Dear Interested Reader,
Children receive medical care at FOB Methar Lam. Khost PRT checks on progress of new road. Gen. McCrystal visits the south of Tagab Valley. Female Engagement Team encourages Afghan youth. Radio popular in Laghman prov; census conducted. Kentucky ADT meets with Parwan DAIL.
Iraq: COB Adder JDC to be last in Iraq. Michigan NG escort workers at JBB. 3 brothers reunite on COB Falcon. AQI member arrested near Baghdad.
Joanna
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Afghanistan Stories:
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Children receive medical treatment at FOB Methar Lam
Army Pvt. Joshua Koplowitz, a medic with HHC, 1st Bn, 102nd Inf Regt, TF Iron Grays, assisted in her medical treatment the first day, as well as her follow-up visits. He vividly remembers the emotions of that first day. “When she first came in, I felt horrible,” Koplowitz said. “She was in tears and screaming.”
Initially, the family went to the Methar Lam hospital but received very basic service at best. Fortunately, the family found their way to FOB Methar Lam where they received proper treatment, including an offer for follow-up visits. “If we hadn’t been here for them, it could've been a lot worse,” Kopowitz said. “She could've lost her feet, or she could have died from infection.”
During their most recent follow-up appointment, the family brought a neighbor with them. The neighbor was concerned because his son’s growth was stunted, and he couldn't walk despite being 6 years old.AF Capt. Philip Hotchkiss, the senior medical officer with the Laghman PRT, gave the young boy an examination and diagnosed him with polio. “Unfortunately, we can't undo the growth issues,” Hotchkiss said. “However, we are providing vitamin supplements to help him in the future, and are coordinating with "Operation Care" to obtain braces for his legs to help him walk." The medics are more than happy to treat the locals. However, they're also committed to helping them develop and implement long-term solutions to their healthcare system. After treating the 2 young patients, Hotchkiss met with the Laghman provincial line director of public health to discuss the capabilities of the local hospital. During a tour of the Mehtar Lam hospital, the director pointed out factors that were limiting the hospital’s capabilities, such as an undersized sewage tank that prevented the entire hospital from being utilized. The PRT now has engineers working with local engineers to develop a solution for the issue.“Ideally, this will lead to improvements in their health care system, and the locals will have more options for timely care, independent of foreign assistance,” Hotchkiss said.
Capt. Philip Hotchkiss examines a young boy, diagnosed with polio.
Army Sgt. Cornel Sampson, a medic with HHC, carefully removes an old bandage from a young villager’s burned arm.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Khost PRT checks on progress of new road
Navy Lt. j.g. Anthony Delgadillo, Khost PRT engr, and construction workers, measure the width of the new road. The road must be 7 meters wide and have a shoulder on either side, so it can hold large vehicles, and withstand extreme weather conditions.
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ISAF commander visits the south of Tagab Valley
After visit to the village, Mc Chrystal and Druart went to COP 46, which was just recently built in March. While there, McChrystal talked about the historical partnership between the French and the American forces. He said that he expects the French soldiers, who are professional soldiers and have a good experience in the counter insurgency field, to share their knowledge with the ANA.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Coalition Female Engagement Team encourages Afghan youth
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Afghan radio is a hit, coalition partners stand shoulder-to-shoulder
Elements of the ANA, ANP, Afghan National Civil Order Police and National Directorate of Security pose together for a photo, March 23. These agencies are now working together at one location, as part of a new program to share intel and assess various threats in Qarghayi district.
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Kentucky ADT meets with Parwan DAIL
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CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ISAF conducts census in the eastern Afghanistan
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Blackanthem Military News
COB Adder JDC to be last JDC in Iraq
By Pfc. Lisa Cope
Sgt. Tammie Cage, a first-shift NCO with the 368th Seaport Ops Co, 732nd CSSB, 36th Sust Bde, 13th ESC, ground guides a Humvee onto a flatbed trailer, to be taken through Kuwait, March 31, at COB Adder.
Kee said the JDC at COB Adder will be the last functioning JDC in Iraq, and all of the equipment will funnel through Adder, and into Kuwait during the drawdown. "We have a major retrograde yard on the south side of COB Adder, and that is where we house the majority of our class 7 and class 9 items to be retrograded to Kuwait, or to be sent to Afghanistan," he said. Sgt. 1st Class Dawadrain Clark, the NCO-in-charge of the JDC with the 40th QM Co. out of Schoffield Barracks, Hawaii, said "the Soldiers are responsible for uploading and downloading class 7 supplies that come in," he said. "They also store and keep accountability of those supplies." Clark said the unit has moved more than 65,000 tons of class 3, 4 and 9 supply, and about 5,000 pieces of class 7 equipment in the last 4 months. Kee said accountability of incoming and outgoing equipment is a high priority for his unit. "Our goal is maintaining full accountability of every piece of commodity that comes through the JDC, to ensure that it gets from the sender to the customer, and to do that as fast as possible," he said. "We try to turn items around within 72 hours, pushing onward to our next customer."
Sgt. Joseph Franklin, the mid-shift NCO-in-charge with the 40th Quartermaster Co, ground guides a Humvee onto a flatbed trailer.
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Blackanthem Military News
Michigan NG escort Iraqi workers at JBB
By 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public Affairs
Spc. Karen Beekman, a Dept of Public Works employee escort with the 1073rd Maintenance Co, 2nd Sqdrn, 278th ACR, 13th ESC, supervises local national DPW employees, April 1 at JBB. (Army photo by Spc. Michael Camacho)
These Soldiers escort roughly 140 to 160 Iraqis to their worksites to do post beautification, which can range from sidewalk sweeping to custodial upkeep, said 1st Lt. Joey Degrammont, the force protection plt leader with the 1073rd. These jobs give the Iraqis a steady source of income, said Degrammont. Despite the cultural and language differences, the Soldiers and Iraqi workers get along, said Degrammont, exhibiting a strong working relationship. Both groups are simply doing a job, and they all understand that, he said. "There's a lot of cohesion built up between the American Soldiers and the local nationals," he said. "They've a good time; they're laughing and joking."
The Iraqis must be escorted because they don't have the proper authorization to be left alone, according to base security measures, said Sgt. 1st Class Kalvin Charania, the force protection plt sgt. The Soldiers also take care of the Iraqis, ensuring they've water and food, and take breaks throughout the day, said Charania.
This is a joint effort between the 13th ESC out of Fort Hood, Texas, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and Noor Al-Belad Co., a local company, said AF Tech. Sgt. Patrick Galla, NCO-in-charge of Troops to Task, with the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineering Sqdrn, 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 332nd AEW.The project's long-term goal is to instill strong work habits and skills in local nationals, to assist them after the U.S. military drawdown, said Galla. "The local nationals work hard, and they do an excellent job on base," said Charania.
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DVIDS
Face of Defense: Brothers Reunite in Iraq
By Army Pvt. Emily Knitter
Army Sgt. Joshua Harrison, Spc. Justin Harrison, and Sgt. Jeremiah Harrison grin for a photo April 5, 2010, on COB Falcon, moments after reuniting for the 1st time since their deployment began.
BAGHDAD - Darkness falls as a Chinook helicopter lands on the rocky landing pad inside an Army camp south of here. As soldiers walk down the ramp toward a small building close by, 2 sgts stand bathed in the yellow light of the building's overhang, peering excitedly into the darkness, and impatiently searching the faces coming off the aircraft. Then they both lock onto one shape coming toward them. "Whoop!" 1 of the 2 soldiers cries out as the target of their gaze comes out of the shadows. All 3 soldiers grin from ear to ear as they exchange greetings and bear hugs.
The 3 soldiers are brothers, and all are deployed in Iraq. It's the first time they've been together since leaving the U.S. 4 months ago. All are assigned to the 3rd ID's 1st HBCT. The youngest brother, Spc. Justin Harrison, is deployed west of Baghdad at Camp Striker with 1st Bn, 41st FA, and the older Harrison brothers – Sgts. Jeremiah and Joshua Harrison -- are based to the south at COB Falcon.
For the past 14 years, the brothers have been raised solely by their father, a retired AF senior master sgt. "We've always been close, no matter what's happening in our family, and through our life," said Jeremiah, who has deployed 4 times. "We talk about it now, but there's been a lot of ups and downs. There's always been the 4 guys, no matter what, and when Dad was deployed, it was the 3 of us. There's nothing that breaks that up."
Although Justin is assigned to a different base, knowing that his brothers are close has helped his 1st deployment in Iraq, he said. "My brothers are the best NCOs I've ever met," he said. "Jeremiah sacrifices himself 100% for his soldiers every day; that's my idol. If I were to become anything, I'd want to be him. And Josh is an amazing NCO, too."
Jeremiah and Joshua agreed that being apart has its moments of difficulty for all of them. "I always think about how he's doing, what he's doing, and if he's doing all right," Jeremiah said. "We talk a lot about the youngest one, but he's the baby. We kind of support him in whatever he needs, but in the end, you have to leave it up to letting things fall into place as they should."
Back at the landing pad as the soldiers embrace, it appears that at least for a few days while Justin visits, everything actually has fallen into place for 3 brothers in Iraq.
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USF-I
Iraqi Security Forces arrest AQI member near Baghdad
BAGHDAD - ISF arrested a suspected AQI member during a joint security op conducted west of Baghdad, April 9.
ISF and U.S. advisors searched a building 10 kms west of Baghdad for an alleged AQI member suspected of facilitating VBIED attacks against civilians and SECFOR in the capital city. Based on evidence gathered at the scene, ISF arrested a suspected criminal assoc. of the wanted individual.
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DoD Imagery
(DoD photo by Spc. Nashaunda Tilghman, Army)
Army Sgt. Patricia Smith, with Forward Support Co., 2nd Bn, 69th AR, hands gifts to Iraqi women who are graduating from the "widow beekeeping program" at the Ibn Alhaytham Vocational School in Mussayibb, April 3, 2010. A micro grant helps Iraqi widows start their own beekeeping businesses.
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DoD Imagery
(DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Adelita Mead, Army)
Sheik Emtyher Muja speaks to Army Capt. Jayne Strathe, of the 1314th Civil Affairs Co., attached to 17th Fires Bde, during a foot patrol through the neighborhood of Al Hayanniah, Mar. 31, 2010. The neighborhood is known as one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city of Basra.
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