82nd Airborne Division returns from "Operation Achilles"

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tony Spain | Spc. Rivera Emmanuel, Company E, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, works the grill at a barbecue April 23 for returning Paratroopers from "Operation Achilles." Rivera is an Army cook and is on his 4th deployment.  

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

04.30.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Tony Spain 

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

By Sgt. Tony J. Spain
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - After spending more than 45 days on-mission, most paratroopers would be happy with a shower and a few days to rest before regrouping and heading back out to fight the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. The paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, are no different.

"It is just great to be able to get a bath, haircut and a shave," said Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Hall, 1/508th PIR battalion communications chief.

But these Fort Bragg paratroopers returning from "Operation Achilles" received more than they bargained for, with a steak barbeque and an unscheduled performance from the 82nd Airborne Division's very own rock band, Riser Burn.

Riser Burn recently performed a series of concerts here last week and was supposed to leave for another show at Bagram Airfield April 28. After being informed of the paratroopers' return, they rescheduled.

"We received a phone call about playing for these paratroopers who had been out for 40 some days, and we said, 'absolutely we will play for them,'" said Sgt. Stephanie Doehr, lead vocalist. "We want to help the paratroopers relax and forget about their mission for a moment or two."

During the performance, Riser Burn asked for paratroopers to come up on stage and take part in the performance.

Sgt. Antonio Johnson, a fuel specialist, Co. E, 1/508th PIR, joined the band on stage and played the drums to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama."

"It was a lot of fun," said Johnson in reference to playing the drums. "It is just real good to be back and be able to relax and have some fun after being out there for so long," he said.

Hall also got on stage and teamed up with Riser Burn member Sgt. Kevin Quinones, vocalist and lead guitarist, to sing Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue," a patriotic country song made famous after the 9-11 attacks on New York City.

"I think this is great. The steak and the band are great morale boosters," Hall said. "The band is real good."

The barbeque picnic and the band performance was the second and final day of rest and relaxation for the paratroopers before they enter a four-day reconstitution phase. The reconstitution will consist of vehicle, weapon and equipment maintenance as well as the re-supply of equipment and fixing any medical issues the paratroopers may have.

• Date Taken: 04.30.2007
• Date Posted: 04.30.2007 09:44
• Story ID: 10170
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF