3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment

In 2002 the 39th Brigade was notified that it would be participating in a rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA. For National Guard brigades, a rotation is actually a three-year process that provides additional money, resources and training opportunities in order to improve unit readiness before the actual rotation through the JRTC. The brigade was required to complete a Mission Rehearsal Exercise during the Annual Training 2003 which was conducted at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Less than a month after the completion of this major training milestone, the brigade received its alert for deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on 28 July 2003.

On 12 October 2003, the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, commanded by LTC Mark Lumpkin, was ordered to federal service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II for a period of up to 18 months. The 3–153rd IN would undergo post mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas from October 2003 until January 2004. In January the 3–153rd shipped its vehicles and equipment to Iraq from Fort Hood, and then moved to Fort Polk for a Mission Rehearsal Exercise at the JRTC. While there, on 17 February 2004, President George W. Bush visited the 39th and had an MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) lunch in a field mess tent with soldiers. After lunch, President Bush made brief remarks to the soldiers.

When the 3–153rd IN received its alert, it was approximately 130 soldiers short of its authorized end strength. This shortage was due in large part to the way new recruits are accounted for in the National Guard. In the active army a new recruit only comes to a unit and is counted on its books after the soldier has completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training. In the National Guard, the new recruit is counted on the unit's strength reports as soon as the soldier signs his contract. The brigade had over 500 soldiers who had not completed either Basic or Advanced Individual Training upon alert.

This shortage led to the decision to consolidate the available manning into two infantry battalions that would be supplied for the brigade by the Arkansas National Guard and to ask National Guard Bureau to provide the third infantry battalion. Because of the 2002 deployment of the 2-153 Infantry Battalion to the MFO, the battalion was deemed non-deployable as an organization, however the soldiers of the battalion were to deploy. The decision was made by BG Chastain to consolidate the three infantry battalions into two battalions and request an additional battalion from National Guard Bureau. The 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment was one of the two Arkansas infantry battalions which would deploy. The battalion commander (LTC Kirk Van Pelt) and staff from 2–153rd IN were transferred to 3–153rd IN Infantry. The 3–153rd IN battalion commander and staff were transferred to 2–153rd IN and were designated to function as the brigade's rear detachment during the deployment. This transfer led to the 3-153 IN often being referred to as the Two-Thirds (2/3) Battalion by members of the 39th BCT. 3–153rd IN adopted the 2–153rd IN's nickname and call sign, "Gunslingers" for OIF II.

During consolidation of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions 153rd Infantry for OIF II, efforts were made to maintain unit integrity at least at the platoon level. The units were consolidated in the following fashion:[6]

3–153rd conducts combat missions and stability operations and support operations (SOSO) in order to set the conditions for a safe and secure Baghdad and greater Iraq.

The 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment relieved the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery and 3rd Battalion, 7th Armor, of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in the Baghdad neighborhood of Adhamiyah. This relief in place took place in the midst of a multiparty insurgency uprising.[7] The brigade's convoys were heavily opposed during the convoy north.[8] 3–153rd was stationed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Gunslinger (aka FOB Solidarity), in the Adhamiyah neighborhood of Baghdad which lies immediately to the west of Sadr City. Soldiers of Company C, 3-153rd were stationed at Patrol Base Apache (also known as Fort Apache) the former Adhamiyah Palace, which was prominently displayed in the 2004 documentary film Gunner Palace. Additionally 3-153rd was charged with patrolling a large area of operations that stretched north from Baghdad along the east side of the Tigris River, and included the city of Hussainiyah, a town of 500,000 about twelve miles north of Baghdad. 3–153rd was tasked with providing a Military Assistance Training Team to support the Headquarters and Companies C and D of 301st Iraqi National Guard Battalion, and Company C, 102nd Iraqi National Guard Battalion.[9]

3–153rd was responsible for the development of various tactics, techniques and procedures related to sniper operations. On 9 June 2004, 3rd Battalion snipers engaged and destroyed an enemy 60mm mortar team attempting to attack elements of the 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment on the FOB Justice (the former Iraqi Ministry of Justice).[10] This engagement was the first successful sniper engagement against an enemy mortar in Task Force Baghdad. On 29 August 2004, and 13 January 2005, battalion snipers engaged and destroyed enemy 82mm mortar teams. Battalion snipers also destroyed two enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) teams, one enemy machine gun team and various other small unit formations. In all the 3rd Battalion snipers accumulated over 3,000 hours in observation and hide sites in the battalion's area of observation.[10]

The battalion conducted over twenty battalion level operations ranging from cordon and search operation, raid, and movement to contact. These operations resulted in the capture of two-hundred enemy personnel and the destruction of over one hundred and twenty enemy fighters.[10] The battalion's subordinate companies conducted over two hundred fifty company level operations and conducted over one thousand five hundred patrols. The 3rd Battalion also confiscated thousands of pounds of enemy arms, ammunition and equipment.

While detached to the 2nd Squadron 7th Cavalry Regiment, members of the 1st Platoon, Company C, 3–153rd conducted combat operations throughout the Task Force Baghdad (MND-B) area of operations, including the Battle of Najaf (2004). On 10 and 16 July 2004, 1st platoon confiscated one of the largest caches discovered in the 2–7th CAV area of operations. During the Battle of Najaf, 1st platoon acted as the company main effort for Company C, 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry through three weeks of offensive operations, the platoon killed over one hundred twenty enemy insurgents with the loss of only two wounded in action. The platoon spearheaded 2–7th CAV's final assault on the objective. The platoon was the first coalition element to enter the Exclusion Zone surrounding the Imam Ali Mosque.[10]

3–153rd provided security to two massive Shiite marches to the Khadamiyah Shrine which were staged through Sunni neighborhoods. They were accompanied by very little violence due to the battalion's work with Iraqi National Guard and Iraqi Police officials.[11]

The most coordinated enemy attack the 3–153rd experienced occurred on 20 November 2004 when twenty-six soldiers of Company C, 3-153rd were ambushed near Ft. Apache in North Baghdad. They fended off over 100 insurgents for several hours without ammunition resupply or support. The platoon leader, First Lieutenant Michael McCarty, despite being wounded, endured intense enemy direct fire and personally neutralized an enemy machine gun emplacement without support. Lieutenant McCartyreceived the Silver Star for his actions.[12]

3-153rd was also instrumental in the January 2005 elections. The battalion was responsible for the establishment and security of twenty different polling sites within the battalion area of operations. Due to the battalion's planning and coordination with Iraqi counterpart units and governmental elections officials, not one polling site in the 3–153rd area of operations was disrupted or forced to close.[10]

The 3–153rd was covered by an embedded reporter, Amy Schlesing of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, for the entire time in Iraq. Ms. Schlesing spent the majority of her time with 3–153rd. The definitive work on the 3–153rd deployment to Iraq was published by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The work entitled The Bowie Brigade, Arkansas National Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade in Iraq was published in 2005 and is a collection of the work of Ms. Schlesing and the embedded photographers and writers who accompanied the brigade; Statnon Breidenthal. Karen E. Segrave, Arron Skinner, Stephen B. Thorton and Michael Woods.

The 3–153rd IN was relieved in place by elements of the 11th ACR in March 2005. During the deployment the battalion suffered a total of four killed in action. Members of the 3–153rd were awarded one Silver Star Medal, dozens of Bronze Stars and Army Commendation Medal with V device and many Purple Heart medals. In the March 2005, units of the 3–153rd started their rotation back to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for demobilization.

The following units were task organized under the 3–153rd during Operation Iraqi Freedom II:[13]

• Specialist Kenneth Melton of Batesville, Age 30. Killed in Action, 25 April 2004
• Corporal Jimmy Buie of Floral, Age 43. Killed in Action, 1/04/05
• Specialist Joshua Marcum of Evening Shade, Age 33. Killed in Action, 1/04/05
• Specialist Jeremy McHalffey of Mabelvale, Age 28. Killed in Action, 1/04/05

A silver color metal and enamel device 1+1⁄8 inches (2.9 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Azure, a bend wavy between a fleur-de-lis and a giant cactus Argent; on a chief of the last a Great Bear's face of the like fimbriated of the first, lips and tongue Gules. Attached below the shield is a blue motto scroll inscribed "LET'S GO" in silver letters.[17]

Symbolism: The shield is blue for Infantry. The wavy bend, representing the Arkansas River, refers to the geographic location of the regiment. The cactus symbolizes service on the Mexican border and the fleur-de-lis service in France during World War I. The Great Bear's face from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Alaskan Department symbolizes service in that area in World War II.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 153rd Regiment infantry on 6 January 1930. It was amended on 30 June 1930. On 4 June 1951 the insignia was amended to show additional war service.

Blazon: Shield: Azure, a bend wavy between a fleur-de-lis and a giant cactus Argent; on a chief of the last a Great Bear's face of the like fimbriated of the first, lips and tongue Gules.[17]

Crest: That for the regiments of the Arkansas National Guard: On a wreath of the colors (Argent and Azure) above two sprays of apple blossoms Proper a diamond Argent charged with four mullets Azure, one in upper point and three in lower, within a bordure of the last bearing twenty-five mullets of the second.

Symbolism: The shield is blue for Infantry. The wavy bend, representing the Arkansas River, refers to the geographic location of the regiment. The cactus symbolizes service on the Mexican border and the fleur-de-lis service in France during World War I. The Great Bear's face from the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Alaskan Department symbolizes service in that area in World War II.

Background: The coat of arms was originally approved for the 153rd Regiment Infantry on 6 January 1930. It was amended on 4 June 1951 to show additional war service.