Commander's Update, June 30, 2007
1/12th Cavalry
Mo Goins, LTC Commanding Officer
Charger Veterans,
It is my honor to update you on the current operations of 1-12 CAV. We have been in combat in Iraq for 9 months. Our soldiers are ‘steely eyed warriors’ now, and have mastered urban combat against a fanatical enemy. They are also experts on counterinsurgency, and understand that a combined medical engagement can be as effective against the enemy as an L-shaped ambush. We are making substantial progress now in Baq’uba, the Capital of Diyala Province. There are five battalions in the area of operations that Charger single-handedly controlled from November through March. In fact, we are currently attached to 3rd Stryker Brigade of 2nd Infantry Division in support of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. As part of the surge plan, Arrowhead Ripper is an operation to clear Al Qaeda from Baq’uba.
In addition to working for 3-2 Stryker Brigade, we’ve also had many company level attachments and detachments over the past few months. Apache Company has been attached to 5-20 IN of 3-2 SBCT. They have operated almost exclusively in West Baq’uba, and have been in continuous contact with the enemy. Apache has mastered the art of baited ambushes, and conducts operations with air weapons teams like no other. Bonecrusher Company also worked under 5-20 IN temporarily, but is now assigned back to 1-12 CAV. They operate in East Baq’uba, and have pacified the enemy in one of the worst parts of the city. They are partnering effectively with the Iraqi Army and Police, and are using insurgent ‘scouts’ to assist in rooting out Al Qaeda. Crazyhorse Company conducted a battle handover of Khan Bani Sa’ad to 2-1 CAV, and now operates in northeast Baq’uba. Crazyhorse secures key sites in the area, disrupts insurgent lines of communication into Baq’uba, and also conducts civil military operations. They recently led the effort to revitalize the Baq’uba Water Treatment Plant, which is now providing fresh water to the population. Deathdealer Company continued to bring stability to the city of Khalis until recently when it was attached to 1-23 IN in support of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. Deathdealer destroyed an entire 60 man insurgent unit recently in a single engagement that was the result of aggressive combat patrolling and intelligence gathering. Wardog Company has evolved into a route clearance formation, and is responsible for finding and destroying IEDs on key routes. They are extremely savvy in locating even the most sinister IEDs, so much so that the enemy targets Wardog relentlessly. Wardog returns fire and continues to hunt IEDs. Their persistence and expertise has surely saved many lives. In support, Hellraiser Company and Easy Forward Support Company have been phenomenal. Hellraiser snipers are constantly harassing and attriting the enemy, and the mortar platoon is providing responsive fires as well as personal security to the command group during engagements with local nationals. Easy is sustaining the battalion across a huge area of operations and at eight different fixed sites. With Hellraiser and Easy’s support, the Charger BN is well supplied and maintained. Additionally, 1-12 CAV has D/2-35 IN and B/1-14 CAV attached for operations in Baquba.
In addition to the work being done by our assigned Companies, 1-12 CAV continues to conduct the full range of counterinsurgency operations. 1-12 CAV has excelled in Civil Military Operations. We have spent literally millions of dollars repairing infrastructure in Iraq so that the population has the basic services that we take for granted in the U.S. These services include sanitation, clean water, electricity, medical assistance and food distribution. We’ve also conducted multiple humanitarian assistance operations, delivering blankets in the winter months, and water and food during the spring and summer. 1-12 CAV has also trained the Iraqi Army and Police with our attached military transition teams, or MiTTs. The MiTTs have assisted us in partnering with Iraqi Army units during combat operations. When not engaged in combat, the MiTT advises and trains the Iraqi Army battalions in our area.
Along with all other units in the ‘surge’, 1-12 CAV’s combat tour was recently extended by 3 months, so we will have the opportunity to kill more insurgents and provide more services to the Iraqi population. We are scheduled to be home before Christmas, but are also aware that we may be ordered to stay even longer. Regardless, we look forward to sharing our war stories with the older generation of Charger Veterans upon our return.
You may have seen 1-12 CAV in the national news recently. Operation Arrowhead Ripper was featured on CNN, FOX and the New York Times. The operation has been very successful, due in no small measure to the Charger BN. Also in the news, 1-12 CAV located a prison camp and conducted an air and ground assault to seize the site before insurgents could evacuate the camp. We successfully freed 41 prisoners from the Al Qaeda camp. This operation freed more Al Qaeda victims than any other single operation during OIF.
As always, 1-12 CAV is reminded of the sacrifice of those 12th Cavalry veterans that have come before us. Most recently we lost CPL Linder, of Apache Company. His Bradley Fighting Vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. While we will continue to bring the fight to the enemy, we will also remember the sacrifice of Charger Soldiers, past and present, and thank God for the opportunity to share the liberty with which we have been blessed.
Sincerely,
Morris T. Goins
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army
Commanding Officer