Volume Four, Number 24 - 10-5-09
Mission - Soldier - Family - Team
For the latest news, pictures, and information from 4ID, regularly check:
http://www.hood.army.mil/4ID
(Note from Bob - work is underway to transition this 4ID web site to Fort Carson. Once it is complete, I will give you the new address. In the meantime, this is still the official 4ID web site).
I'm late (by two days) getting this update out - I'll skip the detailed weather forecast - it will be sunny and in the mid 70's in Kabul, Afghanistan, with lows in the 40's all week. Baghdad will also be sunny all week with highs in the mid 90's and lows in the high 60's.
I will also skip the WWII history lesson - will catch up on that in the next update.
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It was a bad weekend for 4BCT of 4ID - we start with this sad story... As soon as the names are released, I will put out another update.
8 Fort Carson Soldiers killed in fierce Afghan fighting
TOM ROEDER
2009-10-04 12:58:37
Colorado Springs Gazette
In the deadliest day for Fort Carson since Vietnam, eight Soldiers from the post’s 4th Brigade Combat Team died in Afghanistan on Saturday when insurgents attacked a pair of remote outposts in Nuristan province. The Army hasn’t identified the dead, but several military sources confirmed that all eight were from the 4th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade, which went to war in May and in recent days began withdrawing from remote areas to better provide security in cities and villages.
“My heart goes out to the Families of those we have lost and to their fellow Soldiers who remained to finish this fight,” Col. Randy George, the brigade’s commander, said in a statement late Saturday. “This was a complex attack in a difficult area. Both the U.S. and Afghan Soldiers fought bravely together; I am extremely proud of their professionalism and bravery.”
Federal law bars the Army from releasing the names of the dead until 24 hours after the last next of kin is notified. Traditionally, the Army has shunned identifying units involved in deadly incidents until the Pentagon releases the names of those who were killed.
The post had lost 270 Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan before Saturday’s deaths. Since the Afghanistan war began in 2001, the post’s highest number of casualties in a single incident was five, a total reached in three Iraq bombings — one in 2007 and two in 2008.
The American headquarters in Kabul said the attack began early Saturday when Nuristani tribesmen poured out of a mosque and a nearby village. The attackers numbered in the hundreds and used machine guns and rockets to lay siege to a hilltop American position and a nearby Afghan military compound.
Days before the attack, Americans announced plans to leave the area as part of a “broader realignment to protect larger population centers,” a military news release said. Those plans remain unchanged.
The besieged GIs called in allied aircraft, Army helicopters and artillery fire to beat back the attack. The military said the Soldiers inflicted heavy enemy casualties, but lost eight Americans and two of their Afghan allies.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Afghanistan since 2008. Afghan authorities said the insurgents included some who were driven out of the Swat valley of neighboring Pakistan after a Pakistani military offensive there last spring.
The 4th Brigade Combat Team under George has worked throughout a four-province region centered on the city of Jalalabad. The area includes some of Afghanistan’s most rugged terrain in the mountains along the Pakistan border, including the Khyber Pass.
The 3,500-Soldier brigade is the first major Fort Carson combat unit to fight in Afghanistan and trained for months on the hills and ridges of the post’s training area to gain the physical stamina required for high-altitude battle.
Since arriving in Afghanistan last spring, the brigade’s achievements have included securing that nation’s presidential election, allowing thousands of locals to safely go to the polls for the first peaceful transition of power there in decades. The brigade has also sent Soldiers on long foot patrols in valleys and villages in the roadless high country in a bid to deny the insurgents refuge.
They arrived in Afghanistan as fighting there reached levels that hadn’t been seen since America’s 2001 invasion. Through September, the brigade lost 11 Soldiers in Afghanistan, with the most recent deaths bringing the unit’s total to 19.
Hard fighting is nothing new for veterans in the 4th Brigade, which until 2008 was known as the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division. In 2004, the unit was sent to Ramadi, Iraq, in the midst of an uprising by Sunni insurgents. The brigade lost 68 Soldiers on the yearlong deployment, for the highest losses of any brigade at war to that point.
In 2006, the brigade returned to Iraq, taking over potions of central Baghdad at the height of sectarian battles there. The brigade managed to bring peace to several Baghdad neighborhoods, but the effort cost the lives of 45 Soldiers during 15 months at war.
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For those worried sick not knowing the status of your Soldier - consider this. Typically, assuming the next of kin have not gone somewhere that the rear detachment can't find you, notifications of casualties happen within 18-24 hours of the time of the casualty. These casualties happened well over 24 hours ago, almost two days ago, so if you haven't heard anything - consider the old adage, "No news is good news because bad news travels fast". Also keep in mind, when casualties happen communications lines are shut down until the next of kin have been notified. If they haven't opened up by now, they will soon.
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This story came out this afternoon from ABC News and was covered on the ABC Evening News newscast tonight...
Exclusive: Wounded U.S. Soldiers Refused to Leave Taliban Fight
Afghan Attacks: Darkness, Smoke Forced Medevac Doctors to Work by Touch
By KAREN RUSSO
KAMDESH, Afghanistan Oct. 5, 2009
ABC News' Karen Russo was the only reporter to get to the scene of this weekend's bloody firefight between U.S. troops and hundreds of Taliban insurgents when she went in on a MEDEVAC helicopter. Here is her report:
Flying into the besieged Afghan base during a nighttime firefight this weekend was a harrowing mix of overwhelming noise, stomach dropping maneuvers and shadows hurrying through the gloom.
When the chopper lifted off moments later with three wounded Soldiers, it left behind others who were wounded but refused to be MEDEVACED out of the combat zone so they could return to fight with their buddies.
Fighting raged at two remote U.S. outposts near the Pakistan border this weekend, that left eight U.S. Soldiers dead and nine wounded. The battle was fought from Friday night through Sunday as hundreds of Taliban insurgents and their allies tried to overrun the Americans.
During the fighting, the insurgents succeeded in breaching the outer defense of the base at times before being repelled with the help of attack helicopters, fighter jets and drones. It was the bloodiest battle in a year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
During the fight, the MEDEVAC team at a nearby base waited - with both patience and frustration. MEDEVAC teams are known for flying into some of the most deadly areas in the world to rescue injured Soldiers. MEDEVAC helicopters are unarmed so they often need supporting aircraft to protect them, and sometimes the cover of darkness is their only defense.
On Saturday night, the team finally received the go-ahead as the sun set. Within moments of receiving the call, we rushed to the helicopter and quickly sped to the outposts. As we were flying into the attack space, the MEDEVAC team with one medic and a doctor were preparing for the oncoming patients, setting up IV's, pulling out medical equipment and making other last minute preparations.
Apache helicopter gunships escorted us as we neared the combat zone to ensure our safety as we hovered at 10,000 feet awaiting word to descend. When word came, we plummeted in a corkscrew manner, making the descent in a matter of seconds, landing in a valley at the bottom of steep mountains. It felt very vulnerable to attack.
Once on the ground, I hopped out of the chopper, but could see little other than smoke wafting through the moonlight, likely from a fire that was burning much of the base. Then I could make out the shadows of Soldiers as they carried the wounded towards the helicopter.
Any noise of the conflict was drowned out by the propellers of the helicopter. The area smelled of burned out pine trees, something one Soldier described as "death and hell."
One of the pilots said that even though he had night vision goggles and ordinarily he can see in that sort of situation, because the fighting was intense there was so much smoke it was actually fogged over and it was difficult for him to see. Fortunately he could make out the landing zone, but it was touch and go.
Three wounded Soldiers, one U.S. and two Afghan, were carried down the steep incline and quickly placed on the helicopter. Some of the injured refused to be MEDEVACED out of the combat zone and continued to fight despite their wounds, according to Soldiers at the base. Soldiers told the MEDEVAC crew that troops were donating blood during the battle, so it could be transfused into wounded comrades.
Between the gloom of night and the smoke, it was too dark to see much and the roar of the chopper made it almost impossible to hear commands. I was quickly sort of touched by a crew member to get on the flight. I hopped on and even before I was on, the medical team was already working on the wounded.
Doctors wore night vision goggles, but still found it difficult to see. One doctor said it was like working by touch.
We were on the ground for a little more than five minutes, but in the chaos of noise and darkness, it felt like it could have been anything from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.
Moments later, the chopper lifted into the air and flew to the nearest medical facility. Despite the heroism of the crew, one of the Soldiers died after reaching the facility. It wasn't immediately announced whether the Soldier who died was American or Afghan.
Copyright 2009 - ABC News
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Gates Cites Importance of Obama's Afghanistan Decisions
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2009 - President Barack Obama's decisions on the next phase of the Afghan war will be among the most important of his presidency, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who vowed to faithfully execute his orders. Gates' remarks today come amid ongoing discussion among top national security officials about the way forward in Afghanistan, a debate said to be rife with varied proposals ranging from troop increases to a narrower, scaled-down approach.
"I believe the decisions that the president will make for the next stage of the Afghanistan campaign will be among the most important of his presidency, so it is important that we take our time to do all we can to get this right," he told an audience at the annual conference here of the Association of the U.S. Army.
Top national security advisors convened at the White House last week for the first in a series of high-level talks expected over the coming weeks to focus on the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. The discussions are unfolding some six months after a new strategy articulated the need to refocus the mission on thwarting al-Qaida and its allies.
Gates pledged to carry out Obama's impending policy decision on Afghanistan, where the defense secretary said the security situation is on a "worrisome trajectory." Violence levels in the country are up 60 percent from last year, he noted. "Speaking for the Department of Defense, once the commander in chief makes his decisions, we will salute and execute those decisions faithfully and to the best of our ability," he said.
In a thinly veiled reference to the high level of exposure the deliberations have received, Gates emphasized that officials involved in the talks should hold their views close. "In this process, it is imperative that all of us taking part in these deliberations -- civilians and military alike -- provide our best advice to the president candidly, but privately," he said.
But as the national security apparatus sets its sights on the future of Afghanistan, Gates said, he would remain responsive to urgent needs there, particularly on countering the deadly improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, that still cause the most casualties in the war.
"IEDs remain the No. 1 cause of casualties in Afghanistan, and let there be no doubt that as long as our troops are in harm's way, the Department of Defense will do everything it can to destroy these IED networks and protect those heroes in the fight," he said, eliciting applause from the crowd.
To help in reducing the IED threat, Gates has ordered expert personnel and additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment to Afghanistan, including the most advanced drones and the MC-12, a new Air Force aircraft that provides near-real time intelligence. Also, the first wave of an influx of vehicles designed to protect troops from deadly bombs arrived in Afghanistan last week. The mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles -- known as M-ATVs -- are similar to conventional MRAP vehicles, with both touting a V-shaped hull to deflect roadside bombs.
But the M-ATV provides troops a smaller and more maneuverable vehicle that can travel off-road and navigate Afghanistan's difficult, mountainous terrain, Marine Corps Systems Command officials said.
"The first MRAPs designed specifically for Afghanistan's rugged terrain, the M-ATVs, were delivered to theater last week, only three months after the initial contracts were awarded," Gates said today. "And in the next year, we will field thousands of these lifesaving vehicles."
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And some key news from Iraq...
Odierno calls for short extensions to boost Iraqi national election security
Friday, 02 October 2009
WASHINGTON — The deployments of about 1,600 U.S. troops in Iraq could be extended in the weeks following the national election slated to occur in January, the senior leader in Iraq said yesterday. Some 1,000 Soldiers from the Army’s 1st Cavalry Headquarters in Baghdad could be asked to stay up to 23 days longer and some 600 Marines from the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Anbar province could be extended up to 79 days, according to defense officials.
Gen. Ray Odierno, the commander of Multi-National Force – Iraq, said current military thinking is to maintain force levels between 110,000 and 120,000 troops for the two months after the January election but ahead of a massive U.S. force reduction expected before next fall.
“What we'll do is we'll hold that in place through the elections and about 60 days after the elections,” he told Pentagon reporters yesterday. “And depending on how that goes, it's peaceful, and then we will make a determination of coming down to the 50,000-transition force by the first of September.”
Odierno said he would prefer extending for a few weeks the deployments of Soldiers already in Iraq over bringing in new troops during the critical post-election phase. “What I don't want to do is bring in a brand new division headquarters, for example, for the elections,” he said, noting that the troops subject to the extension are the exception, not the rule. “I just want to wait till a couple weeks after the elections.”
The Marine extension, he said, is necessitated by the need for extra time to get equipment and materiel from the country as the Marine mission in Iraq comes to a close.
The announcement of possible deployment extensions comes a day after Odierno told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the United States may be able to draw down troop levels in Iraq quicker than expected if progress there continues.
About 122,000 military members are deployed in Iraq now, and an agreement that took effect in January calls for U.S. troops to cease combat operations and reduce their presence in Iraq to 50,000 by Aug. 31, 2010. All U.S. combat forces are scheduled to be out of the country by Dec. 31, 2011.
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said yesterday the drawdown of forces hinges on having a force large enough to support successful elections in Iraq. “Our troop drawdown is very much predicated on having enough forces there to have a successful election and then have a level of security in the intervening weeks where there would be a transition in power throughout Iraq,” he told the cable news network MSNBC.
A successful election and peaceful transition of power would be a coup for the Iraqi government, which Odierno said continues to move forward. “Every day that goes by, it becomes less and less likely that some sequel of events would cause the government to fail,” he said, referring to Baghdad’s progress. “You know, I think every time we move forward, every day, it becomes less and less likely.
“That's why I think the elections are important, because they will go through what we hope to be peaceful elections, the seating of a new government peacefully,” he added. “And I think that will help to really stabilize the institutions as derived from their own constitution.”
(By John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service)
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Civilians, Soldiers Work Together for Change in Afghanistan
American Forces Press Service
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2009 - Afghan civilians, leaders, and soldiers are working together along with Soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force to make their villages and districts safer and more secure in Afghanistan's Konar province. Afghan National Army elements and ISAF service members from the U.S. Army's Task Force Lethal, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, build stability and security in villages, towns and cities across the province and beyond. Increasingly, officials said, they find themselves receiving help from some friendly faces.
A resident of the province's Sarkani district turned in nine mines to the Manogai district center Sept. 16. The Manogai district sub-governor led soldiers from Task Force Lethal to the district center, and the Soldiers safely removed and disposed of the mines.
In the province's Dara Noor district, Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Company C, 2-12th Infantry Regiment, trained Afghan soldiers on the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and long-range rifle marksmanship on Combat Outpost Able Main on Sept. 15. The training covered the fundamentals of use and maintenance for the M249 SAW as the Task Force Lethal Soldiers taught Afghan soldiers how to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the weapon. Afghan long-range marksmen learned fundamentals of firing, zeroing, and the proper use of the wind and elevation adjustments.
In the neighboring Pech district, Afghan soldiers and Soldiers from Task Force Lethal conducted a joint traffic control point Sept. 14 to prevent the movement of weapons and insurgents in the Pech River valley.
The Afghan and ISAF service members exchanged ideas, and the Afghan soldiers learned new techniques while practicing the skills they already have. This mission is just one of many that focus on building and improving the Afghan security forces that stabilize the area and ensure the safety of Afghan citizens, ISAF officials said.
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3-61 CAV Paralegal Receives CAB
Story by U.S. Army Pfc. Beth Raney, Task Force Mountain Warrior Public Affairs
September 29, 2009
NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Romeo Belunta, a paralegal assistant and Tampa Bay, Fla. native, with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Mountain Warrior, became the first paralegal from the task force to receive a Combat Action Badge. A Soldier earns a CAB by actively engaging or being engaged by enemy forces.
Belunta, a former infantryman, earned the coveted badge while performing paralegal duties at Combat Outpost Keating, in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, near his home base of Forward Operating Base Bostick. Belunta traveled to COP Keating in early July to offer legal assistance to the Soldiers there.
Belunta’s intention was to stay for only two days, but after a series of attacks by anti-Afghan forces against the COP, aircraft could not safely retrieve him for more than a week. During the complex attacks, Belunta fought alongside his fellow combat arms Soldiers repealing insurgent advances against the isolated mountain outpost.
Speaking of the Soldiers he fought alongside with, Belunta said, “As part of a team, it's never about bravery or courage. It's about the Soldiers with me. My fear went out the window when I looked at the faces of the Soldiers there with me.”
U.S. Army Maj. Jeffrey Thurnher, the brigade’s judge advocate, showed great pride in Belunta, “He helped them with much more than just legal work that week.”
Belunta found pride in himself as well. “The CAB is a rare and honorable award,” he said. “I am very proud to be a member of the JAG Corps with a CAB.”
Belunta also recalled the lesson he learned during that fateful week. “The incident was a true testament that the enemy can strike anytime and anywhere, and Soldiers must never drop their guard,” Belunta said. “I am thankful to the Lord for keeping me safe and giving me strength for me to do my duties.”
More than 14,000 U.S. Army Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom have been awarded the Combat Action Badge since combat operations began in late 2001.
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Kunar provincial leaders, PRT sign school bundle promise
By Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman
Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar Public Affairs
September 27, 2009
CAMP WRIGHT, Afghanistan – Kunar Provincial government leaders and Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar members signed a construction project implementation commitment Sept. 27 to build five new schools in the province.
Fazullah Wahidi, Kunar provincial governor, told a crowd of more than 100 gathered mullahs, village elders and government directors that the new school in Narang and four schools in Asadabad represent the Afghanistan government’s commitment to the people to improve education. “The time of fighting is done, now is the time for education,” said Wahidi. “Education is important for everyone because it takes people out of the darkness and into the light. We want Afghanistan children to get an education.”
The governor said while the buildings are important and the first step to improving the development and security of the country, it is when teachers teach and children learn that education begins.
He also stressed it’s the shura members responsibility to help with security on the projects so the contractors can do their jobs. He also emphasized the need to protect the schools if anti-Afghanistan forces try to damage them. “If the Taliban come to burn the schools, we as shura members need to say first, ‘burn my home, not the school,’” Wahidi said. “These schools will give our children a place to learn and must be protected.”
Sayed Jalaluddine Hasani, Kunar Provincial director of education, said the schools represent an investment by the government in the people of Kunar province. “With good schools, we can have the darkness go away,” Udin said. “We are building these five schools to make Afghanistan better.”
A Narang shura member speaking on behalf of the village said they were grateful to have a new school for the district. “We have kids learning outside under the trees and sun, but now they will have a good place to learn. On behalf of the Narang shura, I thank the (provincial government) for helping bring a school to Narang,” the village elder said.
According to Lt. Col. Joseph Cantlin, PRT chief of civil-military operations and native of Ft. Belvoir, Va., the signing ceremony was a happy occasion and represents the combined effort of the provincial government and the U.S. to make Afghanistan better. “We’ve been working hard to coordinate with the governor and directors to find the most important areas to put schools, hospitals and other projects across Kunar,” Cantlin said. “It’s a privilege to work with the governor and line directors to bring this happy day to build five new schools to the people of Kunar province.
“I have two children myself and understand how important it is to the young people of Narang and Asadabad to have the opportunity to go to a good school and learn because they represent the future of Afghanistan,” he said “My hope is for the children to learn and grow up to be good citizens of Kunar and Afghanistan.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jay Burgess, PRT senior engineer and native of Oklahoma City, Okla. “Nothing is as special to me in my heart as building schools. The contractor said ‘God willing we will have the schools built in 12 months,’ but the real work doesn’t begin until the school is finished. That is when the investment pays off because teachers will have the opportunity and tools to invest in the children of Afghanistan,” Burgess said.
“So, while we celebrate today the beginning of the schools, I look forward to the decades when the schools still exist and the students have a proper education,” Burgess said.
The total value of the contract is nearly $1.1 million and was signed Sept. 20 between the PRT and BBS, the prime contractor. An additional benefit to the provincial economy is the prime contractor will also hire local help to construct the schools.
Today’s ceremony was a promise signing agreement between the Asadabad and Narang district development associations, the provincial governor and the PRT to support and protect the project.
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PRT patrols Yargul village
By Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman
Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar Public Affairs
September 27, 2009
CAMP WRIGHT, Afghanistan – Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar security force members along with U.S. human collection team members conducted their first dismounted patrol in Yargul village Sept. 26 to determine the overall feeling of town members toward the presence of coalition forces and to assess the basic needs of local residents.
The PRT members stopped frequently to talk to people about power needs, water conditions and the economy in the village.
According to Salay Muhammad, local residents like and appreciate the presence of coalition forces. “This country was weakened by the Russians. We are poor and need help setting up (our country),” said Muhammad. “We know that you are here to help.”
According to Zarwar, a local famer, his biggest concern was the economy and didn’t mince words about who could help. “The economy is our biggest problem,” Zarwar said. “You (the PRT) can solve our problems.”
For Salie Salam Muhammad, another farmer, water was his biggest concern. “My crops need water, but people come and take the water so I don’t have enough to give my crops,” he said. “Having more water for crops would help.”
Army Staff Sgt. Steven Branson, PRT security force section leader and a native of Las Vegas, Nev., said the presence patrol mission was a chance to see what the villagers’ attitudes were towards coalition forces and what issues they were having. A side benefit, he said, was to disrupt any anti-Afghanistan forces that might be in the area.
“It was a very successful mission. We interacted with village elders and were able to talk to many different people. One of our squads even had tea with one of the elders,” Branson said. “One of the recurring things we heard on the patrol from the people was we were some of the first coalition forces they had seen there. It also showed any anti-Afghanistan forces we were here and they’re not wanted.”
Branson said the patrol demonstrated the U.S. cares about the people of Kunar province, and showed the patrol members that the people want a better life. “The people we talked to were happy to have electricity and water, and very excited their kids were in school,” Branson said. “They want to have security and development.”
Army Spec. Ronald Gaines, PRT security forces gunner and native of Las Vegas, Nev., also said these types of patrol pay a security dividend for the PRT. “These types of patrols help us much more than sitting in MRAPs or on the FOB. We get to see what they want and need, and in return they help us by telling us when people are doing bad things,” Gaines said.
Gaines also said he had a lot of success getting people to open up to him once he adjusted his posture so he could be more approachable. “We saw a lot of kids, and once I put my weapon behind me they opened up to me. They asked a lot of questions and were like any other kids…they want to be around and see what is going on,” Gaines said. “A walking patrol shows that we aren’t going to just drive past them, but that we want to get out and talk to them and see how they are doing.”
Branson said the PRT security force wants to do more presence patrols like these in the future with the local Afghanistan National Police to continue to build their relationship and provide a positive Coalition presence in the province.
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Kunar government, PRT bringing education, development to province
By Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman
Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar Public Affairs
September 29, 2009
MARA WARA DISTRICT, Afghanistan – In the hot Afghanistan sun beneath a UNICEF tent, Mara Wara District children are watching their future being built. Provincial Reconstruction Team-Kunar engineers visited the Lahor Dag School construction site Sept. 28 to evaluate the progress and craftsmanship of the school that will house hundreds of area children. The school is part of the provincial government’s plan to increase the number of schools in the province to educate their children, while providing an additional benefit of generating jobs.
According to U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jay Burgess, PRT senior engineer and resident of Oklahoma City, Okla., the progress on the school is going well, with only minor issues the contractor needs to address.
“This was the first contract we awarded when we got here in July, so we are doing a follow up to check the progress of the site as well as the quality of work,” Burgess said. “There were small issues, but overall the project is in good condition.”
The commander said the biggest concern on the project is making sure the contractor and builders use established construction practices when they erect the school. An area of special concern is ensuring the concrete being mixed is of good quality so it will stand the test of time. “The gravel is the most important part of the concrete. It’s what gives the concrete its strength, so we need to make sure they are doing it properly,” Burgess said. “We need to make sure they are mixing the concrete mix, sand and gravel in the right proportions every time to ensure the concrete is consistently good for building.”
“It’s good to see the contractor using good building techniques because it’s important for the quality of the school,” Burgess said.
For the site contractor, the site visit was an opportunity to show the progress he has made on the school while addressing the concerns of the PRT engineers. “We have no problems with the construction, and we’ll address all the issues identified,” said Dr. Khalil Khan, the building contractor who was trained as a veterinarian before starting his own construction business. “I’ll solve all these problems before you come back.”
While there were some identified issues with the construction, overall the quality assurance check was a passing grade from the PRT engineers. “Overall they are doing a very good job. I like their brick work and stone masonry, they just need to focus on their concrete work to make sure it’s up to standards,” said Daniel Dunleavy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers liaison to PRT-Kunar and native of Winchester, Va. “But, I’m very happy and pleased with what I saw today.”
An additional benefit to the school being built to increase the educational capacity in the province is the construction site gives local workers much needed jobs. Khan said he employs 35 to 50 workers daily on the construction site. “Business is very good. I hired all the unskilled labor from the local Mara Wara area,” he said. “The few skilled workers I hired are from Pech, Nowabad and Asadabad.”
The school is approximately 20 percent complete and is expected to be completed in time for the next school year, said Burgess. The Lahor Dag School and the Loy Bachi School, also in the Mara Wara district, were bundled together under one contract. The schools represent a nearly $500,000 investment by the Kunar Provincial Government and the PRT to improve education and development in the region.
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Engineers Assess Construction Projects in Afghan Province
By Air Force Capt. Tony Wickman
Special to American Forces Press Service
KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Oct. 1, 2009 - Members of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Afghanistan Engineer District North performed site assessments and a helicopter flyover to view construction and road projects here Sept. 20. The district engineers are working with the national and regional governments to improve Kunar's infrastructure to benefit governance, security and development.
Martin Reed, construction representative and quality assurance lead, said he was pleased with what he saw after a flyover and a few stops at various construction sites. "We received helicopter support from our headquarters that allowed us to couple with the [provincial reconstruction team] on an overall mission to fly around and see as many of our projects as possible and meet with people on site to discuss the projects," the Omaha, Neb., native said.
One stop for the engineers was the construction site of the Afghan National Border Patrol station in Khas Kunar district. "The project construction looked very good and is progressing on schedule," Reed said. "Also, we were able to see that safety standards on the job site were improving."
Another project the engineers assessed was the Afghan National Border Patrol compound in Sarkani district. Once completed, the compound will have administrative buildings, living quarters, a dining facility, fuel and warehouse storage and a vehicle maintenance site.
"[The Afghan National Border Patrol commander] is very receptive and grateful that we're here and making these differences," Reed said. "This compound will increase security and stability in the region and enable the headquarters to better manage its people and mission."
The site visit allowed the engineers to discuss plans to improve the headquarters building with the compound construction, Reed said. "The headquarters doesn't have a motor pool, but the compound we're building is going to have a vehicle maintenance facility in the contract," he explained. "So we discussed tying both compounds together by adding a gate between them for efficiency."
For resident engineer Michael Weber, the trip gave him a perspective for the scope of the terrain and physical demands of the work environment. "I've been on the ground here four days, so this was my first opportunity to see the sites. Instead of ideas of how things are, now I know," the Las Vegas native said. "I came away impressed with the progress and construction on the sites.
"These road projects are creating a better economy because there is movement and trade," he continued. "We're also putting Afghans to work with these projects. When we hire contractors, we strongly recommend they hire local labor. Most comply with those wishes."
Army Maj. William Lewis, resident officer in charge, said all Army Corps of Engineers projects tie into the mission of delivering timely and quality infrastructure and services in support of Afghan and coalition operations aimed at defeating insurgents. "We provide sustainable development projects for the Afghan people that employ the populace, build skilled human capital and promote the future stability of Afghanistan," he said, "It ties to our Asadabad motto: 'One shovel up is one gun down.' The idea is that if an Afghan is working towards the betterment of his country – shovel up – then he will have to lay his hostilities aside – gun down."
The district has 11 current projects in Kunar and Nuristan provinces totaling $92.3 million. They include six border patrol compounds, a pedestrian bridge and six roads. The border compounds are spread across four contracts for $37.8 million. The bridge is one contract for $200,000, and the six roads are across six contracts for $54.3 million.
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This brings to an end my following specific units in Iraq - at least for the time being. 2HBCT of 1ID served long enough under 4ID before we came home, plus I'm a friend of the brigade commander and his wife, so I promised to follow them through the deployment. I will continue to report on items of interest coming out of Iraq since elements of the 4ID will be going back over there in 2010.
Ft. Lewis based Soldiers take over west of Baghdad
By Pfc. Kimberly Hackbarth
4th SBCT PAO, 2nd Inf. Div., MND-B
October 1, 2009
BAGHDAD – Col. John Norris took the reins from Col. Joseph Martin in a transfer of authority ceremony, Sept. 28, at the Camp Liberty Field House, here. Soldiers of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, arrived in Iraq earlier this month and, following the transfer of authority ceremony, assumed responsibility for operations in the country to include providing security and strengthening the Iraqi government and its security forces.
In his outgoing speech, Col. Martin, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, thanked his Soldiers for their dedication and hard work and ended with his confidence in the abilities of the incoming troops based out of Fort Lewis, Wash. “The “Raiders” of the 4th Brigade will serve with distinction and achieve great progress while deployed in Baghdad,” he said.
Norris, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Huggins, uncased the brigade colors, symbolizing their units' assumption of responsibility for the area of operations. In his remarks following the uncasing of the brigades colors, Norris thanked Martin and said his brigade set the standard.
“This ceremony serves to herald the arrival of the Raider Stryker Brigade Soldiers, here to assist in setting the successful conditions and continuing the trend of irreversible momentum already created by the cooperative efforts between the Dagger Brigade and the Iraqi leaders in and around Baghdad,” Norris said.
He also spoke on the brigade’s mission during its deployment. “We have returned with one purpose in mind; to support the Iraqi people, the Iraqi Government, and the Iraqi Army and police in every way we can,” Norris said.
Addressing Gen. Karim, of the 6th Iraqi Army Division, Norris assured him that they shared the same visions for the area. “I look forward to working together in order to ensure the success of this great country. Together at all levels, we will provide security and improve essential services to the great people of this land.”
Note from Bob - The last flight from 2HBCT of 1ID arrived back at Fort Riley early Saturday morning. All are home (except for possibly a few cleaning up the loose ends in Iraq).
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And here's an Iraq update from former 4ID CG, GEN Ray Odierno...
Odierno: Continued Progress in Iraq Could Speed Withdrawal
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2009 - The United States may be able to draw down troop levels in Iraq quicker than anticipated if progress continues there, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq said here today.
An agreement that took effect in January calls for U.S. troops to cease combat operations and reduce their presence in Iraq to 50,000 by Aug. 31, 2010. All U.S. combat forces are scheduled to be out of the country by Dec. 31, 2011.
"Although challenges remain in Iraq, with the continued support of Congress and the American people, I believe we are now in reach of our goals," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, said.
About 122,000 military members are deployed in Iraq now, and by next month that number will decrease by 2,000, a milestone Odierno said is "faster than anticipated." This is a reduction of more than 40,000 troops since 2008, he added, and the reduction to 50,000 troops also may happen sooner than the August target.
The first sign that a quicker U.S. drawdown was possible came on June 30, Odierno said, when U.S. forces moved out of the city centers and Iraqi security forces took full responsibility of security. Iraqi forces have handled the responsibilities well despite sporadic insurgent attempts to undermine progress, he added, and attack levels are down to levels unseen since the summer of 2003.
Overall attacks, U.S. and Iraqi deaths, and sectarian murders have declined greatly since August 2007, when more than 4,000 attacks took place, Odierno said. This month, he noted, fewer than 600 attacks. U.S. military deaths decreased by 93 percent and Iraqi military deaths by 79 percent in the same period, he added, and sectarian-related murders fell by nearly 90 percent.
"While statistics do not paint the whole picture, they help provide some context in understanding the progress made to date," he said, noting that insurgent efforts to derail that progress are failing.
"The overwhelming majority of the Iraqi people reject extremism," the general said. "We have seen no indications of a return to the sectarian violence that plagued Iraq in 2006 and 2007."
Odierno cautioned, however, that the transition to full Iraqi control must be done responsibly. He cited the need to continue U.S. efforts in training security forces and helping to establish government processes. Although progress is evident, he said, security is not yet enduring.
"There still remains underlying, unresolved sources of potential conflict," he said. "Iraq is a nascent democracy emerging from 30 years of authoritarian rule based on ethno-sectarian privilege. Its future as a stable, multi-ethnic, representative state rests upon its ability to deal with the myriad of these challenges, and some of these issues will take time to resolve."
Iraq has the potential to build a capable government, representative of all Iraqis, the general explained, but potential also exists for societal divisions like those of the old Iraq, where religious sect and affiliation had its privileges. "Even as Iraq's political system continues to mature, there is not yet consensus ... that is accepted across ethnic, sectarian and regional lines," he said.
Decades of neglect to the country's infrastructure are another area of concern. But Iraqi institutions and essential services continue to improve, Odierno said.
Probably the No. 1 "driver of instability" that could be trouble for Iraq is the Arab-Kurd boundary dispute in northern Iraq, the general said. The conflict has been ongoing for centuries, but is being addressed by a special United Nations commission. Odierno said he believes a resolution will occur by the next Iraqi elections in January.
Despite these challenges, Odierno said, withdrawal plans continue. U.S. troops already have handed over the keys or closed more than 200 bases, he said. "We have spent a lot of money and personal sacrifice [in Iraq]," he said. "Security is heading in the right direction, and we don't want to lose that. Keeping troops through 2011 allows [the Iraqis] to establish their new government."
Even after U.S. forces leave Iraq, continued partnership with the country and its government is the overall concern, he added. "We have an opportunity here to have a long-term strategic partner," he said. "It's about strategic patience. Even after we leave in 2011, we can't say Iraq is finished. We also need to continue to support them in some way beyond 2011, developing institutions. We contribute to our national security in the process."
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers
1) Thanks for this latest edition of the 4ID Newsletter. I am praying for all those Gold Star Mothers today. Thanks for the information about that organization and for the timely reminder that today is Gold Star Mothers Day here in the USA. May the Lord be especially close to them and to all others who have lost loved ones in the GWOT.
2) I truly enjoy reading your updates. This is just one of many sites I use to try to keep up with my son. He is moving to a new base in Afghanistan and will they will be out of touch until sometime in October, so keep the news coming.
3) Let me hear from more of you.
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I apologize for being two days late with this update. It has been a busy time for me. On Wednesday of last week, I was privileged to accompany an Honor Flight of WWII vets from the Kansas City area to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC. I flew out of Atlanta early that morning and spent a very memorable day with 40 WWII vets and 15 fellow volunteer escorts. Gary Swanson, my old boss at IBM, continues to do an outstanding job looking out for America's veterans. I was a tired dude when I returned home late Wednesday night but had a smile on my face - great conversations and experiences with members of our "greatest generation". Plus, we drove by the 4ID Monument on the road leading into Arlington National Cemetery so I got to experience that again.
This past weekend was also a busy one for me - helping with a Habitat for Humanity fund raising road race and a book fair trying to sell my books on Saturday followed by watching my son race in his first cyclocross race on Sunday. In between, I watched my Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners lose their football games (bummer).
This will be another busy week. I fly to Seattle on Wednesday to attend the 22nd Infantry Regiment Society reunion and won't return home until Sunday afternoon. I'll keep watching the 4ID news and will get the next update out on Monday of next week, then get back to my Saturday schedule the following week. As stated above, I'll send out a special update as soon as the names of our fallen 4ID Soldiers are released.
Continue to pray for our Soldiers and their Families - we need it. This battle in Afghanistan caused the greatest loss of 4ID Soldiers in a single battle since the Vietnam war. Keep in mind - we have the best trained and best led Soldiers in the world today. There is nothing the bad guys can throw at us that we can't overcome and defeat.
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Bob Babcock - "Deeds not Words"
President, Deeds Publishing - www.deedspublishing.com
President, Americans Remembered - www.americansremembered.org
Past President, 22nd Infantry Regiment Society - www.22ndinfantry.org
Past President, Historian, National 4th Infantry Div Assn - www.4thinfantry.org
PO Box 682222, Marietta, GA 30068 - Phone 678-480-4422 (cell)
