Event Name: Austin - Grand Office Opening!
Time: Saturday, February 16 at 10:00 AM - 2 hours

by Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TALL AFAR, Iraq—Under the cover of darkness, the UH-60 Black Hawk cuts through the moonless night. Inside Sgt. Terry Smith looks down the barrel of an M240-H machine gun. His night vision goggles (NOGs) illuminate the blackness as if it were day. He flies over a hundred miles an hour over the Iraqi desert. The helicopter quickly lands with the lights off. US and Iraqi soldiers jump out into the dust and proceed to secure an Iraqi Village where insurgents were reported.

By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

BALAD, Iraq—Sgt. Jomo 'Ken' Washington keeps his attention on the details while he works in Iraq. Washington, 35, works as an Intelligence Analyst at Logistical Support Area (LSA) Anaconda.

As a 1990 graduate from Pine Bluff High School, Washington excelled at sports. His senior year, while on the basketball team, they won the state basketball title and finished first in Southwest United States ranking and came in 10 in the US. Some of his counter parts went on to be professional basketball players.

By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

BALAD, Iraq—Every morning but Friday, Master Sgt. Brinda Kupiec greets over a hundred Iraqi workers that enter Logistical Support Area (LSA) Anaconda.

“I have truly enjoyed the job,” said Kupiec, an Army Reserve soldier from Lubbock, Tex.

Every Iraqi gets a handshake from Kupiec as they step off the bus and enter the waiting area.

Kupiec is the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Host National Escorts. Local Nationals (LN) are the Iraqi people that work on the LSA Anaconda base. They require a soldier to escort them around the base, making sure that they do not take photographs, or do anything else that may compromise the safety and security of the installation.

By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TAJI, Iraq—The Iraqi people in the North Baghdad Provence come to Sgt. 1st Class Rickey George on a daily basis. George, 50, was called back to duty after over a decade of being out of the Army because of his status on the Individual Ready Reserve.

As the Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) of the Government Information Center (GIC), George has a study stream of Iraqi people that come to his office asking for help in various matters. Some people have had relatives detained by Coalition Forces. Others claim to have had damages to their houses or other property by US Forces. Some have other problems and heard the US Troops will help, so they come by to ask for money.

By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TAJI, Iraq--The people of Iraq are no mystery to former Chimayó resident Maj. Esequiel Steve Espinoza, Jr. In Iraq, Espinoza’s job with the US Army as an officer in Civil Affairs (CA) requires him to meet with Iraqi officials.

CA deals directly with the Iraqi people helping set up infrastructure for new democracy, and within that democracy, helping the Iraqi people repair problems they face.

Espinoza, 36, is the Brigade CA officer for the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Camp Taji, just North of Baghdad. He coordinates the battalions within his brigade on the civil affair operations in the Taji area. He attends many meetings with Iraqi.

by Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

BALAD, Iraq—The US flags that Master Sgt. Lynette Streitfield flies over Iraq go higher than others. As part of a C-23 “Sherpa” airplane crew, she travels over Iraq with an American flag hanging in her plane. She sends the flags back home with documentation of the flights.

Several flags were mailed to Joel E Ferris High School, where Streitfield graduated in 1986 and another to Mr. Robert Adams, a guidance Counselor at Lewis and Clark High School.

By Caleb Schaber
Photos by Wayne Correia
Northern Nevada News Wire

GERLACH, Nev.--The natural process of decaying granite makes uranium. Unfortunately, water supplies often pass through these areas of granite.

Located in Northern Nevada, Gerlach is the first in the state to have a fully operational uranium filtering water plant.

Gerlach is known for the playa that surrounds the town. Land speed records were set here, the Burning Man event is hosted in the Black Rock Desert and many people flock to the area for hunting and recreation.

by Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq—Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Mellinger talked to the Northern Nevada News Wire on his last day, just after the Change of Responsibility ceremony, in which he handed over his job to Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill.

Mellinger, 53, is one of the last soldiers still serving in the Army, who was drafted during Vietnam. April 18, 1972, Mellinger started his career as a clerk.

by Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TALLIL, Iraq---While politicians in Washington D.C. argue about the war in Iraq, Nevada's 593rd MTC National Guard unit works overtime to make sure supplies are distributed by convoy across the war torn nation of Iraq.

The 593rd arrived in Iraq last fall.

“Being over here is alright,” said Sgt. Arland Stalker, 46. “We are over here for a job. It's what we train to do.”

Stalker works as a trucker in Sandy Valley when not deployed. “The way I look at it, it's the same,” he said, adding “Everybody knows there are insurgents.”

by Caleb “Shooter” Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TALLIL, Iraq—For nine months, Staff Sgt. Aaron Castro lived at a remote base with the Iraqi Army near Iran. May is his first chance to come home to visit his family.

Unlike the regular Army, who recently had deployments extended from 12 to 15 months, the National Guard soldiers spend 14 or 15 months deployed already with the training they receive before they arrive in Iraq.

Castro spent two months at Fort Bliss in Texas before arriving in Iraq.

“I miss my friends and family,” said Castro. “And tequila.”

“Black Jacks Open Boxing Season”
by Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

BAGHDAD, Iraq--Inside the large open space of the Republican Guard's former headquarters, soldiers from the 1st Cavalry, 2nd Brigade duked it out in a boxing ring they recently built at Union III Forward Operating Base (FOB.)

Known as the Black Jacks, 2nd Brigade welcomes other soldiers to their ring. This was the first of a series of fights scheduled. Fourteen three round matchs were fought, some quicker than others.

Representing the Silver State, Sgt. Arthur Gifford, from Las Vegas, made it through a few rounds before the fight was called. He fought “The Celt,” who was built like a mountain, and punched like thunder.

“Ogden Man Flies Helicopters in Iraq”
By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TALL AFAR, Iraq—As politicians in Washington, DC argue about war funding and time lines, Capt. Trent Lythgoe, from Ogden, flies missions on a UH-60 Black Hawk in the war. Located 40 miles from Syria in Northwest Iraq at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sykes, Lythgoe, 32, commands Charlie Company of the 2-25 Aviation (AVN) attached to the 1/17 Air Cavalry.
“I think that everyone has different opinions about the war,” said Lythgoe. “The soldiers are no different.”
He said that his company of pilots and crew receive good support from home, such as care packages and letters.

TALLIL, Iraq—As Congress and President Bush stand off on war funding and time lines for withdrawal from Iraq, Michigan's 1-182nd Field Artillery Unit keeps the life blood flowing to coalition forces by providing convoy security.

Two members of the unit have already been injured in this deployment, which started in February.

“Ever since Specialist Tuggle and Specialist Summerville were wounded, everyone has decided to work that much harder,” said Capt. Damean McDowell, 35, from the Detroit area. “We are training harder and taking nothing for granted.”

“Morale is high because even after they were wounded, no one shirked from their duty. If anything, we volunteer for more missions. The drive to excel is that more intense.”

“Truck Masters: Nevada National Guard in Iraq”
By Caleb “Shooter” Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TALLIL, Iraq--Winnemucca's 593rd MTC keeps the supplies moving in Iraq as a transport company. Staff Sgt. Greg Jones, 55, works as assistant truck master, tracking and coordinating the movements and missions of the 593rd across Iraq.
Jones works with Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Wulf, 42. Wulf lives in Elko, but spent over a year in Winnemucca prior to this deployment running the 593rd Armory.
“My job is to receive the missions from battalion and coordinate and organize convoys,” said Wulf. “This also includes wreckers and recovery.”

From left to right top row: Cemil "Jimmy" Korkmaz, Tuluhan Torun, Staff Sgt. William Donaldson, Ahmet Cerk Aksoy, Ayca Celik; Okan Comlekcioglu, floor.

“Serving Nevada's National Guard for over 20 years: Staff Sgt. William Donalson.”
By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

TALLIL, Iraq--While President Bush and Senator Harry Reid argue over the war in Iraq, the Nevada National Guard soldiers such as Staff Sgt. William Donalson, 56, continue with the mission.

Winnemucca's 593rd MTC conducts convoys across the war torn country of Iraq. Donalson was chosen to assist on construction projects at Logistical Support Area (LSA) Adder.

Catch out with NNNW Editor Caleb Schaber in Iraq at
http://calebschaber.blogspot.com

The new blog features video and pod casts

“Jingle All The Way”
By Caleb Schaber
Northern Nevada News Wire

For the second time, Capt. John Dingeman from Elk Rapids, MI has served a tour in Afghanistan with the US Air Force.
“All I can think about is Mackinac Island.” said Dingeman, when asked what he misses most about Michigan. He enjoys bicycling around the island with his friends.
Dingeman, now 30 years old, graduated in 1994 from Elk Rapids High School. He was captain of the Wrestling team, Debate team, Cross Country and vice president of Students Against Drunk Driving.
At Michigan State, Dingeman participated in ROTC and graduated with a BA in Supply Chain Management and Marketing Logistics.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq--For the second time in the last five years, Spc. Keith Jennings deployed to Iraq. Jennings, 30, a 1995 graduate of Gram High School in Bluefield attended Southwest Community College for welding. First he joined the Virginia National Guard. Soon after he went full time in the US Army.
Jennings was in Iraq 2003-4, previously as a welder.
“The first time I was over here, we were only in one spot for a week or two, then we'd move on,” he said. “Now it is almost like garrison.”
Forward Operating Base (FOB) Camp Taji is a 15 minute helicopter flight from downtown Baghdad. Jennings works in a shop at Camp Taji, but does go outside the wire for various missions, depending on when a vehicle breaks down and what is needed.

"Heavy Fighting in Afghanistan for Phoenix Soldiers—and Reenlistment"

by Caleb Schaber

Northern Nevada News Wire

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan ¬ The last mission for three soldiers from Phoenix proved to be one of the most deadly, recently.

For over 20 hours, RPGs and small arms fire raged against Maj. D. Alan McKewan, Sgt. Carlos Banchs and Sgt. Thomas Phillips attached to Coalition Forces. The Canadians lost their first female soldier, and the Afghan National Army reported one soldier killed during this two day operation.

As part of the 492nd Civil Affairs (CA), an Army Reserve unit based in Phoenix, these three soldiers worked in the Kandahar Province for the last year, as liaison's between the US Army and the Afghan people. Developing good relations with the local people, building wells, schools, and community centers are part of the job. However, when operations go sour, CA fights along side with the Infantry.

The first major offensive of the Taliban in May was covered by Caleb Schaber, in Kandahar.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=5a1b9015-4408-4030-a098-d77b0f6995d4&k=93211&p=2

http://www.eatthestate.org/10-23/KandaharBaghdadGlobal.htm

BAGHDAD, Iraq—The fate of the Iraqi people and the reconstruction of Iraq are a common question for many people in the world. The United States Army directly interacts with the Iraqi people through the Army Civil Affairs (CA). They are the eyes and ears of the commanders with the Iraqi people.

http://www.nuvo.net/articles/meet_the_iraqi_people__civil_affairs/