The 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment deployed to Kosovo in June 1999 as a part of Operation Joint Guardian II. The American sector was created by a headquarters element of the 1st Infantry Division from Wurzburg, Germany called "Task Force Falcon;" an inital entry mechanized Infantry company team from the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry and 1st Battalion, 1-77 Armor from Schweinfurt Germany; the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After these forces secured the initial southeast portion of Kosovo with the French, a more permanent force (also from the 1st Infantry Division) began to arrive in June within days of the initial force. This force remained for a six-month period and its first element, Task Force 1-26 Infantry from Schweinfurt Germany, arrived in June and relieved the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in early July. I deployed in June with the 'Blue Spaders' as their Battalion Operations Officer. In the photo above, Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Scurlock, Jr., the commander; and Command Sergeant Major Carlton E. Dedrich, our battlion command sergeant major, are on the front row. I am the man to the immediate left of Lieutenant Colonel Scurlock.
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This page is dedicated to 3 men of Task Force 1-26 Infantry who gave their lives for our country. While they were quickly forgotten or not even noticed by the press, we shall always remember them.
Sergeant William Wright , B Company, 9th Engineers - Killed 17 July 1999
Specialist Sherwood Brim, B Comapny, 9th Engineers - Killed 17 July 1999
Private First Class Benjamin McGill, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry - Killed 9 August 1999
Comments? Please contact Steve Russell