WELCOME CEREMONY: Silver Star recipient among troops back from battle

FORT DRUM — Families welcomed home about 300 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team at a Magrath Sports Complex ceremony Wednesday.

The brigade’s 3,500 soldiers worked alongside Afghan police and border police — entities that had little experience with American forces, brigade commander Col. Willard M. Burleson said. In the past year, the brigade and Afghan forces cleared key areas, particularly along trade routes of Taliban control.

“We were able to regain the momentum and really eliminate certain safe havens,” Col. Burleson said.

The brigade lost 11 soldiers to combat-related injuries; nine were killed by improvised explosive devices. Seven of the soldiers belonged to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry.

One additional soldier was killed in a non-combat-related incident.

At the ceremony was Sgt. Joshua R. Labbe, of Stonington, Conn., who was awarded a Silver Star last month for directing his team during a heavy enemy attack last fall.

He was in Iraq in 2007 and 2008, and said this deployment was much tougher than his last.

“Afghanistan is where the fighting’s at,” he said.

The new brigade can expect more IEDs — weapons used by an insecure force, according to Col. Burleson.

“As they saw more and more U.S. forces, they realized they couldn’t win in a small-arms firefight with us,” he said. “They changed to a standoff attack.”

Joint Afghan and American patrols gave the brigade an advantage that resulted in them finding 60 percent of IEDs before they had detonated.

“That’s the value of partnering so close,” he said.

He said the brigade’s relief, the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based out of Baumholder, Germany, will have a challenge ahead of it.

“It’s going to be a tough spring and a tough summer, but right now we’re at a position of advantage and a year ago, we weren’t,” Col. Burleson said. “Once we clear it, we don’t leave. Now the insurgent has lost what was his advantage.”

And back home, north country community members, such as teachers and clergy, helped families while the brigade was away, a move he appreciated.

“Thanks for the support,” he said. “It makes our job easier.”