Staff Sgt. Katherine Quinones from Rochester, at left, and First Lt. Bridget Lasota from Cheektowaga work together in the headquarters of the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix Personnel Section in Afghanistan.
They are running in a 10 Kilometer fun run that was held at Camp Phoenix in Kabul in the days before Memorial Day.
We have a dirt track that is inside our security wall so that soldiers can work out. We also have a gym with weights and tread mills. Staff Sgt. Quinones' 21-year-old son is also deployed to Afghanistan and her husband served in the Guard previously and was deployed to Iraq.
Nobody respects their fallen like the military.
One of the honors given to a large command and its senior Non Commissioned Officer is to plan and hold a memorial service for soldiers or servicemen and women who have sacrificed their life for their country and its ideals.
On May 25, 2008, Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, Kabul Afghanistan held a Fallen Soldier Memorial Service for Master Sergeant Davy N. Weaver who died in combat in Southern Afghanistan.
If you have never seen a ceremony for a fallen soldier, there is nothing quite like it. When preparations are made, all the many participants carefully prepare their part to achieve a balance of personal impact and solemn dignity.
To set the scene, Patriot Square in Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan is a large open rectangular area surrounded by Simple wooden camp buildings. To the north and centered in front of a large dining facility are fifteen flagpoles with our national colors at half staff, followed by the flags of other coalition nations which are also serving in Afghanistan
There is a steady breeze which helps to display the colors. In the center of the square and set in front of the flagpoles is a memorial to Davy Weaver. It consists of an M-4 rifle with bayonet attached set vertically into a varnished wooden box, bayonet down. On top of the butt of the rifle is a helmet with the rank of Master Sergeant on it and hanging below it are a set of dog tags. There is a pair of combat boots, a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart Medal and a photograph of Davy Weaver in a dress uniform up front. Directly behind are the posted the crossed flags of the United States of America and the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VII flapping restlessly in the warm breeze.
Directly behind this memorial is a granite plaque which reads “In remembrance of and dedicated to the victims of the attacks on 11 September 2001 and the men and women serving bravely in the war on terrorism to ensure freedom’s light will never be extinguished. The Coalition Soldiers of CJTF Phoenix have dedicated a piece of the World Trade Center here on 11 September 2003, Operation Enduring Freedom, past, present and future.”
There are a few neat rows of chairs occupied by Commanders and Senior Non Commissioned Officers. The large formation in rows of troops fills the plaza. The ranks have been pushed forward to the back of the
chairs to accommodate the size of the formation. It appears that every available Soldier, Sailor, Marine and Airman is here. Romanian and French soldiers who live on the camp are present, as well as some civilians who work here, many I suspect by their manner are former military. What does not fit into the formation in the square spills into the walks and alleys that lead to it. Off to one side are seven soldiers of the Firing Party, rifles at their side, waiting silently.
The ceremony begins and we honor our nation. It’s followed by an invocation from the Chaplain and an absolutely stunning acapella Ave Maria from a young civilian woman who at the last minute volunteered to replace a suddenly ill soldier who was originally to sing.
From the podium I recount the career of Davy Weaver, his service in combat, this, his third tour, and his awards. He is survived by a wife and five children, the youngest a two year old daughter, Ellanor. We observe a moment of silence.
The Commander then spoke and noted that Weaver “volunteered to extend his tour to serve with our team… At the time of his death, he was going the extra mile for his country, this mission and the people
of Afghanistan. What motivated him to stay; to do even more than he had already accomplished,
may be best known only to himself, his family and his closest comrades.”
The Chaplain said that “…crashes don’t crush spirits. America has her heroes and heroines. Some of them are sitting right here right now. One of them…Davy Weaver is not here physically but is in our head’s hard drive. Fallen Soldiers may compress our spirits, wound our hearts, but with great resilience and strong resolve we bounce back. We are made that way. We let the words and the pictures, and the stories inspire us. We pray too, we take risks too, we pick up (Todd) Beamer’s banner and (take up) Weaver’s position and we roll into the War on Terrorism. We roll- picking up of the banner and carry on the fight. And that is what we never ever want to forget!”
The ceremony ends with a sequence of events that I will describe but must be experienced to be felt.
A First Sergeant is called forward and ordered to call the roll. He barks out a soldiers name and the soldier answers up loudly “here First Sergeant!”, then a second name, “here First Sergeant!, and a third name “here First Sergeant!”.
Then he calls out…"Master Sergeant Weaver, Davy, N" followed by a pause, "Master Sergeant Weaver, Davy, N" … "Master Sergeant Weaver, Davy, N. " Silence. All the service members salute and the Firing Party immediately goes into action by command of their Sergeant, mechanically firing three volleys from seven rifles over the formation of troops. Each volley is a violent reminder of the dangers faced by service members here at war. The Firing Party presents their arms in respect of Davy Weaver as Taps begins to play, echoing off of the warm evening concrete. The melody is sad and slow and there is no other sound.
By this time the sun is low in the sky and dusk softens the rigid rows of soldiers standing at attention. There is only one thing left to do. The Commander, the Chaplain and I move together to the front of the memorial to Davy Weaver and salute, bringing our arms up slowly, respectfully, not the usual crisp movement. We pause and slowly lower our salutes, then kneel in unison, and we pray. We all touch some part of the memorial with our hands and slowly rise together, salute once more and march away. This is all a bit surreal, as if in slow
motion.
The crowd is invited to pay their respects and they do, approaching the memorial in small groups, with dignity, saluting and praying, until it is dark. Some cry.
After all have mourned, the colors are folded and the memorial is disassembled and carefully put away, may they never be used again.
— David Piwowarski
I got a package from Judy the Monday after Fathers Day. I was flattered that she made the time to fill a box with a card & a few little goodies given the scope of her responsibilities and crazy hours she endures.
In the box was a tee-shirt & towel with "Operation Enduring Freedom" logos, some sunglasses, a contact sheet with four photos and a news magazine called "Afghanistan Freedom Watch" published by "Combined Joint Task Force-101," whatever that is, although it's through the Dept. of Defense.
The magazine outlines highlights and achievements of our troops in Afghanistan. It offers a different perspective of our troops' mission than we hear about in the media. The mission they talk about is multi-faceted. It talks about the Afghani army and police forces directly although separately successfully engaging the Taliban. This to illustrate how effectively our troops delivered training for both forces.
It talks about how remote the country is and how our troops are building infrastructure like roads, dams, bridges, power stations, schools and medical facilities. The theory being that commerce will organically form around the infrastructure, commerce that will allow for the natural development of a self sufficient economy not based on production of opiates.
They also describe our troops' efforts at building trust among the populous. They're told to actively interact with the Afghanis, whether through an impromptu soccer game or passing out school supplies to the kids. To this last point I can say this is where Judy's efforts appear to fall based on her descriptions of distributing medical supplies to the locals.
The pictures she sent illustrate some of the points in the magazine. In one photo Judy is on a mountaintop and throughout the view there appears to be the absolute nothing like the Nevada desert. Another picture shows a bunch of ragamuffin kids in a village with dirt streets, smiling and giving a "thumbs-up" to our soldiers.
I celebrated Fathers Day by buying myself a really nice non-stick electric skillet. Now I can throw that old piece of garbage out to the curb. My kids also let me take us out for dinner and gave me some really great presents that they made. I even got a couple of candy bars. Although Judy wasn't here, her package provided a much needed lift.
Last night I went in to my daughter's bedroom to give her one last kiss good-night. Cuddled in her sleeping arms was a small 3 inch square pillow with an American flag on one side and the outline of a heart with the words "I Love You" embroidered in the middle on the other side that her mom gave her before she left.
-- Phil Basinski
Last weekend I went with my son's Boy Scout troop on a canoe trip. Along with hanging out with my son, it was nice to enjoy the company of some adults outside of work. We ended up getting cold & soaked, enough so that I ended up sick as a dog most of this week. Not a good thing when you've got to be there to keep things going.
The military is always sending me and the other home side spouses all this information about the different programs and benefits available to us both through the government and also through the private sector. The rule seems to be that if there's a program through the government it's either a huge hassle, has little or no value, or you don't qualify.
There's a private non-profit organization called Our Military Kids that offers grants to the children of the deployed to pay for tutoring, summer camps, karate or dance lessons, or whatever activities a kid might be interested in. It's about as hassle free as you could imagine. I just submitted some basic paperwork and they cut a check to the Girl Scouts for my daughter's camp this summer. They also send out certificates of appreciation to the kids for their sacrifice - a nice touch so thanks to them!
Communication with Judy is still spotty. In fact, I just read her blog to find out what she was up to. She really excels in the challenges of her mission and finds it to be quite rewarding. You won't find a more committed or harder working gal anywhere. She always has loved the adventure of traveling and exploring foreign cultures, helping people any way she can. As for me, it's off to the store to buy underwear & shorts for the kids.
-- Phil Basinski, on the home front
I have come to Afghanistan to work at a Troop Medical Clinic (TMC). I fill prescriptions for soldiers from many branches of the service - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. I also prepare medications for sick or injured civilian contractors, foreign forces, and for Afghan residents.
This two weeks has been very busy in the pharmacy. I am never bored! I find time, however, to visit some Afghan vendors who present their goods at the shops and bazaars nearby. I will be looking for souvenirs of my special trip to Afghanistan!
This country has much to offer. The Afghans present fine gemstones, hand carved wood and lapis lazuli products, And beautiful rugs. They have much trade with other countries and also offer silks, pewter and marble products. I have met several very talented artisans. We even attended a "silent auction" to raise money for an art school.
There recently was a celebration of Afghanistan's independence. I got the opportunity to sample some flavorful traditional dishes. We are treated like guests and are welcomed by many as helpers and healers.
I miss home, but I do feel welcomed and needed here at my "home away from home."
-- Capt. Judy Izard, Army National Guard
CAMP PHOENIX, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - Major General Joseph J. Taluto, adjutant general of New
York, came to Afghanistan for two days in the last week of May to visit members of his New
York National Guard.
He was accompanied by New York State Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt to see members of
the New York National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team serving in Combined Joint Task
Force Phoenix VII.
Gen. Taluto said, "People have been bragging to me since the brigade has gotten over here
about how well things have gone. And, now I have eyes-on and can see it for myself."
Despite the tight schedule, Gen. Taluto enjoyed reuniting with soldiers that he has served
with over the years and especially when he was the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division,
New York National Guard that deployed to Iraq in 2005.
"We are all proud back in New York with what the 27th is doing and with the men and women of
this brigade," he added. "But the fact is, the men and women here are the ones who are doing
it and deserve the credit."
"It is a tremendous honor for the 27th to host our state commander while we are serving
here in the combat theater," said Colonel Brian K. Balfe, commander of Combined Joint Task
Force Phoenix and the 27th BCT. "The visit sends a great message to the task force that we
are on their screen and our leadership at home really cares."
The brief visit was accomplished inside a tightly controlled itinerary that brought the
visitors from Bagram Air Field, to Camp Phoenix and to the Kabul military training center
before they had to leave from Kabul International Airport on May 30th.
-- Lt. Col. Paul Fanning
Staff Sgt. Katherine Quinones from Rochester, at left, and First Lt. Bridget Lasota from Cheektowaga work together in the headquarters of the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix Personnel Section in Afghanistan.
