DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

            The Department of Defense today identified three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.  The scheduled rotation involves two infantry brigade combat teams – one with roughly 1,400 personnel, the other with roughly 2,800 personnel – and one division headquarters with roughly 620 personnel to rotate in winter 2012 and spring 2013. The deploying units include: 

            Brigade Combat Teams:

            1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

            4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

            Division Headquarters:

            101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

            DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved.  For information on these respective deployments, contact the following:  1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, contact the 10th Mountain Division public affairs officer at 315-772-7634; 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division and 101st Airborne Division Headquarters, contact the 101stAirborne Division public affairs officer at 270-798-9962.

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DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

            The Department of Defense today identified two major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.  The scheduled rotation involves one armored brigade combat team with roughly 1,390 personnel -- and one combat aviation brigade with roughly 1,700 personnel to rotate in winter 2012.  The deploying units include:

            Brigade Combat Team:

            4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

            Combat Aviation Brigade:

            1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved.  For information on the respective deployments, contact the 1st Cavalry Division public affairs office at 254-287-9400 and the 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 915-744-8406.

Combat Aviation Brigade,1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss

English: 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell, Spc. Mabry J. Anders

DOD Identifies Army Casualties
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died Aug. 27, in Kalagush, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from enemy, small arms fire.  They were assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

            Killed were:

            Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell, 25, of Windsor, Colo., and

            Spc. Mabry J. Anders, 21, of Baker City, Ore.

            For more information related to this release, media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office during normal business hours at 719-526-7525 or 719-526-4143; after normal business hours, call 719-526-5500.

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from  greeleytribune:

Windsor High School graduate and Army Sgt. Christopher Birdwell, who planned to make the Army a career, was killed by enemy fire on his third tour in Afghanistan.

“He could make anyone smile,” Birdwell’s mother, Pam Birdwell, told The Denver Post on Tuesday. “There was just something about him that made him able to bring a smile to anyone’s face.”

Birdwell, 25, was one of two Fort Carson soldiers killed Monday in Kalagush, Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Tuesday. Birdwell was assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Spc. Mabry Anders, 21, of Baker City, Ore., also was killed.

While the circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation, The Associated Press reported two soldiers were killed Monday when an Afghan soldier turned his weapon on international allies in eastern Afghanistan. NATO said in a statement that international troops returned fire and killed the attacker.

read more: http://www.greeleytribune.com/news/2375228-113/birdwell-windsor-killed-army

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 from oregonlive:
 by Richard Cockle

BAKER CITY -- Mabry James Anders, who died Monday of injuries from enemy small arms fire in Kalagush, Afghanistan, was a "bubbly, fun kid," a Baker High School administrator recalled Tuesday.

Spc. Anders, 21, the son of Troy and Genevieve Woydziak of Baker City, joined the Army on Jan. 5, 2010, and was deployed to Afghanistan this past March 10. He worked as a wheeled vehicle mechanic.

"He was a very likeable, social kid. He had an upbeat personality," said Baker High Assistant Principal Gundula O'Neal.

Anders' parents said they were proud of their son and his service to the nation. "Mabry always gave his all, and in the end he gave all he had," they said in a prepared statement. "We will miss his fearless spirit and love of life."

Anders was the 155th member of the military from Oregon and Southwest Washington to die in the wars in Afghanistan and Iran.

Born in Yuma, Ariz., on July 22, 1991, Anders will be posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal, in addition to the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and other awards, the army reported.

He left Baker High School before his senior year ended and transferred to the identically named Baker High School in the San Bernadino County town of Baker, Calif.

Also killed in the action that took Anders' life was Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell, 25, of Windsor, Colo. They were assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo.

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DOD Identifies Units For Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

DOD Identifies Units For Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

             The Department of Defense today identified three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.  The scheduled rotation involves three brigade combat teams (BCT) -- one Infantry brigade combat team with roughly 2,800 personnel; one armored brigade combat team with roughly 4,000 personnel and one infantry brigade combat team with roughly 2,870 personnel -- to rotate in winter 2012.  The deploying units include:

            Brigade Combat Teams:

            1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

            1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

            DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved.  For information on the respective deployments, contact the following: 1st IBCT, 101st Abn. Div. (Air Assault), contact the 101st Abn. Div. (Air Assault) public affairs officer at 270-798-9962.  1st ABCT, 1st Armored Div., contact the 1st Armored Div. public affairs officer at 915-744-8406. 2nd IBCT, 10th Mtn. Div., contact the 10th Mtn. Div. public affairs officer at 315-772-7634.

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti

DOD Identifies Army Casualty
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti, 30, of San Diego, Calif., died June 15, in Spedar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information, the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at 910-432-0661 or 910-432-0662.

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 A North Carolina-based soldier from San Diego was killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Sunday.

Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti, 30, was killed when insurgents fired weapons at his unit in Spedar, Afghanistan. He died from his injuries after being evacuated.

He was promoted posthumously to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Fredsti joined the Army in August 2000, graduating from the U.S. Army Airborne school later that year. He deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq before leaving again for Ghazni, Afghanistan, earlier this year.

He is survived by his father and mother, Carl and Sherry Fredsti of San Diego.

Fredsti was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Fredsti had also served a tour in Iraq.  

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R.I.P. - Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore

DOD Identifies Army Casualty
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore, 25, New Windsor, Ill., died June 10, in Panjwai, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

            Luxmore was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information related to this release, the media may contact the 3rd Infantry Division public affairs at 912-435-9869 or 912-435-9876.

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from savannahnow.com:

The Third Infantry Division has confirmed the death of Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore from New Windsor, Ill., during combat operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Luxmore, 25, was assigned to Bravo Company, 1-64th Armor Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team and deployed in March 2012 for a nine-month deployment. Sunday, Luxmore and his fellow Soldiers were on a dismounted patrol with Afghan National Security Forces near Panjwai, Afghanistan when they came under enemy fire and he sustained a fatal gunshot wound, according to a 3rd ID spokesman.

Luxmore, an infantryman, had been in the Army for 14 months and is survived by his wife and stepson. This was Luxmore’s first deployment. Luxmore is posthumously promoted to corporal, awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.

The 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, consisting of approximately 700 soldiers is conducting counter-insurgency operations and training Afghanistan National Security Forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Chaplain support and family assistance have been extended to the soldier’s family.

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R.I.P. - Spc. Gerardo Campos

DOD Identifies Army Casualty
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Spc. Gerardo Campos, 23, of Miami, Fla., died June 2 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information the media may contact I Corps public affairs office at 253-477-3048 or 253-370-9861.

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from miami.cbslocal.com:

MIAMI (CBS4) – Family and friends are mourning the loss of a South Florida soldier who died after his unit was attacked with small arms fire in Afghanistan.



Spc. Gerardo Campos, 23, died Saturday in Maiwand, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  He leaves behind a wife and 10 month old daughter.

Long before Spc. Campos died serving his country, his family knew him as a hero.  Campos grew up in Homestead, one of five children.

“He was just a good man, honest man, good man brave man,” said sister, Erica Campos.   “He was everything- everything you can think of – superhero, friend, father, best brother,” said Eduardo Campos, the youngest of the 5 siblings.

Gerardo taught his younger brother to play football and wrestled with his sisters.  Erica Campos said he taught her to be tough.  And when he joined the Army, fellow soldiers looked up to him too.

“He always did say that I have to be strong for them, show them not to be scared and I know that’s what he did,” said Erica.

“If anybody would get to know him, they’d be honored to know him,” said Eduardo. “I know he went down serving his country and I’m very proud of him and now it’s up to me and my older brother to take care of his little daughter.”

His family said his wife and daughter were the loves of Campos’ life.  His wife was getting ready to send a present for his first Father’s day.   Now, they will all teach Campos’ daughter to be proud of her dad.

“He left with honor, a brave soldier,” said Erica. “He fought for us. He gave his life for us”
Spc. Campos enlisted in the United States Army in March 2010

“A never-say-never type of attitude with a go-getter personality, he was a friend you could always count on,” said Knight. “Spc. Campos was the wind beneath the wings of his platoon. He motivated his fellow Soldiers and believed in their ability to rise to the occasion, regularly pushing them beyond their limits. Spc. Campos had a level of maturity far beyond his age and displayed the potential to become a future Sergeant Major in the Army.”

Spc. Campos was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army officials say his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,  the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the NATO Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Brian L. Walker, Pfc. Richard L. McNulty III

Sgt. Brian L. Walker, 25 (left), and Pfc. Richard L. McNulty III, 22 (right)

DOD Identifies Army Casualties
            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died May 13, in Bowri Tana, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

            Killed were:

            Sgt. Brian L. Walker, 25, of Lucerne Valley, Calif., and

            Pfc. Richard L. McNulty III, 22, Rolla, Mo.

            For more information related to this release, media may contact the U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at 907-384-2072 or 907-384-1542.

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from ktuu.com:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska —Two Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson paratroopers died Sunday from injuries they suffered when insurgents attacked their Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan’s Khost Province.

Sgt. Brian L. Walker, 25, and Pfc. Richard L. McNulty III, 22, were both military policemen assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

Walker, from Lucerne Valley, Calif., was the MRAP’s commander when it was attacked. He joined the Army in July 2007 and arrived at JBER in August 2011, serving a prior year-long Afghanistan deployment from May 2009 to May 2010.

McNulty, from Rolla, Mo., was driving the MRAP. He joined the Army in July 2010 and was assigned to JBER in February 2011.

Walker and McNulty’s next of kin have been notified.

Related articles

• Soldier From Rolla, MO Killed In Afghanistan (fox2now.com)
• Soldier from California killed in Afghanistan (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• Two Paratroopers Killed in Afghanistan (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - http://www.jber.af.mil)

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R.I.P. - Spc. Jason K. Edens

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Spc. Jason K. Edens, 22, of Franklin, Tenn., died April 26, in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 15, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire.

            Edens was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            For more information related to this release, media may contact the First Armored Division public affairs office at 915- 744-8406 or 915-744-8492, or via blackberry at 915- 203-3769 or 915-781-3143.

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NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder respectfully announce the loss of Tennessee soldier, Specialist Jason K. Edens of Franklin.

Edens died on April 26, in Bethesda, Maryland from wounds he sustained during an enemy attack on his unit in Laghman province in Afghanistan on April 15.  The 22-year old Williamson County native was an Infantryman assigned to 1^st Squadron, 13^th Calvary Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

“The state of Tennessee joins the Edens family in mourning the loss of Jason,” Haslam said.  “We also offer our condolences to all who knew Jason, grew up with him in Franklin and served with him in the United States Army.”

Edens graduated from Franklin High School in 2007 and enlisted in the Army in January 2009.
Edens is survived by his wife Ashley Edens of Elizabethton, his mother Janet Crane of Phoenix City, Alabama and his father James Edens of Franklin.

“He was a hero,” Ashley Edens said while describing her husband.
“Our sympathy goes out to the family of Specialist Jason Edens as they mourn during this difficult time of loss,” Grinder said.  “I join Tennesseans in remembering the ultimate sacrifice of Specialist Edens and we are committed to honor our fallen Tennessee heroes.”

Edens will posthumously receive the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal during a private service.  Arrangements are pending; however, the Edens family expressed a desire for privacy for Spc. Edens’ funeral and burial.

Spc. Edens previously received the Purple Heart, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge.

from bluecollarmuse

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1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright

FAIRBANKS — They’re almost all home now.

Planeloads of returning soldiers from the more than 4,000-member 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Wainwright have been returning to Fairbanks on an almost daily basis. Most of the remaining soldiers are scheduled to return from their year-long deployment to Afghanistan in the next few days.


from newsminer

by Sam Friedman/sfriedman@newsminer.com

Pfc. Ernesto Bravo kisses his daughter Jessalyn, 4, left, as he is greeted by his family including Jessalyn's twin brother Griffin, top right, and 11-month old sister Natalyn, back right, as well as friend Bella Needham, 3, front right, as another flight of soldiers with the 1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright Thursday morning, April 26, 2012 after serving a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. Eric Engman/News-Miner

A flight that arrived Thursday morning returned another 100 soldiers, including a large contingent from 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment.

Samantha Baker, wife of Sgt. Damon Baker, took it to the next level preparing for her husband’s arrival. She carried a sign that towered over the crowd with her husband’s name and a light-up arrow pointing to where she stood. The folks at Denali Industrial Supply helped her build it, she said.

The sign did its job.

“Somebody came up to me and said, ‘I think that’s you over there,’” Damon Baker said after he was reunited with his wife.

Baker has been to war before on two previous overseas deployments, but this homecoming is different because it’s his last. Now that he’s home from this deployment, he plans to leave the Army and settle more permanently in the Interior where he’s planning to work for a civilian construction company.

With the brigade members just about all back at Fort Wainwright, attention turns to a community welcome home event scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. May 12.

Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Delozier helps his son Korbin, 4, carry his pack as another flight of soldiers with the 1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team returns to Fort Wainwright Thursday morning, April 26, 2012 after serving a year-long deployment in Afghanistan. Eric Engman/News-Miner

A military parade, including a majority of the Stryker Brigade’s members, will pass through downtown Fairbanks and head to Pioneer Park, where a picnic is planned. Organizers of the Salute To Our Military Parade — S.T.O.M.P. — hope to have thousands of people lining the route.

A reviewing stand and bleachers for dignitaries and the families of service members killed or wounded in the wars will be set up on Second Avenue.

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Another 100 soldiers return home from a year in Afghanistan

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R.I.P. - Pfc. Johnathon F. Davis

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Pfc. Johnathon F. Davis, 20, of Griffin, Ga., died Mar. 29, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire.

            Davis was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information, the media may contact 82nd Airborne public affairs at 910-432-0661.

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Pfc. Davis is a graduate of Griffin High School. He and his wife are expecting their first child in May.

Related articles

• Griffin soldier killed in Afghanistan (by Arielle Kass, ajc.com)

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