24 posts tagged “2-503 afghanistan 2008”

I cannot help but wonder just how many Americans are aware of our Armed Forces deployed to northeast Afghanistan.   My experience talking with the public is that the answer is "not many".  What a damn shame!  When I received the following link from LTC Ostlund "Rock 6" today even I was stunned. 

AWARDED:

Silver Stars - 6

Bronze Stars with Valor - 48

ARCOMs with Valor - over 140

Purple Hearts - 98

SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:

More than 150 other awards for valor have been submitted for approval — including two for the Medal of Honor, three of for the Distinguished Service Cross and three more for Silver Stars.

And 950 engagements with the enemy in the past 14 months.

From Stars and Stripes

Awards demonstrate valor of ‘The Rock’

By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, June 29, 2008

CAMP BLESSING, Afghanistan — Command Sgt. Major Bradley Meyers doesn’t seem surprised by his battalion’s performance in Kunar Province over the last 14 months.

"I think that soldiers will meet expectations," the top enlisted soldier in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment said. "If you train them properly, they’ll do just fine."

"Just fine," in this case, might be an understatement.

Soldiers from "The Rock" have been awarded six Silver Stars. Forty-eight have earned Bronze Stars with valor. More than 140 Army Commendation Medals with valor have been approved. Ninety-eight Purple Hearts have been awarded. More than 150 other awards for valor have been submitted for approval — including two for the Medal of Honor, three of for the Distinguished Service Cross and three more for Silver Stars.

The numbers are a testament to the fierce fighting the battalion has seen in Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have become both more numerous and more brazen over the past year.

The battalion has been involved in about 950 engagements with the enemy during its stint in Afghanistan. Fifteen soldiers from the unit and two Marines working in the province have died during the rotation. About two dozen members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Afghan Border Police have also been killed in the line of duty.

Meyers, who joined the battalion during its last tour in Afghanistan, said 2-503 has aggressively interacted with the local population during both of its stints in country.

"Get out in the battle space, hook up with the local population and maintain relations with the locals," he said. "When you do that, you’re going to end up running into the enemy."

"We’re both fighting for the human terrain," Lt. Col. Bill Ostlund, the battalion commander, said. "We go about it in different ways and for much different reasons. But we and the enemy both need the support of the local population."

The unit operates in the low hills and mountains near this outpost in the Pech River Valley in eastern Afghanistan. The rugged border with Pakistan has long been a hideout and transit route for Taliban and other fighters in Afghanistan.

And while the fight has intensified in southern Afghanistan, the combat has been steady and thick here.

Staff Sgt. Brandon Thomas, a member of Company A, has received three Purple Hearts during the rotation. He’s been wounded in the shin, head and inner thigh. He received the Army Commendation Medal with valor recently, but said he wasn’t any different from any other soldier in the battalion.

"In my opinion, a valor award is just an act of stupidity viewed by others as heroism," he said with a half-smile. "I guess I never learned to find cover in basic training."

A group of soldiers standing around him when he said that all laughed and shook their heads. Several of them had also earned medals with valor during the tour.

"Unfortunately, we don’t get the respect and attention that soldiers fighting in Iraq do," Thomas said, turning more serious. "But we’ve been fighting every day."

"We have a pretty humble group of guys," Ostlund said. "They don’t talk about themselves much. Some of them have seen as much combat as anyone in the Army."

From Stars and Stripes

By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, June 29, 2008

Six soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment have received Silver Stars during the unit’s tour in Afghanistan. A brief look at their actions, according to the narratives submitted for the awards:

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Smith and Sgt. Matthew D. Coulter earned their medals on July 5, 2007, during an air assault by soldiers from Company A into the village of Tsangar.

Smith, acting as a platoon sergeant for the mission, organized the defense of his unit and an Afghan National Army contingent that came under attack away from the main company element. After evacuating wounded soldiers, Smith’s squad came under attack again. He directed the perimeter defense "without regard to the hail of enemy fire and RPG strikes only feet from his position."

Coulter called in strikes by French Mirage fighter jets in the initial contact and later directed artillery strikes to suppress enemy fire and "exposed himself to intense enemy fire in order to maintain observation of direct fire and ensure his fellow Paratroopers received the most accurate and timely fires."

First Lt. Matthew Ferrara and Spc. Jason Baldwin of Company C were honored for their efforts during an attack by insurgents on Aug. 22 on the Ranch House outpost. A numerically superior enemy force almost overran the compound before the attackers were repelled.

Ferrara maintained communications with his headquarters even after an rocket-propelled grenade took out his antenna. He then directed A-10 fire against posts on base that enemy forces had overrun and directed an offensive against insurgents once reinforcements arrived.

Baldwin protected Ferrara and the command center by firing his 60 mm mortar at the advancing enemy and tossing hand grenades at enemy forces that had advanced to within 10 meters of his position. "He acted without regard for his own life, but with incredible courage and quick thinking that destroyed a quickly advancing enemy force…," according to the narrative.

Ferrara was later killed in an ambush.

First Lt. Gregory Ambrosia, executive officer of Company A, led a platoon-size element during a night assault into the upper Watapur Valley on Sept. 25. The platoon’s position was attacked in the morning and Ambrosia lobbed several hand grenades at enemy positions before ordering five smoke grenades to mark U.S. positions. He then directed repeated artillery fire and Apache helicopter attacks "while receiving intense enemy fire directed at his command post."

Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo’s platoon from Company B was providing support for other elements when it was ambushed on Oct. 25. Two of his soldiers were immediately hit. Gallardo led his team to the wounded soldiers and was struck in the helmet by an AK-47 round.

He directed suppressing fire and continued to move toward the enemy and his fallen soldiers, tossing hand grenades.

He then treated one wounded soldier while two other soldiers fought off insurgents trying to carry away another wounded soldier. Gallardo then treated that soldier and coordinated the platoon’s defense and evacuation of five wounded soldiers.

 

On March 28, 2007 at a ceremony held at Walter Reed Army Medical Center two of the Wounded Heroes from the 17r3rd ABCT were presented Purple Hearts.  Army Pfc. Justin Kalenits, 24, of Geneva, Ohio 2-503, Chosen Company was one of those Soldiers.  I have met Pfc Kalentis.  He is a firey young man with a great spirit and an infectious smile. 

Justin was wounded at the battle at the Ranch House near Aranus, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on August 22, 2007.  I wrote about another of the 25 Sky Soldiers, Sgt Kyle Dirkintis who was in that battle.  He, too, was wounded and was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device for his actions that day.  On the morning of August 22, 2007 the Sky Soldiers were attacked from all sides by a company size insurgent force.  The battle raged on for an estimated three hours.  Air support was called in to strafe the areas from which the insurgents were attacking.  When the Battle at the Ranch House was over 11 of the 25 Sky Soldiers had sustained wounds but none, thankfully, had been killed. 

 

I have never met Sgt Jesse Murphree but have heard and read many stories about him.  Jesse was so severely wounded in an IED attack on December 28,2007 that both of his legs were amputated.  In this story you will read that Jesse, an avid snowboarded prior to joining the Army, still has many of the same goals in life with respect to his love of skiing.  He's just altering the methods and his pathways to realize his dreams of competitive skiing.  What an inspiration!

You can read more about these great Warriors here, here and here.  I don't think I have to tell anyone who has been reading this blog how much it angers me (because so many Americans either don't care or are completely ignorant) to read Sgt Murphee's words from "Afghanistan: It's a Battle" by John Rutherford":

Every day we were getting shot at," he said in an interview after receiving his Purple Heart on Friday. "And you hear about other people in Iraq, they got shot at a couple of times. We're like, we've been shot at every day.

"You start thinking you're fighting a forgotten war, like no one's paying attention. I went home on R&R before I got hurt and people were coming up to me, they're like, at least you're not in Iraq and stuff, and I was looking at them, and I was like, what? And they'd say, you don't do, they called it battle, they're like, you don't do battle anymore? And I'm like, are you kidding me? Like, yeah, I do," Spc.  Murphree said.

NONE of our Brave Warriors must ever feel forgotten.  NONE OF THEM!  No, Sgt. Murphree, you and all of the Soldiers, Marines, Airman and Sailors in Afghanistan are NOT and will NOT be forgotten.  We think of you, appreciate you and support you EVERY day.

 

On March 18, 2008 I wrote this post about how spending time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center will change your life.  This past weekend was no exception.  Actually it was a complete confirmation.

Several of my dearest friends and I had made plans to take the Wounded Warriors from 173rd, 2-503 INF Airborne out for the day on Sunday.  We had planned the outing with their Liason Officer at WRAMC.  I flew in on Saturday and GunnNutt picked me up at Dulles.  We stopped to load the back of her vehicle with Little Debbie Snack Cakes.  Can't go to WRAMC without LIttle Debbie Snack cakes! 

GunnNutt (Ace Troop Supporter) and I got up early on Sunday morning and made our way to the Mologne House at WRAMC where we met Concrete Bob (former Marine), Yankeemom (mother of a Soldier) and Taco's Mama (her son is a Marine and writes at The Sandgram) and all of the Sky Soldiers who had signed up to go with us.  Big John from VFW Post 8208 (Green County) Virginia was kind enough to join us and drive the bus that his post leaves at WRAMC to provide complimentary transportation to any of the Wounded Warriors. 

I'm not going to lie.  Getting everyone together and on the bus or in a vehicle to drive to the restaurant was like herding cats.  But it worked and everyone eventually made it to Dave and Busters.  We had tried to convey to the Liason Officer that we wanted this to be VERY unstructured, relaxing and UNOFFICIAL.  No speeches, no photo ops, no "ceremony."  I'm not sure they believed it because they were all a bit quiet and standoffish at first.  Within about half an hour everyone seemed to be relaxed and having fun.  I had never been to a Dave and Busters.  GunnNutt recommended it.  Gotta give her KUDOS for doing so.  The Sky Soldiers ate very well and, thanks to the management of Dave and Busters, had enough complimentary gift cards that they were able to play the video games and compete on the simulators for hours.  One group chose to shoot pool for several hours.  We spent about 4 1/2 hours at Dave and Busters before returning to WRAMC.

There are so many stories I could tell about our day with these great Warriors but we all went in to this wanting to keep it private and respect the Soldiers and their families who allowed us to share this more than amazing day with them. 

There are, however, a couple of things I'd like to share with you.  Most of these Soldiers don't feel as if many Americans even knew about them, where they are deployed (in the Kunar Province of eastern Afghanistan) or about the conditions they have endured and continue to endure there.  I silently agreed with them and it made me angry that they felt that way.  I know a lot of great Americans have been sending them tons (literally) of support but I also know that when we recently asked for emails and letters of support I was stunned at the number of them that mentioned "the desert" or "Iraq".  In our request for the emails and letters Blackfive had specifically mentioned these Soldiers were deployed to in the  mountains of easter Afghanistan AND provided photos of them hiking through snow in the mountains.   ARGH!

Secondly I was thrilled at how they opened up to us and told us how much they were enjoying themselves.  A couple of them even told us if we ever wanted to do this again they wanted to be included.  You can't get a better response or compliment than that.  These men have no idea how much they made an impact on GunnNutt, Concrete Bob, Yankeemom, Taco's Mama and me.  We didn't want the time to end.  We all made many new friends and are keeping in contact with them.  Concrete Bob has even mentioned that he is sure he and one of the Soldiers will be friends for life.  I don't doubt that one bit.

I wish I lived closer to WRAMC or any of the hospitals that provide treatment for our Wounded Warriors.  Wild horses couldn't keep me away if I did.  These Soldiers are the most inspirational human beings I have ever been around in my life.  Their character, committment, passion for their fellow Soldiers and their country as well as their will to heal and return to their platoons is beyond anything I have witnessed in my life.  It was so difficult to leave them.  

I encourage any of you reading this to find a way to connect with our Wounded Warriors.  It will change your life in ways you can't conceive AND it will show them that their are Americans who truly care about them. 

My most sincere thanks to the Soldiers of the 173rd, 2-503 for allowing us this great opportunity to spend time with them.

From Combined Joint Task Force - 82:

Dag Village Micro Hydro

Written by CJTF-82 Operations

Sunday, 09 March 2008

3rd Platoon, Able Company, 2-503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment conducted a reconnaissance mission at the Dag micro-hydro project near the Dag Village. After inspecting the micro-hydro project, the Paratroopers went into the DAG village to discuss future projects. During the meeting with village elders, some of the members of 3rd platoon enjoyed some goat milk tea with elders and discussed other needs of the village.

Micro-hydro power is proven technology, and a practical method to bring energy to remote mountain villages near mountain streams. System output ranges from 10 to 30 kilowatts.  The average Aghan home with two light bulbs and a TV consumes about 100 watts. Micro-hydro is simple to install and operate, and is inexpensive and easy to sustain. Having electricity is new to many Afghans in remote areas. Not only does electricity make life easier, it allows Afghans to utilize TV and radio to stay connected to news and information about their growing government.

From Combined Joint Task Force - 82

Able Company Visits Shangar

Written by CJTF - 83 Operations

Tuesday 11 March 2008

Recently, 4th Platoon, Able Company, 2-503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment visited the Shangar ANP station and Shangar School construction site.

From American Forces Press Services

Face of Defense: Soldier Receives Bronze Star for Heroic Actions

By Sgt. 1st Class Eric Hendrix, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan, March 10, 2008 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Loetz recently received a Bronze Star Medal for Valor for saving the life of an Afghan truck driver in 2007.

The story behind the rescue is both harrowing and heartwarming.

The Distribution Platoon of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, had just taken over combat logistics patrol operations and were taking a load of ammunition to troops in the Korengal Valley on May 30, 2007.

“I took over a platoon with a lot of brand-new privates with no experience,” said Loetz, a 37-year-old native of Charleston, S.C. “The roads hadn’t been improved at all. We were almost tearing the doors off the trucks because it was cliff on one side, rocks on the other.”

Distro platoon’s mission is to take vital supplies to locations where supply helicopters can’t get to. It will often use the services of area Afghan drivers and their rugged vehicles nicknamed “jingle trucks.” Loetz’s platoon delivers ammunition, mail and everything in between to warfighters in these hard-to-reach locations. It’s a dangerous drive into the Korengal Valley. “We got hit going up the road. It was just small-arms fire, but the jingle truck in front of me got hit,” Loetz said. A firefight ensued, and the Afghan driver of the truck in front of Loetz got out and crawled underneath the truck for safety. “We talked the driver out from under the vehicle (after suppressing enemy fire), got him back in the truck and continued on,” Loetz said.

At the top of the hill where the load of ammunition was to be dropped, Loetz talked with the Afghan driver and told him that as long as he stayed with the platoon on the way back down, he would make sure that the driver got to the bottom in one piece.

Then the worst happened.

“We got hit by an (improvised explosive device) on the way back down,” Loetz said. “At least three (rocket-propelled grenades) hit the side of the cliff below my truck, and at least two hit the rock wall above it.”

The jingle truck in front of him took some small-arms fire, tearing up its front end. “At that point, we were separated from our lead element, and we couldn’t drive around the jingle truck on that narrow road,” Loetz said.

Loetz’s gunner was laying suppressive fire with a .50 caliber machine gun. “I said, ‘the hell with it,’ and I got out of the truck and went and grabbed the jingle truck driver,” Loetz explained. “He was hiding under the rear axle of his truck trying to avoid getting hit again.”

Despite the hail of gunfire, Loetz put his own life in jeopardy, snatched the Afghan driver and threw him in the backseat of the Humvee.

“He had no way to protect himself and no way to defend himself. I had already promised him that we would take care of him,” Loetz said. “You just don’t go back on a word like that. I knew that if I didn’t get him, he would stay right there and die.” 

The next step was to get the platoon back together and move down the hill. “I was thinking that I needed to move the jingle truck just enough to get my vehicle around it,” Loetz said. “There was just no room. So, I pushed it off the cliff.”

Trying to push the truck off the cliff with a Humvee was not feasible because of the possibility of damaging their ride out of the valley. Loetz pushed the truck so that it would roll off the side of the cliff. The jingle truck tumbled more than 100 feet to the valley bottom.

Army Lt. Col. William Ostlund, commander of 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, talked about seeing the event unfold from the battalion operations center on Camp Blessing. “I remember very well, watching the video feed and watching as the truck rolled over the cliff, thinking that it was one of our trucks and it took the breath out of me,” Ostlund said.

On the road, Loetz was getting his convoy back together. “We were still taking small-arms fire, and I got back in my vehicle and we were assessing the situation. By that time, Company A had moved into an over-watch position and locked on the opposite side of the valley,” Loetz said.

The coordinated suppressing-fire effort gave the distribution platoon the chance to get out of the kill zone and down the hill to safety.

Ostlund recounted getting the good news that Loetz’s convoy had gotten out of the valley safely. “We got word that not only did we not lose any soldiers from (Company F), but we didn’t lose an (Afghan) either. The local population is our center of gravity. We need to maintain the love and affections of the population and protect them. And if we put them at risk and don’t do everything to protect them, we’re really not doing what we’re supposed to be doing here,” Ostlund said.

The lanky platoon sergeant from whom those brand-new privates had learned a valuable lesson said only: “It’s what you train for.”

(Army Sgt. 1st Class Eric Hendrix is assigned to 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

From Combined Joint Task Force - 82

Chosen Company spreads their presence in Nuristan

Wirtten by Army Sgt Henry Selzer 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

Sunday March 9, 2008

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Just after sunrise on the first day of March, Soldiers of 2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, set out for a long day of patrolling the mountains around their base in search of any signs of enemy activity in the area. 

Third Squad set out from Forward Operating Base Bella and moved throughout the valley of Jamachgal-Khwar to begin a long day of traversing the steep mountains of the valley.  They completed their patrol late in the afternoon after what looks like a 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) trek on a map, but in reality it was much longer.

These patrols have a purpose. The Soldiers of 3rd Squad conduct these patrols to put boots on ground in the hard-to-reach areas of the valleys and show the Afghans they are available for assistance.

“The purpose of these patrols is to keep the enemy off balance and provide FOB Bella with more security.” said Staff Sgt John Oftinoski, 26, of Middleton, Conn., a squad leader in 2nd Platoon.

By conducting the patrols in the valleys surrounding their FOB, the Soldiers of 3rd Squad are providing the base with more separation from the enemy and strengthening relationships with Afghans in the area.
“We like to make our presence known and let the locals know that we are not going anywhere and we are here to help,” said Spc. James Schmidt, 26, of Decatur, Ill., a gunner and radio-telephone operator for 3rd Squad.

Although the Soldiers of 3rd Squad did not see much activity during the day’s patrol, it helped them become more familiar with the area they will be protecting throughout the summer.  “As the summer gets closer and enemy activity becomes more frequent, the length and amount of patrols we will be conducting will increase,” said Oftinoski.

 

From Combined Joint Task Force - 82

Chosen Company maintains presence in Nangalam

Written by Army Sgt Henry Selzer 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

Sunday 9 March 2008

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, conduct frequent patrols to the Nangalam to reassure citizens that Coalition forces are here to help.
For some, this may seem like a tedious and redundant task, but the Soldiers of 1st Platoon understand it is necessary for them to complete these patrols in order to keep good relationships with the Afghans around their base.

 

 “The reason that we conduct the Nangalam patrol so often is to become familiar with the locals and to make the locals of the village more comfortable with us,” said Staff Sgt, David Dzwick, 30, of Traverse City, Mich., a squad leader with 1st Platoon.

In order to monitor traffic in the village of Nangalam, and make sure that the enemy is not making the village their home, Soldiers of 1st Platoon enrolled the local shop owners and villagers into the Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment System to make sure that they are not wanted by the local police or government.

“The village of Nangalam is a very important area because it is the biggest bazaar in the area, so there is a lot of traffic in and out of the area, to many smaller villages,” said Army 1st Lt. Aaron A. Thurman, 30, the 1st Platoon leader from Seattle.
The frequent patrols the Soldiers of 1st platoon conduct to Nangalam appear to be accomplishing their purpose. The Afghans of the village recognize these Soldiers and greet them warmly by welcoming them into their shops and cooperating in every way possible when asked to help.
 

American Forces Press Service published this article by Jim Garamone regarding Navy Adm Mike Mullen's recent visit to Eastern Afghanistan and a stop at the Korengal Outpost (KOP).  I suppose I should be happy, and I am, that Adm Mullen visited the KOP and the Sky Soldiers.  I guess my frustration with the article is because of so much that was not said.  Maybe it's a start.  I don't know.  Seems that after being there for a year there could have been more reporting about the successes as well as about the conditons in which our Warriors are living and fighting.

Every day I wonder just how many Americans even KNOW that we have military personnel in such a remote area of Afghanistan who have little or no access to communication home, a PX, DFAC, showers, etc for WEEKS at a time.  I'm not advocating that we need to build a five star hotel and add amenities out the wazzoo.  I'm simply wondering why this opportunity wasn't used to educate the public more about the conditons of these Soldiers and their need for support.  When things were so "new" and developing in Iraq we got daily "news" about the conditions our Soldiers were in there.  It helped us understand a little more about their mission and gave us insite on ways in which to support them.  We seem to get little or nothing about the men and women serving all over Afghanistan - especially in Eastern Afghanistan.  I just don't get it!

I didn't know what to think of this quote attributed to Adm Mullen, "At the same time, they have lost seven teammates, and that weighs heavily on their minds, but they know they are making a difference.”  The Brigade has lost 30 men and the 2-503 Battalion has lost 14 of those 30 men since arriving in Afghanistan last year. 

Anyway...read the article.  It has some good information if you aren't familiar with where these Soldiers are and what they are doing.