IRAQI STORIES:
Blackanthem Military News
Family of Santiagos Deliver a Broadcast
Story and photos by Sgt. Eunice Alicea Valentin
Staff Sgt. Steve Engle, broadcast NCO with the 196th Mobile PA Det, 13th ESC, prepares a camera May 13, for the taping and live interview of the Santiago Family, via satellite and the Digital Video & Imagery Distribution System, housed at the 13th ESC PA office at JBB.
JOINT BASE BALAD - The band of Santiagos, all assigned to the 210th Regional Support Group, an Army Reserve unit from Puerto Rico, enter a dimly lit broadcast studio, igniting the room as Boricuas are known to do.
As the 4 Soldiers walk through a maze of tripods, cables and towering lights, their excitement echoes off the walls, as they whisper in Spanish slang to one another. Their silhouettes fall on top of a backdrop and suspended American flag, as they take their seats behind a presidential-style mahogany desk, a row of shotgun microphones, reporters and a single video camera.
Bayamon, Puerto Rico, natives, Sgt. Maj. Hector Santiago, finance and human resources ops cell NCO-in-charge and his younger brother, Spc. Alex A.M. Santiago, a finance specialist, both with the 210th RSG, are currently deployed to Iraq with their cousins, Spc. Victor Santiago and Spc. Jimmy Rodriguez, info technology specialists also the 210th RSG, and Ponce, Puerto Rico natives. The 4 Soldiers had a unique opportunity May 13 to communicate back home via satellite and the DVIDS.
"We're small in numbers, but we make lots of noise," Rodriguez said, a common saying by Latinos who, by culture, enjoy getting together any chance they get. All joking aside, the Santiago Family was tasked to carry out an important assignment.
The DVIDS hub in Atlanta reaches out to the Soldiers' local media outlets, and vice versa, hoping to get an individual's message back to their hometowns, as a firsthand account of their experiences in Iraq, said Sgt. 1st Class William Smith, broadcast NCO-in-charge with the 196th Mobile PA Det, 13th ESC.
The Soldiers conducted interviews in Spanish throughout La Isla de Encanto (the Island of Enchantment), an island in the Caribbean Sea, with an area less than 3,600 square miles and a population of nearly 4 million. 1st Lt. David Spangler, media relations officer with the 196th MPAD, is the liason between DVIDS and the interviewers. "I contact DVIDS and DVIDS contacts the hometowns, so Soldiers can tell their stories firsthand," he said.
Ruben Sanchez, a notably boisterous air personality with WKAQ-AM, interviewed the Family live and said the interview with the Soldiers was beautiful. "Rather than our broadcasters retelling the Soldiers' story, we're able to facilitate interviews between Soldiers' and their hometown media," Smith said.
Puerto Ricans are known for their confidence and coolness, and these Soldiers are no exception to the rule. Sgt. Maj. Santiago, a 20-year veteran, spoke of camaraderie and professionalism within his unit. He said Puerto Ricans are known for their hard work.
Another topic of discussion was the financial and political state of the small island, and its correlation to the advancements of their military careers. Without hesitation, the Soldiers said that the Army offered them the opportunity to advance, and in Rodriguez' case, obtain dual master's degrees in human resources and mgt. In addition, he plans to begin his doctorate in business administration upon his redeployment home.
The 3 specialists were thrilled about their experiences in the Army, since they enlisted 2 years ago, and gave a call to action. Each expressed their contentment with their careers in the military, finishing one another's sentences, and bragging about life in the service. "Bueno, it helps that we're Family and we were very close before arriving in Iraq," Alex said. "My message to the youth of Puerto Rico is to join our Family."
Spc. Victor Santiago (from left), Spc. Jimmy Rodriguez, Sgt. Maj. Hector Santiago, and his younger brother, Spc. Alex Santiago.
Blackanthem Military News
Artist/Soldier at COB Marez
By Master Sgt. Duff McFadden
Charles "Matt" Gildon, 20, a fire support specialist with the HHC, 2nd "Spartan" HBCT, 3rd ID, applies the traditional Spartan red, white and blue to the Bde crest, outside of the unit's Tactical Ops Center (TOC), at COB Marez, in Mosul, May 24.
(Army photo by Spc. Gregory Gieske)
COB MAREZ - Whether it's an M-4 rifle, night vision goggles, or even a pair of combat boots, deploying U.S. forces must be familiar with all the equipment needed to successfully complete their mission. However, Gildon has found himself as much at home in Iraq with brushes and paint, as he does in a M-109A6 Paladin armored vehicle.
When his unit arrived in Kuwait for their final stage of mission training, their 1st sgt asked for Soldiers who could draw. After being "volunteered," he embellished a T-wall barrier with the bde crest representing the unit at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
According to Pfc. Gildon, it took him and graphic artist Spc. Gregory Gieske, 4 to 5 days to complete the Spartan mural in the Bde Conference Room #1. According to Spc. Gieske, 28, since the Bde was known as the "Spartans," Frank Miller's "300" graphic novel images immediately came to mind.
"As we worked on the large wall mural, Pfc. Gildon displayed a lot of passion, and I could see the results, from start to finish, of the progress he was making as an artist. Showing him the different types of brushes, and how to correctly use them, was just one area he grew in.
"I've seen the other murals he's painted since then, and he continues to impress me with his willingness to learn," Spc. Gieske said.
His latest project was the Rock of the Marne monument located in the center of the TOC compound, representing all the military conflicts the 2HBCT has taken part in. "The rock is a monument which everyone sees every day as they go to work," said Pfc Gildon. "It's something I take pride in.
"I just put my head phones on and let my mind go blank as I draw. If I get more worried about screwing something up, then I'm more likely to get nervous and screw something up. So I like to be good and relaxed as I work," he said.
Whether he's listening to rock or heavy metal, the Rolling Stones or Slayer, once he begins the painting process, he's very deliberate. "I'll take the initial design and then measure everything out. I'll detail it in a rough sketch using a pencil to make sure it all fits. Once I know it fits, I'll write down the measurements and then go for it.
Pfc. Gildon recently re-enlisted for another 6 years, and plans to retire after 20 years of service. Upon his return to the States, he wants to become an EOD Specialist, and upon retirement, looks to become a teacher. A self-professed adrenaline junkie and master scuba diver, Pfc Gildon said "I'll do anything I can to get the adrenaline flowing - whether it's skateboarding, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, or even paint ball."
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Backanthem Military News
Woodworker/Soldier creates functional art for 3/7th Cavalry
Story and photos by Master Sgt. Duff McFadden
Sgt 1st Class Carlos Feliciano, 48, the Force Protection NCO-in-charge for the 3rd Sqdrn, 7th Cav, 2nd HBCT, 3rd ID, works on an award stand for a redeploying Soldier. Feliciano's innate ability to take an ordinary piece of wood and turn it into a beautiful piece of functional art goes beyond description.
COB MAREZ - Approx 8 hours each day, as long as there are no emergencies demanding his attention, a meeting, or training, you'll find him at the unit's woodworking shop. The Cav office sign was his initial project. It wasn't long before he was building other signs, poster frames, target trees for the ranges, and even a domino table for their Morale, Welfare and Recreation room.
Once the sqdrn recognized his immense talent, they benefitted by providing him further opportunities to express his functional artistry. According to 3/7th Cav. XO, Maj. Steve Barry, "Feliciano has an amazing attention to detail, and a great work ethic. He's the oldest man in the sqdrn, and he easily works 14 hours a day, doing manual labor with a minimum of help. It's just really impressive.
Working with wood, he discovered, was his true calling. "I like to be creative. Wood gives me the chance to be creative and to express myself. Wood is a living material, it speaks to you. You have to work it with love," Feliciano said.
A Puerto Rico NG Soldier for 17 years, he joined the active Army in 1998, "to improve the quality of life for my Family, and to give them a better future." Now, 12 years later, his youngest son recently graduated from high school, while his oldest son, a freshman at Georgia Southern University, is enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps there. "I met my goal," said Sgt.1st Class Feliciano, with quiet satisfaction. "My Family has been taken care of, and since the third grade, they speak fluent English.
The hardest part has been all the deployments, as well as the initial shift in income. "I actually made more money through woodworking than I made as a Soldier. However, I like to train Soldiers; I like the work. Not everything is based on money," Feliciano said. He's now on his 6th deployment, while his Family resides at Fort Stewart, Ga. Besides his 2 tours to Afghanistan, he's taken part in Ops Iraqi Freedom II, III, V, and VII.
He plans to retire at Fort Stewart within 5 years and hopes to continue woodworking. Another option, he said, are friends from the county who would give him the opportunity to become a building inspector. "I like to build everything, so it's not a problem for me. I can look at something and know what's right or wrong. I can also be a handyman around housing, so there are a lot of places I could work."
When Maj. Barry returned to Iraq from leave, Sgt. 1st Class Feliciano had a little surprise waiting for the Cav EO. "I opened my door, turned on the light, and my first thought was, ‘This isn't my office; it must be the sgt's maj office,' so I stepped back out," said Maj. Barry. "But then I noticed, that it was my stuff sitting on the shelves. I was absolutely flabbergasted. Before, all I had was a desk, a table and a tactical box. "I was completely surprised and completely in awe. It's functional, it's organized, and I found out he did it all in 1-1/2 days."
"I try to help others the best I can. A lot of Soldiers are fresh out of high school, and have never left home before. I'm a friend who helps them with their needs. I tell them, ‘It's not that hard. You can handle it. You just need to be brave and to believe."'
"I thank God every day for the skills I have, and the ability to help others enjoy it," he said, with a smile.
Feliciano works at the unit's woodworking shop.
Feliciano carefully sands an award stand, and loves the creative, artistic energy he derives from woodworking.
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USF-I
ISF arrest three suspected AQI terrorists in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested 3 suspected AQI criminal assocs, during a joint security op conducted in Baghdad, June 4.
ISF and U.S. advisors searched several buildings for a suspected AQI member who is allegedly involved in construction of VBIEDs, and IEDs used in attacks, but did arrest 3 criminal assocs.
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USF-I
ISF kill four suspected AQI terrorists, arrest three others
BAGHDAD - ISF killed 4 suspected AQI members and arrested 3 criminal assocs during a joint security op in northern Iraq, June 5.
In an area approx 40 kms south of Mosul, ISF and U.S. advisors searched multiple buildings for a suspected senior AQI leader, allegedly involved in VBIED and IED attacks on Iraqi civilians, ISF and CF.
As the security team approached the building in which the suspect was believed to be located, individuals inside the target compound lobbed grenades and fired automatic weapons at the SECFOR, who, acting in self- defense, returned fire killing 4.
Info and evidence gathered at the scene led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest suspected AQI criminal assocs.
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