Paydirt

Literally. All it is around here is dirt. It's New Year's day over here, and the new year just showed itself in the states. I've been here since the late hours of December 30th, and am just now getting the proper chance to write.

I left Kuwait aboard a giant Air Force C-17 to a base in Afghanistan. The ride was strange because the plane is a massive cargo jet with seats installed in the middle where the cargo usually is. So there we are, all crammed in, and there are no windows; you can only feel the aircraft bank and dodge and do all kinds of crazy stuff. We entered the combat zone and landed safely in Afghanistan.

From there, we waited around in the cold, got some hot chow, and were finally led inside to a little reception area so that we could try to relax. All I wanted to do was keep going; I didn't think it would take 5 days to get where I needed to be. But, I guess you go when a ride is available, and if there isn't one, you wait wait wait....

I don't remember what time it was, but it was very very late. The loudspeaker came to life, calling us to gear up and report to the flight line. It's a damn show to watch 60 soldiers, up to their nose in heavy equipment, trying to pile onto small buses for a ride to the plane. We did it, and a few minutes later we were standing outside the butt end of a C-130 cargo plane. This part was exciting to me; after we all were in the plane and strapped down to cargo net seats with our WWII era safety harnesses, I sat there, crammed in like a sardine, and took it all in. There we sat, bogged down in gear, like paratroopers getting ready to make the big jump. There were even static lines above our heads where you could actually hook up to parachute out. It felt like a scene from BAND of BROTHERS. I am in the right outfit, I guess. A dim green light showed mere outlines of soldiers, sitting, contemplating, or sleeping. We all wondered what would happen next.

Luckily the ride was only 45 minutes, and after what felt like some intense evasive maneuvers (my stomach was flopping), our plane was grinding down a dirt runway. We came to a stop and the cargo door dropped down. Our cargo palates were pushed out the back and disappeared into the night. Salerno. Here, when the sun goes down, that's it. No light. Only red flashlights, if you are lucky enough to have one. All of ours were packed. We rushed out of the plane like men on a mission, and I could not see my hands in front of me. I was drowning in such a darkness that I've never seen before. Looking up to the sky, I was amazed at the number of stars; the galaxy was at my fingertips. Tired and cold, I kept running, and I didn't stop until I was behind the wire and safe with everyone else.

After a short brief, we gathered our bags and went to our room assignments. Those boys that have been here awhile were sure glad to see us; now they can go home!

The billets are strange; large, open rooms divided into smaller rooms by flimsy plywood walls. It looks like some sort of ghetto, but it will do. I unpacked slightly, and went to sleep.

The next day, New Year's eve, a buddy and I set out to explore the tiny FOB. We found a PX, dining hall, gym, small communications room, and theatre. It might not be so bad here. I feel like there are more Afghan people here than us, though. They show up in the morning, do their various jobs of carpentry, construction, and cleaning among other things, and then disappear. I get nervous being around them; some of them look at you like they want to rip your face off. I'm one up on them, as I can make a pretty angry looking face myself, and it usually ends with them looking away to the ground. I'm not here to make friends.

So here I sit, still attached to headquarters company, waiting for DOG company to show up. I miss being around my friends, so hopefully they come soon. Until then, I will entertain myself with kicking up dirt and walking around aimlessly. The Apaches will show up too, eventually, and that is when my work will start. I hope everyone has a great New Year's...Live it up because anything is better than Afghanistan.

Cheers

-J