Photo By Cpl. Zachary Mangas | Soldiers of Company C, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor, 1st Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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CAMP VIRGINIA, Kuwait - It has been a long 8 ½ years for American forces, the United States and the country of Iraq with all sides seeing bloodshed. Nearly 4,500 troops lost their lives fighting and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died during the war.
While historians and politicians may argue down the line whether or not the U.S. should have invaded, one thing will remain certain – a dictator of tyranny has been removed, the chance for a democratic society has been placed in the hands of the people of Iraq and the war on terror has been battled out mainly abroad and off American soil.
These accomplishments did not come without sacrifice.
Over one million soldiers, airmen, Marines, and sailors helped make a new Iraq possible. Without the sacrifices made by these heroic individuals, their families and the proud communities they belong too, none of this forward progress could have been accomplished. This accomplishment was observed on the faces of each soldier at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, during the month of December.
With President Obama’s announcement - the arrival of the last departure of convoys from Iraq echoed the war was finally over.
On the morning of Dec. 17, 2011 the final convoy escort team for Company C, 1st Combined Arms Battalion 194th Armor, call sign “Crazyhorse,” returned to Camp Virginia after a mission up to Camp Adder, assisting in the base closure process.
It was a historical moment for the Minnesota soldiers; they were some of the last to enter Iraq and some of the last to leave.
“It was a good trip, a little foggy on our way back but we pushed on through regardless of weather conditions and made it back safe and sound,” said Sgt. Jeffery J. McArthur, vehicle commander from Baxter, Minn. “Camp Adder was like a ghost town being the last base to close so it was a little interesting at times, but we’re back and it feels good to have accomplished our mission.”
The convoy escort team mission was the same as it has been before - to safely escort a herd of semi-trucks in and out of Iraq. However, this time their mission was providing security on some of the last cargo loads of equipment and supplies during Operation New Dawn. Since a finalized decision was made to complete the withdrawal of U.S forces Crazyhorse has been busy – completing 207 missions since their arrival in theater. The mission up to Camp Adder was the very last mission in Iraq for the Company.
“It was pretty barren up there,” said 1st Lt. Mitchell A. Goenner, 2nd Platoon Leader and Convoy Commander from Vadnais Heights, Minn. “It feels pretty good to be part of history. It was a mission, not filled with all the guns and glory, but something I can tell my grandkids down the line. My team all did a great job and I’m proud of them.”
The following day on December 18, the final convoys made their way over the Kuwait border arriving at Camp Virginia. Media from around the world gathered to report on the historical day, a day that signified the end to the Iraq war and a successful end of mission for Crazyhorse during Operation New Dawn. The Company traveled a combined total of 283,982 miles while escorting more than 9,000 semi-trucks and 21-million gallons of fuel.
The Company made up of 136 soldiers will now remain at Camp Virginia for the remainder of their year-long deployment honing in on their military occupational specialties.
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2012 01:40 |
| Story ID: | 82692 |
| Location: | CAMP VIRGINIA, KW |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, The end and a new beginning, Crazyhorse convoy escort security mission complete, by CPL Zachary Mangas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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