Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Issue 62 July 15, 2011
TF Lonestar celebrates Masaw road opening Story and photos by Capt. Bonnie Hutchinson 2nd Special Troops Battalion
Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, celebrated the Masaw road opening with members of the Farah Provincial Government and citizens of Masaw, July 4. The road opening and ribbon cutting ceremony were a significant moment for the Masaw community. Although the road project was coalition funded, it was built by Afghan citizens and the ceremony was directed by Afghan official and security forces. After the ribbon was cut, Farah Provincial Governor Rahool Amin said, “this ribbon cutting ceremony is evidence that the GIRoA
is responsive to the needs of its people.” The road opening also symbolized success for Coalition Forces and Task Force Lonestar as the country prepares for a phased withdrawal of American Forces from Afghanistan. It symbolizes the willingness of Afghan officials and agencies to assume responsibility for the security, governance, and development of their country. “The Masaw Road project is another example of the Afghan people’s resolve to develop an independent and free Afghanistan,” said Capt. Anthony Hoefler, commander of Company D, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg. “This road is a way to connect the city of Farah to the smaller villages and communities, cultivating economic growth for the entire province.”
Citizens of Masaw City and members of the Farah Provincial Government gather at a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Masaw Road, July 4. After the ribbon was cut, Farah Provincial Governor Rahool Amin said, “this ribbon cutting ceremony is evidence that the GIRoA is responsive to the needs of its people.”
CSM Delosa finds a ‘homecoming’ far away from home Story and photos by Spc. April York 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
John Quincy Adams once said “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” The soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, have such a leader, and his former unit Soldiers would agree. Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa, command sergeant major of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., is the former command sergeant major for 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Drum, N.Y., and now they will serve under him again for Operation Enduring Freedom 2011-2012. “It was great to see 3-71 attached to us. It was like a storybook ending to my career,” Delosa said. “Having the unit I stood up being attached to me as a brigade command sergeant major- it’s perfect!” “Initially I joined the team for 3-71 Cav. as the operations sergeant major in December 2004,” Delosa said. “I was their first operations sergeant major and I was there for three years.” During those three years the brigade
Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa, command sergeant major of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, greets his former Soldier Spc. Zachary Mielke, a cavalry scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, at Forward Operating Base Terra Nova, June 30.
deployed to Afghanistan for 16 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006-2007. Midway through the deployment he made the list for command sergeant major and instead of moving on to another unit he decided to remain with 3rd Sqdn., 71st Cav. Reg., to become their command sergeant major upon redeployment. “I elected to stay there because I felt like I was part of a family,” he said. His Soldiers thought highly of him as well. “I think he is a stellar (noncommissioned officer); he always took care of us guys,” said Sgt. Aaron Church, a sniper with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Sqdn., 71st
Cav. Reg., who was a member of Delosa’s Personal Security Detachment when they were deployed again for OEF 2009-2010. Delosa joined the Warhorse team in April 2010 after returning from Afghanistan. Leaving was bittersweet, he said. “But, I’ve been here for over a year now and I do have a great relationship with all the Soldiers and senior leaders in the brigade,” Delosa said. Like his previous unit, the Warhorse Soldiers look up to their command sergeant major. “He’s a pretty cool guy; he expects his Soldiers to perform to the utmost stanContinued on page 2
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Warhorse Pride
Issue 62 July 15, 2011
Governor opens Jelawur Civic Center
Photo by Pfc. Mark Winter
Hajji Shah Mohammad, Arghandab district governor, speaks to an audience consisting of local Afghan village leaders, Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and members of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf.Div. at the Jelawur Civic Center Opening July 9. The center will extend the reach of the district government to the west side of the Arghandab River.
Story by Sgt. Benjamin Shutt Security Force Assistance Team 4
District Governor Hajji Shah Mohammad officially opened the Jelawur Civic Center amidst an audience of Afghan local leaders and coalition forces July 9. The civic center was embraced by all who attended. “This center will be a great help in the future,” said Brig. Gen. Ahmad Habibi, commander of 1st Brigade, 205th Afghan
‘Homecoming’ Continued from page 2
dards,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Miles, an infantryman with HHT, 2nd BCT, who is the platoon sergeant for Delosa’s PSD. “When I sit down with him at the end of the day, he gives me purpose and direction, things I can work on.” Delosa has great pride in his work. “I love being a command sergeant major, because it’s job satisfaction every day,” Delosa said. “You feel like the father of the unit; you’re the senior enlisted guy who tries to get everyone back home safely.” He also spoke about the progress he’s seen in Afghanistan. “I think we have really made a difference,” he said.“We’ve come a long way. The
Warhorse Pride Col. John S. Kolasheski...................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa..............2nd BCT CSM Maj. Kevin Toner................................................2nd BCT PAO Sgt. Seth Barham..................................................PAO NCOIC Sgt. Ruth Pagan......................................Layout and Design Spc. April York.........................................Layout and Design
Army Corps. “It is a great security victory for all International Security Assistance Force, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. It will help to back-up security forces.” The Center will help the ANP communicate with the district governor. “It will be very good for the people,” said Mohammed Isaac, ANP company commander of Ta’bine Bazaar checkpoint. “The maliks are able to go to the district center on the east side(of the Arghandab River) but most people (on the west side of the river) can’t. They don’t have transportation and it is too far to walk. With this center the people have a place to go in order to bring grievances, talk about security, and see their government.” The civic center is a demonstration of how much security has improved within the Arghandab River Valley. “Nine months ago, this would not have been possible due to the Taliban’s grip in this valley,” said 2nd Lt. Jake Lowe, information operations officer for 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “It’s very impressive to see how comfortably the Afghan locals move
about now.” The center is just one step in the right direction. “The security has improved and everybody needs to work together to ensure that the security stays good,” Mohammad said. “The (coalition forces) got rid of the enemy. Now I am asking the people to help improve security. There are people who say that security is bad but those are people that come here (from other places) to make it bad. I’m asking the people that live here to help make security good.” Mohammad encourages all villages within the district to cooperate with the ANA, ANP, and ISAF forces to ensure that Arghandab stability increases to facilitate economic growth and prosperity for all Afghans. Habibi left a strong message to the citizens and the enemy. “The ANA is here for you and I promise that if the enemy tries to come back, we won’t let them,” said Habibi. “We’re coming after you guys. We’re not going to let you back into the Arghandab. We will maintain security for our people.”
ANA has done a 180 since 2005. The ANP are being respected as an actual police force, and I think with more training and a little bit more mentoring they will be ready to take over.” Not long after returning to Afghanistan for his third tour, Delosa took time out of his busy schedule to visit with 3rd Sqdn., 71st Cav. Reg., at Forward Operating Base Terra Nova. “It was like I never even left,” he said. “The guys still look the same and they were happy to see me. It was a homecoming -a family reunion.” Soldiers from 3rd Sqdn., 71st Cav. Reg., are excited to serve with Delosa once again. “The squadron as a whole did great things under his watch on our last deployment, and I look forward to serving under him again,”
said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Rhodes, the plans and logistics noncommissioned officer in charge, with HHT, 3rd Sqdn., 71st Cav. Reg. “It’s great to have him here.”
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 newsletter 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
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Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa, command sergeant major of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. shakes hands with his former Soldier Spc. Jose Ramos, a infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cav. Reg., 3rd BCT, 10th Mountain Div., at FOB Terra Nova June 30. Delosa,