Surgery By Flashlight
June 15th, 2011 | From the Ranks | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
U.S. Air Force Capt. Dawn Russell treats an injured Afghan boy while Provincial Reconstruction Team personnel hold flashlights at Forward Operating Base Smart, Afghanistan, June 9, 2011. Russell is a physicians assistant assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul. The patient was transported to FOB Smart from Zabul after an improvised explosive device detonated, injuring two civilian children. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson
Waiting For The Call
September 3rd, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
The ping-pong table, just yards from the flight-line, of Charlie Co., 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade’s medievac unit – which is on standby 24-hours a day for any dust-offs calls that may come through for the area. And it’s a rare day that isn’t busy.
Going Back to Kandy
August 25th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Kelly Kennedy and I will be reporting from Kandahar and RC South all next month – more posts to follow…. For more from my last trip there, featuring scenic FOB Ramrod pictured above – start here.
Beachfront Property
February 24th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne at FOB White, near the pier at Port-au-Prince, eat their meals (all MREs, all the time – this isn’t Afghanistan, y’know) on the beach – it keeps the rats away from tents.
Make the most of what you’ve got
January 29th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Sheila
Soldiers from the 1-73rd, 82nd Airborne Division, play their version of handball using a found tennis ball at the Petionville Country Club in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Sunday, January 24, 2010. The Soldiers were on stand-by to offload helicopters that would fly in unexpectedly with supplies like food and water. Shortly after the photo was taken, the Soldiers were informed that they were no longer allowed to play games while waiting.
Undercover Work
December 7th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
A dog sleeps in a soldier’s cot after he left during the night for a patrol. A brief note about dogs – although command may often try to clamp down on having said mascots on bases, many soldiers sing the praises of having one around. Aside from morale issues, I have heard several accounts from various troops who say that their untrained, locally found dogs have found IEDs, arms caches, and warned them about Afghan ambushes while on patrol.
A Fine Cookie Mist
December 5th, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Soldiers clutch a newly arrived mail shipment as a helicopter takes off for its return leg to Kandahar airfield. Those cookies mom sent? That’s why they ended up like that.
Tell Her About The Coffee
December 3rd, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
Staff Sgt. Jason Hughes, Squad Leader, 1st Platoon, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry, writes a letter home to his grandmother at the Baba Saheb district center in Kandahar. He often takes up to three days to write a letter, taking his time to figure out what he wants to say.
I’d suggest he could let her know that the unit has the finest coffee I’ve ever had in the military, made with a truly mind-boggling piece of equipment, too. Can you tell these guys are based near Seattle?
New FOB #2
December 2nd, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
After scouting some new desolate hills about 1000 yards away from the last compound, Staff Sgt. Matthew Sanders, Charlie Co., 1-17 Infantry, takes in his newly assigned patrol base, an empty hilltop outside of town. Who needed walls or buildings anyway for the winter? C-wire is just as good.
That Was Fast, Yet Again
December 1st, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
So that new FOB that 4th platoon just secured, and built up guard defenses, a proper bathroom with a door (minus some walls), dug up an entrance path for the Strykers, and whatnot for two days? Four hours after he visits the FOB with no official name, the battalion commander decides the site is no good and tells the men they have to move. Back to work, but in reverse… Looks like we’ll get no walls now, either – moving out to some field or hill, it seems.