Afghanistan Through My Eyes:

Today on NPR I heard of the deaths of troops and civilians from two suicide bombers trying to gain entrance to the base at Jalalabad. The Taliban did not gain entrance.

My heart goes out to the men and women deployed in Afghanistan. It is questionable. The thought of extending our mission there turns my stomach. It is a fight for government control of nightmare proportions. Why are we doing the brunt of the fighting when the only country to gain from our victory is Russia?

But right now the men and women serving our country are fulfilling their contracts. They are fighting and dying everyday. The holidays are arriving soon and they will be there physically, but their hearts and minds with their loved ones.

Do not forsake them. They are our warriors.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes:

While I am no longer in Afghanistan I think about it every day; especially when I am visiting a military installation as I am today.

I am at Ft. Benning Georgia home of the US Army Armor School, US Army Infantry School, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security cooperation, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd, Brigade 3rd Infantry Division. It was also home to Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley who was laid to rest October 16 in the Main Post Cemetery.

Who is Sgt. Maj. Plumley you may ask? He was the hero played by Sam Elliot in the film, We Were Soldiers.

Sgt. Maj. Plumley fought in more than 20 military operations during his 32-year career. Enlisting on March 31, 1942 as a private after two years of high school, he fought during WWII at Salerno and the D Day invasion at Normandy, he made four combat jumps with the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, he made another combat jump in Korea with the 187th Airborne Infantry and while it can't be proven, he may be the only man to claim five combat jumps behind enemy lines. He should not have survived all of that, but there is more.

In the book on page 220 is a brief account of an incident that happened on the second day of the bloody battle with the North Vietnamese in the Ia Drang Valley in November 1965. "In the midst of this bedlam a blazing flare...streaked across the sky and plunged into the ammunition dump near the battalion command post. It lodged in a box of hand grenades, burning fiercely. Without hesitation, Sergeant Major Plumley ran to the stacks and with his bare hands reached into the grenade boxes and grabbed the flare. (He) jerked the flare free, reared back, and heaved it out into the open clearing. He then stomped out the grass fires touched off by the flares in and around the ammo crates."

The refrain, "God may look like Sgt. Maj. Plumley, but he isn't nearly as tough on sins small or large," in some version is used in most discussions involving the Sergeant Major.

He retired from the Army on December 31, 1974.

RIP Sgt. Maj Plumley

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Afghanistan Through My Eyes - RIP CSM Griffin

Last week I heard the sad news that CSM Kevin J. Griffin had been KIA. It was hard for me to hear. CSM Griffin was larger than life. He was the kind of soldier they emulate in the movies, full of bravado, tough, fair and always quick with a smile. He embraced his service and loved his job. I flew with him a few times on our way to different COP's and always felt like he was taking the bull by the horns, wrastleing it and putting it down. I loved his energy.

He was a great leader and he will be missed by all.

CSM Spano, CSM Vimoto, CSM Griffin

CSM Griffin watches as a soldier gets a medal from SMA Chandler 

Col Kim, CSM Chandler, CSM Spano, Col Mingus

R.I.P. CSM Griffin

Maj. Thomas Kennedy the brigade Fire Support Coordinator, Maj. Walter D. Gray, USAF and Mr. Ragaei Abdelfattah, USAID were also killed during a suicide attack in Kunar  Province. Col. Mingus was unharmed.

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - Home

Hurry up and wait. This phrase was coined in the military. I think it has to do with learning patience, restraint and composure. Good traits to have in combat...but really hard when you're on US soil and you just want to be in the arms of loved ones.

After we landed in Hawaii we were bused up to Schofield Base. 

First everyone is checked in and weapons surrendered. The soldiers were treated to an escort from the Veteran's Who Ride Harley Chapter of Hawaii. Veterans and USO came out to greet them. Then follows a briefing and snacks for the soldiers while their loved ones wait as patiently as possible on the other side of the partitioned building. 

Finally after a film created by the PAO office of the 25th's Division year in Afghanistan the soldiers march in!

After the Start Spangled Banner played and there were thanks for the safe return the soldiers they were released. 

Then we just had to find our gear and we were home.

HOME!

Afghanistan Through My Eyes - re-deployment

As always the day finally arrives when the division gets to go home! The joy one feels on this day is about the most joy a soul can take.

The way it works from Afghanistan is that everyone in the division has to somehow get to Manus Airbase and then take a wide-bird back to their home base. In this case it was Schofield, on Oahu in Hawaii. Not to shabby.

This is complicated by all kinds of factors. First of all your replacements from the new division must have arrived. Depending upon where you are in country, a large base, FOB or small COP this can take days of travel and waiting until you arrive at Manus.

Lastly, there's the RIP/TOA where the commanders leave. The commanders are the last to leave, but generally get to go straight to Manus and skip any interim bases on the way.

Casing the flag for it's journey home back to Schofield Base in Hawaii

Waiting at the PAX Terminal on FOB Fenty

Down comes the Welcome to the 25th Divison FOB Fenty Sign

Marching out of FOB Fenty to the awaiting C-130

Heading to Manus Airbase on our C130