God bless the 10th Mountain Division

If this story doesn't break your heart then you have no soul.

God bless the 10th Mountain.  Story via Stars and Stripes.

For those in Company C, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Thursday was the worst of days. Five of its Soldiers, all from 3rd Platoon’s 1st Squad, were killed when their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle rolled over an improvised explosive device on a desolate road in southern Kandahar province.
“It’s like your family just got ripped out of your heart,” Pfc. Thadius Deloatch said.

On Sunday, the Department of Defense identified those killed in the explosion: Sgt. Edward J. Frank II, 26, of Yonkers, N.Y.; Spc. Jameel T. Freeman, 26, of Baltimore, Md.; Spc. Patrick L. Lay II, 21, of Fletcher, N.C.; Spc. Jordan M. Morris, 23, of Stillwater, Okla.; Pfc. Rueben J. Lopez, 27, of Williams, Calif.

After the explosion Thursday, the battalion chaplain couldn’t get here soon enough. A line of Soldiers needing him waited late into the night, and early the next morning. For many, the tears pushed out in waves. For others, solace came in the form of a quiet stoicism.

“I don’t know what to do right now. My whole squad is gone,” Pfc. Jeremy Urzua said. His squad leader, Frank, was among the Soldiers killed in the blast and had given him a rare day off Thursday.
“I didn’t see it at first, but he just saved my life,” said Urzua, who was back at COP when the attack occurred that morning.

Longest Dead Snake Ever Seen

TRAP mission at an undisclosed location in Logar province,

U.S. Marines with the Helicopter Support Team (HST), 2nd Marine Logistics Group hook a sling onto a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464 during a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel (TRAP) mission at an undisclosed location in Logar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 10, 2011. HMH-464 and the HST performed TRAP missions in order to retrieve U.S. military equipment, and to conduct investigations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ricardo A. Gomez/Released)

Operation Black Sand

Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), set off a controlled detonation in the Ladar Bazaar in southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, during Operation Black Sand, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd CEB, Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Davis, an anti-tank assaultman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and native of Shreveport, La., uses a command launch unit for a FGM-148 Javelin missile launcher to search for enemies after taking small arms fire from insurgents during Operation Black Sand in the southern portion of Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), RCT-8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

A Black Hawk helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission soars through the skies of southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), set off a controlled detonation in the Ladar Bazaar in southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, during Operation Black Sand, Aug. 6. Through the combined efforts of 2nd CEB, Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Cpl. Jeff Drew, a combat correspondent assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), and native of Simsbury, Conn., scans a village for insurgent activity during the early morning hours of Aug. 5 during Operation Black Sand in the southern portion of the Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Cpl. Ryan Eastwick, a cryptologic linguist with Alpha Company, 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), and native of Sacramento, Calif., points out cordon positions to fellow Marines during Operation Black Sand, in the southern portion of the Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was completely destroyed.

Soldiers with The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion conduct last minute checks on their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles at Combat Outpost Shukvani before executing Operation Black Sand in the southern portion of the Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and the 33rd LIB, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

An Assault Breaching Vehicle with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward) moves into position during Operation Black Sand, Aug. 5, in southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

RAF Voyager Tanker Aircraft

A Royal Air Force Voyager aircraft is pictured refuelling a Tornado GR4 during trials by Qinetic.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.

Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.

Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

A Royal Air Force Voyager Tanker Aircraft.
The RAF’s largest ever aircraft, Voyager, has been flown by an RAF pilot at the Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford for its first public appearance.
Fourteen Voyager aircraft and a complete support package are being provided to the RAF under a 27 year £10.5Bn Private Finance Initiative contract signed with the AirTanker consortium. In addition to the aircraft, the service will provide training and maintenance, and brand new purpose-built buildings at RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s air transport hub.
Photographer: Qinetic via MoD

Wow.

The size of this tanker is pure dee crazy.

The USAF lucked into the right decision.  If they had picked the A-330 like all the Air Bus apologist had recommended then the infrastructure costs alone would have caused the USAF to go bankrupt.  Some are blaming Air Force woes on the stealth fighter force.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

What the USAF is facing is in essence the block obsolescence of several different classes of airplanes at the same time. If anything, the fighter force while not perfect is at least going to be recapitalized.  Every other type of airplane is in jeopardy.  And thats the shame of it. 

And even more from the11th MEU...

8/13/2011 By Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III
First Lt. Joshua W. Cuellar, an infantry officer with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element and a native of San Clemente, Calif., assesses an island artillery range hit by the unit's howitzers Aug. 13.

8/13/2011 By Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth III
Capt. Todd Eyesenbach marks airstrike locations on a map of this island Aug 13. Eyesenbach is the officer in charge of a detachment from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company attached to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. His teams participated in close-air-support training Aug. 12-13.

8/14/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn
A UH-1Y Venom piloted by Capts. Ben Schneider and Joshua Bosworth lifts from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island Aug. 14 to support a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island. The utility helicopter belongs to a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Schneider, 34, is from Inver Grove Heights, Minn. Bosworth, 26, is from Vienna, Va.

8/14/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn
A UH-1Y Venom piloted by Capts. Kyle Wilt and Joshua Gordon lifts from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island Aug. 14 to fly snipers supporting a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California's San Clemente Island. Wilt serves with a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Wilt, 28, is from Charles Town, W.Va. Gordon, 28, is from Merriam, Kan.

8/14/2011 By Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn
An AH-1Z Viper piloted by Maj. Daniel P. McGuire lifts from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island Aug. 14 to support a counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California’s San Clemente Island. The attack helicopter belongs to a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The unit embarked Makin Island and the amphibious transport dock New Orleans in San Diego and sailed Aug. 10 to begin its first seagoing exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May.

8/14/2011 By Lance Cpl. Claudia M. Palacios
Cpl. Andrew J. Martinez fires his rifle here Aug. 14. Martinez, 27, is the armory chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and is an El Centro, Calif., native. The battalion participated in combat marksmanship training as part of their pre-deployment training plan.

8/13/2011 By Cpl. Gene Allen Ainsworth
Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's gound combat element scout potential targets for artillery strikes here Aug. 13.

11th MEU's Maritime Raid Force Trains to Take Back Hijacked Ship