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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Glen Skaggs, Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team, operates a Bobcat Skid Steer during its unloading near the AlBeroni University, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Dec. 12. (Photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Billy Vincent, Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team)
KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Members of the Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team (ADT) are lending a hand to AlBeroni University by delivering much needed equipment. The ADT delivered a Bobcat Skid Steer to the university which is working to reestablish Afghanistan’s agricultural heritage. Established in 2000 with a single faculty member, AlBeroni now boasts over 1600 students.
While assisting AlBeroni University, members of the ADT also took time to distribute winter coats to children in the neighboring village. The Kentucky Guardsmen have added similar humanitarian assistance activities to their overall mission of working with Afghan farmers.
Greek soldiers board a Kentucky National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during hot/cold load training at Camp Rigas Fereos near Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jill A. Fischer, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Story by Sgt. Jill Fischer, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP RIGAS FEREOS, Kosovo – Members of a Kentucky National Guard aviation unit offered up its time and helicopters recently to help train peacekeeping partners from another nation here in Kosovo.
The 2-147th Aviation Battalion, based out of Frankfort, Ky., provided two UH-60 Black Hawk lift helicopters and one medevac chopper and pilots this week so the Greek’s quick reaction force could complete hot and cold-load training and get a little practice loading and unloading casualties from the aircraft.
“This training is to help both our and their teams become familiar with each other, our communication and equipment and learn to work together,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dennis Brown, Lawrenceburg, Ky., pilot and commander of the mission.
The Soldiers of the 2-147th and the Greece contingent are part of Kosovo Forces Multi-National Task Force-East, the U.S.-led sector of NATO’s peacekeeping force in Kosovo. The Greeks, known as “Task Force Hellas,” along with the U.S., Poland, Ukraine and Romania make up the force structure of MNTF-E.
MNTF-E teams often work together on emergency evacuations. The U.S. helicopters provide a means for the Greeks’ quick reaction force to respond to any type of emergency, typically on very short notice.
The Greece soldiers learned how to correctly load and unload a UH-60 Black Hawk lift helicopter with personnel, and also how to load a simulated casualty onto a UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter. This training must not only be done properly, but also in a quick and cautious manner, first, while the helicopter is idle and then on a helicopter just after landing and right before take-off.
“It is crucial that they know how to load a casualty for those times when medevac and quick reaction teams are called out,” Brown said.
U.S. and Greek Soldiers will continue to train together to become more proficient at their jobs while in Kosovo.
“Multi-national partners are the key to our success in Multi-National Task Force-East, as well as for the overall KFOR mission,” said Brig. Gen. Al Dohrmann, MNTF-E commander. “It’s essential that we continue to work together so that we can complete our missions, safe lives and accomplish our goal of maintaining a safe and secure environment in Kosovo.”
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PIKE COUNTY, Ky. — December 19th, Kentucky’s Governor Steve Beshear and Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini toured portions of Eastern Ky., where heavy snowfall interrupted power, water services, and made roads impassable, . Kentucky Emergency Management, state and local officials and aid organizations setup up warming centers and shelters for the more than 107,000 households affected by the snowstorm.
Brig. Gen. Joseph "Lonnie" Culver, commander of Task Force Cyclone, visits the Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team in Bagram, Afghanistan, Dec. 25. Culver took time to meet with Command Sgt. Maj. Alex Maloney and Col. Mike Farley as well as other members of the Ky. ADT.
BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Brig. Gen. Joseph “Lonnie” Culver, commander of Task Force Cyclone, visited the Kentucky Agribusiness Development team on Christmas Day. “I found Doc Jackson and Lt. Col. Ruth Graves in their office, and later Col. Mike Farley and Command Sgt. Maj. Alex Maloney stopped by my office,” said Culver. “It was an awesome Christmas here, and we made it a great time for the Soldiers and Airmen.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB0XBEYxR68]
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Governor Steven L. Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear joined Adjutant General Edward W. Tonini and his wife Carol Tonini in bringing holiday greetings to the families of more than 350 deployed Kentucky National Guard troops, Dec. 19.
Units represented during the visits with the First Family include 299th and 301st Chemical Companies (Iraq); 20th Special Forces Group, Task Force Cyclone and the Agribusiness Development Team (Afghanistan); Bravo Co., 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation and Charlie Co. 169th MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation), 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade (Kosovo); and the 123rd Airlift Wing (Germany).
Locations for the visits included Wellman Armory, Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky.; Kentucky National Guard Armory, 4911 Highway 801 North, Morehead, Ky.; and Kentucky Air National Guard Base, 1101 Grade Lane, Louisville, Ky.
More than 12,000 Kentucky National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have deployed since September 11, 2001. For additional information on the Kentucky Guard visit www.dma.ky.gov.
Operating in portions of Letcher and Leslie Counties in eastern Kentucky, Soldiers of the 617th Military Police Co. have responded to several emergency situations and have even helped save a life.
While out on route clearance missions to ensure open roadways, Soldiers arrived at an area that required the removal of fallen trees. The teams noticed an elderly gentlemen who was very cold and was having trouble breathing. It appeared that the elderly gentleman had gotten out of his car to try and move the trees when he suffered health issues. The soldiers took the gentleman and placed him inside their “Humvee” and called EMS. The soldiers evacuated the gentlemen from the mountainous area to a location where EMS could meet them to transport the gentleman to local hospital.
UPDATED:
Soldiers from the 617th MP Co. arrived on a vehicle accident scene at roughly 2:30 pm, Dec. 20, where Hyden, Ky. EMS was responding to a vehicle roll-over. The vehicle’s driver appeared to have shoulder injuries and was suffering chest pains. Sgt. Daniel Lees, Spec. John Foddrill, Spec. Shawn Murphy, and Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Stinnett assisted Hyden EMS in extracting the vehicle’s driver and helped carry him to a waiting ambulance.
UPDATED:
At about 5:00 pm, Dec. 20, Soldiers from the 1st Platoon, 617th MP Co. came upon Stinnett, Ky. Volunteer Fire Department responding to a vehicle fire. Sgt. Shannon Downing and Spec. Nathan Catron assisted the Stinnett VFD by helping throw snow on the fire. A short while later, Spec. Natalie Hughes, Pvt. 1st Class Jarrod Fisher and Pvt. 1st Class Amber Hines arrived in a separate vehicle and used their vehicle’s fire extinguisher to put out the fire. No injuries were suffered by either civilians or Soldiers and the truck’s owner drove vehicle away from the incident.
NOTE: These stories are still developing. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
MEDIA ADVISORY
Governor and First Lady bring holiday greetings to Families of Deployed Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen
December 18, 2009
CONTACT: Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, 502-607-1556, cell 502-352-8008
WHO: Governor Steven L. Beshear, First Lady Jane Beshear, Adjutant General Edward W. Tonini, Carol Tonini
WHAT: Holiday visit with the families of Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen
WHEN: Saturday, December 19, 2009
WHERE: Frankfort, Morehead and Louisville (see below itinerary)
Frankfort, Ky. — Governor Steven L. Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear will join Adjutant General Edward W. Tonini and his wife Carol Tonini this Saturday in bringing holiday greetings to the families of more than 350 deployed Kentucky National Guard troops.
Units represented during the visits with the First Family include 299th and 301st Chemical Companies (Iraq); 20th Special Forces Group, Task Force Cyclone and the Agribusiness Development Team (Afghanistan); Bravo Co., 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation and Charlie Co. 169th MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation), 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade (Kosovo); and the 123rd Airlift Wing (Germany).
Times and locations of the visits are as follows:
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.: Wellman Armory, Boone National Guard Center, Frankfort, Ky.
11 a.m. - noon: Kentucky National Guard Armory, 4911 Highway 801 North, Morehead, Ky.
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.: Kentucky Air National Guard Base, 1101 Grade Lane, Louisville, Ky.
More than 12,000 Kentucky National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have deployed since September 11, 2001. For additional information on the Kentucky Guard visit www.dma.ky.gov.
Kentucky's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, presents the flag of the Commonwealth of Kentucky to Janet Bogusz Downs during a memorial service for her husband, 123rd Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Tommy Downs, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Dec. 17. Chief Downs, a 31-year veteran of the Kentucky Air Guard, died Dec. 12 from complications of pancreatitis. More than 500 people attended the memorial service. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Dale Greer)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kentucky Air National Guard
Contact: Maj. Dale Greer, (502) 387-1887
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than 500 friends, family members and coworkers gathered at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here today to remember a fallen comrade, 123rd Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas “Tommy” G. Downs Jr., who passed away Saturday from complications of pancreatitis.
Chief Downs, 53, served as a full-time member of the Kentucky Air National Guard for almost 32 years.
Kentucky’s assistant adjutant general for Air, Brig. Gen. Mark Kraus, remembered Chief Downs as an outstanding leader with unsurpassed integrity who truly cared about those who served under him.
“Chief Downs was a giant of a man in every conceivable way to measure,” General Kraus said during his comments to the standing-room-only audience in the Base Fuel Cell Hangar.
Staff Sgt. Travis Dugan, 2nd Platoon, PSD, 301st Chemical Company, makes sure he shook every hand of the dozens of children who came to receive clothing, food and toys. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Fernando Ochoa, 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment)
December 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: David Altom, 502-607-1562, cell 502-229-3227
By Sgt. Fernando Ochoa, 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Now that the Christmas season is upon us, the gift of giving was given by the National Guard’s 301st Chemical Company, 2nd Platoon, Personal Security Detail (PSD), from Maysville, Kentucky. With their own funds, they delivered food, toys and clothes to the Dar Al Salem widow’s camp, in the Kadhimiya District of Baghdad.
The 301st has the primary mission of being the PSD for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), but on this day they went above and beyond the call of duty to carry out a humanitarian mission. They went into the Red Zone to deliver much needed supplies to the less fortunate.
“I have a bitter sweet feeling about this camp and I wish circumstances like these didn’t exist,” said Staff Sgt. Travis Dugan, 34, from Maysville, Ky. “I just feel grateful that I can bring a smile to these deserving faces.”
From Forward Operating Base Prosperity, the 301st drove their MRAP convoy through a high risk district, where recent bombings have left hundreds dead. Weaving in and out of traffic, the gunners kept lookout for any unusual behaviour.
The Dar Al Salem widow’s camp is refuge to as many as 150 families. Established more than two years ago, it takes in women and children of Soldiers and Policemen who have been killed or kidnapped, never to be seen again.
The violence that has rocked Iraq for almost two decades has left these widows the burden of running the families. The struggle to survive and support their families is enormous at a time when not much help comes from the international community. According to Iraq’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs,it is estimated that there are at least 300,000 widows in Baghdad alone.
“I feel like I’m a small part of something bigger,” said Staff Sgt. Jonathon Smith, 31, convoy commander, from Flemingsburg, Ky. “Maybe if everyone does their part, then we may be able to accomplish our mission.” Many members of the 301st feel the same way. “I hope the Iraqis use our example to do their part too,” said Smith.
As the convoy pulled into the small complex of prefabricated housing, the children came running up to the Soldiers. With smiles on their faces, laughs and giggles filled the air with excitement. After the Soldiers went into security mode, the crowd of children began to make lines in anticipation of the gifts that had arrived.
Soldiers like Spec. John Wayne Hall began to greet the children, showing them attention and compassion, and trying help as much as he could.
“Once we realized that we were coming, we gathered up everything we could,” said Hall. “When we help these people we help ourselves and if we have to give of ourselves, then count me in.”
When it came time to hand out the gifts, a surge of children came forward and began grabbing and carrying away the toys, clothing and food. The sparse conditions in this refugee camp have made its inhabitants weary and deserving of this mission. At times, there is no water and electricity, and many of the widows have no income at all. These conditions moved many of the Soldiers.
“When I see these kids and how they have to struggle, I try not to get emotional,” said Spec. Kelly Goode, 39, from Louisville, KY. “I have kids at home and when I look into these children eyes I see my own.”
Soccer balls were the hot item. In fact, Staff Sgt. Smith held one until the end so that he could give it to the winner of a relay race. And, the winner of the race had the biggest smile of all. The mission was a success and as the MRAP convoy pulled way, the Soldiers of the 301st felt a sense of accomplishment. They hope to have more missions like this one.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 12,000 Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed in support of Global War of Terror. The Kentucky National Guard currently has nearly 350 troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the globe.
MEDIA ADVISORY
December 17, 2009
CONTACT: Capt. Andi C. Hahn, 502-607-1903, cell 502-330-1795
andrea.hahn@us.army.mil
Media invited to download holiday greetings from deployed Kentucky National Guard Soldiers.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard’s Bravo Co., 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation and Charlie Co., 169th MEDEVAC have recorded holiday greetings in Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo. Based in Frankfort, the unit mobilized for a year-long deployment in August 2009.
While in Kosovo, the unit has supported slingload and waterbucket/firefighting operations, troop transport and hoist operations, as well as medical evacuation missions for US and NATO troops and civilians.
The greetings have been uploaded to the Digital Video & Imagery and Distribution System (DVIDS), and you can find them there by following the steps below. There is an option to search by hometown and we encourage you to check out the Soldier’s greetings and consider using them during your broadcasts this holiday season.
You are also invited to contact the 116th Public Affairs Detachment (contact info below) for Soldier profiles or any interviews they wish to conduct with Soldiers during the holidays or throughout the year.
Find your Soldier’s Shout-out:
By State using drop box (Best Way)
1. Click on this link — DVIDS
2. About mid-way down the page there is a “Select Holiday” drop box
3. Click the drop box and select the holiday i.e. Christmas 2009, Thanksgiving 2009, etc.
4. There is a map just below the drop box. Click on the state you wish to view shout-outs from.
5. After you click the state, scroll down below the map. All the shout-outs will be listed below the map, scroll through them until you find the one you’re looking for.
By Soldier using Search Greetings function
1. Click on this link — DVIDS
2. About half-way down the page near the right-hand side of the page is a “Search Greetings” search box.
3. Click in the box and type Soldier’s Last Name, First Name Rank i.e. Miller, Brett SGT
4. Click Find.
5. After you click the state, scroll down below the map. All the shout-outs will be listed below the map, scroll through them until you find the one you’re looking for.
Send e-card with Shout-out:
1. Once you’ve found the Shout-out you were looking for, click it.
2. Below the Shout-out is a link called “Send an E-Card”, click it.
3. Select your style.
4. Enter all the e-mail addresses you want the E-Card to go to.
5. Then there are a few boxes to fill out asking your name, e-mail address and the message you want to send to all the recipients of the E-Card.
Point of Contact for 116th PAD
Capt. Dan ‘Murph’ Murphy
Public Affairs Officer
Multi-National Task Force East
Camp Bondsteel
DSN: 314-781-5076
Cell: 049-774-638
daniel.m.murphy@us.army.mil
daniel.m.murphy@eur.army.mil
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