Army Engineer Unit Ready for Afghan Duty

Defend America News ^ | Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lutton

[SandRat]

From left, U.S. Army Sgts. Jack Rauschenbach and Scott Buck and Spc. Michelle Frank help build housing for soldiers at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, April 12, 2006. The soldiers are assigned to the 961st Engineer Detachment, deployed from Milwaukee. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Hays
Army Engineer Unit Ready for Afghan Duty
The 961st Engineer Detachment looks ahead to "great things" during their Afghan deployment.
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lutton 345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, April 21, 2006 — U.S. soldiers assigned to the 1224th Engineer Detachment transferred authority to the 961st Engineer Detachment at an April 10 ceremony. "We appreciate the smooth handover from the 1224th to us and we look forward to achieving great things here." U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Lukasik Deployments aren’t new to members of the 961st, who will draw on their previous experience in Iraq as they dig culverts, grade roads, erect towers and buildings and install security barriers here. “We appreciate the smooth handover from the 1224th to us and we look forward to achieving great things here,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Lukasik, the acting first sergeant of the 961st Engineer Detachment, based in Milwaukee. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Conway, the unit’s noncommissioned officer in charge of operations, predicted that the 961st will complete 30 projects a month. The Guam-based 1224th Engineer Detachment, which had not been deployed before, completed its share of projects – including roads, offices, living quarters and showers – while in U.S. Army Sgt. Desmond Wilder hammers a floor into place while building housing for soldiers at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, April 12, 2006. Wilder is assigned to the 961st Engineer Detachment, deployed from Milwaukee. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Hays	U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Grennier stands at attention during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, April 10, 2006. Grennier is serving with the 961st Engineer Detachment, deployed from Milwaukee. His unit is replacing the 1224th Engineer Detachment, from Guam. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Lutton Afghanistan. U.S. Army Capt. Ronnie B. Delfin, the detachment commander, said he was pleased with his troops and their work. “Our job was to improve the quality of life for U.S. and Afghan troops,” Delfin said, noting that those troops were spread across more than 20 forward operating bases and border-control points. “That kept us really busy,” he continued. “I am leaving here very satisfied.

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U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Grennier stands at attention during a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, April 10, 2006. Grennier is serving with the 961st Engineer Detachment, deployed from Milwaukee. His unit is replacing the 1224th Engineer Detachment, from Guam.

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