Active Unit News

DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Killed was:
Pfc. Michael S. Adams, 20, of Spartanburg, S.C., died on Aug. 21 in Baghdad, Iraq. Adams was participating in a small arms fire exercise on the range when a bullet ricocheted and ignited a fire in the building. He died as a result of injuries sustained during the fire. Adams was assigned to 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

(Ed Note: This is a huge blow to all veterans of the 4th Infantry Division. PFC Michael Adams is the son of our incoming 4th Infantry Division Association president, Rick and Patty Adams. Rick served in Vietnam with HHC/1-10 Cav. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Rick and Patty during this time of grief. I did not know Michael but his parents are outstanding people, the type I like to include as my friends).
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GIs Capture Iraq Gang Members in Raid

By ANDREW ENGLAND
.c The Associated Press

KHALIS, Iraq (AP) - Hundreds of U.S. soldiers raided a northern Iraqi town on Tuesday in a bid to smash a crime ring wanted for murder, gunrunning and a terrorist attack on a police station that killed an American soldier earlier this month. Backed by tanks, helicopters and Bradley fighting vehicles, the soldiers stormed Khalis, 42 miles north of Baghdad, hunting for the gang's notorious leader, Lateef Hamed al Kubaishat - known as Lateef by U.S. forces, said Col. David Hogg, commander of the 4th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade. The raid, codenamed ``Operation Jimmy Hoffa,'' netted at least 24 members of the ``terrorist organization'' but Lateef appeared to have eluded capture, Hogg said. ``Their primary focus is probably criminal activity, but they have attacked coalition forces through direct and indirect means,'' Hogg told The Associated Press. ``As long as he (Lateef) is in place we will not be able to establish the conditions for the Iraqi police to establish law and order in the area.'' Iraqi informants dressed in U.S. Army camouflage uniforms, their faces covered in black balaclavas and their eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, sat in the back of Humvees helping soldiers identify members of Lateef's gang. U.S. soldiers with plastic zip-ties - used to handcuff detainees - hanging from their flak jackets combed scores of flat-roofed houses while curious residents watched from the dusty streets. Men and women were ordered to sit against walls as soldiers filtered through their homes looking for weapons and gang members. Lateef's gang had claimed responsibility for a bomb that exploded outside the police headquarters in nearby Baqouba on Aug. 10, killing one U.S. military policeman, U.S. forces said. Lateef is also accused of selling weapons, burning down the Baqouba courthouse to destroy criminal records and murdering a prostitute whom he accused of providing services to U.S. troops in the area. Lateef was imprisoned and serving multiple life sentences for murder until Saddam Hussein granted amnesty to all prisoners in October as the United States ratcheted up its case for invading Iraq, according to U.S. intelligence officers. U.S. Army officers in the area have said they are being attacked by Baath Party loyalists, Fedayeen Saddam militia fighters and criminal gangs who simply want the region to remain unstable so they can carryout their activities unhindered. ``This operation will go a long way to show the Iraqi population that we are doing this for them. It's part of our mission to provide a safe and secure environment so they can continue to build government structures and security structures,'' Hogg said. Meanwhile, the U.S. death toll climbed on Monday to 276, the point where the number of soldiers killed since President Bush declared an end to major combat on May 1 became equal to those who died during the military offensive from March 20 to April 30......
08/26/03 06:35 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.

(Ed Note: For those who can't find Khalis on your map, my National Geographic map shows a small town named Al Khalis about five miles northwest of Baqubah).
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U.S. forces capture top Iraqi militiamen
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. forces based in Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit said Monday they had captured two senior members of the former Iraqi leader's Fedayeen militia. They were captured overnight in separate operations, according to a statement from the U.S. 4th Infantry Division which controls three provinces north of Baghdad. "They were organizers of Fedayeen cells at a regional level," the statement said. It said five other Iraqis were detained across the three provinces, three of whom were suspected of carrying out attacks against American soldiers. A U.S. military spokeswoman said an explosive device was thrown over the wall of a U.S. military base in the town of Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, early Monday but there were no casualties. Guerrilla attacks on U.S. forces have killed 64 American soldiers since Washington declared major combat over on May 1. Many of the attacks have been concentrated in the 4th Infantry Division area of operations.
08/25/03 12:06 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.

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Excerpt from an AP Story on 8/25:

North of Baghdad, American forces captured seven men - two suspected Saddam Hussein loyalists and five people believed responsible for attacks on American troops - during a series of raids in the deposed leader's hometown, the military reported Monday. Troops of the 4th Infantry Divison's 1st Battalion, 22nd Regiment carried out the raid. No Americans were hurt, military officials said. The military said the captured men are suspected of organizing regional cells of the Fedayeen Saddam, a militia believed to be leading the guerrilla war against U.S. occupation forces.
08/25/03 16:54 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
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Soldier remembered at service
By Melanie Thomas
Killeen Daily Herald
FORT HOOD —The memory of a fallen Fort Hood soldier was honored Saturday through snapshots, words and praise. Capt. Leif E. Nott, 24, of Cheyene, Wyoming, died after he was hit by hostile fire July 30 in Belaruz, Iraq. Born Dec. 4, 1984 in Vicenza, Italy to U.S. military parents, Nott was a 4th Infantry Division soldier who had been assigned to A Troop, 1st Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood. Family members, friends and fellow soldiers gathered at the 76th Street Chapel on Fort Hood Saturday to mourn Nott's death and to celebrate his life. The memorial service lasted a little more than an hour and a half. Chaplain Doug Downs, pastor of the contemporary worship services at the 76th Street Chapel, opened the ceremony with a welcome and prayer. Downs said the chapel was where Nott and his wife, Melanie, worshipped and where Nott had played in the praise team. Members of the praise team played praise and worship songs during the memorial service, including a song entitled "I'm Trading My Sorrows," by Christian Artist Darrel Evans, which was a favorite of Nott's. The memorial service continued with comments from youth and leaders who had served with Nott in Young Life, a group that reaches out to high school youth to build a relationship with God. Wes Hill, a student leader with Young Life, said that everything Nott did reflected Jesus Christ. "Leif loved showing people God's majesty and the love of Christ," Hill said. During a Young Life retreat in Colorado last year, Hill said he credited Nott with one of his friend's becoming a Christian and in another friend seriously considering to become one. The wives of several officers in the 1/10 Cavalry also read comments their husbands made during an Aug. 3 memorial for Nott in the desert. "Four nights ago, all the cruel forces of time and circumstances converged upon our squadron and in a fleeting moment, the life of Lt. Leif E. Nott was take from us," read Ingrid Allen, the wife of squadron commander Lt. Col. Reginald Allen. "Though his life was cut short by powers beyond our understanding, his memory shall flip the bonds of death and dwell in the hearts of all who knew him," Allen said. Though he only knew Nott for a short time, Allen said that it seldom takes long to measure the true character of a man. "He was gracious to all and sincere in word and deed. His buoyant personality would rouse optimism in even the most hardened cynic," he said. Ingrid said Sgt. Adam Rowe, a master wood craftsman with 1/10, crafted the wood stand on which to hang Nott's beret and rifle during the desert memorial. She said the stand will remain at the camp where the soldiers are located in Iraq. Cathy Dabeck, the wife of Chaplain Larry Dabeck, said her husband loved Nott and had precious times of fellowship with Nott in the desert. Cathy said that Leif was one of the kindest men Larry has met. "People followed Leif because they wanted to," Cathy said her husband said of Nott. "He was the kind of man you just wanted to be around." Statements from Sgt. 1st Class Scott Zorn and troop commander Wes Young, both currently in Iraq, were also read. After the service, Young Life members shared what Nott meant to them. "He was an all-around person and never had anything negative to say," said Fort Hood resident Amanda Owens, 16, a senior at Shoemaker High School. "If you were having a bad day, he was the one to make it better," Owens said. "If you weren't smiling, he would make you smile." Shoemaker Senior Amanda Malmgren, 17, of Killeen, said Nott was a real lovable and happy guy and always had a big smile on his face. "His personality screamed out to all the high school students," Malmgren said. Young Life Leader Suzann Mayfield, of Killeen said Nott was a man who knew his priorities. "God first, family second along with the Army," Mayfield said. "He wanted nothing more than to lead kids to Christ in a fun way." Melanie said she felt compelled to ensure that a memorial for Nott was conducted at Fort Hood. "Many people here also need to heal," she said, adding that she felt the support of the Fort Hood community. "I wanted the memorial to honor and represent Leif as the Godly man that he was. "As his wife, I was able to love Lief in such a wonderful way. It breaks my heart that our marriage ended this way," Melanie said. "The world seems very empty without Lief in it, but I also know that his faith in God was so strong. He wouldn't want people to be sad but he would want people to be joyous for him and know that he was with his heavenly father now." Melanie said her husband believed in the mission in Iraq and put his whole heart into it. "He felt like his purpose in life was to be a peacekeeper," she said, adding that Nott was willing to give up the comforts of home and everyday conveniences to help other people. Melanie said a song played during the service, "The Shepherd Heard Her Cry," which was written and sung by Nott, is a testimony of his life and is kind of like a testimony to the world. She said Nott touched the lives of many youth in the community. "I feel like there are many teenagers in Young Life, who are forever changed because of Leif and I know they will always remember him," Melanie said. "I feel privileged that I was his wife. I know that God brought us together and I'm grateful for the time that he and I had together." Nott was posthumously promoted to captain and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his selfless service to the nation.

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