The Official U.S. Army Magazine May 2002 Firefighter University Kandahar’s Supply Hub More Than a Patch opics PulloutPAGE 9 New Hot T May 2002 Volume 57, No. 5 SOLDIERS IN Afghanistan 4 Kandahar’s Supply Hub When transports bearing vital supplies land at Afghanistan’s main airport, soldiers ensure the offload goes like clockwork. The Official 8 Coalition Team Clears Land U.S. Army Magazine Mines Mines litter the areas of Secretary of the Army: Thomas E. White Chief of Staff: GEN Eric K. Shinseki Afghanistan in which coalition Chief of Public Affairs: MG Larry D. Gottardi forces operate. Clearing the Chief, Command Information: COL Stephen T. Campbell explosives is a vital — and Soldiers Staff potentially deadly — mission. Editor in Chief: LTC John E. Suttle Managing Editor: Gil High Production Editor: Steve Harding Art Director: Helen Hall VanHoose Associate Art Director: Paul Henry Crank Senior Editor: Heike Hasenauer Associate Editor: SFC Lisa Beth Snyder Photo Editor: SSG Alberto Betancourt Photographer: Paul Disney Special Products Editor: Beth Reece FEATURES Graphic Designer: LeRoy Jewell Executive Secretary: Joseph T. Marsden Soldiers (ISSN 0093-8440) is published monthly under super- vision of the Army Chief of Public Affairs to provide the Total 14 More Than a Patch 24 Firefighter University 44 Dealing with Death Army with information on people, policies, operations, technical Unit patches are a symbol of pride Located at Goodfellow AFB, Across the Army, specially developments, trends and ideas of and about the Department of the Army. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily 14 for those who wear them, and Texas, the Louis F. Garland Fire trained mortuary-affairs Get your copy those of the Department of the Army. I Manuscripts of interest to Army personnel are invited. Direct communication is autho- creating the distinctive insignia is Academy produces firefighters soldiers — most of them rized to Editor, Soldiers, 9325 Gunston Road, Suite S108, at page 9 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5581. Phone: DSN 656-4486 or com- part art and part industry. for all of the nation’s military Reservists — deal with death mercial (703) 806-4486. Or send e-mail to soldiers@ services. when tragedy strikes. belvoir.army.mil. Unless otherwise indicated (and except for “by permission” and copyright items), material may be reprinted 18 Memories of “BK” provided credit is given to Soldiers and the author. I All photographs by U.S. Army except as otherwise credited. Last summer’s departure of the 40 Marking the Distance Home I Military distribution: From the U.S. Army Distribution Opera- last American soldiers from Bad Common since Roman times, Front cover: tions Facility, 1655 Woodson Road, St. Louis, MO 63114-6181, Students at the joint- in accordance with Initial Distribution Number (IDN) 050007 Kreuznach, Germany, did not dim mile markers have always pointed subscription requirements submitted by commanders. I The DEPARTMENTS services Louis F. Secretary of the Army has determined that the publication of this 22 the mutual friendships forged the way home for deployed periodical is necessary in the transaction of the public business over five decades. servicemembers. Garland Fire Academy as required by law of the department. I Use of funds for printing 2 Feedback this publication was approved by the Secretary of the Army on move in to douse the Sept. 2, 1986, in accordance with the provisions of Army Regu- 10 Briefings flames engulfing a lation 25-30. Library of Congress call number: U1.A827. I 22 Helping the Stork 43 A Tank to Remember Periodicals postage paid at Fort Belvoir, VA, and additional 32 Focus on People simulated helicopter. mailing offices. I Individual domestic subscriptions are available Landstuhl Regional Medical A vintage M3A1 tank found in at $36 per year through the Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Center’s Stork Nest Program Haiti will soon take its place 34 Postmarks — Photo by Steve Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. For credit card orders Harding call (202) 512-1800 or FAX (202) 512-2250. To change offers expectant mothers a broad among other valued relics at the 36 Sharp Shooters addresses for individual subscriptions, send your mailing label 38 Legal Forum with changes to: Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop SSOM, range of specialized services. 1st Armored Division Museum. Washington, DC 20402. I POSTMASTER: Send address 48 Around the Services changes to the Fort Belvoir address above. 24 www.soldiersmagazine.com 44 Feedback From the Editor Superb, But Inaccurate YOUR magazine continues to Patriotism in Stone Perhaps the most enduring provide superb news and ar- image of the attack on ticles for us soldiers. I READ with great interest and America is that of firefighters To assist you in your quest enjoyment your March article for excellence, I offer two spell- “Repairing the Pentagon.” Your defiantly raising the American ing changes in your March ar- story was very well written and flag atop the rubble of the ticle “We Were Soldiers...”. informative. I am also thankful World Trade Center. Often First, “Fort Toten,” head- for the chance to see photos overlooked and usually under- quarters of the 77th Regional of the work in progress on the Support Command, is really Pentagon — images I have not seen on appreciated, it is the fire- Fort Totten. Second, the unit TV. fighter we turn to for salvation you referred to as the “63rd Re- Part of the reason I’m so interested in this subject and so when disaster strikes. Join serve Support Command” is pleased to see it featured in your magazine is because my actually the 63rd Regional Sup- husband, Danny R. Wood, works at the limestone mill where Steve Harding for an inside port Command (the USAR has the stone is being quarried and fabricated to replace what look at the forging of fire- 12 regional support commands was destroyed on Sept. 11. My husband is also a first ser- fighters in “Firefighter and no “reserve support com- geant in the Indiana Army National Guard. I am extremely University.” mands”). proud of both his professions. Chaplain (COL) Doug Lee All of the mill’s employees exhibit a strong sense of Another often overlooked via e-mail patriotic pride in sending their work to Washington, D.C. and underappreciated profes- They have even inscribed their names on a special corner- sion is that of the logistician. DOF on Target stone to be used in the rebuilding. From Afghanistan, SSG Alberto So many of us have a desire to help rebuild what was A LETTER in the March Feed- torn down that terrible day, and these men actually have the Betancourt showcases the back section (“Purple Heart or privilege of doing so. And they are aware of what an honor backbone of the war on terror- DOF?”) questioned whether the it is. ism, the 101st Airborne’s 626th new Defense of Freedom medal Thank you for your coverage of this story. It is important is a “medal we really don’t need.” to let the world know that no matter what the terrorists demol- Forward Support Battalion, in This is because, in the ish, America will simply rebuild it — stronger. “Kandahar’s Supply Hub.” writer’s view, the Purple Heart Micki Wood Whether it’s the screaming could have been awarded to via e-mail eagle of the 101st or the shield civilians injured in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. of the 1st Cavalry Division, few Unfortunately for the letter Ambulance Facts you, your staff and especially military symbols evoke as much writer (name withheld by re- your readers are aware that pride and emotion as the shoul- quest), the website from which I WANT to give you a heads-up there is more than one of this he got his information is simply about an inaccurate statement type unit serving on active duty. der-sleeve insignia. In “More wrong. From 1943 until 1997 made by a solder quoted in the CPT Jeffery L. Mosso Than a Patch,” Beth Reece civilians were, in fact, eligible March article “Air-Land Ambu- via e-mail takes us on an evolutionary for the Purple Heart — and lance.” journey from an artist’s idea to about 100 received it. In 1997, SFC Steven Seitz, a pla- Bad Language, or PC? however, Congress passed leg- toon sergeant in the 557th Medi- a soldier’s shoulder. islation restricting the Purple cal Company, stated that his WITH regard to LTC Shea’s Finally, Heike Hasenauer’s Heart to uniformed personnel. unit is the only 40-vehicle M997 letter in the April issue, some- “Memories of ‘BK’” chronicles This, of course, explains ground-ambulance company in one should tell him to stop be- a community’s fond farewell to exactly why the Defense De- the active Army. That statement ing such a prude and overly PC. partment created the Defense is not exactly accurate. There Is he trying to create a tempest soldiers and their families as of Freedom Medal — because is also the 514th Medical Com- in a tea pot? I really cannot the Army ends its five-decade the Purple Heart was no longer pany, which also maintains 40 believe you would give him the presence in the German city. available to recognize the sac- M997 ground ambulances. The print space you did, much less rifices made by our civilian 514th belongs to I Corps’ 62nd highlight his comments like you brothers and sisters. Medical Brigade at Fort Lewis, did. COL Fred Borch Wash. Your handling of the “We via e-mail I just wanted to ensure that Were Soldiers” article was 2 Soldiers tasteful and right on. While those values) by not “artfully Yes, we shored the build- Good Job, Eh? Galloway’s comment may have editing” Galloway’s words.