Day 260: Salerno

There is a term that we use on the FOB (Forward Operating Base), "fobbit". This is a label for those troops who never leave the base...ever. They are FOB-bound due to the nature of their duties or they are just plain scared of going outside the wire. Well, for the last 4 months I have been labeled a "fobbit" as I have kept myself on the FOB as the only medical provider on the entire post outside of the medics. Well, the time has come where I have just about gone stir crazy and it was time for a change of scenery, so I bid my medics farewell and took a day trip to FOB Salerno. It was a time to clear my head, but I also had a mission in mind - to meet with the medical folks at the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) as I have been working with them during Medevacs and other urgent consultations. It was time to match a face with the voices that I have been working with over the phone. So here goes the journey...

Monster Truck Action - The Cougar Ambulance!

Radio Check!

Here I am strapped in and ready to roll! Gotta check out the cool headphones...communication inside the vehicle is very important. If only we had a TV and DVD player!


Upon arrival, which was a 45 minute drive through the dangerous city of Khowst, I made my way to the CSH where I met the CSH Commander Col O'Connel and her medical staff. A very nice group of medical professionals which included administrators, surgeons, an internist, and a lab officer. I even had a chance to check out the orthopaedic surgeon in action in the OR!

I call this photograph - "Rod in Leg"


My Surgical Safety Nets

After a tour of the CSH, I decided to offer them a sneak peak at the Cougar Ambulance as they have never seen let alone sit inside such an impressive piece of medical equipment. Without any hesitation they were out there, cameras in hand, ready for a photo op! We all had a great time. It was nice to

Col O'Connel (top right) and the CSH Crew

Apart from my visit to the CSH, the rest of the day was spent in a state of therapeutic relaxation. There's just something about a change in scenery that puts the mind at ease...aaaah!

"For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall"
Ephesians 2:14 NASB

Day 258: Boom!

On base, nothing will ruin your day more than a Field Artillery (FA) firing mission. I had blogged about the first FA mission several weeks ago which involved long range target practice into an open field. Well today's mission was the same thing only FARTHER which translates into LOUDER! I mean much LOUDER!! We were aiming for an open field over 15 km away in order to test the accuracy of some new equipment which had arrived.

Meet BASHER and his brother BAM!

Every time a shot was fired you could hear people being startled, the buildings rumble, and troops ducking for cover thinking it was incoming as opposed to outgoing. Anyone who had initiated their daily afternoon siesta was very rudely awakened! This was all borderline entertaining:)

Well, to pass the time I decided to help out with medical coverage for this mission as injuries are very common during FA missions. Anything from cuts and scrapes from handling the complex weaponry to blast injuries/burns due to the potent explosives...luckily no injuries to report although I wonder if anyone is going to eventually show up with a busted eardrum. The coolest part was being able to pull the laniard (check out the pic above), which was the trigger mechanism for the gun and the reason for an overabundance of hate & discontent throughout the base. For me, being a part of the FA mission removed any element of surprise which therefore minimized any gasping, yelling, or crying spells in the fetal position on my part. Well, after 50 rib-rattling rounds and multiple prolonged episodes of tinnitus, the fire mission was ended and life has since been back to normal. For now...

Day 255: Homemade

Nothing exciting really happened today until I opened a care package from Gemma. Homemade chocolate peanut butter chip cookies and snickerdoodles!! Not to to mention the fact that they were still moist and chewy as ever. Thanks honey, you are the best:) I never thought sharing would be so difficult!

The Air Force and I partaking in Gemma's Oh-So-Good Cookies!

Day 254: Oath

OATH

a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing,
to witness one's determination to speak the truth, to keep a promise.

For the last several weeks the Afghan National Army has held training for new recruits here in Khowst on our base. I've had the distinct opportunity to assist in the mission readiness of these young soldiers in regards to first aid training and health maintenance. As a participant in their training, I was invited to witness an oath ceremony that the recruits participate in as a symbol of their dedication to the Afghan National Army and their allies.

The entire ceremony was in the Afghan dialect of Pashtu and was attended by several local dignitaries and high-ranking military officials. The ceremony started out with a prayer from the Koran that was sung by a soldier. After quick introductions of notable people in attendance, the oath ceremony was underway.


In front of the formation was a long table (see above) with a variety of Afghan Army weaponry (machine guns, grenade launchers, rockets). Each platoon (30-40 soldiers) marched up to the table, laid hands on a weapon (see below) and then recited, actually more like shouted, an oath of allegiance, in the presence of Allah, to the Afghan National Army. Not quite the "raise your right hand and repeat after me" approach to a military oath, but unique and frankly, pretty cool!

"Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier."

II Timothy 2:3,4 NASB

Day 251: Cookies

Who doesn't love cookies? Better yet, who doesn't love GIRL SCOUT cookies? Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Carmel Delights, Dosidos...Mmmmmmmm delicious. Today, the Afghan kids received a special treat along with their usual goodies of school supplies, multivitamins, and clothing. We received a large donation of Girl Scout cookies for our base and decided to use a portion of that donation for the kids that frequent our free clinic. Oh man, you should see their faces with crumbs all over their lips & cheeks with pieces of Girl Scout cookie goodness all lodged in between their teeth. The only thing missing was a large glass of milk!

Enjoying a Box of Girl Scout Cookie Goodness

It's organizations like the Girl Scouts that teach our children to look beyond themselves and consider the value that comes in helping those less fortunate. Being a leader in this unique military-humanitarian mission, I've been able to solicit help, in the form of supply donations from Girl Scout troops, elementary school classrooms, churches, clubs, and other non-profit organizations. The donation boxes almost always come with personal cards written by children of all ages, and it warms my heart to see the colorful and creative words that these young kids can come up with to relay the simple message, "We support you" and "We want to help". Let's continue to teach our children about a world that has people in need and show them that there are ways that we can do something about it.

"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:4 NKJV

Day 249: Halfway!

Based on our best guess, the Navy folks that I deployed with have deemed today to be "HALFWAY DAY" as we are halfway through our deployment. In honor of this day, we decided to fly the First Navy Jack on our flagpole today. Since September 11, 2002, by direction of the Secretary of the Navy, the Navy Jack has been flown on the front or bow of Navy ships as a symbol of steadfastness and protest against terrorism and the insurgents that embrace it. The First Navy Jack will be flown until the Global War on Terrorism is over. More on the Navy Jack as per Wikipedia...


The jack of the United States is a maritime flag representing the United States nationality flown on the jackstaff at the bow (front) of it's vessels when anchored.

Since September 11, 2002, the Navy has flown the First Navy Jack, a flag bearing 13 red and white stripes, a rattlesnake and the motto "DONT TREAD ON ME", coming from the first jacks supposedly used by the Navy during the Revolutionary War. It is flown from the jackstaff from 08:00 to sunset while Navy ships are at anchor. It is required to be the same size as the union of the ensign (US Flag) being flown from the stern of the ship. The jack is hoisted smartly and lowered ceremoniously in the same manner as the ensign.

The rattlesnake had long been a symbol of resistance to the British in Colonial America. The rattlesnake (specifically, the Timber Rattlesnake) is especially significant and symbolic to the American Revolution. The rattle has thirteen layers, signifying the original Thirteen Colonies. And, the snake does not strike until provoked, a quality echoed by the phrase "Don't tread on me."

Well enough about flags...I'm just glad that I've survived the past 5 months in Afghanistan unscathed and mentally intact. Man, am I thankful to God for life and the adventures that He places in it! God has truly revealed to me a higher purpose, and He has reminded me, through Isaiah 43:2, the promise that He will see me through raging waters, through scorching flames, and even through the desert sands of Afghanistan!

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you" Isaiah 43:2 NASB

Day 247: DFAC

Nothing is more important to a base that it's dining facility aka "the D-FAC" (dee-fak). Soldiers, both ANA & US alike, see the D-FAC as a place where both physical and social needs are thoroughly met. Where else can you experience a warm & welcoming atmosphere, a hot meal, a succulent desert, and a nice conversation with fellow soldiers...the D-FAC is a deployed soldier's home away from home.

In an effort to maintain standards of cleanliness, one of the roles of an Afghan National Army (ANA) medical provider is to inspect the D-FAC in regards to the food and the people that are involved in preparing it. Probably the least favorite thing that I do with my ANA counterpart.

Colonel Shah Zad Gul stressing the importance of
cleanliness with the employees

We periodically do spot inspections of the employees' uniforms, shoes (I make sure they simply have them on!), face masks, hair nets, food handling techniques, and overall cleanliness of the cooking/preparation areas. Let me take you on an inspection tour...

Onions

Probably one of the more intriguing food preparation areas is the onion-cutting section. This is primarily due to the fact that none of the employees seem to cry when cutting up all of those onions. Man, I recall cutting a small onion at home and literally balling my eyes out after I was finished. The Afghan response to my question, "Do you cry when cutting those?", was "Afghans don't cry!"

Greens

Rice Rice Baby...

Motivation to become Vegetarian!

Several times have I been invited to dine with them in the D-FAC, and several times have I respectfully declined...I'm running out of excuses to avoid a meal there! Actually, the facility is very clean, but I find myself losing my appetite after walking through the large cooking area...perhaps it's the meat cutting section?!?

After the spot inspection I couldn't help but think about grabbing a bite to eat. Perhaps In-N-Out, Taco Bell, or a pizza...oh wait...I'm in Afghanistan:(

"Better is a dish of vegetables where love is than a fattened ox served with hatred."
Proverbs 15:17 NASB