​The Afghan National Army (ANA) can trace its history back to the 1800’s. The ANA received training from the Soviet Union from 1960 to the early 1990s. Unfortunately, after the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan overthrew the regime of Mohammad Daoud, the Afghan army lost a lot of their fighting ability. In the 1980s, the Soviet Afghan war occurred with the Afghan army fighting against the mujahedeen. The Taliban Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seized the country in 1996. The timeline for U.S. training the ANA started three months after the 9/11 attacks. The model used was based on a Western Army, requiring a complex supply and logistic train that the Afghans had no chance of sustaining. Several things can be attributed to the fall of the Afghan Army. Corruption, lack of education, poor leadership, and ideological differences to name just a few. Eleven days after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, the Afghan military fell apart. The ANA could not operate without the U.S. support. In the end, the Kabul government gave the commando units orders to retreat and hide.
This week we salute James Cookman. James is from Rosebud and served in the United States Army. He retired as a Sergeant First Class (SFC) after 20 years (1997-2017) of dedicated service. During his service, he was stationed at Ft. Cavazos (Hood), Ft. Liberty (Bragg), Ft. Sill, three years in Germany and two tours in Korea. He had four deployments, once to Iraq, twice to Kuwait and once to Afghanistan. His military occupational specialty was initially as a 13M (Multiple Launch Rocket System Crewmember) and then 13F (Joint Fire Support Specialist) for the last half of his service. When asked what was a memory that has stayed with him, SFC (R) Cookman said it was the time spent training the Afghan National Army on the artillery systems. James is married and recently celebrated his 20-year anniversary. They have one child. James is a Colstrip Police Officer. 

You may be aware of asbestos, a mineral once deemed to be the "miracle mineral", due to its fire-resistant properties. The military relied heavily on asbestos for decades, using it in many of their products like in ships, aircraft, and barracks. Because of this, veterans are more likely than others to be affected by mesothelioma cancer, making up almost 1/3 of all cases. See our guide for more information below:
Mesothelioma Cancer Guide - lanierlawfirm.com/mesothelioma/cancer/

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​The U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy jointly formed the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF), a substantial part of the brown-water navy. The brown-water navy is a naval force capable of operations in littoral zone (close to shore) waters. The term originated during the American Civil War. The Navy had barracks ships and barrage barges to house both Army and Navy personnel. The purpose of the riverine forces was to take advantage of the inland waterways. As there were several distributaries of the Mekong River, it was difficult for the South Vietnamese to adequately protect the waterways. The intent of the U.S. Mobile Riverine Force was to seize the initiative from the communist Viet Cong. The Viet Cong used the distributaries to move and resupply their forces. The Mobile Riverine Forces’ permanent base was Dong Tam, near My Tho. Eleven umbrella operations in the Mekong Delta were launched by the Mobile Riverine Force. This occurred from June 1967 to March 1968. Due to the remarkable cooperation between the Army and Navy, the Mobile Riverine Force was able to transform the Mekong Delta from terra incognita (uncharted land) to chartered and American controlled area. 
Veterans Administration (VA) is expanding their health care benefits starting on March 5 ,2024. All veterans exposed to toxins either at home or abroad while serving in the U.S. military are eligible to enroll directly in the VA. If you served in Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan or deployed in support of the Global War on Terror or were exposed to toxins or other hazards during military service, you are eligible to apply for benefits. The Veteran Service Officer for Eastern Montana is Earl Edmonds. His phone number is 406-232-1203 or email [email protected].  You can also call the VA directly at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711). 

​Time magazine labeled the attack on Fire Base Mary Ann as a massacre. It was certainly one of the worst loss of life in the Vietnam War. Fire Base Mary Ann was built on a 4,000-foot mountain and was strategically located to intercept enemy troops and supplies moving down the K-7 Corridor and the Dak Rose Trail. Originally meant to be a temporary base, Fire Base Mary Ann evolved to a permanent base station for the first Battalion, 46th Infantry, a part of the Americal Division .On the day of the attack, Charlie Company, a 75-man unit was garrisoned on Fire Base Mary Ann, in addition to a 180 man recon platoon, 34 medics, communication personnel, clerks and cooks from HQ company and eight man contingent from the 4.2 inch mortar platoon, E Company for a total of 231 Americans. There were also 21 South Vietnamese (ARVN) soldiers. Some reports stated the ARVN soldiers did not fight during the attack. The Viet Cong slipped through the defensive perimeter and attacked the Fire Base in the early morning of March 28, 1971. The attack lasted one hour, resulting in 30 soldiers killed in action and 82 wounded in action. Ten soldiers received Silver Stars for their actions that fateful morning. Unfortunately, there were negative repercussions in the aftermath. Officers were relieved of duty, many forced to retire, others were demoted in rank.
This week we salute Russell Ponessa. Russ graduated from Hysham High School in 1969. He volunteered for the draft entering active duty in 1970. He attended basic training at Ft Lewis, Washington then spent 17 weeks in Infantry Advanced Individual Training (AIT) before being shipped to Vietnam. Initially assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, he was transferred to the Americal Division located in the northern part of south Vietnam. The morning of March 28, 1971, Sergeant Ponessa was out on patrol with Delta Company. Ponessa stated he could hear explosions in the distance. The attack on Fire Base Mary Ann lasted an hour although sniper fire and mortar fire continued throughout the day. The next morning his Company arrived at Fire Base Mary Ann to secure, clean up and rebuild the base. Ponessa left the Army in 1971 after his tour of duty was completed. Russ moved to Rosebud County three years ago.
Last weeks article, “Who is killing the American Legion” was written by American Legion member Kevin Motter from Montpelier, Ohio.
Have a story to share? Email or call me [email protected] Phone: 406-351-9775
Dr. Irene Dickerson has a doctorate in Business Administration and is a retired Army Colonel living her best life in Big Sky Country.
 

Veterans Guide can help you with any questions you may have. 
https://veteransguide.org/

​The United States Military Academy Preparatory school was formally established in 1946. The US Military Academy Preparatory school has several names: USMAPS, the Prep School, or West Point Prep. In 1916, Congress enacted legislation to authorize Soldier appointments to West Point. The prep school prepares Soldiers to attend the United States Military Academy and be successful. USMAPS accepts students and Soldiers from all walks of life. Students or Cadet Candidates are high school graduates or enlisted personnel from the Active, Reserve or National Guard force. The school challenges the students to meet and exceed West Point’s rigorous admission standards. The training is ten months. The first day the cadets arrive, military training referred to as Cadet Candidate Basic Training starts. It is a four-week training program. The focus of training is Basic Rifle Marksmanship, Land Navigation, Medical Readiness Training and Crew Served Weapon Familiarization Fire. The Academic Program establishes the intellectual foundation for service as a highly educated commissioned officer, and develop the knowledge and skills necessary for service and continued growth.
This week we salute Larry Kautzman. Larry served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967.  He went to Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Gordon (now called Ft. Eisenhower) GA and airborne school (jump school) at Ft. Benning, GA. His military occupational specialty was 11B, Infantryman. After graduation from jump school, he was assigned to the 1-8th Air Mobile Cav-1st Cav. Instead of deploying to Vietnam with his unit, Larry was selected to attend the West Point Preparatory School. After several months of training, he changed his career path and asked to be reassigned. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne as the company clerk. Although no formal military training as a clerk typist, Larry excelled and was moved up to the Battalion Headquarters S1. During his military time, Larry did 37 jumps (out of a perfectly good airplane). He retired after 21 years working at the plant in Colstrip. His family moved to Rosebud county in 1963, and he has lived here ever since. He is married with two sons and one daughter. 

​The Iron Triangle
During both the French war in Vietnam and throughout the American involvement in the Vietnam war, one of the strongholds for Viet Minh activity was in the Iron Triangle. It was a 120 square mile area located in the Binh Duong Province of Vietnam. The Iron Triangle was between the Saigon River in the west and the Tinh River on the east, bordering Route 13 for 25 miles north of Saigon. The southern apex was 7 miles from Phu Cuong, the capital of Binh Duong province. An elaborate network of tunnels and hidden fortifications were built in the region as early as the 1880s to resist French occupation. During the French war, the tunnels were expanded. Underground operations against first the Ngo Dinh Diern government and then later US-backed South Vietnamese government were built. The last decisive attack against Saigon came from the Iron Triangle region. In April 1975, General Van Tien Dung, political bureau members Pham Hung and Le Duc Tho, and the southern Viet Cong military commander Tran Van Tra joined together to organize the decisive attack.
This week we salute Jack Bradley. Jack was in the U.S. Army from March 1968 to March 1970. He was drafted and sent to Basic training at Fort Lewis Washington. He went to Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Four months and two weeks later, Jack found himself in Vietnam with the 20th Engineer Brigade. Jack’s military occupational specialty was Combat Engineer. He was assigned to the prefab yard, where he learned a trade. Several Vietnamese worked with him and his partner in construction. Every day he had to go into the village and pick up the workers.  When asked what memory stays with him from his tour in Vietnam, he stated it was the poverty of the people. In 2016, he returned to a different Vietnam where the people appeared to have a better life. After his stint in Vietnam, Jack returned to the states and was stationed at Fort Rucker (renamed Novosel) Alabama where he worked as a vehicle mechanic. He is a fourth generation Rosebud county resident. His grandmother came to Rosebud county in 1882. Jack is married to Glenda, and they have 2 adult children.

​Why are there U.S. military forces stationed in Germany? After World War II, the Occupation Statute was signed to allow France, the United Kingdom, and the United States to keep occupational forces in West Germany. After WWII, the United States, Britain, and France (Allies) drew up the statute to give the Federal Republic of Germany conditional sovereignty and admit it into the Marshal Plan organization as an equal partner. The statute allowed the Allies to retain rights to keep occupational forces in the country. The Occupation Statute was followed by the Convention on the Presence of Foreign Forces in the Federal Republic of Germany and signed in 1954. Eight NATO members were allowed to have a permanent military presence in German, and the U.S. was one of the countries. In the late 1950s there were more than 400,000 U.S. troops deployed to West Germany and allied countries. Currently, there are about 35,000 U.S. troops in Germany. The U.S. military’s unified Europe Command headquarters is in Stuttgart. The U.S. Air Force’s European operations are headquartered at Ramstein Air Base.
This week, we salute Richard Thompson. Richard served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965. He went to basic at Fort Ord California and training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He trained as a helicopter mechanic. Richard was stationed outside of Munich, Germany. He enjoyed living in Germany. In fact, he and his buddies had an idea to open outdoor theaters in Germany. Unfortunately, he was discharged from the Army before that idea could come to fruition. He has lived in Rosebud county all his life. He is married and has 2 adult children.