Home Sweet Home?

I can't believe it’s been over a month since my last posting.   Since the last post I spent a lovely 10 days at home with my family before I had to return to Camp Atterbury to ready to leave for Afghanistan.  
I made it to my FOB yesterday.  The total trip took 9 days with stops in Ireland, Kyrgyzstan and Kandahar.  Kandahar Air Field (KAF), I can say without reservation, it the yuckiest place on earth.  When I first saw it in the light of day I nearly cried.  I had not imagined Afghanistan to look that way, or smell that way.  The landscape is literally devoid of any color or vegetation save for the color from the thousands of connex boxes and the few vehicles that are not so covered in dust that their color is visible.  Otherwise all there is to see is the whitish-grey of the "moon dust" that covers everything.  Then there is the smell of the "poo pond" which you can imagine is terrible and only worse when the temperature hits 100 degrees which it did every day I was there.   The only saving grace is the boardwalk which is home to some interesting shops with local arts, rugs, jewelry and eateries of all kinds.  While there I lived in a tent with 200 of my closest friends. 

I took my first ride in a helicopter to get here.  On our little FOB at least there are trees, and thanks to some of the locals that are employed here also a couple gardens, one filled completely with sunflowers.  Its actually very nice in comparison to KAF. 

Since my arrival I have literally been drinking from a firehose as I learn my job for the next 9 months.  I went on my first mission yesterday and another today.  It was kind of scary to be out there for the first time but I am glad to be doing something finally.

Thanks to all for your continued thoughts and prayers, I appreciate them very much.   Please keep in touch as I crave news from home. 

My Guinness in Ireland!  Slainte!





After landing at the FOB



Our FOB puppy



The garden that makes this place sort of pretty



Trip to KAF