Good Luck and God Bless, CSM Battle
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009
by Ryan Stroud
There have only been a few men in my life who have honestly made a huge impact on who I am today. The first is Jesus Christ, our lord and savior, who gave his life for all of us, his children. Another one is my father, Don Stroud, who made sure my brother and I would always know that we are loved. Unlike his stepfather who tortured my father in many ways, Don made sure we never knew what his childhood was really like. Through a strict upbringing, my father was hard on us but never let us leave a room without mentioning he loves us.
And this brings me to my next point. Last week I received the news that our brigade command sergeant major of the 59 th Ordnance Brigade, Command Sergeant Major Reginald Battle, will be retiring in February. I had heard the rumors months before but hoped they were false. Now I know they are true and my heart applauds with joy and breaks at the same time.
I ventured into Redstone in the middle to late April of last year. As soon as signed in from leave, I was told to go immediately see the sergeant major. At first I was extremely nervous. I only had boots on the ground for a few minuets and already I have to go see the highest enlisted man in our brigade.
As I met CSM Battle, he quickly shook my hand and personally welcomed me to the brigade. We chatted about a few things, exchanging small stories, when he noticed the 1 st Cavalry patch on my right shoulder. CSM Battle asked me about my deployment and I just about started to tear-up right there.
Before coming to Redstone, I was assigned to the 3 rd Brigade Combat Team, 1 st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Our deployment to Baqubah, Iraq, was from October of 2006 to December of 2007. There, we lost over 100 Soldiers, some of them friends of mine. My job in public affairs was to cover every single memorial service for the fallen Soldiers, take photos for the families and write a story about the service.
Covering that many memorial services really took a toll on me as a person and I had only been home a few months before arriving at Redstone. I wasn't fully over what I had seen in battle and what I had to write for my comrades. CSM Battle saw this and quickly shut his office door.
We talked for a few more minuets and he shared more stories with me, letting me know he understood where I was coming from. Though my wife is prior service, she never deployed in her career. Sometimes it's hard for her to understand my emotions and feelings about Iraq. CSM Battle understood. He told me if I ever needed to talk I could come to him. This made me feel a mixture of things. One, here I am, a new Soldier to the unit and I'm tearing up in front of a sergeant major, and two, I couldn't believe a man I had just met and as high ranking was willing to share so much of himself to make sure I would be okay.
Though I have never gone back to speak to CSM Battle about any of my Iraq feelings, I know if I needed to, he would hear me out.
I learned a huge lesson that day, no matter who you are, no matter what rank, we all can help each other, our fellow Soldiers. Whether it's teaching a lesson or just lending an ear, we all can help. It is a lesson I will teach my children and I can't ever thank CSM Battle enough for that.
So as it makes me happy to know CSM Battle is retiring, it makes me just as sad to know other Soldiers will not have the chance to ever serve under him again, learning the same lessons he has taught me.
Good luck and God bless.
Ryan Stroud is a military trained journalist who has served in Iraq with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, US Army. Prior to his military experiences, Stroud grew up playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer. Also, Stroud focused many years of his life playing, touring, and recording/producing local music acts. He has a wonderful wife of 4 years, a 2 year old son and a newborn daughter.
Stroud's biggest writing influences are Jim Butcher, Chuck Palahniuk, Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum, Christopher Moore and Ben Fox.
He currently resides in Huntsville, Al, with the 59th Ordnance Brigade at Redstone Arsenal.
Stroud would also like to take a moment to thank his friends who are currently in battle over in Iraq. God bless all of you.
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