A Letter Update from the Commander

COMMANDER
2ND BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM (STRIKE FORCE) 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION
AR RAMADI, IRAQ 09395-5058
October 1, 2004

A Letter from the STRIKE FORCE Commander to the Families of our Soldiers deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom:

To Our STRIKE FORCE Family:
Greetings from Iraq! The 2nd Brigade Combat Team (STRIKE FORCE) has arrived in Iraq, and it’s fully engaged in the Global War on Terrorism and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It’s hard to believe that in the last 4 months, this Combat Team has alerted, trained, equipped, deployed, and is now fighting and defeating terrorism in Iraq. You can rest assured that your loved ones are the best trained, best equipped, and, simply put, the best team I have ever had the privilege of commanding. You can be proud of the job they’re doing.
A Soldier’s life is a tough one, and without the true love and support of his family and friends, it is very difficult to sustain the drive and intensity required in this lethal and demanding environment. Our nation has asked a lot of our Soldiers, and they continue to perform remarkably.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you – the family and friends of our Soldiers. It is also you who sacrifice. Without your untiring love, your commitment, and your faith, our Soldiers could not endure. They, without question, derive their strength from you.
I will strive to keep you informed through postings on this web site. Together, we will endure, win this fight, take care of our Soldiers and reunite at our new home, Fort Carson, Colorado.
God Bless You, and God Bless our remarkable Soldiers.
STRIKE FORCE! KILL THE ENEMY!

GARY S. PATTON
Colonel, United States Army