Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Issue 36 Nov 25, 2010

Raider cooks prepare for Thanksgiving feast

Story and Photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan said.
2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
Imagine having to prepare
and cook a Thanksgiving meal
for 1,000 plus hungry Soldiers.
For the 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division
cooks of Raider Dining Facility,
that is their reality.
“We are preparing to serve
over 1,000 people because we
are going to be the only dining
facility open on Thanksgiving,”
said Sgt. 1st Class Steve Szakal,
the DFAC manager with
Headquarters and Headquarters
Company, 204th Brigade
Support Battalion.
When planning to serve that
many people, the food has to be
abundant. The last Soldier must
be fed like the first.
We are preparing 1,600
servings of turkey, 1,700
servings of ham, 1,000 servings
of prime rib, 400 to 500 servings
of crab legs, 300 servings of
steam ship round and we are
roasting four whole pigs, Szakal
That is only part of the feast.
Of course, they will be making
everything that goes into a
Thanksgiving meal: mashed
potatoes and gravy, stuffing,
macaroni and cheese, candied
yams and much more. The
meal isn’t complete without the
desert and there will be plenty to
choose from.
This may seem like a lot of
work but the Thanksgiving
meal is only part of many things
going on at Raider DFAC.
Szakal said, we have many
different elements all going
on at once. We have been
participating in Warhorse Blitz;
we have a culinary team; we
have cooks working with the
Salvation Army and we are still
preparing three meals a day here
in the DFAC.
Not only do the cooks have to
prepare the Thanksgiving meal,
they also are making culinary
presentations that will decorate
the DFAC.
“We have all been putting
in extra hours on top of
our regular shift,” said Pvt.
James Donohue, a cook
on the culinary team who
is with Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 2nd
Special Troops Battalion.
The culinary team has
been working for the past
Pfc. Kendal Contardo, a cook with Company G, month to get everything
3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment ready, said Staff Sgt. Taneesha
carves a tank ice sculpture in prepartion Narvaez, a cook on the
for Thanksgiving. The ice carvings are
used as displays as well as serving dishes. culinary team who is with
Company H, 204th Brigade
Support Battalion.
Some of the culinary
projects include a giant
salt dough landscape
presentation, tallow or beef
fat sculptures, chocolate
sculptures, cheddar
sculptures, elaborate cakes,
huge cornucopias and ice
sculptures.
Pfc. Brandon Sheppard, a cook from 1st Bat- Narvaez said that everyone
talion, 67th Armor Regiment rolls dough and
bakes bread to fill gaint cornucopia that will be
has really stepped up to work
displayed in the Raider Dining Facility. Every as a team to accomplish this
cullinary display was made by hand. important mission.

A Thanksgiving Message
Col.John S. Kolasheski, commander
2nd Brigade Combat Team
A s we approach the
holiday season, I would
ask all of you to take time to
reflect on the year past and
consider opportunities for the
year ahead. As you spend time
with friends and family think
about the things for which you
are thankful.
I am thankful for God’s grace,
patience, and strength
I am thankful of my Family
and all our Army Families for
their love and resilience
I am thankful for the privilege
and honor to serve this nation
I am thankful of our Soldiers
for their dedication, discipline,
sacrifice, and professionalism
The year ahead promises to be
busy, fun, and exciting. By work-
ing together as a team, we will
take advantage of all life has to
offer and overcome any obstacles
confronting us. Yesterday was
a great day, today is better, and
tomorrow will be better yet.
Each of us is an invaluable and
necessary part of a team of
teams. We owe it to ourselves,
our battle buddies, and the
nation to live the Army Values
every day.
Only by caring for each
other on and off-duty will we
be successful.
I thank you and your Fami-
lies for your commitment to
the Army and the nation and
would like to offer a special
thanks to the men and women
serving the nation abroad.
page 2 Warhorse Pride Issue 36 Nov 25, 2010

Automatic Battery fires artillery and gets certified

Story and Photo by 2nd Lt. Stu Hardy
Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment
The Soldiers from Automatic Battery,
3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment
displayed their ability to train and excel
at any mission needed for the upcoming
deployment. the platoon level.
Last week, the Battery executed a maneuver
platoon live fire exercise as well as certified
and fired artillery in support of the EQ-36
fielding and testing.
The Soldiers of the Thunder Pride Battalion
have increased their focus on developing the
skills needed to function as a maneuver force.
Initial training consisted of building both
personal and crew served weapon proficiency,
and was followed by team and squad
level movement techniques and battle
drills. This training was built upon
by developing the command and
control, flexibility, and knowledge
needed to execute live fire exercises at
The Automatic Battery and
Thunder Battalion will continue to
refine and test their proficiency in the
maneuver role throughout Warhorse
Blitz, Joint Readiness Training
Center, and additional training.
With adaptability and proficiency, the
Soldiers from Automatic Battery, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment
Field Artillery Soldiers of 2nd Brigade execute a rock drill rehearsal before their platoon live fire during Warhorse
will remain the Kings of Battle. Blitz. These rehearsals help to get the Battery ready for deployment.

Tankers dismount for Afghanistan

Story and Photo by Spc. April York Afghanistan were role players as opposing
2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO force, Afghan National Security Forces and •When thawing the turkey plan for 24 hours for
Tankers from Company C, 1st Battalion, local nationals. every 5 pounds of turkey
67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat According to Sgt. 1st Class Erik Helton, •Don’t stuff turkey ahead of time
Team, 4th Infantry Division put away their platoon sergeant for 3rd platoon, Company
•Spoon stuffing into turkey loosely
tanks and trained to be infantry men during C, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., “The training
Warhorse Blitz, November 8-19. scenario was the platoon received intelligence
•Don’t roast turkey below 325
Cordon and from battalion that degrees Fahrenheit
Search was one there was a high value • Always use a thermometer to
training event target in the town check for doneness
that occurred in a named Omar and • Internal temperatures of the
mock town and it interaction through turkey must reach 165 F
incorporated many key leader engagement
elements to achieve was required to get
transformation more information on
from tank platoon
to infantry platoon.
his location.”
After the key leader
Warhorse Pride
The training engagement Soldiers
incorporated both from Company C cor- Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSM
wheeled-mounted Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd doned and searched Maj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAO
and dismounted Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division take cover after an the town with special Spc. April York........................................Layout and Design
movements Improvised Explosive Device goes off during training at the Cordon interest on the build- Sgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor
through terrain and Search Lane. ing where locals said Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the
and elevations that Omar was located. Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infan-
mimic those found in Afghanistan, said Capt. ANSF role players were integrated into try Division. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded
Cole Pinheiro, commander of Company C, 1st each squad and they conducted the search newsletter authorized under provision of AR 360-1.
Bn., 67th Armor Reg. alongside their U.S. counterparts. Contents of The Warhorse Pride are
not necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by the, U.S.
“The infantry guys were a real help, they “The ANSF role players acted their part government, Department of Defense, Department of
had no problem pulling us tankers aside and really well. They behaved exactly as we’ve been the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial
giving us advice and sharing stories with us told they do in country,” said Helton. “It really content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited,
to help us better understand our job,” said helps with the training, especially with the provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat
Team Public Affairs Office.
Pvt. 1st Class Travis Easley, a tanker with interactions of the local nationals.” The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commen-
Company C. The search was successful and Omar was tary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride
Our platoon camaraderie has really grown, captured and detained. reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the
said Easley. “In the tank it’s just you and your “Our ability to fire and maneuver publication.
All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be viewed
crew; on the ground you get to interact with [dismounted] and control that at the squad online from your home computer at www.facebook.
everyone in your unit.” and platoon level is excellent,” said Pinheiro. com/2bct4id
Soldiers from 4th Brigade Combat Team, “My guys are absolutely competent and they Submissions should be emailed to the
4th Inf. Div. who had recently returned from have demonstrated great initiative out here.” editor: seth.barham1@conus.army.mil