Awards Mark End of Successful Deployment for Greywolf Brigade

By Spc. Sharla Lewis

3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

Multi-National Division - North PAO

MOSUL, Iraq - 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division recognized its Soldiers with Army Commendation Medals and Bronze Star Medals near the close of its 2009 deployment to Ninewah province, Iraq.

As troops packed and inventoried equipment, manifested flights and planned family reunions, the brigade ensured that Soldiers received their end-of-tour awards before redeploying to Fort Hood, Texas.

"We found there were many awards that were lost last tour in the transition back to Fort Hood and had to be rewritten and resubmitted," said Cpl. Martin Perez, the brigade's awards specialist and a native of Mission, Texas. "So this time around, we wanted to get them done earlier to ensure the Soldiers get the awards they deserve."

Lt. Col. Phil Brooks, the commander for 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division presents the Army Commendation Medal to Soldiers of F Forward Support Company. The medals mark the end of the brigade's year long tour to Ninewah province, Iraq and revoke feelings of pride and esprit de corps for many Soldiers. "We've made a lot of sacrifices coming over here by leaving family behind and taking certain risks. There's a sense of pride that goes along with that," said Spc. Charles Brenay, a transportation specialist with the company and a native of Ocala, Fla. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis, 3rd Heavy Bde. Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

The human resources office started processing the awards in May for one battalion, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division who worked under 3rd HBCT until they redeployed in August. In June, Cpl. Perez and his team began reviewing awards for the Greywolf Brigade's own redeployment.

Cpl. Perez said that recognizing the Soldiers in 3rd HBCT for their hard work and dedication was rewarding and the reason that he enjoys his job.

1st Lt. Meghan Schrader, the assistant logistician for 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion and a native of Virginia Beach, Va., said that her Bronze Star Medal symbolized the hard work and motivation she put into being a platoon leader and assistant logistician in combat.

"The first six months of the deployment, we were out in the city on patrol every day, so motivating [my Soldiers] wasn't as hard," she said. "They could see exactly what they did every day. They could see fitting into the big picture, and they felt accomplishment just by going on missions."

Col. Gary Volesky, the commander of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division presents the Bronze Star Medal to 1st Lt. Meghan Schrader, the assistant logistician for 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. "The hard part is trying to motivate the Soldier that works in an office with no windows every day for a year of their life not knowing whether they have made a difference," 1st Lt. Schrader said. "I was the head of the [provincial reconstruction team] security element and then I spent the last six months of the deployment in a staff position. It showed me both sides, it showed me the patrolling side as well as the staff side." (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sharla Lewis, 3rd Heavy Bde. Combat Team, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs)

"The hard part is trying to motivate the Soldier that works in an office with no windows every day for a year of their life not knowing whether they have made a difference," 1st Lt. Schrader said.

Spc. Charles Brenay, a truck driver with F Forward Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment and a native of Ocala, Fla., said that earning the Army Commendation Medal was a team effort that he was proud to share the honor with his unit.

"The unit as a whole helped each other earn the medal. We accomplished a lot over here. I'm proud to have the opportunity to serve my country and I'm happy to be coming back home," he said.

Spc. Brenay said that receiving his medal showed that he was another step closer to returning home.

"I'm very excited to be going home. The first thing that I'll probably do when I get home is grab my wife and swing her around," Spc. Brenay said.

Before returning to Fort Hood, 3rd HBCT will have honored 4,873 Soldiers with end-of-tour awards, ensuring Soldiers in the brigade were recognized for their efforts.