Vol. 62, No. 29 Publishedlished inin thethe interestinterest ofof thethe 7th7th InfInfantry Division and Fort Carson community July 23, 2004 Visit the Fort Carson Web site at www.carson.army.mil Photo by Pfc. Clint Stein Brushing up ... Spc. Chad Rawls, Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, cleans the gun tube of an M-109A6 self-propelled howitzer July 16 during Sergeant’s Time Training. Rawls was preparing the Paladin for a battery inventory and lay out. This is the first inventory for the battery since returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit is also ensuring the vehicles and equipment are prepared for upcoming field exercises. Blood center needs donors by Rochelle Kelly DeVargas eligibility, call (800) 421-9529, ext. 2, between 8 Bonfils Blood Center a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Bonfils Blood Center is hosting a blood drive More information can be found at www.bon- Photo by Spc. Zach Mott Monday at the Special Events Center from 10 fils.org. a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open to civilians as well as Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood prod- Street breakfast ... military personnel and their families. ucts to more than 115 healthcare facilities, Bethany Costra, 5, holds her plate high as Capt. All donors will receive a free water bottle and including Evans Army Community Hospital, and Kathleen Owings, 52nd Engineer Battalion S-1, a coupon for a free pint of ice cream from Baskin must collect at least 4,200 units of blood every stacks a scoop of eggs on top. Bethany enjoyed Robbins. Donors can walk in during the blood week to meet the needs of the community. In eggs, pancakes and juice during the 44th Annual drive, but appointments are strongly encouraged. addition, Bonfils Blood Center has been selected Sertoma Street Breakfast in downtown Colorado Call 526-7303 to schedule an appointment. by the Department of Defense to provide blood to Springs Wednesday to kick off the Pikes Peak Troops stationed in Afghanistan or Iraq can troops in Iraq when needed. Range Riders 160-mile ride. More than 5,000 peo- donate blood 12 months after the date of depar- Two more blood drives are scheduled for ple attended the event. For a related story and ture from those countries. Sept. 27 and Dec. 13. For information on blood photos, see pages 16 and 17. To speak to a Bonfils Blood Center donor drives, or to schedule a presentation about the representative about donating blood and donor importance of donating blood, call 248-8445. INSIDE THE Feature Happenings MOUNTAINEER Outdoor pool Opinion/Editorial The outdoor pool will be Keeping Soldiers safe. Page 2 closed July 31 until 1 p.m. Military for the Colorado State Job hunting on the outside. Page 5 Games. Community For more information, call CYS summer programs. Page 11 526-4456. Sports Range riders, rodeo kick off with A giant waterslide is available at Post team preps for state games. a street breakfast downtown Page 19 the Rock Canyon swim beach, Post Weather hotline: Wednesday. part of Lake Pueblo State Park. 526-0096 See Pages 16 and 17. See Pages 25 and 26. MOUNTAINEER 2 July 23, 2004 Opinion/Editorial What does it take? Letter to the editor: Dear residents; Keeping Soldiers safe My heartfelt and sincere apprecia- tion goes to all of you who participated by Matthew P. Kettell following Monday morning. As the squad leaders gave in our survey on the street name change. Army News Service me their accountability reports, they reported two The results are as follows: FORT BENNING, Ga — In April 1989, two of my Soldiers missing. The Soldiers’ wives were there, but the Boulder Summit 28 Soldiers were killed when they hit an oncoming vehicle. Soldiers weren’t. Bastogne Drive 38 They’d both been drinking and neither was wearing a I went to the first sergeant’s office to inform him of Other 1 seatbelt. the report but he was with the commander, who asked me Effective Aug. 1, Bastogne Drive They’d been on their way to pick up a fellow Soldier to come into his office. He told me the division staff duty will replace J.A. Jones Drive. New street and bring him back to a party. However, they never officer had informed him that two Soldiers were killed in signs will be placed July 30. Please sub- returned and what happened changed my life forever. I an accident involving another Soldier’s car. The vehicle’s mit a change of address at the post was their platoon sergeant. owner told me that my Soldiers had borrowed the vehicle. office to ensure your mail will be for- We had just finished several support missions, rede- The victims’ bodies were burned beyond recognition. warded. Also, use your best judgment in ployed to home station and were transitioning to be the The coroner needed to check their dental records for notifying the appropriate parties (family, division readiness force for the 82nd Airborne Division. proper identification. I was 99 percent sure they were my friends, employers, financial institutions, It was a Thursday, and we had completed all our inspec- two missing Soldiers. creditors, etc.,). tions and were getting ready for a three-day weekend. The I asked the commander what we were going to do This change has been in the works commander gave us our safety briefing. because the wives were at the staff duty officer’s desk for some time now and was basically Afterward, I briefed my platoon on the two-hour wanting to know where their husbands were. As time brought forward due to the fact that tra- recall procedures and gave them an additional safety went by, the wives became increasingly upset. They had ditionally, Army post’s streets are named brief. I covered drinking and driving, speeding and wear- not been told the full situation yet, but in time, the dread- after a battle or a city where a battle was ing seatbelts. Also, because of mission constraints, I told ful call came. fought, rather than after a business enti- them not to drink any alcohol. I often wonder how you tell a Soldier the worth of his ty. I was concerned about a couple of my Soldiers. A day life, the importance of his family and the happiness a We sincerely appreciate your or so earlier, their wives called me out of concern about newborn child will bring. I thought I had gotten through patience and apologize for any inconve- their husbands’ drinking and driving and lack of time at to these Soldiers, yet they died — not in combat, some- nience this may cause. home. I decided to have a man-to-man talk with these thing that might be justified — but in an avoidable acci- Respectfully, Soldiers about their wives’ concerns. I set it up so I could dent. Lynn Rivera talk to each individually at my home. To this day I still ask myself, “What does it take?” General Manager, The Soldiers were 19 and 20 years old — at the Fort Carson Family Housing prime of their lives — and had so much ahead of them. Editor’s note: Matthew P. Kettell is currently the tac- One was going to be a father in three weeks. tical safety officer for 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne We had a recall formation to test the alert roster the Division. What is the most fun “I went to the fire sta- “I played with my “Sewing.” “Playing on the play- thing you’ve done at tion.” friends.” ground.” Child Youth Services Alicia Vela, 7 Carah Young, 7 Domonique Hayes, 7 Kaitlynn Strahl, 7 family member, family member, family member, family member, this summer? Department of Defense Department of Defense Department of Defense Department of Defense LETTERS TO THE EDITOR will be withheld upon request. 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