Begin from last to first if looking for the story

As with these you have to start at the last and work your way to the first for a chronological ordering of events, more or less.

NTC okay I drove 200 yards onto it so have been there now

Working at Edwards AFB now.







Old Tankers Never Die they just go around taking stupid photos of old tanks.

The XO at Fort Sill "Check or Hold" 2010 and a walk through 2005

The man, the myth, the legend, he sweet talked the Iraqi women from being suicide bombers with his charm, then he hardened the Balad Ruz ING HQ, built the only live fire range used during the entire deployment to include grenading bunkers, got out the vote, and like Patton he was with J.E.B. Stuart in another life, previously as a cannoneer, unfortunately back then the rifles outranged the cannons so he was tragically shot dead at Chickamauga, he came back as Union mule skinner though. Currently he fires the said cannon seen here at the daily flag raising at Fort Sill, the honor goes to the those older than the cannon, or closest to that mark.

He re-enlisted only those that would take the Oath on the Iranian border within rifle fire range of the Iranian "elite" border patrol militia who screamed "Jihad" "Death to America" as the oath was adiministered, Hooooahs and Rebel yells being returned by the Tennesseans providing overwatch.

He sat inconspicuosly on the Tank main gun for the unit photo, and in the MiTT photo on his Hummer, A65 "always looking for trouble".

He commanded the elite secret American motorcycle assault team in Iraq, he is currently in training for the 20th Group bicycle attack sapper team, the bike frames are actually filled with high-explosives and magnetized so you can stick them to a metal bridge, or 550 cord them, this innocent looking model he is sitting on in a secret location is actually a weapon of mass destruction. Specialized now has a whole new meaning. (Special Forces had to have the word "Specialized" of course yielding the new "Specialized Special Forces" monikor).

Graduation Photo of the Field Artillery Career Course now included, truely a renaissance man, farmer, warrior, poet, lover, and athelete.

SPC Light and Simms(? spelling) Athens Park 2010

Athens Park 2010, and Iraq 2005, that is Light in between Rios and Dalton on the other end of the stretcher and humping the MK19 40mm Grenade launcher outside our CHUs at "Battle Position Caldwell" FOB Caldwell/KMTB.

Simms is going back a-gain, Godspeed to bold and the brave! Sergeant Simms already has survived one fight, April 4th 2005.

Balad Ruz 2007-2009

They can thank the Texas Engineers for that sweet HESCO barrier barricade along the main drag, and SFC Lowe/XO Andrews. now someone go get the gravel from FOB Knott and put it down and the job will be done.

SFC Bobbit, 1st PLT PSG

Outskirts of Balad Ruz, Iraq 2005, NC Guard mounting up, 2004. Top left first operational week for 278th RCT December 2004, day after Christmas. SFC Bobbit and RTO looking GI Joe Vietnam Backdrop Style. All they need now is a napalm strike on the palm trees.

West Point Graduates Deaths (Vic Baladruz)

These guys have taken a number of hits, West Point Graduates, indicative of the role of a second lieutenant being up front with their troops, more remarkable given we did not have anyone killed in Balad Ruz during our deployment, or the immediate vicinity. Now the Iraqis had dozens killed in the same period. Hind sight is 20/20 but I am thankful for the route clearing efforts of our tank platoon and others now and our general situational awareness and patrol posture, armed to the teeth would describe it mostly. It was not glamorous but the route clearing made all the difference looking back.

CPT Schiller was KIA during a small arms engagement, Capt. Torre R. Mallard was killed by an IED.