BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment "Blackhawks" are on their way back to Texas after fulfilling a year of duty that included fighting near Fallujah as well as time spent in Baghdad's International Zone.
Normally a Bradley Fighting Vehicle company, the Blackhawks traded their tracks for the wheels of humvees and left several months in advance of the rest of the 1st Cavalry Division, the bulk of which was deployed in February of 2004.
"We deployed here as a completely separate company," said 1st Lt. Randall Crowder, the Blackhawk company's executive officer. "We were originally a Bradley company before we changed over to a mechanized, wheeled unit." Arriving in Iraq in September 2003, the Blackhawks spent several months serving with the 82nd Airborne under the 1st Infantry Division, and later with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Facing almost daily engagements with anti-Iraqi forces, the Blackhawks conducted raids and patrols in several villages near Fallujah and captured several large caches of weapons.
"We were the backbone of the maneuver element for [our battalion], so the [operations] tempo was high," Crowder said.On May 27 the Blackhawks rejoined the First Team in Baghdad. "I think some of the Soldiers had thought the [1st Cav. Div.] just forgot about us," Blackhawk Commander Capt. Adontis Atkins said. "But, the reception we received coming to [Baghdad] was great."
"The [First Team] looked out for us," said Staff Sgt. Kentraill Stokes, Blackhawks" fire support non-commissioned officer. "They gave us about one day's notice."
One day was all the Blackhawks needed to pack up and move to Baghdad, with skilled leadership and hard-working Soldiers making it possible, Stokes said.
As a combat hardened unit, the easy life of the International Zone contrasted with what the Blackhawks were used to.
"In the International Zone, we've had an opportunity to see and hear about the great things [the Multi-National Forces are] doing in the big picture," Atkins said. "Instead of thinking every Iraqi was trying to kill them, the [Soldiers] get to see that there are some Iraqis that are grateful that we're here."
Atkins said the move to Baghdad will help the Soldiers transition to life back home with their families. "Coming into the International Zone helped us transition from combat operations," Atkins said. "It'll help the troops transition back to life in the states. I'm truly thankful that the First Team was able to pull us back [to the International Zone], put their arms around us, and send us home."
Contrary to what Atkins expected, the Blackhawks weren't as excited as one might think about getting out of a combat zone, at least on the outside.
"It's a little more somber than I expected, now that we're going home. I thought they'd be jumping around, and excited," he said. "We're ready to go home, though. You could put a mountain in front of us, and we'll move it, if it means we go home."
Clearing the final part of a deployment to Baghdad, the Blackhawks spoke with mental health specialists about getting back into the home life they left behind one year ago.
"I think it won't be too hard [to adjust]." Crowder said. "A few of the mental health guys came here and talk with us about coming home and having expectations of our family, and expectations of what we want to do, and to understand that a lot of the wives have a certain way of doing things that we've missed out on. Things have moved on without you. I think that scares some [Soldiers], but for the most part people are just excited." The Blackhawks flew out of Baghdad Sept. 7, saying goodbye to the world they've known for the last year of their lives, saying hello to a future in the country that represents the freedom they have fought for.