Bagram - Final Journal Entry

(Back: Glen, Dan, Rustam, Gary, Sergey, Darryl, Front: Andy, Jay, Scott, Ray,Rocky)

One Chapter Closes ~ Another Opens...

Here I sit in Kandahar, yet all the thoughts in my mind are where I just left. A place made famous by Alexander the Great's exploits, a dusty bowl laying in the shadows of the Hindu Kush. I sit in my new "digs," a tent, and the reality has already entered deep in me - The reality that I left one of the best collections of men who were unique in their skills and added those particular skills to make form where there was no function.

I knew long ago that my days at the camp were numbered, but I did not realize it would be so hard leaving - not the job, but you guys. Needless to say, I arrive here with some mixed emotions and feel like I left the real band of builders behind me. It was good to come to know each of you and learn of your strengths. It was amazing to me to see you all combine those strengths into a common purpose. It was fabulous that we faced diversity and challenge with such a united font. For me, I have to attribute these traits to my military time, as I am sure certain of you think.I was very fortunate to have you there- we shared common struggles, common beliefs, and common outlooks working for a common purpose in so many ways. Really, it was hard getting on that plane and seeing the work move under my feet when we took off. A lot of our sweat is on that place called Bagram. Our fingerprints are on the ground there and made permanent by solid pieces of some of the best concrete in the world.

When I look back on my years I will certainly look fondly at those months we had in a place where Alexander once tread. We shared openly, with honesty, integrity, and honor and humor - nothing can replace that. Nothing. I don't think it can be understood by anyone unless they have lived this way in such an austere environment.

Well, I guess that is it. Continue to do your best no matter the situation. I owe you my deepest thanks for supporting me as you did.

Be safe and in the years to come. I hope you remember these days we had and can provide a good bit of warm and cheerful stories to your children and grandchildren when they ask, "What did you do in the Afghan Campaign, Daddy?"

Scott

Kandahar

02 SEP 09

What we can learn from Children

I am back in the land of the Hindu Kush. The mountains have very little snow left revealing their jagged teeth that reach for the haze-blue sky. Here in a land filled with tribal factions where the big voting event (2 days ago) followed a series of threats including one where the Taliban would cut off any "purple-stained" fingers.

The winds of 120 days provide gusts from the northeast and kick up sand in the air. It has cooled here and there is a bit more crispness to the night.

On to the subject of my blog today...

A dear friend and brother in arms, Chris lost his oldest child a few weeks ago; his son, David was 24 years old and the oldest of 7 children. I learned of this tragedy from Chris while riding across the Cooper River Bridge with my own oldest son and his wife. Over the coming days I found myself thinking a lot about Chris' loss, and the thoughts came in and out of my awareness as I prepped to depart yet again to Afghanistan. I followed the emotions on the Facebook posts and the comments left on the obituary page set up. The funeral was on a Friday when I was in Norfolk.

Chris commented on a small vignette with far reaching implication of a discussion he was having with his family about an upcoming trip to a cabin - one of David's favorite places. His youngest son, AJ who, when told that his oldest brother would not be at the cabin they were going to, proclaimed, "...yes he will be there, he'll be driving a cloud." And I thought, here was wisdom in its truest and most innocent form - wisdom that is spirit inspired rather than created by man.

I told another friend of this and commented on how children - by their nature - have not been yet conditioned by the world and how pure thoughts like this are. He told me of another story of when he was 4 years old at his father's bedside. The Doctors had said that the father had days to live. Amidst all this sadness, the 4 year old boy said to his dad, "come on out of bed, dad and play some ball with me." His father told him that one comment changed his whole attitude and also his will to live - that indeed his son through his natural want to play with his dad gave him the inspiration necessary to pull through. His dad revealed that story to his son 15 years later.

I know my brother Gary was and continues to be encouraged by his own son, Nick during his recent struggle with illness.

Children give me hope and encouragement. And they sometimes have a better understanding of the life-death-life interface than we do. The way things have gone in recent years, I wonder if we are leaving a better world for our children. I think we can though, if we just see God and act, through our children's eyes.

Bagram

22 Aug 09

Perspective from the USA

I have been able to enjoy the fruits of this good country. Two things I want to share with you. One is an article about the current political climate and is a poignant example of how victory was viewed during WW II and now, and the other a link to a powerful sermon by Anthony Kowbeidu entitled "The Terrible Reality of Hell," which relates clearly to victory by recognizing and staring into the reality of Hell.

The link for the sermon: http://www.wearestandrews.com/sermons.aspx?ArticleId=187#

And the article from IBD posted at: http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=333326274391143

which is copied below:

Winning Is All

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Friday, July 24, 2009 4:20 PM PT

Afghanistan: It was a bad week for the president. After accusing Cambridge, Mass., police of acting stupidly, he called victory unnecessary in Afghanistan. Does the commander in chief misunderstand the use of force?

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Read More: Middle East & North Africa

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In the dark days of May 1940, Winston Churchill famously outlined the task before the British people: "You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terrors, victory however long and hard the road may be — for without victory there is no survival."

Contrast that with what the president told ABC News last Thursday: "I'm always worried about using the word victory, because, you know, it invokes this notion of Emperor Hirohito coming down and signing a surrender to MacArthur."

If the goal of the U.S. in Afghanistan isn't victory, what is the purpose of the blood, toil, tears and sweat of our forces? What is the meaning of the struggle and suffering of their families?

According to Vince Lombardi, "If you can accept losing, you can't win."

Now, in fairness to our president, he doesn't seem to be saying that losing is an option. He noted in the same interview that "when you have a nonstate actor, a shadowy operation like al-Qaida, our goal is to make sure they can't attack the United States."

Going on, he said the U.S. "will continue to contract the ability of al-Qaida to operate," which the president called "absolutely critical." We agree.

But we are at something of a crossroads in Afghanistan. The toil, tears, sweat — and especially blood — have increased of late.

As a result, public displeasure is on the rise in Britain, Canada and Germany, which with their tens of thousands of troops are taking part in the U.S.-led coalition — the kind of coalition, by the way, that liberal Democrats consider absolutely vital before fighting wars against terror states.

Our allies could eventually pull out. So at a time like this, the job of the president is to remind them, and the American people, that we are in a world war against a network of evildoers.

Barely two months into this administration, the Pentagon was sent a memo announcing that we were no longer engaged in a global war on terror; this was not a "long war" the American people were faced with.

No, the endeavor U.S. servicemen and women were being asked to spill their blood for would from now on be called an "overseas contingency operation."

How's that to stir your patriotism?

Imagine the message that al-Qaida, the mullahcracy in Iran and nuclear-armed North Korea take from these choices of language. The U.S. doesn't consider "victory" to be its goal in Afghanistan; the U.S. no longer believes it is engaged in a "war" against the Islamists who killed thousands of Americans on American soil in 2001.

Apparently, "winning" a "war" is passe to our 21st century way of thinking. Using an "overseas contingency operation" to "contract the ability" of "nonstate actors" is the enlightened phrasing.

Was the same mind-set behind the president's decision last week to second-guess police officers without knowing the facts? The "good guys vs. bad guys" mentality just isn't nuanced enough.

The truth is that eschewing plain language in favor of this kind of muddled babble sends a message of weakness to our enemies around the world.

And it downplays what is at stake at a time when the American people and our allies are in dire need of some unvarnished, old-fashioned, Churchillian truth telling.

~~~~~~~

God's Peace, my friends

Awaiting Mission

I look at ships from my quarters and wonder. Where will they go? What mission will they be called to do? Who will man the battle stations and at what time? Who will command them? And how well will the commands be carried out? How well will the sailors execute the various missions they will be commanded to do? The questions have parallels to life itself. As a vessel myself I wonder these things. I wonder what I will be called to do, and how well I will do it...

I am back in the states now - Norfolk - a true Navy town. Had my 2nd tour here in the early 80s when Secretary of the Navy John Lehman under President Reagan was charting the course for a 600-ship navy. Today, we struggle to meet half of that. In a world with much more uncertainty, and a nation certainly less sure of itself and struggling financially, there is a great need for leaders who will return to the foundational pillars that built a great and strong (not borrowing) America.

LT Stephen Decatur - those of his ilk, the Navy - the nation - calls you...

Norfolk

10 Jul 2009

~~~~~~

February 16, 1804

The most daring act of the age

During the First Barbary War, U.S. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur leads a military mission that famed British Admiral Horatio Nelson calls the "most daring act of the age."

In June 1801, President Thomas Jefferson ordered U.S. Navy vessels to the Mediterranean Sea in protest of continuing raids against U.S. ships by pirates from the Barbary states--Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripolitania. American sailors were often abducted along with the captured booty and ransomed back to the United States at an exorbitant price. After two years of minor confrontations, sustained action began in June 1803 when a small U.S. expeditionary force attacked Tripoli harbor in present-day Libya.

In October 1803, the U.S. frigate Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli and was captured by Tripolitan gunboats. The Americans feared that the well-constructed warship would be both a formidable addition to the Tripolitan navy and an innovative model for building future Tripolitan frigates. Hoping to prevent the Barbary pirates from gaining this military advantage, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur led a daring expedition into Tripoli harbor to destroy the captured American vessel on February 16, 1804.

After disguising himself and his men as Maltese sailors, Decatur's force of 74 men, which included nine U.S. Marines, sailed into Tripoli harbor on a small two-mast ship. The Americans approached the USS Philadelphia without drawing fire from the Tripoli shore guns, boarded the ship, and attacked its Tripolitan crew, capturing or killing all but two. After setting fire to the frigate, Decatur and his men escaped without the loss of a single American. The Philadelphia subsequently exploded when its gunpowder reserve was lit by the spreading fire.

Six months later, Decatur returned to Tripoli Harbor as part of a larger American offensive and emerged as a hero again during the so-called "Battle of the Gunboats," a naval battle that saw hand-to-hand combat between the Americans and the Tripolitans.

from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=4768

The 11th Thing...

Watching said terrain as I fly towards the land of milk and honey...

Turkmen vs Turk

From the "Bad news doesn't get better with time" department:

This afternoon, at a dry dusty expanse of land east of the runway being transformed into a helicopter apron, an Afghan Turkmen surveyor was giving directions to a Turkish form worker to establish grade of the forms in preparation for the evening's concrete placement. There was apparent disagreement as to the direction being given at which point the form worker picked up one of the sharpened to a point, half-meter long steel form spikes and assaulted the surveyor striking him above the eye. The workers pulled the men apart. Both men were wearing all of their required safety gear (hard hat, steel-toed boots, protective eyeglasses) but this gear was inadequate to prevent a gash on the surveyor's brow requiring stitches. An investigation will ensue but it is no doubt that the Turkmen will return to his home province and the assailant will be on an early return to Turkey and will seek employment elsewhere, hopefully where there are no sharp objects laying about.

Bagram

06 July 09

The 10 things I like about Afghanistan

1.  The Scenery.  The magnificent mountains of the Hindu Kush - part of the Himalayan chain - and the way they carve themselves through the landscape.

2.  The Sky.  There are ever-changing cloud patterns and the dust kicked up by the winds make the sunsets spectacular.

3.  The Terrain.  The wide variation in topography draws you in and is quite inviting.

4.  The Air.  Except for the dust, and the burn pits that waft our way periodically, the air is surprisingly clean and fresh.  I like the fresh air before the thunderstorms we had when I first got here.

5.  The People.  They are resilient, wise, and reverent.  They have the capacity to stare right through you.  Their smiles are genuine and from their soul.  They are giving.  If the meek inherit the earth, I believe I have found them - at least the ones I deal with!

6.  Working with Troops.  Now they can be hard to work with but for the men and women who go out and do the dirty work, I really like what you do and when you do it.

7.  The sound of outgoing.  The 155s pack a pretty good punch going out and we can hear the impact a little later, not a good sign for the bad guys.

8.  The camaraderie we have in our band of builders - we stick pretty well together and get our projects done for the warfighter!

9.  The fact that I get to go home to see my sweetie every few months, and my boys, and Anne!

10.  And Finally, (does this have to be 10?) I guess each day, this puts me 1 day closer to going back to my permanent home!!!

Happy 4th everybody!

Scott

04 JUL 2009

Leadership 101

Today was an "off day."  It does not have a lot of meaning in a combat zone.  But in this garrison called Bagram, there sure are a lot of folks strolling about.  I could do for some strolling...but not too far out.

So I was called this morning due to one of our drivers driving through an overhead fiber optic communications line.  I kept waiting for some organization to scream "no comms!!!" to find out who the line belonged to, but my guys worked a deal with the line owner for a small fee that I will receive later.  The cost of not paying attention to detail...(Later, I get the excuse that the line was too low...)

Then, as I drove on the flightline, there is another bonehead sight.  One of our compactor rollers sitting on a flatbed and not tied down.  "Where is the operator?" I yell, "I want to see him!"  As he turns the corner of the truck, he sees me and I could tell he knew I knew.  He immediately began getting the chains out to secure the equipment on the flatbed.  No words had to be exchanged.  Sometimes what you don't say has more meaning than what you do say...

Now, for a little over 30 days now, we have been placing concrete pavement on Taxiway Juliet. Although we are over 50% complete, there have been difficulties with the mix, the placement technique, the finish, the wind, and a host of other variables.  Every night we assess what can be done differently and we surmise that it is a slightly higher water content.  And then tonight, the brass comes out, and ooos and ahhhs over the finished product.  All their concerns are alleviated.

I see my two associates - local Afghans - who were arrested a few nights prior.  I bring them tea and crackers.  In my small way I try to make up for the stupidity of overeager troops who see every local as an enemy insurgent.  It is my mission now.  These men are the salt of the earth, one is a Turkman, the other Pashtun.  I can feel their warmth more than any other person out there at the site.  I admire the way they are and the manner in which they greet me.  That is one of the best things about this job - meeting simple folks like that.  Simple men, but full of wisdom.

Bagram

03 JUL 2009

Сергей - Мои Друг Мои Брат

What a day today. For three days now we have been fighting the weather, other forces, and challenges that seem to stand in our way. We knock over an obstacle and another appears, knock that one down and from nowhere another and so on. Then today we receive warnings that some evil deed will occur. We move on and refuse to be stymied by such talk. All systems appear to be a go when one of our water trucks which faithfully deliver water to our site is inspected and has a wire found in an unusual place. All go to battle stations and scramble without reason. We inspect the vehicle and pull the 2-foot loose wire from the truck. Mind you - this is a 5,000 gallon truck and no one has bothered to look inside the tank but when a wire is found in a place it should not be it has to be the worst thing that can be imagined. Then, two men have "troublesome irregularities" on their ID cards. One has no birthday listed and the other's birth year is listed as 2008. Again, and with no reason it is immediately assumed that these must be men are out to commit some heinous act - even though we explain that we don't hire one year olds and people without birthdays, and they have been entering the base for several months with these same IDs. Regardless, they are cuffed, interrogated like seasoned and hardened criminals, and treated harshly. Very immature behavior indeed by the MPs! At the end, as with the "wire," everyone realizes the idiocy of what they do and they return to their duty stations providing so-called protection of the flight line. You just can't make this stuff up.

We returned to camp. Meanwhile, with the heightened security our trucks were not allowed onto the base to remove our blackwater. Since the tanks are full, the water has been cut off. we will sleep dirty tonight.


Now to the subject of my Blog today... I am fortunate to have a friend like a brother, Sergey. He is one of the most inquisitive people I know. Aside from being a brilliant engineer, he applies reason to perform his engineering and his practicality brings sense to our work. He is loyal without question. There are few people that know me as a brother (except my own brothers, of course), and Sergey is one of them. From the Kyrgyz Republic, he spends some time teaching me Russian each day - it is one hard language to learn and challenges my mind. I met him in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2007 and to work with him again here in Afghanistan is a real joy. It's a relationship I will value forever.


One day, on the shores of Lake Issa Kul, and in the shadows of the Tien Shen Mountains, I hope to reminisce these times over a beer with Sergey - my friend, my brother!  And I hope my wife and his can meet. That will be one good time!

Bagram
01 Jul 2009

The Plan

We all have our plans and these plans change over time.  They change as a function of our age and some plans are somewhat involuntary and spontaneous while some others are well thought out and sequenced.  Plans are independent and can be the culmination of thought and precise wargaming of scenarios with sets of assumptions to develop what we see as the optimum plan for any given situation.  Plans may be personal in nature such as marriage (which can also be spontaneous or well thought out) or organizational.  The fact remains that there is one plan for each of us - and yes while I can influence or interrupt that plan by my own doing - a certain plan is there that exists for me unique in nature to my self.  

Why am I thinking of this today?  Today and yesterday, I was faced with challenges and hurdles, frustrations and roadblocks, to the point where my mind was in total chaos.  I questioned myself, "what am I  doing, why am I here..." and no matter what perspective I looked at things, nothing seemed to be right.  I could not see what was wrong but of what I saw I knew was not right.  Last night, I went to bed not angry, but confused.

I heard it said in a sermon some time ago (and I wish I could credit this to who said it - was it from "God's Purpose for your Life?" that you will always fail if you go against God's plan for your life.  And then this came into my mind today.  Am I going against God's plan?  Is that why I am frustrated?  Or am I being tested in some other way and for something else?  I know I am to be patient and wait and that all will be revealed (On God's timetable not mine...) so here I am....

As the day passed today, even though it seemed there were those who were aligning against me, slowly a peace came over me and my decisions seemed very clear.  I read: Psalm 27, which closes with:

"...be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord."

Obedience is not always easy for me.

~Bagram ~ 30 June 2009

Long Days ~ Short Weeks

Over the past 21 days - with our merry band of builders - a combination of Americans, Turks, Uzbeks, Kirghiz, Afgans, Turkmen, and an assorted range of others, we have placed about 13,000 cubic meters  of concrete on the taxiway here - about half the total on this taxiway.  Combined with our other projects we will place enough concrete to rise to a height of 88 feet on an American football field.  The logistical challenge is daunting -- we have to contend with an operational airfield (the busiest in theater) that has combat (close air support/air to surface), logistical, surveillance, helicopters, and unmanned aerial aircraft taking off or landing every few minutes  in close proximity to our work.  The wingtips miss us by a very close margin so not a lot of room for error-communications with ground control is our friend.  

The days begin with grading and setting forms, establishing our quality checks, and finally, around 7 PM every night, firing up the batch plant and hauling the concrete to the paver which sits rumbling until it can turn the mixed mass into a smooth taxiway surface.  We usually finish at 2 AM.  

The recent rocket attacks forced us to cancel midstream in one night, and the following night, one of the rolling fuel tankers found out what happens when you run into a concrete truck.  The tank lost and ultimately spilled over 1200 gallons of fuel on the ground.  We were able to salvage the waiting concrete, but the fuel, well that's another story...

I am wondering what the long hours will do to us - we need a new routine and it's on my list..

frm the world of insha allah, I wonder where my weeks go...

Father's Day 2009 ~ Bagram Air Base

There are pieces of my father, my grandfather, his father, and so on -- in me.  Not only physical characteristics, but habits, ways of thought, principles, teachings, beliefs, morals, and so on are carried in me from generations past.  How fortunate to be in this moment of time, to consider such a priceless investment that ultimately has culminated in me.  I am fortunate to have my own father still with me today - although 7,000 miles away - we remain connected.  

Through 55 years, my Dad has always been there.  To right me when I was wrong, to lead me when I needed leading, and sometimes giving me the latitude to decide things on my own while sitting back and watching me mature.  I think I matured a lot slower than he would have liked, (and he might say I am not there yet even today), but I have to say, that my Dad did a pretty darn good job balancing between me and my four brothers.  We all needed different strengths and characters built in many different ways.  We all have our head on our shoulders and are leading productive lives. You Dad, have done your duty in passing down all those good qualities of our forefathers, you have taught us the value of hard work, faithfulness, and morally walking in life.  What better father could I ask for?  You have taken us to faraway places, have sacrificed a comfortable life to serve those in need.  You have lived with principle and determination and that has helped us be positive in life no matter the dire situations that sometimes around us.

My only hope Dad, is that I can pass along to my sons, all you have passed to me.  Thanks for being the Dad you are, have always been, and will always be!

Love,  Scott 

Brotherhood

Although long, the days give me a lot of time to think... There exists a special brotherhood for those involved in this lifestyle - it's a necessary thing to make up for the separation that we put ourselves in.  The brotherhood is a special bond that is not openly discussed, but you know it to be there.  Here, you learn quite quickly who you can depend on, who you cannot - and because you are around them all the time, you become aware of each person's idiosyncrasies be they be tolerable or intolerable.  

I will write on a future post about the Turks with whom I have been working, as well the Afghans and other nationalities. Aside from the military population, there exists another culture separate and distinct from our brothers in arms.  Some of these men have dedicated years of their lives to the war effort both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They have provided the platforms from which the battles and campaigns have been launched - some going on for 5 and 6 years straight.  

Is it making a difference?  Time will tell.  I saw recently where someone in the media - or perhaps the Obama administration - stated that Iraq was a "war of convenience" and Afghanistan was a "war of necessity."  Yet they are both wars and both outcomes yet to be decided.  In the end, it doesn't matter how the engagement started, but it will certainly matter if not terminated right.

This is an interesting place to build a brotherhood.  It can never replace home...

The Wind of 120 Days

The wind of 120 days that usually blow northwest from June to September started early this year in Mid May.  The winds are not continuous but can be quite fierce and resilient - a little like the Afghan people the wind blows upon...Cloud patterns are tremendous and ever changing.  When the wind settles, dust devils rise 1000 meters reaching for the sky.  The subarctic winds from the north converge with a divergent fringe from south Pakistan creating this wind tunnel across the fertile Shomali plains which is where Bagram Air Base presently sits.  The wind are accompanied by varying degrees of heat, wind, low to mid humidity causing fine particles to find their way through any cracks and crevices and leave a light coating of light brown silty dust on everything.  Not only on, it gets in every orifice so I find myself mining in my ears and nose every few days wondering what monster has grown in there.  Today was an especially windy day - I was out on the airfield and the windsock was blowing full, confirming what I knew, the wind coming from the northwest...The sun at this altitude, combined with this wind condition hardens the skin like leather.

These winds blow across the Bagram plain - as they have for 1000s of years.  To the northeast is the mouth of the Panjsir, the strikingly steep mountain valley where Ahmed Shah Massoud held his ground against both the Soviets and the Taliban until his assassination on 09 Sep 2001.  Massoud remains a hero and is known locally as the Lion of Panjsir. 

The wind here takes many forms and has a character different than that in the states.  Perhaps this is due to the landscape and the terrain it must pass over.  sometimes violent lightning storms light the sky that create eerie glows when the flash of light reflects off the silica particles in the air.

I have a sudden craving for a cold beer...

Last Breath

A vision came to me in the night, a very lucid dream.  My favorite dog of all my years lay on the ground, he had been given the dose of medicine that was to take him from all his little pain.  Mind you that I had been awoken at approximately midnight on February 19, 2009 in Kabul and my first thought was of that little dog.  Ten minutes later, my wife had called with the dog in her lap, he had taken his last breath - yes 10 minutes prior - he had reached out one last time to his master - on his last day and across the world 7,000 miles to say good bye.  Across the vastness of land and oceans - a dog can reach his master.

Back to my lucid dream last night... My dog, Skipper lay beside me and I realized that he was gone.  I reached down and could see my hand touch him on his side.  I placed my hand there on his left side (he always favored laying on his right side) on his little rib cage, whereupon he took his last breath, sighed as he exhaled, and in his way said, "good bye."  

I went home in May.  Things were different.  I had not adjusted to the void of the little pup...it just did not seem right to not have him there...The house was different.  Quiet. 

This dream has been on my mind today and that vision - so clear - keeps reoccurring.  Here it is, almost four months after the passing of that pup and he still returns to remind me of his faithfulness and loyalty.  Why does a dog have this effect on me?  I learned many lessons of life through that little creature.  

I gained much more from my little follower, my little companion than I ever gave back.  No matter my mood or feelings, he was always there to greet me.  Cheerful, loving, loyal, playful, and faithful to his last day.    I yearn to give to others as he did to me.  I will always miss that little pup...