Afghanistan Daily News - February 17, 2009

Task Force White Eagle participates in largest shura in Andar since 2003 KABUL, Afghanistan – More than 200 Andar village elders met with Col. Rajmund Andrzejczak, Task Force White Eagle Commander, Feb. 5th for the biggest shura in the village since 2003. The meeting was arranged by the Governor of Ghazni Province, Dr. Usman Usmani, and Andar sub-governor, Mr Mohammad Jusuf. The participants of the meeting discussed what they felt

were the most important issues facing the village.

Governor Usmani said that the development of Andar District depends on increased security and on the citizens. They have to fight against the Taliban and the insurgency. The Coalition Forces and Afghan National Army soldiers support the village citizens in this effort.

“I’m proud that my soldiers cooperate with Afghan National Army soldiers. I know that they need more equipment and better weapons, but they have something that is priceless: the pride on their faces and bravery in their hearts,” said Col. Andrzejczak.

At the end of shura, the men danced a traditional dance called watan. The meeting closed with  the distribution of humanitarian aid and gifts delivered by the Polish soldiers.

Deployment puts Marine center stage

 

 

 

Written by Spc. Matthew Thompson, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Saturday, 14 February 2009

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (February 12, 2009) – When Cpl. Kimberly Crawford arrived in Afghanistan five months ago, she discovered that a Marine Corps combat correspondent is a multi-tasking career. After reporting to the American Forces Network detachment on Bagram Air Field, the print journalist from Camp Lejeune, N.C., discovered that the skills she knew were not the only skills she would need. According to Crawford, the description for the person they needed was a combat correspondent, but about a week before she got here, she realized the need was for a broadcaster. “They almost pulled me off the deployment,” Crawford said.  “But the Marine Corps’ chief of public affairs said that I had been training for this, so I got to deploy here.”  Just as any other servicemember would be expected to do, the 24-year-old Oswego, N.Y. native quickly learned to adapt to her new surroundings.  “Not many people can walk into a job and hit the ground running, and do what she has done,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeff St. Sauveur, one of the detachment's producers. “She takes everything you throw at her and makes it awesome.” Crawford demonstrated her commitment to becoming a solid broadcaster covering her first solo project, the Super Bowl shown at Bagram. That one story, according to Tech. Sgt. Deidre Hines, AFN Afghanistan’s station manager, seen by millions of viewers worldwide, demonstrated how far Crawford had come as a broadcast journalist. “She’s shown drastic improvement from what she was doing when she first started,” St. Sauveur stated proudly. When Crawford first became a Marine, she wasn’t interested in being a broadcaster. “I avoided broadcasting when I was at the Defense Information School,” Crawford said. “I didn’t think I would like it, [I] didn’t see the artistic view, but [then] I saw that the video camera wasn’t much different from a still camera.” Crawford not only had to learn how to use a video camera and broadcast editing equipment, she also had to lose her accent. Something she describes as a cross between Southern and upstate New York.  Crawford remains humble despite the praise she has been given by her co-workers.  “They have all helped me out. They were nice and patient and made it fun to learn,” she said smiling.  “We count on her, depend on her and we know she will get the job done,” said Senior Airman Thomas Kennedy, one of the producers working with Crawford.  “It’s been remarkable working with her.”

Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 February 2009 )

Service members help burned Afghan girl

Written by Air Force 1st Lt. Amber Balken, Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team

Friday, 13 February 2009

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (February 12, 2009) — In the remote mountains of the Deychopan District, Zabul provience, medical emergencies become more devastating. Air Force Staff Sgt. Warren Williamson and Army Spc. David Morris realized this first hand when the two medics treated a severely burned baby girl. The small girl was carried by her uncle to the gates of Forward Operating Base Baylough, after local doctors could not help her. The girl was suffering from second and third degree burns to both of her feet and ankles. The child’s right foot lacked reflexes, and the foot was hard and cold. The two medics estimated she had had no blood supply to the foot for 10 to 18 hours. They feared the worst for her other foot, but her left foot was warm with good reflexes. After calling the Wishard Burn Center in Indianapolis, Ind., for clarification on proper treatment, Williamson, with the help of Morris, began to debride, cleans and dress the wound. The debridement process involved the medics removing the dead and damaged skin from the little girl’s feet one piece at a time. “The atmosphere in the room was frighteningly calm,” said Williamson, deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.  “We hadn't seen a burned victim this young since we arrived in Afghanistan, but we were trained appropriately to handle this kind situation.” For over an hour the medics worked to remove as much dead skin as possible, being careful not to remove any living tissue as this would hinder growth of new tissue. The human body has the capability to heal itself by replacing old or dead tissue with new tissue, but this process can only begin once the dead tissue is removed, the medics explained. The same process was applied to the right foot, but because of extensive damage and lack of blood flow the procedure would be less likely to take hold. After the debridement was complete the medics covered her wounds with burn cream and sterile cloths, to keep her feet protected. The little girl returned to the FOB Baylough for the next two days to go through the same procedure. “The treatment given to this little girl was no different than the treatment that would have been rendered to a U.S. Soldier,” said Williams. “Morris and I were able to give her care that she would not have received in the local clinics, and quite possibly saved her foot. That is a great feeling.”