Chuck Simmins | July 2, 2009 |
Garrett spoke of the “warrior ethos” that guides soldiers: place the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave a fallen comrade.
“These are just words to some people,” Garrett said. “But the warrior ethos is a way of life to Staff Sergeant Begaye. Amazing acts of bravery and valor were commonplace that grim day. But this morning, we recognize Staff Sergeant Begaye for his courage - and we are thankful for the opportunity to serve with such a man.”
Category: Afghanistan, Heroes, Military, WOT Heroes, War on Terror |
1 Comment »
Tags: 503rd Infantry Regiment, American Indian war hero, hero, Native American war hero, Navajo war hero, Nuristan province Afghanistan, purple heart, silver star, Staff Sgt. Conrad Begaye
Chuck Simmins | July 1, 2009 |
Petty Officer 1st Class Garrison Hardisty, project supervisor, said he had no doubt in Church’s ability to adjust to the challenge, and proof of that is the recent completion of the MEB-Afghanistan COC.
“That’s what Seabees do, we make do with what little we have,” Hardisty said.
Category: Afghanistan, Marines, Military, War on Terror |
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Tags: MEB-Afghanistan COC, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-5, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Landon Church, Seabees in Afghanistan
Chuck Simmins | June 30, 2009 |
Coalition forces launched precision airstrikes overnight, June 29, against senior Haqqani commanders and command posts in the remote mountains of western Khost province.
Category: Afghanistan, Terrorist Death Watch, War on Terror |
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Tags: Haqqani network, Khost province Afghanistan, Khost-Gardez Pass, one of the most lethal Taliban organizations
Chuck Simmins | June 25, 2009 |
When ISAF troops reached Belanday a number of insurgents, including two wearing suicide vests, tried to escape. Approximately 25 insurgents were killed in the engagement with one being captured and currently being detained for questioning.
Category: Afghanistan, Terrorist Death Watch, War on Terror |
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Tags: Afghan National Security Force, Belanday Afghanistan, Farah province Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Force, Kandahar province Afghanistan
Chuck Simmins | June 24, 2009 |
This operation has been achieved in many ways due to the arrival of extra US troops into the south of Helmand. The increase has provided ISAF with a massive boost in capability which we believe will significantly change the balance in the province.
Category: Afghanistan, Our Allies, War on Terror |
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Tags: Babaji Afghanistan, Black Watch in Afghanistan, Camp Roberts, ISAF, Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan, Operation Panchai Palang, Operation Panther’s Claw, Regional Battle Group (South), Royal Regiment of Scotland
Chuck Simmins | June 23, 2009 |
The lakes form a unique attraction in the mountainous Bamyan region. Formed by glacier water nearly 400 feet in depth, they give the appearance of being cut from the stone that forms the mountains around them.
After a presentation from the officials at the ceremony, guests of the inauguration were treated to rides on paddle boats and a meal prepared on site.
Category: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: Afghan national park, Band-e Amir lakes national park, national park in Bamyan Afghanistan, New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, Task Force Warrior
Chuck Simmins | June 22, 2009 |
Local Afghans have also been working to clear rocks from the field and finish an irrigation system that will pump water from the Panjshir River.
“The local Afghans are all very fast learners, and I think if they continue improving hydration in the soil and follow the other techniques we teach them, it could be the model for how crops can be grown in larger quantities,” Jones said.
Category: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: demonstration farm in Afghanistan, Panjshir River Afghanistan, Panjshir Valley Afghanistan, Task Force Warrior, Task Force Warrior’s Agri-Business Development Team
Chuck Simmins | June 19, 2009 |
More than 350 service members, International Security Assistance Force members, and Afghans took part in the cultural festivities of Afghan Night Live at Bagram Air Field, June 13. The event was standing room only.
The event included live Afghan music, dancers, and food and was meant to show service members some of the culture they are helping to rebuild.
Category: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: Afghan Night Live at Bagram Air Field, connect with one another through music, learning about Afghan culture
Chuck Simmins | June 18, 2009 |
“This will be the first wind and solar project of this size for Paktika,” he explained. “It’s a test pilot project. The analysis at the hospital found that it would be a feasible project, and it will be used to support research done on the benefit of [alternative energy] for the rest of the province.”
Category: Afghanistan, Green, Medicine, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: alternative energy in Afghanistan, Forward Operating Base Sharana, Paktika Province Afghanistan, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team, Sharana District Center Hospital, solar panels in Afghanistan, wind turbines in Afghanistan
Chuck Simmins | June 17, 2009 |
The first Afghan officer to train in the United States in nearly 50 years earned his silver Air Force wings in a ceremony June 12 at Columbus Air Force Base.
Lt. Faiz Mohammed Ramaki was presented his pilot wings by Colonel Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander after completing the Aviation Leadership Program.
Category: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: 14th Flying Training Wing, Afghan National Army Air Corps, Aviation Leadership Program graduation, C-27A Spartan in the Afghan Air Corps, Second Lieutenant Faiz Ramaki
Chuck Simmins | June 16, 2009 |
Every summer, the Kuchi tribe migrates through the Daymardad district of this central-Afghanistan province, allowing their animals to graze in the open pastures belonging to the Hazara tribe. This frequently has sparked violent territorial disputes.
Category: Afghanistan, Humanitarian Assistance, Military, Rebuilding, Tenth Mountain Division, War on Terror |
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Tags: 10th mountain division, Daymardad district of Wardak, Forward Operating Base Airborne, Hazara tribe, humanitarian aid to the Daymardad people, Kuchi tribe, Wardak province Afghanistan
Chuck Simmins | June 13, 2009 |
In the remote Wakhan Corridor, which borders Tajikistan, Pakistan and China, an area rarely visited by UN missions, the assessment team spent two weeks on horseback in areas grazed by the yurt-dwelling Kyrgyz and Wakhi herders. The team confirmed the presence of snow leopards, Marco Polo sheep and species such as wolf, brown bear and Asian ibex.
Category: Afghanistan, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: Afghan border with china, Wakhan Corridor, Wakhi, yurt-dwelling Kyrgyz
Chuck Simmins | June 8, 2009 |
Aside from the visible results, there are other indicators the task force has slowed the illegal trade.
“The price of illegal weapons have doubled,” said Miller. “We are also experiencing more focused attacks on our strategic outposts. The enemy is mad that we are putting a stop to this and are illustrating that through more vicious attacks.”
The illegal timber industry has been operational for years, but with smugglers now having Taliban connections, the involvement of International Security Assistance Force troops has been more evident.
Category: Afghanistan, Crime and Punishment, Rebuilding, War on Terror |
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Tags: Konar province Afghanistan, Konar River smuggling route, Korengal Valley Afghanistan, Narang valley smuggling route, Task Force Chosin, timber smuggling in Afghanistan
