Topic: Forward Operating Base Connolly

Fort Campbell SFAAT Blackhorse says Afghan National Army’s 1st Kandak is proficient, capable, ready to lead

July 22, 2013 |

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – Seven weeks ago, U.S. and Afghan National Security Forces worked together to clear enemy fighters from Hesarak, a remote district center in western Nangarhar Province.

That operation set several precedents: Afghan National Army and Air forces pooled their resources for a joint air assault; ANSF made their presence known in a little-patrolled area; and Afghans took the lead.

A U.S. Army Soldier with Security Forces Advisory and Assistance Team Blackhorse, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, examines a container of mortar rounds at former Forward Operating Base Connolly, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Margaret Taylor, 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

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Fort Campbell Soldiers observe Air Assault, the Afghan way

May 28, 2013 |

Written by U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Margaret Taylor
129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – Dozens of Afghan National Army soldiers, Afghan Uniformed Police, and a smattering of U.S. Army Soldiers serving as mission advisors sat by their heavy packs on the gravel, talking and laughing in quiet anticipation, waiting for a sound.

After several hours of checks and double-checks, roll calls and final updates from the command center, the punchy staccato of rotors came faintly in the distance. Louder and louder the noise sounded, until the reverberations deafened and the dusty prop-wash buffeted those waiting at the landing zone for the choppers.

U.S. Army Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, secure a landing zone for Afghan Air Force Mi-17 helicopters outside the village of Hesarak, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, May 17. The Mi-17s will transport Afghan National Army Soldiers back to Forward Operating Base Connolly after a successful Afghan led clearing operation. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Vang Seng Thao, 55th Signal Company, Combat Camera)

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Task Force Bronco works with villagers to drive out insurgents in Nangarhar

June 28, 2011 |

Written by Spc. Hillary Rustine
Combined Joint Task Force 1 – Afghanistan

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Panther, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, attached to Task Force Bronco and supporting units kicked off Operation Oqab Behar VII from Forward Operating Base Connolly, Afghanistan, June 9th.

Solders from 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Panther, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force Bronco, patrol the Memlah area, Afghanistan, before a key leader engagement, June 13th. (Spc. Hillary Rustine)

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Soldier follows father’s footsteps

January 10, 2011 |

Written by U.S. Army Sgt. Grant Matthes
Regional Command-East Public Affairs

Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan – Many sons aspire to follow in their fathers’ footsteps. U.S. Army Pfc. John L. Pillow is no exception.

Pfc. Pillow’s father is U.S. Army Col. James Pillow, Task Force MED-East chief of operations.

Col. Pillow, a nearly 26-year Army veteran, began his career at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Years later Pfc. Pillow, now assigned to 2nd Platoon, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, did the same.

“I thought it was very unique that my son and I both went to Leonard Wood for basic training,” said Col. Pillow, Madeira Beach, FL, native.

Col. James Pillow, Task Force MED-East chief of operations, and U.S. Army Pfc. John L. Pillow, a medic, 101st Airborne Division, eat Thanksgiving dinner together at Forward Operating Base Connolly in Nangarhar Province Nov. 25th. James and John Pillow are both assigned to Regional Command-East, eastern Afghanistan. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Capt. Bridgette Scott, Task Force MED-East)

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Southern Soldier reflects on God, family, country

January 3, 2011 |

Written by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell
Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – God. Family. Country. In that order. The only colors are a red and blue American flag draped over a black-inked cross with those three words: God. Family. Country.

U.S. Army Pfc. Gregory K. Martin, a fire control direction specialist from Pleasant Grove, AL, wears this tattoo on his forearm proudly. For him, it’s a symbol for the three most important things in his life.

At Forward Operating Base Connolly in eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, U.S. Army Pfc. Gregory K. Martin, Task Force Panther, displays his tattoo Dec. 22nd, representing the three most important things in his life: God, family and country. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell, Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs)

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A day in the life of an Army truck driver

December 6, 2010 |

Written by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Matson
Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – Garrett Bartlett has logged thousands of miles across barren landscapes.

In the United States, he drove tractor-trailers for a milk company in New Mexico on cross-country routes for two years. Now, in Afghanistan, he carries the mail and supplies vital to the well-being of Soldiers on Forward Operating Base Connolly in Nangarhar Province.

Yet, U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Bartlett just keeps on trucking.

U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Bartlett, maneuvers his light medium tactical vehicle trailer through the supply yard Nov. 17th at Forward Operating Base Fenty. Bartlett, a native of McQueeney, Texas, has driven more than 11,000 miles of convoy routes since arriving in country three months ago. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Matson, Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs)

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Brothers in Arms: Indiana brothers in the 101st Airborne Division serve together in the same Cavalry Troop in Afghanistan

November 21, 2010 |

Written by By Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Matson
Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – All their lives, the Ragle brothers, Bradley J. and Brandon J. V., said they have found a way to stick together.

For the last five years, they have been chasing one another around, from Phoenix, AZ, to Indiana to Fort Campbell, KY. For the time being, at least, the journey has found them together again in Afghanistan, both serving as Army cavalry scouts with the 101st Airborne Division at Forward Operating Base Connolly as part of Troop A (Attack Troop), 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment. Bradley, 27, a sergeant, is assigned to 2nd Platoon, while Brandon, 22, a specialist, serves with 1st Platoon.

“It’s outstanding,” Bradley said of being deployed with his younger brother. “My best friend is in a tent three feet away.”

U.S. Army Spc. Brandon J.V. Ragle (left), and his older brother, U.S. Army Sgt. Bradley J. Ragle, both of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Matson, Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs)

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Attack Troop conquers mountain en route to Gurem

November 11, 2010 |

Written by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Matson
Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs, 210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan – It was 8:00am, November 6th. Many young men in the United States were still sleeping on this Saturday morning.

However, that wasn’t the case for the Soldiers of 3rd Platoon, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, on Forward Operating Base Connolly here. They were already up, checking over their mine resistant ambush protected vehicles and equipment to get ready for the day’s mission.

The mission on this day would be a challenging one. Twenty-two Soldiers, mostly from the 3rd Platoon “War Machine,” along with 25 Afghan National Army soldiers and two interpreters would convoy seven miles to a staging site, dismount, and scale a more than 4,000-foot mountain en route to the remote Gurem Village, which sits on the side of another bordering mountain.

U.S. Army Sgt. James Small from Milton, FL, and U.S. Army Spc. Andreas Plaza from Freeport, NY, both combat medics with Troop A, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, scan the area from mountain top Nov. 6th in the Towr Gahr Pass here. (Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Matson, Task Force Bastogne Public Affairs, 210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

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