Already earning my pay

25OCT
Getting to Afghanistan is NO EASY TASK. I’m on the ground, but it was a long night of bus rides, checkpoints, briefs, flights, more flights, more brief and one last bus ride to get us here. And I’m sure more brief are on the way.

We left Camp Virginia in Kuwait yesterday at 12:00. I am now on the ground at the Kabul Airport and the current time is 7:40 the following morning.

The flight from Kuwait to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan was on a C-17 (click the link for a picture: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=C-17&gbv=2 ). This is a HUGE plane and very comfortable for the 200 plus in our group. Now Kabul is only 30 MILES from Bagram, but we have to fly there as well. This 30 MILE leg of the journey took seven hours on a C-130. That’s because the Air Force has to fly from FOB (Forward Operating Base) to FOB picking up people and dropping them off along the way. Unfortunately, they made us the last stop.

While we were landing at one FOB, the Taliban welcomed us to Afghanistan by firing an RPG at our plane. The pilot had to fire his flares to deflect it and all was well. Needless to say, that was a VERY QUICK stop. We took off again within 10 minutes. I guess I’m already earning my Hazardous Duty Pay and Hostile Fire Pay.

Again, we are now on the ground in Kabul at the airport awaiting our ride to the base. All is well and I am safe.

Welcome to Afghanistan.

The Udari Range

24 OCT
After four days of R&R, it was finally time to get back into training mode. That meant it was our turn to head out to the Udari Range. If Camp Virginia has been my desert oasis, then the Udari Range is surely Hell on Earth.

Remember the sand dunes C3PO and R2D2 landed on in the beginning of the first Star Wars movie? Well, put an isolated military shooting range in the middle of those blowing dunes and you have the Udari Range. Since returning to Camp Virginia, I’ve taken three showers and still haven’t gotten all the sand off me.

We arrived at one of the best times of the year; the temperature was just shy of 100 degrees. I can only imagine what it’s like in the middle of June or July with the summer heat and the sand storms. Here, we spent two and a half days out on the range practicing close quarters marksmanship (shooting a bad guy within 25 meters) and convoy training.

The convoy training was the best money could buy. On the range is a several mile long course that winds through several plywood villages and towns. The military actually hires locals to be role players and scatters them along the course; a mix of innocent bystanders, suspicious characters and downright terrorists. Also along the course are IEDs exactly like the ones being planted in Iraq and Afghanistan, suicide bombers, small arms fire, protestors and mock police. After assigning people to various convoy positions, our 11 HUMVEEs headed down the road. Needless to say we hit just about every IED and mishandled just about every scenario. But that’s why we were here, to learn. Again, this was some of the most educational, eye-opening training I’ve ever received.

And while the training was great, the living conditions were not! We all slept together in one big tent in sleeping bags on the hard floor. There wasn’t enough room in the tent for our gear so our bags had to stay outside… with the scorpions and the snakes. No chow hall, just MREs… which we were required to eat outside… in the blowing sand. And no shower facilities or indoor bathrooms; just port-a-potties. But this was a bonding experience and we all made the best of the situation.

After more than a month together, tomorrow, my shipmates and I will officially part ways. My group heading to Afghanistan leaves on the first flight. The team heading to Iraq leaves shortly after us. Sadly, this means my good friend, my battle buddy James Stockman and I will be going in separate directions. James and I have been side by side since day one of training. I’ll miss eating, hanging out and bitching about the military with James. But it’s a small Navy and I’m sure we’ll cross paths again. Good luck James!

Okay Afghanistan, here I come.

Purgatory isn't so bad

18 OCT
If purgatory is to Heaven, then Kuwait is to Afghanistan. Oh, I know Afghanistan is far from being Heaven, but the analogy works for my situation. The base where I’m located in Kuwait is just a pit stop for hundreds of service members heading to different theaters. But unlike purgatory, advancement is guaranteed and your direction is known.

I don’t know what waits for me on the other side of that shinny light, but I’m enjoying my time here. Sure it’s a big hot nasty sand box, but this place is allowing me to get adjusted to the time difference as well as the weather. We virtually have all day to chill out and just adjust. The military throws in a little training to justify our existence, but for the most part we’re just hanging out.

The first time I deployed, I went straight from the states to my job in Bahrain. For more than a week, I was useless, constantly falling asleep at my desk. I dreaded going outside because of the massive change in temperature. But this time around, I will be good to go as soon as I have boots on the ground. Believe it not, the military got this place right.

I’d also like to send out props to the folks with the USO. Yes, there’s still a USO. They do so much for our military it’s unbelievable. On this base, they’ve provided me with a free phone card, free internet access and a free movie theater. Those are just the services I’ve used. They also have a number of video gaming stations that the young Marines play all night long. Tomorrow, I have an appointment set up with them to shoot video of me reading a book to the kids. How cool is that.

So until my next journal entry, you’ll find me just hanging out here in purgatory.

Happy Birthday Charlie!!!

17 OCT
A special note to my Buddy Bear

Charlie, HAPPY BIRTHAY! No Daddy could be more proud of his big three year old as I am of you. I hope you love all the new toys Mommy and Daddy got you. I also hope you enjoy the cake and ice cream. Since I can’t be there with you, you can have my piece.

Buddy Bear, please know that your Daddy loves and misses you and while we may be a world apart, you’re actually here with me because I keep you in my heart. Where do you keep Daddy? That’s right, in your heart. I’m thinking of you all the time.

I know your Mommy is doing a great job taking care of you and Kathryn and I’ll be home before you know it. Be a good boy and remember, Christmas is right around the corner and Santa is watching.

Have fun today. I love you son. Again, I wish you a very Happy Birthday.

All my love in the world!
Daddy

* This is a day I have been dreading for months. I feel miserable being away from my son on his birthday. The only consolation is the thought that Charlie may never even remember this birthday when he grows up. What a crappy feeling I have in my gut right now.

I'm here... almost.

16 OCT
Left in the dark and arrived in the dark. We spent almost an entire day in the air. From South Carolina to Kuwait, it was almost 17 hours of flying and that doesn’t include layovers in Bangor, Maine or Shannon, Ireland. With me are more than 200 jet-legged and exhausted Sailors. We’re here and happily hitting our tents to go to bed. I’ll write more about our arrival later. Until then, goodnight.

Think you're a Patriot?

15 OCT
Patriotism comes in all shapes and sizes. The family that flies an American flag in front of their home is a patriotic family. The guy who puts a magnetic yellow ribbon on his bumper is a patriot too. I appreciate them, but tonight I’ve been slapped in the face by the honest truth that those Americans are just doing the bare minimum. They’re taking the “patriotic low road.”

To catch our flight to Kuwait, our three busloads of Sailors arrived at the airport hanger at 0200, that’s 2 a.m. for you none military folks. There waiting for us were dozens of applauding and cheering people, most of them former military members and their spouses. I repeat; it was 2 a.m. They had American flags in hand and thanked us and patted us on the back for stepping up and going forward. These people got up in the middle of the night just to wish us well. I’m sure they were expected at work a few hours later but being there for us was more important to them than a good nights sleep.

So often you hear people complaining about how the wave of patriotism died away just a few weeks after September 11th. The reality is it never died. These “high road patriots” were carrying the torch long before those planes ever hit and they continue to do so today. As long as we have a handful of high road patriots, I’m confident our country is in good hands. Remember, it was just a handful of brave Americans who stepped forward and spit into the face of the British monarchy to form our country.

I challenge you my family and friends…take the high road.

Right now I’m somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. We’re headed to Shannon, Ireland and after a short refueling stop, it’s onto Kuwait.