Hope

Just found this on the Des. Moines Register… These are some pictures of Jono’s COP and Lt. Col. Bosen is in charge of Jono today at our Christmas Party he was able to do a conference call and give us some more information… This is a feel of what the guys are going through and their position…
From The Des Moines Register
Iowa troops posted in eastern Afghanistan have been attacked by insurgents, but they’ve also received support from local residents who seem tired of the war, a top commander said today.

 

Iowa soldiers enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at a combat outpost in Paktya Province. The outpost, called Rahmen Kheyl, is the most spartan of four occupied by soldiers of the 1-168th battalion. (National Guard photo.)

Lt. Col. Steve Boesen, who leads the Iowa National Guard’s 1-168th battalion, said by phone that his soldiers have engaged in a few firefights with the enemy and rolled through several explosions or attempted explosions of roadside bombs. No troops were injured, partly because they were protected by heavily armored MRAP trucks, he said.
Boesen commands about 1,000 U.S. soldiers, including 600 Iowans, who last month took control of security for Paktya Province. The Americans try to focus on the most troubled areas of the mountainous province, which is about the size of Delaware. “We have a lot of ground to cover, and we can’t be everywhere,” Boesen said.
The Iowans are among 2,800 Iowa National Guard troops who deployed to eastern Afghanistan over the past two months. Many of the battalion’s soldiers are stationed on small combat outposts, as little as six miles from the Pakistan border. They and their partners in the Afghan military are making frequent foot patrols through villages, shaking hands and meeting local leaders, Boesen said.

Spec. Josh Gottschalk, a medic, uses buckets to do laundry at a combat outpost.

“We’re trying to get a feel if people are receptive to the Afghanistan security forces, or if they’ll be hostile,” the lieutenant colonel said. About 90 percent of the area’s people are ethnic Pashtuns. That group provides most of the insurgency’s support, but Boesen said many locals appear to be leaning toward the government. For example, he said, they were outraged recently by a Taliban bombing that killed several civilians, and they appreciated assistance provided afterward by U.S. and Afghan government troops.
In past years, fighting in the region has dropped off during the harsh mountain winters. Insurgents reportedly rested, often in Pakistan hideouts, then returned in spring. “But we’re hearing they’re leaving some guys behind to keep at least a low level insurgency going through the winter,” Boesen said.
Boesen’s task force is serving under the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division. Six of the division’s soldiers were killed this week, allegedly by an Afghan policeman who was supposed to be working with them. The incident happened fairly close to where some of the Iowa soldiers are stationed, but Boesen said he doubted it would affect their outlook. “When you look at it from a statistical standpoint, the odds are very, very low” of such an attack happening. “You still have to trust your Afghan partners,” he said, because the U.S. troops’ main mission is to help local forces become strong enough to provide security for the people.

With no running water, the troops shave at this makeshift sink area.

Boesen served in the same area three years ago, when he was an embedded trainer to Afghan forces. He’s noticed significant improvements, including to the roads, many of which are paved or at least level. “I couldn’t say that three years ago,” he said. “I was bumping around like crazy.”
Boesen said his soldiers are in good spirits, despite relatively rugged living conditions for some of them. He said they appreciate support they feel every day from back home. “The packages are just flowing in like crazy, the notes and the letters,” he said.
This is a scary article but it’s real this is where are men our and all we can do here is PRAY for our men… It’s all in His hands and He knows our path and we shall not fear this… Thank you to everyone who thinks of Jono daily and prays for him daily it’s much appreciated on this end Love you all