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DEL.ICIO.US48th troops comfort their replacements
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Forward Operating Base Mahmudiyah, Iraq — They thought they were through with this deadly place. And then it drew them back.
Soldiers from the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team spent months here in sustained combat, surviving repeated insurgent mortar and rocket attacks as well as roadside bombs. On Halloween, they packed up and headed south to a new base and new missions.
But they decided to come back recently to grieve with the regular Army soldiers who replaced them.
Jeremy Redmon/AJC
Cpl. Rodney Bettis, of McDonough, hugs Staff Sgt. Grant Wilson, of Annandale, Va. Wilson lost three soldiers from his unit with the 101st Airborne
Division during a Nov. 2 bomb attack.
Since Georgia’s 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment, left last month, eight soldiers from the Fort Campbell, Ky.-based 101st Airborne Division have been killed in the area known as the Triangle of Death. Seven were killed by roadside bombs. The military says it is investigating the eighth as a possible “friendly fire incident.”
During the nearly six months the Georgians were stationed in this area south of Baghdad, they lost six soldiers, three in a vehicle accident.
“Mahmudiyah can humble the best of people,” said Lt. Col. John King, 41, commander of the 108th’s 1st Battalion.
King cited a number of possible reasons for the increase in violence: The insurgents might be reacting to the change in U.S. soldiers, they might be responding to aggressive attacks by the 101st, or they might be trying to disrupt the Dec. 15 election of a permanent national assembly.
“This is an enemy that is very tenacious, very smart and very unforgiving. The enemy is always adjusting to our tactics,” said King, Doraville’s police chief. “I refuse to think this is anything the 101st did wrong. This is combat.”
After a recent memorial service for three of the 101st soldiers, King and his interpreter met with some of their former intelligence sources from the surrounding area. Then he offered some advice to his counterpart with the 101st, Lt. Col. Tom Kunk.
“I told him to stick to what he is doing. It is a battle of wills, and he is not alone,” King said.
During the memorial service, Kunk sat in the front row, quietly observing the proceedings, his head bowed. The three men who were killed were members of Kunk’s personal security detachment: Spc. Joshua Munger, 22, of Maysville, Mo.; Spc. Benjamin Smith, 21, of Hudson, Wis.; and Pfc. Tyler Mackenzie, 20, of Evans, Colo.
“They were three incredible American soldiers,” Kunk said. “Where that happened — we have been on the ground and we have kept pushing forward. No one in this battalion is backing down.”
The Georgians grew close to the 101st soldiers last month as they showed them around the Mahmudiyah area before their move south. Sgt. Joe Picon, who helps guard King, immediately sought out his counterpart when he arrived.
“I want to see my brothers in arms. I know they’ve got to be hurting,” Picon said as he sought out Staff Sgt. Grant Wilson.
When Picon finally spotted Wilson, he gave him a big hug. Picon later told him: “We are brothers. We love you guys. I mean that.”
“It’s probably the first time I’ve smiled since Wednesday,” Wilson, of Annandale, Va., told Picon that evening over dinner.
As they ate, Wilson talked about the previous week and predicted, “This is going to be a hard, hard 12 months.”
Then he quietly told Picon he was turning 40 on Nov. 14: “If I live that long, I’ll be happy.”
“This place makes you older,” Picon said.
Just outside the mess hall, Sgt. Michael Wells was catching up with his friend from the 101st, Spc. Devin Dishner. Wells handed him his lucky knife, the one he had with him when he survived a roadside bomb in September near where Dishner’s buddies were killed. Wells, 35, of Jasper said Dishner reminded him of his younger brother.
As the two talked, Spc. Nicholas Jordan of the 101st stood in the darkness nearby, asking the Georgians to sign his American flag. He had it spread out on the hood of a Humvee. Jordan said he was in the convoy with the three men who were killed. He still remembers the bomb’s shock wave.
“My earplugs blew out of my ears and all of a sudden it was black in front of me,” said Jordan, 20, of Warren, Ohio.
Spc. Darryl Wilson, 37, of Jonesboro signed Jordan’s flag. He encouraged Jordan to drive his Humvee aggressively to scare away insurgents in Mahmudiyah.
“You are like a blocking fullback. You have to block them out of the way,” Wilson told him. “Drive this vehicle like you stole it. My training video game was ‘Grand Theft Auto.’ You can be a madman, but be a thinking man.”
As they talked, Wilson and the other soldiers noticed the clear evening sky. They pointed out various constellations, noting Orion’s Belt, the Big Dipper and the North Star.
And for just a while, they stopped talking about the violence that is all around them.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Karen Dingler
November 15, 2005 07:43 AM | Link to this
Dear soldiers of 101st Airbourne, I will have you and your families in my prayers daily. My son SPC Dingler was killed in Mahmudiyah is August. I fully understand the danger you all are facing. Be brave,be strong and keep your heads low. I don’t know you, but I love you and want you all to home safe when your tour of duty is done. Jeremy, thanks buddy! You promised me you would do a truthful honest job like you did for us when Joshua died. Thanks for keeping your word even under harshest circumstances.
By Penny Schneider
November 15, 2005 08:53 AM | Link to this
As always our 48th BCT soldiers continue to make the citizens of Georgia proud.
Jeremy thank you for your to the heart, honest coverage.
To the 101st Soldiers we will continue to keep you guys in our hearts and our prayers.
To the Mighty 48th BCT, HOOAH! You make me proud to be from Georgia!
By NG Army Wife
November 15, 2005 09:05 AM | Link to this
Dear soldier heroes of 101st, you and your families are and will be in my daily prayers daily. My husband was there and has had a couple of run-ins with the IEDs. I fully understand the danger you all are facing and the endless worries you families are going through. Stay brave, strong and alert, I too do not know you personally, but we love you and your families and I want each and every one to go home safely to your families when your task is complete. It may not be much but I thank each and every member of the 101st for you for your bravery and commitment. Each and every one of the 101st are our heroes.
By Jeannie
November 15, 2005 10:16 AM | Link to this
Thank you Jeremy for being there with our guys and for giving to us, some comfort on what is going on. I know many of the Scouts-HHC 108th Douglasville unit- that were stationed at this same base until recently.. They too, lost three of their own and this was Very Hard for Them/Us and it is still hard on Them/Us.. I pray daily for not only our Soldiers but for all the men and women, who have answered a call to serve. 101 Airbourne- Stay strong, lean on each other, and know daily that you all are loved and missed. No one will ever forget what you all are doing, just like we will never forget what other’s have done before you..
By Sgt. James Kirchner
November 15, 2005 10:21 AM | Link to this
To my brothers in the 101st, i served 2 years in B. Co. 2/502 and when i heard about the bombings i was torn. I was critically injured at St. Michael in a mortar attack last june when the 108th first arrived. I went to your web pages and looked for a way to send you my sympathy and let you know i cared about your losses as they are mine too. I guess this will work. The same week i was released from Walter Reed I went to 3 funerals; not a happy return. Stay true to yourselves, Stay true to your brothers, and know that St. Michael is watching over you.
My sympathies for the loss. You as well as my brothers further south are in my prayers daily.
STRIKE FORCE!
Sgt. James Kirchner USAG Med. Hold Ft. McPherson Wounded Branch
Formerly HHC 1/108th AR
By The Erwin family
November 15, 2005 03:26 PM | Link to this
To the families of our Fallen Warriors and the to Brave Soldiers in the 101st,
My family sends our thoughts and prayers to you for the loss of your loved ones and Army brothers. No words can ease the pain you are going through, but we hope you take some comfort in knowing the memories of these Soldiers will always be remembered. They are truly American Heros.
To our Fallen Heros, we will not forget your service and sacrifice to defend freedom. Godspeed and may the Angels surround your families as they try to heal. And may St. Micheal protect your brothers and sisters who are still in harms way.
To our American Heros, especially the 101st; we are so proud of you all. We pray for your safe return home. You are doing the right thing in keeping our country safe and defending freedom.
Thank you is not enough.
The Erwin’s, Oregon Proud parents of a US Army 101st Soldier, currently serving in Iraq.
By Menthy
November 15, 2005 10:32 PM | Link to this
As I have just returned from a Mission at church on “How to pray” I was reminded that we must ask for God’s unlimited sea of mercy. For only He can give you that peace. Losing friends in this type of situation is not easy but we must swallow it, take up our cross and follow Him. For God has plans for each of you, including my son who is also there. Thank you over and over again for your bravery, and your support for one another.
By mother of a ng soldier{1-108 Douglasville}
November 15, 2005 10:34 PM | Link to this
Thank you Jeremy for all the good reporting on the unit. It means alot to hear first hand what the soldiers are going thru.Please do an article on the Maintenance and tank section.Would love to see what their day is like. Kep god in your thoughts, you are all in our prayers at home and in our church family. Karen you and patti are always in my prayers.
By Marie
November 17, 2005 10:10 PM | Link to this
I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of more soldiers. I am also sorry that the media is forgetting the almost 200 soldiers from the 48th who have not left FOB Stryker! You say in so many articles that the 48th has packed up and left, and that is simply not true! Please do not forget about A-CO 1-121 from the 48th who have remained behind in Baghdad and their misssions remain just as deadly as before.
By Tanya M. Bush
November 19, 2005 04:20 PM | Link to this
I am a very proud MOTHER IN LAW to Spc. Joshua J.Munger, FIRST AND FORMOST, Josh could have taken the easy way out and said to heck with this I am OUT OF HERE!! BUT HE DID NOT he signed on that line one more time, even after all the talks we had about the dangers and his Wife and Colton there son, he said MA, I have to make sure that my family is secure with health care, he said I want to go back to school, but you have to make sure that you have a HORSE and some land ready for me when I get back. I was with the KIDS, Josh and My Daughter Alysha for most of there stay at Ft. Bragg and made wonderful friends I did not get that chance at Ft. Campbell he was not there long enough but he did talk about and kid about some of his “”BOSSES”” lol he was SO HAPPY GO LUCKY, things just rolled off him. He was hard headed but NO MATTER WHAT even when i got so Bloomn MAD at him, I could not stay that way he would say BUT YA LOVE ME!!Yes I did, like he was my OWN. I was raised very COUNTRY so you never have to many mom’s or dad’s the more the marry except you could not get by with as much because you had that many more people who cared. I was that person to him I was another MOM and I would not trade it for anything. My heart hurts so bad I can not even put into words. We will just have to get thru this. I worry about the OFFICERS that Josh left behind and the BUDDIES to, Josh would want ALL OF US to PUSH ON!! My heart also hurts for the family’s that lost there son’s that awful day. I am SO SO SORRY, Please know our family has you in our thoughts and please if we could meet sometime we may be able to have some closure to this. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I was doing some of Josh’s laundry the other day and ran across a uniform that says SMITH on it, I am unclear if it belongs to your son or another young man with the name Smith. About the only way I will know for sure is to check sizes with you or ask Josh’s close Buddy CHRIS he may know, but if it belongs to your son we want you to have it that is very important to us. Please know that I love each and every one of you and I am only a E-MAIL AWAY understand men that we are behind you,love you,and want to be there for you and the only way I know to do that is to keep you in our thoughts and prayers,PLEASE to the family’s of the two young men Josh had with him, PLEASE I PRAY,you have no hard feelings towards Joshua,he took his job very serious and was good at what he did he would never put anyone in harms way. To the YOUNG MEN that were BEHIND HIM that DAY, please email me if you get a chance I want to keep in contact with you. YOU are in our HEARTS ALWAYS. LV TO ALL SPC.Joshua Munger’s Mother IN Law (MOM)