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Vol. 72, No. 29 July 25, 2014 Ready to roll Members of the Fort Carson Special Reaction Team stack on their up-armored transport during a training exercise at Patriot Elementary School, July 18. More than 300 Fort Carson police offi cers received small group training from local police departments during the fi ve-day training event that culminated with a scenario of multiple active shooters and hostages. See story on pages 22-23. Photo by Sgt. Eric Glassey Afghanistan withdraw 2-77 closes FOB Walton By Staff Sgt. Whitney Houston 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry forces fi rst arrived,” Linn said. Army News Service Division, was the last unit to roll out of Forward Tearing down a FOB the right way isn’t an easy Operating Base Walton, July 17, marking an end to a task, as equipment and structures accumulate over the FORWARD OPERATING BASE WALTON, permanent coalition presence in the area. years. Through the closure process, it became necessary Afghanistan — The hollow aluminum tent frames “We (left the area) before noon on the 17th, and to ethically dispose of some of the equipment, and clanked as they hit the ground during quick disassembly. FOB Walton is now a part of Afghanistan once again,” simultaneously decide what equipment to consolidate The tents were the last standing structures on a huge said Maj. Samuel Linn, who serves as executive offi cer and ship back to the U.S., said Capt. Bernard Tumanjong, empty lot in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, once and operations offi cer, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg. supply offi cer, 2nd Bn., 77th FA Reg. known as Forward Operating Base Walton. “It’s a full closure of the FOB, which means The 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, we’ve left it like we found it when American See Afghanistan on page 4 Message board INSIDE The National Night Out event is Aug. 5 from 4-8 p.m. in the Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel parking lot. There will be events for children of all ages, to include rock wall climbing, a dunk tank and a bouncy house. Families can have car seats inspected. Pages 36-37 There will also be food. Pages 8-9 Page 18 2 MOUNTAINEER — July 25, 2014 MOUNTAINEER Commanding General: Maj. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera Meet next greatest generation Garrison Commander: Col. Joel D. Hamilton Commentary by Mike Howard greatest generation. But to understand, we must understand Garrison Public Affairs Offi ce how we took our professional military into the 1900s, Fort Carson Public Affairs Offi cer: a military built and formed largely in the 1800s. Dee McNutt Many of our young men and women are coming home The American boys of summer 1918 turned the tide Chief, Print and Web Communications: from war to Fort Carson these days. Isn’t it great to see the on World War I over in Europe to start the new century. Rick Emert reunions? Happy sons and daughters, moms and dads While the start of it was 100 years ago this summer, Editor: Devin Fisher welcoming home men and women from war. Gen. John Pershing spent most of our time in It has been a long hard row to hoe, as my own dad used that war preparing and training the American Staff writer : Andrea Stone to say about this time every summer. We’ve felt 13 hard Expeditionary Forces. While we suffered heavy H a p p e n in g s : Nel Lampe years of war since 9/11. We all know that this doesn’t mean casualties, our part of the fi ght was decisive, but during we’re done and that we can put up our feet — there is the last six months of it. S p o r t s w ri te r : Walt Johnson plenty of row to go. Some say that this war in Europe did not end. The L a yo u t / g ra p h i c s : Jeanne Mazerall The Mountain Post proudly sent off its warriors and American boys of summer 1944 turned the tide of World just as proudly welcomed them back multiple times. Our War II in the Pacifi c and European theaters. The bombing This commercial enterprise newspaper Soldiers shed blood and tears in Iraq and Afghanistan — of Pearl Harbor seemed to seal our fi ghting in the battles, is an authorized publication for members of even one memorial service was too many. They fought, but the D-Day invasion in Europe and the A-bomb in the Department of Defense. Contents of the came home, rested up a bit and went back into the fi ght. Japan fi nally brought peace. Mountaineer are not necessarily the offi cial History will tell us the impact for our children’s world Again, heavy casualties and a need to train unprepared view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or of this chapter. It is too early to know right now how all forces were the themes. But there was also this continuation the Department of the Army. Printed circulation is 8,000 copies. this hard work altered the fabric of our national security. of strong will, determination and brawn that carried The editorial content of the Mountaineer While we may know today how this battle went through over from the earlier century. And it was this that Tom is the respon sibility of the Public Affairs Offi ce, today’s news media perspective, what we don’t know is how Brokaw highlighted in his branding the World War II Fort Carson, Colo., Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail America’s statement of resolve will sink in over time. generation as the greatest. address is [email protected]. But, we do know how much muscle and sweat we put Which brings us to our current century and our The Mountaineer is posted online at http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com. into these fi ghts to preserve our peace. The brilliant and social media images of Soldiers returning home to their The Mountaineer is an unoffi cial heartwarming images fl ooding social media sites in recent loved ones this summer. publication authorized by AR 360-1. The weeks of the welcome home ceremonies are indicators They are not coming home because it is over. Like Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs of it. The images also remind us of our nation’s great wars, combat veterans in our long heritage, they put that extra Military Newspaper Group, a private fi rm in establishing America’s military as a world power. effort into the fi ght. But, unlike previous wars of previous no way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive written contract with America’s fi rst great war was the American Revolution. centuries, they have returned home to train and prepare for Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year. 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Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, phone 634-5905. nature of war is The Mountaineer’s editorial content is violent and we should edited, prepared and provided by the Public do everything we Affairs Offi ce, building 1218, room 320, Fort can to deter it. Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144. Many people Releases from outside sources are so indicated. The deadline for submissions to the say that American Mountaineer is close of business Friday the men and women week before the next issue is published. The involved in World Mountaineer staff reserves the right to edit War II make up the submissions for newspaper style, clarity and typographical errors. Policies and statements refl ected in the news and editorial columns represent views of the individual writers and under no circumstances are to be considered those of What makes me the Department of the Army. Reproduction of editorial material is authorized. Please credit accordingly. IRON HORSE STRONG Pfc. Jamal Lee Infantryman, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Display / Classifi ed advertising What makes me Iron Horse Strong I continue to serve because it is 634-5905 physically is always doing physical amazing to be a part of a brotherhood training and staying above standard.