SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 22,2011
What do we do in Iraq?
By SSG Pat Caldwell
and Capt. John Qualls
What do we do in
Iraq?
This is a good ques
tion, and one asked more
often than one would think.
After all, we are reposturing
our forces in Iraq, right? So
what, exactly, do Guards
men from eastern Oregon’s
3rd Battalion, 1 lb* Cavalry
Regiment do here?
Well, the 3rd Bn. is
one of the few combat arms
units remaining in Iraq, and
its mission appears, at first
glance, to be pretty simple.
We escort convoys. Or,
more precisely, we escort
logistics convoys through
out northern Iraq.
What are logistics
convoys? They are con
voys of semis that carry
everything from apples
to ammunition to fuel to
toilet paper. Without those
convoys, almost all opera
tions in Iraq would come to
a screeching halt for the
coalition forces.
There is an often-
quoted saying by Napo
leon that amateurs discuss
tactics and professionals
discuss logistics. Napoleon
was not one to overlook
an opportunity to make a
wide, sweeping proclama
tion, but he was also one of
the greatest military minds
in history. So logistics are
a pretty big deal. Back
home it is a concept easy
to overlook. We go to the
grocery store and what we
want is there. In Iraq, those
groceries are not going to
be there unless the convoys
get through, and it is our job
to make sure they do get to
their destination. What we
do, in other words, is very
much like the actions of
the U.S. cavalry in the Old
West, protecting wagons
as they moved across the
mountains.
The 3rd Bn.’s mis
sion is really conducted at
what we call the Convoy
Escort Team (CET) level.
Each team is made up of
20 to 30 soldiers. Their
cavalry horses, in this case,
are called Mine Resistant
Ambush Protected vehi
cles, which are positioned
throughout each convoy for
protection. Some convoys
are small—say 16 trucks—
while others can sport as
many as 60 semis.
So far, 3rd Bn., has
logged more than 650 con
voy missions since arriving
in early December, travel
ing more than 60,000 miles.
Most of these miles are un
eventful but, on occasion,
things can get a bit hairy.
Another series of
good questions are: Protect
the convoys from what?
Isn’t the war over? Aren’t
we leaving?
Those are good
questions and the answers
are simple. We protect the
convoys from individuals
who, for lack of better term,
are troublemakers. They
may just plain dislike the
United States; they may get
paid by some other group to
set an improvised explosive
device; or they may just be
bored and decide to attack
us. The reasons vary but the
fact is that there are not a
lot of these people running
around.
We are leaving, but
there is still danger on the
roads. The signs o f our
drawdown are everywhere,
every day. But one other
piece of our mission is to
do the drawdown in a re
sponsible manner. Simply
packing up everything and
leaving isn’t an option, for
a lot of reasons.
The risk is always
there on the road, and the
men and women from the
communities across eastern
Oregon put their lives on
the line every time they go
out on a convoy. That may
be the most important yet
hardest concept to grasp.
There are troublemakers
out there. While they are
very few in numbers, the
damage they can cause with
even one 1ED is serious.
While it may hard
to judge based on other
outside sources, the fact
is that the Iraqis are tak
ing over more and more of
their own security duties
every single day. It is an
American operation that is
winding down, and we are
helping ensure that when
we do leave, we depart in
a responsible, respectful
way.
HEMLOCK PREVALENT
-Continuedfrom PAGE
ONE
office, humans have been
poisoned by mistaking the
plant for parsley or wild
carrot. However, cases of
human poisoning are rare,
and most of the danger
is to cattle. Neither cut
ting and drying nor silage
removes the poison, so
growers should be careful
of infestations around hay
fields.
At the same time,
Pranger says that, while
poisonous to livestock if
they ingest it, poison hem
lock shouldn’t be a problem
for most livestock grow
ers.
“Most cattle will
avoid it unless th ey ’re
pushed into it by overgraz
ing,” he says. “Plus, the
most poisonous part is the
crown down by the root;
cattle wouldn’t be eating
that anyway.”
Poison hemlock
can be controlled by spray
ing, mowing after the plants
bolt, or hand pulling. Prang
er also says this area has
a caterpillar that works as
a natural control for hem
lock.
“It shows up when
the hemlock starts to seed
and strips it down to a bare
Hemlock leaves like this one
can be poisonous to cattle.
-Photo by Andrea Di Salvo
stalk,” says Pranger, who
adds that we may start to
see those caterpillars soon.
More information
on hemlock can be obtained
from the local extension of
fice at 541-676-9642.
Justice Court Report
Morrow County
Justice of the Peace Ann
Spicer has released the
following Justice Court
Report.
-Giselle Lee Mo
ses, 36, Harrassment/B
Misdemeanor, $740 fine, no
law violations for 2 years,
drug and alcohol evalua-
tion with recommended
treatment plan, completion
of an anger management
program.
/ A « i
County Court news
The Morrow Coun and reviewed spreadsheet this decision was made
ty Court met on June 8 in presentations for the gen allowing them (the cities)
Irrigon with Judge Tallman eral funds and road fund to have some input in the
and Commissioners Grieb budgets. Carlson stated that decision making process. A
when the Budget Commit lengthy discussion regard
and Rea in attendance.
The court reviewed tee decided to reduce the ing the county’s work force,
and approved the minutes road funds historically paid insurance and budget issues
of the May 25 and June 1 to the cities by $ 177,500 the ensued. The hearing was
meetings and the account road fund ending balance closed, with deliberation set
payables in the net amount was $1,073,283 and the to be continued to Wednes
of $171,384.86. The court general fund ending bal day June 15 in Boardman.
Planning Dept.:
also reviewed and approved ance is short of the million
a purchase pre-authoriza dollar amount by $77,087 Planning Director Carla
tion for the Morrow County at $922,913. Assessor/tax McLane provided a revised
Health Dept, in the amount collector Greg Sweek stated map showing the two al
of $2,117.82 to purchase that he wished he could ternate routes for the Carty
a back-up power source say there was going to be Lateral Project. McLane
to protect vaccines at the increased value that would also provided an update on
Boardman Clinic.
bring in additional tax rev the pre-disaster mitigation
C o m m u n i t y enue, but the projections plan, discussed the LUBA
C ounseling Solutions made in March are holding decision regarding the wind
(CCS): Director Kimberly firm. County treasurer Gay noise and the upcoming
Lindsay stated that since it le Gutierrez stated that she meeting with the Navy re
is the end of the biennium had compared the general garding several issues.
Emergency Man-
the county will be receiv fund balance from May 31,
ing a bi-annual umbrella 2010 to the May 31, 2011 agement-CSEPP Closure:
contract for mental health balance and reported that it Emergency management
services from the State of is approximately $400,000 director Casey Beard, Tetra
Tech Associate, Senior En
Oregon. Lindsay also stated down.
that the contract between
Irrigon mayor Da gineer Mike Baker, Tetra
the county and Community vid Bums read a statement Tech Environmental Scien
Counseling Solutions is prepared by city manager tist Shauna Pettey and OSU
approaching renewal date. jerry breazealle regarding Economist Bruce Sorte
Lindsay then discussed the city’s need for the addi provided the court with
the new building CCS is tional funding to keep their an update on the closure
constructing in Boardman road maintenance program plan for the Umatilla Army
and stated they would not operating as it has in the Depot.
Contracts: The
be providing notice for past. A position statement
vacation until some time prepared by the City of court reviewed, approved
in July. By doing this CCS Irrigon in 2009 was also and signed an agreement
will avoid a crunch situa read into the record. Public between the County and
tion should the construction Works director for Irrigon William Perkinson to pro
process hit a snag. Lindsay stated that he understands vide legal services at a rate
reported CCS will see a 6% the county’s position; how of $75 per hour for court
cut in Medicaid funding this ever, the cuts have will have appointed indigent defense
year and another 6% next a huge impact on the City counsel in both delinquency
year. Lindsay then provided of Irrigon. Heppner mayor and dependency matters to
the court with a Lakeview Les Paustian stated that he the juvenilec and Morrow
Heights newsletter and re agreed with everything that County citizens.
Land Use Board
ported on that the num was presented by Burns,
bers at Lakeview Heights adding that he was very of Appeals re: Willow
reflects success and stated disappointed in the budget Creek Wind Noise Com
that the facility provides committee and the county plaint Decision: County
a significant saving to the court for making the deci Counsel Ryan Swinbumson
state and the county as well sion to take funding from provided the court with
as improving the quality of the city. Paustian said the copies of the LUBA Fi
life for the residents.
city budget has been cut to nal Opinion and Order.
S h e r iff D ep t. a bare minimum and that Swinburnson stated that
Monthly Update: Under- these funding cuts really the county’s findings were
sheriff Steve Myren report hurt the city. Heppner city not sufficient and stated that
ed that May was a light ac manager Dave DeMayo the court needs to develop
tivity month. Myren stated questioned the county’s more findings to support
he is fearful that the dept, interpretation of the ORS their decision. Swinbumson
will be exceeding their 368.710 which discusses stated that the matter would
budget because of large the distribution of “option need to be addressed within
inmate medical expenses taxes” as opposed to prop the next thirty days.
The court conduct
and various investigations erty taxes. Mayor of Lex
they have encountered. ington Jean Brazell stated ed the following business:
Myren reported that there that while Lexington does The court reviewed and
are currently 91 clients in not have very many streets, denied a request from the
the parole and probation they certainly have a lot of Morrow Soil & Water Con
program.
potholes that need to be servation District (SWCD)
Pubic Hearing: repaired. Mayor of Board- for $278.45 to purchase
2001 1 -2 0 1 2 M orrow man Chet Phillips read a chemicals so they could
County Budget Hearing: letter regarding the road hold a “Free Spray Day.”
Finance Director Fred Carl tax distribution from city The reason for the denial
son provided the staff report manager Karen Pettigrew was due to the county’s
into the record. Phillips potential liability should
then stated that he agrees the chemicals be misap
with the statements made plied. Reviewed misc. cor
by the other cities adding respondences and discussed
that Boardman has a very upcoming meetings.
If you would like
high level of traffic due to
the Port of Morrow opera to be placed on the list to
tions. Phillips added that he receive county minutes,
felt the county should have please contact Karen Wolff
come to the cities before at (541)676-5620.
WHEN YOU NEED US
Correction
A portion of the Morrow County School Board
story that appeared in the June 15 Gazette-Times was
incorrect.
The board did not approve a federally mandated
“age appropriate” human sexuality course as reported. The
issue was tabled and will come before the board again
at the second reading set for next school board meeting
planned in August.
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