Volume 3, No. 22 Friday, May 30, 1997 Operation Joint ... Joint Guard, Bosnia-Herzegovina Serving the soldiers of Task Force Eagle ... Gone was the implacable anger, ... Command Sgt

Insid

e ‘96 HEADLINES . . . . 2FEMALE DRIVER . . . . . 4GET YOUR TICKET . . . . 5VICTORY . . . . . 6-7SHOW & TELL . . . . 8LIFESAVER . . . . . . 9MEDEVAC . . . . . 11

Talonthe

Serving the soldiers of Task Force EagleOperation Joint Guard, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Volume 3, No. 22 Friday, May 30, 1997

M CGOVERN BASE � Thecrowd grew in size and an-ger. Intermingled with the

raised fists were several woodenclubs and AK-47 rifles. Dozens ofvoices chanted in unison as the peo-ple continued their advance towarda cordon of SFOR soldiers. It wasonly a matter of seconds before vio-lence would erupt, and the soldiersknew it. They needed help there, andsoon.

M CGOVERN BASE � Thecrowd grew in size and an-ger. Intermingled with the

raised fists were several woodenclubs and AK-47 rifles. Dozens ofvoices chanted in unison as the peo-ple continued their advance towarda cordon of SFOR soldiers. It wasonly a matter of seconds before vio-lence would erupt, and the soldiersknew it. They needed help there, andsoon.

Fire missionHelp is what they got.Suddenly, a bright flash with

the intensity of a white sun, burstdirectly above the rioters. Chant-ing and movement ceased as menand women covered their eyeswith their hands and gasped insurprise. The brightness seemedto linger in the air as if waiting im-patiently for a reaction from thepeople. Gone was the implacableanger, replaced by a realizationthat the bright light was from a

Help is what they got.Suddenly, a bright flash with

the intensity of a white sun, burstdirectly above the rioters. Chant-ing and movement ceased as menand women covered their eyeswith their hands and gasped insurprise. The brightness seemedto linger in the air as if waiting im-patiently for a reaction from thepeople. Gone was the implacableanger, replaced by a realizationthat the bright light was from a

By Spc. David Boe364th MPAD

Fire mission

See MISSION page 12

Pfc. Daniel J. Baxter, 21, an assistantgunner with Mortar Platoon, Task Force1-77, McGovern Base, gets ready todrop a round into his 107 mm mortarduring a training exercise.

The Talon Friday, May 30, 1997

UP FRONT-- TEAMWORK

THE TALON is produced in the interest of the servicemembers of TaskForce Eagle, headquartered at Eagle Base. THE TALON is an Army-fundednewspaper authorized for members of the U.S. Army overseas, under theprovision of AR 360-81. Contents of THE TALON are not necessarily the officialviews of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense,Department of the Army or Task Force Eagle. THE TALON is published weeklyby the 1st Infantry Division (Task Force Eagle) Public Affairs Office, Eagle Base,Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina APO AE 09789, Telephone MSE 551-5230. E-mail:[email protected]. Printed by PrintComTuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Circulation: 6,500.

The Talon

Page 2

1st Infantry Division Commander . . . Maj. Gen. Montgomery C. MeigsEditor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maj. William L. DuPont364th MPAD Commander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maj. Frank PartykaOIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Lt. Robert M. InouyeEditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staff Sgt. Mark L. GeigerCopy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spc. Terri K. Cook1st Infantry Division PA NCOIC . . . . . . . . . Staff Sgt. Gregory W. BinfordTranslator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arijana Salihbasic

Best

hea

dlines

of �96

Read and pass along -- a Talon is a terrible thing to waste

Include Your Children whenBaking Cookies

Police Begin Campaign toRun Down Jaywalkers

Safety Experts Say SchoolBus Passengers Should BeBelted

Survivor of Siamese TwinsJoins Parents

Iraqi Head Seeks Arms

Panda Mat ing Fa i ls ;Veterinarian Takes Over

Eye Drops Off Shelf

New Study of Obesity Looks forLarger Test Group

Chef Throws His Heart into HelpingFeed Needy

Local High School Dropouts Cut inHalf

Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

Stolen Painting Found by Tree

Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Yearsin Checkout Counter

War Dims Hope for Peace

Teacher Strikes Idle Kids

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

Man Struck by L ightn ing FacesBattery Charges

The Army functions as a team.When any member of that team islost because of an accident, the en-tire team suffers. Accidents have ahuman cost: The lives of soldiersand their families are changed for-ever in a moment by a disabling in-jury or death. Accidents also havea tangible price that must be paid:the reduction of unit readiness. Ac-cidents do not stop when we go towar. The record shows that in com-bat, the Army suffers more losses toaccidents than to enemy action.

The knowledgable leader ad-heres to the limitations of equip-ment, regulations, SOPs and doc-trine. He also ensures that his sol-diers do the same. He knows his sol-diers and looks out for their welfare.This means having a thoroughknowledge of a soldier�s level oftraining, capabilities and weakness-

es so he canprovide neces-sary guidanceand intercede toprevent acci-dents due tohuman error.

A skilledleader en-sures thatsubordinates understand the task,standards, provides supervision andis not satisfied until the task is com-plete. By developing a sense of re-sponsibility in his soldiers, a unitleader can ensure that they followthe standards even when he is notaround.

Soldiers and NCOs, lets pull to-gether and make it happen! See youall Up Front!!

Summer in the Balkans is on the way. With summer comes heatcramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It is time to review heat injuryprevention guidelines.

The heat index is determined by a combination of the ambient airtemperature and the relative humidity. If you remember your high schoolscience classes, you will recall that air holds water vapor. How much itcan hold is dependent upon temperature. Relative humidity is the per-centage of vapor saturation. Your body cools itself by producing sweatwhich evaporates off the surface of the skin, thereby dispersing your bodyheat. On days of low humidity, you may notice that your skin remains dry.You are still sweating, but it is evaporating more efficiently, keeping youcool. The higher the relative humidity, or the closer the saturation point,the longer it takes the sweat to evaporate. This slows down the body�sheat dispersal ability. The body then produces more sweat to compen-sate for the reduced cooling effect. The production of sweat pulls fluidfrom your body, hence the need to drink plenty of water.

The heat index gives us an idea of the actual temperature effect onour bodies so that we can protect ourselves from becoming a heat casual-ty. If you wait until you feel thirst, it may be too late. You must keepyourself saturated so that your body has reserves from which to tap thefluid. If not, the body will rob Peter to pay Paul. You will lose vital amountsof fluid and start spiraling down the heat injury staircase. Cramps, ex-haustion and then heat stroke, a medical emergency.

Base camp aid stations should be able to provide you with the heatindex. The number for Eagle Base is 558-5804 from10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Above all, watch out for each other and drink heavily. Water, that is.

Heat injuries

Command Sgt. Maj. S.L. Kaminski1st Infantry Division (Forward)

Maj. Gary R. Spegal, 1st Infantry Division Safety Office

The TalonFriday, May 30, 1997 Page 3

Info briefs

CAMP BEDROCK- With mines still carpeting the coun-tryside, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teamslocated here help prevent the spread of these killers

that are blind and unforgiving.The EOD team was assigned to destroy anti-tank and anti-

personnel mines, TNT blocks and a collection of homemadebombs recently confiscated from the army of Bosnia-Herze-govina at the II Corps building near Tuzla.

�We destroyed 210 pounds of munitions that was confis-cated by 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry during a weapon siteinspection,� said 1st Lt. Jorge Serrano, 2nd Ordnance Detach-ment commander from Grafenwoehr, Germany. �We usedthree series of multiple explosions to destroy the munitions.�

The EOD team used a site in the rock quarry near CampBedrock that has been used for previous demolition missions.�This is a great demolition site and is very easy to controlaccess to prevent any injuries or accidents,� said Serrano.

The munitions were placed at the bottom of a large grav-el mound in three to four foot holes. A counter-charge of C-4explosive was then placed to destroy the munitions. After thecharges were set and all personnel were behind the safe blastarea, the EOD members used an electronic detonating de-vice to ignite the charges, said Serrano.

Prior to any blasts, members of Task Force 2-2 quick re-action force prevented access into the area. Members of the404th Civil Affairs Battalion, Fort Dix, N.J., dealt with com-plaints from the local population concerning the blasts.

Several members of the 82nd Engineer Battalion were onsite to train on the demolition techniques, said Serrano. Butnot only did the engineer receive training, so did members ofthe EOD team. Several of the EOD members are from EOD,Mobile Unit 8, Sigonella, Naval Air Station, Sicily.

�My training is basically with underwater demolition,�said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Steve Schaper, an EOD tech-nician. �Bosnia has offered me the opportunity for land ord-nance which will benefit my career.�

The method of destroying the confiscated weapons andmunitions has been the practice of the coalition since achiev-ing peace between the Former Warring Factions (FWF).�When we confiscate the munitions from the FWF, we destroythem so they don�t end up back in their hands,� said Serrano.�We don�t have the means to store them and we don�t haveany use for the munitions that we confiscate.�

With a few shocked local residents gathering to watchthe explosions, EOD members eliminated these mines fromadding to the millions of mines still carpeting the previousbattle fields.

By Staff Sgt. Jerry A. Weber129th MPAD

Unforgiving A 29-year-old U.S. Armysoldier died in Bosnia-Herzegovina on May 21, of aheart attack he suffered afterjogging, according to an Armynews release.

Staff Sgt. Aaron JamesCabrera of Guam was sitting ona cot in his tent, drinking waterafter running at about 6:30 p.m.,the release said. He suddenlywent into cardiac arrest and fellto the floor.

Sgt. Chad D. Love and StaffSgt. John Loschiavo, certifiedCombat Lifesavers, began toadminister first aid while Sgt. 1stClass Lewis Chaney called anambulance.

Cabrera was driven to amedical aid station on the baseand later was flown by helicopterto a U.S. military hospital innorthern Bosnia-Herzegovina,where he was pronounced deadat 8:59 p.m.

U.S. soldier diesof heart attack

Camp Dobol hasthe best mess

After reviewing all basecamp dining facilities in MNDNorth, the Camp Dobol diningfacility received the CG�s bestmess award on Saturday.

New web siteavailable fordeployed civilians

A new web site for deployedcivilians or civilians preparing todeploy is up and running.Although the site is primarily forcivilians, the information can beuseful for anyone in their chainof command. The new web sitecan be found at: http://www.chrma.hqusareur.army.mil/DeployedCivilians

The new site will be updateda couple of times each month.

The Talon Friday, May 30, 1997Page 4

CAMP BEDROCK- Each day, women in the Army opennew doors full of opportunities. Pvt. Shannon G.Oxford, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters

Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry opened one of thesedoors to an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

Not only is Oxford the first female soldier to drive the M-577 track APC, she is also one of the first female soldiersattached to this infantry battalion.

Oxford, one of three female soldiers in the entire battalion,has found her working relationships to be nothing less thanprofessional.

�I have no problem working with the male soldiers,� saidOxford. �They treat me like any other soldier, but they look outfor me like a sister.�

�She is a soldier here, just like the rest of us,� said StaffSgt. Charles A. Miller, Oxford�s platoon sergeant.

Because females cannot be assigned to infantry units,Oxford is attached to the unit.

Oxford was required to attend extensive briefings andcommand meetings before assuming her new position withTask Force 2-2.

�I had to attend briefings about sexual harassment andinteraction with male soldiers,� said Oxford. �I had to go toaround 15 briefings a week.�

With the everlasting smile on her face and the love of herjob, it is easy to see the time required for preparation wasworth the wait.

�She gets a kick out of working in the infantry,� said Spc.Rob J. Lannom, a personnel administrative specialist with 2ndBn., 2nd Inf.

Oxford, 20, from Vacaville, Calif., joined the Army just ninemonths before arriving in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The excitement of the medical field and the joy of workingaround people was Oxford�s motivation for joining the Army.

�The military is the best way to get this type of atmo-sphere,� she said.

�The best feeling is when you help out a patient,� said

Oxford. �You help them feel better and they come back laterand compliment you on the job that you have done.�

In addition to her medical responsibilities, Oxford is theprimary operator of a M-577 APC. �They were looking forsomeone who was motivated and had the skills necessary todrive the vehicle,� she said. �I would go to the motor pool everyday for weeks after sick call to become familiar with myvehicle.�

After many test drives, Oxford was ready for the final test,an eight-hour convoy from Slavonski Brod, Croatia, to here.

�That is one trip that I never want to make again,� saidOxford. �I had a stiff neck for a month.�

The M-577 APC is used as an ambulance during masscasualty situations.

�We have ambulances that would go out first, but I amalways ready,� said Oxford.

Daily maintenance is required to keep the M-577 APC inoperational condition.

�This is my first responsibility I have had in the military,�said Oxford. �I have to do 30 minutes of maintenance everyday.�

Oxford is the only daughter of Gene and Debi Oxford fromVacaville. She attributes her success and hard chargingattitude to her father, a foreman bricklayer.

�I think about him and I want to do more,� said Oxford.With her positive attitude, Oxford will easily achieve all of

her goals. �I would like to go to college and become a commis-sioned officer,� said Oxford.

For now, Oxford will continue to perform her duties as amedic and a M-577 APC operator in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

�I enjoy being here because of my surroundings,� saidOxford. �The soldiers from 2nd Bn., 2nd Inf. have treated mewell.�

KnKnockingdowndoorsBy Spc. Janel R. George129th MPAD

Pvt. Shannon G. Oxford, HHC, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantryoperates her M-577 Armored Ambulance at Camp Bedrock.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Tim Erhardt

The TalonFriday, May 30, 1997

Slow downSlow down

Page 5

EAGLE BASE��Officer, I couldn�thave been going that fast.� Wecan try debating just how fast

we are going, but we know the per-son holding the radar gun has the evi-dence right there in his hand. That isthe case back on Interstate 90, UnitedStates, and now that�s the case here atEagle Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Task Force Eagle MilitaryPolice acquired a new radar gun ear-lier this month. It is a Falcon modelmanufactured by Kustom. Accordingto Staff Sgt. Michael Michaelson, 108thMilitary Police Company desk ser-

geant, it can be powered by a cigarettelighter in a nontactical vehicle or by a12-volt alternate power source. Thegun uses the Doppler radar system. Itdigitally displays the speed and alsoemits an audio signal which becomesa higher pitch the faster a vehicle it�strained on is traveling. Without theradar gun, MPs can still determine avehicle�s speed by timing it as it pass-es from one point to another. The ra-dar gun vastly surpasses this methodin accuracy.

�You really can�t argue about howfast you were going,� said Capt. Lance

Stratton, 1st Infantry Divi-sion Deputy Provost

Marshal. �We checkthe radar gun beforeeach use.� They usea tuning fork whichvibrates at a fre-quency of 53 milesper hour to cali-brate the gun be-fore taking it out toa �radar zone.� MPstap the fork with thegun trained on itand 53 will register

on the gun.Stratton said

the gun works by pick-ing up the frequency of a mov-

ing object. �It�s like listening toa passing train,� said Stratton.

�The frequency of the sound changesas it moves by you. When you sendthe radar waves out, they hit the tar-

get and are reflected back. Thegun actually mea-

sures thechange in

frequency

By Staff Sgt. Tim Erhardt129th MPAD

from when it was sent out to when itreturns.� Stratton said that MPs at theNORDPOL Brigade are using a laser-type gun to measure speeds. �Wherev-er we go we need to abide by the regu-lations,� said Stratton.

�This device is extremely accu-rate,� said Pfc. Christopher Nunnery,108th MP Co. �Most drivers are sur-prised when we show them their ex-act speed.�

�Our MPs can use this gun whilestationary or from a moving object,�said Stratton. �It can record the speedof a vehicle coming toward it or goingaway from it.� Drivers going too fastwill slow down as soon as they spotthe radar zone. However, Stratton saidthat by then the gun has already dis-played the speed. �If the MP can seethe vehicle, the gun can check itsspeed,� said Stratton.

The Eagle Base speed limitthroughout the base is 15 miles perhour. When passing pedestrians, thelimit drops to 10 miles per hour. Out-side the base drivers can pick it up to30 miles an hour. The catch-up speedlimit for convoy vehicles is 10 milesper hour over the limit.

The MPs can issue the driver andthe senior ranking individual in thevehicle a DD Form 1408, Departmentof Defense traffic ticket, which is for-warded to their commander, who canuse whatever punishment is appropri-ate. The provost marshal�s office willthen track the commander�s action.


Pfc. Christopher Nunnery, an MP with 108thMilitary Police Company, locks on a convoy as itrolls into Tuzla Main.


VictoryVictoryCAMP UGLJEVIK--On the grounds of the Rus-

sian Headquarters near Ugljevik, the Victory DayCelebration hosted by the Russian Airborne Bri-

gade began with regimented pomp and solid Eastern flair.Exaggerated, goose-stepping marches and faces of confi-dent and handsome soldiers filled the parade ground aspatriotic band music blared. The demonstration that fol-lowed was a show of fast-paced, carefully choreographedmilitary scenarios played out for the generals of severalSFOR nations and Bosnian guests.

U.S. Army helicopters flew overhead releasing doz-ens of Russian parachutists. The colorful chutes blossomedin the sky, and sailed toward the crowd. The infiltratorslanded silently and with precision atop the headquarterbuilding. Simultaneously, three soldiers popped over theedge of the roof and rappelled to earth, one running downface first. Meanwhile, a tank fired off several boomingrounds that made the ground rumble. A five-ton truckthen sped by, screeched to a halt, and deposited a dozensoldiers who secured the perimeter in a tactical display ofquick reaction.

The Russian special forces soldiers next executed animpressive martial arts and hand-to-hand combat routine.In unison, they began to whack, punch and drop kick firstthe air, then each other. Many soldiers were fiercelythrown and flipped, and landed on the unforgiving pave-ment. After the show, the line outside the Russian firstaid station was long.

Finally, a group of the more hard-headed soldiers pro-ceeded to break boards, cement and flaming bricks withtheir hands and foreheads. In closing, one soldier placed afishbowl filled with water on his head and allowed his com-rade to smash the bowl with his fist.

The striking similarities of the Russian and Ameri-can armies were exemplified in an army version of anamusing relay race which finished up the day. Teams ofsoldiers raced each other to the end of the parade groundand back to perform various common soldier tasks. Theseincluded disassembling a weapon, donning a protective suitand setting up a field radio. Except for the Russians� dif-ferent pattern of camouflage, they could have easily beenAmerican soldiers racing against time.

Capt. Sergei Ouistchshuck, a translator with the Rus-sian Brigade, sees the two former adversaries more alikethan different. �Soldiers are always soldiers, infantry isalways infantry,� he said. However, when asked the Rus-sian word for �hooah,� Ouistchshuck was at a loss for ananswer. �I�m afraid that is something only American.�

By Spc. Susanne Aspley364th MPAD



Clockwise from top: A Russian troop demonstrates his martial arts talent.. Anothertroop displays his rappelling skills down the side of a building... Two participantsdemonstrate hand-to-hand combat tactics... A parachutist finds his way to thecelebration... An NBC relay.

Photos by Spc. Susanne Aspley

The Talon Friday, May 30, 1997

SLAVONSKI BROD, Croatia�Apulsating bell breaks the silence.Hundreds of feet pound up and

down the stairs as rock music keeps time.They wear Nikes, Adidas, and Reeboks.Young voices chatter excitedly in the halls.They talk about homework, clothes, grad-uation as they make their way to their nextclass. A high school in New York? Wiscon-sin? Oregon? At first glance it certainlycould be.

The teacher arrives and the studentsstand up as a demonstration of respect.They see there�s going to be a departurefrom the normal lesson today. Followingthe teacher is a tall, smiling man dressedin a camouflaged uniform and highly pol-ished boots, obviously an American soldier.

This was the scene repeated in 10classes May 12-14, at the Isidora Krsnjav-oga High School, Nasice, Croatia, whereCapt. Robert J. Lytle shared his knowl-edge about the American education systemwith more than 400 Croatian students. Healso learned from this new classroom ex-perience.

Lytle is a Civil Affairs officer with the443rd Civil Affairs Battalion, Warwick, R.I.The 443rd CA Bn. began its deployment atSlavonski Brod, Croatia, Dec. 5. He hasbeen a member of the U.S. Army Reservefor 20 years. Lytle calls East Sandwich,Mass., home.

�I miss being in the classroom anddealing directly with kids,� said Lytle. Nostranger to the classroom, Lytle, 44, taught7th grade reading and social studies for fiveyears as well as high school history for fiveyears. He got his bachelor�s and master�sdegrees from State University of New York,Stoney Brooke, and principal�s certificationfrom North Adams University, Mass. Uponredeployment, Lytle plans to finish his in-

ternship at Dennis-Yarmouth School Dis-trict, South Yarmouth, Mass., which willcertify him to become a school superinten-dent.

�My mission contained three facets,�said Lytle. �I explained the American col-lege system, we shared similarities and dif-ferences between Croatian and Americanhigh schools, and, as a Civil Affairs officer,another purpose was to interact with Croat-ian teachers, administrators and students.�

In each class Lytle asked how manystudents planned to go to college, and thenwhat career each planned to pursue. Near-ly all of the students plan to further theireducation after graduation. Their careerinterests covered most professional voca-tions such as economics, law and teaching.�These students want the same thingsAmerican kids want,� said Lytle. �Theyrealize too that college is expensive, andas I told them, admittance must be plannedwell in advance.�

Lytle also raised issues about choicesall teenagers have to make. �We talkedabout making the right decisions concern-ing alcohol and drug abuse,� said Lytle. �Iplayed a song �Keep on Rocking in the FreeWorld� by Neil Young that addresses thesechoices.�

Although the kids in their T-shirts andblue jeans could sit in any American class-room without notice, the Croatian educa-tion system has some interesting differenc-es. Because the building cannot contain allthe students who go there at the same time,the school day is split into two shifts. Stu-dents must go to school until age 14. AtNasice students study as many as a dozen

different subjects which are yearlong cours-es.

According to Josip Patojac, IsidoraKrsnjavoga High School principal, studentsenter into either a three or four-year pro-gram. The three-year program offers cours-es in sales, hotels and restaurants, mechan-ics, electricity, agriculture, construction,hairdressing and textiles. The four-yearcurriculum, called �Gimnazija� includes in-struction in economics, mechanical technol-ogy, electrical technology and agriculturaltechnology. The four-year program is con-sidered the college preparatory curriculum.

�This school is one of the biggest inCroatia,� said Patojac, who�s been the prin-cipal at Isidora Krsnjavoga for 27 years. �Ithas over 1,400 students in 49 class depart-ments. We have more than 100 teachers,and classes average 30-32 students.�

Ana Ostroski is in her second year ofhigh school and has been studying Englishfor six years. �Today Capt. Lytle came toour class. This was very interesting becausewe�ve never heard a real American talkingEnglish,� said Ana. �We�ve only heard En-glish on TV. He�s a witty and funny man.He showed us how people from very dis-tant countries and different cultures canwork together if they know the same lan-guage.�

Many students expressed an interestin going to college in the United States toLytle. �I�m working on a presentation to bet-ter explain to them how to enroll in colleg-es in America,� said Lytle. He is currentlyworking with University of Maryland rep-resentatives to provide information toCroatian graduates.

Page 8

By Staff Sgt. Tim Erhardt129th MPAD

Show&tell

Capt. Robert Lytle points out the similarities between the U.S. and Croatianschools to students at Isidora Krsnjavoga High School, Nasice, Croatia.


�...we shared similaritiesand differences betweenCroatian and American

high schools...�

�These students wantthe same things

American kids want.�

�I played a song �Keepon Rocking in the

Free World�...�


Quick

Page 9

Pfc. David W. Eldridge, a medic with CompanyA, Task Force 1-41, applies bandages to a soldier�sfoot at Camp Demi.

CAMP DEMI- Pfc. David W. Eldridge, a medic withCompany A, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, says hewas only doing his job. But just doing his job

without cutting corners may have saved a fellow sol-dier�s life.

That soldier was Pfc. Shane Anderson, Co. A, TaskForce 1-41, who went to see Eldridge complaining ofaching knees. Eldridge could have given the soldier apain reliever and sent him on his way, but followingproper procedures to a �T�, he took his temperature,vital signs and blood pressure. During the blood pres-sure check, he noticed that it was very abnormal.

�We checked and double-checked because we couldnot believe the reading. The first time I took the readingI thought I was doing something wrong,� Eldridge said.�He came in during normal sick call, and you could seehis neck throbbing from the heart beat. He said his pulsewent up just a few minutes earlier, so it was the righttime and place. I hate to think what would have hap-pened if he was on a convoy or out on a mission.�

Eldridge sent Anderson to see the physician assis-tant at Camp Demi, 2nd Lt. Michelle Curtis-Matthewsand physician, Capt. Michael Price, 201st Forward AreaSupport Team.

�After confirmation of the dangerously-low bloodpressure and a thorough examination, he was immedi-ately sent to the Blue Factory in Tuzla,� said 2nd Lt.Michael Booth, battalion physician assistant for TF 1-41.

�After more tests, it was determined that Anderson

had acute bacterial endocarditis, a bacterial infection onone of the valves in his heart. Studies showed a twocentimeter mass pressing on the aortic valve. Themedical personnel concluded that he needed an opera-tion, as his condition was worsening He was to be sentto Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington. D.C.,� saidBooth.

According to Booth, �The whole chain of commandworked perfectly to save this guy�s life. Although it�sEldridge�s job, he could have just given Anderson a painreliever and told him to go rest. But he took the time tofully examine him at that point. We are really fortunateto have caught it in time.�

Anderson�s condition is not considered to be causedfrom the environment in Bosnia-Herzegovina and iscurrently under medical inquiry.

Booth offered one explanation. �Antibiotics are oftengiven to prevent complications caused by bacteria. Forexample, he may have had strep throat at one point,naturally got better but did not take antibiotics. Thiswould be one way for the bacteria to stay in the system,�he said. �The fatigue and pain in his knee joints werecaused by the bacteria.�

Medics not only work at base camp aid stations, butare also assigned to infantry line companies. If there istrouble, the medics in the field can bring the sick or hurtsoldier back to the rear in their tracked vehicles.

�Both in Bosnia-Herzegovina and at Fort Riley, Kan.,the medics take care of their own soldiers,� Booth said.

thinkingsaves

lifeBy Spc. Susanne Aspley364th MPAD


CAMP CAISSON � The trip, whichconsisted of stops at five differentcamps, seemed to take forever. In

actuality it took hours. As the helicopterflew over the hills of Bosnia-Herzegovina,the drone of the engines could be heardmiles away. Something soaring abovebrought smiles to the soldiers� faces atCamp Caisson, and their moods seemed tochange.

�We are glad when the chaplains comeout,� said Sgt. Walter Watson, 18th Mete-orological Team, Fort Bragg, N.C. �Thesoldiers get a chance to talk with them andhear encouraging words. They always letus know we are not alone.�

�What helps me to endure the longtrips is focusing on the end of my trip �my arrival at camps,� said Chaplain (Maj.)James E. May, 3rd Brigade chaplain.�When I see the soldiers� welcoming faces,the long ride is forgotten.�

The chaplains made five stops on theirspirit-filled mission. Something they try todo at least once a month. Their trip wouldinclude stops at Camp Valhalla, Doboj,Camp Caisson and outposts on Hills 722and 1326.

�The soldiers asked if the chaplainswere coming here,� said Capt. Roy E. Seva-lia, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Ar-tillery commander. �I�m glad to see themarrive because it helps the soldiers� morale.We don�t have a chapel in which to holdservice, so this is an opportunity for thesoldiers to worship.�

At Caisson, Catholic Mass was held inthe weight room and the Protestant ser-vice was held outside under the Bosniancloud-filled sky.

Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) JamesKaczmarek, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF, Lak-enheath, England, celebrated Mass.

�The Army doesn�t have enough Cath-olic chaplains so I have taken on some ofthe duties holding Mass,� Kaczmarek said.�I feel that it is a privilege for me to comeout and serve the soldiers.�

During the Protestant service, the sol-diers sang and clapped their hands. Thechaplain asked if anyone had a song ontheir heart and a soldier rose and sang asolo.

�All soldiers have a spiritual journeyand it�s our job to help nourish their spiri-tual tradition,� May said. �They need anavenue to let things out. If they want tosing � I�ll sing and clap with them. If theywant to talk � I�ll listen.�

May, speaking from Exodus, asked thesoldiers, �Why are you here?� The soldiershad a variety of responses. �You are herebecause God wants you to be here,� Maysaid. �God designed Camp Caisson foryou to show you what he can do. Whileyou are here tell God that you want him tobe here with you. Sometimes when you arefeeling low, know that God is always withyou. He�ll take this circumstance you arein now, and let you know that he will takeyou through by showing you what he cando.�

�This visit is very important to the sol-diers,� said Staff Sgt. Andre R. Legrant, 1stBn., 6th FA, howitzer section chief and lay

By Spc. Terri K. Cook1st Infantry Division PAO

leader for the congregation. �Soldiers ondeployments look for a source of strengthand guidance outside of themselves, andthey turn to God.�

Legrant, who is a deacon at his churchin Germany, holds Bible Study for the sol-diers on Sundays.

�We put topics to study on the boardon Monday,� Legrant said. �The soldiershave all week to prepare. Then on Sundaythe soldiers are ready to discuss and learnthe word. We have a good time and thesoldiers leave with something to get themthrough the deployment.�

Watson says being at a remote camp,sometimes it�s easy to grow impatient.�When the way is difficult and dangerous� we tire,� he said. �It seems as if there isno rest for our weary souls. Being able tolet it out and know that someone else isgoing through the same thing helps to liftus up.�

�The soul and spirit are the most im-portant parts of the human body,� Maysaid. �The Army realizes this. They in-vested time and money into the soldiers�basic needs, such as food, clothing, etc. Itis good that they want to emphasize thesoul�s needs and spirits of the soldiers.�

The chaplains departed the camp asthey arrived. Flying high in the sky on theirway to their next mission. Off to spreadthe word to other soldiers in the outlyingBosnian countryside. Leaving behind en-couraged soldiers � equipped with whatthey need to face another day.

Taking the word on the road

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Kaczmarekgives communion to a soldier from 1stBn., 6th Field Artillery during mass atCamp Caisson.

Chaplain (Maj.) James E. May, 3rd Brigade chaplain, sings along with soldiersof Company C, 1st Bn., 6th FA, during monthly Protestant services held atCamp Caisson.

Photo by Spc. Terri K. Cook

Photo by Spc. Terri K. Cook


SLAVONSKI BROD, Croatia�Deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina provides soldiers with a much awaitedopportunity to perform the missions they have been

trained for. This deployment provides real-world experience asopposed to the training they are more accustomed to.

Members of the 498th Medical Company (Air Ambulance),from Fort Benning, Ga., would much rather perform trainingexercises than real-world Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC).

�We don�t like to get real evacuations because that meanssomeone somewhere is hurt,� said Sgt. Douglas W. Schwab, amedic with 498th Forward Support Medical Team 1 (FSMT).

To stay proficient on their medical evacuation skills, the498th Med. Co. conducts a broad range of continuous training.This training includes ambulance exchange and MEDEVAC.

�The training is very useful,� said Staff Sgt. Raymond J.Wells, 498th Med. Co. �We could not function as well as we dowithout it.�

During this training exercise, FSMT and the 61st AreaSupport Medical Battalion perform an ambulance exchange.The purpose is to evacuate a critically injured patient to ahigher level of care at Blue Factory, near Tuzla.

�We could get a call saying there is a litter patient whoneeds to be transferred to Blue Factory,� said 1st Lt. ErikHalvorsen, officer in charge of the 498th Med. Co.

Once the ambulance arrived, the patient would be trans-

ferred on to the helicopter and flown to Blue Factory.The FSMT also conducted live hoist training. The hoist is

used to extract casualties from an area that the helicoptercannot land.

�Our training is very real,� said Wells. �The only way it isnot realistic, is the sense of urgency.�

This training helps to ensure performance is perfect. Timeis sometimes sacrificed to guarantee everyone is sure oftheir job.

�Our goal is to minimize the pick-up time and maximizemedical treatment time,� said Wells.

MEDEVAC support is also needed if a soldier is criticallyinjured at a base camp. The team flies to the patient�s locationand performs the evacuation procedures necessary to get thesoldier to Blue Factory.

�During training exercises, things roll as if it were a realMEDEVAC,� said Schwab. �For all intensive purposes it couldbe a real mission and we do everything just as quickly andefficiently as we would in a real mission.�

To be as efficient as possible, many procedures are per-formed simultaneously. All members must know exactly whattheir duties are and how to perform them.

When the call comes in, �The crew chief and pilot willimmediately go to the aircraft and initiate all procedures up toengine start,� said Sgt. Bryan P. Myers, crew chief fromDamascus, Md.

Simultaneously, the medic gathers patient status informa-tion and the pilot in command obtains the nine line MEDEVACrequest.

�We grab our helmets and fly out like a whirlwind,�said Schwab.

The FSMT provides air evacuation for U.S. armed forces,international peacekeeping forces and local military andcivilians.

To provide this support, there are always two aircraft oncall here. The first response bird launches within 10 minutes ofa mission call. The second, up or trail bird, is ready to respondif a second mission arises or will accompany the first aircraftduring a night mission. The unit also has a third helicopter toprovide mission support such as blood runs, medical supplysupport and administrative support.

�When a mission is received from the 61st Area SupportMedical Battalion or Blue Factory, the 498th Med. Co. can beoff the ground in 10 minutes or less,� said Schwab. �It is suchan adrenaline rush when we first get the call. Everyone is soexcited. Not happy that someone is hurt, but excited to performour mission.�

By Spc. Janel R. George129th MPAD

Medical unit puts training to test

Sgt. Douglas Schwab prepares Sgt. Alvin G. Cooper, 61stASMB for MEDEVAC to Blue Factory.

Photo by Spc. Janel R. George

Soldiers from the 498th FSMT evacuate a critically injuredpatient to Blue Factory.

Photo by Spc. Janel R. George


mortar round, and that the next onemight be less bright and much moredeadly. After some prodding by thesoldiers, the crowd disperses.

The above situation is one of a manyPfc. Daniel J. Baxter, Headquarters andHeadquarters Company, Task Force 1-77,has trained on since arriving in Bosnia-Herzegovina on peace-enforcing dutywith the Mortar Platoon. Thankfully,said Baxter, the situation is still onlyhypothetical.

�We haven�t had to drop a round, butif we did, that would probably be the firstround we drop � an illumination round,�said the 21- year- old native of Lacey,Wash. �Whenever there is a riot whatthey might have us do is drop an illumi-nation round right above the riot. It�s ascare tactic that says, �Look, we gotartillery laid on you. The next round canbe high explosive and you could all bedead.��

A three-year veteran, Baxter is anassistant gunner with one of the twomortars stationed at McGovern Base. Hisduties include checking each roundloaded to make sure it�s good, ensure theround is indexed (so it will slide down therifled tube properly), level up the cross-leveling bubble (for aiming) and shift themortar into a new firing position. He saidthat in addition to his own duties, hemust also know all the other sectionpositions, and vice-versa. A lot for aMortar Platoon member to remember,but Baxter doesn�t mind. In fact, hethinks it�s fun.

Fun or not, Baxter is aware of thereal-world mission he and his platoonmembers are engaged in. But, again, hedoesn�t mind. �I like deployments,� hesaid. �I feel like I�m making a difference.Back in the rear you�re just training.Here it�s the real deal � anything canhappen.�

Spc. Morgan L. Pettett, Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company, TF 1-77 agrees. The 21- year- old gunner seesthe Bosnian deployment as a chance touse the skills honed at gunnery.

�Before, you trained and trained andtrained,� said the Haines City, Fla.,native. �Now it�s time to take that

training and everything you�ve learnedand come down here and put it to effect.�

Pettett said the peace-enforcingmission is a lot different than the �box�at Grafenwoehr. There, he said, we knewnobody was going to get hurt or fire back.Not so in Bosnia-Herzegovina. �You�reout here and you�re on edge,� saidPettett. �You�re like, �What�s going tohappen? Are we going to drop this round?Are we going to start something? Arethey going to start something? I hope not�And I hope that it never comes down tous having to drop one of those rounds.�

However, Pettett said his section isready for any eventuality because theirtraining hasn�t stopped because ofdeployment. It�s a continuous learningprocess, he said.

�Like last night at about 1:30 a.m.we got a call to do an illuminationmission,� said Pettett. �We didn�t fire, ofcourse, but you get up as fast as you can,get down there and get the guns up andstand by.�

Because missions happen fast andwithout warning, said Pettett, teamworkis essential for the mortar section.�Because if you have a fire mission andyour ammo bearer is slow, or doesn�tknow what he�s doing, that�s going totake time away from the assistantgunner, because he�s going to have tocheck,� said Pettett. �And if the assistantgunner is not fast, that�s going to takethe ammo bearer to stop and help him.And if I�m no good, then it�s going to takelonger to get the sight when rounds needto be down range.�

Teamwork and efficiency are what

Staff Sgt. Derrick D. Wilson, Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company, TF 1-77, strives for. Section sergeant for themortars at McGovern, Wilson, 27, saidhalfway training can�t cut it when in areal-world situation.

�I don�t let them do it half way ortake short cuts in training,� said Wilson,a Gaithersburg, Md., native who hasspent over four years in the Army andfour years in the Marines, all withmortars. �Because if they do it that waythen, they�ll do it when the real thingcomes, so no matter what�s going on, ifthey�re doing it, they�re supposed to do itright, and that�s what I try to instill inthem.�

Wilson has under him a section of107-millimeter mortars, or, as they aremore commonly referred to, �Four-Deuces� (4.2 inch tube diameter). Themortars can be either fired on theground, or from the back of an M113carrier. Though they weigh over 600pounds, the mortars are minusculecompared to the mammoth self-propelledhowitzers that share McGovern Basewith them. The small size of the guns,said Wilson, sometime makes peoplethink the mortars are ineffectual. But, hesaid, there�s more to it than just size.

�A lot of people think mortars aren�timportant until something hits the fan,�said Wilson. �Then they decide they doneed mortars because we�re quick andaccurate.�

�I think we�re pretty accurate andpretty quick,� said Baxter. �I think thatanytime we�re needed we would be there.

�That is what our job is.�

MISSIONfrom page 1

Soldiers from Mortar Platoon, HHC, Task Force 1-77, prepare a 107 mm mortarfor firing at McGovern Base.

Photo by Spc. David Boe

�A lot of people thinkmortars aren�t important

until something hitsthe fan...�

Documents

Volume 3, No. 22 Friday, May 30, 1997 Operation Joint ... Joint Guard, Bosnia-Herzegovina Serving the soldiers of Task Force Eagle ... Gone was the implacable anger, ... Command Sgt