KHOWST Province, Afghanistan – Governor Abdul Jabbar Naeemi officially declared Jaji Maidan a peace district at a celebration in the area’s district center compound Dec 16.
The declaration of peace districts began as a United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan initiative meant to reward areas that demonstrated success in the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups program.
“It is known in Kabul and across the land, that of all the districts throughout the country of Afghanistan, none is more peaceful than Jaji Maidan,” said Colonel Akhtar Mohammad Abrahimee, Khowst Province Chief of the National Directorate of Security, which is Afghanistan’s intelligence agency.
Many members of the Khowst provincial government attended the ceremony including the chief of the Afghan National Police and the commander of the Afghan National Army. They were accompanied by many tribal elders, leaders and mullahs from the Jaji Maidan area, many of whom had travelled great distances to attend.
Jaji Maidan means “Garden of the Jajis (the tribe’s name),” in Pashto and its people accurately reflect the name in the cultivation and protection of their home here.
Hundreds of Jajis flocked to Governor Naeemi as he strode the 800 meter steep climb from the village grounds up to the district center, perched high upon a hilltop. His procession resembled a small parade as the throngs parted for him, breaking out in spontaneous applause for the provincial governor.
The district’s stability was credited by provincial government leadership as a testament to district governor Younis and his people’s strong security posture against insurgent forces.
Leaving the ceremony, Governor Naeemi said, “This was a beautiful day for the people of Jaji Maidan.”
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Award Winning Chef Key Ingredient in Khowst PRT
KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan– A Sailor for more than three years, Petty Officer 2nd Class Francine Henry, a Culinary Specialist from Port Orchard, Wash., is used to preparing meals for thousands of her shipmates while deployed at sea.
Today, as a member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Khowst, she brings her culinary expertise to a joint team of warriors on the ground—Airmen, Soldiers, National Guardsmen and, yes, Sailors in Afghanistan.
In her short career she has become an award winning chef. Henry began her career as an honor graduate from her “A” school, a technical school for Navy culinary specialists.
After placing first in the Navy Region Northwest cooking competition, she won first place in the Iron Chef Competition two years in a row—once in August 2009 and then again in May 2010. She was featured on a local Seattle news program, New Day Northwest in May 2010.
The skills that garnered her these awards are enjoyed every day by her teammates here in Afghanistan.
Lt. Cmdr. Jack Morris from Chesapeake, Va., PRT Khowst executive officer, said “Having a good cook is vital to the morale of the whole team. Not all PRTs are as lucky as we are to have an award winning cook.”
Her daughter Alana, who will be two years old in February, drives Henry. “Everything I do is for my baby. She gives me strength to always be better.” She uses this strength as she strives to be a good leader to her subordinates daily and plans to make her job in the Navy a career.
“It was always my dream to join the military,” said Henry. “I joined the Navy because after researching all the other branches, I felt like I was made to become a sailor.”
Henry began cooking when she was nine years old. She says she learns something new every day, and likes learning new cooking techniques.
“I feel like you can never know enough when it comes to cooking, especially for a large group of people,” said Henry.
As the current head chef on PRT Khowst, Henry leads a team consisting of CS2 Samuel Waits from Lancaster, Ohio, and CS3 Damian Murray from Houston, Texas. The three met at Camp Atterbury Joint Military Training Center in Ind., in August for combat training prior to deploying to Afghanistan.
CS3 Murray stated that his cooking techniques have improved since working with Henry. “We have a great crew and a lot of fun working in the galley,” he said.
Three Afghan locals also assist Henry, Waits and Murray in the kitchen. One has been doing the job for nine years, since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom. Henry said she knows that good cooking will not only boost morale but can give members of PRT Khowst a little taste of home.
Today, as a member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Khowst, she brings her culinary expertise to a joint team of warriors on the ground—Airmen, Soldiers, National Guardsmen and, yes, Sailors in Afghanistan.
In her short career she has become an award winning chef. Henry began her career as an honor graduate from her “A” school, a technical school for Navy culinary specialists.
After placing first in the Navy Region Northwest cooking competition, she won first place in the Iron Chef Competition two years in a row—once in August 2009 and then again in May 2010. She was featured on a local Seattle news program, New Day Northwest in May 2010.
The skills that garnered her these awards are enjoyed every day by her teammates here in Afghanistan.
Lt. Cmdr. Jack Morris from Chesapeake, Va., PRT Khowst executive officer, said “Having a good cook is vital to the morale of the whole team. Not all PRTs are as lucky as we are to have an award winning cook.”
Her daughter Alana, who will be two years old in February, drives Henry. “Everything I do is for my baby. She gives me strength to always be better.” She uses this strength as she strives to be a good leader to her subordinates daily and plans to make her job in the Navy a career.
“It was always my dream to join the military,” said Henry. “I joined the Navy because after researching all the other branches, I felt like I was made to become a sailor.”
Henry began cooking when she was nine years old. She says she learns something new every day, and likes learning new cooking techniques.
“I feel like you can never know enough when it comes to cooking, especially for a large group of people,” said Henry.
As the current head chef on PRT Khowst, Henry leads a team consisting of CS2 Samuel Waits from Lancaster, Ohio, and CS3 Damian Murray from Houston, Texas. The three met at Camp Atterbury Joint Military Training Center in Ind., in August for combat training prior to deploying to Afghanistan.
CS3 Murray stated that his cooking techniques have improved since working with Henry. “We have a great crew and a lot of fun working in the galley,” he said.
Three Afghan locals also assist Henry, Waits and Murray in the kitchen. One has been doing the job for nine years, since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom. Henry said she knows that good cooking will not only boost morale but can give members of PRT Khowst a little taste of home.
Rebuilding the Behemoths of War
KHOWST Province, Afghanistan – Among his garage are the scattered tools you’d expect in a mechanic’s shop. Wrenches, bolt cutters and welding equipment all postured in different stages of function on or near the beige appendages of dismantled vehicles.
Except in his shop, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Johnston from Newark, Del., a University of Delaware graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and the construction mechanic for Provincial Reconstruction Team Khowst, doesn’t repair cars. He repairs the massive Mine Resistant Ambush Proof vehicles that the PRT drives on their missions to help the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan establish stability, security and governance in the country.
“When it comes down to it, these are just like working on a big, armored Chevy,” said Johnston, grinning.
MRAPs are the huge vehicles designed to operate throughout the challenging terrain of Afghanistan and be able to withstand attack from insurgents while keeping their passengers safe. Their proper maintenance requires specialized mechanical skills and ingenuity to repair.
“Normally we service, repair and fabricate anything that runs on diesel or gasoline,” said Johnston, who has worked on everything from weed whackers to construction cranes for the Navy.
The various versions of the MRAP require just as much mechanical flexibility and a wide breadth of technical expertise.
Johnston’s counterpart, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kacey Blackmon from Lockwood Calif., a master at arms, assists him in daily repairs. Working to repair farm equipment while growing up, Blackmon brings a unique set of skills to the machine shop as well.
Blackmon admits his background has helped him in repairing suspension systems, building weapons and ammo racks as well as attaching various mounts to the vehicles which make up the lion’s share of the maintenance he performs.
Before beginning combat training at the Joint Military Training Center at Camp Atterbury, Ind., Johnston attended the MRAP repair school which is held at the Red River Army training depot outside Texarkana, Texas.
The five week course teaches its students how to do basic repairs and maintenance on these unique vehicles.
Many times problems can be quickly resolved simply by knowing the layout of the vehicle and its many capabilities, Johnston explained.
“These things take lots of abuse, we do a lot of general maintenance here,” said U.S. Army 1Lt. Adam Gettelfinger of Indianapolis, Ind., PRT Khowst head of logistics.
Johnston and Blackmon do plenty of custom fabrication as well, said Gettelfinger, pointing to a new rear-view mirror mount the mechanics recently installed.
MRAPs, which weigh anywhere from seven to 22 tons, were adapted and designed as a U.S. Marine Corps initiative in response to casualties sustained in un-armored or “up-armored” vehicles during the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The vehicle is currently used by all services including PRT Khowst, which has personnel from the U.S Navy, Air Force, Army, Army Reserve and Mass. Army National Guard.
Except in his shop, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Johnston from Newark, Del., a University of Delaware graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and the construction mechanic for Provincial Reconstruction Team Khowst, doesn’t repair cars. He repairs the massive Mine Resistant Ambush Proof vehicles that the PRT drives on their missions to help the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan establish stability, security and governance in the country.
“When it comes down to it, these are just like working on a big, armored Chevy,” said Johnston, grinning.
MRAPs are the huge vehicles designed to operate throughout the challenging terrain of Afghanistan and be able to withstand attack from insurgents while keeping their passengers safe. Their proper maintenance requires specialized mechanical skills and ingenuity to repair.
“Normally we service, repair and fabricate anything that runs on diesel or gasoline,” said Johnston, who has worked on everything from weed whackers to construction cranes for the Navy.
The various versions of the MRAP require just as much mechanical flexibility and a wide breadth of technical expertise.
Johnston’s counterpart, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kacey Blackmon from Lockwood Calif., a master at arms, assists him in daily repairs. Working to repair farm equipment while growing up, Blackmon brings a unique set of skills to the machine shop as well.
Blackmon admits his background has helped him in repairing suspension systems, building weapons and ammo racks as well as attaching various mounts to the vehicles which make up the lion’s share of the maintenance he performs.
Before beginning combat training at the Joint Military Training Center at Camp Atterbury, Ind., Johnston attended the MRAP repair school which is held at the Red River Army training depot outside Texarkana, Texas.
The five week course teaches its students how to do basic repairs and maintenance on these unique vehicles.
Many times problems can be quickly resolved simply by knowing the layout of the vehicle and its many capabilities, Johnston explained.
“These things take lots of abuse, we do a lot of general maintenance here,” said U.S. Army 1Lt. Adam Gettelfinger of Indianapolis, Ind., PRT Khowst head of logistics.
Johnston and Blackmon do plenty of custom fabrication as well, said Gettelfinger, pointing to a new rear-view mirror mount the mechanics recently installed.
MRAPs, which weigh anywhere from seven to 22 tons, were adapted and designed as a U.S. Marine Corps initiative in response to casualties sustained in un-armored or “up-armored” vehicles during the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
The vehicle is currently used by all services including PRT Khowst, which has personnel from the U.S Navy, Air Force, Army, Army Reserve and Mass. Army National Guard.
Twin brothers connect in Afghanistan
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Leaving their families behind is one of the hardest things for service members to endure during a deployment. Sgt. Joel Morgan, a team leader for Provincial Reconstruction Team Khost security forces, Mass. National Guard, from Boston was looking forward to his deployment to Afghanistan.
His twin brother, Sgt. Jonathan Morgan, Apache troop 1-33 Calvary 3rd Brigade 101st Airborne Division, is also serving in Afghanistan. He has been deployed here since February. They have kept in close contact while Joel trained for his deployment at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
Being deployed to Afghanistan at the same time as another family member is coincidental, but the Morgan brothers are deployed to the same province. Jonathan, who arrived first, kept his brother Joel updated on Khost Province and what to expect once he entered in country.
The brothers finally crossed paths on Nov. 8.
“If I didn’t see my brother before he left, I would have been heartbroken” said Joel.
Jonathan had a doctor’s appointment at Forward Operating Base Salerno, a short convoy ride from where Joel was deployed at Forward Operating Base Chapman.
The brothers met there and spent the day catching up. Jonathan shared his experiences and reminded Joel to “never get complacent.”
Jonathan said being able to see his brother made this “the best day of my deployment.” Throughout Joel’s training, they communicated a few times a week.
But this was not the first time they saw each other while being deployed.
As fate would have it, they were able to see each other while deployed in Iraq as well.
“Even though that was only a couple of hours at the Baghdad airport, it was well worth it,” said Joel.
Jonathan’s deployment ends in February 2011, and Joel will be in Afghanistan until July.
Other members of PRT Khost also are serving at the same time with family in Afghanistan, although not in the same province.
Lt. Mark Fetterman, a PRT Khost Engineer from Plymouth, Mass., is also serving simultaneously in Afghanistan with his twin brother, Matthew, who is an engineer on PRT Farah.
His twin brother, Sgt. Jonathan Morgan, Apache troop 1-33 Calvary 3rd Brigade 101st Airborne Division, is also serving in Afghanistan. He has been deployed here since February. They have kept in close contact while Joel trained for his deployment at Camp Atterbury, Ind.
Being deployed to Afghanistan at the same time as another family member is coincidental, but the Morgan brothers are deployed to the same province. Jonathan, who arrived first, kept his brother Joel updated on Khost Province and what to expect once he entered in country.
The brothers finally crossed paths on Nov. 8.
“If I didn’t see my brother before he left, I would have been heartbroken” said Joel.
Jonathan had a doctor’s appointment at Forward Operating Base Salerno, a short convoy ride from where Joel was deployed at Forward Operating Base Chapman.
The brothers met there and spent the day catching up. Jonathan shared his experiences and reminded Joel to “never get complacent.”
Jonathan said being able to see his brother made this “the best day of my deployment.” Throughout Joel’s training, they communicated a few times a week.
But this was not the first time they saw each other while being deployed.
As fate would have it, they were able to see each other while deployed in Iraq as well.
“Even though that was only a couple of hours at the Baghdad airport, it was well worth it,” said Joel.
Jonathan’s deployment ends in February 2011, and Joel will be in Afghanistan until July.
Other members of PRT Khost also are serving at the same time with family in Afghanistan, although not in the same province.
Lt. Mark Fetterman, a PRT Khost Engineer from Plymouth, Mass., is also serving simultaneously in Afghanistan with his twin brother, Matthew, who is an engineer on PRT Farah.
Shamal Kalay’s new Neighbors
KHOST Province, Afghanistan – Members of the newly arrived Provincial Reconstruction Team Khost, in coordination and with members of the Afghan National Police, conducted a dismounted combat patrol through Shamal Kalay to meet and mingle with members of the village here today.
After less than a week of taking up their mission on Forward Operating Base Chapman, the men and women of PRT Khost made it a point to get out and walk amongst the local populace.
Members of PRT Khost handed out “Happy Eid” cards, wishing their neighbors well during Eid al-Adha or “The Festival of Sacrifice,” an important Muslim holiday celebrated worldwide.
While the village resides just outside the perimeter of FOB Chapman, it’s been a long time, if ever, that coalition forces patrolled through it.
ANP Capt. Gul Wali and his contingent of police officers spearheaded security for the patrol, processing vehicles in and out of the area crowded with children and members of the village. Their efforts, supported by PRT security forces helped ensure the village’s safety during the visit.
Presence patrols such as this one are a key component to counterinsurgency strategy and the PRT’s mission of aiding the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in governance, development and security efforts.
After less than a week of taking up their mission on Forward Operating Base Chapman, the men and women of PRT Khost made it a point to get out and walk amongst the local populace.
Members of PRT Khost handed out “Happy Eid” cards, wishing their neighbors well during Eid al-Adha or “The Festival of Sacrifice,” an important Muslim holiday celebrated worldwide.
While the village resides just outside the perimeter of FOB Chapman, it’s been a long time, if ever, that coalition forces patrolled through it.
ANP Capt. Gul Wali and his contingent of police officers spearheaded security for the patrol, processing vehicles in and out of the area crowded with children and members of the village. Their efforts, supported by PRT security forces helped ensure the village’s safety during the visit.
Presence patrols such as this one are a key component to counterinsurgency strategy and the PRT’s mission of aiding the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in governance, development and security efforts.
Schools in Khost expand, host increased attendance
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Educational opportunities are flourishing with new facilities provided by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to support an increasing number of students attending class in the Mandozai district.
Mohammad Sidiq Rohee High School’s attendance has increased by 300 to 400 students in the last year. The renewed emphasis on education prompted the school, which educates children 6 to 18 years old, to expand its halls of learning with a new building that contains eight classrooms and two offices. It has been under construction for four months and will assist in housing its new pupils.
Sayeed Noor Khan, a teacher at Mohammad Sidiq Rohee, attributes the school’s increased attendance and the support for its expansion to the government’s focus of education in the area.
“People realize education is very important,” he said.
Its importance is not lost on the students and faculty of the Sarban School either. With 11 new classrooms, the Sarban School is one of the many schools in the Mandozai district that are offering their community’s youth the opportunity of more room for learning.
Sidullah, a long-time student of the Sarban School, helped make the classroom additions a reality by aiding in the construction of the new building.
Students like Sidullah across Khost province are seeing other schools, including the Doornami School in Mandozai, expand with similar projects.
There are currently 11 major school expansion projects in Khost province supported by GIRoA.
Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team visit these projects built by the Afghan people, offering advice and help when necessary.
Mohammad Sidiq Rohee High School’s attendance has increased by 300 to 400 students in the last year. The renewed emphasis on education prompted the school, which educates children 6 to 18 years old, to expand its halls of learning with a new building that contains eight classrooms and two offices. It has been under construction for four months and will assist in housing its new pupils.
Sayeed Noor Khan, a teacher at Mohammad Sidiq Rohee, attributes the school’s increased attendance and the support for its expansion to the government’s focus of education in the area.
“People realize education is very important,” he said.
Its importance is not lost on the students and faculty of the Sarban School either. With 11 new classrooms, the Sarban School is one of the many schools in the Mandozai district that are offering their community’s youth the opportunity of more room for learning.
Sidullah, a long-time student of the Sarban School, helped make the classroom additions a reality by aiding in the construction of the new building.
Students like Sidullah across Khost province are seeing other schools, including the Doornami School in Mandozai, expand with similar projects.
There are currently 11 major school expansion projects in Khost province supported by GIRoA.
Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team visit these projects built by the Afghan people, offering advice and help when necessary.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Army corporal gives back
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team reached out to the Khost city Children of Hope orphanage by giving them wooden chests for the children to have at the foot of their beds Aug. 22.
The chests were not purchased on the local economy or contracted out, but hand-made by U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost PRT security element, also known by his fellow military members as “Ski.”
The project was the brain child of U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cynthia Kuehner, from Bremerton, Wash., Khost PRT nurse practitioner, but once she handed the project over to Halaszynski, he ran with it.
“She had an idea, and I told her I would do it. She gave me a picture, and I took it from there. I estimated the size of their [beds] and kind of just worked backwards and tried to minimize the wood used,” said Halaszynski.
The chests took just under two weeks and about 50 hours of labor to make, Halaszynski said. He said the project inspired him to sacrifice his personal time after conducting daily missions to build them.
“I’ve been down and out a few times in my life, and there’s always been someone there to pick me up. In this case, with these orphans in the middle of Afghanistan, they don’t have that person there to pick them up and get them back on the road,” said Halaszynski.
This isn’t the first project Halaszynski has taken on. He’s made or fixed many items for the PRT to make other Soldiers lives a bit easier.
“Ski helps the guys have a sense of personal space in their room. It’s the one place on the [Forward Operating Base] they can go and have it set up the way they want it. Stuff like that improves morale,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Miller, from Littlestown, Pa., Khost PRT security element. “He does a lot around here for people; he really does go above and beyond his team leader duties. He’s got to worry about the people beneath him, and, on top of that, you can go and talk to him about something, and he takes the time to make it for you.”
Miller asked Halaszynski to build a desk for him after his broke and remembers the day he walked into his room to find a newly built desk waiting for him.
“Our squad went on a mission and got stuck because one of our vehicles rolled over, and when we got back, it was there all set up. I didn’t expect for it to be there,” said Miller. “He even built a flag holder on the top for the flag I had folded in my room. It’s the first flag flown at the start of our deployment and means a lot to me.”
Halaszynski attributes his passion for carpentry to one of his high school teachers, Michael Lock, from McKeesport High School, Pa., and the Youth Apprenticeship Program he participated in during his junior and senior years.
He also credits his generous nature to the positive influence of his parents James and Judith Halaszynski.
“I’ve seen my dad plenty of times go out of his way to help somebody, and that inspires me to do the same and help people,” said Halaszynski.
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team security element, screws together the frame of a wooden chest Aug. 15. The 40 chests that will be given to the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage took about two weeks and roughly 50 hours of labor to make. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team security element, hands a chest to one of the teachers at the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage Aug. 22. Some of the older children and teachers helped unload the chests that will be given to children living at the facility to store personal items at the end of their beds. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cynthia Kuehner, from Bremerton, Wash., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team nurse practitioner, helps carry in chests to the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage Aug. 22. The chests were built to provide storage for each child living at the facility. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team security element, shakes hands with the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage headmaster Aug 22. The headmaster was very appreciative and excited to improve the quality of life for the orphans staying at the facility. The school is specialized to teach and house children that have lost one or both parents due to hostile circumstances. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team reached out to the Khost city Children of Hope orphanage by giving them wooden chests for the children to have at the foot of their beds Aug. 22.
The chests were not purchased on the local economy or contracted out, but hand-made by U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost PRT security element, also known by his fellow military members as “Ski.”
The project was the brain child of U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cynthia Kuehner, from Bremerton, Wash., Khost PRT nurse practitioner, but once she handed the project over to Halaszynski, he ran with it.
“She had an idea, and I told her I would do it. She gave me a picture, and I took it from there. I estimated the size of their [beds] and kind of just worked backwards and tried to minimize the wood used,” said Halaszynski.
The chests took just under two weeks and about 50 hours of labor to make, Halaszynski said. He said the project inspired him to sacrifice his personal time after conducting daily missions to build them.
“I’ve been down and out a few times in my life, and there’s always been someone there to pick me up. In this case, with these orphans in the middle of Afghanistan, they don’t have that person there to pick them up and get them back on the road,” said Halaszynski.
This isn’t the first project Halaszynski has taken on. He’s made or fixed many items for the PRT to make other Soldiers lives a bit easier.
“Ski helps the guys have a sense of personal space in their room. It’s the one place on the [Forward Operating Base] they can go and have it set up the way they want it. Stuff like that improves morale,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Miller, from Littlestown, Pa., Khost PRT security element. “He does a lot around here for people; he really does go above and beyond his team leader duties. He’s got to worry about the people beneath him, and, on top of that, you can go and talk to him about something, and he takes the time to make it for you.”
Miller asked Halaszynski to build a desk for him after his broke and remembers the day he walked into his room to find a newly built desk waiting for him.
“Our squad went on a mission and got stuck because one of our vehicles rolled over, and when we got back, it was there all set up. I didn’t expect for it to be there,” said Miller. “He even built a flag holder on the top for the flag I had folded in my room. It’s the first flag flown at the start of our deployment and means a lot to me.”
Halaszynski attributes his passion for carpentry to one of his high school teachers, Michael Lock, from McKeesport High School, Pa., and the Youth Apprenticeship Program he participated in during his junior and senior years.
He also credits his generous nature to the positive influence of his parents James and Judith Halaszynski.
“I’ve seen my dad plenty of times go out of his way to help somebody, and that inspires me to do the same and help people,” said Halaszynski.
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team security element, screws together the frame of a wooden chest Aug. 15. The 40 chests that will be given to the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage took about two weeks and roughly 50 hours of labor to make. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team security element, hands a chest to one of the teachers at the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage Aug. 22. Some of the older children and teachers helped unload the chests that will be given to children living at the facility to store personal items at the end of their beds. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cynthia Kuehner, from Bremerton, Wash., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team nurse practitioner, helps carry in chests to the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage Aug. 22. The chests were built to provide storage for each child living at the facility. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Cpl. Jerome Halaszynski, from McKeesport, Pa., Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team security element, shakes hands with the Khost city Children of Hope Orphanage headmaster Aug 22. The headmaster was very appreciative and excited to improve the quality of life for the orphans staying at the facility. The school is specialized to teach and house children that have lost one or both parents due to hostile circumstances. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julianne M. Showalter, Khost PRT Public Affairs Office)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)