No Vacancies
November 30th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
4th Platoon, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry’s sleeping arrangements – and the sole building on the compound? Those warm spots are reserved for a few cows that the landlord owns, part of the rental agreement. Now I know where we stand, cheers.
That Was Fast
November 28th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
After about an hour and half break from building the FOB, it’s back to work for 4th Platoon, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry. Their Thanksgiving meal is quickly worked off by digging out an entrance for the Strykers, filling sandbags, and building guard towers on the compound.
Happy Thanksgiving
November 27th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Members of 4th Platoon, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry, eat their Thanksgiving meal after taking over a compound for a brand new FOB near the Argandab valley in Kandahar. Most of the troops said the dinner was decent enough – although there was one loud dissent, “the mashed potatoes taste like shit! And that’s the best part of the meal!” It was universally agreed, though, that flying and trucking in a hot holiday meal was a very, very good thing.
About That Time With The Hot Sauce…
November 25th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Sgt. Ryan Sharp, 21, from Brookfield, Wi. (C), shows the rest of 1st Platoon, Bravo Co., 1-17 Infantry, his share of videos and pictures of the unit before turning in for the night – ranging from their training almost 3 years ago in Ft. Lewis, to their current deployment in the Argandab valley in Kandahar, Afghanistan. “A lot of us went to Basic together, and most of us have been together for a long time. It’s stuff from battle drills, classes, and training – us goofing around. It’s probably the first time a group of us together has seen the collection.”
Ruck Up, Gentlemen
November 24th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Spc. Brandon Trentham, Bravo Co., 1-17 Infantry, prepares to leave COB Outlaw in the Argandab valley in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The company generally rotates out to another FOB a kilometer away every five days, always on foot. He estimates that his bag weighs around 50 lbs. – and with his 240 and body armor, he’s probably carrying at least his body weight in gear. “You kinda get used to it,” he said.
The Forest Planet
November 23rd, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Sgt. Jason Hawkins, Bravo Co., 1-17 Infantry, watches the perimeter on patrol shortly after sunrise in the dense orchards and vineyards of the Argandab valley in Kandahar, Afghanistan. During the summertime, the foliage is so dense that visibility is only around 40 ft. when you’re kneeling. Grunts from across several operating areas have compared it to Vietnam – the daily patrols in a thick belt of green, regular gunfights, explosions heard in distance, and the Kiowas overhead – but minus the naplam, of course.
Where’s My Bird?
November 20th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Members of 1st Platoon, Blackwatch Co., 2-1 Infantry, look for a downed “Raven” UAV from another battalion near Hutal village, along Highway One, in Kandahar. The Raven is rather small – it weighs a only few pounds, and has a four foot wingspan, and is particular useful with infantry operations.
Looking For The Taliban
November 19th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Lt. Nicholas Privette leads members of 1st platoon, the “Roughnecks,” on cordoned search through nearby Hutal village, looking for insurgents that may be holed up in the area.
The Roughnecks
November 18th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Spc. Anthony Hernandez sets up his 240 in a wagon at the entrance of an alleyway while on patrol with 1st platoon, the “Roughnecks,” Blackwatch Co., 2-1 Infantry, near COP Rath in western Kandahar.
(On a semi-related note, these kind gentlemen in the Roughnecks, gave me a warm room in a genuine building last night. Let’s just say, the last few nights previously were rather cold – generator issues – without heat in the tent, despite a woolie cap, clothes and a sleeping bag. Kings among men, to say the least…..)
The, Uhhh, Jolly Roger
November 17th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Members of 3rd platoon, Bravo Co., 4-23 Infantry have decorated their Stryker with a favorite deployment theme – and as they told me, “because they like pirates.” Then the rest of them chimed in, chuckling, to explain further, “Yeah! Ass pirates!”