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By Army Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel,
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
JALALABAD AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (16 April) – Naval aviator Cmdr. Samuel Paparo with an impressive aerial combat record including service on the opening night of Operation Enduring Freedom assumed command of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team during a transfer of authority ceremony conducted, April 14, in Kala Gush.
Paparo assumed command from Army Lt. Col. Todd Brown during a ceremony attended by a formation of the team's Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen.
Paparo took out a surface-to-air missile site in Kandahar and later escorted a C-17 to Jalalabad as coalition forces launched into OEF in October 2001. He has combat experience in Iraq and the Balkans, as well as Afghanistan.
Paparo expressed his pride in being chosen to command the PRT and his faith in the new team at the ceremony.
"This is the proudest day of my entire life," Paparo said. "I count myself truly privileged and humbled to have the privilege of being associated with you. I know that we're dedicated to being present, persistent and patient in assisting the government of Afghanistan to rebuild this country."
The new PRT includes a total of 102 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. There is also a small contingent of civilian personnel.
Last year, servicemembers at the PRT made many significant contributions to the Nuristan province. They executed an unprecedented intra-theater move, establishing the first PRT in remote, isolated Nuristan province. The team supervised the construction of the $250,000 Titin Bridge, linking the western and central valleys.
The PRT developed a model Small Rewards Program that resulted in the collection of numerous heavy weapons, small arms weapons, rocket propelled brigades, associated ammunition and a shoulder-fired thermo baric weapon.
The PRT also conducted over 100 civil military operations while suffering one casualty and distributed more than 20 tons of humanitarian aid to the people of Nuristan.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2007 11:54 |
| Story ID: | 9970 |
| Location: | JALALABAD, AF |
| Web Views: | 301 |
| Downloads: | 102 |
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