Life in Kandahar

Life here in Kandahar is not simple or easy... This past week an American Aide Worker was kidnapped as she rode through Kandahar City with here driver/Linguist. She did not have any security with her... Which continue to show how dangerous this place continues to be. It is very difficult to change a culture, especially one filled with folks that can't read or write, and where force is the one who rules the land. During a recent trip to the Zhari/Panj Way District, we came across so many complex situations.... I take my hat off to the teams and SECFOR that routinely travel these dangerous roads.... Below is a picture of the HUMVV in front of me.

When we roll, we roll with a lot of fire power in most cases, so the chances of attacks, though still there are diminished somewhat. This particular day while en route I saw folks standing along the roadway with weapons in civilian clothing, I was not sure if they were policemen, a local villager, or the Taliban. It is very difficult to tell the difference in most cases... The below vehicle is one that we passed, filled with men and what I thought was an RPG in plain sight... they kept rolling and so did we...

The below picture is of an Afghan market in downtown Kandahar. In this country they don't have refrigeration, they just hang the meat outside and cut what is needed. When I saw this, I said thank God for a strong stomach.. because the Afghans are intent on us eating what they eat. They really try to get us to become/learn a part of their culture..... Just the thought of what we eat unknowingly is something else.....

On this particular day it was very cold outside. Pictured below is an Afghan family sitting outside the market.



Vehicle traffic in Kandahar in the traffic circle in downtown Kandahar... Notice the types of vehicles and their cargo. Very difficult to tell if they have something in their cargo beds... This is why we have to keep on the 360. Even the passengers are alert have a significant role to play in the safety of that convoy.


Some of the local people.
There are many widows in Afghanistan, many of which are poor and destitute. They litter the highway begging for help from anyone.... They are there in the cold, day in and day out. Many women are illiterate and jobless. There just is not many places to employ women in Afghanistan.. If the widows husband's family do not support her, then she is left on her own.



We have had many Afghan posing as police officers, they show up on pay day and disappear until the next pay day. The Minister of Interior has directed that all police officers have badges and ID cards. The below picture is of the police trying to accomplish this task. How archaic is this?
But they are getting it done by whatever means they can.... Keep in mind that even though automation exist to help them with this, most of the locations lack power, so they resort to what works...... Don't get me wrong, even though many cannot read or write, they are very resourceful people. I understand their plight, their reasoning for some of the things they do and why they act the way they do in some cases...


I wanted this edition of my blog to give you a view of the environment here, the people, culture, their method of living day to day, as well as how resourceful these people are. I have all the confidence in the world that they will get better, but we are talking generations literally. I know that it is hard to gleam much from the media, but a picture is worth a thousand words.



Also during this time my good friend LTC Kailon Dickens has re-deployed. He really helped to make this tour as pleasant as it can be. He also went out of his way to support me and this command in every way possible. A funny, wise, and experienced officer and friend. I hate to see him go, but glad that he was here and a part of my life.

I Have A Dream for Afghanistan

This particular week has been a very busy week for us here in ARSIC-S. We had a visit by the Commander of AMC, (U. S. Army Materials Command). General Griffin, a very powerful man, in charge of acquistions for the army from everything from bullets to equipment. He supports the warfighter.... General Griffin was here to see what our equipment needs are. The ARSIC staff, led by LTC Blake Storey did an outstanding job articulating the needs of this command. If there is anyone that can get us what we need it is GEN Griffin. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to brief a four-star general on our communications requirements here.... His visit was also timely as our equipment needs will most assurdly change as the Marines arrive in a few months. The picture below is yours truly with GEN Griffin, he presented our entire staff a coin for the professionalism in our brief.







Our commander, COL Thomas L. McGrath is on a much deserved leave with his family, in his absence, COL Cory Cannon is in charge of the ARSIC. COL Cannon is the Senior Mentor for the 205th Corp Commander, BG Niebe. The picture below is of COL Cannon and BG Niebe having an Afghan moment. The Afghans are very touchy feely, and my good friend COL Cannon has really adapted well to the Afghan social custom. But they are a little to close for my taste..... I would have never thought they would have gotten him to dress up like that......Truthfully, they have become good friends as well as professional officers.... BG Niebe commands over 10,000 Afghan soldiers. Don't they look nice..





LTC Blake Storey the acting Chief of Staff, for LTC Burke, whom also is on leave in Canada with his family. Blake is the "Real Deal". He is one of the most professional and experienced officers we have on our staff. It is a real honor to serve with him on this deployment. Pictured below is Blake conducting a staff meeting.







We also had a major RIP of personnel this past week. Two great friends and soldiers departed for the US to be back with their families and onward to their next assignments. LTC Danny Morton, Medical Mentor, friend, and fellow staff officer completed his one-year tour in Afghanistan is awarded a Letter of Appreciation by LTC Blake Storey.




Also pictured below is SGM Aaron Keener who received a Letter of Appreciation for his service and support of this command. Keener is another top-notch NCO that is the epitomy of a leader. One of his favorite quotes were " You have to know what right looks like"




I titled this edition of my blog "I Have A Dream for Afghanistan". This week we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, whom efforts helped transform a nation and won the rights and freedom of millions of Americans. This dream I share for the country of Afghanistan. My dream is that this land, so barren, mountainous, but beautiful, would live out the true meaning of its creed and become a land free of War, free of poverty, free of Taliban influence, and free of foreigners occupying their land. I see a people THRISTY for freedom and for peace. When I look upon the face of a child in this freezing cold temperature, with NO shoes, no socks, barely clothed, my Heart aches. I see the hunger, the need for a warm bath, the need for a home with heat and food to eat. I see kids in dire need of medical care, missing limbs from stepping on mines, missing facial parts from abuse. I see the hurt in their eyes, but most of all I still see HOPE..... Most of this country want us here, they want our help to rid them of the abuses of the Taliban. The local Afghan don't know how to go about helping in this change, with the literacy rate at 36% and that is optimistic... How do you help a country where less than half cannot read or put food on the table. "With God's Help and One Day At A Time"



Afghanistan, a country approximately the size of Texas, is mixed with several ethnicities. A country where 99% are muslims. This country is ruled largely by tribes, who makes the rules and noone dare challenge their authority. Their laws forbid certain civil rights that so many of us take for granted....




I love my country but so many Americans have forgotten the struggle that patriots like Dr. Martin Luther King and others paid so dearly, so that we all can eat at the same table, go to the same schools and even vote. The people of Afghanistan share in this struggle, pray with me and for these people. I know that God has a plan. My wish is for these kids to one day have the same opportunities that we have, make their own decisions in life and to know some of the joy and happiness WE have been so richly blessed with....





How do you not share in this dream? How do you look at these kids and say, that is your problem? We are all God's children, and with that all brothers and sisters. I know that there will be a change in this place, I feel it in my soul. I know that we are making a difference, I see it in the face of the children that wave and try to talk to us. So many of you have sent over care packages for these kids and for the people of Afghanistan... "Thank You so much"

Our First Snow

The weather here has been crazy, from shorts, to coats, from hot to cold to snow. It is really amazing how different the weather is from one region to the next.... As most of you know, I am not a cold-weather type of person.... but big Army has equipped us with a great deal of cold weather gear. And many of my friends have provided us with hand and foot warmers. Pictured above is me standing by my Lexus SUV that I drive around post... great huh.... I took the below picture during a flight to the Musa Qala region. As you can see below, this is a beautiful country if properly cared for.

This week we have had many of our incoming personnel RIP in, so we have been quite busy making the change in personnel. Kandahar is a very complex region, so it is very important that we ensure personnel understand all of the complexities of this region. As we see these personnel leaving, it reminds us that we are next in the shoot...... We continue to hear that we may receive an influx of Marines to OUR region to support us here.... that is welcome news to me.. I have been saying for quite some time how we need more troops here.... Hopefully it will come to fruition and greatly enhance our warfighting capability here. I have learned that nothing happens fast here, so you have to maintain a degree of patience.

I have gained a great deal of respect and love for these people. This tour has been a great opportunity for me to serve my country and contribute greatly to the success of this mission. I have seen things that I would not have ever seen before if not for this deployment.... I thank God for how he has kept me and our troops here.... Even though we have lost some great warriors, things could have been so much worse.

Ringing in the New Year 2008

We have had another mixed week emotionally, as we ring in 2008. We lost a true patriot to an IED attack, SGT Shawn Hill of the 178EN Battalion. This unit previously fell under my supervision as one of my former Field Artillery Batteries, (Co A, 1-178FA, located in Wellford, SC). This was SGT Hill's second deployment. Please keep his family in your prayers. Prior deployments would tell us that things will slow down as winter approaches, but this has not been the case for this year.... We are still in the fight every day... We continue to keep our heads on the 360..... However, we are doing many great things in spite of the insurgency. Many villages are tired of the Taliban and simply want a better life for their people. We recently conducted an HA, (Humanitarian Mission) to pass out blankets, toys, and school supplies to a local village. The village was Haji Mohommad Shah Kulay.

In the picture above, an Afghan National Army Soldier stands watch over the mission. For these types of mission, we try to put an Afghan face on the event, so that it looks like the Afghans are taking care of their own. They all know that this stuff comes from the US....






This particular village is in Western part of Kandahar, Afghanistan. We had two seven ton trucks loaded with rice, beans, sugar, oil, blankets, school supplies, Korans, prayer rugs, toiletry items and other items such as scarves and kid toys as well.... A special Thanks to the Ladies of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Travelers Rest, SC, as well as Dorman High School for their support of this mission.....




The kids above is what it is all about, the future..... There is still hope for this place, hope for these kids, hope for a brighter tomorrow..... They not only desperately want it, but deserve it....






Many of the adults send the children to these events, as the men refrain allowing their wives to be seen by men, so they send the kids.




The gentleman above lost both his legs and had this wheel-chair/bike made for him to move about. He had his kids with him..... Sights like this makes you appreciate life. Thanks to all of you for your continued prayers and support of this mission.

Thanks to LCDR Steven Parks for the photos....