Staff Sgt. Frederick Goldacker from Lewiston is a National Guard member assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry. He is serving as a member of SECFOR Alpha attached to a PMT in Wardak province, Afghanistan.
The sergeant previously served on active duty, and following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks he served many weeks of duty on homeland defense duty in New York.
He has spent so much time on either state or federal active duty that he has had little time for his civilian graphics design work. But he is managing to find some interesting things in the rugged Afghan countryside. The first photo, he says, is "just a cool pic of me on one of the gun trucks at sunrise before rolling out on mission."
The second photo is of the war ravaged ruins of the King's Palace, with rugged mountains in the distance.
This is a pic of me in the gun turret of an 1151 Humm-V, in all my body armor.
My Wife and Father pitched in to buy me the Kevlar mask, to keep my face in-tact. The mask is not issued, it's a prototype, which saved my face the last time we were ambushed.
The pic was taken in the Jalrez Valley (about 20 miles west of Kabul) which is one of the real danger zones here in Afghanistan. (On another side note, myself and my team are in the Infantry.
— SSG Frederick K Goldacker III
A re-enlistment ceremony of nearly 20 soldiers was the featured moment during a July 4th ceremony held at Camp Phoenix, Kabul.
The day began with a 5 Kilometer run with dozens of members of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix taking to the base track in two groups at 6:15 and 7 a.m.
Later, during the reinlistment ceremony, Colonel Brian K. Balfe, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, told the assembled troops, "The Declaration of Independence could have remained just words on paper had it not been for the strength, and will of the American people and its Army.
"For the Declaration of Independence did not make America independent from England — the Colonial Army did."
He then praised the members of his team for possessing that same spirit of 1776.
The day included a meal of classic summer picnic fare, watched over by a Statue of Liberty in a patriotic display.
— LTC Paul A. Fanning
Public Affairs Officer
CJTF Phoenix VII
(Photos are by Capt. Robert Romano)
This is a picture of me talking to the interpreter while trying to communicate to the officer on the left how he can improve on his rifle marksmanship.
The officer is looking down at the target he had just shot. Out here in Wardak, we can't teach the cops basic police stuff, we have to train them to be warriors, to close with and destroy the enemy, not to arrest them.
I have been in fire fights where the police are right next to us fighting the enemy and standing their ground. These Afghan police you train become like your own men, because you train them, you eat lunch with them etc.. And when one of them falls next to you in combat, the sting of a fallen friend is still there.
And it's funny how when you are out with your friends, you still run into ignorant people who say stuff like "You just shoot at targets, you don't shoot people."
It's just funny how sadly mistaken they are, the war here in Afghanistan is very real and we feel the bite of it almost every day. I have been blown up, shot at with AK-47's, RPG's and PKM's. I have had 8 rockets land within 50 meters of myself and my troops. And we have had to defend ourselves and kill the enemy.
Many of us can't wait to get home so we can sleep normally again, and not have to lay awake at night just waiting for a 107 Katusha rocket to come burning into our compound. Last night I >stared at the ceiling of my very small room, which is basically a bunker inside a building, and I waited till about 3 a.m. before I went to sleep.
My parents always ask me what I need, and I say, "Red Bull, Amp, Rockstar, Monster, and 5 hour energy," just so I can get through each day on only a few hours of sleep.
— SSG Frederick K Goldacker III
Aco. 2/108th Infantry BN Air Assault
Sec-For Squad Leader, Wardak Afghanistan
Many of the troops deployed to Afghanistan being covered by the Buffalo News will soon be sent home for a brief leave, marking the midpoint of their deployment. While it might seem like it, this is not a vacation in the sense one might expect. Our FRG (family readiness group) recently held a meeting to prepare us home-bound spouses for what to expect and how to deal with our returning soldiers.
They said we can expect our spouses will come home exhausted not only from their mission but their journey home across eight time zones and countless delays waiting for flights out of theater.
They will also bring with them a necessary stress level developed to combat the emotional challenges of their lives under the extreme conditions of actual combat as well as mission support, where a single mistake or oversight can result in a casualty. This heightened level of stress, they told us, isn't something controlled by an on-off switch. Rather, it develops over time and can take a longer period to recede.
While it's tempting to plan large celebrations with family and friends, some of our soldiers may not be prepared or eager to attend such events, while others might respond just fine. We were advised to plan on letting our soldiers get lots of rest for at least a couple of days, and then let them seek out a level of stimulation they're comfortable with. Our soldiers will not allow themselves to fully decompress, knowing they have to return for the second half of their deployment.
We were also told that our soldiers in some cases may be irritable, detached or short tempered, and that this is normal. Giving our soldiers lots of space and freedom to do whatever fits their disposition while encouraging but not demanding communication is the recipe for a successful leave.
We military spouses intuitively suspect our soldiers won't be themselves when they come home. Still, it was really helpful hearing the counselors from the military validate that perspective based on their experiences and offering some strategies to effectively cope.
From her e-mails I can tell you Judy is REALLY looking forward to coming home for half-time. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I really have no idea who this woman will be when she shows up at the airport, but we will love and support her no matter who she is.
-- Phil Basinski, on the home front
It is the "Pharmacist in Boots" just touching base with you with an "update from Afghanistan." I am working late as usual and am trying to catch up on e-mail that is always behind.
I realize that the general media gives you information on major events that occur here. I am hoping that you receive a balance of positive and negative. Terroristic activities are horrible and devastating, but there are just as many stories about the good of the people and altruistic activities. I rarely get to see the optimistic reports, but some media like the Buffalo News allow this positive message to be heard, too. For that I am grateful.
I want to mention two examples of the good I have seen here in recent days. One example is how a family reacted to their child being treated in the medical clinic. The family brought a feast of food to thank the care providers for taking care of their loved one. One must understand that food here is very, very expensive and the people are very poor.
Another example is how a village showed respect for soldiers by sheltering their remains from attack by thieves, terrorists and animals after the soldiers were killed. One must understand that these villagers put their own lives on the line as they protected these fallen comrades.
No names will ever be given by me, but the stories are real and are dear to my heart. Tears come to my eyes every time I think of these people, especially when I miss my own family so much. My family and families like mine are sending care packages for us and for the families of Afghanistan. I want to publicly thank all of you for everything you are doing to support your soldiers at home and in theater.
This is a bittersweet visit to a country still ravished by war. I just wanted to give you a little glimpse at a different aspect of my life here in Afghanistan. Thanks for reading and listening,
-- Capt. Judy Izard
"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!"
A magic marker missed the pre-laundry pocket screening and made its way through a complete wash cycle. My son scored his first goal in hockey. Two fantastic report cards found their way home to finish the school year. The folks at work assure me it's OK to cut my hours nearly in half so I can be with my kids this summer.
It was $75 to fill the tank this week. My mother's slow spiral in the nursing home is more evident each time we visit. Last night was a perfect star-lit night at the drive-in with some friends and five giggling kids. Soon there will be BLTs with tomatoes from the garden but no watermelons since the deer got to them first. A hockey buddy dropped from the ranks of the Thursday old-timers for good because of a neck injury.
My beautiful little girl has gone camping for four days with her best friend and her family. I worry about my brother and his wife as they continue to struggle after her near fatal fall. Who will Judy be when she comes home from Afghanistan next year?
Nearly 150 years ago Abraham Lincoln uttered the words that continue to sustain me. Today we celebrate the best of all holidays. Happy Fourth.
-- Phil Basinski
Staff Sgt. Frederick Goldacker from Lewiston is a National Guard member assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry. He is serving as a member of SECFOR Alpha attached to a PMT in Wardak province, Afghanistan. 
He has spent so much time on either state or federal active duty that he has had little time for his civilian graphics design work. But he is managing to find some interesting things in the rugged Afghan countryside. The first photo, he says, is "just a cool pic of me on one of the gun trucks at sunrise before rolling out on mission." 
