No News Is Good News, right?

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted!  Things are busy at home, and Dave has been busy also.  We haven't heard much from him, which I suppose means he is out in the field a lot.  (Which makes him very happy!) We have tried a few times to talk on Skype (this is really cool if you have people who live in another city, state or even country..look into it, it's free!) but the connection isn't very good.  The picture is not great, and usually we have to type because the voice is messed up too.  I know that I just said that Skype is great, and now I am talking about what problems we've been having, but we have Skyped to China, Czeck Republic, and Greece and haven't had any problems with that....guess those war zones don't have great reception!
Anyhow, Dave hasn't even emailed us much, but I try not to worry about it.  If I tell Dave that I was worried because I hadn't heard from him, his response is always "It is a war zone!"  Typical Dave!  So, he seems to be doing well, can't talk too much about things, but tells me all I need to know...which I am sure is half of what is truly going on, which is fine by me!!  He is still disappointed that he isn't in the field much....oh well!  A few weeks ago, he sent me about four pictures. They were just titled "Mission" and one of them was titled "me as a politician".  I asked him to give me more information so I could explain them when I posted them, but I haven't gotten any more about them, so I will just post them and you can make up your own stories. :O)  There are five photos and Dave is in "pre-mission brief" and "golden shovels".  You'll see that he has slimmed down, which he is happy about.  Who wouldn't slim down without the tv to sit in front of at night and food when ever you need it!  I might need to go there for... a while...and with Katie being 14 going on 21, I just might enjoy it!!
On the home front, we are all sad here!!  My sister Terry who came to stay with us and help us out while Dave is gone is going back to Iowa.  She has been here since August of last year and wants to go home to be with her husband for a while.  She has been such a great help to us, but she doesn't realize how much!  It is so nice just to have another adult around, not just for me, but to help out with the kids, cook, clean, homework, discipline (as much as an Aunt can!) and even taxi when needed.  She has also gotten me to the gym quite a bit, and her biggest accomplishment while here was getting Jack excited about reading!  He has never been very interested in books, and I have always had to fight him when it came to his reading homework.  Terry found a cool series that really spiked Jacks interest, and just made it fun and enjoyable for him...he reads one page, and she reads one page......I think Jack likes that cause he isn't doing all of the "work".  The series had three books, and they just finished the last one last week!  I just hope that with her gone, he will keep his interest going....I think he will since I have found him off in his room reading by himself lately!!  If she hadn't done anything else while here, it would have been fine with me, because this accomplishment alone is worth so much to me!!  We are really going to miss her while she is gone.  I think Jack will suffer the most, he has loved having two "moms" to dote on him, what young kid wouldn't?  Katie, on the other way, is a little to "cool" to admit how much she likes her here, she has said at times that it is like having two moms here yelling at her and telling her what to do!!  Well, she needs it!  Terry is much more up on cool tv shows like Glee, and American Idol, and fashion, make up, actors and actresses so she isn't too terrible in Katie's eyes!   Terry isn't sure what she will do next, and she is hoping to come back and stay for at least two weeks once it gets warmer...or maybe even longer, we will see!  ***With the pictures, double click on them and a menu comes up under it so you can enlarge it to see better!

Well, that is about it for now, all is going well, the kids are more or less happy, doing well in school, sports and activities, and I am doing fine too.  Enjoy the pictures, and keep looking for new posts, even though I may take a while to put anything on here!

:O)

TF Redhorse in the news again

Hi guys, more news about Dave and his guys.  I don't know where this comes from, but Dave just sends them to me.  He just sends the links, so I have to go through them to see if he is mentioned in it or not.  Katie and I browsed over these two articles, and didn't see Dave's names.....but i can't say that we actually sat down and read both of them, maybe if you read through them, you will see his name.  Anyhow, there are two posts, one titled "18 Redhorse troops earn award....." and another named "Red Bull Soldiers own the night."  Look for both of them.  Parwan in the province that they are in, so when you are searching through, look for news with that and TF Redhorse in it. 

That's all for now~

18 Redhorse troops earn award for German weapons qualification

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Pfc. Scott Greene, a Soldier with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, and a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, fires a G36 German service rifle during the third portion of the Schutzenschnur or German weapons qualification at Bagram Airfield Jan. 14. TF Red Horse is part of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Task Force Red Bulls, which is deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. James Wilton, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Eighteen Task Force Redhorse Soldiers earned the right to wear a silver cord with a bronze, silver or gold badge after qualifying with German weapons at Bagram Airfield Jan. 14.

Forty-three TF Redhorse Soldiers from Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, part of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Task Force Red Bulls, conducted a Schutzenschnur or German weapons qualification under the supervision of German soldiers with the 1st NATO Signal Battalion, German Army.

“Even in the German Army, it may take a soldier several times shooting before he earns the badge,” said Stabsunteroffizier Diemo Heyer, a German Army soldier assisting with the certification. “The requirements are very difficult and require a lot of practice to be proficient.”

To be awarded the Schutzenschnur, participants are tested on their ability to shoot the G36 German service rifle, P8 pistol and MG3 machine gun from a series of shooting platforms: from a wall supported position into the 300-meter target, prone into the 250-meter target, standing into the 150-meter target and kneeling into the 100-meter target then standing and kneeling reactive fire into the 50-meter target. To pass the test with they must hit the all targets at least once.

The Schutzenschnur is one of a few foreign military awards authorized for wear on the U.S. Army uniform and is only authorized for enlisted. Officers can receive the award but not wear it. The silver cord is worn on the military dress uniform.

“We are very glad to be here on Bagram and have the opportunity to do cross-training with our (International Security Assistance Force) partners,” said Oberfeldwebel Helge Krebs, a German Army soldier assisting with the certification. “Having this opportunity will give us a chance to learn about the American Army and allow us to teach you something about our military.”

“It is a great opportunity to work with our (International Security Assistance Force) partners and learn the differences between our weapons systems and theirs,” said U.S. Army Spc. Jeffery Graham an intelligence analyst attached to Troop B from Charlottesville, Va. “It is also a great opportunity to learn about future integration of their weapons technology into our own systems.”

The rifle has a red-dot scope integrated into the top of the power scope. It also includes and a forward-ambidextrous charging handle, which allows shooters to perform immediate action to correct a weapons malfunction more easily and without dropping the barrel. 

The opportunity gave Soldiers a chance to experience different types of weapons systems and also work with their coalition partners to strengthen ties and build bonds. The Schutzenschnur also included a marksman test for the German soldiers on American weapons including the U.S. Army M4 service rifle and the M9 pistol.

“It was exciting to fire a new kind of weapon,” U.S. Army Spc. Cody Bunkers from Remsen, Iowa, and a member of Troop B. “This is a new experience for me and the first weapon I have fired outside of U.S., in terms of military service weapons.”

“It’s a neat opportunity, one that not many National Guard soldiers get to do, it usually only comes about during a deployment situation,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Brad McKinney, a member of Troop B and a Le Mars, Iowa, resident.

Task Force Redhorse plans to attempt another Schutzenschnur later in the year if the schedule permits.

Redhorse focuses on Bagram Security Zone

Written by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs Sunday, 16 January 2011 22:33

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Carlos R. Hansen (front), of Sioux City, Iowa, an infantryman in the personal security detachment for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, posts security while U.S. Army Sgt. Tom Peck, of Sioux City, Iowa, and the PSD noncommissioned officer in charge, speaks with locals in the village of Barfikhel Jan. 7. TF Redhorse, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, is in charge of operations in the Bagram Security Zone and is increasing combat patrols to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan –In light of recent indirect fire attacks on Bagram Airfield here, Task Force Redhorse is increasing combat patrols in the Bagram Security Zone. The Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, are patrolling the BSZ to disrupt insurgent activities in the area.


One element taking part in the patrols is the personal security detachment of the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Sqdn., 113th Cav. Regt., part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls. The cavalry PSD, who also provides quick reaction forces for the Bagram area, took to the streets of the BSZ in the towns of Barfikhel, Saka and Janquadam Jan. 7 and conducted a key leader engagement in Nawdeh.

The mission, similar to their normal day-to-day missions, was the first dismounted patrol conducted by these TF Red Horse Soldiers since arriving in country last fall.

“What we did today was a combat patrol in the Bagram Security Zone to disrupt the (indirect fire) attacks we’ve been having lately,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Tom Peck, of Sioux City, Iowa, and the PSD noncommissioned officer in charge. “We are trying to increase our presence in the area to deter insurgents from firing IDF at Bagram.”

During the patrol, the TF Redhorse Soldiers stopped to talk with locals in the area to gauge how the local Afghan National Security Forces have been operating in their area to ensure security of the area.

“We are increasing our reconnaissance and combat patrols in the Bagram area in order to disrupt the insurgents in the area,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Updegraff, TF Redhorse commander and Wauconda, Ill., resident. “Conducting dismounted patrols enables the task force to directly interact with local villagers who aid coalition forces in the fight against insurgents.”

Peck said that when speaking with the locals, they said the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army would walk through the villages almost daily, but they hadn’t seen U.S. forces very often. TF Redhorse intends to change that by conducting these dismounted patrols to the villages that cannot be reached by road.

“By conducting these patrols, we can interact with the locals, and they can let us know of insurgent activity in the area,” said Peck. “We can use that information to get rid of the insurgents and make the community safer, in turn making BAF safer too.”

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Soldiers of the personal security detachment for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, patrol the villages in the Bagram Security Zone here Jan. 7. TF Redhorse, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, is in charge of operations in the BSZ and is increasing combat patrols to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Soldiers of the personal security detachment for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, stop to talk to villagers while on patrol in the Bagram Security Zone here Jan. 7. TF Redhorse, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, is in charge of operations in the BSZ and is increasing combat patrols in order to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William R. Haley, a combat medic and Sioux City, Iowa, native, and fellow Soldiers of the personal security detachment for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, patrol the villages in the Bagram Security Zone Jan. 7. TF Redhorse, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, is in charge of operations in the BSZ and is increasing combat patrols to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Spc. Carlos R. Hansen, of Sioux City, Iowa, and fellow Soldiers of the personal security detachment for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, patrol the villages in the Bagram Security Zone Jan. 7. TF Redhorse, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, is in charge of operations in the BSZ and is increasing combat patrols in order to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William R. Haley (left), fills out paperwork while U.S. Army Spc. Joshua A. Knaack (right) looks on. Both Sioux City, Iowa, natives with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Redhorse, took part in a patrol of the villages in the Bagram Security Zone Jan. 7. TF Redhorse, part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, TF Red Bulls, is in charge of operations in the BSZ and is increasing combat patrols in order to disrupt insurgent activity in the area. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ashlee Lolkus, Task Force Red Bulls Public Affairs)

Words from Dave

 Dave sent me an email the other day, I thought I'd share this part with you...interesting!

"Interesting day today - attending the Provincial Security Council and a
Taliban fighter turned himself in ... they have a program that allows
them to do this as long as the village accepts him back and swears they
will watch him ... should be interesting to see what happens."



 Also, he sent me this link about them in the news.......if you don't already know, they TF Redhorse....
 
http://cjtf101.com/en/regional-command-east-news-mainmenu-401/4005-redho

Thanks from Dave

Hi all, not much to post, just wanted to say hi to everyone from Dave.  He was finally able to read my blog, and wanted me to tell all of you thank you for keeping up with him and our family!  He also says thanks to everyone who has sent cards, letters and boxes.  He did say that he is going out in the field more than I have mentioned....I told him that not everyone wants to hear that he is going out there in the thick of things when he really doesn't have to...some like to just like to have the picture in their minds that he is sitting safely behind a desk! 
I also wanted to show you this cool organization called Pro v. Gi Joe....it is a program to help wounded soldiers rehabilitate.  I didn't really see any soldiers who were terribly wounded, maybe this is after they are out of the hospitals, it didn't really say.  Anyhow, look at the video and see these Gi's smiling and having some fun!
http://www.tvkim.com/watch/414/kims-picks-helping-out-wounded-troops?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=dotd&utm_content=2011-01-14-rct&utm_campaign=f
Hope all of you are doing well, more later!  P.S. Don't forget to wear red on Fridays to support our troops!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello everyone, hope you all had a great Christmas (etc.) and New Year.  Christmas was a bit quiet around here without Dave.  Not that we have rip roaring time when he is here, it is usually just family if we stay in Illinois and simple.  But it just wasn't the same with out him here.  When he went to Kosovo, he was able to fly back for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but he opted out this year.  I know he wanted to be home, but it is also not good for the LTC to be taking leave either!  I think that it is a bit easier on the kids to not see him again though, it would be hard to have to say good-bye yet another time! 
On Christmas day, Dave went out in the field to wish all of his guys happy holidays.  If you now Dave at all, you know that he really wants to be with his guys at all times, and also be where the "action" is.  I know that he is a bit upset that he isn't out there enough, but being higher up in rank means being in on the planning of things, which means sitting around a desk sometimes!  He says to thank all of you for your cards, letters and care packages, he appreciates them!  Just know that when you send him goodies, he will share them, not just keep them for himself, so don't be upset if you hear that all the guys enjoyed your stuff! 
We really aren't hearing much from him that often, mostly it is via email.  The phone lines are often tied up, and with the time difference, it is hard for him to wait in line for a phone when he could be sleeping.  He hasn't even had time to go and look into Skype yet....(you think he could delegate better!)  Naturally, he won't tell me much about what he is doing....not sure if I even want to know all of it, or the extent of it. It is easiest to just sit here and think that he is sitting behind a desk ordering people around!!  (I dream big!)
As usual, I will pass on anything that I can when I hear it.  It is hard being in Illinois and not where all of the stuff is going on in Iowa.  I guess they are having some kind of "build your soldier a care package" thing going on, and many other things planned.  I don't like driving this time of year, and making one of the get-togethers would be a hard thing to do!  I also have the disadvantage of not knowing any of the wives, so I am out of the "gossip" loop.  Actually, that may be a good thing!  If I hear of anything interesting for families, I will pass it on to those of you in Iowa!

Well, tata for now, talk soon!  Love to all of you!  :O)