Adjutant General of Virginia visits 180th Engineer Company in Iraq

Courtesy Photo | Capt. Edward Lewis and 1st Lt. Philip Johnson provide the Virginia Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Robert Newman, with a briefing of 180th's construction mission at Azziziyah, Iraq.  

IRAQ

03.19.2009

Courtesy Story

555th Engineer Brigade

February was a busy for the 180th Engineer Company, 555th Engineer Brigade, as they finished up their second full month in Iraq. Several mission job sites were completed, with new ones already started or in the chute. Also, in February Soldiers started leaving to go home on Rest and Recuperation Leave. More importantly, though, two big events took place for the Soldiers of the 180th: construction on their new Tactical Operations Center and a visit by the Adjutant General of Virginia, Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman, Jr.

Second Platoon, 180th Engineer Company finished two job sites: a UAV landing strip at Forward Operating Base Echo and force protection barriers at Patrol Base Mahawil. Both of these job sites were add-on construction to already existing bases. First Platoon, along with Airmen of the United States Air Force's 732d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Detachment 3, constructed a new patrol base from the ground up at Azziziyah. Starting with only a blown out barracks for the old Iraqi Republican Guard, 1st Platoon moved over 30,000 cubic yards of dirt to fill over 10,000 linear feet of Hesco baskets and graded over 2,500,000 cubic meters of gravel.

Sgt. 1st Class William Cole had much praise for his Soldiers.

"First Platoon rose to the occasion. We knew nothing of the site-fill before coming on, and were able to finish the entire project within 32 days. I couldn't be more proud of the work of my Soldiers."

Cole's Soldiers put in over 1,251 man-hours to complete this mission.

On Feb. 11, concrete was poured for the foundation of the new TOC that the 180th Engineer Company will occupy. As of this writing, the trusses have been constructed and two of the outside walls have been framed. The 180th is hoping to be completely finished within the next month and settled into their new building.

Of great importance to the 180th was a visit by the Adjutant General of Virginia. On Feb. 18, Newman, along with the State sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Carl Holcomb, visited the Soldiers of the 180th on their tour of Iraq. After a helicopter ride over two of the mission sites that the 180th has completed, his party landed at the Azziziyah mission site to congratulate 1st Platoon on their accomplishments. After a few words there, the Adjutant General flew back to Camp Stryker to have dinner with the rest of the 180th and commended them for the hard work they have put in since deploying.

"I am pleased as can be for the joint operations being conducted here with the 54th [Engineer Battalion]," said Newman. "I am particularly happy to see my friends in blue [Air Force] and the Navy both falling under the leadership of the Army and working side by side with each other. As for the 180th, all I hear are praises for their contribution to combat operations here in Iraq. I cannot be more proud of them as they represent the Virginia National Guard in theater."

Capt. Edward Lewis, commander of the 180thEngineer Company, had just arrived from R&R in time to meet Newman. He was impressed with the accomplishments of his company while he was on leave and was pleased by the review of the Adjutant General. While he was home, he was able to enjoy time with his newborn daughter, Harper Lewis. She is the first child for him and his wife, Samantha.

• Date Taken: 03.19.2009
• Date Posted: 03.19.2009 03:06
• Story ID: 31315
• Location: IQ