Volume 1, Issue 1 Winter 2003

665th Maintenance guards airmen

By Sgt. 1st Class Kim Smith

129th MPAD

The war efforts in Iraq. The war on

terrorism. Peacekeeping efforts in the

Balkans. Guard and reserve activation

opportunities overseas abound. But wait!

What about homeland security?

The 665th Maintenance Company,

headquartered in Mitchell with

detachments in Rapid City, Webster, and

Sioux Falls, is well aware of the activation

possibilities out there.

Unit members are scattered throughout

the theaters mentioned above. The

headquarters and Rapid City detachment

were activated in late January to support

the Air Force security mission at Ellsworth

Air Force Base near Rapid City and Air

Guard security at Joe Foss Field in Sioux

Falls. The Sioux Falls detachment

activated in March to Fort Sill, Okla., and

Fort Carson, Colo., to maintain multiple

launch rocket systems. Other unit

members serve with activated Guard units

serving in Kuwait and Iraq.

As a general support maintenance

company, unit members normally provide

maintenance on the military’s wheeled

vehicles, track vehicles, electronics

equipment and multiple launch rocket

systems.

Nearly a year into the activation,

morale remains high among unit members.

“This has been a tremendous learning

experience for every soldier here, from the

By Sgt. 1st Class Kim Smith

Sgt. Allan Spodnik, center, a South Dakota Army National Guard soldier with the

665th Maintenance Company, checks a civilian identification badge at the Main

Gate to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

109th Engineers return from desert war

By Sgt. Wes Nowitzki

129th MPAD

HUMMVs, tanks, fuel tankers, helicopters, semi-trucks and

soldiers swiftly driving across the border heading north with one

goal, one mission—free the Iraqi people and destroy the Saddam

regime. 

Soldiers from the 109th Engineer Battalion were the first

South Dakota National Guard unit deployed to the Gulf. They

arrived in Kuwait in mid-February and moved into Iraq four days

after the war began, providing an important engineer role during

the war.

“We were leaning forward in the foxhole, preparing ourselves

and our staff for possible deployment,” said Lt. Col. Craig

Johnson, 109th Engineer Battalion Commander.

The 39 members of the 109th didn’t have many days to deploy,

but they were ready. When the unit received its activation orders

they only had about a week to mobilize to Fort Carson, Colo., so

the unit’s preparation training proved to be an asset to the unit’s

readiness. 

The unit was in Fort Carson for about a month before they

packed their bags and equipment and left for Kuwait. On Feb. 18

the unit arrived in Camden Park, Kuwait. Camden Park was the

reception integration staging area that prepared the soldiers to go

north into Iraq. 

Even though Camden Park was in Kuwait, it was still a

hazardous place to be during the first part of the war. The unit

went through many warnings of Scud missile attacks. 

Continued 665TH pg. 3

Continued Engineers pg. 5

South Dakota Army National Guard
S.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office

An activation ceremony was held Sept. 26 for three area

doctors who headed to Baghdad for a 90-day tour of service. 

They will joined up with Company B, 109th Medical Battalion

and replaced those South Dakota National Guard doctors who

deployed in early July. 

Currently, there is guidance stating that doctors can only be

kept away from their practice for 90 days. 

The doctors include Col. Kenneth Peterson, who works as a

general practitioner

in the VA Hospital

at Fort Meade near

Sturgis; Lt. Col.

Robert Akerson, a

retired pathologist

from Rapid City;

and Capt. Craig

Cade from Indian

Health Services in

Rosebud. This will

be Cade’s second

tour of duty in

support of

Operation Iraqi

Freedom. 

Area doctors that

returned in October

are Lt. Col. Jeffery

Anderson, an

emergency-room

physician at Lookout Memorial Hospital in Spearfish; Maj.

Ashok Kumar, pulmonary and internal physician at Fort Meade;

Col. John Ottenbacher, physician from Selby; and Sturgis dentist

Maj. Rick Schmid. Company B is currently located at the

Baghdad International Airport. Overall, the unit has treated

about 3,400 patients and completed more than 240 air and

ground MEDEVAC missions in both Kuwait and Iraq.

Guard doctors head to Iraq

By Sgt. 1st Class Don Matthews

Sgt. 1st Class Mickey Higgins presents stethoscopes to Col.

Kenneth Peterson and Lt. Col. Robert Akerson of the 109th

Medical Battalion at the activation ceremony.

Page 2 Winter 2003

Adjutant General

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Gorman

129th MPAD Commander

Maj. Andy Gerlach

Chief Public Affairs/NCOIC

Master Sgt. Cal Crooks

Print OIC/Editor

1st Lt. Tony Deiss

Coyote Staff

Sgt. 1st Class Kim Smith

Sgt. Wes Nowitzki

Spc. Mark Watson

Spc. Shannon Crane

Spc. Chris Ripka

PAO Staff

Maj. Fay Ludens

Sgt. 1st Class Don Matthews

Roger Anderson

Administration

Spc. Andy Heymans

The Coyote Magazine is an unofficial

publication of the South Dakota Army

National Guard, published quarterly on the

South Dakota National Guard website:

www.sdguard.ngb.army.mil for its soldiers.

The Coyote is published by the 129th Mobile

Public Affairs Detachment, Camp Rapid, 2823

West Main Street, Rapid City, South Dakota

57702, in accordance with AR 360-81.

Views and opinions expressed in this

publication are not necessarily those of the

South Dakota Army National Guard.

Contributions to the Coyote are encouraged.

Send articles, photos and art to Editor, 129th

MPAD, 2823 West Main Street, Rapid City, S.D.

57702, or email:anthony.deiss@us.army.mil

Local doctor answers the call

By Sgt. Wes Nowitzki

129th MPAD

On July 20 Company B of the 109th

Medical Battalion convoyed from Kuwait

to Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, to

take over a clinic for treating coalition

forces and prisoners of war. 

Soldiers from Fiji, Napoli, America, and

Britain all received Company B’s health

care. 

The prisoners of war included three

main types: common criminals, captured

enemy soldiers, and former Iraqi

administration. Company B doctors decided

when prisoners were healthy enough for

interrogation.

A difficult thing occurred before

Company B established their clinic. The

company’s first patients were soldiers from

the unit Company B replaced. That unit’s

advance party was attacked. Company B

soldiers had to treat the wounded soldiers

and the enemies who attacked them. 

However, Kumar said, “The hardest

thing for the unit was to help our soldiers in

one trauma room and then go to the other

trauma room and help a prisoner. And

sometimes the prisoner was the one who

wounded our soldiers. But it’s hard in your

heart sometimes to make the transition from

one room to the other room and our soldiers

learned how to put up with it.” 

Company B’s rule is to treat all wounded

and injured with dignity and the utmost care

for all people, according to Kumar.

Once Company B settled in, they began

seeing cases of tuberculosis (TB), so Kumar

went into the city to consult with a local

Continued pg. 6
665th guards Air Force equipment, troops

leadership right down to the newest

soldier,” said Capt. Deb Bartunek, 665th

commander. “They look professional, act

professional; they’re showing that they can

do any mission they are given.”

Company soldiers activated to support

the security mission -- called Operation

Armored Falcon -- first spent several days

processing and training at Fort Carson,

Colo. They also trained on such security

areas as handcuffing, riot control, setting

up cordons and general security measures.

The soldiers then transitioned in early

February with Air Force and Air Guard

security forces. Among their daily duties

are random anti-terrorism measure patrol,

manning the commercial gates at the two

air facilities, flightline security to guard B1 bombers at Ellsworth and F-16 fighters

at Joe Foss Field, perimeter patrol, backup

security for the air facilities’ police forces,

manning the visitor control center at

Ellsworth, supporting reports and analysis

and assisting with the range to ensure all

ammunition is accounted for.

Soldiers also consistently participate in

common task training, weapons

qualification, additional security-related

training and maintenance-related training.

In addition to qualifying on their M-16s,

soldiers have qualified on the M-203

grenade launcher, M-249 squad automatic

weapon, M-9 pistol and M-240 machine

gun.

“We’ve blended right in and work well

with them,” said Sgt. 1st Class Doug

Mahoney, non-commissioned officer in

charge. “It’s not uncommon for an Air

Force person to take orders from an Army

NCO, or vice versa.”

Bartunek said unit members are well

aware of the importance of their security

mission. “The soldiers work in rotating

shifts to provide around-the-clock security.

“They’re walking around with a weapon

and live ammo,” she said, “so they take

their jobs seriously.”

Sgt. Allan Spodnik said he expected to

be activated as the buildup for the war in

Iraq began earlier this year. “It could be

worse,” he said. “We’re at home, and

we’re not in a foxhole.”

However, 1st Lt. Lona Wiens, officer in

charge, summed up the activation by

concluding the soldiers “are eager to turn

wrenches again.”

Continued from pg. 1

Page 3 Winter 2003

1085th Medical Co. deploys again

By Spc. Shannon Crane

129th MPAD

The 1085th Air Ambulance Company activated 35 of its soldiers

October 10 to provide air ambulance support for Kosovo Force 5B,

a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and

maintaining security in Kosovo. 

Maj. Mike Snow, the unit commander, expressed his confidence

in the unit’s abilities. “It’s a very good feeling to be able to stand

here and tell you that the 1085th is a unit that is very well trained.

We’re very well equipped and we’re ready to go and do this

mission.”

Thirty-one soldiers from South Dakota and four from the unit’s

detachment in Michigan will travel to Kosovo in February 2004 to

begin their six-month mission. 

“I know that all of you out there share my pride as we take the

time to send off 35 of our very finest National Guard soldiers to do

their mission,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Gorman, the state adjutant

general. “All of these soldiers are really the embodiment of the true

citizen soldier. They leave behind professional careers and

businesses to serve their country. They leave behind families and

loved ones to go in harm’s way to serve this country, and I want to

thank them for that sacrifice.”

Throughout the ceremony, family members and employers were

recognized and thanked for their continued support. Governor Mike

Rounds addressed the soldiers and their families, stressing that he

was very privileged to be at the ceremony with them. 

“I want to say ‘thank you’ to the men and women that make up

the 1085th. I want to say ‘thank you’ because of what you are

providing for us,” Rounds said. “You represent this country like

very few other people ever could, and we owe you a great deal for

the sacrifices that you make. Our Guard is the best of the best.”

This will be the unit’s second deployment in the past two years.

The 1085th returned last fall from a six-month tour in Bosnia where

it provided MEDEVAC support for Stabilization Force 11. 

“I know that you will make us proud,” Gorman said. “God bless

each and every one of you soldiers, God bless your families, and

God bless America.”

By Sgt. 1st Class Don Matthews

Staff Sgt. Scott Sauder (left) and Staff Sgt. Kurt Gross take

part in the 1085th activation ceremony.
CONUS OCONUS

By Spc. Shannon Crane

129th MPAD

The Joint Thunder Initial Planning Conference drew to a close

on October 6, leaving representatives of 60 units with positive

expectations for the training exercise in June 2004. 

The IPC brought together representatives from units interested

in participating in the Joint Thunder 2004 exercise. The units

received general information about the exercise and unit leaders

physically inspected the land that will be utilized for annual

training. In addition, the conference provided the opportunity for

each unit to interact with its higher headquarters.

“All units participating in Joint Thunder build relationships

with each other at the October IPC conference,” said Col. Ted

Johnson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. “We get the faces

to go with the names.”

At the end of the IPC, commands from each unit presented

questions and issues to the Joint Thunder coordinating staff. Over

the year, the staff then works each issue, participating in video

teleconferences with 107th Corps Support Group, until the Final

Planning Conference in April. 

Details concerning each unit’s training requirements are

finalized at this conference, and it is the last time the unit

representatives will come together prior to the actual training

event. 

A new training scenario discussed at this year’s IPC will

involve a Receiving, Stationing, Onward Movement and

Integration area, which is a location where units get things

finalized before going downrange. Units deployed to Iraq have

encountered RSOIs where it was necessary to perform pre-combat

checks, receive briefings and assemble equipment and supplies

prior to movement into forward areas, said Col. Tim Reisch,

Commander of the Operations Group for the Joint Thunder

exercise.

“I visited with soldiers who returned from Iraq, and they

explained how they had to go through RSOIs to get from Kuwait

to Iraq,” Johnson said. “We want to integrate that into the Joint

Thunder Exercise as real world training so the soldiers will know

what to expect if they are deployed.”

“We have not typically done that training at Joint Thunder,”

Reisch said. “We want to try to do it here so the soldiers can

become familiarized with the process.”

The effect of deployments on the exercise was also discussed

at the IPC. Reisch explained that there were only 1,400 soldiers

who attended Joint Thunder in 2003 as a result of deployments to

Iraq. More than 4,200 are currently projected for the exercise in

June.

“We are currently planning for all the units to attend, but

knowing well that more units will be called up for deployments,”

Johnson said. “We anticipate that it may be a smaller training

exercise this year, but the important part is not the numbers, but

the quality of the training. Quality training is the key thing.”

IPC sets stage for upcoming training

Page 4 Winter 2003

727th Transportation Co.

109th Medical Co. B

740th Transportation Co.

842nd Engineer Co.

1742nd Transportation Co.

200th Engineer Co.

1085th Medical Co.

665th Maintenance Co.

235th Mil. Police Co.

Det 3 665th Maintenance Co.

DEPLOYMENTS

CONUS OCONUS
By March 22, the unit convoyed to Camp Yo-Yo, which stood

for “You’re on Your Own” and just one day later the advanced

party crossed the border and convoyed into Iraq. The advanced

party was headed to Tallil Air Force Base where they set-up and

waited for the main body of the unit. 

Johnson said the scariest part of crossing the border was, “You

didn’t know who the enemy was and where they were going to be.” 

The advanced party didn’t run into any hostile enemies, but the

convoy north was no easy task. The convoy ran into many other

convoys of fuel tankers, tanks and Bradleys that were traveling

into and out of Iraq. 

On one occasion this proved to be a life threatening

altercation. On their way up, the convoy almost ran head-on into

a convoy of fuel tankers. With all the dust and traffic it was hard

to see and a fanned out convoy of fuel tankers was heading

straight for the 109th advanced party convoy. 

At the last second, one of the fuel tankers swerved to miss the

109th three-vehicle convoy and the life-threatening incident

turned into a near miss.

The main body of the 109th headed north after it was

pummeled by one of the worst sandstorms Kuwait has seen in a

century. The sandstorm blew many tents down and some of the

tents were lost in the storm, but not even the worst sandstorm in

the last century was going to stop the 109th soldiers from

accomplishing their mission. 

The main body moved out after the advance party, but with

such a large element, they had to make sure that there were no

booby-traps, mines or unexploded ordinances. This caused the

main body convoy to move a lot slower, but nonetheless it arrived

on time and unscathed.

They arrived at Tallil Air Force Base on March 26 just one day

after the sandstorm. Tallil provided the soldiers with a secure

place to set up and begin their mission. Once there, the unit

provided fuel, dining facilities and showers for all of those

soldiers and airmen who didn’t have these accommodations,

because in the beginning of the war, it was, as Johnson said, “One

team, one fight.”

At Tallil, the unit was a command and control headquarters

and had two combat support equipment units underneath them.

Collectively, the units completed more than 250 engineer projects

and helped out in the hospitals.

“We worked closely with 86th CSH personnel to ensure that

its hospital bed down area was constructed quickly,” said Johnson.

“The hospital didn’t have sufficient personnel to handle the large

amount of casualties that were arriving by ground and air, so the

unit was broken into four-person teams to assist moving patients

to the hospital. “That day brought the reality of war to the eyes of

our soldiers.”

The 109th was in Tallil for about 13 and a half weeks and was

activated for more than five months. After defending their

country in its time of need, the 109th soldiers returned to South

Dakota on July 26th to a hometown salute – a parade down the

streets of Sturgis.

Page 5 Winter 2003

109th Engineers command changes hands

By Sgt. Matthew J. Johnson

S.D. Public Affairs Office

The 40 members of the 109th Engineer

Battalion bid farewell to their commander,

Lt. Col. Craig D. Johnson, as he passed the

colors to Lt. Col. Terry G. Krsnak in

Sturgis Oct. 4. 

“Change is good. Change is inevitable,”

Johnson said. “It’s tough because you

build up the camaraderie with the team

you’ve worked so closely with, but other

officers deserve the opportunity to lead an

outstanding unit such as the 109th. Change

helps revitalize units with new ideas under

new leadership.” 

And Johnson is leaving the battalion in

good hands. Krsnak brings a wealth of

leadership experience to the engineer

headquarters unit, as a decorated veteran of

Desert Storm. 

“Terry will bring in his ideas and

experiences from Desert Storm when he

was with the 109th Engineer Group,”

Johnson said. “He’ll do an excellent job.” 

After 31 months in command, Johnson

has nothing but praise for the soldiers of

the 109th. 

“The noncommissioned officers are top

of the line. They are extremely

professional, proactive–the best of the

best,” Johnson said. “They maintain a cando attitude on every mission, and they are

not afraid to step out of the box to get the

mission done.

“And the officers are of equal caliber.

They work well as a team to accomplish

the mission and hold each other

accountable for doing an outstanding job,”

Johnson added. “I’m proud to have been a

part of carrying on the fine tradition of the

109th Engineer Battalion.” 

Krsnak is also looking forward to

carrying on the heritage of the 109th. 

“I’m thrilled,” he said. “As

commanders, we all look for the

opportunity to serve our country with a

great bunch of people and a great unit like

the 109th.” 

Engineers support fellow soldiers in Iraq

Continued from pg. 1
Associated Press

The South Dakota Army National

Guard’s top recruiter says young people

signing up for the Guard place more of a

value these days on duty, honor and

selfless service. Lt. Col. Tracy Settle says

it stems from the terrorist attacks of

September 11, 2001. Settle says people are

still signing up, knowing they could be

activated and sent to Iraq. He says young

people entering the military today want to

make a difference.

Settle says the South Dakota Guard

exceeded its goal of a full complement of

3,410 soldiers for the fiscal year ending

September 30, 2003. The Guard says 750

of them are serving in Iraq. Settle says the

South Dakota Army National Guard is

number one in the nation for recruiting,

retention and attrition management.

Some high school guidance counselors

say they’ve noticed patriotism increase

among young people interested in military

service. They say world events are

confirming the reasons they already had

for considering the military.

AG Comments

As the Secretary of the Department of

Military and Veterans Affairs, and on

behalf of all the citizens of South Dakota,

I want to take this opportunity to thank all

the men and women from our great state

who have served or are serving in the

Armed Forces during this time of crisis.

We want you to know that you are

performing the highest civic duty of

citizenship and that your service is

sincerely appreciated and treasured by all.

In an effort to ensure that you are aware

of all the veterans’ benefits available and

specifically the ones for which you may be

eligible, we are encouraging you to contact

either your local County/Tribal Veterans

Service Office or the South Dakota

Division of Veterans Affairs upon your

return or discharge.

Remember, veterans

benefits are benefits

“earned” by virtue of

your service in the

Armed Forces of the

United States. You are

our new generation of

South Dakota Veterans,

our Guardians of

Liberty of whom we are very proud and

thankful. 

Your dedication and sacrifices are truly

the fabric of democracy and a free nation.

Thank you!

Michael A. Gorman

MG, SDNG

The Adjutant General

Commander’s Corner

Page 6 Winter 2003

SCSM Comments

For many of you, the 2003 holiday

season will be one you and your families

will always remember. Who could have

known, this time last year, that so many of

you would be on active duty or awaiting

activation and separated from your family

and friends?

The holidays will bring about different

emotions for all of you. Those of you who

are able to spend time with family and

friends need to cherish it. Those of you

who are away need to do all you can to

make the best of it and look to the future

when you will be home with your family

and friends.

I personally do not remember all of my

Christmases but the ones in 1967 and 1968

stand out very clearly in my mind. Those

were the years I spent Christmas in

Vietnam during the war. It was a very

difficult time. 

I remember a lot of homesickness and

heartache.

Based upon my own

experiences, the best

piece of advice I can

share with you is to

take the time to tell

your families and

friends you miss them

and love them. Let

them know you

appreciate the support

they are giving you and thank them for all

they have done and continue to do for you.

Sarah and I want to wish all of you the

very best throughout the 2003 holiday

season. We appreciate the sacrifices you

are making and thank you for your service

to this great nation. We are looking

forward to the day when we have the

opportunity to welcome you home and

thank you in person. Be careful and come

home safely.

Michael L. Birnbaum

CSM, SDARNG

State Command Sergeant Major

Commander’s Corner

internationally known Iraqi doctor. “I went

to the doctors office and knocked on his

door and asked him what kind of TB do you

have,” said Kumar. “And he didn’t say

anything for almost 30 minutes and now he

is my friend and I am still in contact with

him.”

That doctor hooked-up the technicians

from Company B with the local lab. They

trained the technicians how to do TB stains

and they gave the unit supplies too. With

that training the unit could diagnose TB and

later the lab helped the soldiers diagnose

malaria.

“It was a wonderful cooperation

between local doctors and our military,”

said Kumar. “That was the only way we

could survive and do things.”

To get into the city Kumar would have

three armed military police Humvees escort

him. They would drive swiftly through the

city without stopping for traffic lights and

other obstacles. Even the Iraqi police

would stop traffic for the military vehicles.

Kumar said, “The soldiers showed no

fear and they were very professional.”

Working with the soldiers in the streets

and seeing how they operate brought a new

understanding for Kumar and he said, “I

have a new understanding for veterans after

my experience in Iraq.” 

The soldiers of Company B are still in

Iraq saving lives and caring for the

wounded, but for Kumar his 90 days of Iraq

are over, for now.

Continued from pg. 2

South Dakota Guard ranks first in recruiting

Doctor returns