Duke Dispatch Is Published Monthly by the Public Affairs Offi Ce to Provide Information on the Cover on Soldiers and Families of the 3Rd BCT, 1St ID
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May 2009 3rd BCT, 1st ID Duke www.1id.army.mil www.dvidshub.net/units/3bct-1id Dispatch Secretary Gates expresses gratitude to 2-2 Inf. Soldiers PAGE 3 May 2009 1 Contents Photo by Army Staff Sgt. David Hopkins Staff Sgt. Jean-Francois Frenette, noncommissioned officer in charge of the a team from the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion, 351st Civil Affairs Command, San Diego, Calif., pulls security in a mountain village in northeastern Afghanistan. Frenette, from San Di- ego, Calif., and his team were in the village to meet with elders and school officials about damages to the school roof. The team organizes contracting services and provides funding for the building and repairs of schools, roads and bridges in the area. Features 11 Water purification 201st BSB Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Fen- 3 Secretary Gates visits 2-2 Inf. ty are responsible for providing clean water to thou- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visits Forward sands of Soldiers throughout northeastern Afghani- Operating Base Ramrod, the only battalion-sized U.S. stan. unit operating in the Kandahar Province, 13 Patrolling unexplored areas 5 ADT arrives to Laghman For the first time since the start of Operation Endur- ing Freedom, American Soldiers crossed a portion The Kansas Agri-business Development Team unfurled of the Kunar River during a dismounted patrol. its colors in Laghman province, Afghanistan, May 3. 15 May Reenlistments 9 Laghman air assault mission A listing of all Task Force Duke Soldiers reenlisting for Soldiers from the 527th MP company and 3rd BCT, the month of May. 1st ID’s Special Troops Battalion train Afghan Na- tional Police on key medical techniques. May 2009 2 4 1-6: Why I Serve Duke Spc. Jonathan Goodwin, 1-6 FA Supply specialist and father of seven explains why he chose to serve his Dispatch country. 3rd BCT, 1st ID Magazine 12 Chosin establishes base Brigade Commander: 1-32 Inf.Soldiers establish a new Vehicle Patrol Base Col. John Spiszer in the valley and in the districts of Narang, Chowkay and Nurgal. Brigade Command Sgt. Maj: Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Orosz 14 New school in rural village Public Affairs Offi cer: The Nangarhar PRT joined provincial government Maj. Chevelle T. Stokes offi cials and the people of a rural village in Dara-Noor District to celebrate the completion of a school. Public Affairs NCOIC: Staff Sgt. Adora Medina Editor: Columns Staff Sgt. Adora Medina 6 Commander’s column Journalists: Duke Soldiers complete fi nal operations in Afghani- Staff Sgt. David Hopkins stan. Spc. Brandon Sandefur Pfc. Charles Wolfe 8 CSM’s column Finishing strong as we return home with dignity. 10 Chaplain’s column Remembering the signifi cant events in our lives. Duke Dispatch is published monthly by the Public Affairs Offi ce to provide information On the cover on Soldiers and Families of the 3rd BCT, 1st ID. Views and opinions are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army. A Soldier with 6th Squadron, 4th Cav- alry Regiment, pulls Send submissions and coorespondence to: security outside a Public Affairs Offi ce new boys school, in 3rd BCT, 1st ID, TF Duke the Kunar province of northeastern Afghani- Jalalabad, FOB Fenty stan, while a team APO, AE 09310 of Soldiers from the 416th Civil Affairs Bat- Electronic submissions are preferred: talion, 351st Civil Af- [email protected] fairs Command, San Diego, Calif., inspects 318-831-6028/6410 the structure. (Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Digital photos should be at least 300 dpi. David Hopkins) Stories should be in Word format. May 2009 3 Secretary of Defense visits fi rst American Base in Kandahar Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addresses 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Ram- rod during a recent trip to Afghani- stan. Secre- tary Gates thanked the troops for their service. (Photo by Air Force Tech Sgt. Jill LaVoie) are clearly making a huge difference,” he added. By Tech. Sgt. Jill LaVoie He also assured Soldiers he was working hard 3rd BCT, 1st ID, PAO for their safety. “I just want you to know that I feel personally responsible for each and every one of you. I have During a trip to Afghanistan, Secretary of De- been doing what I can to get you what you need to be fense Robert Gates visited Forward Operating Base successful in your mission and for you to come home Ramrod, the only battalion-sized U.S. unit operating in safe,” said Gates as he fondly noted the number of the Kandahar Province, approximately 80 miles west Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles on the of Kandahar City. base. Secretary Gates spent about an hour at the His work to speed the appropriation process FOB, during which he awarded six valorous medals to for much needed MRAPs was mentioned by Army Lt. Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regi- Col. Daniel Hurlbut, 2-2 Inf., commander from Killeen, ment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Texas. Soldiers. “Though [Secretary Gates] was only able to “Having [Secretary Gates] award these medals stay for a short time, it was a good opportunity to means a lot,” said Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Roszko, talk with him,” Hurlbut said. “I used the opportunity Charlie Company Squad Leader, from Bronx, New to thank him for his help with procuring the MRAPs York, who earned a Bronze Star with Valor during an we use every day. His efforts have saved countless Improvised Explosive Device attack. “It shows some- Soldiers’ lives.” one knows what we are doing out here. Our achieve- Before leaving, Secretary Gates took time to ment is appreciated more than we realized.” personally thank and present each of the 253 Soldiers After awarding the medals, Secretary Gates and Airmen with a coin. took a moment to talk to the Soldiers and Airmen. He The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd started by thanking them for their service as the only Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division assists U.S. military unit that falls under Canadian command. NATO in providing a permanent presence in southern “Thank you for what you have done to help the Afghanistan. In their year in Kandahar Province, they Canadians, I know they have taken a lot of hits. Your have reduced Taliban movement of supplies through being down here has been very important to them,” he the area, decreased IEDs on the major highway and said. “I want to thank you above all for volunteering to built rapport with the local Afghanistan population serve our country and volunteering to serve here. You through constant interaction. May 2009 4 Father of seven serves his country in Afghanistan serve wasn’t made on the hope of By Pfc. Charles Wolfe one meal; Goodwin had recently 3rd BCT, 1st ID, PAO received his fi rst child and knew the military could help provide Spc. Jonathan Goodwin comfortable stability for his new is a lot of different things. He’s a family. husband and a father of seven chil- “I knew it was going to be a dren. He’s a playful jokester, the struggle to work, go to school and kind of person who can light up a raise my child,” Goodwin said. “It room with his sense of humor, but made sense to help my family.” before he was any of these things, As years passed, Good- he became a Soldier, signing on win’s family grew, and with time, for his fi rst enlistment in May of was able to sustain itself without 1992. his military paycheck. Goodwin The decision to serve ended his fi rst tenure with the Army wasn’t a hard one for Goodwin to to return to life as a private citizen. make. However, six children and In 1992, Goodwin was an aspiring 13 years after being sworn in, fate Chemical Engineering major study- found Goodwin again, calling him ing in his native state at the North back to duty for a second time. Photo by Army Pfc. Charles Wolfe Carolina Agricultural and Techni- “My brother, a Marine colo- Spc. Jonathan Goodwin sits in his “Ga- cal University. He was living the nel, died in Iraq in 2005,” Goodwin tor,” a motorized working vehicle he stereotypical college student’s life. said. “That was my main motiva- often uses to move his unit’s supplies from one place to the next. Goodwin, He had a small apartment, three tion for ending my break in service from North Carolina, is a Supply Special- roommates, and a full-time job; and returning to the Army.” ist with the 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artil- however, the costs of education That same year, Goodwin lery. He will return home to his wife and and housing outstretched Good- served his fi rst deployment in the seven children in June. win’s meager salary and, eventu- same country where his brother ally, hunger began to set in. passed. Now in his second combat away from his wife and children “I looked in the refrigera- tour, Goodwin has much more to would seem diffi cult, but the family tor one day and we didn’t have look after than just his unit’s sup- makes for a very large, very en- anything but ice and eggs. I didn’t plies. couraging support group. know how we were go- “The kids are all very proud ing to make it,” Goodwin to have a dad in the said. “I’m the king of my castle, and everyone Army,” Goodwin said. Then, fate made loves the king.” “They’re proud of me and a very pointed interven- I’m proud of them.