task force 49 earns combat patch - wwe drops in - page 9 ...three weeks ago we had wwe wrestlers...

THE

USO hits Balad - PAGE 9

A Publication of the Task Force 49 Public Affairs OfficeVolume 1, Issue 1 January 2008

Women take to the skies on ChristmasSGT. DALE SWEETNAMTask Force 49 PAO

photos by: Sgt. Dale Sweetnam

Capt. Phoebe Inigo, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, conducts her preflight inspections early Christmas morning at Logistics SupportArea Anaconda. Inigo was one of the several Soldiers who participated in a 100 percent female-run mission on Christmas Day.

While theirfamilies,children and

friends back home satdown for ChristmasEve dinner, two all-female UH-60 BlackHawk crews woke upearly Christmasmorning and beganpreparing for a uniquemission.

Female Soldiersfrom 2nd Battalion,147th AviationRegiment spent theirChristmas Dayexecuting a 100percent female-runflight mission. Fromthe intelligencebriefings in themorning, to the twofour-woman flightcrews, all the way tothe fuel teams, themission consisted ofonly women.

Black Hawk pilotCapt. Andrea Ourada,said the mission wasnot about bustingopen stereotypes orchallenging the statusquo, but rather aboutshowing people howmuch women in theArmy do already.

“It’s not aboutproving you can do thejob you’re alreadyqualified to do, it’sabout how we have thecapability to do it,”Ourada said. “OurArmy is a lot morediverse than I thinkwe realize.”

Ourada flew in thelead aircraft with PilotChief Warrant Officer4 Teresa Burgess andCrew Chiefs Staff Sgt.Michelle Smith, and

Sgt. Leilani Aho. Thetrail aircraft waspiloted by ChiefWarrant Officer 3Angela Barros andCapt. Phoebe Inigowith Crew Chiefs Sgt.Michelle Aina andSgt. Crisaron Voeuth.

The crews flew allover Baghdad pickingup VIPs includingU.S. Rep. MichelleBachmann ofMinnesota. The crewsalso transported ageneral and severalSoldiers during thegeneral aviationsupport mission.

The mission wentoff just as planned,and while the womenassociated with the

mission respected theunique nature of theflight, they wantedtheir fellow Soldiersto see the event as nobig deal.

“It’s just anotherday at the office,”

Aina said before theflight.

While an all-femalemission mightchallenge theperception of combatgender roles intoday’s Army, Burgesssaid that’s not whatthe flight was allabout.

“I don’t think thiswill change anygender stereotypesthat are alreadypresent, and I’m nothere to change anyminds,” she said. “Weare doing it becausewe can.”

Ourada added thatthe Black Hawkdoesn’t care who runsthe controls and soon

a flight of this naturewill be commonplace.

“It can be thenorm,” she said. “Thataircraft operates thesame way whether it’sa male or femalebehind the controls.”

The crew executedits Christmas Daymission and returnedsafely with no fanfareor exposure. Themission appeared justlike any other.

However, Barrossaid the mission wasa reminder that thereis still a great deal ofwork to be donebefore it can be

WWE drops in - PAGE 8

Sgt. Michelle Aina, 2nd Battalion,147th Aviation Regiment, fastensher gear before take off. See FLIGHT, page 14

Desert TalonDesert Talon

Task Force 49earns combatpatch - PAGE 10

The Desert TalonJanuary 2008

Soldiers and Families of Task Force 49:

This past month has been one of greatchange, with Col. Tim Edens and theHeadquarters of Task Force XII completingthe transfer of authority and movement toTaji to take on the MND-Baghdad mission.While all that took place at the brigadelevel, the battalions here at Balad contin-ued their incredible support across theCorps without interruption. Those of usthat have joined this great formation fromAlaska could not be more proud to servealongside such great warriors. Thank you.

For the Task Force 49 Headquarters ourtransition has gone extremely smoothly.With minimal time spent in Kuwait, wequickly moved up to LSA Anaconda andbegan to transition duties with Task ForceXII. Everyone is moved into permanentquarters and is well entrenched into thedaily battle rhythm needed to support this large aviationformation. I know that our Arctic Warriors will build on allthe accomplishments of the Griffin team as the Multi-Na-tional Corps-Iraq Aviation Brigade.

Though we are far from home this holiday season, those onthe homefront are foremost on our minds. We are takingtime during the holiday season to make sure we celebratethe Christmas season and I’m impressed at what a littleAmerican ingenuity, even here in Iraq, can do to bring theholidays closer to our Soldiers even here in a distant land.

One advantage of being stationed here in Balad with such

Talon 6 sends . . . happy holidays!a large Army Aviation and Air Force pres-ence is that many of the USO shows andentertainers go through Balad on theirway to see us and other units across Iraq.Three weeks ago we had WWE wrestlershere with us and this past week, a USOshow that included Lance Armstrong, KidRock, Miss America, and Robin Williamsspent the day entertaining us. The USOis even bringing yet another show to usas part of the New Year festivities.

Even with a touch of home here in Iraq,we are all so very thankful for the manycare packages, cards, phone calls, etc.that we receive from our loved ones athome. This command has Family Readi-ness Groups in Alaska, Germany, Minne-sota, Washington, Hawaii, Illinois, Geor-gia, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Da-kota. Wow! Even though Task Force 49’sHeadquarters is new to the team, my wife

Lauri and I welcome each of you to this new formation. Weare so very thankful for the support each FRG is providing aswe Soldier in Iraq.

I thank God for the dedication of each and every Soldier inthis command and for our great families at home. Duringthe holiday season, that thanks is even more heartfelt.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Have a wonder-ful New Year.

One Team! Arctic Talons!Col. Chandler C. Sherrell

Commander, Task Force 49

Editor’s note

Public Affairs Office open for businessChange has been the word of the

month here at LSA Anaconda.The 12th Combat Aviation Brigade

has moved forward to Taji, leavingHeadquarters and HeadquartersCompany, Task Force 49 in charge ofsix of its aviation elements.

The transition was a smooth one, butas with any change, it took some timefor Soldiers to figure out who hadtaken over for whom.

The Task Force 49 Public AffairsOffice moved into the former home ofthe 12th CAB Public Affairs Office andwent right to work.

As public affairs specialists, ourmission is to tell your story – the Army

story. We will accomplish that throughthis newsletter, through the stories wesend to your home stations, and byengaging national and hometownmedia outlets to feature our Soldiers.

We need your help to make thathappen. We’re always looking for storyideas, and are eager to get out thereand write about the brigade’s Soldiersand the good work they do.We inviteyou to call us or email us with storyideas, send us photos or just stop byand let us know what your unit is upto. Our office is in Bldg. 4022, rightnext to Catfish Air. Our phone numberis at 483-2079

It’s hard at times to tell families aboutall the good work you’re doing here inIraq. We hope The Desert Talon willmake that much easier.

The office can also be reachedthrough our individual emails:

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt can bereached [email protected] andSgt. Dale Sweetnam [email protected]

Get in touch with us soon, we’vealready begun work on next month’sDesert Talon.

The Desert Talon Staff

Task Force 49 CommanderCol. Chandler C. Sherrell

Task Force 49 Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Mitchell

Task Force 49 Public Affairs OfficerSgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt

The Desert Talon EditorSgt. Dale Sweetnam

Task Force 49 PAO Contact Information

Bldg. 4022LSA AnacondaDSN: 314 [email protected]@iraq.centcom.mil

The Desert Talon is an authorized publication for Department of Defense members. Contents of The Desert Talon are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsedby, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Task Force 49 Public Affairs Office.


Talon 7 sends . . . TF49 hits ground running

Well, it’s been six or so weeks sincethe Task Force 49 Headquartersdeployed to Balad Iraq; the time

has passed extremely fast due to the highoperational tempo that the Soldiers of TaskForce 49 endure each and every day. Thebrigade headquarters and its staff hit theground running and every Soldier from thehighest ranking officer to the lowest rankingprivate assumed the controls of the brigadeheadquarters soon after our arrival. We heldthe transfer of authority ceremony on Dec. 3,at which time we assumed responsibilityfrom the headquarters of the 12th CombatAviation Brigade. I’m extremely proud ofeach and every member of this team andwhat they have contributed to the fight andtheir devotion to duty and our Nation.

Life here on LSA Anaconda isn’t as bad as some wouldthink. Our Soldiers have plenty of activities to partake in ontheir time off. We have a great MWR facility that offers agym, basketball, volleyball, on-line gaming, movies, pooltables, a computer lab, and they host weekly events such asa Texas Hold ‘em poker tournaments that the Brigade XO(Maj. Jones) never misses. The LSA also has two large PXs,an Iraqi bazaar for shopping, an indoor swimming pool and afull-size movie theater. So, if your Soldiers are complainingabout being bored, or that there’s nothing to do, encouragethem to get out and try to relax and enjoy some of thefacilities offered to them.

Our award-winning dining facility provided us excellentThanksgiving and Christmas meals that included all the

trimmings of home. On Christmas Eve the TaskForce 49 Headquarters Company conducted acombat patch ceremony so now they too canjoin the rest of the brigade’s combat veterans byproudly displaying the coveted combat patch.We were honored at the ceremony with aspecial guest; Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola,the Multi National Corps-Iraq commandsergeant major. He participated in theceremony by issuing combat patches to ourSoldiers.

On another good note, the brigade is slightlyabove glide path when it comes to reenlistment.Several of our Soldiers took advantage of thedeployment bonus and earned some well-deserved extra cash. I would like to congratulate

and thank each and every one of them, as well as theirfamilies, for staying on the team and giving their supportand commitment to our Army and our Nation.

I would like to close by thanking all the families andfriends of the Arctic Talons for their support and the carethat they showed our Soldiers over the holiday season, yourpackages, cards and letters brought smiles to faces of ourwarriors. I ask for continued support as we continue thefight.

May God bless you, your families, our Soldiers and ourgreat Nation!

Talon 7 Out!CSM Richard A. Mitchell

Command Sgt. Major, Task Force 49

(Above) Spc. Isaac Christensen creates a billboard identifying Task Force 49’s home away fromhome Dec. 12 on LSA Anaconda, Iraq. Christensen had very few art supplies to work with, callingfor some American ingenuity and “field expedient” techniques.

(Left) The completed sign stands outside Task Force 49 headquarters.

Sign here . . .Sign here . . .Sign here . . .Sign here . . .Sign here . . .

photo by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt


Task Force 49 becamethe key aviation assetfor Multi-National

Corps – Iraq in a ceremonyhere Dec. 3.

The Alaska-basedheadquarters element of TaskForce 49 is charged withconducting a full spectrum ofArmy aviation operationsthroughout the MNC-I area ofresponsibility.

The unit took over for theheadquarters of Task ForceXII, which relocated to Taji tosupport the aviation missionof Multi-National Division –Baghdad.

“We are honored to standshoulder to shoulder withevery member of this greatcorps,” Task Force 49Commander Chandler C.Sherrell said.

About 130 members ofHeadquarters andHeadquarters Company TaskForce 49 conducted a two-week relief in place with theirTask Force XII counterparts –resulting in a largely seamlesstransition of authority,according to officials.

The relief-in-place processemployed the “right-seat ride,left-seat drive” technique, inwhich the outgoing unitshows its replacements howthey’ve been operating, andgradually allows the incomingunit to take the lead.

“With this transfer ofauthority we’re going to provethat Army Aviation has thesame capabilities andflexibility as our groundforces,” said MNCI-I DeputyCommander Maj. Gen. JamesE. Simmons in remarks.

In the time that Task ForceXII led those units, it oversaw4,500 combat missions,

31,000 hours of flight time,the movement of 90,000passengers and 8 millionpounds of cargo, according toSimmons.

The transfer came about sixmonths into Task Force XII’sexpected 15-month tenure atLSA Anaconda.

The transfer’s intent is tosustain the mission in Iraqwithout extending troops oraltering deploymenttimelines.

About 3,000 Soldiers nowfall under Task Force 49’scommand. The subordinateunits are:

Headquarters and HeadquartersCompany, Task Force 49, Fort

Wainwright, Alaska2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation

Regiment (Attack), Illesheim,Germany

5th Battalion, 158th AviationRegiment (General Support)Katterbach, Germany

2nd Battalion, 147th AviationRegiment (Assault), Minnesota ArmyNational Guard

412th Aviation Support Battalion(Katterbach, Germany)

Task Force Hawk (Army Reservefixed-wing battalion)

B Company, 3rd Battalion, 158th

Aviation Regiment (Katterbach,Germany)

The unit has also gainedadministrative control of Task

Force Dragon, whose missionis to provide general aviationsupport throughout Iraq’s AlAnbar Province.

Like HHC Task Force 49,the unit hails from FortWainwright, Alaska.

With the arrival of TaskForce 49, multi-nationalforces in Iraq are able to keepfour aviation brigadeheadquarters in theater.

Such a transition, especiallyin a combat zone, isunprecedented for a brigade-sized aviation unit in Iraq.

“We’re only now beginningto write the history of TaskForce 49,” Sherrell said.

TF 49 takes charge of MNC-I aviation opsBY SGT. 1ST CLASS ERIC REINHARDT

Task Force 49 PAO


Task Force 49 Commander Col. Chandler C. Sherrell and Command Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Mitchell unfurl the Task Force 49 colorsduring a Dec. 3 transfer of authority ceremony at LSA Anaconda, Iraq. After a relief in place with the Task Force XII headquarters staff,the Task Force 49 staff took charge of full-spectrum aviation operations throughout the Multi-National Corps – Iraq area of operations.

Task Force XII settles into new offices, mission at Taji

Some Soldiers may view a deployment as an endless caseof déjà-vu, but for many Task Force XII Soldiers it’s been

the complete opposite.In December, Headquarters and Headquarters Company,

Task Force XII trained and transferred the mission of providingdirect aviation support to Multi-National Corps – Iraq to TaskForce 49; then packed and moved to Camp Taji.

Since their move to Taji, they have become the aviationtask force for Multi-National Division – Baghdad.

The Soldiers successfully met every challenge placed beforethem in the last few months, said Col. Timothy J. Edens,Task Force XII commander.

Their new role, taking over from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade,from Fort Hood, Texas, must be accomplished withsignificantly fewer personnel.

“This just means that our command has a lot of confidencein us,” said Staff Sgt. Cedric T. Lowe, the human resource

sergeant for 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. “[We]have a lot of motivated people who are excited about theirjobs, so we will definitely be just as successful here as wewere in (LSA Anaconda).”

In addition to its headquarters company, Task Force XIIcomprises 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, fromFort Hood Texas; the 3-158th and a Forward Logistics Element(FLE) from the 412th Aviation Support Battalion.

“Our job [at Camp Taji] is to help provide communicationsupport for Task Force XII,” said 1st Lt. Heidi Connelly, theJoint Node platoon leader for the FLE. “So far, our transitioninto this role has been pretty smooth and painless.”

Although transitioning to Camp Taji was a challenge, Col.Edens said he knows the Soldiers will exceed all expectations.

“Everything you have accomplished has come at a price,”Edens told his Soldiers at the unit’s transfer of authorityceremony. “A great deal of that price has been, and continuesto be, the sacrifices made by your Families. I am extremelyproud of the Soldiers and Families of Task Force XII, and Ihope all of you will continue to do great things.”

BY SGT. BRANDON LITTLETask Force XII PAO


Not just ‘Any Soldiers’Ohio grade-schoolers and Task Force 49 exchange gifts

Staff Sgt. Michael Falsken, Sgt. 1st Class Jim Cunningham, Maj. James Jones, and Sgt. 1st Class Chris Davisconduct a retreat ceremony Dec. 17 to prepare a flag for the students and faculty of Springdale ElementarySchool in Springdale, Ohio. Task Force 49 Soldiers presented the flag to show their appreciation for the morethan 100 holiday cards they received from Springdale students.

photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt

The Soldiers of TaskForce 49 exchangedgifts with an Ohiograde school thisholiday season,thanks to a familyconnection.

In return for morethan 100 messages ofsupport, the school’sstudents and facultyreceived a flag flown –especially for them –over the unit’sheadquarters on LSAAnaconda, Iraq.

Rebecca Biddle, afifth-grade teacher inSpringdale, Ohio, wason the phone withher sister, BethCunningham, anArmy spouse inFairbanks, Alaska thisfall and learned herbrother-in-law, Sgt.1st Class JimCunningham, wasdeploying to Iraq –and would bespending Christmasthere.

Biddle saidstudents had oftentold her they wantedto send “Any Soldier”letters, but securityconcerns haveprevented the Army’spostal system fromaccepting them forthe past few years.Biddle decided toenlist the help of herbrother-in-law in Iraq.

BY SGT. 1ST CLASSERIC REINHARDT

Task Force 49 PAO

A few weeks later,more than 100 holidaycards showed up atTask Force 49headquarters andCunningham handedthem out to Soldiersaround the unit.

“A lot of Soldierswanted to writeindividual thank-youletters back to thekids,” saidCunningham, who isnoncommissionedofficer in charge ofTask Force 49’slogistics section. “After

talking about it awhile, we thought itwould be best to dosomething collectivelyfor the entire schooland the faculty.”

In keeping withmilitary tradition, theunit opted to presentthe school with a flagflown over Task Force49 headquarters inIraq.

Soldiers gathered atthe Task Force 49headquarters flag polethe evening of Dec. 17for a retreat ceremony

and to ready the flagfor mailing to theSpringdale school.

The packageincluded a letter fromthe Task Force 49Chaplain, Lt. Col.David Vanderjagtexpressing the unit’sappreciation toSpringdaleElementary studentsand faculty.

The decision tomake cards for thetroops started withthe studentsthemselves.

“Our school’sstudent council,which is made up ofgrades three throughfive, decided theywanted to make cardsthis year,” Biddlesaid.

In past years, theschool made cards fornursing homes andhospitals, but thisyear, the studentswanted to send theirsupport to troops inIraq.

“I knew Jim wasgoing to be sent toIraq soon, so I knew Iwould have a contactperson to send themto,” Biddle said.

The students saidthey had manyreasons for writingthe troops.

“I wanted thesoldiers to know thatthey are thoughtabout at Christmastime and we wish youcould be at home withyour families instead,”third-grader EmmaSchriever said.

Second-graderCorban Simms said,“We really wanted todo this because weare counting on thesoldiers and theycan’t win without thesupport of peopleback home.”

Second-graderMarvin Bullock saidhe simply wanted tosend a message to “letpeace reign.”

Spend a little time in Task ForceReady’s newly renovated theater andyou might think you’re in a multiplexcinema back home. Task ForceReady, also known as 5th Battalion,158th Aviation Regiment, inheritedthe theater from the Alabama ArmyNational Guard, which built it as abriefing space. With a bit of carpen-try and some equipment updgrades,5-158 Soldiers turned it into a full-fledged entertainment facility. Otherunits in the brigade can reserve thetheater on a space-available basis bycontacting the 5-158 operations andtraining section.

Lights, Camera,Lights, Camera,Lights, Camera,Lights, Camera,Lights, Camera,Action!Action!Action!Action!Action!

photo by Sgt. Dale Sweetnam


Deployment doesn’t deter re-upsBonuses and a sense of

purpose are inspiringtoday’s Soldiers to sign on

the dotted line.BY SGT DALE SWEETNAM

Task Force 49 PAO

People back in the States mightwonder how a Soldier in a combatzone could raise his or her right

hand and reenlist amidst the mortarsand gunfire, but officials here say ithappens all the time with today’s newbreed of Soldier.

“What we’re asking Soldiers to do todayisn’t what we were asking 20 years ago,”Task Force 49 Command Sgt. Maj.,Richard Mitchell, said. “Most of theseyoung Soldiers came in during a time ofwar and they have sacrificed andcontinue to sacrifice, yet they still wantto be on the team.”

Many incentives availableMany Soldiers make their way to the

retention office with hopes of earning atax-free bonus by reenlisting whiledeployed, but according to Task Force49 Senior Career Counselor, Master Sgt.Dudley Moser, bonuses aren’t the onlyincentives available.

If a Soldier is within his or herreenlistment window, the retention officecan facilitate a current duty stationstabilization arrangement, allowingSoldiers to remain in their current dutystation for a year.

The office can also lock in the Soldier’snext duty station if they are close to theirdate of expected return from overseas(DEROS). They can also assist withcareer progression, includingreclassification to a new MOS.

Moser said many Soldiers wait todeploy before reenlisting, in order to takeadvantage of tax-free bonuses currentlyaveraging between $7,000 and $14,000.Bonuses can be as high as $23,000depending on the Soldier’s MOS.

However, there are also some Soldierswho don’t really know where they stand

with their careers before touching downin a combat zone.

“Some Soldiers aren’t sure or areanxious about deployments becausethey haven’t been here before,” Mosersaid. “They don’t know what to expect,but they find out when they get over herethat they like what they’re doing becausethey’re doing what they were trained for.They feel good about themselves. Overhere, you’re actually doing your job andyou have more pride in your work.”

Higher GoalsNaturally, all units want to retain

skilled and experienced Soldiers, soretention goals are often high.

“The morale of Soldiers continues tobe very high,” Mitchell said of his troops.“They’re proud of what the Army standsfor, so our goal is always 100 percentretention.”

Moser said the retention office has awealth of information that can help


Since arriving in country late November, Task Force 49 has reenlisted 14 Soldiers. (Front row from left) Sgt. JamesEmfinger, Staff Sgt. Mayra Diaz, Sgt. Melissa French and Sgt. Dale Sweetnam. (Back row from left) Sgt. John Shifflette,Staff Sgt. Daniel Pons, Staff Sgt. Ronald Manners and Staff Sgt. Harvey Dennie.

Soldiers make educated decisions abouttheir careers in the Army.

“We’re here for the Soldiers — toprovide the information and the tools tohelp them make an informed decisionabout their career,” Moser said.

Since arriving in Iraq in July, Sgt 1st

Class Eboni Britton, and 412th AviationSupport Battalion Senior CareerCounselor, said that the 12th CombatAviation Brigade has reenlisted 470Soldiers and their families have receivedmore than $5.5 million in bonuses.

After just over a month in theatre,Moser said that 14 Soldiers from TaskForce 49 have reenlisted.

Mitchell said deployments often getSoldiers excited about being in the Army.

“It’s like being on a sports team,”Mitchell said. “You’ve sat on the sidelineand now you finally get to go play in thegame. They’re all here now, and they’rethe first string. I think it helps motivatethem.”

TF 49 Legal team provides wide range of services

Recently, I’ve been hearing comments suchas, “Nobody ever goes to Task Force 49 Legal

because they just send you over to the east side.”I want to take a minute to introduce the Task

Force 49 Legal Team and to give an overview of theservices we provide. Throughout the deployment,I will discuss more specific topics of interest toSoldiers and how we can help you on the westside.

The Task Force 49 Legal Team consists of Capt.Mary Ann Bowery, Brigade Judge Advocate; Capt.Joseph Wilkinson, Brigade Trial Counsel; myself,Capt. Kristin Hansen, Brigade Legal Assistance Attorney andAdministrative Law Attorney; Noncommissioned Officer inCharge, Sgt. 1st Class Hector Rivera; and our four paralegals,Staff Sgt. James Thompson, Sgt. Brian Mumford, Spc. KellyWinship, and Spc. Kathaleen Knowles.

Depending on your particular question, we’rehere to support you in any way we can.

We provide advice to commanders on militaryjustice, administrative law, operational law andfiscal law issues. Through our Legal AssistanceOffice, all Soldiers can get a will, a general or specialpower of attorney and legal advice on a variety ofissues, including the benefits of the ServiceMembers’ Civil Relief Act, immigration, creditproblems and family law issues. In the new year,we will offer tax preparation and filing services.More information on this program will be comingin next month’s column.

If you need a will or a power of attorney, or if youa have family law, credit, tax or immigration

question, we can help. We are located in the ALOC next toCatfish Air. We’re open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily or byappointment at 483-4156. Save your east side trips for thepool or the movies, and visit our Legal Office for your legalneeds.

Capt. KristinHansen

CAPT. KRISTIN HANSENTask Force 49 Legal Assistance Officer


CHAPLAIN (LT. COL.) DAVID VANDERJAGTTask Force 49 Chaplain

The last three months have beena whirlwind for Task Force 49.The unexpected deployment

order set off a chain reaction. Family,friends, and comrades in arms foundtheir lives caught up in a cross-currentof events. New training schedules,more painful shots, canceled leaves,stop loss, and, sure enough, the boatstarted to rock.

I’m sure many experienced the samethings I did. Well, not the exact samethings, but similar in nature. Forexample, my roof had to be replaced. Isuggested my wife just put out bucketswhile I was gone, but that did not goover well. A big “thank you” to the menof the chapel who spent hours helpingwith that project. And so a new roofwas up.

What else could go wrong? Well,sure enough, the unexpected occurred.The boiler decided to quit. Not justslow down; not just break a little; bututter, total failure. It was only 30 yearsold, but why quit two weeks before adeployment? Yes, the boat of our livessometimes shakes and we get rockedby the blowing winds.

What do we do? We hang on. Butwhat do we hang on to? I would like tosuggest four things we can do andhang on to.

First, when we look around we willfind others in the same boat. We are

When the boat of life rocks - hang on!very seldomalone when theboat rocks.Family, friendsand neighborsare often in thesame boat.Learning tohang on toothers gives usmutual supportin times ofdistress.Sometimes, thething we need

the most is just a hug from someone welove. Hang on to others when lifeshows up with bad news.

Second, hang on to your experience.This is not thefirst time thatsomethingunexpected hashappened in ourlives. Use thelessons learnedfrom theseexperiences.Hang on to thosetechniques that worked to make ourlives easier during those difficult times.Remembering what the past has taughtus can prepare us for the future.

Third, hang on to your personalstrengths. We grow every day. You andI have survived the unexpected before.

We are gifted with heart, soul, mindand body.

Chaplain DavidVanderjagt

Sometimes we look at others andthink they have it all together, notknowing they are looking at us andthinking the same thing.

We all have strengths that supportus. We are all a lot tougher than mostpeople think. Use those gifts, talentsand strengths to hang in there.

But there are times in our lives inwhich hanging on to others, orexperience, or personal strength seemsto fail us – times when we need to hangon but don’t know what to cling to.

I believe there is a fourth thing tohang on to. Hang on to God. I believethat there is someone bigger than theworld itself. There is someone biggerthan my problems, bigger than thisdeployment, bigger than this war and a

lot bigger than me.When all else

seems to fail, Hedoes not.Personally, I seemto hang on to God alot. In reality I havefound out thatwhen I can not holdon any longer, I

find that He is holding on to me.So when the boat rocks: Hang on!

Hang on to others, to lessons learned,to personal strength, and hang on toGod.

Blessings to you all.

“Sometimes, the thing we needthe most is just a hug from

someone we love. Hang on toothers when life shows up with

bad news.”Chaplain David Vanderjagt

Worshipers pause to reflect on the meaning of the season during an ecumenical Christmas Eve service Dec. 24 at LSA Anaconda’s Freedom Chapel.


‘Silent Night’‘Silent Night’‘Silent Night’‘Silent Night’‘Silent Night’


WWE celebs make a suprise visitBY SGT. DALE SWEETNAM

Task Force 49 PAO

A stroke of bad luckfor several WWEsuperstars and crew

members resulted in awelcome surprise forSoldiers of Headquartersand HeadquartersCompany, Task Force 49Dec. 6.

That evening, six WWEsuperstars walked intobuilding 4022unannounced followed by acrew of Soldiers. A fewSoldiers looked up fromtheir desks and poppedtheir heads out of theiroffices to see what the noisewas all about. They couldn’thelp but be little stunnedwhen WWE wrestlers JBL,Ron Simmons, ChrisJericho, Mickie James,Carlito and Dean Malenkowere escorted into thebuilding’s conference room.

The wrestlers wereoriginally scheduled to takepart in a meet and greet afew days earlier at a LSAAnaconda dining facility,but the event had beencanceled.

Lt. Col. Michael McCurry,Task Force 49 operationsofficer, said the Dec. 6 stopat LSA Anaconda was notplanned.

The wrestlers leftContingency OperatingBase Speicher earlier in theday to visit a remote combatoutpost north of Baghdad.They were scheduled toreturn to Speicher but theiraircraft experienced somemechanical difficulties.

An aircraft from the 2nd

Battalion, 147th AviationRegiment was sent out torecover the wrestlers, crewand the senior officer escortthat traveled with thewrestlers. Once they wereretrieved, they were broughtto LSA Anaconda where theywaited for their next flightout of Balad.

Sgt. 1st Class ChristopherDavis, HHC, Task Force 49,said the wrestlers were alittle tired but still sociableand friendly.

“You could tell they wereworn out a little,” Davis said.“They were still in goodspirits, but you could tellthey were tired fromtraveling all day.”

Despite their obviousexhaustion, the wrestlerswere kind and generouswith their time as Soldiersbegan filtering into theconference room to meet thecelebrities.

The wrestlers smiled,shook hands, posed forphotos and signedautographs for a little overan hour. They also handedout WWE coins, signed mini-posters and shirts to theSoldiers.

Longtime wrestling fan,Spc. Becky Haynes, HHC,Task Force 49, said theexperience was one toremember.

“Honestly, it was prettyawesome, I don’t know howto put it,” she said. “Theywere tired and worn out, butthey were still really cool.”

Staff Sgt. JamesThompson, HHC Task Force49, said the impromptu visit

did a lot for the Soldiers’morale.

“A visit like this can takeeven the least motivatedSoldier and motivate them.”

After meeting with theSoldiers in the conferenceroom, the wrestlers went toDining Facility 1, wherethey ate and met with moreLSA Anaconda Soldiers.

The wrestlers werescheduled to head back out

to Speicher that evening,but bad weather postponedtheir departure until themorning of Dec. 7.

The WWE wrestlerstraveled in multiple groupsall over Iraq throughoutDecember for their annualTribute to the Troops tour.This is the fifth consecutiveyear the WWE has sent itswrestlers out to meet troopsin combat.

WWE wrestler Chris Jericho signs a shirt for Chief Warrant Officer 2 Claudell Harris ofHHC, Task Force 49 Dec. 6. Several wrestlers and crew members were briefly stranded inBalad while waiting to return to Contingency Operating Base Speicher.

photo by: SGT Dale Sweetnam

photo by SGT Dale Sweetnam

Sharing aSharing aSharing aSharing aSharing alaughlaughlaughlaughlaugh

Comedian Brad Williamslaughs with the crowd duringhis appearance in the MWRWest building at LSA Ana-conda Nov. 29. Williamstraveled to Balad, Iraq withfellow comedian CarlosMencia for the show. The duofilled the MWR West room tocapacity. Individuals watchingthe door for the event wereforced to turn people away.The two comedians thenmoved on to MWR East, foranother show later in theevening.


USO brings Christmas to Balad

Robin Williams, Lewis Black, Kid Rock, LanceArmstrong and Miss USA Rachel Smith travelled to LSA

Anaconda for a USO Christmas show at Holt StadiumDec. 20. The stars performed a two-hour show of music

and comedy for thousands of Soldiers and Airmen. Above:An armed elf pulls holiday security duty for thousands ofSoldiers during the two-hour USO Christmas show. Right:

Kid Rock jokes with the crowd of Soldiers and Airmenduring his acoustic set. Rock opened up with a cover of

“Sweet Home Alabama” and then played a few of his ownhits including “Picture” and “Cowboy.” Bottom left: Come-

dian Lewis Black mans the video camera while LanceArmstrong is interviewed. Bottom right: Comedian Robin

Williams lets loose during his routine for the troops.

Stars take on Balad

photos by: SGT Dale Sweetnam


HHC Task Force 49earns combat patchLSA ANACONDA, Iraq – Some call it the “Binky

Bear patch” or the “Sugar Bear.”The distinctive U.S. Army Alaska patch, with its

snarling polar bear face, is often a conversationstarter, as many Headquarters, HeadquartersCompany Task Force 49 Soldiers have learnedsince arriving here.A Christmas Eve ceremony here gave HHC Task

Force 49 Soldiers a little more to talk about. Theycan now wear the emblem on their right sleevesas a combat patch.Multi-National Corps – Iraq Command Sgt. Maj.

Neil Ciotola was the ceremony’s guest of honor.He addressed the unit about the importance oftheir role in Iraq and helped Task Force 49Commander, Col. Chandler C. Sherrell, andCommand Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Mitchell issuepatches to Soldiers.

(Top) Headquarters and Headquarters Company TaskForce 49 kicks off its Christmas Eve combat patch

ceremony.

(Above) Task Force 49 Command Sgt. Maj. Richard A.Mitchell and Multi-National Corps - Iraq Command Sgt.

Maj. Neil Ciotola issue combat patches .

(Right) Task Force 49 Commander, Col. Chandler C.Sherrell issues a combat patch to Maj. Christopher

Chapman, brigade logistics officer.

photos by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt

ON THE HOMEFRONTJanuary 2008

Early Show features 2-147 Soldier’s familyEditor’s note: Sgt. Jon

Vanderwert, a utilitiesrepairist with theMinnesota NationalGuard’s E Co. 2nd

Battalion, 147 AviationRegiment, was renovatinga “fixer-upper” home forhis large family when hisunit deployed to Iraq. Withthe harsh Minnesotawinter closing in, his localcommunity and thenonprofit organizationHeroes at Home stepped into help. The group andseveral corporate sponsorsgave the Vanderwerts andtheir nine children a$300,000 home makeover.The story caught theattention of local mediaand was featured on theCBS Early Show Dec. 12.Below, reprinted with thekind permission of CBSNews, is the web version ofthe Early Show segment. Avideo clip of the piece canbe found on the MinnesotaNational Guard home pageat http://www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org

Miracles Worked By‘Heroes At Home’(CBS) Dec. 12 – Christmas

came earlythis year fortheVanderwerts,of NewPrague,Minn.,thanks to anationalprogramthat reachesout to helpmilitaryfamilies.

As CBS Newscorrespondent CynthiaBowers reports, JonVanderwert’s National Guard

unit was sent to Iraq inAugust. It’s his secondcombat tour. But his familywas left to cope with a housebadly in need of repair.

His departure forced thepostponement for a year ofhis plans to rehab the fixer-upper he and wife Blakebought for their large family.

“I didn’t know what to do,where to turn, who to talkto,” Blake told Bowers.

There was so littleinsulation, the kitchen feltalmost as cold to their 12-year-old son, Michael, as theweather outside.

“I have this big cup,”Michael says, “and I wasfilling it with water, and I setit down in the sink . . . andabout five minutes later, Icome in the kitchen and thewater was frozen.”

But volunteers beat theMinnesota winter to thepunch. Blake reached out tothe non-profit “RebuildingTogether,” whose Twin Citiesexecutive director, KathyGreiner, brought togethervolunteers who are the heartand soul of their community.

“I don’t even have words forit,” Greiner says. “Every timewe turn around, someone iscoming up to us, offering

donations.”Local

companiespitched in withelectrical work,lumber,insulation,plumbing,heating, airconditioning,andappliances.

Blake hasn’thad to write a check yet.

Rebuilding Together’s Website explains that it works inconjunction with “Heroes atHome.”

The site says, “Heroes atHome is a program of SearsHoldings in partnership withRebuilding Together, thenation’s largest volunteer-based provider of homerepair services. Heroes atHome assists the families ofmilitary personnel andveterans by providing criticalrepairs and renovations fortheir homes, such asmodifications necessary fordisabled veterans. Foundedin 1988, Rebuilding Togetherhas rehabilitated 105,020homes and nonprofitfacilities, involving 2.5 millionvolunteers committing to 24million hours of volunteertime.”

Blake told Bowers Heroesat Home “basically saved ourfamily.”

New Prague Mayor BinkBender marvels, “It’s anabsolutely good example ofwhere I think many handsworking together end upcreating a miracle – for thisfamily, for sure.”

All Blake wanted was alittle help with heating, somesheetrock and a bathroomdoor but, she’ll end up prettymuch with a completelyrenovated house.

“All of my wishes, basically,have come true,” Blake says.

The Vanderwerts hope tomove into their cozy homeafter New Year’s Day.

Sgt. Jon Vanderwert, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, stays busy at the 2-147motorpool. The Vanderwert’s home makeover was featured on the CBS Early ShowDec. 12.

courtesy photo

Christmas across the worldChristmas across the worldChristmas across the worldChristmas across the worldChristmas across the world(Left) Members of Task Force 49’s family readiness group celebratethe holidays at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. (Above) On Christmas Eve atTask Force 49 headquarters in Iraq, Cpl. Matthew Smith and Pfc.Danielle Paige help hand out gifts sent by the FRG.

courtesy photo


MILESTONESJanuary 2008

AWARDS

REENLISTMENTS2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation RegimentPFC DESHAZO, WESTONPFC SHIPP, BRADLEYSPC CALDWELL, JOHN I.SPC CRIDER, SENICA C.SPC JACOBSON, DAVID I.SPC HERBINGER, ANTHONY M.SGT PENROD, JOHN M.SGT ACEVEDOGGUZMAN, ALBERTOSGT NORRIS, CHARLENE M.SGT CONWELL, SEAN D.SFC BATES, DIGHTON D.

5th Battalion, 158th RegimentPFC ALLEN, ASHLEY S.PFC HALL, JERROD F.PFC GIRONURBANO, VERONICAPFC KOEPNICK, ASHLEY M.PFC MEJIA, JOHATHAN R.PFC CARPENTER, JENNIFER L.SPC BATTLE, LONNAY A.SPC JUVIER, ALEXANDERSPC FRALEY, BRIAN C.SPC COX, RUSSELL G.

SPC ELEBY, IASHA M.SPC ROBINSON, AKEEM R.SGT GIACOPPO, MICHAEL J.SGT TANIELU, LEIMOMI N.SGT DOUGLAS, MANDRELL J.SGT BRIGGS, KRISTINA M.SGT CHANQUIN, NELSON E.SGT CROWLEY, MATTHEW J.SGT VILORIA, EDMOND R.

412th Aviation Support BattalionPFC MYERS, DAVID N.PFC MCLAMB, JOSHUA L.PFC GWIN, LUCAS A.PFC BLAIR, BRADLEY M.PFC WEIR, BRITT L.PFC WARF, RYAN T.SPC RICHARDSON, ELIZABETH S.SPC WEIS, JOHATHAN D.SPC COX, VERNON E.SPC POWELLROMERO, KARMA N.SPC SANEZ, RAYMOND R.SPC KIM, JOHN S.SPC BARNES, CASSANDRA N.

AIR MEDALCW2 MULLINS, CHRISTOPHER, 2-159 ARBSGT WARRAM, JAMES 5-158 AVNCW3 MILLER, JONATHAN 5-158 AVNLTC BONE, JACK 5-158 AVN1LT GERBAS, CHRISTOPHER 2-159 ARBCW3 GLASENAP, GAVIN 2-159 ARBMAJ TILY, GREGORY 2-159 ARBCW2 BRESCHER, RYAN 2-159 ARBCW2 MALMROSE, CHRISTOPHER 2-159 ARBCW3 TAMBURELLO, CHRISTOPHER 2-159 ARBCW2 ALBRECHT, CORYDON 2-159 ARBCW4 STOLL, JOHN 2-159 ARBCW2 ENGLEHARD, ELDEN 2-159 ARBSPC MCGOWAN, GREG 2-158 AVNCW5 HOLDERBY, JAMES 412 ASBCW2 CICCARELLI, CHARLES 2-159 ARBCW2 SMITH, JEFFERY 2-159 ARBCW2 MERRILL, SEAN 2-159 ARBCW2 BERNARD, ERIK 2-159 ARBCW2 LAWRENCE, JOHN 2-159 ARBCW2 CLARKE, AARON 2-159 ARBCPT KARRELS, SEAN 2-159 ARBCW3 COLE, JOHN 2-147 AHBSPC KREWSON, KRISTEN 2-147 AHBCW2 KRESSE, DONALD 2-147 AHBCW4 KALTWANG, MARTIN 2-159 ARBCW2 MORRIS, ROBERT 2-159 ARBCW2 CASE, DUSTIN 2-159 ARBSGT HESLER, LARRY 2-147 AHB1LT GALLOWAY, BRIANNE 2-147 AHBWO1 SWENSON, ERIC 2-147 AHBSGT GOODHUE, DAVID 2-147 AHBSPC LOHN, NATHAN 2-147 AHB

COMBAT ACTION BADGESSG COX, ANTHONY 5-158 AVNSPC RAUSCHNOT, REGINALD 2-147 AHB

SPC FALKOFSKE, ZACHARY 2-147 AHBPV2 CHEEK, RYAN 5-158 AHB1LT COTA, NEILAND 2-147 AHBCPT FORD, JARAT 2-159 ARBCW2 KELLY, BENJAMIN 2-147 ARBCW4 KANAE, CLARENCE 2-147 ARBPFC MEISEL, RALF 5-158 AVNSPC PUN, ANTHONY 5-158 AVNSGT LEONES, JAYPEE 2-147 AHBPFC POLAND, NICHOLAS 5-158 AVNSPC MANNON, LEVI 2-159 ARBSGT SHELTON, MATTHEW 2-159 ARBCW2 LAWRENCE, JOHN 2-159 ARBCW3 WALTHOUSE, ROBERT 2-147 AHBSGT HERNANDEZ, SAMSON 2-147 AHBCW2 FRIES, GARY 2-147 AHBSGT HESLER, LARRY 2-147 AHBCW2 ALBRECHT, CORYDON 2-159 ARBSPC ASTESANA, JAMES 5-158 AVNSPC KEEHAN, MICHAEL 2-159 ARBSPC GALLOWAY, BRANDON 2-159 ARBSGT ASHLINE, KENNETH 2-159 ARB1SG ANTHONY, WILLIAM 2-159 ARBCW2 IGA, ALDENN 2-147 AHBCPL ALEJANDRO, VICTOR 2-159 ARBSGT JAMES, KENNETH 2-159 ARBCW3 KELLY, TIMOTHY 2-147 AHBSGT MONTIMOR, ARTEMIO 2-147 AHBWO1 LINCOLN, TROY 2-147 AHBCW2 BRESCHER, RYAN 2-159 ARBSPC PODRECCA, TYLER 2-159 ARBSGT MILES, MATTHEW 2-159 ARBCW2 PAOPAO, MATTHEW 2-147 AHBMAJ HARRIS, FREDERICK 5-158 AVNSGT PANEK, GUY 2-147 AHBSGT PACHECO, CHRISTOPHER 2-147 AHBSGT BROOMELL, GABRIEL 2-147 AHBCW2 BERTRAND, RACHEL 5-158 AVN

SPC WILLIAMS, VERNON J.SPC KNUTSEN, MICHAEL L.SPC LEATH, TOMMY J.SPC RANDALL, CAMERON A.SPC KING, RENEE S.SPC PEACOE, DAVID M.SGT SESAY, BAISGT SAVAGE, ALHAJI A.SGT THOMPSON, THOMAS A.SGT PLAISIMOND, PIERRE L.SGT LOCQUIAO, PAUL B.SGT ALLEN, JUSTIN J.SGT ORTIZCALIXTO, JOSE L.

HHC Task Force 49SPC HALL, CHRISTOPHER C.SPC KOOB, JOSHUA J.SPC LEDOUX, LAMAR M.SPC SNYDER, JUSTIN C.SGT FRENCH, MELISSA A.SGT SWEETNAM, DALE M.SSG DENNIE, HARVEY L.SSG DIAZ, MAYRA E.SSG MANNERS, RONALD D.

CPT OURADA, ANDREA 2-147 AHBCPL OTTER, BRANDON 2-159 ARBSGT OSELES, TODD 2-159 ARBSGT FISCHER, ADAM 2-147 AHBSGT FILBIN, TIMOTHY 2-147 AHBCW2 BERNARD, ERIK 2-159 ARBSPC GONZALEZ, MICHAEL 2-159 ARBSPC WHEELINGS, SCHEDRIC 2-159 ARBCW3 KOZLOWSKI, JOEL 2-147 AHBSPC COLBY, GRAYSON 5-158 AVN1LT GERING, BENJAMIN 2-147 AHBSGT CRUZ, FRANK 2-159 ARBSPC LEWIS, JACODY 2-147 AHBSFC CORDLE, MICHAEL 2-159 ARBSPC FARMER, CLYDE 2-159 ARBSPC WILLIAMS, ANTHONY 2-159 ARBSGT KNOX, JONATHAN 2-147 AHBSPC CHRISTIE, BRENT 2-159 ARBSPC CHEN, LIANG 2-159 ARBSGT WELCH, GENE 2-147 AHBSPC CARROLL, PATRICK 2-159 ARBSGT CAMERO, RYAN 2-147 AHBSPC MATHIS, WILLIAM 2-159 ARBCW4 BURGESS, TERESA 2-147 AHBSPC BRUNELL, AVERY 2-159 ARB

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDALCW2 NAGIES, THOMAS 5-158 AVNSSG CHANQUIN, NELSON 5-158 AVNSGT FOX, DONNIE 5-158 AVNSPC REINHARDT, JOSEPH 2-147 AHBCPT WINN, PHILIP 2-147 AHBSPC MOGCK, PETER 2-147 AHBSGT LEE, CAMERON 2-159 ARBSSG JOHNSON, CHRISTIAAN 2-159SFC WORDEN, MARK 2-147 AHBSSG ROWAN, JEREMIE 412 ASBSSG VALDEZ, DEMIS 2-159 ARB

Task Force 49NCO of the Quarter

Task Force 49Soldier of the Quarter

Staff Sgt. Joker Botin, a native of Iriga, Philip-pines, supervises an avionics communication

equipment repair squad with Company B, 412thAviation Support Battalion. Botin moved to theUnited States in 1999 and joined the Army three

months later. His goals are to earn a bachelor’s ininformation systems management and retire from

the Army as a Command Sergeant Major.

Spc. Joseph Vrechek IV of Denton, Texas, is anavionics communication equipment repairer

with Company B, 412th Aviation SupportBattalion. He joined the Army in May 2005.

While assigned to 412 ASB he has won twocompany soldier of the month boards and a

battalion Soldier of the quarter board. Vrechekis married to Nicole and they have one child,

Joseph Vrechek V.

Point of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of View Your images of Task Force 49


‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS . . .’ A full moon shines over the LSA Anaconda flight line on Christmas Eve.

Lt. Col. Sam Hamontree, 412th Aviation Support Battalion commander,plays Christmas carols with a Celtic twist at Dining Facility 4 on Christ-mas Eve.

The holiday spread at LSA Anaconda’s Dining Facility 4 included this confectionary tribute to theU.S. Army Alaska “Binky Bear” patch. The subdued cloth version of the ursine emblem became acombat patch for Task Force 49 Soldiers in a Christmas Eve ceremony at the unit’s headquarters.

photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rene Santiago



will be a regular feature of theDesert Talon, highlighting reader-submitted photos.It’s your chance to help us tell the Task Force 49story.E-mail your digital images of unit events,activities and off-duty projects, or just everyday lifeon deployment. Candid photos are preferred overposed shots. Send to:[email protected]

Point of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of ViewPoint of View


FlightContinued from Page 1

considered justanother mission.

“Women in themilitary have overcomesome huge barriers,”she said. “I believe thismission will be an eyeopener, butunfortunately, I’mafraid the stereotypeswill always be there.It’s how our societywas brought up. Evenat the end of 2007,[we’re considering this]an historic event.”

The National Guardunit houses Soldiersfrom Washington,Minnesota and Hawaii.

Not only was themission all female, butall three states wererepresented by thewomen executing it.

Lt. Col. GregoryThingvold, 2-147Commander,commented on howimportant the flightwas, for not only theNational Guard, but foryoung women backhome.

“This demandsattention,” he said.“Young ladies needgood role models intheir life. Our culturetwists around to a faultwhat women shouldstrive for in life. Here isan opportunity toshowcase women incombat executing acombat mission. I wantyoung women aroundthis country to seethese amazing womenin action.”

Burgess said that nomatter what thismission does to theArmy’s genderstereotypes, it is stillvery important to theyouth of the UnitedStates to see whatwomen in the Army doon a daily basis.

“The one thing I hopethis mission does isshow little girls thatthey can do this,” shesaid. “A lot of themdon’t seem to knowthis.”

(Top Left) The lead aircraftmakes its way to Baghdad earlyChristmas morning.

(Above) Crew Chief Sgt. LeilaniAho, 2nd Battalion, 147thAviation Regiment, clears herweapon after returning from along day in the sky on Christmasday.

(Left) The two female BlackHawk crews stand with theirindividual state flags afterreturning from their ChristmasDay mission. Hawaii, Washing-ton and Minnesota are allrepresented in the 2nd Battalion,147th Aviation Regiment, andSoldiers from all three statesparticipated in the all-femalemission.

photos by: Sgt. Dale Sweetnam

task force 49 earns combat patch - wwe drops in - page 9 ...three weeks ago we had wwe wrestlers...

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