BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Company B, 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment "Geronimos" conducted a combat patch ceremony, Nov. 27, at Camp Justice in Baghdad. During the ceremony, the combat veterans were awarded the combat patch, and some Soldiers received the Combat Infantryman's Badge and Combat Medic's Badges.
Until last summer, The Geronimos have served as the opposing force at the Army's Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. They typically swarm the woods and swamps of southern Louisiana conducting terrorist and insurgency operations against the training units. Fighting as an unconventional force, they train and prepare the light infantry units of the U.S. Army for real-world missions around the world.
Two companies from the 1-509th PIR deployed with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in June. Bravo Company has been conducting patrols and security operations for the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment in Baghdad.
The company gathered in a formation while Lt. Col. Casey Griffith, 1-509th PIR commander, passed through the formation, awarding the unit patch to each Soldier. With a firm handshake and congratulatory remarks to each Geronimo Soldier, he made his way through the ranks.
Griffith came to Baghdad to visit his Soldiers and get a view of operations in Baghdad from a first-hand point of view.
"He came all the way from Fort Polk to get a feeling of what it is like over here and to see his guys," said Maj. Web Wright, brigade public affairs officer. "He will take all of the lessons he learned over here about how the enemy fights and integrate that into the tactics of the JRTC OPFOR. This makes a realistic training environment which prepares the Army to fight and win America's battles."
Griffith also had the opportunity to award nine of his Soldiers the Combat Infantryman's Badge and one the Combat Medic's Badge. Each of these medals are awarded to Soldiers with the infantry and medic specialties who have received enemy fire in a combat zone.
The Geronimos are authorized to wear the 509th PIR, the 10th Mountain or the 1st Cavalry patch on their right sleeve, signifying the higher headquarters under which they fought in Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 12.09.2004 |
| Date Posted: | 12.09.2004 11:05 |
| Story ID: | 718 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 18 |
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