On this trip to Iraq, though, they were taken from their normal home, the 3rd Infantry Division, and assigned to the 82nd Airborne. With their Humvee gun trucks, M3A3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles, M1A2 Abrams tanks and recent combat experience, the 3/7th Cav is a small yet formidable fighting force. Due to this the 82nd AB sent them in to the Adhamiya district of Baghdad to replace a hard-pressed mechanized infantry unit.

Adhamiya is a walled-off section of the city home to a large Sunni population infiltrated by Al Qaeda, Baath Party holdouts, organized crime and street thugs. In addition, it's also the home to one of the most important mosques in the Muslim world, which adds some complexity to the situation. The unit's mission is to stabilize this volatile area. In order to do this it must earn the respect of area residents, gather intelligence and hunt down the insurgents.

Working mostly alone, but sometimes with the Iraqi Army they tirelessly patrol the streets, conduct cordon and search operations, gather intelligence from the average Iraqi on the street and conduct raids. Enduring extreme heat (temperatures in the Bradleys can reach more than 140), while braving constant danger with little sleep and maybe one hot meal a day, I watched as these cavalry troopers made a very real impact on this small part of Iraq. While you won't hear about it in the popular press, there are indeed good things happening in Iraq.

In the issues ahead I'll share a "boots on the ground" view of my time in Iraq. You'll get a look at the men of Bonecrusher Troop, their weapons, the Iraqi Army today and the foes they face. From some very good insurgent snipers who know how to run a rifle to an IED that hit the Humvee in front of mine on patrol, I'll share the dangers these cavalry troopers face without hesitation. From the pain of a memorial service for fallen comrades to late night raids plucking high value targets from their beds you'll read of their lows and highs.

Plus you'll gain insight on the positive impact they are having on this part of Iraq. America has a right to be proud of their men and women in uniform. They are doing a tough job in a far off land with their own media against them and little support from the home front. Yet despite all this their morale is high, and every day they are winning Iraqis over while hunting down insurgents. My time spent with the men of 2nd Platoon, Bonecrusher Troop, 3rd Squadron, 7th US Cavalry Regiment was perhaps the most meaningful, and dangerous of my life. It is an honor to be able to share a small part of their story in the issues ahead.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to all the men of 3rd Squadron 7th US Cav, particularly Lt. Col. Broadwater, Capts. Dow and Marckwardt, Sgt. First Class Lugo and Sgt. Chisholm, who not only made this article possible but made sure I came back safe.