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May 2008
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Scott Kesterson: March 2006 ArchivesI ate my dinner in a little under eight minutes, checked the time, and headed out the back door of the chow hall. Departure time for the evening's block of instruction was in ten minutes, and I had a ten minute walk. I ran. LSynopsis: The story of Purple Heart recipient, Specialist Wisner. For video: Click here Other videos: Click here for video page ...Embedding with a unit is not unlike looking at a tapestry. At first, the patterns of the weave are viewed from afar. It is not until you begin to study the design up close that the complexity of the entire piece begins to be revealed. With each day I am brought closer to the individual stories that make-up the picture of this deployment. Stories of soldiers, their lives, their choices. Each person represents another narrative to explore; and e... I stood in an empty lot, waiting for the arrival of the SECFOR Battalion. Waiting along with me were senior officers, as General Pritt, Commander of Task Force Phoenix V marched in with the troops. As the soldiers arrived, they were assembled into their respective Company's. Behind me stood an empty mic, and two loud speakers. This was a special night. The Battalion Commander called his troops to attention, greeted the General with a salute, a... Synopsis: Hand-to-hand combat training with B. Company at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. For video: Click here to play video Other videos: Click here for video page ...Synopsis: Interviews with Lt. General Honore' and Brigadere General Pritt. Video link: Click here Other videos: Click here for video page ...The darkest side of war are the moments of one-on-one struggle between the soldier and the person we call enemy. A fight to survive in which only one will be victorious. The arena of gladiators whose stories are told not by the fallen, but by those that outlive and outlast. Yet even when the stories are recounted, most of those that listen, who have watched the sanitized images on the daily news, lack the stomach to endure the reality of this ...
While doing laundry a few days ago, I struck up a conversation with a Specialist from the 34th BCT, also known as the "Red Bull Brigade." The 34th BCT is based in Minnesota, and following their ceremony on 16 March 2006, is now in th...
Some the greatest moments in our lives occur in places far from home. For Mark Roper, it was Building #2803 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, at 1930 hrs, as he was officially promoted from Captain to Major. In the back room, amongst fellow ...
Quick, easy and everything fits... the words repeated again and again by soldiers leaving the distribution station for the issue of their new Advanced Combat Uniforms (ACU's). This is an example of the...
His home is Albany, Oregon. He is a graduate of Oregon State University in Civil Engineering. In his civilian job he works as a Design Engineer for the Oregon Department of Transportation. For this deployment, Sgt. James...
The AK-47. It is one of the most infamous and abundant weapons in modern history. At one time symbolizing the Soviet empire, the weapon is now associated with revolutions, anti-capitalist states, and terrorism. ... This past week I had the opportunity to speak to both Lieutenant General Honore', Commander of the 1st United States Army, and Brigadier General Pritt, Commander of Joint Task Force Phoenix V. It was a chance to bring a face and direct words from the commanders that are leading this operation, to those that seldom,if ever, have had a chance to hear from these men directly. This is not the first time that the 41st Brigade under the leadership o... As I brought my day to a close, Major Strong rose from the chair to head back to his room. As he extended his hand in a formal offering of respect for the day's end, his closing words were a reminder of the challenges that lay before us, "Let's make sure we come home."
Chemical Smoke (CS). The common term is tear gas, a substance that on dispersion in the atmosphere blinds the eyes with tears. Besides riot control, it is a means by which the Army uses to test the fit of a soldiers protective mask. CS is relatively harmless, though exposure can be an overwhelming experience as your eyes water and burn, your skin feels as if it is laced with hundreds of needles, and breathing becomes difficult. Once you are cl...
The standard side arm issued in the Army is the Berretta 9mm, otherwise known as the M9. Prior to deployment, all soldiers authorized to carry the M9 are required to...
Road marches are a part of the Infantry's life. They are a process of endurance, discipline, and strength; a time to discover the ment... Toronto Star, Sunday 12 March 2006 From behind, a young man stepped forward suddenly from among the crowd of villagers and raised an axe above his head. With a s... The Army has an acronym for just about everything, including a day off. Moral, Welfare, and Recreation, otherwise referred to as M.W.R., is a day to stay around the barracks, relax, watch some movies and socialize in a relaxed environment. That was where I found the members of B. SECFOR. They had completed their in-processing, had spent time out in the field, had been pulled back to their barracks because of threat of tornados, and now, took a... The soldiers refer to it as "death by power point." Every soldier must attend, including officers and command staff. They are a series of briefings that are intended to disseminate information on a range of topics that are considered essential for every soldier. The theory is sound; the execution needs polish.
They say that soldiers hold a bond that carries a lifetime... The day had started 24 hours before, neither one of us having had enough sleep to say when yesterday ended and today began. Major Arnold Strong, Coalition Joint Task Force Phoenix V Public Affairs Officer, and myself, had agreed to meet at Portland International Airport at 6:15 am. Carrying the contents of our lives that would sustain us for the next 16 months, spread over m...
I had dinner with a dear friend of mine this evening. Her name is Alice. As we talked, she looked at me and said, "You're going to be recording history." I paused for a moment; she was correct. We finished our meal, and drove back to her hou... The front doors were locked. There was a dampening silence that had settled in, finding its place on the back of the muffled grind of passing cars. The Armory that had been home to B SPECFOR was now given to a somber sleep. As I walked to the side of the building, a memory of men and voices seemed to drift softy on the breeze. They were gone; their memories entombed like echos in a canyon of dreams. >> Continue reading: In the space that follows There is an excitement in change. The gathering of people, whether strangers or friend. The bustle of activity, conversations, and the safety of the group that suddenly becomes part of your family. This is the child's place. Eager to be part of something they may not yet comprehend. There is the fascination of the uniforms, the equipment, and the people that gather to watch their antics, as if they are placed on a stage. >> Continue reading: Saying good-bye, II
Before the sun rose on Saturday morning, the men of B SECFOR, were readying themselves for the first formation of the day. Their night in sleeping bags on the concrete floor of the armory brought weary eyes ...
On Saturday morning at approximately 10am, the soldiers of B SECFOR were given the order by their 1st Sgt. to load for mobilization. Prior to leaving, I asked the Platoon Leaders of B SECFOR if an...
There is a calm that has settled in, not unlike the moments before it rains. The clouds cover the sky, a cool mist fills the air, and the sound of your voice seems to fa... They used to be known as B. Company, 1-162 Infantry. Most of them have served in Iraq. After a recent restructuring by Brigade command to align the Guard units more closely with the regular Army, 1-162 became B. SECFOR. Today they are called upon again, this time to serve in Afghanistan.
My name is Scott Kesterson. I am a freelance photojournalist. Over the course of the next 16 months I will be embedded with the US Army's 41st Brigade as they mobilize and deploy to Afghanistan as part of the on-going activities of Operation: Enduri... |
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