Story by Staff Sgt. J.B. Jaso III
1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div., MND-B

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - A long way from his Family, friends and hunting, Pvt. Benjamin Raulerson, a native of Jacksonville, Ala., is here helping his unit, Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, rid the Northwest Baghdad area of terrorism and criminal activity.

In his first month in Iraq, the 22-year-old infantryman has participated in more than 50 patrols, where he has assisted in identifying and seizing enemy cache sites and helped secure the area in order to provide the Government of Iraq the opportunity to provide essential services to the people.

"(It) feels good knowing that I'm assisting in removing items that can harm the U.S. and (Iraqi citizens)," said Raulerson, after returning from a patrol where his unit located a cache.
The cache had several mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and other items that could be used in improved-explosive devices.

Raulerson said his typical day includes patrols into various villages, where his unit assists the Iraqi Army in securing the area. What time he has left, he said he uses to relax.

The Soldier has many stories about his various patrols, but there is one incident that sticks out in his mind.

 He recounted a time that while on patrol, he was invited to a local leader's home to have lunch. "I had no idea what I was eating, but it was good," he said. "I enjoy trying new things." 

It is that adventurous spirit of trying new things that resulted in him joining the Army in April 2007.

After completing Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to the "Wolfhounds." He arrived at the unit just in time to join the other Soldiers at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., where he spent seven weeks honing his skills as an infantryman.

While at NTC, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for exemplary performance.

"(Pvt) Raulerson is the best Soldier in my team," said Cpl. Douglas Urias, a native of Houston and Raulerson's team leader with Co A, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, who added that he felt Raulerson may even be the best in the squad.

Raulerson said he attributes his initiative and natural leadership as a direct reflection of his father, who served in the Army as a military police officer in South Korea.

When he returns to Hawaii in approximately 14-months, Raulerson said he plans to explore the Hawaiian Islands, learn to surf and frequent the beaches. In the meantime however, he said he will continue to help protect the new freedoms of the Iraqi people.