Photo By Sgt. Samuel Soza | Brig. Gen. David Elicerio, of Ham Lake, Minn., 34th Infantry Division deputy...... read more read more
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — As the 34th Infantry Division transfers authority over United States Division-South to the 1st Infantry Division, the "Red Bull" Soldiers' time of living all day, every day, with each other also draws closer to an end, but not so the bonds that have formed.
Brig. Gen. David Elicerio, 34th Inf. Div. deputy commanding general for operations, and several 34th Inf. Div. senior leaders, all former-Air Defense Artillery comrades, understand well the bond that forms among Soldiers.
The former artillerymen have the distinction of reconstructing the 1st Battalion, 216th ADA Regiment in 1996 and have worked to maintain the relationships they formed there.
"We forged friendships during our time in the battalion that have lasted over time and distance," said Lt. Col. Luke Charpentier, who is now a 34th Inf. Div. electronic warfare officer.
"Over the last 10 years, we have kept in contact and regularly cross paths," said the St. Paul, Minn., native.
The crew even formed an unofficial group to keep in touch.
"Prior to deployment we had IFTAD — "I Founded The Air Defense" — meetings," said Sgt. Maj. Dave Crotteau, 34th Inf. Div. supply and services sergeant major.
"Those of us that were able to, met once or twice a year to catch up on each other's lives and that of our Army careers," said the Anoka, Minn. native.
The ADA battalion's first chaplain, Lt. Col. John Morris, who serves today as the division chaplain for the 34th Inf. Div., said his fondest memory was all-encompassing.
"Definitely, it's that we stood a battalion up from scraps," said the Afton, Minn., native, "We had to learn a new weapons system, deploy it, and find people to fill those positions."
Crotteau said his fondest memory was more specific and involved the fitting of a door between two headquarters' offices.
"We tried to get a door installed between the two rooms instead of having to go out and around," he said. "The state wouldn't approve the project but our building manager had a door frame. I located a door and suddenly a plan was formed," he said.
After hours the crew set to making the modifications themselves.
"Two burnt out skill-saws and four mason blades later, we had the opening made and the door installed," he said.
Morris said the relationships Soldiers form with one another during their time in the Army are invaluable.
"That's what makes the Guard, and the Reserves, so unique," he said, "If you stay in 10 or more years, it's not just the pension. You like the people."
Aside from the personal bonds, there was also important growth that occurred as the men advanced in their Army careers together, said Lt. Col. Tom Sonnen, 34th Inf. Div. deputy commander of information operations.
"The environment that was fostered in the battalion was that of teamwork and unity," said the St. Paul, Minn., native, "We worked hard together, were held to a high standard and the unit built a reputation of exacting standards and excellence."
Morris said that the time he spent within a combat arms unit gave him valuable insight for his continuing role as a division chaplain.
"ADA was excellent," he said, "We were in the field, muddy and dirty. Anybody who is considering becoming a chaplain needs the experience of being the 'tip of the spear.'"
Elicerio, the former artillery unit commander, still holds an upper position that has allowed him to watch his former specialists and lieutenants become sergeants major and lieutenant colonels.
"It's good to see these guys grow and mature," the Ham Lake, Minn., native said.
Originating in the Field Artillery branch, Air Defense Artillery did not separate into its own branch until around 1968 with the motto "First to fire!"
Before that, in the 1940's, the 216th Coastal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment divided into several battalions, the 1st Bn. of the 216th Regt. going to the 34th Inf. Div.
In 1951, the unit became the 1st Bn. of the 216th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regt., still a part of the Field Artillery branch, and then, after serving in the Korean War, disbanded in 1959.
After nearly 40 years, then-Maj. Elicerio and his fellow Soldiers whom serve today in senior leadership positions throughout the 34th Inf. Div. reconstituted the unit as the 1st Bn. of the 216th ADA Regt.
According to Sonnen, the unit set records for recruiting and retention and was highly regarded by the leadership of the 34th Inf. Div., the Minnesota Army National Guard and the Air Defense Artillery branch.
The battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 to 2008.
The successful formation of the battalion was due to the excellence of its members, said Morris.
"It was a unique alignment of really fine Soldiers," he said.
Sonnen agreed and said there was more than just a military unit created.
"That pride and sense of accomplishment forged strong bonds of loyalty and pride," he said, "Those bonds are still as strong today as they were then."
| Date Taken: | 01.18.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2010 02:14 |
| Story ID: | 44039 |
| Location: | BASRA, IQ |
| Web Views: | 687 |
| Downloads: | 645 |
This work, Friendships found forming 'First to fire!', by SGT Samuel Soza, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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