Fort Carson Iron Horse Week highlights division's best

FORT CARSON, Colo.- Snow finally melted and the sun rose over Fort Carson as the 4th Infantry Division celebrated its proud heritage by hosting Iron Horse Week, Jan. 26-30, allowing Soldiers to demonstrate their professionalism and proficiency.

"Iron Horse Week is an excellent opportunity for Fort Carson units to participate in a week of competition with numerous events focusing primarily on complex combined battle tasks to strengthen camaraderie and encourage a healthy, competitive environment among units and individuals," said Maj. Gen. Paul LaCamera, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson.

Soldiers represented their units in 20 events, such as; a leadership reaction course, marksmanship, call for fire, combatives, basketball, flag football, medical stakes, combat swim, and a 10 kilometer formation run.

"It's not often that the whole 4th Infantry Division gets together," said Staff Sgt. Peter Wright, intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., a native of Littleton, New Hampshire. "Seeing Soldiers using teamwork and competing in multiple events shows that we're willing to work together and accomplish the same goal; to be a better division."

Even though there were several sporting events, this annual Iron Horse Week concentrated on Warrior tasks and skills.

Sgt. Julie Shelley, UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief, 2nd GSAB, 4th Avn. Reg., 4th CAB, 4th Inf. Div., said her team utilized their knowledge of basic combat lifesaver skills to overcome the challenges they faced during the medical stakes competition.

"We did not do extra training for these medical lanes," said Shelley. "We pulled knowledge from our real life training and saving lives from actual MedEvac missions we have encountered since being at the CAB. I believe we did very well."

Pvt. Phillip Mendoza, infantryman, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., who is new to Fort Carson, said a foundation of training combined with a knowledge of Warrior tasks and battle drills helped his team succeed while competing in the Ivy Heptathlon.

"We had a big advantage because we do this kind of stuff on an everyday basis," said Mendoza, a native of Riverside, California. "You need teamwork to succeed, no matter what, and always give your all."

Retired Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., said that we serve because of those to our left and right and to never forget those that serve with us or before us to Fort Carson Soldiers on his visit during Iron Horse Week.

"I'd like to think I'm still the same Soldier I would have been without this award," said Romesha, who received the Medal of Honor for actions in the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009 during the war in Afghanistan. "It's a great honor but more importantly we should never forget the sacrifice, forget the guys that we lost or everyone that was there."

Soldiers and family were also encouraged to attend a "Theater of War" Shakespeare-style play held Jan. 28. "Theater of War" is an innovative suicide awareness, prevention training that presents readings of Sophocles' Ajax - an ancient Greek tragedy about the suicide of a great and respected warrior.

Family members also participated in a two-mile installation run with Soldiers to an awards ceremony where everyone learned overall results from the week.

The best battalion for Iron Horse Week was 3rd Sqdn., 61st Cav. Reg., winning the Commander's Cup with a score of 90 points for the week's events. 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment earned second place with 76 points and 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment earned third place with 72 points.

"There's always a top dog and there's always someone trying to take that top spot," said retired 1st Sgt. Daniel Heidrich, Vietnam veteran, Company D, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, who experienced his first Iron Horse Week at Fort Carson in 1974. "I think that's something that inspires these Soldiers and brings out esprit de corps."