"It was quite usual that people would bring their products in fuel canisters," said Pavel Burian, a member of the Czech PRT. "In the future, we have a plan to build more collection centers."
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By Army Sgt. Jon Dougherty
Before the first Salerno Box was seated, dozens of men and boys surrounded the platoon, eager to get a glimpse of the American op, and to interact with the soldiers. By the time the 2nd box was being installed, Afghans were participating in the installation. Seeing that the Americans were having trouble leveling an area for the 2nd box by using a large backhoe machine, one Afghan man shed his sandals and jumped into the calf-deep water to help. Using just a shovel, the man spread out the muddy earth, then motioned for the Americans to once again lower the heavy metal Salerno Box into place next to the culvert opening. It fit perfectly. Rewarded with a First Strike meal and 2 sodas, the smiling Afghan man disappeared back into the crowd to observe the rest of the op. Back at Salerno, Woodgerd was beaming. "It's so good to finally see these things deployed," he told me. "I really believe they'll save lives – and that's the most important thing." You wouldn't expect a patriot to feel any differently.
KABUL - Army Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, right, NATO Training Mission-A, dep. comm. gen. (programs), inspects a finished boot at the Kabul Mill factory, Jan. 18, 2010. Members of NTM-A and the ANA visited the boot factory to observe the boot manufacturing process and to initiate a process improvement program.
By Army Capt. Jeffrey Witherspoon
Photos by Spc. Anderson Savoy
KALIS - Army Lt. Col. H.C Hodes, cmdr of 1-23 Bn, 2nd ID, talks to a local glass maker about installing new glass in the windows of a local school in Kalis, Jan. 4. U.S. Soldiers assigned to 1-23 Bn are participating in "Tomahawks For Humanity," which is a project to fix local schools in the Kalis area.
An Iraqi school girl concentrates on her Algebra class as Soldiers make preparations to install new glass in the windows of the school.
An Iraqi men sits in front of a local store as Soldiers pull security in Kalis.
Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Hepfer talks to local school kids.
Sgt. 1st Class Hepfer uses a radio to call for the correct measurements to give to a local Iraqi glass maker.
Soldiers walk down the streets of Kalis.
Her status as Honor Graduate allowed her to pick her assignment after finishing Officer Basic in February 2006, and she picked the 442nd MP Company. She served as plt leader and XO before becoming cmdr in the summer of 2008. About 45% of the Soldiers are fresh out of basic training, 25% have been deployed, 20% are college students, and a 1/3 are civilian cops, Dawe said. She's got faith in them and in her leadership team from the 1st sgt on down."I've taken phone calls from some of the new members who are still at school becoming MPs. They don't want to miss the deployment," she said. "This is a great team, and I know we're going to do a terrific job," Dawe said.