LTC Richard D. Shatto, Commanding 
Commanders Message (15 NOV, 2005)
Family and friends,
Well, we are in our last few weeks of combat operations and our soldiers continue to do an outstanding job. Many of our active duty counterparts have commented on how they will miss the great efforts and soldiers of the “Iron-man” battalion. Our fellow brothers and sisters-in-arms have grown to rely on the professional and expert performance that our soldiers provide in the counter-insurgency-fight here in our area of operations.
In keeping with the promise from my last
message to keep you up to date on our return home, please be advised of the
following:
§ We will be conducting our “Transfer of Authority” (TOA) with our replacement unit on 2 December.
§ Our battalion will start flying out of Iraq to Kuwait between the 1st and 4th of December.
§ We expect to be in Kuwait until (approximately) the 16th of December busy with the cleaning and loading of equipment onto ships destined for home.
§ Following that, we will board our flights to the states.
§
Sometime around the 17th of
December we will go directly to Camp Atterbury and begin our 5 day
demobilization processing.
We are still unsure as to when family members will be able to see their precious ones. You can be sure though, that as we work through all of the red-tape and start to receive those answers, we will pass that information along to our rear detachments and onto the Family Readiness Groups (FRG’s).
Please do not make fixed plans to meet your loved ones yet. We do not want to see you waste your time or money. Rest assured there will be a time set aside for you to greet and reunite with your loved ones. We will ensure that you are informed as soon as we know all of the specifics.
Keep in mind, that all in-bound mail operations have stopped (effective 15 NOV 2005). Consequently, thereafter, all mail addressed to our APO-AE has been re-routed to the Gary Armory. Of course soldiers are still able to mail letters & packages out.
That said; please continue to support and be there for your precious ones.
It’s almost over!
Happy Holiday’s,
LTC Richard Shatto