By 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
KALSU, Iraq – The 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division wrapped up another month in theater and once again has distinguished itself.
The battalion was called upon to prepare a team for an extended mission in support of Operation Black Eagle.
Operation Black Eagle was the Iraqi army and Coalition's response to the campaign of terrorism taking place in the southern city of Ad Diwaniyah. The local Iraqi government asked for the help of the Iraqi army and coalition in getting rid of the militias, which had taken over large parts of city.
After receiving orders to assist in the operation, the 725th prepared a team comprised of paratroopers from Companies A, B, and C, as well as the Support Operations Section and launched from Forward Operating Base Kalsu into the fight at Diwaniyah.
"The mission was to provide combat logistical support to the Black Eagle Task Force," said 2nd Lt. Robert Covington, a Hampton, Va., native and one of the support team leaders during the operation. "The support team was ready to provide food, water, fuel, ammunition, medical supplies, repair parts, maintenance support, recovery assistance for battle damaged vehicles and a gun truck team to augment the detainee escort team."
Originally scheduled for 10 days, the mission stretched out for more than three weeks.
According to Covington, the team conducted numerous re-supply missions including the distribution of almost 29,000 gallons of fuel, nightly logistical re-supply operations and the provision of medical aid and supplies for the local medical facility during Operation Black Eagle.
Once the fighting began, the paratroopers of the 725th were sent in and put their unique skills to use.
The team received word that a vehicle had been damaged by an IED during the fighting and needed their help returning to the base.
This recovery team consisted of three gun trucks, a palletized loading system cargo truck, a wrecker and four Stryker vehicles which began maneuvering into the city to recover the damaged vehicle and to assist with any injuries that might require their attention.
The team, led by 2nd Lt. Robert Covington and Staff Sgt. Christopher Conely, a native of El Segundo, Calif., managed to recover the burning vehicle and maintain safety and security of the team.
According to Conely, the team had to move under sporadic small arms fire on the way to the recovery site. Once they arrived, the truck and trailer were still on fire, but the recovery team conducted a flawless recovery operation.
"The expertise of Staff Sgt. John Beegle (a native of Newport News, Va.,) and Pfc. Jason Amsdell (a native of Cherry Tree, Pa.,), the maintenance team crew, was vital to the success of the operation," said Covington. "They were able to hoist the humvee and trailer onto the back of the cargo truck while it was still on fire and falling apart."
As the recovery team worked to secure the vehicle, the unit medic, Staff Sgt. Kevin Lindquist, a native of Queens, N.Y., assisted with the treatment of the injured paratroopers involved in the IED attack.
"It was a sight to see. My team was able to adapt and overcome in the recovery mission," Conely said. "I felt in awe of the team's ingenuity."
| Date Taken: |
05.08.2007 |
| Date Posted: |
05.08.2007 08:53 |
| Story ID: |
10280 |
| Location: |
ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: |
509 |
| Downloads: |
436 |
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