Bonilla joins senior ranks

A big shout-out to SSG Orlando Bonilla, who pins on his E-7 rank today and joins the brotherhood of senior Non-Commissioned Officers. Bonilla, of Bronx, New York, is assigned to the S-6, 101st Sustainment Brigade Headquarters. He has been in the Army 17 years, starting out as a Multimedia Graphics Illustrator, and then re-classing to his current Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) as an Information Technology Specialist. He says being promoted to Sergeant First Class is a huge accomplishment with a lot of meaning or him.

"I can finally work at a level where I can influence not only Soldiers, but NCOs and junior officers," SFC Bonilla says.

The newly-promoted senior NCO and his family have been stationed at Fort Campbell for two years. SFC Bonnila joined the Army in 1992, and his career has taken him all over the world, including tours in Germany, Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Gordon, Ga., and Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

An advocate of education, SFC Bonilla has an Associate's of Arts Degree from the University of Maryland, and is three credits shy of earning his Bachelor's of Arts Degree from the university.

He is married to his wife, Deisy, and has two children, Carlos, 16, and Ashley, 11.

Stokes wins Division NCO of the Year competition

By SFC Pete Mayes
Public Affairs Officer, 101st Sustainment Brigade
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

FORT CAMPBELL, KY, July 29, 2009 – A Soldier with the 101st Sustainment Brigade (“Lifeliners”) was chosen as the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
SGT Shayse Stokes of the 194th Military Police Company, 716th Military Police Battalion, won the competition after returning from a 13-month deployment to Iraq. He returned from block leave and was selected to represent the battalion at the Sustainment Brigade competition in June.
He then competed and won the Fourth Quarter 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) NCO of the Quarter competition July 8-9. He was given one week to prepare for the Division NCO of the Year Board, which ran July 15-17.
SGT Stokes outlasted his fellow NCOs in the competition, which included multiple tasks on weapons, map reading, air assault operations, and first aid. The competitors also wrote an essay on what this year’s Army Slogan, “The Year of the NCO” meant to them, and competed in a formal board, which tested their Army Knowledge.
SGT Stokes has been in the Army for seven years, and has served in numerous assignments, including two tours to Iraq, and a homeland deployment in support of Hurricane Katrina.

Fort Campbell's Week of the Eagles!!

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky., July 16, 2009 - Focusing on giving them "the welcome they should have received," the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell will honor Vietnam Veterans during the Week of the Eagles.

A special "Welcome Home" ceremony is designed to be an official welcome home for Vietnam Veterans who never got the recognition and homecoming that every current Soldier of the "Screaming Eagle" division receives when they return from the Global War on Terrorism.

The ceremony is open to all veterans who served in the Vietnam War, regardless of their unit or branch of service. They will stand information and march into the hangar where they will be greeted by Family and friends. These veterans - regardless of unit or branch of service -are welcome to attend and participate in the ceremony.

Vietnam Veterans wanting to participate should enter Fort Campbell at Gate 7 Aug.16 and assemble in casual patriotic attire by 2 p.m. at the Freedom Fighter.Buses at the Freedom Fighter Gymnasium will transport everyone to and from Hangar 3. The Vietnam Veterans will be greeted by the new Commanding General, Major General John F. Campbell, families, friends and other patriots.

After the Hangar 3 ceremony, buses will return everyone to the Freedom Fighter Gymnasium, where the veterans and one guest will be treated to a free barbecue meal.

Veterans interested in attending must contact the Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce at (270) 885-9096 or emailhttp://us.mc325.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=akrohn@hopkinsvillechamber.com by Aug. 9 to confirm how many will attend the ceremony, reserve a meal for yourself and one guest, indicate branch of service, and if there are handicap needs.Plans for all events continue and updates can be found at the "Week of the Eagles" Web site, http://www.fortcampbellmwr.com/woe/, and Facebook page,"Week of the Eagles 2009."

"Week of the Eagles" (August 14-20) is a week-long event that draws 50,000 visitors,30,000 concert goers, and 65,000 air show spectators. The bi-annual event is an opportunity for Fort Campbell Veterans, Families, and neighbors to showcase the capabilities, training and efforts of current "Screaming Eagles."

Soldiers benefit from the esprit de corps of the event and also the opportunity to learn from former Soldiers.


- Contact SFC Pete Mayes, 101st Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, at (270) 412-4237