Multi-National Division – Baghdad “First Team.....Team First” Thursday, May 28, 2009

Joint operation clears Nassir factory

By Capt. Maggie White56th SBCT PAOTAJI, Iraq — Soldiers from the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team conducted a large-scale joint operation May 24, with members of the Iraqi Army to clear a factory of possible enemy insurgent activity.

Independence Soldiers, along with elements of the 36th and 37th Battalions of the Iraqi Army, conducted a massive sweep of the Nassir factory and Kem village in order to upset enemy activ-

ity.The Nassir factory, located

about 2 miles north of Camp Taji, has historically been an area of insurgent action in the northern Baghdad belt.

This was the first joint op-eration of this size, conducted by the Pennsylvania National Guard troops and the Iraqi Army. It included two com-panies each from 56th SBCT and the Iraqi Army.

“This is an important mis-sion to disrupt insurgent ac-tivities,” said Col. Marc Fer-raro, 56th SBCT commander.

“We want to work with our Iraqi counterparts to make this a success.”

Iraqi and American Sol-diers worked their way through the Nassir factory, walking building to building to clear the massive complex. The premises were swept for weapon caches, bombs, and personnel with outstanding warrants.

Soldiers also patrolled through the village of Kem, located directly north of the factory.

Second Lt. Dustin Wolf-

gang, of Company B, 1st Bat-talion, 112th Infantry Regi-ment, led his platoon through the area with a squad of Iraqi Soldiers.

He worked with his Iraqi counterparts every step of the way, watching as both groups of Soldiers inspected the warehouses and facilities.

“I’m glad to see the Iraqi Army take the lead,” Wolf-gang said.

“The Iraqi people see that the U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers are working hand-in-hand to make their country safer.”

Staff Sgt. Paul Hanson (left) and Spec. Adam Ortiz, both of Erie, Pa, prepare to enter a building at the Nassir factory. Both Soldiers are from Company B, 1st Battalion, 112th Inf. Rgmt., 56th Stryker BCT.

A Soldier from Company B, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, provides overwatch from a cistern at the Nas-sir factory complex north of Camp Taji, May 24.

PAGE 2 May 28, 2009

Busy year precedes infantryman’s trip to IraqBy Sgt. Doug Roles56th SBCT

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – A Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldier who began his basic training the day the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team mobilized has caught up to his unit in Iraq, after a busy year of military instruction.

Pvt. Jason Berry, of Carlisle, Pa., with Company B, 2nd Battal-ion, 112th Infantry Regiment, said he joined to serve and can best do that by being with his deployed unit at Camp Liberty where the 2-112th is attached to 2nd Bri-gade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

“This is the Guard’s biggest [combat] deployment since World War II. I wanted to be a part of it and do my part,” Berry said.

Berry, 20, enlisted in the Guard in February 2008. He began basic training Sept. 19, 2008, the day the 56th SBCT began its move to Camp Shelby, Miss. for train-up. Berry enlisted with the Guard’s now-defunct 104th Long Range

Surveillance Detachment, which was based at Fort Indiantown Gap.

“I got to go to Airborne school for joining that unit,” Berry said. “Then they put me with the Stryk-er unit, which I knew was over here.”

Berry completed jump school in February. When he went to drill weekend in March he started ask-ing to be sent to Iraq.

“I just kept pushing at it and I got to come,” Berry said. “For the Stryker brigade, I thought it might be a few years before they deployed again.”

“In one year I’ve learned a ton of information. It’ll definitely pay off; the discipline you get in the military,” Berry said.

After arriving in Kuwait, where he completed several days of training, Berry linked up with a 28th Infantry Division, Pa. Guard liaison who coordinated his move-ment to Camp Liberty, where he joined his platoon in late April.

“You have to wait a day or two before you can go out,” Ber-

ry said, adding that his unit then began including him in missions outside the wire, in Abu Ghraib.

“There’s no better way to learn than to be over here,” Berry said.

Berry’s brother, Dave Berry, 22, also of Carlisle, is also serv-ing in Iraq, with the Guard’s 28th Combat Aviation Brigade. Berry said his brother’s service was one motivator for his enlisting. Being able to join the 56th’s deployment also puts Berry and his brother on a more closely-matched schedule so the two can enjoy time at home together. The 28th CAB arrived in Iraq in April.

Berry plans to drill at the Her-shey, Pa. armory upon redeploy-ment. He is considering college, possibly at Messiah College or Shippensburg University, and may pursue youth ministry or education.

“I’d love to be a gym teacher working with kids,” Berry said. “We’ll see where God takes it. The Guard has a great [financial aid] package.”

Berry said that like everyone

else in his unit, he misses home. But he said he is living out one of his goals.

“I know everyone misses their family. It’s really hard but it’s been my plan. I’ve been training to go,” Berry said. “I feel I’m al-ways growing and maturing.”

Berry, a 2005 graduate of Car-lisle High School, is the son of Dirk and Karen Berry of Carlisle. His brother Dave is a 2007 gradu-ate of the same high school.

Soldier in Focus - Pvt. Jason Berry

BERRY

Soldier in Focus - Sgt. Richard Dusenberry1st Lt. Jordon DavisCompany A, 46th ECB (H)

BAGHDAD – Sgt. Richard Dusenberry, a 26 year old native of Orion, Ill., with the 46th Engi-neer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 225th Engineer Brigade, leads a mobile electrical task force of nine electricians and carpenters. Their efforts bring power to Joint Security Stations and ensure that pre-existing electrical hazards are identified and corrected.

Dusenberry earned the high-est score in the 46th ECB (H), while becoming certified in the Task Force Safe Course, a Multi-National Corps Iraq level elec-trical safety course, and has run over 100 football fields worth of electrical cable since his team’s

inception. Sgt. Dusenberry supervised

the upgrade of Joint Security Sta-tion Ur after an attack damaged several facilities, along with Sol-dier morale. His team wired elev-en Containerized Housing Units, a dining facility, and a recreation building; returning operations ca-pabilities and improving quality of life for the deployed Warriors of Task Force 1-6 Infantry.

During this effort, he and his team ran parallel runs of 4x240mm electrical cable, which weighs a staggering 64 pounds per foot, in full gear, in temperatures ex-ceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit. After completing one of the con-nections, one of the runs was sev-ered under vehicle traffic, causing

the entire run to be replaced. Sgt. Dusenberry kept his young team moving forward, fueling them with his “lead-from-the-front” at-titude, mixed with a healthy dose of mid-West sarcasm.

Sgt. Dusenberry inspected and certified shower units at eight separate locations in less than 72 hours throughout MND-B. His efforts to properly ground each water heater, panel box, CHU frame and ensure the interior wir-ing met specifications, safeguard-ing Soldiers across the theater.

“The consequences of one, even minor misdiagnosis can make a bad day for the units on ground, so I remained seemingly nonplussed, steadfastly ensuring the safety of the maneuver units

on the ground,” stated Dusen-berry.

Sgt. Richard Dusen-berry shows off a main distribution panel that he and his team built in support of a much need-ed electrical upgrade at JSS Zafaraniyah.

Photo by Capt. Reyn Landreth

Taking care to ensure safety while boosting morale

PAGE 3 May 28, 2009

Cav Round-Up radio newscast availableMND-B PAO

BAGHDAD — The Cav Round-Up is a three-minute radio newscast from Baghdad covering military units and events across Multi-National Division — Baghdad.

Today’s Cav Round-Up # 76 was pro-duced by SGT Lisa Heise, MND-B Pub-lic Affairs Office.

The May 27 newscast includes the following two stories:

1. Soldiers must be versatile. Using the talents other than the ones the Army

gave him, SGT Paul Lerma is helping his fellow soldiers have a better quality of life.

His MOS is mechanic, but he is do-ing many other things. In JSS Wareagle, he is leading a team as the resident con-struction guru. He handles ventilation and crafts desks, when necessary. SGT Nathan Jones, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Baghdad Public Affairs.

2. Thanks to a tip from an Iraqi ci-vilian, a weapons cache was discovered

and a suspect arrested in the Mansour district of Baghdad. Iraqi and U.S. forces worked together to arrest a man at his house where the cache was located and then an Iraqi EOD team and properly dis-posed of the weapons.

To hear the Cav Round-Up, click on the following links:

NIPR LINK: Cav Round-UpSIPR LINK: Cav Round-UpCheck out more news at the 1st Cav-

alry Division’s homepage:www.cavcountry.net

Read MND-B stories, see photos in and outside the wire

By Sgt. Mary Phillips30th HBCT PAO, MND-B

BAGHDAD - Pfc. Robert Kubas, a gunner for the personal security detail for the battalion commander of the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Multi-National Division-Baghdad, is trained and ready for the fight.

Kubas, of Elm City, N.C., joined the N.C. National Guard in February 2008 and is now deployed at Forward Operating Base Falcon in Iraq.

“I felt like I had to give back to my country,” said Kubas of his desire to join.

Kubas enlisted in the National Guard as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear special-ist, but most of his time on active orders has been spent training with the PSD.

“I signed up to be on the PSD as soon as I heard they were form-ing a team,” Kubas said.

In February, Soldiers interest-

ed in being part of the PSD were interviewed by Command Sgt. Maj. John Cole and Maj. Richard Glancy, both from the battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

Later that month, they se-lected Kubas, and a number of other Soldiers, for the team. They began training together imme-diately, and living together soon after. All of the time together has helped them learn to rely on one another. “We know each other and we’ve been working together long enough that we trust in each other and our leadership’s deci-sions,” Kubas said.

During the brigade’s mobi-lization at Camp Shelby, Miss., members of the PSD conducted training specific to their job, in addition to those skills and tasks being taught to the rest of the bri-gade’s Soldiers. Conducted in a mock Iraqi village, PSD Soldiers focused mostly on protecting their charge, called their principal.

“It just made things more real and it made you realize that things are going to be out of your con-trol,” Kubas said. “That’s really all the training is, it just allows you to realize that it’s going to be hectic and you can rely on your training and your drills.”

While training and protection duties take up most of his time now, Kubas plans on taking on-line classes in his downtime. He already makes time to keep in contact with his parents, Tamsie and Jim Kubas, and his friends from home through e-mail and the Internet.

“My grandma is taking a com-puter class at her church so she can e-mail me too,” said Kubas.

Kubas is close to his family and looks to them for inspiration. This strong family tie is what led him to enlist.

“My dad served in the active Army for three years,” Kubas said. “And I just felt it’s one of those things you should do.”

Soldier in focus - Pfc. Robert Kubas

Pfc. Robert Kubas is part of the personal se-curity detail for the 230th Brigade Support Battal-ion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. He is

Photo by Sgt. Mary Phillips

Giving back to my country through service

PAGE 4 May 28, 2009

Iraq 3-Day

Weather Report Today

109° F | 82° FTomorrow 105° F | 80° F

Saturday100° F | 78° F

On This Day In Military History1863 - The 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the most famous African-American regiment of the war, leaves Boston for combat in the South. For the first two years of the war, President Abraham Lincoln resisted the use of black troops despite the pleas of men such as Frederick Douglass, who argued that no one had more to fight for than African Americans. Lincoln finally endorsed, albeit timidly, the introduction of blacks for service in the military in the Emancipation Proclamation. On May 22, 1863, the War Department established the Bureau of Colored Troops to recruit and assemble black regiments. Many blacks, often freed or escaped slaves, joined the military and found themselves usually under white leadership. Ninety percent of all officers in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) were white. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the idealistic scion of an abolitionist family, headed the 54th. Shaw was a veteran of the 2nd Massachusetts infantry and saw action in the 1862 Shenandoah Valley and Antietam campaigns. After being selected by Massachusetts Governor John Andrew to organize and lead the 54th, Shaw carefully selected the most physically fit soldiers and white officers with established antislavery views. The regiment included two of Frederick Douglass’s sons and the grandson of Sojourner Truth.

On May 28, 1863, the new regiment marched onto a steamer and set sail for Port Royal, South Carolina. The unit saw action right away, taking part in a raid into Georgia and withstanding a Confederate attack near Charleston. On July 16, 1863, Shaw led a bold but doomed attack against Fort Wagner in which he and 20 of his men were killed.

Here’s an invitation to play Wordplay!Find words inside of words.Today’s word is: SQUADRONProper nouns do not count, nor does the word shown.Words should be at least 5 letters long.Try to find 9 words. Good Luck!

Last issue’s wordplay: Company moan, camp, coma, pony, copy, many

DiD you know?

Chuck Norris counted to in-finity—twice.

Famous Feats of Chuck Norris

DOUGLASS

Letterman’s top 10 Donald Trump financial tips presented by Donald Trump10) Only buy things that are essential, like

golf courses and beauty pageants

9) When nobody’s watching, I go into the

7-11 and stick my head under a soda nozzle

8) Save money by styling your own hair

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6) Double your money at the Trump Taj

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5) Panic

4) For tip #4, simply send me $29.95

3) If all else fails, steal someone’s identity

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1) The fastest way to get rich: marry and

divorce me

Multi-National Division - BaghdadPublic Affairs Office

Commanding General:Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger

Public Affairs Officer:Lt. Col. Philip Smith

Public Affairs Chief:Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner

Editor:Spc. Howard Alperin

Staff Writers:Sgt. 1st Class Ron Burke

Sgt. 1st Class Joel QuebecStaff Sgt. Mark BurrellStaff Sgt. Jon CuppStaff Sgt. Peter Ford Sgt. Joshua Risner

Sgt. Jon SolesSpc. Laura Johnson

Spc. Phillip Adam Turner

The Daily Charge is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of The Daily Charge are not official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army, or the 1st Cavalry Division. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army, the 1st Cavalry, or The Daily Charge of the products and services advertised.

All editorial content of The Daily Charge is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Multi-National Division – Baghdad Public Affairs Office.

Do you have a story to share?The Daily Charge welcomes columns, commentaries,

articles, letters and photos from readers. Submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs NCOIC

nicholas.conner@mnd-b.army.mil and include author’s name, rank, unit and contact information. The Daily Charge reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper.

For further information on deadlines, questions, comments or a request to be on our distribution list, email the Editor at jon.soles@mnd-b.army.mil

Pvt. Murphy by Mark Baker

PAGE 5 May 28, 2009

PEGASUS OASIS DFAC HOURSBREAKFAST 0530 TO 0830

LUNCH 1130 TO 1330DINNER 1700 TO 2000

MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 TO 0100SUNDAY ONLYBRUNCH 0730 to 1330DINNER 1700 to 2000

MIDNIGHT CHOW 2300 to 0100

“A well regulated militia , composed of the body of the people, trained in arms,

is the best most natural defense of a free country.”

—James Madison, 1751-18364th President of the United States

Quote For Today

Trigger’s TeasersThe objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

Every Sudoku game begins with a number of squares already filled in, and the difficulty of each game is largely a function of how many squares are filled in. The more squares that are known, the easier it is to figure out which numbers go in the open squares. As you fill in squares correctly, options for the remaining squares are narrowed and it becomes easier to fill them in.

Yesterday’s Answers

PAGE 6 July 10, 2008PAGE 6 May 28, 2009

I Will Be Talking, You Should Listen

from Al Faw Palace in Baghdad? Well, then you will have to sign up!In case you don’t know how a link works, type the below as it Appears directly into your browser and follow the directions

on your screen to fill out the online application.

https://corps.intranet.iraq.centcom.mil/pages/default.aspx

want to attend a live taping of Comedy Central’s Colbert Report