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| The early morning goodbye / coffee party |
Traveling to Shank was an experience. Leaving Shank was.... well. Better described by pictures than words. My departure was unplanned and a bit hasty. I say goodbye now, to all those that I missed.
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| The best medics in Afghanistan |
I was fortunate to catch many of the medics of the 173d Airborne BSB. (They're up every day by 5AM). What made them special was there honest desire to learn. Learning something new every day is an important ideal that my Grandfather imparted to me when I was only 10 years old. I had no idea just how profound that thought was at the time.
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| My chauffeured Limousine ---errrrr -- Gator |
SFC Biesiadecki..... He is everything the Army wants in an NCO. He embodies the NCO Creed (see below). He IS the unsung hero of the 909th, keeping the unit together and rolling forward. He is the backbone of the Wolfpack.
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| Shank Air |
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go. The dawn is breakin', its early morn. We jump off the 5 ton and prepare for departure.
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| Mail bird |
I got to leave Shank in style.... the mail bird. Of course, we had to unload the mail first (its filled to the brim and it holds more than a little mail truck at home).
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| FOB Shank Dust Devil ! |
Just after we unloaded the mail, I saw my nemesis in the distance... The dust devil. Out here, in south Shank, they dance around all day. There's a huge area of flat, desolate space. Perfect conditions for the Djins. Over the last couple weeks I noticed that they appear constantly on the south end of the FOB. I just never got the time to come over and get a good shot of them.
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| Airborne - heading north |
Its amazing to see the sites from the air. This photo captures PKS (left), Baraki Barak (background left), and Pol-e-Alam (foreground and right). They're all visible from Shank (not pictured) but its so different up here.
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| Kabul |
Kabul is a huge city with a population probably over 3 million people. It has been ravaged by over 30 years of war. From the airplane, you can't see the devastation. But from a helicopter, its quite evident.
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| Kabul |
However, there are some obvious signs of modern civilization in Kabul. Its such a stark contrast from that of the rest of the countryside. There are other large cities in Afghanistan, such as Kandahar, Herat, Mazr-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, etc. I just never had the opportunity to see them. However, Kabul is by far the largest of them all.
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| South of Bagram Airfield |
As you see... just north of Kabul and South of Bagram Army Airfield (AKA Bagram Airbase) the rural look takes hold. Qalats are a mixture of old and new. You may see them with only the mud structures inside, looking like something from biblical times. Or you may see just the mud walls with a modern structure inside. Its quite surreal.
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| Craig Joint Theater Hospital - Bagram Airbase |
I began my trip back home the same way I came. Once in Bagram, I returned to Craig Hospital. The sign is becoming weathered in the Afghanistan environment. I hope someone finds the funds to keep it spruced up.
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| Old friends |
Fortunately, this time around I knew a couple good people. MAJ A from the 909th is doing incredible work in BAF with educating the Afghanistan doctors, nurses and medics all around the country. She is a treasure. I don't know what the Army will do when she finishes her deployment. I'm sure the folks at home miss her terribly. MAJ V on the right is a surgeon who trained me some short time ago. I haven't seen him for over 4 years. Its a funny thing.... I have to go all the way to Afghanistan to see someone from the U.S. :)
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| C 17 Globemaster (image from the web) |
From here, I departed BAF via C17. Photos on the BAF flight-line are prohibited. In fact, photography throughout most of the areas flying back home are not allowed.
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| Inside a C 17 |
However, inside the C17 should be OK.. So I took a couple shots (and blanked out the pax faces). As you see.. the accommodations are a bit spartan. We're really not so much passengers, as we are cargo.
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| Doha, Qatar |
Landing at Qatar was pleasant. No combat landing needed here. (Combat landings in a C17 are quite the amusement park ride... swirling down at a steep angle in a monster jet is something you just have to feel). Anyhow, the landing was especially soft and easy. Debarking the plane into a wall of humidity and heat.. that was less than desirable. Processing through Al Udaid was done well.
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| Internet Photo From Wiki Commons |
We boarded a World flight and sat on the Tarmac for 2 hours without any air conditioning. The passenger next to me was nearly ready to faint and blow chunks from heat exhaustion. We debarked and waited another 6 hours outside. I laid down on a metal walkway grate and caught a couple painful hours of sleep in the heat. Finally, we re-boarded and left for an even more lovely place.
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| Kuwait (wiki commons file photo) |
Honestly, this is one miserable #$%hole. It was over 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You can't see any surrounding terrain as its all obscured by a disgusting brown dust haze. I thank God every day that I don't live here. I was so happy that this was merely a 2 hour layover for cleaning and restocking the plane.
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| Leipzig, Germany |
We're now at least 24 hours into my journey... and the site is wonderful. I can barely believe the contrasting beauty that Germany presents. I am sad that I left the Wolfpack ... but so happy to see the bounty of what lies ahead.
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| The Western Europe Coastline |
I have no idea where I was... but I looked out just in time to see the beginning of the Atlantic ocean. I am now half-way home. The plane is packed, mainly with Air Force personnel going home from their deployment in Qatar. I'm now aware that I need to keep my legs moving.... my only fear is throwing a PE from the DVTs that are forming in my legs :)
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| CONUS |
Its been nearly 6 months since I've seen native American soil. Its an awesome site. I'm now over Baltimore and still have 5 hours left of flying to get home. But I already feel like I'm there.
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| Card inside greeting package |
Every day, all around the country, there are people taking time out of their schedules to greet soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines returning home. I never knew. But I want everyone to know the sacrifice that these folks make is very much appreciated by all of us. I did not ask for it, nor expect it. But I do very much appreciate it. Thank you.
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| A letter given to me by the Maryland "Operation Welcome Home" |
The group cheered for us as we walked into the terminal. They shook our hands and gave us a small bag filled with snacks, water and a letter. God bless them. I have 8 more hours of travel time left (48 hours of travel time total). But I am already home.
FaST Surgeon
Surgeon
909th FST "Wolfpack"
NCO Creed
No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.
Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.
Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!
