Getting Around

There's just something about being surrounded by armor, armed soldiers, and a 50 caliber machine gun that make traveling fun. Thanks to my friend Terry, Colonel Farrell when in the company of others, I've had the chance to experience a taste of desert travel just an upgrade up from the hump of a camel's back. Terry gave me an opportunity to accompany he and one of his team members, Capt. Gomez, on a site visit to Forward Operating Base Lindsey, not too far from Kandahar. The leadership here at KAF (Kandahar Airfield) are not happy about civilians traveling anywhere by HUMVEE or any other wheeled vehicle. Rotary or fixed wing is the directed method of travel to and from the dozens of forward operating bases here. It's just safer. But Terry enjoys the adrenaline rush of commandeering a HUMVEE and getting off road as much as any Oklahoma son, and drive it, he did.

The locals are always watching. And the soldiers take nothing for granted. Always paying attention, diligent, alert. In this wasteland, the locals somehow manage to survive. I guess it's always been this way for them. Occupying armies, transient forces, poverty, illiteracy, tribalism and terrorism... it's an incredibly difficult existence. Just the acquisition of basic life services requirements is beyond the capacity of the population. Mud huts, no power, limited choices on food, and miles for many to go for water. If you haven't stared at a flag and thanked your God that you live in a place like you do; and apologize for all the petty things that make you mad, that shouldn't; and make you appreciate silly things like: pavement, soap, milk, paper, school, a convenience store, voting where it actually counts, a medical facility that has an antibiotic, or even a nurse, and if that flag you're staring out is at full staff, instead of half...thank God again because someone's son or daughter won't be coming home so that you can enjoy popcorn from the microwave while you watch the Super Bowl with friends. Sorry, sometimes this place can get to you.

Here's a look at how some of our troops are living...and this is considered the Ritz by many of the guys that aren't so lucky.

Kinda cozy isn't it. Here's a look or two at the outside. The large concrete structures are bunkers. They protect the camps exceptionally well. You'll see some taller concrete sections that are called t-walls. Each one weighs almost 30 tons.

The wire framed containers on the right are filled with dirt and called Hescos. They serve to form walls for most of the logcamps and structures within. The tents are airconditioned and heated...kinda. It gets pretty warm here in the summer.

Now for the fun stuff. This is another fun toy the soldiers utilize for getting around and staying safe. This particular unit has weaponry that can be targeted and directed from inside the vehicle...much safer for the gunner and not so good for the bad guys. You get a good look at the different size Hesco barriers in the rear with the razor wire above.
This next shot is the main entrance to Forward Operating Base Lindsey...pretty fancy, huh!?

This is the preferred method of transport. If you look close, you'll see that these are MI-8 Russian helicopters...the ones they used to demonize the Afghan people and to birth the resurgent Mujahadeen. They can carry a pretty good load. We have 8 of these and 6 new Huey's. We also have access to all military air on space available and several DC-9s that make up the company "air force".

And it wouldn't be right to deprive you of a view of the closest Afghan mall...I'll include the upscale...and the not so upscale..

I'm not kidding y'all. This is a shopping area. Wish I could have gotten a better picture. The Army isn't crazy about slowing down in areas like this for obvious reasons. As much as I hate to log off...duty calls..another meeting...the days just go on. But the funny thing is that you get to where you don't mind the long hours or the challenges of getting things done here. You get caught up in the excitement and experience of working at this level and somehow handling it. God envisioned his creation and we are here...and I'm seeing that we haven't come close to our limits. I guess they are self-imposed...somehow we don't trust that he made us in his own image. If we could just approach his capacity for doing good instead of just doing well. A topic for another day.