From the Desk Fury 6

LTC Timothy P. McGuire

Dear TF Fury Families,

Greetings from beautiful Paktika province in Afghanistan! It is with great pride that I write this letter to update you on the activities of the battalion since our arrival just over a month ago. We have hit the ground running -- it is hard to believe we have just been here for over 30 days. Your husbands, fathers, and sons are doing a great job and have already earned the trust and confidence of the Afghan people. We are fortunate that we replaced a very professional unit that had things well prepared for our arrival. We have been able to build upon their success and take our operations to the next level. I truly believe we are making history.

Paktika province is one of the most interesting in Afghanistan. Located in southeastern part of the country, it is about the size of Vermont but the landscape looks more like Wyoming or Eastern Washington. In some areas it is a flat and desertlike where in other areas there are snow capped mountains and forests of pine trees. We share a 600 kilometer boarder with Pakistan. It is one of the poorer areas of the country and lacks much in terms of infrastructure like roads, phones, and electricity. There are actually no paved roads in the province – needless to say, there is plenty of work for us to do. The good news is that most Afghans are very supportive of our efforts and after 25 years of war are ready for peace. It is very heartwarming to see the thumbs up and smiles from the children as we drive from village to village. We are also blessed to have a strong governor, chief of police and several local mayors who are working hard to ensure democracy takes root in Afghanistan and blossoms.

While Paktika lacks infrastructure, our Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) where we live do not. They are much better in comparison to where we lived in Iraq and are getting better. We are in the process of improving the gyms, fixing the roofs which have leaked due to the record amounts of rain and snow we received this winter, and are getting more phones in. Our cooks are doing a great job – even the generals that visit comment on our quality food. Our medics are well positioned and trained to take care of our Soldiers and have gotten some great practice taking care of Afghan patients. They have saved several young children from dying which is very rewarding to see. Perhaps the hardest working members of the team have been our mechanics who tirelessly work to ensure our vehicles are up and running, which is no easy feat given the conditions of the roads.

As I said earlier, after over 25 years of war, the needs here in Paktika are significant. Our companies are doing a great job of providing that assistance. Daily, our leaders are working with Afghan officials to fix roads, plant trees, install street lights, build schools and clinics, and provide tractors and seed to the farmers. The good news is that the almost 9 year long drought appears to be over. We received record levels of snow this winter so it should be a great growing season. The Afghan people are very hopeful which makes our job much easier. Another important task is building an Afghan security and governing capacity so they can provide for themselves when we redeploy. Each day we conduct training and joint operations with the Afghan National Army and National Police. Additionally, our leaders are helping the Afghan officials learn how to govern in a democracy. We attend weekly city council meetings and local town halls where the concerns of the people are addressed. One of our major focuses this spring and summer will be planning and preparing for the upcoming National Assembly Elections. For the first time in history, Afghans will be voting for their equivalent of a Senate and House of Representative. These truly historic elections will take place on 18 September. I wish every one of you could see the appreciation the Afghan people have for us and our nation. It makes the sacrifices we share as members of the Army family much easier to bear. Finally, we never lose sight of our primary mission which is to eliminate the terrorist threat. We are well trained, equipped and prepared for this mission and I believe the enemy knows it.

As I close, I would like to encourage you to stay involved with your company Family Readiness Groups. If you are still in Italy, I urge you to attend the battalion monthly meetings. I promise to have updated photos of TF Fury at every meeting. Speaking of photos, we really enjoyed the photos from the FRG Potluck. It was great seeing our family members and it looked like everyone had a great time. My sincere thanks to all those you helped put it together. Receiving those photos helped remind us of why we are here – to eliminate terrorism, win a lasting peace, and keep our loved ones at home safe. Rest assured, we are doing this here in Afghanistan. Thanks for all you are doing to support your husbands, fathers, and sons.

Fury from the Sky

Fury 6

This site is in no away affiliated with the 173d Airborne Bde in Vicenza, Italy or the Society of the 173d Airborne Bde.

It is however just what it says... a web site designed to provide real time simple support to the Parachute Infantry Regiment I love and our families.