Afghanistan Through My Eyes - deployment Manus and Bagram

Writing about deployment brings so many feelings back. The first deployment you have the anxiety of what the war is going to be like. Of course you've seen pictures and heard stories, but nothing captures the reality and you know this. War is different for everyone. It's not only about the visuals, but about the sounds, the smells and the taste. These sensory perceptions will stay with you forever.

The second deployment you face the boredom. It is unbelievably boring and tedious to deploy. With an itinerary designed by the government it generally takes one week to get to your base "in country" where it takes a civilian about two full days. It's not because of the circuitous route and security issues, but because of the waiting. "Hurry up and wait." was definitely coined in the US Military.

Manus...waiting...notice the silk pillow.

Stuck in Bagram and making the best of it.

A troop knows what to expect during their deployment and it's almost unbearable. But a second deployment has it's advantages. You know more about comfort. Being in a foreign country where people want to kill you a person definitely wants to make their down time as comfortable as possible.

Red White & Blue Veteran's Farm - Jacksonville

The other day I had the privilege of being at the Red White & Blue Veteran's Farm in Jacksonville.

This farm is the brainchild of Adam Burke a wounded Veteran of Iraq. With the help of his wife, Michelle they've organized funding and volunteers to create this sanctuary of 8.5 acres for wounded veterans to farm.

There will be a total of 15,000 blueberry bushes. On this day 1,500 were delivered. Here are the guys that unloaded the bushes and worked on the irrigation system. 

It wasn't easy getting these guys to pose as they had a lot of bushes

to unload, plant and irrigate before the day was over.

The bushes are planted in raised planters so the veteran can maneuver easily down the rows to pick the berries and tend the bushes.

It was a great day at the Red White & Blue Blueberry Farm. Everyone has worked really hard both physically and spiritually to make this happen. Click here to see more and how you can help.

Afghanistan - 4th of July

NANGARHAR PROVENCE, Afghanistan – As Americans prepare to celebrate the country’s independence this July fourth, one should take time to think about the men and women who protect and defend that independence.  Think about the men and women who lay down their lives, and think about their loved ones who sacrifice along with them.

No one understands sacrifice better than the friends and family of US Army 1^st Lt. Dimitri Del Castillo. 

Del Castillo was killed on June 25^th when his unit, the Hawaii based 2^nd Battalion, 35^th Infantry Regiment, part of 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 25^th Infantry Division, Task Force Bronco, was conducting a massive counter insurgency operation in the Watahpur District of Kunar Provence, Afghanistan.

He was just 24 years old, a newlywed, and just starting his career as an infantryman. 

The news reached his bride just minutes after his death.  She was just a few miles away at a Forward Operating Base in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Within hours of being notified of Del Castillo’s passing, Pulliam was on her way back to the United States where she will spend the next several days preparing for the arrival of his body and making arrangements for his memorial.

So as you prepare for your picnics, parades and fireworks this 4^th of July, remember Katie Pulliam and Dimitiri Del Castillo’s story. 

They are just two of the thousands of brave Americans whose lives will forever be changed because they chose to serve a greater cause. 

Their story is a one of sacrifice and love, not just for each other, but for the country that affords you the liberties you enjoy. 

afghanistan - CSM Spano and Col Kim

What is amazing to me is how accessible the Commanders are. In books you read about them sequestering themselves in tents with maps and bottles of whisky. Now, if they see you they come up and chat awhile and ask you how you're doing.

CSM Spano is a poster boy for public relations. He is sincerely concerned about his soldiers and wants them to know about it. I was Kunar during the TOA when everyone was crazy busy, but he always took time out for people and looked them in the eye to make sure. I guess that would be what a leader does, access you within a few seconds. He wants to know if you're combat ready because he's leading the team.

Col Kim is a bit more serious, but I did manage to catch a shot of him with a hat presented by the Afghanistan Army. It is a tradition that all the men in the family wear the same hat and it designates what your profession is.

Team Kim and Spano: tearing up Kunar Province.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes-Eastburn & Robinson

In Jbad Major David Eastburn and SSG Robinson run the show, the Public Relations show. Maj Eastburn doesn't dress like this all the time, just when he's going to the shower and the FOB is on Delta Alert. This was actually April 30, the day before Osama bin Ladin was killed. 

SSG Amber Robinson is always ready for anything. This is on our way to Finley Shields and my first ride in a Blackhawk.

These two were great hosts and I really liked working with them.

Even though there is a lot of fun on a combat base it can get serious real fast. You gotta grab life when you can, just like sleep.