One Hundred and Fifty-Eighth

Field Artillery

“Global War
on
Terrorism”
Volume No. 6

John T. Jenson
 For the organizational archives of the

158th Field Artillery Battalion

This volume made possible by private donations from: Thomas C. Acker Jr., Cody Alldredge, Jimmy
Avance, Justin Blount, Donald Brewer, Nicholas Case, Cody Dupler, Robert Hedges, Grant Hudson, Misty
Jenny, Ryan King, Gregory Lankford, Christopher Malone, Jack McComas, Trenton Richards and David
Slezickey.

The author wishes to express his sincerest appreciation to Danny Barthel, Justin L. Blount, Nicholas Case,
Jason Dobbins, David M. Farrow, Lance H. Grant, Joshua Hale, Canisha Harjo, Micah Israel, Misty
Jenny, Gregory L. Lankford, John B. Miller, Vincent L. Moscatello, Charles L. Neely, David Slezickey,
Nathan Spencer, James D. Teel II, Timothy Tierney, Matthew J. Treadwell and Reanne L. Wagner for
their contributions, without their efforts this monogram would not have been possible.

Copyright © 2019 by John T. Jenson

U. S. Library of Congress Control Number 2018957292

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface ........................................................................................................................... 3
Global War on Terrorism ............................................................................................. 3
2003 Mobilization and REFRAD................................................................................. 6
Security Force (SECFOR) ............................................................................................. 12
Hurricane Katrina Disaster .......................................................................................... 23
Operation “Jump Start”................................................................................................ 24
Transformation ............................................................................................................. 25
Operation “Iraqi Freedom” .......................................................................................... 26
Base Realignment and Closure .................................................................................... 43
Operation “Enduring Freedom” .................................................................................. 43
Operation “Enduring Freedom/Resolute Support”.................................................... 50
Operation “Spartan Shield”.......................................................................................... 55
Operation “Freedom’s Sentinel” .................................................................................. 63
31 August 2021 .............................................................................................................. 67

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 PREFACE
I have decided to capture as much of the 158th Field Artillery’s history as possible, so this is the sixth
volume that is based upon source materials that are available and archived. Just from the mere act of time
passing, facts can be open to interpretation and indeed they can be viewed differently by different people.
For this reason I have compiled U. S. Library of Congress PCN 2018957292 volumes:

Volume No. 1 “Centennial Review”

Volume No. 2 “Battle Campaigns and Honors”
Volume No. 3 “World War II”
Volume No. 4 “Korean War”
Volume No. 5 “Persian Gulf War”
Volume No. 6 “Global War on Terrorism”
Volume No. 7 “Cold War”
Volume No. 8 “Unit Photos and Official Rosters”
Volume No. 9 “Official Journal” 1920 to 1945
Volume No. 10 “Official Journal” 1946 to 1970
Volume No. 11 “Official Journal” 1971 to 1995
Volume No. 12 “Official Journal” 1996 to Present

Copyright © 2019 by John T. Jenson. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and
reviews. For information, please contact the author.

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM

On the morning of 11 September 2001, nineteen men hijacked four jet airliners. The hijackers (members
of al-Qaeda's Hamburg cell) intentionally crashed two of the airliners into the New York City Twin Towers
of the World Trade Center, crashed another airliner into the U.S. Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C.
and the fourth airliner; whose target was the U.S. Capitol White House; crashed into a field near
Shanksville, Pennsylvania when the passengers overwhelmed the hijackers. None of the flights had any
survivors and in total there were 2,977 victims in these attacks.

On 13 September 2001, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) invoked Article 5 which
authorizes each member country to consider an armed attack against one member country to be an armed
attack against all member countries and eventually organized the International Security and Assistance
Force (ISAF) consisting of 36 NATO nations, 9 partnered nations and 2 non-aligned countries.

On 14 September 2001, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13223 which was the
authorization for use of military force against the terrorist attacks:
Executive Order 13223
Ordering the Ready Reserve of the Armed Forces To Active Duty and Delegating Certain Authorities to the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America,
including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
and in furtherance of the proclamation of September 14, 2001, Declaration of National Emergency by Reason of
Certain Terrorist Attacks, which declared a national emergency by reason of the terrorist attacks on the World
Trade Center, New York, New York, and the Pentagon, and the continuing and immediate threat of further
attacks on the United States, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. To provide additional authority to the Department of Defense and the Department of Transportation
to respond to the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States, the authority under
title 10, United States Code, to order any unit, and any member of the Ready Reserve not assigned to a unit
organized to serve as a unit, in the Ready Reserve to active duty for not more than 24 consecutive months, is
invoked and made available, according to its terms, to the Secretary concerned, subject in the case of the
Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The term ‘‘Secretary

[3]
concerned’’ is defined in section 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code, to mean the Secretary of the Army with
respect to the Army; the Secretary of the Navy with respect to the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard
when it is operating as a service in the Navy; the Secretary of the Air Force with respect to the Air Force; and the
Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.

Section 2. To allow for the orderly administration of personnel within the armed forces, the following
authorities vested in the President are hereby invoked to the full extent provided by the terms thereof: section
527 of title 10, United States Code, to suspend the operation of sections 523, 525, and 526 of that title, regarding
officer and warrant officer strength and distribution; and sections 123, 123a, and 12006 of title 10, United States
Code, to suspend certain laws relating to promotion, involuntary retirement, and separation of commissioned
officers; end strength limitations; and Reserve component officer strength limitations.

Section 3. To allow for the orderly administration of personnel within the armed forces, the authorities vested
in the President by sections 331, 359, and 367 of title 14, United States Code, relating to the authority to order to
active duty certain officers and enlisted members of the Coast Guard and to detain enlisted members, are
invoked to the full extent provided by the terms thereof.

Section 4. The Secretary of Defense is hereby designated and empowered, without the approval, ratification, or
other action by the President, to exercise the authority vested in the President by sections 123, 123a, 527, and
12006 of title 10, United States Code, as invoked by sections 2 and 3 of this order.

Signed: GEORGE W. BUSH. 14 September 2001.

On 20 September 2001, in a speech to Congress, President George W. Bush says: “We will not tire, we will
not falter, and we will not fail,” as he announces a “war on terror”, which has now been termed the “Global
War on Terrorism” (GWOT).

Since the GWOT started there have been eight major operations and due to this unprecedented frequency
of deployments there has been an increased demand on the use of reserve forces unparalleled in the
history of the U.S. military.

These rotating units have served in/and or now serving in the following operations:
1. Airport Security Operations (ASO), from 27 September 2001 through 31 May 2002.
2. Operation Noble Eagle (ONE), from 14 September 2001 Present
3. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), 7 October 2001 through 31 December 2014.
4. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), 19 March 2003 through 31 August 2010.
5. Operation New Dawn (OND), 1 September 2010 through 31 December 2011.
6. Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), 15 June 2014 to Present.
7. Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS), 1 January 2015 to Present.
8. Operation Pacific Eagle - Philippines (OPE-P), 5 October 2017 to Present.

Operation OIF actually started the day after the Persian Gulf War ended when a realized strategy was the
removal of Saddam Hussein from power. The US Army was transforming into “Force XXI” a digital battle
command with the hypothesis that if friendly forces could digitally see each other and the enemy than
they could operate at a higher tempo making themselves more lethal. They had also completed operations
in Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda and Bosnia and finally in 1997 the first “Force XXI” model (4th Infantry
Division) was certified as the first fully digitized unit. After the Persian Gulf War the US Army had
maintained a continuous troop and equipment presence in Kuwait. On 16 March 2003 President Bush
issued an ultimatum with a 48-hour deadline, it stated: “Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave
Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict.” On 19 March
2003 OIF was launched by a Tomahawk Missile strike onto Dora Farms and the 3rd Infantry Division
spearheading the V Corps push from Kuwait into Iraq.

Eventually one-third of Oklahoma's Army National Guard would be activated, to support Operations OEF
and ONE, OEF included the anti-terrorism military operations that would occur outside the U.S., while
ONE would be the multi-agency operations inside the U.S. borders. These mobilizations would be the
largest call-up of Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen since the Korean War. The demand for soldiers to
support OEF and ONE would eventually exceed the supply under the Army’s normal deployment policies,
so the Army used different actions to increase supply. OIF did not officially start until 19 March 2003,
however the Army was able to mobilize units under the pretenses of OEF and then later reassign them to
OIF, as was the mobilization of the 45th Field Artillery Brigade.

[4]
 Officers of 1/158 FA (MLRS) pose with 45th FA BDE Commander COL Ricky Adams (seated center).

The Headquarters, Headquarters Battery (HHB) 45th Field Artillery Brigade commanded by Colonel
Ricky G. Adams, along with the 1st Battalion 158th Field Artillery Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Allen J. Bentley and the 1st Battalion 147th Field Artillery (MLRS) of
the South Dakota Army National Guard commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Kerry Loudenslager would
support OIF by providing lethal firepower to the second wave of maneuver forces of Central Command
(CENTCOM) as they maneuver inland to capture Bagdad.

The 1/158th FA (MLRS) was scheduled to load ships on 9 April 2003 at

the port of Beaumont, Texas. That day came and went and the news that
coalition forces had seized Baghdad effectively stood down the 1/158th
FA (MLRS). Demobilization of the battalion started 12 May 2003 and ran
onto 27 May 2003 where the units returned back to its armories. This
history of the 1/158th FA (MLRS) and the 2nd Detachment of the 1120th
Maintenance Company, during OIF 2003 details the structure of the
units and outlines of the challenges and triumphs that the soldiers faced
during this mobilization.

The 1/158th FA (MLRS) (3x6) comprises of 372 soldiers, in three firing

batteries of 6 Self Propelled Loader Launchers (SPLL) providing a total of
18 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) rocket systems. The
Detachment 2, 1120th Maintenance consists of 25 soldiers who provide
direct support maintenance to the battalion.

The 1/158th FA (MLRS), while located primarily in Southwest Oklahoma,

draws its members from across Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma,
along with the Headquarters, Headquarters Service (HHS) Battery, known as the “Dragons,” the battalion
has 5 other armories. “A” Battery, known as the “Gators,” is located in Walters, Oklahoma. “B” Battery,
known as the “Buzzards,” is located in Duncan and Marlow, Oklahoma. “C” Battery, known as the
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“Coyotes,” is located in Chickasha and Anadarko, Oklahoma. Detachment 2/1120th Maintenance shares
an armory with HHS in Lawton. From the mud of Italy and Germany, through the forbidding frost of the
Korean Chorwon Valley, to the extreme temperatures of Iraq, the 1/158th FA (MLRS) has a distinguished
history of combat and epitomizes the ideal of Cincinnatus, the Citizen Soldier. The battalion is part of the
45th Field Artillery Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard, with the wartime mission of reinforcing the
1st Cavalry Division. During the Post “911”, the battalion conducted a total of four training exercises in
2002 and 2003 to hone the core competency of Command, Control, and its capability to deliver its lethal
rocket firepower.
2003 MOBILIZATION AND REFRAD
On the morning of 15 February 2003 the 1st Battalion 158th Field Artillery (MLRS) received alert
notification to prepare to mobilized at its armories on 15 March 2003 and report to mobilization station
18 March 2003 for deployment to Iraq. On 8 March 2003 by order of Major General Myles L. Deering,
Adjutant General, Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard Orders 057-067 dated 8 March 2003 was
given to the soldiers of the 1/158th FA (MLRS) in facsimile order form below:
------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY AND THE AIR FORCE
OKLAHOMA ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD
3501 MILITARY CIRCLE
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 13111-4398
8 March 2003
HHS 1 BN 158 FA MLRS (YHOTO-210) 600 NW CACHE ROAD LAWTON OK 73507

You are ordered to active duty as a member of your Reserve Component Unit for the period indicated unless sooner released or
unless extended. Proceed from your current location in sufficient time to report by the date specified. You enter active duty upon
reporting to unit home station.
REPORT TO HOME STATION: 15 March 2003 HHS I Bn 158 FA 3x6 Corps, 5A (WYHOTO), 701 Kenny Dr, Lawton, OK 73504
REPORT TO MOB STATION: 18 March 2003 Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Period of active duty: Not to exceed 365 days
Purpose : Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
Mobilization Category Code : G
FOR ARMY USE
Auth: 10 UNITED STATES CODE 12302/HQDA MSG 010051Z MAR 03/DAMO-ODOM/: ORDTYP/MOBORD/HQDA no. 331-03 &
PERMANENT ORDER 60-62, HQ 5A, dtd 01 MAR 03
Acct cIass:
Enl pay/alw: 2132010.0000 01-1100 2W2C00 1198/1199/1250 VFRE F3203 5570 S99999
Enl tvl/pd: 2132020.0000 01-1100 135198 21T1/21T2/22NL/2578 VFRE F3203 5570 S99999
Enl pay/alw: 2142010.0000 01-1100 2W2C00 1198/1199/1250 VFRE F3203 5570 S99999
Enl tvl/pd: 2142020.0000 01.1100 135198 21T1/21T2/22NL/2578 VFRE F3203 5570 S99999
FOR THE ADUTANT GENERAL: James L. Greenfield.
------------------------------------------------------------
Of particular concern was the absence of Det 2/1120th Maint in this call-up. This unit’s parent HQ was
mobilized for ONE, and due to their recent reorganization from the 1045th Ordnance Detachment to
Detachment 2, 1120th Maintenance Company, they were somehow overlooked during the call-up and this
concern was sent to the higher element for addressing. The 1/158th FA (MLRS) mobilized at its armories
on 15 March 2003 and all soldiers assigned to the battalion reported for duty at 0700 hours. The sense of
purpose and of resolve contributed to the high morale throughout the battalion.

Major Metcalfe directed the work of the Advance Party in accordance with FORSCOM Regulation 500-3-3
Reserve Component Unit Commanders Handbook (RCUCH), preparing and issuing unit orders to all
members of the unit. Once all the soldiers reported to armories they all received briefings on the mission,
Force Protection, and operational security.

The Adjutant and his team ensured the personnel readiness through coordination with State authorities
for Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) at the State HQ in Oklahoma City. The battalion reported to State
HQ to undergo SRP operations on 16-17 March 2003. Soldiers received inoculations for Anthrax and
other diseases, medical and dental fitness checks. From this final filter, 1/158th FA (MLRS) released one
hundred five soldiers to the Rear Detachment, and received eighty seven soldiers from different OKARNG
units to fill the gaps. 1/158th FA (MLRS) integrated these Guardsmen into the ranks quickly and
efficiently. Now the 1/158th FA (MLRS) consisted of soldiers from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Texas,
Florida, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.

[6]
Major Metcalfe led the Advance Party onto the Mobilization Station, Fort Sill, at 1000 hours, March 17,
2003. The party conducted the initial contact and coordination with members of the 45th Field Artillery
Brigade, the Oklahoma STARC, and Fort Sill’s Department of Plans, Mobilization and Training (DPTM).
The outcome from this meeting was the identification of points of contact, billets and motor pool
assignment, and the initial process of ordering all classes of supply. The 1/158th FA (MLRS) reported to
Fort Sill on 18 March 2003. Batteries occupied the barracks, Building 2471, and Motor Pool without
incident. Staff and commanders occupied the eastern half of the second floor of Building 3416. The
command and staff of the 1/147th FA (MLRS) occupied the other half of the floor. The 1/158th FA (MLRS)
battalion headquarters, battalion staff and battery commanders were as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------
Battalion Commander LTC Allen J. Bentley
Battalion Executive Officer MAJ Paul A. Metcalfe
Battalion Operations Officer MAJ Gregory L. Lankford
Adjutant (S-1) CPT Jay D. Croft
Intelligence Officer CPT Bradley D. Rittenhouse
Assistant Operations Officer CPT Freddie G. Crowson
Logistics Officer CPT Doye D. Jernigan
Signal Officer 1LT Eddie G. Collins
Maintenance Officer CPT Craig M. Robinson
Fire Direction Officer CPT Marc R. Smith
Chaplain CPT Jeffery T. Van Ness
Maintenance Technician WO1 John H. Kuehny
Property Book Officer WO1 Gary E. England
Targeting Technician Officer WO1 Robert L. Dowen Jr.
Physician Assistant 1LT Westley A. Carter
Liaison Officer: CPT James D. Osborne Jr.
Liaison Officer 1LT Jeramy R. Whitling
Command Sergeant Major CSM John T. Jenson
HHS Battery Commander 1LT Christopher S. Reser
HHS First Sergeant 1SG Fred W. Baker III
“A” Battery Commander CPT Jason A. Henry
“A” Battery First Sergeant 1SG Edward C. Lynde
“B” Battery Commander CPT Thomas J. Gibson
“B” Battery First Sergeant 1SG Kenneth L. Reese
“C” Battery Commander CPT Johnnie D. Moss
“C” Battery First Sergeant 1SG William C. Blasengame
Detachment 2 Commander SFC Merle B. Fishgrab
------------------------------------------------------------
In order to deploy into the CENTCOM Theater
of Operations the battalion had four mission
essential tasks to complete. First was the
successful completion of an Army External
Evaluation (AEE), followed by Medical
Readiness, then theater specific training ending
with a load out all vehicles and equipment on
rail for sea shipment.

Headquarters, 75th Training Support Division

had the mission and were the liaison
component from the Mobilization Station to
U.S. Forces Command (FORSCOM) and
ultimately CENTCOM. They were instrumental
in providing current doctrine and guidance
culminating in deployment into theater. Prior
to departure to the field for the AEE, 75th
Training Support hosted the battalion staff to a second round of training on the Military Decision Making
Process (MDMP) which is the Army’s planning methodology to understand the situation, develop a course
of action and produce an operation plan. The battalion staff had extensive training on this since they had just
completed a more practical version in 2002 during a Field Training Exercise (FTX). This time the training was
conducted in the sterile environment of a classroom.

The battalion finally moved out to the field to complete its AEE from 25 March to 2 April 2003. This
evaluation allows the unit to demonstrate its competence on its core functions of command, control, and
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delivery of lethal effects. The battalion was attacked by soldiers of Opposing Force, and also encountered
and reacted to Civilians and Press on the Battlefield. Other hurdles included simulated Chemical attacks.
The soldiers of the 1-158 FA (MLRS) met each challenge with bravado, easily completing the task above a
standard set by more experienced Regular Army soldiers. During this AEE, Det 2/1120th Maint received
its Alert and Mobilization orders. Det 2/1120th Maint was commanded by Sergeant First Class Merle B.
Fishgrab and soon his soldiers joined the battalion in the field on March 27, 2003. Their presence lifted
the spirits of the soldiers in the battalion. It is always good to see your direct support mechanics in the
field with you during a important deployment requirement. The culminating event for the battalion came
early the morning of 2 April 2003, as the battalion fired one hundred sixty-two M-28 Reduced Range
Practice Rockets (RRPR), including six “volley-fire” missions that sent between twenty-four to thirty-six
rockets down range. Mount Scott, known as the highest peak in Southwest Oklahoma, was crowded with
civilian and military spectators alike watching the fireworks from the RRPR impacting during these
stunning missions. The forward observers, veterans of the fire support arena and used to seeing rounds
impact, were amazed at the awe-inspiring display of firepower demonstrated with such casual ease. These
missions were the first such in the history of any unit of any component in the Continental United States.

Medical readiness was a daily occurrence at the Mobilization Station; this was due to the medical facilities
and doctors available on Fort Sill. Immunizations were completed in a matter of hours although Anthrax
and Smallpox inoculations required follow up examinations. Medical physicals along with Panographic
Film (PANOREX), cardiovascular screening and a current HIV test completed the medical readiness
portion.

Dynamics of war change in every battle so deploying units are battle proofed at the Mobilization Station in
these dynamics and inculcated with the warrior ethos. The ground forces component of CENTCOM;
Combined Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC); mandated theater specific tasks ranging from
individual to collective tasks and from stability and support focused operations through conventional
combat missions. These were all completed during the field exercise along with individual weapons
qualification and all deployment requirements, the 1-158 FA (MLRS) was validated for deployment and
now they sat locked and loaded ready to shoot.

Throughout the AEE, the staff of the 1/158th FA

(MLRS) kept its eye on the next task, the load
out of all vehicles and equipment to
transshipment into the theater. Close
coordination with the Post Unit Movement
Office (UMO) and the Logistics Operations
Center (LOC) operated by Fort Sill paid
dividends when the battalion returned from
their RRPR live-fire. With blocking, bracing,
packing and crating materiel on hand, and
helpful Subject Matter Experts from the Post
UMO at the ready, the soldiers of the 1/158th
FA (MLRS) set to work on 3 April 2003. They
cleaned all of their vehicles, sending vehicles
broken in the AEE to the Department of
Logistics (DOL) Maintenance Repair Shop,
while the rest loaded up.

7 thru 8 April 2003 saw the 1-158 FA (MLRS) and Det 2/1120th Maint undergoing the dreaded
Equipment Validation Team (EVT) program. All vehicles, Protective Masks and organizational Nuclear,
Biological and Chemical (NBC) equipment, weapons and Night Vision Devices were inspected by Fort
Sill’s EVT. Those items that mechanically failed the inspection were job-ordered to the DOL Maintenance
Repair Shop. Unfortunately, the replacement parts were on back-order, in some cases equipment sat idle
for up to a month after the EVT while the supply system caught up. This delay came in large part from the
intransigence of authorities to believe that Operator level Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services
identified mechanical shortcomings; or that the maintenance management team from the battalion
accurately reported systemic shortfalls deriving from budgetary constraints.

[8]
On 8 April 2003, composite Official Roster of the First Battalion (MLRS) 158th Field Artillery and
Stations of Organization:

Composite Roster of Headquarters, Headquarters Service Battery, First Battalion 158th Field Artillery (MLRS)
Home Stationed at Lawton, Oklahoma *

LTC Allen J. Bentley SGT John S. Andrews SPC Walter B. Musselman Jr.
MAJ Gregory L. Lankford SGT John H. Blumhorst Jr. SPC Kenneth E. Nagel
MAJ Paul A. Metcalfe SGT Douglas E. Bueoy SPC Jesse D. Neugebauer
CPT Jay D. Croft SGT Kenneth A. Chesbrough Jr. SPC Anthony J. Patrick
CPT Freddie G. Crowson SGT Douglas W. Collins SPC David L. Ramsey
CPT Doye D. Jernigan SGT Kenry A. Dinwiddie SPC Jamie D. Rhoads
CPT James D. Osborne SGT Raymond D. Durham SPC Robert A. Schrock
CPT Christopher S. Reser SGT Gilberto Garza Jr. SPC Charles F. Souhrada Jr.
CPT Bradley D. Rittenhouse SGT Jim X. Griego SPC John S. Starnes III
CPT Craig M. Robinson SGT Roberto Herrera SPC Daniel S. Stentz
CPT Marc R. Smith SGT Robert L. Ingwerson SPC Kevin N. Streeter
1LT Westley A. Carter SGT John B. Miller III SPC Christopher A. Terwilligar
1LT Edward G. Collins SGT Vincent L. Moscatello PFC Michael A. Aguilar
1LT Jeramy R. Whitling SGT Michael J. Mullica PFC Mitchell L. Brooks
2LT Norman W. Black SGT Adolfo F. Munoz Jr. PFC Kenneth J. Crites
2LT Arlington N. Tasi SGT Willie C. Northington PFC Jared R. Foss
2LT Shawn R. Vergott SGT Bryan M. Nye PFC Christopher R. Himes
WO1 Robert L. Dowen Jr. SGT Hershell F. Pollock PFC Jason L. Houston
WO1 Gary E. England SGT Jacob R. Prater PFC Bradley S. Lambirth
WO1 John H. Kuehny SGT Stephen P. Reinlein PFC Kevin A. McGrew
CHP Jeffery T. VanNess SGT Gregg F. Soppet PFC Edmund G. O'Neal
CSM John T. Jenson SGT Kelly L. Steinmeyer PFC Jason R. Reynolds
1SG Fred W. Baker III SGT Wallce J. Stroup PFC Jared A. Seigler
MSG Gustavo A. Gonzalez SGT Darrell D. Taylor PFC Joshua B. Smith
MSG Tony F. Riggs SGT Michael F. Tenequer PFC Ronnie Vaughn
MSG Wayne E. Wilson SGT Robert M. Thomas PVT Brandon G. Beaver
SFC David M. Andrews SGT Anthony Townes PVT Evan D. Beck
SFC Andy L. Callihan SGT Jeffery S. Wilson PVT James W. Blalock II
SFC Pedro Cortez Jr. SPC Jonathan S. Anderson PVT Demond A. Broadway
SFC Roger J. Crabtree SPC Jeremy M. Beard PVT Kerry L. Brown
SFC Jack D. Powers SPC Keith R. Berry PVT Shawn R. Earhart
SFC Richard A. Riggins SPC Christopher S. Bussell PVT Billie E. England II
SFC Gerard A. Wall SPC Oscar Castro PVT Aaron M. Gray
SSG Jason W. Bingham SPC Robert K. Coble PVT Eric J. Hitchcock
SSG Terry D. Davis SPC Eric T. Colon PVT Emmanuel M. Hutchinson
SSG John Fitzgerald SPC Stacey A. Cornelious PVT Gary F. Hynson
SSG Christopher L. Gay SPC Gary B. Crumbley Jr. PVT Donald H. Jones Jr.
SSG Michael D. Grannan SPC Michael J. Davis PVT David D. Levere Jr.
SSG Curtis Holman Jr. SPC Terry J. Davis PVT Mark E. McFarland Jr.
SSG Karl W. Keough SPC Bradley A. Edwards PVT Truman P. Navarro
SSG Matthew D. Lima SPC Richard M. Folsum Jr. PVT Christopher A. Pettit
SSG Lucien J. Matte SPC Landon K. Hardin PVT William C. Rice
SSG Jeremy M. Rae SPC Christopher H. Heckathorne PVT Randy L. Rickert
SSG Jose E. Saldana SPC Charles H. JeanPierre PVT Donnie O. Robinson
SSG Tracy T. Taylor SPC Ryan D. Jernigan PVT Clifton E. Sapcut
SSG Darron P. Weeks SPC Juan A. Juarez

Composite Roster of Battery “A”, First Battalion 158th Field Artillery (MLRS)
Home Stationed at Walters, Oklahoma *

CPT Jason A. Henry SSG Gilbert M. Castro SGT Lonnie D. Climber

1LT Christopher S. Cook SSG Gregory D. Davis SGT Daryn A. Coleman
1LT Steven C. Dare SSG Michael J. Graham SGT Richard L. Dobbins
1LT Charles L. Neely SSG Terry L. Hellickson SGT Felix M. Fisher
1LT Kent A. Ray SSG Kevin D. Hodge SGT Raymond E. Fix
2LT Mark A. Fitzgerald SSG Kurt L. Jarvis SGT Nicholas R. Green
1SG Edward C. Lynde SSG Donald J. Mills SGT Thomas E. Hillier
SFC Erasmo Barron SSG John P. Mull SGT William M. Johnson
SFC Marvin Grant SSG John M. Weekley SGT James C. Johnston
SFC Kevin Henry SGT Edward D. Bayones SGT Edgardo J. Ortiz-Perez
SFC William M. Scott III SGT Jeremy J. Beckett SGT Michael R. Schmidt
SFC Thomas G. Tate SGT Michael D. Bone SGT Dennis O. Stewart
SFC George L. Twyman SGT Jeffery N. Burleson SGT Stephen D. Wilkerson
SSG Errol B. Caldwell SGT Andrew L. Champagne SPC Joseph D. Bajza
[9]
SPC Joshua S. Calfy SPC Scotty L. Shelton PFC MacNeil D. Passi
SPC Joshua C. Cargill SPC Benjamin S. Sibley PFC Blackmon J. Prince
SPC Robert W. File SPC John P. Sklaney III PFC Nathan L. Purdue
SPC Andre C. Ford SPC Thomas D. Smith PFC Fredrick K. St. John
SPC Donovan J. Frasure SPC Kevin A. Spicer PVT Matthew A. Adamson
SPC Brian K. Hekia SPC Troy L. Todd PVT Kevin R. Dornan
SPC David M. Herrera II SPC Thomas J. Wheeler PVT Dustin J. Edwards
SPC Houston K. Hood SPC William D. Whittington PVT Chad A. Leonhardt
SPC Kenneth W. Horne Jr. PFC Jason L. Bellar PVT Thomas J. Painter
SPC Bradley E. Mifflin PFC Benjamin T. Bressman PVT Raul Perez
SPC Ronald D. Molina PFC Justin J. Burrows PVT Aaron L. Roland
SPC Nicholas C. Reed PFC Barry R. Dirickson PVT Joshua A. Webb
SPC Allen W. Richey PFC Tito Griffith Jr.
SPC Ryan G. Rickert PFC Frederick T. Hughes
SPC Joseph F. Savell PFC Sean D. Murray

Composite Roster of Battery ”B”, First Battalion 158th Field Artillery (MLRS)
Home Stationed at Duncan, Oklahoma *

CPT Thomas J. Gibson Jr. SGT Jamey D. Lindsey SPC Benjamin A. Porterfield
1LT Paul M. Simonich SGT Robert C. Muir SPC William P. Reid Jr.
2LT William E. Ponder SGT Robert L. Newman SPC Jacob A. Smith
2LT Kevin J. Shutt SGT Robert D. Petty SPC Thomas M. Tanner II
1SG Kenneth L. Reese SGT William J. Straily SPC Bradley W. Tennant
SFC Ira P. Burden Jr. SPC James Y. Baldwin SPC Ian H. Wilsher
SFC Randall Robert Dedert SPC Kristopher K. Bickerstaff SPC Heath A. Woods
SFC Michael A. Hardsaw SPC David A. Bowen PFC Montrionne E. Allen
SFC Jimmy L. Venable SPC Stephen M. Brosh PFC Michael C. Barham
SFC Emmanuel D. Williams SPC Justin C. Cliburn PFC Phillip W. Bertsch
SSG Darin B. Carman SPC Nathaniel E. Cordes PFC George A. Crawford
SSG Larry J. Harper SPC Christopher L. Crenwelge PFC Joshua D. Davis
SSG Earl S. Johnson SPC Randal E. Davenport PFC Adam F. Duffy
SSG John M. Kaiser SPC Luke D. Davis PFC Kevin A. File
SSG David S. Kemp SPC Gordon T. Dunham PFC Aaron J. Helton
SSG James K. Morris SPC Justin B. Finch PFC Christopher A. Newman
SSG Daniel O. Pupek SPC Steven A. Fitzgerald PFC Wesley M. Parra
SSG James M. Stone SPC Matthew E. Gray PFC Justin C. Riddles
SSG Rodney P. Velarde SPC Lance C. Harper PFC Adam J. Schuster
SGT Nathaniel D. Barnes SPC Earle G. Hudson PFC Gilbert R. Wolford IV
SGT Damon A. Boyd SPC Zachary J. Jessen PVT Derek W. Baldwin
SGT Donald B. Brewer SPC Matthew G. Leal PVT Kasey R. Bickerstaff
SGT Grant A. Brown SPC Joshua D. Lynn PVT Dewey K. Briscoe
SGT Bobby Carter SPC William J. Martin III PVT Billy S. Cooper
SGT Don E. Chisum Jr. SPC David J. Mason PVT Jon P. Gomez
SGT Mark E. Cowan SPC Nolan R. Mogg PVT Burt A. Knapp
SGT James F. Edwards SPC Lyndal C. Morgan PVT Joshua A. Ramirez
SGT Harold E. Hall SPC Christopher k. Moss PVT Anthony C. Sides
SGT David L. Heilman SPC James D. Peacock III PVT Vecent L. Vigus
SGT Robert C. Johnson SPC Jeremiah M. Phillips Jr.
SGT Todd M. Johnson SPC Daniel H. Pickett

Composite Roster of Battery ”C”, First Battalion 158th Field Artillery (MLRS)
Home Stationed at Anadarko, Oklahoma *

CPT Johnnie D. Moss SSG Billy S. Jones SGT Kyle A. Samuels

1LT Corbie N. Grimes II SSG Erik E. Kruger SGT Joseph P. Shipley
1LT Aaron K. Hinkle SSG Dean Q. Lawson SGT Richard J. Sholar
2LT Chin U. Kim SSG Rodney A. Pedersen SGT Paul A. Tate Jr.
2LT Kenny D. Toms SSG Vincente H. Pierre SGT Robert C. Walker
1SG William C. Blasengame SSG Ben Murrel Scott Jr. SGT Kenneth E. Wall
SFC Vernon R. DeFoor SSG David A. Slezickey Jr. SGT Jeremy J. Woolver
SFC Marty L. Hendricks SSG Carlton S. Speller SGT Jonathan D. Zerger
SFC Ralph L. Pennington Jr. SSG Gregory J. Stowe SPC Jeremy J. Austin
SFC Norman L. Winn SSG Wade Williams SPC Jeremiah C. Brenner
SFC Glenn J. Zink II SGT Ivan J. Bradford SPC James B. Blake
SSG George C. Baker SGT Brent T. Davis SPC Matthew R. Caldwell Jr.
SSG Mark R. Braley SGT David M. Farrow SPC Obie B. Clements
SSG Jackie R. Bruesch SGT Samuel D. Flaming SPC Douglas J. Cowart
SSG Scott T. Buehre SGT Wesley V. Freeman SPC Cody W. Cranfill
SSG Brent L. Dobry SGT Larry W. Nix SPC Jeffery M. Delaney
SSG Lance H. Grant SGT Roderick L. Poolaw SPC Scott S. Dixon
SSG James N. Heston SGT Carl H. Pyle Jr. SPC Neil F. Dolder
[10]
SPC Dustin R. Hames SPC Matthew A. Pulis PFC Joseph C. Killman
SPC Billy J. Holley SPC Kevin D. Pyle PFC Ryan M. King
SPC Arry D. Johnson SPC Daniel E. Reynolds PFC Charles B. Pinnell
SPC Eric S. Lasseter SPC Travis L. Rucker PFC Jose A. Ramos
SPC Matthew P. Lewis SPC Jimmy S. Sams PFC Lee C. Schrocktainpeah
SPC Robert P. Lutonsky SPC Matthew A. Schoolfield PVT Randy W. Allen
SPC Michael S. McGee SPC Steven K. Stanley PVT Zackary E. Brake
SPC Randy J. McKay SPC Frederic J. Tabert PVT Christopher M. Durham
SPC Danny McKillip SPC Curtis A. Vasquez PVT Devin M. East
SPC Brandon B. McNamar SPC Billy J. Weathers II PVT Clint A. Hunter
SPC Robert T. Mitchell SPC Lance M. Zerger PVT Clifton R. McVay
SPC William T. Noland PFC Christopher B. Alexander PVT Eric D. Sikes
SPC Dale L. Owen PFC Jason M. Anderson PVT Jeffery V. Vandorn
SPC James C. Prince III PFC Eric W. Harlan
SPC Russell D. Pruitt PFC Larry W. James

------------------------------------------------------------
From inside the barracks on Fort Sill, the 1/158th FA (MLRS) watched as Operation Iraqi Freedom
started and as each day started at the mobilization station there was a greater sense of urgency of
completing all the required tasks to get into the theater.

The soldiers had worked long and laborious hours ensuring that all supplies were distributed and vehicles
were loaded and throughout the load out period. The seriousness of the impending deployment was the
impetus for the battalion’s momentum in completing each and every step of the load out process.

The morale and espirit-de-corps was extremely high,

the soldiers rejoiced in their realization that their
country had called them and wanted them to serve
and the soldiers walked around with buttons
bursting of pride as they showed solidarity in this
new Post 911 call up. The Battle to Bagdad was a
daily event featured on every television channel in
the U.S. and the nation watched the tempo of the
CENTCOM Coalition forces as they battled the Iraqi
forces.

The 1/158th FA (MLRS) had 9 April 2003 penciled

in on the training schedule: “load ships at the port of
Beaumont, Texas.” That day came and went while
the battalion awaited its repair parts to arrive and
the warning order to move out. The scuttlebutt was
that the sandstorm of biblical proportions that hit
the Iraqi theater on 25-27 March 2003, had
bottlenecked the floating fleets at Diego Garcia as
well as the ports in Texas.

Another week came and went and still there were no

orders to move out to the Ports of Beaumont. On 14
April 2003 the 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st
Marine Divisions had seized Baghdad and Tikrit;
effectively ending the regime of Saddam Hussein
and the Baathist Party. The 1/158th FA (MLRS) was
placed on “hold” and it was up to CENTCOM and
FORSCOM to make a decision on whether to deploy
the battalion into theater or reassign to a Homeland
Defense mission, or demobilize. Soldiers were then
forced to begin the agonizing process of continuing
in the mobilization process of deployment in spite of
rumors otherwise. Although the battalion was
officially validated to deploy into theater, on 21 April

[11]
2003 the confirmation of the units worst fear arrived, the 1/158th FA (MLRS) would demobilize and the
date was set for 27 May 2003. Within hours of the word coming down, soldiers began the process of
clearing out of their billets and Motor Pool. Soldiers brought in from across the OKARNG and other states
were processed for return. Det 2/1120th Maint would remain on active duty to support returning III Corps
Artillery units until the 19th Maintenance Battalion was fully back to work.

The 1/158th FA (MLRS) returned to its armories on 12 May 2003, where soldiers were engaged in
inventories, unloading and stowing equipment and cleaning the armories. Staff handled the myriad
missions of legally and correctly demobilizing the battalion, with the added futility of State Area
Command pulling equipment from Det 2/1120th Maint and personnel and equipment from the battalion.
Regardless of the new-found status as a state resource pool, the 1/158th FA (MLRS) remained ready to
serve the Nation and the State of Oklahoma with all the skill, knowledge, and vigor as befits the modern
Cincinnatus.

By order of Major General Michael D. Maples, Commander Headquarters, US Army Field Artillery Center
and Fort Sill, REFRAD Orders 136-0753 dated 16 May 2003 was distributed to every soldier in the
1/158th FA (MLRS) in facsimile order form below:
------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS, US ARMY FIELD ARTILLERY CENTER AND FORT SILL
FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA 73503-5100
ORDERS 136 - 0753 16 May 2003
010 158 FA HHS MLRS (WYHOTO) FT SILL OK
You are reassigned to the U.S. Army transition point shown for transition processing. After processing, you are released from active
duty not by reason of physical disability and assigned as indicated on the date immediately following release from active duty. Any
temporary appointments held are terminated on your effective date of release from active duty. If you are delayed in reporting to the
transition point, you still must report to the transition point as soon as possible or as authorized to receive a new effective date of
release from active duty.
Assigned to for transition processing: US ARMY TRANSITION CENTER (WOVG1A) FORT SILL OK 73503-5100
Reporting date to transition point: 27 May 2003
Date of release from active duty unless changed/rescinded: 27 May 2003
Attached to: US ARMY TRANSITION POINT, FORT SILL, OK 73503
Assigned to: HHS 1 BN 158 FA MLRS, LAWTON, OK 73507
Terminal date of Reserve obligation: Not applicable
Additional instructions: a. Transition Assistance Management Program :
(1) Soldier is not entitled to separation pay IAW 10 USC 1174.
(2) Expiration medical: 030927
(3) Expiration post exchange/commissary: 030527
(4) For information on benefits and services see the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) office, Army Community Services
(ACS) office and/or your military personnel office.
FOR THE COMMANDER: PEGGY A. BAILEY, Adjutant General.
------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITY FORCE (SECFOR) MOBILIZATION AND DEPLOYMENT

On 14 December 2003, soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division
captured Saddam Hussein without a fight. Well before the
establishment of a new Iraqi government in 2005, the symmetry starts
to change on the battle field. First it starts with insurgency, civil war
and sectarian violence and the primarily target is the American led
Multi-National Force.

A door is opened for the terrorist organization “al-Qaeda” to enter Iraq

and start a war of attrition. It begins when four U.S. contractors are
killed, burned, and hung from a bridge in Fallujah, and fueled with
prisoner abuse inside the U.S. ran Abu Ghraib prison and retaliated
with the beheading of U.S. businessman Nicholas Berg. “Al-Qaeda”
begins a car-bomb offensive and the Improvised Explosive Devise
(IED) is used against the occupying forces. The guiding principles of
Force Protection vary from operation to operation and soon any and
every convoy becomes vulnerable to attack, and convoys are the
logistical lifelines to every soldier. In 2005 the III Corps Support
[12]
Command, conducted over 37,000 convoys throughout the theater with exposure to 1,400 enemy
engagements along the supply routes. They had four options regarding convoy security. They could
resource security internally, task external organizations, use host nation security forces, or they could use
private security companies. On a battlefield with no “front” or “rear” it soon required some form of a
security force to protect convoys “outside the wire”.

On 3 June 2005 the 1/158th FA (MLRS) battalion

received alert orders notifying them of an impending 18
month mobilization and deployment as a Security Force
(SECFOR) Company. In this uncertain time of Iraqi
sectarian war, bombings, kidnappings, assassinations,
torture and insurgency the mission would not be a
traditional field artillery one but one that would reflect
the current needs of the ever changing battlefield. And
with this mission and the heightened security posture on
all roads in Iraq, it dictated that new Tactics, Techniques,
and Procedures (TTPs) be learned.

The organization of the 1/158th SECFOR Company

(WYHOT2) Derivative Unit Identification Code (DUIC)
would be very basic, and the Deployment Manning Document (DMD) called for a 152 man company with
four platoons, a HQ platoon and with three security force platoons. The HQ would consist of a command
team, operations, supply, communications and maintenance sections with the security platoons consisting
of four squads, each squad served as a security element. The platoon leaders capable of operating
independently as the situation dictated. This change of mission resulted in the battalion altering its
training area from Fort Sill to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, in order to concentrate on security patrols,
security escorts, and close quarter combat training. The mission required 152 men providing a “security
force” so the training centered around squads running three-gun truck missions primarily but with the
flexibility to patrol and secure Iraqi highways. Soldiers trained in full “battle-rattle” including body armor
and Kevlar helmets and full weaponry, adding 35 (plus) pounds of additional weight. Soldiers trained on
the M4 carbine, 9mm pistol, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), M240B machine gun and the
M2HB 50 caliber machine gun as well as marksmanship, and Military Operations in Urban Terrain
(MOUT). This realistic training replicated the down range conditions that the men would be introduced to
but more importantly it developed confident leaders and instilled the warrior ethos in the soldiers, giving
them an early advantage in the deployment.

[13]
In August 2005, Captain Charles L. Neely and First Sergeant Jimmy L. Venable, both of Battery “B” were
selected as the commander and first sergeant of the newly formed 1/158th SECFOR Company. The
Headquarters Platoon would be commanded by First Sergeant William C. Blasengame and Sergeant First
Class Ira P. Burden. The First, Second, and Third Platoons’ Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants would
be First Lieutenant Mark A. Fitzgerald and Sergeant First Class Mark R. Braley, Captain Kent A. Ray and
Sergeant First Class John M. Kaiser, and First Lieutenant William E. Ponder and Sergeant First Class
Scott T. Buehre, respectively.

On 5 September 2005, the 1/158th SECFOR boarded onto a plane and flew to Joint Base McCord-Lewis,
Washington for theater specific training. They arrived at McCord Air Force Base and were billeted in the
WWII-style barracks at North Fort Lewis. Here the soldiers spent three months training to be a Security
Force Company. The 1/158th SECFOR practiced in many scenarios that included IED with casualties, IED
without casualties, vehicle breakdown, door-to-door urban combat, escalation of force, and route closure.
The training was battle-focused and realistic which allowed the security force to get the chance to react to
IEDs and small-arms fire but more importantly it forged team building that would be needed to survive
the demanding mission. When this training phase was completed the soldiers were given four-day passes
and authorized to travel to Oklahoma for four days to see their families before deploying overseas.
[14]
When they returned, they'd have two weeks of final training at Yakima Training Center, Washington
before flying across the Middle East. In November 2005 the 1/158th SECFOR traveled to the camp at the
eastern side of the training center. Here the field training exercises used IED scenarios with situational
training lanes with plenty of walk-through rehearsals of actions and reactions and rehearsals of fire
commands. The training was invaluable when it came to building crew confidence. Training was
conducted in the cold, desolate and snowy environment of the northwest and the only refuge there was a
restaurant and bar called “The Oasis”. On 24 November 2005, the men of the 1/158th SECFOR gathered
and celebrated Thanksgiving Day together; on the following Monday Captain Neely received the following
orders:

By order of Lieutenant General James M. Dubik, Commander Headquarters, I Corps and Fort Lewis,
Permanent Orders 332-601 & 332-602 dated 28 November 2005 was distributed to the 1/158th SECFOR
Company (WYHOT2) in facsimile order format below.

------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, I Corps and Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis, Washington 98433-5000

PERMANENT ORDERS 332-601 & 602 28 November 2005

158 FA BN 1 HHS FWD 2 5A (WYHOT2), FORT LEWIS, WA 98433-5000

The following organization/unit action is directed.

Assigned to: US CENTCOM AOR (W4FGAA)
Action: Temporary Change of Station (TCS) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Number of days: 447
Will proceed date: 4 DECEMBER 2005
Authority: FORSCOM
Accounting Classification: 2162020.0000 01-1100 P135198 21 **/22**/25** FAB158TB33202 VIRQ F9203 5570 S12120 (OIF)
Additional Instructions: CIC: 262013519812120
FOR THE COMMANDER: Signed: JOANNE C. CLARK, Chief, Soldier Readiness.
------------------------------------------------------------
[15]
The soldiers returned back to their WWII-style barracks at North Fort Lewis on 1 December 2005 and
started packing their duffels bags and cleaning the barracks. On 4 December 2005 the 1/158th SECFOR
boarded aircraft at Joint Base McCord-Lewis, for their long flight, stopping in Maine, Ireland, and
Hungary before touching down at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

They arrived at the Kuwait City Airport late at night where

they were immediately placed on buses and shuttled off
towards Camp Buehring (formerly Camp Udairi). At the
camp reception, soldiers were briefed on infamous
“General Order Number One”; a standing order issued 30
August 1990 by General Norman Schwarzkopf and
restricted the behavior of troops to avoid insulting the host
country. To the soldiers it meant no alcohol; no gambling;
and no pornography. The area surrounding Camp
Buehring, known as the Udairi Range Complex, is largely
uninhabited, except for a few nomadic Bedouin tribes
raising camels, goats, and sheep and nearby in the same
range complex is Camp New York. The 1/158th SECFOR
was staged in “tent city” where they would spend the next
two weeks preparing for their security mission by
acclimatizing and training.

In late December 2005 the 1/158th SECFOR boarded a plane to Al-Bakr Air Base, called both Balad Air
Base by the U.S. Air Force and Anaconda Logistics Support Area (LSA) by the U.S. Army, and later
renamed Joint Base Balad. But the name it was synonymous with “LSA Bombaconda” by all branches of
service. Anaconda, or Balad Air Base changed later to Joint Base Balad, which is approximately 40 miles
north of Baghdad. Mortar rounds and rockets were fired into the base on a daily basis and the soldiers
dubbed it the nickname “Mortarville”. After landing the 1/158th SECFOR filed off the aircraft and was
ushered through a corridor of “T-walls” for a welcoming brief. Each soldier took a seat and hoped to stay
awake and after the endless briefings, the soldiers moved to their temporary housing at “tent city” only to
be welcomed that night with a barrage of incoming mortars. Eventually Containerized Housing Units
(CHUs) became available and they moved into their new housing. They are attached to the 49th Military
Police Brigade of the California ARNG with the mission of route security.

The 1/158th SECFOR replaced the 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery of the Kentucky ARNG; who had
already lost 2 soldiers; and whose mission was to patrol and secure Highway One; the main north-south
highway; designated as Main Supply Route (MSR) Tampa. MSR Tampa which started in Kuwait through
[16]
Baghdad ending in Mosul was a hot spot for insurgency activity and had a history of numerous fatalities.
In this era of civil war in Iraq there were no battle lines and no rules. Along this road the 1/158th SECFOR
was in the crossfire of violence that resulted in assassinations, kidnappings, “death squads”, torture and
bombings. The odds were against them and it was perilous duty but they racked up a myriad of missions,
performing numerous combat missions
during their rotation such as Logistics
Convoys and Tactical Convoy Security and
Quick Reaction Force (QRF). All the miles
were “hard” miles but the “hardest miles”
were the security escort missions. These
were considered high-visibility operations
due to the nature of safety and security for
the occupants that were being escorted.
Many times these missions required that
the tactical situations dictated driving
against the flow of traffic, crossing into
oncoming traffic, and or driving over
medians to prevent civilian traffic from
intermingling with the convoy. But what
really made them obvious were the
imaginary bubbles around the vehicles
and any civilian vehicle entering that
bubble could and would be considered a
hostile threat. Along with the high
visibility convoys there was an increased
awareness and realization that maybe some of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's men were hiding behind car
wrecks, watching through the cross hairs of an AK-47 or “range timing” the convoy.

[17]
On a typical day the 1/158th SECFOR would head out on some of the most notorious stretches of
highways in Iraq, that were labeled as IED “hotspots” and even the most seasoned troops were second
thinking about active deterrence measures as they mentally drove the routes. Highways were nothing
more than sun baked asphalt, littered with garbage, potholes, dead animal carcasses, dried blood, broken
down cars, building debris and mysterious piles of stones and trash bags all the classic indicators of an
IED minefield. The current Rules of Engagement (ROE) prohibited personnel from pointing weapons at
Iraqi civilians in order to build trust with the populace but every convoy was being observed for any signs
of weakness or collecting intelligence to be passed on to the insurgents. Understanding asymmetrical
warfare regarding no front or rear battle lines, the 1/158th SECFOR soon became experts in detecting and
preventing substantial risks along these highways. Just forcing military vehicles through traffic was not
enough, the unit had required every convoy member, regardless of military occupation, to recognize a
threat situation and then react immediately and appropriately. One of the most dangerous spots along the
highway was Check Point 59A, between Balad and Baghdad and easily identified by its two thick groves of
date palm trees which provided cover and concealment for the insurgents. It was known for routine IED
strikes and ambushes but by adopting and implementing the convoy TTPs for CP 59A the security force
soon “owned” the roads.

The 1/158th SECFOR received its fair

share of IED hits as well as seeing the
introduction of “Soleimani’s Legacy”, the
Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFPs)
onto the Iraqi battlefield. One of the
deadliest forms of IED, the EFP which was
smuggled in from Iran, was able to target
and destroy vehicles with a powerful blast
that originated from a concaved
cylindrical shaped charge that once
detonated turns the disc into a high
velocity slug capable of penetrating most
armored vehicles. EFPs were first used by
Lebanese Hizballah against the Israelis,
and offer significant advantages over any
IED. The EFPs required careful milling of
a concave copper plate that once
detonated will turn into a super-sonic
directionally fired molten slug that can go
through the hull of a tank. It was only the
size of a coffee can but once initiated it
could reach speeds of Mach Six or 2,000
meters per second. It was often hidden in a piece of styrofoam and painted to look like concrete block or a
rock. The only telltale indicator was colloquially termed the “Eye of Allah” and it was the aiming system
which was a small passive infrared lens cover peeking out of the foam. A new system was introduced to
counter the EFP called the “Passive Infrared Defeat System” which used heat to prematurely detonate any
hidden IEDs while the vehicle were a safe distance away from the blast, it was known simply as “Rhino”
because of it’s 10 feet extended arm, it looked like the horn of a rhinoceros. The insurgent’s
countermeasure for this was to have the EFP detonate ten feet from detection source but the Rhino
system had an adjustable arm extension countering this.

[18]
Iraqi insurgents became very clever along the highways and used a wide variety of initiating systems to
trigger IED detonations. These triggers are often called “command” or “remote” but in Iraq most IEDs are
detonated through human interaction by placing a receiver on the IED and then triggering the detonation
with electronic impulses over a wire circuit or via wireless signal. Common examples of these are cell
phones, pagers, cordless telephones, automatic garage-door openers, car alarms, wireless doorbells, and
remote-controlled toys. “Remote” triggers are trip wires, tilt rods, and pressure plates that activate the
triggering mechanism. But the 1/158th SECFOR was able to counter these with technology that used the
Humvee’s own power supply; a radio-frequency jammer called the “Acorn” and after a few upgrades the
“Warlock” system was being used in the warzone.

The 1/158th SECFOR patrolled the highways where foreign fighters lurked and an average patrol took
them north to Mosul then west to Tal Afar turning around going back through Mosul and now east to Irbil
turning around going back to Mosul and then south to Baghdad and then turning around going back
north to Balad, spending the nights in different FOBs along the route. Like all FOBs they offered
[19]
American comforts like Popeye’s Chicken and Burger King fast-food trailers, laundry and recreation
centers and internet cafes however needless to say the hazards of the route outweighed the comforts along
the route.

2006 turns into the “Year of the Police” with special emphasis on using Police
Transition Teams (PTTs) to empower the Interior Ministry’s capability this
changes the mission of the 1/158th SECFOR and they are now attached to the
89th Military Police Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas who arrived in August
2006 and its primary responsibility was the Iraqi Police training mission.
They immediately transition from Balad to the Victory Base complex at
Baghdad and move into Camp Liberty and will remain headquartered here
until they depart for home. Here they must detach elements to Camp Delta,
Camp Echo and Camp Rustamiyah in their support of 89th MP Brigade PTT
operations.

Camp Delta is approximately 100 miles south of

Baghdad near Al Kut on the left bank of the Tigris River
and less than 25 miles from the Iranian border. Camp
Delta was primarily manned by multi-national forces,
Polish, Kazakhstan, El Salvadorian, Georgian,
Lithuanian, and British. This was the home of the Center
South Academy who was responsible for day to day
operations and where the Coalition forces trained Iraqi
soldiers and police and American police officers
mentored Iraqi Police. Camp Echo is south and near
Diwaniyah, a dirt-poor city of half a million, and capital
city of rural Qadisiya Province. At one time it had a
functioning tire factory that made tires for most of Iraq.
Here the Polish army along with Ukrainians,
Romanians, Lithuanians and Mongolian troops had the
daunting task of training candidates into a robust force
now termed the “Iraqi National Police”. The small American contingent was limited to military advisers to
the Iraqi division and the 89th MP Brigade MPs that worked with the Iraqi police. Camp Rustamiyah is
located six miles southeast of Sadr City in Baghdad. It is situated between a waste incineration facility and
a sewage treatment plant, and is noted by all visitors for its unpleasant air quality and smell was
nicknamed “Camp Rusty”. Eventually this was turned over back to the Iraqi army and under NATO
direction it was re-opened as the Iraqi Military Academy. At these camps the 1/158th SECFOR carried out
its missions under the auspices of the 89th MP Brigade until their relief unit arrives in theater.

[20]
In November 2006, the 142nd Infantry Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard replaced the 1/158th
SECFOR and conducted a Relief In Place-Transfer of Authority (RIP-TOA). The RIP is sometimes called
the “left seat-right seat” and is the formal train up of the new unit so there will be a seamless transition on
the day that the new unit assumes command. The TOA is the paper work bureaucracy required and the
finality is normally a formal ceremony symbolizing the transfer of authority. Once this occurs there was
nothing left to do but prepare for the journey to home station and the first stop on the journey home is
Camp Virginia, Kuwait where they spent Thanksgiving Day 2006. They had conducted over 1,400 combat
missions and had logged in over 125,000 “hard” miles on Iraq’s most dangerous road; which was a
magnet for bullets, rockets, mortars, IEDs, and suicide; without a fatality and the next day they left
Kuwait and flew into Fort Sill, Oklahoma to a rousing welcome home ceremony.

[21]
 ------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Headquarters, First United States Army
4705 N. Wheeler Drive
Forest Park, Georgia 30297-5000

PERMANENT ORDERS: 5A-05-210-020 (A1) 15 September 2006

The following order is amended as indicated.

So much of PERMANENT ORDERS 5A-05-210-020, Headquarters, First United States Army, Forest Park, Georgia 30297-5000
dated 11/10/2005.
Pertaining to the mobilization of: 0158 FA BN 01 HHS FWD 2 (WYH0T2), FT SILL, OK.
As reads:
Period: 545 DAYS, UIC: WYHOT2, Standard Name of Line Unit: 0158 FA BN 01 HHS FWD 2, PAX: 23/129, Effective Date (Home
Station, Ft Sill, OK): 08/29/2005, Effective Date (MOB Station, Ft Lewis, WA): 09/01/2005. Clarifying Instructions: Operation OIF,
Unit will demobilize at Ft Sill, OK.
Authority: HQDA MSG 030125ZJun05/DAMO-ODM/: ORDTYP/AMENDORD/AMEND 868-05 AND FIRST/FIFTH Army
FOR THE COMMANDER: Signed: HERBERT V. FLORA, JR. Chief, Mobilization Division.
------------------------------------------------------------

[22]
 2005 Security Force “SECFOR” Company *
1 = SFC Vernon R. Defoor 49 = SGT William M. Johnson 97 = SPC Aaron J. Helton
2 = SFC Michael A. Hardsaw 50 = SGT Robert P. Lutonsky 98 = SPC Ulysses C. Henderson
3 = SFC Tracy T. Taylor 51 = SGT Randy J. McKay 99 = SPC David M. Herrera II
4 = SFC Emmanuel D. Williams 52 = SGT Danny McKillip 100 = SPC Tommy J. Holley
5 = SSG Erasmo Barron 53 = SGT Samual L. Mooneyham 101 = SPC Jason L. Houston
6 = SSG Grant A. Brown 54 = SGT Lyndal C. Morgan 102 = SPC Earle G. Hudson
7 = SSG Jackie R. Bruesch 55 = SGT Adolfo F. Munoz 103 = SPC Zachary J. Jessen
8 = SSG Douglas E. Bueoy 56 = SGT Walter B. Musselman 104 = SPC Joseph C. Killman
9 = SSG Darin B. Carman 57 = SGT Jesse D. Neugebauer 105 = SPC Ryan M. King
10 = SSG Gregory D. Davis 58 = SGT Robert L. Newman 106 = SPC Matthew G. Leal
11 = SSG Terry D. Davis 59 = SGT Larry W. Nix 107 = SPC David D. Levere
12 = SSG Lance H. Grant 60 = SGT Bryan M. Nye 108 = SPC Joshua D. Lynn
13 = SSG Larry J. Harper 61 = SGT Wesley M. Parra 109 = SPC William J. Martin III
14= SSG Brian K. Hekia 62 = SGT James D. Peacock 110 = SPC Jimmy W. Mitchell
15 = SSG Terry L. Hellickson 63 = SGT Kevin D. Pyle 111 = SPC Robert T. Mitchell
16 = SSG Kevin D. Hodge 64 = SGT Michael R. Schmidt 112 = SPC Sean D. Murray
17 = SSG Earl S. Johnson 65 = SGT Matthew A. Schoolfield 113 = SPC Christopher A. Newman
18 = SSG David S. Kemp 66 = SGT James D. Shepard 114 = SPC Raul Perez
19 = SSG Matthew D. Lima 67 = SGT Richard J. Sholar 115 = SPC Christopher M. Pollard
20 = SSG Kerry D. Pemberton 68 = SGT Michael F. Tenequer 116 = SPC Nathan L. Purdue
21 = SSG Vincente H. Pierre 69 = SGT Gordon R. Underwood 117 = SPC Nicholas C. Reed
22 = SSG Michael T. Stephens 70 = SGT Curtis A. Vasquez 118 = SPC Michael J. Reynolds
23 = SSG William J. Straily 71 = SGT John M. Weekley 119 = SPC Donald W. Roe
24 = SSG Darrell D. Taylor 72 = SGT Stephen D. Wilkerson 120 = SPC Adam J. Schuster
25 = SGT Joseph D. Bajza 73 = SGT Randy F. Woodman 121 = SPC John G. Shaw
26 = SGT James Y. Baldwin 74 = SGT Brendan K. Woolworth 122 = SPC Eric D. Sikes
27 = SGT Donald B. Brewer 75 = SPC Christopher S. Adamson 123 = SPC John P. Sklaney
28 = SGT Stephen M. Brosh 76 = SPC Matthew A. Adamson 124 = SPC Daniel R. Smith
29 = SGT James B. Brown 77 = SPC Preston M. Allen 125 = SPC Justin D. Smith
30 = SGT Christopher S. Bussell 78 = SPC Jason L. Bellar 126 = SPC Michael S. Smith
31 = SGT Matthew R. Caldwell 79 = SPC David A. Bowen 127 = SPC Kevin A. Spicer
32 = SGT Vernon R. Chambers 80 = SPC Zackary E. Brake 128 = SPC Steven K. Stanley
33 = SGT Obie B. Clements 81 = SPC Dewey K. Briscoe 129 = SPC Kevin N. Streeter
34 = SGT Brent T. Davis 82 = SPC Justin C. Cliburn 130 = SPC Jeffery V. Vandorn
35 = SGT Terry J. Davis 83 = SPC Aaron D. Cobb 131 = SPC Vencent L. Vigus
36 = SGT Kenry A. Dinwiddie 84 = SPC Richard K. Coleman 132 = SPC Jay P. Wick
37 = SGT Neil F. Dolder 85 = SPC Nickoles E. Collins >< = SPC Joshua L. Wilcutt
38 = SGT Adam F. Duffy 86 = SPC Billy S. Cooper 133 = SPC Justin E. Wilkerson
39= SGT Randy G. Eden 87 = SPC Nathaniel E. Cordes 134 = SPC Lance M. Zerger
40 = SGT Felix M. Fisher 88 = SPC George A. Crawford 135 = PFC Derek W. Baldwin
41 = SGT Wesley V. Freeman 89 = SPC Kenneth J. Crites 136 = PFC Steven C. Fike
42 = SGT Nicholas R. Green 90 = SPC Joshua D. Davis 137 = PFC Jon P. Gomez
43 = SGT Dustin R. Hames 91 = SPC Kevin R. Dornan 138 = PFC Eric J. Hitchcock
44 = SGT Lance C. Harper 92 = SPC Christopher M. Durham 139 = PFC Jedediah W. May
45 = SGT Christopher H. Heckathorne 93 = SPC Shawn R. Earhart 140 = PVT Jonathan A. Ditch
46 = SGT Thomas W. Herman 94 = SPC Billie J. England 141 = PVT Joseph B. Story
47 = SGT Roberto Herrera 95 = SPC Justin B. Finch >< No Photo Available
48 = SGT Thomas E. Hillier 96 = SPC Aaron M. Gray

HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER

While the 1/158th SECFOR Company was preparing for their deployment and at 0610 hours 29 August
2005, Hurricane Katrina rolled ashore near Buras, Louisiana with winds in excess of 125 MPH and
breaching three of the levees that protected the city of New Orleans. Within hours the city was flooded and
as Katrina passed through the Gulf coast region it left a trail of death and destruction. Many were unaware

[23]
that the National Response Plan had already been initiated and the U. S. Northern Command
(NORTHCOM) had established Joint Task Force Katrina at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, to provide military
support should this disaster turn into a catastrophe. Although President Bush declared a state of
emergency 48 hours prior to touchdown and NORTHCOM took proactive steps, Hurricane Katrina took
1,833 lives, cause an estimated 81 billion dollars worth of damage and forced nearly 1.2 million residents
of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida to evacuate the Gulf coast.

On 26 August 2005, Governor Kathleen Blanco declared a state of emergency for Louisiana which
authorized the State Adjutant General, Major General Bennett C. Landreneau, to call up 2,000 LAARNG
soldiers onto state active duty. He also established Task Force (TF) Pelican to serve as the command and
control headquarters for all troops serving in the state throughout the crisis. Initially, five functional task
forces were organized under TF Pelican but as more soldiers arrived the task organization changed. It now
consisted of six functional TF’s known as Task Force Santa Fe, Castle, Griffin, Defender, Eagle and Belle
Chasse, each with its own sub unit TF’s. TF Santa Fe was commanded by Major General James R. Mason
of the 35th Infantry Division, KSARNG and consisted of Task Force Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St.
Charles, St. John, Terrebonne, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Lafourche, Plaquemines and Washington. The
core of TF Orleans came from two brigades, the 45th Infantry Brigade from OKARNG and the 41st
Infantry Brigade from ORARNG.

OPERATION “JUMP START”

At 0100 hours on 21 April 2006, a couple hundred men, women and children lined up for a “banzai
attack”, where they would amassed and line up on the south side of the border fence that separated
Mexico from Arizona. On command they would suddenly charge and penetrate the gaps and holes in the
fence. The U.S. Border Patrol stood ready to apprehend all the illegal intruders however after the melee
ended about half of them avoided capture and had penetrated into the American desert and faded into the
night. This tactic was soon a common occurrence on the Southwest border.

In May of 2006, President Bush requested 6,000 National Guard troops to slow the tide of illegal
immigration across America’s southern border named “Operation Jump Start”. The intent was to use
guardsmen to assist and support the Border Patrol with administrative, observational, intelligence
gathering capacities, and civil engineering projects, to act as the eyes and ears for the understaffed Border
Patrol which would free up agents to support the field units, while additional agents were trained up. With
guardsmen manning the binoculars, cameras and sensors, Border Patrol agents are free to track and
capture those who enter the country illegally.

Many of the guardsmen served in two-member "Entry Identification Teams" which were located in rugged
outposts, south of Deming, New Mexico. Strategically placed are "skyboxes", which is a camouflaged 25-
square-foot room, which raises the guardsmen 30 feet above the ground for a better view. Here they scan
the landscape with binoculars and monitor cameras that cover areas outside the binoculars' reach. On
these outposts the days vary, on many days there isn't a lot of action and the daytime boredom is due, in
part, to the soldiers' presence. Busloads of migrants head west on the dirt road on the Mexican side
looking for a safer place to cross, but some immigrants attempt the crossing despite the National Guard
presence. Many try to exploit the night by using the cover of darkness to conceal their movements but all
it does is make the night shift busier than the day shift.

Border Patrol officials say about 95 percent of those crossing the border illegally are economic immigrants
seeking work and a better life for their families. Every day there's transient traffic arriving on the border;
these "turistas" linger around until they meet up with their “coyote” smugglers who are playing a cat-and-
mouse game with the Border patrol by looking for an unmonitored entry route into the United States.

In August 2006, thirty-eight guardsmen from 1st Battalion 158th Field Artillery (MLRS) deployed to
Deming, New Mexico to help in the effort to improve security along the Mexican and U.S. border. For
their participation in “Operation Jump Start” and for aiding the Department of Homeland Security by
enforcement of border security from 16 May 2006 to 16 July 2008 the soldiers were awarded the Armed
Forces Service Medal.

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 TRANSFORMATION
Beginning in 2007 the new Army
transformation changed the 45th
Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) to
the 45th Fires Brigade (FiB) and
the 1st Battalion 158th Field
Artillery (MLRS) being its organic
shooter began its conversion from
a MLRS to a High Mobility
Artillery Rocket System
(HIMARS) battalion. They were
equipped with nine of the
modified M140 5-ton tactical
vehicle trucks from the original
one hundred and fourteen
vehicles built at the factory. The
HIMARS is the newest member of
the MLRS family but on a wheeled
chassis. It is intended to engage
and defeat artillery, air-defense
concentrations, trucks, and lightly
armored vehicles. The HIMARS
launches its rockets and moves
away from the area at a high
speed before enemy forces can
locate the launch site.

The rocket system is operated by a

crew of three: the driver, gunner
and section chief but with the
computer based Fire Control
System (FCS) a single soldier can
load and unload the system. The FCS includes video, keyboard control, a gigabyte of program storage,
Global Positioning System (GPS) and allows fire missions to be carried out in automatic or manual mode.
The FCS aims the launcher in 16 seconds, then prompts the crew to arm and fire a preselected number of
rounds or select a pre-programmed multiple mission sequence. HIMARS is capable of firing the entire
MLRS family of munitions, including reduced or extended range rockets. The rocket system carries a
single six-pack of MLRS rockets, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile. The Extended-
Range MLRS rocket (ER-MLRS) range is more than 45km and the new extended range Guided MLRS
(GMLRS) has 70km range. The long-range ATACMS can deliver assorted sub-munitions from ranges of
165km to 300km.

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All of this firepower is carried by the army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) a 6×6 all-wheel
drive 5ton truck. The vehicle weighs approximately 24,000lbs and is transportable on the C-130 aircraft,
to areas that were once inaccessible to heavier rocket launchers, allowing the system to evolve into a force
projection asset of the Rapid Force Projection Initiative (RFPI).

On 25 April 2007, with the assistance of the 58th Airlift Squadron from Altus Air Force Base, Battery “C”
158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) tested the air mobility capability of the system. Two C-17 “Globemaster’s”
landed at Henry Post Army Air Field, Fort Sill, Oklahoma and within 30 minutes, three of the launchers
and two High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) were loaded, where they then took off
and flew into Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, unloaded and conducted an 18 rocket live-fire mission.

Another milestone of this transformation was that Battery “C”, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) was
selected as the “Alexander Hamilton Best Army National Guard Battery” for 2007. The award is named
for Alexander Hamilton, a Revolutionary War Artilleryman and American statesman and it annually
recognizes a high-performing Army National Guard battery based on specific criteria. The battery was
commanded by Captain Donald A. Anderson and its NCO leader was First Sergeant Dennis R. Cooper.

OPERATION “IRAQI FREEDOM”

On 10 February 2007, General David H. Petraeus was made commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq
(MNF-I), overseeing all forces in Iraq, and he outlined the new “Surge” strategy. The new primary goal of
military operations in Iraq was: “to create stability and security to protect the Iraqi people” and consider
the Iraqi government as the country’s new center of gravity. What occurred next was the positioning of

[26]
new troops, over 20,000, in and around Baghdad. Then on June 15, 2007, Operation “Phantom Thunder”
began, which was the offensive against Al Qaeda, Sunni and Shi’a extremists and all other insurgent
strongholds. By late 2007, there was significant reduction in violence and casualties as the “Surge” began
to wind down. The most significant development, termed the “Anbar Awakening”, was when Sheikh Abdul
Sattar Ahu Risha of the Albu Risha tribe and 40 other sheikhs forged an alliance with U.S. forces to expel
al-Qaeda fighters out of Iraq. The Awakening helped established the conditions that would eventually
allow the hand-over of the Al Anbar Province back to the Iraqis. The U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA) was approved by the Iraqi government on 4 December 2008 and it established that U.S. forces
would withdraw from Iraqi cities by 30 June 2009, and that all U.S. forces would be completely out of
Iraq by 31 December 2011 or sooner. As the “surge troops” started to withdraw there was a scramble to fill
the voids that would secure the remaining forces.

A few years earlier the US State Department had

introduced the PRTs into Iraq to speed up stabilization
operations as local governments developed the ability to
self govern especially after decades of centralized control
under the Baathist regime. Their purpose of all PRTs
was to provide expert advice and assistance to the local
civil governments as they transitioned over to self-
governance. This idea was borrowed from Afghanistan,
where PRTs, who were military-staffed, were used
extensively. However in Iraq, the PRTs would be mainly
staffed by approximately 800 bilingual and bicultural
civilians and they would be partnered with a BCT for
transportation and their force protection assets. The
balance of responsibilities for civil and military units varied by location in Iraq, as was the arrangements.

Beginning in 2006, the Army had integrated the Rotational Force Pool of Deploying (RFPD) units to meet
the 12-month mobilization deployment policies. Prior to the Notification of Sourcing (NOS) units focus
training on mission essential task lists but after NOS occurs the unit focuses on the combatant command
requirements. As normal troop deployments were planned for rotation in support of OIF security duties,
18,000 troops including the 45th Fires Brigade, 56th Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, 29th
Brigade Combat Team and the 81st Brigade Combat Team were alerted for their deployments. The 45th
Fires Brigade consisted of the Headquarters and two battalions, the 1st Battalion (HIMARS) 158th Field
Artillery and the 1st Battalion 271st Brigade Support Battalion. The brigade consists of a Headquarters
unit based in Enid, Oklahoma, the 1st Battalion (HIMARS) 158th Field Artillery with units in Lawton,
Walters, Duncan, Marlow, Chickasha and Anadarko, Oklahoma and the 1st Battalion 271st Brigade
Support Battalion (BSB) with units in Altus, Hobart, Clinton, Elk City and Weatherford, Oklahoma.

The 45th FiB’s mission would be to support the Area Support Group (ASG)-Kuwait at Camp Arifjan with
base camp life support operations, force protection, and Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and
Integration (RSOI) into the Iraqi theater gateway. The 45th Fires Brigade was also tasked to provide a
combat arms battalion to fill a “Request for Forces” (RFF) No. 828 from the II Marine Expeditionary
Force (FORWARD), commanded by Major General Richard T. Tryon, in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
The manning requirement for the RFF No. 828 was 425 total personnel (325 for the mission and 100
support personnel) who would report directly to the II MEF Fwd and serve three functions:
1. Provide a company sized security element for base defense of Camp Ramadi and Command and
Control (C2) of the camp’s Base Defense Operations Center (BDOC).
2. Provide a company sized security element to conduct Personal Security Details (PSD) for
Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs).
3. Provide a 40 man security detail for the Marine Provincial Police Training Team (PPTT) operating
from the Provincial Government Center (PGC) in the heart of Ramadi.
The mobilization was capped at 12 months under the new RFPD guidance which included a 2 month post-
mobilization training period and 10 months “boots on the ground” in Iraq for the actual mission.

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 The 45th Fires Brigade consisted of the Headquarters and two
battalions, the 1st Battalion (HIMARS) 158th Field Artillery and the
1st Battalion 271st Brigade Support Battalion. The brigade tasked
organized with the 45th FiB at the ASG mission at Camp Arifjan, the
271st BSB was stationed at Camp Buehring, Kuwait conducting base
camp operations and life support operations there and the 1-158th
FA (HIMARS), commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gregory L.
Lankford and senior enlisted Command Sergeant Major Jimmy L.
Venable, would fulfill the RFF No. 828 mission at Camp Ramadi.

The 1-158th FA task organized needed to “plus up” to 425 personnel

which included 100 personnel from the 120th Forward Support
Company (FSC), the third line company of the 271st BSB. The 120th
FSC was commanded by Captain Justin Blount of Lubbock, Texas
and First Sergeant Mark L. Rackley of Chandler, Oklahoma and
would be the forward maintenance company to the battalion and also
provide the 40 pax security detail for the Marine PPTT. The intent
was to have HHB, Battery “B”, Battery “C”, and the 120th FSC deploy
forward into the MNFW’s Area of Operations (AO). Battery “A”
would stay at home station as the Rear Detachment for command
and control over the “non-deployables” and any new recruits
entering into the battalion from the Recruit Sustainment Program
(RSP). Battery “B” would serve as the PSD for the PRT’s and Battery “C” would perform the base defense
mission. Every Soldier was needed to mobilize with very few exceptions, and once in theater any
remaining personnel would fill in on battalion staff or any of the three mission sets. The role of the 1-
158th FA during “Operation Iraqi Freedom” would be to conduct security operations, convoy security
forces, and combat patrols to maintain combat capability of forces, provide a secure AO with responsive
Quick Reaction Forces (QRF), and provide continuous operational security and force protection at
Ramadi, Iraq In Support Of (ISO) Multi-National Force West (MNFW)-Iraq.

Upon receipt of the NOS, the first order of business was a complete reconfiguration of the battalion and a
“scrub” and refocusing of the Unit’s Training Plan (UTP). The first order of business was to move the
newly fielded HIMARS rocket launchers; that the battalion received during its HIMARS transformation in
2007; into long-term storage. Nine M142’s were cleaned, inspected and driven into hermetically sealed
warehouses on Fort Sill to wait until the battalion returned and they could once more be used in a
traditional artillery role. Normally units would prepare for overseas movement by preparing their
equipment for deployment, however in this case the unit would “fall-in” on their vehicles already in use in
the theater. This was the first of many vital actions that were taken to speed up the transition and assure
the unit’s new mission capability. The battalion commander then ordered the shift from the unit’s artillery
mission to the force-protection mission. The shift included 1st US Army and CENTCOM’s 253 mandatory
theater individual tasks. The battalion’s training strategy was to use the 10 months prior to mobilization
(Pre-Mob) to complete all of the required Individual Level training. This time included both standard
weekend drills as well as a 30 day Pre-Mobilization Training (PMT) period at Camp Gruber. Once at the
mobilization station the unit would have only 2 months to meet the deployment and unit validation
criteria. To preclude that training was not repeated, close coordination and verification with 1st Army was
established within the UTP and the 30 day PMT to allow the battalion to “move through” the mobilization
site with little or no SNAFU’s.

The battalion’s Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE) is doctrinally functional as a HIMARS
operational field unit but in its new role a modification to the TOE was authorized. The MTOE is an
authorization document that allows adaptation to the new mission capabilities, organization, personnel,
and equipment to "go to war". The battalion commander was given the option on how to equip the
battalion and he chose the “Convoy Security” configuration, meaning that all soldiers would dual carry a
M9 pistol and the M4 rifle. The commanders reasoning for this decision was to give his soldiers the
additional firepower for defending Camp Ramadi should they need it. This was the first logistical
challenge that the battalion’s S4 (Supply) would encounter because the current TOE meant that the unit
possessed only a handful of M4 rifles and M9 pistols. Rearming the force was a significant undertaking,

[28]
but the S4 shop quickly submitted the requests for the rifles, pistols and crew-served weapons that would
be required for the mission. Likewise, body armor, pistol holsters, lanyards, magazines and cleaning kits
had to be ordered as well. During this period the unit received new optics for both rifles and machineguns
which had not been previously used by the troops. In particular, Close Combat Optics (CCOs) designed
for targets at 300 meters (red dot aiming devices) and the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG)
would add a new layer of complexity to the unit’s weapons training. The ACOGs provide power
magnification levels of 4×32mm objective lens (4×32), with specially designed ballistic compensating
reticles that are fiber optic and tritium phosphor illuminated with Picatinny rails, flip caps, and
waterproof.

Because of the new manning requirements every available soldier from the battalion was plugged into a
slot of the matrix for the reconfigured HHB, Battery “B”, and Battery “C”. The 271st BSB managed the
manning for the 100 slots in the 120th FSC. Captain Chin U. Kim, the battalion S1 (Personnel) was
brought onto active duty early to help manage the arduous process of filling vacant slots and ensuring the
deployability of everyone based on their medical and dental readiness. This was an ongoing battle that
continued right up to the departure for Iraq. Fill requests for any vacant slots were pushed to the brigade
S1 who would fill from other units within the brigade or would request fills from the State Headquarters
and any positions the state could not fill were sent to the National Guard Bureau. This was an ongoing
battle that continued right up to the departure date for Iraq.

Staffing Request for Forces 828

LTC Gregory Lankford Commander 1LT Johnny Hart DMD (+) Staff Officer
CSM Jimmy Venable Battalion CSM 1LT Chad Headrick PGC Detach Commander
MAJ Paul Harris XO CPT Robert McLeod Commander Btry “B”
MAJ Jerald Gilbert S3 1SG Emanuel Williams First Sergeant
SGM Gary Nix Operations SGM 1LT Aaron Hinkle Btry “B” XO
MAJ Wade Murry DMD (+) Staff Officer 1LT Anthony Clark Platoon Leader Btry “B”
CPT William Ponder Battle Captain 1LT Chad Richardson Platoon Leader Btry “B”
CPT David Stewart Battle Captain 1LT Paul Jackson Platoon Leader Btry “B”
CPT Mark Todd Battle Captain CPT Donald Anderson Commander Btry “C”
CPT Charles Betts HHB Commander 1SG Dennis Cooper First Sergeant
1SG Dennis Moody First Sergeant 1LT James Smith Btry “C” XO
CPT David Peyok S1 1LT James Seibert Platoon Leader Btry “C”
1LT Dax Thomas S2 1LT James Shepard Platoon Leader Btry “C”
CW2 Robert Dowen DMD (+) S2 1LT David Clinton Platoon Leader Btry “C”
CW2 James Gormley DMD (+) S2 CPT Justin Blount Commander 120th FSC
CPT Kenny Toms S4 1SG Mark Rackley First Sergeant
CPT Chin Kim S6 1LT Francisco Vasquez XO 120th FSC
CPT Westley Carter PA CW3 John Kuehny Maintenance Officer
CPT William Elkins Chaplain CW2 Howard Ross Maintenance Officer
CW3 Gary England PBO

Individual level training began as soon as the mandatory theater tasks were determined. Every soldier in
the battalion, regardless of their current deployability status was trained these individual tasks. This
proved to be extremely challenging, but the detailed, individual level tracking was over-watched by the
battalion S3 (Operations) section along with the unrelenting drive of the battery leadership. The 1-158th
FA used all drills prior to the Camp Gruber PMT to focus on all of the individual tasks outside of the realm
of weapons, Combat Lifesaver (CLS) and IED training. Well-led, well-equipped, and well-trained soldiers
turned out to be the decisive key that kept the battalion on schedule in completing these tasks. A special
three day “train the trainer” course, held at the Walters, Oklahoma Police Firing Range and conducted by
the Fort Benning, Georgia Small Arms Instructors Group was completed before the PMT. This small time
period greatly increased the unit’s proficiency and employment of the M4s and M249 SAWs for close
quarters combat in an urban setting.

The 30 day PMT event at Camp Gruber was designed to address the individual level tasks that could not
be easily addressed at home station including weapons training, CLS and IED training. By this time, the

[29]
personnel on the DMD were finalized, but additional fillers would arrive and they had to be rapidly
trained-up in order reach the established norms. It was determined that non-deployable soldiers would
attend the PMT since their status could change making them potential “back fillers” should the need arise.

The first training emphasis was on weapons since this would be the first time any of the soldiers had used
CCOs and ACOGs and would also be the first time many of them had to qualify with a pistol. Prior to
starting rifle Preliminary Marksman Instruction (PMI) an agreement was leveraged with 1st US Army
personnel who had prior experience with the CCOs and ACOGs to conduct a “train the trainer” course
with the battalion. Traditionally “zeroing” on rifles was always done with iron sights and now every rifle
had a optics mounted on it, so a significant amount of time was spent on the rifle ranges. The soldiers
adapted quickly and learned to use the optics to their advantage while qualifying. Very thorough PMI was
conducted with every soldier on the M9 since most had never qualified with a pistol and many had never
fired one at all. All soldiers successfully qualified with their sidearm even though there was limited
number of lanes on the pistol range which sometimes bottlenecked but determination prevailed with
100% sidearm qualification. Qualifications with crew-served weapons also took a considerable amount of
time. Day and night qualification firing tables on the M2s, M240s and Mk19 grenade launchers, all with
optics were completed by the assigned crews. Weapons ranges were running day and night for much of
the PMT in order to train and qualify every soldier.

Another requirement was for every soldier was the Combat Lifesaver (CLS) certification. This was a new
CENTCOM requirement that 100% of deploying personnel be certified as CLSs. In the past the
requirement was for 10% of a unit’s personnel to be CLS certified and this was a significant hurdle
because the certification is a 40-hour block of instruction requirement for a brigade size element. The
five-day course consists of 40 hours of blended classroom and hands-on training given by certified
combat medics. The CLS is a bridge between the self-aid and buddy-aid and is the advanced first aid
training and medical training given to a trauma specialist. The course culminates with a written exam and
a performance-tested hands-on intravenous infusion using the “battle-buddy” method for certification.
The CLS training is a perishable skill and recertification every 12 months is required in order to retain the
CLS certification.

[30]
In Iraq IEDs continued to be a significant threat against U.S. and Coalition Forces so Counter IED lane
training was emphasized and conducted at the PMT. This was an introduction to the Collective Level
Training that they would receive again at the Mobilization station. CIED training was verified and
validated by the Adjutant General and the documentation of every individual training event that was
conducted by the PMT was sent to the training brigade at Fort Hood, Texas and the plan for the 1-158th
FA Post-PMT training was finalized.

On 14 August 2008, the 45th FiB was alerted and began its
mobilization in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 16 August
2008, there was a “send-off” conducted for the brigade at the Ford
Center in Oklahoma City and once it was concluded 900
Guardsmen headed to Fort Hood, Texas for their mobilization
training, arriving at North Fort Hood 22 August 2008. The
battalion quickly occupied quarters and the headquarters
administrative buildings. SRP “in-processing” began immediately
and soldiers with medical or dental issues had to be shuttled to the
Main Post for these appointments which proved to be a challenge
since it was a 45 minute drive from North Fort to Main Post. The S1
shop was constantly working on these daily issues in order that the
soldiers who were medically flagged were able to clear these issues
and be deemed deployable.

Once at Fort Hood the Guardsmen conducted 65 days of mission-

specific training and individual warrior task training. For its new
force protection mission the battalion would be using the Army’s
newest tactical vehicle, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
(MRAP). Unfortunately, there were no MRAPs to train with at Fort Hood; due to their IED survivability
rate they were deemed mission essential so once they rolled off the manufacturer’s assembly line they
were shipped straight to theater. The MRAP was an interim replacement for the HMMWV fleet. These
new behemoths principal features included an armored V-hull undercarriage raised at least 14 inches
above ground to deflect the blast of an IED or mine. It is typically crewed by a driver, vehicle commander,
gunner, with four or more troops seated in the rear, capable of dismounting as needed. They have
operating ranges in excess of 300 miles, in all terrain and all weather, can ford 36 inches of water, can
negotiate a 60 percent slope, and have “run-flat” tires but because of its high center of gravity it is
susceptibility to rollovers. All of the PSD training was conducted with “up-armored humvee’s” which
would prove to be very different than using the significantly larger CAT II MRAPs that the base defense
personnel would actually operate once they had “boots on ground” in Camp Ramadi.

Unit Physical Training picked up where it was left after

PMT. Conditioning soldiers to operate with a full load of
body armor, weapons and gear was critical. The heat of
central Texas in August isn’t quite as bad as it is in Iraq,
but its close and it tested every member of the unit.
Soldiers were issued flame resistant Army Combat
Uniform (ACU) uniforms and completely new individual
equipment, in particular the Interceptor Body Armor
System (IBA). The IBA system consists of an Outer
Tactical Vest (OTV) and two Small Arms Protective
Insert (SAPI) ballistic plates with other accessories such
throat, arm, and groin protectors, all with a total weight
over 30 pounds. IBA does offer increased protection
from 7.62mm armor-piercing ammunition. Soldiers
would be expected to function in Iraqi heat with a new
kit weighing in excess of 70 pounds and better equipped
than any previous deployment.

Meanwhile mobilization started with Leader and Collective Level training and any uncompleted

[31]
Individual Level tasks had to be finished so the number of moving parts was increased exponentially. To
further complicate the matter, a number of last minute fillers arrived Post-Mob that required their
Individual Level training completed. The Collective Level training was a combination of tasks that every
group had to perform such as CIED Lane Training and others that were designed specifically for each
unit’s mission. Battery “B” had a two week PSD training block with a civilian company named Black Swan.
These contractors were former Special Operations Forces operatives that provided very in-depth training
for VIP protection from convoy operations to inner and outer security for leader engagements. Battery “C”
started their training for base defense and the operation of Entry Control Points (ECPs).

Once the unit got well into the training, the daily routine settled and
the brigade leadership organized a meeting with the 81st Heavy
Brigade Combat Team (HBCT), WAARNG at Fort McCoy,
Wisconsin, whose brigade headquarters would also be at Camp
Ramadi serving as the “Camp Mayors Cell”. The 1-158th FA would
fall directly under the 81st HBCT and it was mission essential that
the battalion work very closely with them; especially in defense of
the camp. The battalion commander and sergeant major along with
Colonel Glen Moore, Command Sergeant Major Tony Riggs and
Major Robert Sowards (the 45th FiB commander, senior enlisted
and S3, respectively) flew to Wisconsin to meet with Colonel Ronald
Kapral commander and Command Sergeant Major Robert Sweeney
the senior enlisted and the 81st HBCT staff. It was a very successful
meeting and it was clear from the start that there was going to be a
cohesive relationship at Camp Ramadi.

A Pre-Deployment Site Survey (PDSS) was authorized for a team from the 1-158th FA to visit the current
unit that they would be replacing in Ramadi, the 1-125 INF MIARNG. The intent was to see first-hand
what the unit was doing and how they were doing it so the training for their replacement unit could
prepare them as thoroughly as possible. The timing of the PDSS was pushed to the right to the point
where the 10 man team would return with minimal training time left. Preparations were made and the 10
man team flew to Ali Al Salem Kuwait, but found it difficult to find a flight into Iraq. They were required
to have ammunition for their weapons before going into Iraq, but there was no ammunition to draw.
They had to pick through ammunition
from an amnesty box to find enough
undamaged rounds to partially fill one
magazine for each member. 48 hours
passed before the team boarded a flight
into Iraq where the 1-125 INF picked up
the team at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq and
transported them to Camp Ramadi in the
new Category II MRAPs. The PDSS team
only had 24 hours on the ground to
conduct their site survey, but detailed
notes and pictures were taken and the trip
proved to be very valuable. The team had
less of an issue coming back until they
attempted to check in the weapons case
that held the 10 M4s and 10 M9s at the
Philadelphia airport. The case was too
heavy for check-in, CW3 Gary England;
battalion Property Book Officer (PBO) took a taxi to the nearest Home Depot to buy a heavy-duty tote box
and some padlocks so some of the weapons could be removed from the larger case to get it under the
maximum allowable weight. Needless to say, moving weapons from one case to the other was quite a
scene at the airport check-in counter. The battalion began their culminating training event not long after
the PDSS returned. Many of the lessons learned from the trip were applied to replicate the conditions on
the ground as closely as possible.

[32]
 The mobilization station’s culminating
training event crammed two years’
worth of Significant Activities
(SIGACTs) into a four day exercise.
Every soldier will fight as he is trained
and every Army trains based upon
lessons learned, so a bulk of the
exercise was developed to test theater
specific threats and conditioned the
soldiers to be ready for just about
anything. The Army Universal Task List
(AUTL) is a comprehensive but not all-
inclusive listing of Army tasks and this
exercise tested and validated many of
these tasks. It was a long, hot, and
strenuous exercise but immediately
following the final training event, the
unit was deemed ready for deployment.
The RFF No. 828 received its “check mark” and was deemed validated for deployment and started
packing everything for its movement to Iraq. Every piece of equipment was inventoried and loaded and
the soldiers waited to depart to Iraq. It didn’t take long.

The battalion was then loaded on commercial aircraft and flew into Kuwait City, arriving there on 2
November 2008, where they were immediately transported to Camp Behring, Kuwait for additional
training and final onward movement into Iraq. Rifle and pistol ranges were conducted to ensure that all
personal weapons functioned correctly. MRAP training was scheduled and conducted. Unfortunately,
Camp Behring’s training MRAPs were not the same size and type that would be used in Ramadi, but they
were closer than the HMMWVs used at Fort Hood. The battalion moved to Ali Al Salem, Kuwait for a few
days before the main body boarded a C-17 Globemaster for Al Taqaddum Air Base (TQ), Iraq. Once they
arrived at TQ, a large fleet of MRAPS and cargo trucks shuttled the battalion to the camp at Ramadi which
is roughly a 45 minute drive westerly along Route 11.

On 16 November 2008, the first wave of soldiers from the 1-158th FA arrived in Camp Ramadi where they
would soon replace the 1st Battalion of the 125th Infantry Michigan ARNG, of the 37th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team (IBCT), who at that time were supporting the transition of security of the Iraqi people. The
next two weeks would be what is called “left seat-right seat” training, as the incoming and outgoing units
exchanged mission requirements in order to have a seamless and deliberate Relief in Place and Transfer
of Authority (RIP/TOA) from Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Durkac 1-125 INF MIARNG. This is the most
critical part in an operation since the outgoing unit and their combat operations will be assumed by the
incoming unit and the need to maintain combat effectiveness is crucial. During this transition period a
single rocket was fired into the camp one night, landing in the Class IV Yard which was approximately
300 meters in the vicinity of the new battalion commander and staff and leaving a poignant reminder that
this was “for real” now. The 1-158th FA assumed control of their operations on 3 December 2008 by
conducting autonomous camp security, security for Logistical Package (LOGPAC) or “supply runs”,
Personal Security Details (PSD) for the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), security of the Provincial
Government Center (PGC), providing PSDs for the Provincial Police Training Team (P-PTT), and assume
responsibility of the Base Defense Operations Center (BDOC) and would spent the next nine months
providing security and supporting these PRTs as they prepared the local government for “self-
government”.

With 1-158th FA battalion “colors” posted the transfer of authority is complete and the joint service and
multi-national mission begins. The relieved unit starts its move home and the battalion is now able to
move into their Containerized Housing Units (CHUs) and eat in a well-established Dining Facility (DFAC)
operated by Mr. Kem Tolliver, a Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) contractor. Camp Ramadi was still
considered very austere to the larger FOBs in Iraq since there was a very small PX and minimal amenities.
Trips to TQ, Al Asad and Baghdad were like going from a small, rural town to a large city. During the “left
seat-right seat” the Thanksgiving holidays was approaching and the mayor’s cell organized a flag football

[33]
tournament called the “Turkey Bowl”. Sixteen flag football
teams from various organizations signed up for the event
which ran from the 24th through 27th November 2008.
Service members and civilians from across the camp came
out for the games and rooted for their teams but after 20
scheduled games, the “Turkey Bowl” was whittled down to
Headquarters Company Regimental Combat Team-1 (RCT-1)
and the “T-Birds” of the 1-158th FA. The “T-Birds” formed a
composite team from each battery and it is speculated that
the Marine team was composed of their best players,
handpicked ringers. At 1900 hours of Thanksgiving Day, they
squared off under the lights of the portable light generators.
After a dusty and sweaty grueling game, RCT-1 came out as
victors, beating the “T-Birds” 32-18 taking home the official “Turkey Bowl” trophy and the bragging rights
on that highly competitive night. Another noteworthy sports event that occurred shortly after the
infamous “Turkey Bowl” was when the Ramadi Softball League season started. Army Staff Sergeant
Derrick Grasty from 81st BCT MWR set up the league and organized all the games which consisted of 16
teams from a total of 12 units stationed on the camp. The tournament was narrowed down to 10 teams at
double elimination competing for the trophy. The league had to postpone their games on hold for several
weeks mid-season due to heavy rains turning the fields to mud however the champion ship game was
finally played on 26 April 2009. Battery “C”, 1-158th FA played 81st Brigade Combat Team’s Team 2, in a
very heated game, Battery “C”, 1-158th FA started the game behind but they rallied to win the game with a
score of 14-2 and took home the trophy.

Once the battalion assumed authority it didn’t take long for the unit to get into its battle rhythm. Besides
the day to day base defense operations the battalion started averaging 5 to 7 PSD missions every day. To
provide command and control there is a Tactical Operations Center (TOC) which provides situational
awareness to the command group on all aspects of the security mission. This TOC is under the auspices of
the S3 and runs three shifts twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; Shift #1 (0700-1500), Shift #2
(1500-2300), and the graveyard Shift #3 (2300-0700). Each shift was staffed with a Battle Captain,
Operations NCOIC, Radio Telephone Operators (RTOs), a Intell cell, S1, S4, S6 (Commo), Religious team
and Medical team. These cells stay in contact with the QRF, the PSD, the BDOC and update the command
group on all significant activities that effect the security mission.

Command Group
LTC Gregory Lankford, MAJ Paul Harris , and CSM Jimmy Veneable.

Tactical Operations Center

Shift #1 Shift #2 Shift #3
Battle Captain CPT Gary Stewart CPT Mark Todd CPT William Ponder
Operations NCOIC SFC James Heston SSG David Chasten SFC Matthew Ellison
S2 (Intelligence) CW2 Robert Dowen SSG Dusty Capshew CW2 James Gormley
SPC Lyndal Morgan SPC Timothy Blair

RTOs: SGT Robert Shipley, SPC Scott Pepi, SPC Stacey Miller, SPC Paul Payne, PFC Gerald Negelien,
PFC Bryan Turnbull, and PFC Justin South.
S1 (Personnel): CPT David Peyok, SFC Vincent Moscatello, SFC Jose Saldana, SSG Matthew Lima, SSG
Jeffery Rooks, SGT Richard Sholar, SGT Michael Gildow, SPC Tyler Ferguson, SPC Steven Latre and SPC
James De La O.
S4 (Supply): CPT Kenny Toms, CW3 Gary England, SFC Paul Burden, SGT Arry Johnson, and SSG
Larry Harper.
S6 (Commo): CPT Chin Kim, SFC Tracy Taylor, SSG Sam Hunt, SGT Michael Cainion, and SPC Chris
Malone.
Chaplain Team: CPT William Elkins and SPC Robert McFarland.
PA & Medical Team: CPT Westley Carter, SFC Mickey Grannan, SSG Christopher Gay, SGT Robert
Coble and SGT Ryan Chambers.

[34]
 Battery “C” provided the QRF as well as manning the ECPs
and Camp Ramadi had two of them, “Ogden and Trooper”
gates, and both gates allowed access into the camp.
“Trooper Gate” was on the north side of the camp and was
designed for both military and civilian traffic. All of the
foreign nationals that worked on the camp entered and
exited through this gate daily as well as all the civilian
convoys. Unfortunately, the gate was built less than 100m
off of a major highway and was very close to the village that
was right outside the north wall. Iraqi civilians exiting the
highway to go to the village would very frequently take the
incorrect exit that put them right in front of the tower at
the ECP. Due to security measures and screening devices
and the incredibly short standoff distance, troops manning
the tower would have to immediately initiate escalation of force measures to prevent the civilians from
advancing any closer to the gate. This started by firing a pen flare at the vehicle, then almost immediately
followed by a warning shot, and then very quickly to a disabling shot on the vehicle. Although this was an
inherited issue, the number of escalation of force incidents meant that a redesign to the entrance of the
gate had to be implemented soon a clearly defined and
marked entrance from highway was established. After this
reconfiguration, only one escalation of force event
occurred for the remainder of the tour when a civilian
pickup truck trying to get to the gate somehow managed to
bypass the barriers and drove straight toward the gate late
one night. The driver ignored loudspeaker warnings to
stop (given in Arabic and English), and he ignored a pen
flare and a warning shot. Finally the vehicle was struck
with a disabling shot from M4 small arms fire. It turned
out to be an American contractor that had not been to the
newly redesigned gate and had obviously missed all of the
signs that clearly marked the new gate. Small arms fire at
“Ogden Gate” was not uncommon, and although it occurred it was never accurate and considered as
harassment fire but it raised the “pucker factor”. Over the course of the tour, convoys would experience
these random shots and even Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) shot at them, but no one was ever
injured but it kept everybody on their toes.

One of the first greetings Battery “C” learned in Iraq wasn't Arabic but Swahili. "Jambo" is the word they
hear as they go through a security check point to get into the PX or chow hall. Most of the guard towers
and check points were manned by the “Ugandan” security forces contracted by the Dreshak Limited
Company whom they recruited and trained and sent to Iraq. The Ugandans were Third Country Nationals
(TCNs) along with Filipinos, Indians, Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Turkish and Peruvians working on the
bases. Many of these contractors were veterans of the Ugandan army and about 25,000 Ugandan men and
women have supported US-led operations in Iraq. The Ugandan defense ministry maintains that the
mission in Iraq has improved the wealth of the people and boosted the country's foreign exchange
reserves, since many of them sent money back home. For many of the Ugandans this was an once-in-a-
lifetime job opportunity earning ten-fold per month working as a security guard in Iraq than their home
country earning the equivalent of $ 100 per month. The Ugandans took their job very seriously and were
very responsive to the security mission.

There were many security measures for inside the camp however once “outside the wire” other measures
were used. The most commonly used is called the Blue Force Tracker (BFT). Having the BFT inside your
vehicle allows it to be tracked on a display screen and allows the operator to see other BFT and track their
navigation on a display screen in real-time. Also mounted on the MRAPs were the Rhino Passive Infrared
Defeat System (known simply as Rhino), a early detonation Counter-IED system. It was mounted to the
front of a vehicle and used heat to prematurely detonate any hidden IEDs while the vehicle is at a safe
distance away from the blast. Another measure was Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) jammers which
would jam any transmitted radio frequency used to initiate an IED.

[35]
 The battalion’s first direct attack from the
enemy came on 26 February 2009. A convoy
of four MKRAPs led by SSG Billy Holly was
escorting a PRT representative to a meeting
at Camp Fallujah, when the second vehicle in
the convoy drove over a pressure plate
activated IED. The IED detonated an
estimated 10 pounds of Homemade
Explosive (HME) which blew one of the rear
wheels completely off of the MRAP. The V-
shaped hull of the MRAP performed exactly
as designed and directed the blast away from
the crew compartment. SSG Billy Holley
quickly secured the site and the crew and
passenger dismounted and loaded on the
fourth MRAP. A contact team was dispatched
to recover the damaged MRAP and upon
returning to the camp, Captain Westley Carter, the battalion Physicians Assistant, examined the
occupants of the IED attack and it was determined none of the soldiers received any physical injuries. The
120th FSC had the MRAP operational, but there was a concern over the integrity of the hull being
compromised so it was not used again for missions “outside of the wire”. Another attack was conducted on
the PSD convoy led by First Sergeant Emmanuel Williams who were escorting several senior Iraqi Police
and senior PRT diplomats to Baghdad and attacked on their return trip. An array of EFPs cut through the
lead vehicle like it was made of butter. The EFPs were aimed low and since most of the units in Baghdad
were still using “Up-Armored HMMWVs” because of their smaller size, the MRAPs received relatively no
explosive fragmentation damage because of their higher under-belly road clearance. The EFPs hit low on
the MRAP way below the cab and crew compartment and everyone escaped without injury. The MRAP,
however, was completely destroyed. One of the EFPs penetrated the fuel tank which burned the vehicle to
the ground. The other trucks in the convoy reacted immediately shielding the damaged vehicle until all of
the occupants could be safely recovered. All of the crew were rattled by the event and narrowly escaped a
catastrophic event that day.

The battalion’s first casualty to an enemy action occurred on 22 April 2009 during a routine PRT visit to
the Ramadi Mayor’s office. While the meeting was occurring, Corporal Adam Schuster was shot by a
sniper while providing security outside of the building. A small caliber bullet, most likely fired from a
two-story building 400m away, hit him in the cheek, entered his jaw and exited from his neck. Members
of the outer security quickly dragged Corporal Schuster into nearby cover and a MRAP was quickly moved
into a defense perimeter to provide additional cover as the wounded soldier was loaded. First aid was
administered immediately as they rushed Corporal Schuster back to the Camp Ramadi. On the camp the
QRF had already cleared a direct route to the “Shock /Trauma Center” where immediate care was given
and he was MEDEVAC to Al Asad Air Base and ultimately Walter Reed Medical Hospital where he
underwent reconstructive surgery and therapy. On 7 May 2009, Specialist Jonathan Heim was closing the
doors to an MRAP after loading passengers into the rear when a 7.62mm round struck him in the back.
The round missed his IBA vest, ricocheted off his shoulder blade and travelled down his arm just under
the skin before it stopped right above his right elbow. He realized he’d been shot after walking back to his
MRAP where he climbed aboard and the convoy rushed back to the camp. He was immediately treated
and MEDEVAC to Al Asad Air Base and underwent surgery and was eventually returned back to duty.
Corporal Adam Schuster and Specialist Jonathan Heim were awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds
received in action.

The 81st HBCT assumed command of the Camp Ramadi and on 20 January 2009 a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) was signed and was a tenant agreement of sorts because it outlines the areas that will
be used by coalition forces through 2011. This MOA is a step toward handing complete responsibility and
control back over to the Iraqis. Although the signing marks a big step for Iraqi self-governance it really
doesn't change the normal day-to-day operations. Force protection measures did not change and camp
security at the BDOC was just as critical as ever. A new Ramadi Access Control Policy was already in effect
using the Biometric Automated Toolset System (BATS) that offered biometric data for consideration of

[36]
access onto the camp maintaining full accountability. Significant political changes were shifting more of
the security mission’s burden of responsibility over to the Iraqis and this impacted the camp and the
security of operation of the battalion. “Ogden Gate” on the south side of the camp was designed and
intended to be only for U.S. military traffic. The Iraqi Police Training Facility that bordered the camp on
the northwest side had one accessible entrance and that was straight through “Ogden Gate”. This allowed
transport trucks full of armed Iraqis to be regularly shuttled across the U.S. portion of the camp on a daily
basis. About mid-tour, an Iraqi army brigade occupied the open area between Camp Ramadi and the
Glass Factory to the northwest. This area was behind
“Ogden Gate” so now the Iraqi traffic passing through
it to both of their locations far outnumbered U.S.
vehicles. This posed a grave security threat for the
gate guards since they did not have a reliable way to
screen all traffic for potential threats. A request was
made to the Mayor’s Cell for the Iraqi army to control
traffic at “Ogden Gate” and for the 1-158th FA soldiers
to build and man a new gate behind “Ogden Gate”
that would control traffic into Camp Ramadi proper.
This would enable Iraqis to screen and control their
own traffic to their facilities and it would restore
control of traffic accessing the U.S. portion of Camp
Ramadi. The Iraqi brigade agreed and the request
was approved. The 1-158th FA brought much more to the mission than just military muscle. In its ranks
were police officers, electricians, plumbers, construction workers, farmers, welders and many other
specialized skills which all contributed significantly to the success of the mission. National Guard units
were indeed a “value added” to the nation building efforts being conducted in Iraq. Their value was
apparent when they built the new gate and a new guard house. Once built it was named after the
battalion’s call sign, “T-Bird Gate” and once in operation it significantly improved traffic flow and restored
positive access control.

From 9 February 2009 through 15 August 2009

the 1-158th FA (HIMARS) supported the II
Marine Expeditionary Force (FORWARD)
commanded by Major General Richard T.
Tryon, through a deliberate and methodical
campaign termed “Operation FARDH AL
QANOON” they secured the Al Anbar Province,
thus denying its use as an insurgent stronghold
resulting in an unprecedented calm and
reduction in attacks, from a weekly high of 458
to a low of 45. The II MEF Fwd executed a
campaign that improved relations with the
Sunni population and initiated an economic
and social recovery plan that resulted in a
rejuvenated Anbari government. During this
period, the Iraqi Security Forces continued
their transformation into an effective fighting
force, doubling the strength of the 1st and 7th Iraqi Army Divisions under the auspices of the Marine
Corps Police Transition Teams who oversaw the expansion.

The II MEF Fwd Marines began scaling back on their operations and were turning over more of their AO
to Iraqi control. The 2nd Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment was a U.S. Marine Reserve infantry battalion
from California that replaced 2nd Battalion 9th Marine Regiment at Ramadi. The 2/23 Marine proved to
be much easier to work with since a common ground as reserve component units was shared. The Marine
battalion started developing a surplus of manpower as their mission requirements lessened and the PPTT
security mission at the PGC was transferred over to Lieutenant Colonel Joe Cabell, battalion commander
of the 2/23 Marines and the 120th FSC was relocated back onto Camp Ramadi and be re-tasked.

[37]
The SOFA that was agreed upon on 4 December 2008 radically changed how all operations would be run.
In June 2009, the II MEF Fwd made a change to policy that U.S. long-haul convoys on routine runs could
only travel at night. The intent was to lower the visual presence of U.S. forces in Iraq an “out of sight-out
of mind” policy. This policy change impacted the routine daylight administrative and logistical runs to TQ
and Al Asad AB and now most turned into overnight runs. This added to the burden of the logistics trains
and now the frequency of them was being scrutinized in order to reduce the visual signature. U.S. forces
agreed to withdraw from Iraqi cities by 30 June 2009 and the following day all U.S. activities outside the
perimeter of the camp required at least a 24 hour notification to the local Iraqi police and all U.S. convoys
now required an Iraqi escort to and from their destination. PSD missions were planned 24 hours in
advance, but there was a very real concern about informing the Iraqis of the exact routes to and locations
of the PRT meeting sites. Additionally, the Iraqis were not known for their reliability and promptness
which could significantly delay or completely disrupt the battalion’s ability to perform their PSD mission.
The escort duty was a significant burden to the Iraqi police based on the number of PRT engagements and
long-haul convoys the battalion were executing daily. This issue continued in a very unpredictable manner
until a local agreement was made that the Iraqi police would be informed of every mission 24 hours in
advance and they could elect to escort them or not, but our teams would not wait for them past their
scheduled departure time. This arrangement met the intent of the SOFA and was a workable solution for
all parties.

To have created stability and security operations which protected the Iraqi
people were such distinctive achievements, the officers, enlisted personnel
and civilian employees of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) were
awarded the Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) under the recommendation of
the Secretary of the Navy; the Honorable Ray Mabus; Secretary of the Navy;
on 1 February 2012. The men and women of the 1-158th FA (HIMARS)
Request for Forces 828 were under the auspices of this command and were
awarded the NUC. A copy of the award can be found under U. S. Army
Human Resources Command Memorandum AHRC-PDP-A dated 10 June
2014 and signed by CW4 Elisa M. Robinson at (502) 613-9126, DSN 983-
9126.

The advanced party from the 3rd Battalion (HIMARS) 157th Field Artillery
Field Artillery COARNG arrived on Camp Ramadi in mid July 2009. As the
battalion’s soldiers started to arrive arrangements were made to transport
them and their equipment as well as temporary quarters. The battalion had
conducted their own PDSS before many of the changes from the SOFA were
instituted so the processes were different. However this didn’t change the
“left seat-right seat” training which were carried out very smoothly. The 3-157
FA (HIMARS) was configured also exactly as the 1-158 FA, they used their,
HHB, Battery “A” and Battery “B”, and the 188th FSC from their 115th Fib.
The 3-157 FA is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Al Morris and senior
enlisted Command Sergeant Major Michael Koob. HHB, Battery “A”, Battery
“B”, and 188th FSC are commanded by Captains Ashkan Angha, Dominic Tatti, David Wilcox and Beth
Soelzer with First Sergeants Ed Schwaigert, Eric Weis, Rodolfo Reyes, and Joseph Bishop, respectively. As
the RIP/TOA officially began the 1-158th FA began conducting inventories and packing equipment to
prepare for their own movement. On an interesting historical note, the 3-157 FA carries the lineage of the
157th Infantry Regiment from the Colorado National Guard which served in the 45th Infantry Division
during WWII. The 158th FA Bn was the direct support battalion for the 157th INF Reg during the war so
this was the first time that both units had been together in a combat zone since 1945. This historic event
was the center point of the TOA ceremony. On 31 July 2009 the 1-158th FA (HIMARS) cased its colors
and transferred command of Camp Ramadi to 3-157 FA (HIMARS) COARNG.

The 3-157 FA transported the 1-158 FA soldiers to TQ for the flight back to Kuwait on 31 July 2009. After
landing at Ali Al Salem the battalion was bused to Camp Virginia, Kuwait. Thankfully, the troops were
housed in air-conditioned tents during their brief stay there because the high temps were right at 120
degrees during the day. The extreme, dry heat would instantly dry the eyes and suck the moisture out of
the lungs of anyone the second that they stepped out of the tents. The extreme heat made leaving Kuwait

[38]
 just that much better, and at 2400 hours 8 August 2009 they
departed Kuwait. An Advanced Party was flown to Fort Hood to
make preparations for the battalion’s return. The main body
arrived at Fort Hood and was put in temporary quarters as they
conducted their out-processing. Arrangements were being made
at each of the battery’s home stations for a welcome home
ceremony. There would be one in Lawton, Duncan and Anadarko
for HHB/120th FSC, Battery “B” and Battery “C” respectively.
After a week of out-processing, the troops loaded up on
commercial buses for their home stations. The Soldiers were well
received by their communities and were put on a pass
immediately following their brief welcome home ceremonies.

Following the passes the soldiers of the 1-158 FA returned to their

armories to conduct inventories with instructions to report to the
U.S. Army transition point; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; for transition
processing and upon completion they would be released from
active duty. After a year-long deployment in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom, the 45th Fires Brigade returned to Enid,
Oklahoma, the 1st Battalion 271st Brigade Support Battalion
returned to Altus, Oklahoma and the 1st Battalion (HIMARS)
158th Field Artillery returned to Lawton, Oklahoma. On 12 August 2009 the battalion marched into
Reinhart Gym on Fort Sill to a standing ovation. The introduction was given by Brigadier General Robbie
Asher remarking “Despite repeated enemy attack, they never failed to safeguard the people they were
assigned to protect”. Over the course of the 10 month deployment on Camp Ramadi, the 1-158 FA
(HIMARS) conducted over 3,000 missions. For their actions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
members of the battalion were awarded 2 Purple Heart Medals, 19 Bronze Star Medals, 28 Meritorious
Service Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals with Valor devices, 218 Army Commendation Medals, 70
Army Achievement Medals and 38 Combat Action Badges.

A milestone had been achieved by the Rear Detachment who was already preparing and training for the
2010 Annual Training (AT) which included a HIMARS battalion Live Fire Exercise to validate the
battalion’s proficiency after its transformation to this new system. Prior to its departure to the Mob Site
the battalion commander had laid out an aggressive training plan for the Rear Detachment Commander,
Captain Charles Neely and Battery “A”. Because the Rear Detachment had grown in considerable size the
plan was enhanced it in order to accomplish this significant event. As new recruits joined the unit from
the RSP and “seasoned” 13Ms and 13Ps pulled from the Oklahoma Regional Training Institute (RTI), a
pool of training expertise was assembled into a “Cadre” group to expedite the training. Soon after the
battalion completed its terminal leave
and REFRAD and returned to its home
armory it was reformed under a normal
HIMARS configuration and individual
crew level training started immediately.
But now they had a Battery “A” cadre
group with approximately 40 personnel
and could man and shoot the launchers.
With less than six months after
reforming the battalion and with a cadre
group that would be leveraged to get the
rest of the battalion back up to speed in
HIMARS operations the battalion
moved to Fort Sill for their annual
training in July 2010. Here they
expended all 72 rockets used for crew
certification and culminating 2010 AT
in an 18 rocket “ripple-fire” thus
validating their proficiency.

[39]
[40]
 Composite Roster of Officers and Enlisted members of the 1-158th FA and 120th FSC *

LTC Gregory Lankford SSG Yancy Baldwin SGT James Bozarth

MAJ Jerald Gilbert SSG Donald Bonner SGT Jason Bray
MAJ Paul Harris SSG Donald Brewer SGT Gordon Brooks
MAJ Wade Murry SSG James Brown SGT Josh Brummet
CPT Donald Anderson SSG Jackie Bruesch SGT William Cain
CPT Charles Betts SSG Christopher Bussell SGT Michael Cainion
CPT Justin Blount SSG Dusty Capshew SGT Elloid Carrisalez
CPT Westley Carter SSG Darin Carman SGT Ryan Chambers
CPT William Elkins SSG Ray Charles SGT Michael Clark
CPT Chin Kim SSG David Chasten SGT Corey Coats
CPT Robert McLeod SSG Robert Cook SGT Robert Coble
CPT David Peyok SSG John Fitzgerald SGT Blake Collett
CPT William Ponder SSG Branden Fry SGT Fred Cox
CPT David Stewart SSG Christopher Gay SGT John Dillon
CPT Mark Todd SSG Michael Graham SGT Jonathan Ditch
CPT Kenny Toms SSG Nicholas Green SGT Billy England
1LT Anthony Clark SSG Dwight Hansel SGT Jason Farmer
1LT David Clinton SSG Larry Harper SGT Shawn Fields
1LT Johnny Hart SSG Brian Hekia SGT Stephen Fike
1LT Chad Headrick SSG Roberto Herrera SGT William Fry
1LT Aaron Hinkle SSG Billy Holley SGT Michael Gildow
1LT Paul Jackson SSG Sammy Hunt SGT Chad Gilley
1LT Chad Richardson SSG Bennett Jackson SGT Kyle Glasgow
1LT James Seibert SSG William Johnson SGT Chad Greenwood
1LT James Shepard SSG Jeffrey Justice SGT Vanice Griffin
1LT James Smith SSG Steven Kelly SGT Dustin Hames
1LT Dax Thomas SSG Korey Kimble SGT Leon Hawkins
1LT Francisco Vasquez SSG Matthew Lima SGT Christopher Heckathorne
CW3 Gary England SSG Robert Lutonsky SGT Aaron Helton
CW3 John Kuehny SSG Phillip Miller SGT James Hendrickson
CW2 Robert Dowen SSG Samuel Mooneyham SGT Tommy Holley
CW2 James Gormley SSG Roland Morales SGT Kyle Hood
CW2 Howard Ross SSG Larry Nix SGT Earle Hudson
CSM Jimmy Venable SSG Dominic Pawlowski SGT Zachary Jessen
SGM Gary Nix SSG Kerry Pembertson SGT Shawn Johnson
1SG Dennis Cooper SSG Aaron Pleas SGT Arry Johnson
1SG Dennis Moody SSG Chris Posgrove SGT Tanner Keasler
1SG Mark Rackley SSG Eric Ray SGT James Keesee
1SG Emanuel Williams SSG Joe Rivera SGT Kasey Kerr
MSG James Heston SSG Matthew Robertson SGT Chris Koehler
SFC David Andrews SSG Randy Roland SGT Roland Kvarme
SFC Scott Buehr SSG Jeffery Rooks SGT Stanley Lindsey
SFC Paul Burden SSG Steven Schoeppach SGT Christopher Malone
SFC Andy Callihan SSG Paul Tate SGT William Martin
SFC Randall Dedert SSG Michael Tenequer SGT Jose Mateo-Perez
SFC Matthew Ellison SSG Paul Thompson SGT John McClung
SFC Mickey Grannan SSG Gordon Underwood SGT Norman McCoy
SFC Lance Grant SSG Aaron Warnke SGT Danny McKillip
SFC Earl Johnson SSG John Weekley SGT Robert Mitchell
SFC Corey Klaassen SSG Stephen Wilkerson SGT Travis Nease
SFC Vincent Moscatello SSG Jeremy Woolver SGT Jesse Neugebauer
SFC David Perky Jr. SSG Lance Zerger SGT Wesley Parra
SFC Vincent Pierre SGT Thomas Adkins SGT Christopher Pettit
SFC Adam Rogers SGT Franklin Armstrong SGT Shawn Pierce
SFC Jose Saldana SGT James Baldwin SGT Jordan Pope
SFC Jeffery Shields SGT Jeremy Beard SGT William Reid
SFC David Slezickey SGT Bobby Bell SGT Jason Schaeffer
SFC Carlton Speller SGT James Black SGT Matthew Schoolfield
SFC Tracy Taylor SGT Jason Blount SGT Robert Shipley

[41]
SGT Richard Sholar SPC Lee Davis SPC Austin Martin
SGT Lee Smith SPC Melissa Decker-Horz SPC Brian Mason
SGT Christopher Solis SPC Christopher Degraffenried SPC Aaron Maxon
SGT Gregg Soppet SPC James De La O SPC Jedediah May
SGT Justin Steckman SPC Kevin Dornan SPC William McDaniel
SGT Kevin Streeter SPC Ralph Douvillier SPC Jason McDonald
SGT Robert Strong SPC Delbert Dye SPC Dwight McElveen
SGT Frederic Tabert SPC Justin Edwards SPC Zachary McElveen
SGT Frederick Taylor SPC Anthony Ekman SPC Mark McFarland
SGT Kelly Toliver SPC Lional Elix SPC Jeremy Menchaca
SGT Travis Ulrich SPC Alex Elliott SPC Daniel Mendoza
SGT Chad Underwood SPC Jody Elmore SPC Cody Miller
SGT Curtis Vasquez SPC Howard Erikson SPC Stacey Miller
SGT Kaleb Wallace SPC Kevin Everley SPC Jonathan Moore
SGT Jay Wick SPC Tyler Ferguson SPC Michael Moore
SGT Matthew Wood SPC Jay Fertig SPC Lyndal Morgan
SGT Jon Young SPC Scot Fitzhugh SPC Raymond Morrison
SGT Jonathon Zerger SPC Frank Fleming SPC Chad Moyer
CPL Jason Bellar SPC Albert Folske SPC Jesse Murray
CPL Ernest Childers SPC Nickolas Fowler SPC Sean Murray
CPL Anthony Davis SPC Trea Fulton SPC Ricky Myers
CPL Raul Perez SPC Eric Gambill SPC Richard Narvaiz
CPL Christopher Root SPC Lance Gassett SPC Gerald Negelein
CPL Adam Schuster SPC Colbert Gordan SPC Christopher Newman
CPL Nicholas Sevedge SPC Zakariah Graves SPC Adam Newton
CPL Derrick Tadlock SPC Dennis Green SPC Joseph Norris
CPL Jordan Williams SPC Taylor Green SPC Daniel Olson
CPL Warren Williams SPC Tony Grigsby SPC Antonio Olvera
SPC Christopher Adamson SPC Eric Guyton SPC Patrick Ontiveros
SPC Matthew Adamson SPC Andrew Haden SPC William Paddock
SPC Robert Ahrens SPC Ephraim Hamilton SPC Jared Page
SPC Gilbert Aitken SPC Robert Hardy SPC Kevin Painter
SPC Keaton Aldridge SPC Eric Harlan SPC Joshua Palmer
SPC Cody Alldredge SPC Robert Hardy SPC Martin Parker
SPC Casey Allen SPC Leslie Hayes SPC Aaron Pawnee
SPC Preston Allen SPC Jon Hefner SPC Paul Payne
SPC Randy Allen SPC Jonathan Heim SPC Jessie Pena
SPC Michael Alonzo SPC Raymond Hernandez SPC Stephen Pennington
SPC Jared Anderson SPC James Hock SPC Scott Pepi
SPC Haden Andrew SPC Jonathan Holt SPC Jose Perez
SPC Michael Andrews SPC Miranda Hornbeck SPC John Phillips
SPC Aaron Aries-Vales SPC Aaron Howard SPC Jarrett Portwood
SPC Emanuel Arroyo SPC Kale Howes SPC Joaquin Puente
SPC Jeremy Aston SPC Danny Huddleston SPC Mario Ramirez
SPC Clent Baker SPC Timothy Huff SPC Rickey Raper
SPC Delano Barney SPC William Hunt SPC Jason Ratliff
SPC Michael Bebo SPC Joshua Hunter SPC Douglas Riley
SPC Jeremy Bennett SPC Joshua Jezisek SPC Jacob Roberson
SPC Derek Bentley SPC Jarvis Johnson SPC William Robinson
SPC Mitchell Betchan SPC Ronald Johnson SPC Kevin Roed
SPC James Bland SPC Jaren Johnston SPC Eugene Ross
SPC Timothy Blair SPC Dillon Jones SPC John Rowlan
SPC Jeremy Brady SPC Quinn Jones SPC Taylor Sandefur
SPC Nicholas Brewer SPC Kimberly Kaumavae SPC Scott Schroeder
SPC Danny Britton SPC Kenneth Keeton SPC Gregory Self
SPC Christopher Brown SPC Ryan King SPC Wesley Sharp
SPC Thomas Bryant SPC Misty Kirchen SPC Jesse Shillingstad
SPC Jonathan Brzowski SPC Dustin Lamson SPC Benjamin Short
SPC Henry Bui SPC Brandon Landrum SPC Joshua Shugert
SPC Harold Burris SPC Steven Latre SPC Eric Sikes
SPC Justin Burrows SPC Steven Lemons SPC Nathan Simpson
SPC Brenton Bush SPC David Levere SPC Patrick Simpson
SPC Casara Butler SPC Jon Lewis SPC Timothy Skitt
SPC Cody Campbell SPC Aaron Long SPC Brian Slater
SPC Denny Cargal SPC Joshua Luers SPC Justin Smith
SPC Randy Carnes SPC Christopher Luinaquintero SPC Michael Smith
SPC Dustin Carney SPC Mark Lumpkin SPC Jonathan Sokoll
SPC Lance Carney SPC Donnie Macom SPC Justin South
SPC Kevin Cecil SPC Kevin Malocsay SPC Gerald Spangler
SPC Willie Clark SPC Adam Manoles SPC Michael Starr
SPC Justin Coffey SPC Jeremy Mansell SPC Michael Swain
SPC Joshua Cook SPC Matthew Mansell SPC Joshua Tate
[42]
SPC Kreston Taylor SPC Jonathan Williamson PFC Steven Shell
SPC Christopher Terwilligar SPC Andrew Wilson PFC Jason Snelling
SPC Michael Thompson SPC Randy Woodman PFC Bryan Turnbull
SPC Nicholas Thompson PFC Joshua Avants PFC Herbert Ward
SPC David Thronesbery PFC Montrel Boston PFC William Wasson
SPC Pedro Valle PFC Thomas Christian PFC Barry Woodruff
SPC Andrew Waddel PFC James Duckett PVT Kyle Coe
SPC Kyle Watson PFC Joshua Fox PVT Joseph Jackson
SPC Arvie Wess PFC Joshua Garison PVT Joshua Martin
SPC Justin Wilkerson PFC Bradley Hukill PVT Michael McCracken
SPC Lorenzo Williams PFC Austin Marvin

“BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE“

On Monday, 16 May 2005 the “United States Federal Register” was published and in Part LXII; the Office
of the Secretary of the Department of Defense gave notice of Base Closures and Realignments (BRAC). In
this notice it was stated: “Close the Keathley and Burris United States Army Reserve Centers located in
Lawton and Chickasha, Oklahoma; close the Wichita Falls United States Army Reserve Center in
Wichita Falls, Texas; close the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th United States Army Reserve Centers and Equipment
Concentration Site (ECS) located on Fort Sill and relocate units into a new Armed Forces Reserve Center
(AFRC) on Fort Sill, Oklahoma and a new United States Army Reserve Equipment Concentration Site to
be collocated with the Oklahoma Army National Guard Maneuver Area Training Equipment Site on
Fort Sill. The new AFRC shall have the capability to accommodate Oklahoma Army National Guard
units from the following Oklahoma Army National Guard Readiness Centers: Lawton, Frederick,
Anadarko, Chickasha, Marlow, Walters, and Healdton, Oklahoma; realign B/1–158th Field Artillery
(MLRS) from the Oklahoma Army National Guard Readiness Center located in Duncan if the State of
Oklahoma decides to relocate those National Guard units.”

The 21st Century called for the closing of many National Guard and Army Reserve armories and then
relocating them in a process known as the BRAC whose primary goal is military transformation. A new 45
million dollar state-of-the-art facility called the AFRC was constructed on Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This
facility co-located Army Reserve and Oklahoma National Guard units into a single complex. This new
AFRC spanned 28 acres and included four main buildings: a 125,000 square foot training center; a
25,000 square foot maintenance facility; a 48,000 square foot heated storage building; and a 4,600
square foot unheated storage building. In February 2011 the 1st Bn 158th FA (HIMARS) had completely
moved from their old armories into the new AFRC on Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

OPERATION “ENDURING FREEDOM“

The longest war in U.S. history began on 11 September 2001 when
terrorist crashed airliners into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and
in Pennsylvania. These attacks were carried out by the Al-Qaeda terrorist
organization led by Osama bin Laden, who was living or hiding in
Afghanistan. The “Taliban” who at this time were the de facto ruling
governors of Afghanistan after the 1996 Soviet withdrawal were
demanded by President George W. Bush to extradite him into American
hands. The Taliban refused to hand him over and on 7 October 2001, the
U.S. launched “Operation Enduring Freedom”. The U.S. along with its
allies drove the Taliban from power in order to deny Al-Qaeda a safe base
of operations in Afghanistan. A coalition of over 40 countries formed a
security mission that was called the International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF). The war afterwards consisted of Taliban insurgents against
the Afghan Armed Forces (AAF) and its allied ISAF forces. Later the AAF
and ISAF were joined by the Northern Alliance, who were the Afghan
opposition fighting the Taliban in the ongoing civil war after 1996. By December 2001, the Taliban and
their Al-Qaeda allies were defeated and in 2004 the Afghan Transitional Administration held elections
and Hamid Karzai was elected president of the country, now named the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
with a self defense force called the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF).
[43]
After NATO Resolution No. 1510 was passed on 13 October 2003 ISAF was able to expand its missions in
support of the newly formed Afghan National Army (ANA). This was completed in 4 geographical stages
with Regional Commands (RCs) working with PRTs. RC-North (RC-N) completed October 2004, RC-
West (RC-W) completed September 2005, RC-South (RC-S) completed July 2006, and with RC-East (RC-
E) completed October 2006 ISAF took responsibility for the entire country.

On 1 May 2011, United States Navy SEALs killed Osama

bin Laden in Abbotabad, Pakistan. Soon after NATO
leaders executed an exit strategy and started withdrawing
their forces and the U.S. announced that its major combat
operations would end in December 2014, leaving a residual
force in the country. On 28 December 2014, NATO ended
ISAF combat operations in Afghanistan and transferred
full security responsibility to the Afghan government. The
NATO led Operation “Resolute Support” was formed the
same day as a successor to ISAF. The U.S. military forces
rotating to Afghanistan served in Operation “Enduring
Freedom” (OEF) that was conducted 7 October 2001
through 31 December 2014 and Operation “Freedom's Sentinel” (OFS) conducted from 1 January 2015 to
present.

It should be noted at this time that in February 2013, the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery (Airborne)
(FA) deployed its Battery “B” headquarters, along with a HIMARS firing platoon and a Q-53 radar section,
to Shindand Air Base (AB), Afghanistan for a nine month deployment and on 1 July 2013 Colonel James
Crider; commander of Task Force Raider the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division;
relinquished authority of Zabul Province over to Colonel Bill Ostlund; commander of Task Force Duke the
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Task Force Duke, headquartered on FOB Apache, was
there to support the ANSF in Afghan-led operations, provide security for Afghan elections, and to conduct
retrograde operations in RC-S. There are six battalions in the “Duke” Brigade Combat Team:
• 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment; the “Blue Spaders”
• 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment; the “Ramrods”
• 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment; the “Raiders
• 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment; the “Centaurs”
• 201st Brigade Support Battalion; the “Always Ready”
• 3-1 Special Troops Battalion; the “Valiant Warriors”

It is important to remember these facts in order to ascertain

the significance resulting from Battery “A”, 1st Battalion
158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) deployment. Osama bin
Laden was dead, ISAF ended combat operations, and an
exit strategy was already being executed as Combined Task
Force (CTF) Duke was conducting retrograde operations. In
other words transfer of base and life support would be
handed over to the ANSF. To understand the true
magnitude of retrograde operations you must understand
that this is a defensive task that involves organized
movement away from the enemy. In order to reduce the footprint that has accumulated over 10 years of
combat operations makes you ask the question: Where does all the stuff go? The answer is that this
equipment must be reintegrated back into the Army's supply system and removed if it is no longer
necessary if combat operations have ceased. So it was this long-range planning that allowed the battalion
to train in its wartime contingency and they would be expected to “fall-in” on equipment already in
theater and CTF Duke who was retrograding by infiltration from Combat Out-Posts (COPs) to FOBs
would still need covering fires if they were being harassed.

Lieutenant Colonel Jerald Gilbert, commander of the 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS),
receives the mission in alert order form and promptly thereafter he notifies Battery “A’s” commander,

[44]
 Captain Sean Bryant and senior enlisted First Sergeant Lance Grant
and Battery “B”, 1st Battalion, 171st Target Acquisition Battery, with
senior enlisted Sergeant First Class John B. McClung were notified
that they would deploy to Afghanistan to support ISAF by providing
“timely and accurate” field artillery fires to the RC-S, specifically CTF
Duke.

Immediately upon this notification all training is now focused on

completing any Pre-Deployment Training that would support theater
entry requirements set forth by the combatant commander. This
PMT is essential to the artilleryman in the fact that their mission is
to provide “timely and accurate” fires and failure is not an option but
they must also meet the basic training requirements to enter into the
Afghanistan Theater. A significant portion of training and readiness
will occur during pre-mobilization and the PMT was conducted in
August 2013. Camp Gruber, Oklahoma supported the PMT by
providing small arms and individual weapons familiarization and
qualification ranges and record fire ranges and this was essential
since every man carried the 9mm Beretta sidearm as well as a
5.56mm long rifle. Camp Gruber also provided vehicle mounted
weapon qualification ranges, small unmanned aerial vehicle operations area, a MOUT Facility and a
Breach Facility.

After A/1-158 FA returns from Camp Gruber they immediately go to the “field” on Fort Sill, Oklahoma and
start preparations for conducting their preliminary HIMARS gunnery tables. These gunnery tables
provide a methodology for progressively training the firing platoons and ensure that all crews can safely
and effectively perform required gunnery tasks by “dry-fire” and then the live-fire certification phase. The
tasks, conditions, and standards are provided on the gunnery tables and there are three different
qualification events every crew must pass, the fire when ready, fire at my command and time on target.
A/1-158 FA was validated on Table VI and given the “thumbs up” to proceed to the mobilization site.

On 23 September 2013, the A/1-158 FA

deploys to its mobilization site at Fort
Bliss, Texas. Here they will be under
the auspices of the 5th Armored
Brigade, U. S. First Army’s Western
Division whose mission is to validate
and certify theater specific training to
the mobilized unit. They will provide
realistic, mission-focused and
demanding training to better prepare
the A/1-158 FA for deployment and
validate the wartime contingency
capability of “timely and accurate”
fires. The first order of business at the
MOB site is personal readiness for
deployment. This starts with
completing legal documents, validating
Records of Emergency Data, getting
financial affairs in order, insuring family members have the appropriate military identification cards and
ensuring that their Service members’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) beneficiaries are up to date. Medical
processing starts next with Hearing, Dental and Vision examinations, optical inserts are issued.
Immunizations for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Anthrax, Cholera, Tuberculosis and
HIV testing are required by CENTCOM before deploying into Afghanistan. The unit also had to ensure
that Theater Specific Individual Requirements Training (TSIRT) was completed by everybody and this
includes Level 1 Antiterrorism Awareness Training, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE)
Training, Cultural Orientation, Cyber Awareness Challenge, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Concussion

[45]
Training. There is also training required for the most serious threat in Afghanistan the IED. Taliban,
insurgents, and Al Qaeda foreign fighters use IEDs to cause casualties and create insecurity in the
populace due to their simplicity and difficulty of detection.

All of this training is part of the month long mobilization of the A/1-158 FA but to certify and validate they
must be examined in the Mission Readiness Exercise. During the last week of mobilization; the 23 thru 27
September 2013; they moved to the Oro Grande Base Complex along with more than forty Observer
Coach Trainers (OCTs) of the 5th Armored Brigade who will oversee and observe the training and then
provide feedback and suggestions throughout the exercise. This training exercise entails marksmanship,
resupply, countering homemade bombs and goes through the full range of operations and capabilities but
most importantly it gets to showcase the A/1-158 FA real world skills of firing its M142 HIMARS
launchers. Mandatory certifications in providing artillery support capabilities are required for deployment
and the validation culminating with the launcher crews firing approximately 34 rockets. Late at night the
blue New Mexico sky lit up with rocket engine glows zooming across its horizon and impacting with a loud
thud. Battery “A” was shooting “rippers”; Reduced Range Practice Rockets (RRPRs). These rockets have a
shorten range for safety purposes and don’t have warheads so they don't explode upon impact. These
rockets are like “flying telephone poles” and they just land with a thud and a cloud of dust. The fire
missions ended with simultaneous and consecutive rounds downrange and battery level gunnery was
validated. After qualification all M142 rocket launchers were loaded onto the railhead and shipped back to
Fort Sill, Oklahoma by the battalion support team.

On 14 October 2013, A/1-158 FA moved to Biggs Army Airfield and its Silas L. Copeland Arrival Departure
Airfield Control Group (ADACG). The ADACG took control of the reception and the loading of A/1-158
FA. Here they were briefed about the flight requirements, manifest was checked and soldiers, duffel bags
and carry on was weighed. The unit was moved to a sterile control point and fed before the flight and then
they waited for their bulk baggage to
be palletized and loaded and after
this was accomplished the aircraft
was boarded by manifest. This was a
commercial flight and because there
were very few pax’s aboard the
stewardess had to re-seat everybody
in order to evenly distribute the
weight, once this was accomplished
then the flight took off landing at
Fort Hood, Texas. Here they took
onboard more pax’s and soon after
they departed and while still in
CONUS they had to touch down in
Norfolk, Virginia for repairs and
here everyone was made to deplane
and because this commercial flight had no relief crew they were bused to a local Hampton Inn and lodged
there until the aircraft took off the next day. The aircraft flew into the Transit Center located at Manas Air
Base, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The base was opened in 2001 to support U.S. military operations in the
ongoing OEF and is a transit point for U.S. military personnel coming and going from Afghanistan.
Within twenty four hours the A/1-158 FA and the B/171 TAB boarded a C-17 Globemaster and flew into
KAF.

It was here that the A/1-158 FA is given their change of mission. They would proceed to Shindand AB and
transfer and assume operational control over the 3rd Battalion 27th FA (HIMARS) M142 rocket
launchers. They would move them to FOB Apache and establish digital communications and provide
timely and accurate fire support to the RC-S ISAF. The B/171 TAB would transfer and assume operational
control over the organic AN/TPQ-53 radar system and provide radar support the Shindand base security
forces known as TF Granite. Shindand AB is located in the western part of Afghanistan in the Herat
Province, 7 miles northeast of the city of Shindand and 75 miles from the border of Iran. The airstrip
runway has a concrete surface and Highway 1 connects it to the national ring road allowing vehicle access
to the city of Kandahar. Shindand AB is capable of housing over one hundred military aircraft making it

[46]
one of the largest Afghan Air Force bases. A large heavily constructed perimeter fence surrounds the base
with 52 guard towers manned and patrolled by the Mongolian National Army. In 2013, the 1st Battalion,
214th Field Artillery Regiment, deployed to Shindand AB as TF Granite and assumed the Base Defense
mission and carried out patrol and assessment missions, checkpoint control and flight line security for the
base and dedicated one firing battery as a tactical security element for the outside-the-wire counter threat
operations.

The battery is split into three locations, two in RC-S,

FOB Apache and Kandahar Airfield (KAF) and the third
in RC-W at Shindand AB which are in the Zabul and
Herat provinces, respectively. Originally all of the
equipment and rocket launchers for A/1-158 FA were
located at Shindand AB, so Captain Bryant proceeds
there to secure the equipment. Four M142 rocket
launchers are loaded onto C-130 aircraft and flown into
FOB Davis; a Special Operations Command base
approximately 2,000 meters northwest of FOB Apache;
and upon arrival the equipment and launchers were
moved and positioned on FOB Apache. Concurrently
while this was happening First Lieutenant Bill McGill,
First Sergeant Grant and Sergeant First Class James
Brown, and Staff Sergeants Michael Gildow and Tommy
Bryant begin the over whelming task of setting up operations on a FOB with limited resources available.

[47]
They find an abandoned building, clean it out and start scrounging and acquiring all the electronics.
Sergeant First Class Brown; the Fire Direction Center chief; integrates all the electronics into the Secret
Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) network and establishes digital communications within 48 hours of the
launchers touching down on the ground at FOB Apache thus giving A/1-158 the capabilities of providing
HIMARS coverage in support of CTF Duke. They maintained 2 rocket launchers In Position Ready to Fire
(IPRF) 24 hours a day and the other two launchers in maintenance storage, thus rotating their “ready”
statuses periodically. On 16 January 2014, A/1-158 FA Launcher A-42 of the 1st Fires Platoon crewed by
Staff Sergeant Steven Stanley, Sergeant Matthew Schoolfield and Specialist Joshua Hale received a “Fire
Mission” and they launched two rockets on enemy targets, destroying an enemy communications repeater
sight that insurgents were using against the coalition forces, making this the first time since Desert Storm
that the 158th Field Artillery fired rockets in support of the GWOT. Shortly after this A/1-158 FA received
another “Fire Mission”, a 2nd Fires Platoon launcher crewed by Sergeant First Class William Johnson,
Sergeants Ralph Tocco and Nathan Spencer received and initiated the fire mission that sent two rounds to
separate enemy targets, destroying them both promptly.

When the rocket launchers were rotating in and out of

maintenance storage the maintenance support crews
were configuring the Increased Crew Protection (ICP)
cabs by installing the “Up-Armored” appliqué kits onto
the launchers. The kits were supplied to bring the
launchers IAW Standard NATO Agreement (STANAG)
level II armor requirements. This kit was designated the
Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC) and consisted of 43
pieces of bolted on armor that could be installed on the
cab in less than two hours and removed in less than one
hour with a removable machine gun mount. With the
appliqué armor mounted onto the M142, the additional
weight would not meet the C-130 transportability
requirements and this was essential to know in
retrograde planning operations.

On 8 July 2013, Major General Paul LaCamera, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division, assumes
command of RC-S and on 28 December 2014 RC-S becomes HQ CJTF-4 or the Train Advise Assist
Command-South (TAAC-S) in compliance with the Resolute Support Mission. Retrograde operations are
prevalent throughout the command. Massing equipment and synchronizing the vehicles needed to move
them is a monumental effort in TAAC-S and much of it is Class VII (major end items such as vehicles) and
Class IX (repair parts). After this is Class II (general supplies, mostly consisting of printers, computer
monitors, and desk furniture) and including large amounts of life-support items, such as air conditioning
units, electrical units, and water heaters. All of it to be reintegrated back into the Army supply system.

FOB Apache was in the process of retrograding so it was decided that First
Lieutenant Christopher Lanham and Sergeant First Class Earl Johnson and a
portion of the battery (minus) would be placed at KAF to perform non-
standard artillery missions in support of RC-S. Here they orchestrated all the
cantonment “day to day” liaison requirements needed for the launchers
forward as well as the (minus) life support requirements at KAF. It was here
that the (minus) was tasked with additional duties and the A/1-158 FA would
add unique and different missions to its list of many accomplishments.
HIMARS Fires was the primary mission but soon due to units rotating out of
theater and the reduction of forces they added Personal Security Details,
Route Convoy Clearance, Entry Control Point Security, Human Resource
Clerks, some of the Base Security and they manned the Permanent and
Transient Billeting office and they were also tasked to assume the Postal
Duties for their APO. They mastered and learned “mail handling” for the
20,000 (plus) soldiers on the base and their merit was duly noted by all the
coalition forces. Sergeant Antonio Olvera a member of the “Iron Horse
Express” PSD and Specialist Justin Reinschmidt were in high demand for their security skills.

[48]
On 23 June 2014, A/1-158 FA was present for an
awards ceremony on KAF. Brigadier General John
Thomas, Deputy Commanding General Support
presented awards to unit members. For their service
in Operation Enduring Freedom, A/1-158 FA received
numerous Bronze Star and Army Commendation
Medals and every soldier received the Afghanistan
Campaign Medal and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Medal with “ISAF” clasp for their service
in Afghanistan.

Battery “A” left Afghanistan on 1 July 2014 and

included a stop at Fort Bliss, Texas where they spent
eight days at the Fort Bliss Joint Mobilization Station
(JMS) and then on 8 July 2014 they boarded buses an
made an overnight bus trip to Mustang, Oklahoma.

Composite Roster of Battery “A”, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) *

CPT Sean Bryant SGT Michael Morales

1LT Christopher Lanham SGT Matthew Morgan
1LT Bill McGill SGT Antonio Olvera
1LT Keith McKemie SGT Daniel Rameriz
1LT Jeffery Morefield SGT David Ray
1SG Lance Grant SGT Randy Rose
SFC James Brown SGT Matthew Schoolfield
SFC Vernon Defoor SGT Nathan Spencer
SFC Earl Johnson SGT Ralph Tocco
SFC William Johnson SGT Matthew Walkup
SFC Gordon Underwood SPC Robert Ahrens
SSG Thomas Adkins SPC Randall Arismendez
SSG Jason Bellar SPC Kyle Baker
SSG Jason Blount SPC Jeremy Blake
SSG Adrian Brown SPC Glen Dorsey
SSG Thomas Bryant SPC Jeremy Josey
SSG Randy Eden SPC Andrew Mieher
SSG Anthony Ekman SPC Brandon Peralta
SSG Michael Gildow SPC Jeremie Ploof
SSG Arry Johnson SPC Zachary Pruitt
SSG Benjamin Maxwell SPC Justin Reinschmidt
SSG Steven Mazur SPC Christopher Rochell
SSG William Reid SPC Benjamin Sawatzky
SSG Christopher Solis SPC Grant Shriver
SSG Steven Stanley SPC Trevor Stewart
SSG James Teel SPC Joseph Tassinan
SGT Cory Clemons SPC Joshua Tate
SGT Richard Dorsey PFC Joseph Hershberger
SGT Matthew Gaulrapp B/171 Target Acquisition Battery *
SGT Jeremy Green SFC John McClung
SGT Dennis Green SGT Casey Kimbler
SGT Taylor Green SGT Bryan Olson
SGT Joshua Hale SPC Lucious Guthrie
SGT Matthew Heath SPC Johan Silva
SGT Joshua Jezisek SPC Micah Israel
SGT Roger Kime
SGT Kenneth Manning

[49]
 OPERATION “ENDURING FREEDOM/RESOLUTE SUPPORT“
Battery “B”, 1-158 FA BN (HIMARS) was one of the many U.S. military forces that rotated to Afghanistan
during Operation Enduring Freedom which ended 31 December 2014 and then fell under Operation
Freedom’s Sentinel that had started on 1 January 2015 and has continued to the present. Effective 1
January 2015 the U.S. mission in Afghanistan would focus on NATO’s Resolute Support Mission of
Training, Advising, and Assisting (TAA) the Afghan National Defense & Security Forces (ANDSF) in order
to build their capabilities and sustainability. The Regional Commands (RCs) now change to TAA
Commands and the 1-158 FA BN (HIMARS) is now under the auspices of TAAC-S. The command
chronology is that on 8 July 2013, Major General Paul LaCamera, Commanding General, 4th Infantry
Division, assumes command of RC-S, which now becomes HQ Combined Joint Task Force 4 and then on
7 July 2014, Major General Michael Bills, Commanding General, 1st Cavalry Division, assumes command
of RC-S and this turns into HQ Combined Joint Task Force 1 and then on 14 October 2014, Brigadier
General Douglas Gabram, 1st Cavalry Division, assumes command for Train, Advise, Assist Command-
South. On the ground units were busy creating retrograde yards, scrambling for containers, packing,
inventorying and accounting for equipment and contractors.

Commander and battalion staff had already started the MDMP for the 1st Battalion 158th Field Artillery
(HIMARS) after Battery “A” had mobilized and departed for Afghanistan. In March 2014 all focus was on
PMT and now it was directed towards Battery “B”, who would relieve their sister unit in Afghanistan. Not
surprisingly but the unit immediately started on small arms and individual weapons familiarization
followed by record fire qualification ranges. PMT concentrated on basic soldier tasks and warrior skills, all
perishable skills, so it served as refresher training. Map reading/land navigation, tactical casualty care,
traffic control points, entry control points, counter-IED training and Combat Life Saving courses was
covered but the training was culminated by a combat scenario based training lane.

On 3 May 2014, Battery “B”, 1-158 FA BN (HIMARS), under the command of Captain Randall F. Wright
and senior enlisted First Sergeant Emmanuel Williams and along with 70 soldiers to include members of
Battery B, 171st Target Acquisition Battery under the command of Sergeant First Class Charles Bishop,
were alerted and mobilized for combat operations in Afghanistan. On 6 May 2014, B/1-158 FA arrived at

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 Fort Bliss, Texas to begin their mobilization training for their
upcoming deployment. This would be their final opportunity to
conduct live-fire training on their core military occupational
specialty of providing timely and accurate field artillery fire.
Through all the CENTCOM mandated theater entry training
and battle focused field training B/1-158 FA certified and
validated 8 each M142 launcher crews. Once again after the
qualifications the support teams moved all the equipment back
to home stations.

The Department of the Army had announced a significant

policy change in 2012 concerning women in the Army and
Army Directive 2012-16 opened up three Field Artillery Military
Occupational Specialties (MOS) of 13M, Multiple Launch
Rocket System Crewmember; 13P, Multiple Launch Rocket
System Fire Direction Specialist; and 13R, Field Artillery
“Firefinder” Radar Operator to women. Serving in the U.S.
Army's field artillery is nothing new for American women, Mary
Ludwig, also known as Molly Pitcher, fought at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778, when her husband fell,
she continued operating his cannon through the battle. In the 1970s and 1980s, women served in Pershing
and Lance missile units. For females, this change in policy permitted them to serve in all duties in the
HIMARS battalions. Sergeant Canisha Harjo a 91D Generator Mechanic and Privates First Class Makyla
K. McKean and Jerra-Amie N. Hodges both 13Ps Fire Direction Specialist; were now preparing for combat
operations at Fort Bliss; earmarking them as the first females to enter a combat zone with the B/1-158 FA.
Months before the mobilization began the 13Ps were integrated into the unit in a seamless transition and
given three very critical functions. First is that the fire solution is accurate and satisfies the requirements
of the supported force, secondly was the safety box of the data and lastly they have to have the situational
awareness of the battlefield and the ability to anticipate and react quickly to the tactical situation in
accordance with the field artillery support plan. All these functions were tested and validated at the Mob-
Site with the end result being the battery cleared for deployment into the theater.

On 16 June 2014 B/1-158 FA moved from Fort Bliss to Biggs Army Air Field to the Silas L. Copeland
A/DACG and boarded aircraft and flew into Leizig/Halle, Germany, where they refuel and got a rest break
and then reloaded and flew into Mihail Kogalniceanu or MK Air Base, Romania. MK is located about
25miles northwest of the Black Sea city of Constanta and about 2,500 miles northwest of Afghanistan and
replaces the transit center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. From here they flew directly into KAF. Concurrently
A/1-158 FA has retrograded to KAF and Captain Bryant and First Sergeant Grant meets Captain Wright

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and First Sergeant Williams and a “battle hand-off” is exchanged and the RIP/TOA begins immediately. It
is here that the B/1-158 FA is briefed on the TAAC-S current tactical situation and the “left seat-right seat”
begins.

The Relief B-171 TAB

immediately departs for
Shindand AB where they link up
with and relieve the AN/TPQ-53
radar technicians who assumed
responsibility in the winter of
2013 and once they relieved
them they were sent to
rendezvous with A/158 FA on
KAF and initiate their departure
out of theater. The Relief B-171
TAB would now operate the last
counterfire target acquisition
radar systems on Shindand AB.
The Q-53 detects, classifies,
tracks and determines the
location of enemy indirect fire in
360 degree modes and can be set
up in five minutes, taken down
in two minutes and supports a
two-man operation. The Q-53
has demonstrated the ability to
identify and track unmanned
aerial systems and is highly mobile on the battlefield and is a “first in-last out” asset and its QRF was the
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Shindand AB
was closing and getting turned over to the ANDSF so the Relief B-171 TAB eventually retrograded and
closed down the radar site. On a cold morning in November 2014 the Relief B-171 TAB loaded onto C-17
Globemasters and accompanied their Q-53s back to Bagram AF Base (BAF). Sergeant Harjo redeployed
from KAF to BAF to assist in the last services required to remove them off their hand receipts and turned
them over to the 401st Army Field Support Brigade of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command all part of
CENTCOM’s Theater-Provided Equipment (TPE). Once hand receipts were cleared the Relief B-171 TAB
hopped on aircrafts to KAF and rendezvoused with B/1-158 FA and departed theater 21 December 2014.

Simultaneously when the Relief B-171 TAB departs for Shindand AB the main body of B/1-158 FA
departed for FOB Apache. Upon arrival at FOB Apache they find themselves in the midst of the
retrograde; an arduous and complex process of bringing home all U.S. equipment and in Afghanistan it is
literally a fighting withdrawal; one of the most difficult battlefield maneuvers. Everything that exits the
FOB goes by helicopter or by truck and everything needs to be provided protection. The M142 rocket
launchers have their appliqué armor mounted for their final destination to the TPE yards where they will
be trucked in by wheeled convoy with 1st Calvary Division QRF armored vehicles that leapfrog ahead and
around the convoys providing them overwatch protection. On 4 August 2014 B/1-158 FA has relinquished
all fire support assets to the retrograde and now they must move to KAF to allow other units to occupy
what space is left on FOB Apache. Eventually contractors and non-essential items are moved to KAF, the
FOB turns into a tactical outpost waiting for removal of the “T-Walls and Hesko Barriers” and the
remaining soldiers will retrograde to their next location.

When the Relief B-171 TAB and the main body of B/1-158 FA departed from KAF a stay behind party, led
by Sergeant First Class Lance Zerger was left at KAF to assume the garrison duties that A/1-158 FA was
tasked with. These duties were varied and included responsibility of billeting and tabling “mayor’s cell”
sections and manning desks in the Base Defense Operations Center (BDOC). Specialist Quinton Hall of
Vernon, Texas and Shawn Pierce of Edmond, Oklahoma where tasked with the monumental duties of
postal clerks for the garrison. Eventually after the main body turned in the rocket launchers in early
August 2014 they would reunite with the stay behind party on KAF but very soon their mission would

[52]
change due to the ever changing conditions on the battlefield. Captain Wright understood the flexibility
and adaptability that the B/1-158 FA endured during the deployment, spending countless hours training
for their primary artillery mission yet performing other missions. B/1-158 FA demonstrated the ability to
augment or supplement other joint and or coalition forces during the retrograde as a valuable and
creditable ground force.

An ever-present concern during all retrogrades is Force Protection and

knowing about two prior incidents may theorize the next mission that was
tasked to the B/1-158 FA. First is that northwest of Kabul International
Airport (KIA) is FOB Oqab, only 125 x 225 meters, and although it is small
it is of significance importance because it is the Headquarters for the
438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group (AEAG) and NATO Air Training
Commander; Brigadier General John E. Michel who resides on the FOB
with his Command Chief Master Sergeant, seven colonels, operations
personnel and a small detachment of USAF Security Forces; all totaling
around 50 personnel. On 17 July 2014 at about 0415 hours 4 thru 11
Taliban insurgents began by firing rocket-propelled grenades and
automatic rifles from a multistoried building located about 350 meters
from the perimeter of the FOB. The USAF security forces manning the
guard towers identified the attackers’ positions and started fighting back.
Soon two Quick Reaction Forces mounted in MRAPs pushed closer to the
insurgents and cleared the multistoried building. The insurgents were
soon repelled back by M203 grenade launchers and M240B medium
machine gun fire from the tower guards. During the five hour siege the Americans fired more than 3,000
rounds of small arms killing four of the attackers. Secondly the single most publicized "green on blue"
insider attack occurred on 5 August 2014 at an outdoor gathering on the grounds of the Qargha academy,
also known the Marshal Fahim National Defense University, located less than 6 miles from FOB Oqab,
when an Afghan soldier opened fire an killing a US Major General Harold J. Greene and wounding at least
15 other troops including a German brigadier general. General officers rarely die in combat zones, because
within reason their placement is in rear planning areas, but in Afghanistan it was evident that battle fronts
and rear areas change places frequently thus placing greater concerns for Force Protection.

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In early September 2014 the B/1-158 FA was given the mission of providing Base Security Operations on
FOB Oqab and they departed KAF leaving a 9 man detachment on KAF who performed as a Guardian
Angel (GA) ground support detail to the USAF 438th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW). This detail was led
by Sergeant First Class David Farrow, Staff Sergeants Danny McKillip and Aaron Pawnee, Sergeants
David Daughriety, Sean Eckrote and Mario Rameriz and Specialist Gary Bailey, Jeremy Brady and Kelvin
Steele. The GA’s role on BAF is that the ground force provides the personnel security details for the TAAC-
AEW advisors. When the B/1-158 FA arrived at KIA they walked over to FOB Oqab and where able to
immediately ascertain a defense plan. The FOB has only 6 observation towers, a DFAC tent and three
billeting areas, a communications hut, a
Command and Control building, a few Arched
Support Buildings (KSPANS) and only two ECPs.
The new mission on FOB Oqab is to provide
security for a safe training environment to the
TAAC-Air mission and pilots to ensure they focus
on advising instead of security. Their everyday
actions allowed the TAAC-Air mission to be
successful and sleep soundly every night on the
tiny FOB. The willingness of B/1-158 FA to accept
a completely different mission highlighted their
selfless devotion to duty and their professionalism
in arms for the short period they were there. On 21
December 2014 they walked over to KIA and
departed out of theater. Shortly after their
departure the 950th Engineer Company assumed
base security operations on FOB Oqab.

B/1-158 FA flew out of Afghanistan and arrived at MK Air Base and on 24 December 2014 they spent
Christmas Day in Romania where they participated in a traditional Christmas dinner at the DFAC. In a
few days they boarded aircraft and on 29 December 2014 they touched down at Silas L. Copeland
A/DACG on Fort Bliss, where they began the demobilization process. In the early hours of 8 January 2015
they loaded their gear onto buses and returned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma on 9 January 2015 where they were
met by their families to a standing ovation.

[54]
 Composite Roster of Battery “B”, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) *

CPT Randall Wright SPC Timothy Adkins

1LT Jason Elbert SPC Trent Alexander
1LT Prescott Kiplinger SPC Travis Armstrong
1LT Duanne Miller SPC Gary Bailey
1LT Marco Yates SPC Jeremy Brady
1SG Emmanuel Williams SPC Joshua Brown
SFC David Farrow SPC Chad Cline
SFC Brian Hekia SPC Wesley Cole
SFC Billy Holley SPC David Daugherty
SFC John Miller SPC Sean Eckrote
SFC Greg Morris SPC Jonathan Gablemann
SFC Carlton Speller SPC Quinton Hall
SFC Lance Zerger SPC Justin Harper
SSG Kasey Bickerstaff SPC Xavier Hernandez
SSG Jay Fertig SPC Jera Amie Hodges
SSG Jack McComas SPC Steve Hollis
SSG Danny McKillip SPC Rudy Johnson
SSG Larry Nix SPC Makyla McKean
SSG Kerry Pemberton SPC Brad Milne
SSG Stephen Pennington SPC Adrian Otap
SSG Chris Polsgrove SPC Shawn Pierce
SSG Rodney Poolaw SPC Mario Rameriz
SSG Michael Rogers SPC Joshua Shultz
SSG Eric Sikes SPC Timothy Skitt
SSG Frederick Tabert SPC Kelvin Steele
SGT Christopher Adamson SPC Jonathan Stephens
SGT Cody Aldredge SPC Travis Theisen
SGT Christopher Black SPC Matthew Topaum
SGT Canisha Harjo PFC Nathan Frank
SGT Vincent Martinez PFC Aaron Higdon
SGT Cody McCracken B/171 Target Acquisition Battery *
SGT Kyser McGill SFC Charles Bishop
SGT Christopher McWethy SSG Bryce Behrens
SGT Miguel Medina SSG Jason Dobbins
SGT Paul Moore CPL Dustin Fuller
SGT Patrick Morris SPC Nathan Frank
SGT Aaron Pawnee SPC Aaron Bailey
SGT Tyler Webb

OPERATION “SPARTAN SHIELD“

Taking advantage of a lawless environment and being fueled by sectarian strife, a small jihadist group
ascended from obscurity into claiming that it had created an Islamic caliphate (an Islamic state under the
leadership of an Islamic ruler with the title of caliph, a person considered a politico-religious successor to
the Islamic prophet Muhammad). This group was called the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS), and
their rise to power is also referred to as Da’esh. Da’esh sounds similar to an Arabic verb meaning to crush
and tread underfoot, to trample down and because of its negative connotations is used to challenge the
legitimacy of the terror group. ISIS acquired conventional weapons and built large groups of fighters, took
over and controlled large cities and swatches of territory within Iraqi and Syria, and then they perpetrated
atrocities that shocked the world. By 15 June 2014, the security situation in Iraq had deteriorated and
Iraqi cities of Mosul and Tikrit fell to ISIS control that the Department of Defense (DOD) formally
established Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).

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Training Year 2019 was very simple to understand but it was a monumental undertaking for the 1st
Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) prior to its mobilization and deployment of providing HIMARS
long range artillery support to Operation Spartan Shield (OSS) and OIR, both DOD operations in the
Middle East commanded by CENTCOM. OIR reflects the unwavering resolve and deep commitment of the
U.S. and partner nations to eliminate the terrorist group “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL).
OIR campaign is primarily an “air waged” and “long range artillery” campaign in Iraq and Syria in support
of prominently the Iraqi security forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). OSS allows the continuing
efforts to defend the United States from airborne attacks, maintain air sovereignty, and defending critical
U.S. facilities from a potentially hostile threat and contributes to CENTCOM’s mission imperatives of
Counter, Protect, Defend and Prepare while simultaneously building partner capacity in the Middle East.
Task Force Spartan is the U.S. Army component of OSS headquartered out of Army Central Command
Headquarters (ARCENT) or Third Army, at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. ARCENT was commanded by
Lieutenant General Terry R. Ferrell focusing primarily on the Middle East with an Area of Responsibility
(AOR) stretching from the Central Asian States to the Horn of Africa encompassing an area of
approximately 6,500,000 square miles. Task Force Spartan; a subordinate units of ARCENT is a multi-
component organization, made up of active Army and National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve support
units that maintain military posture in Southwest Asia to strengthen defense relationships and build
partner capacity.

On 2 June 2019 the 1st Battalion, 158th

Field Artillery (HIMARS) of the 45th
Fires Brigade and the 97th Air Mobility
Wing (AMW) of Altus AFB were
conducting final inspections of the
webbing tie down straps that secured the
M142 rocket launchers to the cargo floors
of their C-17 Globemasters. Once the
USAF loadmasters gave their “thumbs
up” the crews loaded up and flew: two
sorties delivering six M142s; to Fort
Smith, Arkansas where the launchers
manned by their crews drove them off the
aircraft and road marched to Fort Chaffee
where they immediately went into
positions and awaited fire missions. This
was the beginning of Annual Training
exercise “Western Strike” which would
conclude 14 June 2019 and would test and prepare the 1-158 FA HIMARS in its core military occupational
specialty of assembly and deployment into a theater of operations and shooting its rocket launchers.

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Neeley, commander of the 1st Battalion 158th

Field Artillery (HIMARS) and his staff had already received the 360-day
mobilization order in January 2019 and they had analyzed the Mission
Analysis Readiness Resource Synchronization (MARRS) and started
planning the collective training and cross-leveling to ensure the deploying
element would be sufficiently manned for the mission requirement of 120
paxs. Battery “A” was selected as the element to deploy and it was under
the command of Captain Jeffrey Morefield with senior enlisted First
Sergeant Jackie Bruesch. A/1-158 FA went into its planning and
preparation mode, immediately cross leveling to meet the request for
forces requirement. A “rule of thumb” in the preparation mode
understands that a single mistake when you are unprepared can derail
your success and it may sound like an oxymoron but “being prepared for
the unexpected” can help you prepare for these potential derailments.
New policy mandated that all individual tasks PMT had to be trained and
certified prior to its mobilization. So throughout the 2019 calendar year
the A/1-158 FA conducted as much PMT that they were capable of

[56]
squeezing into their training schedule and after the long days and nights of focusing on their mission, they
seemed to have prepared for the unexpected.

On 16 December 2019, 120 members of A/1-158 FA reported to the Armed Forces Reserve Center on Fort
Sill, to initiate the soldier readiness processing. During this process, deployment eligibility is determined
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army and every soldier must meet the
readiness standards per Army Regulations or they are sent home. The home station ensures that all
necessary administrative, medical, dental, financial, and emergency data is in compliance with current
requirements before arrival to the mobilization station. All equipment was loaded and final preparations
were arranged. Of major importance was the loading of 4 each of Battery “B” rocket launchers to be
shipped to the mobilization station at Camp McGregor, New Mexico. After Annual Training, Battery “A”
rocket launchers were loaded onto tractor trailers and hauled down to Joint Base Charleston, South
Carolina for Surface Deployment and Distribution via the 841st Transportation Battalion on their
commercial cargo vessels to be “slow-boated” to Kuwait. Battery “B” rocket launchers would be utilized by
A/1-158 FA in their validation and theater certification gunnery tables and then returned to home station
after the battery was deemed deployable.

On 12 January 2020, hundreds of well-

wishers and families packed into the Lawton
High School gymnasium for a formal
deployment ceremony and goodbye to the
A/1-158 FA as they depart for the
mobilization station at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Major General Michael Thompson; the
Oklahoma Adjutant General; and Colonel
Jason Henry; the 45th Fires Brigade
commander; were on hand to recognize and
thank the battery for their service to the
nation and after they had rendered their
remarks they were able to mingle with the
soldiers and their families. The 145th Army
Band was on hand to officially highlight the
ceremony with patriotic themes and musical
compositions and the ever popular “The Army
Song”. Once the ceremony was over, and the
deploying soldiers were able to say their final goodbyes as they were loaded onto buses and moved over to
the Lawton/Fort Sill Regional Airport where they boarded an aircraft and flew directly to Fort Bliss,
Texas.

Once they arrived to the Mobilization Station they spent some time at Fort Bliss proper, for welcoming
and in processing briefs, SRP and theater specific OCIE issuing stations. Individual Protective Equipment
(IPE) is a compilation of protective clothing, personal decontamination and detection equipment used for
Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) protection. All deploying personnel are issued IPE and
it must be in their possession prior to departure from the mobilization station. Then A/1-158 FA is moved
out to Camp McGregor. Camp McGregor is north of the main reservation and is located in New Mexico, in
the valley basin of the Sacremente Mountains adjacent to White Sands National Monument and south of
the city of Alamogordo. The McGregor Range Complex consists of small arms ranges, air defense and
artillery firing ranges. South of the range complex is the base complex with open bay barracks, that are
very spacious with modern heating and air conditioning units. There is a DFAC, gym facilities, running
track, a mini PX that houses a barber shop, tactical store an internet café on the base complex. There are
hourly shuttle bus transfers to the main reservation for mobilizing units to follow up on all mobilization
alibis at the Mob Site. It was during these early days at Camp McGregor that soldiers were noticing “runny
noses” and flu like symptoms and soon it was colloquially termed the “McGregor Gunk”. On 31 January
2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a public health emergency when it is discovered
that the COVID-19 or “corona” virus is quickly spreading throughout the world from human-to-human
transmission. The Army declares masking and distancing protocol, their purpose is to prevent the spread
of this aerial virus between people in close proximity who cannot maintain 6 feet distancing in work

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centers. The soldiers don’t lose focus on their mission and these directives don’t hinder the progression of
A/1-158 FA through the mobilization process. After the live fire events the A/1-158 FA was certified as
theater “deployable” offering ARCENT the ability to attack long-range, High Payoff Targets (HPTs) and
destroy them. Battery “B” rocket launchers are now shipped back to home station.

On 2 February 2020, A/1-158 FA along with their baggage was bussed over to the Silas L. Copeland
ADACG. The ADACG briefed the unit about the flight requirements, the manifest was checked and a
majority of the soldiers were moved to the tarmac where they filed onto an awaiting commercial chartered
aircraft that would transfer them to Kuwait. 4 separate chalks would board awaiting C-17 Globemasters
and ride “shotgun” with the remainder of A/1-158 FA equipment. The commercial charted aircraft
departed Biggs Army Airfield stopping in Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany where they were able to
stretch their legs while the aircraft refueled then they boarded and continued on with their flight. The
“strato-aircraft” landed a few hours later and were stuck at Spangdahlem AB due to in climate weather
conditions, which delayed their arrival time to Kuwait. The Air Mobility Command at Spangdahlem AB
supports cargo and passenger traffic as part of its airlift mission because of the closure of the Rhein-Main
Air Base in 2005. When the battery finally arrived at Camp Arifjan on 3 February 2020, they watched on
live TV as the United States had declared a Public Health Emergency due to the corona virus outbreak.
Once again local directives are issued regarding virus protocols and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Order of Battle for the Spartan Shield mission has the
Headquarters of the 42nd Infantry Division from New York Guard
with Major General Steven Ferrari, Task Force Spartan commanding
general, with senior enlisted leader, Command Sergeant Major Corey
Cush. The task force is composed of an Armored Brigade Combat
Team (ABCT), Theater Engineer Brigade (TEB), Field Artillery
Brigade (FAB), Aviation Task Forces, and a theater Explosive
Ordnance Disposal (EOD) battalion. The 115th Field Artillery Brigade;
commanded by Colonel Terry Jenkins with senior enlisted Command
Sergeant Major Thad Ehde; was the Command and Control (C2) for
all Force Field Artillery Headquarters (FFAHQ) assets; directing all
missions with HIMARS rocket launchers located in five countries;
headquartered and billeted out of Camp Redleg, a small camp located
on Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Another subordinate unit of the 45th FiB and
a long range shooter was the 4th Battalion 133rd Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Warbrick with senior enlisted Command Sergeant Major Roger Branch, of
the TXARNG. The outgoing battery was Battery “C”, 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery, commanded by
Captain Timothy Tierney with senior enlisted First Sergeant Joshua Phillips of the WYARNG from
Casper, Wyoming. The “left seat-right seat” had started immediately once the battery had settled into
their housing. The corona virus outbreak and new virus protocols did not hinder the RIP/TOA and on 26
February 2020 A/1-158 FA assumed authority and C/2-300 FA started their departure out of theater.

On 8 January 2020, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched “Operation Martyr
Soleimani” which was a mass launching of numerous ballistic missiles at the Ayn al-Asad airbase (AAAB)
in western Iraq, as well as another airbase in Erbil, Iraq all in retaliation to the killing of Major General
Qasem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike. No service members were killed due to an early warning provided
by the United States Space Force (USSF). In the months following the attack and by 13 April 2020, the
U.S. had installed and activated Patriot air defense systems, an Army C-RAM system, and an AN/TWQ-1
Avenger at AAAB and at Camp Taji. Since the attack other surface systems were gradually moved into Iraq
and accordingly A/1-158 FA pushed the 1st Platoon north into Iraq and relocated them at AAAB along
with 2 each M142 HIMARS rocket launchers (A-11 and A-31), 1 FDC vehicle, and one “Up-armored
Humvee”. The rotation plan was to rotate platoons throughout the duration of the deployment, however
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 1st Platoon remained there until they were ordered to cease
operations and move out and report back to Camp Arifjan. The 1st Platoon was able to create ingenious
training rehearsals of fire missions, and cross training of the 13M and 13J while constantly carrying a fully
loaded six pack of live rockets to respond to any threats. A/1-158 FA 1st Platoon consisted of First
Lieutenant Sean Dellinger, Sergeant First Class Steven Stanley, Staff Sergeants Trenton Richards and
Randy Woodman, Sergeants Alex Cowns, Te'Neal Francis, Joshua Hale, and Kimberlin Turpin, Specialist

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Fourth Class Sherman Addy, David Daughriety, Skylar Ledesma, Alexis Leger, Cody May, Mason
McCormick, Michael Poe, Fidencio Ramirez, Handsome Sheppard, and Tanner Wimmer, and Privates
First Class Jacob Bellamy, Angel Carnero and Alexa Hale.

On 11 March 2020 the WHO Declared COVID-19 a Pandemic and on 13 March 2020 President Donald
Trump Declared COVID-19 a National Emergency which unlocks billions of dollars of federal funding to
fight the spread of the disease and the United States goes into “quarantine”, commonly called “lockdown”.

[59]
 In April and May 2020, Task Force Spartan
participated in multiple bilateral exercises
with the UAE. One in particular was
Operation Thundercloud which culminated
in a joint HIMARS live fire with the UAE
artillery counterparts who fired their
Artillery Saturation Rocket System (ASTROS
II) and lighting up the desert nights. Exercise
Iron Union 13 included partnership training
at the battery level, and validation of fires
planning and firing capabilities with UAE
and U.S. instructed courses. The fire
direction centers of both countries worked
together to ensure timely, safe and accurate
fires from their systems to ensure operation
in a bilateral capacity. All the training and
exercises leading up to the joint live-fire,
validated capabilities and there was a shared
understanding to operating in a bilateral
environment. Another bilateral exercise and
Combined Arms Live Fire (CALFX) was
occurring at Udairi Range close to Camp
Beuhring, Kuwait and the significance of this
LFX was that soon it would be earmarking the withdrawal of some forces since the objective of building
interoperability with the Kuwaiti Land Forces Field Artillery via a bilateral live fire exercise was obtained.

On 27 May 2020 Major General Ferrari spent the morning with A/1-158 FA and during the visit, the Task
Force leadership team witnessed a simulated fire mission and static reloading demonstration of a M142
launcher, they also had the opportunity to meet with the soldiers of the unit and during the visit, they
recognized two of the unit Soldiers, Sergeant Christopher Adams and Private First Class Justin Howe, and
presented them with a Task Force Spartan coin of excellence.

On 28 May 2020 the U.S. deaths to COVID-19 surpass the

100,000 mark and it soon becomes a sobering and heart-
breaking reminder of the unprecedented pandemic. The Task
Force Spartan response to protect all its soldiers in the Middle
East is to stand up a COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center
(CEOC) for coordinating and synchronizing a unified plan.
The three-pronged approach started with education about the
virus, next were implementation of safety measures to prevent
the spread of the virus, and finally enforcing the safeguards.
Corona virus spreads from person to person through close
contact so the challenge was the close proximity environment
where all soldiers billet and mess together. Practicing better
hygiene habits, social distancing, disinfecting and sanitizing
and wearing of the face masks soon become the norm. Other protocols are in place for all situations such
as screening, testing and isolation or quarantine. A/1-158 FA had no incidents that required a higher level
of supportive care such as treatment in a field hospital.

The mission of A/1-158 FA never faltered during the pandemic, they were to provide “timely and accurate”
and long range artillery fires to the FFAHQ. The uppermost importance is that this was required in
accordance with the Army’s 2019 Modernization Strategy. Improvements of our adversaries’ artillery
systems present a challenge to the U.S. military, especially to our ground combat forces. While the U.S.
military has a variety of means to deliver long range fires, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and
missile support from Navy aircraft, these are frequently unavailable due to weather, terrain and
availability and generally HIMARS does not suffer from these restrictions The U.S. Army seeks to improve
its ability to deliver Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) by developing, modifying and upgrading current

[60]
artillery systems and tactics. The mere fact that A/1-158 FA refused to submit to the COVID-19 degraded
environment and maintain operational readiness became a testament to the deployed soldiers and their
leadership who never failed to protect and project its artillery combat power amid increasing Iranian
aggression and hostilities in the Middle East.

A/1-158 FA mobilized and deployed in the early stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2019 Persian
Gulf Crisis where there were increased military tensions between the Islamic Republic of Iran, whom
designated CENTCOM as a terrorist organization and the U.S. who began a buildup of its military
presence in the region to deter an alleged planned campaign by Iran and its allies. The 2019 Persian Gulf
crisis escalated in late 2019 and early 2020 and incidents branched out to affect the Iran–Saudi Arabia
proxy conflict as well as the Iran–Israel proxy conflict. It was soon determined that A/1-158 FA had met
its objective that it was called up to perform and on 25 July 2020, 93 days short of completing 360 days
“boots on ground” the battery was ordered back to home station. A/1-158 immediately prepared their
rocket launchers for shipment back to final destination of Fort Sill via the “slow-boat” back to the Red
River Army Depot for reset and then on 31 July 2020 they boarded commercial aircraft and returned back
to the mobilization station at Fort Bliss, stopping in Ireland for refueling.

At the mobilization station it was a reverse process, turning in OCIE and IPE, medical out processing,
personal actions and finally on 21 August 2020 they boarded a “Sun Country” chartered aircraft that
touched down in Oklahoma City in a few hours. Here they boarded 3 buses with police escorts that drove
them to the 45th Fires Brigade armory in Mustang, Oklahoma. The families of the deployed soldiers
showed their overwhelming support by jam packing the armory to standing room only. The anxiety of the
deployment was over with as the soldiers and families rejoiced in the comfort of unification.

[61]
 Composite Roster of Battery “A”, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) *

CPT Jeffrey Morefield SGT Jacob Kenworthy SPC Skyler Ledesma

CPT Jayce Crowder SGT Bradley Koshy SPC Alexis Leger
CPT Christopher Meyer SGT Jesse Marmaduke SPC Pedro Lopez
CPT Thomas Tucker SGT Matthew Martin SPC Cody May
CPT Bradley Yoder SGT Makyla McKean SPC Mason McCormick
1LT Jordan Armstrong SGT Angela Miller SPC Juanita Mendoza
1LT Nicholas Case SGT Quanah Smith SPC Jaleel McMillon
1LT Kenneth Davis SGT Mackenzie Styles SPC Daniel Messner
1LT Geoffrey Day SGT Clint Toothman SPC Colt Meyer
1LT Sean Dellinger SGT Kimberlin Turpin SPC Adrian Moore
1LT Ryan Stockton SGT Trey Waldrum SPC Dominick Nasluchacz
WO2 Corey Klaassen SGT Benaiah Ware SPC Jennifer Nolan
1SG Jackie Bruesch SGT Alec Warren SPC Dakota Norton
SFC Jason Bellar SGT Tyler Webb SPC Kelli Osage
SFC Denny Cargal SGT Virginia Williams SPC Montana Owens
SFC Randall Duty SGT Seth Yackeschi SPC Glenn Perez
SFC Anthony Ekman SPC Randy Arismendez SPC Anton Pickens
SFC Benjamin Maxwell SPC Travis Armstrong SPC Michael Poe
SFC Shawn Pierce SPC Sarina Basaldua SPC James Pradier
SFC Steven Stanley SPC Johnnie Bennett SPC Larry Privett
SFC Ralph Tocco SPC Matthew Bolte SPC Fidencio Ramirez
SSG Lawrence Bass SPC Colin Book SPC Leandros Rose
SSG Belinda Casey SPC Christopher Burk SPC Handsome Sheppard
SSG Cory Clemons SPC Jesse Cook SPC Ceege Sztandera
SSG Matthew Conner SPC Jacob Cuevas SPC Andrew Tyner
SSG Kristin Fladby SPC David Daughriety SPC Cecilia Vela
SSG Brian Hoffman SPC Austin Kirkwood SPC Montana Weaver
SSG Matthew McKeown SPC Jacob Dickison SPC Brianna Wheeler
SSG William Pipkin SPC Glen Dorsey SPC Tanner Wimmer
SSG Travis Purcell SPC Jeremiah Duncomb SPC Giovanni Winters
SSG Trenton Richards SPC Mikeem Fool PFC Sherman Addy
SSG Shannon Ruger SPC Bryce Garza PFC Jacob Bellamy
SSG Nathan Spencer SPC Mariah Gilliam PFC Shawn Bridenstine
SSG Dustin Taber SPC Peyton Gorman PFC Angel Carnero
SSG Randy Woodman SPC Dillon Haley PFC Malik Carpitcher
SGT Christopher Adams SPC Andrew Harrison PFC Christian Easley
SGT Brett Boswell SPC Joseph Hershberger PFC Alexa Hale
SGT Alex Cowns SPC Daniel Jones PFC Joshua Harrison
SGT Te'Neal Francis SPC Sydney Jones PFC Justin Howe
SGT Taylor Green SPC Jacie Ketcherside PFC Zaria Jessie
SGT Joshua Hale SPC Cody Lane PFC Coltin Kilgore
SGT Canisha Harjo SPC Devon Laughy PVT Michael Davis
SGT Jeremy Josey SPC Phillip Lawless

[62]
 OPERATION “FREEDOM”S SENTINEL“
In December 2006 the Army Chief of Staff, General Peter Schoomaker had received a “status of forces”
briefing, infamously named the “we’re out of Schlitz” briefing depicting the shortage of forces needed to
sustain combat operations in the GWOT once the Reserve Component (RC) forces were moved from a
strategic reserve force to an operational force. On 19 January 2007 he instituted significant changes to the
mobilization of RC forces in support of the GWOT, most notably that they would only serve 12 months
total of active duty for each mobilization. The new goal was to reduce mobilization station training time to
approximately 2 months, leaving 10 months “boots on ground” in the area of operation. This new
mobilization policy became attainable by shifting all individual tasks to be trained and certified prior to
mobilization and certification means that the training is conducted to a standard. A new plan was
designed to reduce the required PMT time by accomplishing all individual tasks prior to mobilization.
Once PMT is completed the unit is mobilized, next they complete home station processing and then travel
to the mobilization station, here they complete the required training and validate their readiness for
deployment, then they deployed to theater, followed by redeployment, then going back through their
mobilization station for out processing.

Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) is the official name for the mission
succeeding OEF in continuation of the Global War on Terrorism. OFS is
part of the NATO-led Operation Resolute Support mission (ORS) to train,
advise and assist Afghan security forces, beginning 1 January 2015. It is
the follow-on mission to the ISAF that terminated on 28 December 2014.
The legal framework for ORS was signed in a Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA) on 30 September 2014 and ratified by the Afghan Parliament on
27 November 2014. The SOFA defines the terms and conditions that
NATO forces are deployed and their missions authorized and the terms
supported by the UN Security Council Resolution 2189. On 14 April 2021
NATO announced that ORS would implement a drawdown of troops and
disband ORS on 12 July 2021. Train Advise Assist Commands (TAACs)
would directly support four of the six Afghan National Army Corps in this
concept and replace the former RCCs. OFS has two components:
counterterrorism and working with allies as part of ORS. A new type of
U.S. unit, the Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB), has begun
deploying to Afghanistan to support the mission. Battery “B”, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery
(HIMARS) would report to the NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/ Special
Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan (NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A) with 30 paxs and 3 each M142 rocket
launchers and would support the entire Combined Joint Operations Area (CJOA). It would deploy in
support of CENTCOM and conduct joint operations with specialized units from the Navy, Air Force, and
Army to include firing long-range precision munitions in theater.

On 2 June 2019 the 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) of the
45th Fires Brigade departed for Fort Chaffee, Arkansas for Annual
Training exercise “Western Strike”. The exercise would conclude with a
test to validate and certify the core proficiency of the battalion in its ability
to deploy and deliver deep, timely and accurate fires in any theater of
operations. The test is called the “live fire” and the battalion was issued 48
rockets for its 16 each crews (8 each 3-man crews per battery), 3 rockets
per crew to shoot on the Table 6 Certification table, requiring each crew to
correctly perform a “At My Command”, a “Time on Target”, and “Fire
when Ready” fire mission. All 16 crews were validated and certified as the
M142 rocket launchers lit up the horizon as they sent their rockets
downrange into the impact areas of the reservation.

In December 2019 and in March of 2020 B/1-158 FA would complete its SRP which would finalize the
“30-man roster” and by close of business April 2020 it had completed and certified all of its required
PMT. On 1 May 2020 B/1-158 FA was mobilized in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, it was
commanded by Captain Danny Barthel with senior enlisted First Sergeant James Brown. On 3 May 2020,
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at 1000 hours the 45th Fires Brigade conducted the first ever “Live Feed of Deployment” which allowed
for about 200 family members and friends of the soldiers to virtually attend the send off. The threat of
spreading the COVID-19 virus was the premise for the virtual ceremony. With virus protocols in place the
ceremony went forward and the Oklahoma Adjutant General, Major General Michael Thompson, was able
to officially say his farewell to the unit. On 4 May 2020 B/1-158 FA loaded buses and departed for its
mobilization station located at Fort Bliss, Texas. B/1-158 FA arrived at Fort Bliss proper and without
stopping proceeded north into New Mexico and the McGregor Range Complex. Their three rocket
launchers B-31, B-32, and B-41 were “Line Hauled” and arrived shortly after B/1-158 FA established at
Fort Bliss.

McGregor Range is located in Otero County,

New Mexico and is an integral part of the
Fort Bliss Range Complex. Camp McGregor
is located on this range and was initially built
to replicate “FOB living” in the Middle East.
The barracks are encompassed with barbed
wire cyclone fences with sniper screening,
adorned with warning signs in
Arabic/English to “Keep Away” and “No
Photography Allowed”, prayers are broadcast
over loudspeakers in Arabic, and the arid
desert environment is similar to that of Iraq.
The Mobilization Army Training Center
(MATC) is located here and B/1-158 FA will
be placed under the auspices of the 2nd
Battalion, 362ndField Artillery Regiment, 5th
Armored Brigade, First U.S. Army Division
West for their mobilization certifications.
This is a big base for desert combat training;
spanning 1.12 million acres; with plenty of desert for Field Training Exercises (FTXs) and HIMARS live
fire gunnery ranges but what made this unique was the fact that it was under the shadow of the COVID-19
Pandemic. Camp McGregor was designated as quarantine and isolation facilities however the training for
contingency and mobilization operations never stopped. The 5th Armored Brigade set up multiple tent
areas at base camp to support the expanded IT networks and services for all TSIRT, issued gloves and
mask, enforced PPE protocols and mobilization training never slowed down. Ranges started on 9 May
2020 with the M240B machine gun and mobilization training culminated with “Mass All Time on Target”
live fire on 24 May 2020.

On 3 June 2020 B/1-158 FA along with their baggage was bussed over to the Silas L. Copeland ADACG at
Biggs Army Airfield. Here they drove their rocket launchers onto awaiting C-17 aircraft. Shortly after all
vehicles and gear was secured and tied down the aircraft departed for the CENTCOM AO. The first stop
would be Ramstein Air Base at Kaiserslautern, Germany. Here they spent the night while the aircraft was
serviced for its next leg of its journey which would be Al Udeid Air Base (AUAB) in Qatar. This is the
biggest U.S. base in the Middle East and home to the U.S. Combined Air Operations Center, U.S. Air
Forces Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command Central Forward, and CENTCOM Forward
HQ and is relied heavily on to conduct its military mission. The 30 paxs and their duffel bags are off
loaded and this will be their home for the next 2 weeks as they prepare to enter CENTCOM quarantine.
The three M142 rocket launchers are never down loaded, they continue on to Bagram AF, Afghanistan.

B/1-158 FA was not aware that on 20 March 2020, the AUAB Installation Commander declared a Public
Health Emergency related to the COVID-19 and in response several actions were initiated. All personnel
arriving at AUAB would be placed into 14-day quarantine. All transient status personnel were sequestered
and given a “restriction of movement” order until they depart AUAB. All arriving members were separated
according to their arrival time and placed into groups called cohorts and received instructions on
masking, sterilization, and maintaining physical distancing to decrease the possibility of transmission
between asymptomatic people. Transient were soon moved and housed in individual rooms (two people in
each room) versus open-bay facilities and received their meals at the Independence Dining Facility only at

[64]
their designated cohort timeframe. Finally on the night of 19 June 2020 B/1-158 FA dragged their duffel
bags and personal gear to the Rotator Terminal and boarded a C-130 Super Hercules and flew into
Bagram AF.

In early 2018, General John W. Nicholson, Commander of United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A)
ordered the establishment of a Force Field Artillery Headquarters (FFAHQ) for all surface to surface fire
across the Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan (CJOA-A). The FFAHQ provides mission
command of all fire, they produce and disseminated a Fires “Common Operating Picture” (COP), but most
importantly they have the authority to position and task allocate FA units. They resource and support the
TAACs with lethal fires. Mission command and synchronization allows them to provide oversight and
enforce standardization in order to meet the readiness levels required once in the CJOA. HIMARS is not
employed as a Force Protection system but rather a strategic system, so B/1-158 FA is placed under the
auspices of the SOJTF-A headquarters on Camp Vance and designated as their “long range shooters”.
Once B/1-158 FA landed on Bagram AF they scramble to offload their gear and retrieve their rocket
launchers which are in storage awaiting their arrival and they position themselves for any fire missions.

On 21 June 2020, B/1-158 FA moved 2 launchers and a detachment of 13 pax to FOB Fenty to supply
timely HIMARS fires to the historically hotly-contested Nangarhar Province. FOB Fenty is located on
Jalalabad AF and is located in the Nangarhar Province and is home of the 3rd Brigade, 11th Division,
201st Corps of the ANA. In close proximity to FOB Fenty is J-Bad PRT which is located on the northern
side of Highway A1 and both camps are 90 miles due east of Kabul. Rocket launchers B-32 and B-41 were
positioned here with a detachment of 13 paxs. They will stay positioned there until current retrograde
operations move them back to Bagram AF.

Garrison life in a COVID-19 degraded environment means separation and isolation. All units are
subjected to a strict daily regime of 10% virus testing and if you came into contact with someone with a
confirmed case of COVID-19, you would be isolated at a separate quarantine facility for 14 days, if
asymptomatic. If you are symptomatic, you would be placed in isolation and tested daily for 14 days. If
positive, a health investigation would be conducted to determine further contacts. The “New Normal”
means physical distancing, wearing masks that cover nose and mouth, sterilizing and hand washing, and
conforming with any measure that will mitigate the spread of the virus. These measures become a daily
order of business as the reality of the pandemic settles into the deployment.
[65]
 In late September 2020 the rocket launchers at FOB Fenty
are driven onto C-130 aircraft and Strat-Air lifted back to
Bagram AF proper and B/1-158 FA was reunited as a whole
unit again. It should be noted that since these M142 rocket
launchers are seen mainly as the long range delivery
platform the battery maintained 8 each 3-man crews with
B-41 designated as the IPRF and others in “standby” mode
should the need arise to quickly launch more long range
strikes. On 7 October 2020 B/1-158 FA received its first
“Fire Mission” and a lone rocket launcher; IPRF; sped out
to the tarmac and loaded onto an awaiting Super Hercules
where they took off to Helmand Province, once they landed
it rolled out to its firing point and shoot 6 rounds of
M30A1. This M30A1 round limits the unexploded ordnance
that the older DPICMS or "cluster bombs" explosives left
on the ground by replacing the smaller explosives with
180,000 tungsten steel bee-bee-sized balls. This particular
round is very effective against light skinned vehicles and
personnel. Once the IPRF received its “End of Mission” the
crew stowed its launcher and darted back to the awaiting
aircraft and flew back to Bagram AF. This fire mission was
the textbook definition of a HIMARS Rapid Infiltration
(HI-RAIN) that integrated air movement and long-range
strike fires and the first of its kind in the CJOA. The ability to successfully HI-RAIN and support the CJOA
from Kuwait, enabled the Reduction of Forces process so on 3 January 2021, B/1-158 FA retrograded back
to Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait. B/1-158 FA shot its second and last Fire Mission on 28 January 2021,
another HI-RAIN mission that displayed the long range strike capability of the M142 rocket launchers. B-
31 and B-32 drove to the firing point and shoot 6 rockets each of the highly precise M31A1 Guided MLRS
(GMLRS) with unitary warheads or “gimlers” to its awaiting targets downrange. This show of force would
be the last missions that B/1-158 FA would fire. During its deployment B/1-158 FA shot a total of 18
rounds but its last fire missions would be the first HI-RAIN mission that crossed over the CENTCOM Area
of Responsibility (AOR) to deliver its HIMARS firepower into Afghanistan. Earning the accolade of being
one of the first female HIMARS Section Chiefs to “shoot a Fire Mission” in CENTCOM CJOA is Sergeant
Reanne Wagner with Gunner and Driver; Sergeant Christopher Terwilligar and Specialist Matthew Healer
respectively; the section chief being the final responsibility of firing the weapon system.

On Monday 5 March 2021, B/1-158 FA

loaded its three rocket launchers and its 30
paxs on C-17 Globemasters of the 145th Air
Wing and returned back to Biggs AF, Fort
Bliss on 8 March 2021. Just as they had left
the post, it was still under the auspices of the
COVID-19 pandemic, so the demobilization
process was very deliberate in its mitigation
of prevention of spread of the virus. B/1-158
FA was mobilized as a unit a year prior but
due to the new measures in place the unit
was demobilized individually and around 17
March 2021 most of the unit had received
individual travel arrangements to their homes of record. It should be noted that B/1-158 FA was subjected
to many “firsts” during this deployment. Once their mission was completed they did not return home with
fanfare, bands or ceremonies. They arrived amid the immunization period of the pandemic when there
were still many illnesses that resulted in death sustained from person-to-person contamination so there
were no “homecomings”. However, B/1-158 FA was able to complete a small “yellow ribbon” event with
the detached unit members and once again the TAG; Major General Michael Thompson; was able to
convey his thanks and officially welcome home the B/1-158 FA from Afghanistan.

[66]
 Composite Roster of Battery “B”, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery (HIMARS) *

CPT Danny Barthel SGT David Burgess

CPT Zebadiah Wilson SGT David Gabelmann
1LT Chris Pettit SGT Stephanie Goldman
CW2 Marshall Bruecher SGT Jason Gordon
1SG James Brown SGT Cassie Owen
SFC Thomas Acker SGT Aaron Pierce
SFC Dakota Engelman SGT Joy Quary
SFC Misty Jenny SGT Chris Terwilligar
SFC Michael Rogers SPC Matthew Healer
SSG Sean Eckrote SPC Dillon Ives
SSG Alexander Jameson SPC Brooklyn Joice
SSG Chris Polsgrove SPC Jordan Jones
SSG Mario Ramirez SPC Mason Milan
SSG Eric Sikes SPC Andy Owen
SSG Reanna Wagner SPC Cody Stonerock
SGT Ashley Bruce-Sparrow SPC Quiana White
SGT Mykle Bull

31 AUGUST 2021
On 6 July 2021 NATO forces departed from Bagram AF and U.S forces retrograded to Hamid Karzai
International Airport (KIA). Before the ANA took complete control of Bagram Air Field, they had to evict
the small roving bands of looters ransacking the barracks and rummaged through the “C-Huts” taking
anything that wasn’t fastened down. On 31 August 2021, Major General Chris Donahue, commander of
the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, was the final soldier to depart out of KIA,
closing out the mission in Afghanistan.

*: The author was unable to obtain official rosters thus requiring composite rosters to be drafted from various elements, thus rank,
names and status may be reflected differently during the mobilization and deployment stages.

[67]
3955 Cannoneer Field Road

Fort Sill, Oklahoma 73503

[68]
Library of Congress PCN # 2018957292