1-501st Recent News Articles

A little boat ride
April 4, 2007

Paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division use boats on the Euphrates river near Jurf as Sahkr, Iraq, to patrol the area and provide security to the residents of the town south of Baghdad April 4. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Sgt. James McGann, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment)
Link to Article



Joint Police Force Works Toward a More Secure Iraq
March 31, 2007

ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq, — The future security of Iraq starts at the ground level with the Iraqi security forces. In order to prepare the Iraqis for this responsibility, soldiers in transition teams have been working around the clock all over Iraq. Soldiers of the 127th Military Police Company are ready for this challenge.

Based out of Forward Operating Base Kalsu, the headquarters for the 127th has platoons throughout the battle space for the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

One platoon in particular, 3rd Platoon "Wolf Pack" is operating in Iskandaryiah, Iraq, home to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. The Wolf Pack arrived at Forward Operating Base Iskan approximately four months ago fully knowing their mission.
Article


U.S. Army Soldiers ward off attack by Al Qaeda
March 27, 2007

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Soldiers from Regimental Combat Team 6 repelled a coordinated attack on a Coalition post, including two suicide truck bombs, approximately 4 km north of Karmah March 26.

The attack started at about 2 p.m. when a Soldier from 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment (Airborne), attached to 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), engaged a water truck attempting to enter the compound without authorization, causing it to detonate.

Immediately following the explosion, approximately 30 terrorist fighters engaged the compound with small-arms fire, rocket propelled grenades and mortars.

The Soldiers returned fire with small arms, mortars and artillery from Regimental Combat Team 6.

Approximately five minutes into the attack, Soldiers engaged a dump truck following the same path as the previous suicide attacker, causing it to also detonate.

Initial estimates indicate as many as 15 terrorists were killed.

Eight U.S. Soldiers were wounded in the attack. One was evacuated to a nearby Coalition medical facility and the remaining seven were treated on site and returned to duty.
Article


IRAQI, U.S. SECURITY FORCES ATTACKED FROM MOSQUE
3/26/2007

KALSU, Iraq – Coalition and Iraqi forces received gunfire and rocket-propelled grenade fire from insurgents inside a mosque near Iskandariyah, Iraq March 26.

Company D, 3rd Battalion, 309th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Iraqi security force personnel positively identified that the attack was coming from the Al Wasafa mosque and minaret and requested an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter from the 4th Squadron, 227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion to engage the insurgents in the mosque.

No significant damage was done to the mosque, but bullet holes can be seen in the mosque walls.

Iraqi forces entered the mosque to pursue the insurgents and the U.S. forces secured the area outside.

A military transition team from Forward Operating Base Iskan assisted in the pursuit of insurgents following the attack.
The Iraqi Security Forces and paratroopers respect the sanctity of mosques by taking precautions to minimize damage to property and disruption of legitimate activities when operating around such sites.

Injured insurgents were given immediate medical care by Iraqi security forces and taken to area hospitals. One insurgent was killed and two were wounded.
Article


Rule of Law Finds a Home in Musayyib
21 March

KALSU —The Musayyib courthouse held a grand re-opening March 13 showing off the improvements of the structure and the technology inside.

A joint effort between Iraqis, Civil Affairs team soldiers, and paratroopers of the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division continued this history of law in the region with the completion of the three-month long renovation project.
Article