Arctic Wolves' extended tour nearly complete

Courtesy Photo | Kuwait (Dec. 13, 2006)--- A Soldier from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team closes the hatch of the Stryker vehicle prior to moving the Stryker to a new location during the reset process.  

12.13.2006

Story by Spc. Deborah Ledesma 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

by Spc. Debrah A. Robertson
Desert Voice Staff Writer
40th Public Affairs Detachment

Kuwait – Deemed an intimidating piece of equipment by many Soldiers of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the Stryker swept through the streets of Baghdad with speed and procession.

"Everyone rolls in a pack," said 2nd Lt. Jason Blair, ordnance officer with Forward Maintenance Company, 172nd SBCT. "Where you see one, there's more."

"It's the best vehicle the Army has," said Spc. Joshua Young, a supply specialist in 172nd SBCT. "I trust it more than a humvee or anything else."

"We saw some big booms, but they just flattened the tires," said Spc. Harry Drum, a rifleman in 172nd SBCT. "You see humvees ate up from the same explosion. I felt safe in it," he continued. "It saved a lot of lives."

Reinforced with metal plates and wrapped in protective slat armor, the Stryker can take quite a beating on the violent streets of Baghdad and Mosul, and the 172nd's "Arctic Wolves" tested it to its limits during their 16-month deployment in Iraq.

With high-speed capability and manueverability, the Stryker got the Wolves where they needed to be, when they needed to be there.

"Speed is our security," said Pfc Al Hegley, an infantryman with the 172nd. "It goes where we want."

Quietly and stealthly, the Stryker was able to maneuver the Wolves through the streets nearly undetected – hunting terrorists and gaining ground without waking a soul, said Hegley. The Stryker allowed them to perform raids without giving away their location to the enemy.

"We can go places and do more with [Strykers] than anyone can with humvees," he continued.

"It can maneuver," said Young. "It can knock down a brick wall and keep going."

"It's great because of its mobility, its armor and the guys in the vehicle," said Pfc. Jason Brown, an infantryman in the 172nd.

"The equipment means nothing without the Soldier," said Blair on the 172nd's success.

• Date Taken: 12.13.2006
• Date Posted: 12.13.2006 13:51
• Story ID: 8564