Vol. 64, No. 30 Publishedished inin thethe interinterest of the 7th Infantry Division and Fort Carson community July 28, 2006 Visit the Fort Carson Web site at www.carson.army.mill 2nd BCT participates in rotation at NTC by Sgt. Luke Koladish and secure the enemy’s fire power brigade’s first deployment since the In spite of all of the deployments 114th Mobile Public allowing the infantry units to conduct Korean War. and relocation, Soldiers from the BCT Affairs Detachment their missions. The unit conducted The unit, which had called the have high spirits. many cache sweeps, mostly through the Republic of Korea its home for the last “The difficulty of deployments Another Army unit with a storied countryside and in houses, trying to 50 years, relocated to Fort Carson after has caused the unit to grow a lot,” and colorful past started its National push out the insurgents. the deployment in Iraq. said Edmonds. Training Center rotation at Fort Irwin, Even with recent combat experi- The upcoming Iraq deployment “The deployment to Korea and Calif., last week. The 2nd Brigade ence, the unit will benefit from training will be the second for the unit, which back-to-back deployments to Iraq has Combat Team has started the intensive at the NTC. According to Staff Sgt. Lee saw 68 of its Soldiers killed and more kept the guys in, building technical training course to prepare for rotation Edmonds, A Co, 1/9, the observer than 400 wounded in its first tour, from proficiency as well as dependence on to Iraq. controllers have worked with other August 2004 to July 2005. one another.” “We have to maintain a positive units, studying their techniques. If the attitude to accomplish this mission to Soldiers from the 2nd BCT keep their be prepared to help the Iraqi people eyes open, they will learn something. move forward to democracy,” said Edmonds, as can be said of many Operations Sgt. Maj. Leroy Hinton. Soldiers of the 2nd BCT, knows The 2nd BCT was the Army’s only what he is talking about. On Nov. 9, Light/Heavy Brigade, with two Air 2004, while on a perimeter patrol at Assault Battalions (1-503rd and 1- a traffic control point in Al Ramadi, 506th). The 2nd Brigade Combat Team Iraq, Edmonds’ squad came under (Strike Force) acted as deterrence of fire. One round passed through North Korean aggression against the Edmonds’ left ear, grazing the back of Republic of Korea. his head, the other hit him in the right “Korea was a good experience, foot. His rifleman took three rounds training in the mountainous terrain in his left leg and a fellow Soldier was and working with the Republic of killed in action. Korea Army we were able to experi- Edmonds recalled the after action ence another culture,” said Sgt. 1st report indicated five machine guns Class Hugh Simmons, A Company, had fired upon them. “We are lucky to 1/9th Infantry. have come through it as best we did,” The U.S. Army announced Sept. he said. 23, 2004, that the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Some people ask him why he stays Infantry Division, would relocate to in the Army. Edmonds responds, “This Fort Carson upon completion of the is what I do for a living. Individual loy- deployment to Iraq as part of the alty keeps these guys in the unit. They Operation Iraqi Freedom II rotation. come in knowing nothing, develop, and Photo by Spc. Kathleen R. Briere Upon completion of its deployment in become leaders.” From outside Medina Jabal, a mock Iraqi village at the National Training the summer of 2005, the unit relocated By August 2005, Soldiers of the Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., Spc. Daniel Almonaci, an infantryman with 1/9th to Fort Carson. 2nd BCT were on their way to their Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, watches as a The unit’s mission was to search new home after completing the crowd of villagers gathers during a meeting with the town mayor. INSIDE THE MOUNTAINEER Prairie dog-borne plague arrives downrange Directorate of Environmental affected prairie dog colonies to kill Opinion/Editorial Community Compliance and Management plague-carrying fleas and eliminate Don’t keep pooch in parked car . .2 How to beat ID theft . .11 Post talk . .2 Community briefs . .12 further spread of the potential disease. Chaplain’s corner . .14 Warm weather brings out more Plague is a disease transmitted News Chapel schedule . .15 than just sunshine, barbecues and fun, primarily through the bite of infected Lean Six Sigma . .3 Upcoming mayoral elections . .16 it can also herald the arrival of plague Women’s Equality Day . .17 fleas. prairie dogs, wood rats and other Military Community policing . .18 season. species of ground squirrels and Supply and support operations . .5 Smith meets garrison employees . .20 The Directorate of Environmental chipmunks can carry infected fleas. Military briefs . .6 Civil affairs helps Pacesetters . .7 Feature Compliance and Management issued a The fleas also move easily from wild Iraqi citizens get sewer upgrades . .8 Youth Adventure Camp . .24-25 plague watch July 20 as a result of animals to the family dog and cat. Patriot Guard welcomes Soldiers . .9 excessive prairie dog die-off in several Honoring the fallen . .10 Happenings The symptoms of plague infection Denver Botanic Gardens . .25-26 colonies located near Butts Army include a sudden onset of fever and Get Out . .27-28 Airfield and to the west along chills, severe headache, muscle aches, MUST SEE Wilderness Road. Sports nausea, vomiting and a general feeling Martial arts demo slated . .31 Until further notice, residents are of illness. Free climbing wall offering . .32 advised to stay clear of the areas Sometimes a lymph node will Incredible catch . .34 Coach of the Week . .36 around Butts Army Airfield and swell and drain near the original bite Lady Mountaineers do it again . .38 Wilderness Road. location, causing extreme pain. The Two WCAP wrestlers qualify . .39 Specimen animals and fleas were Mountaineer Athlete of the Week . .43 symptoms usually begin two-to-six collected and submitted to the El Paso days after the bite of the infected flea Classified advertising (719) 329-5236 County Department of Health for testing. or animal. Protect yourself from thieves. Mountaineer editor (719) 526-4144 As a precaution the DECAM began The Colorado Department of See Page 11. Post information (719) 526-5811 preventive measures that include the Post weather hotline (719) 526-0096 application of insecticides in the See Plague on Page 4 MOUNTAINEER 2 July 28, 2006 Opinion/Editorial It’s hot! Leave pets at home, not in parked car Commentary by can get in a vehicle every time we go at passersby, but most people walking leave them outside while the owner Sgt. Clint Stein out to our cars after it’s been parked by assume the dog is barking because goes inside a store or something Mountaineer staff for a while in the sun. But the first it’s a dog and that’s what they do. “real quick” and forgets about the thing most of us do after starting the Who’s to say the dog isn’t barking for pet. It may be an honest mistake, but Imagine wearing a fur coat engine is roll down the windows to help before it suffers a tragic death. it’s a deadly one. outside all day, every day, all summer help expel the hot air or turn on Dogs and cats already have a hard Unless pet owners are taking long. Now imagine sitting inside a the air conditioner. enough time trying to cool their body their dog to the park or on vacation parked car with the windows up and When pet owners leave their furry when it’s hot outside. Adding to with them, I see no reason why that fur coat on for an indefinite little friends behind in a car while they their challenge by trapping them in a they shouldn’t leave them at home. amount of time. go inside to shop for groceries or make heat box is simply cruel. Besides, the dog will probably be You would probably start to sweat a bank deposit, they usually don’t Dogs and cats only have sweat more comfortable at home anyway. and become very thirsty. But what leave the air conditioning running. glands in the pads of their feet. The If someone sees a dog or cat that if you couldn’t sweat and you had That would mean they would have to only other way they can cool their has been left alone in a parked car and nothing to drink. How long do you leave the keys in the vehicle while it body temperature is by panting. This it’s hot outside, there are a few things think you could withstand the torture was running and that’s just crazy. anatomy does not make for a cool com- he or she could do if concerned for the before you became so hot that your What I think is even crazier is the bination during the summer months pet’s safety. Get the make and model body began to overheat? Soon you idea that it’s OK to leave an animal when outside temperatures, even in of the vehicle and ask an employee would become dehydrated and with a coat of fur alone in a hot, Colorado, can reach triple digits. inside the establishment if they would eventually suffer a heat stroke. parked car with nothing to drink. But If pet owners are going out to run page the vehicle owner.