Ironhorse Brigade heads home after an extended 15 month tour in Iraq

By Spc. Shejal Pulivarti

Soldiers share a last laugh on Camp Taji, Iraq while showing each other identification cards prior to boarding a Chinook. Soldiers are Saipan native Spc. Deefrancella Shiro (left), a petroleum supply specialist and Los Angeles, Calif. Native Spc. Noemi Munoz (right), a mechanic, both in Company G 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The Ironhorse Brigade is heading back to Fort Hood, Texas after an extended 15-month deployment to Northwest Iraq. {U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shejal Pulivarti, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

Soldiers from 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were smiling with excitement as they waited to board their long anticipated flights Jan 12. The Ironhorse Brigade, that is being replaced by 2nd "Warrior" Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, have finally begun their journey back home to Fort Hood, Texas after an extended 15-month deployment to Northwest Iraq.

Roundup, Mon. native Col. Paul E. Funk II, commander, 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, congratulates all the soldiers of the Ironhorse Brigade on a successful tour prior to boarding their departure flight. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shejal Pulivarti, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

"After 15 long months, it feels good to finally be leaving and rejoin our families back home," said Los Angeles, Calif. native Staff Sgt. Cesar Martinez, cannon crew chief for Battery B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. "I and my comrades have been through a lot, good and bad, but we got the mission done successfully."

Soldiers excitedly share with each other their plans upon return to Fort Hood, Texas after an extended 15-month deployment. Pictured are Brooklyn, N.Y. native Spc. Robert Martini (left), cannon crew member, Monticello, Ill. Native Staff Sgt. Jason Mcclain (center), section chief and Abilene, Texas native, Spc. Joshua Monroe (right), all from Battery A, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shejal Pulivarti, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

Throughout the tour, the Ironhorse Brigade established and maintained a safe, secure and stable environment in their area of operations. They decreased weekly violence and incidents eighty percent in their area said Roundup, Mon. native Col. Paul E. Funk II, commander of 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div.

Troopers from the 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division load up on a Chinook as they close out an extended 15-month deployment in Northwest Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Shejal Pulivarti, 1st BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

A sense of anxiousness blanketed the old warehouse where the manifest for the various flights took place. The many Soldiers reminisced about the experiences, trials and adventures they encountered during the elongated deployment. "I've learned from experiencing how these people live, we could have it a lot worse than we do in America and that we usually take a lot of things we have for granted," stated Bay City, Texas native Spc. Nicholas Bomar, cannon crew member for Troop D, 1st Battalion, 82nd F.A.

"I'm proud of what my troops accomplished during this tour; we maintained a significant decrease in violence since our arrival. We assisted in providing essential services and participated in the reconciliation process. It's now time for us to pass the baton, go home and reunite with our families," said Funk.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

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