Courtesy Photo | Capt. Christopher Giorgi (center), commander of Company E, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor...... read more read more
Story by: Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger
BAGHDAD – It’s not called “Explosive” Company for nothing.
The combat engineers and scouts with Company E, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, United States Division – Center have experienced their share of explosions this year while conducting route clearance missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
The soldiers have collectively discovered or detonated more than 30 roadside bombs while canvassing more than 6,200 miles of Baghdad’s roadways.
On Oct. 28, in recognition of the number of soldiers within Company E who have earned a combat action badge, the company was awarded a combat action streamer for its guidon during a ceremony at Camp Taji, Iraq.
After attaching the black and gold streamer to the company’s guidon, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Denius, commander of 3rd Bn., 69th Armor Regt., said the soldiers of Company E should be proud of what they have accomplished.
“What’s more important to be proud of is you’re all standing here; it’s a testament to you guys [and] to your actions on contact,” Denius said. “We have been very, very fortunate, but fortunate doesn’t happen by accident—it happens because [soldiers] are prepared to do their mission.”
Capt. Christopher Giorgi, commander of Company E, said his soldiers have performed as one of the most aggressive route clearance companies in theater.
“A lot of guys will get hit by a [roadside bomb] and they’ll refuse to leave their vehicles,” Giorgi said. “You guys get out and you take the fight to the enemy, [and] because of that we are very successful.”
Company E soldiers not only took a lot of hits, but they detained several suspected enemy combatants—combatants who were either caught detonating roadside bombs or fleeing the scenes of attacks—and turned them over to Iraqi Security Forces.
After the ceremony, Company E soldiers relaxed at a barbeque and discussed their year on the road.
Sgt. Christopher Lyon, a Fayetteville, N.C., native, serving his fourth deployment to Iraq, said while he’s had a few scares on route clearance missions, he and his soldiers have done an important job.
“We [have done] good things for the battalion, for this country and for the people of Iraq,” he said.
Sgt. John Plate, a New York City native, agreed that putting the effect of their efforts in the simplest of terms—route clearance missions save lives.
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2010 02:03 |
| Story ID: | 60618 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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