Thanksgiving in Afghanistan

For U.S. Troops, Thanksgiving is a special holiday. Many of us come from families and communities that really acknowledge the true meaning of Thanksgiving. It was truly wonderful to see the command here doing all they could to make the most of this sacrifice... The Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine GEN Cartwright visited with a Comedian and a Model. The event was sponsored by the USO. It was a great to at least feel that we are not forgotten and our service is appreciated.

Below Model Mayra Veronica speaks to us about how appreciative she is to us for our service. She had a really touching speech, and it meant a lot to us that she took the time to come.




Below Comedian Russell Peters gave a Comedy Show that was simply outstanding. He is a really funny guy, kinda reminds me of my son...



As leaders we took the time to serve our troops and convey how appreciative we are to them for their service, as well as wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving. Below LTC Kailon Dickens, LTF 82 NSE Commander and friend serves lunch to troops at the Niagra Dining Facility on Kandahar.




The ARSIC/RCAC staff served the troops at FOB Lindsey, a compound located about 15 minutes from KAF. Below COL Corey Cannon (RCAC Commander, ARSIC (S)CSM Bobby Albert and 1st LST Brigade Commander, LTC Mike Deger) led the charge. You could see the sweat pouring off of COL Cannon's head.... Honestly, if really meant so much to see senior leaders doing this.... MG Page, Commander of CSTC-A, located in Kabul flew down to have dinner with the troops.....

I don't know who this guy below is, but he told me that, he does not want a career as a cook or working in a mess hall... He now has an appreciation for those that do.... (OK, that's me!!!). Truthfully speaking, everyone of us miss home, I know that I did.... The command, (COL McGrath), made this day special for us, but all we talked about was what everyone was doing at home....

For troops, Thanksgiving and Christmas are very special holidays. It is a time that troops reflect very hard about home, their families, and their religion. This is just a special time for us. I want to personally thank everyone for the many care packages and cards, and especially the prayers that I/we have received. Our time is winding down, but we there is still much work to do here.

Over Half Way Home

With us hitting this historic milestone, it has been a good feeling to know that we have made it beyond the half-way mark. I give God all the praise for bring us thus far.... Personally, I have regularly attended a Men's Fellowship Group that meets weekly. It really has been a blessing to me and the other men, as it helps to keep us grounded and supportive of each other's spritual needs. Pictured below is Air Force Major Rhodes, CSM Bobby Albert, myself, LDCR Shirk (KAF Chaplain), LTC Brian Miajala, SFC Brian Pearson, Niajum from Pakistan and LTC Danny Morton who was not present during the photo.

I also had an occasion to meet SSG Lonnie Russell of B-202 CAV from Beaufort, SC. SSG Russell carries around a "Monkey's Head" for luck... Every time he travels he rubs this for good luck. You cannot believe the looks he got from folks... I just simply laughed... For me it is prayer... That is my rock.... But this monkey head gives him peace. He talked so much about how comforting this has been to him, kinda reminds me of Tom Hanks in Cast Away..... with the soccer ball "Wilson" Doesn't he look happy...

1LT McNeil and I recently attended a Signal Conference in Kabul at TF Phoenix. MAJ William Parks did an excellent job putting this together. Every key signaleer from throughout Afghanistan met and discussed our communication's challenges, which proved quite beneficial to all of us. COL Christopher Cotts, CJ6, for CSTC-A, who is the senior signal officer, and our leader as it relates to communications discussed upcoming theatre communications initiatives, which also helped us to focus on what is important strategically and how we support this from an ARSIC level. Afghanistan is broken up into five regions, and we had representation from every region. My region is the southern region, ARSIC (S).

Afghanistan is not like the US, there are very little rules that govern this country. Much of it is governed or ruled by either Warlords or a Provincial Governor. This is how it has been for so many years. Even the highways are without rules, folks drive on the wrong side of the road, the biggest vehicle has the right of way. There is no drivers license needed, as many Afghans cannot read or write, it is a sign of importance/intelligence to see an Afghan with a pen in his pocket. It is the little things here, they have a long way to go socially.... On the picture below, I counted at least 20 folks, a bicycle and who knows what else.... This is how they roll here, by any means necessary.......... Can you imagine riding behind them, praying that no one falls off....

I truly hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember, "We all have so much to be thankful for"

2007 Deadliest for US in Afghanistan

On Kandahar we had an outstanding Veteran's Day Remembrance Service. As we remembered the sacrifices that other's had made, we also experienced the most deadliest year since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001. It also really sums/validates some of my previous blog entries. Not that I am looking for validation, but few see and understand what we face in this fight against terrorism. The article was written by JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer KABUL, Afghanistan. - Six U.S. troops were killed when insurgents ambushed their foot patrol in the high mountains of eastern Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. The attack, the most lethal against American forces this year, made 2007 the deadliest for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion. The troops were returning from a meeting with village elders late Friday afternoon in Nuristan province when militants attacked them with rocket propelled grenades and gunfire, Lt. Col. David Accetta told The Associated Press."They were attacked from several enemy positions at the same time," said Accetta, a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force and the U.S. military. "It was a complex ambush."The six deaths brings the total number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan this year to at least 101, according to a count by the AP. That makes this year the deadliest for Americans here since the 2001 invasion, a war initially launched to oust Taliban and al-Qaida fighters after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, but one that has evolved into an increasingly bloody counterinsurgency campaign.The death toll mirrors the situation in Iraq, where U.S. military deaths this month surpassed 850, a record high since the 2003 invasion there.Three Afghan soldiers were also killed in Friday's ambush, while eight Americans and 11 Afghans were wounded. The 14 total U.S. casualties was the highest number of wounded and killed from a battle in Afghanistan this year. The ambush happened in the remote province's Waygal district, about 40 miles from the border with Pakistan, which militants are known to use as a sanctuary. Nuristani said the combined troops searched two houses after the meeting with village elders and were ambushed after while walking to their base afterward. Nuristan province has seen heavy fighting in recent months. Two U.S. soldiers were killed and 13 wounded by a militant ambush in July, while militants disguised in Afghan army uniforms wounded 11 U.S. troops and killed two Afghan soldiers in August.The attack on Friday was the deadliest incident for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since a Chinook crashed in February in Zabul province, killing eight Americans.

Above, TF 82 being led by CSM Willie Williams. This week we were honored to have MG Cone, Commander of CSTC-A, (Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan). General Cone came down to have a meeting with his commander's on the ground and to meet with his troops. During this Town Hall style meeting, he discussed several issues that he/we face in the conduct of this war. His focus now is to push the ANA/ANP into the fight, instead of having US/Coalition forces leading the fight. Just think, if I were the ANA/ANP and the American forces would take the lead instead of us, why not let them???

Until this happens, the fight here in Afghanistan will continue to take years. For me it is a confidence thing. The Afghan people MUST feel confident enough to feel that they can take on the Taliban themselves and win. Until that time comes about, we will continue to have a huge fight here. He also stated that we are 3,000 Police Mentors short in this theatre. WOW!!!

The question in my mind was, is anybody listening?? if so, why are we not being provided the forces we need here to do the job that the American Citizens sent us here to do. You know, if we continue to scratch the surface, eventually we may get to the meat, the problem that we are having is this... the Taliban is the one that feel confident right now. They know our moves, they ambush us at every corner, they know what fire power we have and use.... so where are they getting their intel.... WOW, our buddies in the rear..... (that is only my guess...). Our motto has always been to overwhelm the enemy with combat power, are we doing this??? if not, why.... The price of this war is very high, this week we had a Memorial Service for SFC Johnny C Walls who was also killed during a fire fight with the enemy. My heart truly goes out to his family and to the soldiers that are dealing with the loss of a friend, comrade, and a great leader.

As we remember the lives and sacrifices that so many have made for us, please remember those that are continuing to give, those that are injured and trying to make it through. Many times we get caught up in acknowledging the soldiers that have paid the ultimate price, but just as great is those soldiers that are in facilities like Walter Reed, dealing with serious life changing injuries. They are heroes too...

CSM Bobby Albert put it so eloquently today, he said to us following the Veteran's Remembrance Ceremony, that we should feel good about what we do, the sacrifice we have made in volunteering to serve here in Afghanistan. Know in your heart that you have done "YOUR PART" I feel so honored to have accepted the call to service... many folks ask why we are here and why we do what we do... So that your children MAY not have to do this, so that YOU can live in peace and prosperity. Or because it is the right thing to do. So when you see a soldier that has served in war, just thank them... That is all we want...

Trouble and Turmoil At Every Corner

This week has especially been one that was filled with trouble and turmoil. To the North in Kabul, on yesterday, two suicide bombers killed many legislators and civilians at the opening of a new facility. To the East of us, Pakistan, they are in a state of emergency, with so many of its people unsure about the future, as President Musharif continues his single rule over the country. To the South of us, Iran continues to defy NATO with its desire to become a nuclear state. To the West of us, the Taliban continues its offensive. It really makes me wonder what God is saying to us!!! No matter what we may want, or what we do, God continues to let us know that He is the One that is in control. As for the ARSIC, we memorialized two of our great soldiers, SGT Philpot and SSG Bullard. No matter what we may think of the war, it is having a tremendous impact on our soldiers and families. That is no more evident than the below picture, this is a picture taken after the Memorial Service we had for Bullard and Philpot last week. SSG James David Bullard was 28, and left behind a wife and new born child, as well as a Mother and Father.

The very next day following this ceremony, we were informed that we had another casualty. SFC Johnny C. Walls, 41 of Bremerton, Washington died Nov. 2, 2007 in Uruzgan, Afghanistan of wounds suffered during insurgent attack in the conduct of combat operations. SFC Walls was assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st ID, at Fort Riley, KS. Please keep SFC Walls and his family in your prayers. We are definitely in a new phase of combat operations, our PMT mission is only six months old and the Taliban has adapted their tactics. This is a growing insurgency, we are killing many of them, but there are quite a few of them out there.... and they are recruiting faster than we can gain forces. What is wrong with the picture below.

During a recent trip to the JDCC, the Afghan Police Headquarters, I captured this picture of a local Afghan Policeman on his cell... Is this suspicious? do you think he was letting the Taliban know that we were there? This is why we have to keep our head on the 360..... It would not surprise me if he was not calling Taliban. These are the same forces that our PMTs have to trust on missions. What do you think? Our teams not only have to worry about the Taliban, but would you not worry about the people traveling with you. It is well-known that many of the ANP have ties to the Taliban. It is very difficult to ask our troops to TRUST these forces.... what we find, is that our trust lies with our other team members.

We are operating in a Coalition environment with a mixed staff. We have a Canadian Chief of Staff, Canadian J-5, a British S-3 an US Commander and other staff. Above is a picture of the COS, Cdr Mike Burke conducting one of our staff meetings, with Canadian Cdr Keith Moody and MAJ Shy Warner our J-1. This theatre is not US run, it is a Coalition operation, we are just a part of that operation. I wish that I could tell you that I feel good about where we are in this mission, but I can't, the enemy has some say so in it too.... As soon as we make significant end-roads, the situation changes... I am saying all of this to say, that it is my belief that it is quite difficult to put a mark on the wall and say this is done, our mission is over, bring the troops home. We try to pin Generals down on this, but this is a fluid environment, that constantly changes. It is going to take a lot for this mission to reap the rewards that the American society will feel good about, honestly in my opinion we are years away... Not to mention Ol' Ben is still out there and he is definitely doing his best to regain control.

I have two other family members here in Afghanistan, SFC Chris Coleman pictured above and Sam Bowser working with Dynacorp as a contractor for Police Mentoring. I have been here for six months and this past week was my first time running into Chris.... Either way, I was glad to see him doing well.

The children are wonderful, I don't blame them for what others do. It is crazy for us to believe that we can change a culture overnight... They are many years behind, most are illiterate, poor, and simply surviving the best way they know how.... I understand why corruption is so prevalent, that is their survivable mechanism.... God Bless These People..... especially our soldiers and families that have paid so dearly.....