One for Seven
November 18th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
The funeral for the seven 1-17 Infantry soldiers killed in a Stryker by an IED, October 27, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., November 18, 2010. Although each solider received his own burial, due to the nature of the explosion, the remaining unidentified remains were buried in one grave.
The soldiers killed were Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, N.Y., Sgt. Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, Texas, Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind., Sgt. Issac B. Jackson, 27, of Plattsburg, Mo., Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, 24, of Broussard, La., Spc. Jared D. Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, Ill., and Pfc. Christopher I. Walz, 25, of Vancouver, Wash.
Swing Shift
August 3rd, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Chris Maddaloni
1st Lt. Derek Wiser, Alpha Co., 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry, trains on his Stryker during a live ammo drill at Ft. A.P Hill, Va. The Pennsylvania unit is the only National Guard Styrker brigade in the country, and recently returned from a tour in Iraq last fall.
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.
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.