We have witnessed a couple of major events in Salah ad Din during the past two months.  On June 14th Al-Qaeda terrorists destroyed the two minarets of the  Askariya Mosque, or better known as the ?Golden Dome,? in Samarra.  The Golden Mosque is one of the holiest shrines for Shiite Muslims, and its destruction on February 22, 2006, set off a terrible outbreak of sectarian reprisals throughout the country.  The terrorists had hoped to cause such an event again.  Buddy Ferris, Charlie Company Commander for 2-Panther, whose company lives and works within Samarra at Patrol Base Olson, quickly began work with the Iraqi security  forces to immediately bring the situation under control.  By the end of the day, all news reports coming out of Samarra stated that Samarra was ?strangely calm.?  
 The Iraqi central government has made a commitment now to rebuild the Golden Mosque and has moved new security forces to provide better security for the city.  Viet Luong and 2-Panther have worked very hard since June 14th to integrate the new Iraqi forces being moved into Samarra and have done great job minimizing the level of violence.  Their efforts to keep a lid on violence have been noted all the way up the chain of command.
     Three days prior to the bombing of the mosque, Alpha Company, 2-Panther found the IDs of the two missing soldiers, SPC Fouty and PFC Jiminez, from 10th Mountain Division, during a night raid on a house of a suspected bomb-maker. 
 
Our Paratroopers spent three days scouring the area for any clues as to the whereabouts of our missing comrades.  We uncovered a huge media center for Al-Qaeda, where they developed and distributed their propaganda, but we were unable to find the missing soldiers.  We still pray for their families and their safe return.
      The biggest operation that occurred in Iraq in the past two months was Operation Arrowhead Ripper in Diyala.  The objective was to clear the Al-Qaeda elements that had found safe haven in the mixed Shia-Sunni Province.  Three brigades took part in this operation, including our RSTA battalion 5-73 CAV and Bravo Company from 2-Panther.  By all accounts, our Paratroopers performed exceptionally well, and even some of the Iraqi Insurgency groups have turned against the brutality of Al-Qaeda.
      As Al-Qaeda is being pushed out of Diyala and Anbar they have started to migrate towards our province.  As a sign of this movement, last month Al-Qaeda and their sympathizers mounted two car bomb attacks against the Iraqi police in Siniyah and Bayji.  These attacks killed 26 brave Iraqi policemen and were part of an attempt to intimidate the people into submission.  1-Panther would not be intimidated and they were back on the streets following the attacks helping the Iraqis get back on their feet.  Since the attacks, 1-Panther has helped to recruit more policemen and is starting to rebuild the police stations.  
      Perhaps one of the most encouraging signs of progress we have seen since our deployment is the creation of the Salah ad Din Sheik?s Support Council.  
On June 6th, 130 sheiks from the province got together and vowed to fight Al-Qaeda and extremism in their tribal areas.  This movement was based on the Anbar Awakening and the successful campaign the sheiks of Anbar have been waging against Al-Qaeda, but with some important differences.  Our province has a functioning government.  According to current discussions, the tribes, in conjunction with the provincial government, will work to deny Al-Qaeda any safe havens in Salah ad Din.  We hope by the time we leave country, the Sheik?s Support Council will be fully functioning and opening a new chapter in the future security of Salah Ad Din.
      We have lost 53 Paratroopers, Soldiers, and Airmen during the past year and we pray for their families and loved ones.  The past two months 2-Panther lost four Paratroopers; Sgt. Clayton Dunn, Spc. Michael Jarigue, Spc. Gregory Milliard all on Memorial Day as a result of an IED and Spc. Roberto Causor passed away in Samarra on July 7th.  Staff Sgt. Timothy Cole from 5-73 Cav
passed away on June 6th and Cpl. Eric Palmer from 1-Panther passed away June 24.  
We also lost two Air Force EOD techs in two separate IED blasts, Senior Airman William Newmann on June 7 and Senior Airman Jason Nathan on June 23rd.  Their sacrifice will never be forgotten and their deaths only continue to strengthen our resolve against our enemy.
 
 ATW!!  H-Minus!!  Panther 6