Letter From Capt. Hathaway

A letter from the commander is so comforting. Now I feel a little bit better having a general idea of the surroundings. I really appreciate Capt. Hathaway taking time out to let the families know what is going on...it helps a lot!

Friends and Family of Headhunter Troop,

Well we have made it through the first 90 plus days of our deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom V. It has had both its ups and downs. We initially moved into Forward Operating Base Hammer near the Besmyiah Range Complex in Eastern Iraq. This location started out as a very austere base with little creature comforts and has been transformed into a decent place to live with a nice dining facility and a MWR center. The tents all have Air Conditioning and there are shower and latrine trailers for everyone’s use.

The Troop has supported the Squadron very well, whether it is working in the Tactical Operations Center, running the roads as part of the Squadron Commanders PSD, the Medics working hard doing ever job imaginable or “Hitting” targets with the Time Sensitive Target Team. All of the boys have done a terrific job and are working very hard every day. The Troop has played an integral part in the overall success that we have ascertained during this first 90 days.

I know I said that FOB Hammer is coming along nicely and that it is starting to be very comfortable there, I guess in true Army fashion that means it is time to move. Most of the Troop will be moving in the next couple of weeks to Combat Outpost Cashe near the Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Facility. It is austere at this time, we are using burn latrines and gravity fed outdoor showers. The boys are living in a hard building and eventually we will get air conditioners here, but for now it is a little warm during the night and just plain hot during the day. It sounds bad, but by the time it is done it will be a very nice place to live. We have already gotten the MWR package that includes the Armed Forces Network TV and Satellite and 20 computers that we are getting hooked up to the internet. The down side is that there are only 2 phones at this time. It seems that everyone is getting to call home because there is never a line for the phones. The chow is not great, but the cooks work very hard to spice up the Army T rations that they cook. Our major problem is power generation. We should have it fixed in the next couple of weeks and that will allow us to run air conditioners. Once that happens, things will be very good down here at COP Cashe.

I know that a COP sounds like we are in danger, but it is safer here than it is on FOB Hammer. We have 100 feet high earthen berms surrounding our location. I would venture to say that it is one of the safer places in Iraq. I know everyone was curious about internet and phone packages that could be purchased at FOB Hammer; those won’t be available at COP Cashe. There just isn’t enough room or power to run all of those extra items.

Unfortunately the first 90 days also delivered a devastating blow to Headhunter Troop, the loss of two great Soldiers. SPC Toledo-Poledo and SPC Winterbottom were two great Soldiers who will be missed by all and their families will be in our hearts and prayers.

The first 90 plus days have been a very busy time, but the next will be even busier. There is a bright spot to this though; it makes the time go by very fast.

You should be very proud of your Soldier; everyone in the Troop has performed beyond all expectation and has earned my admiration and the respect of all who come in contact with them.


Very Respectfully,

Captain Jimmy L. Hathaway