Supply Soldiers in Afghanistan Keep Troops Moving (VIDEO)

Being multi-faceted is a trademark in the Oregon National Guard, skills come quickly to soldiers who are assigned to new roles. This report from Afghanistan is being released for the first time.

Richard Trube of Salem answers a soldier's question about supply at Camp Phoenix in Afghanistan. Photos and video by: Tim King

(KABUL, Afghanistan) - While some Oregonians in Afghanistan go into combat, others, like Sergeant First Class Richard Trube of Salem, Oregon provide the support that it takes to keep those soldiers on the move.

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Trube

These unsung heroes make sure people eat, stay warm in the winter and cool on hot days. Supply lines ensure the success of missions by providing the constant flow of equipment and goods.

As supply troops at Camp Phoenix in Kabul Afghanistan, these individuals serve multiple roles. Supply is the main emphasis, but not the only thing they do, says Trube.

"I don't get outside the wire that much, simple missions going tO Bath and back, I am also a pay agent and I do humanitarian missions.

But supply duties are constant and demand most of their time.

Trube has been learning all kinds of new skills while deployed at war in the Oregon Guard.

"These commodities help continue with the fight, without the paperwork, without the tools, all these tools here have functions and allow us to continue on with the fight."

The supply role is something that is taken seriously; people strongly count on the group and much of the overall mission's success hinges on their abilities to maintain sufficient amounts, and deliver on time.

Trubee and many of those here have no background in supply, for some, it is all on the job training according to Captain Danielle Delint of the Oregon Guard, "So this is their opportunity to really work in a warehouse environment which they never had before, so I think when they get back to the civilian world they can get a better paying job or have better skills to list on their resume."

Sgt. 1st Class Debbie Moore says keeping up on all the demands is multi-faceted, "You have to figure out how much everybody uses and keep enough on the shelf to support them on a monthly basis, doing demand analysis to make sure that our shelves aren't empty."

Some people on the supply side of Camp Phoenix are finding new talents, while others are operating in higher positions than expected. In a war theatre the person with the most knowledge tends to call the shots.

People like Sgt. Caterina Luna of Portland, Oregon.

"Everybody's been rotated and Sgt. Trube's come to work with us and I'm just an e-5, and I'm finding myself running this place and I'm training him, an e-7, so we're finding ourselves doing what we have to do."

But Richard Trube like many others, is learning the ropes fast and he brought other talents into the mix that are already moving things along in a better way.

Lt. Jerry Julao of the U.S. Navy works with Trube and the others in the supply warehouse. "He's done remarkable things inside the warehouse, all the improvements he has made to the warehouse have been really beneficial to the unit."

They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but people in today's Army like Richard Trube are proving that old adage to be out of date, and as he masters new technology, his skills further demonstrate the usefulness of National Guard troops at war.

Richard Trubee serves with Oregon's 41st Combat Brigade at Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan. Most of his fellow soldiers are currently in the process of returning home or are home already.

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 82 Salem-News.com writers. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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