Snow in Kirkuk

Soldiers take cover as snowballs fly in the early evening

School Damaged

First Sgt. Jennings and 1st Lt. Oliver Hollis assess damage at the middle school after the blast from the police station

Patrol Base

A view from atop the roof at Alpha Company patrol base in Kirkuk, Iraq

The Local Youth

Encounters with the local children are common when Alpha Company conducts its patrols. Most patrols, however, are spent searching for pockets of resistance

Support Operations

Soldiers from Alpha Company move in a 5-ton truck in support of Bravo Company during daylight combat operations

The Market Street

Similar to swap meets and craft fairs, The Market Street offers anything from hardware to produce. This was taken during a Shia demonstration that U.S. troops were dispatched to protect

The Rat Pack

Some Iraqi boys, referred to as the Rat Pack by 1st Sgt. Robert Jennings, try to hustle for money in the streets. They are just a few members of the Iraqi public that soldiers encounter near their patrol base

Company HQ

A view of the inside of a former Bathe Party house that is now used by the Gators

Standing Guard

Pfc. John D. Amos II stood guard recently along a river bank in Kirkuk. Amos died from injuries suffered in a blast on April 4

Memorial

A memorial to Pfc. John D. Amos II, including the symbolic boots, rifle and dog tags, was set up Thursday in Kirkuk

In Preparation

Soldiers must be prepared for various types of missions, almost every day, from searching for wanted personnel and illegal arms to scouting sites for improvement

Little Wahiawa

Little touches of home like this sign keep popping up at Kirkuk Airbase

Amu Shabi Kids

Some middle school kids at Amu Shabi show off new supplies

Amu Shabi Residents Speak

Cpt. Todd Moe listens to some of the concerns of residents in Amu Shabi, Iraq

"SHAKA!"

Staff Sgt. Mendoza showed some of the children how to give the shaka

Waiting in Line

Young girls waited in line for their turn to pick donated clothes, school supplies and hygiene products that soldiers passed out

... the line continues

Even more girls wait for their turn

A Young Girl Waits

A small child waits for her turn to look through the toys and clothes

Setting Up

Soldiers set up tables full of clothes, school supplies and hygeine products

The Wall

A wall painted by artist Dar and his friend. The Alpha Company patrol base was dedicated on 1 May 04 as "THE SWAMP"

Joking Around

Just being himself, SSG Nunes manages to get in the backround as his soldiers pose for a picture

OP Duty

SSG Nunes on top of one of the Alpha Company observation posts

A Fallen Leader

Staff Sgt. Nunes just before a patrol in Kirkuk, Iraq

Snow Time

SSG Nunes standing in the first snow in 14 years in Kirkuk, Iraq

A Casket

Soldiers from Alpha Company carry SSG Todd Nunes' casket to the awaiting aircraft

Boarding the Plane

Soldiers from Alpha Company carry SSG Todd Nunes' casket to the awaiting aircraft

Squad Photo

3rd platoon, 2nd squad pose in front of thier fallen squad leader's boots and dogtags

Squad Photo Take Two

3rd platoon, 2nd squad pose in front of thier fallen squad leader's boots and dogtags

Another Squad Photo

SSG Nunes' squad, Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Leader pose with his picture at his memorial on 7 May 2004 in Kirkuk, Iraq

Platoon Photo

3rd platoon poses for a picture with SSG Nunes' picture at his memorial on 7 May 2004

Returning from School

Several Iraqi girls return home from school as a U.S. soldier stands nearby

SFC Woodruff and local boys

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Woodruff poses with some boys during a patrol

New Tribute

Artists Dar and Amere painted a mural of Staff Sgt. Todd Nunes as a gift to the Alpha Gators

A Leader Meeting

With the help of an interpreter, 1st Sgt. Robert Jennings spoke to the village leaders of Amu Shabi

Cache Found

Staff Sgt. John Booth stands in a hole that contained more than 200 155 mm artillery rounds. This is the fourth cache of this size Alpha Company has uncovered in the last two and a half months

Purple Hearts Pinned

Purple Hearts were awarded in a ceremony last week to six Alpha Company soldiers that were injured in an ambush on May 2

Sew Shop Open

Isrii Talib, left, sits with fellow seamstresses Elham, Sharean and Olla in the sewing room of her shop

Combat Lifesaver Training

Soldiers from Alpha Company continue to practice their medical training. Here Pfc. Michael Mullen, from Boston, gives Pfc. Earnest Wentwoth of Dalton, Ga., an IV as Staff Sgt. Eric Guffey of Russell Springs, Ky., looks on

Getting Some Rest

Soldiers try to get some sleep prior to an early morning mission. In Kirkuk, they have implemented plans to counter any insurgencies in preparation for the transition to the new Iraqi government

Mukhtar Elections

Citizens of Amu Shabi take part in the election of their Mukhtar. The Mukhtar is like the mayor of the village, and is usually an elder that everyone looks up to. The election was not government-sponsored

Local Interaction

Spc. Omar Jaber takes time to visit with some Iraqi children at school

Reenlistment Time

1st Lt. Micah Blais, of Wenham, Mass., administers the oath to Sgt. Brandon Bounds, of Valparaiso, Fla., Spc. Thomas Arpasi, of Cotville, Mo., and Spc. Ronald Becker, of Bath, N.Y., during their re-enlistment. Actor Vince Vaughn assists Sgt. 1st Class Richard Woodruff, of Scottsville, Ky., holding the flag

CIB Ceremony

Spc. Domingo Fallejo of Zambales, Philippines, received his Combat Infantryman's Badge from his team leader, Sgt. Jesus Navarro of Yakima, Wash., in a ceremony on July 11

Donation Time

Soldiers and police hand out clothes to children in a Kurdish village, in what 1st Sgt. Robert Jennings describes as one of the highlights of his deployment

More Local Interaction

Robert Ryder, of Portland, Ore., talks with a young boy as U.S. soldiers hand out clothes in a small Kurdish village

And The Lines Grow Larger

Girls wait in line for their chance to pick out donated clothes

Some Sweets

Sgt. 1st Class Johnson, a medical platoon sergeant, attracts children while handing out candy. Soldiers also took time out last week to distribute medical supplies to the Amu Shabi clinic

Youth Organization Interaction

Two leaders from a youth organization received shoes and uniforms for their fall soccer league from 1st Sgt. Jennings

SFC Woodruff Poses For Picture

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Woodruff was offered morning tea during a joint operation last Monday

1SG Jennings And A Boy At A Tent Village

1st Sgt. Robert Jennings and a small boy make faces at each other during a recent visit to a new tent village

1SG Jennings Teaches "Shaka"

1st Sgt. Robert Jennings teaches the children how to perform shaka signs during his visit to a tent village of Kurdish squatters

Another Day Completed

Staff Sgt. Christopher Golde of Kenmare, N.D., walks a patrol at sunset in a new Kurdish tent city on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Iraq. He and other 25th Infantry Division (Light) soldiers deployed there make daily trips to the tent city to maintain calm in the area until the government decides what it is going to do with the camps and land allocation

A Kurdish Family At Home

A Kurdish mother and her two children watch as a patrol walks through their village

SGT Chesley on patrol

Sgt. Josua Chesley of Las Vegas is led by a child during a patrol in a new tent city outside Kirkuk

Sharing With The Locals

Staff Sgt. Robert Ryder of Portland, Ore., shares his sunflower seeds with children as U.S. soldiers and police walk through a new tent village

Curious Villagers

Kurdish families appear curious as they stand outside their tents at a tent village, as U.S. soldiers walk through

On Patrol

Spc. Edmund Gilo of Maui walks a patrol with Iraqi police. Enemies continue to threaten coalition forces in the area daily

Children On Patrol

Children, carrying toys made of expended ammunition casings, follow a soldier on patrol

Local Greetings

Children greet you with "Chore-nee," Kurdish for "how are you?" Reply with "Zee-in," which means "I'm fine." You're sure to get a smile

Other Traffic

The many obstacles that troops face while out on mounted patrols include cows occasionally wandering in the streets

Local View

Children sat outside a store recently while 1st Sgt. Robert Jennings was on patrol. Jennings is concerned that civilians trying to make a difference are being killed

Admin At Work

Spc. Jason Manchester and Spc. Joseph Crugnale man the radios in the patrol base command center

Helping Supply Local Hospital

Pfc. Michael Rogerson, Statesville, N.C., 2nd Platoon medic, delivers crutches, pediatric breathing equipment and some bandages to the local pediatric hospital

Delivering Supplies

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Woodruff shakes the principal's hand after delivering supplies. This was one of 12 schools in Baghdad that received supplies from Alpha Company

Participating In The Festivities

During a dismounted patrol, Capt. Derek Bird of Lynchburg, Va., took time out to join in a wedding dance yesterday

Sharing The Halloween Spirit

Even though Halloween is not recognized in Iraq, Spc. Roland Garza handed out plastic pumpkins with candy. The pumpkins were sent by Sherrie Cummings, mother of Spc. Jacob Baggett

Helping With Medical Supplies

Soldiers deliver three truckloads of medical supplies to Kirkuk General Hospital. Sgt. 1st Class Austin Brown unloads one of the trucks

1SG Jennings Tells A Story

First Sgt. Robert Jennings, with help from his interpreter, tells the story of "Little Red Riding Hood" to 6-year-olds at a local school

Taxi Near Checkpoint Explodes

This taxi exploded Nov. 9 near a search checkpoint. There was minimal property damage and no casualties

Local Police Presence Increases

Police officers inspect a vehicle at a random checkpoint in Kirkuk. They have stepped up their presence in the city to deter an influx of insurgents fleeing from Fallujah

Happy Thanksgiving!

1st Lt. Nick Suhr, left, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., serves Thanksgiving dinner to Spc. Michael Elliott of Strathmore, Calif.

Decorating For Christmas

Capt. Derek Bird of Lynchburg, Va., and Spc. Joe Crugnale of Las Vegas stand by the company tree, donated by Sherrie Cummins, the mother of Spc. Jacob Baggett

Interaction On Patrol

1st Lt. Micah Blais of Winningham, Mass., joked around with some boys during a patrol. Members of 3rd Platoon delivered heaters to schools last week

Girls Goofing Around

A group of Iraqi girls goof around after getting out of school. Soldiers expect more attacks on schools, which are serving as registration, polling and voting centers for the upcoming elections

Dodgeball 2?

Alpha Company soldiers prepared to battle each other in dodge ball on Christmas Day

Discussion Of The Future

Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson discussed the future of the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division with Alpha Company soldiers

Continued Patrolling

First Sgt. Robert Jennings took time to say hello to a little girl during a dismounted patrol

Breaking New Ground

The village mayor and the primary school principal broke ground on the site of two new classrooms. The work started on Monday and should be complete by the middle of February

Extending Relations

Joe Hensley of Oklahoma City talked with a shop owner during a recent night patrol

Normal Life Returning

Boys enjoy a game of marbles in the schoolyard

Loving The Sweetness

While on patrol in Bajiwan, Iraq, 1st Sgt. Robert Jennings spotted two boys and gave them lollipops. They took the candy, sat down next to the road and started eating

Setting Up For Elections

Soldiers watch as Iraqi men unload balloting material at a school set up as a polling station. A Company, with the rest of the battalion, Iraqi army and police, has been busy preparing selected schools to serve as polling sites

Kids Joking Around

Kids decided to joke around with the soldiers while the soldiers delivered ballots in a Kurdish neighborhood

Determined To Vote

A man assisted by his son demanded to leave the hospital to vote yesterday. In his right hand is a colostomy bag in a plastic sack. His son is carrying his intravenous drip

More Violence

A car was damaged in Kirkuk on Wednesday by about two pounds of explosives placed under the back of the vehicle. The front door of the house and 22 windows also were blown out

New Middle School Opens

A joint effort of A Company and Echo Troop was able to open the middle school in Bajawan. Officials cut the ribbon to the new school

Preparing For The Ride Home

A Company soldiers move into temporary housing as they await their flights out of Iraq

Closing Ceremony

Lt. Col. Mark Dewhurst and Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur Padilla cased the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, colors as a symbol of relinquishing their authority of Kirkuk during a ceremony held yesterday in Iraq

The Flight Home

Soldiers packed into a C-130 transport plane preparing to lift off from Kirkuk, Iraq, ending their tour of duty