Replies

Unit “Adopted” By District Attorney

Wichita, KS DA “ Adopts” Artillery Battery

By Spc. John S. Wollaston
3BCT PAO

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - You may be quite familiar with programs like “Adopt-A-Highway”, used to get volunteers to clean up two-mile sections of highway in several states across the U.S. But when is the last time, or any time for that matter that you’ve ever heard of a district attorney’s office adopting a military unit? The story of how the Attorney for the 18th District of Kansas came to adopt a field artillery battery all started with a routine traffic stop.

“I was pulled over for speeding, trying to make it back to post.” Explains Private First Class Carlos Nunez of Alpha Battery, 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment. “My girlfriend lives in Wichita and I used to go back and forth to there. I was trying to make it back for a formation when they caught me.”

Before he was able to return to Wichita to pay his fine, Pfc. Nunez and the rest of his battery shipped out for Iraq. So he decided to mail a check to the court along with a letter explaining his situation and apologizing for not appearing in person. Nunez was shocked at the reply he got from the DA Nola Fosten’s office.

“Three weeks later out of nowhere I got a letter from the District Attorney saying I didn’t have to pay the ticket.” Nunez said. “She said she fully understands why I did it. It really surprised me.”

Nunez sent a letter thanking the DA and the court for their understanding and for giving him the benefit of the doubt. To which Ms. Fosten sent Pfc. Nunez a letter informing him they she and her office would like to become an official sponsor of Alpha Battery. Since then the staff of the Attorney for the 18th District of Kansas have been sending the soldiers gifts and care packages.

“At Christmas she (Ms. Fosten) sent each person in the battery a present.” Nunez explained. “They came in eight big boxes.” In return Pfc. Nunez and the rest of the battery signed an American Flag and sent it to her office in Wichita.

Ms. Fosten sent a letter to 4th Bn. 1st FA’s Commander, Lieutenant Commander Rick Bowyer telling him, “How lucky we are to have these men and women challenge the forces of violence and evil, to help others and to help even the unwilling to develop and free and united land, something we take for granted each and every day.”

"Your soldiers have been so nice to us.” Fosten added. “And we have made places in our hearts for them.”