The Mountain View Serving Task Force Mountain August 5, 2008

Education excellence recognized in Wasit

Colonel Richard M. Francey, Jr., commander of the 41st Fires Brigade, welcomes the representative for the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Dr. Hassan Akif, to Forward Op- erating Base Delta July 31. Akif addressed attendees at the Wasit University during an awards ceremony recog- nizing excellence in educa- tion. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson

Recruiting drives held for former Iraqi Army Soldiers

4t h BCT, 3r d In f . Div. 4 writing exam, go through a medical examination and FOB KALSU – The Ministry of De- show proof of prior service fense and 8th Iraqi Army held Mobile in the IA. Recruiting Drives at the IA compound “These people are on Forward Operating Base Iskan July starved for jobs, but even 27 and Patrol Base Diyarah July 28. some well off individu- The Mobile Recruiting Drives aimed als are showing a large to recruit officers and noncommis- amount of interest and sioned officers from the former Iraqi pride in the IA,” said 1st regime. Lt. John Buckner, a Still- Photo by 1st Lt. Travis Hayes A total of 335 personnel were pro- water, Okla., native and Approximately 335 former Iraqi regime Soldiers par- cessed during the recruitment drive at Military Transition Team ticipate in an IA recruiting drive at the IA compound FOB Iskan; 67 officers and 159 NCOs 0842 officer-in-charge. at FOB Iskan July 27. passed the initial entry requirements. The officers’ paperwork Approximately 200 personnel were will go to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri ful of the opportunity to serve in the processed during the drive at PB Di- Kamel al-Maliki, and they will be hired IA,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Newsome, a yarah; 42 officers and 131 NCOs passed when needed by the IA. The NCOs will Homerville, Ga., native and command- the initial entry requirements. be shipped from Hilla to attend training er of 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regi- Each former IA Soldier had to fill in early August and placed in the IA. out an application, take a reading and “Everyone seemed upbeat and pride- See DRIVE, page 3 Page 2 • August 5, 2008 The Mountain View War bride, military mom … and Soldier too

Sg t . Da v i d Tu r n e r 4 4t h BCT, 3r d In f . Div. FOB KALSU – Two years after the Army’s raising of the maximum age limit for enlistees, it is not uncommon to find Soldiers over the age of 40 in the junior enlisted ranks. Some served in their younger years; some always wanted to serve. Some are parents of children who serve – and found their motivation from them. One Soldier’s story stands out as being particularly special. At the age of 41, with four children – two of them already serving in the Army – Spc. Gina Keller (then private) gradu- ated basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and entered active duty. She said it was Photo by Sgt. David Turner the realization of a dream she had for Specialist Gina Keller shares a meal with her husband, Sgt. Kevin Keller, at the FOB more than 20 years. Kalsu dining facility. “I always wanted to join the service. I tried at 18, but because of family values An Army recruiter called her the next day After basic training, Keller completed and respect for my family, I chose not to,” and asked her if she still wanted to join. her Advanced Individual Training, quali- she said. “I was always hoping and praying fying as a wheeled-vehicle mechanic. Keller’s parents didn’t think joining somehow I’d make this goal, this dream, Then, a strange twist - Keller received or- the military was the right move for her at happen,” said Keller. ders to report to her new unit, the 92nd that time. In the meantime, she started a Her son, Isaac, just joined the National Engineer Brigade, her son Andrew’s unit. family of her own and put her dream of Guard; mother and son shipped off to ba- “He said, ‘You can’t be coming here.’ military service on hold. Her children, sic training within days of each other. He I said, ‘Yes, I am;” she recalled with a three sons and a daughter, came first, she went to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Keller laugh. Keller said Andrew pleaded with said. But she always hoped the chance to left for Fort Jackson. his company’s first sergeant, “You can’t serve would come again. Despite the rigors of basic training, let that happen – I can’t have my mom “I still knew that if someday it came Keller proved herself in a group of young- here.” around, that I could do it,” she said. er recruits. Drill sergeants didn’t treat her Worries of standing next to mom in With her oldest son, Isaac, already any differently, she said, and the female formation subsided right away. Andrew serving in the Army, Keller learned the drill sergeants were the hardest on her. deployed to Iraq, expected to return age limit for enlistment had been raised “I was called ‘grandma’ and ‘old lady’ home in October 2007. He had not seen to 39. She was 40. She sought a waiver to most of the time I was there,” she re- his mother in 18 months, and the day of join the National Guard, but was turned called. his scheduled return turned out to be the down. Her fellow Soldiers helped her manage day of his mother’s departure; she re- “My heart was broken,” she said. “I the stressors of the training. ceived orders to deploy to Iraq too. thought I would never get to do this.” “I got a lot of encouragement from the Things were happening fast for the 42- Months passed. Then she heard the younger (Soldiers) to keep striving and to Army raised the age limit again, to 42. make it,” she said. See BRIDE, page 3

TASK FORCE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE THE Commanding General - MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL L. OATES Command Sergeant Major - COMMAND SGT. MAJ. JAMES W. REDMORE Mountain View Editorial Staff Contributing Units TF Mountain PAO — Lt. Col. Paul Swiergosz 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division The Mountain View is an authorized OIC, Command Information – 1st Lt. Julie Glaubach 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division publication for members of the U.S. NCOIC – Master Sgt. Stephen Opet 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Division (Air Assault) Army. Contents of The Mountain View Managing Editor – Staff Sgt. Amber Emery 4th BCT, 1st Cavalry Division are not necessarily official views of, Assignment Editor – Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret 4th BCT, 3rd Infantry Division or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department Copy Editor – Spc. Josh LeCappelain 7th Sustainment Brigade of the Army or the 10th Mountain Editor/Design — Spc. Sophia Lopez 41st Fires Brigade Division. All editorial content of The Staff Writer – Spc. Tiffany Evans 354th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Mountain View is prepared, edited, pro- 793rd Military Police Battalion vided and approved by the Task Force Media queries please contact TF Mountain Public Division Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mtn. Div. Mountain Public Affairs Office. Affairs at [email protected] Task Force 49 The Mountain View August 5, 2008 • Page 3

‘You’re going to marry me.’ He was telling BRIDE everybody,” she recalled. From page 2 There was little time for courtship, though. Deployed together to Iraq, the Here comes the year-old single parent. She relocated with two were stationed at Forward Operat- her youngest child, now 13, to Fort Stew- ing Base Kalsu, where different jobs and ... war bride? art, Ga., and began preparing for a 15- schedules prevented them from seeing month tour of duty, assigned to the 703rd much of each other. War bride is a term used in reference to Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade In January they decided to do some- wartime marriages, especially - but not Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. Her thing about it. Taking leave together, they exclusively - during World War I and commander allowed her an extra 10 days travelled home to the U.S. to get married. World War II. before deploying to spend time with An- Within two days of their arrival, they Allied servicemen also married many drew. Mother and son bonded in a new were officially man and wife. Then, they women in other countries where they way: he helped pack her bags and advised went back to Iraq. were stationed at the end of the war, in- her on her upcoming journey. Serving together as newlyweds has af- cluding France, Germany, Philippines “He knew what I had to face,” she said. forded the two a unique version of mari- and Japan. This also occurred in Korea “He knew where I was going.” tal bliss. Though they do not share living and Vietnam. Keller said the prospect of a long de- quarters, and they work different hours in • During World War II, war brides ac- ployment didn’t discourage her. different places, they enjoy the moments tually came from over fifty countries. “I wanted to try and accomplish the they do spend together. They often share Between 1944 and 1950, 150,000 rest of my goal, which was to come to the meals in the dining facility, and Keller to 200,000 continental European service and to serve the Soldiers. I knew frequently takes iced tea to her husband women married U.S. service men; what the Soldiers had to go through; I on the job. and 50,000 to 100,000 couples were saw my sons go through it, and I wanted Keller currently works at the FOB’s married in the Far East. to be here to be of service to them,” she airfield, and though their marriage so far • Over the course of WW II, ap- said. has been mostly apart, Keller said she has proximately 65,000 women married “All the way through basic training not been disappointed with deployment. American Soldiers and Sailors. they kept emphasizing that we were go- “I’ve enjoyed everything that I’ve done. • The military outfitted 20 ships to ing to be deployed. I was wholeheart- I’ve always felt that when Soldiers accept provide transport for nearly 50,000 edly engaged with the fact that I was go- me as working hard and getting them brides from Great Britain; 7,000 ing to serve my country, one way or the where they need to be, helping them ac- from France, Belgium, the Nether- other. Whatever my country expected of complish their mission – that is my re- lands and Luxembourg; and 8,000 me, that’s what I was going to do,” said ward,” she said. from Australia and New Zealand. Keller. With her two-year enlistment soon To sail to America a G.I. bride from While at Fort Stewart, Keller had an- to be over, Keller said she wanted to re- Great Britain needed: other surprise in store for her. On the enlist, “but Sgt. Keller had other plans for • A visa, passport, two copies of a birth rifle range one day, she met the man she me,” she said. “He said that since he was certificate, two copies of any police would call her husband. retiring, I would be retiring, too.” records and a marriage certificate. “I wasn’t looking for anybody to be my The couple plans to purchase five acres • Sworn statement from husband that significant other when I got to Fort Stew- of land and build their own house. he could support her, with details of art,” she recalled. Sgt. Kevin Keller was Not one to shy away from a challenge, salary. a safety on the range that day, and while Keller plans to do the work herself. Her • Statement from husband's com- helping her adjust the sights on her rifle, previous civilian job was as a carpenter. mander supporting salary details, they struck up a friendship. She said others in her shoes shouldn’t £10 in cash and no more. “He came over to me in the foxhole and be afraid of the challenge to serve their • Statement from husband's family if said, ‘What are you shooting at?’ I said, country. he were not yet home that they were ‘The targets, sergeant.’ He said, ‘Well, “For anybody over 40 who really wants willing and able to house her. you’re not hitting any of them.’” to come to the service, there is a very big • Discharge papers if she had served in After their first meeting, she began reward here,” she said. military. seeing him around the motor pool; she “You have to come here open-minded; • Evidence that she would get a train worked there as a mechanic, and he you can’t come here as your own individ- ticket to final destination on disem- worked as a fuel specialist. ual. You have to be willing to change, and barking. “He said from the first day he met me, you have to be willing to serve.”

they are to work in a legitimate arm of provided security and national and lo- DRIVE the government and contribute to the cal TV advertisements; and Soldiers From page 1 peace and stability that we are current- from 3-7th Inf. Regt, and 1st Bn., 76th ly enjoying. This crowd was so big and Field Artillery, 4th BCT, supported the ment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd enthusiastic that the Mobile Recruiting recruiting drive through local hand- Infantry Division. Team is coming back … to finish the job bills, talking to citizens in advance and “I sure hope some of these people up.” providing tactical over-watch for the get called up, as this is yet again, an- The Ministry of Defense provided events. other demonstration of just how ready a Mobile Recruiting Team; the 8th IA Page 4 • August 5, 2008 The Mountain View Staff Section Round-up Division Surgeon Message: Rabies awareness What is the world’s deadliest dis- in case they were bitten and did not real- into a coma and dies. ease? Is it AIDS? Not even close. Is it ize it. How can you prevent contracting Ebola? No. What about Malaria? No, How to know if an animal has ra- rabies? the world’s deadliest disease is rabies bies? Rules about mascots are in place encephalitis. Wild animals may move slowly, act to keep Soldiers and civilians safe be- Every year, rabies kills 50,000 peo- tame or appear sick. A pet that is usually cause animals in Iraq are not vaccinated ple and millions of animals around the friendly may snap or try to bite. Some against rabies. Never touch unfamiliar world. It is caused by a virus that attacks signs of rabies in animals are: changes or wild animals. Soldiers need to avoid the central nervous system. in an animal’s behavior, general sick- direct contact with stray animals; do not Rabies is 100 percent fatal if not ness, problems swallowing, increase adopt them. treated immediately. In fact, once a per- in drool or saliva. Animals may bite at Do not try to nurse sick animals to son starts showing symptoms, it is too everything if excited and have difficulty health. It is common to want to rescue late for treatment. moving or experience paralysis. and nurse a hurt animal, but that animal Rabies is transmitted through the sa- What are the symptoms in hu- may have rabies. Make sure that you po- liva of a rabid animal – not blood or oth- mans? lice your area so it does not attract wild er bodily fluids such as urine or feces. Symptoms will occur 30-90 days af- or stray animals. Here, the greatest risk of rabies to ter the bite. Early symptoms include What to do if bitten? Soldiers is infected bats. A Camp Victo- fever, headache, sore throat and feeling Wash the wound well with soap and ry Soldier was running around the lake tired, which a person might not associ- water for at least five minutes. Immedi- early in the morning last week, when a ate with the dog bite they more than a ately go to an aid station for an evalua- bat hit his forehead. Since healthy bats month ago. Soldiers need to realize that tion of the wound. If the doctor decides do not usually fly into people - rabies if it has gotten to this stage, it is prob- to start treatment, the victim will get the affects their coordination – the Soldier ably too late to save your life. post-exposure vaccine. needed to seek immediate care. As the virus moves to the brain, the In the past, the vaccine was a series Bats have small teeth; a bite mark person may act nervous, confused and of 23 shots in the abdomen. Now it is a may not show. Also, in an instance like upset. Other symptoms include pain or six-shot series in the arm, given over a this, if the bat drooled, saliva may have tingling at the site of the bite, hallucina- period of 28 days. There has never been gone in the person’s eyes. tions, hydrophobia “fear of water” due a case of a person in the United States Soldiers who find bats in their living to spasms in the throat and paralysis. As developing rabies after receiving post- quarters must also seek immediate care the disease progresses, the victim enters exposure vaccination. Opet’s Odyssey The Mountain View August 5, 2008 • Page 5

Headline Round-up Soldiers of Victory Military News: Soldiers who are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan past their enlistment contract may get an extra $500 a month in ‘‘special pay.’’ The retroactive bonus would go to about 160,000 troops who, since Sept. 11, 2001, were required to stay in the military beyond the time of their contract. The measure will be considered by Congress when it returns from a recess in September.

U.S. News: A hurricane watch is in effect for Louisiana and Texas. Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall Aug. 5. Texas Gov. Rick Perry activated 1,200 Texas National Guard personnel and six UH-60 Black Hawks in case an emergency situation arises.

Entertainment: Actress Christina Applegate announced Aug. 2 that she was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. Her spokesperson said that due to the early detection, the can- cer is not life threatening. The rep also said she is following the recommended treat- ment and is expected to make a full recovery. Last month, Applegate announced that Photo by Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret she would participate in a Sept. 8 telethon for “Stand Up to Cancer.” Captain Paul Maher, of San Diego, tries to choke Staff Sgt. Sean Erick- son, of Warrensburg, Mo., during a Sports News: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training session Brett Favre is back with the Green Bay Packers, though his role with them remains at Camp Victory. Maher is a divi- unclear. Coach Mike McCarthy hasn’t decided what direction to take with the quarter- sion collection manager for the 10th back situation, and Aaron Rodgers said he’s ready for any potential competition with Mountain Division and Erickson is a his mentor. On Aug.3, the NFL reinstated Favre and added him to the Packers active chemical operations specialist with 445th Civil Affairs Battalion. roster. Quote of the Day “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” — Albert Einstein Photo by Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret Marine Sgt. Christopher Baity, of At- lanta, Ga., cradles Rona, a Belgium If you have a poem, quote, photos or thoughts you would like to share, Malanois trained in finding explo- sives. Baity is a dog trainer for the please send your submissions to Spc. Sophia Lopez at sophia.lopez@ 13th Military Police Detachment, 8th iraq.centcom.mil MP Brigade.

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