5 Fort Carson Soldiers Injured In Afghanistan - News Story - KRDO Colorado Springs

5 Fort Carson Soldiers Injured In Afghanistan - News Story - KRDO Colorado Springs
One Dead, Two Others Injured In Taliban Attack
SCOTT HARRISONKRDO NewsChannel 13
FORT CARSON, Colo. -- An attack Thursday by Taliban forces in Afghanistan left one man dead and seven others injured, including five Fort Carson soldiers, an Army spokesman confirmed.
The injured soldiers are members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. Maj. Kevin Toner, a spokesman for the unit, did not identify the soldiers but said they were hurt Thursday afternoon in the U.S. compound at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar province.
Toner said the soldiers, along with an Afghan soldier and an American civilian contractor, are expected to recover from their injuries. An Afghan interpreter died in the attack, Toner said.
In providing details of the attack, Toner said Taliban forces used small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades on coalition forces in the camp from a three-story building nearby.
The four-hour battle ended, he said, when a coalition helicopter fired a guided missile into the third floor. Toner said the number of Taliban forces involved in the attack is unclear.
Toner said the Taliban rigged the building with explosives and placed two improvised explosive devices in vehicles that exploded in the camp compound, but the explosions caused no injuries. American forces fought back with machine gun fire from guard towers, Toner said.
Toner said the attack could have been part of a wider offensive against the camp.
''It seemed they had something bigger planned,'' he said.
A key Taliban tactic in the war has been Some military experts say attempts attempts to breach American base defenses have been a key Taliban tactic in the ongoing war, and that similar attacks have occurred in Kabul and in Afghanistan's eastern provinces.
Thursday's attack is one of the largest by the Taliban against the brigade since it arrived in Afghanistan last June.


The love of my life was one of those injured.  He called home to tell me he was ok, but never gave details.  Hours later the Department of the Army called to inform me that he was injured, but ok.

keep on keeping on...

Sam: "...the folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept holding on to something."


Frodo: "What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: "That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for."

Employer wanted



My favorite rock wall at the Crags looking mystical, like a
picture out of LOTR.

 Highly passionate energizer bunny with high expectations and level of commitment who gets things done, never settling for less, seeks employer who values passion and Incline and furry Therapy, is altruistic, standing for something and believing in diversity, enjoying all of life and the world. This employer knows that doing what is right is not always convenient, but will always follow the path of highest conviction.



This employer will foster a team environment, always supporting, valuing and thoughtfully considering ideas, thoughts, suggestions or criticism that could lead to an improvement in the work environment or the wellbeing of treasured staff, or creation of a place where employees feel valued and empowered, knowing that what they do makes a difference, and that their ideas and other contributions are valuable. This employer will intuitively seek the best, truest and most valuable skills and assets within his or her treasured staff, always first assuming, and expecting, the best of them, always believing in their potential to succeed, and pushing him/herself and others to higher levels of performance. Demonstrates clarity of purpose. Values staff who stick with tasks when others quit.


This employer will embrace and respect diversity in all its glorious forms and manifestations, wisely knowing that with differences come new ideas and solutions, new inventions, improved methods, best practices, powerful skill sets, and creates empowered and impassioned employees.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday-up on the Manitou Incine facing west

I can fly!

It's been an incredibly long week (long two years), with some nearly sleepless nights, but it's all done. I am no longer a masters program student.  Does this mean I get to have "MPA" behind my name? When I look back over all that we have accomplished in this masters program, it's a remarkable thing-that each step prepares you for the final step-the Public Administration captone project, which is huge-you create a project that incorporates elements from every course and every aspect of administration that you have learned over the entire program, and end up with this thing that is nearly living, breathing, and seemingly not that far from manifesting. All the long nights and brain-frying pay off before you even have your new job. Then there's this sense that, if we can do this, we can save the world (or conquor it)-or at least our little corner of it (except for the week 8 project- which was really hard to narrow down to 10 slides-90 slides would have been easier-Death by PPT!)




 In addition to trying to finalize this final step of the project, I incorporated that information, as I have been doing all along into my original PPT presentation from week 2, which is now nearly 90 slides! And though this barely covers the "tip of the iceberg" on all that is necessary to implement a nonprofit program, it feels more attainable than ever-within reach.  Understandably, more brains are better than one, and this program proposal will go through revisions and upgrades once I have others "on my bandwagon" who will inevitably bring knowledge and expertise to the table, but it's an awesome feeling-to create something that feels so big that has the potential to help people. 

I presented my proposal, my large nearly 90 slide PPT, to the Fountain Valley Foundation Board last night and hours later they invited me to join the Board! It's a foundation in transition, but those who remain are a good group, they operate from a place of integrity, so, even though it could take a while to make this program a reality, I think it's completely possible. And I get the honor to be part of a wonderful thing as it evolves to become even better.

Jump start on Wordless Wednesday-snowy treasure in Fountain in spring!