Notes from Afganistan

[Carl Harrod]

I asked Teresa if this might be something people back home would like to hear and she told me it would be okay.

Just some background - Paul Paolozzi was the Executive Officer of my unit during Operation Desert Storm back in 1991. At that time, he was a First Lieutenant. We went our separate ways after we returned and it wasn't until earlier this year that I found out that he was stationed back here at Fort Lewis, Wa but now he is a Lieutenant Colonel and is the commander of the 864th Engineer Battalion. I called him and we talked about old times a bit and I then found out that he was due to be deployed to Afganistan in just over a month. I went by to see him off on the day of their deployment and had a wonderful time seeing him again. Since their arrival in Afganistan, he has been sending updates on their mission progress. It really makes me proud to hear of what he and his soldiers are doing and I thought it would be nice to share with all of you. The first few messages will be rather quick and then I will send the rest on as I get them.

I hope you enjoy them.

[Carl Harrod]

Subject: Notes from Afghanistan - 8 MAY 05


Dear Family & Friends,



Another week passes and I can't think of anything I would rather do than be in command of Soldiers in Afghanistan.  It's truly a blessing to be given this opportunity to lead our Nation's finest.  Each day I spend time with these great Soldiers and see their devotion to their mission, regardless if it's on a bulldozer, in the motor pool, on the staff, or in the mess hall, I'm amazed. 

 

We've had some interesting weather in the last week.  Imagine a dust storm coupled with lightning and rain.  It doesn't take an engineer to figure out that you get falling mud.  When we first arrived here the dirt and dust make you feel filthy because we're so accustomed to a clean environment in the US.  Now we don't even think of it.  We all feel like pig-pen in the Peanuts comic strip.



I was truly honored this week when my Command Sergeant Major was offered an opportunity to return to Fort Lewis and become the Command Sergeant Major of our higher HQ and he refused.  He had no desire to leave Task Force Pacemaker and wants to retire from service when I depart my command tour in June 2007.  In his words, "sir, we're going out together."  All I could say was that I'm honored and "thank you."  The bonds of war-time brotherhood are tough to break.  He'll have 30 years of service when he retires – I couldn't ask for better.



It's been a bit strange to be in Kandahar.  I remember as a young officer reading about the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and specifically the Kandahar region.  Now we're here and we see remnants of their occupation.  Large machine guns, helicopter hulks, and enormous twisted steel trash piles are pushed into areas that I'm sure we'll be responsible to clean up in the future. 



We've had some recent success on our road project - we're pushing past the areas that are supportive of our efforts and now we're moving into the Taliban staging area.  We're also getting great support from Army Special Forces and the Afghan National Army.  Everyone here recognizes that a road build through the heart of Taliban and Al Qaeda country is an enormous information operations success and will help will win hearts and minds.  Of course we've had a few problems along the way with IEDs and local village elders who are uncooperative.  One village leader shocked me when he offered 100 goats and the water rights to his village to for one of my female Soldiers.  She was performing her duties as a surveyor in his village and he thought she could be bought.  Obviously I had to explain that she's a valued Soldier just like any other member of my unit and she wasn't for sale.  It's remarkable how cultures can clash.



I often think of how what I'm doing now is so different from what I was doing six months ago.  Going from the US Senate to cutting road through the most remote areas of Afghanistan illuminates how many opportunities exist in the Army to do great things. 



During the last week I took 13 Soldiers from my Task Force to Baghram to participate in the Transfer of Authority Ceremony for my higher HQ.  We now fall under the 18th Engineer Brigade and my new commander is COL Michael Flanagan.  I'm thrilled that he's here with his team.  We're getting great support now and our mission is recognized by the CJTF76 commander as the most important engineer effort in Afghanistan. 



I'll do my best to write more next week.



Happy Mother's Day to my wife, mom, mother-in-law, aunts, and friends back in the US.



All my best,

Paul


LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan
DSN (318) 841-1209  or  9180 c

[Carl Harrod]

Subject: Notes From Afghanistan - 15 MAY 05

Dear Family & Friends,

It's beginning to get hot.  Have you ever been in the bathroom on a hot steamy day and someone hits you in the face with a hot blow dryer?  OK, you've got the picture.  I think we've all become a bit accustomed to this place.  Yesterday we moved our HQ on Kandahar Air Field; we now have much more space and the ability to work more efficiently.  It's a bit cooler in the new buildings too.

Our week started out on a dark note.  We had a construction mission in a remote area and two civilian vehicles ran through our checkpoint and refused to stop for the NCO directing them to stop.  One of the vehicles followed our directions and took the bypass road we created, the other continued forward toward our construction crew.  One of my officers shouted and directed them to stop and take the bypass just as the other vehicle did.  The vehicle refused to stop and continued to approach.  The officer, fearing that the vehicle was trying to launch a Vehicle Borne IED because he saw a cylinder with a cord coming from it, fired three shots at what he thought was the driver (steering wheel on the other side).  Sadly, he killed the passenger in the front seat.  After an investigation, it was determined that the vehicle had no ill intentions but failed to stop and heed warnings resulting the tragedy. The officer followed the rules of engagement but feels horrible about the event, he only wanted to protect his Soldiers while they were working.

I had an interesting opportunity mid-week to travel with Governor Sherzai of Kandahar Province to a last week-held Taliban town of Gumbad.  The 173 Airborne Commander here wanted to take all of the senior level Afghani commanders and American commanders with the Governor into Gumbad and let the people and regional leaders know that the Taliban is gone.  I've never had a meeting with so many local village elders and mullahs. 

During the next week we'll be starting a new phase of our construction operation with the expectation of being in some difficult areas normally frequented by the Taliban.  My Soldiers are ready and excited to start the mission.  We're even expected to start working with some Afghan National Army Engineers in two weeks.  We're happy to start putting an Afghan face on the missions we're conducting.  It's a major information operations campaign that will help everyone in the long run.

It's also nice to be among allies here on KAF.  We routinely work with the British, Romanians, and Dutch on this post.  The Romanians love to talk to Americans and see this deployment as an opportunity to be familiar with all things "American."  It's great to see their country go from a Soviet Satellite to a member of NATO in less than 15 years.

...until next week.

All my best,
Paul

LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan
DSN (318) 841-1209  or  9180 c

[Carl Harrod]

Subject: Notes from Afghanistan - 29 MAY 05

Dear Family & Friends,


The last two weeks seem like on continuous day.  It's been an exceptionally wild ride and filled with challenging experiences.  Each week I think I've had a remarkable experience but it gets eclipsed by the following week.  I'm holding on tight to see what the last months of this deployment will look like if the first two were supposed to be the ramp-up.


I didn't write last week because I had a few unending days.  I set a plan to redistribute heavy equipment assets in my area of operations (AO) to ensure I had the right effort working on the road in the north and the south.  In order to do that I had to have engineer assets cut a rough road or repair sections of the existing "road" to get those main assets redistributed.  The mission going from south to north went fine.  When I tried to return the route clearance team: infantry, civil affairs, and heavy engineers south they ran into another IED.  Four of my Afghan National Army Soldiers were injured and their vehicle needed recovery.  Immediately after the hit they started taking direct fire from the enemy who command detonated the IED.  We called in A-10s and artillery while the infantry opened up with everything they had.  It ceased the direct fire and we took 6 detainees.  I sent a team from the south to recover them and as they proceeded north, they hit an IED.  Now I had two teams in need of recovery.  Next I sent another team from the south to recover both in darkness.  As they proceeded north, the wrecker flipped injuring two Soldiers.  Yes, now three units needed recovery.  Finally, I sent my A company commander to recover all assets.  He was successful and all units arrived at FOB Tiger safely.  It was a night without sleep and many haggard Soldiers rolled in the gate exhausted.


I left the next morning to FOB Tiger to see the injured and conduct a negotiation with a village elder accompanied by an angry group who didn't want the road on their property.  I was able to negotiate an agreement with the leaders with the help of the district police chief.  It wasn't easy and I ended up using medical assistance, alternate electric power and the opportunity to work for us as bargaining points.  It's remarkable how much you can do with no sleep.  I thought I was going to fall asleep in the elder's face.


I got some sleep and decided that I would lead the full distribution of 62 pieces of heavy engineer equipment (bulldozers on trucks, scrapers, graders, rollers, etc) through the IED area the next morning.  After a 13.5 hour convoy we arrived safely at FOB Ripley with no enemy activity.  Most of the convoys get hit going south and I started to plan for direct action with the enemy as we prepared for southern movement.  I took a day to put together a plan to feign a break-down just before the IED area, allow the enemy to get into position, and then we would fan out and attack them from the north as an AH-64 gunship came up from the south.  We arrived safely back at FOB Tiger but disappointedly didn't get a chance to destroy the enemy detonating the IEDs on my Soldiers.   I felt like I went fishing and didn't catch anything.


I sincerely appreciate all the gift of pens and paper.  I have plenty now and should be able to make a great distribution to the children of the villages we enter.  That's always the first thing they ask for: "pen backsheesh?" This means, I want a gift of a pen.  We figured that out pretty quickly as they pretend to write on their hand with their finger.  I'm a bit more organized now handing them out.  The first time I did it, I almost had my arm ripped off by 50 kids pushing to get a pen and paper.  I'm learning the Afghani way. 


The task force continues to work at a 7-day a week schedule.  The Soldiers are doing a phenomenal job each day and have made enormous strides in getting the road and airfield missions complete.  Soon we'll be making a new FOB for us to occupy as the road moves further north.  There's no question that we'll be greeted by the enemy again and next time I pray we have great success in destroying them before they injure any more of my Soldiers.  The Taliban desperately want this road to fail because it's their best means of keeping the people isolated.  If the people don't know about the central government and remain dependant on local Taliban, then Taliban can keep it's stranglehold on the people.  When we succeed, we will have driven a dirt and asphalt spike right through the heart of the Taliban and connected two large populations.


I've attached a few pictures.  One is me in a secure meeting that I attend 3 times a week.  I'm several hundred miles from my HQ and therefore I have to use a secure connection to speak about our current operations while briefing my commander.


All my best,

Paul


LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan

[Janet Harrington]

Carl,

I am so glad that you have shared those letters with us.  It was really great to hear from someone who is actually doing something in Afgan.  We don't seem to hear much of what is happening there as the media seems to concentrate on Iraq.  I have a nephew in the Army in Iraq and Jim's son-in-law, Becky's husband, is in Qatar with the Air Force.

Keep the letters coming as I did enjoy reading them.

Janet Harrington

[Carl Harrod]

Notes From Afghanistan - 19 JUN 05
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 08:47:31 +0000


Dear Friends & Family,



Happy Father's Day to all the dads reading this note.   Another special day passes with little note here except that we move further along in our construction progress on the road and other smaller projects.  The day of the week or year matters little to me except in determining if I'm on schedule to deliver the road before the national parliamentary elections.



Our advances on the road continue to impress me.  I traveled to FOB Tiger by ground last week and spend four days monitoring progress.  The Soldiers of Task Force Pacemaker work every day carving out a road from terrain that has never received foreign support, only invasion and destruction.  It's inspiring to be a part of the long-term success of this nation as it breaks the bonds of the Taliban and those who whish to rob these great people of their freedom.



Even our routine days are filled with events that we would never experience in the United States.  Two days ago we sent a team into one of the villages to discuss the path of the road through their area.  After a short period of time one of the leaders came out with goat's milk and tea.  One of my captains refused the milk but the translator drank it with several of the police who accompanied us.  Shortly after the event, the locals told us that the Taliban beat many of them for talking with Americans and ordered them to put a white power in their drinks.  Within 15 minutes the translator and police were very sick and later the translator had to receive Narcan (a drug that counters the effects of other drugs) because his lower extremities were immobile.  The next day the police searched the whole village for the drugs put in the drinks and for signs of Taliban support – no success.



Every inch of progress on the road brings us that much deeper into Taliban areas with those who want to ensure we don't succeed in building the road.  We have two very large bulldozers contracted with a local firm to assist us.  Each night we leave the bulldozers with local security on site.  Three nights ago the security team was told that if they left the bulldozers there one more night they would be blown up and the drivers killed.  Refusing to be threatened, we collected all of the males in the small town and tried to identify those who made the threat but now believe they came from another village.  The bulldozers haven't had any problems in the last two nights but we remain vigilant.



I was thrilled last week to start receiving some of the Up-Armored HWMMVs.  The ones we received are the latest version with all of the special features to improve survivability and situational awareness.  It's the first time in my career that I pulled the plastic off the seats and had the luxury to receive a brand new vehicle (built in March 2005).  It had 55 miles on it when I received it and it's the best vehicle I've used since I entered the Army Reserve in 1985.  There's a certain level of comfort with 12000 pounds of American steel, transparent armor windshield and side windows, .50 caliber machine gun in the turret, friendly unit tracking systems, smoke grenade launchers on the roof, and a talented crew inside.  Because most of our IED attacks are from the bottom, I didn't want any of my convoys departing without up-armor protection.  We received several of the "add-on-armor" kits but those are more effective in Iraq where they get side-attack IEDs.  In the last week we received almost 30 of these life-saving vehicles.  Christmas came early in Afghanistan!



Please change my home address at Fort Lewis.  Rae Ann, Aaron, and Sarah moved into a larger set of Army quarters.  We now live at 2361 South 5th Street, Fort Lewis, WA 98433.  Rae Ann is a real trooper to tackle this mission by herself.  I admire her ability to make all this happen and sustain the Family Readiness Group while I'm away.  She's my Army hero!  We're also very thankful to have her mom, friends from our home church in Lacey, WA, and members of our brigade at Fort Lewis there to help her – what a team!  It's great to have a strong church and Army family there to help.



All my best to you,



Paul


LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan

[Carl Harrod]

Notes From Afghanistan - 12 JUN 05
Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2005 09:19:07 +0000


Dear Family & Friends,

I wish I had more time to write but there's a daily competition for each hour in a 24-hour day.  I have my staff working on a plan to get 28 hours into a day (I'm kidding).  Last Sunday I was escorting my commander on the Kandahar to Tarin Kowt Road project and didn't get a chance to write; he was pleased with our construction progress.  The Taliban reinforced the point that we're often under attack by providing a rocket attack while we were sleeping in FOB Ripley.  None of us were injured - sometimes the best place to be is exactly where they're aiming because of their accuracy.



Last week I had a little reflection period from my last job after escorting a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) consisting of REP Costa from CA, REP Davis from TN, and REP Sodrel from IN.  I enjoyed traveling with them, giving them a short brief on our efforts on the road, and then flying over the road work with my Soldiers below.  They enjoyed waving to the Soldiers and seeing how much earth my Task Force can move.  It's the first CODEL I've ever received and look forward to showing others what we're doing to break the strangle hold of the Taliban on the Afghani people. 



We should complete the last construction project on Kandahar Air Field in the next few days.  As soon as it's done, I'll devote my whole Task Force to construction of the road to ensure we complete the mission on time.  Since I've been in the Army, I've never seen a full Task Force dedicated to one engineer project – It's a massive undertaking!  While I was recently flying over the construction area I was thinking about the way we're going to change the lives of the people in each of the small country villages we go through.  These villages use the same method of constructing their homes since biblical times.  Often I'm stunned to see the disparity between our construction on the road and the ageless construction techniques used to make their homes.



Our progress on the road continues to be challenged.  We had another IED attack on one of my Afghan National Army vehicles traveling with several other US vehicles.  Two of the soldiers were seriously injured: one lost his lower leg and the other has a serious fracture.  After dismounting, the soldiers were able to find the initiation device and then chase the terrorist who initiated the IED.  He ran into a tunnel and wouldn't come out.  After several threats, my Soldiers threw three grenades into the tunnel with no response.  One of my NCOs volunteered to go into the hole with a pistol and shotgun but found nothing. When he went back into the hole to place explosives so the tunnel couldn't be used again, the terrorist started toward him from deeper in the hole.  The NCO shot him several times and then safely crawled out of the hole; I'm serving with a brave crew.  After removing the body, he detonated the explosives placed in the tunnel.  Finally the recovery team brought back the damaged vehicle and the convoy returned to FOB Tiger.  I'm sure we have more of this waiting for us as we proceed north into IED Alley.



The summer heat has really begun to bake us while working.  Temperatures above 100 degrees coupled with high winds make it tough to do some of the most basic road construction because of blinding conditions.  I've taken a few pictures from high hilltops of small "dirt-devils" or mini-tornados on the ground.  I've also been on the ground when one smacked right into me – dirt bath! 



The pictures are from some of my recent missions, Purple Heart presentation, CODEL, construction over flights, and FOB Tiger.



Until next week or when I can write next.



All my best,

Paul


LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan

[Carl Harrod]

Notes from Afghanistan - 26 JUN 05
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 12:38:17 +0000


Dear Family & Friends,



Afghanistan is really starting to heat up – both in temperatures and insurgent activities.  We routinely experience 110-115 degree temperatures coupled with winds and dry conditions.  It's hard to believe how much each Soldier does without complaining or expressing discomfort, even though they sweat through every thread of their clothing and eat dirt and dust all day.   We've finished all other missions on Kandahar Air Field and now have every Soldier in my Task Force working on the Kandahar to Tarin Kowt Road.  We're starting to draw attention to our mission because of it's importance to the provincial elections and because we're within 100 days of finish. 



For the last few days I was in Baghram to brief the Chief of the Engineers and attend a quarterly commanders' conference.  It's a nice break to see something different, be away from the daily events in Kandahar, and get a different perspective.  Flights into Baghram are easy to get but getting flights out are very difficult.  My Sergeant Major and I consider Baghram the rear area with little insight to real combat operations in the hills where we're building our road.  Many well-intentioned officers and NCOs shuffle around reports and messages without every understanding how tough it is working 12-14 straight hours in 115 degree temperatures while insurgents try to kill you.



While we were in Baghram I had three IEDs in one day.  Two were detected by my route clearance teams and one went off right after the last vehicle went past the point of detonation.  No one was hurt but large hunks of twisted steel flew past the turret gunner without injuring him.  I'm sure you recall me mentioning our brand new HWMMV's we received two weeks ago – well now the Sergeant Major's vehicle is battle damaged.  It has less than 300 miles on it with some damage on the rear tailgate.  All Soldiers are safe and we finished all three missions.  The two detected IEDs were double stacked anti-tank miles.  If we had hit them, it would have ripped any piece of my equipment in half.  You never know when the IEDs will go off – I've transited the same area no less than 10 times and never had a problem.  It's obvious that all of you praying for us are making a strong impact over the miles.



In addition to our route clearance teams we're joined by one of the newest units in the Army, the mine dog detachment.  The dogs are trained to sniff out explosives buried underground and then alert the handler.  One of the dogs attended his handler's reenlistment by the Chief of Engineers, LTG Strock, in the Tillman USO Center - Baghram.  While waiting for the Chief, I took some time to play with Ronny – I love dogs.  One of the pictures is of me with LTC Al Rosende, battalion commander of the Engineers in the east of Afghanistan.  His reserve unit is from North/South Carolina.



Baghram's weather is 10-15 degrees cooler than Kandahar.  We enjoyed the pleasant winds and 95-100 degree temperatures for 3 days before coming back to our dusty duty location in the south.  It's strange to see the snow capped mountains surrounding Baghram while walking in 100 degree temps.



We're almost at the three month mark and some of my Soldiers have started flowing back to the US for R&R leave.  It's a great program that the Army uses to keep morale high for forces deployed in a combat zone.  I look forward to my opportunity to see my family and the location where they now call home.



Until next week or when I can write next...



All my best,

Paul


LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan

[Carl Harrod]

Notes from Afghanistan - 10 JUL 05
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 14:14:13 +0000
 
Dear Friends & Family,

I happily report this week that my unit has not received direct fire or encountered another IED.  Although it's good news that we haven't been attacked since last week, it's critical to keep Soldiers sharp and ready for anything.  Our unit motto is "Aliquid Expectavit" or "anything expected" serves as a great reminder that Afghanistan is a dangerous place.  We're making great progress since my last report even though we creep deeper into the Taliban staging areas.  There won't be a day that goes by without me marveling at the skill and tough-minded determination displayed by my Task Force during the construction of the road.

During the next week the Task Force will be joined by Mr. Ian Klaus as an imbedded reporter.  My construction officer was his roommate while studying at Oxford.  During the last few months he expressed interest in the progress of the road and how he could tell the American people this good news story.  We were able to get him into the Department of Defense public affairs pipeline and soon he'll be with us writing stories about the Herculean effort to create this road.

As the time passes in this deployment there are times when it starts to drag on.  It's remarkable how around each corner there are points of inspiration.  I ate dinner a few nights ago at a remote FOB with one of my Soldiers from A/391st Engineer Battalion.  I found out that he didn't belong to this company five months ago but knew a fellow reservist in the unit.  When he found out the unit was deploying to OEF, he transferred units from TX to NC and deployed with us.  It's inspiring to work with great patriotic Soldiers like this.

I finally visited by B Company in the east of Afghanistan.  They're attached to another Task Force and I haven't seen them since I left Fort Lewis.  The Soldiers were thrilled to see me and the Command Sergeant Major.  They've made the Pacemakers very proud as they work for another unit with their construction skill on any mission.  I look forward to getting them back in my Task Force in December.  The climate and culture are very different in the east.  We saw trees, green grasses, a different manner of dress, and even heard some different dialects.  We stayed at FOB Orgun-E at 7450ft and had a difficult time running during morning Physical Exercise.  I only ran four miles and I though I was carrying a full rucksack.  Not only were we visiting B Company but we were doing a recon to determine where we'll be working on the next road.  We were happy one night to have a lightning/thunder/rainstorm of biblical proportion.  It came down so hard the door of the room we were in flung open four times.  We haven't received rain in Kandahar since late April which made the rain a welcome change to us – I wish we could bring it to the South where my Soldiers are working on the road.  It was also nice to have very cool temperatures of only 85-90 degrees at the higher elevation.  Sadly we returned to the south with our common 115-120 degree temperatures and dust sandwiches at each meal.

On the Friday the 7th I was able to fulfill the third of four promises I made to two local village elders.  In order to cut the road through village farmland I offered to bring them medical supplies, pipes for irrigation, waste water trenching, and finally generators.  The north and south portions of Wech Bachtu have been feuding since the beginning of time.  The old portion of the road runs through the south but in order to widen it and make it straight I would have had to destroy homes, trees, local walls.  I refuse to do anything to destroy local infrastructure no matter how primitive.  My worst nightmare is to have a Taliban insurgent taking a picture of my bulldozers, widening the road by removing a home, and forwarding it to Al-Jazera with the caption below reading "American bulldozers destroy Afghani homes as punishment for cooperation with the Taliban."  Instead, I chose to build the road in the north and bypass the old road.  Too simple – now I had to contend with the northern village protesting the new route.  The promises I made mollified their concerns and we were able to put the road in the north.  The generators brought great cooperation, smiles, and the elder in the north proclaimed me to be his "friend for life" and that we could call on his help anytime of day for assistance.  He further offered to slaughter a lamb for a feast and then have me sleep in his house as a gesture of thanks.  I had to humbly ask for an opportunity in the future.  While we were enjoying chai under a tree I noted that all of the trees over my shoulder were fig trees.  I told him that figs have been a favorite treat of mine since I enjoyed them as a child during the holidays.  Within my passing comment, he found his opportunity to present a gift to me – in two weeks, after the figs have ripened; he plans to present me with a gift of figs in a special ring.  I was very humbled and look forward to each occasion to meet with village leaders. 

I still marvel at the role water has in this country.  Those who control it have power and prestige.  I still can't comprehend that while we're passing through a part of Kandahar I can see a child urinating in the water, a person taking a drink, men bathing, a cab driver washing his car, and women washing dishes all within a quarter mile – in the same water!  It's remarkable how blessed we are in the United States.

A final thought – since I've traveled through a moderate portion of Afghanistan I've noted most large buildings or locations are named for America's killed in action Soldiers.  The names on chapels, mess halls, airfields, camps, and gyms remind me of the high cost of freedom.  There's no doubt that we're needed to help the people of Afghanistan to defend themselves and shake the yoke of the spiritually-twisted Taliban and their partners the Al-Qaeda.

Until next week,

Paul


LTC PAUL M. PAOLOZZI
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field,  Afghanistan

[Carl Harrod]

Notes From Afghanistan - 17 JUL 05
Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 13:30:30 +0000

Dear Family & Friends,

We're making great progress on the road mission.  We were a few percentage points behind schedule but with some hard work and efficiencies we worked into the schedule we were able to reduce it to 1.5% behind.  I foresee us completing on schedule, 15 SEP 05, to the disbelief of many others who said it wasn't even close to being possible.  I have full faith in my Task Force we'll have a great ceremony in the middle of the road celebrating in the center of Taliban Country.

We've created some large long stretches of road that the locals have never seen.  In addition to their construction duties, my Soldiers are becoming traffic cops too.  Local villagers are speeding over 60mph on the gravel road with no regard for safety.  When we stop them and ask why they're driving so crazy, the routine answer is "because we've never been able to go this fast in our lives."  Sadly, we had a motorcycle come screaming down the road directly in the path of one of my construction convoys.  The driver of the motorcycle was going too fast to move into his own lane or even steer the motorcycle.  When the first US truck swerved, the motorcycle continued straight into the trailer of the second vehicle.  Both riders of the motorcycle were killed instantly.  We found out later the riders were the only two brothers in one family.  The Soldiers did everything right and we're driving safely but there was nothing they could do.  No helmets, no regard for safety, no control, no life... 

I had a great time with the cicada in the northern VA area that come every 17 years.  This year on the northern end of our construction site we have cicadas all over.  They don't do anything but it can be a bit startling when one of these large insects smacks into the side of your head. 

If you're not familiar with how to build a road there's two essential items you need beyond the obvious construction equipment and hard-core Soldiers - water and gravel.  We're constantly on the hunt for water sources locally to build the finish grade on the road.  No water, no road.  We found a great well location and asked if the owner would sell us large quantities of water for the road.  He eagerly offered the water for free because he desperately wants the road through his village.  He plans to open two businesses as soon as we finish.  I can't think of anything more inspiring - we're making a great impact on the Afghani people.  When we're done, there's no going back.  The people will be connected and won't be dependant on the Taliban.  We finally figured out why the well owner didn't want the money for the water - he received life-threatening beating from the Taliban when US Marines were in the area last time and he sold them water.  He's allowing us to take the water even though he's being threatened by the Taliban.

The heat of the summer doesn't dampen the spirit of my Soldiers even though they're in levels of dirt unimaginable in the US.  I'll include a few pictures to give you and idea.

All my best,
Paul

LTC Paul M. Paolozzi
Commander, Task Force Pacemaker
Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan