Prayers needed please

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday. I am so lucky to live in the home of the free and to be the mother of one of the brave.

I look forward to the 4th of July each year and we usually celebrate with friends and family, lots of food and fun ending the day with fireworks.

This morning I was awakened with the news that a very dear young friend of our family had been killed in a car accident. Dani leaves behind a 4 year old lil girl Harlie (bug) and a 16 month old son Chandler (chan man). She was only 22 yrs old and was a true breath of sunshine to be around. She was the lil sister that I never had, she was a young mother who doted on her babies and gave herself completely to her family and friends. She constantly amazed me with her maturity at such a young age and her patience and love for her babies. She will be missed.

Please remember these precious babies & my family in your prayers, we have lost a piece of our heart today.

God Bless,

Tami

Combat Aviation Brigade wraps up error-free Iraqi deployment

Jun 30, 2009
By By Sgt. Jason Thompson, 4th Inf. Div. PAO

FORT HOOD, Texas -- The 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade found another reason to celebrate its recent return from a successful year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom - everyone returned home to their families.The "Iron Eagle" brigade didn't lose one Soldier or aircraft during its deployment to Taji, Iraq, said Col. Patrick Tierney, the brigade's commander."We're the first aviation brigade in history to return from combat with zero losses - neither casualties nor aircraft," said Tierney, adding that the accomplishment is even more remarkable as it is often a difficult task to accomplish during peacetime operations."It's difficult to put these aircraft in the air for the number of hours that the mission required of them and not have any incidents," added Tierney. "By the time you add in all the environmental conditions we had to overcome - dust, heat, the small area of operations and the enemy forces shooting at us - this really is an amazing achievement for the entire Aviation Branch, not only 4th Infantry Division"Tierney credited the brigade's success to the leaders at the lowest levels, taking initiative, ensuring everyone's job was completed to standard, and meeting safety requirements. Tierney, Command Sgt. Maj. Archie Davis Jr., and Iron Eagle Soldiers reunited with their families, friends and community supporters in Fort Hood early June. "As leaders, we want nothing more than to train the Soldiers under us to be able to perform their job well enough that we can accomplish this feat," said Davis, the brigade's senior enlisted leader. "It is truly remarkable to know that for 12 months in a combat environment every Soldier in this brigade performed to the highest standards, and we were able to bring everyone home. That says a lot for these Soldiers."Davis added that the workload throughout the entire deployment was nearly triple the operational tempo they'd experienced during garrison or training operations."At any given time we had between 65 to 75 percent of our aircraft in operation for the entire year," said Davis. "My hats off to the maintainers as each of the 110 aircraft in our fleet went through a complete strip and rebuild at least once during the deployment, yet we were never unable to meet the demands of the mission due to maintenance delays."Tierney added that the brigade's success was the result of a full team effort from the maintainers and logistics specialists to the pilots and air traffic controllers and everyone-in-between."My mission statement for everyone in the brigade, regardless of (military occupational specialty) was to 'launch aircraft,'" said Tierney. "Between the 5 million gallons of fuel pumped, the thousands of hours flown and the countless hours put in by the maintainers, everything came together throughout the deployment and everyone did their part flawlessly."Tierney added that the CAB received unprecedented amounts of support from the entire aviation branch which helped his brigade to accomplish their missions without failure.Though the accomplishment of bringing everyone and everything home from a combat deployment was previously an unheard of accolade for an aviation brigade, Davis said he hopes as many of the CAB Soldiers move on to new duty assignments they take with them lessons learned to help future commands achieve the same results."These Soldiers now have the experience and knowledge to know that it can be done," said Davis. "My hope is that the Soldiers pass on their knowledge, so other units can learn from our success; and this can be a recurring accomplishment."The Soldiers are the reason we did this," Davis continued. "It was a whole team concept and each and every one of the 4th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers should be proud of what we accomplished as a team."

Borrowed from: WWW.ARMY.MIL

Afghantribes find common ground with humanitarian aid drop

Kuchi tribesmen gather June 8 at the Daymardad District Center to speak with Ali Khashe, deputy governor for Wardak Province, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Rob Frazier

By Sgt. Rob Frazier
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Journalist

WARDAK PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Every summer, the Kuchi tribe migrates through the Daymardad District, allowing their animals to graze in open pastures belonging to the Hazara tribe. This has frequently sparked violent territorial disputes. After hearing of the conflict, U.S. forces at Forward Operating Base Airborne approached Wardak Province Governor Mohammad Halim Fidai about a peaceful way to resolve fighting between the two tribes. "The mission was inspired from the age-old conflict between the Kuchi nomads and the Hazara," said Maj. Joe Asher, deputy civil affairs officer for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI). "Three weeks ago we went to Daymardad, and it was a very positive step for us. The Kuchi elders said they would not migrate if they were given food, water and vaccination supplies for their animals."Once learning of a possible solution, Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, delivered the first installment of humanitarian aid to the Daymardad people."We hope this demonstrates that we're saying, 'Hey, we're taking the steps to alleviate your problems,'" Asher said. "Although this is funded by us, it's important for the Kuchi and Hazara to know this is enacted by the Afghan government."The first installment included sacks of beans, sugar, flour, rice and boxes of cooking oil. Asher added that a second shipment of humanitarian aid would likely be made within the next week."We plan to follow this up with water, tents and veterinarian supplies," Asher added. "This way, the Kuchi won't have to move their livestock, because they will have what they need."Ali Khashe, deputy governor for Wardak Province, was on hand to greet Soldiers and meet with Kuchi tribesmen before handing out the food. Inside the district center, Khashe fielded questions from the elders regarding water and vaccination requests for their livestock.Khashe said he knows their issues cannot be solved all at once, but he hopes they understand leaders are working hard to meet their needs."The governor's office is trying to solve their problems," Khashe added. "It's our priority to convince the two tribes to live like brothers."According to Khashe, the humanitarian aid was a step in the right direction and another example of coalition efforts to help the Afghan people. "The district center and the people here all know the U.S. comes to help," Khashe said. "They are very happy, because everyone knows the U.S. forces came to help rebuild Afghanistan. We are very grateful for their assistance."Asher added that with U.S. assistance and cooperation from the Wardak government, the humanitarian aid will signal the start of a change for the Kuchi and Hazara tribes in the Daymardad region."Hopefully this will result in the first nonviolent summer between them in a long time."

Special thanks to the Fort Drum Blizzard

U.S. Soldiers to teach air assault to Iraqi Special Operation Forces

By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Carr

Task Force Falcon PAO NCOIC
FORWARD OPERATING BASE GABE, Iraq – In the past, the U.S. military planned and executed air-assault missions for Iraqi forces. Now, Iraqi forces are taking the steps needed to plan and execute their own missions with assistance from U.S. Special Forces and 10th Combat Aviation Brigade crews and aircraft.The 10th Combat Aviation Brigade's 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, partnered with U.S. Special Forces on June 1-2 to teach air-assault operations to Iraqi Special Operation Forces."In the past, it was U.S.-led operations with a few Iraqi forces," explained Lt. Col. Lee Shepherd, commander of 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment. "Then it was a 50/50 mix of U.S. and Iraqi forces. Now, it's progressed to Iraqi forces in the lead and us providing some support."Recently, Shepherd and key members of his battalion, along with U.S. Special Forces Soldiers, sat down with an Iraqi Special Operations Force commander in the Diyala Province to explain the first steps of planning an air-assault mission."This was the 'shake hands' portion and to show what capabilities we can provide," Shepherd said. "We briefed them on 'Air Assault 101' – the basics. We said 'this is what you need to have and know in order to be successful in an air-assault.'"Although the briefing was basic, the ISOF commander said he and his Soldiers benefited from the training and expertise of the American Soldiers."They showed us the importance for ground troops to understand the coordination needed with aviation troops," explained Col. Abed Al Meer Kasem Muhammad, Diyala Province Iraqi Special Operations Force commander. "These are the basics, and we learned a lot from the briefing."Muhammad expressed his desire to gain the experience to allow his troops to perform air-assault missions on their own."I'm eager to get my soldiers to start the practical training. The sooner we learn these skills, the sooner we can rid this area of terrorism and the sooner we will have peace," Muhammad said.This isn't the first time Shepherd's battalion has worked with Iraqi forces. The two partnered in the past to perform many missions with the Pathfinder Company, another 10th CAB unit. Shepherd said they have seen an improvement in Iraqi forces' capabilities and the Iraqis are taking the lead in providing security."When we first arrived in country, we worked primarily with the U.S. forces on air-assault missions. Iraqi forces were on the mission but purely in a supporting role," Shepherd explained. "As the months passed, it became more of a partnership on the mission. “Now, each mission is becoming primarily Iraqi forces, with a small contingent of U.S. forces,” he continued. “As we conduct this training now, we are working so that in the coming months, missions can be Iraqi-planned and led with very little, if any, U.S. ground force involvement."As the U.S. military prepares to withdraw and the Iraqi government takes control of securing its own country, Shepherd believes that air assault is a viable tactic that the Iraqi forces can learn and use. He said it is a step in the right direction for Iraqi security."We are helping to build the capacity for an army to lead itself, sustain itself and protect itself," Shepherd explained. "We are training them to rapidly travel across the battle space and strike an insurgent cell or an extremist cell when they do not expect it, where they do not expect it. If we can train the Iraqi forces to do that on their own, they can police their own country, they can protect their own country. The violent extremists cannot hide, because they will be found and they will be defeated."

2nd Brigade Combat Team Soldiers conduct combined arms live-fire

I have had several people email asking what my Soldier has been up to lately. My answer is often "your guess is as good as mine" but today I can say:

Soldiers in 2nd Brigade Combat Team fire on the objective with an M-249 squad automatic weapon and an M-4 carbine assault rifle during combined arms live-fire exercises at Fort Drum. During May, 2nd BCT Soldiers conducted combined arms live-fire exercises and nonlethal situational training exercises in preparation for their rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., scheduled for July. Photo by Jennie Burrett

By Sgt. Jennie Burrett 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO NCOIC

The sounds of mortars, artillery, M240-B machine gun, squad automatic weapon M-249 light machine gun and M-4 carbine assault rifle fire could be heard on Fort Drum during 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s combined arms live-fire exercise last month. During May, 2nd BCT conducted combined arms live-fire exercises and nonlethal situational training exercises in preparation for its rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., scheduled for the month of July. “The logic of doing the combined arms live-fires is to train company commanders in the art of battle command, which is how they visualize, describe and direct what they are doing with their Soldiers in the units,” said Col. David Miller, 2nd BCT commander. “During the company combined arms live-fire exercises, this was done under conditions with live rounds, so Soldiers in units get comfortable with their weapon systems and do that safely and tactically.” Forty-seven Arabic-speaking role-players were brought in to give Soldiers the experience of working with a language and cultural barrier. Interpreters were embedded with each unit, just as they would be in Iraq or Afghanistan. In addition, a village was set up with role-players for the nonlethal situational lane to give the Soldiers interaction experience with local in a village. During that exercise, the company commander sat down with Iraqi village elders to discuss needs like security, water and electricity.“We ask a lot of Soldiers these days, not only the high end of the fight, but also how to engage with the population and conduct a host of things from humanitarian assistance to helping with governance, economic progress (and) infrastructure, and helping host nation governments and armies win over their population, which is largely what we are doing in both Afghanistan and Iraq,” Miller said. “So what we did was put all the company commanders through about a 72-hour exercise that allowed them to do all of that and tie both what they are doing on the lethal part with what they are doing in the nonlethal situation training exercises,” he added. The purpose of the live-fire exercise was to test troops in every aspect of being a Soldier, both mentally and physically. It also gave a chance for Soldiers to see what they need to improve. "I gained a lot of confidence in my senior leaders today. I already had confidence in my team leaders, but now that goes further," said Pfc. David L. Dexter, an infantryman with C Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment. "But I needed to learn how and when to do things on my own, and I learned that today. We did two blank fires and I depended on them, but the live-fire was on me."A majority of the 2nd BCT’s 3,600 Soldiers gained confidence and experience in their jobs throughout May during this training exercise.“This training is the brigade commander’s way of looking at his troops and companies within the brigade and judge the level of training that we have done this far,” said 1st Lt. Tim Smoke, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 89th Calvary Regiment executive officer. “What is great about this training is all enablers and the combat multipliers that have been given to us to make this exercise work. The experience of working and bringing everything together is what the Soldiers are getting out of this exercise.”

Special thanks to Ft. Drum Blizzard Online

Wednesday's Hero

Something a little different this week. Instead of profiling a service member, Wednesday Hero will be profiling a movie. Band Of Brothers. But it's just as much a profile of the men it was about as it is the movie itself. Band Of Brothers was a miniseries tha aired on HBO in 2001. It follows Maj. Richard Winters, Cpt. Lewis Nixon and the men of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, aka E-Company or Easy Company on their march to Germany. From their training to their battles at Normandy and Bastogne, their liberation of the Kaufering IV concentration camp to their taking of Hitler's Eagle Nest. A great cast and great writing make this one of the best war movies ever made. But it is graphic in visuals and language. And parts of it may be hard to watch, but it is worth it.

What the men of E-Company did will never be forgotten. They are the heroes that helped the cause of freedom.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Support Battalion provides amenities to Afghan Schools

By Pfc. Chris Baker

Task Force Spartan PAO Broadcast Journalist

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan – Afghan National Police from Pul-e-Alam supported by Soldiers of 710th Brigade Support Battalion, Task Force Spartan, delivered some 2,000 pounds of supplies June 2 to the Darwesh and Karzai Elementary Schools, near Pul-e-Alam .Notebooks, pens and soccer balls were handed out, along with many other items in an attempt to provide more amenities for Afghan students.

The most significant gift given during the day was work desks for the otherwise empty Darwesh Elementary."When we found this school, it had no furniture whatsoever. What we've done, using Commander's Emergency Relief Program funds, we've brought furniture for them in order for them to have a better learning experience," said Lt. Col. Eugene Shearer, 710th BSB commander."I've never been in school and tried to read and write while sitting on the floor. The desks will create a more organized classroom," said Capt. William Bennett, commander of A Company, 710th BSB.

Battalion leaders hope these basic supplies will help make the learning process easier for Afghan children, who are accustomed to having very little. As Afghan children ran around excitedly and asked Soldiers for pens, Bennett explained the progress his unit has made in Logar. "We've made great strides to build trust and relationships in this area. Today's a good day. We actually have furniture and supplies for the children who would otherwise be sitting on the ground," Bennett said. Bennett said one of the biggest requests from local leaders were the desks. With that request fulfilled, the battalion focus can shift towards other projects in the area, such as power, wells and building projects. According to Shearer, many more improvements are on the way."In our area of operations, we've planned projects for several schools, mosques and roads," he said. Shearer also mentioned the International Security Assistance Force's dedication to helping in Afghanistan."It's a long-term commitment. You can't get everything done right away. It takes time," he said.