FORT HOOD, Texas- For the more than 750,000 residents of Kirkuk, Iraq, a future without violence and threat of terror was once an uncertainty, however, the hard work of U.S Soldiers and their Iraqi Security Forces partners, it's become much more of a reality.
Over the course of 2009, Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, made daily forays into the urban sprawl of Kirkuk and worked closely to train and assist the ISF, enabling a sense of security in Kirkuk.
For their hard work, troopers of the "Red Dragon" battalion were awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation on Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 1.
"The Meritorious Unit Commendation is awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service during a period of military operations against an armed enemy," said 1st Lt. Robert Haynes, the battalion's adjutant from Nitro, W.Va.
According to Haynes, during the deployment, Red Dragon troopers were given authority over the city of Kirkuk and bordering Kurdish areas. The mission there required the battalion to organize as a maneuver element and secure the population in the provincial capital, which was the largest city in the 2nd BCT's area of operations.
"Kirkuk was the heart of the ethnic struggle in Iraq and widely considered the main effort of American forces in shaping a future Iraq," he continued.
"Partnering with Iraqi Police and the Kurdish Regional Army, the Red Dragons reduced violent extremist activity by [more than] 75 percent over the course of the year," he said.
Red Dragon Soldiers were out with the Iraqi Police everyday training them and showing them what right looks like.
"One of the most important things we did was training the IPs," said Mitchell.
According to Mitchell, his unit worked closely with the IPs to help them learn how to become a more efficient and knowledgeable police force that the people of Kirkuk could rely on, instead of turning to Americans for help.
Although this wasn't the traditional mission you would expect an artillery unit to perform, the troopers quickly adapted to it.
"The battalion demonstrated the ability to innovate and accomplish the mission beyond the call of duty," he said. "The unit's ability to successfully implement and execute the fundamentals of counterinsurgency operations allowed the battalion to defeat violent extremists with professionalism and valor."
As a home to a large number of ethnically diverse cultures, an important part of the battalion's mission in Kirkuk was building bridges between the different communities.
This unit helped improve equality within the city between Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and various other ethnicities, said Mitchell.
During the unit's deployment, they helped establish city council meetings that enabled Iraqis of various ethnicities to come together monthly and air out any problems they might have and find solutions.
"We were there to help improve Kirkuk," said Mitchell. "This is a hard earned award."
Although their year in Iraq is long since over, the Soldiers of the Red Dragon battalion just have to look up at their unit guidon to see recognition and appreciation for the blood, sweat and tears they put into making Kirkuk a better place.
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