• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

FORGING THE WARRIOR SPIRIT THEJRTC & FORT POLK GUARDIAN Vol. 46, No. 10 Home of Heroes @ Fort Polk, LA March 8, 2019 CHUCK / GUARDIAN CANNON ‘I, Drake Quibodeaux’ Drake Quibodeaux, 8, a youngster from Vinton, La., takes the oath bodeaux, who suffers from a brain tumor, and his family were in- of enlistment from Lt. Col. Sonja Whitehead, commander, 519th vited to Fort Polk where Drake was made an honorary Soldier. Military Police Battalion, at Warrior Memorial Park March 1. Qui- See story and more photos on page 5 of today’s Guardian. Weekend weather Inside the Guardian 73 76 74 Shipping via barge ...... 3 Daylight saving time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. Hitching a ride ........... 7 64 57 53 so don’t forget to set the Rain chance Rain chance Rain chance 40% 60% 30% Quiz Bowl champs ..... 10 clocks forward before turning in Saturday. Today Thursday Friday VViieewwppooiinntt Why do bad things happen to good people? By CHUCK CANNON diagnosed 40 years ago. There is still “Where is your next assignment?” Guardian editor no effective treatment and no chance My mother said, “They’re going of survival. Less than 1 percent of to Germany.” FORT POLK, La. — It’s a question children with DIPG survive for 2 In that instant, I could tell by the Guardian that’s been asked for as long as peo- years following their diagnosis. The look on my grandmother’s face that ple have asked questions: Why do median survival time is 9 months she knew in her heart she would Editorial Staff bad things happen to good people? from diagnosis. never see me again. Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank We talked about this very subject Drake was diagnosed about 1 year The same feeling passed over me Joint Readiness Training Center in my Sunday School class this week, ago, meaning during Drake’s and Fort Polk commanding general and my thoughts immediately that statistics visit. His Col. Jarrett Thomas II turned to Drake Quibodeaux, an 8- say the young- mother said Garrison commander year-old youngster who is suffering ster is running that his Kim Reischling from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma out of time. But Commentary strength was Public affairs officer — commonly known as DIPG — a you’d never ebbing and this Chuck Cannon highly aggressive and difficult to know it by visit- was probably Editor treat tumor located at the base of the ing with him and his family. They his last trip. She said hospice has Jean Dubiel brain. are confident that their son, brother, been called in. If ever there was a “bad thing” nephew, will be cured. Even Drake And again, I wonder, “Why do Angie Thorne happening to a “good person,” this has told his mom, as she daily fights bad things happen to good people?” Staff writers is it. back the tears and despair that any While getting ready for work Editorial Offices From what his parents have mother would battle, “Don’t worry March 4, I heard of the tornado out- Building 4919, Magnolia Street shared with me, Drake is a typical 8- or cry. God’s got this. It will be OK.” break in Alabama on March 3 that Fort Polk, LA 71459-5060 year-old boy who enjoys the out- Watching Drake and his family claimed at least 23 — some of them Voice (337) 531-4033 doors, especially fishing and hunting members as they paid a visit to Fort small children. Fax (337) 531-1401 with his dad and brothers. He loves Polk March 1, where Drake was giv- As a Christian, I know there are Email: [email protected] riding four wheelers, shooting and en the oath of enlistment and made things I don’t understand now, that Trading post ads: most things kids his age enjoy. General of the Army at Fort Polk for one day I will. But that doesn’t make [email protected] The Michael Mosier Foundation, the day, I was taken back to a time me wonder any less or ease the pain Fort Polk Homepage dedicated to finding cures for brain nearly 30 years ago as I prepared to today. I’m just glad I was able to http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil stem cancers, reports that while head to an assignment in Germany. cross paths and make friends with AdvertisingAdvertising medical advances in the past 40 My spouse, Susan, son, Justin, and I Drake and his family. I’ll not forget For advertising contact years have greatly improved the sur- paid a visit to my grandmother at them or how they faced this trial For advertisingTheresa Larue contact vival rates of children diagnosed the nursing home she had been in with courage and faith. (337)(337) 404-7242404-7242 with most types of cancer, that’s not for a few years. She was elderly and I’m glad Fort Polk could provide Email:Email: [email protected]@thefortpolkguardian.com the case for those affected by DIPG. frail and we knew she probably did- this day for you, General Drake, and A child diagnosed with DIPG today n’t have long to be with us. I pray that against all odds, we’ll see The Guardian, a civilian enter- faces the same prognosis as a child As we got up to leave, she asked, you again. prise newspaper, is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the Guardian are not necessarily official views of, or en- dorsed by, the U.S. Government, De- partment of Defense, Department of the Army or Fort Polk. In our view The Guardian is published weekly by the Public Affairs Office, Joint Guardian staff asked Fort Polk residents, “Are you a career Soldier or is the Army a step toward something Readiness Training Center and Fort else?” Here are their responses: Polk. Printed circulation is 13,000. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage with- out regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an ad- vertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. All editorial content of the Sgt. Sergio Alas: "It is Spc. Ricardo Ay- Spc. Christian Pvt. Jeffery Schnei- Guardian is prepared, edited, pro- definitely a step to- vided and approved by the Public Af- ala: "The leadership Richardson: "I'm der: "I don't know fairs Office, Joint Readiness Training ward another career skills we learn in still in the middle yet. I like using what Center and Fort Polk. path. I plan to get out our jobs can defi- The Guardian is printed by the about that. (The we have available to Natchitoches Times, a private firm of the military eventu- nitely apply to the Army) is a good us through the Army, in no way connected with the Depart- ally and get a civilian civilian sector, so I start, especially for like tuition assistance ment of the Army, under exclusive written contract with Fort Polk. The job and go to school see the Army as a young people just and classes. It's a civilian printer is responsible for com- as well." big stepping stone." getting out of stepping stone for mercial advertising. The appearance of advertising in school. It teaches now until I can de- this publication, including inserts and you leadership and cide if I want to make supplements, does not constitute en- dorsement by the Department of the time management." it a career or not." Army or the Natchitoches Times of the products or services advertised. Guardian 2/ March 8, 2019 NNeewwSSccooppee Soldiers from 626th Brigade KEITH HOUIN / PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST KEITH HOUIN / PUBLIC AFFAIRS Support Battalion, 3rd Briefs Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division off-load ve- hicles from barges at the Cen- ECP suspended tral Louisiana Regional Port in The Residential Communities Initiative Alexandria, Louisiana. Energy Conservation Program is suspend- ed until further notice. Residents should not be billed, receive rebate payouts, be charged administrative fees or receive delinquent utility charges. RCI partners will continue to monitor usage and provide residents with mock billing statements while the Army reviews current data col- Vehicles delivered by barge via regional port lection and billing methodology. Contact your neighborhood office for more infor- By KEITH HOUIN transportation. The rotational unit has more con- mation. Public affairs specialist trol over the barge ordering and loading process, whereas arrival of line haul trucks is sporadic 75th Ranger brief ALEXANDRIA, La. — Ending an eight day and uncontrollable. The arrival of the barge is journey on rivers across the U.S., 36 barges usually known in advance. One of the reasons Briefings for Soldiers interested in join- loaded with vehicles of the 626th Brigade Sup- barge operations at the port are successful is the ing the 75th Ranger Regiment are held port Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st flexibility and support of the port’s tenants (oth- Thursday and March 15 at 11 a.m. and 1 Airborne Division pulled into the Central er businesses that use the port). p.m., in Room 123 of the Fort Polk Educa- Louisiana Regional Port in Alexandria, “Given the size of these rotations, there is al- tion Center on Colorado Avenue. Email Louisiana, Feb. 28 for the division’s rotation at ways the potential for disruptions to other port [email protected] or william.s.mckuin.mil the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort tenants.

Load more

  20

Copy Link