Afghanistan - FOB Joyce

While the FOB I was at was on Delta Alert, Joyce FOB was hit hard. I met a lot of great people there who make a difference everyday and hope that none of them were wounded or worse.

PFC Monqueze McKinney – a smiling face you see when checking into the DEFAC

Manning the Gunline with a Howitzer named “Cherry Popper” Left to Right: Cpl Jeffrey Furr, Tennessee, PV2 Matthew Rutter, New Jersey, Cpl Michael Box, Texas and Sgt Adolph Lemos, California 

Stuckey: Always moving Suckey who along with her crew in the DEFAC bought the TV and managed to get a Christmas tree sent to Afghanistan

PFC Corry McGriff – possibly the Army’s best story teller

Afghanistan - TOA

Today was the final Transition of Authority Ceremony, here at FOB Fenty in Jalalabad. The last of the 101st leave to go back to the US today. It has been the deadliest deployment for the 101st since Vietnam.

This is the TOA at FOB Joyce.

As I sat in the clamshell tent listening to speeches I couldn't help but hear the gunfire outside wondering if I'd have to run for a bunker. Being the kind of person I am, always looking for the way out of a bad situation, I settled on the large covered trash can instead.

After the ceremony there was the first 'hero send off' for a fallen soldier of the 25ths deployment. It couldn't have been a more poignant day for the 3BCT 25th Division.

The war has become real for a whole new battalion.

Osama Bin Ladin is dead - Afghanistan

Osama Bin Ladin is dead...here in Jalalabad we're watching the breaking news holding our breath. What is this going to mean for us here on small outposts in Kunar Province up in the mountains on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan?

Our FOB went from a Charlie Alert, to Delta and back down to Charlie. This means we don't have to walk around vested up with helmets, which I have to tell you is hot as hell, plus if you get a direct hit, mortar or RPG, you're dead. There are sandbagged bunkers everywhere for you to run for cover, but if the Taliban gets in the wire it's not good, especially for us that cannot carry a weapon.

Besides the possible retaliation for the death of Obama there is also the "Transfer of Authority". Last year this was a deadly time as it is spring and the Taliban is coming out from their caves.

So here in northeastern Afghanistan, close to the border of Pakistan, the celebration of the death of Osama Bin Ladin seems surreal.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Nawa Pass

FOB Joyce is surrounded by the beautiful mountains in Kunar Province. The air is clean and it reminded me of my youth spent in the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, NM. It was eerie walking around susceptable to gun fire and RPG fire.

I read in a book by, Ensam M. Entezar that Afghani's always fought with each other, but the weapons used to be sticks and stones. Now their weapon of choice is an RPG. There is nothing that can protect you from that.

We went into Nawa Pass and met with the CO of that Afghani Post.

From left to right: The Afghan CO, Saffi our interpreter and Lt. Cody Mossberg

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Out and About Day 3

I wish I could post some photos, but they'll have to wait until at the earliest tomorrow when I leave this FOB and am able to use my computer.

Yesterday, just as we were leaving for a day mission it began to hail. Since I was sitting in the back of a LATV with the gun turret open I pretty much got soaked, but not as soaked at the gunner. Water was dripping off of his helmet, machine gun, bullets everything. The hail was the size of a dime.

Our mission was cut short when Lt. Mossberg made the call to cut it short because of the torrential river we'd have to cross. As it was we were slipping and sliding in the mud and rocks. I didn't say anything, but was glad, being the shortest I figured the river would be coming up to my thigh and it was rushing so fast I was concerned I was going to go down.

It was unnerving walking out on patrol amidst the mountains and hills surrounding us. There really is no cover and I can see why the 101st lost so many soldiers. You are vulnerable, but the soldiers I was with scanned the hills in unison looking for anything that moved. We were as safe as you could be.

Being here is a total 180 degree turn from being down in Helmand where it's flat and you can see for miles.