Posted on 02/18/2006 7:17:07 AM PST by SevenMinusOne
Pentagon identifies four soldiers killed by bomb in Afghanistan
Stars and Stripes European edition, Saturday, February 18, 2006
Three of the four soldiers killed Feb. 13 by a roadside bomb were assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group, while the fourth soldier belonged to a civil affairs unit, the Pentagon confirmed Friday.
The soldiers were identified as: Sgt. 1st Class Chad A. Gonsalves and Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon of 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group; Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman of the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade; and Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond of Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.
Gonsalves, 31, was from Turlock, Calif.; Dazachacon, 38, was a native of Belleville, Ill.; Newman, 26, was from San Antonio; and Montrond, 27, was from Suffolk, Mass.
The four soldiers were killed just north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan, when a powerful blast hit their up-armored Humvee.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, officials said Friday.
According to family members, the Fort Bragg, N.C., soldiers were to be memorialized at a Friday service in North Carolina.
There was no information on a service for Newman, who, according to media reports, was a reservist who had been called back to active duty for a second tour in Afghanistan.
Their brothers will continue to carry on the fight to our enemies.
De Opresso Liber..
RIP Warriors
That aside.....
In the WOT Groups have all been taking a turn over there, including the National Guard. You can't expect 5th Group to cover down on both Afghanistan and Iraq for the duration.
As to the 5th not being able to cover both Iraq & Afghanistan, well.. that 'shouldn't' be a problem. As in the 'old days' the 5th had no problem 'covering' Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Oops, we weren't in Laos & Cambodia, forget I said that.
But what would seem to make more sense, if there was (is) an SF 'shortage', would be to get the 10th SF in there. Their AOR is right next door in places like Azerbaijan and Turkey.
[I'd mention the 12th SF group (Reserves) but Willard deactivated them in 1992 as part of his 'reinventing government' bull.]
AOR is a secondary consideration - Which it should be regarding the GWOT -
The 10th is busy in Iraq (and they've had some guys in Stan I think as well) - However, they are also busy laying the ground work within their own AOR as well -
10th is pretty active in Iraq. Besides when there is a shooting war, everyone wants to get in on the act. I'm sure 5th SFG has no problem catching a breather once in awhile.
19th/20th and parts of 7th are bascially sticking with Afghanistan. The tours there are better suited for the NG.
You would think 7th would start gearing toward Chavez more....
God rest their souls and console and comfort their loved ones.
I likewise am shocked to hear the 7th is in Afganistian. I can understand the 19th & 20th, but not the 7th.
It's funny you mentioned the 12th. I spent some time in it during the early seventies after my active duty.
Back in the early 90's I used to have a cocktail or two 'on occasion' with of a few of the guys in the 12th when they were stationed in Arlington Heights, IL.
I was in it in the Kansas City area.
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