December 2008 3rd BCT, 1st ID Duke www.1id.army.mil www.dvidshub.net/units/3bct-1id Dispatch Afghan National Army learns lifesaving techniques PAGE 5 December 2008 1 December 2008 2 Contents 10 Why I Serve Duke Spc. Adrienne Adams, a transportation specialist with Dispatch 1-26 IN. explains why she joined the Army. 3rd BCT, 1st ID Magazine 12 Gaining securiity stronghold Brigade Commander: The construction of a new combat outpost increases Col. John Spiszer security in Maywand district. Brigade Command Sgt. Maj: Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Orosz Public Affairs Officer: Columns Maj. Chevelle Thomas Public Affairs NCOIC: 6 Commanders column Staff Sgt. David Hopkins TF Duke operations are running smoothly as we ap- Editor: proach the winter months in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Adora Medina Sgt. Major’s column Journalists: 8 Sgt. Charles Brice Complacency is not an option while deployed in sup- Spc. Casey Ware port of Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Brandon Sandefur Pfc. Charles Wolfe Photo by Spc. Russell Gilchrest Konar Province Governor Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi speaks at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the construction of a new prison near the city of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan, on Dec. 28. Christmas eve donations Features 9 Duke Dispatch is published monthly by the Troops from Nangarhar PRT donate school supplies On the cover Public Affairs Office to provide information 3 Christmas in Afghanistan to an Afghan school on Christmas Eve. on Soldiers and Families of the 3rd BCT, 1st ID. Views and opinions are not necessarily Solidiers at Foward Operating Base Fenty, Jalalabad, those of the Department of the Army. Afghanistan celebrate the holiday season. 11 Overcoming muddy terrain Soldiers with 6-4 Cav are working around the weather Send submissions and coorespondence to: ANA medical training changes in Afghanistan. Public Affairs Office 5 3rd BCT, 1st ID, TF Duke 201st BSB trains the Afghan National Army on Tactical Jalalabad, FOB Fenty Combat Casualty Care. 13 December Reenlistments APO, AE 09310 A listing of all Task Force Duke Soldiers reenlisting for Soldiers from 1st Battal- Electronic submissions are preferred: the month of December. 7 Fiber optic communications ion, 6th Field Artillery, [email protected] expend a round in a 318-831-6028 Task Force Duke is working with the locals to install Foward Operating Base an international ring of communication that will span in the Nuristan province throughout Afghanistan and connect to its neighboring (Photo by Spc. Jean- Digital photos should be at least 300 dpi. countries. Paul Li) Stories should be in Word format. December 2008 December 2008 3 4 appreciate it and it gives her the chance to interact with the Troops. Troops celebrate “Sometimes I [serve chow] when it’s not Christmas and sometimes I [serve] when chow is not extraordinary, it’s a good way to talk to Soldiers,” Lee Christmas in said. The Christmas luncheon continued on into Christmas dinner, to accommodate everyone’s sched- Afghanistan ules, so that all Soldiers could partake in the holiday chow while having the opportunity to attend company- 1st Lt. Michelle Cam- pos serves Christ- level activities and Christmas services. Story by Staff Sgt. Adora Medina mas lunch to TF Duke To give Soldiers from all walks of life a chance Soldiers at the FOB 3rd BCT, 1st ID, PAO for reflection and prayer, several services were held Fenty dining facility, throughout the Christmas day. During an early morn- Dec. 25. Officers and Photos By Staff Sgt. Adora Medina Spending the holidays in a warzone, miles ing service, a dance group, called the Women of noncommissioned officers volunteered Staff Sgt. Terrance Avila, 201st BSB, is served Christmas from home can be a challenge, but Task Force Duke Praise, performed a choreographed dance for those lunch at the FOB Fenty dining facility, Dec. 25. to serve Christmas Soldiers, currently deployed to Afghanistan, found a in attendance. lunch and dinner to way to bring the Christmas spirit to Forward Operating “I believe that we have reached people the troops on Christ- Base Fenty. through dance that may not have gotten to know mas day. To mark the beginning of the holiday season, God any other way,” Sgt. 1st Class Yolanda Williams, a tree lighting ceremony was held in the dining facility Women of Praise dancer and St. Louis, MO native, two days before Christmas, and as Christmas neared, said. “This just goes to show that even in time of war, many preparations took place to ensure a festive dancing in Afghanistan is a great testament to the experience for the troops at FOB Fenty, down to the power of praise.” holiday décor. As Christmas came to an end for Soldiers at “It is by far the best decorating I’ve seen in my FOB Fenty, the holiday season was just beginning for two combat tours, it was magical and reminded me their families back home in the states. And as Soldiers of what the holidays are like back home,” Staff Sgt. phoned their loved ones to wish them a happy holiday Mytsuko Diaz, TF Duke Soldier and El Paso, Texas they were able to share their holiday experience with native, said. For a second I had to remind myself that their family. I was still in Afghanistan.” “One of the big things about being out here The decorations included a life-size nativity is the moral issue. Everyone misses their family, (From left to right) Sgt. Jamaal Mitchell and Sgt. Patricia Wil- scene, numerous Christmas trees and ice sculptures. everyone misses their kids, but being able to spend liams, pose for a picture with Santa’s reindeer on Christmas There was even a live Santa Clause who greeted Christmas in a family oriented environment like this is day at the FOB Fenty dining facility. Spc. Dorothea Bunting Newburgh, NY native, dances with the troops as they left the holiday serving line with a tra- a great way to boost the moral,” Sgt. Felix Rios, 4th Women of Praise during a Christmas service at FOB Fenty. ditional Christmas feast to include turkey, ham, roast finance Management Detachment Soldier, and Bronx, Women of Praise is inspired by the women in the Bible who and all the trimmings. NY native, said. praised God through dance. “The traditional meal is important because it gives Soldiers something to talk about when it comes to their own traditional Christmas dinners. Cpt. Gen- nelle Lee, TF Duke Soldier and Detroit, Mi, native said. Lee explained how something as simple as a favorite Christmas dessert can spark conversation be- tween Soldiers and go on to build camaraderie within the unit. Officers and noncommissioned officers from TF Duke and TF Outfront volunteered to serve the troops as a way of boosting moral during the holiday Major General Jeffrey Schloesser, commander of the 101st Airborne and CJTF-101, interacts with TF Duke noncommis- season. Senior noncommissioned sioned officers as he goes through the holiday serving line at “I see good chow as a form of edible morale,” officers of TF Duke, 201st the FOB Fenty dining facility on Christmas day. Lee said. “Soldiers eat it and feel good.” Brigade Support Battalion, Lee, who was one of the volunteers, enjoys pose for a picture with Santa serving chow for the most part because Soldiers really at the dining facility at FOB Fenty, Afghanistan, Dec. 25. December 2008 5 December 2008 6 Mission continues through winter season We also conducted several opera- the AO prior to and on Christmas Medics tions to disrupt and eliminate enemy so everyone could worship as they activity within our N2KL (Nangarhar, desired. In addition, SGM Wells Nuristan, Konar and Laghman) re- and I went out to COP Lowell in the gion in conjunction with CJTF-101’s Kamdesh District, and spent Christ- teach Winter Campaign with our Afghan mas there with the troopers and National Security Force partners also pinned an ARCOM for Valor on to keep the pressure on the en- SSG Coderellis. emy and prevent his preparations Last but not least, I would like life-saving for the next fighting season. We to take this time to acknowledge the also conducted deliberate clearing great bravery and professional¬ism Photos by Spc. Brandon Sandefur operations through several of our of CPT Robert Yllescas, 6-4 CAV, ANA Soldiers learn how to properly perform a traction splint IED hotspots in order to safeguard who served his Soldiers and his during medical training with 201st BSB Soldiers. techniques movement throughout the AO. The country with outstanding passion Story By Pfc. Charles Wolfe Advanced Party for 1-32 IN arrived and skill but lost his life due to 3rd BCT, 1st ID, PAO from Fort Drum and they will be re- wounds sustained from an impro- inforcing the border of Konar and vised explosive device. He lost his Working with the Afghan National Army soldiers Nangarhar province. fight on 1 December at Bethesda Col. John Spiszer 16 hours a week, the medics with 3rd Brigade Combat We also took some time to with his family around him. We Team, 1st Infantry Division, are providing instruction on 3rd BCT, 1st ID, Commander celebrate the Christmas Holiday. would also like to honor the follow- a multitude of crucial life-saving techniques. We had a tree lighting ceremony in ing troops who received the Bronze Spanning through first aide and beyond, the We brought in the win- the dining facility here at FOB Fenty Star Medal for Valor: 1LT Steven training seems difficult, but the Afghans’ enthusiasm ter season but we have really not prior to Christmas, put up several Benedetti, SPC Johnathan Call, helps the medics guide their students through its chal- showed down and have continued decorations including a life-size na- SSG Jacob Gradick, 1SG William lenges.