The First Infantry Division at Pasab

FOB PASAB, AFGHANISTAN: Major General William Mayville, commanding officer of the 1^st Infantry Division, is in Afghanistan to look in on his soldiers stationed in country. The 4-4 Cavalry (RSTA) and the 2-34 Armor battalions from the 1^st Infantry Division headquartered in Fort Riley, Kansas are both attached to the 3^rd Brigade CT, 10^th Mountain Division here in Kandahar Province.

Today’s convoy traveled from Pasab to Combat Outpost (CP) Kolk and Strongpoint Ghariban, which are both manned by soldiers from the 1^st Infantry Division. They are located between FOB Pasab and the Arghandhab River. Both of these sites are jointly occupied by soldiers from the US Army and the Afghanistan National Army. General Mayville is looking into the security of his soldiers, how they have been relating with the local Afghan people and how they are dealing with the ever present IEDs. In this area the main crops are opium and pomegranates. The harvest is in for both this time of the year.

L to R: General William Mayville, LT. Col. Michael Katona and Col Patrick Frank at the briefing at COP Kolk.

A fairly in depth briefing encapsulating the mission of these 1^st Infantry units was held for General Maybille, at CP Kolk along with Lt. Colonel Michael Katona of the 1^st Inf. Div. and Colonel Patrick Frank, commanding officer of the 3^rd BCT. A number of junior officers and senior NCO’s looked on.

After the briefing the General inspected the troops as well as awarding medals to a number of these soldiers. More than a few Purple Hearts were pinned to the chest of soldiers who had been wounded. He wound up this ceremony with a heart felt speech to his troops.

General Mayville awarding medals to 1^st Infantry troops at COP Kolk.

General Mayville awarding a medal to the 1^st Sgt of the Afghan Army Unit stationed at Strongpoint Ghariban.

The convoy passed through Strongpoint Ghariban where the General visited troops of the 1^st Infantry stationed there. He inspected a selection of home made IEDs that the unit had captured and posted on a display board.

When finished, General Mayville and the contingent boarded helicopters for a more distant outpost out of range of today’s convoy from Pasab.