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Friends
of the Wolfhound's
Issue 3
December 2006
Family Readiness
Group Newsletter
September 2006
Family Readiness Group
Newsletter
August 2006
Water for a Parched Land Photo slideshow
"Wolfhounds" Spearhead Record Police Recruit Turnout From Hawijah
by Capt. Jeff
Fuller
3/19/2007
US night patrols in Iraq require balancing act
Stars and Stripes
3/3/2007
An Arab mayor in a majority Kurdish city
Stars & Stripes, 2/27/2007
Wolfhounds Build Relationships to Achieve Success
DoD, 2/15/2007
Photo of SPC O'Connor receiving the Purple Heart
Friends
grateful O'Connor survived explosion in Iraq
Waynesboro Record Herald, PA -
1/9/2007
Soldiers Use Air Assets to Capture Bomb
Makers
01/11/2007
Soldiers show commitment to Iraq with beanie babies
11/27/2006
Stars and Stripes
Articles
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8 OCT 07
Family
and Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Today marks the
end of another chapter in the legacy of the 27th
Infantry Regiment. I would love to be able to
say
that this journey went fast, but that is just
not true. The Wolfhounds started this mission
with a positive direction of
hope for the people of the Hawijah District and
spent all of 15-months convincing the Iraqi
Army, Iraqi Police, Local Government and the
people that they do have a future away from the
evil clutches of fanatics that have hijacked
their
religion and only wants to destroy a peaceful
and prosperous Iraq. Some have yet to be
convinced, but the changes in
this area have been immense. Without question,
the Wolfhounds gave the people of Hawijah
District a vision of hope,
peace and liberty. Please keep 1st
Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment in
your prayers as they assume the mission in this
area. Ask for God to give them the wisdom and
discipline to show compassion to the peaceful
people of this area and
nothing but ruthlessness to the twisted enemies
of this nation.
I don’t know if I
will ever be able to convince myself that our
loss of 18 Wolfhounds was worth this journey.
I am not a politician and will never claim to
be. As Soldiers, we took our obligation to our
nation freely. We were given
this mission to rid the world of the views of
Islamic Extremists not only for the security of
a prosperous Iraq, but also for
the safety and future of our nation, and every
nation that does not conform to the twisted
views of sick individuals who have hijacked a
beautiful religion onto a path of death,
oppression and world dominance. The Wolfhounds
made a stand in
the Hawijah District and the legacy of our
sacrifice will be told by the children of this
area, and the children of these
children, years from now. The local
population’s reaction to our departure tells the
tale of our success here. The
Wolfhounds fought hard to gain the trust of the
innocent people of Hawijah and the fear of the
terrorists who faced us.
We entered this fight virtually alone and depart
this area leaving behind trusted brothers of the
Iraqi Army and Iraqi
Police who fought side by side with us for a
peaceful and prosperous Iraq.
The future of
Iraq must be determined by Iraqis. We have
forged an Iraqi Army and Police Force that now
understands the responsibilities that they
face. We have molded their capabilities in the
proud Wolfhound Tradition of distinguished
combat service showing both ruthlessness towards
a brutal enemy and compassion towards the
innocent
people enslaved by the terrorist’s cowardly
actions. NO FEAR ON EARTH has taken root in
their hearts and we leave
here knowing that they can accomplish their
dreams of a united homeland if they stay true to
the simple motto that has
served our historic regiment well for over 106
years.
We fought this
fight until the end. News of the extension to
our deployment from 12 to 15 months struck
everyone hard, but Wolfhounds do not sway
easily. Instead of consuming us, it served as a
defining moment in this
chapter of our history. As the Commander of
this incredible unit, the drive and
determination of every Soldier and Leader under
me has left me humbled by their achievements.
In the 30-days prior to the arrival of our
replacements, these
incredible Wolfhounds conducted 10 Battalion
Level Operations and over 100 platoon level
operations…In our last 30
days here! The results were equally as
impressive. Your Wolfhounds were directly
responsible for the complete
dismantling of one of the two major terrorist
networks in this area and the capture of 3 of
the top 4 of leaders of the other network.
Throughout this deployment, your Wolfhounds
captured over 1200 enemy to include 58 of the 64
Brigade
High Value Targets and killed or captured 130
men trying to emplace Improvised Explosive
Devices against us. Hawijah District and Kirkuk
Province is showing major security improvements
on the shoulders of the 27th Infantry
Regiment, WOLFHOUNDS!
Today, many of our
Wolfhounds are already home safe in the arms of
their loved ones. The rest of us will be
home soon. All that we have achieved would not
have been possible without the love and support
of our friends and
family. You have been the source of our
strength and determination. The countless
packages, letters and prayers only
served to strengthen our resolve. I will never
be able to thank you all enough for all that you
have done for us. The
American public will never be able to comprehend
the magnitude of your support and sacrifice to
our nation. You have
done more than fly our flag and paste a bumper
sticker on your car saying you “Support Our
Troops”. Your countless
hours of sacrifice out of love for our
Wolfhounds will always be known by the Veterans
of Task Force Wolfhound, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM
V. I love each and every one of you for all
that you have done to make our
Wolfhound Family strong.
The names and
faces of our Fallen Wolfhounds will always be
etched in the hearts of every member of this
team. Please keep the families of these
incredible heroes in your prayers always. The
loss of these 18 brave young men is tragic
to our nation. They are part of 1/10th
of 1% of American youth that decided to make a
difference in our world and not
just talk about making a difference. It is so
easy to criticize anything and everything that
anyone does, but it takes intestinal
fortitude and courage to actually stand up for what you believe. Our
Fallen Wolfhounds wrote a “blank check” to our
nation and what we stand for as Wolfhounds.
These values don’t come from the streets of
America; they come from
incredible family values and dignity. The
families of our fallen brothers forever deserve
our love and support. Though they
have lost a son, brother or father, they have
gained a family of Wolfhounds that will be with
them always.
Between now, Block
Leave and the Wolfhound Formal in December, my
time as the Commander of this
incredible organization grows short. I long to
hold my family in my arms again and I look
forward to seeing as many of
you as I can before the day comes where I must
hand over the Battalion Colors. With over 5
years total in this unit, all
that it stands for and believes will never leave
my heart, mind and soul. We have stared death
and destruction right in the
face and lived up to our beliefs that we fear
nothing on this earth. On a razors edge we have
balanced the ability to seek
out and destroy anything evil and at the same
time show love and compassion to those caught in
the middle. This is a truly blessed Regiment
and I am humbled to say that I have been the
commander.
NO FEAR ON EARTH!
Respectfully
Yours;
DREW R.
MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
15 SEP 07
Family
and Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Today we paid
our final respects to another fallen
Wolfhound who gave the ultimate sacrifice on
9 SEP 2007 as part of a large-scale joint
operation with the Iraqi Army in Hawijah.
All of the success we have achieved in this
district has had a lasting toll on all of us
but we remain steadfast and strong in our
purpose to rid this world of radical
extremists who only want death and hatred to
prosper. Sergeant Alexander U. Gagalac was
an incredible young man that did his duty
willingly simply because he believed in our
cause and our nation. His sacrifice as well
as the sacrifice of all of our fallen
brothers will be a permanent scar that we
will all bear for the rest of our lives as a
high price for our Freedom and Liberty.
I received an
email regarding one of my many comments
about the war that our nation and the world
are currently fighting in. This email
accused me of blaming all of Islam for what
started on 9-11 and compared my views to
blaming all Germans for the Holocaust or
every Japanese for Pearl Harbor. Though
this individual may have misunderstood my
comments, I found his ignorance of who we
are and what we represent to be insulting.
I am not
blaming every Muslim. I have too many Muslim
friends here in the Hawijah District that
are beautiful people who want their children
to grow up in a safe and prosperous country
that lives under the Islamic Religion of
love and peace. They work, fight and
sacrifice every single day to make their
homeland whole again. They are fighting the
same people I blame for the unjustified
hijacking of Islam. I blame the 5% of Islam
that wants to twist this beautiful Religion
into one of hatred, oppression and
destruction. As long as there are people
like this in our world, our job will not be
finished. Regardless of his
misunderstanding, the assumption he made in
his email that we have some level of
religious hatred towards an entire society
is absurd. His message indicates that he
not only misunderstands our mission, he also
carries a deep ignorance of what the
Wolfhounds and our Nation stands for.
Nobody understands our purpose better than
our Soldiers. Yes, terrible things happen
here every day. Thank God that our
Wolfhounds can see through all this violence
better than he can and continue to show Iraq
the compassion they need to unite and
ruthlessness towards the 5% of fanatical
Muslims that want to destroy it. Osama Bin
Laden stated in his most recent message to
America that, “the state of Islam at this
present time makes me cry.” For once I
agree with him. His hijacking of the true
nature of Islam and his twisting of the
Muslim faith into one of anger and
destruction is directly responsible for the
misunderstanding that most of our world has
about the Muslim Faith.
Despite the
relatively short time we have remaining
here, our team will continue in the
offensive nature of helping the people of
the Hawijah District gain their freedom from
the clutches of evil. We know that the
enemies of God’s supreme law will not stop
until we hunt every single one of them
down. We will not rest until we are back in
the arms of our friends and families back
home. SGT Gagalac and the other 17 fallen
Wolfhounds would demand that of us. Their
sacrifice was not in vain and Hawijah
District will never forget the sacrifice and
honor that this Regiment has bestowed upon
them in their support.
After
14-months here at FOB McHenry, the enemy has
failed to realize the magnitude of our
strength and unity. Our 106 years of
ruthlessness in battle and compassion
towards the innocent CAN NOT and WILL NOT be
denied. Their cowardly acts will not turn
us into the same murderers and criminals
that we have sworn ourselves to rid this
world of. Our Wolfhound legacy remains
firmly intact simply because of the
discipline, honor and integrity of the brave
Wolfhounds I have the privilege to lead.
There is no difficulty we are afraid to face
and our battle cry remains loud and strong
throughout our entire area of operations:
NO FEAR!
Please keep
the family of Sergeant Alexander U. Gagalac
in your prayers. We pray that God gives
them the strength to endure this loss and
the understanding that the entire Wolfhound
Family stands with them forever. Pray for
and take care of each other during this time
of need. Seek out and help each other
during this final stretch of the deployment
as the love and support of our Wolfhound
Family is undeniable. Finally, pray for the
strength of our team of Deployed Wolfhounds
and know that we fight on in the names of
all of our fallen Wolfhounds from our 106
years of discipline, honor and integrity.
NO FEAR ON
EARTH!
Respectfully
Yours;
DREW R.
MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
Wolfhound Accomplishments
"We have not slowed down our offensive approach
as our time here in Iraq is coming to a close. The
opposite has been seen and felt by all. Of note,
Hawijah has just received a new power substation
from the Kirkuk Province.
Not one penny of US Funds was used to make this
happen. We have invested valuable time in making the
Hawijah District Government work hand-in-hand with
the Kirkuk Province in getting the Provincial
Government to support the people of this district,
and the Iraqi Army and Police delivered the new
Substation yesterday to Hawijah untouched by the
terrorists that want to destroy this great country.
Within 30 days, the people of this area will once
again see improvements to their quality of power.
This time all resourced and funded by their own
Government! Other Projects almost complete for this
area includes:
1. Irrigation of the Zab Canals to repair over 35
years of neglect is almost complete. This will
improve water quantities by almost 50% and feed this
agricultural area crops and produce the best growing
season they have seen in decades.
2. With an increase in crops, the neglected Corn
Mill was also in desperate need of repairs and
improvements. This project will open next week and
improve their ability to store and process this
year's improved crop by double the previous
capacity.
3. Crops need to get to the Processing Center.
Repairing the roads will solve the problem
initially, but not solve the long term problem. The
Asphalt Factory of Hawijah has not operated in over
10 years and is in its final stages of repair. Now,
Hawijah will not only be able to repair its own
roads, but maintain and improve the entire districts
ability to move safely.
4. With bigger crops and better roads, industry
is beginning to take root in this area. Business men
want to invest in Hawijah's future, and the
government must support these men to create even
more jobs for their people.
The biggest incentive the city can give these
investors is a safe and secure Industrial Park for
the businesses to flourish. The Hawijah Industrial
Park is also in its final stages of completion and
will employ hundreds of men in the not so far
future.
Through all of this, the Iraqi Army and Police
has become a fixture to this areas security. They
are doing incredible work as the Patriots of the New
Iraq. My counterpart just received 42 new Armored
Vehicles for this areas security. They fight side by
side with us and routinely conduct unilateral
operations to rid this area of the death and
destruction that the terrorist offer. The fight is
not over, but they are clearly in the lead.
I am so proud of my team and all they have given
the Hawijah District. The future here is clearly up
to the Iraqi Citizens, but we have given them a
choice in this process and a chance at the basic
values of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of
Happiness. I apologize for the ramblings, but I
can't help myself when it comes to all that my
Officers, NCOs, and Soldiers have accomplished. This
success has not been without a price. Tomorrow we
will honor another fallen Wolfhound who pledged
himself to fight our mission until the end. Our
mission here is not over and we will not rest until
we see it through to the end. Our 18 Fallen Comrades
deserve this from us and their loss will not be in
vain.
NO FEAR ON
EARTH!
Respectfully Yours;
DREW R.
MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
03 SEP 07
Family and
Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Today was
another sad day for the men and women of Task Force
Wolfhound as we celebrated the life and commitment
of SGT James Stephen Collins JR who paid the
ultimate sacrifice in serving our Nation to make
this world a better place. SGT Collins, of the 97th
MP Battalion, was killed by an enemy rocket attack
at FOB Warrior on 28 AUG 07. Our prayers and
thoughts go out to his wife Amy, his son, Dawson,
and his entire family during their time of grief and
we hope that God gives them the strength to know
that he died fighting for a cause that we all
believe in and that his untimely death will not be
in vain. Our hearts also go out to the three other
members of the 97th Military Police Battalion who
were wounded on that day and we wish them all a
speedy recovery.
Task Force
Wolfhound is an incredible team of Soldiers,
Sailors, Airmen and Civilians from all over our
great country, but all 100% Wolfhounds. The success
we have seen here using our Regiments history of
Ruthlessness and Compassion cannot be denied. The
Police of the Hawijah District shared in our loss
and their sorrow is a testament to all that we are
sacrificing to help them rid their country of the
hatred spread by Islamic Fanatics who care only for
the destruction of this country and the spread of an
evil and twisted view of Islam. SGT Collins and the
Military Police Platoon attached to this Task Force
is an integral and essential part of this mission.
Their professionalism and dedication to the training
and development of the Iraqi Police has been
instrumental in the drastic improvements we have
seen throughout the entire Hawijah District. The
loss of this fine young NCO has once again cut deep
into our hearts, but it will not deter the
aggressive spirit or our heritage.
Our mission
is not over here. We still have a lot of work that
needs to be done and we will not rest until we have
accomplished it. Every day the men of the Iraqi Army
and Police fight side-by-side with us to combat evil
and hatred. They have taken on the personality and
characteristics of the Coalition unit that they have
witnessed first hand. They have taken on the
personality of “The Wolfhounds”. They are clearly
part of this fight and this was not the case when we
arrived here. They are clearly in the lead in this
battle against Radical Islam. They are fighting for
their family’s future just like we are, but more
importantly, the Iraqi Army and Police are fighting
for their homeland and they know that the Wolfhounds
have given them the confidence, drive and courage to
see it through to the end.
We are
still in Iraq and though the enemy has lost most of
his support, we are still in a dangerous place. Our
Wolfhound History is with us now stronger than ever
before and though the families of our attachments
may not know us personally, I can guarantee that
every member of this team here in Hawijah knows it
and feels it. We do our mission without any
reservation with one simple thought in mind: NO
FEAR!
My heart
breaks for the family of our fallen Wolfhound and
the families of the other Military Police wounded in
this latest action. They are all heroes to me and we
pray that God gives them the strength to endure the
pain, and the vision to see that their sacrifice was
not in vain. We continue to show ruthlessness
towards these cowards who use the name of Allah to
spread fear, destruction and oppression, but more
importantly, we are undeterred in showing love and
compassion toward the innocent people of this war
torn nation.
I ask the
families back home to pray for our team now more
than ever as we enter the final chapter of this
deployment. Seek each other out for love and
support. There are numerous support channels for you
to turn to, but Wolfhounds always help each other. I
urge every one to turn to whatever support network
they need, but remember that you always have each
other. Continue to support us by supporting each
other. Support our Crisis Response Teams and the
Family Readiness Group. They are there to keep the
entire family informed and involved.
NO FEAR ON
EARTH!
Respectfully Yours;
DREW R.
MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
26 AUG 07
Family and
Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Where has
the month of August gone! July was such a long
month but relentless pursuit of the enemies of
this country and our way of life has kept the
Wolfhounds extremely busy since my last letter
to all of our Family and Friends back home. The
Wolfhounds of 2-27 and our partners of 1st
Battalion Iraqi Army “LIONS” have made quite a
name for ourselves during combat operations not
only in our area of responsibility, but also in
the Provinces of Salah ad-Din and Diyala. We
spearheaded the latest MND-N combat operations
in the Diyala Province with our Iraqi Brothers
from the Hawijah District right by our side. We
have formed a tightly knit team and the Iraqi
Security Force’s professionalism and dedication
to their country can be directly attributed to
the discipline, attitude and teamwork they have
learned from this historic unit. Our
ruthlessness towards the cowards who exact fear
and destruction on the innocent people of Iraq
and our compassion towards their country’s needs
have rubbed off on our brothers in the Iraqi
Security Force. We have cut deep into the heart
of the enemy. Their corruption and twisted views
have turned the people of the Hawijah District
against them. Hawijah has a chance of
unimaginable success simply because the
Wolfhounds of 2-27 have handed it to them.
On top of
continuous Combat Operations, we are neck deep
into the planning and execution of our return
home. There is still a
lot to be done here, but we will guarantee our
replacements that they are receiving an Area of
Responsibility much better off than what we
received. I urge everyone to work together with
our Family Readiness Group in support of our
Homecoming. In all the excitement of our return,
rumors and unofficial information will do
nothing but add undue stress and anger to what
should be a joyous occasion. I ask you all to
avoid passing any information unless it comes
from OFFICIAL channels. This is for both your
protection and the safety of your returning
Wolfhound. Travel dates and Wolfhound
information will be handled with our team’s
security as the TOP PRIORITY. Be patient and
draw comfort from this fact knowing that we will
finish this mission with the same Wolfhound
Standard that we started it with. We are all
excited about being with our loved ones again,
but we must remain focused until the last
Wolfhound is home from this historic deployment.
Combat
operations continue every single day. Our hearts
and prayers go out to all of the families of our
Fallen Comrades and
particularly the families of our brothers from
2-35 IN “Cacti” and 2-6 CAV “Lightning Horse”.
Our family crosses battalion
and regimental boundaries and we all share in
this tragic loss, but we will not be deterred in
our mission. We have come too far
in this area to relax our standards of
discipline and our drive to rid this country of
all the hatred and destruction that these
terrorists want to spread throughout the world.
Our energy springs from the ove and prayers that
we feel from back home. We have over 106 years
of Wolfhounds watching over us. It would be easy
to loose focus as our mission here in Iraq draws
near, but that is just not the Wolfhound Way. We
have had some close calls, but we have the
greatest equipment and Soldiers in the world and
we are tuned to a razors edge. I talk to local
citizens, government, and tribal leaders every
day and they all have the utmost of respect,
praise and admiration for our Wolfhounds. They
have never seen a unit more dedicated to our
mission and their freedom.
Our
homecoming is right around the corner. Your FRG
Leadership will always have the most updated
information and must be your source of
information as this date draws closer. Some of
this information is sensitive in nature and must
be treated as such to protect our entire
Wolfhound Family. The FRG and the Rear
Detachments tireless efforts are there to help
you determine facts from fiction. I am honored
to have such a dedicated team on the home front
to keep our families informed. We are still
locked in a pitched battle with a brutal and
twisted enemy. I know our families will continue
to show the same tireless love and support as
our days apart grow shorter. I want you all to
know that our safety here is best assured
through offensive operations, discipline, and
prayers. We will not loose our focus until we
are all home with our loved ones. Just as our
combat operations here in Iraq are drawing to a
close, so does my time as the Battalion
Commander of this incredible unit. Words will
never describe how honored I am to serve in this
position. This has been a humbling experience
for me simply because of the sacrifice and
service I see being done by every member of our
family every single day.
Throughout
history there have been countless examples of
this dedication, but I have been honored to see
them first hand in the Wolfhounds for almost
5-years of my Army Career; previously as the
Operations Officer and Executive Officer of this
same Battalion. From Combat Operations to Chili
Cooking Contests, this team has done it all with
dignity, grace and our very own Wolfhound
Flavor. We have dealt with everything from
terrible tragedy to joyous accolades and in the
process, our love for each other and our
positive outlook has affected everyone around
us. Never in my life will I be able to express
this in any other way other than to say that it
is “The Wolfhound Way”. Continue your love and
support for each other and for us. Our Wolfhound
Ball is December 13, 2007, and I look forward to
our celebration TOGETHER!
NO FEAR ON EARTH!
Respectfully
Yours;
DREW R. MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
2-27 IN Wolfhound Throw Blankets
The blankets are made of a heavy weight cotton
and are 4’ x 6’. The two styles were designed
by our
Wolfhounds in Iraq and the stars represent each
Fallen Wolfhound. The blankets will be ready
for pick-up
and mailing approximately 1 December.
Style #1
Style #2
The cost for each blanket will be $45. If you
need it shipped to you, please include $5 per
blanket for
shipping.
A sample will be on hand for viewing at the
Battalion FRG Meeting on 13 August and pre-paid
orders
will be taken at that time. If you would like
to order a blanket, there are several options:
1.You
can pre-pay at the 13 August FRG Meeting
2.Your
soldier can pre-pay from Iraq
3.You
can mail a check by 25 September made to “Wolfhound
Bn FRG Informal Fund” to
Wolfhound Blanket Order:
c/o Susan
Meyerowich
191 Gordon Road Wahiawa, HI 96786
01 JUL
07
Family and
Friends of the Wolfhounds;
As we
celebrate another birthday of the greatest Nation on
Earth, we are in the middle of providing the same
opportunity to the peace-loving people of Iraq as
they begin down their path of Life, Liberty, and the
Pursuit of Happiness. Your Wolfhounds are witness to
the birth of this nation and history will tell not
only stories of the sacrifice, valor, and compassion
that we have shown in support of a new Iraq, but
also of our resolve to rid this world of the hatred,
oppression, and destruction spread by terrorists.
When
looking back at our Declaration of Independence, it
is easy to draw a parallel to the current trend of
any terrorist organization. The history of these
organizations is “a history of repeated injuries and
usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute Tyranny.” This quote
was used to describe the oppression of our newly
formed states back in 1776. The same can be said of
the writings and teachings of these twisted
fundamentalist and their tyrannical desires and
aspirations over Nations. Your Wolfhounds will
celebrate this holiday knowing that we stand to
defend not only our Nation’s democracy, but also the
rights of people desiring the same unalienable
rights we hold so close to our hearts as Americans.
Our Fourth
of July Celebration will include the Patriots of
Iraq. Our friends and brothers will share in our
Nation’s Celebration to give testament to all that
we continue to do for them. They have seen first
hand our willingness to rid their country of evil
and help the innocent people of this country make a
better life for their children, and their children’s
children. Some day they will be able to enjoy the
same celebrate for their nation. This Fourth of
July, I can picture our families sitting on Sills
Field (named after a Wolfhound) enjoying friendship,
good food, and fireworks. Despite being away from
our families, we will do the same.
Though we
are planning for our redeployment, we still have
much to do. In the next few days, FRG Leaders will
be passing out useful information to all family
members pertaining to the facts of our redeployment.
Please understand that you will be receiving some
sensitive information. You need to treat it as such
not only for the protection of your Wolfhound, but
also for the protection of our Wolfhound Family.
Specific redeployment dates, movement data, and
missions will not be passed to family members by
this Chain of Command and passing of such
information will not be tolerated. This information
will place our team at risk and I ask family members
to help us by stopping your Wolfhound from saying
it, and to resist the urge to spread any information
regarding any facts or fiction. The Information
Paper will provide you all the necessary and needed
information you will need to prepare for our return
home. Keep focused on the fact that our mission is
not done here and the enemy is right outside our
gates. Every success that we have had here can be
lost in the twilight hours of our deployment.
Throughout history, Wolfhounds have never coasted to
the finish line. We will continue our mission of
ruthlessness towards the terrorists and compassion
towards the people of this war torn nation until the
end.
I am so
proud of this team. The professionalism and
expertise of this team is evident every single day.
This goes way beyond tactical and technical
proficiency. It requires stamina, discipline and
ethical values that go beyond any normal person. The
situation here is a complex problem that requires
more than just killing terrorists. It requires
Soldiers who can distinguish right from wrong
immediately. It requires unwavering ethics to not
only do what is right when someone is watching, but
to do what is right when nobody is watching. This
describes your Wolfhounds! This character comes from
loving families and every one of you shares equally
in the success that we are having here. Stay fixed
on your support for each other and for us. I look
forward to celebrating our return with all of you
soon.
NO FEAR ON
EARTH!
Respectfully Yours;
DREW R. MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
Editor's
note: Redeployment information will not be posted on
this website. Contact your FRG representative.
27 May 07
Family and Friends
of the Wolfhounds;
Tonight we
conducted our Memorial Day Celebration here at
FOB McHenry. The event was completely to
Wolfhound Standard and it was a touching tribute
to all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for
the expansion of Freedom and Liberty. Of
course, this day touches us on a very personal
level. Every member of Task Force Wolfhound has
witnessed first hand the true meaning of
sacrifice and all that Memorial Day stands for.
Our hearts go out to all of the families of our
fallen Wolfhounds and I want them all to know
that are hearts and prayers are with them now
and always. I have attached my comments from
our celebration at the bottom of this letter to
share with you my thoughts on this somber
occasion.
I apologize for not
writing sooner and have tried since the start of
this deployment to write you all at least once a
month. My only excuse is that April provided me
with my opportunity to go home for R&R Leave and
see my family. It was wonderful! You are all
part of my family and I had a few opportunities
to see many of you. There is so much strength,
love and determination in our FRG. Your
positive approach to all the adversities that we
have shared leaves me humbled by your dedication
and boundless energy. You are examples to live
by in your love for each other, our team, and
your Wolfhound.
News of our
15-month deployment came right as I was heading
out on R&R Leave. I know that the initial shock
was hard for everybody, but once again, you have
found the strength in yourselves and each other
to rise above it all and endure. As I said to
the wives that I was so fortunate to see while I
was home, you can deal with these difficulties
in either a positive or a negative way. No
matter what, you will still have to deal with
it. I am so proud to see that many of you live
by the Wolfhound motto “Nec Aspera Terrent” with
the same passion as your Soldier does. This
literally means “Frightened by No Difficulties”,
and I only hope that the positive energy that I
felt from most of you will be an inspiration for
those who find themselves dwelling in gloom.
You are all my heroes! Continue to be strong
and positive. Continue to help each other
knowing that we are doing the same for each
other over here. We will be home before you
know it.
Planning for our
new redeployment date has begun and I want you
all to know that I will do my best to pass
accurate information, but operational security
and our team’s safety must take top priority.
As a planning date, I feel quite confident that
most of our Wolfhounds will be home by the
middle of October. I hope this information
helps relieve unnecessary stress, but I ask you
to maintain the same poise and character that
every leader in our Division knows the
Wolfhounds stand for.
Our mission is far
from over. The campaign planning that we
conducted before arriving here set a roadmap for
where we hoped to be at the end of 12-month.
After 10-months here, I am proud to say that we
have surpassed every single one of these
milestones. Every day I witness the Iraqi Army,
Iraqi Police and the local government makes huge
strides in not only their security and economic
development, but also in their increased
understanding and hatred for the death and
destruction that the terrorists offer. We are
fighting this together. We have gone way beyond
the professional level of fighting side by
side. They love the Wolfhounds because of our
ruthlessness towards these twisted cowards and
because our compassion towards the Iraqi people
is unlike anything they have ever seen. We are
here to give them the opportunity to live in
peace and prosperity. Every day that
opportunity gets closer and closer to reality.
The enemy is scared, but until we rid this
country of them all, we must remain focused and
disciplined until the end. After this mission
is complete, nobody will remember how we started
our time here. They will remember how we ended
it!
There are so many
of you that inspired me while I was home. Your
strength and positive outlook gave me such an
incredible perspective on how unique this team
is. Thank you so much in sharing your feelings
and concern. I look forward to the day when we
are all together again.
NO FEAR ON EARTH!
Respectfully
Yours;
DREW R. MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
NO
FEAR 06 Speech, Memorial Day Speech, 27 MAY 07
For those of you
that have been in the Wolfhounds since the
Summer of 2005, you will remember sitting in the
Bleachers at Stoneman Field and listening to
BRONCO 06 as he talked about some of the
tragedies that the 25th Division, our
Brigade, and this Battalion suffered during Post
Deployment from Afghanistan. Following his
message on the waste of human life and stupidity
displayed by some, I discussed with you a common
theme that everyone hear has heard several times
since we deployed when it comes to dealing with
combat and the sacrifice that we are all making
for the security of our country and our world.
We all are now bound by a firm understanding of
what that sacrifice is and the price that some
of our Wolfhound Brothers have paid for this
security. With that in mind, I want to expand
on my statement this Memorial Day, that you can
either allow combat to consume you or define
you.
Prior to
deployment, only about 50% of you understood
what that statement meant. Sitting here on FOB
McHenry, there is nobody on this Team who should
not understand what I meant, or the fact that
there are only two options you have in dealing
with what we have experienced to date on this
mission that every one of you have been
performing brilliantly over the last 10 months.
Unlike back at Stoneman Field, every member of
this team is now combat-proven. Every member of
this team carries personal accounts of Friends
and Brothers who are celebrated on this day and
will be celebrated for the rest of our lives.
Memorial Day is for them, but it is also for us
to carry on their message of Sacrifice and
Honor. Memorial Day is more than a day off from
work or school to us and our memories must
define who we are as individuals, so we do not
loose our identity as a Nation.
The vivid pictures
of combat that are etched in all of our minds
carry a tremendous burden. I want you all to
listen to me very carefully. If you do not
remain as disciplined as I know you are, this
burden will consume you. This is not a
statement preached from a pedestal of command or
virtue on my part. I have been blessed to have
a family and friends who have helped me through
my personal struggle in avoiding the pitfalls of
being consumed by my experiences. Personally, I
have struggled with the discipline required to
allow my experiences to define me, and the ease
in which you can use these personal experiences
as an excuse in both personal and professional
values. Once you understand that, once you
dedicate yourself to the memory of our Fellow
Wolfhounds whose names are etched on this wall,
you will not fail to experience the tremendous
reward that allowing combat to define you
brings.
In his first
inaugural speech, President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt said, "Happiness lies not in
the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy
of achievement, in the thrill of creative
effort.” As Task Force Wolfhound, we operate
here at FOB McHenry day in and day out achieving
results that we never dreamed of 12 months ago.
We are making a difference here in the Hawijah
District that nobody thought was possible. We
are giving the people of this district a
possibility of freedom, a chance at a better
life, and more importantly, an understanding of
what Americans really are compared to the
twisted views of the terrorists, the real
non-believers. Years from now, Women, Children
and Men from this district will have a profound
view of who and what this Wolfhound Team stood
for in their quest for peace and prosperity.
This achievement was
paid for with a tremendous price. We still have
not seen the complete sacrifice that we will pay
for our success. But we live in the legacy of
not only the fallen Wolfhounds that we knew
personally, but also in the shadows of all of
our Fallen Wolfhounds of the
proudest and most
professional Regiment in the United States
Army. We still have work to do, and our
discipline and determination has been forged by
the blood of our brothers. Do not sway or
falter in the 4th Quarter. Keeps
their sacrifice burning bright as we complete
our mission here.
Not long from now,
we will find ourselves back at home in the arms
of our families and loved ones. We will face a
new enemy that requires the same dedication and
determination that you display here every single
day. The enemy at home will try and consume you
with excuses and rationalization on what you are
owed, and what you deserve because of your
sacrifice here. You must fight this enemy as
ruthlessly as you are fighting the enemy here.
Your weapons at home will be different, but the
same discipline is required and necessary to
fight and win. Never use your sacrifice and the
sacrifice of our lost Wolfhounds to sway from
the discipline and honor that they fought for;
that we all fought for. If you allow your
experiences from here to define you in the image
that we have spent 10 months here in Iraq to
build, If you strive each day to live as a
testament to all that our fallen Wolfhounds
stood for and gave their lives for, I can
guarantee that you will live a rich and
fulfilling life.
Most of you have
seen the movie SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and remember
the scene where Private Ryan is told by a member
of the team sent to save him to “Earn this”.
Many people could almost relate to exactly how
monumental and incredibly touching that moment
was. You can relate, you bear the real scars of
what that movie tried to portray. All of the
memories that we will share years from now has
changed you and defined you into someone better
and stronger. Our fallen Wolfhounds have given
us an incredible gift of perspective in their
sacrifice.
EARN THIS!
I cannot begin to
tell you just how proud I am to serve with each
and every one of you. All I have ever wanted in
the Army is to command a Battalion and I have
been truly blessed to have such a magnificent
team. I have been given more than just a
Battalion. I am honored to serve with every
member of this Task Force. You are all
Wolfhounds are bound by our 106 years of being
“Frightened by No Difficulties”… Earn This!
NO
FEAR!
8
APR 07
Family
and Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Easter is meant to be
a period of joy for Christians in the celebration of
Jesus Christ rising from the dead, but this Easter
is met with both sorrow and pain in the death of 4
more members of our Wolfhound Team. On 5 APR 07,
elements from Delta Company to include an attached
Platoon from Bravo Company were conducting combat
operations South of FOB McHenry when a dismounted
team was ambushed by enemy forces. A close fight
erupted and other elements of the patrol quickly
moved to their brothers’ aid. The battle was set
and the close proximity pitched a heated battle of
small arms, grenades, and close air support. The
enemy did not stand a chance, but one of our
Wolfhounds was wounded, and another was killed in
action. The wounded Wolfhound was evacuated and is
doing fine. We paid our respects for our Fallen
Wolfhound at both a Ramp Ceremony at FOB McHenry on
that fateful night as well as a Ramp Ceremony at FOB
Warrior the following morning, 6 APR 07. As we
returned home from Warrior by helicopters, a rocket
attack on one of our ground convoys close to FOB
McHenry took the lives of three of our Navy
Wolfhounds who were attached for combat operations.
In the blink of an
eye, we have lost four more brothers. The impact of
this has reopened old wounds, but we must not dwell
on how these brave men died, but on how they lived.
One of these fine young men has always been a
Wolfhound and gave the ultimate sacrifice selflessly
to come to the aid of his friends. The other three
were Wolfhounds for two weeks. I will never know
what kind of Sailors they were, but I can tell you
what kind of Soldier they were: THEY WERE
WOLFHOUNDS! I would be lying to say that we are not
hurting. I will never be able to describe the sting
of these losses. These men represent the best our
nation has to offer and they offered themselves up
for the safety of their friends, and the destruction
of what Radical Islam offers this world.
Over the past several
months I have conveyed many incredible changes and
accomplishments we have made to this part of Iraq.
But every letter also stated that we are still in a
very dangerous place. The history that our regiment
has and the history that we are making knows that
Wolfhounds have never quit or run from battle.
Nobody asked any of these men to do what they did.
They did it without any reservation with one simple
thought in mind: NO FEAR!
My heart breaks for
the families of these fearless young men, these
heroes. We pray that God gives them the strength to
endure the pain, and the vision to see that their
fallen Wolfhound’s sacrifice was not in vain. I ask
you to make a special place in your hearts for our
Navy Families who know little about our Wolfhound
Team. I want them to know what every Wolfhound
knows: “Once a Wolfhound, Always a Wolfhound”.
These four brave men will rest in peace now and we
will carry on this fight in their name by showing
ruthlessness towards these cowards who use the name
of Allah to spread fear, destruction and oppression,
but more importantly, we show compassion toward the
innocent people of this war torn nation.
I know that the
strength and determination of being a Wolfhound
lives strong half the way around the world with our
families back home. Seek each other out for love
and support. There are numerous support channels
for you to turn to, but Wolfhounds always help each
other. I urge every one to turn to whatever support
network they need, but remember that you always have
each other. Continue to support us by supporting
each other. Support our Crisis Response Teams and
the Family Readiness Group. They are there to keep
the entire family informed and involved.
Again, all of our
hearts here at FOB McHenry go out to the families of
our Fallen Wolfhounds. They will always live as
close as our hearts.
Respectfully Yours;
DREW R. MEYEROWICH
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
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15 MAR 07
Dear Family
and Friends of the Wolfhounds;
The month
of February was an historic time for the Hawijah District, our
Iraqi Army Counterparts, and the Wolfhounds. It is hard to
believe that we have been deployed for over 7 months now and the
people of Hawijah are set on the best foundation of stability
and security that they have ever seen simply because of who the
Wolfhounds are and what we stand for. Our ruthlessness in
battle can only go so far in fighting a counterinsurgency.
Trying not to bore family members and friends on military
doctrine, counterinsurgency principles require much more than
the ability to hunt down and kill the enemy. It requires
Soldiers who can see through all the hatred and combat to deal
with the indifferent people of the area in a way that makes them
demand security and denounce the principles of the enemy: It
requires Wolfhounds!
Our journey
has been a difficult one and it is far from over. We started
our mission in this area with a local population and city
government that was stripped of their power and control of
Iraq. This resulted in a lack of support for the future of
their country and more importantly, created a fertile breeding
ground for the twisted views of the terrorists. Hawijah was
misguided in what we represent as the Coalition Forces in this
area. Their beliefs as dictated by our enemy were confirmed by
years of kinetic operations designed to destroy the enemy but
ill suited for winning over the people. Upon deployment, we set
out to change the will of the people and show them the truth to
what the future of Iraq would be. Developing a capable and
credible Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police force has been the major
part of that. But, empowering the local leaders with projects
designed to improve infrastructure, make citizens day to day
lives safer, and create jobs that not only get men to work, but
also improve the quality of life, were never far from our top
priority.
Keeping on
mission and staying true to who we are as Wolfhounds has not
been easy as we took casualties. We have a determined enemy who
only cares about the destruction of Iraq and the growth of a
radical Muslim state that breeds hatred and destruction for
anyone and everyone outside of their twisted ideology. In
dealing with cowards like this, it is much easier to fall back
on our Ruthlessness in Battle rather than display our Compassion
towards an indifferent people who allow them to exist in their
villages. We came here with a very specific campaign plan and
when things are hard, it is only human to question whether or
not we were accurate in our plan. Regardless, we stayed on
mission in true Wolfhound fashion. Every Wolfhound has
represented the professionalism and values that make this
Regiment great. We have lost some great Wolfhounds in carrying
out this mission and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Results were slow and short lived at first, but every little
success kept us pushing forward. Through training and personal
interaction, we developed an Iraqi Army and Police Force that is
capable of securing its own citizens. We are engaging city
officials by making them solve their own problems and take
ownership of their districts future. By daily interaction, we
are letting the people of this area see with their eyes rather
than hear through the terrorist’s voice who the Wolfhounds
really are. Our progress was felt on Valentines Day when we had
over 600 men from this district volunteer as Police Officers for
the Kirkuk Province. This is over three times as many as was
expected because of the fear that the terrorist instilled in the
past.
Valentines
Day also brought the largest attack ever on the town of
Hawijah. For the first time ever, the Sunni enemy used a
Vehicle Borne Explosive on their own people and destroyed one of
the three police stations in the town. For the first time ever
in Hawijah, the enemy did not attack us; they attacked the Iraqi
Army and Police in an attempt to discredit them and their
abilities. All the work at training the Army and Police paid
off. The Iraqi Army not only defeated the attack, but did so in
such a way that showed the people of Hawijah that their future
will not be dictated by a bunch of sick and twisted individuals
that want to destroy their lives. The Iraqi Army fought a great
fight and we supported them in a way that gave them all they
needed not to fail, but also gave them all the credit with the
local leaders and populace. Since this attack, the Iraqi Army
has shown incredible motivation and confidence. Hawijah sees
them as the security and the future of this area, and we are
seen as helping their Army take control rather than occupy and
take control ourselves.
Since that
day, things have changed. We still have a determined enemy, but
they are losing control. The people of this area are starting
to see that we are here to help the Iraqi People, not rule over
them. We have been showing compassion and ruthlessness for over
7-months now. The patience and professionalism required by your
Wolfhounds to accomplish this will never cease to amaze me.
Imagine for yourself the patience required to do all of this
when you are the primary target of the enemy and the ISF is
unable or unwilling to help or participate in the requirements
for security. Our Wolfhounds have fought the urge to deal with
these problems alone. We have pushed the Iraqi Army through
mentorship and training to take on the responsibility to secure
their own families, district and country. The Enemy attack on
Hawijah showed the people of this area the true colors of these
cowards. The people, the ISF and their government officials
have made incredible strides in taking an active role in
creating security and stability for themselves. They must
provide their own solution to their problems and they must
embrace their own military, not ours, in order to weed out the
infection in their society.
It takes an
incredible group of Soldiers and junior leaders to accomplish
all of this, but the people of Hawijah and their leaders realize
that we are not a normal Army unit. Our ruthlessness is
unquestionable in battle. All Army units are that way. But,
our ability to see through the battle and show true compassion
for the people’s needs make us unlike anything they have ever
seen before. Every day they become less and less afraid of
these worms and they see us more and more as their savior and
their Army’s supporters.
I can’t
help but feel incredible pride for the team that I have been so
fortunate to lead. There is nothing else I could ever do that
will match what this opportunity has given me. Our fight
continues and the enemy is showing an almost desperate attempt
to regain control. Every one of their attacks has failed
miserably. The Iraqi Army has been given a great gift by the
Wolfhounds. They are in control of Hawijah, and they are
gaining the confidence and support of the people who they have
vowed to protect and serve.
I am so
proud of our Wolfhound Team. Your efforts on the home front are
felt every day here in Iraq. We would not be half as good
without your love and support. Continue to carry on the mission
at home while we fight our mission here. Walk with pride
knowing that your WOLFHOUNDS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN IRAQ.
We still have a long journey, but we will face every mission,
every obstacle with the same persistent cry: NO FEAR ON EARTH!
DREW
R. MEYEROWICH
LTC, INFANTRY
Commander, 2-27 IN "Wolfhounds"
07 FEB 07
Dear Family and
Friends of the Wolfhounds;
We
are officially entering our 7th month deployed away from
our family and friends. I want to take this opportunity to thank
each and every one of you for all that you have done for our team
since we have been deployed. As Wolfhounds, I urge you to continue
to be ruthless in your pursuit of excellence and compassionate
towards each others needs as our deployment continues. Now is not
the time to rest on our success. The mark of excellence comes from
a team that sees every mission through to the end and we have a long
way to go.
I
can’t help but feel distressed when I read the news on the
internet. My only saving grace is the fact that I am here and can
see first hand what is being accomplished. We have made
considerable improvements in our area of operation. Your Wolfhounds
have been setting the standard in terms of both operational and
strategic success. Our district continues to see incredible
improvements by the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police, both tactically
and professionally. They have no choice but to do that when they
see such a great example in each and every member of our team. Our
ruthlessness towards the enemy and our compassion towards the
innocent civilians in this area is unlike anything they have ever
seen and it is rubbing off on them. The past two months have shown
drastic improvements when it comes to violent attacks against us and
the local populace. This is not due to inactivity. This is because
we are taking this fight to our enemy. Our experience and
discipline forces the enemy to fight by our rules and not his.
These cowards continue to try and coerce the people of this area by
death and fear, but we continue to be ahead of him every step of the
way. The local government also sees this improvement to security.
They are finding ways to create jobs, develop infrastructure and
make their quality of life better than it has ever been. All the
enemy offers them is fear and destruction and the people of this
area are tired of their twisted views of Islam and are beginning to
support their army and police in their pursuit of life, liberty and
happiness.
With 6-months behind us we need to resist the urge to see the light
at the end of the tunnel. Statistics prove that the last 3-months
of a deployment are the most dangerous time for a deployment, and we
are three months short of that. Do everything you can to keep your
Wolfhound focused on the job that lays ahead. We have some
incredible Soldiers and junior leaders. Their professionalism got
us to where we are and I continue to urge them to stay focused on
the dangerous missions that we conduct every single day. We cannot
rest until we are at home safe with our families. We must face
every difficult task head on and live by our motto of “Frightened By
No Difficulties”.
I
have just about completed my quarterly meetings with every member of
TF WOLFHOUND and rumors continue to add nothing but undue stress and
confusion. I have discussed these rumors with every member of the
team and continue to tell them to worry about the next 6-months and
not worry about a single day past that. There is nothing that this
team can’t accomplish. We will tackle each and every fact when they
are known. There is no truth to the rumor that we are being
extended at this time. I have been briefed that some units in Iraq
may be extended, but we are not currently one of them. I continue
to urge you all to resist the urge of spreading any gossip or
stories. All they do is create undo stress on everyone involved,
and I know that none of us need any additional stress. Continue to
focus on the things you can affect and remember that I do not hold
back information. Unless you hear it from me, it is FALSE.
The
FRG will be receiving a 6-month Wolfhound Video in the next week or
so. I hope the message is viewed by all of you. Thank you for
everything you do each and every day in support of us here in Iraq.
Our Wolfhound Team is unstoppable because of all of the love and
support that you give us. Your efforts are felt every single day
and I am humbled by your strength, commitment, and dedication to our
unit, our cause, and our country. I look forward to our reunion and
strive ever day to complete this mission with the same determination
that we started it.
NO FEAR!!!
Drew Meyerowich
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
05 JAN 07
Dear Family and
Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Happy New Years to
all of you from FOB McHenry and the Wolfhounds! We have a lot to look
forward to this year, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us. The
good news is that we are all through the Holiday Season. Holidays are
always hard when deployed, but we are doing well as we continue to fight
this Global War on Terrorism.
In true Wolfhound
fashion, we made the most of our situation here in Iraq and had a great
New Year’s Celebration. Every single member of the team put forth 110%
in celebrating our unity as a family, and as Wolfhounds. The above
picture was taken as we closed the year 2006 and entered into 2007,
Iraqi Time. Our fireworks were not only heard by every single member of
our team, but also in the towns all around us. Prior to that, we warmed
ourselves at a Bonfire as we enjoyed music from our own Wolfhound
talent, and food from our Forward Support Company…and lets not forget
the Non-Alcoholic Beer!
2006 was a historic
year for the Wolfhounds, who returned to FOB McHenry for the second time
(1st Battalion in OIF#2, and 2nd Battalion now).
The organization of the 27th Infantry changed over the past
year from a Light Infantry Battalion to a Transformed Light Infantry
Unit of Action. This new organization gave us two new companies; one
consisting of a robust support company and the first ever Female
Wolfhounds. The year has not been without sadness as we have lost
members of our team who gave the ultimate sacrifice to rid this world of
hatred and oppression. We closed the year by continuing our tradition
of ruthlessness in battle as we continue to fight against terrorism here
in Iraq, and also continuing our tradition of compassion towards the
innocent people of this war torn nation. Let us not forget our 57 years
of tradition with the Holy Family Home Orphanage in Osaka, Japan. Even
while deployed for combat, we sent two Soldiers to represent the 2nd
Battalion; one Soldier was the first ever female Wolfhound to attend,
PFC Sheena K. Custer.
2007 is now upon us
and we face this year with the same drive, determination and spirit that
Wolfhounds have shown in our 106 years of service to our nation. Since
1901, our Regiment has led our Army in not only the ability to close in
and destroy the enemy, but also the passion and conviction to find the
good in places where war and hatred can skew the truth. Wolfhounds of
today share the same pride and convictions of our Wolfhound’s past. We
are determined to rid this world of people whose sick minds and warped
sense of religious beliefs breed nothing but hatred for anyone with
beliefs different than theirs. The innocent people of Iraq want their
children to grow up with peace, security and respect for their own
beliefs, just like we can in our great society. They are tired of being
tortured or killed simply because of their ethnic background, religion,
or tribe. Your Wolfhounds are here to ensure that peace happens not
only in Iraq, but to ensure that these terrorists can not spread their
infection to the rest of the world.
I cannot thank
everyone enough for all that you are doing in support of our team’s
deployment. The letters, prayers, and care packages we received during
the holiday season were incredible and I want you all to know that you
are on our minds as much as we are on yours. Again, from the entire
Wolfhound Team deployed to Iraq, we wish you a safe and peaceful New
Year.
NO FEAR!!!
Drew Meyerowich
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
25 December 2005
Family and Friends of the Wolfhounds;
Rather that bore you with one of my long letters, I thought I would send
you a few shots from my camera as I took pictures during the Days of
Christmas.
Christmas was a two day event here blending from Christmas Eve through
Christmas Day. Between combat operations and Christmas Preparation, the FOB
was operating even harder than it normally does. On Christmas Eve Day, the
entire area surrounding our FOB knew that the Holiday was something special
to us with the construction of the Santa Range. Why we call it the Santa
Range is that it is protected from the bad guys by two towers with Heavy
Automatic Weapons.
Final preparation of our Christmas tree was done to set the stage for our
evening Living Nativity Play. Understanding the geography of Iraq, you
would understand that finding a Christmas tree is not too difficult in the
area we our situated in, but Wolfhounds don’t go small in things like this,
so getting a tree of this magnitude took some doing. The concertina wire
added a lot of glitter to the whole season.
Immediately after dark on Christmas Eve, we had our Living Nativity Play
that was a huge success. The Chaplain with the help of a whole cast of
people made the event special. Soldiers were able to warm themselves around
a glowing fire while they listened to the members of the 25th
Division Band play songs of the season. It was a wonderful event.
I visited our Soldiers on Combat Outposts late into the night and managed
to steal some time away from combat operations after midnight to go down to
the mess hall and see our cooks working up a feast. Feeding almost 1,000
kids is not an easy task and making a meal of this magnitude was nothing
short of inspirational. When I left at 0430 hrs, they were frantically
doing all the tasks needed to make a Christmas Meal fit for a King.
The decorations of the mess hall were very traditional with the exception
of one part. In the seat of honor at the front of the mess hall, was a lone
white linen table for those of our team that were no longer with us in body,
but with us in spirit. With no direction given, our Soldiers made this
table showing what was on every one of our minds. God bless our fallen
comrades. We carry on this fight for you.
Like true Wolfhounds, the day could not be only about eating. Despite a
few inaccurate attempts of the enemy to slow our day down, our food had to
be burned off on the field of competition. The men competed for the title
of WOLFOUND’S BEST DODGE BALL TEAM. The play brought back memories of
yesterday when the name of the game was less politically correct, but grown
men competed and beat the tar out of each other with soccer balls to be the
last team still standing at the end of the day. The Commanders Team was a
touted underdog, but they defeated all to advance to the finals only to be
beaten by the Staff in the final match of the day.
Nothing will make up for the fact that our families were not with us, but
this team is a family and I could not think of a better group of people to
be with while I am away from my wife and children. Even through all the
problems that we have faced together, we have shown everyone around us the
strength that makes the Wolfhound Family unstoppable. Your Soldier is doing
incredible work. I am honored to be part of everything that they touch.
They are the most lethal, ruthless force I have ever seen. When you look
into their eyes, you don’t see a Soldier built around rage and destruction,
you see the compassion and love for our families and our country. It is
this compassion that drives us to complete our mission against extremism and
hatred, and to rid the world of these criminals that prey on innocent people
based on their twisted views of faith. Your Wolfhound is making a
difference in this world and I thank you all for all you do to support us
and our nation during this time of war.
NO FEAR!!!
Drew Meyerowich
LTC, IN
Commander, 2-27 Infantry “Wolfhounds”
11 DEC 06
Family and Friends of the Wolfhounds;
As every member of the Wolfhound Family is aware, we
lost members of our Team the other day in a roadside bomb that killed five
of our Wolfhounds.
Losing SGT Castro, SGT Madden, CPL Mokri, CPL
Huffman and PFC Krege has rocked the foundation of this organization. Our
hearts break for the families that these American Heroes leave behind and I
want to offer my deepest sympathy to the wives, parents, children and
families that they fought and died to protect.
Nobody on this team expected this mission to be
easy. We knew the challenges that we faced, and we prepared ourselves
physically, mentally and spiritually to accomplish our mission. Every single
member of this team worked tirelessly to train ourselves to carry on the
proud tradition that the Wolfhounds have earned in our 105 years of faithful
service to our nation and this world. Not one member of that team refused to
do his mission that day. Every single one of those men knew their job and
would have refused the opportunity to not be a part of that team. They were
from all over our great country. They were different races, creeds and
colors; but they were brothers. They were Wolfhounds!
We may have been rocked by this tragic loss, but
nothing will break the foundation that 105 years of |
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