Afghanistan

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Back when I was in Iraq in 2005-06, I heard a story about a soldier in Kirkuk who walked off the premises of FOB Warhorse.  He just went outside the wire unarmed like he was back home and wanted some ice cream.  Leaving the base itself violated all sorts of orders.  But, more importantly, the…

Six years ago, I was sitting at a desk at FOB Danger, Iraq processing applications for CERP funds.  Periodically, I would go "outside the wire" to look at ongoing reconstruction projects.  I was one of some 150,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines and Airmen serving our country.  We served on a large team, my brothers and sisters…

LCPL Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt was killed in Afghanistan.  he apparently suffered a gunshot wound.  LCPL Schmidt was a sniper for the Marines.  He was the son of Dr. David Schmidt, team physician for the San Antonio Spurs.  He was also the son of Becky Whetstone, former advice columnist for the San Antonio Express News.  Ms. Whetstone…

 Insurgents have killed a San Antonio soldier, 1LT Andres Zermeno, in Afghanistan.  See Defense Department news release.  1LT Zemeno died from wounds suffered in an RPG attack. 1LT Zermeno graduated from St. Mary’s University where he met his wife.  He served in the ROTC program and studied psychology.  See KSAT news report. 

SPC4 Nicholas Hensley was injured two weeks ago when he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) in Afghanistan.  He died from his injuries.  He was on his fourth deployment.  A Judson High School graduate, SPC4 Hensley was married and father to three daughters.  He loved playingwith his children.  See San Antonio Express News report

US Army SGt Thomas A. Bohall was killed in Afghanistan.  SGT Bohall, a 2004 graduate of Reagan High School, was killed by an explosive device in Kandahar Province.  He was one of one of six soldiers killed by the blast.  He grew up in Kansas but moved here in 2001.  His parents have since moved…

 A former Hondo, Texas resident was killed in Afghanistan.  Assigned to the 10th Mountain Division, SPC Charles "Chaz" J. Wren was killed in Nimroz Province in southwestern Afghanistan.  SPC Wren spent most of his life in Hondo and graduated from Hondo High School in 2004.  He was known at Hondo High for wearing a cape…

One of the major surprises for me after returning from twelve months in Iraq was the anti-Moslem bias in my country.  Now, five years later, I suppose that is to be expected.  Very few Americans know any Moslems.  And, of course, we are all very faimiliar with the eighteen murderous Moslems that attacked us on…

 SPC4 Omar Soltero was killed in Afghanistan recently.  He was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division and was serving in Wardek Province in Central Afghanistan.  He was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (aka "roadside bomb").  See San Antonio Express News report.  His parents live on the northeast part of town.  He was in…