Michael Yon

May 4, 2006

Camp Bastion

Afghanistan

Camp Bastion by night.

Then rain cleared the air.

Within minutes the weather seems to have cleared.

And then… just minutes later:

The wind whirled and roared.

And scooped up miles of dust.

And threw it wildly across the sky.

Camp Bastion, Afghanistan

On Camp Bastion, I walked outside and there it was: a tremendous dust storm boiling from the South. The storm brought at least two bolts of lightning and much cool air, followed by a hard, blowing rain. The dust turned to mud. The sky cleared. The air was nearly still. But off to the West, there it was again: a different dust storm rolling in, this one at a 90 degree angle from the first storm.

Men scurrying like bugs.

Before the wall of dust.

The dust swarms vertically.

Men, far away, were scrambling and occasionally falling as they tried to outrun the storm; while others were loading into trucks then racing toward us.

Still fleeing but the storm is gaining.

The wall descends.

Nearly to the guard tower.

The wind braids the plumes of dust.

Trucks racing away.

Barely make it.

I don’t know what happened to the men who were running.

But a truck full of Filipinos made it.

And dashed for cover.

The winds were upon us, nearly tearing off the trailer roof. Steve and I tied it down. The mess tent had already been knocked down, but the ropes anchoring it kept it from blowing away. Satellite phones would not work; the dust attenuated the signal. Work came to a standstill.

Later that night, there were storms in the distance.

And there was lightning.

Please give the gift of independent reporting. Your gift goes far and is used for transport, lodging, living expenses, satellite communications and for repairing and replacing gear that fails due to the rigors of the battlefields.  Millions of people, in more than a hundred countries, see these photos and words.  Your generosity goes very far, and is greatly appreciated.

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Thank You

I just wanted to thank you for these pictures....it gives me an idea how my husband is living. He will be spending a year there and it was nice to see pictures and put it to his descriptions. THANK YOU!

Barbara, NC , July 07, 2009

...

Thanks for giving me an insight to what its like out there. My boyfriend is in bastion and its good to see what life out there is like for them although I dont think I could ever fully imagine what they go through. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is out there!

Patricia , July 10, 2009

..

Thank you for these photos, my daughter is at Bastion and I cried when I seen this. I knew she was living in hell but I didn't know this bad.

kathy , August 07, 2009

.

It is not at all like this.

john paul , August 25, 2009

...

My son is due to fly out on Wednesday at least we have some idea of what it can be like.

Tracy Wilkinson , September 04, 2009

My son is there

Hello,
Thank you for your beautiful photos. My son, a marine corporal just got moved to Bastion from Kandahar, and I need a visual. They are somewhat hauntingly beautiful. God bless you and all the troops.

Chris Myrick , September 07, 2009

My Son in Law

Thanks for the view, my son in law Kosmo is there now, he is working on the computer systems there, for the Troops. Thanks all the Troops for their Service,, My Father was in the Army, my Husband was in the Marines, my Kosmo is in to Computers.

Maria Sotelo , September 10, 2009

re: Internet at Bastion or Dwyer?

Does anyone know if Bastion or Dwyer have internet connectivity? I have someone that'll be at Camp Dwyer and I'm hoping I'll hear from them soon if there's internet connectivity.

Anakin Portillo , September 17, 2009

Prayerful Grandpa

My 19 year old Grandson is a US Marine who just arrived at Camp Bastion. Thanks for the photos and captions. It really helps me appreciate the sacrifice he and our troups are making. May the Lord Jesus give our troups and allies the courage to complete their task in a difficult environment. I pray for them daily.

Ray Hahn , September 30, 2009

worried parents

We have two sons out there one aged 19 the other just 18, they just arrived this week, its good to see what the place is like although it looks pretty inhospitable. We pray for them to keep safe and well both physicaly and mentally (that goes for all of 1RHA).

Mark Johnson , October 01, 2009

mom of a marine

Thanks for the pic's my son just got there and called. It was nice to talk to him and see where he is.

cindy , October 03, 2009

mum of chef in army

My son was in Bastion last year befor going out to a fob for 6mnths. He is back again in April. This time staying in Bastion, thank goodness.The risks are high there but they are reasonably safe. I can recomend the home cooking.. The pics are beautiful. god bless all the boys and girls out there xxxx

kay buchan , October 04, 2009

thank you

as many others have already said, thank you so much for showing what sort of hell our loved ones are living in, i dont know if it makes it easier to live with much i know i for one want to know how they live, bec. if they can live it then i should know.
thank you again

greer campbell , October 11, 2009

My Husband

Thanks for ur pics. I never really knew what my husband was enduring and I really want to say thank you. God Bless my husband Andre and the troops.

Natasha , October 24, 2009

Thank You

Thank you for the foto's! My brother has been in camp Bastion for a few months and will be leaving in a month or so, of course we can't wait to see him again. He's told us what it like, but the foto's give life to his words. We pray for them every single and precious day.

Tanja van Niekerk , November 05, 2009

missing him already

my fiancee has just gone to afganistan and will be staying at camp bastion i have been searching for pics today t c what it was like im greatful for these pics just wish he was home with me

gemma hunter , November 08, 2009

sending parcels for the troops

We have organised parcels to be sent to those serving in Bastion.
They will arrive commencing next week addressed
To a British Soldier
Camp Bastion

Anyone can take one and please enjoy.
From us all at eurobichons.

and Bradley look forward to celebrating xma and your birthday when you return Jan2010.

Brad is Pax handler RN AET,

Mrs Clark-Stapleton , November 14, 2009

MOM

My son is at this Camp. He is a US Navy man serving in the British Hospital. I pray for him every day along with all the other men and women that serve in this war to keep the rest of us secure . My love, prayers and constant thoughts are with him always.

DONNA , November 17, 2009

Nephew Brandon Puckett

My nephew Brandon arrived in Camp Bastion last week. We're not sure how long he'll be staying, at least until February. It's good to be able to see how he'll be living while he's there. I think about him every day and pray that he'll return home safely. I am so very proud of him and I hope he knows it. The sacrifice he's making in order for others to live freely is above all others.

Cindy Puckett , November 17, 2009

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