Families and Friends of the First Team:

As we start our second full month of this deployment, I want to take a few minutes to update you on the battalion's current status, and some future plans. We continue operations throughout our area of operations or "AO" in the Al Qaim-Husaybah region. Every day and every night the Marines, sailors and soldiers of the task force patrol the towns, roads, and deserts of the area on foot and mounted in armored "Hummers" 7-ton trucks, tanks, and "Amtracks" often searching buildings and vehicles, looking for weapons, explosives, and the terrorist criminals who seek to harm us and the innocent people of Iraq. Your Marines have already grown very skilled at these challenging tasks, and every day, every mission we continue to get better and better at finding the enemy, and his equipment. At the same time, other members of the First Team--our Military Policemen, Civil Affairs Marines, Tactical Psychological Operations soldiers, and civilian interpretors work with the Iraqi Security Forces, and the local civil leadership to improve living conditions and make this a safer and more stable community. All the while, others of the battalion are cooking the food, maintaining the weapons, vehicles, radios, and computers and providing the all the support required for over 2000 men to live in this desert environment. On top of this--our Navy brothers--the dedicated professional of the Medical Corps and our Chaplain are absolutely tireless in caring for their fellow warriors physically and spiritually. So as you can see, every man here has his job, his part to contribute to the success of this most vital mission we are accomplishing.

I'm sure that the news you see coming out of Iraq is terrible. Always remember that bad new "sells" so this is what you'll see the most of. In the near future, the news will probably get "worse." We expect and are ready for an increase in enemy activity when the Islamic season of Ramadan starts in two weeks and as the elections both in the U.S. and here in Iraq proceed. Throughout this period, we expect the battalion to remain here in our present AO and continue the mission we are doing right now. We are fully prepared for anything that may come our way, and your loved ones will continue to do the outstanding job that they are doing now. You should all be proud of the bravery and selfless service of these men.

This part of Iraq remains a very hazardous place, and the freedom and security we fight for does not come free of cost. We honor the sacrifices all those who have paid into that cost. We pray for our fallen brothers and their families--LCpl Steven Cates of B Co, and Sgt Benjamin Smith of C Co 1st Tanks battalion who were killed in action serving their country. We also mourn the loss of PFC Kenneth Sickels of Weapons Company. Those who have been wounded in action have also paid dearly into the cost of freedom and we all pray for their speedy recovery.

Finally, let me once again thank you all for your prayers and support. Our thoughts are always with you and we all look forward to the day we are reunited and safely home again.

God bless and Semper Fi
LtCol Woodbridge