By Spc. Allison Churchill
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – The 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade, officially marked the beginning of its second deployment in three years in a ceremony at Hanger 49, July 10.
The Iron Caissons also took the opportunity to give its Soldiers their 41st Fires Bde. combat patch and stand up a medical company.
"Since our arrival here two weeks ago, we've been busy building logistics capabilities and preparing to provide support to our brigade and coalition forces on Forward Operating Base Delta," said Lt. Col. Ina Yahn, 589th BSB commander.
The Soldiers of 589th BSB are working hard to support the FOB; the unit the 41st Fires Bde. replaced didn't have a support battalion with it.
The battalion started motor pool operations and supervising the dining facility after arriving in June. They also stood up a multi-class supply support activity, and with their network support and medical companies, will provide communication and health care support to the brigade and coalition forces on the FOB.
Yahn said she hopes her Soldiers realize their support is essential to the safety of those who perform more traditionally dangerous roles - from the mechanics maintaining vehicles to the Soldiers responsible for the ammunition from the Ammunition Transfer and Holding Point.
"I want them to know and appreciate how to support a fires brigade in the fight," said Yahn, a native of Gataivai, American Samoa.
During the battalion's first deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07, the unit won the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence. Yahn said the 589th BSB intends to top itself this deployment.
"I have the top team in the Army to make it happen," Yahn said.
Even if the Iron Caissons' efforts during this deployment don't earn the AAME, Yahn said the deployment will be a success as long as every Soldier who left in June redeploys to Fort Hood safely.