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AU veterinarians deploying to Afghanistan

Printed in yesterday’s Opelika-Auburn News:

The veterinarians at Auburn University take care of dogs every day.

But in August they will be traveling thousands of miles to do so – in Afghanistan.

Three AU professors are among the members of the 358 Medical Detachment, a veterinarian unit of the U.S. Army Reserves, that will be deployed to Afghanistan in August.

Their mission is to take care of military animals, inspect food and help the Afghan people with agriculture reconstruction, said Capt. Brad Fields, veterinary medical officer with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

“So just making sure the food our service members eat … is safe and wholesome and free of adulterants,” he said. “And that it has been inspected and is not going to harm any soldiers.

“We want to know every ingredient that goes into the product. We want to have a real tight control of what the troops are eating.”

While there, Fields said the unit will inspect facilities that prepare the food and inspect the foods themselves “even if they have been inspected in this country (America).”

But it’s the opportunity to work with military animals that excites Fields the most.

“I love the dogs,” he said. “I love working with the handlers. The human-animal bond is amazing. Because the soldiers are with the dogs … They’re (the dogs) just another soldier.”

Capt. Soren Rodning is looking forward to helping the Afghan people with agricultural reconstruction.

This is Rodning’s first deployment since joining the U.S. Army Reserves about two years ago.

He said he is feeling “a little bit anxious and a little bit excited.”

The unit’s deployment will last for about a year.

In the news this weekend

The following announcements were printed in the Montgomery Advertiser and Times Daily:

Air Force Airman Aleisha Golson graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Mur­phy and Stella Golson, both of Prattville. Golson is a 2008 graduate of Autaugaville High School.

Congratulations, Aleisha!

Forrest C. Hull has been promoted to Army sergeant. Hull is the son of Bob and Jan­nah Bailey of Montgomery. He is a 2004 graduate of St. James High School and attended Auburn University before en­listing in the Army.

He is attached to the 1-25 Stryk­er Brigade, K-9 Division and is sta­tioned at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. Hull and his dog Flopper have been assisting the brigade in searching out bombs and hidden weapons during their deployment to Baq Qu Bah, Iraq. Hull will return in September from his second Iraq deployment.

Congratulations, Forrest!

Air Force Airman Shaun L. Norman graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Shannon Nor­man of Montgomery and Patrick Norman of Tallassee. Norman is a 2007 graduate of Tallassee High School.

Congratulations, Shaun!

Coast Guard Seaman Denver C. Moore, a 2009 graduate of Chap­man Christian Academy, Mill­brook, recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J.

Congratulations, Denver!

Emily T. Carl has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Of­ficer Training Corps) Leader’s Training Course at Fort Knox, Ky. The cadet is a student at Flori­da State University, Tallahassee. Carl is the daughter of Col. John W. and Jennifer S. Carl of Montgomery.

Congratulations, Emily!

Air Force Airman Matthew S. Lathan graduated from basic mili­tary training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Tracey and Shirley Lathan of Montgomery. Lathan is a 2005 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Mont­gomery.

Congratulations, Matthew!

Air Force Reserve Airman Amanda N. Harris graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San An­tonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Jeff Harris of Millbrook, and Peggy Smothers of Dahlonega, Ga. Harris is a 2008 graduate of For­syth Central High School, Forsyth County, Ga.

Congratulations, Amanda!

Air Force Airman 1st Class Daniel O. Ochoa graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Nancy Ochoa and Oscar Ochoa, both of Florence. He graduated in 2004 from Bradshaw High School, Florence, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2008 from Faulkner University, Montgomery.

Congratulations, Daniel!

Army Pvt. Matthew H. Butler has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is the son of Sonya Wallace, of Lexington, and is a 2001 graduate of Lexington High School.

Congratulations, Matthew!

Department of the Army Civilian Joan Poma has received the Superior Civilian Service Award while serving as a member of the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade Headquarters at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The Superior Civilian Service Award is the third highest award presented to civilians, and is comparable to the military’s Meritorious Service Medal. She received the award for exceptionally meritorious performance of duty as an information technology supervisor from May 5, 2008 to April 17, 2009. She has 15 years of federal service. She is the sister of Beverly D. Waldran, of Rogersville, Ala.

Congratulations, Joan!

Army Pfc. Austin W. Grissom has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is a 2003 graduate of Lauderdale County High School, Rogersville.

Congratulations, Austin!

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Phillip D. Brown gradu­ated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Jackie Brown of Millbrook. Brown is a 1993 graduate of Stanhope Elmore High School.

Congratulations, Phillip!

Air Force Airman Jasmine D. Logan graduated from basic mil­itary training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Sofia Griffith of Montgomery.

Congratulations, Jasmine!

Army Capt. Terry L. Joiner has arrived for duty in Richmond, Va. Joiner is a commander for Richmond Company, U.S. Army Recruiting Command. He is as­signed to the Command’s Beckley Battalion. Joiner has served in the military for 14 years. He is the son of Delois Joiner Montgomery.

Joiner graduated in 1996 from G.W. Carver High School, Mont­gomery, and received a bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md. He earned a master’s degree in 2006 from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo.

Way to go, Terry!

Air Force Reserve Airman Mi­chael R. Holmes graduated from basic military training at Lack­land Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Charlotte Gen­try of Millbrook.

Congratulations, Michael!

Air Force Airman Derrick C. Franklin graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of David Frank­lin of Greensboro, and brother of David Franklin Jr. of Montgom­ery. Franklin is a 2006 graduate of Greensboro West High School.

Congratulations, Derrick!

Navy Seaman Apprentice Shericka L. Brantley, a 2008 graduate of Luverne High School, Luverne, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Congratulations, Shericka!

Navy Reserve Seaman Aman­da Billups, a 1998 graduate of Holtville High School, Deatsville, recently completed U.S. Navy ba­sic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Congratulations, Amanda!

Army Pvt. Juan C. Sifuentez has graduated from Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla. Sifuentez is the brother of Juan Sifuentez Jr., and Elisa Washburn, both of Millbrook.

Congratulations, Juan!

Army Pfc. Cassini Wiley has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Colum­bus, Ga. He is the son of Nora Wiley of Montgomery. Wiley is a 2004 grad­uate of Brantley High School.

Congratulations, Cassini!

Army Pvt. Jesse R. Richards has graduated from the Infantry­man One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Advanced Individu­al Training. Richards is the son of Bert Richards of Prattville. The private is a 2007 graduate of Prattville High School.

Congratulations, Jesse!

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Nicole L. Williams gradu­ated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is the daughter of Haywood L. and Elizabeth S. Williams of Montgomery. Williams is a 2004 graduate of Taylor Road Academy High School.

Congratulations, Nicole!

Army National Guard Pvt. Wesley Gilbert has graduated from the Infantryman One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Co­lumbus, Ga. The training consists of Basic Infantry Training and Ad­vanced Individual Training. He earned distinction as an honor graduate. Gilbert is the son of Virginia Gilbert of Elmore.

Congratulations, Wesley!

Pentagon To Broadcast Iron Bowl To Troops

Courtesy of The Birmingham News:

U.S. troops deployed around the globe will be able to watch this year’s Iron Bowl live on the Armed Forces Network, Alabama U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions said today.

Responding to requests from Alabama service members, including some with the Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing deployed in Kyrgyzstan, Sessions’ office asked the Pentagon to set up a live broadcast of this year’s game, and the request has been granted.

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit with our troops in the Middle East on numerous occasions, and I frequently see an Alabama or Auburn flag flying below the Stars and Stripes,” said Sessions, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This is a huge game and it has huge national interest. I’m sure that all our military personnel who can will be glued to the television.”

The Iron Bowl, pitting top-ranked Alabama against archrival Auburn, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time on Nov. 29 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Auburn has won the last six contests.

Thank you, Senator Sessions!

Soldiers’ pets find guardian angels

I’m so thrilled that The Auburn Plainsman, the student newspaper of Auburn University, published a great story about Guardian Angels for Soldiers Pet!

Organization places deployed troops’ animals in foster homes

Many deployed soldiers are forced to give up their beloved pets because they have no one to take care of the animals. Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet is an organization that sets up foster homes for the soldiers’ pets.

Linda Spurlin-Dominik, National President of Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, said the organization was formed after they became aware of the problems military service members were having finding homes for their pets during their deployment. Soldiers often had to give their pets to a humane society or shelter.

“An individual signs up with our organization with an interest to open their home to a pet while the pet owner is deployed,” Spurlin-Dominik said.

There are three requirements to qualify as a pet foster home. Foster pet owners must open their homes to the pet or pets, ensuring the pets remain in a caring, loving, healthy and safe environment and relinquish the pet back to its owner when he or she returns safely from deployment.

“We are not only helping our military people, but we also help the shelters so that there are less animals surrendered to them,” Spurlin-Dominik said…

Read the rest of the story here!

Auburn mourns loss of a hero

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sergeant France’s loved ones:

Auburn soldier killed in motorcycle accident

Sunday, Raquiviaus “Quake” France told his mother about his dreams of completing aviation school and one day working on airplanes. Tuesday, the Auburn native, who turned 24, on June 4 was killed in a motorcycle accident in Pinellas Park, Fla.

“We were going to see him this weekend,” said his mother, Priscilla Daniel of Auburn. “We talked on Father’s Day and he told me he was in school.”

According to a report released by the Pinellas Park Police, France was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 19 at 7:19 a.m. when another vehicle made a U-turn directly in front of him. The report said France’s cycle plunged into the rear of a Chevrolet Cavalier, driven by Laura Edmisten, 34. France was ejected at impact, taken to Northside Hospital in nearby St. Petersburg, and pronounced dead at the hospital’s emergency unit.

Police said the accident is under investigation and no charges have been filed.

France, a 2002 Auburn High School graduate, served five years in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of E-5 Sergeant.

Recently, France was serving in the U.S. Army National Reserves and living in St. Petersburg, where he studied aviation. Daniel told the newspaper that France experienced baptism in the Jordan River, and enjoyed worldwide travel, including stops in Rome and Paris.

“He did so much for us and our country,” Daniel said. “He served one year in Iraq and one year in Afghanistan, and then he came back to me. I remember his strength, his leadership and he knew what to do right. He never got into trouble. He was a respectable young man. He was very loving. He wanted to take care of his mother.”

Harris Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.