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While operating in the austere mountainous border region of southern Khowst Province, Afghanistan, the Combat Observation Lasing Team (COLT) of Task Force Geronimo, 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, thwarted attacks on a border checkpoint and, using the fires of M119A2 howitzers and Marine aviation, neutralized the enemy. The COLT leaders-Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jesse J. Occhino, SSG Brandon E. Thompson and Specialist (SPC) David A. Larson-accomplished their core combat task, defining the continuing relevance of cannon artillery in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
On 28 May 2004, two platoons of four 105-mm howitzers from B Battery (Eagle Battery), 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment (B/377 PFAR), and TF Geronimo's COLT were tasked to support the Khowst Provincial Forces positioned on a border checkpoint. During their mounted movement and before reaching the preplanned position area for artillery (PAA), all convoy elements saw a heavy volume of enemy indirect fires accurately impacting to their south, precisely within the border checkpoint they were tasked to support.
After conducting an immediate halt, or "hip-shoot," to establish an Artillery firing capability, many Eagle Battery Artillerymen heard SSG Occhino say, "Let's get on top of the border checkpoint now; we...