1/11 Marines relieve ‘Bearcats’
AL TAQADDUM, Iraq (July 13, 2007) -- Army Lt. Col. Gregg L. Parks, battalion commander of 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, handed the reins of his unit’s area of operations over to Marine Lt. Col. Phillip W. Boggs, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, in a transfer of authority ceremony here July 13.
Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith
The 2-136, a Twin Lakes, Minn., based Army National Guard unit, has been running security operations in the local area for 16 months.
“The 2-136 is a fantastic unit,” said Boggs, a Greenville, S.C., native. “They have been very dedicated to the mission and integrated well with the Marines they worked with. They were very aggressive in their actions and are true professionals.”
Parks said working for 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) has been a unique experience for himself and his soldiers.
“We have gained a great respect for the ‘esprit de corps’ and high level of motivation that most Marines possess,” he said.
During their tenure here, the 2-136, also known as the “Bearcats,” rescued four local nationals from torture houses in Fallujah and Abu Ghraib, detained more than 300 anti-Iraqi forces, conducted five cooperative medical engagements in which they helped treat more than 2,000 local nationals with medical problems, conducted nearly 4,000 combat patrols and helped local communities rebuild their infrastructure through dozens of civil affairs projects amounting to more than $1 million.
“The ‘Bearcats’ have proven themselves as relentless in taking the fight to the insurgency,” Parks explained. “Our soldiers were able to win the trust and confidence of the Iraqi people in our sector. Through aggressive patrolling in our sector, we have managed to constantly keep the enemy off balance.”
Despite the Guard unit’s extensive activation, 250 soldiers reenlisted, 72 percent of all those eligible.
Parks said he is confident that 1st Bn., 11th Marines will be able to handle the area of operations effectively.
“They have proven themselves as a professional organization who quickly were able to take the reins from my soldiers,” said the Walker, Minn., native. “They have a lot of quality junior (noncommissioned officers) and officers who will do a great job of keeping the enemy in check.”
According to Parks, the most positive thing coming from their extended stay here are the changes occurring throughout the province.
“When we arrived, Al Anbar was considered a lost province and recently it has become a model of success for the rest of Iraq,” he added.
He cited the actions of sheiks and village leaders around the province standing up against enemy forces and the fact that when the “Bearcats” first arrived there were no Iraqi soldiers or policemen in the area of operations.
“Now both are everywhere doing great things for the Iraqi people,” said Parks, who is an educator in the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District in Minnesota. “The Iraqi security forces’ influence is growing daily as both organizations take on larger roles.”
As the 2-136 departs for a well-deserved break, 1st Bn., 11th Marines plan to continue on with the successes made by the soldiers in the province.
“We’re looking forward to completing the mission and making sure we continue on with the same successes as the 2-136,” said Boggs. “1/11 is very well trained and ready for the task at hand. The NCOs and Marines have put a lot of work into getting prepared and trained.”
Parks closed by thanking the Marines and wishing them well.
“I wish them the best during their deployment and pray that all will return safely home to their families.”