Commander COL Maxine C. Girard
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:: Commander COL Maxine C. Girard :: Command Sergeant Major CSM Charles A. Holliday, Sr. :: Deputy Commander LTC Dana Johnson :: Executive Officer LTC Antonio Oquendo :: Public Affairs Coordinator Dustin Senger :: Visual Information Manager Devin Butler :: Desert Mesh Contributor Capt. Kelvin W. Francis Your feedback is important to us. See the back cover for details. CONTENTS 6 THE WIRE n Qatar Base Relay for Life raises cancer awareness 3 n Third Army commander tours Qatar camp 6 n Third Army general greets Florida guard 7 n AMC general tours Qatar facilities 8 n Upcoming events 9 n Volunteers honored after first Relay for Life in Qatar 12 n Top-ranked pool players visit troops in Qatar 14 n Hines completes year as top CENTCOM medical logistician 16 n Biomedical repair specialists talk shop 18 n Chaplain in Qatar reflects on service, sacrifice 20 n “That’s my people” 21 DOHA LIFE n Soldiers celebrate Army birthday at Qatar hotel 22 SAFETY n Stay strong in the heat 26 Edition 67 – This Army magazine is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Desert Mesh are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or Department of the Army. The editorial content is the responsibility of the Area Support Group Qatar public affairs office. General comments should be addressed to [email protected] or call 011-974-450-2714 (DSN: 318-432-2572). Desert Mesh layout and design by Dustin Senger. Comments should be addressed to dustin. [email protected] or call 011-974-450-2714 (DSN 318-432-2800). COVER: U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Jenkins of Fayetteville, N.C., writes his sister- in-law’s name on a cancer survivor poster, June 8. Capt. Dewitt Revels of Jacksonville, Fla., discusses perimeter security with Lt. Gen. William G. Webster, Third Army/U.S. Army Central commanding general, July 2. (Cover Photo-Illustration/Dustin Senger) CONTENTS: Lt. Gen. William G. Webster (center), Third Army/U.S. Army Central commanding general, discuses power plant capabilities with Maj. Anne Taylor of Conroe, Texas, and ITT contractor Robert Hanner of Colorado Springs, Colo., July 2. (OfficialArmy Photo/Dustin Senger) Desert Mesh : 2 : June/July 2010 CONTENTS Cotton describes battle over cancer Qatar base Relay for Life cancers can be treated effectively if office by continuously volunteering for raises cancer awareness detected early. Cancer is not a death activation orders at Fort McPherson. sentence – people do survive.” Eventually, they withdrew from school By DUSTIN SENGER to focus on saving money. In April ASG-QA public affairs U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher 1995, they married on a beach in Cotton of McDonough, Ga., grabbed Cancun, Mexico. undreds of servicemembers his IPod packed with rap and funk Hparticipated in the first American music, such as TI and Cameo, put on “We’ve gone through some stuff,” Cancer Society Relay for Life at his running shoes and received his said Cotton. “I should have been Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, June 8, survivor sash. He was one of several more responsible in my 20s. There to honor countless lives impacted by individuals in cancer remission have been a couple situations that I cellular insurgents that transform a leading the overnight relay. didn’t think I’d get through – Nicole host’s body into a battlefield. has always been there for me.” “When I made it through cancer,” says Cancer survivors, caregivers and Cotton, “I got a second wind on life.” Cotton remained in the reserves and supporters at the military base, a attended career counselor training. prepositioning site for Third Army/U.S. After 26 years of military service, the He remained mobilized after 9/11, Army Central, started the 12-hour soldier had acquired three occupation while working toward a warrant relay on a running trail at 7 p.m., after specialties, anticipated a college officer promotion and building up his a dusty sunset in Arabia. The event graduation and advanced toward a retirement benefits. ended in a bright, morning sunlight. warrant officer promotion – when he fell down; tired, sore and dying. In January 2003, Cotton reported “It’s important to raise awareness all for a one-year assignment at Fort over the world,” said breast cancer Cotton enlisted in the Army as a high Bragg, N.C. He supported a soldier survivor Ellie LeBaron, wife of the school student eager to discover movement center for overseas U.S. ambassador to Qatar, prior to opportunity outside Atlanta’s southern contingency operations in Iraq and the relay. “It reminds people to get suburbs. He attended basic training Afghanistan. Nearing the end of his checked and check themselves. Many at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Aug. deployment, he started complaining 30, 2004, a month after his 18th of a crippling back soreness. birthday. The combat engineer’s first assignment moved him to Germany, “I’d often lied down on the floor,” he more than 4,000 miles from home. said. “I had to keep giving my back a rest. I also started running out of He transferred to the reserves breath easily. One of my good friends after five years active duty. As a told me ‘you need to go get checked.’” reservist, he completed training for a second military occupation in human The troop medical clinic persistently resources. While activated with the prescribed him Motrin, but the pain Third Army headquarters at Fort reliever hardly helped. McPherson, Ga., he deployed for a month to Kuwait in late 1990, ahead “I was sending soldiers overseas to of Operation Desert Storm. war,” says Cotton, “while beginning my own battle.” Cancer survivor U.S. Army Sgt. While in his mid twenties, Cotton 1st Class Christopher Cotton of enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in He returned to Atlanta in January McDonough, Ga., awaits the first Business Administration program at 2004. As a father of three children, American Cancer Society Relay Morris Brown College in Atlanta. He the soldier became involved in the for Life at Camp As Sayliyah, met Nicole Gibson of Hannibal, Mo., Boy Scouts of America. He mentored during an orientation course. eight Cub Scouts, which included Qatar, June 8. Cotton was his seven-year-old son. Frustrations diagnosed with leukemia in June The classmates started dating, and mounted over constant aches, 2005, and then entered cancer then took jobs as mail clerks with the illnesses and general feebleness. remission in late 2007. (Official U.S. Postal Service. Cotton repeatedly » Cotton, PG. 10 Army Photo/Dustin Senger) escaped midnight shifts at the post Desert Mesh : 3 : June/July 2010 Maxine C. Girard Colonel Commander Area Support Group Qatar his Desert Mesh, edition 67, diers well enough to provide them Tshould reach you mid way with motivation and guidance, which through July. Summer temperatures is critical during intense operating are soaring and personnel change- tempos. Properly motivated soldiers overs at an all-time high on Camp feel appreciated and important; they As Sayliyah. We have many new are self-driven, disciplined warriors. leaders on base and expect several more during the upcoming months. Our leaders provide world class support for an ongoing responsi- Summer transitions are full of per- ble drawdown of forces in Iraq and The installation sonnel and work-related activities. buildup in Afghanistan. We provide our soldiers with command guid- commander Outgoing leaders explain operating procedures, field manuals and les- ance and appropriate training, but sons learned throughout their ten- then allow our men and women to ures. Soldiers swap stories about take ownership over their tasks. We cultural experiences in Qatar for recognize and reward commend- hometown updates in the United able actions that embody our Army States. Loved ones receive e-mails values – loyalty, duty, respect, hon- and phones calls from Camp As or, integrity, selfless service and per- Sayliyah concerning upcoming de- sonal courage. partures or recent arrivals. We are shaping theater security co- I appreciate and applaud the service operation by engaging in activities of our teammates heading home with our host nation military coun- this summer after a job well done, as terparts. We also seek out ways to well as the resiliency of their loved increase efficient use of available ones who managed and supported resources, to avoid waste and lower an extensive separation. operating costs. Welcome aboard to our new leaders! This is our shared vision at Camp As Camp As Sayliyah is a strategic base Sayliyah, where cohesive, produc- in the Central Command area of op- tive and diverse organizations are erations. We endeavor to provide ex- mission, people and team focused. ceptional support for our forward-de- There is zero tolerance for sexual ployed war fighters. Our comrades in harassment, discrimination and intol- arms depend on us. I encourage you erance. Our priority of effort stays fo- to review the Third Army/U.S. Army cused on sustaining our war fighters. Central team campaign plan and theater engagement strategy, as well As we work through another hot, as policies on the installation. humid summer in Qatar, remember that a successful safety program re- The USARCENT team will stay quires every individual in the organi- ready to conduct operations any- zation to remain attentive. Accidents time, anywhere, as directed, in order happen when objects gain momen- to deter or defeat adversaries; while tum, visibility is compromised or sustaining forces in theater to sup- people become distracted – watch port combat and conduct shaping over your battle buddies. Timely operations that continue to affect the decision-making promptly manages operational environment in support risks in your work and living areas.