Kindness Flows Overseas Article from LVRJ

Click the link below to view the article on SGT Adam Fenner, who is a medic up at COP Najil and has arranged to bring toys to children in the Najil area through some kind friends in Nevada.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/from-nevada-kindness-flows-overseas-80104432.html

Merry Christmas!

On behalf of TF Wildhorse and the members of 1-221 CAV we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Today and tomorrow we are being treated by the tunes of the Bragg Tones, the official 82nd Airborne band. We will also share in the Christmas meal tomorrow. Connection speed is very slow but I will update again as soon as I can.

Chistmas Gifts Donated to Local Workers

Yesterday members of TF Wildhorse delivered several boxes of toys and other gifts for our dining facility workers and their children. The dining facility workers are mostly from the local population and really put forth a tremendous effort feeding and caring for the tenants here. They were extremely grateful for these items. The items were donated from Dr. John Sherwood's office of Elko and coordinated through our Executive Officer MAJ Kurt Neddenriep. Dr. Sherwood and the residents in the Elko area have donated a tremendous amount of school supplies, toys, and other items throughout our deployment. TF Wildhorse thanks Dr. Sherwood, the community of Elko and all the others who have donated throughout our deployment. Pictured are MAJ Neddenriep and CPT Doug Moore of the Wildhorse CMO office.

RJ Article on Saw Valley Fight

Click on the link below to view the RJ article on the fight in the Saw Valley on 6 December.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-based-national-guard-unit-engages-militants-in-afghanistan-79711182.html

"Hooligans at War"

Tyler Elliott, who was embedded with the Wildhorse back in August for a month of filming, has released his teaser for his documentary on the squadron called "Hooligans at War". The name of the film was derived from the one of our platoons, call sign "Hooligans", in which he was embedded with. Visit www.hooligansatwar.com to view the teaser. The film is set to appear in the Summer of 2010. All the best to Tyler and the Hooligans Platoon for making this happen!

Saw Valley Fight

You have probably already heard but if you have not I want to fill you in on what happened. A story on this should also be released this weekend in the Review Journal. Members of TF Wildhorse were involved in an all day operation on the 6th that lead to a firefight in the Saw Valley in the Alingar District of Laghman. It began with a UAV locating several insurgents planting IED's in the road in lower Alingar. We conducted an airstrike and killed several of them. We then sent out a ground response that followed the enemy deep into the Saw Valley where members of the TF came under heavy enemy direct fire from all directions. The Wildhorse Troopers did very well and at the end of the day we captured a half dozen insurgents, a cache, and killed about 12 enemy. One of our soldiers did receive a minor gun shot wound through the shoulder and he put a bandage on it and continued to fight. This happened while he was actually treating a wounded enemy combatant. We were very fortunate that day. The first photo is from the Saw Valley looking back towards Mehtar Lam. The second is in front of the rock house where one of the injured insurgents was located.

Squadron Commander's Article

Here is a link to the latest in a series of articles submitted to the LVRJ by LTC Cunningham on the deployment.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/dangers-lurk-during-patrols-75766802.html

Baba Shrine Well Completion

The Baba Shrine Well has been completed in Mehtar Lam. The Baba Shrine is located near what is believed to be the original settlement of Mehtar Lam and is heavily visited by locals. This well will provide much needed clean drinking water to the visitors. It was nominated by the locals through the government and completed on time by a local contractor. TF Wildhorse is completing and has completed several wells in and around Laghman that are similar to this project.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I apologize for not having this up a day earlier but I had a few technical difficulties to work out. We had an outstanding Thanksgiving dinner prepared by our government contracted staff consisting of plenty of turkey, ham, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce and the works. The meals were served by Wildhorse staff officers and senior non-commissioned officers as a way to give thanks to the soldiers here. Most soldiers took it pretty easy with afternoon movies and relaxation. Chaplain Woomer, the newly arrived Wildhorse chaplain, and SGT Harvey, the chaplain's assistant, gave an outstanding service in the evening that focused on giving thanks for all that we have, especially for our country, constitution, freedoms that we enjoy, and the sacrifices that have been made to ensure that this remains. SGT Harvey made a very impressive reference by citing the entire Gettysburg address by memory. I posted a few pictures of staff officers and NCOs serving the soldiers and some of the soldiers enjoying dinner.

Squadron Commander's Pics

These are some pics from LTC Cunningham's collection in and around Laghman.