Seeking info on the 3BCT from 10th Mountain Division whose deployment was just extended

[shadowknows69]

Specifically related to this thread <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=42643&mesg_id=42643> Which I'll stop kicking every five minutes, but I'm looking for anyone who knows someone that can confirm anything about what I said in the first post in the above thread. I'd like to think we kind of broke this story here on DU because of my proximity to the troops and I need to see if we can get it confirmed from a few more people so I know exactly how much I should hate the Bush cartel this week.

[shadowknows69]

1. A little more

What we know, what is public record.

Between 150-200 of the 3BCT (3rd Brigade Combat Team i think)came back to Fort Drum from Afghanistan last week

The majority if not all of those 200 ARE being sent back to combat in A or I within 72 hours when they thought they'd be home for at least 6 months.

What we're trying to find out if Bush actually made the other 3200 that were shceduled back THIS WEEK, Tuesday if a colleague of mine was correct, stay in Afghanistan before they were able to depart or after they had literally already gotten back on U.S. soil as my sources tell me is the case.

Thanks for any help. If I had any journalistic credentials I could make some annoying calls around here but the grapevine will have to do for this story.

[wakeme2008]

2. I would like to know too..

If they extended while they were over there, that is one thing. But if wifes and children were waiting for Daddy/Mommy to get off a planed and they turn them around, somebody is sick.....

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

3. Here's one report about it~

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20070126-0407-fortdrum-extension.html
<<Between 100 to 150 troops were in transit from Afghanistan to the U.S. when they received their orders, Clark said. Those soldiers will be turned around and sent back immediately, the colonel said.

[shadowknows69]

4. Not completely accurate

We definitely got the full 200 back on the ground for a few days because I saw them walking to their barracks off the buses with my own eyes and it wasn't just 50.


Edit to add. I'm going to drop the level of certainty on this post. I can't say for absolute certainty I saw more than 50 at one time but we were markedly busier that weekend.

[Robbien]

5. Here is a blog of a wife of one of those being extended

Such a sad, sad word.

Today as Clay’s unit prepared to enter into their 12th month of deployment and members of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team arrived home at Fort Drum, New York, the Army announced that the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division will have at least a 4 month extension on their 12 month deployment to Afghanistan.

While watching 90210 (yes, 90210...it is on the SOAP network...I can't help it....it is a vice) yesterday evening, I worked diligently cutting the letters to spell WELCOME HOME CLAY for my flag/banner I was making to display when he was to arrive home the second week of February (pictured above...a work in progress). The 'Things To Do Before Clay Arrives' list is about 75% finished and I have started to grocery shop for his favorites so I can have the shelves stocked when he arrives. I have imagined our homecoming countless times while daydreaming and drifting off to sleep at night. Homecoming seemed so close...5% to go, a figure that seemed within reach and do-able.

Clay will not return home in February.

This afternoon I received a phone call from my friend Fran who broke the news of the extension. An hour later Clay called as I was driving towards Fort Drum to attend the briefing about the extension. He told me to pull over because he had something to tell me not knowing that I already knew. Between the tears I told him (while trying to convince myself) that everything will be okay and just how much I love and miss him.

The situation is very similar to what the Stryker Brigade experienced back in the fall while deployed to Iraq so I keep telling myself that we are neither the only ones nor the first to go through this wretched experience known as extension. As broken as I feel, I can’t even imagine how the soldiers are absorbing the news. It has not been a secret that the 3rd Brigade Combat Team has had a rough time battling the insurgents in Afghanistan with many US casualties and many more wounded. The men and women that have arrived home or are en route to the United States will have to run around and deploy back to Afghanistan.

Sigh.

Words can't even begin to describe just how upset and angry I am at the fact that Clay is not coming home and that I have another four months of worrying ahead of me, I am also upset because I see no hope. I don't have the answer to Iraq or Afghanistan but things are not working. How did this all happen? Are American, Iraqi, and Afghani lives worth it? Again, when will enough be enough? I am really trying to remain positive. In the grand scheme of things, the news could have been a lot worse. It is just starting to become difficult to accept the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hopefully this pit in my stomach starts to shrink or it will be a long four months.

http://sourpatchkidexperiment.blogspot.com/

[shadowknows69]

14. Assuming the validity of this blog

It appears my sources may have been in error (thank gods) about the number that was turned back. I truly hope so. I was sure we were supposed to get a significant number back, in the thousands, this week. Perhaps it was only 150 this time but I'm nearly positive more than 50 got back home for a few days. We've had confirmation of at least 3 just here on DU.

[NMDemDist2]

6. another DUer said her future son in law got home and got orders

to ship back out in 72 hours. I don't think he was in your area either so it appears your guys are the only division this is happening too

let me look around and see if I can find her thread

:hug:

edit-- here it is!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=30540&mesg_id=30540

[ms liberty]

7. No info...but I'd like to know too, so I can K&R for you...n/t

[elehhhhna]

8. HERE YOU GO:

Jan. 26, 2007, 6:07AM
Fort Drum troop extension disappoints


By WILLIAM KATES Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

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FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Families of hundreds of troops from the 10th Mountain Division will have four more months of anxious waiting after the soldiers' tours of duty in Afghanistan were extended.

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that approximately 3,500 soldiers from Fort Drum in upstate New York would have their tours extended as part of a push to quell growing violence in Afghanistan.

"It has to be awful for those families. You literally count the days until they come. And then this happens," said Rema Ottinger, whose husband expects to be among more than 3,000 troops returning home as scheduled.

About 50 soldiers who had already returned home must redeploy — likely within a few days, said Col. David Clark, garrison commander. However, each soldier's family and medical circumstances will be considered, he said.

Between 100 to 150 troops were in transit from Afghanistan to the U.S. when they received their orders, Clark said. Those soldiers will be turned around and sent back immediately, the colonel said.




http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4501557.html

[wicket]

9. Oh jesus

Between 100 to 150 troops were in transit from Afghanistan to the U.S. when they received their orders, Clark said. Those soldiers will be turned around and sent back immediately, the colonel said.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[elehhhhna]

10. Nice headline, too, huh? "disappoints" ?!! Yeah.

It's just a bummer.

[Robbien]

11. Anything to try to encourage the reader to skip reading the article

If it just disappoints it must not be very interesting.

[wicket]

12. It's like "Ho hum, just another day"

I can't even imagine what their families are going through. Obviously these fucks don't give a shit about that :grr:

[AllegroRondo]

13. Link to NPR's story this morning.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7029392

Morning Edition, January 26, 2007 · Welcome home signs have been up for weeks at Fort Drum, N.Y., but now comes the news that 3,200 soldiers who were to return from Afghanistan must extend their tour of duty by four months. As David Sommerstein of North Country Public Radio reports, about 150 soldiers who just returned home will be sent back in a month.

[Burried News]

15. Might help. Saw troops land on ABC news

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2825397
"About 50 soldiers who had already returned home must redeploy likely within a few days, said Col. David Clark, garrison commander. However, each soldier's family and medical circumstances will be considered, he said.

Between 100 to 150 troops were in transit from Afghanistan to the U.S. when they received their orders, Clark said. Those soldiers will be turned around and sent back immediately, the colonel said.

"Those are the guys you feel for," said Pfc. Brian Kozlowski, who served in Iraq in 2005 and will return there this summer. "To be home, or on your way and turned back that's got to be tough."

Family members learned about the extension Wednesday night at a town hall-style meeting in the post movie theater, Clark said. About 800 people attended, he said. "

Gibson said with the troops hugging their families in the background that they would be returning to Afghanistan but did not know it yet.

[shadowknows69]

16. Good, it looks like more and more I may be wrong

Still 150 or 3200 turned around doesn't lessen the evil of it. I still maintain the numbers are slightly skewed. Almost definitely more than 50 back. I had a good couple dozen that saturday night just in my cab.

[Burried News]

18. I have one in theater who has been extended two days before

departure.

[nykiera]

17. News10now link

http://www.news10now.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=93219

[shadowknows69]

19. Wow kudos to news 10

that might be the best story about family's feelings I've seen yet. Not a subject the MSM is going to approach much I wager. Might go to CNN now though as new 10 is TW and technically a CNN affiliate. Or at least paid by the same people.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shadowknows69]

21. I suspected as much. As I said the info is filtering in that I was wrong

You know me bro just following the leads. I go with rumors and try to find the truth. We were taught well. You feel my concern I hope. I care for these troops man.

[shadowknows69]

22. The Shadow Knows bro

DU welcome a cohort of mine from the old country. Many a long strange trip have we had together. :hippie: treat him nice, but not too nice. B-)