Previously Held MOS 45K20-Armament Repairer
91K-Armament Repairer
45K-Tank Turret Repairer
55B10-Ammunition Specialist
55A-Ammunition Apprentice
77F-Petroleum Supply Specialist
92F-Petroleum Supply Specialist
Service Years
1987 - 2013
Official/Unofficial US Army Certificates
Cold War Certificate
Soldier of the Month
US Army Disabled Veteran Certificate
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
What are you doing now:
I am a Military and Family Readiness Specialist for the New York National Guard in Rochester, NY. My position primarily serves members of the New York Army National Guard and their families, but also assists Veterans of all branches and other services and their combined families, with military and regional resources before, during, and after deployments. I also support Soldier and Family Readiness Groups (SFRG), assist and advise as a liaison between unit leadership and SFRG Volunteers, and train unit leaders and volunteers for their roles in the SFRG.
I am currently the Commander for Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Monroe Powers Chapter 15 (Rochester, NY) and Senior Vice-Commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 412.
I addition to my work and interests, I also assist my wife with her Professional Photography business when she goes on wildlife shoots and her best friend is unable to travel with and assist her.
Description "Operation Enduring Freedom" (OEF) is the current official name used by the U.S. government for the War in Afghanistan, together with a number of smaller military actions, under the umbrella of the Global "War on Terror" (GWOT).
The operation was originally called "Operation Infinite Justice", but as similar phrases have been used by adherents of several religions as an exclusive description of God, it is believed to have been changed to avoid offense to Muslims, who are the majority religion in Afghanistan. U.S. President George W. Bush's remark that "this crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while", which prompted widespread criticism from the Islamic world, may also have contributed to the renaming of the operation.
The Operation comprises several subordinate operations:
Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P, formerly Operation Freedom Eagle)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Pankisi Gorge (completed in 2004)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara (OEF-TS; see also Insurgency in the Maghreb)
Operation Enduring Freedom – Caribbean and Central America (OEF-CCA)
The term "OEF" typically refers to the war in Afghanistan. Other operations, such as the Georgia Train and Equip Program, are only loosely or nominally connected to OEF, such as through government funding vehicles. All the operations, however, have a focus on counterterrorism activities.
Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan, which is a joint U.S., U.K. and Afghan operation, is separate from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which is an operation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations including the U.S. and U.K. The two operations run in parallel, and although it has been intended that they merge for some time, this has not yet happened.
Overview
In response to the attacks of 11 September, the early combat operations that took place on 7 October 2001 to include a mix of strikes from land-based B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress bombers, carrier-based F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet fighters, and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from both U.S. and British ships and submarines signaled the start of Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A).
The initial military objectives of OEF-A, as articulated by President George W. Bush in his 20 September Address to a Joint Session of Congress and his 7 October address to the country, included the destruction of terrorist training camps and infrastructure within Afghanistan, the capture of al-Qaeda leaders, and the cessation of terrorist activities in Afghanistan."
In January 2002, over 1,200 soldiers from the United States Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) deployed to the Philippines to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their push to uproot terrorist forces on the island of Basilan. Of those groups included are Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.[8] The operation consisted of training the AFP in counter-terrorist operations as well as supporting the local people with humanitarian aid in Operation Smiles.
In October 2002, the Combined Task Force 150 and United States military Special Forces established themselves in Djibouti at Camp Lemonnier. The stated goals of the operation were to provide humanitarian aid and patrol the Horn of Africa to reduce the abilities of terrorist organizations in the region. Similar to OEF-P, the goal of humanitarian aid was emphasised, ostensibly to prevent militant organizations from being able to take hold amongst the population as well as reemerge after being removed.
The military aspect involves coalition forces searching and boarding ships entering the region for illegal cargo as well as providing training and equipment to the armed forces in the region. The humanitarian aspect involves building schools, clinics and water wells to enforce the confidence of the local people.
Since 2001, the cumulative expenditure by the U.S. government on Operation Enduring Freedom has exceeded $150 billion.
The operation continues, with military direction mostly coming from United States Central Command.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
September / 2001
To Month/Year
December / 2002
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember SFC King, SGT Lyness, SSG Martinez, MAJ McConnell, CPT Nitka, SFC Downie, SFC Snyder, and SGT Simmons asking me for my ID when I returned to the Armory (silly, because he worked for me at the time, but that was his orders and he did a great job).
Memories Getting a root canal as events unfolded, then trying to answer the phone with a numb mouth as Soldiers began to call in.