1/68 Easy Company's Prayers Answered A Thousand Times

By Staff Sgt. Samantha M. Stryker, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

First Lt. Christopher Kidd, E. Co., 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion, interacts with a local child in the town of Huwaydir, northeast of Baghdad, during a patrol in the town. Photo: Staff Sgt. Samantha M. Stryker, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAQUBAH, Iraq - On Ramadan's night of a thousand prayers, Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division count one prayer as having been answered as they prepare to return home after a year-long deployment in Iraq.

But there is still work to do during the final celebrations of Ramadan and the night of power before these units can manifest for flights and ship their equipment home.

This night means only one thing to the men of Easy Company, 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion - another force protection mission outside the wire.

For some it is their last mission before they leave this desert land, for others it is just one more presence patrol in sometimes hospitable urban areas. But for every Soldier, any one mission is a matter of life and death.

"This patrol is the last mission for some of you, but everyone needs to treat this mission like you did the first," said Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Simmons, platoon sergeant to Soldiers mounted with gear. "Let's all make it home."

First Lt. Christopher Kidd, Co. E, 1-68 CAB, explained why it is important that his engineer and infantry Soldiers continue these missions in spite of the fact his unit is days from leaving country.

"We are looking to disrupt any (anti-coalition) activity by being in the area and looking for mortar tubes," Kidd said. The engineer officer said in recent days mortar fire aimed at Forward Operating Base Warhorse originated from the north.

"Force protection measures can not stop until the new guys learn the ropes," he added.

Kidd stated that presence patrols not only help to deter insurgent activity but also helped to build and maintain good relations with local communities.

Platoon members drove on the rural roads skirting the river outside of Septia looking for mortar tubes or any other tell-tale signs of insurgent activity. After arriving at the Governor's Center, leaders briefly met and shared information with Gen. Mudafa, who is the leader of the Iraqi Police emergency-reaction force in Baqubah.

In the town of Huwaydir, a Shia town, Soldiers quietly delivered medical supplies as locals smiled and waved at them.

"We want to leave here as the silent professionals we are," said Master Sgt. Eugene Moses, operations sergeant major, 1-68 CAB.

"We will continue to lean into the fight until we are on the bird," said Moses. "We must stay focused until we are all done. For us there is no difference between day one and the last day."

Moses echoed what other leaders are saying about how Soldiers and the brigade are better than before because they were able to accomplish their mission, which was to leave Iraq in better condition than when they arrived. They accomplished this by improving the infrastructure to meet basic human needs and improve the country's security by training the Army and police forces.

Right-seat rides and handovers are slowly taking place between the battalion and their replacements, 1-12 CAB. As one prayer is answered and the Soldiers prepare to return to Fort Carson, Colo., they keep many more prayers in their hearts for lost friends and comrades who will not make the journey home with them.

Their year of service may have come to an end, but they leave the foundation for even more improvement in the next year. The men of 1-68 CAB can be proud of what they have accomplished here in Diyala Province. So can the people of Iraq.

alan@newsblaze.com

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