Amy found this story for me. I was even further saddened when I heard a couple of days ago the Soldiers were from the 173d Brigade. While I haven’t checked official numbers, I am nearly certain their Brigade has taken more losses than any other that has deployed to Afghanistan.
I emailed my good friend, Chaplain Don Williamson, who is still in Afghanistan for a few more days to get his permission to use his first hand account of the November 10th ambush on the “Boys of Bella.” Assured enough time has passed that no OPSEC issues would be raised, here is his account of that horrible day. Caution, this is long but well worth the read!
I didn’t find the person I was looking for here, so if you meet all the qualifications except for the basic law enforcement knowledge and/or knowledge concerning Missouri POST let me know. I am willing to help the right candidate learn everything they will need to know in order to be successful so long as they bring the other skills.
I will take more names throughout this week. Email me at 
if you are interested or know someone who may be.
A knot in my stomach and a feeling of sadness overcame me this afternoon when I heard on the radio that 9 US Soldiers were killed in the Pesh valley in eastern Afghanistan. While the news report doesn’t say exactly what FOB, it occurred near the same location as the November 10th attack that killed 6 US Soldiers.
The Pesh valley is also the location of Seal Team 10’s incident in 2005. I encourage you to read Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell.
Back on November 10th, my good friend Chaplain Don Williamson was at Bella during the attack. He currently has about 10 days left in theater, and some of his men may still be up in the Pesh valley. Please pray for him and his men as they finish their 15 month mission in Afghanistan!
Chaplain Don in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan.
Today officially marks the end of nearly three years of full time service to the United States Army. The majority of that time was spent on active duty either preparing for my deployment or on the ground in Afghanistan. The most recent five months went by with my daily 94 mile commute to Ft. Leonard Wood to work as a full time Military Technician.
Tomorrow morning at 06:30 I begin my new life instructing Class 47 at the Missouri Regional Training Institute for the Missouri National Guard. My status will change back to one of a traditional guardsmen…you know one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer (yeah, right). My new business will now become my primary source of income…I am currently scouting some additional venues for secondary income.
It will feel awkward not waking up and putting on a uniform every day…the consolation I suppose comes in knowing the next time I put it on in August surely the Senate will have approved my promotion. I was selected for Captain back in May; but the red tape to get to pin it on is incredible! If not August, I guess I can wait until September 
