82nd Airborne Division Returns from ‘Operation Achilles’

Defend America News ^ | Sgt. Tony J. Spain

[SandRat]

U.S. Army Paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division has a cookout after returning from “Operation Achilles” on April 23. The event was on the second, and final, day of rest and relaxation before preparing for their next operation. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tony J. Spain.
82nd Airborne Division Returns from ‘Operation Achilles’
Steak dinner, rock concert bring some fun to Afghanistan airfield.
By Sgt. Tony J. Spain 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, April 30, 2007 — After spending more than 45 days on-mission, most paratroopers would be happy with a shower and a few days to rest before regrouping and heading back out to fight the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. The paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, are no different. "We want to help the paratroopers relax and forget about their mission for a moment or two." U.S. Army Sgt. Stephanie Doehr, lead vocalist. “It is just great to be able to get a bath, haircut and a shave,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Hall, the battalion communications chief. But these Fort Bragg paratroopers returning from “Operation Achilles” received more than they bargained for, with a steak cookout and an unscheduled performance from the 82nd Airborne Division’s very own rock band, Riser Burn. Riser Burn recently performed a series of concerts here last week and was scheduled to leave for another show at Bagram Airfield, April 28, 2007. After being informed of the paratroopers’ return, they rescheduled. “We received a phone call about playing for these paratroopers who had been out for 40 some days, and we said, ‘absolutely we will play for them,’” said Sgt. Stephanie Doehr, lead vocalist. “We want to help the paratroopers relax and forget about their mission for a moment or two.” During the performance, Riser Burn asked paratroopers to come up on stage and take part in the performance. Sgt. Antonio Johnson, a fuel specialist, joined the band on stage and played the drums to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” “It was a lot of fun,” said Johnson. “It is just real good to be back and be able to relax and have some fun after being out there for so long.”	U.S. Army Sgt. Antonio Johnson of Company E, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, joins Riser Burn on stage to play drums for Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” during a concert and cookout here for paratroopers returning from Operation Achilles. Johnson is a native of Marion, S.C. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tony J. Spain. Hall also got on stage and teamed up with Riser Burn member Sgt. Kevin Quinones, vocalist and lead guitarist, to sing Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue,” a patriotic country song made famous after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington. “I think this is great. The steak and the band are great morale boosters,” Hall said. “The band is real good.” The picnic and the concert was the second, and final, day of rest and relaxation for the paratroopers before a four-day reconstitution phase. The reconstitution consists of vehicle, weapon and equipment maintenance as well as re-supplying equipment and tending to any medical issues the paratroopers have.

[SandRat]

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[airborne]

BUMP!!

[unkus]

Thank you Heroes.

[pissant]

Very cool.

[SevenMinusOne]

Excellent.......”you call, we fall”.....Get’some 82nd!