Warhorse Pride

to be on deployment.” Nino was responsible for managing and

coordinating assets for the battalion. “I served as a liaison between the batteries

and the battalion level,” he said. “There was never a boring day or a dull moment.”

There are always two sides to every coin, though.

“I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends,” he said. “And I’m sure they will be happy to have me home as well.”

As Soldiers boarded the flight back home, Lt. Col. Thomas Munsey, battalion command-er and battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Delmer Traylor shook their hands and wished them a happy holidays and a safe return.

“Have a merry Christmas and just being in the United States is Christmas enough after some of the conditions and places you guys have lived in,” Munsey said. “Be proud of yourselves, but more important take care of yourselves and each other when you get back there.”

Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

‘Thunder’ Soldiers begin returning home Story and photo by Sgt. April York2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Com-

bat Team, 4th Infantry Division, are transi-tioning more of Herat Province to Afghan authorities and redeploying some of their Soldiers, halfway through deployment, back to Fort Carson, Colo.

Soldiers with 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., deployed to Afghanistan in May in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and will be returning in December.

During their time in country they have aided their Afghan National Army and Afghan Uniformed Police counterparts in training to increase stability and security throughout their area of operations.

They conducted humanitarian aid projects, patrols and combat out post defense.

The early return home for some Thunder Soldiers is part of President Obama’s plan to remove 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by

the end of the year. Approximately half of the Soldiers assigned

to 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. will be heading home.

In preparation for the redeployment Soldiers have been turning in equipment and mentally preparing themselves to return home.

A chance to return home is a great oppor-tunity for many Soldiers.

“I was feeling pretty good when they told me I was going home, because my wife just had our son about a month ago,” said Staff Sgt. Harold Steed, mayor of Forward Operat-ing Base Todd and Battery B, headquarters platoon sergeant. “I am really looking forward to spending time with my family and getting to know my son for the first time.”

For others going back home is bittersweet. “I had mixed feelings about going home,”

said 1st Lt. Mario Nino, a battalion battle captain. “This is my first deployment so I just wanted to have a full year to soak up what it is

A flag now hangs on Forward Operating Base Walton’s helicopter landing zone that was sent by four hard working ladies (Michele, Toni, Gigi and Ann) with the Fort Carson Morale Welfare and Recreation team. They sent two flags from the 2nd

Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division families with messages to their Soldiers saying, “be safe,” “I love you” and “come home soon”. “I worked with these ladies at several events prior to deployment, either through the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program or volunteering with the MWR,” said Sgt. Harold Self, a petroleum supply

Issue 82 Dec. 17, 2011

Fort Carson MWR boosts Soldiers morale in Afghanistan Story and photo by Sgt. April York2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

Continued on page 2

Warhorse PridePage 2 Issue 82 Dec. 17, 2011

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded news-letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public

Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook.com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor:[email protected]

Col. John S. Kolasheski...................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa..............2nd BCT CSMMaj. Kevin Toner................................................2nd BCT PAOSgt. Seth Barham..................................................PAO NCOICSgt. Ruth Pagan......................................Layout and DesignSgt. April York.........................................Layout and Design

Warhorse Pride

‘Bandit’ medic strengthens team with classes

MWR boostsGen. Dempsey awards Soldiers

A medic’s job is to render aid to those who need it. Spc. Ronnie Gonzalez

knows just how important his role as a medic is.

“My job is to save people’s lives regardless who they are,” said Gonzalez, the medic for Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment attached to Task Force Lonestar.

Preparation and training are a huge part of a medic’s job in combat, he said.

Gonzalez began giving combat life saver refresher courses to Soldiers of Troop B after arriving to theatre in June. Recently however, he has included all of the troop’s linguists into the course.

“Last month we had an incident where we took some casualties and one of the wounded Soldiers happened to be the platoon

medic,” Gonzalez said. “The closest person who could render aid to him was a linguist.”

The incident made Gonzalez and his fellow troopers realize anything can happen to anyone on the battlefield and they needed to prepare for that.

“I think including our linguists into our CLS training just makes sense,” said Spc. Dustin Peterson, a cavalry scout with Troop B. “No matter what our mission is outside the wire, they’re with us; they’re part of the team.”

Gonzalez begins every class with a refresher on items included in every Soldier’s personal first aid kit. He then runs through a few vignettes which may happen on the battlefield and has everyone provide input to the situation.

“Anything can happen while we’re on mission and everyone who’s out there needs to be able to react and contribute,” said Gonzalez.

Spc. Ronnie Gonzalez, a combat medic with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Lon-estar, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, goes over his lesson plan for a combat lifesaver refresher class with Spc. Dustin Peterson, a cavalry scout also with Troop B, Dec. 5 at Shewan Garrison. Gonzalez recently began including the troop’s linguists into the training. Gonzalez is a native of Miami and Peterson hails from Salt Lake City.

specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. “Initially we were told I would keep on working on the MWR side of things out here in Afghanistan. They sent the flags with the intent of hanging them up at the MWR building here, so everyone could enjoy looking for their loved ones’ signature and message.” Recently Self was reassigned to the to the HLZ and decided to hang one of the flags on the flight line, where the Soldiers have enjoyed either reading the messages or getting their picture taken in front of the flag and FOB Walton sign.

Continued from page 2

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey pins the Army Commendation Medal on Pfc. Michael Higgins a Soldier with Company C, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Dec. 16.

Story and photo by Sgt. Seth Barham2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO