POSITION DESCRIPTION: Vacancy Identification Number (VIN: 648628 To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans.
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Price:

Location

Beckley, USA

Technorati Tags: Clinical, Management, pain, Pharmacist

67 year old Natrajan


Image by HelpAge
(c) Mayur Paul/HelpAge International 2009

67 year old Natrajan

“I have been living in this older people’s village run by HelpAge India for about 9 months now. I was told about the village by my local older people’s federation after the tsunami. I had lost everything in the tsunami and was just looking for a way to survive. I had no children, no one to look after me and my wife.

I used to run a grocery shop when I was young but I lost my shop in a storm. I then worked as a watchman for 20 years after that. I got Rs75, 000 when I retired and bought 20 cows from that money. But my brother cheated me out of all my money and cows. Because my brother’s son (my nephew) has only daughters and needed the money I didn’t fight with him to help him out.

Work in the village
When I first came to the village I was a bit shy. But after mingling with everyone I started to get involved in all the committees and the work. My day starts at 3am when I wake up and collect all the cow dung from the dairy. Before 5.30am I finish milking the cows. After milking the cows in the morning, I help in preparing breakfast for the other older people in the village.

Then I get involved in serving the breakfast and arranging the prayer hall. Then I take the cows for grazing and supervise the other staff to see if they are taking care of the cow properly. I rest from an hour and then help with preparation for Lunch. I am part of the food committee so I help with the meals. In the afternoon from 2-3pm I rest a bit and then start cleaning the hall again.

I am also part of the medical committee and so if one of the older people in the village is ill I take him/her to the doctor. I also run some coin box phones here in village. I borrowed money from the older people’s self help group organised by HelpAge India to get these phones and now use the profits to pay back the loans.

Pension problems
I have a pension of Rs. 500 but because my pension is in other district so I have to travel a long way for it. I tried to get it changed to a nearby place but it is very difficult. The officials say first stop collecting your pension here and then re-apply at the place closer to you but this way I can lose my pension and I don’t want to risk it.

So I have to take a bus for 4 hours and collect it there. I have been getting my pension for 3 years. Because of the pain in my leg I can’t do the trip in one day and often I have to stay overnight in the other district. In total, it costs me Rs 220 to travel there and come back. I spend rest of the pension on medicine for my wife. A pension of Rs 1000 would be a decent pension.

Milking and naming cows
I like working with the cows. They are all named after different avatars of the hindu goddess of wealth, lakshmi. One is called bhagya lakshmi and is named after the aspect of the goddess that brings good luck and wealth. One is called Santana lakshmi and she is named after the goddess of wealth and children because she gave birth to a calf. One is called vijaya lakshmi and is said to bring victory in whatever task you undertake and the male one is called murgad. Whenever any of the cows give birth I know which plant leaves to feed them to make sure the delivery goes ok.

I also keep a record of how much milk the cows give, when they saw the vet etc etc. I learnt all this when I cared for my cows. I have trained 4 other older people in the village on how to care for the cows as well. We use the cow milk in the village and we sell the rest to buy feed for the cows. When it comes to cows I am an expert.

Life in the village
At the older people’s village I have peace of mind. The HelpAge staff here are the village are very good people. I am proud of being part of this village. Even if I go out of the village my soul is here only the body is outside.

67 year old Natrajan


Image by HelpAge
(c) Mayur Paul/HelpAge International 2009

67 year old Natrajan

“I have been living in this older people’s village run by HelpAge India for about 9 months now. I was told about the village by my local older people’s federation after the tsunami. I had lost everything in the tsunami and was just looking for a way to survive. I had no children, no one to look after me and my wife.

I used to run a grocery shop when I was young but I lost my shop in a storm. I then worked as a watchman for 20 years after that. I got Rs75, 000 when I retired and bought 20 cows from that money. But my brother cheated me out of all my money and cows. Because my brother’s son (my nephew) has only daughters and needed the money I didn’t fight with him to help him out.

Work in the village
When I first came to the village I was a bit shy. But after mingling with everyone I started to get involved in all the committees and the work. My day starts at 3am when I wake up and collect all the cow dung from the dairy. Before 5.30am I finish milking the cows. After milking the cows in the morning, I help in preparing breakfast for the other older people in the village.

Then I get involved in serving the breakfast and arranging the prayer hall. Then I take the cows for grazing and supervise the other staff to see if they are taking care of the cow properly. I rest from an hour and then help with preparation for Lunch. I am part of the food committee so I help with the meals. In the afternoon from 2-3pm I rest a bit and then start cleaning the hall again.

I am also part of the medical committee and so if one of the older people in the village is ill I take him/her to the doctor. I also run some coin box phones here in village. I borrowed money from the older people’s self help group organised by HelpAge India to get these phones and now use the profits to pay back the loans.

Pension problems
I have a pension of Rs. 500 but because my pension is in other district so I have to travel a long way for it. I tried to get it changed to a nearby place but it is very difficult. The officials say first stop collecting your pension here and then re-apply at the place closer to you but this way I can lose my pension and I don’t want to risk it.

So I have to take a bus for 4 hours and collect it there. I have been getting my pension for 3 years. Because of the pain in my leg I can’t do the trip in one day and often I have to stay overnight in the other district. In total, it costs me Rs 220 to travel there and come back. I spend rest of the pension on medicine for my wife. A pension of Rs 1000 would be a decent pension.

Milking and naming cows
I like working with the cows. They are all named after different avatars of the hindu goddess of wealth, lakshmi. One is called bhagya lakshmi and is named after the aspect of the goddess that brings good luck and wealth. One is called Santana lakshmi and she is named after the goddess of wealth and children because she gave birth to a calf. One is called vijaya lakshmi and is said to bring victory in whatever task you undertake and the male one is called murgad. Whenever any of the cows give birth I know which plant leaves to feed them to make sure the delivery goes ok.

I also keep a record of how much milk the cows give, when they saw the vet etc etc. I learnt all this when I cared for my cows. I have trained 4 other older people in the village on how to care for the cows as well. We use the cow milk in the village and we sell the rest to buy feed for the cows. When it comes to cows I am an expert.

Life in the village
At the older people’s village I have peace of mind. The HelpAge staff here are the village are very good people. I am proud of being part of this village. Even if I go out of the village my soul is here only the body is outside.

67 year old Natrajan


Image by HelpAge
(c) Mayur Paul/HelpAge International 2009

67 year old Natrajan

“I have been living in this older people’s village run by HelpAge India for about 9 months now. I was told about the village by my local older people’s federation after the tsunami. I had lost everything in the tsunami and was just looking for a way to survive. I had no children, no one to look after me and my wife.

I used to run a grocery shop when I was young but I lost my shop in a storm. I then worked as a watchman for 20 years after that. I got Rs75, 000 when I retired and bought 20 cows from that money. But my brother cheated me out of all my money and cows. Because my brother’s son (my nephew) has only daughters and needed the money I didn’t fight with him to help him out.

Work in the village
When I first came to the village I was a bit shy. But after mingling with everyone I started to get involved in all the committees and the work. My day starts at 3am when I wake up and collect all the cow dung from the dairy. Before 5.30am I finish milking the cows. After milking the cows in the morning, I help in preparing breakfast for the other older people in the village.

Then I get involved in serving the breakfast and arranging the prayer hall. Then I take the cows for grazing and supervise the other staff to see if they are taking care of the cow properly. I rest from an hour and then help with preparation for Lunch. I am part of the food committee so I help with the meals. In the afternoon from 2-3pm I rest a bit and then start cleaning the hall again.

I am also part of the medical committee and so if one of the older people in the village is ill I take him/her to the doctor. I also run some coin box phones here in village. I borrowed money from the older people’s self help group organised by HelpAge India to get these phones and now use the profits to pay back the loans.

Pension problems
I have a pension of Rs. 500 but because my pension is in other district so I have to travel a long way for it. I tried to get it changed to a nearby place but it is very difficult. The officials say first stop collecting your pension here and then re-apply at the place closer to you but this way I can lose my pension and I don’t want to risk it.

So I have to take a bus for 4 hours and collect it there. I have been getting my pension for 3 years. Because of the pain in my leg I can’t do the trip in one day and often I have to stay overnight in the other district. In total, it costs me Rs 220 to travel there and come back. I spend rest of the pension on medicine for my wife. A pension of Rs 1000 would be a decent pension.

Milking and naming cows
I like working with the cows. They are all named after different avatars of the hindu goddess of wealth, lakshmi. One is called bhagya lakshmi and is named after the aspect of the goddess that brings good luck and wealth. One is called Santana lakshmi and she is named after the goddess of wealth and children because she gave birth to a calf. One is called vijaya lakshmi and is said to bring victory in whatever task you undertake and the male one is called murgad. Whenever any of the cows give birth I know which plant leaves to feed them to make sure the delivery goes ok.

I also keep a record of how much milk the cows give, when they saw the vet etc etc. I learnt all this when I cared for my cows. I have trained 4 other older people in the village on how to care for the cows as well. We use the cow milk in the village and we sell the rest to buy feed for the cows. When it comes to cows I am an expert.

Life in the village
At the older people’s village I have peace of mind. The HelpAge staff here are the village are very good people. I am proud of being part of this village. Even if I go out of the village my soul is here only the body is outside.

Technorati Tags: back, cool, images, pain

Pic of the day - Quinoa & Quietude


Image by rosefirerising
Ok, I’m sick. Not as sick today as yesterday. Wow, yesterday. If I had
felt like that much longer, I would have gone to the Emergency Room.

Remember the kid had maybe whooping cough, and then the test was
negative? Well, directly after that, both his dad and I came down with
the same symptoms. Then his sister’s roommate. Next … probably his
sister? The friend who gave me a ride home the Monday before?
Obviously this is hellaciously contagious. I find myself looking at my
son’s antibiotics and craving them. I leave them alone, but I want
some of my own. After a couple days, I am coughing up nasty yellow
phlegm and blood. I also have an earache. And pain in my sinuses. OK,
I can wait another day and be SURE I convince the docs I am sick
enough for antibiotics. Ah, well, I really don’t want to get so sick,
right after I just recovered from surgery. Off I go.

Med student interviews me. She asks me several questions about
pertussis. I say, "Oh, yeah, sure, we were exposed through my son’s
school, but my son tested negative. so it’s something else." Now, I
have complete laryngitis, so it is more painful croaking than actually
talking. I write stuff down on a pad of neon paper I brought with me.
She also listens to my heart for an unusually long time. The attending
comes in. He listens more. Ponders. Ask how the antibiotics did for my
son. Wow, did they help! Alright, then. They give me the same thing
they gave my son to treat possible pertussis. Does that mean they
think I have pertussis? I’m not sure. I look puzzled, but don’t ask.
The doc says something about, "We know your son wasn’t the starter
case, it was a girl at his school, but still … " I’m not remembering
this clearly, so it was probably similar words, but I don’t know the
jargon and didn’t remember. Sounds like they think I might. Hmmm.

I go off to get the prescription. Chat with people along the way.
Obviously, my brain has not kicked in. I spent about a half hour
talking to our new parish priest in the mall. Oh, that was smart!
NOT!!! Duh. That’ll teach him. Good grief. Later, I phone the dad (my
ex) and urge him to see his doc.

Meanwhile, I’ve taken my first dose, and the disease fights back. It
is war, now. My symptoms spike, and get about 200% worse within the
space of an hour, then downhill from there. The night is awful. I’m
taking codeine leftover from the surgery to control the cough. I cut
them in half so I don’t take too much. Over the night, I end up taking
4 or 5, before finally, the cough settles down and I can sleep. I also
tried the mucinex and the cough syrup. I feel AWFUL.

Then, when I wake up, it isn’t as awful. Hmmm. I figure, well, the
codeine is still in my system. But it never gets quite as bad again as
it was. The day is quiet. I nap a lot. I am alone, since the kid went
back to school. Begged to go to school. I listen to a little music,
sleep a lot, drink hot honey and lemon water constantly. The high
point of the day is when I feel like eating, and debate whether I want
my leftover chicken in fruit gravy on rice or quinoa. I decided on
rice, but the quinoa was awful pretty. Maybe I’ll try that tomorrow.
I’m still coughing plenty, so even though I’m better, I have a ways to
go.

White Swan (Fontainebleau, France)


Image by Oliver Degabriele
It’s hard to take a picture of a swan and keep it far from the realm of kitsch. I chose this from the series mainly because of the ripple under the swan’s beak. It was ducking for food and this photo must have been taken right after it came back out from the water. I tried to get closer to it (50mm pains) but I got a bad look from the swan and its mates so I contented myself with this shot.

Ruby Beach South


Image by snowpeak
I walked down from the parking lot to this deserted beach (it’s not inhabited — no houses or stores) and saw this piece of land jutting out about a mile to the south. So I walked down there. After taking this picture I tried to see what was on the other side by waiting for a lull in the tide. Just when I got out to the edge a wave came along and knocked me to my knees. After eight days, the right knee is discolored and in a fair amount of pain. Maybe I will call the doc tomorrow. After the fall, I gathered up my stuff and hobbled back to the north end where I took the "On the Rocks" shot that I posted here a few days ago. I have been working some on that shot and have to say that it is to my mind one of the best pictures that I have ever taken. I will repost the altered version next.

Technorati Tags: back, cool, images, pain

controlled clinical trials that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of Low Back Pain, sciatic pain

Price:

Location

Tucson, USA

Technorati Tags: Acupuncture, Speedway, Swan

Running To Fitness Audio Personal Trainer
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Banish Cold Sores! In 3 Simple Steps
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Technorati Tags: Audio, fitness, personal, Running, trainer

Early Morning Collision Leaves Three Serious


Image by ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd.
Three people have been seriously injured and another person has sustained minor to moderate injuries after a collision on the M13 Durban bound near Gillets / Everton on ramp involving a Toyota SUV and a KIA this morning.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the Kia lying on its side in the emergency lane and the Toyota SUV was found facing oncoming traffic in the left hand lane of the M13. The driver of the Toyota was still found in her seat complaining of neck and pains to her face. Her passenger was found walking around on scene with a cut to his hand. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle was found lying on the floor near their car. They were treated for neck and back injuries.

All patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to Life Entabeni and R K Khans Hospital for further medical treatment.

It is believed that the KIA had mechanical problems and the driver lost control and crashed into the Toyota that was travelling in the left hand lane. The impact caused both vehicles to roll.

Traffic was affected as one lane was closed.

20080629 - After Clint’s oral surgery - 159-5998 - Clint’s very swollen jaw


Image by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)
VERY. SWOLLEN. JAW.
OUCH.
NOT HAPPY.

BACKSTORY: Oral surgery #2! Radicular cyst #2 extracted! This is what happens when you have a shitty root canal, and have to have another root canal on the same tooth ~8 years later.

This surgery one caused me to swell more than the last one, but didn’t hurt for as many days. In fact, 3 days later — when we went to X-Day — I stopped taking painkillers altogether, including iburpofen.

Either way, this surgery was much easier on me than the last one. By the time I got home to do my self-portraits with the last one, I was still bleeding. I wont be going back to that oral surgeon again!

The difference between oral surgeons on Kaiser-Permanente and those on Aetna is like the difference between witch doctors and Stephen Hawking.

ORAL SURGERY HINT: Go to Wendy’s and order 10 large Frosties. These have medical value — the coldness help ease the pain even more than painkillers. Ice is hard to manage, and makes a wet mess. This is like ice, but also solves the "liquid foods only" problem. And your body tends to want more fat when you are healing, right? Multi-use fast food FTW! Wendy’s made me pull in because they couldn’t make those many Frosties at thesame time, haha.

Clint.
taking picture.
camera, swollen jaw.
after surgery. self-portrait.

Clint and Carolyn’s house, Alexandria, Virginia.

June 29, 2008.

… Read my blog at ClintJCL.wordpress.com
… Read Carolyn’s blog at CarolynCASL.wordpress.com

Yeah, Baby, Yeah!


Image by drp
This is a scanned photo of my father, my brother and I circa 1972 in our old apartment. My dad used to work in the Men’s department of this large department store in Newark, NJ called Bamberger’s, where he always brought home the latest "hip" fashions of the day.

As you can see, both my father and brother are resplendent in their Herman and the Hermits finery, and I am doing what can only be described as my best contemporary Austin Powers impersonation. I even took a school portrait in that get-up.

You have GOT to respect a kid in a silk, paisley-print ascot.

What inspired me to upload this is that my thoughts are on my brother right now. He was one cool guy back in the day, and a really exceptional role model. To this day he helps the family in every way he can, be it financially or with home repairs, etc. Back when this shot was taken, he was really into the whole "Save The Ecology" movement, and went on to get a degree at Penn State and a job at the Environmental Protection Agency in New Jersey. I admire that dedication greatly.

He called my parents last night and said he was in the hospital, having admitted himself for pains in his shoulder and chest. My father has a history of heart problems, so none of us take any suspicious symptoms lightly. I even had heart catheterization surgery a few years ago when they thought they detected a blockage during a stress test. Luckily, it was a false positive. He said they were observing him overnight and that he’d call again today to give us an update.

So, if I could, I’d like to ask you all to send out some positive, healing energy to a really groovy dude - my brother, Marc. Thank you.

Feel better soon, bro.

[+]

Open your eyes to something new today ::: deVos :::

Technorati Tags: Collision, early, Leaves, morning, Serious, Three

Required Number: 3719
Title: IT Vendor Manager
Division: Info Systems & Tech
Location: Tarrytown, N.Y.
Description:
If you are looking for an uncommon opportunity — a chance to join an organization known for its scientific excellence in the research and development of pharmaceuticals — it’s time to consider Regeneron. Founded on the principle that strong science would lead to important new medicines, Regeneron has become an integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. Regeneron currently markets ARCALYST (R) (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use and EYLEA (TM) (aflibercept) Injection. Regeneron has therapeutic applicants in Phase three clinical trials for the prevention of gout flares, central retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, certain cancers, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Price:

Location

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Technorati Tags: Manager, Vendor

20080629 - After Clint’s oral surgery - 159-5997 - Clint’s very swollen jaw


Image by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL)
VERY. SWOLLEN. JAW.
OUCH.
NOT HAPPY.

BACKSTORY: Oral surgery #2! Radicular cyst #2 extracted! This is what happens when you have a shitty root canal, and have to have another root canal on the same tooth ~8 years later.

This surgery one caused me to swell more than the last one, but didn’t hurt for as many days. In fact, 3 days later — when we went to X-Day — I stopped taking painkillers altogether, including iburpofen.

Either way, this surgery was much easier on me than the last one. By the time I got home to do my self-portraits with the last one, I was still bleeding. I wont be going back to that oral surgeon again!

The difference between oral surgeons on Kaiser-Permanente and those on Aetna is like the difference between witch doctors and Stephen Hawking.

ORAL SURGERY HINT: Go to Wendy’s and order 10 large Frosties. These have medical value — the coldness help ease the pain even more than painkillers. Ice is hard to manage, and makes a wet mess. This is like ice, but also solves the "liquid foods only" problem. And your body tends to want more fat when you are healing, right? Multi-use fast food FTW! Wendy’s made me pull in because they couldn’t make those many Frosties at the same time, haha.

Clint.
taking picture.
camera, swollen jaw.
after surgery. self-portrait.

Clint and Carolyn’s house, Alexandria, Virginia.

June 29, 2008.

… Read my blog at ClintJCL.wordpress.com
… Read Carolyn’s blog at CarolynCASL.wordpress.com

Early Morning Collision Leaves Three Serious


Image by ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd.
Three people have been seriously injured and another person has sustained minor to moderate injuries after a collision on the M13 Durban bound near Gillets / Everton on ramp involving a Toyota SUV and a KIA this morning.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the Kia lying on its side in the emergency lane and the Toyota SUV was found facing oncoming traffic in the left hand lane of the M13. The driver of the Toyota was still found in her seat complaining of neck and pains to her face. Her passenger was found walking around on scene with a cut to his hand. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle was found lying on the floor near their car. They were treated for neck and back injuries.

All patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to Life Entabeni and R K Khans Hospital for further medical treatment.

It is believed that the KIA had mechanical problems and the driver lost control and crashed into the Toyota that was travelling in the left hand lane. The impact caused both vehicles to roll.

Traffic was affected as one lane was closed.

Early Morning Collision Leaves Three Serious


Image by ER24 EMS (Pty) Ltd.
Three people have been seriously injured and another person has sustained minor to moderate injuries after a collision on the M13 Durban bound near Gillets / Everton on ramp involving a Toyota SUV and a KIA this morning.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find the Kia lying on its side in the emergency lane and the Toyota SUV was found facing oncoming traffic in the left hand lane of the M13. The driver of the Toyota was still found in her seat complaining of neck and pains to her face. Her passenger was found walking around on scene with a cut to his hand. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle was found lying on the floor near their car. They were treated for neck and back injuries.

All patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to Life Entabeni and R K Khans Hospital for further medical treatment.

It is believed that the KIA had mechanical problems and the driver lost control and crashed into the Toyota that was travelling in the left hand lane. The impact caused both vehicles to roll.

Traffic was affected as one lane was closed.

Technorati Tags: back, cool, images, pain

What could be wrong with me if I have both those problems?

Best answer:

Answer by Zply
ummmmm, idk, maybe the doctor could have told you what’s wrong with you, instead of random people

Add your own answer in the comments!

Technorati Tags: back, mean, pain, problems, urinary

Tunisia Staff Ride - U.S. Army Africa Soldiers apply WWII North Africa campaign lessons to current mission - May 2010


Image by US Army Africa
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U.S. Army Africa Soldiers apply lessons of WWII to current mission

By Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Africa

KAIROUAN, Tunisia – Col. Stephen Mariano looked down into a foxhole carved atop a rocky hill top near El Guettar, where in March 1943, troops from U.S. Army II Corps battled German panzers.

Nearby, retired Army Col. Len Fullenkamp conjured tales of U.S. Army Rangers under Lt. Col. William Darby marching through darkness along a nearby ridge to surprise sleeping enemy infantrymen with fixed bayonets. Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division hacked fighting positions from solid rock as enemy tanks rumbled into the valley. U.S. Army artillery units skimmed shells across the desert at approaching German armor.

Mariano began to wonder, “Had my grandfather dug one of these foxholes? Was his artillery position somewhere nearby? Did he fire on Germans coming through this gap?”

Mariano, 45, of Redlands, Calif., was among several U.S. Army Africa officers who took part in a four-day “staff ride,” – onsite discussions of Tunisia’s World War II battlefields geared toward finding insights into U.S. Army Africa’s present challenge – building cooperative relationships with African land forces to increase security, stability and peace in the region.

In late 1942, U.S. forces landed in North Africa with British troops. Their first fights were with Vichy French units, who later joined the Allied cause. Together, they pushed east into Tunisia, where they clashed with German and Italian troops among craggy, cactus-covered hills and washed out wadis.

As a U.S. Army Africa’s strategic planner, a look back at the alliance between American, British and French forces offered Mariano a glimpse at an international coalitions’ growing pains and how friction between partners can doom a mission. On a more personal level, the staff ride allowed him to recapture his family’s past.

Henry Mariano, Sr., was a sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, 62nd Armored Field Artillery Regiment who survived combat in North Africa, Italy and France before being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.

“This staff ride is a historic event, on a historic event, separated by 67 years,” Mariano said. “To be here, where my grandfather was, is pretty powerful to me.”

The tour began May 27 outside Sidi Bou Zid, where U.S. forces suffered a horrible defeat in mid-February 1943. They stopped for the evening in Gafsa, a city in Central Tunisia that changed hands between Allied and Axis forces several times during the campaign.

The second day, they focused on the Allied defeat at Kasserine Pass, followed by the U.S. Army’s first solid gains against veteran German troops in the counterattack at El Guettar. The next day, U.S. Army Africa Soldiers ventured east to focus on British Gen. Bernard Montgomery’s attempt to punch through Axis defenses at the coastal town of Enfidaville, roughly 40 miles southeast of Tunis.

Perched on a craggy knoll near Takrouna, Col. David Buckingham, U.S. Army Africa’s senior operations officer, bent the spine of Atkinson’s book, deep in thought about how for two days in mid-April 1942, New Zealanders came to death grips with Italian defenders in the limestone foothills outside Enfidaville.

Afterward, they paid respects to French and British Commonwealth troops buried nearby.

“Tying this staff ride together with Memorial Day, taking time to better understanding leadership and feel the sacrifice of our soldiers, has been both poignant and educational,” Buckingham said.

At each stop, officers thumbed through worn copies of Rick Atkinson’s “An Army At Dawn,” at their hip as Fullenkamp spoke of the bravery, heroics, ingenuity, lunacy and debacles of the North African campaign. After discussions, they poked through thorn bushes and cacti along the rocky terrain, searching for battlefield remnants.

At El Guettar, Maj. Gen. William B. Garrett III, commander of U.S. Army Africa, found a tin C-ration can and passed it to his senior logistics officer, Col. Mike Balser. Others found shards of shells and bullet casings. Lt. Col. David Konop, the command’s public affairs officer, found a link from a 30-caliber machine gun belt.

It was hard to not be overwhelmed in the presence of such history, to walk this consecrated ground, Fullenkamp said.

Like the 34th Infantry Division, they climbed the hills near Fondouk Pass. They stood in the cold rain below Longstop Hill, just as the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment had when they relieved the 2nd Battalion of the British Coldstream Guards, around Christmas 1942.

The U.S. Army Africa tour wrapped up in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, the prize the Allies had fought seven months to pry away from German control. The Soldeirs took part in a May 31 Memorial Day ceremony at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial near Carthage, Tunisia.

All agreed that their experience in Tunisia was unlike walking the U.S. battlefield of Gettysburg, tracing the footsteps of Pickett’s men from Spangler’s Woods to the Emmitsburg Road. Nor was it like stepping from the shores of Normandy onto Omaha beach’s Dog Green sector on D-Day staff rides.

This tour was focused on lessons the U.S. Army learned over the course of a seven-month campaign across North Africa.

“No one’s ever done something like this, in this context, before. We’re using the book ‘An Army At Dawn’ and we are an Army Service Component Command at dawn,” Mariano said. “That’s the connection. It’s brilliant. “

Early on, Garrett challenged his staff to ask tough questions along the way and encouraged them to discuss tactical operations, but also look for insights into overall strategic goals. In North Africa, U.S. Army leaders found innovative ways to grow and succeed against often-insurmountable odds, he said.

“Talking about the past, in the present, that’s what this is about,” Garrett said. “This staff ride is simply a mechanism, a tool for helping us think about the challenges leaders faced in Africa during World War II and applying insights to our present focus.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

U.S. Army photo by Rick Scavetta
Cleared for Public Release

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Tunisia Staff Ride - U.S. Army Africa Soldiers apply WWII North Africa campaign lessons to current mission - May 2010


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U.S. Army Africa Soldiers apply lessons of WWII to current mission

By Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Africa

KAIROUAN, Tunisia – Col. Stephen Mariano looked down into a foxhole carved atop a rocky hill top near El Guettar, where in March 1943, troops from U.S. Army II Corps battled German panzers.

Nearby, retired Army Col. Len Fullenkamp conjured tales of U.S. Army Rangers under Lt. Col. William Darby marching through darkness along a nearby ridge to surprise sleeping enemy infantrymen with fixed bayonets. Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division hacked fighting positions from solid rock as enemy tanks rumbled into the valley. U.S. Army artillery units skimmed shells across the desert at approaching German armor.

Mariano began to wonder, “Had my grandfather dug one of these foxholes? Was his artillery position somewhere nearby? Did he fire on Germans coming through this gap?”

Mariano, 45, of Redlands, Calif., was among several U.S. Army Africa officers who took part in a four-day “staff ride,” – onsite discussions of Tunisia’s World War II battlefields geared toward finding insights into U.S. Army Africa’s present challenge – building cooperative relationships with African land forces to increase security, stability and peace in the region.

In late 1942, U.S. forces landed in North Africa with British troops. Their first fights were with Vichy French units, who later joined the Allied cause. Together, they pushed east into Tunisia, where they clashed with German and Italian troops among craggy, cactus-covered hills and washed out wadis.

As a U.S. Army Africa’s strategic planner, a look back at the alliance between American, British and French forces offered Mariano a glimpse at an international coalitions’ growing pains and how friction between partners can doom a mission. On a more personal level, the staff ride allowed him to recapture his family’s past.

Henry Mariano, Sr., was a sergeant with the 2nd Battalion, 62nd Armored Field Artillery Regiment who survived combat in North Africa, Italy and France before being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium.

“This staff ride is a historic event, on a historic event, separated by 67 years,” Mariano said. “To be here, where my grandfather was, is pretty powerful to me.”

The tour began May 27 outside Sidi Bou Zid, where U.S. forces suffered a horrible defeat in mid-February 1943. They stopped for the evening in Gafsa, a city in Central Tunisia that changed hands between Allied and Axis forces several times during the campaign.

The second day, they focused on the Allied defeat at Kasserine Pass, followed by the U.S. Army’s first solid gains against veteran German troops in the counterattack at El Guettar. The next day, U.S. Army Africa Soldiers ventured east to focus on British Gen. Bernard Montgomery’s attempt to punch through Axis defenses at the coastal town of Enfidaville, roughly 40 miles southeast of Tunis.

Perched on a craggy knoll near Takrouna, Col. David Buckingham, U.S. Army Africa’s senior operations officer, bent the spine of Atkinson’s book, deep in thought about how for two days in mid-April 1942, New Zealanders came to death grips with Italian defenders in the limestone foothills outside Enfidaville.

Afterward, they paid respects to French and British Commonwealth troops buried nearby.

“Tying this staff ride together with Memorial Day, taking time to better understanding leadership and feel the sacrifice of our soldiers, has been both poignant and educational,” Buckingham said.

At each stop, officers thumbed through worn copies of Rick Atkinson’s “An Army At Dawn,” at their hip as Fullenkamp spoke of the bravery, heroics, ingenuity, lunacy and debacles of the North African campaign. After discussions, they poked through thorn bushes and cacti along the rocky terrain, searching for battlefield remnants.

At El Guettar, Maj. Gen. William B. Garrett III, commander of U.S. Army Africa, found a tin C-ration can and passed it to his senior logistics officer, Col. Mike Balser. Others found shards of shells and bullet casings. Lt. Col. David Konop, the command’s public affairs officer, found a link from a 30-caliber machine gun belt.

It was hard to not be overwhelmed in the presence of such history, to walk this consecrated ground, Fullenkamp said.

Like the 34th Infantry Division, they climbed the hills near Fondouk Pass. They stood in the cold rain below Longstop Hill, just as the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment had when they relieved the 2nd Battalion of the British Coldstream Guards, around Christmas 1942.

The U.S. Army Africa tour wrapped up in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, the prize the Allies had fought seven months to pry away from German control. The Soldeirs took part in a May 31 Memorial Day ceremony at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial near Carthage, Tunisia.

All agreed that their experience in Tunisia was unlike walking the U.S. battlefield of Gettysburg, tracing the footsteps of Pickett’s men from Spangler’s Woods to the Emmitsburg Road. Nor was it like stepping from the shores of Normandy onto Omaha beach’s Dog Green sector on D-Day staff rides.

This tour was focused on lessons the U.S. Army learned over the course of a seven-month campaign across North Africa.

“No one’s ever done something like this, in this context, before. We’re using the book ‘An Army At Dawn’ and we are an Army Service Component Command at dawn,” Mariano said. “That’s the connection. It’s brilliant. “

Early on, Garrett challenged his staff to ask tough questions along the way and encouraged them to discuss tactical operations, but also look for insights into overall strategic goals. In North Africa, U.S. Army leaders found innovative ways to grow and succeed against often-insurmountable odds, he said.

“Talking about the past, in the present, that’s what this is about,” Garrett said. “This staff ride is simply a mechanism, a tool for helping us think about the challenges leaders faced in Africa during World War II and applying insights to our present focus.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

U.S. Army photo by Rick Scavetta
Cleared for Public Release

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