Illinois BEST A11

After the events of 28 Aug., Ghazni was a veritable beehive of activity. Repairs, Force Protection, and multiple visits by distinguished visitors were here from 29 Aug. through 7 Sept. Starting with US Army Maj. Gen. James McConville, the commanding general for Combined Joint Task Force 101, then US Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the International Security Forces-Afghanistan commander, then Canadian Brig. Gen Dave Corbould, the visitors were here to assess the situation on the FOB, get a detailed brief of events, and assess activities to repair and fortify the FOB.

On September 1, Fluor, the contract company that takes care of the DFAC operations, and many other maintenance and care issues on the FOB, organized and conducted the first of 5 meals for the tenants of the FOB. Mr. Robert Johnson, the Fluor site lead at FOB Ghazni, worked very closely with Maj. Cory Wisniewski and the staff of the White Eagle S-4 shop to coordinate everything. It was a much needed boost to morale after the events of 28 Sept.

Col. Mueller, Capt. Wlodarski, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Berry accompanied the Polish Military Advisor Team to FOB Vulcan to train some Afghan National Army soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 203rd Corps on the U.S. 60mm mortar system. Capt. Wlodarski and Mr. Berry both have a background in mortars, the training was very well received and the ANA put their training into action during a recent mission.

On August 14, Task Force White Eagle was visited by the Minister of the Interior for Poland. He received some briefs on ongoing operations, and some successes from the Polish Special Forces. The minister was also given an opportunity to see some of the PLF’s armament in use here in Afghanistan.

On August 5, Maj. Darren Horton bid farewell to BEST A11 and to Task Force White Eagle to fly home to further his military education. Many of Maj. Horton's new friends and colleagues came to see him off. Maj. Eric Nillson and Master Sgt. Matthew Foster were added to the team to fill Maj. Horton’s shoes.

On the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, Tomasz Siemoniak, the Minister of National Defense for Poland, visited Task Force White Eagle. The Minister received briefs from the staff on ongoing operations and successes and handed out some awards to the Polish troops. His visit also gave the 16 men of BEST A11 an opportunity to meet a foreign head of state; a once in a lifetime opportunity. At the end of his visit, Col. Lawson presented Mr. Siemoniak with a gift to commemorate the 20 year partnership between Illinois and Poland.

On the 2nd of August, Team Wise Guys and Task Force White Eagle gave a farewell to Maj. Darren Horton, of Williamsville, Ill. Maj. Horton is on his way to ILE to further his career. Brig. Gen. Sokolowski and Col. Christopher Lawson presented Maj. Horton with his endo of tour awards and gave him a few gifts. Following the ceremony, TFWE organized a barbeque in Maj. Horton's honor, and the Commander took him for a ride in his Willy's Jeep. His spot on the team will be filled by Master Sgt. Matthew Foster of Indianapolis, Ind. and the US PRT on FOB Ghazni. Later this month the team will also welcome Maj. Eric Nilsson to the fold.

Col. Lawson gave a special presentation to members of Team Wiseguys and Task Force White Eagle on the evening of the 18th. His “Man In the Arena” or MIA 1910 patch, certificate, and shirt were given to members of the team to recognize their consistent drive for success and will to fight without fear. The concept was given life by Col. Lawson and based on an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 “Citizenship in a Republic” speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Each certificate is numbered, and there will be more presented to personnel on the rotation during additional ceremonies.

On the afternoon of the 18th, Brig. Gen. Sokolowski and Col. Lawson unveiled the Task Force White Eagle XIII and BEST 11 deployment signs. The design for the TFWE XIII was the idea of a Polish Soldier, while the design for the BEST 11 sign was the idea of a BEST Soldier. Both signs were hand painted by a local national that works here on FOB Ghazni.

On Friday morning, Sgt. Major Edwards and Col. Lawson became honorary Polish Artillerymen. Sgt. Major Edwards told a friend at home that he would fire a cannon in honor of their birthday, so the Task Force White Eagle DANA battery invited him and Col. Lawson to fire a few rounds from the guns. Each of them got to send three rounds downrange. It’s just another unique experience to be had here on the FOB. After all was said and done, the DANA crew presented a shell and canister from one of the rounds that Sgt. Major Edwards fired to him. It was emblazoned with his rank and signed by the crew.

Apparently, the so called "well trained" monkey, was not so well trained. Said monkey caused a "small" loss of data...

Said monkey has been subsequently sacked and replaced by a well mannered chimpanzee that promises to be much better trained than the monkey. The chimp has a deadline of tonight to get some pictures up, or he will lose bananas...

We've been busy here on FOB Ghazni this past month. The Admin for this page seems to be slacking, so we have subsequently sacked said admin and replaced him with a very well trained Capuchin monkey.

Expect some posts and pictures soon.