591st Sapper Company August Newsletter
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Transcript of 591st Sapper Company August Newsletter
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8/4/2019 591st Sapper Company August Newsletter
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OUR MAILING ADDRESSWE will let you know when
we get an update for this
In this Issue:
First Sergeants
Soap Box 3
XOs Two Cents 5
1st Platoon 6
2nd Platoon 9
3rd Platoon 11
Company Commanders CornerCPT Mark H. Welch
Where to begin for the Month of August is a tough
spot to start. Lets begin with what day of the week is it? Orhas the sun risen already? Those are questions that pop up
from time to time based on the high operational tempo at the
moment. The platoons have done an incredible job adjusting to
missions that change on a moments notice. During August the
company really shined in Iraq clearing routes to allow others to
go home safely to their families, conducting demolition ranges
with Infantry Companies as well as our Iraqi Counterparts, and
completing many training requirements.1SG Skidmore departed on leave and SFC Ipatzi did
a commendable job in his absence. Our prayers go out to him
for the next selection
Board to Master
Sergeant that occurs
later this fall.
For the Soldiers benefit
and morale weconducted an all hands
bar-b-que. The platoons
competed in games of
mental toughness and
physical strength and
endurance.
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First Platoon had a great month that included one of the awesome moments as
they took a picture (see page 8) that captured the culminating blast on the
demolition range. This is definitely a keeper in the Sapper Photo Collection as they
represented themselves, the 591stEN CO and the POW MIAs always remembering they
Will Never Be Forgotten.
During the month the company received a command visit lead by MAJ
Morgan and MAJ Hoyman along with CSM Hart. Overall assessment is that the 591st isdoing pretty darn good as we run the show within the 1-5 CAV boundaries. One thing
for sure is that they were left in the dust by CPT
Gustavson and 1LT OConnor during a cross-fit
workout that is not for the feint or weak hearted.
CPT Gus moving out on with good form and a 45
pound weight to build the core strength. In the
background is CPT Diaz, our Intel Officer and
standing behind him is MAJ Hoyman the newBattalion Executive Officer. To be honest all of
these guys are PT Studs that set the example for others to follow.
CSM Hart went on a mission during his VIP visit to see how the platoon
operates and provide some Senior NCO guidance. This mission ended up more like the
boat trip on Gilligans Island for us older folk. It started out to be a short 6 hour mission
and ended up to be our longest mission of the deployment at 15 hours and here is
why!!!
Back to Awesome 591st Story- the unit had so many Soldiers earn company coins,
promotable statuses, and continue executing their missions and I am blessed and
proud to be their Commander. The 1SG will identify those personnel, but as a
company we grow on a daily basis as the We Strike Family and remain focused on our
task at hand. Once we return to Fort Campbell we can sit back and reflect on these
moments that will leave us with the memories of our efforts on Route Clearance
Operations to reduce the IEDs in USD-N and provide safe passage to all.Until Next Month, Take Care, GOD Bless, and Go Phillies / GO Eagles
Our Vehicle, just
your normal
breakdownIntroducing the
hero of the day,
Recovery Vehicle 2.
Recovery Vehicle #1, it
did not do so well so it
needed a little help from
his friend also known as
recovery vehicle #2
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First Sergeants Soap Boxby 1SG K. Skidmore
Another month has come and gone, bringing us a little closer to returningto our family and loved one. As we get closer to transferring this countryback to the Iraqi people communications home are going to become moreand more difficult. As you know the post office here on Speicher isscheduled to shut sown on the 10th of September and now the fate of theinternet service provider has come into question. I will try to keep you upto date on avenues available to talk with your Soldier through Bethany(tag your it, Bethany) Highsmith. Just remember, the way this is going towork over the next few months is that it is going to get harder and more
difficult before it gets any better.
The Company had a good month for promotions. Jared Deweese addedhis first rocker with his promotion to Staff Sergeant , the other Jared, JaredMartin and Steven Weeks joined the NCO Corps with their promotion toSergeant. Chase Buettner was promoted to Specialist and Kayron Brooksand Travis Sloan were promoted to Private First Class. Also, SPCChristopher McConnell was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.Congratulations to all.
I just returned from leave a few days ago. While I was at home I had theopportunity to participate in a Family Readiness Group meeting. Thankyou to all those that attend voluntarily and even involuntarily. As I havesaid before, if you have any questions or issues you need help with pleasesend them to me through Bethany (got ya again) Highsmith and I willaddress them as soon I can. Also, while at home I got the chance to seesome of the newest members of the 591st Family. Congratulation go outto SGT Eric and Dorierann Westbrook on the arrival of Quinn and to SGT
Nicholas and Mandy May on the birth of Madalynn.
Just a reminder for all the families, due to current operations andrequirements the internet and other communications systems my becomescarce over the next few months, We will try to keep everyone updatedas best as possible.
Until next month, be safe.
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Augusts promotions and awards
SSG Jared Deweese
SPC Chase Buettner, PFC
Kayron Brooks and PFC
Travis Sloan
SGT Jared Martin and SGT
Steven Weeks
SPC Christopher McConnell
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Ramblings of a Mad XOby CPT Donald A. Gus Gustavson
Actually he is just on leave
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Hello to everyone back home. Once again the PLT has had a busy month in AUG. Everyone is
beginning to see that this deployment will soon be over and we will be back home with our
loved ones in a few months. This month was spent in conducting patrols, beating ourselves
up at the gym, enjoying a company BBQ, and working with the Iraqi Army on route
clearance. The highlight of this month was being able to go out on 27 AUG and conduct a
PLT demolition range. Some of the pictures in this newsletter will be from that range.
Sappers always love blowing things up. As PFC Eason stated at the range, This isnt a range
this is a big Sapper playground, over there on that tank is our jungle gym. Until next month.
To all our loved ones back home we miss you. ROME 17
FIRST Platoon1LT RYAN ROCCO OCONNOR SFC MICHAELTHE BEAST COMFORT
LT OConnor 1ST
in Arm Wrestling PFC Eason & PFC Hutchinson
stomping the competition at spades
Sappers in the Breach
Just wanted to say hi to my
beautiful wife Kaitlin and my
dog, Captain. A few months togo, keep it up. Love Justin
SGT Hitchcock showing his PLT Spirit
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FIRST Platoon
To all the people back home that
support us, thanks for everything.To my Great Wife, Love you so much
and Ill be Home ASAP. Miss you honey.
Hey, everything is good
thanks
For the care packages,
hope to see everybody
soon PFC Covalcine
Everything is going good. Thank you
for all the care packages and stuff.
Hope to see you all soon. PFC Ross
Thank you to all of my family and friends for all their
great love and support They have shown me! Love an
miss all of you SHNOOGINS! PFC Clark
To Courtney,
my lovely wife I Love You
and will see you very
soon on R&R.
To Waylan, Miss ya little
man and when Dad gets
home we will give Mom a
little break.
Love Ya, SSG Deweese
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FIRST Platoon
ONLY THE STRONG
1/591 and Soldiers from A/1-5 CAV
finish training with a Bang
Sapper Eagle Air Assault
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Despite the sweltering 120 degree plus weather in August at the height of the
summer in Iraq, 2nd Platoon continued to work with a sense of purpose, running
Missions, conducting training, and working with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police.Conducting Missions almost every other day, the Platoon cleared three different
routes, supporting US and Coalition mobility throughout Salah ad Din. In addition to
a Mission focus, 2nd Platoon also conducted multiple training events including
training members of 1-5 CAV on Engineer equipment, tactics, and techniques,
conducting a demolitions range, and conducting a rifle range. In keeping with the
focus of Operation New Dawn, the Platoon continued to train and conduct Route
Clearance Patrols with the Iraqi Armys 4th Field Engineer Regiment, successfully
clearing multiple routes and continuing to build the vital skills they will need toprotect their country when US Forces return home.
SECOND Platoon2LT JAMES TF LOWE LOWE SFC ERiC RANGER RiCK PRESCOTT
During the Rifle Range, 2nd Platoon Soldiers
ained confidence in their equipment by
ezeroing their personal weapons and
onducting night familiarization fire, using
both visible and infrared lasers in conjunction
with their night vision goggles and tracers.
Keeping proficient on basic Soldier skills, likeifle marksmanship is imperative in staying
harp in the fight.
The firing line through night vision goggles
during night fire
2nd Platoon leads the charge for the
591st EN CO in conducting Route
Clearance Patrols with the Iraqi 4th FER,
helping build partnership, trust, and
confidence. Soldiers and Leaders arefamiliar by now with working with the
4th FER, having completed multiple
successful missions, each time honing
the skills of our Iraqi counterparts.
2/591 and 4th FER Soldiers receive a
Patrol Brief
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SECOND PlatoonOne of the best ways to learn about new equipment is to see it and use it in action. In
keeping with this idea, 2nd Platoon provided valuable hands-on training for our 1-5 CAV
counterparts in order to train them on our capabilities and built confidence in our
abilities. After seeing our equipment in action, 1-5 CAV was so impressed they
requested demolitions training, which 2nd Platoon provided to select personnel later in
the month. During demolitions training, Soldiers and Team Leaders led the charge to
properly train our Infantry brothers in arms, and successfully lead each shot in a safe
and efficient manner.
2/591 and B/1-5 Soldiers
build a charge
The Breach Team
properly sets up a
rubber strip
charge
SAPPER
AIR ASSAULT
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THIRD Platoon1LT BENJAMiN HUGHEY SCHMiDT SFC AARON SMART TiPPETT
Poor SPC Watson, and I have no idea whats
going on with PFC Boadi.
3rdPLT and Iraqi Army EOD and Engineers after some Demo fun.
This might not buff out. PFC
Anglinsnew ride
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THIRD Platoon
Hi Mom! I hope that your recovery
is going good. Everything is good
here. I hope the rest of you are
doing well. Ill see you soon.
Love Shaun
Hey pops hey Joe! Everything is
going good just counting down
the days we get to leave this
place. Cant wait to see you guysand relax and have a few cold
ones. Love Ya, Anthony
SGT Hayes arm wrestles PFC Gibson during
the AUG unit BBQ. He took 1st place in his
weight class overall.
Hello to all my friends and family back home.
I love and miss you guys tons. I want to send
a special shout out to my parents (mom &
dad love you guys and thank you for all
youve done for me.) Cant wait to get home
and spend some time in AZ. Take care and
see yall soon..Oh yeah, GO CARDINALS
DIAMONDBACKS!!!
Hey Family! Just wanted to let you all
know I am doing great out here and all
is well! Miss you tons and cant wait to
see all of you again!
Especially you Lindsay, My Lil
Croissant.