Something To Be Proud of...

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Putting Faces to the Names

SFC Shane Sanderson

SGT Robert Smith

SPC Michael Clackum

SPC Kyle Thomas

SPC Seth Leonhard

A New Day

There are some days you wake up and don't want to get out of bed. On every day, however, we should remember that we're blessed because we can.

Two days ago, while everyone at home was either fast asleep or just waking up, five of the 166th Engineer Company's soldiers were hard at work, helping another unit at a remote Combat Outpost in preparing for the winter here in Afghanistan.

Without warning, two enemy 107mm rockets exploded at their feet. The "kill radius" of these weapons is 195 feet, and severe damage can be expected at distances up to 325 feet. Four of our five soldiers were standing within 10 feet of the detonation; one was within 100 feet.

To say 'thank you' for the prayers we've received is not enough, but it's all I can do today. So, thank you. I have no doubt that, without them, we would have lost every soldier present; instead, all injured will make full recoveries. I would characterize the circumstances as miraculous.

I would prefer to hold off on details, but I want to put a stop to rumors that are circulating:

All family members have been notified and have been able to talk to their soldiers.

Those present:

SFC Shane Shanderson, from Inver Groves Heights, Wisconsin, was the Team Leader on the ground, running our construction operations on site. SFC Sanderson received shrapnel wounds to his legs. He's was flown last night to Germany for additional medical care and will then be transported back to the United States for follow on care.

SGT Robert Smith, from Arab, Alabama, received shrapnel to the back of the head. He has been released from the hospital and will rejoin the unit at FOB Sharana in the coming week.

SPC Michael Clackum, from Hamilton, Alabama, received shrapnel to the back which also caused some internal injuries. He required multiple surgeries here, but this is mainly due to the environment and challenges in preventing infection while in Afghanistan. He was flown last night with SFC Sanderson to Germany where he too will receive additional medical care and then return to the United States for follow on care.

SPC Kyle Thomas, from Madison, Alabama, received shrapnel to the lower back. He has been released from the hospital and will rejoin the unit at FOB Sharana in the coming week.

SPC Seth Leonhard, from Bankston, Alabama, was fortunate enough to walk away with no physical injuries. He flew back to FOB Sharana with 1SG Treece and me this morning.

Within minutes of the attack, we were notified and began passing the information along to the 877th Engineer Battalion. What we heard at the outset was relatively accurate, but we couldn't be certain of the situation until our soldiers were transported for medical evaluation.

We were fortunate that the soldiers were sent to FOB Shank, where our 3rd Platoon is currently working for the 168th Engineer Company, 877th Engineer Battalion. MAJ Jones, the company commander, 1LT Smallwood, the 3rd platoon leader, and every available soldier from 3rd Platoon immediately moved to meet the incoming helicopter carrying our soldiers and were there with them for as long as they were able.

1SG Treece and I arrived in Bagram the following morning, where we were immediately taken to see the soldiers. They were all smiles and clearly well aware of how blessed they are to be alive. The jokes never stopped. We spent the day there, making several visits to check on them, and they continued to be in good spirits until we left them to rest for the evening.

I'm at a loss for what more to say other than we have been and continue to be very, very fortunate. As for the rest of the update...


1SG Bobby Treece was awarded the de Fleury Medal this weekend, which ties into the beginnings of the Corps of Engineers and of the nation. It was the first Congressional Medal struck, if not the first medal authorized.

1SG Treece has been serving in the Alabama National Guard for more than 29 years. When first sergeants are exceptional, their units are exceptional. I have heard time and again, from all levels and from the State of Alabama to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, to Afghanistan, how impressive the soldiers in the 166th Engineer Company are. The unit’s abilities and accomplishments are a result of the leadership of 1SG Bobby Treece. He is its heart and soul. Furthermore, he is the best First Sergeant I have ever seen. He is exceptional and well-deserving of the award.

Construction continues at FOB Sharana:




We did have a little fire that needed some Engineer assistance earlier this week, which was provided by the soldiers working here with us from the Arizona Army National Guard's 920th Engineer Company.



Our work at more remote locations throughout Afghanistan continues as well:



Our Winterization efforts are finally coming to a close. Below, some of our soldiers work with the Polish to help prepare one of their locations for the cold temperatures and snow that will quickly be upon us. The International Forces there were so thankful for the work done there that a ceremony was held, where the entire team was awarded the Polish unit's combat patch.






In local news:

Saks 63, Calera 28

The son of one of our very own, SGT Rodney Sturkey, from Saks, Alabama, helped his hometown football team advance in the Class 4A Playoffs with three interceptions against Calera last weekend.

October 2009 877th Engineer Battalion Newsletter

Insight

Since deploying, I'm often asked for funny stories. There's generally something that comes to pass at one time or another that elicits a chuckle, but I rarely have anything significant that jumps to the front of my mind. Today is different. If there are folks looking for insight into the personalities of the members of our unit, this story will give it.

Picture this:

It's 5:45 in the evening on Saturday here. The last light of day is falling behind the skyline, and the temperature starts to fall. SGT Loyd Wright has been looking forward to this football game all week and fully expects Alabama to beat Tennessee. While the game isn't scheduled to start for some time, he wants to make sure all pre-game preparations are in place. He turns on his television. Check. He turns around and finds his favorite chair is properly positioned and ready. Check. His game-day snacks are laid out. Check. Time for the game. What he didn't realize, however, was that every occupant in his building was on the verge of torturing him for the next two hours. SGT Matt Barbee, SFC Ben Boyett, SSG Rusty Edmonson, SSG Donnie Franks, and 1LT Jodee Vick were on their toes, ready to pounce.

Dinner was had, showers were taken, and all were standing by talking about all of the games. The t.v. in Loyd's room is on the background but suddenly cuts off with no notice. No picture. No sound. Nothing. It's simply off. "What in the world," he asks. He walks to it, remote in hand, and pushes the power button. No problem, it's on again. "There," he says. Roughly ten seconds pass. It cuts off yet again. SGT Wright, getting angry now, clicks the remote, turns on the television, and watches as it turns off again. Over and over, as if the television has a mind of its own, it simply refuses to work.

Now he's really angry. Frustrated. Clueless. All the while, there are inaudible giggles throughout the entire building as SGT Wright begins mumbling expletives to himself and then to the television. "What the...?!" Rusty, being the kind soul he is, comes to the rescue. Ben is next. Matt quickly follows. SGT Wright is beside himself, and he begins explaining the issues to them, during which time, and to their obvious surprise, the television turns off. Collectively, they help Loyd decide that the best thing to do would be to disassemble the t.v. set and spray out the dust with compressed air. For the next twenty minutes, he works. "There! That will fix it."

The television is turned on. Ten seconds pass, and it's fine. Twenty seconds pass, no issues. Thirty seconds...it's off. Now he's REALLY angry. Not only that, he's beginning to grow concerned. "Holy cow, if this keeps up I won't even be able to watch any of the games!" He stands up and walks to the t.v. He checks the connections and then decides that he should try to play a DVD to see if the cable was somehow interfering. Yet again, thirty seconds pass, and it turns off. "I'm seriously considering just walking to the PX to buy a new t.v. right now," he says to no one in particular. Now they're all laughing out loud.

Rusty, such a caring friend, walks over. "Hey, do you remember how, on Sanford and Sons, all they did was hit the side of the t.v., and it would usually work?" He walks to the set and lightly taps the side. Sure enough, it turns on. It's working. Loyd mumbles under his breath, "This is crazy." What's even more crazy is that while he's standing in the hallway complaining out his possessed t.v., it turns on and off again. "I'm not even touching the remote!!" The problem now, though, is that after it turns on the volume starts getting louder and louder and won't turn down. Then it turns off. He decides to slap it around a little himself. BAM!! on the left side. Nothing. BAM BAM!! on the right side. Still, nothing. He walks into the hallway again. It turns on.

As the volume starts to increase, SGT Wright turns it back down. When it's at a reasonable level, it turns off. At this point, he says to himself, "I'm just going to have to unplug it. This thing may start a fire!" He looks at the clock, and realizes that it's a quarter to eight. This episode has been going on for two hours. He's had enough. Then, he says out loud, "I guess I'll have to go to the PX and buy a new t.v."

As he's changing clothes, Matt strolls into his room. "Don't go buy a new t.v., it might be something with the remote." Loyd thinks about it, "No, half of the time I wasn't even touching my remote!" "Not THAT remote. This one," As he presents his universal remote from his room that just so happens to also control SGT Wright's television.

He was a great sport about it though, realizing that it was one of the best practical jokes he'd ever witnessed. He was just happy that he didn't have to buy a new t.v. and that he'd be able to watch the game in peace! SGT Barbee admitted that he began to tell him the truth when he watched Loyd carry the television outside to blow off the dust, but realized he was having too much fun to let it go quite yet.

All SGT Wright has to say is, "Hats off to them."

Ending Well

SPC Bailey Bullock
166th Engineer Company
2nd Platoon


I'm sitting here on my cot, halfway bundled in my sleeping bag. Why you might ask? Well...it's ridiculously cold outside! You see, I and the team I am with have been out on a mission for the past five weeks. We are on a smaller base, and it lacks a lot of the things that the larger ones have. We have been living in one of our tents this whole time, which hasn't been a problem at all; with the cold weather upon us in the mountains of Afghanistan, it has made staying warm a little bit of an issue. We are managing just fine though. With warm sleeping clothes and a few space heaters, anyone can manage.


It is weird to say this so far into the deployment, but I think this is the hardest mission we have faced (by “we” I mean the guys out here that I have worked with a lot over these last nine months). We have reached that point in the deployment where home feels really close. Sure, we are still a few months away from redeploying to Camp Atterbury, Indiana, but home and what you want to do when you finally get there are popping into your mind a whole lot more now. In addition to that, the mental and physical fatigue of the entire deployment seem to have caught up with us. We seem to lack that energy at the start of a project that existed at the beginning. These things combined make for a hard mission, let alone the actual work that must be done, which is substantial.


I'm sure that many of you understand what I'm talking about. In any job one often reaches a point where you get burned out. The work starts running together, feels as though it's never ending and monotonous, and your “give-a-damn” seems to be broken. I know I speak for a few people when I say that we have reached this point. This doesn't seem to me to be a bad thing, so much as an inevitable point in time. It is what you do once you get here that matters. Do you slack off, or do you keep plugging away? Everyone faces this question. To me, it is this point that sets soldiers apart. When we join up we know full well that we'll see this day. In fact, in basic and other training we are intentionally pushed to this point so we can learn to face it. It's not a new to us, but it still requires grit and will to push through. We have been pushing through and we must continue to do so. As I have mentioned before, to me it is a matter of honor. If we slack off just because we are tired and ready to go home, we dishonor those men who have come before us, been through far worse situations, and had to sacrifice a whole lot more. We must end this well to honor their service...and our own. Otherwise, we have wasted our time over here.



I tell you all of this to let you know how we are and what we, on personal levels, are experiencing. And I tell you this to ask for your help in these final stages of this deployment. You back at home have been an invaluable part of our unit. You, our friends and family, have kept us going. Your words of encouragement and love when we get to call home, the care packages and letters that you have sent, the time we spent with you when we came home on leave: all of these things have kept us energized and morale high, which has made this such a successful deployment for the 166th Engineer Company. All that I'm asking is that you keep plugging away with us. We will probably need you more these last few months than we have the first nine. We have all been in this together since the beginning, and we have to finish it together. Thanks again for all you support.

Alabama Soldiers Keeping Tabs on Tide and Tigers While Tackling Their Mission in Afghanistan