Guard on the Ground: First Things First

Filed under DoD News by on February 4, 2010 at 4:49 pm {7 comments}

By Sgt. Jon E. Dougherty
Public Affairs NCO
203rd Engineer Battalion

FOB SHARANA, Afghanistan – The active duty Army and National Guard members of a new route clearance patrol formed here last month would experience many “firsts” in their maiden voyage.

For many of the members of the 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery (the 5-3), 17th Fire Brigade, based at Fort Lewis, Wash., last week’s opening mission marked the first time they served as part of a route clearance unit – a job typically left to combat engineers. Becoming route clearance personnel means taking on a substantially different role than manning MLRS – multiple launch rocket system – batteries, the 5-3’s core mission.

For the members of the 203rd Engineer Battalion, Missouri Army National Guard, it was also their first time serving in a route clearance capacity in Afghanistan with an active Army element. When the 203rd was ordered to mobilize last August, these particular citizen-soldiers initially were slated to perform a personnel security role but that changed once they arrived here and the need for more route clearance patrols (RCPs) became evident.

For all of them – who are collectively nicknamed the “Black Jacks” – the mission marked the first time they worked together “outside the wire” as a team.

And the first time they went out, they had their hands full.

(more…)

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    The only African-American ace of World War II, and a former Tuskegee Airman, went on to have a career in the Air Force, as well as success in the business world.

    Lee A. Archer joined the Army in 1941 with high hopes of becoming a pilot, but was initially denied because of his race. When the Army’s policy changed about a year later, Archer was accepted to the training program for black aviators at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama.

    Archer is best known for a day in late 1944 when he was involved in a series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary. Flying a P-51 Mustang fighter, Archer shot down three German fighters. He would go on to add two more German fighters to his credit to become the first and only African-American ace of the war.

    As a civilian, Archer enjoyed even greater success, serving as vice president for urban affairs with General Foods, as CEO of North Street Capital Corp. and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the board of directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business.

    Read the rest of his story here.



  • Navy Lt. Aaron Lanzel is on a mission, his goal to join the U.S. Olympic track team this summer in London. Lt. Lanzel is working out daily at U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He trains daily in a couple of events, the 1500 and 3000 meter run. This is his second try at being a US Olympian, an active duty U.S. Naval officer, he’s hoping this time, that he can make the team and run for his country.


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    navyhistory:

    On 7 February 1800, USS Essex became the first U.S. Navy vessel to cross the Equator. This 1799 image of Essex was painted by E. Tuffnell, R.N. (Retired). NHHC Photograph Collection, NH 72804-KN.