Dear Interested Reader,
Delaware ETT/New Zealand PRT adopt an orphanage in Bamyan prov. A tribute to a Marine patriot. ANSF secure Barg-e Matal in Nuristan prov. Catching up on Operational Updates.
Iraq: Convoy escort team assists in drawdown at Al Asad Air Base. 15th Sust. Bde. hands mission off to 3rd Sust. Bde. 'Dragon' bde Soldiers remember Memorial Day in Tikrit. A look at TF Saber at Al Asad.
Joanna
______________________________
AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Delaware ETT/New Zealand PRT Adopt an orphanage
When not providing services for Kiwi, American or Singaporean Soldiers, Brophy has one major concern on his plate: a small orphanage, which he took under his wing with the help of CF. “It’s not like our arms are pulled here, but, one look at the kids, and it becomes impossible to look the other way,”said Brophy.
Brophy made the Samir Samad orphanage, which services around 65 displaced kids, his pet project while he completes his 6-month tour of duty. He and the NZPRT visited the orphanage on several occasions to bring the children much needed supplies.
When the Kiwis came to the school, driving up-armored SUVs, the kids dropped everything they were doing and ran out to greet them. Most were in school, which brought a scolding from the teachers. What mattered more than school to the orphans were the potential surprises the NZPRT was bringing today. The older children assisted the Kiwis who unloaded the pieces needed to construct the beds. The younger kids ran around the Soldiers involved with other tasks; some Soldiers being pulled by small hands to various parts of the orphanage. One child excitedly pointed at his home country on a map, then pointed to New Zealand, showing where he was, and where his help had come from. With the help of the older kids, the Kiwis and the Americans built only one bunk-bed outside the orphanage. This was a classic example of the ‘give a man a fish, and he will have food for a day, but teach a man to fish, and he will have food forever’ doctrine that Brophy likes to use during his work in Bamyan. The orphanage learned how to build their own beds, allowing for future repairs and construction without the help of CF. With one child clinging to the Padre with tears in his eyes, begging the man not to go, the NZPRT and the American ETT waved good-bye to the children. Their job was done this day. However, this will not be the last time the Kiwis and U.S. Forces will grace the orphanage with their presence. A major kitchen-remodeling project is in the works, and an exposed wire burial project is in the near future.The Padre put it best when he said that it isn’t the missions or patrols that one goes on that he remembers the most. It’s the people, the people, the people.
Maj. Kevin Brophy, the Padre (Chaplain) swings with a little girl during a visit to her orphanage.
Staff Sgt. Peter Ladensack shows local children the proper way to assemble a bunk bed.
-30-
Published June 5, 2010
A Marine who 'wanted to die for something'
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
Operational Update, June 4
By ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
Operational Update, June 1
By ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
KHOST PROVINCE - Several Haqqani network cmdrs, and other assocs. were captured by an Afghan-ISAF the night of May 31, and early the morning of June 1. The combined SECFOR captured the targeted insurgents at several sites around the village of Nuri Kalay, Sabari district, after intel info confirmed insurgent activity. The Haqqani network facilitators are responsible for planning and executing multiple IED attacks and militant ops against CF, supplying weapons and directing attacks in the Sabari and Yaqubi districts.
FARAH PROVINCE - A separate Afghan-ISAF detained several individuals suspected of militant activity in Gulistan district, May 31. CF captured them in a vehicle, in a rural area.
--In another security op, several insurgents were killed by an Afghan-ISAF, May 31. The SECFOR interdicted a vehicle in Gulistan district. As the assault force approached the vehicle, they came under small-arms fire. The combined force returned fire killing the insurgents.KABUL PROVINCE - A Taliban sub-cmdr was captured by an Afghan-ISAF, May 31. The combined force went to a rural area in the Tarnek wa Jaldak district. During a search of the area, the assault force captured the Taliban sub-cmdr responsible for planning, coordinating, and leading attacks against CF in the Tarnek wa Jaldak and Qalat districts.BADGHIS PROVINCE - An Afghan-ISAF patrol discovered a weapons cache in Murghab district, May 31. The cache consisted of 4 120mm mortars, several 82mm mortars and 107mm rockets, complete IEDs and IED making materials.
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
Operational Update, May 31
By ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
KANDAHAR PROVINCE - An Afghan-ISAF used a precision air strike to kill Taliban cmdr Haji Amir, 1 of the 2 most senior Taliban leaders, and several of his fighters, May 30, in Panjwa’i district.Haji Amir and his fighters had been tracked for several days, and when they stopped at a small unoccupied mud hut in a farming area near the village of Zangabad, the combined force called in the air strike. The Taliban leader operated throughout Dand, Zhari and Panjwa’i districts. He escaped from Sarposa Prison in a Taliban coordinated prison break in June, 2008.Most recently Amir had been in Pakistan planning the Taliban’s upcoming attacks, and he returned to Afghanistan in April to lead attacks against coalition and Afghan forces.HELMAND PROVINCE - A separate Afghan-ISAF detained multiple individuals while searching a series of compounds May 30. The combined force went to compounds in a rural area north of Lashkar Gar, Nahr-e Saraj district. Several of the suspects fled the compound areas, but were quickly and safely caught. Weapons and approx 30 kgs of wet opium were seized during the search.
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
Operational Update, May 29
By ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
BAGHLAN PROVINCE - An Afghan-ISAF used precision air strikes to kill the Taliban shadow gov., and several of his fighters, May 28. Aircraft were called to a rural area in Baghlan-e Jadid district after human intel sources confirmed 2 vehicles were transporting insurgents and weapons through the area. Before engaging, CF waited until the vehicles were well clear of any structures to minimize the possibility of civilian casualties. When the armed passengers left the vehicles they were engaged and killed by aircraft. A ground SECFOR then entered the area and came under fire from insurgents in a nearby cave. The assault force returned fire, killing several insurgents who were heavily armed with a heavy machine gun, multiple RPGs, automatic rifles, hand-grenades, ammo and communications equipment. The Taliban shadow gov. was responsible for organizing and directing attacks against CF. He was in constant contact with Kunduz and Pakistani Taliban senior leaders, providing updates and receiving guidance. Sources told CF the Taliban forces had been planning an attack on a nearby ANP outpost.KANDAHAR PROVINCE - An Afghan-ISAF killed several insurgents and captured several others, May 29. The combined force moved to a compound and surrounding areas south of Kudeza'I, in the Zharay district. As the assault force approached, several armed individuals took up fighting positions in a nearby wood line and orchard. The combined force called for the individuals to surrender, but they began firing machine guns and RPGs at the SECFOR, who returned fire and began clearing the compound and immediate area. Several insurgents were killed and captured after the lengthy firefight. The combined force found several planted IEDs in the area, as well as RPGs, heavy machine guns, multiple automatic rifles, hand-grenades, ammo and communications equipment.
--A separate Afghan-ISAF captured a Taliban cmdr and several individuals suspected of militant activity, May 28. The Taliban cmdr was captured after the security team interdicted a vehicle in the Panjwa'i district. He's responsible for planning and executing attacks against CF, and was also involved in kidnappings and weapons facilitation.KHOST PROVINCE - Another Afghan-ISAF detained several individuals suspected of insurgent activity, May 29. The combined force went to a building in the village of Shegay, Musa Khel district. The men suspected of insurgent involvement were detained during a search of the building and the surrounding area. The joint force found RPGs and automatic rifles at the site.WARDAK PROVINCE - An Afghan-ISAF captured a Taliban weapons facilitator and another militant, May 29. The combined force went to a compound east of Soltan Kheyl, Sayyidabad district. The assault force detained a suspected Taliban facilitator, believed to be responsible for buying and distributing weapons to Taliban networks, and another suspected insurgent, while searching the buildings. The SECFOR came under fire from a sniper and returned fire, killing him. The search team found multiple automatic rifles and ammo.-30-
IRAQI STORIES:
Blackanthem Military News
Convoy escort team assists in drawdown
Story and photos by Sgt. Kimberly Johnson
Soldiers with B Co, 3rd Bn, 156th Inf Regt, 256th IBCT, 13th ESC prepare to depart COB Kalsu, May 23, providing security for a convoy carrying mission essential supplies.
1st Lt. Donald Bolton (center), plt leader with B Co, adjusts his improved outer tactical vest, as his plt prepares to depart Al Asad Air Base.
-30-
Backanthem Military News
15th Sust. Bde. hands mission off to the 3rd Sust. Bde.
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Rob Strain
Col. Larry Phelps (left), cmdr of 15th Sust Bde, 13th ESC and Command Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel Bartee Sr., command sgt maj with the 15th Sust. Bde., case the bde's colors during a transfer of authority ceremony May 25, at JBB. The 15th Sust. Bde. passed their sustainment mission to the 3rd Sust. Bde. during the ceremony.
"They can rest assured in the knowledge that they made a difference, and made every day better," Phelps said. During the ceremony, the bdes' STBs also transferred authority, passing Habur Gate and the country's finance and human resources missions over to the 3rd STB, said Lt. Col. Paula Lodi, the 15th STB's cmdr. The STB will still focus on redeployment missions and the closure of COB Q-West, Lodi said. "I'm in awe of what you're able to accomplish individually and collectively on a daily basis throughout this tour," Lodi said.
Phelps thanked the 3rd Sust. Bde. command team for making the transition an easy one, and offered a little insight to their future. "The meek may inherit the Earth, but the 3rd SB gets the mission," Phelps said. "We know you will do a great job."
Lt. Col. Paula Lodi, cmdr of 15th STB, 15th Sust Bde, 13th ESC, and Command Sgt. Maj. Clarence Miller Jr., command sgt maj with 15th STB, 15th Sust. Bde., case the bn's colors.
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
'Dragon' brigade Soldiers remember Memorial Day
By Spc. Shantelle J. Campbell
TIKRIT - For many Americans, Memorial Day is just another govt holiday - a day off from work or school - but for the Families and friends of service members who died while serving their country; it's the last Monday in May, where the memories of the fallen are honored.
For Capt Simon Welte, cmdr of Bravo Btry, 2nd Bn, 32nd FAR, 4th IBCT, 1st ID, out of Fort Riley, Kan., Memorial Day evokes deep emotion, and deserves to be recognized by all Americans for what it represents and who it honors.
"When you sit down and think about where we are and where we came from, a lot of that is due to the veterans who gave their lives to serve this country (and) didn't get to enjoy those freedoms that they provided for other people," said Welte, who is currently on his 2nd deployment. "It's a hugely significant (holiday); and if you take the time to sit back and think about it, I think you'd be hard-pressed not to find some emotions tied to that day." Capt Welte recalled the time he returned home from his first deployment. He remembered how even with people thanking him on Memorial Day and Veterans' Day for his service and sacrifice, he never really thought of himself as a veteran. "It never really donned on me that at such a young age, at 24, that I was a veteran and had served my country," said Welte. "It's kind of humbling to think about. It evokes a lot of proud feelings, and allows you to step back and put a lot of things into perspective."
Sgt William Coyle, an infantryman with HHC, 4th IBCT, is currently on his 3rd deployment and his 2nd deployment to Iraq. He said that Memorial Day is one of the most important holidays, because it embodies the sacrifices made by the ones who fought for our country's freedoms.
-30-
Blackanthem Military News
A look at Task Force Saber at Al Asad
Story and photo by Spc. Roland Hale
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Adam Garner, an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot from 1st Sqdrn, 6th Cav Regt, conducts a pre-flight inspection of his aircraft, May 19.
While flying what's considered the world's most advanced military helicopters, these aviators need nothing more than their wingman and a trusty ground crew, to take the fight to the enemy. An assault helicopter co., and scout recon troop from CAB, 1st ID, along with a medical evacuation co. from 101st AD currently form a small element of TF Saber, which is tasked with providing hasty and reliable air support to the Anbar prov. "We're here to broaden the coverage of the bde," said Capt. Wes Ogden, an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot, and the officer-in-charge of the TF ops section. "They put us out here so we can react quickly." TF Saber is part of CAB, 1st ID: the companies on Al Asad are an even smaller det. of the TF. Comparable to a small bn, TF Saber is able to provide rapid response to many situations. "Being able to work between airframes, with both the UH-60 [Black Hawk] and the OH-58, it broadens the base of our ops," said Ogden. "The different ways we plan and execute missions had to change. The Black Hawks, for example, require several hours to prepare for missions, which is a lot more than we're used to with the Kiowas," said Ogden. "Being away from Camp Taji, we've got more responsibility and also we've got the ability to be more creative, and come up with new ideas and implement those," said Ogden. The diversity of the TF internal structure, paired with the creative capability of its command, is paying off - most recently with a call-for-fire exercise conducted with field artillerymen from 1st Advise and Assist Bde, 82nd AD, and the IA.
-30-
flickr
Game Changer
(Army photo by Spc. Roland Hale)
CAMP TAJI - Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dave Miller, a pilot with CAB, 1st ID, flies an AH-64 Apache flight simulator on Camp Taji, June 2, 2010. Miller gave simulator rides to several Soldiers from the CAB's HHC as a reward for great job performance, since the unit deployed here this spring.
-30-