CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – The 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, formally known as the 215th Composite Service Battalion was activated on June 30, 1971, in the Republic of Vietnam. Forty years later, the “Blacksmith’s” celebrate their birthday and history on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq.
The birthday celebration started off with the battalion commander, Lt. Col. James M. Smith, a Hampton, Va., native, addressing the battalion formation with his views on the impact the unit has made on past missions and his opinion of their current mission in Iraq.
Following Smith’s remarks, 1st Lt. Justin Hackett, a native of Beloit, Kan., and a Security Platoon Leader for Bravo Field Maintenance Company, read the battalion’s history to the formation. The history highlighted mission support in Vietnam; supported operations in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II; Diyala province, and Salah ad- Din province during OIF 06-08; Mosul during OIF 09-11 and most recent operations in COB Adder, Contingency Operating Station Garry Owen and Basrah, Iraq.
After the history was read, the formation was released to take a battalion photo behind the cake and then the oldest soldier, Sgt. Bradley Bailey, a Buffalo, N.Y., native, and the youngest soldier, Pfc. Darius Bolden, a Baton Rouge, La., native joined Command Sgt. Maj. Henney Hodgkins, a native of Bristol, Pa., and Smith in cutting the battalion’s birthday cake.
Date Taken: | 07.01.2011 |
Date Posted: | 07.05.2011 02:24 |
Story ID: | 73222 |
Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ |
Web Views: | 567 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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