Multi-National Division - North www.1ad.army.mil Volume 2 Issue 14

Page 1 NOV. 05, 2008 Kings of the Mountain

Story by Pfc. Alisha Nye 14th Public Affairs Detachment

e didn’t climb Mount McKinley Hfor the thrilling rush of adrenaline through his veins when there was nothing but a 5,000 foot drop on either side of him, or for the sheer adventure of climbing a 20,320 foot mountain, or even to just to have the ability to say that he did it. Capt. Graham Ward climbed the tallest mountain in North America simply to help his best friend, Capt. Keelan McNulty, fulfill a life-long dream. “I had no desire to climb it before then,” said Ward, the recon platoon leader for 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. “I was always envious that he, at least, had the desire to climb it. I never knew where he got that desire from.” Courtesy Photo The whole thing started while the two Capt. Graham Ward, recon platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st stryker Brigade were driving around in a car one day. Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, flies his battalion colors after reaching the summit of Mount “He was telling me all his friends McKinley shortly before deploying to Iraq. canned him,” Ward said. “Things came up and they wouldn’t be able to do it ascent. This was just part of the deal. before we deployed.” After three months of strenuous “The deal was, I had the battalion That was when Ward started thinking training, the pair started their 17 day, flag and Keelan had the coins,” Ward about climbing a mountain for the very 16,000 foot climb to the summit, but not said. “We brought them all the way to first time in his life. before getting special permission from the summit. One of the things people “I told him, ‘You know what? It their respective battalion commanders as do is leave something at the top. We sounds like an awesome challenge and, well as the brigade commander. got the idea because one our buddy’s if you want, I’ll be your partner,’” Ward “The battalion commander thought good friends died so he left a laminated said. “He didn’t really believe me at it’d be cool, I guess, to tell the brigade picture of her up at the top. So, we first.” commander,” Ward said. “Keelan went brought the coins all the way to the top To prove that he was 100 percent in and saw him and Colonel Thompson and took one out and buried it right next committed to training and subsequently said, ‘Hey, best of luck and here’s a bag to the elevation marker.” climbing the mountain, Ward bought all of coins,’ He gave us 10 brigade coins of the equipment necessary make the and told us to take them to the top.” See Mountain on Page 3 Page 2 NOV. 05, 2008 Runners of the Equinox

Story by Pfc. Alisha Nye William “Chip” Steele from making it 14th Public Affairs Detachment the first marathon he ever ran. Even at the age of 40. It also didn’t stop him he Equinox Marathon held in from running it again. TFairbanks, Alaska annually is “I ran it last year and I had so much one of the most difficult marathons in fun,” said the 1st Stryker Brigade the United States. It is bested only by Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division the Pike’s Peak Marathon. This fact lethal targeting officer. When he finished, still didn’t stop Chief Warrant Officer he finagled a promise out of his one of his buddies to run the next with him. “It’s funny,” said 1st Lt. Michael Ward, 1st SBCT, 25th In. Div., assistant brigade fire support officer. “I promised my battle buddy, Chief Steele, that I would run it with him. My wife and I had a trip planned that weekend but we ended up cancelling the trip and we thought we’d be moving out, coming over to Courtesy Photo Chief Warrant Officer William “Chip” Steele, 1st Iraq.” SBCT, 25th ID lethal targeting officer, runs the All Steele heard Equinox Marathon for the second year in a row. was his battle Steele was 40 when he decided to run, for the first time, one of the most difficult marathons on buddy chickening North America. out. “I think he me about not running it,” Ward said. “He told me he would called my wife and called me out on it.” run it thinking “Yeah,” said Steele. “I called his wife we wouldn’t be and told her that he was a Nancy Boy there and we’d be and he’s not a real man and stuff like deployed,” Steele that.” said. “That’s my So, Ward caved. take on it.” “As reluctant as I was, I just woke up So, what do you one morning and was like, ‘Hey, why do when a man not?’” goes back on his Steele and ward both agreed once you Courtesy Photo word? You tell on run one marathon, you’ll find yourself 1st Lt. Michael Ward, 1st SBCT, 25th ID assistant fire support officer, paces wanting to run more marathons. himself while running the Equinox Marathon in Fairbanks, Alaska. The equinox him. marathon is listed as the second most difficult marathon to run in North “Chief Steele America, bested only by the Pike’s Peak Marathon. wouldn’t lay off See Equinox on Page 3

Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling Contributing Writers: Pfc. Alisha Nye Public Affairs Officer: Maj. Margaret Kageleiry Layout and Design: Spc. Karla P. Elliott, 14th PAD Public Affairs NCOIC: Master Sgt. Nancy Morrison Editor: Staff Sgt. Mark Albright, 14th Public Affairs Detachment

Contact the Iron Strong at VOIP: 242-1190, DSN: 318-849-0089 or email [email protected] The “Iron Strong” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the “Iron Strong” are not necessarily official veiws of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the Task Force Iron. All editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Task Force Iron Public Affairs Office. Page 3 NOV. 05, 2008

had with a good friend. “Always climbing, always pushing Mountain from Page 1 “If you’re at Fort Wainwright, you each other up. It also helps because know Captain Keelan McNulty,” Ward when you’re that high and it’s that cold, Making it to summit is much easier said. “The kid’s famous. He’s the most screaming doesn’t do anything. But you said than done, however. energetic, free spirited, happy guy you’ll can hear that cowbell.” “I wouldn’t say luck has (anything) to ever meet.” After sleeping in one day, Ward and do with making the summit,” Ward said. These are personality characteristics McNulty woke to find that they were “I would say persistence does.” McNulty chose to share with other the only group left to climb to the next Of about 1,300 people who registered climbers on the mountain through the elevation goal and it was everyone else to climb Mount McKinley this year, only sweet sound of cowbells. waiting with the motivational cheering. about 400 made it to the top. “It ended up being pretty funny,” “Now the whole camp was cheering “It gets pretty mental when you’re up Ward said. “We were just those guys us on, welcoming us in,” Ward said. “It there,” Ward said. “You have to be really that, everywhere we went, just had was one of the best feelings.” mentally driven.” cowbells.” The feeling from the familial Of the 400 who did make it, Ward Of the groups mirroring Ward and atmosphere Ward and McNulty helped and McNulty were in the top 20 who McNulty as the climbed, it was Ward to create with a simple cowbell was one made it there first. and McNulty themselves that usually topped only by the feeling of finally The numbers aren’t important to woke up first and made the climb to the making it to the top. Ward, however. What is important to next elevation goal. “I was speechless,” Ward said. “It him is the mile-marking adventure he “As we climbed the mountain, we’d ended up being an awesome adventure. beat everybody else up there and, as From start to finish, it was definitely a they’d come up, we’d be there ringing mile-marker in my life.” Equinox from Page 2 cowbells and cheering,” Ward said. Even though climbing Mount Despite the fact that some of these McKinley was the first time Ward has “I even tried to plan my leave around climbers were from different countries ever seriously climbed, he can’t wait to on in Memphis,” Ward said. “I hope and didn’t speak a word of English, have that kind of adventure again. that’ll all pan out.” Ward said they all seemed to understand. “That’s the thing about As addicting as marathon running The cowbells and the cheering got mountaineering,” Ward said. “It’s your is, it still doesn’t come easy. Especially everybody involved with one another own adventure. No two climbs are ever not when you wake up two weeks and motivating one another. the same. Just like no two days are ever before a 26.2 mile marathon through “From the get-go, as we climbed, the same.” mountainous terrain and just decide you we were like a big family,” Ward said. want to run it, Ward said. “About nine or 10 miles into it, it’s all straight up-hill,” ward said. “It’s about a 2,500 to 3,000 foot elevation change. So when you get to the nine or 10 mile mark, you shoot straight up hill.” But, the hills were only part of the challenge to Ward. “In all honesty, it got pretty depressing around mile 21,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Ah, I only have 5 miles left!’ And then around mile six or seven I got stung by bees.” Also difficult to ward was a straight, one mile down-hill drop for about a mile. To Steele, starting the marathon to begin with was the most difficult part. “Starting, I think, is the hardest part. You’re thinking, ‘Am I really about to run 26.2 miles?’” Despite the challenges of the rough Alaskan terrain, both Steele and Ward agree that it is something they are glad they have done. “There’s a few of us guys who like to run it each year,” Steele said. “It’s kind of a fun thing, to challenge yourself.” Courtesy Photo “It was a lot of fun,” Ward said. “It’s Capt. Keelan McNulty uses a sap phone to make a Mother’s Day phone call back home while in the process definitely something worthwhile.” of climbing Mount McKinley, North America's tallest mountain, shortly before deploying to Iraq. Page 4 Homefront News NOV. 05, 2008 violent behavior increased by 50 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS marketplace to get a buyer I think for percent. any real estate, and I don't think this Young people who said that business makes enough money" to "many, most or all" of the Internet sites make mortgage payments, Rush said. they frequented featured "real people "However, if you had some money and fighting, shooting or killing" were five- you were not afraid of risk ..." times more likely than their peers who Vickie Martin, a real estate didn't visit violent websites to engage agent for the caves, agreed. "It's a in seriously violent behavior. tough sale. You've got to find the The odds of violent behavior right person," she said. "It takes a also rose with the number of types lot of time and energy and run it. It's of violent media a young person not something you can buy and let it consumed, but the effect of violent run itself. You've got to take an active TV, movies, music, games or Internet interest in it." cartoons was much smaller than that Rush said he had been quietly of Internet violence depicting real shopping the caves around for two people. years but took the sale public when But the current study doesn't no takers came forward. answer the question of whether violent media is turning kids violent, whether HEALTH NEWS violence-prone youth are more likely to seek out violence on the Internet, or (Reuters) Young people exposed to "more probably," whether a bit of both violent media are more likely to lash is going on, the researchers say. out violently themselves, new research published in Pediatrics shows. (AP) Calling Batman: Cave owner "Our findings add to the growing TECHNOLOGY NEWS Steve Rush has a deal for you. evidence that violence in the media Rush, 49, is auctioning off the Mystic is related to aggressive behavior, (AFP) Apple announced on Tuesday Caverns in the hills of Ozark Mountains including seriously violent behavior that the employee credited with being on eBay. The 28-acre property in among youths," Dr. Michele L. Ybarra the "father of the iPod" is stepping Arkansas includes a gift shop and of Internet Solutions for Kids in Santa down from his post at the iconic three caves, two of which are safe Ana, California and her colleagues California company. enough for visitors. report. "Reduction in youths' exposure Apple said iPod division vice The bidding starts at $899,900, to violent media should be viewed president Tony Fadell and his wife, cut from Rush's original asking price as an important aspect of violence Danielle Lambert, who is vice president of $1.2 million. prevention." of the company's human resources Rush bought the property near Many studies have examined department, are "reducing their roles" Harrison in 1988 and began giving exposure to violent media and violent to "devote more time to their young tours in 1992 to the two accessible behavior among young people, Ybarra family." caves, Mystic cavern and the Crystal and her team note in their report. In fact, While the spotlight routinely Dome cavern. A third cave on his 28- they point out, the American Academy shines on Apple's notoriously involved acre property, Not Much Sink cavern, of Pediatrics calls media violence chief executive Steve Jobs, Fadell is remains too dangerous for tours. "the single most easily remediable said to be the one behind the idea But business has dropped contributing factor" to youth violence. for iPod MP3 players that rocketed since a nearby amusement park The researchers examined the to global success and revived the closed in the 1990s. Rush said the relationship between media violence company's fortunes. Mystic Caverns still get about 15,000 and "seriously violent behavior," "Tony and Dani have each visitors each year. defined as shooting or stabbing made important contributions to Apple Rush said he wants to sell the someone, robbing someone, or over the past eight years," Jobs said caves to become involved in Christian committing aggravated assault or in a release. ministries. He also joked that he tiring sexual assault, in a survey of 1,588 "We're sorry to see Dani go, of being a tour guide. young people 10 to 15 years old. The and are looking forward to working with "It's always been a struggle for average age was 13 years old and 48 Tony in his new capacity." me, because you have to entertain percent were girls. Lambert is to leave Apple at the people. ... I'm really tired of trying to Five percent of those surveyed end of the year and Fadell is to become entertain people," he said. reported having engaged in some type an advisor to Jobs. Rush acknowledged the tight of seriously violent behavior over the IBM executive Mark real estate market but said he hoped past year, while 38 percent said they Papermaster has been hired to replace to sell the caves to a cave-diving had visited at least one type of violent Fadell. Papermaster's former employer enthusiast with a little spending website. With each additional type is challenging the move on the grounds money. of violent website a study participant Papermaster is contractually restricted "It's a tough time in the reported viewing, the likelihood of from working for a competitor. Page 5 SPORTS NOV. 05, 2008

FOOTBALL (AP) has already bothered Roethlisberger, though he surprised by how well he came out shown the he hasn't said how much, since he was and played. Ben went down and can finish. He may get the chance hurt Sept. 7 against Houston. Byron seamlessly came in and did Sunday to prove he can start. With "I'm sure his shoulder has what he had to do." starter 's status affected him," Tomlin said. "How Leftwich's mobility doesn't for Sunday's game against the Colts much it has affected him, I don't match Roethlisberger's, but his uncertain due to his reinjured right know. It really is kind of irrelevant. arm may be as good or better. shoulder, the Steelers (6-2) may give We really don't look for or seek Surprisingly, Leftwich was out of the Leftwich his first start since last Nov. excuses. We don't make them, league when NFL training camps 18 with Atlanta. whether we're talking about Ben or opened and signed with Pittsburgh Roethlisberger underwent an anybody else." only after former backup Charlie MRI exam Tuesday, but the Steelers Unless Roethlisberger's injury Batch broke his collarbone Aug. 8. did not immediately release the heals in a hurry during a shortened Batch is out for the season. results. He reinjured his separated week of preparation, the Steelers "I truly don't know the offense right shoulder on a quarterback may need Leftwich to bail them out yet," Leftwich said. "I just got here sneak near the end of the second again. late in the preseason, so that's what quarter Monday night. "No, it does not surprise me," makes it tough." Leftwich took over to set up a Tomlin said Tuesday of Leftwich's The Steelers felt they were touchdown with a long completion on ability to come off the bench and equipped to handle a Roethlisberger his first throw, threw for a score and throw quickly and effectively. "That's injury with Batch around; he was 3-0 led another TD drive during a 23-6 one of the characteristics of Byron. as a starter in 2005 and 2006. They win in Washington. That's who he is. He's a quick feel the same way with Leftwich, Leftwich's linescore for a decision maker. ... That's what who is expected to seek a starting short but productive night's work: 7 makes him who he is." job elsewhere in the league after this of 10 for 129 yards, no interceptions A former first-round pick and season. and one satisfied locker room as the starter in Jacksonville, Leftwich "That's the hardest position, Steelers preserved their AFC North spent last season with the Falcons backup quarterback," wide receiver lead. after being cut by the Jaguars. said. "To come into "He made a lot of friends in "He's an experienced player. the game after really not taking there," coach said. He's not new to this," running back a lot of reps in practice, he did a The sore shoulder has said. "Nobody was phenomenal job. Byron gave us fits down in Jacksonville for a long time, so it's great he can come off the bench with the guys trying to rally around him." D e p e n d i n g o n Roethlisberger's status, the Steelers may have to rally around Leftwich again Sunday. "He practices every week like he is going to help this team win the next game," linebacker James Harrison said. "He did the job we expected him to do." Tight end (sprained ankle) is doubtful for Indianapolis (4-4), but Tomlin said safety Ryan Clark (shoulder) could return after missing one game. Tomlin offered no update on left tackle Marvel Smith (back), who hasn't played in a month. Page 6 WORLD NOV. 05, 2008

MEXICO the dog-headed Aztec god of death, next three to six months in the waters lightning and monstrosities — feared around Island of the Dolls, so-called (AP) Beneath the tourist gondolas in he was about to be banished or killed because the owner hangs dolls he the remains of a great Aztec lake lives by other gods and changed into an finds in the canals to ward off evil a creature that resembles a monster axolotl to flee into Lake Xochimilco. spirits. — and a Muppet — with its slimy tail, The axolotl’s decline began Without carp, the water would plumage-like gills and mouth that curls when Spanish conquerors started clear, and plants the axolotl needs to into an odd smile. draining the lakes, which were further breed could flourish again, said Bob The axolotl, also known as the emptied over time to slake the thirst of Johnson, the curator of amphibians “water monster” and the “Mexican one of the world’s largest and fastest- and reptiles at the Toronto Zoo. walking fish,” was a key part of Aztec growing cities. In the 1970s, Lake “If you take the insults away, the legend and diet. Against all odds, it Chalco was completely drained to lake has an amazing latent potential to survived until now amid Mexico City’s prevent flooding. In the 1980s, Mexico heal itself,” he said. urban sprawl in the polluted canals of City began pumping its wastewater Veterinarian Erika Servin, who Lake Xochimilco, now a Venice-style into the few canals and lagoons that runs the Mexico City government’s destination for revelers poled along remained of Xochimilco. axolotl program at Chapultepec Zoo, by Mexican gondoliers, or trajineros, About 20 years ago, African is studying the possibility of introducing in brightly painted party boats. tilapia were introduced into Xochimilco axolotls from the lab into the canals. But scientists are racing to in a misguided effort to create fisheries. But more study is needed to make save the foot-long salamander from They joined with Asian carp to dominate sure the process doesn’t lead to extinction, a victim of the draining of the ecosystem and eat the axolotl’s diseases and genetic problems from its lake habitat and deteriorating water eggs and compete with it for food. inbreeding. quality. In what may be the final blow, The axolotl is also threatened by Xochimilco residents could be nonnative fish introduced into the agrochemical runoff from nearby farms another source of resistance. canals are eating its lunch — and its and treated wastewater from a Mexico Hundreds of people make a babies. City sewage plant, researchers say. living pulling tilapia from canals or The long-standing International Local fisherman Roberto growing flowers, lettuce and vegetables Union for Conservation of Nature Altamira, 32, recalls when he was a on nearby land. Efforts to remove the includes the axolotl on its annual boy, and the axolotl was still part of the fish or shut down polluting farms could Red List of threatened species, while local diet. face stiff opposition. researchers say it could disappear in “I used to love axolotl tamales,” But while the debate goes on, just five years. Some are pushing for a he says, rubbing his stomach and time is running out. series of axolotl sanctuaries in canals laughing. Given its role in research alone, cleared of invasive species, while “The last one I caught was about Johnson says, “We owe it to the axolotl others are considering repopulating six months ago,” says Altamira, a wiry to help it survive.” Xochimilco with axolotls bred in gondolier with rope-like muscles from captivity. years of poling through Xochimilco’s “If the axolotl disappears, it narrow waterways. would not only be a great loss to Meanwhile, the axolotl biodiversity but to Mexican culture, population is burgeoning in laboratories, and would reflect the degeneration where scientists study its amazing of a once-great lake system,” says traits, including the ability to completely Luis Zambrano, a biologist at the re-grow lost limbs. Axolotls have Autonomous University of Mexico, or played key roles in research on UNAM. regeneration, embryology, fertilization The number of axolotls and evolution. (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) in the The salamander has the rare wild is not known. But the population trait of retaining its larval features has dropped from roughly 1,500 per throughout its adult life, a phenomenon square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per called neoteny. It lives all its life in square mile this year, according to a the water but can breathe both under survey by Zambrano’s scientists using water with gills or by taking gulps of air casting nets. from the surface. Millions once lived in the giant On a 9-foot-wide canal covered lakes of Xochimilco and Chalco on by a green carpet of “lentejilla” — an which Mexico City was built. Using aquatic plant that resembles green four stubby legs to drag themselves lentils — Zambrano’s researchers test along lake bottoms or their thick tails to water quality and search for axolotls. swim like mini-alligators, they hunted The air smells of sulfur and sewage. plentiful aquatic insects, small fish and So far, scientists disagree on crustaceans. how to save the creature. But a pilot Legend has it that Xolotl — sanctuary is expected to open in the