Photo By Scott Flenner | Texarkana, Texas native, 1st Lt. Richard Warehime, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon,...... read more read more
BAGHDAD – Hours on a route clearance mission can lead to many inside jokes. For members of the 2nd Platoon, 688th Engineer Company, 890th Eng. Battalion, 225th Eng. Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, their platoon leader provided the ammunition.
The holder of three types of martial arts black belts, 1st Lt. Richard Warehime of Texarkana, Texas, is fondly referred to as 'happy feet' by his Soldiers. And while the 'Ligar' Soldiers joke, they are quick to explain why their 'LT' is one of the best.
Soldiers explained, "He is very level-headed. He has a cool head and knows his job very well."
Being platoon leader for a route clearance team is no easy task. It takes a leader who possesses incredible attributes and is willing to lead from the front to perform this task and ensure the overall success of the mission. The young lieutenant is that type of leader.
"Every day I wake up and consider myself very fortunate to work with the group of people that I do," said Warehime. "What I enjoy most is the platoon, just being around the guys."
For the past year, Warehime has successfully led his platoon down some of the most dangerous routes in Baghdad clearing them of IEDs that threaten the safety of everyone in Iraq.
Along with his daily platoon leader tasks of mission planning, intelligence gathering and overall command and control of his Soldiers, Warehime, leads his Soldiers from the front by performing every duty, driving every vehicle and completing every task involved in a route clearance mission.
"I wanted to learn more about the vehicles and what jobs the other Soldiers do so I started driving and TCing [troop commanding] different vehicles," said Warehime. "[The knowledge] is very beneficial ... I would not ask my Soldiers to do a job that I would not do myself."
"The buffalo is nice because it is a lot more powerful to smash stuff, but I really like the husky," Warehime explained about his favorite piece of equipment. "It is a lot more versatile vehicle, the most survivable vehicle and it can tow anything. It is probably my favorite because it is so useful."
Warehime has gained the respect and confidence of his Soldiers and command over the last year.
"He is an extraordinary, incredible officer, with a ton of talent who brought the best out of his Soldiers," said 688th Eng. Co. Commander Cpt. Marc Anderson, of Mountain Pine, Ark. "I have been impressed with him from the time we started till now. Throughout the deployment, he continually encouraged Soldiers to bring ideas and concepts forward, and that is what makes him a great leader."
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2009 12:01 |
| Story ID: | 31865 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 216 |
| Downloads: | 185 |
This work, Soldier in Focus – Lt. Richard Warehime, by Scott Flenner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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