Our Fallen Comrade in Arms, Capt. Robert Yllescas

Our Fallen Comrade in Arms, Capt. Robert Yllescas
Story by Sgt. Charles Brice
Posted on 12.08.2008 at 02:00AM

By Sgt. Charles Brice3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
JALALABAD AIR FIELD, Afghanistan –



“Tip of the Spear” is an area well known to Bravo Troop “Blackfoot”, 6th Squadron, 4th Calvary Regiment in the Kamdesh District of the Nuristan province. The troops of 6-4 CAV have been in the area since 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, took over the area of operation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom IX.


“Capt. Robert Jose Yllescas watched over the Soldiers and the locals of Keating District,” Lt. Col. James Markert commander of 6-4 CAV, Task Force Raider, said. “He cared for those who were in need of help and security. Bringing what is so far apart and putting them closer together.”


During his time in service, Yllescas served under 1st Armored Division as both tank platoon leader and executive officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom I 2003 and returned and served again as a Military Transition Team Detachment commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom IV 2006.

“Yllescas was an extraordinary person to be around,” Markert said. “He brought that ‘lead from the front’ mentality into the work he was doing.”


After serving two deployments with 1st Armored Division, Yllescas was assigned to 6-4 CAV. He took command of Blackfoot Troop, who is now in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ending his career, when an improvised explosive device exploded near his unit during a foot patrol in the Kamdesh Valley. He later passed in the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, leaving behind a wife, Dena Yllescas and two little girls, Julia and Eva, from Osceola, Neb.


“Capt. Yllescas distinguished himself as the commander of Blackfoot Troop; putting his Soldiers first is how he works,” Markert said. “He proved to be a good solid man and a loving husband and father and a strong, courageous leader.”


Blackfoot Troop was chosen to serve in an area that was notorious for enemy attacks. Every Soldier knew the risk it would take in order to complete their missions daily. Yllescas pushed the belief that Keating can someday become a wonderful place where all can meet in peace.


“Capt. Yllescas immediately garnered the respect of his Troops,” 1st Lt. Joseph T. Mazzochi Blackfoot Troop, 6-4 CAV, TF Raider, said. “He was more of a visionary than a leader, because we are sitting here in his honor and respecting his wishes as our mentor and friend.”


“When Blackfoot Troop arrived at Combat Outpost Keating, they had very little to work with in bridging the gap between them and the locals,” 1st Lt. Ronald Briley Marine Embedded Training Team 7-3, said. “Yllescas brought together the Soldiers of Black Troop to build a building and dedicate it to the area, so we can all come together as a symbol of unity.”


“The building dedicated to the people of the Keating District will not just serve the purpose that we are here for today, but will be put to use amongst the relationship we will gain over the time here,” Briley said. “This was Capt. Yllescas’ vision for us all, to step forward and bring the people together.

B Troop 6-4 Cav Trains ANSF forces

Soldiers in the Nuristan province training Afghan National Security Forces in order for them to eventually be on their own.

If the video says it is unavailable at this time try link: http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=49069

Thank you God, we love baby steps

http://www.yllescasfamily.blogspot.com/

So, depending on how he does between now and then will determine if we fly Tuesday. The other update is really quite exciting. They told us this morning that he had been quiet during the night and did not move. However, when I walked into the room and started talking to him, you could see his eyes moving behind his lids and he started moving his shoulders!!!! I couldn't believe it! I talked to him about the girls and he would move them even more. He even had tears coming from his eyes when Barb and I spoke to him. I asked him to squeeze my fingers and he would ever so slightly. The neuro dr came in and examined him and said that with everything he's been through, things are just going to take time. I told him to try to open his eyes. You could see him moving his shoulders up and down like he was trying to get them to open. You can only imagine how heavy is eyes are. They did have to sedate him a little when they thought we were flying, so he did go back to sleep for awhile. But right before we left him so he could go to surgery, I started rubbing his cheeks and forehead with my fingers and he again fluttered his eyes and moved his shoulders! This is such exciting news. I know it's baby steps but anything positive like this is HIGHLY encouraging! So, please keep praying that they will find what's causing his levels to be high and be able to fix the problem and that his neuro status continues to improve. God is good and He will provide.

B Troop Commander, 6-4 CAV, 3-1 ID Cpt Robert Yllescas Injured in IED

Dena Yllescas has a blog to keep everyone updated on Rob's condition.

http://www.yllescasfamily.blogspot.com/

Rob and Dena have touched so many lives, and there has already been much outpouring for this family.

We all continue to surround Rob, Dena, Julia, and Eva with our prayers.

6-4 Cavalry Fends Off Atack

By Staff Sgt. David Hopkins1st
Infantry Division public affairs

NURISTAN Province, Afghanistan — As the sun descended in the western sky, crouching down on the jagged mountain ridges of the Nuristan province on Aug. 2, 1st Infantry Division soldiers of 2nd Team, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment out of Fort Hood guarded the walls of their Combat Outpost, scanning the rocky slopes for anti-Afghan forces. They are trained to spot danger and act against it to protect their location and their fellow soldiers.

Then on the slopes above their position, a figure appeared, lurking among the boulders. Moments later another appeared. Before long there was a full attack on the outpost and its forces comprised of American and Afghan National Security Forces, were fighting for their lives.

By the time the battle was over, only one Afghan soldier suffered minor wounds while more than 20 insurgents were dead while countless others scrambled up the mountain nursing possibly fatal wounds.

At about 6:30 p.m., Sgt. Ian Boone and Pfc. Marco MaldonadoGacia were guarding the outpost when they first spotted enemy forces.

“I could not identify them as hostile until they bent down and picked up their weapons,” Boone said, recalling the first moments of the battle.

MaldonadoGarcia spotted them soon after and took the first shot, breaking the silence with the defining roar of his M-14 sniper rifle, killing an attacker 700 meters up the slope.

“This was decisive because from that moment on the enemy was on the defensive and no longer on the offensive,” Capt. Robert Yllescas, the unit’s commander, said.

Then Boone began to lay down suppressive fire.

The outpost was attacked by small-arms fire, rocket propelled grenades and PKM machine guns, landing many direct hits inside the camp, but none hitting the soldiers inside.

When the attack started, many of the soldiers were faced with the realities of war for the first time.

“You could see the shock in some of the soldiers’ eyes, as if they were asking the question: ‘Is this another test fire or is this for real.’ You could see fear in others’ eyes as they pondered the question of whether or not they would live to see another day,” 1st Sgt. Howard Johnson Mullens said. “And then, as if a switch was suddenly turned on, everyone was flawlessly executing the training they had received prior to deploying. Soldiers performed the defense drills to perfection. It was amazing; it was textbook execution.”

Requests and Happy Birthday

An angel in desert camo tells how some special cakes were prepared for July birthdays.

". . . Let me tell you how the cook decorated. He took some zip lock bags, we made red frosting (we only have black/red/green food coloring, the liquid, which makes the frosting a runny consistency). So, he filled a zip, cut the corner of a second zip, stuck in the giant tip (very limited tips - most of them are toooooooo big) then squeezed the first bag into the tip of the second . . ."

Clever cook.

I know what you're thinking, but we've already got the supplies covered. Some of us got to clean out our closets of decorating supplies from lives long past (and best forgotten) .

Angel in Desert Camo" WILL have cake decorating supplies for AUGUST.

These requests are the usual type that come in early in deployments. Let’s see what we can do to help these troopers set up house keeping for the LONG HAUL.

Send what you can to the address on sidebar, and we’ll get these things boxed up and off to these warriors. More will be listed as the rest of the 6-4 Trooper contacts check in. It’s going to take some time for me to get used to calling their units Troops.

• Small paint brushes 1” and 3"
• Bed Sheets
• Shower Curtains

The brushes are used for cleaning weapons and “dusting areas”. Okay, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to request pictures of 1SG Johnson “dusting areas”. That I need to see.

The Flat bed sheets are not only used for beds, but seem to come in handy for all kinds things.

Clear shower curtains just are not the best for these guys. For the length of the deployment, it is very important that the guys have some place to go for some personal time. Personal space is hard to come by, but helps recharge. If we can get enough bed sheets, this is one of those “unexpected uses”.

This picture sent from a previous blogger to give you some idea of the uses for the shower curtains and sheets. This was for officers, so don’t expect such luxury for the majority of the troops.

There is a special request for spices to SPICE up the meals that are prepared for these warriors. If possible, large containers of one kind of spice will better serve the purpose, but we’ll send on the regular sized bottles of spices. These people are serious about doing their very best for their people.

Let’s get these warriors settled in and then get down to the support they will need for the long haul. Everything we do helps make day to day living a little more bearable, and reassures these warriors that there are AMERICANS that support them in every way possible.

• Lemon Pepper
• Lawery Seasoning Salt
• Garlic Powder
• O’Bay Seasoning
• Cajun Seasoning
• Kosher Salt
• White Pepper
• Onion Pepper
• Gumbo Powder
• Curry Powder
• Cumin
• All Spice
• Paprika
• Chili Powder
• Thyme
• Chinese Five Spice
• Tarragon
• Nutmeg
• Powdered Ginger
• Dill Weed
• Bay Leaves
• Whole Cloves
• Cayenne Pepper

From previous deployments, we've been told to please try not send those face shredding disposable razors.

For our warriors, as always,
Gratitude and Prayers.