I'm gone from Lagman, the base that I have always thought of my home away from home. It was a sad departure...saying good-bye to all of my friends. Plus others came from surrounding bases to say good-bye...simply unheard of. I have met some incredible people here. But leaving, I have done many times... 16 bases in a year and that's not counting the many times I went to KAF for "counseling" or my repeat visits to some of the Fob's. I was a FOB hopper. Designated that by a supervisor's wish that I was too old to travel and it would force me to quit. Instead I loved it. Seeing Afghanistan in ways that others could only imagine.
I've actually experienced the war as sort of a soldier minus a weapon...It's all in the adventure and I thank the Lord that I survived it. Survival 101...Someone should teach that to the contractors. It's a disservice to sent them out to a war zone unaware of the many, many things to watch out for. Example: Prior to one of the ground attacks and at night fall, I witnessed the Taliban signaling to each other mountain to mountain. How was I to know it was a signal. I simply thought it was diamonds flickering in the sun set. Example 2: Be nice to people. I have seen many of our medics act rudely to the locals or fear them. Let me tell you a secret. It's harder to kill that someone that is nice to you and super easy to blow away the a_ _ holes. Plus, if you're a women, you really don't mean much to them except for sex and that's where my trustee blade came in handy.
I had bought a very nice knife. I was determined never to be unarmed and afraid again. I knew that I may never get close to use it, or that I may be shot while whittling away at my opponent, but it still gave me peace of mind. On my arrival at the big base, I was disarmed. The Brits were very nice as a tear slid down my face and said," Mame you will be very safe here." I said, yeah, yeah...that's what they all say. So I have a nice souvenir that I may recover on my way home.
Speaking of home...I have decided that I have seen way too much of Afghanistan. I love the country and the people. I have even grown to love the prayers and even have my favorites. I very much appreciate the hospitality that I've been shown by the lunches and teas that I've been invited to and attended. I love the outfit that was hand made for my grandson and I will never forget the Afghan people that I've adored and that called me sir with respect. I even loved my job, minus the management and secretarial work. But the war... I have been threatened, detained and nearly kidnapped by the ANA, been face to face with the Taliban and even spotted them (because I know everybody- wink!), suffered countless missile attacks, and 3 ground attacks- horrible events that are now a distant dream. One: that I was pulled away from for stress debriefing...a poor joke thought up by management - not funny for those who suffered through it. I can take all of the horrors of war and the unbelievably unlivable conditions, the extreme weather and choking on the dust 24/7, drinking 10 bottles of water a day and peeing all night in filthy porta potty's, bug bites, mice, rats, snakes, goats that are rigged with bombs sewn in their anus that blow up before my eyes, feeling my way in the dark and trusting my instinct when it's time to drop. Friends that are kidnapped tortured and killed, all the soldiers lost and the prayers we send to their families, no workable equipment, no office supplies, making do with cardboard for warmth because that's all I could find...It's been an incredible year!
I can do all that and more. I can not handle one more idiot, degrading, harassing decision by this company's higher ups. Or accusations of insubordination when nothing substantial comes to mind. No longer will I be recalled to KAF for "counseling" or "debriefing " to boost some idiots ego. It's beyond me why people are placed in positions without basic business knowledge or training for the position. Plus they were poor practitioners in their chosen careers, with the worse people skills imaginable. Heads up...there is kissing ass and there is genuine nice- they do not know the difference so neither works. Or to under utilize or ignore prime candidates when it would have benefited them to maximize their talents. Instead they move on and there's nothing but a poor shell left over. I consider it a supreme accomplishment that I could stay nice, function at 100%, be productive and even grow under such adverse conditions and under such a hostile workplace. But, I did it and I'm coming home!!!!
