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H ello families and

friends of the

N a n g a r h a r /

Missouri Agri-

b u s i n e s s

D e v e l o p m e n t T e a m

IV. Most of you already

know that we suffered a huge

loss on January 5. when one

of our Soldiers was killed by

an improvised explosive

device in the Khogyani

dis t ric t of Nangarhar

province.

This Soldier, Sgt. 1st

Class Robert Pharris, was a

great man and an outstanding

Soldier. Not only did he

have the perfect skill set and

temperament for the ADT

mission, but he was like a

b r o t h e r t o m a n y o f

us. A few days after his

death, Sgt. 1st Class Pharris'

wife and son sent a very

courageous and thoughtful

hand-written letter to help

comfort and encourage the

team. Here is an extract from

that letter.

"To the Members of ADT IV,

from Pamela Pharris and

Co rpo ra l Ben Pha rr i s ,

United States Marine Corps:

D e a r T e a m M e m b e r s ,

As Ben and I are preparing

final honors for Robert, we want

you to know that we are being

well looked after. Robert will be

honored in our hometownof

Seymour, then given his final

rest at Arlington National

Cemetery. I believe he would be

most proud.

Ben and I would also like to

thank each of you for making

Rober’s time with ADT IV so

rewarding. His happiness and

pride were reflected in his voice

with every phone call home. He

spoke of his "family of 66,"

doing a mission to answer the

prayers of thousands. And he

believed this mission could be

achieved with a true heart,

strong Soldiers, and patient

hands. Robert waited 14 years

fo r a m i s s i o n su c h a s

this. Thank you for helping

make his dream come true with

such pride. Robert left this

world fulfilling his dreams and

surrounded by friends.

And I believe you all know

what Robert's final words of

encouragement to you (and to

his son) would sound like: ‘Now

say your Amens, suck it up, and

get on with the mission. But

keep your heads down, and your

powder dry. Now, can I get a

big Hooah.’

Praying for your safe return,

Pamela and Ben Pharris"

H e r e o n F o r w a r d

Operating Base Finley-

Shields, we conducted a

memorial ceremony for

Pharris on January 12. The

ceremony was very well

attended by not only the

ADT, but many other

units of the 1st Brigade,

1 0 1 s t A i r b o r n e

Division. While his death

w a s a t r a g i c l o s s ,

our team has found some

consolation in the fact that

Robert lived a good life

and died doing something

that he loved to do - being

a Soldier and supporting a

mission to make the world

a better and safer place.

Message from the Commander

I N S I D E T H I S

S E C T I O N :

Senior’s Space 2

General Carpenter

on the FOB

4

What We’ve

Done 5

Meet the Team 6

Pictures From

the Field

8

Announcements 10

Back at the

Homestead

11

The Muleskinner Team Mo Agri-Business Development Team IV

J A N U A R Y 3 1 , 2 0 1 0 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 8

D R I V I N G

T H E T E A M

Commander

Col. Fortune

Deputy

Commander

Lt. Col. Charles

Senior Enlisted

Advisor

Senior Master

Sgt. Blankenship

ADT members together after the memorial service.

P A G E 2

From around the world

H e l l o

f r o m t h e

W e s t s i d e … t h e

w e s t s i d e o f t h e

W O R L D t h a t i s . I

a m a c t u a l l y o n

R & R i n S t . P e t e r s ,

Missour i .

T h e M i s s o u r i /

N a n g a r h a r A D T IV

mis s ion has reached

i t s h a l f w a y p o i n t

a n d j u s t a b o u t h a l f

o f o u r t e a m h a s

e x p e r i e n c e d t h e i r

R & R . R & R i s t h e

m i l i t a r y s l a n g f o r

r e s t a n d

r ecupe ra t i on o r r e s t

a n d r e l a x a t i o n ,

w h i c h e v e r y o u

p r e f e r . C u r r e n t

p o l i c y a l l o w s

S o l d i e r s a n d

A i r m e n t o g o o n a

1 5 - d a y R & R p a s s

d u r i n g t h e i r

dep loyment .

I ’ m n o t s u r e

wh o o r i g in a l l y s a i d

“ R & R ” i s f o r r e s t

a n d r e c u p e r a t i o n ,

b u t t h e y m u s t n o t

h a v e b e e n m a r r i e d

o r h a v e h a d a n y

f r iends !

M y d e f i n i t i o n

o f R & R i s r u n …

a n d t h e n r u n s o m e

m o r e . T h e f a mi l i e s

w a n t t o s e e y o u ,

y o u r w o r k m a t e s

wa n t t o d o a h a p p y

h o u r , a n d y o u r

pe r sona l f r i en ds a l l

wan t t o mee t up for

d inner and dr inks .

H o w e v e r , I

d o n ’ t t h i n k a n y o f

t hese people t a lk t o

e ac h o th e r s o I h a d

t o lay down the l aw

… w e w e r e a l l t o

m e e t a t O l i v e

G a r d e n , b e c a u s e

w h e n y o u g o t o

O l i v e g a r d e n y o u

a r e f a mi l y . T h a t ’ s

w h a t t h e O l i v e

G a r d e n c o mme r c i a l

s ays anyway.

A n d m y l o g i c

was , i f I a m f a mi l y

t h e y s h o u l d n ’ t

m a k e m e p a y ,

r i g h t ? A p p a r e n t l y

n o t . W h e n I s a i d

h e l l o s i s t e r N a n c y ,

s h e t o l d m e I

w a s n ’ t h e r b r o t h e r .

T o m a k e a l o n g

s to ry shor t , I ended

u p s t u c k w i t h t h e

b i l l b e c a u s e t h e y

a l l sa id T HEY were

f ami ly .

W h a t e v e r t h e

c a s e , I h a v e b e e n

t h e r e , h e r e , b a c k

t he re , and have me t

m y p e o p l e

e v e r y w h e r e ; D r .

S e u s s h a s n o t h i n g

on me .

T h i s m o r n i n g I

h a d t o g e t u p a t

4 :00 a .m. t o s ee the

n e w s r e - r u n s s i n c e

I w a s t o o b u s y

s o c i a l i z i n g t h e d a y

be fo re .

My f i r s t bee r i n

s i x m o n t h s …

y a h o o o ! A s m o s t

o f y o u p r o b a b l y

a l r e a d y k n o w ,

d e p l o y e d S o l d i e r s

a n d A i r me n a r e n o t

a l l o w e d t o d r i n k .

R e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t

a n y o n e t e l l s y o u ,

t h a t i s p r o b a b l y a

good th ing . Bu t fo r

d a ys o r e ve n wee ks

(Continued on page 3)

T H E M U L E S K I N N E R T E A M

By Senior Master Sgt.

Blankenship

V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 8

P A G E 3

T H E M U L E S K I N N E R T E A M

d o ” l i s t … i t wa s a f r e a k i n g W a r a n d

Peace nove l .

Need le s s to s ay , I had a gr ea t t ime

wh i l e I wa s h o me . T h o u gh I wa s o n l y

t h e r e f o r 1 5 d a y s , i t w a s s o me o f t h e

bes t 15 days I ha ve eve r had . I t wen t

b y r a t h e r q u i c k l y b u t i t w a s s t i l l a n

a w e s o m e t i m e t o b e w i t h f a m i l y a n d

f r i e n d s . I t w a s h a r d l e a v i n g , b u t I

kn e w wh e n I go t b a c k t o F OB F i n l e y -

S h i e l d s I w o u l d o n l y h a v e a b o u t f o u r

a n d a h a l f mo n t h s b e f o r e i t wo u l d a l l

be ove r .

I w o r k e d v e r y h a r d t o h a v e a 6 -

pack s tomach fo r t he wi f e by t he t ime I

go t ho me on R&R. I wor ked ve r y ha rd

whi l e home and now have an add i t i ona l

6 -p a c k o ve r i t . P90X a nd AB -Rip pe r

a r e go in g t o be my f r i en ds o nce a ga in

when I r e tu rn to t he FOB.

b e f o r e d e p a r t i n g f o r R&R, a l l yo u c a n

t h i n k a b o u t i s t h a t f i r s t b e e r …

A h h h h h h . E v e n o n y o u r w a y h o me t o

t he S ta te s , t he re i s no a l coho l un t i l you

r e ac h yo u r f i n a l d es t i na t i o n a i r p o r t . I

m u s t h a v e w a l k e d b y 2 0 d r i n k i n g

e s t a b l i s h me n t s i n t h e v a r i o u s a i r p o r t s

a long the way.

I w i l l s a y t h a t w a l k i n g t h r o u g h

t h o s e a i r p o r t s i n m y u n i f o r m , I h a d a

l o t o f p e o p l e l i f t t he i r b e e r s a n d t o a s t

me to t hank me fo r my se rv i ce . I was ,

o f c o u r s e , v e r y a p p r e c i a t i v e a n d

nodded , bu t a t t he s ame t ime l i cked my

l i p s . I a m s u r e t h e y a l l t h o u gh t I h a d

c h a p pe d l i p s f r o m t he d e s e r t , o r t h a t I

was ve r y t h i r s ty s i nce I had my tongue

h a n gi n g h a l f wa y ou t o f my mo u t h . I t

was a l l one b ig t ease .

When I f i na l l y go t t o St . Lou is , my

wi f e a sked me where I wou ld l i ke t o go

t o have my f i r s t cockt a i l . My r e sponse

… “Honey, t he re had be t t e r be a cool er

i n t h e c a r … i t i s h a p p y h o u r

somewhere i n t he wor ld and s ince I j u s t

f l e w a c r o s s i t , I d e s e r v e a d r i n k r i g h t

now.”

I f y o u r j o b r e q u i r e s y o u t o t r a v e l ,

y o u k n o w t h a t a s s o o n a s y o u l e a v e

ho me so meth ing b rea ks . Wel l l eave fo r

f i v e o r s i x m o n t h s … a n d e v e r y t h i n g

b r e a k s . I w a l k e d i n t o t h e h o u s e a n d

t h e r e w a s a s c r o l l h a n g i n g o n t h e

r e f r i g e r a t o r . I d i d n ’ t h a v e a “ h o n e y

(Continued from page 2)

Senior stops for a photo outside one of the ADT’s many solar

well projects scattered around Nangarhar. He is always ready

with a smile and carries his teddy bear on every mission.

P A G E 4

I n early January,

t h e A D T w a s

h o n o r e d b y a

v i s i t f r o m G e n e r a l

D a v i d H . P e t r e a u s ,

c o m m a n d e r o f t h e

NAT O In t erna t ional

S ec ur i t y As s i s t a nce

Force and also of U.S.

Forces Afghanistan.

A l t h o u g h t h e

general spends much

of his time tending to

issues in the southern

provinces of Helmand

and Kandahar where

t h e T a l i b a n h a s a

stronghold, he wanted

to see, firsthand, what

chal lenges faced the

p r o v i n c e s i n t h e

e a s t e r n p a r t o f t h e

country where kinetic

activity has increased

during the past year.

On Jan. 6 he flew

to Nangarhar to meet

w i t h t h e p r o v i n c i a l

governor and visit one

of the Missouri ADT's

w a t e r s h e d

management projects

i n t h e d i s t r i c t o f

Kama.

It had taken about two

w e e k s f o r T a s k F o r c e

Bas to gne , t he b r igade -

l e v e l " b a t t l e s p a c e

owner" for the provinces

of Nangarhar , Nuristan,

and Kunar, to fully plan

and coordinate Petreaus'

visit. By the morning of

J anua ry 5 however , a l l

t h e n e c e s s a r y

c o o r d i n a t i o n h a d b e e n

completed and the plan

was locked down.

B u t a t a r o u n d 4 : 3 0

p.m. that day, the ADT

r e c e i v e d s o m e

devastating news; Sgt.1st

Class Robert W. Pharris,

a member o f t he ADT,

h a d b e e n k i l l e d b y a n

i m p r o v i s e d e x p l o s i v e

device in the district of

K h o g y a n i w h i l e o n a

mission with the cavalry

unit he was supporting.

A l t h o u g h t h e t e a m

would still be in a state

of shock, the next day's

mission would cont inue

as planned. After some

very intense grieving and

a s h o r t n i g h t ' s s l e e p ,

team members assembled

in the motor pool at 6:00

a . m . f o r t h e m i s s i o n

briefing. The plan was to

v i s i t a p r o j e c t i n t h e

d i s t r ic t of Dar i Nor and

then proceed to Kama to

meet up with Petreaus.

When the pre -mission

briefing was over, Sgt.1st

Class Earl M. Eisenbacher

gave the group a pep talk.

He sa id , "None of us

want to go on this mission

t o d a y , b u t we ' r e g o in g .

And we need to suck it up

b e c a u s e w e a r e a l l

counting on each other to

keep the team safe. So put

your game face on and let's

go."

He then closed with the

(Continued on page 5)

V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 8

“So put your

game face on and

let’s go.” He then

closed with the

comment,

“Sergeant Pharris

wouldn’t have it

any other way!”

By Col. Mike Fortune

General Petreaus talks with local Af-

ghans while on mission with the ADT.

comment , "Sgt . Phar r i s

w o u l d n ' t h a v e i t a n y

other way!"

D e s p i t e t h e

c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e

mission went extremely

well . The ADT convoy

pul led into Kama about

a n h o u r b e f o r e t h e

general was scheduled to

arrive. When his UH-60

B l a c k h a w k h e l i c o p t e r

landed in an open f ield

n e a r t h e wo r ks i t e , t h e

A DT c o mma n d e r , Co l .

Mike Fortune, met him at

the helicopter.

Petreaus ' f i rst words

were, "Mike, I heard you

l o s t a g r e a t S o l d i e r

yesterday and I'm terribly

sorry about that. I know

this is a really difficult

t i me f o r yo u a n d yo u r

unit."

For tune then led the

general about 200 meters

to the works i te , dur ing

which time he discussed

t he ADT 's mi ss ion and

s t r a t e g y . P e t r e a u s

stayed for a few minutes

to learn more about the

ADT's project - a labor-

intensive cash -for -work

p r o j ec t t o i mp ro ve t he

adjacent vi l lage 's canal

(Continued from page 4)

system.

He then walked with

t h e T a s k F o r c e

Bas togne commander ,

Col. Drew Poppas, to a

nearby marketplace to

t a l k w i t h t h e l o c a l

shopkeepers.

While at the village

m a r k e t , t h e g e n e r a l

o r g a n i z e d a n

impromptu footrace for

the local Afghan kids

and gave the winner a

soccer ball. Afterward,

the general walked back

t o h i s he l i co p t e r a nd

headed back to Kabul.

Looking back, it was

a d i f f i c u l t d a y f i l l ed

with emotion, but Sgt.

1st Class Pharris would

have been proud of the

team's performance.

C o l . P o p p a s c o u l d

have taken Petreaus to

s e e a n y n u m b e r o f

projects going on in his

b a t t l e s p a c e , b u t h e

chose to show him one

t h a t w a s b e i n g

a d m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e

Missouri ADT because

h e ge n u i ne l y be l i e ves

the team is doing some

great work and making a

difference here.

P o p p a s c o mme n t e d

a f t e r t h e mi s s i o n wa s

over that the general was

very impressed with the

p r o j e c t , a n d w i t h t h e

d i r e c t i o n t h e A D T i s

headed.

With the ADT providing ever diligent security, Petreaus is able to talk with the

local people and learn about life in Eastern Afghanistan.

“Looking back

it was a difficult

day filled with

emotion, but

Pharris would

have been

proud of the

team’s

performance.”

P A G E 6

o n Friday, Jan.

21, the acting Director of

t h e A r m y N a t i o n a l

Guard, Major General

Raymond W. Carpenter,

visited the Nangarhar

A g r i - B u s i n e s s

D e v e l o p m e n t

Team on FOB Finley-

Shields.

Carpenter and h is

e n t o u r a g e a r r i v e d

i n t w o U H - 6 0

B l a c kh a wks a l i t t l e

before 12:15 p.m. and

stayed nearly two hours.

I n s t e a d o f

participating in the usual

command briefing upon

a r r i v a l , h e h e a d e d

s t r a i g h t f o r t h e

dining facility and had

lunch with ADT Soldiers

and Airmen.

Carpenter spent thirty

minutes with Spec. John

Buell , Spec. Zachary

Cronk, Spec. Jeremy

Chapman, Special i s t

Johnnie Sims and Sgt.

Elijah Mosier.

F r o m t h e d i n i n g

f a c i l i t y , C a r p e n t e r

walked down to see

where the ADT Soldiers

and Airmen live. The

u n i t h e l d a q u i c k

f o r m a t i o n s o C o l .

M i k e F o r t u n e a n d

Carpenter could promote

J e r e m y B e r e n d z e n t o

captain.

Col. Fortune explained

Berendzen's contributions to

the team and Carpenter

s w a p p e d o u t h i s f i r s t

l i e u t e n a n t b a r f o r

captain's bars.

Gen. Carpenter spoke to

the team for ten minutes on

t h e m i s s i o n o f A D T s .

He also emphasized the vital

role the Army Nat ional

Guard has f i l led in our

nation's defense since the

attacks of September 11th,

2001

Carpenter then took time

to visit some of the rooms of

the Soldiers and Airmen. He

met one-on-one with many of

t h e t e a m m e m b e r s .

D u r i n g h i s v i s i t

Carpenter took time to meet

with leaders from the Kunar/

Iowa Army National Guard's

ADT who had traveled to

FOB Finley-Shields for the visit.

Carpenter also presented some

Combat Infantryman's Badges to

members of t he Nangarhar

Provincial Reconstruction Team

who also live on FOB Finley-

Shields.

Gen. Carpenter and his team

departed FOB Finley-Shields at 2

p.m. to continue visiting other

N a t i o n a l G u a r d u n i t s i n

Afghanistan.

V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 8

“He emphasized

the vital role the

Army National

Guard has filled

in our nations

defense since

that attacks of

September 11th,

2001.”

By Lt. Col. North Charles

Maj. Gen. Carpenter ensures Capt. Berendzen’s new

bars are firmly affixed to his uniform.

Maj. Gen. Ray

Carpenter (left)

admires Spec.

Anthony Berry-

man’s (right)

room.

P A G E 7

W e the Soldiers

a n d A i r me n

o f A D T - I V h a v e

m a d e m a n y

improvements during

o u r t i m e h e r e o n

FOB Finley-Shields.

P e o p l e h a v e ma d e

and improved upon

t h e i r c u s t o m i z e d

r o o ms i n o r d e r t o

maximize space or to

just have their own

area.

We have poured

more than 16 yards

of concrete, buil t a

w o r k o u t a n d

commons area , and

f a sh ioned our own

p u l l - u p b a r s f r o m

scrap iron.

I t ’ s t o u g h

sometimes, not being

able to run out to a

L o w e s o r H o m e

Depot but we make

d o a n d a r e o f t e n

pleasantly surprised

with the results.

I t h i n k w e d o

these things not only

t o m a k e a b e t t e r

l iving envi ronment

but also to bring a bit

of home with us.

Many people enjoy

c a r p e n t r y a n d

c o n s t r u c t i o n a s a

hobby back home and

it is nice to be able to

continue this here, so

m a n y m i l e s f r o m

h o me . T h e t i me we

spend working on our

var ious projec ts has

also allowed many of

us to become c loser

and even learn a new

skill here and there.

Among the various

projects we currently

have in the works is

an expans ion of t he

g y m t o t a k e u p t h e

remainder of the space

between the Security

Forces and Agriculture

buildings. With more

w o r k o u t e q u i p m e n t

and ideas on the way,

t h i s i s an impor tant

project.

One member of the

Security Forces, Sgt.

Eric Kostron, is also

working on a barbeque

g r i l l b ec a u se , we l l ,

who doesn’ t love to

barbeque on a sunny

day off?

When everything is

all said and done we

can say that we have

d o n e v e r y w e l l f o r

ourselves, creating an

amazing l iving area,

f a s h i o n i n g u s e f u l

things for the team to

come together around,

and provid ing many

people with numerous

learning opportunities

i n t h e w o r l d s o f

c a r p e n t r y a n d

construction.

T H E M U L E S K I N N E R T E A M

“I think we

do these

things not

only to make

a better

living

environment

but also to

bring a bit of

home with

us.”

What We’ve Done to Make it Home

By Master Sgt. Bob Weber

During the Holiday

party the ADT

threw, the

Commons Area was

unveiled and opened

up for use by the

team.

P A G E 8

From Hawaii with love

Re l i ab l e and capab le

Specialist Eric Garcia

serves as one of

S E C F O R ’ s m o s t

respected and talented

gunners. He brings a

wealth of knowledge and

experience to his work

with the ADT.

S p c . G a r c i a

previously deployed to

Iraq as a Combat

Engineer with the 1138th

Engineer Company

( S a p p e r ) f r o m

Farmington. He worked

on a route clearance team

in Baghdad during that

mission.

1st Lt. Miciah Pyatt,

Specialist Garcia’s

platoon leader, describes

Eric as a quiet, but very

professional Soldier.

“Specialist Garcia is

one of those extremely

reliable, very capable

Soldiers. I can always

r e ly on h i m to

accomplish any task he’s

given. He puts in extra

time to ensure every job

is done right.”

Eric describers his

time with ADT. “This is

very different from my

first deployment, but I

don’t mind it. The

mission is good and I get

a l o n g we l l w i t h

everyone in SECFOR.”

Specialist Garcia

lives in Kirksville, with

his wife Jennifer, and

their three children.

During his mid-tour

leave, he was able to

spend time with them in

Kirksville and in Kansas

City where they enjoyed

an indoor water park.

Eric works for Bayer in

Kansas City, Missouri.

pos i t ive force in

SECFOR.

“Sergeant Kostron

pitches in on every task.

His positive attitude and

focus on the mission

makes a difference

e v e r y w h e r e i n

SECFOR.”

Sgt. Kostron was

selected as the ADT’s

NCO of the Month for

December 2010.

In his civilian

career, Eric works as an

HVAC technician and a

welder. He lives in

Springfield with his

wife, Angela, and their

five children. Eric’s

home unit of assignment

is the 276th Engineer

Company (Vert ical

Construction) in Monett

and Pierce City where

he is a Team Leader.

Eric describes his

time with ADT, “It’s a

great bunch of guys I’m

serving with. The

missions are good and

w e ’ r e m a k i n g a

difference here. I’m

also able to help out

a r o u n d t h e F O B

building some things

and improving our place

here.”

Sergeant Eric

Kostron serves as

a SECFOR Team

Leader and Truck

Commander. His

larger-than-li fe

p e r s o n a l i t y ,

generous nature,

and love for

Hawaii come

t h r o u g h i n

everything he

does.

Master Sgt.

Bob Weber, Sgt.

K os t r o n’ s P l a t oo n

Sergeant, says Eric is a

M U L E S K I N N E R T E A M

By Lt. Col. North Charles

By Lt. Col. North Charles

P A G E 9

Building the Future

C a p t a i n J o h n

P a l u c z a k i s t h e

A g r i c u l t u r e S e c t i o n

Deputy. In this role, he

a c t s a s t he go - t o guy

making things happen on

a daily basis in the Ag

Section. His role is to

bring order to the chaos

o f t e n a g r i c u l t u r e

specialists and engineers

working in ten districts

a c r o s s N a n g a r h a r o n

countless projects.

Capt. Paluczak says,

“ I rea l l y l i ke th i s j ob

because i t ’s extremely

c h a l l e n g i n g , a l w a y s

evolving and it gives me

the opportunity to gain

n e w s k i l l s o n a d a i l y

basis.”

I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s

duties as the Ag Team

OIC, John also plays a

s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e i n

i n t e r a c t i n g w i t h

Nangarhar director of

agriculture, irrigation

and l i ves tock; U.S .

A g e n c y f o r

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

D e v e l o p m e n t

I m p l e m e n t i n g

P a r t n e r s ; a n d

N a n g a r h a r

University.

L t . C o l . R a y

Legg, the Ag Team

C h i e f e x p l a i n s ,

“ W h i l e m a n y

members of the Ag

Team concentrate on

t h e d i s t r i c t l e v e l ,

J o h n o f t e n w o r k s

p r o v i n c e - w i d e

projects. He’s able to

u n d e r s t a n d t h e

commander ’s intent

and translate that into

working relationships

with a variety of our

development partners.

J o h n h a s b e g u n

d i s t a n c e r u n n i n g

d u r i n g t h i s

deployment . He has

completed a series of

1 0 k r a c e s a n d h a l f

marathons. He plans

t o con t inue runn in g

throughout his time on

FOB Finley-Shields.

Pa luczak and h i s

wife Michelle live in

S t . L o u i s . I n h i s

civi l ian career , John

has been a Premium

Auditor for four years

at Safety National. A

nine year veteran of

t h e M i s s o u r i A r m y

National Guard, Capt.

Paluczak’s home unit

of assignment is the

1 1 4 0 t h E n g i n e e r

B a t t a l i o n i n C a p e

Girardeau.

well.

Fox says, “During this deployment, I’m assisting Afghan farmers, mingling with Afghan people, and learning their culture. Our projects in Shinwar are making tangible differences for this country.”

M a s t e r S g t . S t e v e B r a d l e y t h e A g T e a m Noncommissioned Officer In Charge explains, “Staff Sgt. Fox is a great worker who really throws himself i n t o a p r o j e c t . H e understands what we’re doing here and how this will

Staff Sergeant William F. Fo x se rves a s a Lia i son Sergeant to Shinwar district and a Hydrologist Subject M a t t e r E x p e r t w i t h t h e Agriculture Team.

In his ro le as Lia i son Sergeant, Fox mentors and develops Mr. Ihsanullah, the Agriculture Extension Agent in Shinwar and oversees all agriculture redevelopment projects in that district.

As the team’s Hydrologist, Staff Sgt. Fox assists with all water management projects as

make a difference.”

Fox stays in shape by weight lifting and boxing while deployed. When at home, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Laura, and six children.

Fo x’s ho me u n i t o f assignment is A Co., 935th Aviation Support Battalion in Aurora where he is an Ammunition Section Chief. This is Staff Sgt. Fox’s second deployment. He also served in Somalia as a fire chief and in Cuba providing fire protection and riot control support.

T H E M U L E S K I N N E R T E A M

Water and fire professional

By Lt. Col. North Charles

By Lt. Col. North Charles

P A G E 1 0

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris

V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 8

Never one to pass up a photo, Sgt. 1st Class

Pharris stands with a group of Afghan children

outside a solar well project

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris enjoyed all the

animals of Afghanistan, including this

monkey kept at FOB Fenty.

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris and other members

of the Team stand outside a veterinary

clinic.

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris was an expert on small

ruminants and shared his expertise.

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris by an RG-31 just before his first

mission.

At his core, Sgt. 1st Class Pharris was an

Infantryman and always wore his crossed rifles

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris strongly believed in the

education of youth as a means to change Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Pharris stands next to Spec.

Lohmann outside one of the ADT’s solar well

projects.

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 8

Flying over Jalallabad provides a new and unique look

on the city as members of the ADT head to the

Governor’s Palace for a conference.

Watched over by the Security Forces,

the Agricultural Team speaks with a

local Afghan at a project site.

Capt. Huenink talks with an Afghan girl outside a

project site, making a new friend.

1st Lt. Wischmeyer enjoys some

of the local cuisine while at the

Governor’s Palace.

SGT, Rios inspects and takes pictures of a

solar panel array.

Spc. Terry looks through his scope, providing

security while dismounted.

Sgt. 1st Class Eisenbacker, Sgt. 1st

Class Travis, and Sgt, Mosier

The ADT marches on towards another

project while “outside the wire”. Spc. Brody stops to pet one of the many dogs

running around the Rodat District Center.

The team comes together for a group photo oppor-

tunity while out on mission.

A HEARTY THANKS TO ALL

THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SENT

DONATIONS TO THE UNIT

MEMBERS AND AFGHAN

CHILDREN:

Angela Lanaker

Hero Hugs

Missouri 4-H

USO

Maloney Family

Jim and Katie Roberson

Dennis O’Leary, Local 136 Fenton

Rick and Mary Rutledge

James Tinder

Holly Cronk

Alice Howard

Dr. James Maxwell and Staff. Crestwood

Dental Group

Michelle Paluczak

Operation Gratitude

Janice Beydler

Safety National

Odessa, MO

Ram Trucks

Bank of America

Innoventor

Sabreliner Corporation

Operation Christmas Tree

Operation Care

Name (NO RANK)

MONG ADT IV

FOB Finley-Shields

APO, AE 09310

Give us a holler!

MONG

ADT IV

Celebrating Birthdays in January

Anniversaries

● Lorrie and Robert Taggart

Staff Sgt. Beydler Staff Sgt. Reynolds Dana Travis

Sgt. Clouse Sgt. 1st Class Travis

Sgt. Fizer Gina Sekscinski

Capt. Orlando Jamie Terry

www.facebook.com/

MONG.ADTIV

The Muleskinner Team provides a

monthly update for families and

friends of the Nangarhar Missouri

National Guard Development Team.

The Muleskinner Report provides

insights and analysis on the

Nangarhar Missouri National Guard

Development Team’s mission. If you

have questions or comments on the

Muleskinner Report, please contact

Col. Mike Fortune at

Mike.Fortune@afghan.swa.army.mil

The Muleskinner is an unofficial publication au-

thorized by AR 360-1. It is published monthly

by the Missouri Agribusiness Development

Team IV to provide important information re-

lated to their deployment for the Soldiers and

Airmen, their Families, units and commands,

the Army, DOD and the public.

Views and opinions expressed in the

Muleskinner are not necessarily those of the

Department of the Army or DOD.

If you would like to receive this publication to

your email or have questions or comments

concerning ADT IV please contact:

marie.orlando@us.army.mil

Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Marie Orlando

ADT IV

MONG

ADT IV

• Family Readiness Group Leader Paula Ann Maloney

417.250.1703 or 417.683.3711

• ArmyOne Source 800.342.9647

• Family Program Office 800.299.9603

• Family Assistance Center 877.236.4168

• Deployed Pay Issues 877.276.4729

• Employer Support of Guard and Reserve

573.638.9500 ext. 7730

• 131st Fighter Wing Coord. 314.527.6362

• 139th Fighter Air Lift Wing Coord. 816.236.3511

• Military Family Life Consultants

- Child/Youth (Amy Bledsoe) 573.418.3588

- Adult (Phil Pringle) 573.418.3588

• JFHQ-MO Chaplain 573.638.9618

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