LONGRIFLEs WEEKLYA publication of the 2/138th FAR

Veteran’s Day. You are now counted in the ranks of veterans that have served during wartime overseas. Congratulations and thank you!When I think of veterans I usually do not think of the here and now , but reflect on the

ones I knew as a kid or as a young Soldier early in my career. I listened to their stories and thought what that must have been like. Some of my classmate’s fathers served in WWII. Pam Verville’s dad was assigned to the USS Downes at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Grant Felice’s dad went ashore at Anzio, my uncle Frank was an RTO in Okinawa.

From my firefighting career, I think about Tommy Faw, a Marine cannoneer; Larry Grimes, a Cobra gunship mechanic in the 101st; Reno Day, a dog handler who openly admitted he “cried like a baby” when he had to leave his dog behind in Vietnam. Harry Gilbert was a young infantryman in Grenada, Mike Bailey jumped into Panama and served in Desert Storm, both with the 82nd.

I think about the boys from Bardstown, CSM(R) Jim Supplee, 1SG(R) Pat Simpson and those that served in the battalion during Vietnam. These people were and are my mentors and friends.

So Longrifles, as we do our part, what will be your story? Thanks and Happy Veteran’s Day!

HOA deployment is home for this Soldier

DJIBOUTI - Most Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment have been born and raised in Kentucky. Others are from states such as Indiana, Florida and New York. But one bright, young soldier in particular calls Africa his home.

Pfc. Ismaila Pam, a Automated Logistical Supply Specialist for the 2138th Forward

Support Company (FSC) of Louisville, KY, was born in Mauritania, Africa, and grew up in Senegal.

“Growing up in Africa was a good life.” said Pam, “Everyone in the area is your family, you own most everything that you have to include your home, and electric was very cheap.”

When asked how he ended up in the United States from such a far away continent, Pam said that his father lived in the United States for about 18 years. His father decided to stay in Louisville, Kentucky, because he had many friends in the area and he enjoyed the American lifestyle. He settled down and decided to bring his family to him from Africa.

By the young age of 18, Pam had already completed high school and two years of college in Senegal before moving to Kentucky. Although he could speak three languages, Wolof, Fulani and French and could read and write Arabic he didn’t know English. Upon his arrival in Kentucky, he had to go back to high school to learn the language, which brought his total to four languages that he is able to speak.

Shortly after his arrival to Louisville, Pam started working in the same restaurant as his father as a bus boy. He recalls

Commander’s Corner

Someone once said that ‘the future depends on what we do today’. Those words hold very true here in the Horn of Africa as we have completed our first month of the deployment with several more to go.

It’s easy to get complacent once you’ve gotten into your routine here. So don’t. It’s when we start to take things for granted that accidents happen. Don’t forget ‘Safety First!’.

Soldiers of the 2/138th FAR are singled out by members of all the other branches for doing great things here every day. This is what we mean by ‘living the standard.’

Let’s continue doing great work, because the future of Djibouti, Camp Lemonnier, and our reputation as Kentucky Soldiers is made today, but will last a lifetime.

CSM Thoughts

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Longrifles WeeklyPage 2

while on breaks he could see through the small window looking into the kitchen how hard his father worked to be able to provide for his family.

At that point Pam decided that he was going to find another trade to be able to help his father. He decided to join the Kentucky National Guard which enabled him to get a steady paycheck as well as be close to home.

When asked how his family felt about him joining the military, he said his father is very proud of him and what he is doing although his mother isn’t too happy about it. She worries about his deployment. Pam stated that it doesn’t bother him and he wants to continue to serve because it is something that he loves dearly.

Pam has family who still reside in Africa, to include his Grandfather, Aunts, Uncles and even an older brother. If he gets the chance, he would love to be able to visit and see them while on his deployment.

With his unit in Africa, Pam is looking forward to all the possibilities that lie ahead.

“It’s very exciting, because we are going for peacekeeping and not war,” he said with a smile.

Chaplain ReflectionsAs Americans we have the privilege of voting every day with our life. When the election is over the hard work begins, taking up the

mandate of freedom and living like it makes a difference. In a few days we will be remembering men and women who fulfilled the mandate of freedom with selfless sacrifice. We call them Veterans. Some have voted for freedom with their very life. Will there vote count? Will it matter? Perhaps it depends on what we do today and everyday with the freedoms offered to us on their altar of their sacrifice.

Our national ethic, grounded deeply in religious roots, calls us to service, duty, and generosity. Let us vote today and everyday by serving our families, our communities, and our nation, trusting God to supply us with wisdom, strength, and provision to carry on freedom for our children’s children! -Chaplain Mark East

HOA DEPLOYMENT CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > >

Volume 1, Issue 4November 9, 2012

SSG T’s Pre-season CBB Top 3

MWR Schedule• Nov. 10- Kempinski Overnight Cost: E1-E6 $130, E7 &

Above $150• Nov. 11- Whale Shark & Reef Diving 0730-1830 (See

MWR Calender for prices)• Nov. 12 - Wildlife Preservation 1600-1800 Cost: $8• Nov. 13 - Kokeb Ethiopian Dinner, Dance Show & Cof-

fee Ceremony 1830-2230 Cost: $30• Nov. 14 - Cultures Restaurant Sushi Night 1830-2300

Cost: E1-E6 $27, E7 & Above $31• Nov 15 - Dinner at the Kempinski 1800-2230 Cost: E1-

E6 $32, E7 & Above $37

1Indiana Hoosiers: IU has four double-digit scorers, a great recruiting class, and key role players from a team that reached the Sweet 16 and went 27-9 overall. They also gave eventual National Champion

Kentucky 1 of its only 2 losses on the season.

2Louisville Cardinals: Rick Pitino has taken two teams of Cards into the Final Four, and his 2012-13 batch is by far his most experienced and talented team in the ‘Ville yet. Point guard Peyton Siva, forward

Chane Behanan, center Gorgui Dieng, Wayne Blackshear, Mike Marra and Kevin Ware are all outstanding. The Cards will be too.

3Kentucky Wildcats: John Calipari and the Wildcats literally start from scratch. Last year Lamb, Miller, and Jones were returning starters and they gave the Cats a little more ‘umph’ down the stretch. No

returning starters this year but…. Each season with Calipari in Lexington the Cats have earned a No. 1 seed and reached the Final Four twice, missing it his first season when W.Virginia upset the Cats in the Elite 8.

Soldier to Soldier• Any Soldier interested in getting their official or

civilian passports, contact your battery Admin NCO• The UK vs. Duke game will be shown on the big

screen at 11 Degrees at 0530 on Wednesday, 14 Nov