Peter Mango arrived in Afghanistan last month and is deployed as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, Geronimo Task Force, Devil Brigade. His unit has been forward deployed since July 2017 and according to the 82nd Airborne's report,"Since assuming responsibility for the mission in Afghanistan in July, Devil Paratroopers have been putting the wood to the Taliban and ISIS in Afghanistan, conducting more than 2,700 combat patrols, firing hundreds of fire missions, and supporting dozens of kinetic strikes. They are clearing roads of IEDs, advising their Afghan partners, and coordinating with local government officials." Specifically, he is assigned as an ammo carrier with a weapons squad in Apache Company.

Peter joined KVFD at the age of 14 as one of our Junior Firefighters. He quickly took on an interest in Emergency Medical Services and went on to become first an aide on the ambulance, and then at age 16, an EMT. He also completed two Jr. Firefighter courses at the CCPSTC campus for KVFD. Peter also attended several other firefighting classes and was a volunteer who participated on a daily basis. Peter's response numbers and participation was respected within KVFD. He and two other firefighters were also recognized by the Chester County EMS Council, two years ago, for a life-saving response to a medical call.

Peter was sworn into the US Army as an infantry recruit in May 2016 and participated thereafter in weekly Future Soldier training in West Chester. He also decided to accelerate his senior year at 21st Century Cyber Charter School and graduated early in January 2017. He left for Fort Benning in March and soon began fourteen weeks of Infantry - One Station Unit Training graduating June 29, 2017. He remained at Fort Benning for several more weeks and completed a three-week Airborne course and the five required jumps. On August 2nd, Peter graduated from Airborne and was immediately on a bus to Fort Bragg to join the 82nd Airborne. Since that date, he has been in-processing for combat deployment, attending briefings and further training, including a Combat Lifesaver course, additional firearms training, and then he traveled to Afghanistan via Ireland, Kuwait, Kabul and now Kandahar where he joined his unit this week.

We are proud of Peter and ask that you keep him and all who are deployed in your thoughts and prayers. Also, KVFD is collecting items to ship to him and his unit.

Some of the most popular items are:
- Energy drinks/5 Hour Energy
- Coffee of any type
- Snack foods (Nuts, Crackers, Clif Bars, Protein Bars, Trail mix)
- Beef Jerky!!! (So loved it deserves its own bullet)
- Workout supplements (Pre-workout, protein powder, etc)
- Quality razors (we have plenty of the cheaper ones but most don't use them)
- Non-aerosol bug spray (For C Co especially)
- Small electronic items such as: phone charger cables, battery banks, extra batteries for their equipment
- Twin size sheets (many did not bring any)
- Hot chocolate mix

Any items that you wish to donate may be dropped off at the East, our Pomeroy station.

*** OPSEC: All unit specific training, locations, and mission statements are also posted in and on Army endorsed social media pages.***