posted by 147 FA on Oct 7
Hello everyone.
It’s hard to believe we are only a few weeks from hitting the half-way mark on our one year deployment. As things have settled down we have become more familiar with our duties on KNB and Camp Patriot. The days and weeks blur into your memory and before you know it another month has passed.
You can be very proud of the performance of our Alpha Battery soldiers; their professionalism and excellence is recognized in the entire Kuwaiti Theatre. We are always receiving compliments on how well the Security Force is performing. On every inspection we are told “you are the role model other units need to followâ€, even though we just got here. A-Battery is on duty 24/7, providing security for KNB and the specific area where we live on Camp Patriot.
We have a 4 member, the “Phantom 4â€, volley ball team who won a volley ball tournament a couple of weeks ago. Our 6-member volleyball team, the “Phantom 4†(same team plus 1), won the Ghost Volleyball tournament. This is the same as regular volleyball except they hang a black curtain over the net so one can’t see what the opposing team is doing (no spiking or overhand serves are allowed). It is quite an interesting game. There was a 5K fun run called “Run for the Hills†in honor of South Dakota and the Black Hills. There were a total of 143 participants and each one received a T shirt. In October, on the opening day of pheasant season, there will be a 5K Pheasant run to honor the great Soldiers of South Dakota.
SPC Nathan Tarnowski was informed his brother, Mike, was going to be in Camp Virginia and we were able to get him to see his brother. They had not seen each other for over two years. The smiles say it all.
The first of our soldiers returned from 15 days of R&R. All of them had a great time. They have new stories to share and a renewed energy. It is by far the biggest moral boost during one’s deployment. The biggest complaint from all of them was they had to say good-bye to family and friends again, but at the same time they were anxious to get back on duty.
In late September some of the platoons put together a beach pizza party and a pool party for their Platoon members. Pizza, chips, pop, grilled Bratwurst, and salads were served. It was a great moral boost and team building event. The food for the parties was paid for by the unit fund, so thank you to all who helped with that fund raising effort.
As we get closer to fall and winter the temperature is changing. For this week the daily highs are from 100-105, the lows from 75-80. This is a good thing, but 75 degrees is chilly. The wind still blows and sometimes when it comes from the east it is extremely humid. The heat is almost bearable but when the humidity hits it makes life outside miserable. You can walk 200 feet and your clothing is soaked from sweating. With the change in weather and the dust there are a number of us who get to visit Captain Doc Kenny for some verbal abuse and meds for colds and sinus infection. A visit to Doc will ensure you do not want to get sick again.
1SG Terry Ching