Sgt. Sean Kimmons
25th ID (L) PAO
KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq -- Second Brigade Combat Team Soldiers have endured long work hours, numerous insurgent attacks, many casualties and the loss of eight Soldiers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
Despite tough times, 2nd BCT Soldiers stayed focused to complete thousands of combat and humanitarian operations, as well as guide Iraqi government officials through such milestones as the Transfer of Sovereignty on June 28 and the recent Iraqi elections on Jan. 30.
More than a year has passed since these "Warrior Brigade" Soldiers began operations in Northern Iraq's Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah Provinces. Now, Soldiers of the 116th BCT are responsible for this area following a Transfer of Authority ceremony here on Feb. 12.
The 3,000-Soldier "Warrior Brigade" is comprised of five battalion task forces, which have all played integral roles in both provinces and beyond.
Task Force 1-14 Infantry was known as the rover task force of the Brigade.
"TF 1-14 saw more of Iraq than any other unit in theater," Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste, commander of 1st Infantry Division, addressed at the TOA ceremony. "The Golden Dragons conducted five out of sector deployments in support of combat operations."
The Golden Dragons deployed to Tall Afar along the Iraq-Syrian border, twice to Najaf, Samarra and most recently Mosul for the Iraqi elections.
The Gimlets of TF 1-21 Inf. had a complex mission in the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk.
"The future of Iraq rests with this city," Batiste said. "Kurds, Arabs, Turkoman and Assyrians have a chance to lead their country as an example of an integrated society or slip into ethnic strife and violence.
"The Gimlets helped the leaders of this city make the right choice and helped forge Iraqi teams to lead the city and province toward a prosperous and stable future," Batiste said.
The Wolfhounds of TF 1-27 Inf. "performed superbly in a very large and often kinetic area of operations," Batiste said.
The Wolfhounds executed two battalion air assaults, 60 battalion-level operations, 600 company operations and 500 raids throughout the past year.
As a result from these combat operations, 80 insurgents were killed, more than 100 were wounded and 310 were captured.
TF 1-27 Inf. also invested more than $7 million on 200 reconstruction and humanitarian projects in their Sunni Arab dominated AO.
Soldiers of TF 2-11 Field Artillery fired nearly 7,000 artillery rounds in an aggressive counter-fire program. This program forced the enemy to resort to inaccurate mortar and rocket fires, Batiste said.
TF 2-11 FA Soldiers even trained 3,000 Iraqi Army Soldiers who will eventually secure Northeastern Iraq. They also coordinated more than $5 million in infrastructure and life-sustainment contracts for the 33rd IA Brigade.
To ensure proper effectiveness of the Brigade's countless missions were the Soldiers of the 225th Logistics Task Force.
These Soldiers issued 2.2 million gallons of fuel, 11.5 short tons of MREs, 1.9 million gallons of water and 13,000 parts valued at $11.4 million. They also completed more than 4,100 work orders, treated 11,496 patients and increased the Brigade combat lifesaver qualification rate by over 250 percent.
"A day did not go by in Iraq when I was not extremely proud to have served beside you in this mission," Col. Lloyd Miles, commander of the Warrior Brigade, said to his Soldiers at the TOA ceremony.
"You have served with honor and hope in a cause that is greater than yourself. In the end, you have learned that it is not about weapons of mass destruction. It's about staying in the fight until the job is done and taking care of each other â?¦ no matter what," Miles said.
Miles also told his Soldiers that they have accomplished the mission here.
"You have done everything your Nation has asked you to do. Now, it is time to go home to our families, friends and our Hawaiian Ohana," Miles said.