Item's for theTroops in Afghanistan

[Daddubo]

Thought I woulds share another letter from Al. Please keep all our Men and Women over there in your Prayers.



Thanks Frank



Another update:

Date: Monday, March 15, 2010, 1:39 AM

Hello Family,



I know the suicide attacks in Kandahar City from Saturday have made national news. Just wanted to let you know things are OK here at Kandahar Airfield. Although I've heard some of the explosions, none have impacted the base. Kandahar City is about 11 miles from the base - so our forces are heavily involved in security operations out there and with the upcoming ops transitioning from Marjeh and Helmand out in this direction, the work will certainly continue.



I wanted to pass last week's edition of our e-newspaper. My public affairs office puts this togther, takes photos and writes stories. I review/edit and approve for publishing. There are a couple of especially important articles that expand on what we're doing here - one is the PRT, the other is the burn victim. I hope you'll take a look and pass it on if you're so inclined. I know the national news can sometimes paint a rather narrow view of what's going on here; I've gained a completely new perspective on our role here, why it's important. I have a new appreciation for the people of this country. As always I love to hear your feedback and your questions. The newspaper is in PDF format, and about 5mb so it could take a little time to load.



Link: http://www.kdab.afcent.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100309-004.pdf



Take care and I'll be in touch!



Love ya,

 

[Daddubo]

Another up date you won't hear on the Main Stream Media

Hello all - thought I'd pass along another article dealing with our wing (451st Air Expeditionary Wing). Pretty exciting stuff within our little group of people. This article really describes one of the mainstays of our mission - Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC). Note, casualties don't mean "dead" - any injury that takes a troop out of the fight is considered a casualty.

If you recall the TV show MASH you saw the helicopters flying in, Radar O'Reilly over the loudspeaker "incoming wounded". Well this is exactly the same stuff except times 10. The main goal is to get in, get the casualty on the aircraft and have them at the hospital within the "golden hour" - I see these guys regularly get patients delivered to medical care in 40 minutes from the time they get alerted of a mission - just incredible. Please note a very large number of the casualties these folks are moving are local nationals like the one depicted in the picture.

I hope you find this interesting and enlightening - again, another part of the war seldomly covered, especially the good stuff we're doing for the Afghan people. Obviously very interesting to me - the author was just in my office a couple days ago, I just got off the phone with Lt Col Kunkel, and of course, General Walsh is my direct boss.

Anyway, enjoy - I'm at about 40 days left! woo hooo.

Love ya,


http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/03/airforce_afghanistan_hc130_032610w/

 

[Daddubo]

Thought I would pass along an update from my son


Support our Troops @ http://anyairman.com/

Hello family - just wanted to update you on a couple items and give you some perspective.



Exciting week last week which culminated with me meeting the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. He gave me (and others in the room) his coin - pretty cool.



What I really wanted to talk about was the trip I took today. Headed out at about 0530 to the ramp where I boarded a US Marine Corps C-130J headed for FOB (forward operating base) Bastion. Bastion is a huge, relatively new base located in Helmand Province near the city of Marjeh. As you know the current ops in Helmand/Marjeh have taken its toll on our troops as well as the coalition and local nationals. The vast majority of casualties are flown to Bastion to receive immediate care (basically MASH). IEDs are doing the majority of the damage, and the Taliban is getting smarter every day.



I accompanied my vice wing commander down there to visit some new units that fall under our wing, as well as the ones that were established shortly after my arrival - namely the HH-60 (Blackhawk helicopter) "Pedros" and the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF...or MASH).



It was unfortunately a busy day for casualties in Helmand Province today. Just as we walked out onto the helo ramp they were alerted. Crews ran to the helicopters and fired them up - once they recieved the call they quickly launched to retrieve their casualties - they returned less than 50 minutes later.



One of the last places we visited today was the CASF. The entire "hospital" is made up of tents. Granted, nicer than MASH, but still tents. As my boss received his briefing, I hung out near the lounge where several of the patients who were able to get out of bed were gathered watching "300". One kid in particular caught my eye - maybe 19 yrs old, face wrapped in sterile mesh cloth - his face and ears were badly burned along with his arms. He's Lance Corporal Brown, stationed back in the states at Camp Lejeune NC. His group was assigned to clear a building of bad guys. He kicked in the door and tossed a grenade - unfortunately the building turned out to be an IED factory with a lot of explosives inside. The explosion burned him and one other marine, knocked him unconscious. The only part of his face not burned was around his eyes - luckily he was wearing his Oakleys. I asked how they (glasses) survived - he pulled them out of his pocket - a prized possession that no doubt saved his sight still intact and ready to wear. He has at least two weeks to be in the CASF - his main focus is to get back with his platoon - with his brothers in combat.



The second marine I'll mention is about 22 years old, from Yonkers NY. His wife just had twins a month ago. He was riding in an armored vehicle in the gun turret when it hit an IED. Luckily the blast caused the 50mm gun to swing down and knock him on the head, knocking him out but keeping him in the vehicle. He said that was the only thing that kept him from "pop-tarting" and possibly being killed. This was the second IED he's been injured by - and like his fellow marine absolutely focused on rehab and getting back with his platoon. As a side note he's a huge Giants fan - I just happened to have my iPod with me with some pics from when we went up to visit the Greisen clan and catch Giants vs Chiefs - his eyes lit up - thinking of home no doubt.



Anyway, here are these two busted up kids, absolutely determined to get back in the fight...and ten more just like them in the room and God knows how many that couldn't get out of bed. I've heard the stories of amputees working to get back in the fight - doing whatever it takes - and those who are too broken to ever serve again feeling guilty about not being there with their brothers in arms. These are some awfully passionate, dedicated, patriotic heros you have serving your country out here. It was my honor to spend the 30 minutes getting to know them, and I look forward to several more visits before my departure. As the ops transfer in this direction to Kandahar City, I have no doubt our CASF here will become just as busy if not busier than FOB Bastion's. I was taken with how willing they were to tell their stories - how much they really wanted to talk. Since the CASF here is only 2 blocks from my office, how could I not take the time to visit?



Well that was my day - started about 17 1/2 hrs ago, but well worth it. Another significant emotional event - my eyes have been widened yet a little further. As we all know the WWII "greatest generation" continues to fade into history - but I can't help but think about how these young men and women here are making history and sacrificing themselves on behalf of those in need everyday - and have been for nearly 8 years now. I wonder how history will define this generation of heros - there certainly is no shortage of "greatness" amongst them.



I've attached a picture I took as our helicopters (Pedros) took off on the rescue mission today...enjoy.




​

 

[Daddubo]

I should be here as my replacement has been delayed 6 days. I got the card this morning - thank you very much. All is well - Kandahar is heating up - the bad guys are trying to intimidate the locals. Heard of one town where the locals fought back and captured dozens of Taliban and held them until our forces got there - pretty cool - exactly what we need here to win this thing and hand the country back to the people. If anyone else wants to send more stuff, they can put my name and add "or 451 AEW/DS". I think that may work once I leave. I should be able to receive anything sent before April 30th.

 

[Daddubo]

Another up date: He will be coming home in about 10 days. My prayer go out to all the men and women in our Armed forces ant their families, I can't imagine how stressful it is to Families that have people as they say over there out side the wire. These brave young men and women are in harms way every day.

[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Family,[/FONT]

sorry I haven't written or called in awhile - hair on fire trying to finish out all I have to do in the next 10 or so days. In about 1 week my replacement should arrive and after a 3-day turnover I should be heading to Krygyzstan, then home!

I know I told most of you I was selected for promotion about 6 months ago. Today I had the honor of actually "pinning on" Lieutenant Colonel in the back of a parked C-130 out on "Whiskey Ramp". To be promoted to this rank is a great honor - to be promoted during a time of war while in a combat zone is a once in a lifetime experience.

As is tradition, we get to choose who we want to perfom the ceremony and the actual "pinning on". I asked our wing commander, Brigadier General Walsh, to officiate the ceremony and adminster the oath. He's an awesome boss - currently an A-10 pilot, also qualified to fly C-130s.

As far as the "pinners of the rank" I had a large list of folks, many senior officers, who I would have been proud to have pin the rank on me. After much thought I chose the two guys who have helped me the most to get through these past 4 months.. They are my "kids away from home" as Gen Walsh called them today. We had a lot of fun today as you can see in the pictures. These guys have been here for me on my worst days, so it was fitting they played a big role on my best day at Kandahar Airfield. Although I wish I could have been home to allow the Family to pin the rank on my collar, my brothers and sisters serving with me out here made it a very special day.

Sure was odd the first time someone said "hey, Colonel" to me today - but I must admit it was pretty cool too!

Looking forward to seeing many of you in just about a month - love ya!

Al

 

[Daddubo]

I want to thank everyone that has sent things or support our men and women in other ways. With out our Military we would not be a Free Nation.

It is the VETERAN, not the
preacher, who has given us
freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the
reporter, who has given us
freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the
poet, who has given us
freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the
campus organizer, who has given us
freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the
lawyer, who has given us
the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the
politician, who has given us
the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN
who salutes the Flag..!!

It is the VETERAN
who serves under the Flag,


GRANT THEM ETERNAL REST
O LORD, AND LET
PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

We can be very proud of our young men and women
in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless them all!!!

I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees.

There's no point to life without liberty.


So I'll stand for what's right as long as I breathe.


I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.​

 

[wvsundancer]

being new to this site do we have a list of folks who are getting packages from home ??

 

[Daddubo]

being new to this site do we have a list of folks who are getting packages from home ??

WelcomeAboard and thanks for taking an intrest. :thumbsup:

No, I was sending stuff directly to my son and he was handing them out to his troop's he but will be coming home in about 10 days so I would suggest going to the Any Airman site and from there you can choose what Branch you want to send things to and they can hook you up with a person that will distribute to the troops where he/she is at or if you want PM me and I can give you his address and he has it set up where the officer taking over for him will spread it around.
I got my whole family sending things and my Niece is a school teacher and she got the Charter school where she teaches to send things along with cards and letters.

The troops really enjoy reciving packages !!:smt038

 

[spikedaddy99]

What does your son do?

And, he needs to get the story about Cpl. Johnson to Oakley. I bet they replace his glasses for free!!

I have many friends in Afganistan and Iraq right now. I got out of the AF in 2001. I am sure you are on the edge of your seat to see your Lt. Col. ASAP!!

My prayers are with his safe return.

Mike

 

[Daddubo]

My son is the assistant to the 1 star that is running the show out of Kandahar Air Base for the USAF. He should be home in around 10 days and I will see him on June 1st we fly out for my Grandsons H.S. Graduation. I haven’t seen him or his family for about a year should be a good time then.:thumbsup:

Yes we are always worried about him I don't know how the family's with people outside the wire do it, but he told me that the troops outside the wire feel safer because there are so many civilian's in side the base and they look just like the people you are fighting so you never know..

 

[Daddubo]

This will probably be the last E-Mail from my son he should be in the back in the states next weekend.

Less than a week to go - getting pretty excited - my replacement should be somewhere over the Atlantic right now.

Had a good night tonight - laughed and smiled more than I have the previous 4 months. Toby Keith flew in and did a concert - what an awesome guy, and American - here in the warzone at this point in time at Kandahar. Not to many superstars of his caliber would risk it. He played about an hour - all acoustic - did about every song I knew and some I didn't (The Ballad of Balad) - a base in Iraq... Attached a picture..

Anyway, lifted spirits incredibly high for a couple thousand troops - and it was special to listen to "American Soldier" right here...

Good night and hope to see you soon.

Love,
Al

 

[Daddubo]

Well my son got home to SLC on the 16th took a lot of pressure and worry off; I could tell the calm in his voice just glad he made it home. Thanks to every one that sent some thing to the Troops they really appreciate it, it shows them we care about them.:smt038:thumbsup:

I encourage any one that have people in the Military to add to this with their thoughts and needs.

 

[Bugsy24]

God Bless!

 

[Daddubo]

God Bless!

Thanks you and Bless you, he was home till November then he had to leave for Italy the family should follow this July hopefully my Daughter in Law can get orders for there or she will have to retire out she is an E-8 w/22yrs.

Funny how the war just kind of got dropped from the news isn’t it?
We all need to continue the support and Pray for all the Troops over in the sand piles

 

[Bugsy24]

Where in Italy is he being Posted? I was at our Naval Air Station in Siganella Sicily great place good times! Yeh, High Year Tenure Sucks!

 

[Daddubo]

Where in Italy is he being Posted? I was at our Naval Air Station in Siganella Sicily great place good times! Yeh, High Year Tenure Sucks!

He is a Squadron commander in Aviano AFB they fired the last one and brought him in to straighten it out. He said it is very demanding and he is putting in 16 to 18 hrs a day, they have an inspection coming up that could have an effect careers.

 

[Daddubo]

What does your son do?

And, he needs to get the story about Cpl. Johnson to Oakley. I bet they replace his glasses for free!!

I have many friends in Afganistan and Iraq right now. I got out of the AF in 2001. I am sure you are on the edge of your seat to see your Lt. Col. ASAP!!

My prayers are with his safe return.

Mike

Update: My son told me that Oakley is the supplier ofglasses for the troop. He will be coming back to the states in May he told his superiors that he in not going to proceed with his career (A little birdy toldhim that if did it would mean 355 in the desert) so Lt. Col will more than likelywhere he will stay but he is putting in for a ROTC Administrator and will eitherstay in Utah or go to AZ.