By Spc. Sophia R. Lopez
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – With the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, redeploying home in December, Col. Thomas James, Vanguard Brigade commander, took a final tank ride just outside Forward Operating Base Iskan Oct. 31, 2008.
James, of Greenville, S.C., was the former commander of 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, where tanks were his business.
"The colonel probably won't have [this kind of] chance to ride in a tank again. So this is a very emotional event," said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Williams, of Bloomington, Ill., Company C, 3rd Bn., 7th Infantry Regt., 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
There is a certain bond that develops between Soldiers of an armor battalion, said Williams, who has served under James for the past 10 years. Williams was the platoon sergeant when James was the battalion commander of 1-37th Armor Regt., affectionately known as the Bandit Battalion by those who served in it.
James' ride in an M1/A2 Abram tank was a significant event, not only because of the bond with the Bandits, but it was also a token from his Soldiers to say thank you.
"It is an honor to serve with Col. James," said Williams. "He is a Soldier's officer."
Williams and his Soldiers presented James with a specially-painted tanker's helmet as a gift to show their appreciation.
James took this chance to take his final ride as FOB Iskan is coming under closure.
"Moving into the next phase for Iraq, it is the next logical step after the provincial Iraqi control," said Maj. John Peeples, of Sumter, S.C., executive officer of 3rd Bn., 7th Inf. Regt. "With Iraq's capability increasing, the need to shrink our presence and partner with the IA allows the subsequent closure of Iskan."
As the deployment and occupancy of FOB Iskan soon comes to a close, James had the chance to address the Soldiers with words of appreciation.
"I cannot be more proud of our Soldiers and everything you did," said James. "When your grandkids ask what you did during Operation Iraqi Freedom ... you can tell them you were here, protecting the Iraqi people, the national community and most importantly, our homeland."
FOB Iskan is due to close in December when the Soldiers of 4th BCT, 3rd Inf. Div. redeploy back to Fort Stewart, Ga.