1ST BATTALION 508 IN PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN, 2008

THE

   In the summer of 2003, this crossing only existed as a jump across the ditch with a steep climb up to the road.  One sunny afternoon while CJCMOTF* LTC Tom Berg and CSM Kevin Kamps were executing this crossing, they noticed a slightly exposed metal ring in once of the footholds created by the many soldiers wanting to cross the stream enroute to the original VIPER village**.   Having previously attended a land mine class (and paying attention), they stopped movement on the gravel walkway and alerted base ops.  The entire intersection was cordoned off. stopping Disney*** traffic, for over 30 minutes, and EOD**** was brought in to unearth the potential mine.  The mission was a success, and EOD dug up ... an unopened can of Russian tuna fish. Not long after, the bridge was constructed and named "Tuna Bridge" in honor of this event..

*Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force

** Viper Village was a "tent city" on Bagram Air Base

*** refers to Disney Drive, Bagram Air Base which was named not after Walt Disney but Army Spc. Jason A. Disney, who died in 2002 at Bagram when a piece of heavy equipment fell on him.

**** EOD - Explosive Ordnance Disposal

(All photos on this page courtesy Public Affairs Office )