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864th in Afghanistan

Homeward Bound

By J.M. Simpson

My Spring Break at Pierce College is just about up, and I have to return home in order to meet my classes. But before I leave Afghanistan and the 864th ECB (H) at FOB Sharana, I would like to say a few words about some of the soldiers I met and worked with.

Col. Richard Stevens: OK, so he’s not from Fort Lewis. But he took the time to treat me as an equal; he reiterated a lot of what I learned on this assignment; he did not fear the fact that I am the press. I appreciate that, Sir. Thank you.

Lt. Col. Mark Deschenes: He doesn’t say much, but when he does talk he can go on and on and on. But that’s not bad; he knows a helluva lot about what his soldiers are doing in Afghanistan. He’s a no nonsense kind of guy who gets the job done. Moreover, many of the soldiers serving with him say he is the best commanding officer they have ever worked with. I agree.

I appreciate everything he did for me. At no point during my five embedments have I had a battalion commander do as much for me in terms of getting me out to get my stories. Thank you, Sir. I think I have told “your story.”

Maj. James DeLapp: I enjoyed talking with and listening to you. You are without a doubt one of the brightest guys I have run across in a long time. The battalion is well served by your presence. Thank you for everything; especially the use of the DSN line.

Maj. Kenneth Frey: Allowing me access to the TOC and the information contained therein helped immensely in my understanding of the huge tasks the 864th confronts. Thank you for your trust in me; I wish it were like this at Fort Lewis. I will not forget your trust.

Capt. Eric Parthemore: We only spoke for a moment or two while at FOB Kushamond, but I recall you saying that you’ve got some decisions to make. Good luck. You are a fine man soldier.

Capt. Kenya Saenz: Thank you for all your work. Being a PAO is hard work, but I think you did a great job. Particularly when it came to getting the visa for Qatar.

CSM Charles Turner: I was told (tongue in cheek, of course) never to quote you. Well, I am.
Remember the talk you gave the soldiers at FOB Kushamond moments after the commander awarded some CABs and gave out some coins? Remember what you told the soldiers? You told them to not to become preoccupied on coming home; you told them to “sprint through to the finish line.” That’s good advice … coming from a damn fine sergeant major.

Sgt. Donald Kenney: When you get back, I am going to attach a Radio Flyer wagon to the back of my car, tie you in the wagon and drive back and forth on the worst bit of road I can find. And when I am done, I will smile and say, “See. That’s what it’s like riding over unimproved roads in the back end of your MRAP.” All kidding aside, I appreciate what you did on that day to FOB Kushamond.

Sgt. Justin Rook: You told me the 864th ECB (H) is the best engineer battalion in the Army. I think you’re right. Be safe.

Spc. Chris Hammond: I appreciate and respect your modesty. But you are a story – and hence an example – waiting to be told. Thank you for your service to this country.

I could go on, but these are the folks who stand out in my memory.

Fort Lewis, you have every right to be proud of these soldiers. They have worked incredible hard; they have faced and overcome engineering challenges that literally stagger the imagination.

And they will all be home soon.

J.M. Simpson

864th in Afghanistan

Lt. Col. Mark Deschenes and CSM Charles Turner talk to the soldies of A Company who are woking at FOB Kushamond. Deschenes stressed how proud he was of their work. Turner told them to work right up to the end of their deployment and to take care of each other. – J.M. Simpson

864th in Afghanistan

Here are more photos of Fort Lewis engineers from the 864th Engineer Battalion finish up their last month in Afghanistan...

Spc. Jose Hernandez rests for a second before heading out on a mission from FOB Kushamond.

Lt. Col. Mark Deschenes, commander, 864th ECB (H) looks out across an enemy infiltration point on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Soldiers from the 864th ECB (H) board a Blackhawk helicopter in order to fly to serveral remote Combat Outposts.

Spc. Jose Hernandez, Headquarters Support Company, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) sets the barrel of a .50 caliber machine gun prior to heading out on a mission from FOB Kushamond.


Pfc. Alex Duncan, combat medic, Headquarters Support Company, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), collects his thoughts before heading out on a mission to check over a newly built bridge outside the town of Sharana.

864th in Afghanistan

Here are more pictures from J.M. Simpson....

Spc. Joshua Mullins, A Company, salutes after receiving his Combat Action Badge from Lt. Col. Mark Deschenes, commander, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy).

SSgt. Adam McCroy cleans some of the moon dust off a door window on his Humvee. Before the engineers got to work at FOB Kushamond, the moon dust was three to four feet deep.

Cpl. Jeremy Bacon stans with some children outside the town of Kayr Kot.

Capt. Eric Parthemore, commander, Headquaters Support Company, 864th ECB (H) is all smiles after a long and dusty ride from FOB Sharana to FOB Kushamond.

J.M. Simpson with the 864th Engineer Battalion

Soldiers serving with the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) prepare a memorial honoring Sgt. Cory Clark and Sgt. Bryce Howard. The memorial was commemorated at Combat Outpost Herrera, which is named in honor of SFC Ricky Herrera.

In Memoriam

Late last August, a suicide bomber walked up to a group of American soldiers and Afghani civilians in the town of Jaji and detonated.

Among the dead were SFC Rocky Herrera, Sgt. Bryce Howard and Sgt. Cory Clark, all soldiers serving with the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) that is currently deployed to eastern Afghanistan. The three soldiers were helping to build a bridge for the people of Jaji.

The battalion has memorialized these three soldiers. Combat Outpost (COP) Herrera is named in memory of SFC Herrera. And today, a stone monument bearing the names of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Clark was placed near the just opened Clark-Howard Bridge.

“It’s our way of remembering these soldiers and what they did for their country,” commented Maj. Kenneth Frey, the battalion’s operations officer.

I agree. What these soldiers have given for this country should not be forgotten.

Remember.

J.M. Simpson

864th Engineers: Building Afghanistan

Editor's note: J.M. Simpson covered Fort Lewis Stryker soldiers in Iraq during four trips there from 2005-2007. Last week, he flew to Afghanistan to get the other story, as seen through the eyes of Fort Lewis's soldiers from the 864th Engineer Battalion. The following is his first filed story. John's full features will begin March 27th in the Fort Lewis Ranger newspaper.

I will say this for the soldiers of the 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) – they sure work hard here at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Sharana in completing all of the tasks they have prior to returning home in May.

“We’ve got a lot of work yet to do,” commented Christa Bowman as she checked her level to ensure that a doorframe was perfectly vertical with the ground. “But I think we will get it all done before returning home,” she added.

And as I have already pointed out, coming home for these soldiers is just around the corner.

Located south of Kabul in eastern Afghanistan, FOB Sharana is still a relatively desolate place in the middle of nowhere. It serves as a hub for construction projects all across the eastern part of Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. That said, soldiers don’t complain about their quarters, the food or the internet/telephone accessibility.

FOB Sharana is a beehive of activity with construction – both of the horizontal and vertical variety – going on as the FOB grows in size. From digging and the driving of nails to welding and the pouring of cement, the battalion’s soldiers are doing it all. It should also be noted that members of the Polish Army at times work with their American counterparts.

The weather here has been warm during the day and cool during the night. The one meteorological occurrence, which has struck me, is how blue the sky is. Puts me in mind of the skies over Montana.

The 27 March issue of the Ft. Lewis Ranger newspaper will carry my story on what I have seen and experienced during the last couple of days. In the meantime, I will continue to write about and photograph the work the battalion is doing outside of the FOB.

There is never a dull moment around here.

J.M. Simpson

The 864th In Afghanistan

More photos from our man in Afghanistan, J.M. Simpson.

Spc. Steven Spencer, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, throws a shovelful of sand into a cement mixer during the construction of a K-Span building.

Brig. Gen. Joe Votel, Assistant Division Commander, 82nd Airborne, coins Sgt. Clive Dunrod, 864th ECB (H), during a brief stop at FOB Sharana. Other 864th soldiers receiving coins were Spc. Joe Brazell, Pfc. Joshua Weiss, Pfc. Vincent Valenzuela, Pfc. Justin Nation, Pfc. Robert Mack, Sgt. Jamie Schwilk and Spc. Anthony Gulino. Standing behind Votel is Sen. John Barasso (R) of Wyoming.

Pfc. Vungh Khai, 1st Platoon, B Company, gets a hand from another soldier as he prepares to work his way up the roof and seal a seam.

Soldiers from 1st Platoon, B Company work together to place a section of roof - called a K-Span - into position. Each roof contains 15 of these spans.

J.M. Simpson in Afghanistan

Ranger Photographer John Simpson landed in Afghanistan this past weekend to spend time with the 864th Engineer Battalion from Fort Lewis. He sent us these photos...

Spc. Josuha Petri, 1st Platoon, A Company, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) measures a two-by-four for cutting. The wood was used to make help support interior walls in structures referred to as K-Huts.

Spc. Heather McNamara, 1st Platoon, A Company, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) drives home a nail while working on the construction of new quarters at FOB Sharana for civilian contractors.