Phoenix Rising

 "All of us gave some.  Some of us gave all."

 "COLOSSAL 31"

 #85-24349

     B Company 3-10 GSAB lost five Soldiers in a CH-47 Chinook during their tour in Afghanistan on 5 May, 2006.  The aircraft was conducting operations on a mountaintop landing zone, in support of Operation Mountain Lion near Asadabad in Kunar province, when the rear main rotor blades made contact with a tree - totally collapsing the rear rotor system 5 seconds after contact, causing the aircraft to crash on a nearby cliff and catch fire.   

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About Colossal 31 

   Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Totten, 34, was a CH-47 pilot assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.

   A native of Minnesota, Totten enlisted in the Army in August 1993. He attended the Warrant Officer Basic Course and became a qualified CH-47 pilot in 2000.

   He deployed to Afghanistan with his unit in February 2006.

   Totten’s military education includes the Air Assault Course, U.S Army Ranger School, Airborne Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Instructor Qualification Course, Warrant Officer Basic Course, CH-47D Aircraft Qualification Course (AQC), Strategic Deployment Scheduler Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, and the Action Officer Development Course.

   His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon,, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Army Aviator Badge, Driver/Mechanic Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.

   Totten is survived by his stepmother, Tommie Totten, in Dallas, Texas. 

   Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Donaldson, 28, was a CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.

   A native of Illinois, Donaldson enlisted in the Army in September 1997.

   In April 2003, he began the Warrant Officer Candidate School to train as a helicopter pilot. He completed training to be an Army Aviator in 2004 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in November 2004. In April 2005, Donaldson was reassigned to Fort Drum to serve in the 10th Mountain Division.

   Donaldson’s previous overseas assignments include a 14 month tour in Korea from April 1998 to June 1999. He also served in Germany from October 2000 to September 2002.

   Donaldson’s military education includes the Army Maintenance Management Course, Electronic Warfare Officers Course, Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course, Rotary Wing Aviator Course and the Warrant Officer Candidate School.

   His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge and the Army Aviator Badge.

   Donaldson is survived by his father, William, of Beecher City, Illinois, and his mother, Lynne, of Effingham, Illinois.

   Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Howick, 34, was a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.

   A native of Hamburg, New York, Howick enlisted in the Army in September 1991 and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned as a helicopter repairman with the 123rd Aviation Company at Fort Wainwright, Alaska in March 1993 until May 1996. He served at Fort Drum from May 1996 to December 1997 as a helicopter repair team chief.

   From 1997 to 2001, Howick served with the 123rd Aviation Maintenance Detachment at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. From 2001 to 2004, he was assigned to the Aviation Center, at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as a helicopter repair instructor. He was reassigned to Fort Drum in June 2005 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in February 2006.

   Howick’s military education includes the Basic Non-commissioned Officer’s Course, Warrior Leader’s Course, Aviation Life Support Equipment Training, Air Assault and Mountain Warfare training.

   His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Aviator Badge and the Air Assault Badge.

   Howick is survived by his wife, Una, at Fort Drum and a daughter Noel. He is also survived by his parents Charles and Lola Howick, of Hamburg, New York. 

   Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Brewster, 24, was a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.

   A native of Fontana, California, Brewster enlisted in the Army in September 2000 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Virginia, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in August 2001.

   He deployed to Afghanistan from January to July of 2002. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2003 to February 2004.

   Brewster’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, Transportation of Hazardous Material Course, Strategic Deployment Scheduler Course and the Unit Movement Officer Course.

   His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Aviator Badge.

   Brewster is survived by his wife Kati, and his parents Louis and Linda Brewster, of Victorville, California. 

   Sgt. John C. Griffith was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Griffith, 33, was a light wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.

   Originally from Wisconsin, Griffith enlisted in the Army in May 1991 and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

   Following basic and advanced training, Griffith was assigned to the 56th Air Ambulance Company at Camp Humphries, Korea, in July 2004. In July 2005 Griffith was reassigned to Fort Drum.

   Griffith is a graduate of the Warrior Leader’s Course.

   His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge and Driver/Mechanic Badge.

   Griffith is survived by his wife, Christa; their children Hunter, Spencer and Kailynn; and his parents, Robert and Barbara. 

   Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

   Wiekamp, 23, was a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.

   A native of South Dakota, Wiekamp enlisted in the Army in August 2001 and attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was also assigned to Fort Eustis, Virginia, and with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

   He deployed to Afghanistan with his unit in February 2006.

   Wiekamp’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Aviator Badge.

   Wiekamp is survived by his wife Ashley, who also deployed to Iraq, and his parents Randy and Kathleen Wiekamp, of Utopia, Texas. 

C Company 1-10 “Blue Max”
TF Phoenix 

   By U.S. Army Sgt. Amanda Jo Brown

   Unit Public Affairs Representative

   Task Force Phoenix

   PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers and friends of Task Force Falcon, 10th Mountain Division, mourned the loss of one of their own during a memorial at Enduring Faith Chapel, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 26.

   U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry L. Varnadore II, an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter pilot in command assigned to Company C “Blue Max,” TF Phoenix, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mtn. Div., was killed April 23 when his aircraft went down during a night mission in Kapisa province.

   “As we sit in this chapel on this unforgettable evening reflecting upon the life of Terry Varnadore, we realize that we have lost a great American hero,” said U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Hearon, of Greenville, S.C.

   As the memorial began, there was a mixture of somber faces and soft smiles as Soldiers close to him told stories.

   U.S. Army Lt. Col. Dennis McKernan, TF Phoenix commander, spoke highly of the young pilot as Blue Max soldiers looked upon the stand holding his rifle, flight helmet, boots and dog tags.

   “Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Varnadore was a selfless, positive warrior and honorable man,” said McKernan, of Haddon Township, N.J. “He was extremely competent, smart and very serious about preparing his company for combat and keeping them trained as Blue Max took the fight to the enemy.”

   As McKernan stood before a room full of solemn faces, he noted that while mourning is the start of the healing process, aviation Soldiers must stay focused on the mission.

   “We are Soldiers, we are still in the fight and we know that we don’t have the luxury to grieve very long. We must move on, because that’s what we do,” said McKernan, “That’s our mission and that’s what our country, our families, and our loved ones need us to do.”

   U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Steven Badgley, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., considered Varnadore one of his closest friends. The two pilots arrived at Fort Drum in 2007 where their journey together began. They deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom together in 2008; even though they were stationed at two separate locations, Badgley looked forward to flying with Varnadore.

   Upon their return, their wives and children became inseparable which made their friendship grow even more.

   “Our families were one in the same,” said Badgley. “We made sure we never missed our weekly get-togethers where we chased the kids, played darts and watched plenty of Wipeout.”

   Varnadore’s positive personality and helpful nature changed Badgley. He spoke with tears in his eyes as he said goodbye to a friend and colleague.

   “He helped me as a pilot and friend,” said Badgley. “Watching him with Casey made you want to be a better husband; watching him with Eva made you want to be a better father. I will always remember Terry with the giant smile that he always wore from cheek to cheek - even in the worst of times.”

   Chaplain Hearon acknowledged the difficulty of accepting the loss of a comrade and reminded the soldiers of the great service Varnadore performed as a pilot.

   “We don’t always understand why life happens the way it does. Many times we don’t have answers to life’s difficult questions. One thing we can be certain of is that because of men like Terry, millions back home can sleep safely every night.”

   Close friend, flight school classmate and fellow pilot, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sean Hennessy could not make it to Varnadore’s memorial, but shared with other soldiers Varnadore’s passion in life.

   “Terry loved flying,” said Hennessy, of Bakersfield, Calif. “But it was obvious that his family was his life. On the weekends, or when he had time off from work, it wasn’t unusual for Terry to take his family on an outdoor adventure or road trip.”

   Blue Max commander, U.S. Army Capt. Sean Reeves of Shalimar, Fla., emphasized Varnadore’s love of his Family.

   “Terry deployed to Afghanistan with his wife pregnant with their second child,” said Reeves, “He would show everyone the pictures of the ultrasounds and would talk at great lengths about his daughter’s upcoming birthday. His family was his life and his motivation.”

   Varnadore, 29, a native of Hendersonville, N.C., deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2010.

   His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, and Combat Action Badge.