Photo By Sgt. Tracy Knowles | Soldiers of the 101st Engineer Battalion and the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — Mark this date; history was made. On Aug. 30, the 46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 225th Engineer Brigade and 101st Engineer Battalion swapped places in a symbolic transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Liberty, Baghdad.
As the "Steel Spike" engineers of the 46th stepped down, the "Nation's Oldest" of the 101st rose to fill their place in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 101st Eng. Bn. has a distinguished record of service to the nation that dates back over 373 years. The unit participated in numerous conflicts ranging from the colonial wars all the way to the present day global war on terror. Answering the call yet again, the 101st Eng. Bn. began its journey to Iraq in mid-June. The only organic units come in the form of Headquarters Support Company and Forward Support Company, both hailing from Massachusetts. The other units to join are the 1434th Engineer Company (Vertical) from Michigan, the 1192nd Engineer Company (Horizontal) from Ohio, and the 621st Survey and Design Team from North Carolina. Though each unit left their home stations as separate units, they all came together to form one unified battalion at Fort McCoy, Wis.
From June until the beginning of August, the 101st Eng. Bn. worked long and hard to validate on necessary mobilization tasks that included construction effects, convoy operations, and base defense. Once August rolled around, the 101st Eng. Bn. was deemed ready and flew off to Camp Beuhring, Kuwait.
In Kuwait, the "Nation's Oldest" acclimated to the harsh desert environment while focusing on improvised explosive device defeat training, convoy operations, counter-insurgency briefings, and weapons familiarization. Following a two week stay at Camp Beuhring, the Soldiers of the 101st Eng. Bn. packed up for Baghdad.
Arriving in mid-August to Iraq, the 101st Eng. Bn. conducted relief in place operations under the guidance of the 46th ECB (H). The intent of this transition is to familiarize an incoming unit with the current battlefield environment and to offer advice on how to conduct in-theater operations.
Command Sgt. Maj. Chase, 101st Eng. Bn., praised leaders on both sides for putting the 101st on the right track.
"The RIP/TOA [relief in place/transition of authority] had been smooth because of our leaders in the 101st and of the 46th who prepared us for success," said Chase.
In a symbolic transfer of authority ceremony, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger praised the 46th for a job well done and welcomed the 101st to the fight.
"Every combat engineer battalion that comes to Iraq comes to fight and to work," said Bolger. He said the 101st is "tough, smart...ready to fight, ready to work."
| Date Taken: | 08.30.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 09.01.2009 02:21 |
| Story ID: | 38211 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 192 |
| Downloads: | 157 |
This work, "Nation's Oldest" relieves "Steel Spike", by 1LT Michael Lind, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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