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The Claw
                                Newsletter
 Serving the Soldiers and Families of Task Force Talon
V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6

                             The Claw                             22 AP RI L 2012




                       A Few Words from
                           Talon 6 5
Another month has passed and your Troopers continue
to accomplish amazing feats supporting the people and
government of Afghanistan. Even though we have oper-
ated at full speed since arriving at Bagram, Afghanistan,
missions are starting to pick up. We are in the process of
welcoming a new Division Command team to RC-EAST,
1st Infantry Division. This has kept Animal and Regret
extra busy during the transition period. Motor City Mus-
cles and the Flippers continue to move countless num-
bers of Soldiers and equipment throughout the battle-
field. The All-American Dustoff continues to fearlessly fly
and support our Troopers on the ground and coalition
partners. Fox Troop increased its workload of providing
persistent aviation presence through security and recon-
naissance patrols. The Wardawgs continue to keep the
mighty Talon fleet armed and fueled for the fight, and the
Troopers of Dark Horse keep them all flying. The long
hours and days are daunting, but they help the time
pass. And even though the Talon Family forward is
working hard to finish the mission, we are all eagerly
awaiting our return to our family and loved ones. As al-      “TALON FOR A DAY,
ways, on behalf of all the TF Talon Troopers, I thank you     TALON FOR LIFE!”
for your continued love and support. We are all continu-
ing to work hard to make a difference here and look for-
ward to our return to you all. Until next time…

             Sincerely,

             MAJ B.A. BERTINOT

             TALON 5
T HE C LAW                                                                                      P AGE 3




                                   MEDAL OF HONOR
                                              RECIPENT




                                   COLONEL (R)
 Major Bruce P. Crandall        BRUCE P. CRANDALL                               Col. (R) Bruce P. Crandall
 Official military photo,                                                             31 March 2012
          1965


                  COL (R) Bruce P. Crandall received the Medal of Honor during a
                  White House ceremony February 26, 2007 for his heroic actions in
                                     the Battle of Ia Drang.

                  “He is an inspiration to us fellow Talon Aviators for his resiliency
                                            and bravery”
We surveyed 50 Talons and this is what they said...

         Would you rather…                                                 Would you rather…
              Be a cowboy, pirate or ninja?                    Be color blind (only seeing black and white) or lose your sense
                                                                                          of smell?




    17                   14                    19                         26                                24
                                                                                                     said LOS
                                                                               LOR
         BOY
                      said PIRATE           said N                      said CO                               E SENSE
said COW                                             INJA                  BLIND
                                                                                                        OF SMEL
                                                                                                                 L




           Would you rather…                                               Would you rather…
   Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for 365 days               Have super powers or have Christmas never end?
straight for one meal or eat pizza for 2 meals a day for 180
                           days?




            27     UT
                                            23
                                        said P
                                                                           48                                   2
              PEAN                              IZZA                     said SUP
                                                                                 ER
         said        D                                                                                  said X-M
               ER AN                                                      POWERS                                    as
         BUTT LY
              JEL


      Submit your own Would You                                                            ING              :
                                                                                      WARN
             Rather to...
                                                                                                                  ocking
                   amber.m.porter@us.army.mil
                                                                                                       o ntain shhilarious
                                                                                             estions c        re
         … and I will put it in the next edition of
                                                                                   These qumeant to inspaiy be nauseat-
                               The Claw!                                           contentn. Questions m isturbing!
                                                                                  discussio g, bizarre or d
                                                                                          in
P AGE 5                                                                            V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6




                         Holy talon
Recently, the Bagram Unit Ministry Teams visited with the Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains for the Air
Force and Army. These chaplains, having achieved the rank of Brigadier General, have much experi-
ence and wisdom to share with the rest of us. Much could have been said to us during their visit, but
they used most of their time to address the issues of respect and teamwork. It was a reminder to me
how crucial these concepts are for all of us.
Respect is an Army Value and an important aspect of everything we do as Soldiers. From
www.army.mil/values:
Respect
Treat people as they should be treated.
In the Soldier’s Code, we pledge to “treat
others with dignity and respect while ex-
pecting others to do the same.” Respect
is what allows us to appreciate the best
in other people. Respect is trusting that
all people have done their jobs and ful-
filled their duty. And self-respect is a vital
ingredient with the Army value of re-
spect, which results from knowing you
have put forth your best effort. The Army
is one team and each of us has some-
thing to contribute.

I sometimes witness Soldiers and lead-
ers lacking respect for one another. For
one, I see Soldiers lacking respect for
themselves, their leaders, and the Army
by failing to abide by Army customs and
courtesies. When a Soldier fails to ad-
dress an NCO properly, they demon-
strate a lack of respect for the position of
a Noncommissioned Officer. The pendulum swings the other way too. When leaders concern them-
selves only with completing a mission and fail to care for the welfare of their Soldiers they demon-
strate a lack of respect for the Soldier and the Soldier’s development. Mutual respect provides an en-
vironment where both the leader and the led can cooperate fully without animosity toward one an-
other.
Respect is critical in our Families also. Husbands should respect their wives, and wives should re-
spect their husbands. Children should respect their parents and parents their children. Within the
Family unit we all have different roles to play. When we respect those roles and the loved ones who fill
those roles we strengthen our Families. With mutual respect we can discover a unity of effort that is
needed to achieve the purposes of our lives and the goals of our Families.
Let us not fail to R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

                                        CH (CPT) Marlon W. Brown
T HE C LAW                                                                             P AGE 6




                          GLADIATORS
  This past month has seen many of our young enlisted Troopers enlisting to remain in the
  Army while in Combat. From our supply section, SGT Haggerty reenlisted for Ft. Drum.
SPC Otis reenlisted to become a small arms repairer. From S4, SGT Wilson reenlisted for
 stabilization at Ft. Bragg, SPC Ramos reenlisted for Ft. Lewis, and SGT George reenlisted
   for Ft. Polk. From S3, SGT Brown reenlisted, and SFC Osborne reenlisted indefinitely.
  Congratulations, SFC Osborne, for reaching an outstanding career milestone. From S1,
                         SGT Lopez reenlisted for Gloucester, England.
           The weather has definitely been getting warmer, and as April rolls in we start the
“120 days of wind” that Bagram is known for. A constant stream of blowing dust eddies up
    from dry wadis and hillsides to forms into 500 foot tall clouds heading east. We’re all
sweeping the dust out of our rooms a little more often, but the warmer weather is nice when
                                           the sun is out.
        April represents the official halfway point for the deployment, since our change of au-
  thority was October 17, 2011, and we are technically allowed 365 days in-country. That
     doesn’t mean we’ll all be here until October 17, 2012, but the Gladiators only have 6
  months, at the most, left on this turn. We look forward to getting home and enjoying the
                                        North Carolina Fall!
                                     Until next month,
                                       Gladiator 6
P AGE 7                                                                     V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6




              ANIMALS
        March has welcomed us back to the warm season and with the warm temperatures
our operations have picked up as well. We find ourselves again needing to effectively man-
age our resources to not only keep up with tab data and insure we have the power avail-
able to take off and land, but also to manage our crews effectively to keep everyone fresh
and able to keep up with the operational tempo. We would like to voice our appreciation to
all our “guest” pilots who have made it possible to get through the month of March while
many of our pilots were on leave.
        It has been a pleasure working with
C Co. 3-82 “All American Dustoff “and we
have enjoyed the friendships and the
memories we have made there but at the
end of March we reluctantly said goodbye
to the Med Chase mission and picked up
the other half of the mission set we were
already flying. The Med Chase mission
was rewarding to see the good come from
the work that we do here.
        This month has also been high pro-
file with VIPs. We flew the Sergeant Major
of the Army Raymond Chandler III around
Afghanistan and got a visit from COL(ret.) Bruce Crandall, who received the Medal of
Honor for his heroic actions in the Battle of Ia Drang. We also received a visit from the MG
Tarbet, the TAG for the Utah Army National Guard, who was interested in our general well
being and just wanted to see how his Soldiers did business here in country.
                                      Our outstanding Soldier of the Month is SSG Seth Ikerd
                                      who was a late deployer for us coming to replace a Sol-
                                      dier who was injured at Fort Hood, TX. He had also re-
                                      cently returned from an Iraq tour within a year of this
                                      deployment. He knows his job well and does it silently
                                      and without complaint. If cloning became legal, SSG
                                      Ikerd would be a prime candidate. He also looks great
                                      when posing in pictures with 7.62 ammo belts slung
                                      across his chest.
T HE C LAW                                                                                     P AGE 8




                  REGRET
             “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking
                             for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
         Well it is official: Spring has sprung here in RC-East, something that seems to make the
days far more tolerable. Apart from the occasional thunderstorm, the new season has revived life
in the form of greening valleys and mountains. Such environmental improvements are a welcomed
relief from the cold dreary days of winter, but such change warns of the sweltering summer heat to
come. With warmer and clearer weather comes increased activity and work for the Regret Family.
Without the snow blinding days to ground flight operations, Regret prepares to fly even more hours
than before in order to support ground operations in the area. As the workload increases it is every-
one’s hope that the time keeping us from our Families will accelerate as we reach the downhill por-
tion of this deployment.
          The arrival of a new season also brings the opportunity for advancement. Within the ranks
of Regret, SPC Felts and SPC Sanchez were promoted to the ranks of CPL and SGT respectively,
adding two more Noncommissioned Officers to 3rd Flight. Along with promotions, Regret recognized
continued dedication to duty with the reenlistments of CPL Felts, SGT Sanchez, SPC Fenton and
SPC Pentecost. It is a profound and proud moment when Soldiers facing multiple deployments and
difficult separations still decide to continue military service to their nation, so we thank these indi-
viduals for making such a noble decision. CW2 Forster and CW2 Warren both successfully com-
pleted their Day/Night Pilot-in-Command (PC) check-rides; a significant accomplishment in a pilot’s
career making them the newest Regret PCs. Regret also welcomed CW3 Johnson, CW2 Edwards,
CW2 Triplett, SGT Murphy, and SGT Ferreira as the newest members to the company. We look
forward to bringing them into the Regret family and having the requisite help as the workload in the
spring and summer seasons picks up.
         As the days and missions get longer, rest assured that nothing keeps all of the families of
Regret far from our minds. As we close the book on another month, another season, and the first
half of this deployment, all the men and women of Regret look forward to the coming reunion and
thank you for your continued support.
                                            Best Regards,
                                          CPT Kellan Travis
                                             3rd Flight PL
P AGE 9                                                      V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6




                FLIPPERS
   This month we have had a couple of reenlistments and progres-
  sions. Sgt Whatley and SGT Grayson have decided to stay in the
 Army a little while longer. PFC Bjema is now a RL1 D/N/NVG crew
chief. Now if we can just get him to stop breaking everything he will
 be alright. There have been a couple of construction projects com-
pleted by our warrant officers, regular bob the builders. Now that we
have hit the seven month mark morale is high. The Flipper’s are still
going strong and continuing supporting the ever going missions. We
 would also like to take this time to thank our Talon Family for their
                           love and support.

                                  FLIPPER 7




           SGT Grayson Reenlistment      SGT Whately Reenlistment
T HE C LAW                                                                        P AGE 1 0




                      Motor city
                          muscles
     Helicopters are renowned for working in some of the most remote and
inaccessible locations on the planet.” -Heliops International

       Following the RIP/TOA with B CO 7-
158, Motor City Muscle has been busy with
both night and day missions. Even though
we are thousands of miles from home, pride
for our state and our teams is as strong as
ever. Congratulations to the Michigan State
Spartans for a share of the Big Ten title and
Big Ten tournament championship; to the
Detroit Red Wings for their 21st consecutive
playoff appearance; and to the Detroit Ti-
gers for an impressive opening day win.


      Motor City Muscle continues to carry on the tradition that B Co 7-158 started with
Chinook Santa. B Co 3/238th has been delivering care packages to FOB’s all over Af-
ghanistan under new management as Chinook Santa 2. We would like to thank Desert
Angels and Hurly Medical for their continued support in operation Chinook Santa 2 and of
                              the Motor City Muscle.

                                As the fighting season
                               ramps up the Motor City
                              Muscle is prepared for the
                              challenge and continues to
                               work hard in supporting
                              mission readiness and ac-
                                    complishment.
P AGE 1 1                                                                                               V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6




                        DUSTOFF
U.S. Army SPC Aaron King, a Flight Medic, dangles more than one hundred
feet in the air from an HH-60M Medevac Black Hawk secured by only a thin
metal wire and two carabineers.
The rotor blades stir up dirt in the air as SGT Patrick Lynch pulls him in.
Lynch, a native of Canton, Mich., has been a crew chief for more than four
years and was recently assigned to C Company, 82nd Combat Aviation Bri-
gade, Task Force Talon. Today Lynch is training to become certified to oper-
ate the hoist during medical evacuation missions.
This is the third hoist training exercise for Lynch and the first time he’s trained
with a live patient instead of a manikin. With his buddy’s life in his hands, he’s
careful to make sure everything is perfect.
Once Lynch pulls King in, they position themselves to do the whole thing over
again in reverse. Lynch concentrates on lowering King to the ground.
Hoisting King up to the aircraft and down to the ground is the closest training
Lynch will get next to an actual hoist mission. It’s a dangerous procedure for
both Soldiers and equipment, but necessary for Medevac Crews to be ready when it really counts. The training also gives
Lynch the confidence he will need when it comes time to conduct a hoist medical evacuation.
When a Medevac crew spins up for a hoist mission and they arrive on the scene, Crew Chiefs like Lynch are the ones re-
sponsible for the safety and well-being of every inch of the aircraft the pilots can’t see plus the patients and passengers on
board.
“Hoist training is extremely important because this is one of the most difficult and dangerous things we do in the airframe,”
said King.
A hoist mission is usually a last resort; conducted only when there is nowhere for the aircraft to land. Due to the extreme ter-
rain in Eastern Afghanistan, hoist missions are more likely here than most places.
If a ground unit calls for a medical evacuation in a wooded area, near lots of buildings or on a mountainside, C Company,
often referred to as “Dustoff,” has the ability to hoist an injured person out of the danger area, provide immediate care, and
quickly evacuate that patient to beter-equipped medical facilities.
When the aircraft arrives to pick up patients, a crew chief slides the large cargo door open and draws the hoist hook inside as
he’s pounded with winds from the whirling blades. He hooks a flight medic in to the hoist cable with a special harness, and
carefully lowers him or her to the ground. It’s a difficult process that has to be done quickly; strong winds and enemy fire are
a few hazards that can cause the helicopter to swing and slam a Soldier into rocks, buildings, or trees.
On the ground, the medic stabilizes the patient and secures him or her to a special portable stretcher called a “Sked.” Once
the patient is tightly fastened, the Flight Medic alerts the crew, who then pull the patient to safety while the Medic controls a
tag line (another rope hanging from the stretcher) to keep the stretcher steady. If the Medic loses control of the tag line the
Sked can spiral out of control and cause further injuries or kill the patient.
“You can’t over-fixate on any one thing,” said Lynch. “I don’t want to hurt anybody, the whole point is to help people.”
In order for a crew chief to become qualified to conduct hoist missions Soldiers like Lynch have to complete an extra 14-16
hours of instruction, including night training, all done under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor.
Standardization instructors like Sgt. Kevin Burleson, are Crew Chiefs who have became experts in the aircraft, and now train
others. They are not only responsible for teaching the new guys, but in the bigger picture, they’re responsible for how that
Soldier performs when it really counts. He’s paying particularly close attention today.
“Hoist missions are one of the most difficult tasks that we do in medical evacuation,” said Burleson. “It is the most critical and
the most dangerous mission.”
Dustoff crew members have performed 10 hoist missions in a variety of situations since arriving in August. Staying proficient
between missions is key and something Burleson does not take lightly.
“I’ve dedicated a lot of time to training myself, so I can teach these guys to perform flawlessly,” said Burleson.
Medevac Soldiers share the same philosophy when it comes to their missions.
“We will go anywhere, anyplace, anytime to get anyone regardless of the situation,” said Burleson. “So if it requires us to do
hoist then that’s what we are prepared to do.”
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Medevac crews have completed more than 600 missions throughout Regional Command-
East since August.
T HE C LAW                                                                                                    P AGE 1 2




                DARK HORSE
Greetings once again, Dark Horse Family! This edition of “The Claw” is significant, as it is the 6th Issue,
which means we are now on the down-side of deployment! Six months down, and only 6 more to go. Here
on Bagram, time is flying by (mostly because we are so busy with work), and the Troopers know that our
homecoming is really just around the corner. The command section has already begun preparation for hav-
ing all the equipment moved back to Fort Bragg, and before we
know it we’ll be back home.
With the spring now fully upon us, the weather is definitely warm
enough to begin sweating again! Daytime temperatures are now ris-
ing into the 70s and low 80s, with nights being in the 50s to 60s. Suf-
fice it to say, it’s time to make sure everyone’s drinking enough wa-
ter (don’t worry, we are)!
Work continues as usual, although this month the Dark Horses have
had more than our usual chances to shine. We have had repair
teams go outside of Bagram to fix a Chinook as well as three Black-
hawks (thankfully all the pilots and crews were not injured). One of
the Blackhawks was damaged so badly that once it came back to
Bagram, the UH-60 Maintenance Team had to do repairs that usu-
ally are done by much more specialized people and equipment. The        The new D Co. Coin design. Get yours soon!
sheet metal and powertrain shops were also put to the test as they
helped get the Blackhawk back up in the air. But the Team came together flawlessly and earned a visit from
the Brigade Commander in praise of their outstanding efforts! In other news, the Company is having special
coins made to commemorate the Teamwork and pride we have all felt as maintainers during Operation EN-
DERING FREEDOM. Supply will be limited to 300 coins, so make sure to get yours soon, before they are
sold out ($5 for pre-orders, $7 when they arrive in 6-8 weeks).

                                           RIDE OR DIE!!!
                                                                 SPC Dias works
                                                                 intently on the tail
                                                                 rotor of a UH-60
                                                                 Blackhawk.




                                   SPC Litster (Nat’l
                                   Guard) gets an
                                   autograph from
                                   COL (Ret.) Bruce
                                   Crandall. Cran-
                                   dall is a Medal of
                                   Honor Recipient
                                   whose real-life
                                   heroism is fea-
     SSG “Darth” Pogue. Mess                                                            SGT Dosker and SPC Alvarez
                                   tured prominently
     with him and see what hap-                                                         discuss some work on a UH-60
                                   in the movie, “We
     pens next.                                                                         main transmission.
                                   Were Soldiers.”
P AGE 1 3                                                                                     V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6




                         WAR DAWGS
                          It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…
          Alright sports fans, March Madness is over and a huge congrats goes out to the Kentucky Wildcats. But
for all the Baseball nuts, Spring Training is over and the season has officially begun. I’m going to call it right now,
Atlanta Braves winning the 2012 World Series (LT Taylor’s prediction)! For all of our Golf watchers, The Master’s
tournament in Augusta, GA has presented its green jacket to Bubba Watson. And of course I don’t want to leave
out the Horseshoe Champions, CPT Wrinkle and 1SG Hatcher, who captured the title during their recent trip to
FOB Morales-Frasier. Better luck next trip SPC Travis Napier and SPC Chad Swaagman.
        The month of April brought once again promotions and reenlistments for the ever-strong War Dawgs of
Echo Company. Promoted to Specialist this month are SPC Shantele McNally, SPC Richard Majchrowicz, and
SPC Joey Salcido. War Dawgs’ reenlistment stayed strong this month with SGT Pablo Rosado, SSG Leaford
Calder, and SGT Tremaine Johnson. Congratulations to all the individuals who reenlisted and were promoted.
Talon for life! Another significant event was the Task Force Talon NCO Induction Ceremony. An impressive
ceremony executed with exacting detail that highlighted what it means to be an NCO. You are truly the Back-
bone of the Army. Welcome to the NCO Corps!
Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler III, recently visited Bagram to meet and talk with Soldiers on changes to
Army regulations and new PT standards. Additional topics discussed were appearance when not in uniform, de-
signs of new uniforms, the new Army Physical Fitness Test and tattoos. SMA Chandler also recognized SPC
Matthew Breemes with the Sergeant Major of the Army Coin of Excellence for his dedication and unwavering
execution of duties as Romeo Ramp Entry Control Point Guard. Congratulations!
From all the War Dawg leadership, we say THANK YOU to all the families and loved ones back home!! Without
your love and support, we would not be able to protect our great country. We miss you and can’t wait to be
home!!!
                                     “Without us, pilots are pedestrians.”
                                               -WARDAWGS!!
T HE C LAW                                                                                            P AGE 1 4




                    BLACKHORSE
                                     Fox Troop Family and Friends,

Since we arrived here we have seen many bird and duck decoys in the creeks and ponds, but never any ducks.
This phenomenon has often been a topic of discussion. Then a few weeks ago it happened, duck hunting sea-
son began! Every morning there would be a couple dozen men hanging out in the waterbeds with rifles waiting
    for the birds to land. As we flew about the airspace, many of the hunters would try and shoo us away.
   We have our own stellar bird hunter within the Troop, CW2 Ramirez. She refused to be out matched by the
duck hunters. On one of the first days of the hunting season, Ms. Ramirez caught a huge bird with her feet. The
chin bubble on the aircraft may have been broken in the process, but it was an impressive bird. A few days later
 as she was flying, she decided to use the rocket pod to catch a bird. She was successful and brought us back
 dinner for a second day. In going for the trifecta, as she was pre-flighting her aircraft she considered which dif-
   ferent part of the aircraft she could use to catch a bird on this flight. As she walked away, a bird must have
heard her thoughts and it must have been too much pressure on the poor bird, so it dropped dead at CW2 Rami-
            rez’s aircraft. (see attached pictures, some have had fun decorating Ms. Ramirez’s locker)
We are saying farewell to our Division, the 1st Cavalry. They are returning home and will be replaced by the 1 st
    ID. We look forward to working with the new Division and wish 1 st CAV well on their new adventures!
The temperatures are on the rise and so is our flight time. We are still working throughout the entire Area of Op-
erations of RC-East and providing security to all we can. Our Troopers are continuing to prepare for promotions
and Soldier of the month boards. First Sergeant and I express our great appreciation to you for all the work you
do at home and your continued support, we know without you taking care of the home-front and dealing with all
  of the matters we cannot get to at this time, we would not be able to accomplish the mission! We know how
            much effort you put forward on behalf of our Troopers and we cannot thank you enough!

                                             Happy Easter!
                    CPT Scottie Pace & 1SG Donald Adkins
                      BlackHorse 6        BlackHorse 7
P AGE 1 5                                                           V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6




                       TALONS OF THE MONTH
                                                SPC Henderson, Yeonju
                                                Company/MOS: HHC/ 92Y Unit
                                                Supply Specialist
                                                Hometown: Taejon, South Korea

                                                Q: What do you do on your free
                                                time?
                                                A: Read novels
                                                Q: What do you want to achieve in
                                                your MOS this deployment?
                                                A: Get promoted!
                                                Q: Goals for this deployment?
                                                A: Stay healthy
                                                Q: What do you miss most about
                                                home?
                                                A: Champagne


SPC Spendlove, Jamie
Company/MOS: A 2-211/ 91B Wheel Me-
chanic
Hometown: Roy, Utah

Q: What do you do on your free time?
A: Play XBOX with my buddies
Q: What do you want to achieve in your
MOS this deployment?
A: Reclass as a 15T..It is what I have
done all deployment and I love it
Q: Goals for this deployment?
A: Gain knowledge to make MOS transi-
tion
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: My two little girls (Aidyn 2 and Keelii 4)
T HE C LAW                                                            P AGE 1 6


SGT Arnold, Justin
Company/MOS: A 3-82 / 15T Black-
hawk Crew Chief
Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Q: What do you do on your free time?
A: Talk to the family and go to the gym
Q: What do you want to achieve in your
MOS this deployment?
A: Gain knowledge in my MOS
Q: Goals for this deployment?
A: Obtain 500 flight hrs and help TF
Talon accomplish their mission
Q: What do you miss most about
home?
A: Deana, my lovely wife of 1 1/2
years


                                          SPC Mcclure, Branden
                                          Company/MOS: B 3-238/ 25U Sig-
                                          nal Support System Specialist
                                          Hometown: Eaton Rapids, Michigan

                                          Q: What do you do on your free
                                          time?
                                          A: …”What free time?”
                                          Q: What do you want to achieve in
                                          your MOS this deployment?
                                          A: Be an asset to my company and
                                          be the best I can be
                                          Q: Goals for this deployment?
                                          A: Get the most experience I can
                                          before I go to flight school
                                          Q: What do you miss most about
                                          home?
                                          A: My wife's beautiful smile
P AGE 1 7                                                     V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6


PFC Kyle Bjema
Company/MOS: B 3-82/ 15U CH-47
Crew Chief
Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas

Q: What do you do on your free time?
A: Do online classes and SSD course
Q: What do you want to achieve in your
MOS this deployment?
A: To be the best mechanic and crew
chief
Q: Goals for this deployment?
A: Get at least 20 college credits be-
fore redeployment
Q: What do you miss most about
home?
A: My family, my girl friend, and wake
boarding


                                    SGT Courtney Sciacca
                                    Company/MOS: C 3-82/ 25U Signal
                                    Support System Specialist
                                    Hometown: Bicknell, IN

                                    Q: What do you do on your free time?
                                    A: Free time??? I'm not sure what this
                                    means
                                    Q: What do you want to achieve in your
                                    MOS this deployment?
                                    A: I'm currently working on getting my
                                    A+ Certification
                                    Q: Goals for this deployment?
                                    A: I want to finish one or two more col-
                                    lege classes
                                    Q: What do you miss most about
                                    home?
                                    A: My two boys, Zavier and Zaiden
T HE C LAW                                                         P AGE 1 8


SPC Fisher, Daniel
Company/MOS: D 3-82/ 15U Chi-
nook Mechanic
Hometown: Hartville, Ohio

Q: What do you do on your free
time?
A: Watch movies.. What else is
there to do?
Q: What do you want to achieve in
your MOS this deployment?
A: Get enough experience to be-
come a Crew Chief
Q: Goals for this deployment?
A: Become a Door Gunner
Q: What do you miss most about
home?
A: Spending time with family


                                    SGT Bodine, Ryan
                                    Company/MOS: E 3-82/ 92F Petroleum
                                    Supply Specialist
                                    Hometown: Evanston, Wyoming

                                    Q: What do you do on your free time?
                                    A: Skype with Friends.. In Portuguese
                                    Q: What do you want to achieve in your
                                    MOS this deployment?
                                    A: Do something noteworthy so I can
                                    go home and be proud of it
                                    Q: Goals for this deployment?
                                    A: Go home with all my fingers and
                                    toes
                                    Q: What do you miss most about
                                    home?
                                    A: The Food: Sushi and Thai Food!
P AGE 1 9                                                             V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6


                                         SPC Reyes, Jonathon
                                         Company/MOS: F Trp 1/17/ 15S Kiowa
                                         Helicopter Repairer
                                         Hometown: Desert Hot Springs, Cali-
                                         fornia

                                         Q: What do you do on your free time?
                                         A: Work Out
                                         Q: What do you want to achieve in your
                                         MOS this deployment?
                                         A: Gain as much experience as I can
                                         Q: Goals for this deployment?
                                         A: Get promoted by the end of it
                                         Q: What do you miss most about
                                         home?
                                         A: Driving my GLI Jeta




                             SFC Pat Craig Nieto
                                    MOS: 15S
                              Hometown: Charlotte, NC

                        Q: What do you do on your free time?
                                A: Play with my Tiny Chef
            Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment?
             A: Open a chain of Talon Chopper Tours—$150 per ride for 2 hrs
                            Q: Goals for this deployment?
                          A: Make my Soldiers better than I am
                       Q: What do you miss most about home?
                               A: Peanut Butter.. Wink!



                                  Be a Ninja Pirate!
                                    Be Color Blind!
                                 “I’ll go with PB&J!”
                               Have Super Powers…
                             “X-Ray Vision… Oh Yah!!!”
TALON FOR A DAY
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                                                                         r
                                                        TF Talon
                                                    amber.m.p      PAO
                                                              o rter@us.a
                                                                         rmy.mil




                      Yah! You heard the Man!! Stay off his “GRASS”!




    TALON FOR LIFE!

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The Claw April Edition

  • 1. The Claw Newsletter Serving the Soldiers and Families of Task Force Talon
  • 2. V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 The Claw 22 AP RI L 2012 A Few Words from Talon 6 5 Another month has passed and your Troopers continue to accomplish amazing feats supporting the people and government of Afghanistan. Even though we have oper- ated at full speed since arriving at Bagram, Afghanistan, missions are starting to pick up. We are in the process of welcoming a new Division Command team to RC-EAST, 1st Infantry Division. This has kept Animal and Regret extra busy during the transition period. Motor City Mus- cles and the Flippers continue to move countless num- bers of Soldiers and equipment throughout the battle- field. The All-American Dustoff continues to fearlessly fly and support our Troopers on the ground and coalition partners. Fox Troop increased its workload of providing persistent aviation presence through security and recon- naissance patrols. The Wardawgs continue to keep the mighty Talon fleet armed and fueled for the fight, and the Troopers of Dark Horse keep them all flying. The long hours and days are daunting, but they help the time pass. And even though the Talon Family forward is working hard to finish the mission, we are all eagerly awaiting our return to our family and loved ones. As al- “TALON FOR A DAY, ways, on behalf of all the TF Talon Troopers, I thank you TALON FOR LIFE!” for your continued love and support. We are all continu- ing to work hard to make a difference here and look for- ward to our return to you all. Until next time… Sincerely, MAJ B.A. BERTINOT TALON 5
  • 3. T HE C LAW P AGE 3 MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPENT COLONEL (R) Major Bruce P. Crandall BRUCE P. CRANDALL Col. (R) Bruce P. Crandall Official military photo, 31 March 2012 1965 COL (R) Bruce P. Crandall received the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony February 26, 2007 for his heroic actions in the Battle of Ia Drang. “He is an inspiration to us fellow Talon Aviators for his resiliency and bravery”
  • 4. We surveyed 50 Talons and this is what they said... Would you rather… Would you rather… Be a cowboy, pirate or ninja? Be color blind (only seeing black and white) or lose your sense of smell? 17 14 19 26 24 said LOS LOR BOY said PIRATE said N said CO E SENSE said COW INJA BLIND OF SMEL L Would you rather… Would you rather… Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for 365 days Have super powers or have Christmas never end? straight for one meal or eat pizza for 2 meals a day for 180 days? 27 UT 23 said P 48 2 PEAN IZZA said SUP ER said D said X-M ER AN POWERS as BUTT LY JEL Submit your own Would You ING : WARN Rather to... ocking amber.m.porter@us.army.mil o ntain shhilarious estions c re … and I will put it in the next edition of These qumeant to inspaiy be nauseat- The Claw! contentn. Questions m isturbing! discussio g, bizarre or d in
  • 5. P AGE 5 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 Holy talon Recently, the Bagram Unit Ministry Teams visited with the Deputy Chiefs of Chaplains for the Air Force and Army. These chaplains, having achieved the rank of Brigadier General, have much experi- ence and wisdom to share with the rest of us. Much could have been said to us during their visit, but they used most of their time to address the issues of respect and teamwork. It was a reminder to me how crucial these concepts are for all of us. Respect is an Army Value and an important aspect of everything we do as Soldiers. From www.army.mil/values: Respect Treat people as they should be treated. In the Soldier’s Code, we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while ex- pecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to appreciate the best in other people. Respect is trusting that all people have done their jobs and ful- filled their duty. And self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army value of re- spect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best effort. The Army is one team and each of us has some- thing to contribute. I sometimes witness Soldiers and lead- ers lacking respect for one another. For one, I see Soldiers lacking respect for themselves, their leaders, and the Army by failing to abide by Army customs and courtesies. When a Soldier fails to ad- dress an NCO properly, they demon- strate a lack of respect for the position of a Noncommissioned Officer. The pendulum swings the other way too. When leaders concern them- selves only with completing a mission and fail to care for the welfare of their Soldiers they demon- strate a lack of respect for the Soldier and the Soldier’s development. Mutual respect provides an en- vironment where both the leader and the led can cooperate fully without animosity toward one an- other. Respect is critical in our Families also. Husbands should respect their wives, and wives should re- spect their husbands. Children should respect their parents and parents their children. Within the Family unit we all have different roles to play. When we respect those roles and the loved ones who fill those roles we strengthen our Families. With mutual respect we can discover a unity of effort that is needed to achieve the purposes of our lives and the goals of our Families. Let us not fail to R-E-S-P-E-C-T! CH (CPT) Marlon W. Brown
  • 6. T HE C LAW P AGE 6 GLADIATORS This past month has seen many of our young enlisted Troopers enlisting to remain in the Army while in Combat. From our supply section, SGT Haggerty reenlisted for Ft. Drum. SPC Otis reenlisted to become a small arms repairer. From S4, SGT Wilson reenlisted for stabilization at Ft. Bragg, SPC Ramos reenlisted for Ft. Lewis, and SGT George reenlisted for Ft. Polk. From S3, SGT Brown reenlisted, and SFC Osborne reenlisted indefinitely. Congratulations, SFC Osborne, for reaching an outstanding career milestone. From S1, SGT Lopez reenlisted for Gloucester, England. The weather has definitely been getting warmer, and as April rolls in we start the “120 days of wind” that Bagram is known for. A constant stream of blowing dust eddies up from dry wadis and hillsides to forms into 500 foot tall clouds heading east. We’re all sweeping the dust out of our rooms a little more often, but the warmer weather is nice when the sun is out. April represents the official halfway point for the deployment, since our change of au- thority was October 17, 2011, and we are technically allowed 365 days in-country. That doesn’t mean we’ll all be here until October 17, 2012, but the Gladiators only have 6 months, at the most, left on this turn. We look forward to getting home and enjoying the North Carolina Fall! Until next month, Gladiator 6
  • 7. P AGE 7 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 ANIMALS March has welcomed us back to the warm season and with the warm temperatures our operations have picked up as well. We find ourselves again needing to effectively man- age our resources to not only keep up with tab data and insure we have the power avail- able to take off and land, but also to manage our crews effectively to keep everyone fresh and able to keep up with the operational tempo. We would like to voice our appreciation to all our “guest” pilots who have made it possible to get through the month of March while many of our pilots were on leave. It has been a pleasure working with C Co. 3-82 “All American Dustoff “and we have enjoyed the friendships and the memories we have made there but at the end of March we reluctantly said goodbye to the Med Chase mission and picked up the other half of the mission set we were already flying. The Med Chase mission was rewarding to see the good come from the work that we do here. This month has also been high pro- file with VIPs. We flew the Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler III around Afghanistan and got a visit from COL(ret.) Bruce Crandall, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in the Battle of Ia Drang. We also received a visit from the MG Tarbet, the TAG for the Utah Army National Guard, who was interested in our general well being and just wanted to see how his Soldiers did business here in country. Our outstanding Soldier of the Month is SSG Seth Ikerd who was a late deployer for us coming to replace a Sol- dier who was injured at Fort Hood, TX. He had also re- cently returned from an Iraq tour within a year of this deployment. He knows his job well and does it silently and without complaint. If cloning became legal, SSG Ikerd would be a prime candidate. He also looks great when posing in pictures with 7.62 ammo belts slung across his chest.
  • 8. T HE C LAW P AGE 8 REGRET “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau Well it is official: Spring has sprung here in RC-East, something that seems to make the days far more tolerable. Apart from the occasional thunderstorm, the new season has revived life in the form of greening valleys and mountains. Such environmental improvements are a welcomed relief from the cold dreary days of winter, but such change warns of the sweltering summer heat to come. With warmer and clearer weather comes increased activity and work for the Regret Family. Without the snow blinding days to ground flight operations, Regret prepares to fly even more hours than before in order to support ground operations in the area. As the workload increases it is every- one’s hope that the time keeping us from our Families will accelerate as we reach the downhill por- tion of this deployment. The arrival of a new season also brings the opportunity for advancement. Within the ranks of Regret, SPC Felts and SPC Sanchez were promoted to the ranks of CPL and SGT respectively, adding two more Noncommissioned Officers to 3rd Flight. Along with promotions, Regret recognized continued dedication to duty with the reenlistments of CPL Felts, SGT Sanchez, SPC Fenton and SPC Pentecost. It is a profound and proud moment when Soldiers facing multiple deployments and difficult separations still decide to continue military service to their nation, so we thank these indi- viduals for making such a noble decision. CW2 Forster and CW2 Warren both successfully com- pleted their Day/Night Pilot-in-Command (PC) check-rides; a significant accomplishment in a pilot’s career making them the newest Regret PCs. Regret also welcomed CW3 Johnson, CW2 Edwards, CW2 Triplett, SGT Murphy, and SGT Ferreira as the newest members to the company. We look forward to bringing them into the Regret family and having the requisite help as the workload in the spring and summer seasons picks up. As the days and missions get longer, rest assured that nothing keeps all of the families of Regret far from our minds. As we close the book on another month, another season, and the first half of this deployment, all the men and women of Regret look forward to the coming reunion and thank you for your continued support. Best Regards, CPT Kellan Travis 3rd Flight PL
  • 9. P AGE 9 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 FLIPPERS This month we have had a couple of reenlistments and progres- sions. Sgt Whatley and SGT Grayson have decided to stay in the Army a little while longer. PFC Bjema is now a RL1 D/N/NVG crew chief. Now if we can just get him to stop breaking everything he will be alright. There have been a couple of construction projects com- pleted by our warrant officers, regular bob the builders. Now that we have hit the seven month mark morale is high. The Flipper’s are still going strong and continuing supporting the ever going missions. We would also like to take this time to thank our Talon Family for their love and support. FLIPPER 7 SGT Grayson Reenlistment SGT Whately Reenlistment
  • 10. T HE C LAW P AGE 1 0 Motor city muscles Helicopters are renowned for working in some of the most remote and inaccessible locations on the planet.” -Heliops International Following the RIP/TOA with B CO 7- 158, Motor City Muscle has been busy with both night and day missions. Even though we are thousands of miles from home, pride for our state and our teams is as strong as ever. Congratulations to the Michigan State Spartans for a share of the Big Ten title and Big Ten tournament championship; to the Detroit Red Wings for their 21st consecutive playoff appearance; and to the Detroit Ti- gers for an impressive opening day win. Motor City Muscle continues to carry on the tradition that B Co 7-158 started with Chinook Santa. B Co 3/238th has been delivering care packages to FOB’s all over Af- ghanistan under new management as Chinook Santa 2. We would like to thank Desert Angels and Hurly Medical for their continued support in operation Chinook Santa 2 and of the Motor City Muscle. As the fighting season ramps up the Motor City Muscle is prepared for the challenge and continues to work hard in supporting mission readiness and ac- complishment.
  • 11. P AGE 1 1 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 DUSTOFF U.S. Army SPC Aaron King, a Flight Medic, dangles more than one hundred feet in the air from an HH-60M Medevac Black Hawk secured by only a thin metal wire and two carabineers. The rotor blades stir up dirt in the air as SGT Patrick Lynch pulls him in. Lynch, a native of Canton, Mich., has been a crew chief for more than four years and was recently assigned to C Company, 82nd Combat Aviation Bri- gade, Task Force Talon. Today Lynch is training to become certified to oper- ate the hoist during medical evacuation missions. This is the third hoist training exercise for Lynch and the first time he’s trained with a live patient instead of a manikin. With his buddy’s life in his hands, he’s careful to make sure everything is perfect. Once Lynch pulls King in, they position themselves to do the whole thing over again in reverse. Lynch concentrates on lowering King to the ground. Hoisting King up to the aircraft and down to the ground is the closest training Lynch will get next to an actual hoist mission. It’s a dangerous procedure for both Soldiers and equipment, but necessary for Medevac Crews to be ready when it really counts. The training also gives Lynch the confidence he will need when it comes time to conduct a hoist medical evacuation. When a Medevac crew spins up for a hoist mission and they arrive on the scene, Crew Chiefs like Lynch are the ones re- sponsible for the safety and well-being of every inch of the aircraft the pilots can’t see plus the patients and passengers on board. “Hoist training is extremely important because this is one of the most difficult and dangerous things we do in the airframe,” said King. A hoist mission is usually a last resort; conducted only when there is nowhere for the aircraft to land. Due to the extreme ter- rain in Eastern Afghanistan, hoist missions are more likely here than most places. If a ground unit calls for a medical evacuation in a wooded area, near lots of buildings or on a mountainside, C Company, often referred to as “Dustoff,” has the ability to hoist an injured person out of the danger area, provide immediate care, and quickly evacuate that patient to beter-equipped medical facilities. When the aircraft arrives to pick up patients, a crew chief slides the large cargo door open and draws the hoist hook inside as he’s pounded with winds from the whirling blades. He hooks a flight medic in to the hoist cable with a special harness, and carefully lowers him or her to the ground. It’s a difficult process that has to be done quickly; strong winds and enemy fire are a few hazards that can cause the helicopter to swing and slam a Soldier into rocks, buildings, or trees. On the ground, the medic stabilizes the patient and secures him or her to a special portable stretcher called a “Sked.” Once the patient is tightly fastened, the Flight Medic alerts the crew, who then pull the patient to safety while the Medic controls a tag line (another rope hanging from the stretcher) to keep the stretcher steady. If the Medic loses control of the tag line the Sked can spiral out of control and cause further injuries or kill the patient. “You can’t over-fixate on any one thing,” said Lynch. “I don’t want to hurt anybody, the whole point is to help people.” In order for a crew chief to become qualified to conduct hoist missions Soldiers like Lynch have to complete an extra 14-16 hours of instruction, including night training, all done under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor. Standardization instructors like Sgt. Kevin Burleson, are Crew Chiefs who have became experts in the aircraft, and now train others. They are not only responsible for teaching the new guys, but in the bigger picture, they’re responsible for how that Soldier performs when it really counts. He’s paying particularly close attention today. “Hoist missions are one of the most difficult tasks that we do in medical evacuation,” said Burleson. “It is the most critical and the most dangerous mission.” Dustoff crew members have performed 10 hoist missions in a variety of situations since arriving in August. Staying proficient between missions is key and something Burleson does not take lightly. “I’ve dedicated a lot of time to training myself, so I can teach these guys to perform flawlessly,” said Burleson. Medevac Soldiers share the same philosophy when it comes to their missions. “We will go anywhere, anyplace, anytime to get anyone regardless of the situation,” said Burleson. “So if it requires us to do hoist then that’s what we are prepared to do.” 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Medevac crews have completed more than 600 missions throughout Regional Command- East since August.
  • 12. T HE C LAW P AGE 1 2 DARK HORSE Greetings once again, Dark Horse Family! This edition of “The Claw” is significant, as it is the 6th Issue, which means we are now on the down-side of deployment! Six months down, and only 6 more to go. Here on Bagram, time is flying by (mostly because we are so busy with work), and the Troopers know that our homecoming is really just around the corner. The command section has already begun preparation for hav- ing all the equipment moved back to Fort Bragg, and before we know it we’ll be back home. With the spring now fully upon us, the weather is definitely warm enough to begin sweating again! Daytime temperatures are now ris- ing into the 70s and low 80s, with nights being in the 50s to 60s. Suf- fice it to say, it’s time to make sure everyone’s drinking enough wa- ter (don’t worry, we are)! Work continues as usual, although this month the Dark Horses have had more than our usual chances to shine. We have had repair teams go outside of Bagram to fix a Chinook as well as three Black- hawks (thankfully all the pilots and crews were not injured). One of the Blackhawks was damaged so badly that once it came back to Bagram, the UH-60 Maintenance Team had to do repairs that usu- ally are done by much more specialized people and equipment. The The new D Co. Coin design. Get yours soon! sheet metal and powertrain shops were also put to the test as they helped get the Blackhawk back up in the air. But the Team came together flawlessly and earned a visit from the Brigade Commander in praise of their outstanding efforts! In other news, the Company is having special coins made to commemorate the Teamwork and pride we have all felt as maintainers during Operation EN- DERING FREEDOM. Supply will be limited to 300 coins, so make sure to get yours soon, before they are sold out ($5 for pre-orders, $7 when they arrive in 6-8 weeks). RIDE OR DIE!!! SPC Dias works intently on the tail rotor of a UH-60 Blackhawk. SPC Litster (Nat’l Guard) gets an autograph from COL (Ret.) Bruce Crandall. Cran- dall is a Medal of Honor Recipient whose real-life heroism is fea- SSG “Darth” Pogue. Mess SGT Dosker and SPC Alvarez tured prominently with him and see what hap- discuss some work on a UH-60 in the movie, “We pens next. main transmission. Were Soldiers.”
  • 13. P AGE 1 3 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 WAR DAWGS It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… Alright sports fans, March Madness is over and a huge congrats goes out to the Kentucky Wildcats. But for all the Baseball nuts, Spring Training is over and the season has officially begun. I’m going to call it right now, Atlanta Braves winning the 2012 World Series (LT Taylor’s prediction)! For all of our Golf watchers, The Master’s tournament in Augusta, GA has presented its green jacket to Bubba Watson. And of course I don’t want to leave out the Horseshoe Champions, CPT Wrinkle and 1SG Hatcher, who captured the title during their recent trip to FOB Morales-Frasier. Better luck next trip SPC Travis Napier and SPC Chad Swaagman. The month of April brought once again promotions and reenlistments for the ever-strong War Dawgs of Echo Company. Promoted to Specialist this month are SPC Shantele McNally, SPC Richard Majchrowicz, and SPC Joey Salcido. War Dawgs’ reenlistment stayed strong this month with SGT Pablo Rosado, SSG Leaford Calder, and SGT Tremaine Johnson. Congratulations to all the individuals who reenlisted and were promoted. Talon for life! Another significant event was the Task Force Talon NCO Induction Ceremony. An impressive ceremony executed with exacting detail that highlighted what it means to be an NCO. You are truly the Back- bone of the Army. Welcome to the NCO Corps! Sergeant Major of the Army Chandler III, recently visited Bagram to meet and talk with Soldiers on changes to Army regulations and new PT standards. Additional topics discussed were appearance when not in uniform, de- signs of new uniforms, the new Army Physical Fitness Test and tattoos. SMA Chandler also recognized SPC Matthew Breemes with the Sergeant Major of the Army Coin of Excellence for his dedication and unwavering execution of duties as Romeo Ramp Entry Control Point Guard. Congratulations! From all the War Dawg leadership, we say THANK YOU to all the families and loved ones back home!! Without your love and support, we would not be able to protect our great country. We miss you and can’t wait to be home!!! “Without us, pilots are pedestrians.” -WARDAWGS!!
  • 14. T HE C LAW P AGE 1 4 BLACKHORSE Fox Troop Family and Friends, Since we arrived here we have seen many bird and duck decoys in the creeks and ponds, but never any ducks. This phenomenon has often been a topic of discussion. Then a few weeks ago it happened, duck hunting sea- son began! Every morning there would be a couple dozen men hanging out in the waterbeds with rifles waiting for the birds to land. As we flew about the airspace, many of the hunters would try and shoo us away. We have our own stellar bird hunter within the Troop, CW2 Ramirez. She refused to be out matched by the duck hunters. On one of the first days of the hunting season, Ms. Ramirez caught a huge bird with her feet. The chin bubble on the aircraft may have been broken in the process, but it was an impressive bird. A few days later as she was flying, she decided to use the rocket pod to catch a bird. She was successful and brought us back dinner for a second day. In going for the trifecta, as she was pre-flighting her aircraft she considered which dif- ferent part of the aircraft she could use to catch a bird on this flight. As she walked away, a bird must have heard her thoughts and it must have been too much pressure on the poor bird, so it dropped dead at CW2 Rami- rez’s aircraft. (see attached pictures, some have had fun decorating Ms. Ramirez’s locker) We are saying farewell to our Division, the 1st Cavalry. They are returning home and will be replaced by the 1 st ID. We look forward to working with the new Division and wish 1 st CAV well on their new adventures! The temperatures are on the rise and so is our flight time. We are still working throughout the entire Area of Op- erations of RC-East and providing security to all we can. Our Troopers are continuing to prepare for promotions and Soldier of the month boards. First Sergeant and I express our great appreciation to you for all the work you do at home and your continued support, we know without you taking care of the home-front and dealing with all of the matters we cannot get to at this time, we would not be able to accomplish the mission! We know how much effort you put forward on behalf of our Troopers and we cannot thank you enough! Happy Easter! CPT Scottie Pace & 1SG Donald Adkins BlackHorse 6 BlackHorse 7
  • 15. P AGE 1 5 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 TALONS OF THE MONTH SPC Henderson, Yeonju Company/MOS: HHC/ 92Y Unit Supply Specialist Hometown: Taejon, South Korea Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Read novels Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Get promoted! Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Stay healthy Q: What do you miss most about home? A: Champagne SPC Spendlove, Jamie Company/MOS: A 2-211/ 91B Wheel Me- chanic Hometown: Roy, Utah Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Play XBOX with my buddies Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Reclass as a 15T..It is what I have done all deployment and I love it Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Gain knowledge to make MOS transi- tion Q: What do you miss most about home? A: My two little girls (Aidyn 2 and Keelii 4)
  • 16. T HE C LAW P AGE 1 6 SGT Arnold, Justin Company/MOS: A 3-82 / 15T Black- hawk Crew Chief Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Talk to the family and go to the gym Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Gain knowledge in my MOS Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Obtain 500 flight hrs and help TF Talon accomplish their mission Q: What do you miss most about home? A: Deana, my lovely wife of 1 1/2 years SPC Mcclure, Branden Company/MOS: B 3-238/ 25U Sig- nal Support System Specialist Hometown: Eaton Rapids, Michigan Q: What do you do on your free time? A: …”What free time?” Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Be an asset to my company and be the best I can be Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Get the most experience I can before I go to flight school Q: What do you miss most about home? A: My wife's beautiful smile
  • 17. P AGE 1 7 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 PFC Kyle Bjema Company/MOS: B 3-82/ 15U CH-47 Crew Chief Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Do online classes and SSD course Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: To be the best mechanic and crew chief Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Get at least 20 college credits be- fore redeployment Q: What do you miss most about home? A: My family, my girl friend, and wake boarding SGT Courtney Sciacca Company/MOS: C 3-82/ 25U Signal Support System Specialist Hometown: Bicknell, IN Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Free time??? I'm not sure what this means Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: I'm currently working on getting my A+ Certification Q: Goals for this deployment? A: I want to finish one or two more col- lege classes Q: What do you miss most about home? A: My two boys, Zavier and Zaiden
  • 18. T HE C LAW P AGE 1 8 SPC Fisher, Daniel Company/MOS: D 3-82/ 15U Chi- nook Mechanic Hometown: Hartville, Ohio Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Watch movies.. What else is there to do? Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Get enough experience to be- come a Crew Chief Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Become a Door Gunner Q: What do you miss most about home? A: Spending time with family SGT Bodine, Ryan Company/MOS: E 3-82/ 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist Hometown: Evanston, Wyoming Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Skype with Friends.. In Portuguese Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Do something noteworthy so I can go home and be proud of it Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Go home with all my fingers and toes Q: What do you miss most about home? A: The Food: Sushi and Thai Food!
  • 19. P AGE 1 9 V O LUME 1 , I SSUE 6 SPC Reyes, Jonathon Company/MOS: F Trp 1/17/ 15S Kiowa Helicopter Repairer Hometown: Desert Hot Springs, Cali- fornia Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Work Out Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Gain as much experience as I can Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Get promoted by the end of it Q: What do you miss most about home? A: Driving my GLI Jeta SFC Pat Craig Nieto MOS: 15S Hometown: Charlotte, NC Q: What do you do on your free time? A: Play with my Tiny Chef Q: What do you want to achieve in your MOS this deployment? A: Open a chain of Talon Chopper Tours—$150 per ride for 2 hrs Q: Goals for this deployment? A: Make my Soldiers better than I am Q: What do you miss most about home? A: Peanut Butter.. Wink! Be a Ninja Pirate! Be Color Blind! “I’ll go with PB&J!” Have Super Powers… “X-Ray Vision… Oh Yah!!!”
  • 20. TALON FOR A DAY Our addr ess is stil l the same for t : d is goo rmy i LAST NA on the A ME, FIRS ti T via t for TF TALO N, C/O " "A u seless! d Focn 1918 BAGRAM h , AFGHA NISTAN b ort, is u rdinanFrance i APO, AE 09354 sp e al FMarshal rong!) of rsh Feel free to send m Ma ne w suggestio e an ema - r O ed him ns or que il if y stions. Un ou have any Wa prov orld ( til next tim e... AW SPC Port er, Ambe r TF Talon amber.m.p PAO o rter@us.a rmy.mil Yah! You heard the Man!! Stay off his “GRASS”! TALON FOR LIFE!