Quiet day today, which was nice. There really isn't much to share. The biggest highlight was the Cleveland Indians' ballgame that went 14 innings after a rain delay...nearly went to 2am EST! Pretty rare we get to watch LIVE baseball in the office through mid-morning so that was pretty cool. Tribe won...beat the Tigers! Besides that, I was very busy all day and didn't get out of the office until I put in an 11 1/2 hour day. Everyone in the office grabbed dinner together and unable to resist the urge, I went back and got a cup of praline ice cream. I swear that stuff is addicting. My palate just don't feel write after dinner without it! I watched some TV, now I'm blogging, going to get a quick shower, then I'm heading to bed earlier than normal...going to fall asleep to some Brahms: German Requiem tonight. Eyes are already heavy. Hump Day is done and now down towards the weekend. T-10 days until my promotion on the 20th! :-) (oh yea...almost forgot...got confirmation of my departure date today...hmmm, how did I forget to mention that? who knows...and no, I can't share it...and no, it's not soon...but there is a giant target on the downward slope of my time left here) :-)))))))
Goodnight, everyone.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Day 122
24 hours ago, I was standing on the flight line waiting for the Fallen Comrade Ceremony to begin. Tonight? I'm in my CHU...showered...relaxed. A repeat of the Pirates/Giants baseball game is playing in the background (I know...weird...but it "sounds" like home with baseball on in the background...make sense?!) and I'm downloading today's release of Steven Curtis Chapman's Re-Creation. I've been a fan for years and met him once, too. This new album is a combination of new work and re-creations of his favorites and my favorites. With the snail's pace of download in my room, I'm sure I'll go to sleep tonight and it won't be done yet.
While the Fallen arrived at Dover Air Force Base today, back here in Oz, things returned to normal. At 8am this morning, I was in a brief with the brigade who ran it all last night. The commander was very proud of his people and passed on thanks and job-well-done to them but reminded them to get their head back in the game and return to work. After all, he said, it's our job. The rest of the day was busy, productive, and mostly uneventful. As the lunch hour broke, I escaped early to avoid eating with everyone else. I wanted time to myself today. I grabbed a salad for lunch then headed over to Green Beans Coffee to redeem a gift card I was sent for $22.00. Now I have a credit for java!!! WOOT! Today, I got their incredibly good Mocha Frappe and did some reading and writing outside. After about an hour, I wandered on back to the office where they had all left and already returned from lunch. I got back to work and waited for Dorothy to wake up a few hours later. We got on the phone and had a great conversation for quite awhile. She was up early to head out for a run then to work. Afterwards, I stayed around long enough for another conference call with folks back Stateside then headed out for the night.
Back in my room after dinner, I Skype'd with Tin Man and Scarecrow for awhile then wound down for the night. That's really about it...and boy, am I thankful for that. Today was a relaxing day. I'm going to try and get to bed a bit early tonight because I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night to try and Skype in to my church's Men's Bible Study and then a conference call with fellow Supply Officers. I'm on a regional board and I'm really trying to stay involved with them, especially as they are planning for our 2012 symposium next year. I'm going to try the free Skype 800 number service. So with that, everyone...Day 122 is a rap. As a FYI: I am starting to "feel" my time winding down. While still a ways out, I am certainly on the downward slope towards getting back on the Yellow Brick Road. I'm creating little landmarks on the calendar in any way I can. Little victories help move time along, I've found.
Goodnight, everyone.
While the Fallen arrived at Dover Air Force Base today, back here in Oz, things returned to normal. At 8am this morning, I was in a brief with the brigade who ran it all last night. The commander was very proud of his people and passed on thanks and job-well-done to them but reminded them to get their head back in the game and return to work. After all, he said, it's our job. The rest of the day was busy, productive, and mostly uneventful. As the lunch hour broke, I escaped early to avoid eating with everyone else. I wanted time to myself today. I grabbed a salad for lunch then headed over to Green Beans Coffee to redeem a gift card I was sent for $22.00. Now I have a credit for java!!! WOOT! Today, I got their incredibly good Mocha Frappe and did some reading and writing outside. After about an hour, I wandered on back to the office where they had all left and already returned from lunch. I got back to work and waited for Dorothy to wake up a few hours later. We got on the phone and had a great conversation for quite awhile. She was up early to head out for a run then to work. Afterwards, I stayed around long enough for another conference call with folks back Stateside then headed out for the night.
Back in my room after dinner, I Skype'd with Tin Man and Scarecrow for awhile then wound down for the night. That's really about it...and boy, am I thankful for that. Today was a relaxing day. I'm going to try and get to bed a bit early tonight because I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night to try and Skype in to my church's Men's Bible Study and then a conference call with fellow Supply Officers. I'm on a regional board and I'm really trying to stay involved with them, especially as they are planning for our 2012 symposium next year. I'm going to try the free Skype 800 number service. So with that, everyone...Day 122 is a rap. As a FYI: I am starting to "feel" my time winding down. While still a ways out, I am certainly on the downward slope towards getting back on the Yellow Brick Road. I'm creating little landmarks on the calendar in any way I can. Little victories help move time along, I've found.
Goodnight, everyone.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Day 121
Alright, folks...no talk today about my morning and afternoon. Today, I can only reproduce what I was WITNESS to tonight...35 flag-draped caskets...heading home to America. I really don't know any better way to write tonight but to just re-create my memories onto this screen. Only 3 days ago, I did that when I attended my first Fallen Comrade Ceremony. Little did I know that late, late Friday night, we would lose 30 more then another 5 over the weekend. Oh, America...
"I heard earlier today that we needed to be formed up on the flight line by 8pm tonight or 11:30am EST. I was very busy today so I ended up skipping dinner and heading to the flight line. As I turned the corner on the flight line towards the large C-17s which would carry our Fallen home, I saw the growing crowd of fellow service-members. Once I got into the crowd, I found a spot in the front row of the formation. From my vantage point, a large hangar, big enough for a C-17 was to my left and the doors were wide open. Inside, there were troops in formation on both sides. At the rear center, the commonly seen rifle pointed down, helmet on top, boots in front, and dog tags hanging...just like you see on the right side of my blog. On the floor in front of these memorials for the Fallen, soldiers kneeled and embraced each other as they grieved their fallen brothers. Outside, we were waiting for 8pm (local) to come around when the ceremony was to begin. Directly across from me, there was a large space as wide as the hangar opening and another mass of soldiers facing us. To my right, two C-17s waited with their rear cargo doors wide open, ready to receive the Fallen. They were angled inward, rear-facing. Inside the cargo bays, the final preps were being made to secure the Fallen for their long ride home.
The crowd was large...in the hundreds, for sure. As 8pm arrived and passed by, the ceremony did not start. Soon, though, the engines on the C-17s quieted and the flight line shut down. Nothing. No sound, no jet engines nearby...just silence. The band that I saw from a few days ago was on the opposite side of me, facing me. They began to play very ceremonial/somber music. Then, off to my right, "K-Loaders" approached. K-Loaders (stock photo shown here) are the very large "vehicles" used to load air pallets onto cargo aircraft. They can lift their decks straight up and down. Due to the large number of Fallen, these were being used to bring the Fallen to us. Slowly...very slowly...four fully-loaded K-Loaders approached from the right and stopped in between the two staged C-17s. Then, the crowd was called to attention and gobs of soldiers came forward and formed up between the K-Loaders. A group of 8 climbed on top and stood to the sides of two rows of caskets. Their job was to bring the caskets forward to those who would carry them into the hangar. Down in front of the K-Loader, fellow Special Forces sailors and soldiers lined up in quantities of 8 per casket and slowly removed and carried each casket right by me from right to left and into the hangar. One by one by one...each casket passed by. The crowd, including myself, held our salute until every member had been brought in. As each group of 8 arrived in the hangar, I watched as they slowly lowered each Hero to the ground, slowly rose to their feet, then in unison, slowly saluted the Hero they just carried in. This happened for each of the 35 Americans in caskets.
After all the caskets were brought in, the K-Loaders drove away and opened the space up yet again between the two C-17s. Back in the hangar, one of the Chaplains approached the microphone and prayed for the soldiers. Once complete, the names...every name was read aloud. A member from each community came forward and stated the rank and name of every person. The Navy SEALs were hit especially hard and 22 names were read. Next, the Air Force members who died were read (I'm not sure how many were Air Force...I am sure one was a Tech Sergeant Medic). After this, an Army Ranger came up and read the names of his Fallen. Lastly, a Marine came up and read 3 more names and ended with "Semper Fidelis." 35 names...35 Heroes. Now that the names were read, the band began to play once again. It was a smooth, somber type of music. I didn't recognize any of it.
I was beginning to wonder: 'Why aren't I crying? Don't I feel anything?' I was feeling guilty...like I was supposed to cry. 'Look at all those flag-draped caskets...don't you feel anything??' I thought to myself. Looking back now, I was numb to it. Yea, I felt it...I felt the sorrow, I grieved for the families of the Fallen, I looked at the flags which wrapped the corners of the caskets and thought about all that flag stands for and the price paid for what it stands for. Inside, I wanted deeply for my friends and family to witness this...I wanted AMERICA to witness it. On the outside, though, I just stared..and listened to the names, not moving one muscle.
"Present...ARMS!"... the order to salute. In unison, we all slowly raised our arms to salute once again. In groups of about 8 at a time, the soldiers bent down and lifted each Hero up, turned them around to face the correct direction (feet always first), then slowly...very slowly carried them towards one of the two waiting C-17s. As they passed, I looked at each person who passed and their faces. Many, many of them had beards. This is normal for Special Forces and SEALs as they often are with the Afghans and try to blend in a bit. I saw Trident after Trident on upper left chests of those carrying the Fallen. They are fellow SEALs...carrying their brothers HOME. No expressions, no tears...just staring straight ahead and keeping a firm grasp on the metal handles. As the rows formed at the rear of the C-17s off to my right, they turned the Fallen around one more time so that when they arrive at Dover Air Force Base, they will be ready to come off the aircraft in the proper direction. One by one, they took each Hero into the C-17 and slowly lowered them to the deck plates and rendered their final salute before leaving the aircraft via the front door. Wave after wave after wave until every last one had passed by me and been loaded. The band played the entire time and we held that salute under ordered to put it down. In the photo above, count those American Flags...how many do you see? Now double that. That's about how many passed me by tonight."
Friends, tonight was heartbreaking. I didn't say a word afterwards. I got in the car and while others talked, I just sat there, not knowing what I was feeling or what I should be feeling. I was honored to have been there but where are the tears? I got back to my room and knew I needed to write tonight but knew I had to take a shower, pop some popcorn, and RELAX. That was the only way I was going to write anything. I did that, turned on the TV and guess what was on..."Coming Home"!!!! Seriously? Is that God's idea of humor? Goodness gracious...watching little girls on TV greet their daddies home from war melts my heart each time I see it. I was an emotional wreck! After some smiles and laughter, I finally sat down to write to you. Now it's done...it's about 12:30am here and I'm wiped out.
I hope I never witness anything like this ever again. Am I glad I went? Absolutely. I really "felt" like I was standing there and saluting for all of my friends and family...in their place, you might say. I felt the love of them, too, and thought about them often throughout the ceremony. I also thought about the journey these Heroes would take. As I type this, they are probably cruising at 35,000 feet, en route to Dover Air Force Base where the military mortuary will take over. Many families will be there to witness their arrival. I imagine that the news will cover it as well if the family members agree...that's the way that works...it's up to the families if it gets broadcast to the world. After Mortuary Affairs finishes, the Heroes will begin their trip to their final resting place.
Friends, please pray for the families..the wives, children, brothers, sisters, extended family, and good friends whose grieving process has just begun. While most of America is fretting over the stock market, they are en route to Dover to welcome their Heroes home. Please remember them.
Goodnight, everyone.
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| Stock Photo |
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| Stock Photo of K-Loader with C-17 behind it |
After all the caskets were brought in, the K-Loaders drove away and opened the space up yet again between the two C-17s. Back in the hangar, one of the Chaplains approached the microphone and prayed for the soldiers. Once complete, the names...every name was read aloud. A member from each community came forward and stated the rank and name of every person. The Navy SEALs were hit especially hard and 22 names were read. Next, the Air Force members who died were read (I'm not sure how many were Air Force...I am sure one was a Tech Sergeant Medic). After this, an Army Ranger came up and read the names of his Fallen. Lastly, a Marine came up and read 3 more names and ended with "Semper Fidelis." 35 names...35 Heroes. Now that the names were read, the band began to play once again. It was a smooth, somber type of music. I didn't recognize any of it.
I was beginning to wonder: 'Why aren't I crying? Don't I feel anything?' I was feeling guilty...like I was supposed to cry. 'Look at all those flag-draped caskets...don't you feel anything??' I thought to myself. Looking back now, I was numb to it. Yea, I felt it...I felt the sorrow, I grieved for the families of the Fallen, I looked at the flags which wrapped the corners of the caskets and thought about all that flag stands for and the price paid for what it stands for. Inside, I wanted deeply for my friends and family to witness this...I wanted AMERICA to witness it. On the outside, though, I just stared..and listened to the names, not moving one muscle.
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| Stock Photo inside C-17 of previous Fallen |
Friends, tonight was heartbreaking. I didn't say a word afterwards. I got in the car and while others talked, I just sat there, not knowing what I was feeling or what I should be feeling. I was honored to have been there but where are the tears? I got back to my room and knew I needed to write tonight but knew I had to take a shower, pop some popcorn, and RELAX. That was the only way I was going to write anything. I did that, turned on the TV and guess what was on..."Coming Home"!!!! Seriously? Is that God's idea of humor? Goodness gracious...watching little girls on TV greet their daddies home from war melts my heart each time I see it. I was an emotional wreck! After some smiles and laughter, I finally sat down to write to you. Now it's done...it's about 12:30am here and I'm wiped out.
I hope I never witness anything like this ever again. Am I glad I went? Absolutely. I really "felt" like I was standing there and saluting for all of my friends and family...in their place, you might say. I felt the love of them, too, and thought about them often throughout the ceremony. I also thought about the journey these Heroes would take. As I type this, they are probably cruising at 35,000 feet, en route to Dover Air Force Base where the military mortuary will take over. Many families will be there to witness their arrival. I imagine that the news will cover it as well if the family members agree...that's the way that works...it's up to the families if it gets broadcast to the world. After Mortuary Affairs finishes, the Heroes will begin their trip to their final resting place.
Friends, please pray for the families..the wives, children, brothers, sisters, extended family, and good friends whose grieving process has just begun. While most of America is fretting over the stock market, they are en route to Dover to welcome their Heroes home. Please remember them.
Goodnight, everyone.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Day 120
120 is a nice round number, isn't it? That's a good solid 4 months DONE. I left "Kansas" on a Sunday, too, so yea...definitely 4 months gone. I'll tell you straight up...I didn't dive into my sorrowful abyss today which happens on many, many Sundays. After I wrote last night's blog, I downloaded Skype to my new MacBook Pro that arrived last week and amazingly, it works inside my room with a very week WiFi signal that I created. So, I talked to my girls for a bit and saw them (AWESOME!!) then spent some time alone with "Dorothy." She totally doesn't get it, but I could just sit there or lay there and just stare at her for hours on end. We ran out of things to talk about so we ended up saying goodbye but I would've been perfectly fine with just spending time with her...silent or not. So that was a great way to end yesterday. It kept me up past midnight but it was well worth it.
This morning, I woke up at normal time, intent on working until around lunch then getting out of there. I was actually very busy all morning but around 1pm, I left. It was 97F today so I went straight back to my CHU where it was nice and cool and crawled into bed. Not too long after that, my youngest brother and his family called on Skype so I got to see all of them and talk for awhile. He just ran his longest ever (19 miles) trail run yesterday, too. He'll be running his first 50K on September 17th at one of my all time favorite races..in a Navy PT shirt! Pretty cool, I'd say. After that, I dozed off for an hour or two..who knows how long, then awoke to just lay there and watch some TV. As I noticed the sun was beginning to set and temperature begin to drop, I got my running gear on, complete with clear, ballistic glasses and neck gaiter pulled up to my eyeballs to keep all the crud out of my lungs and eyes. Have I mentioned I strongly dislike running here? I despise it but not as much as I despise the treadmill so outside it is. My shoes are now way beyond trashed and feel now like they're minimalist shoes. To my fortune, though, Dorothy mailed me a care package last week with a used pair of Brooks Glycerins from out of my garage. I have a brand new pair of Brooks at home but there is no way I'm wearing them out here. No shoe run in here should ever leave this place. The dust and filth simply destroys them...way worse than any trail mud I've ever run in.
Tonight on my perimeter run, I was mentally consumed by my fellow sailors, Navy SEALs who were killed two nights ago as they returned from a mission, about a 30 minute helo ride south of my location. I ended up dedicating tonight's run to them as I ran with Mr. Moon. I couldn't stop thinking about the Fallen Comrade Ceremony that will soon happen here. 30 metal caskets...30 American Flags...and 8 soldiers per casket to carry each one aboard an Air Force C-17. While I was in the office today, I exchanged some e-mails with an Army medical officer who was involved with Mortuary Affairs here on base. I once again volunteered myself to do anything at anytime for the Fallen. I won't be called, though...there is a HUGE outpouring of support here on the base for these heroes and I'm just not in the mix for being able to be a part. I really wish I could, though. Anyway, as I ran around the base, I was planning to stop in at the office again to check a few things online and had a post that was running through my head, over and over and over again...sort of a tribute to them. So, I quickly logged on to my Facebook account and posted the following:
It really is true, isn't it? Shouldn't we celebrate them and all they did for our country? I think we should. We should mourn, too but it should be followed by celebrating their lives. They took the fight to the nastiest parts of the enemy where no one else on the planet will go. They were/are our country's finest and most elite fighting force. America: we lost so much on that downed Chinook. Can't we just leave the credit rating and stock market out of the news for just a day or two? Can we not get our priorities in line, even in a time like this?
I got back on the road, still consumed by their loss and thought again to the movie, Taking Chance. If you have not seen it, I am asking you...no, I am begging you to find it and rent it/buy it and watch it. Watch it as a family, too. There is nothing in it that a child cannot see. We watched it when my girls were 6 and 8 and I've watched it several more times. It is the true story of a Marine officer who escorts a fallen Marine home, starting at Dover Air Force Base. Dover is where these Fallen will go in the next few days. As I type this now, many of the Fallen's families are packing their things to go there. (the military flies the Next of Kin to Dover for free if they want to go) Back a few years ago, the military opened it up for families to witness their loved ones brought off the C-17, very ceremoniously before they are prepared for their journey home. The movie, in my opinion, is one that every single American should see. You will be forever changed, I promise you. Most of you live near a RedBox...check there. We found it there last year. Please watch it. There's another reason I thought about this movie tonight again. On my run, I always pass this diagonal road that has this little, homemade sign at the entrance that reads "Mortuary Affairs." Down that road only a few hundred yards are the Fallen Heroes that the world is talking about right now, being prepared to go home. Man, it was just overwhelming...the shear number of them....30 of our nation's finest. From what I am hearing now...22 are Navy SEALs, 8 are Marines and/or Army, and even a Navy SEAL dog was lost. Also killed was an Afghan interpreter and 7 Afghan soldiers.
Back in my room, I showered and made up a Mac-n-Cheese that a friend had sent me as well as a Larabar...and here I am. Today, I also received my re-deployment orders. In plain English, that means I received my GOING HOME orders! I'm still a good ways out from leaving but it's nice to know a key piece of the puzzle to putting me back on that Yellow Brick Road is in place. It's kinda like moving the jetway at the airport up to the plane so folks can get on or off. It's just that the plane isn't leaving anytime soon! Awesome to have in my grubby paws. With that, folks...I bid you all farewell and a great new week. If by chance our Fallen prompted you to fly Old Glory...consider leaving her out every day. Deal?
Goodnight, everyone.
This morning, I woke up at normal time, intent on working until around lunch then getting out of there. I was actually very busy all morning but around 1pm, I left. It was 97F today so I went straight back to my CHU where it was nice and cool and crawled into bed. Not too long after that, my youngest brother and his family called on Skype so I got to see all of them and talk for awhile. He just ran his longest ever (19 miles) trail run yesterday, too. He'll be running his first 50K on September 17th at one of my all time favorite races..in a Navy PT shirt! Pretty cool, I'd say. After that, I dozed off for an hour or two..who knows how long, then awoke to just lay there and watch some TV. As I noticed the sun was beginning to set and temperature begin to drop, I got my running gear on, complete with clear, ballistic glasses and neck gaiter pulled up to my eyeballs to keep all the crud out of my lungs and eyes. Have I mentioned I strongly dislike running here? I despise it but not as much as I despise the treadmill so outside it is. My shoes are now way beyond trashed and feel now like they're minimalist shoes. To my fortune, though, Dorothy mailed me a care package last week with a used pair of Brooks Glycerins from out of my garage. I have a brand new pair of Brooks at home but there is no way I'm wearing them out here. No shoe run in here should ever leave this place. The dust and filth simply destroys them...way worse than any trail mud I've ever run in.
Tonight on my perimeter run, I was mentally consumed by my fellow sailors, Navy SEALs who were killed two nights ago as they returned from a mission, about a 30 minute helo ride south of my location. I ended up dedicating tonight's run to them as I ran with Mr. Moon. I couldn't stop thinking about the Fallen Comrade Ceremony that will soon happen here. 30 metal caskets...30 American Flags...and 8 soldiers per casket to carry each one aboard an Air Force C-17. While I was in the office today, I exchanged some e-mails with an Army medical officer who was involved with Mortuary Affairs here on base. I once again volunteered myself to do anything at anytime for the Fallen. I won't be called, though...there is a HUGE outpouring of support here on the base for these heroes and I'm just not in the mix for being able to be a part. I really wish I could, though. Anyway, as I ran around the base, I was planning to stop in at the office again to check a few things online and had a post that was running through my head, over and over and over again...sort of a tribute to them. So, I quickly logged on to my Facebook account and posted the following:
"I am proud to be a U.S. Navy sailor. From E-1 to O-10, we stand as one when we lose our own. From deckplate sailors to engineers, to doctors, to mechanics, to pilots, and to Navy SEALs...we mourn together but even greater, we celebrate the Fallen's lives and heroic service and sacrifice to our country."
It really is true, isn't it? Shouldn't we celebrate them and all they did for our country? I think we should. We should mourn, too but it should be followed by celebrating their lives. They took the fight to the nastiest parts of the enemy where no one else on the planet will go. They were/are our country's finest and most elite fighting force. America: we lost so much on that downed Chinook. Can't we just leave the credit rating and stock market out of the news for just a day or two? Can we not get our priorities in line, even in a time like this?
I got back on the road, still consumed by their loss and thought again to the movie, Taking Chance. If you have not seen it, I am asking you...no, I am begging you to find it and rent it/buy it and watch it. Watch it as a family, too. There is nothing in it that a child cannot see. We watched it when my girls were 6 and 8 and I've watched it several more times. It is the true story of a Marine officer who escorts a fallen Marine home, starting at Dover Air Force Base. Dover is where these Fallen will go in the next few days. As I type this now, many of the Fallen's families are packing their things to go there. (the military flies the Next of Kin to Dover for free if they want to go) Back a few years ago, the military opened it up for families to witness their loved ones brought off the C-17, very ceremoniously before they are prepared for their journey home. The movie, in my opinion, is one that every single American should see. You will be forever changed, I promise you. Most of you live near a RedBox...check there. We found it there last year. Please watch it. There's another reason I thought about this movie tonight again. On my run, I always pass this diagonal road that has this little, homemade sign at the entrance that reads "Mortuary Affairs." Down that road only a few hundred yards are the Fallen Heroes that the world is talking about right now, being prepared to go home. Man, it was just overwhelming...the shear number of them....30 of our nation's finest. From what I am hearing now...22 are Navy SEALs, 8 are Marines and/or Army, and even a Navy SEAL dog was lost. Also killed was an Afghan interpreter and 7 Afghan soldiers.
Back in my room, I showered and made up a Mac-n-Cheese that a friend had sent me as well as a Larabar...and here I am. Today, I also received my re-deployment orders. In plain English, that means I received my GOING HOME orders! I'm still a good ways out from leaving but it's nice to know a key piece of the puzzle to putting me back on that Yellow Brick Road is in place. It's kinda like moving the jetway at the airport up to the plane so folks can get on or off. It's just that the plane isn't leaving anytime soon! Awesome to have in my grubby paws. With that, folks...I bid you all farewell and a great new week. If by chance our Fallen prompted you to fly Old Glory...consider leaving her out every day. Deal?
Goodnight, everyone.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Day 119
Friends...family...supporters...it's been a very sad day for America. By the time you read this, I must assume you've run across some headline referring to the crashed Chinook helicopter that was shot down here. Besides doing my job, that consumed everyone today and continues to be the topic of discussion here as we await our fallen heroes to arrive here on my base.
My day started like any other...that is, if you count my day starting at 5am or so when I wake up. Technically, though, 12:45am is "today" so really, it did not start like any other day. It's not easy to scream on my blog but let me try: "INCOMING, INCOMING, INCOMING!!!!!! (insert screaming siren) INCOMING, INCOMING, INCOMING!!!! Hmmm..nice alarm clock. About 10 seconds later, I hear and feel a BOOM!!! Yep, another rocket attack and obviously, it hit and it's not too far from me. I had never heard the incoming siren before, though. That was unsettling and made me sit straight up in my bed. Like I always do during rocket attacks, I immediately texted in that I was fine. A full accountability has to be done whenever this happens. About 15min later, the all-clear was given. Later on in the day, I learned no one was hurt. GREAT NEWS!!! I fell back asleep after the all-clear and slept the rest of the night.
Our Marine colonel was coming into "town" and I was his ride from the helicopter terminal to the office. It was delayed so I spent over an hour in the sun just watching BlackHawk helicopters land and take off. Soon after he landed and we returned to the office, I heard the news of the crash. A Chinook helicopter, the easily recognizable double-prop passenger/cargo helo that can carry large numbers of personnel, was shot down by insurgents as they returned from a mission, not too far south of me...about a 30min helo ride, to be exact. The details were sketchy throughout the day except for how many. 38 was the total count and we initially thought it was all Americans. Turns out, 31 are Americans and 7 were Afghan soldiers. Very bad, though, is that they are almost all U.S. Navy SEALs. Worse yet, most were part of SEAL Team 6...the ones who took out Osama bin Laden. I have no doubt that I've walked by some of these heroes as I walk this base. They don't wear uniforms, they often have beards, they have fake IDs, and everything they do is totally top secret. They also are our nation's most elite fighting force. They are true warriors in the rawest sense of the word.
In this part of the country, it's mountainous. The Chinook is like a big, fat, flying elephant in the sky. Add that to having to fly around mountains where insurgents hide with shoulder-mounted RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), it's very dangerous. There's no way the insurgents knew the occupants of this helicopter but as the headlines hit, they are probably celebrating their victory..especially when they found out it had SEAL Team 6 onboard. They sicken me.
So now what? The fallen heroes begin the long trip home. They will be brought here to my base first where the mortuary will prepare them for the trip to Dover Air Force Base. All 31 of them. 31 metal caskets. 31 American Flags, and 8 soldiers per fallen hero will take a handle and carry them onboard the aircraft for the trip home. As they arrive here and are ready, the time will draw close to probably the largest-ever Fallen Comrade Ceremony that will take place here. From what I hear, they want to take them all home together, on the same aircraft. Such an aircraft will have to be the C-17 or something even larger. I cannot even begin to imagine 31 metal, flag-draped caskets on the deck of the aircraft. It is such a sad day for America. I recommend you start checking over the next few days that link I refer to often on the right side of the page for the Department of Defense. I expect that one post on a single day will list all 31 fallen heroes. Names, ages, hometowns, service, rank, command attached to, and how they died. There is a chance they won't be listed because they are SEALs but I'd still check...I know I will.
I just don't know what else to say today. I am just numb about it all and so sad for the many, many families back home. I can't see any better fitting thing to do but pray for them. Also, in honor of the fallen SEALs, I think it would be fitting to display their famed Trident device on my blog today. RIP, brothers.
My day started like any other...that is, if you count my day starting at 5am or so when I wake up. Technically, though, 12:45am is "today" so really, it did not start like any other day. It's not easy to scream on my blog but let me try: "INCOMING, INCOMING, INCOMING!!!!!! (insert screaming siren) INCOMING, INCOMING, INCOMING!!!! Hmmm..nice alarm clock. About 10 seconds later, I hear and feel a BOOM!!! Yep, another rocket attack and obviously, it hit and it's not too far from me. I had never heard the incoming siren before, though. That was unsettling and made me sit straight up in my bed. Like I always do during rocket attacks, I immediately texted in that I was fine. A full accountability has to be done whenever this happens. About 15min later, the all-clear was given. Later on in the day, I learned no one was hurt. GREAT NEWS!!! I fell back asleep after the all-clear and slept the rest of the night.
Our Marine colonel was coming into "town" and I was his ride from the helicopter terminal to the office. It was delayed so I spent over an hour in the sun just watching BlackHawk helicopters land and take off. Soon after he landed and we returned to the office, I heard the news of the crash. A Chinook helicopter, the easily recognizable double-prop passenger/cargo helo that can carry large numbers of personnel, was shot down by insurgents as they returned from a mission, not too far south of me...about a 30min helo ride, to be exact. The details were sketchy throughout the day except for how many. 38 was the total count and we initially thought it was all Americans. Turns out, 31 are Americans and 7 were Afghan soldiers. Very bad, though, is that they are almost all U.S. Navy SEALs. Worse yet, most were part of SEAL Team 6...the ones who took out Osama bin Laden. I have no doubt that I've walked by some of these heroes as I walk this base. They don't wear uniforms, they often have beards, they have fake IDs, and everything they do is totally top secret. They also are our nation's most elite fighting force. They are true warriors in the rawest sense of the word.
In this part of the country, it's mountainous. The Chinook is like a big, fat, flying elephant in the sky. Add that to having to fly around mountains where insurgents hide with shoulder-mounted RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), it's very dangerous. There's no way the insurgents knew the occupants of this helicopter but as the headlines hit, they are probably celebrating their victory..especially when they found out it had SEAL Team 6 onboard. They sicken me.
So now what? The fallen heroes begin the long trip home. They will be brought here to my base first where the mortuary will prepare them for the trip to Dover Air Force Base. All 31 of them. 31 metal caskets. 31 American Flags, and 8 soldiers per fallen hero will take a handle and carry them onboard the aircraft for the trip home. As they arrive here and are ready, the time will draw close to probably the largest-ever Fallen Comrade Ceremony that will take place here. From what I hear, they want to take them all home together, on the same aircraft. Such an aircraft will have to be the C-17 or something even larger. I cannot even begin to imagine 31 metal, flag-draped caskets on the deck of the aircraft. It is such a sad day for America. I recommend you start checking over the next few days that link I refer to often on the right side of the page for the Department of Defense. I expect that one post on a single day will list all 31 fallen heroes. Names, ages, hometowns, service, rank, command attached to, and how they died. There is a chance they won't be listed because they are SEALs but I'd still check...I know I will.
I just don't know what else to say today. I am just numb about it all and so sad for the many, many families back home. I can't see any better fitting thing to do but pray for them. Also, in honor of the fallen SEALs, I think it would be fitting to display their famed Trident device on my blog today. RIP, brothers.
Goodnight, everyone. Pray hard for the families.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Day 118
Today started almost normal...I normally am the typical Spring chicken, hoppin' out of bed, brewing the espresso and getting the day moving. Today I just laid there, not wanting to move. Eventually, the clock moved in such a way that forced me out. On with the day...
Each Friday, I have a 9:30am meeting which is about 1/2 mile away. I got there about 15min early, only to find signs taped to doors that read things like "Go to the flight line immediately" or "Closed for Fallen Comrade Ceremony." OK, that last one made a whole lot more sense to me. Clearly, the host of my 9:30am meeting had another member killed. They are a Guard unit out of Oklahoma and have only been here about a month.
I had never been to a Fallen Comrade Ceremony but sadly, they happen all too often here as we are the main base that fallen service-members are flown out of and we also have a mortuary. Today, though, I was a very short walk from the flight line where it was going to be held any moment. I hustled over there quickly and out to the flight line. In the distance, I could see flags flying near a C-130 aircraft and a formation of a couple hundred soldiers. I quickened my pace to get there before anything started. The following is my personal account of what I witnessed next. If you've seen the movie Taking Chance, starring Kevin Bacon, what I witnessed is what happens in the very beginning of that movie when the fallen are loaded aboard the aircraft in the pouring rain. Today, though, it was hot and sunny like every other day here. So I stood at "parade rest" near the back of the formation of soldiers...
"I found my place near the back as to not disturb anyone around me. Everyone was standing at "parade rest" which is feet shoulder-width apart and hands folded at an angle at the small of our back. Everyone was still. I heard nothing but landing and departing aircraft in the distance. As usual, the wind was blowing. Directly out from me was the open backside of a large C-130 cargo plane. Flanking the ramp was the military band, ready to play. Also standing nearby but closer to me was a few ranks of soldiers numbering 16. Out of the corner of my right eye, two Humvees pulled up and stopped. I saw a few stars. I saw a few stripes. Our fallen comrades are in those Humvees. All of a sudden, shouts of "Attention!" were heard and everyone snapped to attention, including me. Next - "Present....ARMS!" As the hairs began to rise on my neck, I rendered the salute I had never rendered before. As an officer, I am saluted all day, every day up and down the road. Those salutes are quick..up and down and done. Today, though...rendering a salute to my fallen comrades is done slow...very slow. In unison, the entire formation I was standing in raised their right arms to the brim of their hats and eyes set intently forward. No movement. No sounds. Silence. Slowly, the two Humvees passed in front of us and the Stars and Stripes because clearly visible. Just like I'd seen in the movies and in photos, the caskets were metal and surrounded by handles. Old Glory covered them and was secured to the top lid, leaving the shiny metal exposed at the bottom. As the Humvees came to a stop off to the left and left of center of the C-130, the order was given to lower our salutes. The 16 soldiers now marched very slowly and deliberately into position. 4 x 4 at each Humvee, ready to receive their fallen brothers-in-arms. The order was given again..."Present....ARMS!" Slowly, we saluted yet again. The 16 soldiers were removing the fallen and when the fallen move, honors are presented in the form of a salute. By this time, the band was playing right of center and near the C-130. I couldn't make out any of the music they were playing but it was very somber. Slowly...ever so slowly...the 16 soldiers stood end-to-end and started their slow march towards the ramp of the C-130. Their steps couldn't have been more than 6-12". In unison, though, they marched smartly with their brothers at their side, led by a Color Guard. We maintained our salute until the fallen had been lowered to the deck within the C-130. Outside, the band continued to play while the caskets were affixed to the flight-deck for their trip to Dover Air Force Base in the States where the mortuary would take care of them. At Dover, they would be cleaned and dressed in their full dress uniform with all earned medals properly worn...most of which will have a Purple Heart. Back at the airfield, the formation was dismissed but I stood and waited. I really wanted to see this to completion and in my head, I was thinking how I must never, ever forget this. I never wanted to forget the respect and honor these two men were shown today. I also forced my mind elsewhere. Silently, I was praying for their family and loved ones who only a day or so ago, had the well-known knock at the door, notifying them of what happened. It's not just the fallen I remember. I always think of the ripple effect of what has happened and what will last for a very long time to come. One of these soldiers was 37 years old..I am 38. The other is unknown as he was special forces so his identity, manner of death, etc. is top secret. Anyway, as I stood there and watched, the command chaplains stood at the ramp and awaited the lead chaplain who was still in the plane, praying over the fallen soldiers. Once he had finished, he exited and greeted the other chaplains. (Chaplains are everywhere when someone dies because often, fellow soldiers who were close to the fallen and may have been right there when it happened need someone to talk to who will listen...and perhaps even a shoulder to cry on. They have to be allowed to grieve.) As the chaplains conversed near the aircraft, I approached a fellow officer and inquired as to some particulars I was observing and she ended being a part of Combat Camera. She told me that they create a video of much of the events, starting at the mortuary and onto the C-130 and compile it into a DVD to be presented to the family at the funeral. They want to show families the honor their fallen loved ones were shown before going home. After the lead chaplain was done, I left. There was truly nothing else to be seen. The back hatch was closing and the C-130's engines were firing up."
Friends/family/supporters...I hope I never, ever forget what I witnessed today. As I stood there, I thought about how America is sleeping and has no idea about this. It was about 2am on the East Coast so that was true. It would soon be Friday morning for them, they'd awake and head to work. Over here, though, our fallen were in the sky, en route to the country they just gave their lives for. Heroes... The quiet...the honor...the respect they were shown as they departed reached deep, deep inside me and emotion flushed throughout...how could it not? They were not supposed to go home like that! But yet...there they lie, draped in the colors of their country, returning home far too early.
I have mentioned it before and will mention it again today. I have provided a link on the right side of my blog that takes you to the Department of Defense News Release website. It is updated around the clock and every fallen comrade is listed there after Next of Kin has been notified. Make it a point to stop by there every few days and acknowledge their sacrifice and pray for their family and loved ones who will soon receive them home. Thank you.
Goodnight, everyone.
Each Friday, I have a 9:30am meeting which is about 1/2 mile away. I got there about 15min early, only to find signs taped to doors that read things like "Go to the flight line immediately" or "Closed for Fallen Comrade Ceremony." OK, that last one made a whole lot more sense to me. Clearly, the host of my 9:30am meeting had another member killed. They are a Guard unit out of Oklahoma and have only been here about a month.
I had never been to a Fallen Comrade Ceremony but sadly, they happen all too often here as we are the main base that fallen service-members are flown out of and we also have a mortuary. Today, though, I was a very short walk from the flight line where it was going to be held any moment. I hustled over there quickly and out to the flight line. In the distance, I could see flags flying near a C-130 aircraft and a formation of a couple hundred soldiers. I quickened my pace to get there before anything started. The following is my personal account of what I witnessed next. If you've seen the movie Taking Chance, starring Kevin Bacon, what I witnessed is what happens in the very beginning of that movie when the fallen are loaded aboard the aircraft in the pouring rain. Today, though, it was hot and sunny like every other day here. So I stood at "parade rest" near the back of the formation of soldiers...
"I found my place near the back as to not disturb anyone around me. Everyone was standing at "parade rest" which is feet shoulder-width apart and hands folded at an angle at the small of our back. Everyone was still. I heard nothing but landing and departing aircraft in the distance. As usual, the wind was blowing. Directly out from me was the open backside of a large C-130 cargo plane. Flanking the ramp was the military band, ready to play. Also standing nearby but closer to me was a few ranks of soldiers numbering 16. Out of the corner of my right eye, two Humvees pulled up and stopped. I saw a few stars. I saw a few stripes. Our fallen comrades are in those Humvees. All of a sudden, shouts of "Attention!" were heard and everyone snapped to attention, including me. Next - "Present....ARMS!" As the hairs began to rise on my neck, I rendered the salute I had never rendered before. As an officer, I am saluted all day, every day up and down the road. Those salutes are quick..up and down and done. Today, though...rendering a salute to my fallen comrades is done slow...very slow. In unison, the entire formation I was standing in raised their right arms to the brim of their hats and eyes set intently forward. No movement. No sounds. Silence. Slowly, the two Humvees passed in front of us and the Stars and Stripes because clearly visible. Just like I'd seen in the movies and in photos, the caskets were metal and surrounded by handles. Old Glory covered them and was secured to the top lid, leaving the shiny metal exposed at the bottom. As the Humvees came to a stop off to the left and left of center of the C-130, the order was given to lower our salutes. The 16 soldiers now marched very slowly and deliberately into position. 4 x 4 at each Humvee, ready to receive their fallen brothers-in-arms. The order was given again..."Present....ARMS!" Slowly, we saluted yet again. The 16 soldiers were removing the fallen and when the fallen move, honors are presented in the form of a salute. By this time, the band was playing right of center and near the C-130. I couldn't make out any of the music they were playing but it was very somber. Slowly...ever so slowly...the 16 soldiers stood end-to-end and started their slow march towards the ramp of the C-130. Their steps couldn't have been more than 6-12". In unison, though, they marched smartly with their brothers at their side, led by a Color Guard. We maintained our salute until the fallen had been lowered to the deck within the C-130. Outside, the band continued to play while the caskets were affixed to the flight-deck for their trip to Dover Air Force Base in the States where the mortuary would take care of them. At Dover, they would be cleaned and dressed in their full dress uniform with all earned medals properly worn...most of which will have a Purple Heart. Back at the airfield, the formation was dismissed but I stood and waited. I really wanted to see this to completion and in my head, I was thinking how I must never, ever forget this. I never wanted to forget the respect and honor these two men were shown today. I also forced my mind elsewhere. Silently, I was praying for their family and loved ones who only a day or so ago, had the well-known knock at the door, notifying them of what happened. It's not just the fallen I remember. I always think of the ripple effect of what has happened and what will last for a very long time to come. One of these soldiers was 37 years old..I am 38. The other is unknown as he was special forces so his identity, manner of death, etc. is top secret. Anyway, as I stood there and watched, the command chaplains stood at the ramp and awaited the lead chaplain who was still in the plane, praying over the fallen soldiers. Once he had finished, he exited and greeted the other chaplains. (Chaplains are everywhere when someone dies because often, fellow soldiers who were close to the fallen and may have been right there when it happened need someone to talk to who will listen...and perhaps even a shoulder to cry on. They have to be allowed to grieve.) As the chaplains conversed near the aircraft, I approached a fellow officer and inquired as to some particulars I was observing and she ended being a part of Combat Camera. She told me that they create a video of much of the events, starting at the mortuary and onto the C-130 and compile it into a DVD to be presented to the family at the funeral. They want to show families the honor their fallen loved ones were shown before going home. After the lead chaplain was done, I left. There was truly nothing else to be seen. The back hatch was closing and the C-130's engines were firing up."
Friends/family/supporters...I hope I never, ever forget what I witnessed today. As I stood there, I thought about how America is sleeping and has no idea about this. It was about 2am on the East Coast so that was true. It would soon be Friday morning for them, they'd awake and head to work. Over here, though, our fallen were in the sky, en route to the country they just gave their lives for. Heroes... The quiet...the honor...the respect they were shown as they departed reached deep, deep inside me and emotion flushed throughout...how could it not? They were not supposed to go home like that! But yet...there they lie, draped in the colors of their country, returning home far too early.
I have mentioned it before and will mention it again today. I have provided a link on the right side of my blog that takes you to the Department of Defense News Release website. It is updated around the clock and every fallen comrade is listed there after Next of Kin has been notified. Make it a point to stop by there every few days and acknowledge their sacrifice and pray for their family and loved ones who will soon receive them home. Thank you.
Goodnight, everyone.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Day 117
What can I say? It's Day 117. That little, tiny 4 month barrier teases at the doorstep. We're a good bit past halfway now and I'm creating milestones everywhere I look. I make them up so I'm constantly hitting something. The 120 day point (aka: 4 months), my advancement date on the 20th of this month, my 90 days/60 days/30 days to go points, the 1st days of the month, when my county fair is back in "Kansas," when the first day of school is, when major running events take place, when new personnel will show up, when MY relief shows up, when I check back into the Navy here in Afghanistan so they can put me on one of those C-17s and get me back on the Yellow Brick Road...all milestones. The key to survival truly is distraction...varied distraction. It makes the days vaporize in front of me. That doesn't mean time is moving quickly because it is not, but it gives me other things to distract me from just feeling sorry for myself because I miss HOME so bad. Tricky stuff!!!
So today...probably the busiest day yet. I've seen the coming storm for awhile and it appears that it's beginning. What storm? The storm of units scrambling to place major orders for items necessary for sustainment of their troops through the winter. Where I'm at, it gets down near zero degrees. Hard to believe when it was 97 flippin' degrees today. Things involving power generation (one of the major things I facilitate) and tents for troops to live in, eat in, and do just about anything in. Heck, in my short time here, I've pushed over $30 million through the pipeline...just me alone. I think I'll far surpass that in my 2nd half of time here. The best thing? I know what I'm doing, I have the answers they all want, and I know how to make it happen and happen efficiently. At one point, I had 3 soldiers standing at my desk today, completely confused on what to do next and once I was done with them, nothing could have made me happier than to hear: "It all makes sense now. Thank...You..." ...and so they went. The best parts of my job here are undoubtedly the times that I sit face-to-face with young soldiers and equip them with what they need to accomplish what their bosses are all over them for to get done. It gives me the "warm fuzzy" that my presence, while not a vacation in the sand, is serving a purpose. Without that, I'd be struggling far more inside than I already do.
This evening, all of our rooms were without power so I just hung around outside and didn't do much until power came back on and the A/C was pumping in my CHU again. Oh yea...I did go back to the chow hall and grabbed a cup of praline ice cream. I was hot, sticky, and like just plain yuck and that ice cream sounded too good not to go get. It's the only ice cream I'll eat here and is super good. I don't care for any other dessert out here...no cakes, cookies, or any other flavor of ice cream. Praline...that's where it's at!
As I was wrapping up this post, I came across a post that was put up online by a fellow sailor's wife. I must say...it really does sum up my life out here. The truest colors of people and friends have risen to the top and the opposite is also true. Such a great quote so I had to share it with you to close out today.
So today...probably the busiest day yet. I've seen the coming storm for awhile and it appears that it's beginning. What storm? The storm of units scrambling to place major orders for items necessary for sustainment of their troops through the winter. Where I'm at, it gets down near zero degrees. Hard to believe when it was 97 flippin' degrees today. Things involving power generation (one of the major things I facilitate) and tents for troops to live in, eat in, and do just about anything in. Heck, in my short time here, I've pushed over $30 million through the pipeline...just me alone. I think I'll far surpass that in my 2nd half of time here. The best thing? I know what I'm doing, I have the answers they all want, and I know how to make it happen and happen efficiently. At one point, I had 3 soldiers standing at my desk today, completely confused on what to do next and once I was done with them, nothing could have made me happier than to hear: "It all makes sense now. Thank...You..." ...and so they went. The best parts of my job here are undoubtedly the times that I sit face-to-face with young soldiers and equip them with what they need to accomplish what their bosses are all over them for to get done. It gives me the "warm fuzzy" that my presence, while not a vacation in the sand, is serving a purpose. Without that, I'd be struggling far more inside than I already do.
This evening, all of our rooms were without power so I just hung around outside and didn't do much until power came back on and the A/C was pumping in my CHU again. Oh yea...I did go back to the chow hall and grabbed a cup of praline ice cream. I was hot, sticky, and like just plain yuck and that ice cream sounded too good not to go get. It's the only ice cream I'll eat here and is super good. I don't care for any other dessert out here...no cakes, cookies, or any other flavor of ice cream. Praline...that's where it's at!
As I was wrapping up this post, I came across a post that was put up online by a fellow sailor's wife. I must say...it really does sum up my life out here. The truest colors of people and friends have risen to the top and the opposite is also true. Such a great quote so I had to share it with you to close out today.
"There comes a time in your life, when you'll walk away from all the drama and people who created it. You'll surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."
Goodnight, everyone.
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