The Expeditionary Times Proudly serving the finest Expeditionary service members throughout Iraq Vol. 3 Issue 13 February 17, 2010 http://www.hood.army.mil/13sce/ Tune up Previously injured Vets return to JBB STORY AND PHOTO S B Y SGT . RYAN TW I S T New oil service center EX pe D I T I ON A RY TI M E S ST A FF JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – opens at JBB Eight Soldiers who were injured while serving in Iraq re- Page 9 turned to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Feb. 5 during Operation Proper Exit Four, to Change over tell their stories and witness the changes the country has under- gone since they last served here. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. John A. Elder, the superinten- dent with the 332nd Expedi- tionary Medical Group, said the program gives injured Soldiers a chance to travel throughout the country and revisit once familiar locations. Elder, an Appomattox, Va., native, said the injured Soldiers tell their stories so the service members who are here now can Change of command understand the country’s im- ceremony held at Adder provements. “It’s a good chance for those Page 11 Soldiers to come back to Iraq, see Brig. Gen. Paul L. Wentz, commanding general of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) out of Fort Hood, what goes on and leave the coun- Texas, and a Mansfield, Ohio, native, hugged Capt. Ferris W. Butler, former platoon leader with D Company, 2nd try on their own terms,” he said. Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, N.Y., during Operation Proper Exit Four at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Butler, a Port Tobacco, Mass., native, participated in the event, SEE EXIT ON PAGE 4 in which previously injured Veterans returned to Iraq to tell their stories to the Soldiers now serving there. Historic landscape New Mexico adjutant general visits Adder BY SGT . CANDA C E WE S TLUND Command (Expeditionary), 41ST IBCT PU B L ic AFF ai RS had breakfast with Brig. Gen. Kenny Montoya, an Albuquer- CONTINGENCY OPERATING que, N.M., native, who held BASE ADDER, town hall meetings to address Iraq – The New his Soldiers. Mexico adjutant “I want you to be true to general vis- yourself,” he said. “The person ited Soldiers that I sent here, I need you to from two New still be that person when you Mexico Na- come home.” tional Guard units Feb. 3 at Montoya asked his Soldiers Contingency Operating Base to be proud of their shoulder Adder, Iraq. sleeve insignia, as well as the Mississippi Guardsmen Soldiers with the 720th combat patches they earned visit ancient ruins U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cory Grogan Convoy Security Company with the 41st IBCT. Brig. Gen. Kenny Montoya, the New Mexico National Guard adjutant general, and the 1115th Transporta- He said they should be proud talks with Soldiers from the 1115th Transportation Company out of Taos, N.M., tion Company, both with the to represent their unit and Page 12 Feb. 3 during a visit to Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, where his Soldiers serve with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 13th Sustainment 41st Infantry Brigade Com- work under a great brigade. Command (Expeditionary). bat Team, 13th Sustainment SEE GENERAL ON PAGE 4 PAGE 2 EXP E DITIONARY TIM E S February 17, 2010 Balad Blotter Chaplain’s Corner: find light in dark places February 4 - February 11 BY CAPT . KE rs TIN HEDLUND just after Christmas, in the season we now find our- NEGLIGENT WEAPON DISCHARGE: 90TH SUST . BD E . CH ap L ai N selves: epiphany. It’s the season of light. If the candle A complainant notified the Joint Defense Operations Center of a was supposed to be a reminder of Christ, it had to negligent discharge at the south entry control point Feb. 3 at 11:45 few days ago I was waiting at the burn for a while and then be consumed. a.m. Patrols were briefed and dispatched. Witness one said, via Air Force IMT 1168/Statement of Witness, her vehicle was parked next Apassenger terminal for a flight when That’s what Christ came for. He came to this earth, to the inbound lane when she heard a loud bang. Witness one said a man approached me and asked if he he came into the darkness to shine light and life on she made contact with witness three to ask him if one of his gunners could speak to me for a few minutes. his people and then die. He came to be consumed by had a negligent discharge and he replied that none had and proceed- He was on his way back home after the world. It appeared for awhile that darkness and ed to his compound. The complainant and witness two’s statements corroborate that it was the gunner from a Humvee. The patrol ar- a short tour here at Joint Base Balad, death had won. rived at the Law Enforcement Desk to call and have the subject and Iraq. He’d come to some of our Sunday services as an- From this side of the story, we can see that it was witness four report to complete statements. Upon their arrival at the other Soldier’s battle buddy. only after he died, only after he was consumed and LED, the patrol advised the subject of his rights under IAW Article He said to me, “Throughout each service that I at- burned down, that he shone even more brightly. 31, Uniform Code of Military Justice for violation of Article 134/Neg- ligent Discharge via Air Force IMT 1168/Statement of Suspect. The tended, I noticed a common theme. It seems we say that In this season of light, in this season of epipha- subject acknowledged his rights, declined legal counsel and wrote a light triumphs over darkness, and life triumphs over ny we can see that, because he took the risk and lit statement. When he entered the ECP, he traversed his turret to the death. It’s a wonderful message, and I want to believe it, the light for a while, he shines even more brightly. 3 o’clock position facing the eastern side of the inbound lane with but that just hasn’t been my experience. I’ve lived a dark, We can see that Christ shines beyond the grave, be- the muzzle at a 45 degree angle. When he began to clear his weapon and ensured it was on safe, he did not have positive control of the dark life. And even when I look for light and life, I cannot yond death and beyond sickness. He shines in you cocking handle while opening the feed tray cover, so the bolt rode find it. Death triumphs, and I feel spent.” and shines in me, even, or especially, when we seem forward and fired a round into the air. The subject said a test fire was He is right; darkness and death are realities in all of spent. completed before the mission without problems. The subject was re- our lives. Often, these things hit us when we least expect Light and life spring forth in songs that people in leased via Department of Defense Form 2708/Receipt for Inmate/ Detained Person to witness three. them. Sometimes, we live in darkness because of what Haiti sing as they begin to trudge forward. we’ve done wrong. Other times, we have no control over Light and life spring from a family that speaks to DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT PROPERTY: the horrifying events that happen in our lives – a sud- people about hope after their child tragically died. A complainant telephoned the Law Enforcement Desk and re- den death of a loved one, a natural disaster or sickness The mystery is that it seems to burn more brightly ported a Polaris Gator had been damaged Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. at H-1 that meets us out of nowhere. When these events hap- for the world after it seems as though it’s over and Housing. A patrol was briefed and dispatched. The complain- ant said, via Air Force IMT 1168 Statement of Complainant, on pen, our experiences of darkness consume us until we’re there’s nothing left to burn. his way Morale, Welfare and Recreation west, he noticed the nearly, or completely, burnt out. The other mystery is that this light calls us into lights on the Gator were on without the key in the ignition. The A few years ago, I walked deep into a dark cave where a community. So, when I have nothing left to give, complainant walked to the Gator to turn lights off when he no- tradition tells us Jesus was born. While I was there, I our neighbor shines for us. When my neighbor has ticed the ignition had been tampered with and a link in the chain securing the steering wheel had been cut. The complainant tried bought a small white taper from a priest who served in nothing left to give, I shine for him. Here we will find to insert the key into the Gator, but it would not fit because of the church above the cave. I kept it for more than a year hope in our dark times. the damage. The property was still secure after the chain had before I lit the candle. It may sound stupid, but I didn’t We can also find hope in remembering that the been cut. The patrol took four photographs. The complainant want it to burn down.