Checking In

Posted By Blackfive

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Sean Cain, with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, performs a radio check during a security patrol in the Nawa district of the Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 9, 2009. The 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment is a ground combat element deployed with Regimental Combat Team 7, which conducts counterinsurgency operations in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces in southern Afghanistan.   DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Harris, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

[After the USAF Pink Smoke photo, had to put something else on the front page of the blog...]

Popping Pink Smoke

Posted By Blackfive

Students in the Combat Airman Skills Training Course use a smoke diversion tactic while practicing patrol maneuvers on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Nov. 12, 2009. U.S. airmen assigned to the 421st Combat Training Squadron teach the course to prepare airmen for upcoming deployments. The squadron is assigned to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol

Badass Medic "Fueled by Rock St*r"

Posted By Blackfive

Sgt. Daniel Schmitt, flight medic for the General Support Aviation Battalion out of Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., assigned to Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan, looks on while on a training mission with the Polish infantry on Forward Operating Base Ghazni. The medics performed training with the Polish to teach proper procedure on loading and unloading patients onto a UH-60 helicopter. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Corey

One more Burn Notice Photo with Someone You Should Know

Posted By Blackfive

Lt. Col. Mark Bieger (center left), the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment commander, stands with Spc. Peter Jank, a Chicago, Ill., native, while Bruce Campbell and Jeffrey Donovan, cast members from the television show "Burn Notice," hold the U.S. flag, Nov. 12, at Joint Security Station Nasir Wa Salam, Iraq. Bieger reenlisted Jank while the two actors assisted.  Photo by Spc. Luisito Brooks.

For a reminder of who that LTC is...go here. 

Burn Notice Iraq-Style

Posted By Blackfive

One of the few shows that I will DVR is Burn Notice (the others are the Amazing Race and Castle).  I like Burn Notice because the main character describes how he actually goes about doing some of the super-cool spy stuff and the other characters are really great.  And then of course any show with Bruce Campbell is an automatic must-watch in my house...

Actor Jeffery Donovan shoots at the unit?s firing range at Combat Outpost Meade, Iraq, Nov. 13. A morale, welfare and recreation tour brought Donovan and fellow actor Bruce Campbell of USA network's show "Burn Notice" to entertain the Soldiers.

Actor Bruce Campbell shoots a squad automatic weapon as brass, sparks and links fly at the firing range on Combat Outpost Meade, Iraq, Nov. 13. A morale, welfare and recreation tour brought Campbell and fellow actor Jeffery Donovan of USA network's show "Burn Notice" to entertain the Soldiers.

SFC Pierce Williams - Someone You Should Know

Posted By Blackfive

The meaning of Never Quit...again, not sure where we find these amazing men and women, but I thank the Lord that we do.

Soldier in Focus: Never Quit
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Story by Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – More than most, Soldiers know about never quitting, it is in their ethos and creed – a code they have embedded in their hearts from the beginning of their military careers.

Sgt. 1st Class Pierce Williams, once a young infantry staff sergeant, has had moments in his life where quitting was given as an option, but instead, he chose the ethos.

Williams, a native of Sturgis, S.D., an intelligence non-commissioned officer for future operations for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, now on his third deployment to Iraq, never thought he would be shuffling through intelligence reports–not after one fateful day in 2006.

He joined the Army in May 2002, six days after he graduated high school; following in his older brother's footsteps.

In February 2003, less than four months after arriving to his first duty assignment with the 82nd Airborne Div. in Fort Bragg, N.C., he deployed to Iraq.

"I was 19 years old and coming over here to Iraq was crazy. You're shooting at people, you're getting shot at," he said. "It was nothing that you'd experience back in the States."

With one deployment behind him and after a year-long training period with his new unit, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, he was on his way back to Iraq.

For the first 65 days of his new deployment, he wasn't very impressed with the amount of enemy action. It was a welcome lull in fire fights and daily rocket attacks of his last deployment.

That all changed the night of Dec. 10, 2006 – day 66.

Williams volunteered his Soldiers to go on a patrol so that his comrades could get some much needed rest.

But his decision to do so almost immediately brought on uneasy feelings. What made it worse was his Soldiers had the same premonition.

"I had quite a few Soldiers coming up to tell me that they didn't feel comfortable going out on this patrol," said Williams.

As a leader, you have to show that you have no fear and that everything will be okay, he said.

"That part was probably a little difficult for me because I was such a young staff sergeant," said Williams.

But none of that mattered; Soldiers have to put their feelings aside to accomplish their mission, said Williams.

Night fell and the convoy set out.

While on the road, Williams was constantly trying to radio his headquarters for an updated status of his route in regards to improvised explosive devices, but to no avail.

"After I made my last radio call, I kind of looked over at my driver and team leader, who was also in my vehicle, and was getting ready to say, 'I can't get a hold of these [guys]!'"

But before he uttered those words in frustration, he was blasted in the face by a giant fireball that slammed him violently against his door.

"My initial thought was, 'I've just been blown up by an IED,'" Williams said.

As the daze from the blast began to clear, his brain started processing information normally. This brought into view the rest of his Soldiers still inside the vehicle.

Only Williams and his driver made it out alive.

After other Soldiers pulled his door off using another vehicle, his medic approached him and asked if he was okay.

At the time he could not feel his left ear and thought his left shoulder was dislocated.

"That was the first time, as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle, that I felt pain," said Williams.
The medic pulled down on his arm, which caused a stream of profanity to flow from William's mouth, but his shoulder was not separated.

"I kept asking if my ear was still there and he said, 'yeah,' and kept wrapping," said Williams.

Shortly thereafter he was medically evacuated by the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, the very unit he now serves with, he said.

It turned out that he did still have his left ear; it had been filleted from his scalp by a piece of shrapnel.

The left side of his upper torso was pelted with numerous entrance wounds from the explosion and debris.

The list of injuries goes on: second degree burns to his face, neck and hands, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and bi-lateral hearing loss. He even has a couple dozen pieces of shrapnel inside his body – some the size of quarters.

Month by month ticked away as he made his way through therapy for both his body and mind.

Like many Soldiers in his place, he felt the pang of fear and pain, a reminder that it would be so much easier to relent, but he pushed back. Williams was not going to let anything stop him.

Light emphasizes the left side of Sgt. 1st Class Pierce Williams' face where, along with his upper torso, he took the brunt of an improvised explosive device, Dec. 10, 2006. Williams, of Sturgis, S.D., an intelligence sergeant of future operations, for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, recovered from second degree burns to his face, neck and hands, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and bi-lateral hearing loss. He still has a couple dozen pieces of shrapnel still in his body - reminders of his days as a battle-hardened infantryman. US Army Photo by SSG Nathan Hoskins

The IED did not take his life, so he had a heightened fervor to become the best Soldier he could in lieu of his injuries. His goal was to come back stronger than ever and continue to fight as an infantryman.

It took 22 months of surgeries, physical therapy and counseling for him to finally go before a medical board which held his military career in its hands.

They then handed down an opportunity which was, to him at the time, a devastating ultimatum.

He could medically retire or stay in the Army, but he could no longer be an infantryman.

"After 22 months of healing and fighting to get better [only] for them to tell me that I can't live my dream of being an infantryman was absolutely crushing," said Williams.

"I was contemplating on whether or not I was just going to get medically retired or if I actually wanted to continue on [with] active duty," he said.

But his wife reminded him of his ultimate goal to become a sergeant major—something he would be giving up on if he chose to get out.

Instead of quitting, he became an intelligence sergeant, which was an intimidating idea at first, he said.

However, it turned out he already had a knack for the intelligence field.

"I was the type of squad leader that wanted as much intel as possible on whatever operation I was doing – whether it was training or real life," he said of his days as an infantryman.

"Little did I know, at that time, that I was doing an intelligence job," he said.

While in training, he passed along his personal story to other Soldiers – a story about never quitting and never leaving a fallen comrade.

Many of the Soldiers he came in contact with during his time at school still keep in contact with him as he helps motivate and mentor them through their Army careers.

Now, sitting in an office chair surrounded by multiple computer screens with red secret stickers on them, he feels the direct impact he makes on the Soldiers – in this case aviators – who go outside the wire.

"I've gone out on missions where I've had bad intel ... where things have gone horribly wrong," he said. "So I know ... that if I don't do the job to my best abilities, then something could go horribly wrong; that's what drives me every day."

Williams puts all of his energy into making sure Soldiers are safer on the streets and in the skies of Baghdad. He never leaves a fallen comrade by not letting them fall in the first place – giving them intelligence to do their jobs.

His story and his actions motivate the Soldiers around him as he puts a hundred percent of himself into his work.

"I don't like to fail. I like to be first in everything I do, whether it's being an infantryman or doing intelligence," said Williams.

As for his goal to become a sergeant major, well, he has not quite made it yet, but like most of his life thus far, quitting may be an option, but it is not one he will choose to take.

Firefight!

Posted By Blackfive

U.S. Army Pvt. John Stafinski fires his squad automatic weapon into an anti-Afghan forces location during a firefight in Waterpur Valley, Kunar province, Afghanistan, Nov. 3, 2009. Stafinski is an infantryman assigned to the 4th Infantry Division’s Company C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Cody A. Thompson

The Nords Blow

Posted By Blackfive

[I'm sure that the Nordic Uncle Jimbo and Jonn Lilyea have blown the horn a few times...just not for the Vikes.]

U.S. Army Capt. Dustin Snare blows the Ghallarhorn, a Nordic war horn, kicking off the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions during the viewing party on Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, Nov. 15, 2009. Snare is the battle captain for the 34th Infantry Division's operations section. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Soza

MUST READ: BEST EXPOSE EVER

Posted By Blackfive

Go over to This Ain't Hell and see a decent book turned into Left Wing Propaganda and the USAF Major who showed his @$$...

Must. Read.

Blackfive Radio Interview This AM

Posted By Blackfive

I will be on Greta Perry's Kiss My Gumbo radio show today 9:00-10:00AM central. Live from the French Quarter AM690 or you can listen on your computer.

Call in 888-880-WIST.

Here's the line up:

The Kiss my Gumbo radio show airs each Saturday morning from 9:00-10:00 (central) Saturday on AM 690 WIST or live on your computer here. Call in numbers are 888-880-WIST or (504)260-0690 @kissmygumbo on twitter or gretaperry @ gmail.com

This Saturday, we will be joined by military expert, Matt Burden aka Blackfive who is also a Trustee for Soldiers’ Angels and Chairman of the Warrior Legacy Foundation. We will discuss Fort Hood, The President’s reaction to it, the need for more troops and more. Do not miss this military expert – questions ahead of time are welcome. Next, my producer Natalie and I will discuss current events (she rocks) and politics. We will finish up the hour with Larry Jones from Louisiana Honor Air. This program takes WWII Veterans to DC for a one day trip to see the WWII Memorial and more. Look at the most recent news story about them.