Photo By Sgt. Spencer Case | Staff Sgt. James Connour, an acting platoon sergeant in the 215th QM Co., opens the...... read more read more
CAMP CEDAR II, Iraq --The Soldiers of some quartermaster companies might feel like fish out of water performing escort missions. However, the Soldiers of the 215th Quartermaster Company have made themselves at home on Iraq's dangerous roads.
The outgoing unit of just over 100 Soldiers from Jeffersonville, Ind., has completed 350 escort missions for military and civilian combat logistics patrols since February, said 1st Sgt. Brian Brocker of the 215th.
They also maintained their own vehicles, distributed basic provisions for other Soldiers on the road, and set up a charitable organization for Iraqi children, on top of other duties.
Though 80 percent of the unit's Soldiers were reassigned from other units in Kentucky, Ohio and elsewhere, the leadership of the 215th said the unit was able to come together for a difficult and important tour.
"To do the missions we have done in the timeline we've done it, and to do it safely for nine months, for me is outstanding," Brocker said.
Soldiers of the 215th have gone on CLPs throughout Iraq, as far west as Combat Outpost Rawah and as far north as Tal Afar and Logistical Support Area Anaconda. Sometimes the Soldiers would set out on missions they expected to be only a day long but ended up being three day events.
"In the past year, we basically lived in our trucks," said Sgt. Jason Nickles, a squad leader in the 215th.
One way the 215th adapted to the circumstances was by constructing custom-built gun turrets that converted five ton trucks into gun trucks. Throughout the deployment, troops continued making adjustments, such as adding a box to hold ammunition.
"Pretty much any time they had a scrap of metal and a welder they had something to add on to better their own trucks," said 1st Lt. Matthew Danler, who has been the commander of the 215th since he replaced Capt. Charley Faniel Oct. 18.
Soldiers of the 215th said the mission was rewarding despite the difficulties.
"It makes you feel good about yourself, knowing that you're keeping everybody safe," said Spc. Kyle Barner, a gunner with the 215th.
Though escort missions took up the bulk of the unit's effort, the 215th kept busy with other activities.
The unit had squad-sized elements in Combat Support Center Scania, Camp Charlie and Camp Cedar II. These elements supported other units in Class I yards, which are secure areas where travelers can stop to get Meals Ready to Eat, water, ice and sometimes treats like beef jerky and sports drinks
The unit set up a program called K2K or "Kids 2 Kids," that requested provisions from friends and families at home to assist the local population. Soldiers volunteered to go on missions distributing the supplies to local nationals who lived between Camp Cedar and nearby Tallil. The unit also made a trip to an orphanage at Nasariyah to give clothes and candy to the children there. Danler said that the communities gave a positive response that was "overwhelming" to the point that the Soldiers could not fit all the supplies onto trucks.
"For the Soldiers, it gives them a sense that they are here doing something good," Danler said.
Spc. Chet Runion, of Sulphur, Ky., said the tour has brought him two things: friends and patience. For now, Runion, like most of his peers in the unit, is looking ahead to redeployment.
"I'm looking forward to getting back home," Runion said. "This is the longest I've ever been away from my brothers."
| Date Taken: | 12.08.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2005 03:39 |
| Story ID: | 3983 |
| Location: | CAMP CEDAR II, IQ |
| Web Views: | 176 |
| Downloads: | 27 |
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