Patriots Honor Veterans Day Observance With Mass Re-Enlistment.

By Spc. Katrina Faulkner-Brown

4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (L) PAO, MND-B

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq - More than 70 Patriot Brigade Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, re-enlisted during a Veterans Day observance, at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad.

Soldiers assigned to 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, present arms as the National Anthem plays during a Veterans Day re-enlistment ceremony, at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Katrina Faulkner- Brown, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (L), MND-B)

Col. Mark Dewhurst, brigade commander of 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. from Papillion, Neb., commenced the ceremony at exactly 11 a.m. in remembrance of the armistice that ceased fighting in World War I. The treaty ending the war went into effect the day following its signing at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month. Seventy-two Soldiers lifted their right hands as they recited the oath of re-enlistment that Dewhurst administered.

Each Patriot Soldier had his or her own reasons for re-enlisting, and career stability was the most important for many of them. "My wife thought it was a smart move on my part, due to the economy," explained Spc. Brandon Stephenson, an infantrymen from Independence, Mo. assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment.

Staff Sgt. Mariano Archbold, a 40-year-old Soldier from Colon, Panama assigned Company A, 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, slices a celebration cake following a Veterans Day re-enlistment ceremony, at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad. Archbold had the honor of helping cut the cake because he was the oldest of the 72 Soldiers to re-enlist during the ceremony. Pfc. Devon Cooper (center), a 19-year-old infantryman from Humboldt, Neb. assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, who was the youngest Soldier to re-enlist, also cut the cake, as did Col. Mark Dewhurst, brigade commander from Papillion, Neb., and Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Greca, brigade command sergeant major from Grayslake, Ill. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Katrina Faulkner- Brown, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (L), MND-B)

"The Army has taught me a lot about myself, and things I thought I couldn't do I found it surprising to do." Sgt. Roy Walters, a Weed, Calif. native assigned to 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, and his spouse gave the decision a considerable amount of thought. "My wife and I prayed long and hard about re-enlisting, because we are ready to have a baby," said Walters. "And since I was able to get an assignment that would give me at least two years dwell time (time with no deployments), we decided to re-enlist."

Walters is the senior medic for Troop A. He has been in the military for five years and re-enlisted for three years. He stated that his goal is to pursue his bachelor's degree in nursing or physician assistant before he gets out of the military.

Col. Mark Dewhurst (left) 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division brigade commander from Papillion, Neb., re-enlists 72 Patriot Brigade Soldiers on Veterans Day, at Forward Operating Base Loyalty in eastern Baghdad. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Katrina Faulkner- Brown, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (L), MND-B)

In keeping with Army traditions, the youngest and eldest Soldier re-enlistees cut a celebration cake. Pfc. Devon Cooper, a 19-year-old infantryman from Humboldt, Neb. assigned to Company C, 2nd Bn., 30th Inf. and 40-year-old Staff Sgt. Mariano Archbold from Colon, Panama, assigned to Company A, 94th Brigade Support Battalion, performed the cake-cutting honors following the ceremony. Archbold is a career Soldier and stated that his goal is to become Sergeant Major of the Army. "It is an honor to re-enlist on such a memorable day," he said.

   _   _