The Beast Unleashed

A Car bomb exploded in Khost yesterday, the town right outside our little base. There were two US KIA among several nationals; medevac helicopters kept bringing in litter after litter. As of right now, they are expecting more attacks on Salerno; none of the Afghanis who worked on base in construction, cleanup, etc. are allowed on the FOB until further notice. This isn't the entire post, but as of right now I only have time to write a small blurb. I will finish it when time permits.

continuing on....

I figured I would leave the first part I wrote up there simply because it is a pretty good summary of what happened.

After the car bomb exploded and several (a number I do not know) people were killed and injured, FOB Salerno went into a frenzy. Medevac helicopters flew into the site, picked up casualties, and came back to unload with the code words for mass casualty blaring over the loudspeakers. It is reported that the first crews in unloaded their casualties, and loaded up on litters (stretchers) because there were far more victims then first thought. And then, off they go again, in a cloud of dust, to try and save the day. Before the medevacs arrived, everyone (doctors, surgeons, nurses, etc.) just stood outside of the hospital. I don't know if it was because they were waiting or because they were in such disbelief.

Our end of the deal turned into a frenzy as well. Apaches were launched as an effective counteroffensive in case there were still enemy forces in the area. Apparently there were, because, according to some of my buddies, some aircraft came back empty; no ammo.

This proved to be another problem, as we seemed to be short on assembled rockets. Officers and enlisted men alike rushed to ammo crates and began assembling rockets. This doesn't sound very good on our part in regards to operational preparedness, but initially we thought our ammo stock was good to go. How much did they fire that day?

Eventually the numbers came back up and everything was good..well, good as far as ammo goes. By darkness, the helicopters were still out doing their rounds, until a lightning storm forced all aircraft to be grounded. Luckily, all evacs were complete, although the situation was still grim to me. No one felt as if they needed to speak. There was a quiet, contemplative aura everywhere I went. What was everyone thinking? I was thinking that I don't like walking around outside with a lightning rod (M4) on my hip. I wasn't about to take it off, though.

As it stands now, no Afghani national is allowed on our base. Maybe the higher ups suspicion about the locals has been raised to the level mine has been since I set foot in this hell hole. The only bad thing is, there is no one now to clean the shitters. I guess it's a good job for ARMY privates, but who knows. Maybe I'll end up on the job.

We are taking up defensive/offensive positions on behalf of the Taliban and Al Qaida, or whoever the hell is doing this to us. We regret the fact that there were any US casualties at all, and pray to God that there will be no more, although we know the harsh reality. All you can do is suck it up and move on, especially if it turns out to be someone you know. Hell, that's pretty much all you can do with ANYTHING in this God forsaken land. I feel the battle between us and them will go on for eternity. No matter, the soldier puts on his helmet and grabs his rifle. Silently, selflessly, he puts his life on the line. And sometimes, most of the time, in the moment, he doesn't even know what for. There are people who slander him and degrade him and hold signs that read "THANK GOD FOR IEDs" and yet he still does it because there are others back home who depend upon it. The only reason I can give for putting myself through this shit is so people I love and care about don't have to. I need them to be safe, and if it means US occupation for eternity then that's what we do.

-J