A Message from the Batallion Commander
 |
July
11, 2004
To my fellow Steel Tigers, Every day soldiers of your Regiment follow proudly in the footsteps of the heroes that have gone before them, namely you here today. It is eerie how much our mission resembles that of what you did in Vietnam – convoy security and route clearance, counter rocket patrols, search and destroy missions in the jungle like terrain around Balad and LSA Anaconda. |
The Battalion is split up into pieces as well, A Company working in Tikrit with TF 1-18 Infantry, tanks from B Company throughout Salah Ad Din supporting the Brigade wherever needed just as you all did in Vietnam.
I could not be prouder of the soldiers here who suffer through 130 degree heat and unseen attackers who prefer to take us on with mines and improvised explosive devices, remote fired rockets and mortars. We are in contact daily and yet the Steel Tigers take the fight to the enemy with late night raids that catch the vermin in their beds. To date, we have captured or killed more than 400, but war is not without its price.
| SGT Lee Todachenee, a Tiger medic, and SPC Richard Trevethick, a combat engineer were killed in April. To date, we have suffered more than 30 wounded as well, to include SSG Ryan Allman who is with you today. SSG Allman represents the best of the Steel Tigers, a scout and warrior whose first concern is always his soldiers and taking care of business. Please pat him and the Rear D folks there on the back for me. Without them, we could not make this happen. |
 KEEPING WATCH: U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan Allman with the 1st Infantry Division, Logistics Support Area, Anaconda, Iraq, scans the area while conducting a patrol on April, 26, 2004. The area is being cleared of threats so the Tactical Air Control Party can call in an air strike. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon II |
I will close by simply saying that I have promised my soldiers a 10-year regimental reunion in Las Vegas, and ask that the membership committee consider a request for the 77th Regimental reunion in 2014. God Bless you all.
Blood on the Axe!
LTC David S Hubner Sr.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
Army SPC Edgar P. Daclan Jr. 24, of Cypress, California was killed September 10, 2004, by an explosive device as his patrol was responding to indirect fire near Balad, Iraq. Spc. Daclan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, based in Schweinfurt, Germany.
SPC Gregory A. Cox, 21, of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania died September 27, 2004 in Balad, Iraq, when his military vehicle was unintentionally run off the road by a civilian vehicle causing it to rollover. Cox was assigned to 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
SFC Joselito O. Villanueva, 36, of Los Angeles, California died September 27, 2004 in Balad, Iraq, when he was at an observation post and was shot by a sniper. Villanueva was assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
We lost a Brother. It matters not what the rank, he was a Brother soldier, and he was working with our own 77th Tank Battalion. It matters not that he was an infantryman, he was one of ours. It matters not that he served in a war different from our war, he served on behalf of all of us. Nothing else matters. He was one of our own, and now he is gone and today and tomorrows to come, we will grieve for him.
In no way can we miss him as will his family and loved ones. But, we will indeed miss him, for he was our Brother. He was where we would have been were we only 35 years younger. He could have been our blood brother, or son or nephew. Please join us in asking the Power you hold most high to grant our Brother eternal rest, and to bring peace to his beloved family.
Tom Miller