roles in Paktya province, facing down death threats to work hard every day to get their government operating effectively to serve the Af- ghan people. I was very pleased and honored that my partners jumped at the chance to recognize their American brothers and sis- ters with combat awards. As someone who also has a price on his head, I have the utmost respect for these two heroes. We hope your summer starts and ends safely at home, and if you’re fortunate to have your Soldier or Airman home, please send them back on time. Keep those great care packages and letters coming. Your support keeps our warriors in good spirits, and your contribution to the team is invaluable. Remem- ber, I love them as much as you do, and we’ll stay safe and make you proud. Chuck Douglass Dear friends and family of PRT Paktya, Here we are in June already, and everyone is still safe in the highlands of south east- ern Afghanistan. Many of you have been watching the news with some concern, and I will agree things across the south and the eastern end of the country are certainly more dangerous and active. This is what we call “the fighting season” – and this is not new to this year or even the last thirty years. With superior tactics, good equip- ment, and some old fash- ioned good luck, I’ll make sure we’ll come home to- gether. One thing I rely on the most to keep your loved ones safe is the fleet of Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected trucks – called “MRAPs” for short. Originally designed for the roads of Iraq, they have al- ready proven themselves to be life-savers for us out here. This month in the Double Tap, we’ve included a spot- light on the maintainers who do all the care and feeding for these trucks that keep us safe. If you have a loved one who maintains or drives these trucks, know that they are responsible for a big part of the PRT’s outstanding safety record. While “Gar 61” is the shining star of our fleet, and its crew by far the best in the country <ahem>, all ten trucks are near and dear to our hearts. You’ll also see we presented a lot of awards this past month, but you’ll notice I don’t appear in most of the photos. The distinguished Afghan gentlemen who pre- sented the Combat Infantry- man Badges and Combat Action Badges to your warri- ors are the Paktya acting Governor Abdal Rahman Mangal and Paktya’s acting chief of the Afghan National Police, Brig Gen Rastamayr Destigeer. These two brave men serve in vital leadership Lt Col Chuck Douglass Commander, PRT Paktya Commander’s corner INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Commander’s Corner 1 Awards & Decorations 2—5 Keeping ‘em Running 6 Mid Tour Leave 7 Life on the FOB 8 P R T P A K T Y A The Double Tap May/June 2010 Volume 2 , Issue 3 “Sometimes beauty is found in the most unlikeliest of places”
Transcript
roles in Paktya province, facing down death threats to work hard every day to get their government operating effectively to serve the Af-ghan people. I was very pleased and honored that my partners jumped at the chance to recognize their American brothers and sis-ters with combat awards. As someone who also has a price on his head, I have the utmost respect for these two heroes. We hope your summer starts and ends safely at home, and if you’re fortunate to have your Soldier or Airman home, please send them back on time. Keep those great care packages and letters coming. Your support keeps our warriors in good spirits, and your contribution to the team is invaluable. Remem-ber, I love them as much as you do, and we’ll stay safe and make you proud. Chuck Douglass
Dear friends and family of PRT Paktya, Here we are in June already, and everyone is still safe in the highlands of south east-ern Afghanistan. Many of you have been watching the news with some concern, and I will agree things across the south and the eastern end of the country are certainly more dangerous and active. This is what we call “the fighting season” – and this is not new to this year or even the last thirty years. With superior tactics, good equip-ment, and some old fash-ioned good luck, I’ll make sure we’ll come home to-gether. One thing I rely on the most to keep your loved ones safe is the fleet of Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected trucks – called “MRAPs” for short. Originally designed for the roads of Iraq, they have al-ready proven themselves to be life-savers for us out here. This month in the Double Tap, we’ve included a spot-light on the maintainers who do all the care and feeding for these trucks that keep us safe. If you have a loved one who maintains or drives these trucks, know that they
are responsible for a big part of the PRT’s outstanding safety record. While “Gar 61” is the shining star of our
fleet, and its crew by far the best in the country <ahem>, all ten trucks are near and dear to our hearts. You’ll also see we presented a lot of awards this past month, but you’ll notice I don’t appear in most of the photos. The distinguished Afghan gentlemen who pre-sented the Combat Infantry-man Badges and Combat Action Badges to your warri-ors are the Paktya acting Governor Abdal Rahman Mangal and Paktya’s acting chief of the Afghan National Police, Brig Gen Rastamayr Destigeer. These two brave men serve in vital leadership
Lt Col Chuck Douglass Commander, PRT Paktya
C o m m a n d e r ’ s c o r n e r
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
Commander’s Corner 1
Awards & Decorations 2—5
Keeping ‘em Running 6
Mid Tour Leave 7
Life on the FOB 8
P R T P A K T Y A
The Double Tap May/June 2010 Volume 2 , Issue 3
“Sometimes beauty is found in the most unlikeliest of places”
P a g e 2 T h e D o u b l e T a p
1LT Michael Bromley is awarded the Combat Infan-tryman Badge by the Paktya Province Deputy Gover-
nor Abdal Rahma Mangal
SFC Jeffrey Reagan is awarded the Combat Infantry-man Badge by the Acting Afghan National Police
Chief of Paktya Brigadier General Rastamayr Destigeer
CPL Joshua Imbrogno is awarded the Combat Infan-tryman Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
SPC Matthew Randall is awarded the Combat Infan-tryman Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
PFC William Winklarek is awarded the Combat In-fantryman Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
TSgt Bernadette Ross is awarded the PRT Paktya NCO of the month award for her outstanding perform-ance as the PRT’s Supply LNO
P a g e 3 V o l u m e 2 , I s s u e 3
SPC Joseph Siebert is awarded the Combat Infantry-man Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
SPC Benjamin Weyandt is awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
SPC Cecil Howard is awarded the Combat Infantry-man Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
PFC Micah Ott is awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
SPC Scott Hatfield is awarded the Combat Action Badge by Lt Col Chuck Douglass
SPC Eric Michalsky is awarded the Combat Infantry-man Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
P a g e 4 T h e D o u b l e T a p
PFC Charles Stanavich is awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
PFC Brandon Bowers is awarded the Combat In-fantryman Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
Capt Matthew Olson is awarded the Combat Ac-tion Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
Above Left: MSgt David Austin is awarded the Combat Action Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal Above Right: TSgt Melissa Elkins is awarded the Combat Action Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer Right: CPL Nicholas Kerr is awarded the Combat Action Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
SrA Joshua Governal is awarded the Army Achievement Medal by Lt Col Chuck Douglass, PRT Commander, for
outstanding performance
P a g e 5 V o l u m e 2 , I s s u e 3
PFC Hunter Fronius is awarded the Combat Infan-tryman Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
SrA Laura Brayfield is awarded the Combat Action Badge by Brig Gen Destigeer
TSgt Bernadette Ross is awarded the Army Achievement Medal by Lt Col Chuck Douglass, PRT Commander, for
outstanding performance
SrA Bethany Haugstad is awarded the PRT Paktya Airman of the Month award for her outstanding performance as one of the PRT’s Medical Technicians
SPC Todd Yurt is awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
Sgt Samuel Wills is awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge by Deputy Gov Mangal
P a g e 6
T h e D o u b l e T a p
MSgt Darry Lowe, SrA Joe Endress, mine roller Field Service Rep (Joe) and the Vehicle Mainte-nance Local Nationals Johnny and Anonna Prep-ping the mine roller for attachment.
SrA Alex Carrillo prepares to insert the pins that keep the mine roller attached to the MRAP
SrA Endress uses a plasma cutter to create brackets for a frame
MSgt Lowe removes the chains used to attach the mine roller to the fork lift to put it in place next to the MRAP it will be used on
The whole vehicle maintenance crew: SrA Joe Endress, SrA Alex Carrillo, MSgt Darry Lowe, and local assistants Johnny and Anonna.
P a g e 7 V o l u m e 2 , I s s u e 3
Sgt John Page with his son Hayden in the “Gallows” at Disney World
SrA Jorae Borja poses for the camera with her son Elijah- Ray while home on leave in Texas
SPC Michael Kurka gets his first set of fam-ily portraits done while home in Pennsyl-
vania with his wife, Holly and his new baby daughter Makenzy.
SSG Juan Macias at his son Juan Jr’s high school
graduation, along with his kids Megan, Rachel, and Joel
Capt Scott Dyer enjoys the breeze on a cruise in the Hawaiian island of Kuaui while on leave
