CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 19,
2008) - Most generations in American history experienced a major war;
one which produced combat veterans. Operation Iraqi Freedom is
producing the next generation and some of the best combat veterans
America has ever seen.
The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Long Knife Brigade,
deployed in support of OIF a little over two months ago, and their
brigade's 4th Special Troop Battalion, Spartan, officially received
their combat patches during a ceremony at Contingency Operating Base
Adder Aug. 13.
"Becoming a combat veteran feels very good," said Pfc. Roy Bankhead, a Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operator.
Bankhead's job is to inform our infantry troops of what lies around
that proverbial corner his brothers can't see. "I make sure our troops
on the ground have what they need - information and imagery-wise."
First-term Soldiers like Bankhead, assigned to the Long Knife STB, are proud to wear their first combat patch.
"It's awesome to be a 1st Cav. combat veteran," said Spc. Jessica
Robinson, whose company held a special promotion ceremony after the
combat patch ceremony for the former-private first class. Robinson is a
signal intelligence analyst assigned to STB's Company A.
The unit took a moment during the ceremony to recognize those
sacrifices the Soldiers of the Spartan Battalion and Long Knife Brigade
continue to make.
"This is a very significant day for our Soldiers, especially the ones
who haven't been deployed before," said Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Eger,
the battalion's senior enlisted leader. "It's not just slapping the
patch onto the right shoulder and moving on."
The Long Knife Brigade leaders took time to ensure this ceremony was
meaningful, and the Soldiers understood their accomplishments.
"This time, with the Long Knife Brigade, it felt kind of special," said
Spc. Vanessa Fricke of the ceremony in comparison to her first
deployment in 2006. "I was working in a holding area last time, and my
squad leader slapped the combat patch on my shoulder. He said that I
was in a combat zone and that I had earned it," explained the military
police Soldier assigned to the battalion headquarters.
"But, this ceremony made me stand proud on the inside. I'm standing
prouder than I am tall," the 5-foot-3 military police Soldier joked.
Soldiers
assigned to the 4th STB, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. salute during the
playing of the National Anthem prior to receiving their combat patches
during a battalion ceremony at the COB Adder, Aug. 13. Photo by Spc. Creighton Holub 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. PAO
Source and credits : http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/08/18/11745-long-knife-troops-receive-combat-patches/
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