Written by HOWARD ALTMAN
By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 15, 2012
Sarah Sitton heard her husband, Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton, speaking in another letter about fighting in Afghanistan.
To Sarah Sitton, the scathing, eight-page memo written by Army Col. Harry Tunnell IV to the secretary of the army about problems in the area where her husband was deployed seemed eerily familiar.
The memo contained many of the same concerns her husband, Staff Sgt. Matt Sitton, 26, of Largo, raised in an email to Rep. C.W. Bill Young, as well as in emails home and in conversations via Skype.
"A gross lack of concern for subordinates," Tunnell wrote, "manifests itself in guidance that 'zero' civilian casualties are acceptable and coalition soldiers may have to be killed rather than defend themselves against a potential threat and risk being wrong and possibly resulting in injury or death of a civilian."
Reading Tunnell's memo was "kind of like hearing my husband speak all over again," said Sarah Sitton.
But for Sarah Sitton, as well as some of Sitton's friends in the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division, perhaps the most aggravating thing about Tunnell's memo was that it was written in August 2010. That was nearly two years before Sitton and 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell, 37, of Tyler, Texas, were killed by an improvised explosive device in the same IED-laden field Sitton complained about being forced to walk through day after day for no reason.
Read more: Colonel mirrored soldiers concerns in Afghanistan
Written by Kevin DeAnna
15 October 2012
The publisher sent me an advance copy of the book “Dead Men Flying.” I am only half-way through (excellent so far), and just saw this article about the book. General (ret.) Patrick Brady is a man to listen to. He is a famous Dustoff pilot who received the Medal of Honor, and this book recounts those times.
Numerous current Dustoff pilots have asked me if I know Major General (ret.) Brady, and about his thoughts on Dustoff. I do not know him, but this book makes you feel like you are flying with him. He is down to earth in the way that true veterans usually are.
This article lays bare some of Patrick Brady’s thoughts on our current DUSTOFF debacle:
Read more: DUSTOFF Medevac: General -- Medal of Honor recipient -- Slams Army
Written by ISAF
UNCLASSIFIED
2012-10-S-018
For Immediate Release
ISAF Joint Command morning operational update
KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 15) – Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Taliban leader Qurashi from a security operation in Kunduz province, Saturday.
Qurashi, also known as Baz Khan and Zubair, was a Taliban leader specializing in the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and was directly involved in planning and executing IED attacks.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
Read more: ISAF Joint Command morning operational update: 15 October 2012
Written by Don Carter
14 October 2012
Written By: Don Carter
Don Carter is a disabled veteran and talented photographer
This began last week when my friend Bud Hunter and I were sitting in the office of his tire shop. I heard him start cursing, and asked what was going on. His friend, Donna Johnson of Raeford, N.C., a 29 year-old SGT in the 82nd ABN DIV was killed 01 Oct 2012 in Khost, Afghanistan, by a terrorist with a suicide vest. Her funeral, to be held on Saturday 13 Oct 2012, and the cause of the cursing was Bud reading that the Westboro Baptist Church were going to protest at the funeral.
I have been to more than my share of funerals. Raeford is a very small town, pretty much a south-west annex in all but name to Fayetteville, N.C. (home of Ft. Bragg, the 82nd Airborne, and Special Operations Command). The Westboro “people” wanted to protest a funeral, here? Incredible. Bud asked me to go with him to stand and shield the family and church from these hateful people. I of course said yes. There were to be the N.C. Patriot Guard Riders, invited by the family. The community, both Raeford where Donna grew up, as well as her Army family, along with some Marines, and Veterans who wished to honor Donna on that last mile to her final resting place would be out in force. At the last minute, I decided to take the camera and document the events. We shined and vacuumed out my car, as Bud wanted to drop the top on it and ride with two American flags jammed into the well for the top.
Written by ISAF
UNCLASSIFIED
2012-10-C-015
For Immediate Release
ISAF casualties
KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 13) – One coalition forces servicemember and one coalition forces civilian died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.
It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.
Written by ISAF
UNCLASSIFIED
2012-10-S-014
For Immediate Release
ISAF Joint Command daily operational update
KABUL, Afghanistan (Oct. 13) - An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban leader in Kandahar province today.
The Taliban leader commanded a Taliban improvised explosive device cell directly responsible for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.
The security force also detained one suspected insurgent as a result of the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
Read more: ISAF Joint Command morning operational update: 13 October 2012
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