Article: Paratroopers provide city council security

Capt. Scott Nelson, commander, Company Apache, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, listens to one of the council representatives as he explains what the people he represents needs during the first meeting of the Jurf as Sakhr City Council. This council meeting was held at an Iraqi police station in the town of Tahirr, Iraq.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8652&Itemid=109

Sgt Santa's Sleigh at FOB Iskan

On Christmas Eve, when I spoke with Nick, he said that some guys fixed up a track vehicle to be Santa's Sleigh and was driving it around the base. Today I found this blog on the web...

The Paratroopers of Company D, 1st “Geronimo” Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division brightened up the holidays for their fellow Geronimos with their Christmas parade entry: a humvee with antlers in place of reindeer and an armored personnel carrier as a sleigh, connected by engineer tape for reins. The award-winning float earned three Company D troops well-deserved passes for some rest and relaxation in Qatar.
http://iraqpictures.blogspot.com/

Spoke with Nick on Christmas Eve

While I was in Houston for Christmas, I was lucky to get a call from Nick. Due to unforeseen delays, he didn't go out on a mission that he was scheduled for, and so he was able to spend some time on the phone. I was out shopping at the time, but after I spoke with him a few minutes, I handed to phone to Dakota and Jill. They were able to speak with him while we drove back to Lisa's house. He still had time available and then spoke with his Grandmother and his Aunt Lisa and Gary. After that, he called and talked with his Grandfather and Nancy. We feel very fortunate that all of us got to speak with him.

We wish him to be safe this Christmas season.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Scott D. Dykman, 27, of Helena, Mont., died Dec. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

http://www.defenselink.mil//Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10317

A Difficult Day

Yesterday was a difficult day, as some of you know. While selfish, I take a small comfort in knowing that Nick is OK. No matter how difficult my day was, I know it cannot compare to the challenges facing Nick and all of the 501st. Please take a moment to think of the men serving in the 501st and let us not forget that while we celebrate Christmas, there are some that cannot.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Apache Company of the 1-501st PIR.
(1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, A Company)

501st Related Press Releases

Here are some recent military press releases I found related to the 501st. (Nick is in A Company)

Dec. 20, 2006
Paratroopers discover large weapons cache in Hamiyah
HAMIYAH, Iraq – Iraqi Police and paratroopers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team 25th Infantry Division, discovered a weapons cache near the Iraqi Police Station in Hamiyah, a town south of Baghdad, Dec. 19.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8244&Itemid=21

Dec. 18, 2006
Paratroopers detain 18, secure cache at possible safe house
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Paratroopers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, detained 18 suspected insurgents and a weapons cache while searching a house near Jurf As Sakhr Dec 17.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8199&Itemid=21

Dec. 6, 2006
...Wednesday, paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, found a bomb along a road near the village of Bahbahani, south of Baghdad. An explosive ordnance disposal team dealt with the explosive.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7892&Itemid=109

Paratroopers find and an IED near Bahbahani
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division found an improvised explosive device (IED) along a road near the village of Bahbahani, Iraq, south of Baghdad, Tuesday. The IED was secured by an explosive ordnance disposal team.
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7818&Itemid=21

Staci Spoke to Nick

Staci spoke to Nick briefly yesterday. He was back from a 3-day mission and was leaving on another one today. He only had a couple minutes to talk and wasn't sure if he would have another chance until after the first of the year, because he has another longer mission coming up. She said he sounded pretty tired and not in a good mood. He mentioned that they had a lot of paperwork to finish up, before leaving again. He also said that he received NINE boxes in the mail and one other guy received two letters - that was all the mail for their group. Apparently, guys had to help Nick get the boxes to his room. I think Nick will be pretty popular for a while now. Many of these boxes are from Staci and friends. She has several networks of friends from the various clubs/organizations she is involved with, and they are all pulling stuff together to send to Nick's unit. Staci has a pretty impressive operation going there - maybe the USO should give her a call ;)

Nick's Christmas Plans

I spoke with Nick yesterday. He was leaving on a 3-day mission, then back at FOB for a few days. He will be leaving again on Christmas Eve for a 10+ day mission. During our holiday, please take a moment to think of all our soldiers that are unable to be with their families.

Right now, Nick is still hoping to be home sometime in February for R&R.

(I'm sorry that I have not kept up with the Blog over the past few weeks. I will be adding some previous conversations to catch up)