Practice Makes Perfect
May 19th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Spc. Steve “Gypsy” Gillapsie, from Golden, Co., practices quick firing with 60mm mortar, nicknamed the “Boom Stick.”
Too Many To Count
May 19th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
One of the most ubiquitous sights on patrols when you get near a village is children – first quiet, then unruly, they literally start appearing and mulitplying exponentially. And won’t leave you alone until you give them pens, or as our interpreter did, made them line up for candy. They don’t like lines.
All Dismount, All the Time
May 18th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
The terrain is so rough here that almost all patrols are “dismounted” – that means no lifts from a Humvee… Humping all your ammo, water through the mountains.
In The Bunker
May 17th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
At one corner of the base is a natural hilly outcrop of rocks that has been fortified with bunkers. Pfc. Wesley Gatewood, Pfc. Paul Liberatore, and Spc. Nick Giovanelli, from Bravo Company, 1-4 Infantry, take a quick smoke break from moving generator equipment up the hill.
First Things First
May 17th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
As we got off our much delayed bird to FOB Baylough, a remote oupost in the mountains north of Lagman, a burly sergeant immediately gathered us together and said, “First rule about Baylough is – piss before you shit. We shit in bags here, and if you pee in them, it will burst the bags – and – YOU – will have to clean it up.”
FOB RULES
1. Keep your weapon clean and ready at all times.
2. Clear your weapon or it will be taken from you.
3. Know where your kit is and be ready to get it on.
4. Know your role and position during enemy contact.
5. USE A BAG WHEN YOU TAKE A SHIT, TIE THE BAG, THROW IT IN THE PIT. MY SOLDIERS WILL BE PULLING GUARD ON THE SHITTERS IF YOU MESS THIS UP.
Clear?
Howabout here?
May 16th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Maj. Greg Cannata, the senior U.S. officer in Task Force Zabul, examines a potential site for a new base in the Shajoy district of Zabul.
Checkpost 5
May 16th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Afghan National Army soldiers return to their station – Checkpost #5 – after a patrol along Highway One. We’ve been training them longer than the Iraqis – and if you use that as a yard stick – how are the Iraqis doing?
Four Red Bull Run
May 15th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Spc. Justin McEwen, 22, from Yadkinville, NC, takes a break at FOB Bullard after a three off-road run – running parallel to Highway One – as a .50 gunner on a Cougar MRAP. He said, “Today was a special day – I normally have a Red Bull or two, but today I had four.”