101st Airborne

Photo By Spc. Jason Dangel | FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq - Sgt. 1st Class David W. Keeler, platoon sergeant, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division spearheads one of the platoons responsible for providing first-hand response to hostile engagements within the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division's area of operations.  

01.10.2006

Courtesy Story

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Pfc. Jason Dangel
4th BCT, 4ID PAO

Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division walk the grounds of Forward Operating Base Prosperity as the newest members of Task Force Cobra, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division knowing they have a special mission.

With a stone cold stare and an attitude only found in "Currahee" country, the paratroopers from the mighty 101st have one mission alone, to be ready at a moment's call, 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, as the "Cobra" Brigade's Quick Reaction Force.

"Once our guys arrive at the scene, our primary responsibilities are to access the situation, pull security and treat casualties," explained Sgt. 1st Class David W. Keeler, platoon sergeant, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.

The company of approximately 150 "Screaming Eagles" must be able to react at a moment's notice to any given scenario, to include Improvised Explosive Devices, Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices and hostile gunfire, said Keeler, a native of Heidelberg, Miss.

"When we get a call we have to be up and gone almost instantly," he said.

The primary responsibility of the QRF, said Keeler, is to be the first to respond to any hostile action, or enemy engagement a convoy may face while traveling inside the brigade's area of operations.

No matter how minor the incident may be, a QRF must be ready to respond, he explained.

As the Soldiers of the 4th Inf. Div.'s Task Force Ironhorse prepare for a year-long deployment in the combat zone, cohesion between partner units will be quintessential for the success of the mission, said Sgt. Robert H. Steele, team leader, Co. C, 2nd Bn., 506th Inf. Reg.

"It's been great working with 4th ID so far," Steele said. "I'm looking forward to working with them during the deployment."

The platoon sergeant, a native of Independence, Ore. said the only major change from his last deployment to Iraq will be working with a mechanized unit, during which mounted patrols will be used the majority of the time while conducting QRF operations.

"Mounted patrols are a whole different world than being on the ground," he explained.

"I would say about 90 percent of the guys here are used to doing foot patrols. We'll have to see how it pans out during the course of the year."

Pvt. Sean P. Sullivan, an infantryman from Cincinnati said he wants to use his time on the QRF team as a learning experience and a chance see a part of the world.

"This is something I've always wanted to experience," he said. "Everything I've done so far has been a learning experience, and it's been awesome."

With a history of greatness dating back to D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, the Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division come to FOB Prosperity ready to take the fight to the enemy and accomplish their mission.

"You can ask any retiree from any war, and if you were to show them the 101st patch with the airborne tab sitting on top of it, they would tell you, 'That is one great unit,'" Keeler explained.

"The 101st has been around a long time, and has completed some great missions," said Keeler emphatically. "This mission will be no different. The 101st is the most lethal light infantry unit in the Army!"

As the 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div. transitions with the 3rd Inf. Div.'s "Vanguard" Brigade and assumes responsibilities of the International Zone, the Soldiers from the "Cobra" Brigade can find comfort in knowing that the paratroopers from the "Strike Force" Battalion have their back.

• Date Taken: 01.10.2006
• Date Posted: 01.10.2006 11:15
• Story ID: 5054