The sun shines bright in the cloud-free sky; the nonexistent wind makes it ideal weather for shooting artillery.

With the arrival of eager artillerymen, a stage is set to demonstrate what has been accomplished during months of extensive training.

Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of U.S. Forces Command, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross to the widow of Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), during a somber ceremony, Jan. 16, at Liberty Chapel, here.

France Moves Against an Al-Qaeda Haven
By Harold Hutchison

ISLAMIST UPRISING IN MALI
A year ago, most of you reading this issue had never really heard about Mali. About all you’d probably know about that country would be that it is somewhere in Africa. Maybe you’d know that it is where Timbuktu is now located. But beyond that, not too many people know that much about Mali.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and detained several suspected insurgents in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, Jan. 17.

The leader oversaw insurgents conducting direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He facilitated the transfer and delivery of weapons and IEDs to insurgents operating within the province.

Prior to his detention, he was involved in the coordination of an assassination attempt.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

Afghan and coalition forces detained six insurgents, located one weapons cache and cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 16.

Khowst province

Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache in Nadir Shah Kot district. The cache contained mortar rounds, ammunition and IED-making materials.

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Bak district.

Laghman province

Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an IED in Mehtar Lam district.

There is a group of airmen in the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron who get a view of Afghanistan that few ever see.

They man the multiple defense towers that ring the base perimeter, armed with powerful binoculars and other hi-tech surveillance gear, looking out into the local community and watching for any threats.

“They’re responsible for watching all avenues of approach, watching for anything out of the ordinary and reporting it up,” said Staff Sgt. Richard Bruin, 455th ESFS area supervisor.

Three Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266, were awarded the Air Medals with combat distinguishing devices, Jan. 7.

The awards were given for actions while serving with 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Expeditionary Strike Group Five in support of joint task force Odyssey Dawn.

Forward Operating Base Mescal has no Morale, Welfare and Recreation facility. It has no Post Exchange, no laundry drop off and no post office.

Soldiers stationed here receive mail about once a month and the chow hall offers two choices at every meal: Take it or leave it.

Despite the spartan accommodations however, six National Guard Soldiers with the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Yonkers, N.Y., call Forward Operating Base, or FOB, Mescal home and they are perfectly happy to do so.

Video by 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment