CONVOY THROUGH KHYBER PASS ~ Defend America Photo Essay

Defend America ^ | Feb. 18, 2004

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

CONVOY THROUGH KHYBER PASS

With a steady flow of people passing as they cross the border, members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan and the 19th Special Forces Group move through the village of Torkham, Afghanistan, in the Khyber Pass, following a border security meeting in Pakistan, Feb. 10, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

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A young boy waves to U.S. soldiers from the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan and the 19th Special Forces Group as they move through Torkham, Afghanistan, Feb. 10, 2004. The group traveled a short distance into Pakistan for a border security meeting with Pakistani officials. Border security in this region is critical to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom, the global war on terror. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

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Members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan and the 19th Special Forces Group keep a close watch as they move through Torkham, Afghanistan U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

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A destroyed Russian tank along the road between Torkham and Jalalabad stands as a reminder of the intense combat that has been prevalent in Afghanistan for many years. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

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Members of the 19th Special Forces Group maintain rear security for the convoy in an up-armored high mobility multi-wheeled vehicle with a turret-mounted 50 caliber machine gun U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

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A convoy of vehicles occupied by members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan and the 19th Special Forces Group leave a helicopter landing zone near Torkham, Afghanistan enroute to Jalalabad following the border security meeting. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

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A convoy of vehicles occupied by members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan and the 19th Special Forces Group traverses the Khyber Pass following the border security meeting in Pakistan. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joe Belcher

 

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[Ragtime Cowgirl]

PICS ~ road warriors ~ Afghanistan, ping!

[tdadams]

Thanks. I enjoy pics like this.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

[BFM]

It's worth noting that the 19th Special Forces Group are National Guard Special Forces guys.

The 19th SF Group HQ is located in Salt Lake City, Utah with battalions and companies located through a number of states in the western half of the US and in WVA and Rhode Island.

This, in many ways, resprsents today's modern National Guard.

These SF guys attend the exact training that the active duty SF guys attend before returning home after their initial SF trainign with lasts between 12 to 24 months. A number of active duty SF guys leave active service and join the National Guard SF units.

The other National Guard SF unit is the 20th SF Group headquartered in Birmingham, AL with units located along the east coast of the US.

In the early 1990's the US military made a poor choice when they decided they could not afford the 2 Special Forces Groups (approx 1400 men each) that existed in the Army Reserves at the time. Some of those SF reservists who were near SF Guard units came on board with the Guard SF, some went to civil affairs and psychological warfare units in the reserves but many just got out. What a loss of a national resource.

Proud to be an American,
BFM
05B/18E/18A
5th SF/11th SF/20th SF

[Miss Marple]

Inappropriate poem, if you know the whole story.

[BFM]

One more note about the 20th SFG... the 19th SFG were the first guys into Afghanistan, followed by the 20th SF which spent a year there. Now the 19th is back in and the 20th will be called up again after them.

[BFM]

Correction... the 5th Special Forces Group was the first Army SF guys into Afghanistan, followed by the 19th which were the first National Guard SF guys in that country.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

Bravery in the face of unimaginable odds? courage in the face of death? These men face that every day, Given the historic nature of the area, it was a most appropriate quote

[BFM]

I think your comment may have been taken to imply doom and gloom...

Your last comment makes clear your intent.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Miss Marple]

I understand your intent. However, The Charge of the Light Brigade was a military mistake, and the men making the charge knew they were doomed.

That is why I thought it inappropriate.

[SAMWolf]

Range Rovers? Bump

[Khurkris]

Of course this calls for Rudyard Kipling. Here's couple:

The Ballad of the King’s Jest

The Young British Soldier

Rudyard was into graphic realism. He's a Soldiers Poet.

[Huck]

Nice place.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Thanks troops. Go get em!!

[bc2]

Looks like a sweet place to go backpacking. I have always wanted to travel to that region and meet the (most likely) very interesting people who live there.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

It's worth noting that the 19th Special Forces Group are National Guard Special Forces guys.

Yes, it is. Thank you for the lesson and ~ especially ~ for your service, BFM.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

19th Special Forces Group 

(Airborne)

 

 

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ al-Qaeda and the democrats are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~