Missouri soldiers have been given top priority after an attack in Afghanistan.
Gov. Jay Nixon and Missouri's National Guard adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, put aside everything else Monday to determine security for members of the Agribusiness Development Team VI, said Maj. Tamara Spicer, public affairs officer.
Insurgents attacked an installation just before 2 p.m. Sunday in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan, where five previous Missouri National Guard ADTs have been deployed in recent years.
The approximately 55 soldiers and airmen of Missouri ADT VI recently arrived in Afghanistan after pre-mobilization training at Camp Clark, Mo., and Camp Atterbury, Ind.
Their mission is to facilitate agricultural reconstruction and development in Nangarhar Province by focusing on energy,
education, resource management, and irrigation and water issues, value-added enterprises and food safety. The team is composed of specialists in agricultural animals, agronomy, hydrology, pest management, soil science, security and marketing.
"We're proud of the mission, but we have never lost sight that our first priority is to stay safe," Spicer said. "Every Missouri National Guard Agribusiness Development Team has deployed with a large security force contingent."
A civilian allegedly was killed with a vehicular-borne suicide bomb and small arms fire at the International Security Assistance Force installation in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Three insurgents were killed and one wounded and captured in the attack.
No damage or injuries resulted from a large explosion that occurred about the same time Sunday afternoon outside the Forward Operating Base Fenty, near the airfield in Jalalabad.
The Missouri Guard reported "no fatalities or life-threatening injuries" after the attacks.
Resiliency and Family Support teams in Missouri were contacted, and all families have received information about their soldier or airman.
According to the Nangahar Governor's Office, Afghan Security Forces responded to the scene of the explosion and captured 26 RPG rockets and two launchers, 1 PK-machine gun with 500 rounds, three AK-47 assault rifles, nine hand grenades, one pistol and several master keys.
Four dead insurgents were recovered at the scene of the explosion.
The attack on Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields, which was quickly repulsed by the base defenders, sparked a fire on the base.
The incidents are currently under investigation.