Dear Interested Reader,
Routine op meets resistance in Helmand prov. 'America's Bn,' ANA complete first task in Op New Dawn in Southern Shorshork. ANA Commandos drive Taliban from Awlagal. Kentucky ADT transfers authority.
Iraq: Troops bring gifts to summer camp. Charles Wagner finds solace, beauty in stone art. Col. Check Sexton comforted by own 'Old Glory.' Wheelchairs provided to disabled Iraqi children.
Joanna
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AFGHANISTAN STORIES:
DVIDS
Routine Operation Meets Resistance 
Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter
Lance Cpl. Daniel Franke, a dog handler attached to Alpha Co, 1st Bn, 2nd Marine Regt, RCT 2, lays in the prone on an overlooking hill with his dog, in Towrah Ghundey, June 11. The Marines posted on the hill soon received enemy contact and suppressed the enemy, causing them to retreat.
HELMAND PROVINCE – Alpha Co, combined with ANSF, headed north to show face in an area not often visited by friendly forces, June 9. The mission’s purpose was to reach the northern villages, and engage with the local elders, while gaining info about their neighboring town, Bar Now Zad. “We wanted to get the ANA and ANP a little further up north, and to see how well they operate together,” said 2nd Lt. Gene Price, the XO of Alpha Co. “We decided to go to Badam, a place we haven’t been to in a while. We also wanted to hit some other spots in the area of op to include Towrah Ghundey, a town with a possible Taliban mortar site we wanted to check out.”"Both locations are a few miles north of Now Zad, and they border Bar Now Zad, possibly one of the largest Taliban strongholds in Helmand prov.," said Price. “The intent was to get out to the local population, let them know what is available for them, verses the Taliban persuading them,” said Price. “The Taliban tells the people that their govt won’t be able to help them.”
Although Price explained the benefits of what their govt can do for the townsmen, the people still stated that the Taliban would kill them, and they weren't leaving the village. The convoy departed FOB Caffereta with not only a fleet of vehicles, but with the manpower to make things happen. “On the convoy to Badam, we hit an IED at a choke point just south of Kenjak Olya,” said Sgt. Javen Roberson, the plt sgt for 2nd plt, Alpha Co. “We lost one Marine from the fight that was medically evacuated out with a grade-3 concussion, but we moved on and staged just outside of Badam for the night.” Badam was anticipated to be a calm and friendly area; however, it was anything but. While in the middle of a conversation between Price and the local elders, an explosion rattled the ground and shots started to pop off. Marines, ANA and ANP rushed towards the firing, but came to find nothing. “We pushed out to a hilltop to observe where they were firing from as 5 rounds of small arms fire were shot at us,” said Price. “They also fired one more round of indirect fire at us while we were on the hill. “It felt like they were bracketing us, so we pulled back and went around the backside to Towrah Ghundey.” Once at Towrah Ghundey, the ANA spotted a suspicious compound and insisted they search it. “We always listen to the ANA," said Roberson. “We listen to them because they know what to look for, and even know the people that belong, by the different accent in their voice." “While searching a compound, we started receiving small-arms fire and indirect fire,” said Price. “As soon as we received contact, the Marines didn’t hesitate, they pursued the enemy and forced them into a valley, where there was an egress point leading to Bar Now Zad.” The Marines tried to isolate the enemy to avoid losing site of them, but as the Marines pursued, the enemy slipped away into the populace. “A turret gunner saw 4 guys run out of a compound, and open up with AK47s, then run into a herd of sheep, and go back into the village,” said Lance Cpl. Will MacDonald a squad leader for the machine-gun section of Alpha Co. “After that, we lost positive ID. We pushed up and tried to cut off their egress route, but they were gone.” The Taliban fired rounds and ran. “They're not able to influence us at all,” said Price. “They shoot more sporadic fire then anything, and they're not accurate with their weapons. They just take pop shots and run away. Well, the next time they try to run away, we'll be sitting there ready for them.” After the contact, the convoy pushed to patrol base Sofla, to make them aware of the situation and stay for the night. “We returned to Towrah Ghundey the next day,” said Roberson. “We went into that same building again and the same thing happened; we got shot at; only this time we had Marines waiting. We also detained the guy that had IED making material, and was manufacturing homemade explosives in his compound,” said Roberson. The Marines countered the Taliban tactics and as Price said, the Marines were waiting. Nearly an hour of lying in the prone overlooking the village, shots started firing, and they were quickly suppressed. The enemy not only fired sporadic small arms from the hilltops, but also fired mortars from the opposite side of the hill. “After they started firing, we had heavy suppression on the enemy,” said MacDonald. “We saw them running around on the ridgeline, so I started to engage them with my M240 Bravo machinegun. I fired between 400 and 500 rounds at a sustained rate, so my gunner on the MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, could follow the tracer rounds and open up with the Mark.” MacDonald wasn’t the only Marine to lay down heavy fire. “I laid down 150 rounds of fire that way,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Davis, a turret gunner with Alpha Co. “I was sitting in the turret waiting for them to fire, so I could see where they were. Three rounds flew over my head; one hit my bulletproof window on one side of the turret, and another hit it on the other side. I began suppressing the hilltop where the shots were coming from, and others joined me. “It was pretty scary,” he added. “My adrenalin was running, and I was trying to find where they were shooting from, so I could shoot them before they shot me.” Then there came a moment of silence. The firefight was over, as the Taliban threat was defeated. “There'll be further ops with increased numbers of ANSF. We're here to mentor them, and turn the security over to them,” said Price. “In the past 3 days the ANA and ANP have demonstrated that they're not afraid to fight the Taliban. They're aggressive warriors, and they'll pursue the enemy while operating alongside Marines.”“It was phenomenal to be part of this op, and to be out there watching the Marines react under pressure. It was even more phenomenal to watch the ANP, ANA and Marines come together as a team while fighting the same enemy,” Price continued.
Although Price explained the benefits of what their govt can do for the townsmen, the people still stated that the Taliban would kill them, and they weren't leaving the village. The convoy departed FOB Caffereta with not only a fleet of vehicles, but with the manpower to make things happen. “On the convoy to Badam, we hit an IED at a choke point just south of Kenjak Olya,” said Sgt. Javen Roberson, the plt sgt for 2nd plt, Alpha Co. “We lost one Marine from the fight that was medically evacuated out with a grade-3 concussion, but we moved on and staged just outside of Badam for the night.” Badam was anticipated to be a calm and friendly area; however, it was anything but. While in the middle of a conversation between Price and the local elders, an explosion rattled the ground and shots started to pop off. Marines, ANA and ANP rushed towards the firing, but came to find nothing. “We pushed out to a hilltop to observe where they were firing from as 5 rounds of small arms fire were shot at us,” said Price. “They also fired one more round of indirect fire at us while we were on the hill. “It felt like they were bracketing us, so we pulled back and went around the backside to Towrah Ghundey.” Once at Towrah Ghundey, the ANA spotted a suspicious compound and insisted they search it. “We always listen to the ANA," said Roberson. “We listen to them because they know what to look for, and even know the people that belong, by the different accent in their voice." “While searching a compound, we started receiving small-arms fire and indirect fire,” said Price. “As soon as we received contact, the Marines didn’t hesitate, they pursued the enemy and forced them into a valley, where there was an egress point leading to Bar Now Zad.” The Marines tried to isolate the enemy to avoid losing site of them, but as the Marines pursued, the enemy slipped away into the populace. “A turret gunner saw 4 guys run out of a compound, and open up with AK47s, then run into a herd of sheep, and go back into the village,” said Lance Cpl. Will MacDonald a squad leader for the machine-gun section of Alpha Co. “After that, we lost positive ID. We pushed up and tried to cut off their egress route, but they were gone.” The Taliban fired rounds and ran. “They're not able to influence us at all,” said Price. “They shoot more sporadic fire then anything, and they're not accurate with their weapons. They just take pop shots and run away. Well, the next time they try to run away, we'll be sitting there ready for them.” After the contact, the convoy pushed to patrol base Sofla, to make them aware of the situation and stay for the night. “We returned to Towrah Ghundey the next day,” said Roberson. “We went into that same building again and the same thing happened; we got shot at; only this time we had Marines waiting. We also detained the guy that had IED making material, and was manufacturing homemade explosives in his compound,” said Roberson. The Marines countered the Taliban tactics and as Price said, the Marines were waiting. Nearly an hour of lying in the prone overlooking the village, shots started firing, and they were quickly suppressed. The enemy not only fired sporadic small arms from the hilltops, but also fired mortars from the opposite side of the hill. “After they started firing, we had heavy suppression on the enemy,” said MacDonald. “We saw them running around on the ridgeline, so I started to engage them with my M240 Bravo machinegun. I fired between 400 and 500 rounds at a sustained rate, so my gunner on the MK-19 automatic grenade launcher, could follow the tracer rounds and open up with the Mark.” MacDonald wasn’t the only Marine to lay down heavy fire. “I laid down 150 rounds of fire that way,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Davis, a turret gunner with Alpha Co. “I was sitting in the turret waiting for them to fire, so I could see where they were. Three rounds flew over my head; one hit my bulletproof window on one side of the turret, and another hit it on the other side. I began suppressing the hilltop where the shots were coming from, and others joined me. “It was pretty scary,” he added. “My adrenalin was running, and I was trying to find where they were shooting from, so I could shoot them before they shot me.” Then there came a moment of silence. The firefight was over, as the Taliban threat was defeated. “There'll be further ops with increased numbers of ANSF. We're here to mentor them, and turn the security over to them,” said Price. “In the past 3 days the ANA and ANP have demonstrated that they're not afraid to fight the Taliban. They're aggressive warriors, and they'll pursue the enemy while operating alongside Marines.”“It was phenomenal to be part of this op, and to be out there watching the Marines react under pressure. It was even more phenomenal to watch the ANP, ANA and Marines come together as a team while fighting the same enemy,” Price continued.
Just more than an hour into an op, a medical-evacuation helicopter was called in to lift out an injured Marine. "The Marine is fine," said Sgt. Javen Roberson, plt sgt. "He received a grade-3 concussion, and is recovering well."
Alpha Co vehicles staged just outside Badam the evening of June 9, to stay the night and engage with local elders at a shura the next morning. After the sun went down, Marines settled in for what was to be an uneventful night. However, the next morning, while in the shura, an explosion shook the ground as Marines and ANSFreceived small arms fire and indirect fire. The convoy worked its way to Towrah Ghundey where it was met with the same greeting.
Marines patrol the area of Towrah Ghundey, June 10, while 2nd Lt. Gene Price talks with local elders about the surrounding area, and the insurgent forces coming out of Bar Now Zad.
Second Lt. Gene Price sits and talks with the elders of Badam about their concerns and problems, June 10. While a few of the locals didn't want to talk with Marines, a few talked about their lack of water and lack of security. Price urged the locals to attend the shuras in Now Zad to discuss possible solutions to the problems that may exist in their town.
Lance Cpl. Joseph Szempruch, a team leader, watches the entry points of a compound while Marines, ANA and ANP conduct a routine patrol, as 2nd Lt. Gene Price interacts with local elders, and questions them about the bordering city of Bar Now Zad.
2nd Lt. Gene Price talks with local elders at Towrah Ghundey while Marines and ANSF search compounds, looking for anything out of the ordinary or illegal. Price talked with the elders about attending the Now Zad shura, and any insurgent activity in the area.
Lance Cpl. Joseph Szempruch posts security on a hill in Badam moments after taking indirect fire from a bordering village June 10. The Marine element pushed to Towrah Ghundey, where they were met with more small-arms and indirect fire soon after.
Lance Cpl. Will MacDonald, a squad leader for the machinegun section, lays in the prone, waiting for the enemy to approach, June 11. After nearly an hour of laying in wait, Taliban fired from a hilltop, and MacDonald fired 400 to 500 rounds suppressing them, and denying the enemy the ability to further engage our troops.
While on a hilltop, Cpl. Jesse Colio, maintenance chief, waits with his rifle ready as Cpl. Brendan Cross, a squad leader, looks through binoculars to locate any enemy threat in the surrounding village around Towrah Ghundey, June 11. After nearly an hour of laying in the prone, the enemy fired upon friendly forces, and the Marines quickly responded, suppressing the enemy fire.
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DVIDS
'America's Bn,' ANA Complete First Task in Op New Dawn 
Story by Sgt. Mark Fayloga
Marine Corps 1st Lt. Christopher Cook, convoy cmdr, H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marine Regt, and Sgt. Zachary Tokumoto, asst convoy cmdr, talk during a break in the Lima Co convoy from COP Toor Ghar to Southern Shorshork, Helmand prov., June 16.
SOUTHERN SHORSHORK - Marines in partnership with the ANA, successfully completed their first task of establishing an observation post, in Southern Shorshork, in support of Op New Dawn, June 17. Op New Dawn is a joint op between Marine Corps units and the ANA to disrupt enemy forces, which have been using the sparsely populated region between Marjah and Nawa as a safe haven. The men of ‘America’s Bn’ and their ANA counterparts are responsible for establishing a defensive blocking position to deny enemy forces freedom of movement in the area. “We’re going to be conducting patrols, vehicle checkpoints and looking at the population, making sure there aren’t people from out of the area coming in and causing harm or issues for the local people,” said Capt. Luke Pernotto, L Co cmdr., and cmdr for 3/3’s ground force in Op New Dawn. “We want to make sure enemy forces can’t be reinforced, and don’t fall back to regroup in this area. We’ve made extreme progress in Nawa, and to have it all go to waste, especially when we’re doing our last bit of clean-up in the Trek Nawa area, would be a shame.” Following a nearly 7-hour convoy from COP Toor Ghar, which took much longer than expected, due to traveling on roads unused by CF, and vehicle problems, an initial observation post was set up in a local’s compound. During the first 48 hours of the op, the Marines overcame obstacles to establish an observation post. While continuing to build up their defensive position, the Marines began to patrol in their new area of responsibility. Afghan elders gathered nearby within a few hours of beginning to build up the compound. Pernotto and ANA 1st Sgt. Beland, along with fellow leadership met with them. The compound the men moved into was located near a cemetery, where local women often go to pray. The elders worried the women would no longer be able to travel to the cemetery, and adamantly asked the military to move to a new position. “We're here for Afghanistan to build up the area,” Beland, from Jalalabad, said to the elders. “We're from this country, to serve this country.” Beland and Pernotto persuaded the elders to allow them to stay in the compound for one night, before moving further south to a position on the edge of the desert, but close enough to interact with the local populace. “We’re essentially on the line where the desert ends and cultivation and civilization begins,” said Pernotto. “Once the population realizes that a lot of their fears are unwarranted, and we really are here to help them, that’s when we can begin to work with them and show that the GoA, along with the partnership of the Marines, are here to make their lives better. Yes, we had to take some land, but we took unfavorable land out in the desert to establish an operating base.” It became evident that the area the Marines and ANA now occupy hasn’t been patrolled or observed. While sweeping the observation post, Lance Cpl. Steven Lowe, an engr from H&S Co., 3/3, discovered a buried cache of materials needed to make 2 pressure-plate, IEDs. “Anytime you take away a position that the enemy uses, or you occupy a position that’s known to be frequented by the enemy, you hope to yield positive results,” Pernotto said. “Those 2 pressure plates could easily trigger 2 200-lb IEDs. Taking those off of the battlefield, that alone, has already contributed to Op New Dawn, and the overall security of this area.” The Marines and ANA have taken their time with establishing their position, and for good reason — they understand the importance of making a positive impression with the people here. The area has little electricity, and few forms of distraction, so the Marines have become the primary source of entertainment. “All of our movements are watched by both those who support us and those who don’t, and that’s completely acceptable,” Pernotto said. “Even the guys that don’t like us, when they see us handling ourselves well and acting well, I think we can win over people who may originally not liked us. “I’d like to continue to build up the area and provide the security to where we can get the elders together and start discussing the issues, and having partnership with the elders and the ANA, as they continue to improve life around here,” said Pernotto.
ANA and Lima Co, meet with local elders in Southern Shorshork.
Lance Cpl. Travis Lane, a team leader with 3rd Plt, and Lance Cpl. Si Moy, rifleman, patrol farmland near where Lima Company first established an observation post in Southern Shorshork.
Lance Cpl. Joshua Melendez, squad automatic weapon gunner, provides security. It was Melendez' 25th birthday. Melendez spent his last birthday in Iraq.
ANA 1st Sgt. Beland addresses the concerns of local elders near the first observation post set up in Southern Shorshork.
Pfc. William Pruitt, machine gunner, Weapons Plt, takes a drink from his hydration system, during Lima Co's convoy from COP Toor Ghar to Southern Shorshork. The convoy took longer than expected, and Pruitt, spent almost 7 hours in his vehicle, where he said it was, "hot as hell."
Sgt. James Humerick, squad leader, guides an all-terrain vehicle into a compound 3/3 occupied for the first night.
1st Sgt. Wesley Misenhimer and Capt. Luke Pernotto, the 1st sgt and comm. officer, listen to the concerns of local elders.
Marines return from a patrol in Southern Shorshork.
While sweeping the area where Marines and the ANA built an observation post, Lance Cpl. Steven Lowe, an engr from H&S Co, discovered a buried cache of materials needed to make 2 pressure-plate, IEDs.
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Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs
Afghan, ISAF Update, 6-21
After surrounding a compound housing a Taliban insurgent and his accomplices, Afghan special police ensured all residents of the compound exited safely. Several women and children were protected while several men were detained, along with an assault weapon and an undisclosed amount of opium. Two of the detained men were positively identified as Taliban cmdrs who planned and conducted numerous attacks in Nad-e Ali, and supplied weapons into the area. KANDAHAR PROVINCE - In a separate op June 19, an Afghan-ISAF detained a number of suspected insurgents, while pursuing the Taliban cmdr responsible for insurgent activity in the western part of the prov. The SECFOR detained the men, and found a 45-lb bag of wet opium while searching a compound in Panjwai district. KHOST PROVINCE - Also that night, a separate Afghan-ISAF detained several suspected insurgents, while pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network cmdr in Sabari district. The SECFOR also found and destroyed several homemade bombs during the op. LOGAR PROVINCE - In Baraki Barak district that night, another Afghan-ISAF detained 2 suspected insurgents while pursuing a Taliban sub-cmdr linked to bombing and rocket attacks against Afghan and CF. BORDER OF KHOST AND PAKTIA PROVINCES - On June 19, Afghan and ISAF conducted ops against the Haqqani network overnight, and throughout the day. Precision air strikes were used in self-defense against a large number of armed insurgents, officials said.
HELMAND PROVINCE - 6-21-10 - Afghan and CF struck a blow against insurgent ops over the weekend in one of several recent ops, military officials reported. Afghan forces working with ISAF partners conducted an op the night of June 19, south of Nad-e Ali to degrade insurgents' ability to coordinate attacks, and move weapons and bomb-making materials around the area, officials said.
After surrounding a compound housing a Taliban insurgent and his accomplices, Afghan special police ensured all residents of the compound exited safely. Several women and children were protected while several men were detained, along with an assault weapon and an undisclosed amount of opium. Two of the detained men were positively identified as Taliban cmdrs who planned and conducted numerous attacks in Nad-e Ali, and supplied weapons into the area. KANDAHAR PROVINCE - In a separate op June 19, an Afghan-ISAF detained a number of suspected insurgents, while pursuing the Taliban cmdr responsible for insurgent activity in the western part of the prov. The SECFOR detained the men, and found a 45-lb bag of wet opium while searching a compound in Panjwai district. KHOST PROVINCE - Also that night, a separate Afghan-ISAF detained several suspected insurgents, while pursuing a Haqqani terrorist network cmdr in Sabari district. The SECFOR also found and destroyed several homemade bombs during the op. LOGAR PROVINCE - In Baraki Barak district that night, another Afghan-ISAF detained 2 suspected insurgents while pursuing a Taliban sub-cmdr linked to bombing and rocket attacks against Afghan and CF. BORDER OF KHOST AND PAKTIA PROVINCES - On June 19, Afghan and ISAF conducted ops against the Haqqani network overnight, and throughout the day. Precision air strikes were used in self-defense against a large number of armed insurgents, officials said.
-30-RE-East in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
ANSF drive Taliban from Awlagal
“The ANA commandos executed a well-planned, well-executed strike, taking the fight to the enemy,” said Army Lt. Col. Randall Harris, dep. comm. officer, TF Bastogne. “Nuristan is safer today due to their skill and devotion to the security of the people.”
CF provided air support and supplies for the op. The support helped the Commandos clear Taliban from Awlagal, disrupting insurgent ops throughout the region.
In a phone interview June 23 with Gov. Badr of Nuristan, he said, “I'm very pleased with the op in Awlagal. It had been a gathering place for the enemy.” Badr went on to say that he was also pleased with the coalition support the commands received.-30-
RC-East in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
Kentucky ADT transfers authority 
BAGRAM AIRFIELD – Army Command Sgt. Maj. Alexander Maloney, the ranking NCO of Kentucky ADT 1, from Fort Campbell, Ky., case their unit’s colors during a transfer of authority ceremony, June 23. During the ceremony, the Kentucky ADT 1 transferred authority of their area of responsibility in Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, and Bamyan, which is the largest of any ADT in Afghanistan, to the Kentucky ADT 2.
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IRAQI STORIES:
DVIDS
Troops bring gifts to summer camp
Lt. Col. Mitch Rambin, cmdr of 5th Bn, 20th Inf Regt, 3rd Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, gives colored pencils to children at the Summer Camp for Kids in Baqubah. It's a program designed for orphans and special-needs children organized by the Red Crescent, the Middle East’s equivalent of the Red Cross. Soldiers from 5/20 were at the camp delivering soccer balls and school supplies, donated by elementary schools in America.
DIYALA — Multiple camps are set up throughout this prov., in the cities of Baqubah, Muqdadiyah, Balad Ruz and Al-Abarra. To assist the Red Crescent and to show their support, Soldiers from 5th Bn delivered the gifts for the camp, June 9.
“We mixed students from all 5 qadas [a region comparable to a county in the U.S.],” said Hazim Sarraj, Red Crescent dir. for Diyala prov. “We mix different ethnicities, different sects, different colors, Kurdish, Arabic, Sunni, Shia; we bring all these children here to Baqubah.”
While the program is designed for orphans and special-needs children, camp administrators invite children who are talented in arts, or who excel in class, to the camp to help the campers enhance their skills. While attending, children participate in many activities and classes such as drawing, music, drama, and English.“I can’t imagine elementary age kids in America learning Arabic this good,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Dallas, command sgt maj of 5/20 Inf., after hearing a demonstration during an English class at the camp.Attendees also take time out of their academic studies to play sports and mingle with other children in the camp every afternoon. A courtyard complete with soccer goals, a basketball hoop, volleyball court and ping pong tables lies in the middle of the classrooms.“We have new developments every day,” said Hazim. “We meet every week to come up with new activities for the kids.” This is the first year a summer camp has been offered for the children, and the Red Crescent is taking action to work with the Iraqi Ministry of Education to implement this as a permanent program led by the GoI in the future.
Two girls perform a skit during a drama class.
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DVIDS
Charles Wagner finds solace, beauty in stone art
This marble emblem for 3rd Stryker BCT, 2nd ID, was created by Charles Wagner, a mechanic with General Dynamic Land Systems. Wagner will present it to the bde at the end of their deployment here.
DIYALA — For Charles Wagner it all started when 3 U.S. Soldiers lost their lives here in 2005. Wagner, a U.S. civilian contractor then working in Mosul, had to find a way to deal with the pain of losing his friends. As a way to elevate his sorrow and honor the U.S. military, Wagner began shaping marble stones into crests, crosses and hearts. Since that time, he's created many works of art for units, and individual service members.
“This started out as a way to displace myself from what’s going on over here, working during off hours to focus on other things,” said Wagner. He lost all 3 Soldiers on one mission, and created hearts, crucifixes, and lancers for each of the parents, as a way to connect to them.
During his 2006-07 tour with 3rd SBCT, 2nd ID, he created a replica of the Indian-head shield that represents the 2nd ID. When he deployed with the 3rd SBCT here in Aug., he received the request to make that crest, which includes the 2nd ID shield on top of an arrowhead, with the number 3 located above the shield.The piece, carved from nearly 50- lbs of marble, is a chance to leave a permanent personal memento with the bde, said Wagner. “I was born at Madigan Army Hospital, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., so I kind of share the pride of the bde,” he said. “For the Soldiers, this is my gift back, because of what the military has done for me. It’s a lot of pride for me to be asked to do this, and to offer it to the Soldiers of the bde.”Wagner is quick to share his gift with any who are interested. Often, when Soldiers drop off vehicles to his shop for repair, they see the stone carvings he has laying around. If a curious individual asks about them, Wagner gladly explains how they can create their own art from a simple block of stone.“If you give someone a square block, they can take a saw to the corners and round it off with a washer to make a perfect circle,” said Wagner. “That’s what I show to Soldiers I meet; to help them take their mind off of what’s going on, and let them drift somewhere else.”After they're taught basic carving techniques, the Soldiers then have the opportunity to enlighten the teacher. “Everybody has a different opinion of how life is, and you can see that when someone is given a piece of stone and turns it into a unit crest, a shot glass, or even just a ball.”By spending time here just like Soldiers do, he understands how they feel about being away from home, he said. His hope is to offer those willing to listen, some of the knowledge he’s gained through years of life experiences. “Our main thing here is to help Soldiers,” he said. “The main thing is to at least make the time here seem shorter.”Since he started working with stone more than 7 years ago, Wagner has provided more than 100 Soldiers with a piece of marble and the proper tools to shape it. When the time comes this summer for him to present the crest to the 3rd SBCT, all will know that it also represents a piece of his heart.-30-
DVIDS
Colonel comforted by own ‘Old Glory’
The Cmdr of 2nd HBCT, 3rd ID, Col. Chuck Sexton, respectfully folds the American flag that he has carried with him on deployments for the past 24 years. (Army photo by Spc. Gregory Gieske)
COB MAREZ – It goes by many names – Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes, the Red, White and Blue – but, no matter what you call it, the U.S. flag represents a free and unified country, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all.
However, for one U.S. service member here, one single, specific, U.S. flag provides a far more personal representation. Although worn, tattered, and frayed at the edges, it has witnessed the highs and lows of 6 different military deployments, and has flown in 5 different countries.
It’s more than just the cloth and material, though, which gives this flag its special meaning. It represents the cause for which Soldiers have given their lives. It represents the Soldiers who serve their country, putting themselves into harm’s way, preserving the freedoms we enjoy today.
This specific flag has special meaning for Col. Chuck Sexton. The respect he has for this flag is a quality bestowed upon him by his parents. “Both my mother and father’s families were immigrants to the U.S., who left Europe to get away from oppression and slavery in Eastern and Western Europe,” said Sexton. “When they came to this country, they valued the country so much they defended it during World War II. They taught me as a kid growing up, to always respect my country and flag.”Respect for the flag has carried over to Sexton’s military service. “It’s a part of you. It’s something that’s very comforting to bring with me each time I go. When I flew it in Somalia, it got some battle damage there. It also got some damage in the first Gulf War. Usually I keep it folded now, because it’s frayed at the edges in a couple of places, and it’s got some shrapnel rips in it.“In the first Gulf War the stars and stripes got a little greyer from the oil fires,” he continued. “It took a little bit of shrapnel from Iraqi artillery and it put a couple of rips in it. The wind was really strong then, so it kind of unraveled a little bit at the ends, too.”Sexton said he remembers with clarity a windy day, Feb. 27, 1991, after capturing the Jalibah Airfield, a place south of Tallil, along Highway 8, during Op Desert Storm. “After we captured the airfield, at 8 o’clock in the morning and things were still smoking, we pulled out our flags because we had them stowed during the attack,” he said. “I mounted mine on top of the track. It was for a good reason – part of it was for morale and the other was so we wouldn’t get hit by our own aircraft. It was a really good feeling to see the good old Stars and Stripes unfurled and flying in the breeze. You heard a lot of the guys cheering, and it was a good feeling, seeing that flag flying.”“Now, when someone asks me to re-enlist them, or asks me to promote them, I always bring it with me,” said Sexton. “It’s kind of neat to look over the last 20-plus years, and the number of people that have stood under that flag with their hands up swearing an oath – either an oath of re-enlistment, or an oath to our nation. It’s easily in the hundreds now.“It’s even neater to watch the Soldiers you’ve been with. It causes it to become more tangible and more of a living thing. That is the most critical part – it represents the people. That’s what makes our country great. It’s the people it represents, instead of one specific leader. The flag talks about that continuity,” he concluded, with a knowing smile.-30-
DVIDS
Wheelchairs Provided to Disabled Iraqi Children 
Story by Staff Sgt. Jeff Hansen
Sgt. 1st Class Eboni Britton, a retention operation NCO from Co B, Div STB, 1st AR Div, pushes an Iraqi girl around in her new wheelchair at Camp Liberty, June 21.
BAGHDAD – Soldiers from 1st AR Div worked together with sailors, airmen and civilians to distribute pediatric wheelchairs to approx 40 disabled Iraqi children. The project mgr, Brad Blauser, an administrative asst for TF Safe, founded the org. Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids, which provided the wheelchairs for the event."Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids was created in Aug. 2005 in response to a request for aid from Soldiers, who had witnessed disabled children without wheelchairs, struggling for mobility," said Blauser. With help from Soldiers all over Iraq, Blauser has distributed more than 740 pediatric wheelchairs all over the country. The wheelchairs are designed specifically for children who live in areas of rough terrain, explained Blauser.
Army Pfc. Ginger Lamere volunteered her free time to help fellow service members assemble wheelchairs the day prior to the event. “It’s such a good cause,” said Lamere, a mechanic in the DSTB motorpool. She smiled and said her job didn’t really make assembling wheelchairs any easier, as they didn’t come with instructions.With so many volunteers, the assembly of the wheelchairs only took a couple of hours. However, the distribution of the chairs proved more difficult. It wasn't as simple as just handing them out. The children had to have the chairs fitted to their bodies to avoid causing further health complications. Pressure sores can develop and become very serious if they become infected, said Lt. Col. Vincent Barnhart, the div. surgeon for 1st AR Div. “These chairs are designed to fit the size and condition of the child.” Each child was carefully placed in a wheelchair and service members gently adjusted the chair to fit the child’s body to ensure their comfort and safety. One parent of each child was present to observe how to adjust the chairs so as their children grow, the chair can be adjusted to “grow” with them. “These chairs can benefit children in many situations,” said Capt. Antonio Chang, a DSTB aid station physician asst. “The chairs can be used by children with conditions from multiple sclerosis to trauma injuries.”
“This was a great opportunity to give back to the Iraqi people, and a great way to ring in the new era of Op New Dawn,” said Chang. “I feel lucky to be one of the fortunate ones to be here. It brings me great happiness to be a part of this.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Sal Katz, the senior NCO of DSTB, is introduced to Abdallah, an Iraqi boy who received a pediatric wheelchair. Katz played with the boy throughout the afternoon. "Abdallah touched my heart," said Katz.
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