Summer Thus Far

It's definitely been more than a month since I've last posted, and for that I apologize. I know there are some who look forward to reading these quaint afterthoughts that I post as a blog, so I am writing for them.

Summer has been harsh and unapologetic; unlike any other summer that I've experienced in 26 years of existence. There is nothing cheerful about Afghanistan in the summertime. We tend to joke a lot more these days; either a coverup of true feelings or the instanity bug making it's way into our heads. Regardless, the solemn humor keeps us alive and gives us something to hold on to. You might see a picture here and there of someone sticking their crotch on someone else's head, or maybe even humping a rocket or missile. That's the shit I'm talkin' about. Keeps us alive. Not alive like WOAH there's bullets everywhere and at any second I could die, but alive like "hey, we are still here doin' this thing, time is passing, and eventually we could make it home. So don't stop now."

Apart from the heat, the terrorist groups are out and about daily. Not a day goes by without chatter of engagements and aircraft coming back, needing more bullets and rockets. We've even fired hellfire missiles. Targets requiring missile shots are usually few and far between, but I guess "coming out of the woodwork" fits quite nicely nowadays.

This morning, an outlying FOB, smaller than our own, was attacked by thirty-some rockets. Unfortunately, the numbers worked out for the enemy, as one of their shots found its way to a fuel blivet. Of course it exploded, and nearly the entire place went up. Fire and chaos ensuing, the enemy planned to overrun the FOB, but we already knew that. We sent flights of Apaches and infantry out to control the madness, and soon thwarted the enemy plan. Needless to say, I don't think there were many left to do much of anything. In the end, it isn't apparent what casualties there were, but I hardly think that such an event could leave our forces unscathed. What I do know is that our Apaches took fire, some of our Chinooks took fire, and everyone was on edge for a while. Some people sit around the radio, listening to the chatter like it's a movie dialogue. And it almost is, except that it's real. I prefer to stand outside and watch our birds come back, like a kid at the air show.

I've been trying to understand and trust the locals since I set foot in this place, but it has finally been set in stone that they cannot be trusted. Some braniac in all his infinite wisdom has found it suitable to let locals work on our airfield, as they are installing cement taxiways to reduce the brownout effect every time an aircraft leaves for or returns from a mission. So now we have these folks leveling, pouring concrete, and playing with rocks amongst our aircraft. They are under guard, but obviously not too far under. This morning someone working on an aircraft across the way saw two locals come out from behind an Apache. Relying on the fact that they are to be nowhere near the aircraft, the mechanic came over to size up the matter. I happened to be in the area, and was in fact working on that same aircraft earlier. Upon further investigation, we found that these men were stuffing cigarettes up in the engine louvres of our beloved Apaches. Perhaps they were trying to burn them to the ground? Regardless, it was an act of sabotage and was reported immediately. More and more of our guys came out to the spot, many with knives in their hands. A fight was bound to ensue, but was derailed when an officer came out to question the accused. Eventually those men disappeared; hopefully to be interrogated. The sorry private that was supposed to be guarding the workers sure got an earful.

And so we continue with the missions, the repairs, the guarding, the dirt, the thoughts of home and the tastes of Big Macs and memories of long summer days at swimming pools with the smell of sunscreen in the air. We all miss it horribly. Maybe too much. All I can think of is July and R&R time. I'm going to try a catch a little summer vacation my self, back in Ohio. A little slice of heaven. Thank God for Ohio.

Cheers.

-J