Commander’s Note: Red Dragon 6 3-82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter Red Dragon Families and Friends, I am pleased to report to you that your Soldiers are performing extremely well as we conduct daily missions with our Iraqi Security Force partners. We have spent a great deal of time learning and understanding our environment and have validated all the hard work preparing for our mission was certainly time well spent. Our systems are in place, we are settled into our mission, and we are dedicated to making you proud with our disciplined and precise performance. As we work hard out here, we are so proud of all you are doing to take care of our pre- cious Families. We can‟t thank you enough. We trust you are able to take advantage of the great activities and events in the central Texas area or wherever you have chosen to be this summer. If you are in the area, please consider attending the FRG Family Night, 14 JUL 11 at 6:00pm at the Oveta Culp Center. Our Rear-Detachment will provide you the latest information on the battalion and the FRGs will provide battery level details and answer questions. Also, stay tuned to your FRG for information on our upcoming Town Hall video teleconference (19 JUL 11). On behalf of all Red Dragon Soldiers, I thank you for your continued support. You motivate us and keep our spirits high as we journey through this deployment together. We are committed to keeping you informed through our access to the Internet, phone calls, Skype, Facebook, or simply the old fashioned way – writing a letter. This is a very historic time in Iraq and we are proud to be a part of it. No doubt that each Iraqi we work with during our deployment will long re- member our professional operations and unequaled strength of character. The CSM and I have spent the last week awarding combat patches to all Red Dragons. The 1 st Cavalry Division combat patch symbolizes dedica- tion to protecting our freedoms, self-less service at a critical time in our nation‟s history, loyalty to unit, and so much more. Thank you Red Drag- ons and your Families! Have a great remainder of the summer and thanks again for being the rock solid support for the Red Dragons. Blackjack! Red Dragons! Sincerely, LTC Nate Cook June 2011 LTC Cook meeting with local leaders Alpha Battery 3 Bravo Battery 4 Golf Company 5 Headquarters Battery 6-8 Rear Detachment 9 Special News 10-11 Red Dragons in Action 12 Inside this issue:
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Transcript
Commander’s Note: Red Dragon 6
3-82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter
Red Dragon Families and Friends,
I am pleased to report to you that your Soldiers are performing extremely well as we
conduct daily missions with our Iraqi Security Force partners. We have spent a great
deal of time learning and understanding our environment and have validated all the hard
work preparing for our mission was certainly time well spent. Our systems are in place,
we are settled into our mission, and we are dedicated to making you proud with our
disciplined and precise performance.
As we work hard out here, we are so proud of all you are doing to take care of our pre-
cious Families. We can‟t thank you enough. We trust you are able to take advantage of
the great activities and events in the central Texas area or wherever you have chosen to
be this summer. If you are in the area, please consider attending the FRG Family Night,
14 JUL 11 at 6:00pm at the Oveta Culp Center. Our Rear-Detachment will provide you
the latest information on the battalion and the FRGs will provide battery level details
and answer questions. Also, stay tuned to your FRG for information on our upcoming
Town Hall video teleconference (19 JUL 11).
On behalf of all Red Dragon Soldiers, I thank you for your continued support. You
motivate us and keep our spirits high as we journey through this deployment together.
We are committed to keeping you informed through our access to the Internet, phone
calls, Skype, Facebook, or simply the old fashioned way – writing a letter.
This is a very historic time in Iraq and we are proud to be a part of it. No
doubt that each Iraqi we work with during our deployment will long re-
member our professional operations and unequaled strength of character.
The CSM and I have spent the last week awarding combat patches to all
Red Dragons. The 1st Cavalry Division combat patch symbolizes dedica-
tion to protecting our freedoms, self-less service at a critical time in our
nation‟s history, loyalty to unit, and so much more. Thank you Red Drag-
ons and your Families!
Have a great remainder of the summer and thanks again for being the rock
solid support for the Red Dragons.
Blackjack!
Red Dragons!
Sincerely,
LTC Nate Cook
June 2011
LTC Cook meeting with local leaders
Alpha Battery 3
Bravo Battery 4
Golf Company 5
Headquarters Battery 6-8
Rear Detachment 9
Special News 10-11
Red Dragons in Action 12
Inside this issue:
Page 2
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 3-82FA “Hellraisers”
Hello Hellraiser family and friends. Operation New Dawn has started for Hellraiser Battery! As we continue to accomplish
our mission one task at a time, we find ourselves already one month closer to coming home. For those of us who came early, time
passed like sand in an hourglass, but as soon as the unit arrived, we hit the ground running, time flew, and a month has already
passed.
Our counterparts from 2-11 FA, 25th ID (out of Hawaii) treated us well. They established our housing and arranged for
transportation, and showed us the process so we could do the same for the rest of unit. We went on missions together and quickly
took over. After all, they‟d already been here for a year; it was time for them to go home. In time, the same will be said for us…but
we may decide to do a good ole‟ fashion Texas Bar-B-Cue on the way out!
This deployment we are joined by two additional platoons from Thunder. We integrated with ease and soon they became
“our” platoons. We are all Hellraisers. The missions we conduct are for a singular purpose; train the Iraqi forces to do the job we‟ve
been doing for almost a decade; share smart ideas with each other, and
learn from the other‟s mistakes.
The majority of our missions focus on talking to local leaders,
finding out what they need for support, and how we can best provide it.
Every now and then we find ourselves doing something fun like, “Iraqi
kids day,” a day dedicated to allowing Iraqi children to do things that
our children do, like zip lines, dancing, and, of course, food. Our Iraqi
counterparts welcomed us with open arms. Several of us have had the
opportunity to break bread and drink Chai (tea) with them. They want
the same thing we want, an Iraq that can stand on its own feet, which
can provide for its people, and fight terror whenever and wherever it
rears its ugly head.
The Troopers of Hellraiser Battery are eager to do their jobs,
eager to serve their country, eager to complete our mission and go home
again to their families and friends. We have the honor of being one of
the last units in Iraq. There are even some Soldiers in the Battery who
were here at the very beginning who will also be a part of the closing
chapter.
I want to let each of you know, you play a large role in ensur-
ing success in accomplishing our mission. These Soldiers came here
trained and prepared for the tasks at hand, however we cannot do it without your support. The support you have given us preparing
for our deployment, and what I‟ve seen so far has been incredible. I encourage each of you to continue to show your enthusiastic
care and love for our Hellraiser Soldiers as we have a very dynamic mission ahead of us. Our Soldiers are doing very well and con-
tinue to impress and improve each and every day. The attitude, strength, endurance, confidence, and dedication to the mission are
the best of I‟ve ever seen from any group of Soldiers I‟ve worked with in the last seven years in the Army. It‟s an honor to serve
with each and every one of them. I ask you to keep sending those words of encouragement as Hellraiser Battery continues their ef-
forts. I thank you and your loved one‟s for your service to this great nation.
CPL Vazquez and his wife had a CPL Vazquez and his wife had a
baby girl, Izabelle, 20 Junebaby girl, Izabelle, 20 June
3-82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter
Alpha “Gators”
Babies Born
Birthdays SPC Lopez SPC Lopez -- June 5June 5
1LT Hobgood 1LT Hobgood -- June 14June 14
SSG Rijos SSG Rijos -- June 14June 14
SSG Williams SSG Williams -- June 15June 15
SGT McCord SGT McCord -- June 24June 24
SPC Thomson SPC Thomson -- June 27June 27
SPC Goodwin SPC Goodwin -- June 28June 28
SGT Trinidad SGT Trinidad -- June 29June 29
Anniversaries 2LT Gaasch 2LT Gaasch –– June 3 June 3
SSG Hood SSG Hood –– June 4 June 4
SPC Wonderlin SPC Wonderlin –– June 6 June 6
SGT Canning SGT Canning -- June 4 June 4
SFC Sollano SFC Sollano –– June 13 June 13
SGT RehoSGT Reho–– June 17 June 17
SPC Saucedo SPC Saucedo -- June 17June 17
CPL Vazquez CPL Vazquez --June 17June 17
SSG Rifenbury SSG Rifenbury -- June 25June 25
SPECIAL NEWS
SGT Reho SGT Reho -- June 1June 1
SGT Abrams SGT Abrams -- June 1 June 1
CPT Esquivel CPT Esquivel -- July 1July 1
Promotions
SGT Morales SGT Morales -- July 9July 9
1SG Minton 1SG Minton -- July 11July 11
SPC Allen SPC Allen -- July 16July 16
SGT Wickline SGT Wickline -- July 22July 22
SPC Hyndman SPC Hyndman -- July 28July 28
SSG Crebo SSG Crebo -- July 31July 31
SGT Netherland SGT Netherland -- July 1July 1
SFC Sollano SFC Sollano -- July 2July 2
CPT Esquivel CPT Esquivel -- July 24July 24
PFC Cruger PFC Cruger -- July 27July 27
HHB “Hellraisers”
SSG Tyree SSG Tyree -- July 1July 1
Re-enlistments SFC Gray and his wife had a SFC Gray and his wife had a
baby girl, Joselyn Elizabeth, June baby girl, Joselyn Elizabeth, June
33
CPL Vazquez and his wife had a CPL Vazquez and his wife had a
baby girl, Izabelle, 20 Junebaby girl, Izabelle, 20 June
Babies Born
Birthdays SGT Jones SGT Jones -- June 2June 2
PFC Khan PFC Khan -- June 4June 4
Anniversaries PFC Templeman PFC Templeman -- June 1June 1
SPC Triana SPC Triana -- June 5June 5
PFC Donkor PFC Donkor --June 10June 10
SSG Bennett SSG Bennett -- June 11June 11
PFC Ybarra PFC Ybarra -- June 13June 13
SPC Vanpelt SPC Vanpelt -- June 21June 21
SPC Vasquez SPC Vasquez -- June 23June 23
PFC Loera PFC Loera -- June 25June 25
1LT Koppel 1LT Koppel -- June 25June 25
CPT Hamidou CPT Hamidou -- July 1July 1
CPT Carroll CPT Carroll -- July 1July 1
Promotions
1SG Durand 1SG Durand -- July 1July 1
SSG Tyree SSG Tyree -- July 2July 2
PFC Orozco PFC Orozco -- July 7July 7
PV2 Reeves PV2 Reeves -- July 8July 8
MAJ (P) Capra MAJ (P) Capra -- July 19July 19
Page 11 3-82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter
PFC Maly and his wife had a PFC Maly and his wife had a
baby girl, Amia, June 22baby girl, Amia, June 22
Babies Born
SSG Wills SSG Wills -- June 8 June 8
PFC Simmons PFC Simmons -- June 9June 9
PFC Fiolek PFC Fiolek -- June 9 June 9
SPC Gizynski SPC Gizynski -- June 10 June 10
SSG Phillips SSG Phillips -- June 11 June 11
PFC Hartz PFC Hartz -- June 11 June 11
SGT Coffey SGT Coffey -- June 14 June 14
PFC Turner PFC Turner -- June 15 June 15
PFC Maly PFC Maly -- June 26June 26
Birthdays PFC Osmon PFC Osmon -- July 1 July 1
SGT Moss SGT Moss -- July 4July 4
SPC Santana SPC Santana -- July 6July 6
SGT Colon SGT Colon -- July 7July 7
SGT Bland SGT Bland -- July 12July 12
1SG Towns 1SG Towns -- July 15July 15
SPC Castillo SPC Castillo -- July 18July 18
SGT Kuilan SGT Kuilan -- July 27July 27
SGT Vila SGT Vila -- July 27July 27
SPECIAL NEWS
PFC Calhoun PFC Calhoun -- June 7June 7
Promotions
Golf “Gladiators”
1SG Towns 1SG Towns -- July 12July 12
Anniversaries
Bravo “Thunder”
Birthdays SFC Schuerger SFC Schuerger -- June 14June 14
SGT Kee SGT Kee -- June 25June 25
PFC Piper PFC Piper -- June 28June 28
Anniversaries
SFC Schuerger SFC Schuerger -- June 5June 5
SPC Shinholster SPC Shinholster -- June 16June 16
PV2 Fiolek PV2 Fiolek -- June 9June 9
SSG Welch SSG Welch -- July 1July 1
Promotions
SGT Morales SGT Morales -- July 9July 9
1SG Minton 1SG Minton -- July 11July 11
SPC Allen SPC Allen -- July 16July 16
SGT Wickline SGT Wickline -- July 22July 22
SPC Hyndman SPC Hyndman -- July 28July 28
SSG Crebo SSG Crebo -- July 31July 31
Page 12
3-82 FA Red Dragon Newsletter
SGTs Reho and Abrams being promoted in front of SGTs Reho and Abrams being promoted in front of SGTs Reho and Abrams being promoted in front of Alpha Battery Command PostAlpha Battery Command PostAlpha Battery Command Post
SSG Williams bonding with an Iraqi child during Kid’s DaySSG Williams bonding with an Iraqi child during Kid’s Day
CPT Marcoux demonstrating the proper CPT Marcoux demonstrating the proper CPT Marcoux demonstrating the proper way to check blood pressureway to check blood pressureway to check blood pressure
LTC Cook and 2LTC Cook and 2LTC Cook and 2---11 FA LTC Preston meet with local 11 FA LTC Preston meet with local 11 FA LTC Preston meet with local leaders during change of authorityleaders during change of authorityleaders during change of authority
333---82 FA soldiers cordoning off traffic 82 FA soldiers cordoning off traffic 82 FA soldiers cordoning off traffic from a possible hazardfrom a possible hazardfrom a possible hazard
An Iraqi Commander greets An Iraqi Commander greets An Iraqi Commander greets Alpha Battery Soldiers as they Alpha Battery Soldiers as they Alpha Battery Soldiers as they
arrive at his checkpointarrive at his checkpointarrive at his checkpoint
Two 3Two 3Two 3---82 FA soldiers patrolling 82 FA soldiers patrolling 82 FA soldiers patrolling In their area of operationIn their area of operationIn their area of operation
SPC Flannery perfecting SPC Flannery perfecting SPC Flannery perfecting his skills with his M240B his skills with his M240B his skills with his M240B
crew served weaponcrew served weaponcrew served weapon
Red Dragons in Action
33--82 FA soldiers securing the perimeter during a 82 FA soldiers securing the perimeter during a