THE EAGLE LIFT LEDGER
Ninth Edition December 2011 1LT Kelly Barton, Executive Editor
Commander’s Corner Hello once again to all of our Families and friends, and Happy Holidays. It’s hard for me to believe that December is finally here. By the time you are reading this we will have less than 60 days to go before all of our Ft. Campbell Soldiers are home. I hope all of you had a Happy Thanksgiving. Here in Kandahar it was just another day, for the most part, although Command Sergeant Major JP Thomas and I managed to break up the routine just a bit by volunteering at our coffee shop and internet café (“The First Cup”) for most of the afternoon. JP made his famous funnel cakes, complete with powdered sugar on top. What started out as a slow afternoon quickly changed once word spread around the camp that JP was making funnel cakes… cooking oil, pancake batter, and sugar…it just doesn’t get any better. Whether you were home for Thanksgiving, traveling to visit Family, or here in Afghanistan, I hope you all paused for a moment to realize that as Americans we have a lot for which to be thankful. Since it’s now December, it’s probably appropriate to touch on a bit of 101st Airborne Division history from WWII. In December 1944, the 101st was engaged in one of the largest battles of the war. The Germans had launched a major winter offensive, now known as the Battle of the Bulge, and the 101st was stuck right in the middle of it. On 19 December, the Division had been rushed to the town of Bastogne with orders to defend it at all costs. For eight long days, 10,000 Screaming Eagles were surrounded by over 50,000 Germans and faced almost continuous artillery barrages followed by ground assaults. This occurred during some of the coldest weather Belgium had seen in years; with the ground frozen and snow accumulating daily, the fight against frostbite was just as hard as the fight against the Germans. Running low on ammunition, food, and other critical supplies, on 27 December the 4th Armored Division from General Patton’s Third Army broke through German lines and relieved the 101st…literally just in time. Following the 101st’s heroic defense of Bastogne, the acting Division Commander, Brigadier General McAuliffe, said this: "We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present, and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas." 67 years later, the Soldiers of this Task Force are maintaining our Division’s reputation on a daily basis. I wish all of you at home a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. We will do our best here to make for ourselves a Merry Christmas as well.
Sincerely, Scott Gerblick Task Force Commander
The CSM’s Foxhole CSM’s Foxhole, Hello from a chilly Kandahar! The holiday season is here and so is the colder weather, but that’s not a bad thing! The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and the packing has started! In a couple weeks we will push out our first group of Soldiers back to Ft. Campbell and into the loving arms of Family and friends! The holiday season started off pretty well here on Kandahar. Several companies/sections decided to have a Thanksgiving Day cook-out and others decided to enjoy the more traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the dining facilities. There was no shortage of food at any location! As the Commander mentioned in his newsletter article, the funnel cakes were a big hit with all the Soldiers. I asked a few of the Soldiers what they were thankful for this year and almost all of them replied, “my Family.” I would have to agree! The support the Families have given our Soldiers this year has been amazing. This includes our extended Families from across the United States and around the world! I am convinced that the success of our Task Force is a direct result of the unwavering support of its Families! Happy Holidays and Congratulations to Eagle Lift’s newest Non-Commissioned Officers and Staff Sergeants as of 01 Dec 11; SGT Calabrese, SGT Gandaria, SGT Jorgenson, SGT Kiplinger, SGT Mitchell, SGT Shockley, SGT Speakman, SGT Villagomez, SGT Wilson, SGT Stanzione, SSG Ayala, SSG Beckford, SSG Brooks, SSG Fornal, SSG Maloy, SSG Riley, SSG Wilson Donny, and SSG Sanchez……our Army’s future! Thank you again for all you do every day! JP Thomas Task Force CSM
HHC — Fighting Griffins December 2011
December 2011
Singing in the Rain This month, the Griffins experienced a flood. Typical of desert environments, the water receded as quickly as it appeared, but for one night life got very damp and very interesting on Kandahar. Thinking back, it didn't actually rain all that much here, but did rain a fair bit to our northeast. Apparently, Kandahar is down slope and in the middle of a wide valley, and all that rain water to the north of us decided to flow our direction. Now, if you look at a map, you will see we have river basins to either side of us that bypass our base by several miles, but on this particular night these two rivers were not adequate enough so Mother Nature decided to carve out a new river right through the middle of Kandahar Air Field. This improvised river was impressive, flooding a swath of buildings, and several ATV-sized vehicles were seen floating through the base. The surprise water feature also effectively separated Mustang Ramp where we work - from the area where our Soldiers live and sleep. The high water mark hit in the late evening when some of our sections were trying to conduct a shift change. Quite a few Griffins were stuck at work that night, but they handled the long hours till morning with impressive dedication and good attitudes. Cots, PT mats, couches, and even floors became sleeping platforms for many Soldiers. By late morning,
most of the water had dissipated, allowing us to get to work‌or get back to our rooms. Operation Rising Star also came to Kandahar Air Field over the past month. The armed forces equivalent of the American Idol talent search, Rising Star is a singing competition that whittles down performers in progressively more difficult rounds. The grand-prize winner receives an all-expensespaid trip for two to Hollywood to record a three-song demo compact disc. The Orderly Room crew eliminated me before the real judges even showed up, but - once the judges did arrive Specialist Ashley Perrymon knocked their socks off. Ashley was pretty much forced to compete by her S1 shop, who have to listen to her sing in the office constantly while she's filing papers and processing administrative actions for the battalion. There's no shutting her up, and once they got her on stage nobody wanted her to. Ashley sang her way through each round, some challenging her more than others as the song genre changed up for each competition. I particularly remember her getting nervous about the country music competition, but she breezed through that one as well. Ashley made it all the way to the final round of the Kandahar competition, and then she had to throw in the towel - it was time for her to go on R&R! She was
never eliminated; she simply could not appear for the next round. Congratulations, Ashley, you did a great job and represented the Griffins well.
Other than the flooding and the singing, things have been pretty normal, though you can feel a shift in the air as if this deployment is drawing to a close. The holiday season is upon us, which means the dining facilities are going to attempt a palatable meal for the troops, and the weather is feeling more like the end of the year is supposed to. Plans and discussions have turned to packing up our property and personal belongings, and passing through the 90-day mark has definitely improved morale‌I'd guess it's at about a 9.2. Even then, the Griffins continue to get the job done and push as hard as they have since Day 1. - CPT Gabe Morris Griffin 6
Highlights: Rain! A Star is Born...and Goes on R&R
HHC — Fighting Griffins
Our Soldiers in Pictures SGT Lauren Wade gets the string!
CPT Nikki Turner gets...something else. Seriously disgusting
Subject: SPC Nicole Harcus. Assessment: Determined to be a threat to national security and the overall sanity of HHC. Status: ELIMINATED. Attack dogs: No longer hungry.
A very personal wake-up call for SGT Will Watson. What happened next is not suitable to print.
Is that a pillow-pet? Yes. Yes, it is.
A CO Rude Dogs
December 2011
VOLUME 1
Dear Rude Dog Friends and Family, Wow, time is flying by here in Afghanistan. It seems like yesterday we were decorating for Halloween and now it is Thanksgiving! We have been blessed with cooler weather, but with that also came the first major rainfall of the season. Although we only received a couple hours of rain, the runoff from the mountains arrived on KAF hours later and flooded a lot of the base. We had some flooding in our crew chief office, but have since built a substantial sandbag barrier worthy of a CAT 5 storm. Another milestone also arrived in the month of November. A certain video game was finally released on 8 November 2011. There was much anticipation around the CP as we anxiously awaited the mail every day for our reserved copies. Needless to say, the work schedule was relaxed the next day and there were numerous tournaments throughout our RLB’s. It is a nice break from the monotony here and it has certainly raised morale within the Rude Dog ranks. The time is growing short here and we have already started packing up non-essential equipment. Everyone’s spirits are high as the conversations turn to packing, training our incoming counterparts and plans for redeployment leave. Although we enjoy talking about going home, we are still focused on the mission and will drive hard till the mission is complete. I want to thank all of you again for your support throughout this deployment. Your strength and support gives us the will and drive to complete the mission and remain strong every day. Until next month, CPT Jason Birkle Rude Dog 6
A CO Rude Dogs Photos
December 2011
B co 7-101 VARSITY!!! VOLUME 1
Happy Thanksgiving to our Varsity families and friends!
Doing what we do best! . . .
. . . Even at night.
B co 7-101 Varsity Just a few illustrations to show
what’s been going on. .
Say Hello to VARSITY’s newest PCs!! Congrats to CW2 Brown, CW2 Cabatingan, CW2 Korn, and CW2 Shell.
B co 7-101 Varsity A glimpse of VARSITY LINEAGE. . . From then to NOW
Above: Awards for outstanding performance in the face of the enemy! <— looks familiar —>
The Monster awaiting its next rendezvous with destiny. Ever vigilant!
<— Old and Busted. .
New Hotness!!
——>
B co 7-101 VARSITY VARSITY LINEAGE. . .
Varsity at Kandahar in 2002 We are Thankful for the love, prayers and support! And especially Thankful to those who have served before us.
Varsity at Kandahar 2011
December 2011
C 4-101 Blackwidows VOLUME 1
Greetings Blackwidow Families! Another month down and the sparkle in the eyes of the Blackwidows has begun to really shine. The temps are continually in the colder scales and rain has began to move in. We recently endured an amazing series of flooding that made it quite interesting around here for a few days. The overall mood is very good as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and have just celebrated Veterans day. The crews have been doing an excellent job accomplishing the mission putting the best and most professional face on the company that we could ask.
We recently had the opportunity to recognize some of our aircrews with the Combat Action Badge for engaging the enemy in theatre. Pictured above from left to right; SPC Parker, SPC Hinman, CPT Cai, CPT Sudweeks.
C 4-101 Blackwidows A day in the life of a Blackwidow...
Blackwidows had an awards ceremony on the 11th of November. The CAB (Combat Action Badge), and the Army Good Conduct medals were among the awards given out. But the most Acclaimed awards were the Commanders coin, and First Sergeant's poker chip!
Left: MSG Sargent Received his 15th GCM Below: SPC Hays receives his Aviator Wings
Someone is almost too excited about the new Coins
Look for the Blackwidow chip at a casino near you: Its worth infinity
C 4-101 Blackwidows A day in the life of a Blackwidowâ&#x20AC;Ś PT Tests!
CW2 Waters Sweatin to the Oldies
CW3 Mix setting standards as usual
Turn that Frankenstein into a frakenFINE!
Lace â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em up tight boys
C 4-101 Blackwidows A day in the life of a Blackwidow...
Next Months Special Issue: When the Green Monster Attacks
D CO 7-101 Aviation Regiment HEADQUARTERS To all the family and friends back in the states, today is usually an unmentioned but monumental first sign of the end of the deployment. What significance does 15NOV11 hold in a month filled with significant events such as Veterans Day and Thanksgiving? Well, it is the last day that any TF Eagle Lift Soldier can leave for their much long and overdue R&R at this point in the deployment. Truly a sign that the end is near and a welcomed feeling for all as we enter the fall months. The seasonal change brought its first challenge as the relatively small amount of rain that fell, brought with it flooding and commuting problems. With no injuries and minimal setback the burdens soon subsided and the comic relief quickly set in. The clean up went quickly but the work never stopped. The company continues to fight the never ending onslaught which is maintenance, and kept the ever-expanding fleet of aircraft flying on a daily basis. Hard work and dedication were continually evidenced throughout these past 9 months and will be the bedrock for the remaining 3 months. I have no doubt that we will continually provide and return safe, effective aircraft to the fight. The daily impact to operations in Regional Command-South from this company alone is huge; providing sustainment operations and support for the war. Special recognition within the platoon this month goes to SPC(P) Robert Mitchell for excelling on his promotion board and to SPC Toliver for winning the company Soldier of the Month.
-CPT Bickford
D CO 7-101 Aviation Regiment SHOPS Shops platoon has been productive and morale is high as we welcome November and mark yet another month off the calendar. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had our first bout with the rainy weather that will likely linger with us until our departure. Roaring rivers popped up where streets used to be and parking lots became lakes as we all attempted to stay dry during the storm prior to Veteranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. While work slowed down as the torrential downpour ensued, Soldiers kept busy with games of Dominoes and the group favorite, Capicu, that was taught by SGT Rivera in our Avionics section. We hope that everyone had a fantastic Halloween back home! The abundance of Halloween treats in care packages made for a sweet holiday as the Soldiers showed off pictures of their young ones decked out in their creative holiday best. A few Soldiers even fashioned their own costumes for the occasion! Shops would like to congratulate SGT Arlene Williams for winning the Company NCO of the Month board and SPC Kristopher Pearson on his impending promotion to SGT. All the Soldiers are working hard and the job that the platoon is accomplishing is remarkable! Thank you again for all your support back home and we hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! -CPT Kaitlin Cooper Shops Platoon Leader
D CO 7-101 Aviation Regiment UH-60 MAINTENANCE PLATOON November is here and we are now just a few months away before we return home. We would like to continue to say thank you for all your support back home. Our Soldiers are very motivated and as we wrap up the last few months our mission is still not over, we are eagerly preparing for redeployment and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to reunite with our friends and family. October was a busy month and November will be even more challenging. I would like to welcome PFC Carver to our Platoon, he arrived here in late October and has been a great asset to our Company. Congratulations to SGT Pilkins and SPC Broxson who were promoted on the 1st of November. As the holiday season approaches CPT Lacy and myself would like to wish you all back home Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings. Thank you for all that you do and your support back home. -SFC PRY Hale/ Farewell: Hale to PFC Carver Promotions: SGT Pilkins SPC Broxson
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE TANGOS
D CO 7-101 Aviation Regiment CH-47 MAINTENANCE PLATOON Another month is over, and we are another month closer to home. In the past month CH-47 maintenance has gotten its feet a little wet with a little rain to keep the temperatures cool and the infamous KAF dust tame. We welcomed SGT Woolever’s crew that has been at Wolverine back to KAF, and bid farewell to SGT Olson’s crew who left to replace SGT Woolever’s crew at Wolverine.
New Promotables: SPC Sundve, SPC Hawthorne, SPC Ortiz, SPC Luther, SPC Eastman, SGT Woolever
Reenlistments: SPC Unger, SGT Bramblett -1LT Justin Chaudoin CH-47 Maintenance Platoon Leader
December 2011
The “No Worries” Update
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 9
Greetings Iron Dog Friends and Family, This month’s newsletter is particularly bittersweet. It marks the second to last month we will have to endure apart, but comes at a special time of the year that is exceptionally difficult for military families around the world. You know this better than anyone, and as the holidays quickly approach we are reminded of how fortunate we are to have you in our lives, supporting us during this deployment. The understanding you demonstrate and the sacrifices you make in view of our duty as Soldiers is beyond measure. Although we must spend the coming holidays apart, we count our blessings and lean upon your steadfast devotion, patience, endurance, and “Outside the CP” love. We thank you and pray for your encouragement and comfort during the holiday season. 1LT Marcus Harold Remain confident that we will continue to accomplish the mission and take care of each other CPT Blake Jenkins every day! 1SG Ronnie Simington Just in case you missed it, in last month’s Brigade newsletter COL Royar wrote about decisions that many of us will be facing in the following months regarding our career. I found this topic CONGRATULATIONS! necessary to repeat in the Iron Dog newsletter simply because of how important you are to this organization, the Army, and our great country. The decisions COL Royar wrote about will Promotions have a great impact upon your future and should be given due thought. He phrased it best in SGT Smith writing, “…decide what is best for you and your family. Professional careers must be balanced with family considerations, and many times the decisions are not clear cut. Know that the chain of command is here to help you make an informed decision and then support you with Army Achievement Medal whatever you decide.” We sincerely care about your future and owe you the best guidance, SGT Johnson support, and gratitude we as leaders can offer. Until next month, be safe, be positive, and be proud that you are truly a part of less than the SPC Appleby one percent of Americans sacrificing so much! We wish you a merry Christmas and happy SPC Conatser holidays! Anniversaries PVT Thurman—19 NOV Birthdays SGT Hamacher— 1 NOV PVT Davis—2 NOV SPC Savage— 3 NOV SPC Whitsel— 6 NOV SSG Fournier— 15 NOV SPC Alcantara— 17 NOV SGT Bayliss— 30 NOV
“No Worries” “Air Assault” IRON DOG 6
Headquarters - Prowlers
Page 2
Greetings once again from the Headquarters platoon! We’ve been here 9.5 months and are steadily closing in on the fourth quarter! Despite the longevity of our stay, our Orderly Room has continued to successfully process our Company’s administrative needs as well as our mail. Our Supply section continues to set the standard for supply transaction superiority. Now that the whole team is back from R&R, they have been raising the bar, helping maintaining all of the Company’s uniforms, equipment, and vehicles. They are also doing an excellent job of preparing the Company for redeployment! Speaking of redeployment, as we close in on the end of our tour, we are picking up the pace, setting schedules & meeting deadlines. You will be proud to know that when it comes to getting the job done, the other company’s HQ sections in the Task Force look to your Soldiers for guidance!
Come at me bro! Come at me.
The Gunslingers section continues to issue the entirety of Task Force Lift’s weapons all day, every day. Their unfaltering dedication to their duty keeps the Soldiers out flying armed and ready for any engagement they may encounter. As we enter the winter holidays, we are all reminded of how precious our families and friends back home are. The Soldiers, NCOs, and Officers of HQ Platoon would like to thank you for your care packages, cards, and prayers. Your support from the rear is vital to our mission success and greatly appreciated! No Worries! - 1LT Harold and SSG(P) Newman
SSG(P) Newman spends some quality time with his new best friend
Who, me?
Distribution Platoon - Punishers Page 3 Happy Thanksgiving Punisher family! This is a time to pause and thank God for his many blessings. So with that I want to say that I’m thankful for our Soldiers, and the way they work hard every day; always accomplishing the mission! I’m thankful for our families, and the loving support they faithfully give! I’m thankful for our blessings, the good food, hot showers, and cozy beds! I’m thankful that we are in the fourth quarter of the deployment and the end is finally near. But above all I am thankful for the true meaning of Christmas. For many in America Christmas is a hectic time full of frustration. They go through December focused on bonuses and cookbooks, shopping sales and gifts. However for us in this deployment, all those false motivations fade as we see what truly matters. I think the Grinch said it best when he said, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas, perhaps, means quite a lot more.” So while others are focused on their packages, boxes and bags, your Soldiers continue working hard to do the right thing in order to give you a present of much greater worth, your Soldier returned home safely. Merry Christmas Family!! SGT Johnson and SPC Appleby are presented with their FARP AAMs!
SSG Fournier discusses the art of truss building with SPC Turley
POL Soldiers huddle & come up with a game-winning plan: go deep.
SSG Fournier and 1LT Eyster
Maintenance Platoon - Pirates Page 4
SGT Smith and SPC Aldridge take a ride on a Blackhawk!
SPC Thomas gives his epic class on first aid
2LT Tellez plans to do the same thing he does every night: TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD
Well, looks like it’s next month already Pirate platoon families, friends; fellow Americans! Seems like it was just yesterday when I finished typing last month’s motor pool newsletter; a good thing too, it means time is flying and we don’t have much time left here (under 10 weeks)- this makes for a good combination. This past month snuck by quickly as Pirate Platoon was kept busy with scheduled services and maintenance as well as unscheduled in support of our 7-101st Aviation Task Force. A few interesting things happened this month in the platoon as SGT Smith and SPC Aldridge were sent to troubleshoot and repair several Environmental Control Units (ECUs) at an outlying Forward Operating Base (FOB) Edinburgh, AKA “FOB EDI”, painstaking 100% inventories were conducted, another M4/M16/M9 range was conducted, and formally CPL Smith was promoted to SGT! (Yes SGT Smith, you were mentioned twice) As for downtime, Pirate platoon enjoys its sports (as usual). The NCOs (AKA Team Bus drivers) came in a close second when playing volleyball during the latest Iron Dog Volleyball challenge, better luck next time. As for the weather, it has been unfortunately “rolling tide” with the advent of recent flash flooding which got up to 4ft deep in some places-yes, this place is a desert. Hey, it’s Afghanistan, this place is ridiculous and you always have to stay on your toes, quite literally! Overall the platoon is in good spirits but yearning to enjoy of some of the freedoms we are protecting back at home. With Thanksgiving this past month and Christmas this month we regret that we cannot be with you for these great Holidays; however we are still very thankful for all of the blessings we do have. Pirate Platoon is very thankful for you, your prayers, and undying support! Just under three months; we’ve got this! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Pirate 6 out. “Service to the line, on the line, on time!” “Air Assault” - 2LT Tellez and SFC Reel
Buccaneers “FOX NEWS”
December 2011
December 2011 Friends and Families:
day comes, I am looking forward to meeting the other half of the company and beCOL Royar, the 159 Greetings! My name is Ben Seipel and as CAB CDR, presents ing introduced to all of our wonderful Combat Action Badges of this month I am the new commander of Families. For the time being, thank you to: our beloved F Company. Prior to taking for all of the continued support each day over the job, I had the great fortune of of this deployment. You are all the backshadowing Andy Bailiff for several weeks bone of the organization and make what as we visited the various locations in which we do possible. the Buccaneers have a footprint and meet the deployed half of this company. The Although she lasting first impression leaves me nothing will not be in but impressed by the many warm personthe local alities and positive, can-do attitude this area, my SPC McCray company exuberates. wife, Kate shares in my With the deployment rapidly ticking away, eagerness to we are finally in the home stretch. I will become part continue to emphasize to our Soldiers the of the Buccaimportance of taking things one day at a neer family. time and continuing to focus on the tasks Kate was accepted into a graduate program SGT Haines at hand. These last few months will entail in Iowa this year. With that said, if there quite a bit of work on our part, with clean- are any volunteers who are interested in ing and packing all of our equipment and assisting us with some FRG related duties, training up our replacements to assume the I would greatly appreciate the help. Feel mission. I have no doubt the Buccaneers free to drop me a note at any time. ‘determination to excel will see us through to the very end. Looking forward to meeting you all. SGT Winkler
Let me be the first to say I am counting Best wishes, the days to when we step off the plane and Ben Seipel (Buccaneer 6) are reunited with you all. We will not let up one bit over here until then. When that benjamin.a.seipel@us.army.mil
Buccaneers “FOX PHOTO’S”
SGT Hight hanging out with the GCA crew. A Coke & A Smile!
SSG Kilpatrick hunting coyotes.
SGT Winkler enjoying himself at the range. Who’s that clown in the background?
SPC Cate’s not having so Lane Safeties, SSG Calhoun and much fun it seems. SGT Haines oversee operations. There’s that clown again.
SGT Wilson & CPT Seipel going for a helicopter ride. SPC McCray in the Standing Long Jump.
SGT’s Hight, Wilson & Winkler CW2 Elder & CPT Seipel make pose (Above) before hooking up a their way off the range. sling-load (Below). SSG Caloun in the Bench Press.
SPC Richardson can’t get enough guns. SGT Maloy in the Shuttle Run.
SSG Anderson in the High Jump.
SSG’s Calhoun & Anderson receive an award as the Combine Challenge winners during the FOB Costume Party.
CW2 Elder explains the rules of the Combine Challenge.
ARCTIC AIRMAIL Chronicles of a displaced MEDEVAC Company
November’s Question of the Month: How deep does the water have to be before we’re legally entitled to receive dive pay?
Welcome back for another edition of Arctic Airmail! As I sit down to write this, we have officially reached double digits for the number of days until we return home. To help pass the time, all manner of shenanigans have transpired (some officially endorsed and others...not so much.) Halloween this year did not go unnoticed and thanks to the efforts of SPC John Sparks and the Specialist/Private First Class Mafia the Kandahar Halloween Bash was a massive success! With costumes, food, games, and all manner of spook-tacular craziness all involved had a wonderful time and enjoyed the company of friends and festivities Costumes and all: You’re never too old for trick-or-treating! to break up the monotony of another day on deployment. Thanks for all your hard work guys. We had a great time and we appreciate all you do! With November upon us we’ve realized the very apparent changing of seasons. Last month the temps started a downhill slide and that was accompanied by a few rain showers. It was nice to have hard-packed dirt in our landing zones instead of the typical moon dust that makes landing so difficult. It was also refreshing to breathe air that contained more oxygen than dust for once. We all noticed the changes and hoped the rain wouldn’t be a stranger in the months to come. Lesson learned: Be “Can you hear me now?” careful what you wish for! Roadside assistance apparently So, not only were the rains a return visitor, they were more like the doesn’t cover Afghan flooding college buddy who needs to crash on your couch for a night and a week later you realize he never left. The rain started and never stopped. For three to four days the rain was constant and oppressive. It’s one thing to be uncomfortably rain-soaked, it’s quite another level when floods rival the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina. All roads were flooded, transportation quickly ground to a halt, and even the parking pads for the helicopters were flooded with more than a foot of water. With all this flash flooding came a flurry of activity to keep things out of the murky water. The lucky Soldiers found themselves wading through waist deep water to get to their room and others were hopelessly quarantined on their spot of dry land until the water receded. Where’s a boat when you need one?! Seeking High Ground: The Afghan Flood of November 2011
Despite snuggling into our new living conditions in the middle of Mud Ocean, Afghanistan, we have a few congratulations due to some recently promoted gentlemen within our ranks. Former Specialist (and giant ginger) Patrick Wilson has played the waiting game long enough and has finally made the cutoff for promotion points. On November 1st, he was promoted to Sergeant. He’s taken to the role like a natural and is performing admirably as a crewchief and team-lead maintenance Sergeant at one of the forward sites. The other promotion this month was an advancement for Mr. Clean reunion at FOB Wolverine Private Brandon Benitez to Private First Class. He is also doing From R to L: SSG Kyle Clark promoting SPC Pat Wilson and PV2 Brandon Benitez well at one of the forward sites performing duties as a crewchief, maintainer, and all around go-getter-guy. Congratulations guys, it’s been a long time in the making and we’re glad to see you move up to the next level. With only a few months left, the awards are slowly but surely making their way through the system and trickling back to the Company for presentation to the deserving Soldiers. This month alone we’ve had 33 achievement awards come back for presentation to 25 people. This is no easy task considering we have people spread out among five different locations and are endlessly shifting from one place to another. The only fix is for the commander to load up an oversized helmet bag with awards and fly various ring routes to every location himself to conduct the presentation. With December and Christmas right around the corner, we’ll see if Santa is brave enough to do the same. Not that I’m taunting Santa (the last time I did that I didn’t even get real coal - just a few measly, crumbling, water logged, Great-Value brand charcoal briquettes - thanks again for that Santa) I’m just saying, we’ll see. Flossin’ and Flyin’ Speaking of December reminds me that we’ll soon The MEDEVAC Mega Ring Route Tour 2011 have less than two months of the deployment remaining. With the end drawing near we’ll also be losing our folks from the Germany detachment. Soon enough they’ll all be making their way back to KAF and then in January they’ll be heading home. It’s been a blast having you gents around and we appreciate all you’ve done for us in good times and bad. From all of us in the Arctic DUSTOFF, thank you to: CPT John Schiavi, CPT Kyle VanDingstee, CW4 Mike Kadar, CW3 Tim Vance, CW3 Shawn Patterson, CW2 Josh White, CW2 Rich Lawson, CW2 Whitney Boyles, SFC Joe Lemons, SSG Rob Marchetti, SSG David Noakes, SSG Cory Rodgers, SSG Brandon Lowther, SGT Bobby Dorris, SPC Ray Errthum, SPC William Lane, and SPC G. Garcilazo.
Aufwiedersehen und vielen Dank für ihre harte Arbeit!
Why does my mic boom smell funny? SGT Brandon Lowther from the Germany Detachment snorts his mic boom after a mission (don't ask me why)
As for the Alaska folks, we’ll be following suit with the Germany detachment but a few weeks later. As is the nature of the Army, dates are decently solid but always subject to slight changes. Because we are so near the end, as the time shortens, the list of questions lengthens. Soldiers and spouses alike have done exceptionally well for the duration of the deployment but as the time for redeployment draws nearer, tensions rise about the unknown. Common questions relate to our redeployment date, will we have to go back to work right when we return, when can we take leave, can we buy plane tickets now, etc. To ease some of the tension and to answer those questions (L) 1SG Jeffery Pinnell answers questions while CW3 Tim Vance (far right) perfects the “fish-lips” that are burning a hole in your brain, the Company has coordinated with the FRG in Alaska to set a date for a Video Tele-Conference (VTC) call between Kandahar and Ft. Wainwright, AK. Questions that will be addressed with be redeployment info, dates, and any questions asked. The current plan is to host the VTC in the 1-52 Battalion Classroom (Bldg. 3010, Montgomery Rd. - across the road from hangar 3) on Wednesday November 30th, at 6 pm. For those not located in Alaska, there is an option for a limited amount of people to call in to participate. As the date draws nearer, the FRG will have the most up-to-date information to include any changes as well as the phone number and access code for call-in participants. Here We Go Again As I sit here and write this newsletter, I see a wonderful sight when I look up at the calendar and see all the previous days crossed out. The individual days show all the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other important things we’ve missed this year and it’s saddening. Standing back and counting however, you can see that over 284 days have been crossed off. Doing the simple math (with the help of some scrap paper of course; where’s a calculator when you need one? - probably with the boats we forgot to pack) That leaves only 81 days until a fresh start to relish, more than ever, the freedom to enjoy all the previously missed opportunities. Missing these things, big and small, has given us a new perspective toward life. A perspective that no longer takes for granted the ability to spend time with the kids and the person we cherish more than anything else in the world...You!
If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you. Good night girl, sleep tight… I’ll be back in the morning
-A. A. Milne
Big Happenings in NOVEMBER: Birthdays
November 2nd - MAJ Shane Mendenhall November 2nd - SGT Andrew Herndon November 8th - CW2 Greg Love November 10th - CPT Aaron Krupp November 10th - CW2 Jon Smith November 21st - PFC Jackie Cook November 25th - SSG Brendan Jackson
Anniversaries November 7th - Joshua & Tanja White November 11th - William & Jodi Bechtel
Until next timeâ&#x20AC;Ś
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!! CW2 Matthew J. Grove DUSTOFF pilot and newsletter-writer-guy
I know my one ear is hanging crooked...it makes me more aerodynamic when I fight!
Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment Company C, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation (DUSTOFF), deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in June 2011. The unit is composed of three platoons from New Mexico, one platoon from Arizona and one from Minnesota. The company is led by Maj. Christopher Holland and 1st Sgt. Charles Bouyer, and it provides UH-60 Blackhawk Medevac coverage throughout Regional Command Southwest. The company and its assets are distributed between four forward operating bases (FOBs) to provide immediate response when a call is received. On average, DUSTOFF crews launch in less than 9 minutes once a call comes in. To date (July-October 2011) the company has flown more than 800 missions. The helicopter crew is composed of four crewmembers—two pilots, one crew chief and one medic. The pilots are experienced in combat maneuvers to avoid enemy fire. They also are trained to land and take-off in extremely heavy dust (“brown-out”) conditions at the point-ofinjury (POI) pick-up zones (PZ). The flight medics, many of whom are nurses, fireman or policeman in their civilian careers, are the lifeblood for our wounded Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Seaman. They provide quick medical assessments at the POI, sometimes under hostile conditions, and they also provide medical care onboard the helicopter while en route to the medical treatment facility. Imagine providing emergency medical care to a severely injured casualty in a roller coaster. That is similar to what the medics experience in the cabin of a UH60 Blackhawk operating in a combat zone. After the helicopter lands at the medical treatment facility, the flight medic provides the doctors and nurses with vital information on the patient’s medical status. The crew chief is also a critical member of the helicopter crew. They provide the pilots guidance on landings, takeoffs, operation and maintenance of the UH-60 helicopters. Co. C did not deploy with the traditional maintenance platoon; thus the crew chiefs are serving two roles—one as crew member and the other as helicopter mechanic. Blackhawk helicopters are complex aircraft, and under the best of conditions each one requires several man-hours of maintenance for each hour of flight time. In Helmand Province, Co. C’s maintenance crews face additional challenges, including the fine “moon dust” that seems to be everywhere. The fine dust coats the entire aircraft, and many helicopter components wear out much faster than they would under normal flying conditions. The result is that maintenance personnel must work long hours to keep the fleet of Medevac helicopters flying. In spite of the challenges, Co. C has always been able to provide a sufficient number of flyable aircraft to provide Medevac coverage throughout its area of operations. Integral to the success of the DUSTOFF mission are the “flight operations” personnel. They monitor the battlefield and communicate with higher headquarters, medical treatment facilities, and supported units. They also provide flight crews with critical information by secure radio within a matter of seconds and coordinate the smooth flow of casualties throughout the battlefield. Co. C, 1-171 Aviation, has been providing medical evacuation coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at four separate locations since arriving in Afghanistan in June 2011. Many U.S. and allied service members, and Afghan civilians can credit their lives with the quality of service and fast response time Co. C has provided. The Soldiers of Co. C take great pride in the service they provide to their comrades on the battlefields of Helmand Province.
SUGAR BEAR NEWS D E CEM B E R 20 11
T H A NKSG IV IN G AB ROAD Greetings Family and Loved Ones, Our hearts go out to you over this holiday season and trust this letter finds you well. With another month down, the days are getting shorter, though nothing like Alaska. The temperature has dropped to low 50’s during the morning and only reaching as high as low 70’s throughout the middle of the day. The cooler temperatures are a welcome change of pace but the clouds are getting lower and turning a darker shade of grey, a foreshadowing of the rainy-season to come. We have prepared the best we can but it didn’t save us from a flash-flood that covered Kandahar. The water was waist deep in some areas. But the water soon dissipated and in less than two days, it was business as usual again. Thanksgiving is never the same without ones friends and family, however we made the most of it for where we are. While the chow hall boasted a thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, we here at Kandahar elected to go our own route. SGT Jones took charge and organized a cookout for the B Company soldiers here at KAF. Acting as the grill-meister, he fired off bratwurst, chicken, and steak that he marinated himself. We were able to find everything from pasta salad to apple pie, though surprisingly enough pumpkin pie was hard to find. While a cookout is no Thanksgiving meal, it was enjoyed by all. Our little command center was transformed for these festivities and long lines formed to wait for their turn to go through the food line pictured to the right. The outlying FOB’s enjoyed the traditional Thanksgiving meal served at their respective locations. The soldiers out at FOB Wolverine participated in a “Turkey Trot”, a four mile race around the FOB’s perimeter. All the participating Alaskan soldiers did well. In closing, we hope this holiday season finds you blessed. Sincerely, Travis Easterling
(Right) SGT Cummings (seated) and other crew members assist the Kandahar crash/rescue team train on a CH47 Chinook. The exercise focused on familiarizing the emergency response teams with the CH-47 airframe and how to evacuate personnel inside.
(LEFT) SFC Davis poses with the
winners of the First Annual First Sergeant Scavenger Hunt. (From Left to Right) SPC Foster, SPC Ihle, SPC Buchmann, and SPC Hawtin dominated the competition returning with all the required items including a hardboiled egg and a bowl of cooked oatmeal pictured here.
(Right) Always serious, PFC Cordar and SPC Makert pose for a photo in the middle of the day. Though, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rare to find them doing anything other than hamming it up.
B CO 2-135 AVN
Greetings from the FNG’s of Kandahar – the Mile High Muleskinners! From the 1SG side of command all has been going very well and all the Soldiers are staying out of trouble and maintaining all the Army-ism standards which make my life easier. It is tough for us Guard guys sometimes but we are professional and very efficient at the job we have to do. The standards are to be met and common sense will prevail. The months and days just keep flying by and with the Commander departing for his R&R the month of November will be done by the time he returns. He is beginning to gather Re-Mob information flow and that creates new energy for us leaders. It has been 100 plus days in country and the time continue to fly by for getting ready to return home. The Holiday season will make it tough at times for missing home. But we will lean on one another and share all the R&R stories and continue the mission with smiles of all the loved ones we miss and realize the New Year will bring us that much closer to sharing 2012 Holidays at home. We are remaining safe and continue to complete the tasks at hand and greatly appreciate all the support from home and all are always in our thoughts and prayers. With all the support from everyone at home it makes our job easier from here and we all look forward to R&R and 2012!!
CPT Wilhelm – ‘Skinner 6 ’
1SG McBride – ‘Skinner 7
Husker Fans in the Stan!! Staying Sniper Qualified