I just landed at my FOB in Helmand Province. I’ve made this comparison about other FOBs that I’ve been to here in Afghanistan; it reminds me a lot of the Alamo. They converted an old building into a command post surrounded by high mud walls with guard towers on each corner.
It took three Chinook helicopter flights to get here. I haven’t been scared once in this country, but those flights shook a nerve or two. The pilots are crazy. We were buzzing rooftops of local villages, flying over small farms and herds of frightened sheep. I honestly felt like I was in a scene from Apocalypse Now. I had to keep looking over at the rear gunner because the occasional thud, thud, thud of the rotors sounded identical to a 50-cal being fired.
When made our first stop, we picked up a couple of interesting passengers, two Afghan men, both handcuffed and wearing goggles that were blacked out. One was walking and the other was wounded and on a stretcher. I wanted to take their picture but thought that might be rude. What was I thinking? They’re Taliban, who cares what they think. Also, they’re wearing blacked out goggles. They’d have no idea I was taking their picture. Regardless, I kept my camera in my hip pouch.
Anyways, I’m here and am ready to spend the next week ahead playing TV reporter.
It took three Chinook helicopter flights to get here. I haven’t been scared once in this country, but those flights shook a nerve or two. The pilots are crazy. We were buzzing rooftops of local villages, flying over small farms and herds of frightened sheep. I honestly felt like I was in a scene from Apocalypse Now. I had to keep looking over at the rear gunner because the occasional thud, thud, thud of the rotors sounded identical to a 50-cal being fired.
When made our first stop, we picked up a couple of interesting passengers, two Afghan men, both handcuffed and wearing goggles that were blacked out. One was walking and the other was wounded and on a stretcher. I wanted to take their picture but thought that might be rude. What was I thinking? They’re Taliban, who cares what they think. Also, they’re wearing blacked out goggles. They’d have no idea I was taking their picture. Regardless, I kept my camera in my hip pouch.
Anyways, I’m here and am ready to spend the next week ahead playing TV reporter.
2 comments:
Are you taking a lot of personal pictures and video? I know you'll have lots of "official" footage, but I hope you're able to capture the personal experiences as well.
Those will be what your kids and grandkids will treasure.
Eric,
I'm taking so many pictures I feel like a tourist and not a soldier. The kids will have enough documentation to fill a history book by the time I get home.
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