Weapons seized, suspects detained

(TFBOB Press Release)
TIKRIT, Iraq – Three weapons caches were discovered and 21 anti-Iraqi forces suspects were detained in northern Iraq Wednesday.
Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted a raid against a suspected AIF cell in Tal Afar just after midnight Wednesday. The unit discovered two mortar rounds, a large supply of small arms ammunition and a home-made mine. Seven men were detained at the site.
Two separate raids in Mosul by Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team resulted in the capture of eight AIF suspects, including one believed to be involved with mortar attacks against civilian targets in the area.
Two other Mosul residents are being credited with discovering a cache of anti-tank mines after reporting what they believed to be an IED to local police. Police officers secured the area and an Iraqi explosive ordnance disposal unit responded and found 20 AT mines and an artillery round.
Another Iraqi EOD team in Kirkuk was called in Wednesday morning to dispose of a collection of old munitions discovered in the back of a truck. Eighteen artillery shells and two mortar rounds were safely destroyed.
Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division captured three suspects near a weapons cache in the Tikrit area Wednesday afternoon. The cache, consisting of mortar rounds and rockets, was discovered near an area where numerous rocket and mortar attacks have originated.
An ineffective rocket attack against a base near Balad led to the capture of three more AIF suspects. Soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division stopped the suspects’ vehicle after a coalition aircraft observed them trying to flee the area.

Combined raids result in 23 captures

MNF press release (excerpts) Dec. 31, 2005
TIKRIT, Iraq – Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers captured 23 suspected terrorists who were the targets of three raids Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 in northern Iraq.
Troops from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment zeroed in on eight people involved in terrorist activities in Tal Afar. All eight of the suspects were picked up without incident in the raid and taken to a nearby military base for questioning.
None of the Soldiers involved in the two days of operations were injured as they continued to remove those responsible for acts of terrorism and violence against the civilians and security forces in the area.
A small cache of artillery shells was discovered and seized by a patrol from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Tal Afar.

On The Road to Tall Afar and Mosul - A New Year's Resolution

2006

Coming Home

by: Donald J. Harris

a proud Dad

1. I promise to finish my duty in Iraq, and come home a better person.
2. When I get home, I will be a better person for the experiences and maturity I have gathered while away.
3. The fight for Freedom and Democracy will be a mainstay in my past, and a focus of my future.
4. I will not burden others with my shortcomings, when I can lighten their load with my strengths.
5. I will remember the Children of Iraq as I hold my own.
6. My best efforts will show by my actions.
7. Good things will happen, because I know how to help. I Will Help because I can.
8. I will love my Family more than myself.
9. I will honor my God because He protected me.
10. I will honor my Country because I have fought with the Best. "Brave Rifles" 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment

Coalition Forces transfer of authority

3rd ACR on patrol in Mosul

TIKRIT, Iraq (MNF-Iraq) – Task Force Freedom relinquished command of northwest Iraq in a ceremony Dec. 30 to the Task Force Band of Brothers.
The ceremony was held at Life Support Area Diamondback in Mosul and marked the transfer of authority from TF Freedom, a headquarters built around the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, to TF Band of Brothers, centered around the newly transformed headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Fort Campbell, Ky.
Northwest and north central Iraq operational areas will consolidate into a single multinational division area of operations under the command of TF Band of Brothers. The task force retains its responsibility for training Iraqi security forces and conducting security operations in the provinces of Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah ad Din, and Sulymaniyah. Its security partners are the Iraqi Army 4th and 5th Divisions, and provincial and local police.
The consolidation will add the provinces of Ninewah and Dahuk to the 101st Airborne Division area of responsibility. Coalition Soldiers will partner with the Iraqi Army 2nd and 3rd Divisions, as well as law enforcement agencies, in these two provinces.
With the change of command responsibilities, TF Band of Brothers includes the 1st and 3rd Brigade Combat Teams from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 1st and 3rd Brigade Combat Teams from the 3rd Infantry Division, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.