GWOT News for 05/08/2006

Special Boat Crews Provide Security for Iraqi Oil Terminals, Perform as Maritime "Beat Cops"
By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service

ABOARD THE USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN, May 2, 2006 – While there is a ring of steel around the Iraqi oil terminal platforms in the Northern Arabian Gulf, small rubber boats with special boat crews do much of the heavy lifting for security and stability in the area.

Coalition ships move continuously around the Al Basra Oil Terminal and the Khawr al Amaya Oil Terminal, and each sends out small boat crews aboard rigid-hulled inflatable boats to conduct VBSS - visit, board, search, seizure - missions.

"They are the 'beat cops' for the area," said Navy Capt. Pat Roane, Lake Champlain's captain. "They reach out from the ships and serve a variety of functions."

The crews run the range and fulfill a variety of missions. Sailors from U.S., British and Australian ships volunteer to serve on these crews. The Lake Champlain, for example, has two crews pulled from volunteers around the ship.

"We received training before we left San Diego," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse Hayden, an operations specialist. "On days when we are not needed, we work in our specialties. This is sort of on the order of 'other duty as assigned.'"

Seaman Jared Wilmouth is a search-and-rescue swimmer with the team, and also a personnel specialist. "You really see you are making a difference on these teams," he said. Read more…


Afghan and Coalition Doctors Provide Medical Care for Kunar Province Residents
By Army Maj. Eric Zenk, Task Force Spartan Public Affairs

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan doctors and medics, along with Coalition members, moved into the Korengal Valley of eastern Afghanistan April 21 to provide medical assistance to more than 3,100 Afghans as part of Operation Lion’s Pride.

The movement, located near the village of Arawara Bandeh, was a combined air drop and medical assistance program scheduled to end today. The program provided cost-free treatment to people of the Kunar Province.

Many Afghans in this mountainous and rural northeastern province have only sporadic access to health care. Medical doctors and specialists from Task Force Lava and Coalition forces were providing the care.

Task force officials received a joint movement request from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines to air drop 24 containerized delivery systems in the Korengal Valley , according to Army Maj. Matthew Schwind, TFL support operations officer. Read more

Navy Doctor Comes to Afghan Boy's Rescue
By Army Sgt. Nina J. Ramon, 345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan — After treating hundreds of casualties during a tour with the Marines in Iraq , and then treating hundreds more during his nine months in Afghanistan, Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Dave Holder thought he had seen it all. An 8-year-old Afghan boy with a medical condition virtually unheard of in the States quickly changed his mind.

Holder, a physician assistant attached to the 3-141 Battalion Aid Station here, normally tends to U.S. service members, Afghan National Army soldiers, Afghan National Policemen and local civilians.

But, the physician assistant permanently assigned to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, also participates in weekly civilian outreach missions with ANA medics. Holder and the medical team in Ghazni processed nearly 1,000 patients in a few months of work in Afghan clinics.

Many of the patients sought medical attention for wounds untreated for extended periods of time because professional care was not available. Read more…


Kunar Province Bridge Construction Project Progresses, Will Link Isolated Communities
By Army Maj. Eric Zenk, Task Force Spartan Public Affairs

JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition forces and Afghan contractors continued the early stages of work May 3 on a permanent bridge over the Pech River.

Coalition forces encountered water levels more than seven feet deep during previous attempts to maneuver across the river. The 397th Engineer Battalion, part of Task Force Spartan, was called to provide support.

Engineers moved two Army bulldozers and two small emplace-ment excavator vehicles to the river crossing area. Both vehicles are used to move medium-to-large amounts of rock and sand during road construction projects.

A contractor is clearing debris, sand and mud from the construction area to allow engineers to place culverts in the river and create a man-made land bridge.

Coalition forces will use the new land bridge to cross the Pech River and move into operational areas within the Korengal Valley.

In addition to the Pech River clearing, the engineers will widen the Pech River Valley Road into two lanes to allow large vehicles to move freely throughout both valleys. Read more…