Home at Last

More pictures and video of the homecoming soon!

Trip to UR

Fifteen kilometers from Nasiriya stands UR, birthplace of Abraham, as mentioned in the Bible. For three successive dynasties it was the Summerians famous capital. The third, and last, dynasty (2113-2095 B.C.) was founded by King UR-NAMMO. The king's renowned stems from the laws he established and the buildings and temples he constructed of which the most important is the Ziggurat of UR, rectangular in shape and measuring at its base 62.5x43m with a height of 17.25m.

Chemical Plant

Today a few of us took a trip to a bombed out chemical plant located close to our base. The first picture is a mural that was located outside of the compound, the next picture is of the entry point a the bomb took out part of the building. The rest of the building was unstable, ceilings collapsed, no windows, etc.

Bronze Star Narrative

SGT John R. Brown III is recommended for the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service while serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 17 August 2005 to 17 October 2006. SGT Brown utilized skill, common sense, professional knowledge, and devotion to duty, while assigned as the 189th Transportation Company (TC) Administrative NCO. SGT Brown provided confidence to Soldiers that their obligations concerning family, finances, and career were in good hands. This knowledge allowed the Soldiers to remain battle-focused while traveling throughout the most dangerous roads in the operational theater. The impact of his dedication and Soldier-centered approach to all 168 members of the 189th TC, was the coordination of over 1,500 monthly counseling statements, identified Army Incentive Pay (AIP) actions for Soldiers totaling $46,000, process of over 1,000 State and regular-Army unit awards, 34 Soldiers identified and processed for promotion, achievement of an administrative rating of “Commendable” by scoring 100% on the Battalion Command Inspection Program, and management of a unit retention program that retained 45 Soldiers resulting in over a half-million dollars in bonus pay. SGT Brown met the challenge of his new assignment by investing hours of personal time to become Military Occupational Skill Qualified (MOS-Q) during the units mobilization phase. This dedication and commitment to becoming competent at his duties produced immense dividends for the Soldiers who would come to rely on his aggressive and meticulous attention to their needs. Working the majority of his tour without assistance, SGT Brown managed the combat power by tracking personnel, strength accountability, sick-calls, casualty reporting, emergency leave, rest and recuperation leave, awards, Unit Status Reports (USR), and personnel actions. SGT Browns primary focus was keeping up-to-date on issues that would impact Soldier’s pay, benefits, or family-care. He identified early-on that approximately 15 enlisted Soldiers had not received promotions in accordance with Army regulation, and coordinated the paperwork and command attention to correct this issue. He researched the Army’s retention bonus program, and coordinated with the Battalion and finance department to ensure prompt documentation and financial credit for our brave Soldiers who have volunteered to reenlist while serving in a combat zone. Meeting the needs of Soldiers serving second tours-of-duty, he troubleshot and kept a vigilant watch over issues that affected Soldiers receiving AIP actions when issues arose that delayed payment. SGT Brown met the needs of Soldiers outside the office, by instructing training classes and Non-Commissioned Officer Development Program (NCODP) courses. SGT Brown dedicated an exemplary amount of his limited personal time, civilian professional experience, and living space, by housing, personally managing, and updating the company Internet system, upon which so many Soldiers of the 189th TC were able to keep in touch with loved ones thousands of miles away. SGT Brown was an inspiration to his fellow Soldiers and contributed significantly to the high standards of administration, Soldier retention, and Soldier-care of the 189th TC. His actions reflect great credit upon himself, the 3D Corps Support Command, and the United States Army.

LT Promotions

Today I attended the promotion for our three Lieutenants. They were Second Lieutenants (otherwise called butter bars because the single bar which makes up their rank is gold colored) Now, they are First Lieutenants which is a single black bar. Each LT was pinned by a person of their choice.

Battalion Staff

Over the past year, I've worked very close with our higher headquarters which is called a Battalion or abbreviated as BN. The BN is made up of several sections however I worked most closely with the Personnel section, which makes sense because I handle personnel matters on the Company level.

These individuals in BN have been extremely helpful throughout the year. They have gave me a lot of support which in turn helped me handle the Company's 166 Soldier's issues and concerns with greater ease. I coordinated with BN on several things to include R&R Leave/Pass programs, finance issues, line of duty injury reports, awards, and lots of other things.

Overall we had a very good relationship which contributed to the well-being of the Company's troops, and allowed them to complete their missions without worry of all the administrative hassles that go along with being in the Army.

The First Sergeant and I presented Staff Sergeant "G" with a plaque on behalf of the Company thanking him for his help this deployment. Here is the picture of SSG "G" and myself.
This is a picture of the entire BN crew that I worked with.

It's HOT

You know its going to be a hot day when you wake up for work and its already 100 degrees out.
This picture isn't too great because the sun was in my eyes.

Bronze Star Medal

Today was probably one of the first days in a long time where I woke up this morning went outside and it wasn't 100 degrees already. It was probably a cool low 90.

We had a Battalion formation at 0900 because the Commanding General was coming to present awards. Above is a picture of the CG and I after she presented me with a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service for the past year I've spent deployed.

What was really more exciting for me was to see some of the Soldiers get awards that contributed to the efforts which resulted in saving SGT Marksmeier's life on the 31-July convoy that was hit by an IED. However, I wish during the ceremony they would have specifically announced these.

The criteria for the Bronze Star is: a. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after 6 December 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

b. Awards may be made for acts of heroism, performed under circumstances described above, which are of lesser degree than required for the award of the Silver Star. c. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

c. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or meritorious service. The required achievement or service while of lesser degree than that required for the award of the Legion of Merit must nevertheless have been meritorious and accomplished with distinction.

Moving to New Offices

I've spent the last two or three days busy moving into a new office.

They aren't too bad... Here's a pic of my desk now...

Mug Shot

I had to get my picture taken, here it is...