Lull

Messages received from FOB Blessing in the last couple days indicate that soldiers over there are all aware of the pastor's planned action in Gainesville, FL and are taking proactive measures for damage control. 

On the recent battle of Omar, LT Alex Pruden wrote in the blog:

“...3rd Platoon came into the landing zone under fire, and proceeded to fight their way through the extremely difficult terrain of eight-foot high cornfields, ten foot terraces and a river (at nighttime). Fortunately, we had excellent support from our comrades in the sky, and the Apaches and Kiowa warriors rained hell down on insurgent positions in order to cover our assault.

Once we’d seized the village, the majority of the enemy resistance was broken, though we continued to take sporadic sniper fire throughout the day. Overall, the mission was clear success, with 19 insurgents confirmed killed. In addition, our platoon detained four wounded insurgent fighters. A major cache of rockets was also found and destroyed. No friendly casualties were sustained by the platoon, other than the platoon leader’s pride when he tumbled face first off of a farm terrace. But perhaps most impressively, the entire operation resulted in zero civilian casualties. This statistic is a testament that the soldiers of 3rd platoon not only know how to display courage and aggression, but also judgment and restraint...
Read about this in the press on the links below


http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/08/19_taliban_fightersphp

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/55448/afghan-coalition-forces-conduct-air-assault-kunar

There was one casualty of the battle that I do want to recognize: Private First Class Ethan Kirkwood of LaPlace, Louisiana. He was wounded when an 82mm mortar round landed on COP Michigan during the battle. Before being transferred to serve as a member of Lieutenant Colonel Ryan’s personal security detail a couple of months ago, PFC Kirkwood served in this platoon as a rifleman and grenadier. He was also selected among all the soldiers in the platoon to be the radio telephone operator. PFC Kirkwood is currently recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. His dedication, courage, and sacrifice are an inspiration to the men of this platoon and in keeping with the honorable tradition of the U.S. Army Soldier."