Asadabad
Asadabad is located in the northeastern province of Kunar. It is a mountainous region about five miles from the Pakistani border.
In mid-January 1979, a guerrilla force composed of Afghan refugees from Pakistan carried out a raid on a provincial capital—Asadabad—near the northeastern border of Afghanistan, and seized an army garrison there. The guerrillas were eventually driven out, but were able to hold the garrison briefly because the Afghan commander had already secretly defected to the insurrection. The commander of the Asadabad garrison would later become one of the leaders of the Afghan guerrilla units in the eastern provinces opposing the Soviet intervention forces.
During the years of conflict in Afghanistan before the Coalition arrived in 2001, many Afghans migrated to other countries to avoid war and bloodshed. A majority of the refugees moved just across the border into Pakistan.
With the restructuring and stabilization of the new Afghan government, many of these refugees have begun to return to their homeland in search of their cultural roots. Kunar Province is just a few miles from the Pakistan border and an important center of returnee activity.
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Asadabad
PRTs are an initiative whose stated objectives include extending the influence of the Afghan government outside Kabul, encouraging international and non-governmental organizations to operate in rural areas outside of Kabul, and facilitating reconstruction. Primary functions are focused on the coordination of the reconstruction process, identification of reconstruction projects, conducting village assessments, and liaising with regional commanders. PRT interactions with local leaders/elders also establishes and maintains positive relations with the populations and enables a more stable and secure environment in the surrounding areas.
When the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team engineers arrived in Afghanistan in 2004, they found builders using primitive techniques. Since then, the team worked side-by-side with contractors in eastern Afghanistan’s Konar Province to not only develop the area, but also help the builders progress. When the soldiers arrived, the Afghans were building mud and plaster roofs. Now, they are building reinforced concrete roofs with steel rebar. The use of machines allows builders to complete projects more efficiently, something they have gradually passed on to the Afghans. Initially, they were mixing concrete on the ground. This isn’t effective for load-bearing construction, so the contractors got machine mixers. This also cuts back on the time and personnel required to construct a building.
In January 2005 members of the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team donated 50 goats to Chawkay Repatriated Afghan Camp in Kunar Province. The goats were presented to the camp residents for the camp’s celebration of the Islamic religious holiday, Eid Al-Adha. Chawkay, located about 30 kilometers south of the Provincial Center of Asadabad in Kunar Province, is home to one of the camps. The population of the camp consists of 211 families, totaling more than 1,500 residents. The camp is managed by Mohammed Hanif who estimates the camp size will increase 10-15 families each month.
Armed with wrenches, screwdrivers and wire cutters, the maintenance support team attack disabled vehicles at Forward Operating Base Asadabad. Comprised of Soldiers and Marines, the team is responsible for maintaining all vehicles on the base in eastern Afghanistan’s Konar Province. They support everyone on this post, making sure their trucks can stay on the road. The team works together to ensure the vehicles are repaired as quickly as possible, so operations aren’t hindered by a broken vehicle.
Asadabad Fire Base
Keeping peace and providing security for the military forces at Asadabad Fire Base, the soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment use a variety of methods to accomplish their mission. Force protection is part of combat operations. The 2nd Bn., 505th PIR had observation post missions, mounted patrols, quick reaction force duty and tower guard. They all play a part in combat operations.
The missions the Asadabad-based infantrymen pull varied depending on their rotation. The different platoons and teams rotate jobs. Tower guard duty places soldiers on point, directly looking out for the base for a couple of hours a night. The OPs are manned for approximately a week at a time by a team. They get resupplied through the week. Mounted patrols vary in length of time and dismounted patrols can be one to three days. They infiltrate teams into areas to do whatever mission that’s needed done. Whether looking for activity or weapons. They exfiltrate them a couple of days later.
There are things that go bump in the night that may cause some of us to take pause. However, at a fire base, the folks that answer some of those bumps with loud thumps help everyone rest easier. In April 2003 the soldiers of the mortar platoon at Asadabad Fire Base were the ones that lend a 120-millimeter response to threats the base might face. Mortar Platoon, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Bragg, NC provided 360-degree base defense. To help provide that degree of coverage, the mortar platoon relied on soldiers sitting atop observation posts and forward observers to give them good data that ensures accurate and lethal strikes. The teamwork needed is practiced through training.
The platoon had fired over 360 rounds at Asadabad, both training and in fire support. The training helps the mortar platoon soldiers keep their skills sharp, but it also assists the forward observers. It’s really great training for the forward observers. The more they do it, the more it increases their skill level making fire more effective.Forward Operating Base Asadabad
Since late 2001 US Army Special Forces units and Air Force bombers have been active in the area. It is an area in which remnants of al Qaeda and the Taliban remain active.
The Puchi Ghar Army Fire Support Base is a forward position just outside of Asadabad, operational as of early 2003.
The Maui medical clinic is operated by US military personnel. The Maui medical clinic offers advanced trauma life support, advanced cardiac life support, and can stabilize patients who need to be transported elsewhere for major surgery. Although the medical clinic was orginally constructed to handle combat-related inuries of coalition soliders, local Afghans constitute almost all of the patients both here, and at the larger military hospital at Bagram Air Base. The Bagram facility is mostly used by Afghans from the surrounding Shomali Plains, but also receives patients from outlying areas, such as Asadabad. A small mosque, the Masjid al-Shelifa, was not in use. It is the only concrete building on the premises of the base. Rather than use the structure to house the clinic, the US military has closed it off to preserve its sanctity.
Afghan military forces turned over 74 100 mm rocket rounds and 54 107 mm rocket fuses to coalition forces in Adadabad 18 June 2003. They were recovered during an Afghan forces' sweep of the Shahkahul area, east of Asadabad.
In an incident in Kunar Province, task force officials said three coalition soldiers were wounded and one vehicle was damaged when an improvised explosive device detonated in the middle of their convoy approximately eight kilometers south of Asadabad 19 July 2003. The three soldiers were medically evacuated to Bagram Air Base yesterday and were in stable condition.
Two rockets impacted in the vicinity of the firebase at Asadabad during the night of 23 July 2003. Mortars were fired at the suspected point of origin and close air support requested. A B-52 responded first, then two AV-8 Harriers. The B-52 dropped a Joint Direct Attack Munitions bomb and the Harriers dropped one 1,000-pound laser-guided bomb on enemy fighters observed at the suspected location. There were no coalition casualties or damage to equipment.
Four local citizens came to the front gate of a firebase in the vicinity of Asadabad with a remote control improvised explosive device on 06 August 2003. According to the locals, the RCIED had been recently buried, then discovered and immediately defused and brought to the firebase for proper destruction. The RCIED consisted of an Italian TC-6 landmine, a blasting cap, and a spider device. There were no reported injuries or damage to property.
A rocket impacted in the vicinity of the coalition fire base in Asadabad 10 August 2003 about 7 p.m. Coalition forces returned fire with mortars. There were no coalition personnel injured and no damage to coalition equipment. Two 107mm rockets landed in the vicinity of the coalition firebase at Asadabad 12 August 2003. There were no reported injuries to coalition soldiers or damage to equipment or property.
Coalition veterinarian personnel traveled to the Nangalam village near Asadabad firebase from 8-10 November 2003 and performed veterinary services as part of the coalition's civil military efforts. 153 goats, sheep, and cattle were treated on the first day, and 226 goats, sheep and cattle were treated on the second day. Accompanied by Infantry elements from the 10th Mountain Division, the veterinarians performed a much need preventive medical service improved the quality of life and well being for the grateful people of Nangalam.
In late November 2003 an operation in the northeast region near the Pakistani border area of Asadabad -- dubbed Operation Mountain Resolve -- was conducted to interdict and capture enemy forces and to deny them sanctuary.
Mention the word "rodeo" and most would think broncs, bulls and buckles. But mention rodeo at many forward operating bases in Afghanistan, and the faces of the coalition members serving there light up with anticipation. The rodeo to them is the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Rodeo conducted every month. The event is coordinated by representatives from the Combined Joint Task Force 76 personnel section and stops at forward bases in Salerno, Gardez, Tarin Kowt, Jalalabad and Asadabad once a month.
Although no one knows the origin of the title, the importance of the event is the same. Since those stationed at these remote bases rarely have the opportunity to shop for personal items – such as snacks, hygiene products and entertainment – at their locations, AAFES brings the store to them.
Representatives from the Bagram Air Base Post Office come to process packages being sent home, finance clerks cash checks and dispense cash, and a legal-services soldier answers questions and processes paperwork such as powers of attorney. Representatives from the Army Reserve Affairs, retention and the Army Continuing Education System offices are also on hand to answer any questions the service members might have.
A 38-year-old North Carolina man was indicted for assaulting an Afghan detainee while working as a contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency at a US military base in Asadabad, Afghanistan. According to a 17 June 2004 statement by Attorney General John Ashcroft, a federal grand jury in Raleigh, North Carolina has indicted David Passaro on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Each of the four charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years prison and $250,000 fine.
Passaro was part of a clandestine paramilitary team of Special Forces and CIA personnel who capture and interrogated Taliban and al Qaeda members. Passaro was working at the Asadabad Base in June 2003, in support of US military personnel, when a local man, suspected of participating in rocket attacks against the base, surrendered himself at the front gate. The Afghan national, Abdul Wali, was placed under detention. Over the following two days, Passaro allegedly assaulted Wali with his hands and feet and with a large flashlight. Wali died in his detention cell the third day.
Passaro is reportedly the first US citizen charged under the Patriot Act, which extends to military contractors overseas. In June 2005 US District Judge Terrence W. Boyle ordered Passaro to remain in jail until his trial because of violations of conditions of his pre trial release. Boyle said Passaro was a flight risk and a danger to his community and should remain in custody until his trial scheduled for 17 July 2005 in Raleigh.
