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    Soldier pays respect with every meal

    BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – As Soldiers head back from a range, someone asked if anyone was interested in going to Koele, which is a dining facility here.

    Normally, mispronouncing a peculiar name would go unnoticed or unchallenged, but for Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Crossman, a Hancock, New York native, force protection NCO for the 10th Sustainment Brigade, the proper pronunciation matters.

    “It’s pronounced koo-lee,” Crossman said sharply.

    He then raised his sleeve to show the name “SSG Koele Shane M.” tattooed just above his wrist.

    Throughout a Soldier’s time in the military, there is a chance they may have come across a building, sports field or park dedicated to some Soldier they may know nothing about.

    However, in this case, it’s the complete opposite for Crossman.

    The Koele DFAC was dedicated in memory of Staff Sgt. Shane M. Koele, a squad leader assigned to the 212th Military Police Company. Koele died March 16, 2005, as a result of injuries suffered when his humvee was struck by a roadside bomb. Crossman was also in the truck with Koele at the time.

    A ceremony was held to award injured Soldiers with The Purple Heart Medal and to dedicate a compound in Koele’s name.
    “I was here when this area was dedicated as Camp Koele back in 2005,” said Crossman. “Koele was the first friend I lost while deployed. We had only been in country for about a week.”

    Crossman talked about how he got to know him and the kind of man Koele was.

    They became friends while they were both members of the military police warfighter team for the 793rd Military Police Battalion out of Kitzingen, Germany. They continued to get assigned to details together like pulling security during D-Day’s 60th Anniversary in France.

    “Staff Sgt. Koele was an awesome NCO who really cared about his Soldiers,” said Crossman. “He trained hard and was a great leader in combat.”

    Although Crossman has deployed to Afghanistan four times, this is his first time stationed at Bagram. He always took the time to eat at Koele DFAC when he could.

    The 10th SBDE manages the operations of the Koele DFAC.
    More than 10,000 U.S. service members, coalition forces, department of defense and civilian contractors from all over Bagram are served by the DFAC every day, which are more than 3,285,000 meals a year.

    Koele DFAC provides jobs for approximately 250 people. The workers range from U.S. civilians to Afghan local nationals.
    Chief Warrant Officer 2 Yessenia Johnson,a Newark, New Jersey native, brigade food service advisor, said currently the DFAC operates at a utilization rate of 118 percent.

    “Koele DFAC provides great service by going above and beyond with all of the U.S. holidays and events,” said Johnson. “[The workers] go above and beyond by creating many decorations which are in line with the holidays.”

    She said Koele is the special DFAC on Bagram because the brigade provides contracting officer representatives, which are monitoring safety, sanitation and policies.

    All the meat served at the DFAC is sent from the U.S.; however, the vegetables are grown in Afghanistan.

    Crossman has made arrangements with Johnson to receive the signs, plaques and keepsakes from Koele DFAC.

    He contacted Command Sgt. Maj. John F. McNeirney, military police regimental command sergeant major, to work out a plan to have a sign from the DFAC displayed in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regimental Museum at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

    He also contacted Koele’s wife, Cheryl Koele, to inform her of his intent. He plans to send her a sign from the DFAC with her husband’s name as a way to honor his fallen squad leader.

    Crossman said Koele is more than just a place to eat to him. It’s another way for him to pay his respects every day.

    “I’m going to take a couple of things back to my house as well,” said Crossman. “I want to be able to hang something on the wall so I don’t ever forget him.”

    Crossman said he wants to ensure Koele’s legacy lives beyond his death.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.25.2014
    Date Posted: 06.27.2014 01:56
    Story ID: 134616
    Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
    Hometown: HANCOCK, NY, US
    Hometown: NEWARK, NJ, US

    Web Views: 4,466
    Downloads: 1

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