618th 'Nasty' Engineers Return from Afghanistan

Photo By 1st Lt. Brian MacKey | Capt. Steven Holmberg and 1st Sgt. Chad Blansett, 618th Engineer Support Company (Airborne), as the last two to board the Chinook as the company completes its yearlong mission in Afghanistan.  

AFGHANISTAN

12.22.2010

Story by 1st Lt. Brian MacKey 

20th Engineer Battalion

The 618th Engineer Support Company (Airborne)—nicknamed the Nasty—is on its way home to Fort Bragg after a yearlong tour in some of the roughest areas of Afghanistan.

The Airborne Engineers, led by their commander Cpt. Steve Holmberg and 1st Sgt. Chad Blansett, conducted the mission of route clearance, traveling the regions in heavily-armored, specially-equipped vehicles to locate and eliminate improvised explosive devices buried along the roads or in other locations. The mission, though difficult, tedious, and dangerous, is vital to maintain freedom of movement for Afghan and coalition forces. And, most importantly, to keep the streets of Afghanistan safe for the local populations.

The Nasty operated in areas of Zabul province in southeastern Afghanistan, which represents some of the most difficult physical terrain, and unpredictable enemy activity the theater has to offer. They also worked with and supported a very diverse group of units—from fellow U.S. troops to a Romanian battalion to special operations forces. They were briefly commanded by two other combat engineer units before serving the majority of its tour with the 20th Engineer Battalion, Task Force Lumberjack.

“The brave men and women of the 618th performed extraordinarily in their missions over the past year, and I am extremely proud of them,” Says Lt. Col. Andrysiak, Task Force Lumberjack commander. “We will not forget their significant victories and contributions to the fight, nor those lost in battle.”

Despite the difficult mission, they proved versatile and determined in their performance, finding and clearing many IEDs throughout the course of their tour. They neutralized or prevented IEDs that otherwise may have detonated on the next thing to pass through the area, be it military or civilian. During the tour, patrols witnessed deadly incidents where civilian vehicles had struck insurgent IEDs.

Along with the significant victories and lives saved, there also came loss. In June, The Nasty lost its first soldier, Spc. Scott Andrews of Fall River, Mass. Then in July, a blast claimed four soldiers and wounded a fifth. Sgt. Chase Stanley, Sgt. Zachary Fisher, Spc. Jessie Reid, and Spc. Matthew Johnson paid the ultimate sacrifice that day.

The 618th traces its origins from the Pacific Theater during World War II, earning its illustrious name when fellow paratroopers, citing the airborne expression “dirty, nasty leg” once referred to the engineers as ‘nasty’, and the name stuck. In addition to WWII and its most recent tour in Afghanistan, the Nasty has seen combat in Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, and Iraq.

The paratroopers of the Nasty will be arriving home just in time for Christmas.

• Date Taken: 12.22.2010
• Date Posted: 12.22.2010 11:16
• Story ID: 62485
• Location: AF