112 031308

Commander's Update, March 13, 2008
1st Battalion, 12th United States Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas
Mo Goins, LTC Commanding Officer
“ALWAYS READY”

To the Veterans, Family Members, Friends and Soldiers of Task Force 1st Battalion 12th United States Cavalry.

This is my last letter to you as Charger 6; my change of command will occur on March 26, 2008 at 10:00 CST, the battalion commander of the best battalion in the “Free World.” I am not qualified to make such a statement but it’s what I feel in my heart and this feeling will never change.

What to say………………I am not sure what to say but here goes, this letter may become a little lengthy please forgive me.

My God has blessed me with so much and commanding this battalion was a giant blessing. I have prayed a lot during this command tour and my favorite verse is Luke Chapter 12 verse 48 “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have entrusted with much, of him they will ask the more.” This verse has been my staple throughout my time as Charger 6.

The nation, families, friends and Soldiers have entrusted me with our most important resource, the lives of our loved ones. When my morale was low, God and our battalion would strengthen me. Here are two operations I would like to share with you. Operation Al Rasheed I was an air assault mission and we freed forty-one Iraqi Hostages detained by Al-Quaeda the youngest one was fourteen years old. Second, our battalion was moments from conducting a fourteen CH-47 air assault, Operation Wickersham I, which was a part of the larger Operation Arrow-Head Ripper. The Soldiers were all arrayed in the correct order, doing what Soldiers do prior to a mission,

checking ammo, batteries, praying, napping and I spoke to a few of the boys. We chatted about families and about life. As I walked away from the boys I wondered if any of the ones I had just chatted with would be killed in action. As I always did prior to most all operations and in this case prior to getting aboard the Command and Control aircraft, I went off alone and got on my knees and prayed. God please protect our fine men, the pilots, and please assist me in making the best decisions humanly possible. At this point my mind would shift to the families. The courage & support of families, friends and the 12th Cavalry Regiment Association (www.12thcav.us) is a key reason our battalion was able to defeat Al-Quaeda. The emails, letters, prayers and boxes were most needed shot(s) in the arm which sustained us. I can never repay this debt.

To the American people I also want to say thanks for learning a lesson from Vietnam. To me the lesson learned is - do not hate the Soldier for providing a blanket of protection for which you sleep under. I hope we made you proud.

To the Iraqi people whom assisted our Task Force, I want to say thank you. Your kind smile, warm bread, hot tea and love for us eased the pain and allowed us to keep fighting the good fight. I will always pray for you and yours.

We sustained twenty-eight killed in action and over two hundred wounded. To the ladies of the Family Readiness Group, Care Teams, and Go Teams, your love for the Soldiers, families, unit and the dedication it took to continue to assist were amazing. Folks like you are why the United States is the only World Super Power. To the KIA & WIA and their families; may God, the Son and the Holy Ghost continue bring you peace and remember you will forever be a part of me and our battalion:

• SFC Schuyler Haynes

• SGT Mitchel Mutz

• SSG Daniel Morris

• CPL John Barta

• CPL Richard Smith

• CPL Jonathan Schiller

• SPC Ryan Berg

• SPC Nathan Fairlie

• CPL Eric Sieger

• PV2 Clarence Spencer

• SSG Eric Ross

• SSG Alan Shaw

• CPL Leeroy Camacho

• SGT Carl Seigart

• SGT John Rode

• SPC Ronnie Madore

• PFC Branden Cummings

• CPL Ryan Russell

• SGT Blake Harris

• PV2 Barry Mayo

• SPC Adam Rosema

• SGT Jason Shaffer

• CPL Dan Nguyen

• SPC Joshua Romero

• SGT Anselmo Martinez

• SGT Casey Nash

• CPL Francis Trussel

• CPL Darryl Linder

To the enemy of the free world I have but one quote for you: “keep running and you will only die tired.” I will continue to pray for your lost soul(s) in order that one day you will see the light.

To the Soldiers of “OUR” battalion: I want you to remember a quote by President Theodore Roosevelt which was a part of the speech at the Sorbonne “CITIZENSHIP IN A REPUBLIC” Paris, France April 23, 1910

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

This battalion will be in excellent hands with the new command team of LTC Mike Fadden and his lovely wife Brenda.

Lastly, may God continue to bless each family, household and person associated with Task Force 1st Battalion 12th United States Cavalry Regiment, the best battalion in the “Free World.”

It was my honor and privilege to serve you as Charger 6; for the final time: “See You on the High Ground.”

Morris T. Goins
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
Commanding Officer
1st Battalion 12th U.S. Cavalry
"Always Ready”