Senior Airman James Bolinger
CJTF 82 Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Everyday, U.S. Soldiers in the Tagab Valley face a very real threat of death. There have been more attacks on these troops than days their fire base has been in existence. Six Soldiers have been injured since the coalition built two fire bases here earlier this year.
These men from the Army's elite 82nd Airborne and 158th Infantry Regiment are working continuously with Afghan national security forces to secure the valley.
These Soldiers received their first hot meal in months, Nov. 22, when several turkeys with all the fixins' were flown in by helicopter for Thanksgiving.
"I visit these guys at least once a week," said Lt. Col. James Leary, Task Force Gladius commander. "It's important to me that they know they haven't been forgotten. They see me a lot, but I'm asking a lot of them."
The members of these fire bases were sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags not so long ago, Leary said. They just installed showers and now have some B-huts to live in. They should have heat in their huts by the end of the month.
"The Soldiers in Tagab Valley are fighting in the Taliban's backyard," Leary said. "The people who live here have family members in the Taliban. It makes the mission here even more critical to the stability of the region."
First hot meal
Tagab Valley Soldiers tore through turkey and stuffing that was flown in by helicopter from Bagram Airfield for a Thanksgiving feast many will never forget.
"The white meat was magnificent," said Army Private 1st Class Matt Lorimer, 82nd Airborne soldier and Longmont, Co., native. "I don't usually like the white meat but this was alright."
They took turns eating and standing watch; and enjoyed a short break from their day-to-day struggle with the Taliban.
"Happy Thanksgiving," said Spec. Alvin Ainoa, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment soldier, and Oahu, Hawaii, native.
The goal was to feed every Soldier in the valley a hot meal and the mission was a success.
"There's even salad, I've got to get another plate," said one soldier. "I didn't even know it was there."
True infantry mission
Tagab Valley is an infantry mission, Leary said. Soldiers here are doing more than just mounted patrols. They are out there on foot, pushing the Taliban out of this valley.
"We are here to secure Tagab Valley," said Army Capt. Brian Forester, Fire Base Pathfinder executive officer. "These soldiers are taking it to the enemy whenever we have contact. The enemy is seeing that we stay and fight, we don't run."
Contact with the Taliban is something these Soldiers face everyday.
"We'll be out driving along and (rocket propelled grenades) will come out of the wood line," Lorimer said.
Despite the regular attacks on Paratroopers in the area, these Soldiers have not suffered severe casualties.
"We may have taken some causalities, but we've killed and injured many more of them," Forester said.
Building trust
The Afghan national army and police asked for our help in the valley, Leary said. They were having trouble building trust in the local community, which is sympathetic to the Taliban.
The Taliban have family here, this is where many of them come and stay here during the winter, he said.
To counter the Taliban's link to the local community, Leary's Soldiers work with the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team members, who are planning on building several schools in the area.
"We're building capacity," Leary said. "We are going to build several schools and we want to get a radio station out here."
Joint patrols, with Afghan national army and police, are another step towards stability and safety in the valley.
"Almost every patrol we do is joint," Leary said. "These people need to see us with the ANA and ANP. We train the Afghan security forces where everyone can see. We want the people to know their government is capable of protecting them."
It is a difference the Soldiers stationed in Tagab Valley see everyday.
"It's calmed down quite a lot," Anioa said, who has been involved with nearly 20 engagements in the valley. "We're not getting into as many firefights. Some of the locals like us being here, they wave when we pass by."
The American presence in the valley is an enduring one. Leary's goal before his people complete their deployment is to secure the entire valley, he said.
"We're here and we're gonna stay," Leary said.