I've been MIA for a week with good reason. I was assigned an itty bitty base (FOB) for my buddy who left for a little R&R. This is the cutest little base. You could walk around the perimeter in 10 minutes. Everyone is nice and very welcoming. It's one of those places that are helping the locals learn to sustain themselves through agriculture and education without depending on the US or the Taliban. It's in sort of a populated area and I still can't get outside the wire. Imagine that! I did go take a little peek at "THE" Afghanistan. My buddy is also a little stinker, so he didn't mind showing me the best spots for my viewing pleasure. Here on the bases it's mostly like being in the US. The grub is good and there's always so much to choose from with dessert. And just like back home you can go to church and worship Jesus or anyone you choose to without being strung up. We meet, but they don't have any clubs going here yet. Gimme some time and let see what talents I can make use of to keep everyone out of mischief. Speaking of...I can't remember most of the peoples names yet and I sort of remember faces...but I went strolling into my tent to my individual room (Ha!) to move my stuff into the clinic room where I'll be staying. I was taking my time setting up the new room because I brought too much crap (as usual) and there's no use in me getting winded by going back and forth all at once. So, I went into the old room and thought I heard a noise. I clearly asked if there was anyone there? No answer...maybe a dumb cat. The second time I went in there was a light on. I grabbed some stuff and left. But, then I had forgotten to grab my bedding so I immediately went back, opened the door and was run down by some very embarrassed young man. I thought...maybe a worker, (you know I can be oblivious). Then I saw the girl... snickering and I knew that there was at least one game going on in town!
At another small base where I visited my buddy Cory once (the time I was dumped off at the wrong place). I got to check out his operation/ clinic and he was very ready for the "BIG" one. His clinic is in a very small space, but he made the best use of it and was prepared for a mass casualty and could set up and be ready in seconds to care for many people. It was amazing. This is a guy who was well trained. Well, a couple of days ago a bunch of soldiers joined together to play a pick up game of soccer. They had spectators and among them some ANA (Afghan National Army). One of the ANA guys picked up his automatic rifle and sprayed the soldiers/soccer players. Why he did that no one will ever know. He could've been bought by the Taliban or just went postal...who knows??? He had to die and he did! Two soldiers died, several wounded... senseless. I pray for the friends and families of those guys who suffered this tragedy. I was saddened too. This is a war zone, but I can picture them laughing and the area that they were playing in having watched them play when I came onto that base. Cory was the only medic on the base and there was a small hospital with a doctor and nurse, corpsmen...first timers out. Cory, who I am proud to say was once a Detroit Medic and is exceptional at his job, he worked with the team and was able to organize, relay and move them out. That's what we do!
So on this note I will end. Support the Troops and our effort here in Afghanistan!
The pictures are of my bedroom with barely enough room to walk into it, but I do have a mattress and it is private.
My buddy Frank at a very old well that still functions
A very old guard tower...maybe from the Russians or even Alexander the Great. He is still the only one who has ever conquored Afghanistan.
My peek of Afghanistan...
At another small base where I visited my buddy Cory once (the time I was dumped off at the wrong place). I got to check out his operation/ clinic and he was very ready for the "BIG" one. His clinic is in a very small space, but he made the best use of it and was prepared for a mass casualty and could set up and be ready in seconds to care for many people. It was amazing. This is a guy who was well trained. Well, a couple of days ago a bunch of soldiers joined together to play a pick up game of soccer. They had spectators and among them some ANA (Afghan National Army). One of the ANA guys picked up his automatic rifle and sprayed the soldiers/soccer players. Why he did that no one will ever know. He could've been bought by the Taliban or just went postal...who knows??? He had to die and he did! Two soldiers died, several wounded... senseless. I pray for the friends and families of those guys who suffered this tragedy. I was saddened too. This is a war zone, but I can picture them laughing and the area that they were playing in having watched them play when I came onto that base. Cory was the only medic on the base and there was a small hospital with a doctor and nurse, corpsmen...first timers out. Cory, who I am proud to say was once a Detroit Medic and is exceptional at his job, he worked with the team and was able to organize, relay and move them out. That's what we do!
So on this note I will end. Support the Troops and our effort here in Afghanistan!
The pictures are of my bedroom with barely enough room to walk into it, but I do have a mattress and it is private.
My buddy Frank at a very old well that still functions
A very old guard tower...maybe from the Russians or even Alexander the Great. He is still the only one who has ever conquored Afghanistan.
My peek of Afghanistan...
