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Wow--- hard to believe it's been that long (3 1/2 months) since my last post. But anyone who's been deployed knows what a blur those last two months can be in theater. Blur in the fact that you are busy "finishing" before your replacements arrive, and a blur in the fact that at times the time seems to just slow.... down.... because.... you.... are... so... close... to... going... home. I arrived back to Fort Knox late, late, late on Jan 1. In...read more
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What's the probability of any one person getting struck by lightning in their lifetime? Pretty low--- some "experts" say one in a million. What's the probability that one person is struck by lightning twice in their lifetime? Quite a bit less--- something like one in nine-million (it has happened in recent history--- just ask Don Frick of Hamline, PA -http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/bizarre&id=5520679- who was struck...read more
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Story released earlier this week on operations ongoing in TF Duke AO. You can access the high-res imagery here: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/78718/successes-khowst-paktya-impact-insurgent-capabilities Successes in Khowst, Paktya impact insurgent capabilities Story by Maj. Travis Dettmer U.S. Army Capt. Tim Black (left), an intelligence officer from Van Ward, Ohio, assigned to Task Force Duke helps provide security, Oct. 17, while...read more
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Video: Operation Duke Blitz in Gerda Serai - Broll Choose quality ? 366x274 300kbps 720x480 800kbps 720x480 1500kbps 720x480 3000kbps 720x480 9127kbps
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Boxing Legend, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Skypes with TF Duke Soldiers
September 4, 2011
By: Major Travis Dettmer
It's not often you get a chance to talk to one of the most renowned boxers of all time---- that's what the Soldiers of Task Force Duke got a chance to do recently here at FOB Salerno. And it was all made possible by a Specialist--- SPC John Martinez, a boxing expert and columnist who joined the Army for a two-year enlistement based on a dare from a Marine Corps buddy who said he couldn't hack military service. So... just because he became...read more
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Op Tofan I disrupts pre-Ramadan attacks, gains intel, inroads for TF Duke
August 24, 2011
By: Major Travis Dettmer
Since we've been here Operating in Khowst and Paktya Provinces, Afghanistan our Brigade has conducted several major operations with our Afghan Security Partners in support of the overall mission. Below is the story I wrote a couple weeks back detailing the latest...... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also available here:...read more
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Driving Jon Stewart of Comedy Central (here in Afghanistan)
August 10, 2011
By: Major Travis Dettmer
I intended to write a bit about this a week and a half ago, but better late than never. It's not often we get a USO tour down here in Khowst Province to visit the Soldiers this close to border with Pakistan. The big name celebs seem to get sucked up by the bigger bases that are easiest to get to. Granted, FOB Salerno is equipped with an airfield and is rather large compared to some FOBs and COPS in the east, travel to this location...read more
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It’s now Saturday, several days past Memorial Day, and the awesome display of military pageantry the Mets put on in honor of men and women in uniform before battling the Pittsburg Pirates at Citi Field that evening is still fresh on my mind. I’m still soaring high from the event and the part my unit, the 3rdBrigade Combat Team of the 1stInfantry Division, Task Force Duke, played in it. Our participation was made possible by the great people at the Defense Video and...read more
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AFGHANISTAN- SOLDIER FITNESS IS AN INDIVIDUAL (SOMETIMES PAINFUL) MOTIVATION HERE
May 23, 2011
By: Major Travis Dettmer
My head hurts, my neck hurts, and muscles all over my body I forgot I had now ache. The effects of the the new fitness routine I've started here at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, are apparent. We've been here now for almost five months. My unit, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Task Force Duke) is responsible for all coalition force operation along the border provinces of Khowst and Paktya. This area of operations is known as AO Duke. As the public...read more
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FOB Salerno is vividly familiar from the descriptions my twin brother Robb (w/ two B's mind you) gave me during his time here 2 years ago with the Texas National Guard. But for the smell of burning trash (or wood, or... something) and the perpetual dust in the air it is a very picturesque scene. Surrounded by small would-be mountains on almost every side, larger, snow-covered ranges are visible most days when the weather permits. I've been here for 2...read more
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Travis Dettmer
| Affiliation: | Active Duty |
|---|---|
| Rank: | Major |
| Branch: | Public Affairs |
| MOS/AOC: | 46A |
| Location: | Khowst, Afghanistan |
About Me: I'm the Public Affairs Officer for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), otherwise known as 3/1 BCT. Here in Afghanistan we're known as Task Force Duke.
I am married to the beautiful and always charming Martisse (Best) Dettmer, an Army Lawyer, and we have 4 kids aged 7 down to 2. Oh, and three cats--- all of which Martisse acquired.
My twin brother Robb, ironically, walked these very grounds just 2 years ago as a member of the Texas Army National Guard; now I'm here seeing everything he saw.
This is deployment #3 for me, the first two being in the Baghdad area.
There are quite a few TF Duke members blogging, so watch out for their stories. Our bloggers represent a varied cross section of the brigade, with the exception of one group that is a healthy represention of the troopers of B Trp, 6/4 Cav, who signed up en masse.
I certainly hope you enjoy what you read from me.... make sure you check out the rest of TF Duke bloggers too!
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