Vol. 66, No. 14 Published in the interest of Division West (First Army) and Fort Carson community. April 4, 2008 Visit the Fort Carson Web site at www.carson.army.mil. Word of the month: Self-responsibility 43rd ASG concludes historic deployment by Maj. Sean Ryan Fort Carson Public Affairs Office Another chapter in the history of the 43rd Area Support Group closed March 25 when the Providers uncased their flag in a ceremony signifying their return to Fort Carson after a 12- month deployment to Afghanistan. Maj. Gen. Mark A. Graham, commanding general, Division West (First Army) and Fort Carson, welcomed the unit back and told the packed house at the Special Events Center that the Soldiers were part of a living history that shall never be forgotten. “Soldiering is tough, it takes its toll on the ones we love and I know it can be very lonely when your loved Col. John C. ones are deployed,” he said. Howard, left, Graham praised the team of 43rd Area Soldiers, led by Col. John C. Howard Support Group and Command Sgt. Maj. Athena Velez, commander, that was responsible for obtaining, holds the colors storing and distributing food, water, fuel, for acting ammunition, construction materials, Command Sgt. force protection materials, uniforms Maj. Randy and clothing, repair parts and Varner. The humanitarian supplies. group returned “With your arrival in Afghanistan, from deployment the group headquarters became the first to Afghanistan Army combat service support brigade in February. Photo courtesy of Directorate of Information Management, Visual Information headquarters to complete GWOT (Global War on Terrorism) deployments ASG as they fought rigorous terrain and Airmen and Marines as joint augmentation. Servicing a population of 27,000 U.S. to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, sup- unforgiving weather conditions, remi- The command was located in 16 military personnel and a total popula- porting Operation Enduring Freedom niscent of the Rocky Mountains in geographically-dispersed areas, tion of about 50,000 people, including Eight,” Graham said. wintertime, to deliver supplies and much including sites in five countries, military, government civilians, govern- Howard, the group commander, said, needed support to Soldiers and citizens in supporting forces operating out of 96 ment contractors, and coalition forces, “The effects achieved every day in the Afghanistan and Central Asia area. forward operating bases. is no easy task. Howard gave credit to Afghanistan by your Soldiers were Howard noted a multitude of The 43rd ASG oversaw the acquisi- his three servicing battalions, the 450th monumental and will ultimately result in hurdles that included the political and tion and distribution of more than 557 Movement Control Battalion, the 147th a stable, secure Afghanistan that respects cross-cultural strife, port disruptions, million pounds of supplies, including Personnel Services Battalion, and the the rule of law, has good governance and border closures in Pakistan, illegal 68 million gallons of fuel, 25 million 726th Finance Battalion. maintains a thriving economy.” checkpoints and trucking strikes in pounds of food and water, 168 million Howard said, “The personnel Howard thanked the Mountain both Pakistan and Afghanistan, and pounds of general cargo, and 13 million service and finance support provided Post Team and the greater Colorado impassable roads. pounds of inbound and outbound mail. to our Soldiers allowed them to focus Springs communities for their wide- “Soldiers and units performed The Provider team supported the on the mission with their pay straight, ranging, unconditional support of magnificently and the successful aerial delivery of more than 4,000 mail delivered in a timely manner and deployed Soldiers, their Families and mission is testament to their commit- container delivery system bundles, personnel issues resolved quickly rear detachments. ment to excellence,” said Howard. more than 6 million pounds of critical and professionally.” Howard said, “Your support was The unit served as the 43rd Joint sustainment and humanitarian supplies. Overall, Howard said it was a invaluable as we went about accom- Logistics Command, which consisted of This included the largest single container challenging, professionally rewarding plishing our mission.” three battalions and a 150-person brigade delivery system airdrop in Operation mission and he is tremendously proud The task was not easy for the 43rd headquarters that included 41 Sailors, Enduring Freedom history. of the performance of the Providers. II Military Feature Happenings NN SS II D D Remotely controlled bomb hunter. New Veterinary Clinic on Post. Military day at Elitch Gardens. EE See Page 5 See Page 20-21 See Page 29-30 2 MOUNTAINEER — April 4, 2008 Opinion/Editorial MOUNTAINEER Commanding General: Self-responsibility helps during battles Maj. Gen. Mark A. Graham Garrison Commander: Commentary by Sgt. 1st Class Jose Colon-Riveria put their life on the line for their beliefs and for freedom. Col. Eugene B. Smith Fort Carson Public Affairs Officer: Equal Opportunity Advisor Do we argue among ourselves because of religion or Dee McNutt politics? That is one of the blessings of living in a Chief, Print and Web Communications: “I will never forget that I am an American, fighting democracy; we have freedom of speech. Douglas M. Rule for freedom, responsible for my actions …” The greatest generation was just that, in my opinion, for Editor: Julie M. Lucas The words of the Code of Conduct resound in my two basic reasons. Number one, people were used to hard Staff Writer: James H. Egbert mind when I look at our society. I look at the Army today work. Nobody gave them anything. They worked for what Happenings: Nel Lampe and I remember the Army I joined 22 years ago. Ask any they wanted and expect to harvest the fruits of hard work. As Sports Writer: Walt Johnson old-timer and he will tell you that it is not the same Army a Soldier, we know that the only way that we can succeed in Layout/graphics: Jeanne Mazerall he joined. Common sense says that society evolves, war is by training and training hard; not by being complacent. sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst, while Richard Marcinko, in his series of books, coined a phrase some other times, it is a mixed bag. that makes a lot of sense to me: “The more you bleed in This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Some historians call the World War II generation the training, the less you bleed in combat,” or, in my opinion, Department of Defense. Contents of the “greatest generation” and I agree, since it gave us the the harder we train, the more successful we will be. Mountaineer are not necessarily the official view servicemembers who stormed Normandy, defeated the And the second reason: “personal responsibility.” The of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. Printed circulation is Nazis and the Japanese, and upon returning from saving the Code of Conduct says it best: “I am an American, fighting 12,000 copies. world from itself, came home to raise a family, improve for freedom, responsible for my actions…” When we take The editorial content of the Mountaineer the nation’s stance in human rights and anti-discrimination, responsibility for our actions, we can face our troubles and is the responsibility of the Public Affairs and to develop the most advanced civilization to date. problems, and since we are not busy making excuses for Office, Fort Carson, CO 80913-5119, Tel.: 526- 4144. The e-mail address is Today we have new challenges; and as much as ourselves, it becomes easier to find the solution to those [email protected]. politicians and pessimists all over the world would like to problems. Since we are not busy trying to attach the blame The Mountaineer is posted on the foretell the demise of the nation that we love so much, I to someone else, we can actually come up with correct Internet at http://public.carson.Army.mil/ sites/PAO/mountaineer/archives/forms. have to say that the situation of the world today is nothing courses of action, and, since we are taking responsibility The Mountaineer is an unofficial that our nation has not seen before. An upcoming economic for our actions, we also take responsibility for fixing publication authorized by AR 360-1. The depression? Yes, we have seen it before, and the best part our shortcomings, thus becoming better Soldiers, better Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs is, we survived it. An unpopular war where my brothers human beings and better citizens. Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the and sisters in arms are dying? We have seen that, too. My Self-responsibility is the first step on how to take Army, under exclusive written contract with uncle gave his life in World War II. Nothing new there care of our problems, and on how to be successful in life Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year. either. Our nation keeps producing heroes who unselfishly as a Soldier, and later as a citizen. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army or Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, of the products or services advertised. The printer reserves the right to reject advertisements. PPOOSSTT TTAALLKK Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, What is your biggest religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of responsibility in life? this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to “My Family and son.” “My Family, because print advertising from that source until the without them nothing violation is corrected.