BAGHDAD, Iraq - Before the sun heated the cool desert sands of Iraq, the Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team's 526th Brigade Support Battalion prepared for yet another mission in support of the many elements within the brigade.
Company F, 526th BSB, spent the hours of Oct. 29 loading trucks and trailers with supplies for the troops who are supporting the Iraqi National Guard elements stationed west of the Baghdad International Airport.
In the early morning darkness of Oct. 30, the Soldiers gathered for a prayer and final safety checks before embarking on their mission to the "Lion's Den."
"Even though we are mainly a support element platoon, our pride is extremely high," said Staff Sgt. LaDale Sumerall, platoon sergeant, Co. F. "The Soldiers realize in order to win the fight to liberate the people of Iraq, we each have a job, and ours is support."
The unit rotates the troops who are to go on convoys and Soldiers who stay behind in the different camps.
Some spend up to five days with the Iraqi security forces and National Guard helping them to build their camps by filling sand bags, construction, manning check points and even improving hygiene facilities.
"This gives us a chance to do our part to support the troops. Some of the Soldiers may not be able to get phone calls, e-mail or regular mail, even religious services," Sumerall said. "We can go out there and deliver these things to the fighting troops,
the infantry."
Sumerall said the company even found a way to surprise 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment with chaplains services by bringing the battalion chaplain and the chaplains assistant along in a convoy to the "Lion's Den."
The supply platoon additionally brought them hot meals from KBR, fruits, juices and power bars to help give the troops a bit of comfort during the long days.
Even the Soldiers who have spent days away from the comforts of Camp Striker were high spirited and positive about their mission.
"It's good stuff," Spc. Michael Remaley, Co. F, said, taking a break from the labor of downloading cases of bottled water from the delivery trucks and trailers. "We are here helping to better the [Iraqi Soldiers] way of life. Out here we have been able to talk to the Iraqis, get to know them - you start realizing they are human just like us and we are becoming friends."
Remaley said his days in the "Lion's Den" have been filled with rewarding work.
"I love it out here," he said. "We work side by side with the Iraqi Soldiers out here. We have completed their buildings, secured the buildings with sandbags, issued out fuel, and at the end of the day we all sit by the fire and eat dinner together."
Just as the sun rose over the camp walls the convoy had successfully unloaded at least three water buffaloes with both potable and non-potable water, multiple cases of bottled water, crates of meals ready to eat and comfort items such as foam mattresses and mail from home.
The convoy rolled out back to Camp Striker with another mission successfully completed and another platoon of Soldiers amply supplied for the rest of the week's mission.
After rolling back into Camp Striker, the Soldiers dismounted the vehicles and gathered for an after action review and debriefing before gathering back at the units building to start planning for the next mission.
"Our days do not end when we return from a mission," Sumerall said. "We perform maintenance on the vehicles and begin to prepare for our next mission, which could be the next morning or four days away, you just never know."
So the cycle begins again for the Soldiers of Co. F, another day and another unit to keep supplied with the necessities to complete their mission.
