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In this fight we are all united and stronger as one Catamount family
notes and details for the next day, the platoon leader comes back from the update with his orders. The squad leaders, platoon sergeant
I visited the Korean War Memorial Park in D.C., I saw a statement that was engraved on a stone wall which reads Freedom is not free. I took it as This country earned and harvested the freedom from the sacrificial seeds sown in the Korean peninsula. Their blood and personal sacrifice sprouted, grew and became full kernels. It brought not only physical but also a mental state of freedom. In 2011, we are here in Afghanistan once again. Our Catamount Soldiers and families are sowing the hope of a better future for Afghanistan and a world peace where there is no place for terrorists. We can visualize our purpose for being here in this country. We know for sure that we cannot harvest without sowing. It takes courage, sacrifice and patience. We are sowing through the sacrifice of our relationships, family, individual potential, well-being and even lives. In the past six months, though we had to shed sweat and blood in this foreign country, we have achieved many positive results such as eliminating terrorists from villages one by one and opening new schools for Afghan children to brighten their future. One day, the blood that Catamount Soldiers shed, and our families ultimate sacrifice will sprout and grow up for many to enjoy, and for the rest of the world to be thankful. Ten years after September 11, on my way to one of the Combat Outposts, I saw some pomegranate and corn next to Highway 1. It must have been planted by someone who dreamed of sweet pomegranate and juicy kernels of corns to harvest. I pray for Catamount Soldiers and families to have a greater dream and vision to sow and harvest through our service and sacrifice. Chaplain Brian Oh He speaks Southern accent (He is from South Korea). He and his wife Kari have 3 kids (Lauren14, Ryan10 and Megan 5). He was ordained from Southern Baptist Convention in 1997. He became a Catamount on 23 August 2011.
Chaplains Corner
Sowing Seeds In 2007, while I was deployed to Afghanistan, I bought some seeds to plant. I bought Corn and Sunflower seeds to represent Kansas. My humble hope was to enjoy watching them grow. This reminded me of Mark 4:26-28: A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produce grainfirst the stalk, than the head, then the full kernel in the head. Our troops presence in Afghanistan takes tremendous sacrifices from the National level, State level all the way down to the individual level. Families are separated. Parents worry about their sons and daughters safety and well being in a foreign country. Some married Soldiers have to miss out on seeing their kids growing up at home. There are many different types of sacrifices. In the 1950s, many U.S. and allied service members came to Korea and fought against communism. Sixty years later, the national Gross National Product (GNP) produced over $20,000. Many Soldiers who fought in the Korean War never heard about Korea, yet they came to sacrifice their time and lives. When
TRUE SUCCESS
By, SPC Gary Ashby When I returned from my second tour in Iraq I had a drinking problem. I loved to drink and party. If I didnt have to work, then I would head to the bar immediately after the bar opens. For three months straight all I did outside of work was drink, party, and eat fast food. Since my unit was closing and all of us were PCSing to new units and bases, nobody even noticed or cared that I was rapidly gaining weight in the five months between my Post Deployment to Ft. Richardson, AK and my PCS to Ft. Drum, NY. I had gotten up to almost 300lbs and didnt even notice. It wasnt until I had gotten home for leave on my way to check in at Ft. Drum, and all of my family started commenting on how much weight that I had gained, thats when I realized how much weight I had gained. I had put on 70lbs in those five months. I reported to Ft. Drum and had my first weigh and tape since I had gotten back and was immediately flagged, put on the overweight program, and stripped of my promotable status. I struggled for a few months trying to get my weight back down to where it should be. I was barely making the 3lb a month loss requirement for those first few months, until I met the woman that I now call my wife. When she decided that she wanted to lose a few pounds herself it made it easier for us to change our eating habits. With her support I started losing much more weight each month. Before the deployment I reverted back to my old eating habits, because I thought that this would be my last chance to eat good food for a while. By the time this deployment started I was down to 250lbs and still had a long way to go before I reached my goal of 225. With my wife back in the states, my friends and NCO's worked harder and continued the support and encouragement. I started working out and doing sit-ups every time I went to and from the motor pool with one of my NCO's, and by the end of most days we had done 200 plus sit-ups. Thanks to the support of my wife, encouragement of my friends, and help of my NCO's I have finally passed my weigh and tape and will hopefully be going back to the board soon.
Destroyer family,
September was a busy month for us as we came out of Ramadan. We said goodbye to two long standing officers in the company. 1LT Paul Deehan moved up to battalion to assume duties as the Battle Captain in the TOC before he moves on to a regular position on the Staff. 1LT Josh Walker moved in the last few days of the month over to our cousins Task Force Wolfpack (4-25 Field Artillery Regiment) to lead a platoon. We also welcomed in two new officers. 2LT Pete Bauleke arrived from Fort Drum to take over 1st Platoon and 1LT Josh Welte came to us from TF Wolfpack. We conducted a highly successful company operation that received praise from CAT6. Your Destroyers planned and executed a great operation. They also eradicated over $15,000 of marijuana and completed $50,000 worth of projects that provided visible change to the AO. Im happy to report that Team Destroyer was able to open a new school (Now Ruzi School) in an area thats never had one and renovated another (Bagh-e Pol School). These schools will have a generational impact on the people of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is changing before our eyes and its due to the hard work and dedication of your Destroyers. I cant be more proud of their accomplishments. We welcome back PFC Walczak from rehabilitation from his wound and congratulate SPC Griffin for his Army Commendation Medal for Valor. LTC Anderson stopped by and awarded your Destroyers their Combat Infantrymans Badges as well as a few Combat Action Badges and Combat Medic Badges. Again, your men are doing outstanding work here, and Catamount 6 is proud of their hard work. We are starting to see the rewards of 6 months of hard work (wow, half way already!). We truly appreciate your support as we pass the half way mark and get ready for the fall and winter. Captain Jeffrey Auer Destroyer 6
PFC Oden...we miss you and love you. Can't wait until you come home. We're saving tons of Texas tamales just for you. Love, Dad, Mom, Stephanie, Dee Dee, and Alex
PFC Nazer...we love & miss you bunches and we're so proud of you! We missed you Daddy on our first day of school but don't worry as usual Mom took LOTS of pictures and here are a few. And just always remember GLYSDI!
"Uncle Eric we got tired of waiting for you to come home. We miss you Love Parker and Mia"
For Jackson Taylor Hey Jack! I hope your birthday was a good as it could be and I'm looking forward to celebrating with you next year with a weekend full of fun!! The leaves are beginning to change now which means it's going to get cold before we know it! But this kind of weather always is beautiful - warmer days and cooler nights! Keep up the great work you guys are doing and know that you are always in my thoughts. Be smart, be safe and take care. We love you! Mom and Dad
We love you and miss you. Always praying for you. Thank you for your service and for doing this for our family. Linda
You known I'm watching over you PFC Palmer! Jim White
We think of you each and every day. Cant wait to see you again!!
To PVT Hankins
This year we won't just be cheering for the Gators- we'll be cheering for the Catamounts, too! It is because of the dedication of soldiers like you that we have the freedoms and lifestyle that we have! Thank you for the hardships you endure- we'll have a comfy chair, a remote control and a cold one waiting for you when you come home!
Remembering our pre-deployment time in NYC and the reasons you are where you are!
Thanks for all you do. Come home safe and soon. We appreciate all that you do for us, We support you!
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
The Battalion would like to congratulate all of our promoted Catamounts: From PVT TO PV2 BERNARD SANABRIA
From PFC TO SPC JOSEPH TRAHON CAMERON MAXWELL CHRISTOPHER HRYHORCHUK MICHAEL MADORE QUINTEN HILBERT BRITTNI CANNON CORISSA CARON From SPC TO SGT
The Battalion would like to congratulate all of our Catamounts on the awards they have earned: Army Commendation Medal
SPC GREGORY MCDONALD SPC PFC PFC 2LT SGT
Purple Heart
SPC PFC PFC PFC PFC PFC 2LT SGT PFC PFC SFC SGT SSG KORAN CONTRERAS JESSE DIETRICH JULIO GONZALEZ DOUGLAS JEFFRIES EDWARD N. MOINET NICHOLAS NICELY TIMOTHY STEELE ANDREW TOBIN BRIAN BIRD COLIN JONES JOSEPH LEBRON MARCUS LOVE DANIEL CARYK
Combat Infantrymens Badge SPC 1LT PFC PFC SPC PFC SPC PFC PFC SPC PVT SPC SPC SPC 2LT SPC IAN BROWN PAUL DEEHAN RYAN LANGLEY DAVID LONG CARLOS QUARRIONEX CHASE SHERMAN PIER TAPIA CHAD VANHORN JASON WALCZAK SUE XIONG ZACHARY HANSEN BLAKE HOMAN BLAKE BOWEN MATTHEW FLANAGAN DANIEL MOULTON DAVID SHARP Combat Action Badge PV2 PFC SGT SGT PFC KEITH L. SOULES CLAYTON CAMERMAN CHRISTOPHER JORDAN PATRICK LEIBACHER SCOTT REGELBRUGGE
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PLATOON SPONSORS: FROM BAE SYSTEMS: Robbie Bergin Doris Newhart Brian Luschen Gregory Fedor Suzanne Lupo Eric Eaton Tara Feathers Dennis Kriowx Peter Patten Jerald Homsher Cindy Pinney Debra Hayes Martin Hayes Sharon Cronk Carla Sives Nicole Darrow Stephen Kupski Mike Reagan Thank-you to Annapolis High School for your continued support. Long Shot Bar and Grill Dennis Kriowx Oswego University Elizabeth Wealtherby
CATAMOUNT RETENTION
There have been changes in retention since the last newsletter. Big Army have released the new IN/OUT calls and 53 Moss are now BALANCED. What that means to you? Now more soldiers HAVE options for CONUS and OCOUNS assignments or they can stay at Drum. Phase I mission starts 01OCT2011. Phase I focuses on soldiers with ETS dates from 01Jan2012-30Sep2012. If you fall into this window you will HAVE to reenlist by 31JAN12. There will be NO exceptions for soldiers who fell in that window and wants to reenlist after the 31st of Jan. All soldiers that fall into the Phase I mission window will be counseled on his/her options.
CATAMOUNT FACES
TEAM BLACKHAWK
TEAM DESTROYER
TEAM HURON
FIGHTING FOX
CATAMOUNT STAFF
SCOUTS
NEWS RELEASE Provincial Education, Zharay District Officials Distribute Schoolbags, Talk Importance of Education at Press Conference ZHARAY DISTRICT, Afghanistan Officials from the Kandahar Provincial
Ministry of Education joined with the Zharay District Governor and other district officials, September 6, to kick off a tour of four schools in eastern Zharay district, and distributed school supplies and backpacks to Afghan children during the first day of school throughout Afghanistan. Abdul Basir Agha, Deputy Director of Education for the Kandahar Ministry of Education (MoE), Mohammad Ewoz Nazari, Deputy Administrative Director, and Mohammed Shah Khan, Director of Plans and Communications for the Kandahar MoE, traveled with Niaz Sarhadi, the Zharay District Governor, and his education official, to three schools and broke ground on a fourth. Starting at the Now Ruzzi school in eastern Zharay district, the senior government officials formally declared the start of the school year to a small crowd of Afghan children and their teachers. Now Ruzzi is located in southeastern Zharay district near the Bagh-E-Pol bridge. Once the officials handed out school supplies and backpacks to the children, they then traveled to the Bagh-E-Pol school, and hosted an outdoor press conference for Afghan media in attendance. District Governor Sarhadi, a former school teacher himself, spoke about the value of education to a childs life, and how education is the future of Afghanistan. In the audience were long rows of desks where the schoolchildren, both boys and girls, were sitting anxiously awaiting the gift of a new backpack. From Bagh-E-Pol, the group moved to Pir Mohammad School near Senjaray, and met briefly in a classroom to discuss plans for school openings throughout Kandahar province, then before leaving, they handed out bags of packed schoolbags and supplies to the children. Finally, the officials traveled west to Kandalay, where they participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the temporary school being opened. A throng of excited children played on playground equipment nearby, and had an opportunity to each cut their own section of ribbon during the ceremony. This year in Zharay district, Afghan government officials are planning to open 14 schools throughout the area, versus two that were opened this time last year. Government and education officials attributed the increase in school openings to effective security throughout the region, and encouraged the local children to continue going to school.