10th Mountain Daily Roundup

Fruitless battle against invisible insurgents of Badam Kalay
UK Times story about 2/87 Inf battle against Taliban forces.

Fort Drum Blizzard news
Post community honors retiring Soldiers
Eleven members of Fort Drum Community retire from active duty.

Fix or repair daily - Mechanics keep Blackhawk running
2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry mechanics given spotlight in effort to keep unit mobile.

Quick reaction force serves as guardians, ambassadors of peace
277th Aviation Support Battalion soldiers fill infantry role as QRF at Contingency Operating Base Speicher

Colin G. Knight

Via Summit Daily News of Frisco, Colorado

Medically retired 10th Mountain division soldier passed away in Syracuse NY on August 29th, 2009. He will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors Nov. 17.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

Hearts and minds
Soldier tries to win over Afghans
Story about Jewish 10th Mountain Division soldier deployed to Afghanistan
Tattoos and the Army: a long and colorful tradition
Article about how tattoos are used by soldiers to identify who they are and what they have done, several 10th Mountain soldiers quoted in article.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

Military voters may be shut out in special election for N.Y.'s 23rd Congressional District
Former Justice Department Official who enforced the federal Voting Rights Act has concerns that Gov Patterson's deadline for special election doesn't give deployed voters time to receive and return absentee ballots.

US Dept of Defense - Commandos Set to Return to Dramatically Improved Iraq
Division commander makes obersations of change in Iraq since last time 2nd BCT deployed to the region.

Paying the price for a ‘moment of absent-mindedness’
Stars and Striples article about Sgt. David Breeden who returned from deployment and was convicted of animal abuse after killing two dogs in his garage.

Military life consultants start at two area schools
Carthage and Indian River central school districts officially welcome counselors to assist students whose family members and friends are deployed.

Large crowd welcomes home twin soldiers
Wounded soldier from 10th Mountain Division is a guest of honor at a welcome home party in KING CITY, Mo.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

Drum bids soldiers farewell
Fort Drum holds deployment ceremony for 2nd BCT, which is to deploy to Iraq for a 12 month rotation.

Sex assault conviction a shocking end to military career
Story about Fort Drum familywho was affected by the actions of service member with his neice.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup (27-28 Sept)

Soldiers get EMS training before deployment to Iraq
Fort Drum medics receive an emergency medical technician training program in Clark Mills NY.

Despite changes, a couple’s commitment is constant
Stars and Stripes article about a soldier and wife from Fort Drum and their port deployment adjustments.

A family at odds with the system and a sick child in need of care
Stars and Stripes story about a Fort Drum soldier's battle with Tricare to get medical care for his son who has MD.

Single dad looking for a way to provide a home for his son
Stars and Stripes story about a single parent soldier assigned to Fort Drum.

Sea Girt camp offers R&R for wounded warriors
Wounded Fort Drum soldiers get a trip to the Jersey Shore for the weekend thanks to the Wounded Warrior Fund.

Soldiers in Afghanistan rap on MRAPs
Comments from 10th Mountain soldiers in Afghanistan on the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles

Drum housing needs assessed
Conversations at the quarterly Jefferson County Job Development Corp breakfast focused on upcoming housing needs for Fort Drum due to expected troop movements.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

Fort Drum Soldiers Deploy To Iraq...Again
WWNY TV story about the deployment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team to Iraq.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

Ceremony honors six soldiers killed in Afghanistan
The names of six recent casualties are added to the Memorial Garden adjacent Division Headquarters on Fort Drum.

Frustration mounts in Afghanistan for soldiers from Fort Drum-based 10th Mountain Division
2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment's Bravo Company is the focus of a NY Daily News Story about how they have seen a spike in casualties due to IEDs in Afghanistan.

High Speed Dirt: 3-71 sling loaders enjoy rush of selfless-service
Spotlight given to resupply efforts done by 10th Mountain Division's 3/71 Cav in Afghanistan.

10th Mtn. Div. Soldiers Remember, Rededicate Outpost for Latest Medal of Honor Recipient
Soldiers from Company C, 1/32 Infantry and Troop B, 3/71 Cavalry rededicate a Combat Outpost in Afghanistan to SFC Jared Monti

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

SERVING THE NATION: Kaleb A. Kumpula
Willits CA newspaper article about soldier being assigned to the 10th Mountain Division after completing Basic Training.

INJURED SOLDIERS HIT POOL
Watertown Daily Times article concerning new Physical Therapy regimen being offered to injured soldiers at Fort Drum.

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

In 17 seconds, they can have a rocket launched
NHANG field artillary soldiers receive training with new equiptment

10th Mountain Daily Roundup

No new news today.

Daily Roundup (20-21 Sept)

Soldier returns from Iraq to wed in Syracuse, just before his twins are born
Deployed soldier able to return early from Iraq to be wed in hospital


Soldiers' brain injuries from blasts in Afghanistan take a toll
NY Daily News story on how TBI injuries are affecting a unit in Afghanistan

U.S. troops in Afghanistan react to Gen. McChrystal report that war is unwinable without more forces
Gen. Stanley McChrystal states more troops needed for Afghanistan, 10th Mountain soldier quoted in article

Jeremiah Monroe

Via U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y., died Sept. 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

For more information media may contact the Fort Drum public affairs office at (315) 772-7267.

More stories about Pfc. Monroe can be located here.
The Post Star
9WSYR.com
Wten.com

Funeral of Pfc. Jeremiah Monroe covered by local newspaper

Daily Roundup

Outnumbered 20-1 and out of ammo: NY soldier on third tour in Afghanistan has seen war at its worst
NY Daily News story about 2/87 Inf soldier, Staff Sgt. Danny Acevedo.

Daily Roundup

President Obama awards posthumous Medal of Honor to Army Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti
NY Daily News article by Stephanie Gaskell and Richard Sisk about SFC Monti


Implementing 'Smart Power' in Afghanistan Poses Challenge for the US
Article about how the change in Afghanistan strategy is affecting soldiers, includes comments from 10th Mountain soldiers.

Jared Monti’s soldiers watched him give his life, and it changed theirs
Story about how SFC Monti died and how it affected some of the men who were with him at that time.

Troops in field memorialize Medal of Honor recipient
Story about 10th Mountain soldiers at the dedication of Combat Operating Base Monti.

Medal of Honor Ceremony remarks
The President's remarks from the Medal of Honor presentation for SFC Monti

Daily Roundup

Anti-war dad says it's time for soldier son to leave Afghanistan
NY Daily News article about father of 10th Mountain Division soldier currently deployed to Afghanistan

NCCC Tunes4Troops first shipment arrives in Afghanistan
Charity sends first shipment of DVDs and CDs to deployed troops, charity was given idea by chaplain assigned to Ft Drum

Bremerton Man Will Join President for Medal of Honor Presentation
Veteran of combat mission that earned SFC Monti the Medal of Honor to attend presentation ceremony

Daily Roundup

News spends 17 hours with brave 10th Mountain Division troops in hunt for bombs in Afghanistan

NY Daily News reporter does route clearing mission with 3-71 Cav

Spc. Daniel L. Cox

Via KOAM TV

"I thought they had the wrong house" - father of Parsons soldier killed in Afghanistan

JORDAN AUBEY and NINA CRISCUOLO contributed to this story

"I thought they had the wrong house," Kim Cox, the father of Daniel Cox, told us. "There were two Army informant officers and a Parsons police officer."

Daniel Lee Cox, 23, a Parsons High School graduate, was killed in a weekend attack by enemy forces in Afghanistan.

News of Daniel Cox's death brings numbness to his parents. For friends, it's a remberance of the good times.

"We were in the mall over in Joplin one time,'" says friend Jordan McRay, "and he got, like an orange julius, and the girl was like 'can I keep the change?' He was like 'can I get your number?'"

Cox, 23, was approaching his fifth year as a soldier in the Army.

"The order and all that good stuff, and the ability to actually be who he was and the desire to take the fight to the other person was really what got him to sign up for his mountain infantry and all the good stuff," says Matthew Burks, another friend.

It was good and exciting for Cox, until the signs of battle began leaving noticable scars.

"It was after his first or second tour that when he came back, you could just tell, you could see it in his face, you could just see the stress," says McRay. "It's almost like instead of aging three or four years, he aged ten or 15."

"It's very difficult to get who you were out of the other experiences," says Burks. "It kind of smothers who you start out as."

Cox was paying the price of being a soldier.

Now he has made the ultimate sacrifice but his dedication will never be forgotten.

"He was a hero," says his mother, Sharon. "Definitely a hero. A good-hearted person."

On Saturday, Matthew Burks planned on getting married, but as it stands now, he will be Cox's pallbearer the day before.

"He was severely disappointed that he wasn't going to be home for my wedding," Burks told us. "But, he isn't going to miss it now."

Cox was a student at Parsons High School and graduated in 2005.

He enjoyed working with his hands and football, but he dreamed of being part of the 10th Mountain Division.

Teachers Diana Brenn and Mark Pound are morning the loss after just receiving the news of his death on Monday.

"I thought I could get through the day," says Mark Pound, who is a coach at Parsons. "I'll be alright. I just feel for Daniel's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

"I couldn't believe it," says Diana Brenn. "I couldn't believe because, that just didn't like something we would ever hear about him."

Teachers say Cox decided to join the Army during his senior year at Parsons High School.

"He went to our football coach and he had him make out a plan to work out so that he could go into boot camp and be strong at boot camp," Brenn says. "He followed that plan and he was very anxious and excited about going into the military."

"He came back to school once, after he finished his training with them, and you've never seen a prouder person," Pound says. "And he was proud to go to Afghanistan. He told me when he was going."

Teachers say comfort still lies in knowing Cox was doing exactly what he wanted to do.

"He was never afraid - he wasn't afraid of it at all," says Brenn. "Matter of fact, he had an attitude that he was going to go over there and he was going to take care of business."

Cox was killed Saturday afternoon after enemy forces attacked his patrol vehicle when it struck an explosive device.

The Army is investigating the incident that also killed one other solider.

Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen

Via Democrat and Chronicle.com
A Rochester man was one of two soldiers killed Saturday during fighting in Afghanistan.

A U.S. Army spokesman at Fort Drum in Jefferson County announced Monday night that Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester, was killed in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device and small arms fire.

Specialist Daniel L. Cox, 23, of Parsons, Kan., was also killed in the attack.
Both soldiers served as infantrymen with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade combat team, which deployed in January 2009.
Allen joined the Army in May 2002 and arrived at Fort Drum in May 2008. This was his third deployment.
Allen’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Air Assault Badge.

He is survived by his wife, three children and parents.

Daily Roundup

High on mountain, a lonely outpost in Afghanistan for soliders from 10th Mountain Division
Short NY Daily News Story about life at a combat outpost in Afghanistan