Staff Sergeant Matthew Sanders walks gingerly through the night, crouched over in the awkward stance required to avoid the low hanging branches of the pomegranate trees and still see the path in front of him.  The Soldiers in his squad follow behind, each holding on to the man in front of him to avoid getting lost.  SSG Jason Hughes and SSG Ramone Deleon are the other squad leaders in 1st Platoon Crusher Company, and their Soldiers follow in line as well, slowly creeping along hoping to surprise the enemy while he sleeps.  Thus far tonight, the men of Crusher Company and the rest of the 1-17th Infantry Battalion have walked for hours through the waist deep water of the Arghandab River and the tangled orchards surrounding it.  The rough terrain and difficult route were chosen to avoid the IEDs, mines, and booby traps so common to trails near enemy strongholds.  The men have also deliberately left their Stryker vehicles behind, attempting to fool an enemy who was used to seeing them always move with their Strykers.  This time the Buffaloes would try something new.

(Photo by MSG Mark Hamil)

(Photo by CPT Adam Swift)

Up ahead of Crusher Company were Soldiers from the battalion Reconnaissance Platoon, who had left early to scout the trail and lead the battalion through the orchards.  SSG Terrance Taylor was waiting to meet the men of Crusher Company at a pre-determined spot.  He would act as a traffic cop and guide the different platoons in the right direction, and then help the battalion leadership set up their command post.  SSG Darrell Stamps, SGT Joshua Pinkham and their small three man reconnaissance teams had already been out front finding the route, and would lead the men of Crusher Company through the dense vegetation to their final assault positions.  Once Crusher Company was set, the Reconnaissance Platoon would go back across the river and set up their sniper teams, led by SSG Isaik Mathiesen. 

Creeping to their final locations, the men nearly stepped on a Taliban lookout who had fallen asleep with his AK-47 in the orchards surrounding an enemy held village.  As he tried to raise and fire his weapon, the men of Crusher Company and Recon Platoon opened fire on him first.  It was a harrowing start to a long day of clearing houses, compounds, and orchards.

The Buffaloes of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment deployed in July 2009 with the rest of 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and were assigned to the Arghandab River Valley north of Kandahar city.  Kandahar has always been one the Taliban's historic strongholds.  The Buffaloes were given the mission to secure the northern approaches to the city, to keep the Taliban from being able to carry out attacks in the densely populated areas of Kandahar.  Based out of FOB Frontenac, the Buffalos are about two miles away from the Dahla Dam, constructed in 1952 by an American construction company to provide water for the people and irrigation for the crops in the Arghandab River Valley.  The dam allows the local farmers to dig thousands of small irrigation ditches and expand their corn fields, grape rows and pomegranate orchards, turning the arid and mountainous desert into a jungle of vines, trees, and mud walls.  Vastly different from any training environment they encountered at the Yakima or National Training Centers, the Buffalos must negotiate steep, rocky mountains as well as the thick jungle of orchards... often on the same patrol.  Stryker vehicles are often unable to drive over the rough terrain or fit down the narrow roads through the orchards.  The men of 1-17 IN have had to adapt to these new and difficult challenges in order to find the enemy and help the people of Afghanistan.  The Taliban use the orchards to hide their equipment, weapons, and IED making supplies.  They will threaten the local farmers and steal the food from their families.  When the Taliban hide in the orchards, they do not let the farmers tend their fields.  Taliban members will come into the villages at night and threaten or kill those who help any Coalition Forces.  Oftentimes, entire villages are forced to abandon their homes and farms in response to the Taliban's threats.

(Photo by CPT Adam Swift)

(Photo by CPT Adam Swift)

SSG Deleon from 1st PLT Crusher CO had previously deployed to Iraq with Strykers from the 25th ID.  "We knew to expect challenges from the different terrain here in Afghanistan, but I don't think any of us were prepared for how much we would have to adapt once we got here" says Deleon.  "Still, it's not anything we can't deal with.  We just have to be one step ahead of the enemy."  SSG Taylor from Recon PLT has deployed twice before to Iraq with Strykers from Ft. Lewis' 3rd and 4th Brigades, and he agrees.  "We have to change our tactics all the time to deal with the changing environment and terrain.  The enemy is in the orchards, terrorizing the local people, so we use the Strykers to get us to the orchards so we can dismount and go after them."  SSG Hughes, who previously deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne, also has similar sentiments.  "We have to use tactics we didn't practice much before we got here, but they are tactics every infantryman knows.  Some people compare this place to Vietnam, and being in the orchards reminds you of what Vietnam must have been like." 

There is no single strategy or tactic that guarantees success in the Arghandab River Valley.  1st PLT Crusher CO has spent weeks building a patrol base next to a local bazaar.  It is strategically located on a key bridge in the area, and is adjacent to an Afghani National Police (ANP) station.  1st PLT mentors the ANP, and together they patrol through the bazaar and the surrounding villages.  The battalion had seen many IEDs and enemy ambushes in the area when they arrived in July, but the area has quieted down since 1st PLT settled in.  "The enemy tried to surround us one night" said SPC Cameron St. Onge.  "But we were ready for them.  They didn't stand a chance against our machine guns.  They haven't come back since." 

The Reconnaissance Platoon has had its own share of successes to go along with its lessons learned.  They have had to replace three Strykers hit by IEDs, but have made an even larger dent in the enemy.  "We were pretty sure that the Taliban were watching us and waiting for us to drive by before they dug in their IEDs" says SGT Brock Neely.  "So we waited for another platoon to drive by and we watched.  Within minutes two men came out and started digging in the road, they had no idea we were there.  We called in helicopters to take them out so the other platoon could get back safely.  We even got it on video!"  Using helicopters has proven to be a very effective weapon against IEDs.  "We never had a chance to practice talking to helicopters in training, but we have all learned very quickly here" says SGT Pinkham.  On one occasion Recon Platoon was credited with eliminating a local IED cell through the use of its snipers.  SGT Luke Leisy and SGT Craig Stephens crawled over 800 meters to get three enemy fighters digging in IEDs.  "It was pretty exciting getting to use all of the techniques we learned in Sniper school, now I've got a good story to tell my friends" says Stephens.  And SGT Leisy added "It was cool finding out that they were important IED makers in this area."

The men of Bayonet Company have had particular success in their zone locating enemy caches of weapons and explosives.  Over the past month, they have found nearly two dozen caches consisting of automatic rifles, hand grenades, large machine guns, rocket propelled grenades, and almost one thousand pounds of home-made explosives (HME).  Making IEDs out of HME is the most common means for the Taliban to attack US troops.  SPC Brent Ingallis is in 2nd PLT Bayonet Company, and on patrol he found over 95 lbs of Russian Symtec explosive.  "Every time we find their weapons, we make it safer for the population and for ourselves" says Ingallis.  "The locals have figured this out too, and are starting to show us where the Taliban hide it."

(Photo taken by SFC Zalman Dass)

(Photo taken by SFC Zalman Dass)

There has been a marked decrease in the amount of attacks since the Soldiers in Bayonet began finding the caches, as well as a noticeable change in the attitude of the locals.  "Now that we are finding where the Taliban stay, they have moved on to other places.  That allows the villagers to return to their homes and farms" says SPC Mark McKenna, also of 2nd Platoon Bayonet Company.  "The villagers see the difference we make, and are starting to become friendly with us.  They help us all the time now, showing us where the IEDs are."  Many of the farms and orchards had become overgrown and rotten, villagers unable to tend them because of Taliban threats.  Now the villagers are able to return to their everyday lives, and they often share the results with the troops.  Pomegranates grown in the orchards, and chickens and goats from local herds are often given to Bayonet Company as a sign of gratitude.  According to SPC McKenna, "Sometimes we buy animals to eat from the farmers.  It's a nice change from MREs all the time.  It helps the economy too."  Success is measured in different ways in the Arghandab.  Roads that are free of mines and farmers able to sell their crops and animals are just two of the indicators. 

One of the storylines that continues to manifest itself among the men of 1-17 IN is the outstanding performance of its young Soldiers deployed for the first time.  Due to the lengthy process required to stand up an entire Stryker Brigade, many Soldiers have achieved the rank of Sergeant without deploying.  They are exceeding all expectations here in Afghanistan.  SSG Darrell Stamps from the Recon Platoon is on his third deployment and had this to say about these young Soldiers... "SGT Pinkham is deployed for the first time and has had to step up and take over a Staff Sergeant's job.  He has done an awesome job, and I trust him leading his squad next to mine."  SGT Pinkham deflected the credit to the Soldiers in his squad when asked about his success.  "All my guys have done a great job.  My driver, SPC Victor Stonesifer, was hit by an IED and still jumped out of his hatch and started shooting with his rifle.  We're all out here trying to do our job and watch out for each other."  The consensus is the same in Crusher Company, who has been hit hard by casualties since their arrival.  "Crusher Company has been in the eye of the storm, and contrary to every prediction we refuse to quit.  The Soldiers we thought would have issues over here have all stepped up when we needed them and done their jobs well" bragged SSG Sanders.  Even 1SG Burrow, the weathered, senior NCO in the company who is known for rarely giving out compliments, has nothing but positive things to say about his men.  "I am very proud of the men in my company.  They continue to meet all adversity with a steely resolve.  There are no challenges that the men are unable to overcome.  Their performance is a testament to their professionalism and dedication to mission accomplishment."

(Photo by MSG Mark Hamil)

(Photo by SFC Robert Ciman)

However, new challenges continually arise for the Buffaloes.  No one is quite sure how the changing weather will affect the mission as the Afghan winter looms.  The Taliban usually retreat to Pakistan for the winter to regroup and seek shelter from the weather, but do not seem to be following that pattern this year.  "We freeze every night when we sit in our observation posts watching for the Taliban" says SGT Clint Conant of the Recon PLT.  "But it's worth it every time we catch one of them and prevent them from putting in an IED."  Along with the changing climate, the Buffalos have to deal with the ever turbulent political situation in Afghanistan and in America.  Most of the men are able to stay fairly current by watching the news occasionally in the chow hall, or through letters from home.  And although the decisions made at home have such direct effects on the Soldiers here, they all remain resolute to finish whatever job they are handed.  "We all have our opinions about what we think should happen, whether it's the Afghan elections or President Obama's plan for the future" says SPC Adam Rebein of the Recon Platoon.  "But whatever happens above us, we'll continue to fight together here on the ground.  It doesn't change why we're here."

It is 4AM in the morning in Afghanistan, twelve and a half hours difference from Ft. Lewis.  SSG Sanders has been in charge of the guard at 1st PLTs patrol base for the last shift of the night.  He opens his first MRE of the day for breakfast, and begins to wake up the rest of the platoon for their patrol.  Today they will walk through the bazaar and talk to the local shopkeepers.  "We ask them if they feel safe, and if there is any way we can help them.  But we also stress how important it is for all of us that they help out against the Taliban" says Sanders.  "We'll probably buy some of the bread they sell at the bazaar to help out the local economy" says SSG Deleon as he puts on his gear and checks his squad before the patrol.  "We live together with these people, so we end up helping each other out." 

While 1st Platoon prepares for another day long patrol, Recon Platoon has been out all night, watching for enemy trying to dig in IEDs.  SGT Ronnie Simmons, one of Recon Platoon's snipers, looks like a mummy wrapped up against the bitter cold of the Afghan night.  He opens his last MRE of the night for dinner before he lays down on a stretcher to sleep through the day.  "It was a slow night, we didn't see anything" says Simmons.  "Most nights out on observation posts are long, boring, and cold.  But as long as we're out there, the Taliban can't put new IEDs in."  SGT Simmons and the rest of Recon then get some sleep, back safe from another patrol, while 1st Platoon prepares to go back out.  Dangerous work, but done with a workmanlike diligence by the Buffalos. 

The old pioneer song "Home on the Range" describes a place "...where seldom is heard a discouraging word."  While the men of 1-17 may complain about the weather or the chow here in Afghanistan, none complain about the mission.  Every Soldier continues to push on, fight the enemy, and protect the men around him.  No matter what the Soldiers of 1-17 are asked to do, southern Afghanistan will be where the Buffalo roam.

(Photo by CPT Michael P. Kovalsky)

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