19AUG 03

COL Banasik and VT Army ROTC Department,

            I would like to thank you for your kind words of encouragement, T-shirt and pendant.  It was definitely a pleasant surprise opening the package and seeing Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange.  The pendant is hanging in the place of honor under my American flag. 

            I am currently in Al Habbaniyah, it is a small city west of Baghdad in between Al Fallujah and Ar Ramadi.  Over the past two months things have begun to pick up.  Most of the attacks on us have been ambushes using IED’s (improvised explosive devices).  They are buried on the sides of roads so it is almost impossible to see them until they detonate.  Several times IED’s were used as diversions for RPG attacks.  My platoon has been blessed/ lucky.  We have had only one minor casualty, a shrapnel wound from when an RPG exploded against my M113A3.

            Being a platoon leader in the current situation here in Iraq is a major leadership challenge.  The officer Basic Course did not teach anything that we are doing over here.  Every mission I have been on, be it a raid, a route clearance, a traffic control point, security mission, pretty much any situation I am in.  I revert back to what I learned at Tech in the ROTC.  It is amazing how confident I am dealing with anything thrown at me because of the superb training I received at Tech, everything from soldiers personal problems at home, to keeping a clear head while under fire.  Although I’m sure I complained at the time, I credit my success thus far to all those long Tuesday afternoons on the drill field and amphitheater.  I thank every one of you for the excellent job you are doing and your dedication to training tomorrow’s Army leaders.  Without you I would have been lost over here.

            I have enclosed a 250 Dinar note for the department, just a small thank you from Iraq.  I was also wondering if there has been any scholarship fund established in 1LT Jeff Kaylor’s name.  He was my battle buddy and best friend throughout my time at Tech. and I would like to help in anyway possible.  If there is one could you please send me any information you may have on it.

Respectfully,

Brian P. Joyce

1LT, EN

Platoon Leader