No fireworks for these troopers Garryowen keeps vigil at outpost on Independence Day

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Longbeach, Calif. native Sgt. Jon Cambridge (right) and Dewar, Okla. native Pfc. Gary Kale, both infantrymen with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment enjoy a movie after their guard shift on Combat Outpost X-Ray, Iraq July 3.  

TAJI, IRAQ

07.05.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
1st Birgade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Public Affairs

TAJI, Iraq – As the United States celebrates its Independence Day, Soldiers from Troop C, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment continue working, standing guard and going on patrols staged from Combat Outpost X-Ray near Taji, Iraq.

Instead of fireworks and family picnics, these troops are focusing on their missions to clear the area of insurgent threats and living from one day to the next at the outpost, said Yucaipa, Calif., native Capt. David Fulton, Troop C commander.

"It's a great holiday to reflect on and in many ways it is a Soldier's holiday because a lot of Soldiers have sacrificed for our freedoms which is in keeping with the spirit of Independence Day," said Fulton. "At this time, everyone's thoughts are with family back home, and it's a typical experience here to miss the wife and kids and the things that they're doing on the homefront."

"As far as getting to celebrate the holiday, we don't have that luxury," Fulton added.

"We're doing a real-world mission and it's not going to pause or stop, so we're just going to continue doing what we're doing."

For Soldiers who operate out of the outpost, being here for the holiday has its own meaning for them.

"Our role on this July Fourth is helping the people of Iraq earn independence from tyranny and people who suppress them," said Cpl. Charles Breeding, a medic for Headquarters Troop, who is attached to Troop C. "I have a job to do and I signed a paper to serve - and I'm also following in the footsteps of my father, who during his 20 years of service spent a lot of Fourth of Julys away from home too. But when he went on (rest and relaxation) during the Vietnam War it was spent in-country. So, at least we have the chance to spend our leave at home."

"During Independence Day, I'm proud to be over here as a medic to help my fellow Soldiers," added Breeding, who hails from Portland, Ore. He explained that although he misses his family he also knows he has a job to do. "My wife and a lot of the wives and kids out there are some of the true patriots because they're the ones who are also making a lot of sacrifices while we're away."

Modesto, Calif., native Sgt. Jason Feaga, a mechanic for Troop C, works long hours in a maintenance bay repairing vehicles. Sometimes he stays up late just waiting for parts to arrive via a convoy to the outpost. Feaga said he admits that he has a few things he'll miss over the holiday.

"I'll definitely miss spending time with my wife and daughter," Feaga said. "My daughter is walking now and I'm going to miss hearing her say a few of the words she's learned. If I were home now, we'd be going to a picnic or doing our own fireworks at home and we'd also gather a few friends and family to play guitar."

"It (missing the holiday at home) doesn't really bother me that much anymore, though," added Feaga, who is on his second tour in Iraq and third deployment (including a 15-month stint in Korea) away from home on the Fourth of July.

Soldiers live for weeks at a time at COP X-Ray with only a few days in their rotations set aside for them to return to Camp Taji, the troops' basecamp, to do laundry, go to finance, go to the post exchange to pick up a few toiletry items and do other errands.

Although life at the outpost is not exactly like living at a four-star hotel, things are much better here than they were just a month and a half ago when the outpost was first established, according to Fulton.

"We've been working really hard to make this like home. Before we got here there were no showers, no hot meals, no electricity and no air conditioning and we were doing real Army living for a while here," said Fulton.

The outpost has several large buildings that were essentially huge empty bays where in the beginning weeks, Soldiers slept on cots and were subjected to the extreme temperatures common to Iraq.

Thanks to Army engineers and other support troops from the Garryowen squadron's Troop "Darkhorse" Forward Support Company, working with Troop C, within a few weeks, the COP had showers, air conditioners, four to six-man rooms with real walls and ceilings, real bunks, a mobile field kitchen trailer from which hot meals are served, a well-staffed aid station for medical services, internet access and phone lines, allowing the Soldiers to call home. There was also a massive clean up effort in which overgrown weeds and trees were cut down and the area was sprayed for insects.

"This has been scout construction at its finest," said Fulton, joking and noting that his troops are mainly scouts.

Spc. James Murdough, a scout for Troop C who hails from Antrim, N.H., goes on patrols, stands guard and also works in the troop's training room. For him, the experience of working out of the outpost is something he has really enjoyed.

"The rooms here are much bigger than my room on Camp Taji," said Murdough. "Time seems to go by quicker when we're out here, because we're doing our jobs and its something we all enjoy doing."

"We have a good cook and the food beats the heck out of MREs (meals-ready-to-eat)," added Murdough.

Despite being away from home, said Fulton, the troops have adjusted well to their new digs.

"It's been really amazing; there's been limited complaining and a lot of hard work," Fulton said, also adding that his troops spend a lot of time in the surrounding village meeting the people and building trust on their daily missions. "Living in the area where we work makes for better relationships with the people who we're getting to know everyday."

"We try to walk everywhere and interact as much as possible with the local populace," said Fulton. "You have to be on the ground, doing dismounted patrols or else you aren't going to get very far in building relationships with the people, especially if you're just riding around in a Humvee or Bradley (Fighting Vehicle)."

Having the outpost also makes it easier for the troops to conduct their patrols in the area.

"We're a lot closer now, so living here makes it a lot easier for us to get into our sector very quickly," said Fulton. "Before, we had to drive all the way into the area from Camp Taji which took a lot more time."

Troop C Soldiers are currently building a dining facility for the outpost which will be completed in a few weeks.

• Date Taken: 07.05.2007
• Date Posted: 07.05.2007 09:12
• Story ID: 11127
• Location: TAJI, IQ