Common Scenes & Common Thoughts

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Common Days & Nights

05 August 2009

The helicopter pilot wearing night vision goggles roared in so fast it looked as though he were crashing.  The four green Cylums (Americans call them Chemlights) mark the HLS.  While the helicopter is above the dust cloud, it melts into the dark, but as it approaches the HLS, dust swirls high, setting the stage for an amazing light show.  The Chinook descends through the dry dust and the rotors glitter brightly, creating an eerie glow as if sparklers are attached to the rotors, which in reality appeared brighter to the eye than in the photo below.  If the helicopter were not so loud, the millions of static discharges might be heard crackling and popping.

Daylight

While walking across FOB Jackson to find Nepalese Gurkhas, this air cooler caught the lens.   After sprinkling water on the straw, evaporation cools the air.  Construction of air coolers has been taught in military survival classes, yet like much of those classes, the field craft is just part of daily life around the world.  In India, many hotels will advertise they have “air conditioners” when actually the rooms often use various sorts of air coolers which—though better than languishing and sweating through nights of Indian summers—are not the air conditioners that many people expect.

Annual recruitment for the Gurkha regiment is brutal, and I asked about the different “selections” they underwent.  One Gurkha said his selection started with 26,000 applicants, though only about 200 were chosen for the Regiment.  I have trained with Gurkhas in Brunei, and been to Nepal many times, but this was my first mission with Gurkhas that included real bullets and real enemies.

Gurkhas serving in the British Army have been rotating through Afghanistan.  They can converse with many Afghans, at least on a basic level, by speaking Hindi.  The Gurkhas also look like many Afghans (especially Hazaras), and in fact many Filipinos, Thais, Nepalese and Hazaras look very similar.  As British soldiers, Gurkhas travel the world and see many things and they also live for years in the United Kingdom and Brunei.  They travel to Africa, Central America, Europe and often America.  Add to this fact that these men tend to come from remote, rugged villages where the terrain will match or possibly even exceed any of the severe difficulties found in Afghanistan, and the insight created from this confluence of experience can be invaluable.  Gurkha impressions of Afghanistan are of particular interest to me.

The young Gurkhas at FOB Jackson are working as part of a PMT, or Police Mentoring Team.  When the Afghan policeman in the photo above showed up looking pregnant I asked, “Do you have baby?” and armed man lifted his shirt to show the magazines of ammunition.  Just why he was carrying the ammo under his shirt remains a mystery.  You never know what these guys will do next.  The Gurkhas have good words for the Afghan Army here at FOB Jackson, but are wary of the police, who they say are lazy, inept, and lack initiative and professionalism.  The Police Mentoring Team works to the intent of Captain Toby Woodbridge, whose assessment of the ANP introduces context that the ANA here had roughly three years head start on the ANP.   According to Captain Woodbridge, the ANP respond favorably to consistent, long-term training.  “There is clear evidence that when you provide the ANP with adequate training, you create the conditions for development of a professional, motivated security force.  These guys have a hard life and do a difficult, dangerous job.”

The pre-mission briefing, delivered by a Gurkha soldier, was identical to what one would expect from another British soldier, or an American infantryman, only it was delivered with a heavy Nepalese accent.  Each important detail of today’s mission had been discussed in advance. So we headed into the Sangin market along with several ANP.  There was a fair chance that we would get into some sort of fight.

Having trained with Gurkhas for a month on Brunei and reading battle citations from their tours in Afghanistan, I was confident that if there were any dramas, the Gurkhas would hammer the Taliban flat.  The Gurkhas all seem to think that the Taliban are poor fighters, but Gurkhas say the home field is a crucial Taliban advantage.  Many Gurkhas say the Taliban often are brave, though they perceive Taliban in Sangin as cowards because they mostly only hide and plant bombs.  When the Taliban do stand and fight, the British soldiers tend to out-fight the Taliban and kill them.

The actual mission today for the Gurkhas (and a few Afghan police) was to escort other British soldiers who are administering development projects in Sangin.

Recently, the same Gurkhas were supposed to have come to this school for some business, yet they were distracted during the patrol and changed course.  At just the time the Gurkhas were supposed to be here, the Taliban detonated explosives in the school that the British had been constructing.  The hole in the floor by the wire is the seat of at least one blast.

Most bombs around here are made from fertilizer, or what Brits and Americans call “HME”: Homemade Explosives.  A clever high school kid would have no problem making these bombs.  This is farmland, and weapons-grade fertilizer is sold just off base.  This enemy is not smart but the home field advantage is crucial, and as the saying goes, we have watches while they have time.  Yet context is crucial: large parts of Afghanistan are not so savage or beset with caveman mentalities.  The British like to say that Helmand Province is medieval, but I say the British give Helmand far too much credit.  Medieval is space-aged compared to some of these places.

Though again, context is crucial: cities like Jalalabad and Mazar-i-Sharif are good places to visit and far more advanced.  There are even—despite the war—pro-American sentiments among many people in Helmand (location is key) due to American development last century.  Many Afghans complain that the Kajaki Dam is not supplying massive amounts of power, forgetting the fact that Americans built the dam to begin with.   Nevertheless, Americans who helped develop Helmand many decades ago left positive feelings.

The Gurkhas and other British soldiers patrolled through the market in Sangin.  These sorts of metal lockboxes are commonly available in Afghanistan.

RPG strike on a guard position.  The RPGs are small, cheap and can defeat most vehicles other than our most heavily armored.  In the race between armor and bomb, the bomb eventually always wins.  This has been true for centuries and shows no signs of changing.  In the Sangin area, we are better on foot wearing only body armor.  British citizens today are concerned about the same things that Americans were concerned about during the early phases of the Iraq war: armor.  Fact is, we can drive down these roads in the best tanks in the world, and be blown upside-down on and set ablaze.  The enemy is increasingly good at blowing vehicles into ditches or rivers to drown the occupants.  They did this to the Soviets, too.  In many places, such as Sangin, the roads can be a death sentence no matter what you drive, and the enemy can seed IEDs far faster than we can clear the routes.

Pharmacy across from checkpoint where RPG struck.

Pharmacy in Sangin.  Chinese fans that break easily are luxury.  When they work.

Karzai’s picture seems omnipresent.

Typical market and motorcycles.

The scandal!  Music and videos hint that Mullah Omar’s influence has waned here.

Haircuts for sale.

More haircuts.

The Gurkhas seem polite with the police but they don’t trust the ANP.  They say the ANP are corrupt and infiltrated.  One Gurkha told a story about an ANP who shot to death seven other police while they were sleeping, and then ran away.

Whatever the truth of this story, it did not happen in Sangin.  Nevertheless, U.S. troops have been killed by Afghan security forces.  Captain Toby Woodbridge said patrols with ANP create safer conditions for British soldiers.   As a third-party observer, I would agree with the assessment; ANP presence ultimately increases our security.  One goal, in any case, is that the ANP or ANA do all patrols without us.  Nothing here can be considered friendly.  However—again—the British give accolades to Afghan soldiers in Sangin, and to the progress of ANP.  “The progress in Sangin is genuine,” according to Captain Woodbridge.

There is no roof over our head because, according to the Gurkhas, the ANP stacked too many sandbags on the roof and it collapsed, nearly killing two policemen.  “Sandbag mistakes” have occurred among our own troops.  Cave-in’s occurred in Iraq, for instance.  In one case, an individual stacked sandbags on his roof, which caved in, caused an electrical fire and killed him.

Was this sign was posted for people in Washington, or for people in London?  If people like Robert Gates and David Petraeus were not running top-cover, I’d agree that it’s never too late to learn, and that it’s time to go home and let cavemen be cavemen.  But people like Secretary Gates and General Petraeus think we create some sort of success here, and I do, too, but only with sincere, strategic intergenerational commitment.  Ten years more will not do it.  Twenty years will not be enough.  A century is more realistic.  Knock on wood that Stanley McChrystal can pull a rabbit out of his hat during his command, and buy time for progress.

Corporal Chitra Thapa from Baglung, western Nepal, led the patrol.  Chitra is with 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR).  For years now, I’ve asked Gurkhas why they don’t join the U.S. military.  But the Gurkhas like to keep their own units and so are not apt to split off alone.  They respect the U.S. military, but unfortunately will not join.  Some people call them “mercenaries,” but Gurkhas don’t fit that definition in my book.  If Gurkhas were true mercenaries, they might join any band that would pay.  But they regularly join the relatively poorly paid Indian Army and don’t join the U.S. military despite the incredible benefits and their positive views of America.  Gurkhas are not “mercenaries” as we use the term, but professional soldiers who don’t seem to like going to war.  But when they do…watch out.

Sangin bazaar.

The intelligence section here at FOB Jackson says that since this 2 Rifles tour began in April 2009, tips from locals have been steady with no remarkable increase or decrease in information flow.  Information flow from civilians is a crucial indicator and was my first big tip-off during the dangerous summer of the 2007 that the Surge in Iraq was working.  Even as our casualties were dramatically increasing during the Surge and up to mid-2007, cooperation from Iraqis also dramatically increased.

Here in Sangin, there are conflicting lines of information that would indicate we are gaining or losing ground.  Cooperation from locals—a crucial indicator—would indicate we are treading water.

Some attacks are thwarted by tip-offs, which often, or typically, result from immediate self-interests, such as the case where bombs are planted among a farmer’s crops.  Whereas earlier the bombs were planted on obvious channels such as roads, bridges and paths, last week a soldier was severely wounded by an IED in the middle of a field.  I watched from base as another three IEDs detonated in the vicinity.  Luckily those were without effect.  There were many factors that led to the avalanche-like turnaround in Iraq, and one of the key factors was troop strength and constant presence in the neighborhoods.  Many Iraqis and Afghans were/are betting on what they perceive to be the winning side—no matter if they like that side or not.

Local cooperation seems based on immediate self-interests, not long-term ideological visions, though, clearly, long-term ideological visions are hallmark for the fundamentalists.  We will know that we are winning—definitely winning—when we see a remarkable increase in population-generated information and cooperation.

Sangin Market: tons of fertilizer flows into Sangin.  These fertilizers are as good for making bombs as for growing corn and drugs.

Walking through the streets, one sees enough fertilizers to flatten a strong and very large building.  The local bomb-makers often use pressure cookers as the Maoists did in Nepal.  In fact, the Nepalese government began confiscating pressure cookers, leading even more people to sympathize with Maoists who used them for small bombs.  Our forces spent considerable effort intercepting fertilizer coming into Iraq—I was on some of those missions—yet here the bomb-making materials are all available within a couple minutes from the base.

The market.  Sangin is massive opium producer but this year’s crop is already in, and the corn and other crops are growing.  Tall corn is easy for the enemy to hide in, so the British help farmers closer to base grow short crops, such as beans.

Sangin market.

The “G Factor”:  Rfn Manish Archarya, from Dharan in eastern Nepal, steps across the block to keep his boots dry.  Some Gurkhas will slog through water or mud, but most use stepping stones or logs.  Other British soldiers smile and call such differences “The G Factor.”  During tracking school in Brunei, this clue indicated whether we were tracking Gurkhas or someone else.  The Gurkhas would parallel a stream looking for a log or other place to cross, while other British soldiers would splash straight through.

It is not well known that the Sultan of Brunei quietly supports our efforts in Afghanistan.  And the Sultan so likes the Gurkhas and British Army stationed in Brunei, that he pays the expenses for the British to keep the Gurkhas stationed there.  (As I write these words from a hot building on FOB Jackson, an uncouth ANP with radio in hand and pistol on right hip, just spat upon the floor as if we are in the middle of the desert.)

The day was 30 July 2009, and the hot mission with the Gurkhas ended and we returned to base, and there was 2 Platoon from A Company, 2 Rifles, prepping for a mission during which they would be hit.  Morale of 2 Platoon is strong and they retain their sense of humor despite much fighting.   1LT Mark Cripps and SGT Rob Grimes were inspecting gear and weapons.

During this mission, 2 Platoon would be hit, but none of us knew this yet.   After the hot patrol with Gurkhas I trudged down to the river, completely dressed, boots and all, and jumped in.

SSG Justin Fitzsimmons, wearing uniform, who had also been on the Gurkha patrol, beat me to the river.  Justin had been out to inspect the school that had been damaged by the bomb, and three ANP checkpoints that need work.  Rifleman James Tong also was cooling down.

A bomb detonated and rattled over base.  2 Platoon, who had been inspecting gear and weapons, had rolled onto a mission and gotten hit.  There were two big fertilizer (believed) bombs in an open field, and both detonated at once, severely wounding a young soldier.  2 Platoon had been keeping their intervals or it would likely have been far worse.  QRF (Quick Reaction Force) was “instant on” and began to assemble within a couple of minutes, and within maybe five minutes they seemed ready to dive into the thick of it.   Everyone knew they likely would also be hit.  Were it not for such young soldiers, we would be at the mercy of every demon.

And then another bomb detonated and the mushroom rolled away and I wondered how our friends were doing.  And then another bomb.  And another.   Four separate attacks.

I crossed the river and climbed up to the guard post which was bristling with more weapons than one might imagine, and I climbed the homemade ladder to the fourth floor, the top.  There, with three British soldiers, all calmly taking in the situation amid terse radio chatter, I peered through the CLU of a Javelin missile.  (No Javelin was attached).  The CLU, or Command Launch Unit, is an excellent optic, and there about 2kms distant, orange smoke wafted above the trees, as the call came that the British MERT helicopter (Medical Evacuation Response Team) was nearly on scene from Bastion.  I asked a British soldier on the radio why they popped orange at the landing zone; was the LZ hot?  Why didn’t they pop something else, like green or white?  The Chinook roared over the smoke, low and at a high rate of speed, and headed straight for what appeared to be about 5km before it banked right and came back.  I tracked the helicopter through the CLU, and on the way back another orange smoke popped, but this time the Chinook took a neck-breaking right U-turn and swooped in with far more agility than one might expect from such a large helicopter.   Through the CLU, white smoke could be see wafting above the trees, and the Chinook came down and I could see the ramp was open, and then the MERT roared away with the badly wounded soldier to the trauma center at Camp Bastion.  A soldier later mentioned that the wounded man was at the trauma center 53 minutes after the first attack.  Every soldier knows that if they can get you on that helicopter alive, you’ll probably survive.

That night and the next night I had dinner with the Gurkhas.  They had picked up a goat from the market, and also some Pakistani rice, which they say is better than Nepalese rice but more expensive.  Rifleman Santosh Sherestha, from Bhojpur in eastern Nepal, stayed over the fire cooking the goat while Nepalese music played in the background.

The cookhouse reminded me of Nepal.

Rfn Sanjay Limbu Dharan came in to help with the cooking.  Sanjay is from eastern Nepal about two days’ walk from Mt. Everest (that would be about 3-4 days walk for normal, fit people).  I walked three weeks one time to Everest base camp; the Taliban have nothing on the Gurkhas and their mountains.  Adventurous souls who want to know what the terrain is like where many of our people fight in Afghanistan might consider trekking for a month in Nepal.  The mountains are not friendly, but the people are.  After a month deep in the Himalayas, there will have been time to reflect on why we need either another couple hundred thousand more soldiers, or at least understand why more helicopters are crucial.

Before dinner, Corporal Chitra Thapa disseminates important information, warning for instance that nearby FOB Inkerman got hit with IDF (apparently rocket or mortar).  The Gurkha way is usually supportive, not condescending, and Chitra congratulates other Gurkhas for doing some daily tasks such as keeping the combat gear ready, and the weapons spotless.  There is more gunfire on the perimeter but it’s so common that nobody thinks much of it, except that we are about a 30-second walk from the gate where “Terry” (the Taliban) might like to come in.

Someone on the perimeter fires a small parachute illumination which drifts down under the moon.

And floats away.

The men want to know about the American soldier who was captured but I know very little and will not write about anything I would know.  A Gurkha said that he read that the American prisoner is 27 years old and asked if I think we will get back our soldier, and I say that I pray for him and that we have good people who specialize in such things.  Even the stoic Gurkhas want to know how Americans have been able to serve back-to-back combat tours, some as long as 15 months, and I recount the story of a soldier named Jeff who did nearly three years straight in Iraq, and that he was very high-ranking and never had to go to combat but he went to combat constantly.  And I say to the Gurkhas that our young soldiers keeping going because old soldiers lead the way.

The war goes on.  In the morning I ask LT Cripps, and then later SGT Grimes, the same question.  I asked how the men are doing after the latest casualty, and their answers are frank and similar; some of the younger soldiers are shaken, especially the closest buddy of the stricken soldier.  But they are absorbing this punch and are ready for the next mission, and I offer to go with them.  LT Mark Cripps singles out the medic, Beth Sparks, for special praise, saying she is always there in the mess, and had treated the badly wounded soldier the day before.

And that’s about it for some common scenes and thoughts from a common night and day.  There were casualties and firefights again yesterday.  2nd Platoon has been out all night on another combat mission and they are still out, probably giving the local Taliban a big headache.  There was a large explosion about twenty minutes ago.

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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keep it coming

Great stuff. Kudos to the G's and the Brits. It is worthwhile and the Afghani's deserve better. Maybe the ANA will help this come about after emulating these fine troopers.

Mad Dog , August 05, 2009

These men and women are made of something special

Thanks Michael for the dispatch. I love your updates, it really gives me a sense of what these fighting men and women have to live with, not only the environment but the constant stress and pressure, never knowing when the next attack will hit. Living in these kinds of conditions they must be very close. To stay focused and keep moving forward after a buddy have been severely wounded... incredible toughness! I am so sorry to hear Bowe Bergdahl has not been released or rescued. I too am praying for him, I keep his name on my refrigerator so I will not forget. I pray for your safety as well sir. Thankyou for all you do!

Traci Wilberger , August 05, 2009

Huzzah for Gurkhas

Excellent photos and article. I hope those who can will donate to help ensure you can keep reporting from front lines and other relavant areas / events.

We need this information to fight enemy propaganda. In 2007 insipred by the Afghan landscape and the fact the enemy propaganda machine was NOT concentrated on afghanistan made me concerned. I am mostly referring to how in 2007 we would have fox news saying here is a al qaeda video we found at YOUTUBE. It was regarding Iraq and the call to young disenfranchised muslims to kill americans in Iraq. That led me to believe al qaeda was worried they could lose Iraq and AQ was not worried about Afghanistan......So I read about Ahmed Massoud and counter insurgency history of the areas from all types of sources to get all angles, and stumbled on a terrorist web site. I spent that summer showing people how to fight them online. Now many people reporting those things and making the enemy have to work harder to accomplish goals. As you said in 2007 during that tiime "We may own the air, but the enemy owns the air waves." I will again start to help you by promoting your web site and try to increase readers and sponsers. The work you do makes all our jobs eayier and more effective.

Ian Bach , August 05, 2009

Some Crazy Ideas for some solutions

Folks,

I know this will sound dumber than h*ll, but just listen out:

1> The problem with helicopters bringing in supplies. After WW2 the US had a bunch of assault gliders that could lift a jeep and an antitank cannon. Thousands of them in boxes. They were made of steel tubing, some wood and canvas. They were made for a one time use. Sadly we don't have them. They land on a dime, have no IR signature and at night coming in on NVG would be a lot -- LOT -- less vulnerable than a helicopter like the Chinook or Mi-26 for resupply. And what to do with them after they landed. Heck, give them to the Afghans or burn them.

2> Use of Fertilizer to make IEDs. I don't know how to do it, but the British use to leave behind ammo accidently while on operations in Afghanistan in the late 1800s and 1900s. Only the rounds were way overloaded and the bullet was fixed to the casing. You can imagine the results when fired by Afghans who thought they came across a gold mine. To make sure the Afghan's did not think they were all that way they spread some that weren't only with the bullet modified (where it could not be detected) so it would not shoot straight. To wit, it would be neat if they could come up with something that they could mix with those bags of fertilizer that when mixed with diesel would cause some reaction. Explode being the best option. Neutralizing the second best option. Sort of like they mixed mustard seed with airplane glue to keep it from being huffed by teenagers today.

Told you it was some crazy ideas.

Jack E. Hammond

.

Jack E. Hammond , August 05, 2009

Evening prayers

Just said a prayer for you and the troops and the good Afghan people, Michael. Come home soon with victory.

LadyLiberty , August 05, 2009

Incredible

Never in my life have I seen such a day-after-day series of remarkable photos, and I began photography as a bobby in 1932. The stories, the explanations, should be required reading in all of our high schools.

howarde12 , August 05, 2009

...

Yon said the wounded Brit got to the hospital 53 minutes after the attack, that's good work. I'm in EMS, and we call it the "Golden Hour", that is, our goal is to get the trauma injured person off the scene, and to the ER within one hour. That young soldier has a chance, with what I know about the medical folks in Afghanistan, a very good chance.
Yon glances over the fertilizer stuff, makes me wonder why we don't try to penetrate that market, get an agent or work on a bunch of the folks in it now. Might be some good intel there.......
Mike, thanks for the regular writing. I wish I were rich, but I'll send what I can when I can.

Peter Montbriand , August 05, 2009

Eyes and Ears

Your view of this war make me feel like I have my boots on again and am with these brave folks. Praying for all minus the Talibuzzurds!

Ken Van Tassell , August 05, 2009

Excellent Fotos

Again excellent fotos and reporting of individual soldiers. Please continue your great work of real men and women!

Zeno Davatz , August 05, 2009

...

Michael your dispatches really help relatives at home to try to understand what loved ones are experiencing - not that we'll ever really understand but you certainly give great insight. Your written and pictorial accounts are excellent. Without your bravery we would be non the wiser, I for one thank you.

Lynn Keenan , August 05, 2009

Another great report

Michael

you are right on the money regarding the issues facing the coalition both on the ground and the national level. As for the fertiliser then control of supply and maybe the use of dye or adding elements to it seems the logical answer. We faced the same issues in Northern Ireland and found ways around it. In the end if not fertiliser though it will be something else so, we have to beat them on the ground and that will take many more boots than we have there at present. Recently an ex officer re stated the phrase " use more to lose less " and I suspect we will need to do just this to reach a stronger negotiating stance as surely we will end up at the table with some of our enemies.
I have not read despatches before that give such an insight into the daily lives of our soldiers and it should be compulsary reading not just for school kids but also for politicos and all the people who inhabit our Ministry of Defence.


thanks you

a father , August 05, 2009

Fascinating stuff!

Great to see British and Gurkha riflemen at war, if I'm not mistaken Sgt Rob Grimes is one of the well-known Grimes clan from Liverpool,
almost all of whom seem to have served in first, the Royal Green Jackets and now their descendants, The Rifles!
A tough tour for the Bn. so far but I know they will make Terry pay.

"Black and Green, the finest colours ever seen!"

ex-Green Jacket , August 05, 2009

Editor: PSYOP Journal PERSPECTIVES

Michael,

This is great reporting. We need to know what is happening in Afghanistan, and you provide the very best information.

I am sending a small donation.

We also are urging others to send money. We know it is needed.

Take care of yourself. Keep your head down. We will send some prayers as well.

Keep up this great work.

FROM Joseph Patrick Meissner, LTC-RET,
Editor, PSYOP Military Journal of PERSPECTIVES
(Also Author of the book, "The Green Berets and Their Victories"
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Joseph Patrick Meissner (LTC-RET) , August 05, 2009

A Day in the Life...

...that most of us will never have to experience...thanks to the brave men and women who fight on our behalf....

God Bless every soldier of every nationality, fighting the good fight.

Thank you, Michael for your amazing photos and your insightful reporting.

CJ , August 05, 2009

Keep up the good work

This needs to be known and seen I will pray that your mission will be able to stay alive and that the world will see the truths that you present from us the soldiers.
Thanks for all you do.

SGT G , August 05, 2009

With Respect To What You Do

I have been following you for years. I was an Army brat, and know that state side folks have a handicap when it comes to understanding the gravity of what you report. I thank God for people like you that bring unvarnished truth and reality to us with what you do. You are a rare individual, and very valuable asset to all of us "Ugly Americans".

JB (Coast Guard - Viet War) , August 05, 2009

...

I have just finished a book about the gurkhas by John Masters. The title is Bugles and a TIger. It is his expeiriences as a British officer in a Gurkha battalion. The description of fighting in the Northwest Frontier of India preWWII with the gurkhas are in some ways reminicent of today.

John Kansteiner , August 05, 2009

Brit Names For Enemies

Why do British people always give sing-songy endings to the names of their enemies? In WWII the Germans were "Jerry" and now the Taliban are "Terry". I guess its a British thing.

Frank White , August 05, 2009

Ghurkas in the US Army

Michael - I joned the US military as an 18 year old immigrant, but I needed a Green Card to do so - which I got via my Mom being born in the USA. I was suprised to meet other foreigners in US uniform during my service from Australia, Nigeria, South Africa and Scotland - I am from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). But we all had Green Cards, or happened to be born in America and grew up elsewhere when Mom and Dad moved back to their country of origin, which allowed us to apply for enlistment.

Unless something has changed since I enlisted in 1986, you still need a SSN and resident alien card to have a recruiter lie to you (snark).

I do beleive that if we opened up the US military to qualified immigrants we would be blessed with standout troops in addition to our current, American born warriors - and considering where they come from we would benefit from their backgrounds too.

Keep up the good work and stay lucky.

American by choice , August 05, 2009

Helicopters

Hey Michael, send an email to Petraeus and tell him you need more helicopters! He trusts you, right? Grest photos and commentary, as usual! Keep up the good work and stay away from those evil IED's. Sell those photos, Dude! God's speed to you and your soldiers!

MADDY , August 05, 2009

Unsurpassed ...

Once again you have given us some breathtaking views of life on the field of humanity, and the eloquent descriptions to boot. Many thanks for your persistence and perseverance, and your experience. While we only get to see a small view of the conflict and its players, your world-view knowledge and background provide a far better explanation to assist our understanding of the trials and tribulations our troops - from wherever - go through. God bless you and them, and keep you safe.

Everyone else -- There is a "Contribute" button to allow us to assist in covering Michael's expenses in the field. It also has the ability to set up a recurring Monthly Contribution. I'm not rich, but I can add a little each month; if we all do that we will be able to keep reading the unvarnished, unwashed by some PC gatekeeper, truth. Please contribute. Thank you.

Mike Hall , August 05, 2009

Some Crazy Ideas for some solutions

Gliders landing on mountainous terrain at night? Seems like a recipe for disaster to me.

jic , August 05, 2009

Awesome and Accurate...

This has got be one of your best posts ever. Thanks Mr Yon.

infantryjj , August 06, 2009

great straight reporting

Well done mate. Balanced, thoughtful stuff, and a lovely fresh take on the Ghurkas. And I applaud your honesty to call the Taliban attack on a school , idiotic.It was .Keep telling it like it is... thanks and keep your head down!!

cheers john

john stallard , August 06, 2009

Thanks, Mr. Yon

My son is serving close by. Your reports help me experience, in a small but very significant way, some of what he is experiencing. Please keep it up!!!

Marilyn Morgan , August 06, 2009

...

These are amazing pictures. I am just a grandmother and have no one over there but, I was touched by this and am praying for all to be safe. Keep up the good work

Roberta Buckler , August 06, 2009

Thank! from a Marine Mom

Thank you so very much for your work and experience and informative reports that you send out. Our son is in Iraq on his second tour right now and may possibley be headed to Afghanistan in the near future. God bless you for reporting on "the true stories" over there. There are many that read your blog and look at you wonderul photos. We will work on getting you more financial support. Thank you for all you do... We are so gratefull
Pam, Proud Marine Mom!!

Pam , August 07, 2009

Keep up the good work

Thanks Michael for your dispatches. I have followed them through Iraq, as my son (Army Airborne) was there before and during the surge, and now in Afghanistan where he is redeployed again. You provide real and specific information on what is going on, much better than the general news dispatches which tell us little about the daily, gritty details of war. The many critics of our military fail to grasp the tremendous training, will, and fortitude our young men bring to the fight.
Like all who go to work, they learn more as they go and do become creatures of their element. We can only hope that our overall strategy gets more well thought out, as modernizing this country and bringing enlightened thought is a long, long process in an archaic world.

Wes Eklund , August 07, 2009

...

My son is in the process of joining the U.S. Army. I've always looked forward to your posts but for some reason now they seem even more significant. Keep your head down and your spirit up.

kenny komodo , August 07, 2009

...

Hey Michael, In the pic of the little shop (the fellow looks to be chopping up a piece of chicken?) just what is the plant to the right side? Sure looks a lot like MaryJane - weed.

gary , August 07, 2009

Excellent reporting

Excellent work, as always

winston , August 07, 2009

Crazy Ideas

Quote> Gliders landing on mountainous terrain at night? Seems like a recipe for disaster to me.

Dear Member,

Many of the areas have 300 meters or more space. That is over half that is required to bring a glider in. All the areas are not like those bases you see in the mountains of Afghanistan.

Jack E. Hammond

.

Jack E. Hammond , August 08, 2009

"IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/b...ghanistan/

Scott Dudley , August 08, 2009

Talkin' 'bout my generation

Your assessment of multi-generational commitment to right the ship in Afghanistan rings true. The question is will our leaders have the stomach for the full-on and sustained commitment necessary to get the job done. Recall that after the Soviets were kicked out in '89, Afghanistan virtually disappeared from the headlines and the collective consciousness of our leaders. The Afghan people were left to pick up the pieces and slug it out amongst themselves. It only reinforced the perception that we hail freedom and democracy during the initial struggle against oppressors but pack up and leave when the fighting is done or when the old leaders are tossed out. The reality is that the rebuilding effort is just as crucial as the fighting to win the freedom.

A similar scenario is shaping up with the Taliban. If we are successful in taking out the Taliban, will we stay and help the Afghans in their re-building efforts that might take several generations? Or will we repeat the mistake of '89 and say "The Taliban are gone, our job is done, good night Kabul and Kandahar, and good luck"? Some of our NATO allies already hesitate in their support of the mission - both in terms of financial and military support. If that happens again, it'll be the return of the warlords slugging it out for control. Or, God forbid, another form of a jihadist death cult.

And on a related note, a recent article in the August 8th edition of the Wall Street Journal asks if a centralized form of government in Afghanistan is the right way to go considering the reality of tribal divisions. Even prior to the Soviet invasion, the sphere of political influence extended only around Kabul and its immediate area. As you pointed out in your piece, the terrain plays a large part in preventing societal cohesion in Afghanistan. Only time will tell which form of governance will successfully take hold.

Heinrich Stamper , August 08, 2009

Shortage of Helicopters

Folks,

One of the reasons their is a shortage of helicopters was the USMC decision two decades ago to stick with the MV-22 Osprey come hell or high water, which meant the Vietnam era CH-46 had to continue in service way beyond the date it should have been retired. Now some Marines in the aviation community are now stating that the MV-22 is not a good mix for Afghanistan. One it is way to expensive in cost and prestige to risk.

Jack E. Hammond

.

Jack E. Hammond , August 11, 2009

thanks

Fantastic pictures, thank you for sharing these - and more important thank you for your service protecting the rest of us at home. Be safe and come home soon.

Drew , August 11, 2009

Jack Hammond's crazy helicopter ideas

Jack, your glider idea IS crazy - do you know the success rate for glider landings in WW2? Those things are death traps, and were only used because the helicopter hadn't been perfected yet, nor were sufficient paratroopers available.

MV22 Osprey has nothing to do with the helicopter situation in Afghanistan. The 2nd MEB out there now has plenty of helicopters (the best ratio in the theatre at something like 1 for every 33 grunts). They have CH-53 Sea Stallions, Hueys and Hueycobras. They're not using the CH-46 Sea Knight, so even if it were past it's retirement (and I notice that the equally old Hueys and Air Force Chinooks are still in service following similar mid-life updates), it is not an issue. Helicopters are not generally an issue for US troops, which is why they are able to loan them out to British generals ;-)

Dom Hyde , August 12, 2009

History

My father fought on the north-west frontier of India (now part of Pakistan). So we know what tough and resilient fighters they are who live in these areas, both Gurkha and Afghan. My Regiment is out in Afghanistan at present. your photos and descriptions of Sangin give a good account of the conditions out there, for which many thanks.

Reg Hanbury , August 12, 2009

USA medias attitude generally sucks toward the military

I find it heinous that the majority of US journalists report negatively about the US military fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq. All you hear are the bad stories. You never hear of the great humanitarian works being done like buliding schools, roads , providing electricity and improving daily life in general, NOT TO MENTION GIVING THEM FREEDOMS THAT WE LIVE WITH EVERY DAY , AND MOST PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED!!! Most so called journalists report to the public voicing their own personal views on the wars. If todays media reported on World War 2, Im sure they could come up with a slant on the Axis powers side. It is refreshing to find a journalist who reports the plain facts and doesnt use yellow journalism. I have been writing and supporting troops on both fronts for over 6 years now, and it hits my heart dead center knowing that these brave young men and women do so much for so little pay. and they never complain. GOD BLESS EM ALL!!!!

maureen , August 12, 2009

True Journalism Editor

Hi Mike! I just made a contribution plus a commitment to send more on a monthly basis. I fully support your mission and want to do what I can to keep you "safely" reporting from Afghanistan.

Watch your back and keep the faith!

Cathi L. , August 14, 2009

Amazing Men, Amazing Soldiers, Amazing Story

I have been reading Michael Yon wrote for a long time, and it never fails to touch something in my soul. I work for the Army now, as a government civilian, but I was an Infantryman and a paratrooper...a "Soldier Once, and Young"... for many years. I made three trips to Iraq and one to Afghanistan (in 2002)...but my days of being able to walk those kinds of mountains and carry those kinds of loads are over, I've gotten too long in the tooth. Still, reading this article and his others, makes me want to pack my ruck and get out there among those amazing soldiers, to share with them the old feelings and emotions of a rifle company. It was never easy, it wasn't always fair, but it was REAL, and it gave life a spice that once tasted can never be forgotten. Thanks Mike (do your friends call you that, or Michael?). Thanks for what you do for us all.

Art D , August 20, 2009

Big up all Gurkhas

Oi Yon, dont try and poach any Gurkhas!- they are true pro's and all of the UK feel lucky to have their loyalty to the British Army. Long may the UK/ Nepal partnership continue.

AJM , October 05, 2009

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