By Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Malec
Fires Bde. PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – As the warm desert sun rises on another day at Camp Fallujah, the Soldiers of Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, maintain a quiet vigilance.
Known as the "Renegades," the Soldiers occupy a small corner on the desolate, dusty camp once home to Sadam Hussein's forces.
The artillerymen of Battery A stand ready to lend their lethal firepower to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., whose members patrol the harsh streets of Fallujah and Rhamadi seven days a week.
The artillery weapon of choice is the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, which is capable of delivering precise artillery strikes on enemy forces who desire to hinder the rebuilding of Iraq.
Once they receive the order to fire a mission, they have little time to react, said Sgt. Nathan Lenahan, MLRS section chief, Battery A, 2-20 FA.
"We will hear a loud beeping sound, and then the gunner announces that it's a fire mission. We then throw all our gear on, get into our truck, and get out to our firing point as fast as possible," said the Virginia Beach, Va. Native who joined the Army in 2002.
Sgt. Frank Hernandez, MLRS gunner, Btry. A., 2-20 FA, said he hopes to keep forces outside the wire protected and serviced with quick and accurate artillery strikes when they need them.
"In my mind, what spells success is that all our missions are direct hits and that we take out the enemy when called to do so – making sure they don't harm anybody else," continued the San Antonio native.
Most days are fairly calm for the Soldiers. The constant hum of power generators slices through the dusty wind, further exasperating temperatures that can climb higher than 120 degrees. The Soldiers stay busy keeping basic combat skills sharp, cleaning weapons and practicing combat lifesaving techniques.
The Soldiers moved to Fallujah from Camp Wolf in April. While at Camp Wolf, they not only stood ready to provide precision artillery strikes to coalition forces, the Soldiers also performed presence patrols, base security and even their own cooking. Once at Camp Fallujah, they realized they had their work cut out for them amongst the myriad of barracks in serious need of care.
The Soldiers made quick work of fixing up their new home by sprucing up the grounds for a football and soccer field, installing air conditioners in their living quarters and getting internet connectivity in their make-shift Morale, Welfare and Recreation Room.
The Renegades also share a tight bond, which they say makes living in close quarters twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week bearable.
"Because of our mission, we hardly have any downtime," said Staff Sgt. Stanley Weeks, launcher section chief, Battery A, 2-20 FA, who keeps his Soldiers motivated by reminding them that they are saving lives while taking out the enemy.
"Knowing that Soldiers and Marines out there appreciate the job that we do, that pretty much keeps us intact," beamed the Queens, N.Y., native.
Besides knowing they are performing their wartime mission, communication with loved ones back on the home front helps keep their heads in the game.
"My family keeps me focused out here," said Lenahan.
"The fact that I can communicate with them through email and phone calls really helps me keep my head in the game because I have two guys that I need to take home to their families as well," continued Lenahan, who eagerly awaits to be reunited with his wife, daughter and son.
Spc. Denize Chagolla, driver, Btry. A, 2-20 FA, said he hopes the Iraqis will soon be able to effectively run their country. He said that he is also counting down the days until he is reunited with his wife and two daughters but appreciates the closeness between his fellow Renegades.
"We try to train on each other's jobs, and we try to understand each other better," said Chagolla, who hails from Lamar, Iowa, the ice cream capital of the world.
To date, the Renegades have fired more than thirty successful strike missions while at Camp Fallujah as they continue to blaze the trail for MLRS units in combat.
"People are beginning to believe that the MLRS has a place in combat," said Paddock. "We were originally thought not to have a place at first, but I think we have shown that we do have a future out here and a future on the war on terrorism and modern warfare."
1st Lt. Gregory Hayes, battery operations officer and executive officer, said he felt it was his duty to serve his country and left his lucrative job as a chemical engineer in Hingham, Mass., to join the Army in 2003.
"Mission success to me would mean that we don't have to shoot anymore," said Hayes. "That means that the Iraqi Government is on its own and the Iraqi army is taking control of its own country; if they don't need us anymore, than that's success for me."
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2006 09:52 |
| Story ID: | 7419 |
| Location: | FALLUJAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 37 |
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