My opinions. My stories. My life in my words. By reading this, you agree to not hold information contained within against the author or publisher of this blog in Civil, Federal, or Military Courts.
I've been deep-sea fishing in Portugal, climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan, rafted the Yellow River in Korea, peered into a volcano in Iceland, traversed part of the Congo in Uganda, chatted with mafia members in Bulgaria, been medevac'd to and from a WWII hospital in Moldova, Felt the heat from the Eternal Flame in Poland, tasted the sea air in Greece, walked the streets of Jerusalem in Israel, and been blown up in Afghanistan.
Being in the US Air Force has allowed me to experience these things... But the greatest adventure, is getting to spend time every day with my family!
The following video is makes me sad every evening, but happy every morning. It is a video of Aurora singing to her nightlight / music machine one night when she was only 4 months old. I heard her singing, and snuck in to her room in the dark to take the video. Now, I play it every day!
As you may have guessed, I have returned from my little trip. It was an experience I will never forget. I have been through the fire, and come out as tempered steel. I hwauave done this, because God was with me.
Most of the time, I was running around, trying to get usable video for news stories, but one day...one important day...changed my life forever. Strangely enough, it also happened to fall on my favorite day of the year. The following is my account of that day:
It is 10:30 am on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010.Today is my 3rd wedding anniversary; but instead of bunch of flowers, I am carrying a rifle, instead of a box of chocolates, a pistol, and in place of a jewelry box in my pocket, there is a grenade. I have been tasked to go out on a 24-hour security convoy with the men of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division – 2nd 327th Infantry – 3rd Platoon (from Ft. Campbell, KY) to the small village of in Afghanistan’s Konar Province.It is close to Pakistan.Very close.We will leave here at mid-day.I’ve met some of the men I will be going out with, and they are bred for this.Some, like me, are a little apprehensive about the tip, as the area is known Taliban territory.Mostly, though, they just want to get on the road.They figure, the sooner they get there, the sooner they get to go home.I hope that turns out to be true.I am cautiously optimistic, having spent the past few days in prayer.I believe I am at peace with this trip.I have placed my life in God’s hands.My fate is up to Him now (actually, it always was, I just had to realize it, and admit it).
My thoughts drift to my family.My wife, and the Love we share.How today is our special day, and there is nothing I would rather be doing right now, than holding her in my arms and kissing her.I think about my daughter.I hope I get to see her again. I miss her infectious smile.I feel tears well up in my eyes.But I must immediately dismiss these thoughts, and shake away the tears.They make me weak, and on this trip, I cannot afford to be weak.I must be strong and trust in God.It is the only way to get through what is ahead.
Time Hack:11:30 am.The Soldiers I will be travelling with are a fine tuned unit.They are infantry and as such, they dislike outsiders.I am an outsider.I must try to win them over (partially because – as my Dad says – they will be my protection, but also because I need their cooperation to make this story happen).I speak with their Platoon Commander about my mission.He agrees to help where and when he can.He circles up his men and tells them what they will do, and that the AFN guy is coming along (and to be nice and answer my questions) to tell their story. They are disinclined, but they agree to go along.Then we mount up.
12:15pm.I am glad for some of the Army training I have received in the past three years.The road is hazardous and rocky.We tip (several times) our vehicle on a series of steep cliffs, but luckily – and by the grace of God – we never roll over.I speak with the Soldiers in my vehicle (an MRAP).One asks me if I’ve made peace with my God.He is half joking, but also half serious. I tell him I have, and utter a silent prayer (I will probably do this often on this excursion).His question reaffirms my trepidation.I think about my family, and then I pray again.
12:50 pm.We arrive at an Afghan National Army outpost.The CO takes the interpreter and me along.I am too overwhelmed by this being my first real trip outside the wire to shoot any good video.He speaks with an ANA Soldier, and learns the supplies he was hoping for, were not there, and would not arrive for a few more days.We turn around, and head for our destination.
1:45 pm.We arrive at the small village where we will be pulling security.A week ago, US Soldiers from the same battalion as the ones I am with fought many Taliban fighters, with casualties on both sides , at this very location.When we arrive, we speak with some Afghan National Police about what’s been going on (SITREP) that day.Next we move into our positions for the next 24 hours.The Soldiers settle into a defensive posture.I start filming everything I can.
What seems like hours later: a village elder came out to speak with the CO about the burned out shell of a car in our area.Through the interpreter he says Americans bombed his car, and he wants money for it.I film the conversation, and then the car from different angles.It is riddled with bullet holes and appears to have exploded from the outside in.Long conversations ensue, and eventually the old man leaves – dissatisfied.The Soldiers stay vigilant.I pray a silent prayer for our safety, and for our families.
2:05 pm (I said it “seemed” like hours later).The platoon divides into three units to scout out the village.The goal is to build a police station for the ANP in the area so they can patrol on their own.Steep, rocky cliffs and goat paths lead around the all-but-abandoned village.There is a cave up on a hill that everyone keeps looking at.The CO speaks with the ANP and they decide on a site, then we leave (quickly, for we are out in the open) for the security zone they have established.Everyone gets into the armored vehicles.Two teams set up watch on the main roads – we are at a “Y” intersection.There is “Mountain Road,” “Taliban Road,” and the road we came in on.Mountain Road faces a mountain and half of the village.Taliban Road is the one where conflicts have happened in the past.Watches trade out every so often…the rest sit in their vehicles.I take the time to talk more to the Soldiers in mine.They call it a “sweatbox.”The A/C doesn’t run without the engine running, and there’s not enough fuel to run the engines for more than five minutes every hour he It’s hot (115 degrees) and humid. We drink water like it’s ambrosia, and still we can’t keep it in.Finally, I get out of the vehicle.I interview the CO and a couple of the guys so I’ll at least have something, in case fighting begins and I can get no more video.He says things usually happen around sunset, in the dark, and again just before dawn.I pray nothing else happens.
5:30 pm.The Infantrymen are restless.My prayers have been heard so far, and nothing is happening.A group of the guys has taken up a position by a water pipe that brings mountain runoff to the village.They call it “the oasis,” and there, they relax.I take my camera over there, but don’t turn it on them.They need to just be themselves for a while, and they’re not used to me yet.They swap stories, tell jokes, and share good luck charms.I keep the camera off, and join in on the conversation…calmly at first, then I’m joking with them.It works, and they relax around me.I’m still an outsider, but now I’m THEIR outsider.We joke and talk.I get out the camera, and just shoot them acting crazy.It helps them get used to the camera.Then I learn that it’s the first deployment for one of their guys.I pounce.I get the interview, and his fellow Soldiers get to laugh at him.They also see that it’s not as hard as they think it is.A little rain begins to fall…so does darkness.I pray again.
7:30 pm.The CO sets up night watch shifts for our truck.As it is too dark to see, my camera is useless – as is my excuse to not be on watch.I am just another Soldier now.I explain that I cannot be a gunner, so I am placed on radio watch.Every two hours.8 pm.Midnight.4 am.I fear I will get no rest.I am right.At first the watch is alright – quiet.I talk to the gunner, and we swap stories of hometowns, duty stations and other chit-chat.A flare ignites and we both get a little jumpy.We learn it’s jut an American outpost nearby playing around.I pray hard.The rest of my time is uneventful.
10:00 pm.I now understand fully the term, “sweatbox.”It is like a sauna in the vehicle.We’re all wearing our body armor (uncomfortable to wear, even more so to sleep in) and are sweating from the heat and humidity – both from outside and from our evaporating sweat inside the vehicle.I try to sleep.I am unsuccessful.
Midnight.We’ve made it through half of our 24-hour operation.I keep praying for safety.I talk with a new gunner.Same conversations.Time passes.I pray more.I am glad I have given my life to God’s hands. Though my mind is on high alert, I enjoy the peaceful quiet I believe my prayers are getting us all.I believe more and more.
Dawn.No incidents.I’ve gotten little rest, but nothing, praise God, has happened.I remember the CO saying attacks usually happen just before dawn, and none did.I sing a song of praise to God.We still have to be aware, but the hardest part is over.I thank God over and over for a calm night.I take refuge under some trees with several of the other guys that finally had enough of their sweatboxes and moved outside.Many of them were at the oasis last night.I film them sleeping, then join them for a much needed nap.I found out later I was sleeping near some “odd plants.”I don’t care, I was glad for the rest.
The rest of the time we’re there, nothing happens. I am overjoyed and continue to pray and praise God.We return to home base.We have been together for over a day without break.We are sweaty, and we stink – but we are alive.We are cranky from low or no sleep – but we get to go home.We have gained a respect for each other’s’ jobs.I see what they do everyday, and I appreciate what they go through.These are the real American heroes.I am glad to tell their story.I pray and praise God most of the way back to base.
My first real mission to a dangerous location is over…and nothing happened.I am glad, but a little let down.I am very happy to be alive, but it makes all the worrying seem childish and stupid.I know it wasn’t, because it led me to pray really hard – and that prayer, I believe, kept us safe.Still, part of me feels ashamed for scaring my family with my worrying.
6:15 pm.INCOMING!!!After returning to homebase, I tried to find out when I would be able to get a flight out.I also wanted to do a little story on the guy that runs the helipad, as he’s a one-man show.While waiting I struck up a conversation with an Army Chief Warrant Officer.All of a sudden, BOOM!!!It was loud… loud and close. Away We knew right away that it was is was incoming, so we got down.About a minute later, the “Incoming” call went out.It turned out later that it was only the one mortar, but it landed 25 meters behind where I was.If it hadn’t been for the sandbag wall behind me…who knows what would have happened, or where I’d be.I said a quick prayer of thanks to God.Oddly, I was not scared.They sound the all-clear, and I settle down.I get out my camera and scour the cliffs around us to see if there’s anyone visible.None appear.I pack up and find out I will leave tomorrow at 7:00 am.No more flights today.
It has been a long day.I go to the tent I was assigned as temporary quarters.I am weary.I can now think about my family…and I do.I open a Father’s Day card my wife gave me.It is one that plays music, but it also has a button that allows the sender to record a personal message.She recorded our daughter laughing.I smile, and feel the pain of the first tear coming to my eye.I smile again thinking about getting to talk to them again.I allow a tear to fall down my cheek as I think about them.I am not sad (the emotions are still mostly blocked), but I do miss them.My mind drifts to the last conversation I had with her…and my parents.It will be good to hear their voices again.I Love all my family very much.I pray.I read my Bible a little, until my eyes get heavy.Then, at last, I go to sleep.
Happy Anniversarry, Vanessa!I Love You!
And that was a day I'll never forget.
The title of this post is "The 23rd Psalm." I feel like that has new meaning to me. This trip has given me a stronger faith. My heart is joyful, and I know God is with me. I have known for a long time, but now, it is even more real. In my fear, I prayed. He took my fear, and kept me safe.
