All but 300 Dagger Brigade Soldiers home for Thanksgiving, relieved by 101st ABN Strike Brigade

With his son, Jonathan, 7, on his shoulders, and his daughter, Deanna, 10, by his side, Staff Sgt. John Garcia, of Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, was all smiles during a redeployment ceremony at Finney Fitness Facility on Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt, Germany. Photo: Mark St.Clair / S&S.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany — Finney Fitness Facility was crackling with excitement Tuesday as more than 800 members of Schweinfurt’s Dagger Brigade returned home from Iraq.

With the 300 who arrived Monday — and the same number due Wednesday — 1,400 troops will have returned in 36 hours, leaving fewer than 300 soldiers of the thousands who deployed last year still far from home. ...

Along with the scores of soldiers from units such as 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery and the 299th Forward Support Battalion, Tuesday’s group included the brigade’s commander, Col. J.B. Burton.

Marching at the head of a 270-man formation, Burton looked tired, but proud of the tough job he and his soldiers did.

“We had 15 months of hard fighting and 15 months of positive change everywhere Dagger Brigade was located,” Burton said shortly before marching in. ...

“Thank God that our nation produces soldiers like that,” Burton said, when asked about his soldiers and the heroism they displayed over the past 15 months.

“(As commanders) we cannot become jaded to the fact that there are heroics every day,” Burton said, “what the soldiers do is not what normal people do. It makes my heart swell with pride.”

COL Burton handed over responsibility of northwest Baghdad to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Fort Campbell, Ky., during a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 17, at the Camp Liberty Field House.

(Front to rear) Fort Worth, Texas native Spc. Douglas Hale, Phoenix native Sgt. Adam Hansen, Newport, Tenn., native Sgt. Cleveland Carr; Foley, Ala., native Sgt. Stoney Hall, and Spc. Jason Baxley, retire the colors following the transfer of authority ceremony between the Schweinfurt, Germany-based 2nd “Dagger” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division and the 2nd “Strike” BCT, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from Fort Campbell, Ky. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)

“… It is with great humility, but with great confidence in the abilities of the Strike Brigade Combat Team, that I relinquish responsibility for Coalition Force efforts in northwest Baghdad,” he said. “We have achieved the tasks that you put before us, but we leave knowing that there is still much to do.”

Col. William B. Hickman, commander of the 2nd “Strike” Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), speaks to Soldiers and distinguished guests at the transfer of authority ceremony in the Camp Liberty Field House in western Baghdad, Nov. 17. Hickman’s Fort Campbell, Ky.-based brigade assumed responsibility for the security of northwestern Baghdad from the 2nd “Dagger” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, who returns to their loved ones at their home station in Schweinfurt, Germany. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)

Though the day was a great one for the Dagger Soldiers, who will be returning home to their families in Germany, Col. William B. Hickman, commander of the 2nd “Strike” BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) said, “It is truly a great day to be a Strike Soldier and now a part of the First Team serving in Multi-National Division - Baghdad.”

The brigade redeployed from south Baghdad in September 2006 and spent the last 12 months preparing themselves for this deployment where they look to, through combined efforts, set the conditions for a strong, prosperous Iraqi future.

“We know this mission comes at a pivotal time and that our actions will make a lasting impact,” Hickman continued. “I know our Soldiers and units are ready for the upcoming challenges and opportunities to serve with the Iraqi Security Forces.”

As the Strike Brigade assumes responsibility of operations in northwest Baghdad, they will have four combat-tested battalions, who have spent the last several months conducting operations throughout northwest Baghdad, fighting by their side.

Joining the 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div., will be the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment; 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment; and the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment.

(Right to left)Fort Campbell, Ky.-based 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Soldiers Foley, Ala., native Sgt. Stoney Hall, Newport, Tenn., native Sgt. Cleveland Carr, Macon, Mo., native Sgt. Jesse Moore, Phoenix native Sgt. Adam Hansen, and Fort Worth, Texas native Spc. Douglas Hale, perform color guard duties during a transfer of authority ceremony at the Camp Liberty Field House in western Baghdad, Nov. 17. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James P. Hunter, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. Public Affairs)