Army Strong Stories

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 weeks now.... Most of Task Force Duke arrived before me, a small number before Christmas, but the rest following shortly afterwards in waves.  Fort Knox is where the six organic battalions/squadrons of 3/1 BCT call home these days, having been at Fort Hood until 2009 (when not deployed to Afghanistan for the first time), and then Germany before that. 

As the Brigade PAO I monitor news, especially news relating to our activities.  For that purpose I recently set up my Google Alerts to track any stories out there bearing any element, individual, Afghan partners, etc, etc, related to TF Duke.  To make that happen I set up a TF Duke PAO Gmail account.  When prompted for the birth date I went with the Brigade's birthday-- May 24, 1917. 

That's old. 

Why is this important?  I don't know... but It did remind me that I am part of the oldest, actively serving Division in the U.S. Army, the Big Red One.

And part of it is here in Afghanistan.  Again.