Afghan soldiers rescue villagers from flash flood

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Grateful Afghan villagers are rescued from flash floods by Afghan National Army Soldiers July 28. The ANA Soldiers rescued over 200 villagers from flash flooding (click for more)

330th MPC build rapport

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A young boy sits on a table at a convenience store while members of the 330th Military Police Company, Police Combined Action Team, buy juice and (click for more)

ANP Search for illegal weapons

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Policemen and members of the 330th Military Police Company, Police Combined Action Team, search a goat herder’s house for illegal weapons and evidence of (click for more)

Patrols help keep peace in Pech Valley area

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Children from Kandigal village in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province follow U.S. Army Pfc. Richard J. Sandoval of Fresno, Calif., radio operator for 3rd Platoon, Company B, (click for more)

Convoy fights off insurgent ambush

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Pfc. Aaron R. Will of Tampa, Fla., a gunner with 2nd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Bulldog, reloads his (click for more)

Mississippi’s bomb hunters: Army National Guardsmen fight roadside bombs

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers of 1st Plt., 287th Engineer Co. pray before leaving on a route clearance mission in southeastern Afghanistan July 18. Since their arrival in theater in (click for more)

http://www.cjtf101.com/components/com_gk2_photoslide/images/thumbm/365107New_Image.JPG http://www.cjtf101.com/components/com_gk2_photoslide/images/thumbm/315176100718_F_5957S_041.JPG http://www.cjtf101.com/components/com_gk2_photoslide/images/thumbm/707776100719_F_5957S_027.JPG http://www.cjtf101.com/components/com_gk2_photoslide/images/thumbm/208636100713_A_0846W_061.jpg http://www.cjtf101.com/components/com_gk2_photoslide/images/thumbm/254585100715_A_0846W_028.jpg http://www.cjtf101.com/components/com_gk2_photoslide/images/thumbm/10629620100719_A_9320C_004.jpg

Tropic Lighting Road renamed to honor fallen Soldier

Written by Bagram Media Center Saturday, 13 March 2010 09:37

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan —Soldiers in Task Force Freedom gather in the city of Kandahar to honor the life of U.S. Army Sgt. Demetrius Void, 20-year old native from Orangeburg, S.C., attached to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, at a street dedication ceremony held on Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, March 10.

The incident that changed the lives of those who knew Void, will now be marked by ‘Sgt. Demetrius Void Lane’, in a dedication ceremony renaming Tropic Lightning Boulevard to honor him. This road is where a vehicle struck Void, as he was jogging. Void later passed away due to injuries sustained during this incident on Sept. 15, 2009.

U.S. Army Col. Randall W. Bland, Commander, 7th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, said, “Today we rename Tropic Lightning Boulevard in honor of a young man whose life had so much promise and so much purpose.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. James D. DeNardo, Commander 57th ESB, U.S. Army Capt. Ronald H. King, Alpha Company Commander, 57th ESB, and Void’s friend, U.S. Army Spc. Aspen Kukulka, 57^th ESB, shared sentiments during the ceremony.

“Thanks to the cooperation and coordination of the 649th Regional Support group command, Kandahar Airfield we are able to conduct this event in the efforts of preserving the memory of Sgt. Void,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Bobbie Brown Jr., 57th ESB.

“Void made the ultimate sacrifice in a foreign land supporting and advancing ideas that were bigger than he,” said Bland. “Just like you, Sgt. Void risked his today’s so that others may have a brighter tomorrow.”

As a result of this event, North Atlantic Treaty Organization commanders moved fast to prevent this reoccurrence through road safety improvements, pedestrian crosswalks, night lights in visually impaired areas, and the help of military police, who diligently enforced traffic rules and regulations.

Other honors awarded to Void include: the posthumous promotion to sergeant, the Bronze Star Medal, U.S. Army Commendation Medal, U.S. Army Achievement Medal-1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Afghanistan Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Gold Order of Mercury for his service.

Void is survived by his mother, two brothers, and a family line of men and women who served in the military, him being the first to go to war and not come home.

“Let us remember, let us honor, and let us celebrate all he gave by cherishing our tomorrows by respecting the legacy of Sgt. Demetrius Void,” said Bland. “Take care of yourselves and take care of each other.”