505th en bn september newsletter

fessional development is

a must!

Sustain healthy commu-

nication both here and

with your friends and

family back home. As

busy as we are, it is easy

to get caught up in the

“rumor mill” when the

true answer can simply

be had by asking a ques-

tion through the chain of

command. Regular com-

munication with our

families also keeps us

grounded and con-

nected; assuaging fears

or false impressions and

bolstering mutual sup-

port.

We have the right to be

proud of the work we

have done so far; of our-

selves, our companies,

and the 505th. Under-

stand that you are work-

ing important, enduring,

historic missions.

Keep improving, keep

communicating, and

keep up the hard

work!

“FROM THE

GROUND UP!”

Castle 6

We have indeed had a

busy month. Thankfully,

we are seeing tempera-

tures moderate as we

continue to learn our

jobs, conduct engineer

operations, and

“improve our foxholes”. We all knew when we

deployed that world

events would ebb and

flow beyond our con-

trol. The current situa-

tion with the embassy

attacks around the Mid-

dle East and the height-

ened tensions, however,

serve to underscore the

importance of what is in

our control. We have the

control to remain vigi-

lant; retain situational

awareness, communi-

cate, pursue self-

improvement, and look

to our battle buddies,

leadership, and families

for support and guid-

ance.

CSM Scott and I had the

good fortune to travel to

Afghanistan to visit our

soldiers there. The mis-

sion is going very well

considering its con-

straints; leaders and sol-

diers alike are motivated

and dedicated to the

tasks at hand. This huge

undertaking is the larg-

est single project in this

battalion’s history and is

the most important mili-

tary construction mis-

sion in theater.

Projects in Kuwait are

also critical and impor-

tant to the US mission.

505th Soldiers are all

over the area of respon-

sibility and remain en-

gaged and busy. Several

upcoming projects are

vital and of the highest

priority to ASG-Kuwait

and the host nation.

Among the many things

that we are tracking is

Soldier education. We

have been fortunate to

get several Soldiers to

the Warrior Leader

Course and have made a

big push to fulfill indi-

vidual on-line Struc-

tured Self Development

requirements. There are

many Soldiers pursuing

civilian education on

line as well. The battal-

ion is also finalizing

plans for the “Engineer

Academy” to further our

education as engineers

between missions. Pro-

September 2012

From the Ground Up

505th Engineer Combat Battalion

“Make no little plans.

They have no magic to

stir men's blood ... Make

big plans; aim high in

hope and work ..."

- Daniel Burnham

“The germ of gossip may

be likened to the germ of

cancer – as the latter con-

taminates and rots the

healthy flesh, so the for-

mer contaminates and

rots the social fabric, har-

mony, and happiness of

the unit.”

– Officers Manual,

1917 ed., Major J.A.

Moss

“Don’t sweat the things

you can’t control”

- Robert Wilks

Page Content

1 BN CDR

875 EN CO 2/3

4/5 FSC

6/7 497 EN CO

8/9 HHC

10 882 EN CO

11 Birthdays

12 927 SDT

13 BN Staff

14/15 Photos of Kuwait

16/17 544 EN CO

18 BN Maintenance Shop

and 544 (last shot)

2

1st Platoon’s second

month has been as busy as

the first. They have com-

pleted an ammo pad, spread

reclaimed asphalt at the

Kuwait Naval Base, built a

pad for the veterinarians,

and repaired several roads

and yards on Camp Arifjan.

Soldiers are becoming more

experienced at operating

heavy equipment everyday.

As shown to the right, SPC

Martin is operating one of

the more skill-required

pieces, the motor grader.

Many of our Soldiers are becoming so proficient enough

that the platoon is able to complete missions days ahead of

schedule. LT Robinson states, “We have our sights set on

many more projects ahead and look forward to the coming

months. in Afghanistan.”

movement forward to Afghanistan later

this month and has packed containers

with spare parts, oil, and lubrication.

They have truly came together as a

team and have made all of the missions

possible. After all, nothing can be done

with equipment that won’t run!

The maintenance crew has

put in relentless hours in order

to fix and maintain the neces-

sary equipment to complete the

engineer missions in Kuwait

and in Afghanistan.

The equipment in Kuwait is

up to 90% mission capable,

which is a huge turn around

from when the team (shown

left) arrived two months ago.

The maintenance team in Af-

ghanistan is working an aver-

age of 15 hours each day to

improve the initial mission

capability of 30% when they

arrived one month ago.

The crew in Kuwait is

making preparations for their

875th’s Maintenance... Defining “Busy”

2nd Platoon, Construction at Camp John Pratt, Afghanistan

2nd PLT worked tirelessly in their

first few weeks in Afghanistan battling

the unfamiliar terrain, constant climate

changes, unforgiving dust storms and

being away from their loved ones in

NC. During 2PLT’s short time at

Camp John Pratt, they have worked on

12 different sites and completed three

projects. They work two shifts a day

dedicated to completing the mission

and representing the Workhorse repu-

tation.

“New missions are

given daily and

Soldiers are never

doing the same

thing as the day

before.” -1LT

Morrison

Engineers: From the Ground UP!

SPC Martin operating the grader for the

W7A yard improvement project.

SSG Hardenberger operating the

HYEX.

From left: SPC Shoaf, SPC Dennison, PFC

Wyatt, SPC Highsmith, SSG Creighton, SPC

Avalos, SGT Grogg, SGT Faw, PFC Jones,

and PFC Jarman. SPC Mitchell from 2PLT operating

the pan.

3

3rd Platoon is working with 2nd platoon to

complete three large projects and several

smaller projects in Afghanistan. Each day

brings a new challenge and 3rd Platoon is hard

at work for two shifts each day.

3rd platoon’s main project, the 110 acre

motor pool is being constructed by rough

grading existing soil, laying two inch rock,

and then capping it off with base material.

They are also preparing many tent pads as

part of this project which must be between at

3% grade.

As a whole, 3rd platoon has adapted to the

challenge of living and working in Afghani-

stan and is working seven days a week.

3rd Platoon, Ready To WORK! Camp John Pratt, Afghanistan

Commander’s Comments

been working on a variety of pro-

jects improving roads and prepar-

ing grounds for future construction

on Camp Arifjan and the Kuwaiti

naval base. October looks to be

even busier as we will begin 24

hour operations on our project sites

in Afghanistan.

I am also excited to say that our

whole company will soon be united

in Afghanistan and will continue to

uphold our tradition of excellence

that we have become known for.

This month has seen Work-

horse Soldiers going full speed

ahead in both Afghanistan and

Kuwait. Our Soldiers in Af-

ghanistan have hit the ground

running and have been working

on preparing motor-pools that

will be used in retrograding

equipment out of Afghanistan,

preparing grounds for a new

American dining facility and

digging a storm-water retention

pond.

Our Soldiers in Kuwait have

Members of 3rd Platoon working with Red Horse on a hasty Entry Control Point .

Soldiers from 3rd Platoon working at the LOCGAP site.

SPC Martin operating the grader for the

W7A yard improvement project.

CPT William M. Dudley, Company Commander


4


FROM THE COMMANDER’S DESK:

The Alpha Dawgs have now been in country for a little over two months. Time for most of us is flying by. The

Alpha Dawgs have settled into a battle rhythm and work is steady. Below is just a portion of what we do and have been

doing to support “From the Ground Up”

The Distribution Platoon has been supporting a two front mission with troops in Afghanistan and Kuwait. Their

fuel handlers have pumped over 20,000 gals of fuel between the two locations, and with the start of our third month,

their truck drivers (88Ms), have become very familiar with all the Kuwaiti roads. They have driven in excess of 15,000

miles in our short time here.

The Field Feeding section of the Alpha Dawgs has been tasked out to several locations, where they manage food

service operations that have resulted in an average of 100,000 meals a month being served. SSG Duckworth and SGT

Hinks are working on their Contracting Officer Representative certification so they can help manage the food service

contracts and ensure the contractors follow the proper contracting rules and guidelines. This certification also ensures

that the Government receives the most cost effective solutions to feeding our soldiers. Other duties include PV2 Geor-

ges and SPC Jones inspecting and certifying the connex shipments coming into the DFACS (dining facilities also known as

mess halls). SPC Palmer serves as the Fire Marshal ensuring compliance with the fire codes and that the DFACS have

emergency plans in case of fire.

The Maintenance Platoon has fully inspected all equipment left from the departing unit and is showing the rest of

Arifjan how real maintenance is done! They have repaired over 105 vehicles from a non-mission capable status to fully

mission capable. In addition, we have supported six other Companies with their maintenance work load. The welding

section of the maintenance platoon has completed 14 jobs to date and is currently working on six more. The jobs have

ranged from fabrication and installation of a flag pole to the fabrication and installation of load bearing supports for build-

ing structures.

This is only a small portion of what this Company does to support our Battalion and sister units. Know this;

that the Alpha Dawgs are staying busy and doing a great job to support our mission. Once again, I want to say thanks to

all our loved ones and friends back home. As I’ve said before, our support here is what we do for our country; the sup-

port our family and loved ones send are for our drive to come home and to finish this deployment with great pride. Un-

til next month, know the Alpha Dawgs are leading the pack! GO ALPHA DAWGS!!!

-FSC Company Commander Rodney Woody

SPC Atha and SPC Garner receive Certificates of

Appreciation for their welding skills

5

PFC Miller and SPC James washing a M916 at the wash rack at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

A D9 bulldozer at the Battalion Motor Pool.


6

Greetings Devastator friends and family! It is difficult for me to believe it has

already been a month since I wrote my

last article. The time is flying by. On

the 1st of September, we had a the whole

company together for a large ceremony

in which we awarded “combat patches”

to all of our Devastator Soldiers. It was

an awesome event that included some

promotions, certificates of achievements,

and coins. The following day we had an

early celebration of our Company Organ-

izational Day. The Devastators woke up

early and conducted a 7 km company run

on Camp Arifjan. Following that, we

had some friendly platoon-level sports

competition and a BBQ. Congratula-

tions to the mighty 2nd Platoon who

won the ultimate football bracket, and

to Headquarters who took the dodge

ball bracket. It was a great day to get

together as a company for the first

time in four months. It hasn’t been all fun and

games though. By the time you all

read this, we will have past the half-

way point of the deployment. It has

been somewhat busy so far, with a lot

of operating time and everyone get-

ting some valuable experience. Al-

though we are over the hump, the fun

is far from over. Soon we will begin a

large project that will

involve most of the

nation, we managed to

pull the entire com-

pany together in one place for two days

of relaxation and fun. The entire event

included BBQ, sporting events, awards

and promotion ceremonies. One of the

highlights was the “Patching” ceremony,

officially recognizing your Soldiers sac-

rifice in deploying overseas in the de-

fense of our Country. I had the opportu-

nity to “patch” all the first time deploy-

ers in HQ PLT, proud of their hard work

and tireless efforts. But the best part of

the entire month was that realization that

we are half way done. By the time you

read this we will have passed the four

and a half month mark in theater, put-

ting us over the hump and on the way

back down. Of course we still have a lot

of work ahead of us, but the end is in

sight and we could not be more excited.

This last month also brought a lot of

changes to HQ. We received a new

NCO in his place, SGT Petro. SGT

Petro is a very hard charging and

motivated NCO and we are lucky to

have him. Up until now he has been

applying his leadership to 1st PLT

and I know that he will be missed

there. We also welcomed back SSG

Fichter from Afghanistan, and we

couldn’t be more excited. I am also

proud to say that HQ has a newly

“promotable” Soldier. SPC (P) Wil-

cox has proven himself to be ready

for the responsibilities and duties of

a NCO, demonstrating that fact by

receiving a unanimous recommen-

dation from a board of Senior

NCO’s. Congratulations SPC Wil-

cox!

As always we are grateful

for the continued support. I know

from experience that these “hump”

months can often be the hardest

time in a deployment. Your support

and continued backing are the life

blood that keeps us going.

HQ PLT:

Well another month has

come and gone here in Kuwait,

leaving us a little cooler, a little

more tired, and ALOT more ready

to come home to friends and fam-

ily. Your Soldiers have spent the

last 30 days reintegrating 2nd PLT,

planning and organizing several

big events, and most recently mov-

ing to another location in support

of a big project. This most recent

move marks the fourth location in

two countries that HQ has estab-

lished its operations in just fewer

than five months. It just goes to

show how versatile and resilient

these Soldiers really are. One of

the biggest highlights of the last

month was the Company Organ-

izational Day over the Labor Day

weekend. After weeks of meticu-

lous planning and endless coord-


By CPT

John

Makar 497th EN

CO

company. This particular project

will be great, as it will challenge

Soldiers and NCOs at all levels to

complete the work on time and to

standard. We are all really looking

forward to breaking ground. As always, I want to thank

you all again for the support you

give us. All of the letters and pack-

ages that we receive from you moti-

vate us to no end. I want to give a

special thank you for those who are

actively participating in the FRG.

Your help and participation means a

lot to both me and Lauren.

Devastator 6 Out!

7


friendly strife. With the exception of the

Labor Day trip we have been hard at

work at Camp Buehring. As Septem-

ber comes to a close, the weather is

thankfully beginning to turn the cor-

ner from miserable to slightly less

miserable. With this change of sea-

sons our work hours have increased

and our productivity is at its highest

right now. Every Soldier is gainfully

employed working on one of our

multiple projects, and the experience

and equipment hours that the Outlaw

Soldiers are gaining while over here

will work wonders towards their

development and future abilities on con-

struction projects. We would like to extend be-

lated congratulations to PFC Benson

and SPC Cygan and their families on the

birth of their children, Alexander Mi-

chael Benson and Denver Cygan were

born happy, healthy, and eager to join

the Outlaw team on August 24th! Fi-

nally, we would once again like to thank

all the family and friends who have been

so supportive to us throughout our

deployment, you are all the reason we

are over here, thank you so much!

Outlaw 1-6

1ST PLT: To kick off the month, the

Outlaws took a platoon trip to visit

the rest of the company for some

camaraderie, games and food. While

we left the Labor Day picnic event

without any champions in Ultimate

Football or Dodge ball, we realized

something even more important while

visiting the company; “Its not always

about winning, sometimes its about

letting other platoons win so that they

don’t hate 1st Platoon for being so

incredibly awesome”, and that lesson

was worth surrendering our other-

wise assured victories on the fields of

2ND PLT: Hello family and friends of the

“Renegade” platoon!

The last few weeks have

been filled with fun, HEAT, busyness

and excitement as we adjust to our

new surroundings in Kuwait. It has

been almost a month since the major-

ity of the Platoon returned from Af-

ghanistan and reunited with each

other and the 497th EN Company

Headquarters. To recap some of our

accomplishments as a platoon during

the past few months, the Renegade

Platoon moved over 275,000 cubic

yards of earth in just over two

months in Afghanistan – that’s enough

dirt to fill an Olympic-size swimming

pool over 84 times! Back in Kuwait,

our PLT detachment repaired over

2100 meters of a severely damaged

road leading to a fuel farm.

We’ll end with some con-

3RD PLT: The first half of September has been restful

for 3rd Platoon allowing for some time to re-

cuperate from our projects. During this time

some of the platoon has been afforded the

opportunity to visit some historical sites in

Kuwait. One of the sites was the Grand

Mosque in Kuwait City. The trip proved to be

very educational and a great time away from

the daily tasks on the Camp.

The second half of September should prove

to be busy for not only 3rd Platoon but the

entire Company. The Devastators have been

given a large construction mission that should

last almost all of the rest of the deployment.

The mission should be a good learning ex-

perience for all and improve the relationship

between the United States and Kuwaiti gov-

ernment.

We are looking forward to the work ahead of

us and will enjoy the construction experience

that we will gain. This project will be the

gratulatory notes for

Soldiers who have demonstrated

excellence through outstanding

achievements. Congratulations to

SGT Fielding for his promotion to E-

5 and SGT Delinois who was also

promoted to SGT earlier during this

deployment and recently graduated

Warrior Leaders Course with the

Distinguished Leadership Award.

Also, congratulations to SPC Ku and

SPC Harris on their merit-based field

promotions from PFC to SPC in

Afghanistan.

We are proud of all we

have accomplished thus far, glad to

be back, and look forward to the

rest of the deployment as we gear

up for another high-priority con-

struction project within our unit’s

area of responsibility. We are proud

to represent the 497th EN CO,

52nd EN BN, and 505th EN BN as

we continue to execute our jobs to

a very high standard the Renegade

way!

8


Warrior leader course Warrior Leader Course or WLC is a course given here in

Kuwait for current and future Noncommissioned Officers

(NCOs) of the U.S. Army. Active duty, National Guard, and

Reserve Soldiers from all over Theater come together for a

two week course given at Camp Buehring, Kuwait to learn the

basic skills needed to lead a team of Soldiers. WLC teaches

Soldiers to lead from the front, while leading by example.

Upon arrival at WLC, day zero, we staged our bags outside

the main building and arranged ourselves into several forma-

tions; reserved slots, E-5s not reserved, and lower enlisted not

reserved. All Soldiers who had a reserved slot began in-

processing while everyone else waited for a slot to open. It

was a very swift process compared to the usual “hurry up and

wait” game. We finished in less than an hour. After in-

processing, we had a briefing to meet the Small Group Lead-

ers (SGLs), review the rules, and meet the Commandant.

Then, the First Sergeant

called out our names and

our assigned SGLs took

over. We took all of our

bags to our tents and

inventoried our equip-

ment. We had three days

to come up with any

missing equipment or be

sent home.

Following day zero,

week one officially be-

gan. The general atmos-

phere of WLC is depend-

ent upon the SGL’s per-

sonality. My SGL

wanted to get everything

done in the first week so

we would have ample

time to practice Tactical

Leadership, Squad Drills,

and Physical Readiness Training (PRT), the three most trou-

bling evaluations for most. Needless to say, my first week of

WLC was extremely hectic. Day three was our first written

examination and all three Military Writing assignments, the

essay about the Soldier’s Creed, and the Oral History brief

was due on day five. Our SGL gave us the entire week to

accomplish these tasks, but with class not finishing until after

dinner chow, we really had to put forth an effort and stay after

class to complete all the assignments.

Sunday, day seven, kicked off the beginning of week two of

WLC. It also marked day one of PRT evaluations. Evalua-

tions were tough and to go first, even tougher. My partner and

I had no one before us to learn from. We set the stage for eve-

ryone else. Everyone was allowed a partner so the SGL could

evaluate two people at once, but evaluations still took four

days. During this time, we also worked on Individual Training

presentations, prepared for two more written exams, and

worked on Tactical Leadership for the Situational Training

Exercise.

The Situational Training Exercise (STX), which lasted for

three days, was part evaluation and part grand finale for the

end of WLC. Day one, I was the Opposing Force (OPFOR)

and day two, I was evaluated on Tactical Leadership as a

Squad Leader. I was in charge of Alpha and Bravo team as

we maneuvered through a Mobile Urban Training (MOUT)

Site to complete our mission. We had a combination of

blanks, smoke rounds, and artillery simulators at our dis-

posal. The most important part of the evaluation was not

completion of the mission or how well it was completed,

but the execution of the Troop Leading Procedures. We had

to receive a mission, issue a warning order, and prepare our

troops accordingly. The third and final day was used as a

structured “free-for-all”. When all evaluations were over,

we were issued twenty sim-rounds (paint rounds) to engage

the enemy and were divided into platoons with specific

tasks to complete the overall mission. One platoon acted as

OPFOR, while the other

three were Blue Forces

(BLUFOR) or Friendly

Forces. The entire mission

lasted an hour and was a

successful ending to two

weeks of evaluations.

The day following the STX

was graduation, the day that

every one longed for from

day one. It meant we were

done and we were ready to

go out and do what NCOs

do, lead. I had an amazing

squad throughout WLC and

80% graduated at the top of

the Commandant’s List. My

squad and I learned to work

together right from the start

and our SGLs gave us the latitude to grow and rely on each

other for success. Because of their absence at times, we

thought that they did not care, but they were really teaching

us that NCOs lead, but they also have to follow and work

together in order to get the job done.

I left WLC with a new outlook on what an NCO really is,

what we stand for, and with a new level of motivation to be

a better NCO and to help future NCOs better themselves. I

came back to Camp Arifjan and started holding classes for

505th Engineer Battalion Soldiers who want to attend WLC

while in country. My goal is to give them a firm foundation

for some of the more important evaluations they will face at

WLC, so when they arrive, they will have the confidence

and the tools to graduate with honors. I could not imagine

learning more from any othercourse than what I learned

from WLC.

-SGT Brittany Swain

9 Engineers: From the Ground UP!

SGT Brittany Swain at Warrior Leader Course Graduation

The Warrior Leader course is a demanding and leadership focused class. It helps prepare

Soldiers to advance to the rank of sergeant and hones the skills of junior NCO's.

Congratulations to the following Soldiers for completing the Third Army NCO Academy.

Command Sergeant Major Carlos V. Scott

SGT Schoate 544th SGT Swain HHC

SGT Jones 882nd SGT Busick FSC

SGT Inman 544th SGT Hayes 882nd

SGT Griffin 882nd SGT Hoffman FSC

SGT Hervey 544th SGT Bogacki 497th

SGT Mackey FSC SPC Delinois 497th

Soldiers of the 497th at work

10 Engineers: From the Ground UP! Page

10

Most Soldiers keep up with themselves every

day without fail. Diet, personal hygiene, and

physical fitness are all cornerstones of a fit

and healthy military-minded man or woman.

Oftentimes, however, they don’t treat their

equipment and vehicles with the same care.

Even when they do, different machines,

trucks, and tools just naturally need periodic

maintenance. When something breaks, leaks,

or stops functioning, SFC Tyndall’s team of

mechanics gets the job done and then some.

Here at Arifjan, the mechanic shop has been

full of vehicles on an almost daily basis. The

goal of the mechanics is to have all vehicular

or equipment faults fixed in an expedient man-

ner every time and, as we near our second

month in country, SSG Honeycutt and others

have done just that.

While maintaining vehicles and equipment,

our mechanics are also responsible for teaching . This past week,

they assisted with the driver’s training program which is responsi-

ble for issuing licenses to soldiers on base. Soldiers are required

to take the course and have a military-issued license provided

before they are allowed to drive any vehicle on or off-post. In addition to Driver’s Training, the mechanics of the 882nd have

been working hard to spread the word about PMCS.

This could be something as simple as refilling the window

washer fluid or as complex as lubricating bearings. Unfortunately, many younger Soldiers lack the base knowledge to

perform PMCS and, again, the mechanics are there to help them

“learn the ropes.”

Oftentimes, Soldiers overlook their mechanic element until some-

thing breaks or a tire goes flat, but little do they know the hard

work and dedication they put in every day at the garage repairing,

maintaining, and adding functionality to the equipment essential

to everyone’s mission at the 882nd and for that, we say “thank

you.”

Spc. James Benefield Public Affairs Officer 882nd En Co.

Spc. Naylor repairs the bearings on a 5-ton truck

Soldiers from the 882nd work long hours on construction projects at military

installations around Kuwait.

11 Page


PFC Albright

SPC Furr

LTC Gilbert

WO3 Knuutila

SSG Rodriguez

SGT Chadwick

OV2 Georges

SPC Harris

1LT Richardson

SPC Shelby, A

1LT Stocker

PFC Byrd

PV2 Pierson

PFC Winebarger

PFC Kasuke

SPC Brogen

SPC Childress

PFC Dover

MSG Houck

PFC Humphrey

SFC Collings SPC Cope

SSG Prevette SPC Slater

SSG Crull

SPC Cygan

SPC Fitzgerald

SPC Elward

SGT Doherty

PFC Jimenez

SPC McCready

SGT Mendyka

SPC Rohr

SPC Thate

PFC Wright

SGT Helms

PV2 Hendrix

SPC Hopper

SPC Ivester

SPC Maddox

SPC Mayberry

SPC Lawton

1LT Pelusi

SGT Beck

October Military History 2 1863 President Abraham Lincoln designates the last Thursday in November as "Thanksgiving Day" in re

sponse to the vast casualties taken at the Battle of Gettysburg earlier in July.

5 1863 Confederate submersible torpedo boat CSS 'David' damages USS 'New Ironsides' with a spar torpedo off

Charleston Harbor in South Carolina.

7 1780 Revolutionary War Battle of King's Mountain, North Carolina, the American “Over the Mountain Boys” defeat

Loyalists and British troops led by Colonel Banester Tarelton

9 1942 On Guadalcanal the Marines encircle the Japanese 4th Infantry Regiment near Henderson Field.

13 1944 The Pacific island Peleliu is secured by the 1st Marine Division suffering 1,200 KIA while exterminating the

12,000 man Japanese Army garrison.

19 1781 At the Siege of Yorktown British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washing ton's Franco-

American forces serving as the effective end of the Revolutionary War.

24 1944 Due to severe damage inflicted by Japanese torpedo bombers during the vast naval Battle of Leyte Gulf, the

heavily damaged aircraft carrier, the USS Princeton (CVL-23), sinks in spite of the courageous efforts of her

surviving crew to keep the ship afloat.

25 1415 On the Feast of Saint Crispin, English King Henry V routs a numerically superior French foe at the Battle of

Agincourt . Henry’s motivational speech to his troops, in Shakespeare’s version of the battle, includes the line

that they are a band of brothers.

1943 In the Pacific theater of World War 2, the Battle of Cape St. George rages in which five US destroyers sink 3 of 6

Japanese destroyers encountered in open waters.

26 1966 A fire aboard the aircraft carrier the USS Oriskany (CV-34) in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam, re

sults in the death of 43 American sailors.

12 Page


CAMP ARIFJAN –

Greetings from Kuwait! We are now closing in on

two months ‘boots on ground’ here at Camp Arifjan.

The extreme summer heat of August seems to be ta-

pering off and has averaged out to around 110 degrees

near the middle of September. While getting used to

this heat is near impossible, these ‘cooler’ days seem

to make it more bearable. Our team has been busy with survey projects all

throughout Kuwait and as well as Afghanistan. We

sent three Soldiers to Camp Marmal, Afghanistan

nearly three weeks ago to provide additional survey

support for other construction units within the battal-

ion. Those individuals have been working very hard

to keep up with the workload. Back in Kuwait, we have sev-

eral projects located on or near Camp

Arifjan and also a few projects in the

works near Camp Buehring. Our pro-

jects disbursed throughout Kuwait also

allow us to get off base and see some

of the country, which our Soldiers

definitely make the most out of if

you’re checked out our Facebook

page. Overall, morale is high and the

living conditions are comfortable. The

dining facility provides as good, if not

better, than some of the military dining

facilities that we’ve been to before.

There are also numerous amounts of

fast-food establishments, theaters,

gyms, and basketball courts for us to

take advantage of. During the past month, some of our Soldiers

have participated in some 5K runs to include Labor

Day and Patriot’s Day. T-shirts are awarded for par-

ticipating in these events and it’s almost turned into a

friendly competition between the team members on

who can collect the most t-shirts.

All in all, things are going smoothly and we’re

starting to grind it out for the long haul. All of us

from the 927th want to thank all the family and friends

that continue to show support. All the care packages,

letters, emails, and skyping are what keep us going.

Thank you!!

Top:

927th Soldiers that

completed the Pa-

triot’s Day 5K run

Left: PFC Tyler Kasuske

works hard staking

out a job site

Bottom: PFC Kasuske spends

a long day taking

ground shots

By

SPC Antonmarchi

13

The Soldiers who make up the Battalion Aid Station have been providing medical care since we hit the ground in

Kuwait. Our days are filled with evaluating and treating conditions including skin rashes, musculoskeletal issues,

gastrointestinal infections, respiratory illnesses, and much more. We are also thrilled to have so many Soldiers

come in and request assistance with smoking cessation. Our medics are always ready and able to impart their

knowledge on the environmental dangers and preventative measures that can be taken to keep our Soldiers mis-

sion ready. We also recently completed a very successful immunization exercise (SHOTEX) to get Soldiers

caught up on their required vaccinations. Our next SHOTEX for the influenza vaccine will be coming up in the

next few weeks and we are looking

forward to 100% of Soldiers being

vaccinated. Of course, our medics

are also staying abreast of the con-

stant changes in medical care

through weekly education and train-

ing exercises. As we head into the

cold weather months, we may see

different medical issues but we wel-

come the challenge. It’s what we

do…….keeping our Soldiers “in the

fight”.— Battalion Physician’s As-

sistant, 1LT Jerome Menendez

O ur nation has faced the war on terrorism for eleven years from today (9/11/2001). The hatred from many wishes the

worst upon the United States. However, I am reminded what King David wrote in Psalm 27: 1-3. “1 The LORD is my

light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the

wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.3 Though an army besiege

me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” I encourage everyone to take a

moment and remember the fallen, the courageous, and the sacrifices America has taken to fight for our freedom and liberty

for us all! I pray, “May God continue to bless our great nation and in God we trust.”

505 Staff: Battalion Chaplain


From left to right: SPC Justin Torres, SPC Erin Woodruff, SPC Sarah Bennett,

SSG Melinda Hamilton, SPC Tiffany White, PFC Shannon Lee, 1LT Jerome

Menendez

505 Staff: Battalion Aid Station

14 Page


Rear: CPT Sigmon, SGT Burgess, SPC Arnold, SSG Kopczinsky, 1LT Waweru, SSG Rodriguez, MSG Smith, CPT

Lane, CW2 Hutchins, PFC Degree

Front: SSG Gibson, 1SG Rogers, SGT Tilley, SPC Dalton, MAJ Moody, CPT Gauldin

Upcoming Races

October 10 - Navy 5k

Zone 1 MWR

October 21 - Army 10

Miler at Camp Buehring

October 30 - Halloween

5k Zone 1 MWR

SSG Tobin and SPC Paganetti participate in one of the many 5k runs on Camp

Arifjan at the Zone 1 MWR.

3rd Platoon, 497th Engi-

neer Company at the

Grand Mosque in Kuwait

city on an MWR trip.


15

Mail Call for HHC 505 EN BN, SPC Robinson and SPC Bigelow unloading packages.

PUSHING SAND. A member

of the 497 Engineer Company

at work with a grader.

BMO, Chief Jay Hutchins, demonstrates a proper sandstorm driving posture.


Commander's Corner

CPT Tyler J. Scheidt

As we prepare to cross the half-way

point in this deployment, I want to

let you know that the Soldiers of the

Spartan family are making major

contributions across multiple coun-

tries. Our mission in Afghanistan

has changed slightly and the Sol-

diers there are doing what they do

best to drive on and complete the

mission. The remainder of the

company eagerly awaits their return

to both share stories on project ex-

perience and to recognize them for

their significant contributions.

The Soldiers are starting to consider the

possibility of pulling out their running

jackets as the morning temperatures con-

tinue to drop. Although we are still in

the mid-70s each morning, the cool air is

a welcome addition and only a small step

in the direction of preparing for the frigid

temperatures we expect in Colorado dur-

ing our return in February.

3rd platoon is doing a great job covering

all vertical projects for the northern

camps while 1st and 2nd platoons balance

work between two of the southern camps.

The quality of work and craftsmanship

coming from all of our Soldiers is at such

a level that multiple units continue to

request us by name. And of course we

Greetings to the family and friends of the Operations, Supply, and

Maintenance sections!

The Soldiers and NCOs continue to work tirelessly week after week

to support the company’s construction activities. Operations proc-

essed over one hundred trip tickets to keep the platoons and leader-

ship moving around the area of operations to all of our construction

sites. They also prepared Soldiers from across the company for

schools, to include Combatives Levels I and II, the Warrior Leader

Course, and many other classes. The Supply section continues to keep

the company well-stocked with tools and materials so we can com-

plete all of our missions. The Field Maintenance Team has consis-

tently kept the platoons rolling, repairing and servicing generators,

vehicles, and anything else that needs fixing.

As always, we appreciate your support.

1LT Peter Friedewald, Spartan 5

Hello Families of First Platoon!

First platoon has been busy over the last month completing construc-

tion projects at several different camps throughout Kuwait. First

squad built a great looking guard shack and second squad built offices

for the leadership of an aviation task force out here. Both projects

really demonstrated how far the platoon has come with its construc-

tion skills. SGT Keen and SPC Amaro helped out 2nd Platoon with

their skills as plumbers during a large scale project installing latrines.

3rd Squad has been wrapping up their projects in Afghanistan and

should be joining the rest of the platoon in Kuwait soon.

The platoon welcomed PV2 Retzlaff to 1st Squad, where he has al-

ready been an asset in assisting with the completion of projects. The

platoon also has a few new members at home: the Wells family and

Holmes family each grew by one with the birth of babies. A big con-

gratulations to SSG Jach and SPC Kropp on their promotions this

month. SPC Otieno graduated Combatives Level I and SPC Taylor

graduated from Combatives Level II, both are impressive accomplish-

ments.

544th Engineer Company

couldn’t make it all happen without the

headquarters and maintenance sections

keeping everything moving.

This month’s focus was on career pro-

gression planning as well as proper

counseling and evaluation procedures.

Leaders at all levels are benefitting

from these opportunities to further their

professional development and really

learn what they can do to be successful

in the military.

Thanks again for all you do to keep us

going. I look forward to bringing eve-

ryone home to their friends,

family, and loved ones.

Spartan 6

CPL Gange trims plywood for guard shack wall sheathing

1st Platoon Soldiers install tin roofing on a building. Soldiers utilize full body

harnesses and tethers for safety when working off the ground.


17

Over the past month, 3rd Platoon has taken on a multitude of elec-

trical projects for the benefit of the varying members of the Life

Support Area (LSA) and Camp Buehring communities. A highlight

includes the lighting of the Navy Customs Yard in LSA, a once

shadowy open space structure for Servicemen leaving Kuwait. The

facility is now illuminated with five times the amount of light and

contains a state-of-the-art photocell that helps save energy. Another

is the upgrade of electrical systems in server rooms throughout

various office facilities in Camp Buehring. These upgrades per-

form the critical function of protecting computer networks during

power outages by keeping them connected online. A third project

was for the Theatre Air Operations Group, where our engineer sol-

diers installed new lighting in their dark, gloomy offices. It has

been a pleasure providing our services and contributing to the over-

arching efforts of Camp Buehring and beyond.

We would also like to congratulate SGT Falcon, one of our 1st

Squad’s team leaders, on achieving promotable status. We’re very

proud of his success at the Promotion Board and for his notable

hard work and dedication within 3rd Platoon.

2nd Platoon Family and Friends,

We have been hard at work this

past month working on a number

of construction projects across

Kuwait. We completed a major

upgrade to an operations center,

demonstrating our abilities in car-

pentry finishing and detailed elec-

trical work. We’ve also completed

a number of shower and latrine

trailer renovations for one of the

camps – not the most glamorous

work, but vitally important!

This month is full of new faces.

First, we would like to welcome

PV2 Otto, PVT Bright, and SPC

Diaz to the platoon. The recently

promoted SSG Haulbrook has also rejoined the pla-

toon has a Squad Leader. Congratulations to SPC

Cruz Bonilla on his recent promotion, as well. Sep-

tember provided a number of excellent training op-

portunities for 2nd Platoon: SGT Hervey and SGT

Schoate both graduated Warrior Leader Course, and

SPC Reinhardt graduated Combatives Level I and

SGT Boyer has just graduated Combatives Level II.

All in all, this month has been filled with individual

and team successes. Be proud of your Soldiers and

know that your support means everything!

1LT Karen DeLoria

Spartan 2-6

1st Platoon Soldiers install tin roofing on a building. Soldiers utilize full body harnesses and

tethers for safety when working off the ground.

SPC Wile prepares wire connections during a power up-

grade project.

CPL Brefeld and PV2 Luttrell demonstrate fine craftsmanship while upgrad-

ing electrical fixtures in a command building.

18

Members of the maintenance platoons

from the various companies in the

Battalion service the tactical vehicles

and construction equipment used in

the Battalion’s daily operations. There

is a wide variety of types and models

of equipment across the 505th. Our

maintenance Soldiers have hundreds

of vehicles and other pieces of equip-

ment they are responsible for keeping

operational.

Page


...The End

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