Home for Christmas

It is nice to be home for the holiday's and able to spend time with my family

Home

Taz is home, after 302 days away from the house I am back. It has been a long arduous deployment, want I don't wish to repeat. So happy to be back in the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. I appreciate everyone's support during this past year, your letters, gifts, and supplies improved my quality of life and brought a smile to my face. I will spend the next several weeks with my family and getting reacquainted with old friends. There is certainly a fair amount of catch up to do around the house and time enough to get settled back into the household routine. As usual, Jan has kept everything going in my absence, time for me to pick up some of the responsibility.

Jan did pick me up a newer ride, might just catch us on the road as we travel around to see old friends.

USAWC

My seminar class for the second year of the United States Army War College

Afghan Partners

Last day in Afghanistan I stopped by my Afghan counterparts and exchanged certificates.
Everyone loves a certificate, even the General.

Camp Shelby Free Fall Jump

This is from September, two of us were able to get in a free fall jump prior to our deployment to Afghanistan. CW4 Lewis was the jumpmaster as he was 10 years prior when I did a free fall jump in Kuwait. A fairly long video, I am the first jumper out the door and the last to land.

video link fixed as of 9:00 pm

Light at the end of the tunnel

should be back stateside within a week, travel from here starts on our Tuesday. Made it to Kuwait very early Tuesday morning. Living in an air conditioned tent. Dust storm all day, a regular brown out, and temps over 100*, might be an uncomfortable 4 days here.
Of course Uncle Sam makes sure we have McD's, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Green Bean

Rambo he is not

Legendary Gun Ship

You may remember this helicopter best for Rambo II or if you are a little older Red Dawn. We had two MI-35's here today for a static display.

Kabul Trip

More street scenes from today's trip, despite the news earlier this year, operations and trips continue

NPR stops by our base

First couple of minutes of Renee Montagne piece took place here with the Afghan Commando's that we are partnered with

1/2 Marathon

Great turnout for our 1/2 marathon, very rocky trails, about 1,600' total elevation gain. Lots of tired, sunburned people. Great mix of individuals, civilian contractors, local national translators, and of course soldiers from Canada, US, and UAE. Tough, but fun. It was nice of the sponsors "One America" to provide t-shirts, hats, and finishers medals.

Medical Clinic

Whenever the clinic is open it attracts long lines of women and children. Last week they saw 360 in 4 hours, very hectic.

Rainbow

We have afternoon rain showers almost daily, which means very green hillsides, and occasionally we get a rainbow over the mountains. This is the second time we have had a double rainbow.

Summer Spin 2013

View Larger Map

Mother Nature

I see in the US news that there is still alot of winter hanging around and floods, not good. Well today we got a double whammy.
First was the hail, then the earthquake, then hail again. All in the space of 2 hours.


CNN Earthquake Note

Graduation Day

I think this must be the 3rd class of "Commando's" we have graduated, the Afghan equivalent of Ranger school. But today they had 2 female students graduate the 10 week course, a first. Given the traditional role of women in this country it is pretty amazing to see it get this far.

Some Trips provide a sense of adventure

Had a chance to visit an entirely different part of the country, very beautiful, but a little surreal.