Insid

e DID YOU KNOW? . . . . 2UNSCARED . . . . . . . 3DOC IN THE BOX . . . . 4TRACKING . . . . . 5INTERVENTION . . . 6-7PSYCHIC . . . . . . . 8MUDDY AND DUSTY . . 10

Talonthe

Serving the soldiers of Task Force EagleOperation Joint Guard, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Volume 3, No. 30 Friday, July 25, 1997

BuildingSee BRIDGES page 12

Bridges

Pfc. Lucien Frechette, a heavy equipment operator for1st Platoon, Company A, 82nd Engineer Battalion, levelsdirt near a recently completed Armored Vehicle LaunchBridge using a Small Equipment Excavator Truck.

Photo by Spc. Susanne Aspley

BuildingBridgesSee BRIDGES page 12

The Talon Friday, July 25, 1997

THE TALON is produced in the interest of the servicemembers of TaskForce Eagle. THE TALON is an Army-funded newspaper authorized for membersof the U.S. Army overseas, under the provision of AR 360-81. Contents of THETALON are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S.Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or Task ForceEagle. THE TALON is published weekly by the 1st Infantry Division (Task ForceEagle) Public Affairs Office, Eagle Base, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina APO AE09789, Telephone MSE 551-5230, Sprint 762-5233. E-mail: talon@email-tc3.5sigcmd.army.mil. Acquire the Talon and other Bonia-Herzegovina relateditems from theTFE homepage: www.1id.army.mil Printed by PrintComTuzla.Circulation: 6,500.

The TalonTask Force Eagle Commander . . . Maj. Gen. David L. GrangeEditor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maj. William L. Du Pont364th MPAD Commander . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maj. Frank PartykaOIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Lt. Robert M. InouyeEditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sgt. William L. Geddes1st Infantry Division PA NCOIC . . . . . . . . . Staff Sgt. Gregory W. BinfordTranslator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mirela Zunic

Read and pass along -- a Talon is a terrible thing to waste

Page 2

UP FRONT -- RISK MANAGEMENT

In the aftermath of a fatal vehi-cle accident and in the wake of in-creased situation awareness, we allmust start doing a better job assess-ing risks associated with our as-signed missions/tasks. Risk man-agement is a tool, a thinking pro-cess. It�s an orderly way for com-manders and other leaders to lookat very complex situations and makeappropriate decisions. It�s also a toolsoldiers themselves can and musttake and apply to everything theydo. In fact, the most important partof risk management is the actual

execution of themission. Andthat�s where sol-diers come in.Risk manage-ment gets peoplethinking aboutwhat can gowrong and whatthey can doabout it. Moreto come in thenext two columns. See you up front!

We have spent the past several weeks talking about the benefitsof a good safety program. Keeping soldiers healthy and fit to fightshould be the primary focus of any good program. But there is an-other dimension that needs to be addressed as well. Risk manage-ment with respect to our military equipment is important as well.

An effective Bradley Fighting Vehicle crew does not happen over-night. You guys in the Bradleys train repeatedly in crew drills, gun-nery tables, different tactical scenarios, etc. The team trains togetherwith their vehicle until they are capable of reacting to any givensituation. This increases the overall combat effectiveness of theirunit. If any component of this three-man, one-machine team be-comes inoperative, the whole unit suffers.

Consider the maintenance of the vehicle. Are all the checks andservices being done on time and by the book? Think about the lasttime the vehicle was rail loaded. Was it done properly? Were all thesafety devices in place? Think about the last time you and yourcrew put the Bradley through its paces on a �thunder� or �demon�run. Were any operational limitations exceeded? If we lose or dam-age the vehicle because of any of these factors, do we have aneffective weapon system? The best crew in the world can�t do muchwithout a vehicle with which to work.

When planning your next mission, do not forget limitations. Thereare several sets of limitations to consider. The personal limitationsof you and your crew must be accounted for. How well trained isthe new guy? How hot is it today? What about the limitations of thevehicle? Can�t think of any? How about the limitations of the envi-ronment considering the roads and bridges you will be travelingand the weight and width of the Bradley? Did you do a good maprecon of the route using your unit�s new hazards map? Do you knowin what areas you should anticipate problems so you can be pre-pared for them? Remember, safety is not accidental. Failing to planis the same as planning to fail.

Command Sgt. Maj. S.L. Kaminski1st Infantry Division (Forward)

Maj. Gary R. Spegal, 1st Infantry Division Safety Office

Risk Management

Armadillos are the only animalbesides humans that get leprosy.

To escape the grip of a crocodile�sjaws, push your thumbs into its eye-balls � it will let you go instantly.

If you toss a penny 10,000 times,it will not be heads 5,000 times, butmore like 4,950. The heads pictureweighs more, so it ends up on the bot-tom.

The glue on Israeli postage stampsis certified kosher.

Los Angeles� original name was �El Pueblode Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles dePorciuncula.�

Only one person in two billion will live to be116 or older.

An ostrich�s eye is bigger than its brain.

The company that makes Ben and Jerry�s icecream sends the waste from making ice creamto local pig farmers to use as feed. Pigs love thestuff, except for one flavor: Mint Oreo.

Al Capone�s business card said he was a usedfurniture dealer.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13seconds.

Wilma Flintstone�s maiden name was WilmaSlaghoopal, and Betty Rubble�s maiden namewas Betty Jean McBricker.

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 =12,345,678,987,654,321

The Ramses brand condom is named after thegreat pharaoh Ramses II who fathered over 160children.

If NASA sent birds into space they would soondie; they need gravity to swallow.

Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as bothparties are registered blood donors.

Did

you kn

ow?

The TalonFriday, July 25, 1997

dark�Unscared� ofthe

Page 3

Info briefs

CAMP DEMI � On the top of Ob-servation Point Egypt, dusk quick-ly fades to black. A convoy from 1st

Platoon, Company A, Task Force 1-41 pullsinto place. Security guards are posted andwithin minutes an OE254 antenna is set upunderneath the glow of a half moon. For thenext six hours, the soldiers watch and wait.

�Peacekeeping is not a 9-5 job. Our nightpatrols maintain the SFOR (StabilizationForce) presence at all times,� said 2nd Lt.John Harkins, 1st Plt. leader, Co. A.

Headlights from passing cars on the near-by road poke through the dark. �If someonewere to do something illegal, it would morethan likely be at night,� said Spc. DannySullivan, 22, Shepherdsville, Ky. �We don�thave a routine as to when we go out or whenwe change between day and night patrols,we just stay unpredictable.�

Besides monitoring movement from therocky hilltop, the unit also uses the van-tage point as an opportune place to set upthe OE254 antenna as a radio retransmis-sion point in the mountains, said Cpl.Shane Hovey. This night, another teamfrom Co. A is conducting a mounted patrolin the area and loss of contact could be dan-gerous. �With the antenna, they will haveconstant commo with Alpha Headquartersat Camp Demi,� said the 24-year-old Ma-quoketa, Iowa native. �Communication isan important part of our force protection.�

Suddenly, a car on the road pulls to theside and the soldiers freeze. The transla-tor approaches the vehicle as the soldierslisten to the voices and observe quietly. Andwait. After a short conversation, the trans-

lator says the people stopped because of aslight problem with their vehicle. The carpulls away and peace returns.

�I like doing night patrols better � it�scooler out and a change of pace. And I ac-tually feel safer driving on these roads atnight because there is less traffic,� saidHovey.

According to Harkins, this midnightpatrol is considered a light mission. Themechanized infantrymen of the 1st ArmorDivision also perform reconnaissance mis-sions throughout the day. Compliancecheckpoints and weapons storage site in-spections are conducted throughout therugged region surrounding Camp Demi.

Besides patrolling the region, the FortRiley, Kan., soldiers also act as a liaisonbetween the factions. This includes moni-toring the factions as they weapons train.�But ensuring the compliance with theGeneral Framework of Peace (GFAP) re-mains the backbone to our overall missionin Bosnia,� said Harkins, a Desert Stormvet from Miami, Okla. �Hands down, weare the most disciplined unit in Task Force1-41. And that has been verified by the bat-talion commander.�

On this Saturday night, the conversationsin the dark turned to misspelled tattoos. Oneparticular private had gone to Budapest onpass recently and gotten a tattoo. The tat-too was supposed to read �unscarred,� andlook like a tattoo the lead singer for Panterahas. Unfortunately, the tattoo artist mis-spelled unscarred, and the private now has�unscared� tattooed across his stomach inthree-inch-high letters. Fortunately, thistattoo fits the private even better than theintended tattoo would have -- the private,and his platoon, are definitely �unscared.�

By Spc. Susanne Aspley364th MPAD

�Unscared� ofthe dark

Proactive EOAn effective Equal Opportunity

Program is one in which command-ers take a positive, proactive ap-proach. This includes posting EOpolicies stating your standards andexpectations for leaders and sol-diers, conducting dynamic EOtraining which involves the chainof command leading discussions,showing vigorous leadership sup-port, and conducting unit assess-ments. The Equal Opportunity Pro-gram is only as good as the effortsand support of those commanders.

As the 1st Infantry Division (For-ward) Equal Opportunity advisors,we are there to support and assistall commanders on all formal andinformal equal opportunity com-plaints.

We can be reached at Building16, Headquarters and Headquar-ters Company, 1st ID (Fwd) or byphone at MSE 555-6969.

Sgt. 1st Class Darryle BurtonSgt. 1st Class Michael Blue

U.S. soldier diesA U.S. soldier died and anoth-

er one was injured July 15 as theresult of a vehicle accident Northof Donjivakuf in the Multination-al Division-Southwest area of op-eration.

Spc. Jeremy S. Brown, 22, waspronounced dead at 11:19 a.m.by British medical personnel atSipovo medical hospital.

Spc. James S. Eastman sufferedmultiple injuries and received med-ical treatment at Sipovo hospital.Eastman was later evacuated by airto the 405th Combat Support Hos-pital for definitive care. Both sol-diers are with the Allied Military In-telligence Battalion from Sarajevoand were enroute from Banja Lukato Sarajevo when the accident oc-curred.

In an unrelated incident, a U.S.soldier was injured Monday after-noon when a five-ton truck rolledoff an embankment near GuardianBase.

TFE webpageCheck out the latest changes

to the Task Force Eagle webpageand letters of encouragementfrom families and friends aroundthe world at: www.1id.army.mil

Spc. Danny Sullivan, mechanized infantryman, 1st Platoon, Company A, TaskForce 1-41 sets up an antenna during a night patrol at Observation Point Egypt.

Photo by Spc. Susanne Aspley

The Talon Friday, July 25, 1997Page 4

EAGLE BASE � Lt. Col. James A.Geiling is a doctor specializing ininternal medicine, with a subspe-

cialty in critical care. But that did not pre-pare him for a surprise he received one day.

�A farmer in the Demi area wanted usto help him determine if his cow had ra-bies and we agreed to help out,� said Geil-ing, who departed Bosnia-Herzegovina thisweek after serving as surgeon for the 1stInfantry Division. �So we received the cow�shead in a bag. It was definitely a uniqueexperience. Turns out the cow had rabies.�

Dealing with the head of a rabid cow wasone of a few experiences Geiling will re-member as he reports to his next duty sta-tion. Geiling left Bosnia-Herzegovina tojoin the staff at the Uniform Services Uni-versity of the Health Services at Bethesda,Md., where he attended medical school.

Geiling, a 19-year veteran of the Army,has spent the better part of the last decadein Germany. Operation Joint Guard washis first deployment.

�It is somewhat like I expected, analo-gous to other operations. There has beenmuch about the deployment that has beentedious and repetitious, but it is like anymedical assignment, 90 percent boredomand 10 percent terror,� said Geiling.

As division surgeon, Geiling was theprincipal medical advisor to the command-

ing general, a staff officer who oversaw allmedical operations in the division. Geilingprovided technical oversight to medical op-erations. He was also responsible for de-veloping and implementing programs forpreventative medicine, as well as oversee-ing mental health care, dental care, andoptometric care.

Many of Geiling�s duties as division sur-geon did not relate to his skills as a doctor.The division surgeon must serve as a liai-son between the 1st Infantry Division andhigher corps assets, which support the divi-sion�s mission.

Because he is a doctor, Geiling also pro-vided personal service to some of his col-leagues in the Task Force Eagle headquar-ters. Ailing soldiers would come to himlooking for advice.

�I guess I was the local �doc in the box�,�said Geiling. �It seemed that everyonewould come to me looking for a diagnosisor a cure to their aches and pains.�

Operations like this peacekeeping mis-sion offer military medical specialists achance to get a glimpse of the future, saidGeiling. Telemedicine -- the ability to usetechnology such as video teleconferencing,satellite technology and computer assetsto help treat patients -- is a new technolo-gy being tested here.

�We�ve also been quite successful in ourpreventive medicine efforts,� said Geiling.�Our record here has been excellent whenyou compare it to other peacekeeping op-

erations. We are in excellent health as awhole and that is attributable to the ac-tions that we�ve been working on.�

Preventative medicine can be directedby the division surgeon but the responsi-bility lies on the front-line leaders and theindividual. Pre-deployment briefings, how-ever, have proven successful in making sol-diers aware of the potential hazards of be-ing in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

�The only problems have been the re-curring small problems that can�t really beavoided,� said Geiling. �In an operation likethis, you see a constant fluctuation of peo-ple in key positions. Just as we get peopleto make the right calls and to know the sys-tem, they get replaced and things fall offthe radar screen. But that is to be expectedand it hasn�t been a big problem. �

Perhaps the toughest aspect of being amedical specialist in the Army is the con-stant challenge of keeping skills from de-teriorating.

�Medical folks think we�re unique in los-ing critical skills but it�s like any soldierwho isn�t being challenged. A gunner on aBradley who is complacent will lose hisskills as quickly as a medic who isn�t chal-lenged,� said Geiling.

The rub comes in the how medical spe-cialists practice those skills.

�We want to stay practiced but at thesame time we want to avoid the very situa-tions that would give us the practice wewant. It�s ironic,� said Geiling.

By Sgt. Steven Collins129th MPAD

�Doc inthebox�

Photo by 1st Lt. Rob Inouye

Lt. Col. James A. Geiling finishesup some medical reports.

The TalonFriday, July 25, 1997 Page 5

GLAMOC, Bosnia-Herzegovina� Themission of peace is the basis of Operation Joint Guard. Ensuring the peace

requires the Stabilization Force to monitor andprevent the factions from firing at each other.This mission is only possible if SFOR detectssuch incidents. For the first time, a mobile ra-dar unit will be able to rotate throughout the-ater to perform this vital mission for SFOR.

Battery E, 101st Field Artillery (Target Ac-quisition Battery), 42nd Division, a NationalGuard unit from Rehoboth, Mass., sent a teamhere to certify their AN/TPQ-36 Fire Finding Ra-dar System to ensure the effectiveness of theequipment.

The battery uses this radar to detect rounds,anything from small arms to rockets. Upon de-tection, the radar can predict impact area, tellwhat type of round was fired, and where theround was fired from instantly, said Sgt. 1stClass Carl R. Ulmer, radar platoon sergeant.

While members of the battery are locatedthroughout the American sector, the radarequipment will rotate where needed and per-form as a mobile radar unit.

�This is the first time that there will be a flexsection here,� said Ulmer. �We can respond toany radar need in theater.�

A combined live-fire exercise with 1st Pla-toon, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artil-lery and 2nd Battery, Independent Russian Air-borne Brigade here was the reason behind somany acquisitions. The exercise offered a chancefor the section to track live Russian munitions.

To be ready for their mission, the flex sec-tion must ensure the radar equipment worksproperly. The exercise will allow for the unit toverify that the radar can track rounds and pro-vide accurate information on hostile fire.

�We work with this equipment throughoutthe year and are very familiar with it,� said Ul-mer. �This mission allows us to ensure that ittracks the acquisitions properly. It can track upto six acquisitions at once, which is pretty goodfor 20-year-old technology.�

�There have been more live rounds fired herethan I�ve ever tracked before,� said Spc. BrianP. Sherry, radar operator.

�This may be the first time this equipment hastracked Russian rounds,� said Ulmer. �DuringDesert Storm equipment like this radar trackedseveral rounds that were made in Russia, butthose rounds were fired by Iraqis. These roundsthat we will be tracking during the exercise areunmodified Russian munitions straight from thefactory, fired from Russian guns.�

This training also allowed the radar sectionto conduct a new type of mission.

�About every third month we run a missionin a �friendly fire mode.� During this mission weknow where you are and we tell you where therounds are going to land,� Ulmer said. �The mission here in Glamocis a �hostile fire mission� where we track the rounds and reportwhere the gun positions are for counter-fire purposes.�

Processing this information quickly is the key to either mis-sion. Excessive time will allow the firing party to vacate the areaand setup in another area to fire again.

�From the time we receive the acquisition, we forward the in-

formation up to TPC (Target Processing Center) within five sec-onds and they determine if the acquisition is valid or not,� saidStaff Sgt. Barry Y. VanLaarhoven, radar section chief.

The addition of the flex section to the Bosnian theater is anadded benefit to the peacekeeping role of SFOR and will help pro-vide an extra presence which will deter any use of force by thefactions.

By Staff Sgt. Jerry A. Weber129th MPAD

rounds

Spc. Christopher M. Brady removesthe end to a data cable while settingup the Fire Finder Radar System.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry A. Weber

Tracking

The Talon Friday, July 25, 1997

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The TalonFriday, July 25, 1997 Page 7

Photos from top, clockwise, Twosoldiers from Task Force 2-2 pullsecurity during the weaponsconfiscation mission... A TF 2-2soldier opens the lock to one of thebuildings at a weapons' storage site...Some of the 180 AK-style weaponsconfiscated during the mission... Sgt.Robert McCraw (left) and Cpl. BrianRice, both of Company B, TF 2-2,inspect a crate of weapons.

ry and photos by Matt J. Johnsonth MPAD

CAMP BEDROCK � Bosnian after Bosnian turns and staresin awe as the ominous beast passes by. Covered in protective armored scales from front to rear, the mighty brute

ies itself with a certain pride and dignity, knowing it possessesstrength for violent destruction but with the caring and compas-to help and protect these people � here to enforce peace and the

visions of the Dayton Peace Accord.More than 30 vehicles roll down the winding roads. Sometimes

rcing peace requires more than patrols and a presence. Some-es, it calls for direct intervention.Under provisions of the Dayton Peace Accord, the factions mustp most of their weapons, artillery, ammunition and other instru-nts of war stored at weapons storage sites, which are monitored

strictly inventoried on a regular basis by Stabilization Forces.Recently a 100 percent inventory of all the equipment in all thedings was taken, something that hadn�t been done in a while.As a result of a weapons storage site inspection, we found build- containing additional weapons and several discrepancies ontask force inventory sheet. Because of these discrepancies, oursion was to confiscate a number of these weapons until a reso-on has been reached,� said Capt. Ben Higgenbothan, Companynd Battalion, 2nd Infantry commander. �During the confisca-, we took away 180 7.62 mm rifles, several mortars, light ma-

ne guns and sniper rifles.�Taking away faction�s military assets means the possibility ofsions and confrontation, especially when doing so directly fromfaction�s military compound. The keys to a successful operationplanning and preparation � to be ready should things go awry.The mission involved the entire company I had available. The

ut platoon and some of our MP (military police) platoons blockedan outer ring outside the site while my company conducted theual confiscation,� Higgenbotham said. �In addition, the task forceted it as a task force mission, so we had additional assets suchhe support and headquarters platoons attached to us, as well assk force command and control element.�n addition to having sufficient assets for the mission, the sol-s have been conducting extensive training and gaining experi-e while here in Bosnia-Herzegovina.According to Cpl. Brian Rice, Bravo team leader the main thing

stay focused on the mission and know your job.As you�re rolling up, you rehearse in your mind what you�re goingo. You rehearse in your mind the what ifs � what if this shouldpen, what if that should happen,� Rice said. �You�re rehearsingyou�re going to react to situations as they arise. You�re grilling

h other, going over what you should do if a situation should arise.�Both the commander and the soldiers felt the mission went well.Honestly, we rehearsed so much, we didn�t have time to worry,�e said. �Everything went smoothly. It all came together.�

�I couldn�t have asked for it to go anybetter; the soldiers performed beyond mybest expectations, but then again they al-ways do,� Higgenbotham said. �Everyonedid exactly as we�d rehearsed, it was justa great success.�

The Talon Friday, July 25, 1997Page 8

Blue Factory -- Days of loneliness andtears of sadness fall on many familieswhen a loved one goes off to war � or

Bosnia-Herzegovina. The separation is lessenedby family support groups who comfort one an-other back home as the deployed soldier worksto accomplish the mission.

Not so for all. One mother and son in Bosnia-Herzegovina give new meaning to family support.

Maj. Barbara Acselrod; 43, a nurse, and herson Spc. Steven Acselrod, a 22-year-old combatmedic, are serving together at Blue Factory insupport of Operation Joint Guard.

Barbara is attached to the 405th Combat Sup-port Hospital, but is deployed from Landstuhl Re-gional Medical Center in Germany. Steve is withCompany C, 61st Area Support Medical Battal-ion, 1st Medical Group from Fort Hood, Texas.

Steven arrived in country first and startedduty on rotating shifts in the emergency room,in addition to duty as squad leader on an ambu-lance team. �I was pretty shocked when I foundout my mom was coming here,� he said. � But Iknew the medical field within the Army is prettysmall and sooner or later I�d be working with her.�

Steven met his mother with a surprise salute when she ar-rived. �It was pretty wonderful,� Barbara said. �I got off the planeand saw the soldier coming towards me. It was sort of like Christ-mas and a birthday all wrapped up into one.�

The reunion came after a separation of nearly two years. �He�sgrown into a nice young man,� Barbara said. �His commander haslots of positive things to say about him and his leadership ability.�

The mother and son also share an officer-enlisted relationship.�Taking an order is kind of awkward; she is my mom too,� Stevensaid. They do not work together directly, but do have some con-tact. One night while Steven was on duty in the ER, he had to gethis mother from her CONNEX so she could set up the operatingroom for a late scheduled surgery. �My mom is not really in com-mand of me, but likes it when I salute her,� Steven said.

�At home there is no rank,� Barbara said. Being enlisted once

herself, she can empathize with her son. �I�ve already gone throughsome of the things he is going through.� She and her husband,Randy, a radiation health physicist, met while both of them en-listed and served in the Navy at Camp Pendelton, Calif.

The family includes another son, Scott, 20, and his 19-month-old daughter, Brianne.

Mother and son try to spend some time together each day eventhough their schedules are different. �We at least try to eat din-ner together every day,� Steven said. They also talk and shoptogether at the post exchange. �It�s good to see her and spendtime with her. Even though it�s in Bosnia � it�s still good.�

At first the other guys gave him a hard time about having amom here. �But a lot of time people wish they had family mem-bers here too,� he said. �I�m really lucky because sometimes itgets real depressing and the DSN (Defense Switching Network)telephone lines are down or we�re waiting for letters. With mymom here all I have to do is walk 100 feet to her CONNEX and Ican talk to her about certain things.�

�This is my first time being deployed overseas,� said Barbara.�Being here at least I knew there would be a friendly face. It ismore pleasurable to be with a family member. I�ve been stationedseparately and it is a lot lonelier.�

While the mother is more experienced and skilled in the med-ical aspect of the military, the son is up to speed with basic sol-dier skills. He showed his mom how to get a high-sheen polish onher boots and helped her with common soldier tasks such as clear-ing and cleaning her weapon.

Barbara will leave before her son, but with mixed feelings. �Iknow when I leave there is danger out there, so leaving my sonand not being able to watch out for him is kind of hard,� she said.�On the other hand, he is a young man and needs to have his ownadventures and time.�

By Staff Sgt. Vonny Rohloff364th MPAD

Familyaffair

Maj. Barbara Acselrod,405th Combat SupportHospital, selects supplies.

Spc. Steven Acselrod, Company C.61st Area Support Medical Battalion,takes the blood pressure of a patient.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Vonny Rohloff

Photo by Staff Sgt. Vonny Rohloff

The TalonFriday, July 25, 1997 Page 9

MCGOVERN BASE � Spc. Timo-thy V. McGhee is a psychic.Whenever he sees other people

walking by, images of deadlined vehiclesor parts come to mind. He�ll stop the per-son, let him or her know that a certainpart is in for their vehicle, then walk on.Actually, McGee�s psychic ability is nomore than just good memory � a memo-ry stimulated by the his daily work withalmost 200 vehicles and the people whooperate them.

�I can pretty much tell you who driveswhat vehicle around here,� said the Sim-mesport, La. native. �In the past threemonths I�ve come to know you all.�

McGhee, Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, Task Force 1-77, isa material storage and handling special-ist. While not exactly psychic sounding,it is nevertheless an important job thatthe 23-year-old has. Instead of a crystalball or tarot cards, McGhee uses a dustycomputer. His place of work isn�t somedark tent at a circus, it�s the PLL (Pre-scribed Load Listing) office at theMcGovern Base motor pool. His clientsare fellow soldiers who come to him eachday to order parts or get their vehiclesdispatched.

�I have 189 vehicles in my computer,�said McGhee. �I do all the dispatching

for all these vehicles, I order parts fordeadlined vehicles, and make sure theservices are updated. I do a lot of thingsactually.�

McGhee isn�t the only PLL clerk, but hedoes service the majority of that office�s cus-tomers. Despite the large volume, it�s asmooth operation -- but McGhee admits itwasn�t always like that.

�When we first got down here in Bos-nia, we were jumping out of our boots,� saidMcGhee. �I wasn�t used to having so manyvehicles and having to dispatch them ev-ery day.� Initially, McGhee was getting 20to 30 vehicles a day to dispatch. Now, hesaid, that number is down to a comfortable15 to 20. �At first it was hectic, but noweveryone has gotten adjusted and it�sslowed down a lot.�

The most visible job that McGhee andhis fellow PLL clerks perform is dispatch-ing. More than just a bureaucratic papershuffle, dispatching is a needed require-ment for vehicle operation, said Pfc. Chris-topher J. Long, dispatcher for Company C,2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry.

�Dispatching is needed so people takeresponsibility for their vehicles,� saidLong, a 23-year-old native of Scottsville,Ky. �If there was some kind of accident,at least we would know from the dispatchthat the driver was licensed, knew howto drive it, or if there was a mechanicalproblem. Basically it allows us to trackthings easier.�

While it is needed, dispatching is notone of the more popular activities amongsoldiers at McGovern. Some of the lesscolorful adjectives describing dispatch-ing are, �difficult,� �hassling� and �con-fusing.�

It doesn�t have to be that way, though,said Long. �If the vehicle�s parts are put onas they come in -- when the operator hassome free time -- then it doesn�t take aslong on dispatch day,� he said. �If they don�thave anything to put on or order that day,the mechanic comes up, sees everything isgood, and it�s a lot quicker for them, theoperator, and for us.�

McGhee�s co-worker, Spc. Nicolas B.Robinson, services the paperwork for hisown unit, Company B, 1st Battalion, 77thArmor. This is the first time he has workedas a PLL clerk within his job, Robinsonsaid. Prior to this he was a warehouse clerk,where he operated mainly forklifts. �I�mjust learning this job. It�s a whole lot dif-ferent,� he said. �Every day I�m learningsomething new.�

Unlike McGhee, Robinson�s vehicle loadis relatively small � only 40 to 45 vehicles.He said, though, that the team � made upof PLL clerks from different companies �works together to get the job done. If thejob doesn�t get done vehicles don�t get dis-patched and thus, don�t roll out the gate.

�I think we�re important, but we don�tget the appreciation,� said Robinson.�We�re the ones behind the curtain.�

By Spc. David Boe364th MPAD

Getting toyouknow

Spc. Timothy V. McGhee, a PLL clerk with Headquartersand Headquarters Company, 1-77, inventories ashipment of recently delivered repair parts.Photo by Spc. David Boe

The Talon Friday, July 25, 1997Page 10

EAGLE BASE � Muddy and Dustyhave been in Bosnia-Herzegovina forwhat seems like an eternity. They

have traveled endless miles in HMMWVs,trekked through knee-deep mudholes, suf-fered food poisoning in the chow hall, forgot-ten the taste of cold beer, worn their Kevlarhelmets perhaps a bit too long. These twotroops are a reflection of the thousands ofAmerican soldiers who have lived the Bos-nian experience.

It seems only fitting that Muddy andDusty, the chief characters in the cartoon�Turtles in the Box,� were born in the stress-ful early weeks of Capt. Peter J. Buotte�s de-ployment here. Buotte created the cartoon (aregular feature of this publication) as an out-let � his chance to laugh at some of the rigorsof being a soldier here.

�For the first two weeks of the deployment,it seemed that I was breathing without be-ing able to exhale. This cartoon was my stressreliever,� said Buotte, commander of the943rd Replacement Company, a U.S. ArmyReserve unit from Fort Totten, N.Y. �Some-where in (the cartoon) is a part of me. I don�tknow which part -- maybe the part that hasn�t grown up yet.�

Buotte is a unique soldier -- an officer with eight years of activeduty experience, with tours in Haiti and South Korea. But he isalso an artist -- a creator of cartoons, sculptures, paintings, murals,even music. Inside his energetic mind lies the seemingly contradic-tory passions of military leadership and artistic individuality.

�I consider myself an antenna,� said Buotte. �I get these ideasand they arrive in the work I do. These ideas come from everydirection. I�m simply creating order out of chaos. That�s what mil-itary leadership is about.�

�Turtles in the Box� is only the latest creation by Buotte, whohas been creating works of art all his life. He studies art at theSchool of Visual Arts in New York City and just completed a semes-ter of schooling before being deployed with his unit in March. Buotteis also one of a handful of Army artists, a group of talented individ-uals who document operations visually for historical purposes.

�I got a four-year ROTC scholarship to be an artist,� he said. �Ihave always drawn -- since age five. I�m a scribbler, but a prac-ticed scribbler. I scribble all the time.�

Buotte�s chief military occupation is as a personnel officer, hav-ing led postal units and now the replacement company at EagleBase. But art is a passion and Buotte spends every minute whenhe�s not on duty pursuing his passion.

�I probably sleep four hours a night,� said Buotte. �I don�t wantto waste time sleeping. There�s always so much to do.�

It was his ability to �draw anywhere� that produced thesketches that eventually became �Turtles in the Box.� Fromhis observations of life at Eagle Base, Buotte jotted down hu-morous ideas, which turned into Dusty and Muddy and theiradventures in Operation Joint Guard. The cartoons soon be-

By Sgt. Steven Collins129th MPAD

Muddy

came the three-panel comics found in �The Talon.��Initially I had volunteered to do drawings for the military his-

tory detachment,� said Buotte. �It never occurred to me that thesewould become a cartoon. The drawings were intended to supple-ment the history books being compiled by military history detach-ment.�

Inspiration for the humor in �Turtles� comes from everywhere,said Buotte. He reads newspapers, talks to other soldiers, useshis seemingly-boundless imagination. The ideas are instantaneousand each strip takes about two hours to sketch, ink and color.

The strips were originally in black-and-white, but Buotte hasused both watercolors and colored pencils to add depth. He hascreated about 50 different �Turtles� strips and hopes to gatherthem all into a book soon. Fans can soon expect another charac-ter, Sandy, a female soldier and friend of Dusty and Muddy.

�I have included all kinds of real people in the strip � linguists,chaplains, cleaning ladies, Red Cross workers. Dusty and Muddyrepresent most of the soldiers here, so it is appropriate to add afemale soldier on a regular basis,� said Buotte.

And the name �Turtles in the Box?� It comes from the imageFrench and British soldiers have of their American counterparts.

�In the past, with full �battle rattle,� the French and Britishsaid American soldiers look like Ninja Turtles. I like that. So Idropped the �Ninja� and kept the �Turtles.� I�ve had to include moresoftcaps in the strip now that we can wear our softcaps. But I stilllike the image of the Kevlar helmets,� said Buotte.

�It�s not a gift until it�s given,� said Buotte about his talent.�One of my instructors at school said I have the potential to be anart leader instead of an art follower. That�s what I want to be � anart leader.�

Capt. Peter J. Buottecreates another"Turtles in the Box."Photo by Sgt. Steven Collins

and Dusty

The TalonFriday, July 25, 1997 Page 11

Chaplain, I think I�m falling inlove with a Bosnian woman.

But this informationcard isn�t very

helpful.

Your right, this is the wrongrules of engagement!

Turtles in the Box by Capt. P.J. Buottef eat uring Muddy Dustyand

World�s easiest quiz1) What state do the Kansas CityRoyals play in?

2) Which country makes Panamahats?

3)From which animal(s) do we getcatgut?

4) In which month do Russians cel-ebrate the October Revolution?

5) What is a camel hair brush madeof?

6) The Canary Islands in the Pa-cific are named after what animal?

7) What was King George IV�s firstname?

8) What color is a purple finch?

9) What country do Chinese Goose-berries come from?

10) How long did the Thirty YearsWar last?

1) Missouri. 2) Ecuador. 3) From sheepand horses. 4) November. The Russian cal-ender was 13 days behind ours. 5) Squir-rel fur. 6) The Latin name was InsulariaCanaria - Island of the Dogs. 7) Albert.When he came to the throne in 1936 he re-spected the wish of Queen Victoria that nofuture king should ever be called Albert.8) Distinctly crimson. 9) New Zealand. 10)Thirty years of course. From 1618 to 1648.

Give �em a call

101.1 fmRadioAFNAFNRadio101.1 fm

Give �em a callSprint 762 5556MSE 555-5556

Marcus in the afternoonSgt. Mark Parr3:05 - 6:00 p.m.

By the 364th MPAD

The Talon Friday, July 25, 1997Page 12

PREZOJ BANJ, Bosnia-Herze-govina -- Most missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina depend on safe and

quick movement. The Army runs on feet,tracks and wheels. Supporting constantmobility for the mechanized infantry ofTask Force 1-41 is the primary mission ofCompany A, 82nd Engineer Battalion fromBamberg, Germany.

Working in cooperation with a team ofengineers from 2nd Corps, Bosnia-Herzegov-ina (BiH) army based in Tuzla, the multi-national crew recently completed a majorbridge project in the mountains severalhours from Camp Dobol near Prezoj Banj.The original Bailey bridge installed by theBiH army didn�t support the weight of themassive tanks, heavy machinery and ar-mored vehicles, explained 2nd Lt. JohnKane, 1st Platoon leader, so a AVLB (Ar-

mored Vehicle Launch Bridge) was laiddown as a temporary fix until it could beproperly reinforced.

Before construction began, Capt. DanKoprowski, Co. A. commander, 82nd Eng.B n . ,made hisa s s e s s -m e n t .� W h e nwe aredone, thisb r i d g ewill beable tohold ap-p r o x i -mately 70 tons,� Koprowski said. �Rightnow, I wouldn�t drive my car over it.�

The AVLB �is like a big erector set,� saidKoprowski. Simply put, the bridge is a mon-strous piece of equipment that within min-utes can be laid down over a gap, river or

gully. The sole purpose of the bridgein combat is to throw it down to getthe tanks and fighting vehiclesacross quickly. The launcher thendrives over, turns around and lifts itback onto its armored body.

The BiH army didn�t have assetsto repair and upgrade the bridge. Thebridge was crooked which took anentire day of labor to straighten. Cov-ered with packed dirt, the Baileynext had to be dug out. Working sideby side, the BiH Engineers and theAmerican then started an assemblyline, lifting out all the old rottedplanks and replacing them with newones. A second set of iron side pan-els were then bolted on as reinforce-ment.

The BiH engineers were very com-petent and the construction proce-dure was mutually understood, saidStaff Sgt. Eric Daniels. �There is nolanguage barrier when it comes tohard work.�

Soldiers from Headquarters Com-pany, TF 1-41 out of Fort Riley, Kan.,and assets from the Engineer�s As-sault and Obstacle Platoon workedthroughout the day with 1st Platoon.Sgt. 1st Class Stan Wilshire said heis proud of his troops, who make upthe best engineer company in theater.

�This is a different type of mis-sion for us,� said Kane. �We addedanother set of side panels which dou-bles the bridge�s strength. Normallywe start from scratch and push thecompleted bridge across on rollers.But since it is already in place, weneed to repair in place.� In engineer-speak, it was upgrades from a sin-gle-single to a double-single. To therest of the world, that means thebridge now has double side panelsand is single story.

Several miles up the road on atreacherous overpass stands anoth-

er major achievement. The engineers spentseveral days removing a USAREUR ownedBailey bridge, explained Sgt. Eric Bigness,and constructing a Mabey-Johnson Bridgebelonging to NATO in its place. The bridge

now spans a90-foot- longgaping crack inthe side of themountain, sid-ed by a sheerdrop-off cliff.

Judging bythe precise andprofessionalwork, the engi-neers excel in

what they obviously love to do. When Kanewas asked if the smiling and waving kidson the side of the road make his missionworth it, he answered �I don�t know aboutthat. At the end of the day, it just feels goodto have built something.�

By Spc. Susanne Aspley364th MPAD

BRIDGES

�When we are done, this bridgewill be able to hold approximately70 tons. Right now, I wouldn�tdrive my car over it .�

---- Capt. Dan Koprowski

From page 1

Sgt. Keldrick Moore, combat engineer, Company A, 82nd Engineer Battalion, assistsBosnian engineers installing side panels on an Armored Vehicle Launch Bridge.