New Hampshire Soldiers Training Afghan Police

Coalition military officials say a daylong battle today in southern Afghanistan's poppy-growing region has killed more than 60 Taliban fighters.

In a statement, the coalition says the clash started when dozens of insurgents attacked with machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. One coalition soldier was killed and four wounded in the battle, but there were no immediate reports of civilian deaths or injuries.

Meanwhile in Afghanistan's northern provinces, where the conflict is much quieter, New Hampshire National Guard soldiers are training local police forces.

One of those soldiers is Sergeant 1st Class, Shannon Kulakowski from Nottingham, New Hampshire. Before this assignment, Kulakowski was with the Guard's 172nd Mountain Regiment.

He describes his current mission in Afghanistan to NHPR Correspondent Doug Grindle at a base in Mazur e Sharif.