, emails and packages! Everyone appreciates your efforts. When the leaves turn brown the Boys will be back in town!
Cubs Win! Cubs Win!
SgtMaj
Cpl. Ben Pollock. While we often recognize Marines for the performance of their duty’s and leadership, we less often speak about a Marine with truly outstanding moral’s and moral fiber. Cpl. Pollock is is the kind of Marine that separates himself from his peers based on his core values and strong beliefs in Honor Courage and Commitment. Currently serving with Bravo Company, 3rd platoon, Pollack is always there for the Marines around him when they’re in need of somebody to talk to and he is known for his ability to keep morale high when things may seem their worst. Cpl Pollock is the kind of Marine that we all can learn from as an example of what is good not just in the Corps, but in life. He is an integral part of the 1st Recon Battalion team and he has a tremendous future ahead.
In Bravo Co.’s World:
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Labor Day weekend; I am sure all the mothers are excited that the children are getting ready to go back to school! Things continue to go well for the Marines and Sailors of Bravo Company. We recently returned to Camp Fallujah after a stint with the 13th MEU. While with the MEU we were able to link up with Alpha-3 (our platoon attached to the MEU) under the leadership of Captain Jay Armas and Staff Sergeant Brandon Penner. I am pleased to report that A-3 is doing well; we worked with them for several weeks and did some great things. Captain Armas was a gracious host and I must admit he is truly the ‘Mayor of the MEU’ and TQ, everyone seems to know him. Bravo Company totally abused him and enjoyed writing checks that he will have to pay back!
I am not sure how A-3 acquired a sorry game board, but this helps them kill some down time. The highlight of the game is getting a sorry card and then swatting one of your opponent’s pieces as far as you can as you yell “sorry”. A-3 seems to enjoy ganging up on Sergeant Nick Orlando to make sure he never wins; this appears to be both a great sense of amusement and entertainment for the entire platoon, particularly Sergeant Sigi Apodaca. The sorry game is pretty addictive, B-1 has also been playing, but they call it “Los Sientos” – so they yell “los sientos” whenever they swat an opponent’s piece. B-2 has taken it to a higher level with a form of combat sorry in which they don’t even look for an excuse to swat each other or various items while playing the game. We can’t print what they yell in mixed company, thankfully they have Captain Agur “The Apostle” Adams, or they all might have a ticket to an even hotter place. (Speaking of hot, how about those Red Sox!) - I am hoping to get the guys a Chutes and Ladder or Candy Land game next, I will see if my fourteen year old nephew has any of these games that he outgrew about 7 years ago.
While with the MEU, we acquired Captain Brent “Sugar” Winslow from the
MEU staff. The most popular theory on the origin of this acquisition
is that we fed him once - and like feeding a stray cat - could not get
him to leave. His expertise and efforts contributed significantly to
the company’s success, his eagerness and work ethic was remarkable,
he did not consider any task beneath him and volunteered countless times
to drive, serve as a gunner, and send traffic back to the MEU for Captain
Nichols (all of which were denied, but that is not the point). Much
to Gunny Stahls’ dismay, Sugar was prone to wander off after IED wires
without a radio and the most accident prone Marine in his platoon, (Gunny
requested one of those wind up leashes and is securing it to Sugar’s
seat in the HQ’s Hummve). We have deservedly bestowed the title of Honorary
Bravo Company Marine on him!
Bravo Company recently spent several weeks at a lakefront casino resort on Lake Thar-Thar, but I think we had a bad travel agent, because the place did not look like the pictures on the travel brochure! The casinos, all the buildings, water/plumbing systems, and electricity had all been destroyed about four years ago. I told the Marines, ‘look at the bright side, you still can tell everyone you got to go to a casino resort!’ – they are not buying this…. It was great to link back up with B-3 under the leadership of Captain Glenn Baker and Gunnery Sergeant Marty “the one man party” Williams. The platoon did some great things out in the AO that we can’t really talk about, they did tell us that next time we leave them ‘Home Alone’ they will continue to give up the CO’s office to anybody that wants it!
Kudos to Captain Bryan “B.A.-Bad Attitude” Abell on his promotion, well deserved! (We had to remind him that just because he has a cool call sign, he is not a pilot). Congratulations to Gunnery Sergeant Rodger Turner, Staff Sergeant John Bottema, Sergeant Stephen Geiger, Sergeant Evan Williams-McIntosh, and Sergeant Amish Smith on reenlisting for four more years in our beloved Corps! (Gunnery Sergeant Turner requested that his wife not spend his reenlistment bonus before he gets home).
Sadly, we said good bye to Sergeant Peter “Cold Rod” Rodriguez and
Corporal Jeffrey Tolentino as they returned back to the states last
month. Sergeant Rodriguez is getting ready to go to OCS and Corporal
Tolentino is separating from the Marine Corps and is off to college.
Thanks for your service to Bravo Company and the Marine Corps, good
luck to both of you! Rod & T, we don’t need anything from the states,
but thanks for asking, that was very thoughtful of you both (oh, never
mind, you two ungrateful $%&^#)%# guys didn’t ask us, we just figured
you would have by now)! (How soon they forget)! Master Sergeant Jimmie
Jakes (I know you are laughing some place), you were 100 percent correct,
Master Sergeant Sid ‘Hans’ Gruber has turned into you! He takes his
frustration out on the platoons, particularly when they breach his trailer
and take his supplies!
Thanks so much to all our friends and families for their thoughts, prayers,
and patience. I know I sound like a broken record, but I would like
to personally thank the RBE and the KVN, every request we have made
has been fulfilled beyond our expectations. Special thanks to Master
Gunnery Sergeant Jim Keely, USMC ret, and Warrior, on your thoughts,
letters, and packages, first cold one when we get back is on me! As
always, please feel to contact me, First Sergeant Carlo Gaita, at carlo.gaita@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil
if you need anything from our end.
In Charlie Co.’s Corner:
Well, this may be the last newsletter before our return and I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all the Key Volunteers and the Marines who worked so hard while we were gone to assist our families and keep them up to date on all that is happening both here and at home. I also want to thank all those who continually sent the great care packages and mail that meant so much to the company and on that note I would like to inform everyone that the cut off date for receiving mail over here will be the 1st of October, so if you want to get that last package in please don’t wait the post office will return all packages mailed after that date. From myself and Capt Rose please take care and we will see you all in the near future.
Standing tall in H&S Co.:
It seems that we are starting to get some relief from the heat. The average temp in the day time is 105 to 110. I think by next week supply will have to start issuing some cold weather gear.
Some of our young non-commissioned officers (NCO) in H&S Company have recently taken up the challenges of Corporal’s Course. The Corporal’s Course is the first step in Professional Military Education. The classes that the students receive cover several topics such as leadership, history, and drill.
It seems that one of the officers in the battalion has developed the most severe case of imaginary lat syndrome (ILS) that has ever occurred in history. When he was confronted about it by the Sergeant Major, his response was “my arms won’t go down”. This is a plea for help, Navy medicine (we all know how good they are, haha) is stumped and have no idea how to treat it. Please, if you know anyone that can help with this situation get them in contact with Captain Konicki as soon as possible. We have a hotline set up for him 1-800- I GOT ILS.
Thanks and until next time, keep the mail coming.
1stSgt Smith
On Camp Fallujah: :
Promotions:
2. Cpl. Goff
3. Sgt. Lanham
4. Sgt. Sloan
5. Capt. Abell
Reenlistments:
2. Sgt. Geiger
3. Sgt. Williams
4. Sgt. Smith
5. GySgt. Turner
6. Sgt. Major Miller
