June 19, 2009 FOB KALSU – Sgt. Juan Diego Ruiz- Cruz, 172nd Infantry Brigade repair and utilities noncommissioned officer- in-charge, works every day to help pre- serve the brigade’s history by using his talent to construct heraldic items. Ruiz-Cruz, a Woodburn, Ore. resi- dent, said he started working with wood in his grandfather’s woodshop in Aguascalientes, Mexico when he was 8 years old. His grandfather taught him many tricks when it comes to wood- working. Eleven years aſter beginning work with his grandfather, he moved to the United States to experience the “Ameri- can Dream.” He opened his own con- struction company and maintained it until he joined the military aſter Sep. 11, 2001. Ruiz-Cruz’s command recognized his talents in carpentry and appoint- ed him noncommissioned officer- in-charge of the woodshop. He has worked in the shop since the beginning of his deployment in November build- ing desks, chairs, tables and Blackhawk regalia. For ceremonial purposes, such as the Army’s birthday, Ruiz-Cruz and his Soldiers create large unit patches that can take them up to four days to com- plete. “We do what we can to preserve our brigade’s history,” he said. Another project his team completed Sgt. Juan Diego Ruiz-Cruz, 172nd Infantry Brigade, repair and utilities noncommissioned officer-in-charge, cuts out a star that will be part of a large, wooden Blackhawk patch. Ruiz-Cruz has worked in the repair and utilities shop since the beginning of his deployment in November 2008. He is a resident of Woodburn, Ore. Photo by Spc. Darryl Montgomery 172nd Soldier helps preserve brigade history Click here to subscribe e e e e By Spc. Darryl Montgomery 172nd Inf. Bde. Juan D was the brigade conference table in the headquarters building on Forward Op- erating Base Kalsu. The table has been elaborately decorated with engravings of the Combat Action Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medic Badge and the Blackhawk shield. Spc. Christopher Spradin, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, operations, who joined the repair and utilities shop in January, said he learned a lot from Ruiz-Cruz. “He has taught me some of the tricks he has picked up on in the many years he has worked in carpentry,” said Spra- din, a McMinnville, Ore. resident. “He is very smart, and he definitely knows what he is doing.” Ruiz-Cruz’s know-how isn’t the only thing that impresses his Soldiers. “He has showed me how I would like to be as an NCO,” added Spradin. “He doesn’t create a stressful environ- ment. Instead of geing upset at mis- takes, he will come over and show you a beer way of geing the job done.” Ruiz-Cruz said his team is the real reason the jobs get done. “I wouldn’t be able to get any of this work done without my Soldiers,” Ruiz- Cruz said. “It is only possible through the team effort they give.” Woodburn is home for a sizeable community of Russian Orthodox Old Believers which is estimated at10,000. This Christian reformed church escaped persecution from the official Russian Orthodox church and moved to the United States from Turkey in the1950s. For more of Spc. Montomery’s stories, visit: www.TheRedBulls.org/Montgomery Click here for More Photos
Transcript
June 19, 2009
FOB KALSU – Sgt. Juan Diego Ruiz-Cruz, 172nd Infantry Brigade repair and utilities noncommissioned offi cer-in-charge, works every day to help pre-serve the brigade’s history by using his talent to construct heraldic items.
Ruiz-Cruz, a Woodburn, Ore. resi-dent, said he started working with wood in his grandfather’s woodshop in Aguascalientes, Mexico when he was 8 years old. His grandfather taught him many tricks when it comes to wood-working.
Eleven years aft er beginning work with his grandfather, he moved to the United States to experience the “Ameri-can Dream.” He opened his own con-struction company and maintained it until he joined the military aft er Sep. 11, 2001.
Ruiz-Cruz’s command recognized his talents in carpentry and appoint-ed him noncommissioned offi cer-in-charge of the woodshop. He has worked in the shop since the beginning of his deployment in November build-ing desks, chairs, tables and Blackhawk regalia.
For ceremonial purposes, such as the Army’s birthday, Ruiz-Cruz and his Soldiers create large unit patches that can take them up to four days to com-plete.
“We do what we can to preserve our brigade’s history,” he said.
Another project his team completed
Sgt. Juan Diego Ruiz-Cruz, 172nd Infantry Brigade, repair and utilities noncommissioned offi cer-in-charge, cuts out a star that will be part of a large, wooden Blackhawk patch. Ruiz-Cruz has worked in the repair and utilities shop since the beginning of his deployment in November 2008. He is a resident of Woodburn, Ore.
Photo by Spc. Darryl Montgomery
172nd Soldier helps preserve brigade historyClick here to subscribeeeee
By Spc. Darryl Montgomery172nd Inf. Bde.
Juan D
was the brigade conference table in the headquarters building on Forward Op-erating Base Kalsu. The table has been elaborately decorated with engravings of the Combat Action Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medic Badge and the Blackhawk shield.
Spc. Christopher Spradin, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, operations, who joined the repair and utilities shop in January, said he learned a lot from Ruiz-Cruz.
“He has taught me some of the tricks he has picked up on in the many years
he has worked in carpentry,” said Spra-din, a McMinnville, Ore. resident. “He is very smart, and he defi nitely knows what he is doing.”
Ruiz-Cruz’s know-how isn’t the only thing that impresses his Soldiers.
“He has showed me how I would like to be as an NCO,” added Spradin. “He doesn’t create a stressful environ-ment. Instead of gett ing upset at mis-takes, he will come over and show you a bett er way of gett ing the job done.”
Ruiz-Cruz said his team is the real reason the jobs get done.
“I wouldn’t be able to get any of this work done without my Soldiers,” Ruiz-Cruz said. “It is only possible through the team eff ort they give.”
Woodburn is home for a sizeable community of Russian Orthodox Old Believers which is estimated at10,000. This Christian reformed
church escaped persecution from the offi cial Russian Orthodox church and moved to the United States from Turkey in the1950s.
For more of Spc. Montomery’s stories, visit:www.TheRedBulls.org/Montgomery
34th Inf. Div. PAO: Lt. Col. Kevin OlsonOIC, Command Information: Maj. Page BaldwinNCOIC: Staff Sgt. Dave LankfordManaging Editor: Staff Sgt. Derek SmithAssignment Editor: Sgt. Debralee P. Crankshaw Graphics Designer: Sgt. Eric JungelsPhoto Editor: Spc. Tyler MauldingLayout/Design: Spc. Stephanie CassinosStaff Writers: Sgt. Frank Vaughn,Sgt. Brandon LeFlore, Spc. Darryl Montgomery,Pfc. J. Princeville Lawrence
172nd Brigade Combat Team2nd BCT, 4th Infantry Division4th BCT, 1st Armored Division 41st Fires Brigade343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment193rd Military Police BattalionSpecial Troops Battalion, 34th Inf. Div.Task Force 28450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)
The Red Bull Report is an authorized publication for members of MND-S. Contents of The Red Bull Report are not necessarily offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 34th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Red Bull Report is prepared, edited provided and approved by the 34th Infantry Division Public Affairs Offi ce.
COB BASRA – Many kids go to school every day know-ing they won’t see their parents until it’s over and they have returned home. Most Soldiers who deploy to Iraq do so knowing they, too, must say goodbye to family.
Two Soldiers with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division at Contingency Operating Base Basra have managed to avoid either situation from coming true.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Norton, operations noncommis-sioned offi cer-in-charge of the engineer cell of 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, is a school teacher and coach from Ogilvie, Minn. when not in uniform. There were some fa-miliar faces among the many students who passed through his classroom during his years of teaching.
“I taught all my children,” said Norton, who teaches business and computer classes and coaches women’s bas-ketball at Ogilvie High School.
Norton’s son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Norton, ammunition noncommissioned offi cer for 34th Inf. Div., took keyboard-ing and computer classes with his dad. Christopher said it was good having his father for a teacher, but it was a litt le awkward at fi rst.
“I didn’t know whether to call him ‘Dad’ or ‘Mr. Norton,’ Christopher said. “I think I fi nally sett led on ‘Dad’ because it just seemed weird to call him ‘Mr. Norton.’”
Michael said he usually stayed one step ahead of Christo-pher while teaching him.
“I knew about things like parties that were going on be-fore he did!” Michael said with a grin.
Mr. Norton the teacher has also been a Soldier in the Na-tional Guard for nearly 33 years. Despite his length of ser-vice, this deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom is his fi rst.
“Joining the Guard in 1976, deployment was never a thought,” said Michael, whose daughter, Hannah, also de-ployed to Iraq in 2004. “I joined because I wanted to serve. I joined with a couple of buddies who got out a long time ago, and I just stuck with it.”
Though his father has been in the National Guard since before he was born, Christopher said that isn’t the reason he joined.
“I didn’t get to see a whole lot of his career,” Christopher said. “The most exposure I got to his service was an occa-
Photo by Sgt. Frank Vaughn
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Norton (left), operations noncommissioned offi cer-in-charge of the engineer cell of 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, serves with his son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Norton, ammunition noncommissioned offi cer for 34th ID, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Michael also taught his son in high school prior to their service together in the Minnesota National Guard.
By Sgt. Frank VaughnMND-S
FATHERPage 6
Many ki
From the classroom to the “sandbox”Father and son maintain close relationship in any setting
Media Queries please contact 34th Inf. Div. Public Affairs Offi ce at [email protected]
Weeks of planning and hard work came to fruition as the Basra Education Center offi cially opened here June 15.
Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Robert L. Meeks, 41st Fires Brigade, said it took weeks of sun-up to sun-down work to bring his vision to life. Working with the outgoing U.K. forces’ education offi ce and going to various division sections, Meeks was able to accumu-late the tools necessary to fulfi ll a need which may have remained unrealized had he not made this his personal mis-sion.
“This is for the Soldiers,” said the Baltimore native. “There was a need (for the center) and I wanted to make sure it happened.”
The three-building complex is locat-ed next to the post offi ce and fi nance, in front of the Shining Star gift shop. There is an offi ce, computer lab and testing center to aff ord service mem-bers on COB Basra every opportunity to advance their education.
Services at the education center include college en-rollment, college classes, exam proctoring and tuition assistance, said Meeks, who administers the center.
Meeks earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal jus-tice and is working on his master’s. He teaches crimi-nal justice and military science courses here through Central Texas College and encourages Soldiers to take advantage of any and every educational program the Army off ers.
“I do it for the Soldiers because I know how hard it is to get a degree while you’re deployed,” said Meeks. “If you’re going to spend so much time away from home, at least you can come out with something posi-tive.”
Current college classes scheduled at the center include “Terrorism in the Middle East”, “Gangs in the Military” and “Investigation of Sexual Assault.” The center also off ers the Functional Academic Skills Training course to improve Soldiers’ General Technical scores, which help in warrant offi cer candidacy and changing military occupational specialties.
The education center is currently looking for moti-vated service members to assist with the programs of-fered. Meeks is expecting to redeploy in approximately two weeks.
He encourages anyone interested in helping to con-tact the center. Volunteers should have good research skills and be highly motivated. Meeks said a degree is not required to work at the education center, only “the desire to help Soldiers.”
“This is a job that has to be done because you like to do it,” explained Meeks. “It’s about Soldiers.”
With the doors to the education center now open for business, so too are the doors for the educational future of Soldiers in Basra.
The center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
For more information on programs or to assist with operations, call the center offi ce at DSN 858-4526, com-puter lab at 858-4587, or email Meeks at:[email protected].
By Staff Sgt. Derek SmithMND-S
ing and
Basra Education Center opens doors
Questions or Comments about our Foxhole? Leave them at:www.TheRedBulls.org/improvingourfoxhole
Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Robert L. Meeks (left), 41st Fires Brigade and Basra Educational Center administrator, discusses programs offered to service members with Soldiers at the education center June 15. The center is now open for Soldiers interested in furthering their education while on deployment.
COB BASRA – Singers, song writers, musicians and comedians from Multi-National Division – South auditioned for the Basra’s Got Talent competition at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation stage here June 13.
Nine Soldiers and civilians from Contingency Operating Base Basra took a chance on stage performing for a panel of judges and an intrigued au-dience.
“The Basra’s Got Talent competi-tion is one that showcases the talent of Soldiers and civilians here,” said Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Robert Meeks, a Bal-timore native and the organizer for the competition. “There are a lot of talent-ed Soldiers in the military and no one gets to see it except during events like this one.”
During the fi rst competition, each performer was judged by a panel of three MND-S Soldiers who gave their thumbs up or down. Each perform-
er needed at least two of three votes in their favor to move on to the next round.
Staff Sgt. Terry Sorrells, a San Diego native and military transition team lo-gistics noncommissioned offi cer with the 4th Department of Border Enforce-ment Region, received three out of three thumbs up for his a cappella per-formance of “Heaven” by Jamie Fox.
“My teammates pressured me into singing on stage,” he said jokingly. “Since I came out tonight, I won’t let them down.”
Sorrells has performed at several diff erent talent shows in his military career, to include the Fort Bliss, Texas Idol competition in 2006.
“This type of competition is good for the Soldiers, it gives them something to do in their free time,” said Sorrells. “I only wish there was something similar earlier in my deployment.”
By Sgt. Brandon LeFlore MND-S
MND-S Soldiers, civilians showcase talent
Photo by Sgt. Brandon LeFloreStaff Sgt. Anthony Tubman, an Augusta, Ga. native, and intelligence analyst for the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, plays “Jesus, you are the center of my joy” on alto saxophone during the Basra’s Got Talent audition June 13.
Soldiers and families alike. Some days the stress and separation is nothing short of exhausting. As such, I challenge you to think of your part in this deployment like holding a remote control. Call your remote control the “COB Bas-rah Clicker” or maybe the “Home Front Clicker” and with your clicker in hand you now must choose which butt on to push—which butt on to live your life.
Many of us love to push the fast forward butt on, don’t we? We tell ourselves that when this deployment is fi nished then we’ll be happy, then our real life will start again. We literally wish away our days so that reunion day will come. We use phrases like “killing time” and we cherish our daily countdowns. For others the rewind butt on is the mode of choice. By pushing rewind we can spend all our time and energy thinking about past decisions, analyzing our mistakes and regrets. Sometime we even convince ourselves that the past was bett er than it really was . . . we dream of the good ole’ days before the deployment.
Now, let’s not forget the alluring pause butt on. In the pain of deployment it is sure tempting to fi nd drastic escapes from reality, to “check out” and push pause on
the real world. Unfortunately, this butt on oft en includes medicating our pain with unhealthy distractions that leave us numb and empty.
This sometimes leads a person to consider pushing the stop butt on by taking his or her own life. If that is you to-day know that there are people who care for you, people who are praying you do not push this butt on. You do not have to face the pain alone and help is a phone call away.
Now we have left out one important butt on, and that is the play butt on. By “pushing play” we choose to live in the current moment. This is the hardest butt on to push but make no mistake; it is the only butt on that brings you and me real life.
By pushing play we choose to accept reality with all of the challenges and blessings. By pushing play we show courage and trust that God will meet us and care for us in this very moment, this very day. My friends, I believe pushing play is not just the very best way to live – it is the only way to live.
In doing this, you and I will begin to recognize that we have choices and can make today a meaningful day through our thoughts and actions. One writer put it like this, “The past is history; The future is a mystery; This moment is a gift ; That is why this moment is called the present.” Try pushing play and living in the only time you have. I think you’ll fi nd it is the only butt on worth pushing.
RED BULL RED BULL CHAPELCHAPEL
“I wish I could have competed in the Basra Idol competition but I was out of the area,” he added.
1st Lt. Matt hew Cassidy, 1st Batt al-ion, 150th Att ack Reconnaissance Bat-talion, and Sgt. Joe Roos, public aff airs offi ce, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, both wrote and performed their own music.
“It was nice to get a chance to come out and play,” said Cassidy, a pilot and Conneautville, Pa. native.
This audition is only the fi rst of three competitions, all of which will be held on Saturdays at 6 p.m.
Of the nine performers who audi-tioned, only eight will go on to the next round, come out to the MWR stage June 20 to see who will make it to the fi nals.
From Page 4TALENT
For all of Sgt. LeFlore’s stories, go to:www.TheRedBulls.org/LeFlore
Photo by Sgt. Brandon LeFlore
1st Lt. Matthew Cassidy, a pilot with 1st Bn., 150th ARB, MND-S, performs for a panel of judges and a captivated audience during the Basra’s Got Talent audition June 13. Cassidy received three votes in his favor for his performance and will be competing again June 20 for a chance at the fi nals.
By Chap. (1st Lt.) Mike Lotzer MND-S
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Visit the Red Bull Chapel online at:www.TheRedBulls.org/RedBullChapel
sional (annual training) family day.”Christopher said his decision to join was an inde-
pendent one. “I decided to join at the end of my junior year (of
high school),” he said. “I knew I had to pay for college somehow.”
Christopher actually deployed to Iraq before his father. He arrived here in August 2008 as a volunteer with the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade. He said he decided to extend his deployment when he learned that his father was coming.
Michael said he is pleased to have his son here. “It’s unique that you can serve with your own son.”
Though both go out oft en on missions, they take whatever time they can to spend together outside of work.
Christopher said he enjoys being able to see his dad aft er he fi nishes his day. They spend time together at Michael’s containerized housing unit talking and catching up with each other. Michael has also toured Christopher’s living quarters.
“I live in a coffi n,” Christopher said. “He came over with me to check it out the other day.”
As Father’s Day approaches, both are thankful that they will be together, which hasn’t always been the case.
“I’ve missed many Father’s Days for AT,” said Mi-chael. “I’m thankful that I’ll have my son with me for this one.”
Christopher said he has big plans for his dad for Father’s Day.
“I’m taking him out to dinner,” he joked. “We’ll go to either the (dining facility) or maybe Echos!”
1. Frigid5. Legislation8. Circle fragments12. Found in skin lotion13. A dish of greens and tomatoes15. Flesh of animals16. Green thing on a tree17. Avoid18. Pimples
19. For a second22. Any doctrine23. Negation of a word24. Pack down26. Walking with short steps29. A bread shop31. Possesses32. Floral leaf34. Brown ermine36. At one time (archaic)
52. Mountain pass54. Fabricate61. Wings63. Echo sounder64. At the peak of65. Seats oneself66. Stench67. A superhero might wear one68. “Little piggies”69. Dawn goddess70. You (archaic)
betan oxen25. Distribute26. Merchandise27. Absorb28. Geologic period29. Dull30. Stories31. Chop down33. Ottoman offi cer35. Egyptian boy king37. Stepped39. Designate 42. An unpleasant destiny44. Secular47. Kind49. Undamaged52. Group of actors53. Mélange55. Memo56. Pearly-shelled mussel57. Air movement devices58. Great Salt Lake state59. A strong line60. Sword62. S
Across
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Crossword
For puzzle solutions visit: www.TheRedBulls.org/puzzlesolutions
From Page 2FATHER
For all of Sgt. Vaughn’s stories, go to:www.TheRedBulls.org/Vaughn
Dr. Rick Brennan Jr., (right) Multi-National Forces - Iraq, leads his son, Capt. Richard Brennan III, executive offi cer, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in the oath of the offi cer corps in a promotion ceremony recently. The Brennans are natives of Tempe, Ariz.
World News: SEOUL, South Korea –– Russia and China urged North Korea on June 17 to return to the negotiating table on the fate of its rogue nuclear programs in an unusual joint appeal from two Security Council members who have resisted more punitive U.S. measures against Pyongyang. The appeal came just hours aft er North Korea warned of a “thousand-fold” military retaliation against the U.S. and its allies if provoked. The United States, meanwhile, called on Pyongyang to stop its saber-ratt ling and negotiate. The fact that the Chinese and Russian leaders used their meetings in Moscow to jointly pressure North Korea appeared to be a signal that Moscow and Beij ing are growing impatient with Pyongyang’s stubbornness. With Washington and Pyongyang exchanging near daily rhetorical salvos, Russia and China appeared to be positioning themselves as moderators in the dispute.
U.S. News:NEW YORK –– Irene Prusik has been dead for six years. In April, someone showed up at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Brooklyn to renew her driver’s license. The explanation given by prosecutors rivals the Hitchcock classic “Psycho”: It was her son, in drag. Thomas Parkin, 49, was charged June 17 in the bizarre plot to impersonate his deceased mother so he could collect $117,000 in government benefi ts. He and the man accused of being his accomplice, Mhilton Rimolo, pleaded not guilty to grand larceny, criminal impersonation and other charges. Both men were ordered held on $1 million bail.
Sports News:RICHMOND, Va. –– Danica Patrick’s likely free agency at the end of the IndyCar Series will make her a hot commodity among teams in the open-wheel series and NASCAR. Any announcement about her next move, however, will have to wait until October. The IndyCar Series season fi nishes Oct. 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and she said June 16 her main focus will be on win-ning as many races as she can and fi nishing as high in the driver’s point standings as possible. Patrick is fi ft h in IRL points. Patrick became the only woman to ever win a major open-wheel race last season in Japan and she is in the fi nal year of her contract with Andrett i-Green Racing. She said she and her agents are gathering information about what her options, including talking with open-wheel teams and possibly NASCAR owners.
Odd News:RALEIGH, N.C. –– When Joseph Carnevale chopped up three stolen orange and white traffi c barrels from a construction site to create a massive sculpture of a roadside monster thumbing a ride, the North Carolina college student said he saw it as a form of street art. Raleigh, N.C., police just saw vandalism. They dismantled the 10-foot “barrel monster” and arrested Carnevale. Hun-dreds of online supporters want the charges dropped and the publicity has turned the history major and part-time construction worker into a local celebrity. Even the construction company has become a fan, and wants the 21-year-old to create a replica of the fi gure that led to his arrest on June 10.
