I served with the BN that Gov Walz was slotted in as it’s CSM.
I was attached to the MN NG 1-125 FA BN as part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division during our 16 month deployment to Babel Province, Iraq.
I was attached to the MN NG 1-125 FA BN as part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division during our 16 month deployment to Babel Province, Iraq.
The BN was a battle-space owner on one of the main pilgrimage routes from Iran to the Shia holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.
Our fight was with Iranian sponsored Jaysh al Mahdi special groups.
Our fight was with Iranian sponsored Jaysh al Mahdi special groups.
Because of this, our brigade sent my Tactical Human Intelligence Team to embed with this BN for the purpose of conducting Counterintelligence and Force Protection Source Operations.
The unit took both KIA and WIA.
The unit took both KIA and WIA.
My purpose in writing this isn’t so much to speak to MSG Walz’ details pre-deployment. I was not part of the initial during the work up. I have no direct knowledge of the events surrounding MSG Walz during this time period.
I am not speaking for anyone else in the BN, or on behalf of any of the families of our KIA and WIA.
Here is a list of deployment casualties from just one of our companies, an outstanding group of heroes from the Kansas NG who augmented the BN.
Here is a list of deployment casualties from just one of our companies, an outstanding group of heroes from the Kansas NG who augmented the BN.
My purpose in writing this is to tell you what I know of CSM Thomas Behrends, who took the intended place of of MSG Walz as the BN CSM.
CSM Behrends is one authors of the letter outlining his understanding of the events surrounding MSG Walz, pre-deployment.
CSM Behrends is one authors of the letter outlining his understanding of the events surrounding MSG Walz, pre-deployment.
Here is CSM Behrends on honor detail loading an American KIA on a chopper. He is the rear, right stretcher bearer.
Let me tell you about the man, CSM Behrends.
I was going on an intelligence reconnaissance mission in an area from which the terrorist group had attacked our small base several times, via indirect fire (mortars and katusha rockets), based on intel from HUMINT sources.
I was going on an intelligence reconnaissance mission in an area from which the terrorist group had attacked our small base several times, via indirect fire (mortars and katusha rockets), based on intel from HUMINT sources.
The mission entailed dropping a small team off in this area. There were only four people on this mission, by design. CSM Behrends, our armed American Citizen Iraqi translator, a squad designated marksman, and me.
A large cordon and search mission was conducted in another area to draw the attention of the terrorists away from where our mission was taking place.
Our four man team had no vehicles, no security element-just our weapons and the water we could carry, in enemy territory.
Our four man team had no vehicles, no security element-just our weapons and the water we could carry, in enemy territory.
We had to keep a very small footprint, as we didn’t want the terrorists to know we were in the area.
We spent the whole day in 120 degree heat searching for the exact point from which the terrorists had been attacking our base with indirect fire.
We spent the whole day in 120 degree heat searching for the exact point from which the terrorists had been attacking our base with indirect fire.
After many hours we finally found the impression in the ground made from the baseplate of the terrorists mortar system. Close by was a berm with burn marks from katusha rocket launches.
We recorded the 10 digit grid, and were extracted out of the area.
We recorded the 10 digit grid, and were extracted out of the area.
This allowed the unit’s surveillance assets to zero in on this grid coordinate and direct our fires to this location, killing one of the insurgents, and blowing the arm off another. Additional actionable intelligence was gained because of this mission.
I tell this story because it was a risky mission. If the terrorist group had known just the four of us were out there, we very easily could have been overwhelmed and killed. Or worse, captured.
CSM Behrends did not have to be on this mission. It was irregular for such a senior enlisted soldier to go on missions like this.
But CSM Behrends was not going to have his soldiers go on such a mission without him being right there with us.
But CSM Behrends was not going to have his soldiers go on such a mission without him being right there with us.
This is the kind of man CSM Behrends is.
I was intimidated by CSM Behrends when I first arrived at the BN Fob. I grew to highly respect him. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened.
I was intimidated by CSM Behrends when I first arrived at the BN Fob. I grew to highly respect him. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened.
Take this into account as you read his statement about politician Tim Walz.
@DaleStarkA10
@kristina_wong
@CynicalPublius
@kristina_wong
@CynicalPublius
@CynicalPublius
@DaleStarkA10 @kristina_wong @CynicalPublius @Cernovich
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