Valley of the Shadow of Death: 1-320 in the Arghandab (28 images)

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Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1-320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, have fought hard this deployment. After being tasked as provisional infantry, and leaving their large howitzers behind, they occupied Combat Outpost Nolan this summer--a patrol base located in the war-torn north western region of Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley. Since then, Alpha Battery has sustained approximately 20 casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices....
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  • 9/21/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Night falls on Combat Outpost Nolan in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/21/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.1st Lt. Luke Tyree, of 1-320 Field Artillery Battalion, 101st Airborne, photographed at Combat Outpost Nolan in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/28/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Spent 7.62mm Ammunition cartridges from Alpha Battery's crew serve 240 machine guns litters the roof of Strong Point Lugo after a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/25/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Originally trained as a field artillery Battalion, 1-320 has been given an infantry mission in one of Afghanistan's most hotly contested areas. Here, Sgt Zavala prepares noodles outside the room where some of Alpha Battery's "11-Bravo's"--the military classification for the Infantry MOS--reside...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/25/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Captain Jeff Aebischer of Alpha Battery does target practice with his bow and arrow at COP Nolan in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/21/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A poster of US Marines raising the American flag on Mount Surabachi on Iwo Jima during WWII hangs above a door at COP Nolan, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/25/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Christian Psalms decorate the walls of the the compound occupied by Alpha Battery at COP Nolan in Kandahar's Arghandab River valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/25/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Jones (L) of Alpha Battery leads another soldier in prayer at COP Nolan, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/26/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1-320 reflect pensively before leaving to go on a mission to find a Taliban mortar tube after it was used to fire on Forward Operating Base Taranova, nearby. Previous searches for the mortar tube, which Alpha Battery refers to as the "Unicorn" or "Great White Buffalo" have been unsuccessful and incurred casualties as soldiers pushed deeper into heavily mined Taliban territory..Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/23/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Soldiers from Alpha Battery patrol near COP Nolan in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/24/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Soldiers of Alpha Battery patrol in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley. IED's, many of them with little or no metal signature, making them difficult to detect, have caused the majority of Alpha Battery's casualties. The frustration of losing fellow soldiers to an enemy they can't see has impacted morale and the mood about patrolling visibly...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/26/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A soldier with Alpha Battery hops a wall into a field during a mission to find a Taliban mortar tube after it was used to fire on FOB Taranova, nearby. Previous searches for the mortar tube, which Alpha Battery refers to as the "Unicorn" or "Great White Buffalo" have been unsuccessful and caused casualties as soldiers pushed deeper into heavily mined Taliban territory..Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/26/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Spc Sung Youn (L), Medic "Doc" Russ (R) and two other soldiers from Alpha Battery, 1-320 sit, waiting for the Taliban to attack at a compound near Nour Mohammad Kolachey, or "NMK"--a village in the Arghandab with little or no civilian population, where soldiers from Alpha Battery, 1-320 have seen high Taliban activity...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/27/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A soldier with Alpha Battery, 1-320 stands guard at COP Nolan in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/22/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, Alpha Co., rest between watch shifts at Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley. Strongpoint Lugo is now the scene of almost daily attacks by Taliban forces...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/23/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Soldiers of Alpha Battery joke amongst themselves on a break at Strong Point Lugo,a small firebase in a concrete building in the village of Charkobal Olia--which was used by the Taliban to stage attacks on US forces based at COP Nolan. Strong point Lugo now bears the brunt of the fighting, with gunfire exchanged almost daily...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/22/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A soldier looks for Taliban movement from the roof of strong point Lugo--a small firebase in a concrete building in the village of Charkobal Olia--which was used by the Taliban to stage attacks on US forces based at COP Nolan. Strong point Lugo now bears the brunt of the fighting, with gunfire exchanged almost daily...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/28/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Joshua Strickland with Alpha Battery, 1-320, calls for more ammunition during a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/28/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A soldier from Alpha Battery fires his machine gun from the roof of strong point Lugo, during a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked the small outpost, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/28/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A soldier of Alpha Battery, 1-320 winces and takes cover during a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/26/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Joshua Strickland raises his helmet in the air to attract sniper fire after his unit was attacked by Taliban militants while on a mission to find a Taliban mortar tube after it was used to fire on FOB Taranova, nearby. Previous searches for the mortar tube, which Alpha Battery refers to as the "Unicorn" or "Great White Buffalo" have been unsuccessful and caused casualties as soldiers pushed deeper into heavily mined Taliban territory...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/26/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Hunter Wilke with Alpha Battery, 1-320 looks for enemy movement after his platoon came under attack during a mission to find a Taliban mortar tube after it was used to fire on FOB Taranova, nearby. Previous searches for the mortar tube, which Alpha Battery refers to as the "Unicorn" or "Great White Buffalo" have been unsuccessful and caused casualties as soldiers pushed deeper into heavily mined Taliban territory...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/26/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Battery Commander Captain James Thomasson jumps off the roof of a compound after Taliban militants opened fire at a compound Alpha Battery occupied during a mission to find a Taliban mortar tube after it was used to fire on FOB Taranova, nearby. Previous searches for the mortar tube, which Alpha Battery refers to as the "Unicorn" or "Great White Buffalo" have been unsuccessful and caused casualties as soldiers pushed deeper into heavily mined Taliban territory...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/28/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Joshua Strickland stands watch with a machine gun on the roof after a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/25/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Cole Williams, a sapper attached to Alpha Battery, 1-320, lifts weights on COP Nolan. His team has used demolitions to try to clear areas of the IED's that have wounded so many of Alpha's soldiers. ..Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/23/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Shuyler Powell of Alpha Battery looks at a drawing sent to him by one of his step-children on the roof of strong point Lugo,a small firebase in a concrete building in the village of Charkobal Olia--which was used by the Taliban to stage attacks on US forces based at COP Nolan. Strong point Lugo now bears the brunt of the fighting, with gunfire exchanged almost daily...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/29/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.A soldier with Alpha Battery, 1-320 Field Artillery sleeps Sgt Joshua Strickland stands watch with a machine gun on the roof after a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

  • 9/28/2010, Combat Outpost Nolen, Arghandab District, Kanahar Province, Afghanistan.Sgt Zavala (L) reflects on the days events Sgt Joshua Strickland stands watch with a machine gun on the roof after a firefight that began when Taliban militants attacked Strong Point Lugo, in Kandahar's Arghandab River Valley...Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, have had a hard deployment. Since they occupied COP Nolan in July--taking on the roll of provisional infantry in one of Kandahar's highly contested districts, they have sustained at least 20 combat casualties to their company-sized force--mostly to Taliban improvised explosive devices causing gruesome amputations for the less fortunate, and sever concussions to the more lucky. Combined with a lack of available replacements, this has stretched their operations to the brink of combat ineffectiveness. ..The IED threat, combined with almost daily fighting from the walls of their combat outpost and strongpoint has left many of Alpha's remaining soldiers with visible combat stress, and morale that at times seems to hang by a thread.

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