Pvt. Wilson Phillips, a soldier from 3rd Bn., 43rd ADA, who is one of several Fort Bliss soldiers helping at the NBC school, checks Sgt. Angelita Manygoats' mask and MOPP gear. Manygoats is a truck driver for the 1404th Transportation Unit.

Soldiers practice procedures for changing air canisters on their M-40 protective masks.

Sgt. 1st Class Leon Goodwin replaces an air filter.

Capt. Rodger Reynolds, 32nd AAMDC, Army Florida National Guard, deputy signal officer, bowls (pitches) during a game of cricket.

It's a 'whole new ball game'
for 32nd AAMDC

Capt. Enrique T. Vasquez
32nd AAMDC PAO

This past month soldiers and officers of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command got a rare opportunity to play a friendly game of cricket. Members of the Australian Army took time out to teach and play cricket with their 32nd AAMDC comrades.

"The Australians were very proud to teach their national past time," said Lt. Col. Tim McKenna, 32nd AAMDC staff officer.

Cricket is a team sport played by two squads of eleven players each. A formal game of cr

icket can last anything from an afternoon to several days. "I was very surprised at how high scores can go," said McKenna.

"Cricket is an interesting game similar to baseball, but strategically different," added Capt. Rodger Reynolds, 32nd AAMDC deputy signal officer.

Although the game play and rules are very different, the basic concept of cricket is similar to that of baseball. Teams bat in successive innings and attempt to score runs, while the opposing team fields and attempts to bring an end to the batting team's innings.

During the course of an inning, six balls will be bowled (pitched) to one wicket (an over), and then the fielding team will bowl six balls to the other wicket. No bowler (pitcher) may bowl two consecutive overs.

The fielding team may change bowlers at the end of overs. The team with the most runs at the end wins.

After each team has batted an equal number of innings (either one or two, depending on conditions chosen before the game), the team with the most runs wins.

The 32nd AAMDC personnel, after receiving a few brief minutes of instruction, were able to play several innings of cricket.

Australian Army Maj. Don MacLean and two of his 'mates' came to instruct members of the 32nd AAMDC to play cricket. "I must say, to learn the game of cricket, you really should have someone who can play the game to teach you," said Reynolds.

The teams were named the "Shirts" and "T-Shirts" and the 32nd personnel played for a whole afternoon.

The "Shirts" scored 20 points and the "T-Shirts" scored only 7 points. While their play received mixed reviews, the 32nd players all enjoyed the experience.

"Originally this cricket game was meant to be an Officer Professional Development class, but it turned out to be a fun event," said McKenna.

"Having the Australian soldiers teach the 32nd AAMDC to play cricket was meaningful in the sense of being a form of cultural exchange," said Reynolds.

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Pfc. John DiIorio, a native of New York city, prepares to conduct communications checks aboard his Avenger Air Defense System HUMVEE. DiIorio is currently serving as an Avenger Air Defense System Gunner in Northern SWA with B Battery, 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

New Yorker defends
skies of SWA

Capt. Enrique T. Vasquez
32nd AAMDC PAO

Once a project manager for a major construction company in New York City, Pfc. John Dilorio, Avenger gunner, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga., left a job, family, friends, and the 'city life' to come to Southwest Asia to serve his country as an air defender.

Like many soldiers of this era, Dieorio enlisted for patriotic reasons that are quite unique.

"I joined the military shortly after Sept. 11, 2001 to help my country," said Dilorio. "The city (New York) was not the same after 9/11. It felt so empty. that is another reason I joined."

"After 9/11 we were all very angry. We didn't know what might happen next. Our whole world had changed," said Dilorio's sister, Melissa Dilorio-Guercia. "John felt it was partly up to him to go out and help his country to stop the madness and once again make it a secure place for his family, so they could have the safety and freedom he knew growing up," she said.

"I joined because I wanted my children, future grandchildren, nephews and nieces to have the same freedoms I enjoyed growing up," said Dilorio.

Dilorio began his military career by attending basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. in the winter of 2002. Shortly afterward, Dilorio attended the Avenger Crewmember Advanced Individual Training School at Fort Bliss. He graduated May 3, 2002.

As an Avenger crewmember, Dilorio is part of the Avenger Air Defense System, which forms an important element of the U.S. Army's Combined Arms Team.

The Avenger system is fielded worldwide with U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Army National Guard. It was first deployed in 1991 to support NATO troops during Operation Desert Storm.

Dilorio sees a great irony in the Military Occupational Specialty he chose following the terrorist attacks.

"I went to the recruiter shortly after 9/11 and asked for a job skill that would get me assigned to a rapid deployment unit," said Dilorio.

"The recruiter offered me two air defense MOSs, one of which was Avenger Crewmember; that is ironic considering New York's twin towers were attacked by aircraft," he said. The fact Dilorio was only offered air defense MOSs when joining the Army may seem ironic, but to others it seems appropriate.

"It is justice for the people of New York that one of their own is serving as an air defender, defending the skies of Kuwait," said Col. John Davis, adjutant for 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Dilorio's desire to join a deployable unit was rewarded following AIT, when he was assigned to B Btry., 1st Bn., 3rd ADA, 3rd ID, Fort Stewart, Ga.

While at Fort Stewart, Dilorio's unit was alerted and put on standby, as Avenger units throughout the United States took part in operation 'Clear Skies' during 2002.

"I remember my unit being on standby ready to be called forward last fourth of July," said Dilorio. Since his early days in air defense, Dilorio has shown a deep commitment to his branch and confidence in performing his job.

"Dilorio received an Army achievement medal for distinguishing himself as a top Avenger gunner, successfully engaging nine of ten targets last summer," said Staff Sgt. Lonie Lee, Avenger section chief, B Btry., 1st Bn., 3rd ADA, 3rd ID.

"Dilorio is always wanting to learn, and he is a hard and dedicated worker. He is motivated and proactive," said Lee.

Dilorio is currently attached to the 32nd AAMDC. He is part of a group of highly trained, committed and focused air defenders, providing air defense to key military installations in Southwest Asia.

"John spent his childhood protecting his siblings from anything that might have caused them harm. Now as an adult, his commitment to protect has grown to include his siblings, nieces, nephews and the entire country," said Dilorio-Guercia.

Today Show visits deployed Fort Bliss troops

Compiled by 1st Lt. Meredith Tillson A Btry., 3-43 ADA

In January, Katie Couric, co-anchor of NBC's Today Show, visited with deployed soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas. In a live broadcast from an undisclosed location, soldiers of A Battery, 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th ADA Bde. participated in a special edition of the Today Show.

During the three-hour broadcast, Couric broadcast from atop Patriot Launchers while dozens of servicemembers cheered.

Following the telecast, Couric posed for photographs with scores of U.S. military servicemembers, including soldiers of A Btry., 3rd Bn., 43rd ADA.

"She took a lot of pictures with our soldiers," said Capt. Gary Bantad, commander, A Btry., 3rd Bn., 43rd ADA. "It was really inspiring for our soldiers to have a celebrity like Katie Couric visit with her show," said Bantad.

In addition to talking with servicemembers, Couric autographed a Patriot launcher.

"Katie Couric signed one of our Patriot launchers with the motivational logo of 'Go Patriots, good luck,' said Bantad.

Katie Couric, Today co-host (center) pictured here poses with deployed U.S. servicemembers from a remote location in Southwest Asia.

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Soldier earns three degrees, more to come

Sgt. Nikki Agee
5035th GSU

There are those who dream of achieving great things, and those who actually do - who reach beyond life's obstacles to do what others only dream of doing.

Sgt. Kyung K. Lee, NCOIC of 5035th Garrison Support Unit's EOC section, is definitely an achiever.

Born and raised in Chonnam, South Korea, the 35-year-old Lee made gaining an education his goal and has excelled in this pursuit - recently earning his third master's degree- this one in general business from Webster University.

"I like to pursue my educational goals, and this is a very good opportunity to develop my life-long education," said Lee, one of seven children, whose family still lives in South Korea. "I like to educate myself because my family didn't have that much education. My family was poor, so they couldn't get educated well."

Lee, a full-time student at the University of Texas at El Paso, has studied widely at U.S. and foreign schools and has been earning those degrees since 1992.

In addition to receiving two MBA's in general business from Webster University and The University of Texas at El Paso, Lee has also earned a B.A. in Media Advertising with a minor in Sociology from UTEP. At New Mexico State University, Lee earned an MS in Hotel Management with a minor in marketing. He also studied journalism/broadcasting from Kwang Ju University in South Korea and studied medicine at the Central America Health Science University in Belize.

"I like to have a diverse experience in education so that I can be more marketable," Lee said, adding that his main goal is to become a doctor.

"I always wanted to be a doctor. I went to medical school, but I didn't finish because I needed a masters," he said. "I will pursue a doctorate in medicine, and I will serve the country as an Army doctor in the Army Reserve."

Once Lee gets his medical degree in either internal medicine or family practice, he said he wants to be commissioned as an officer.

"I always wanted to be an officer because being an officer is better. There is more respect and more responsibility. I like the Army and I like to serve the country," he said.

"He's an outstanding soldier," said Capt. Richard Burgess, Lee's OIC. "He was nominated for soldier of the year. He also just reenlisted for six years a few weeks ago. Sergeant Lee is a pretty smart cookie. He hasn't been a sergeant that long. It's pretty impressive."

Lee, who served in the Korean Air Force as an MP from 1988 to 1990 and who has served in the U.S. Army Reserve for the last eight years, said he came to El Paso in 1992 as a university transfer student.

After obtaining a U.S. green card, receiving residency and finally becoming a citizen in 1998, Lee decided to join the Army Reserve.

"That was my dream. I was happier. I always wanted to join the U.S. Armed Services. I met a lot of soldiers while I was in Korea. They looked happy," he said.