Above, Private First Class Joseph Ponce and United States Army Sergeant Kevin “Buddy” Edwards, are both assigned to the United States Army’s 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment.

Two young men from Fillmore are serving together in the United States Army and in the same unit are on their way to Afghanistan! United States Army Sergeant Kevin “Buddy” Edwards and Private First Class (PFC) Joseph Ponce of Fillmore are both assigned to the United States Army’s 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment located at Fort Drum, New York. Both were home for Christmas before their Unit is to be deployed in early January 2009 to the Wardak Province in Afghanistan. The Wardak Province is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. Wardak Province is located in the center of the country and its capital is Meydan Shahr. The population, about 70,000, is a mixture of Tajiks, Hazaras, Pashtuns and smaller groups of Aimaks.

Sergeant Kevin “Buddy” Edwards, 25 years, is a 2002 FHS Graduate and he is the son of Kevin Edwards (wife Debra) and Donna Villanueva (Smith), (husband Roy Villanueva), of Fillmore. Roy is a retired United States Army Ranger. Sergeant Edward’s Maternal Grandparents are, Ronnie and Chris Smith of Fillmore. His Paternal Grandmother, Sharon Stewart lives in Oregon. His Paternal Grandfather was the late Jim Edwards. Jim’s widow, Rebecca Edwards, lives in Ten Mile, Oregon. Sergeant Edwards siblings are U.S. Army Specialist Michael “Mikey” Edwards, now stationed in Honduras, Anthony Edwards, 16, a Sophomore at Fillmore High School and Brett Edwards, 14, an 8th grader at Fillmore Middle School.

Sergeant Kevin Edwards is a Military Intelligence Analyst. In this position he has obtained a “Military Top Secret Clearance.” The intelligence analyst supervises, performs, or coordinates, collection management, analysis, processing, and dissemination of strategic and tactical intelligence. Sergeant Kevin Edwards prepares all source intelligence products to support the combat the commander. Additionally he assists in establishing and maintaining systematic, cross-referenced intelligence records and files and receives and processes incoming reports and messages. Sergeant Kevin Edwards assists in determining significance and reliability of incoming information, in integrating incoming information with current intelligence holdings and prepares and maintains the situation map. He contributes in the analysis and evaluation of intelligence holdings to determine changes in enemy capabilities, vulnerabilities, and probable courses of action. Other duties include the preparation of Order of Battle records using information from all sources and in the preparation of strength estimates of enemy units. Sergeant Kevin Edwards is also responsible for proofreading intelligence reports and assists in consolidating them into military intelligence. He prepares Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) products. Without a doubt for any military combat operation someone in the position of Sergeant Kevin Edwards plays a critical role on the battlefield.

Sergeant Kevin Edwards’s first Duty station was in Heidelberg, Germany with V Corps. His unit deployed from Germany to Iraq where Sergeant Edwards was in charge of monitoring/analyzing the volumes of information received in Operation Iraqi freedom during 2006 as a part of the Multi-National Force in Iraq. Sergeant Kevin Edwards actually worked in Saddam's palace every day and was promoted to Specialist at a ceremony there as well.
Sergeant Kevin Edwards and PFC Joseph Ponce are now stationed at Fort Drum, New York with 10th Mountain Division, 3rd Brigade. The 3d Brigade Combat Team is trained and ready for rapid deployment anywhere in the world to destroy the enemies of America in close combat. The 3rd Brigade, one of the Army's new modular Brigade Combat Teams Unit of Action (BCT/UA), is designed to be a highly deployable unit that will enhance the Army's ability to project power from U.S. bases while simultaneously preparing forces for full spectrum operations. The 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment assigned to the reorganized modular 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, will carry on the tradition of forebears by leading change and enabling combined arms operations with devastating fire support.

Sergeant Kevin Edwards has been awarded many service recognitions; the Brigade Soldier of the Month for February 2007, he was also an Honor Graduate from Advance Intelligence Training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He has been awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, two Foreign Tour Ribbons, an Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Sergeant Edwards told me he plans on making the Army a career.

PFC Joseph Ponce, 19 years, is a 2006 FHS Graduate. He completed U.S. Army Boot Camp in April of 2008 and was promoted to Private First Class on December 31, 2008. PFC Joseph Ponce is the son of Fred Ponce of Fillmore and Isabelle Diaz of Santa Paula and the step-son of Yvonne Sandoval of Fillmore and Sam Diaz of Santa Paula. His siblings include; Romie 30, Freddie 24, USMC Corporal Ray Alvarado-Ponce 21 (just returned home from deployment in Afghanistan), Niko Diaz 6, step-siblings Milo Diaz 22, Tashina Diaz 18, Susie Sandoval 25, Veronica Sandoval 18 and Antelmo Sandoval 16. PFC Joseph Ponce’s Maternal Grandmother Terry Marquez lives in Fillmore and his Paternal Grandparents Raymond and Elma Ponce live in Piru.

PFC Joseph Ponce is a Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data System Specialist. A Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data Systems Specialist is an important member of the Army's field artillery team primarily responsible for operating field artillery tactical data systems on a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Team. MLRS teams are used to support infantry and tank units while supplementing cannon artillery in combat. They're also involved in launching various missiles and ammunitions in quick strikes during combat. Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data Systems Specialists must have the physical stamina to perform strenuous activities for long periods without rest. They're also required to have normal color vision to read color-coded ammunition, maps and charts. While at FHS PFC Joseph Ponce played Varsity Football and no doubt some of the training he received during football practice assisted him in preparing for the important role he now finds himself in the United States Army and preparing to deploy into combat.

All of us here in the communities of Fillmore and Piru are very proud of both Sergeant Kevin “Buddy” Edwards and PFC Joseph Ponce. We thank them, and their families, for their service and their sacrifices they have already made and will make in the future to keep the United States of America strong. Both families have additional sons serving in the United States Military and have no doubt given very much already. We additionally wish them safe travel and long and successful United States Army Careers. Sergeant Kevin “Buddy” Edwards and PFC Joseph Ponce are true American Heroes!