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Thursday night, 06 August 2009
Afghanistan
I made this photo last night in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. This Landing Zone is very dangerous. A few weeks ago, another helicopter was coming into this LZ and was shot down at the last minute, killing all passengers and crew. Two children on the ground also were killed. The sparks coming off the rotors occur when the helicopters land in hot, dusty conditions. The landing itself occurs in a dangerous "brownout." Brownout danger is compounded by the sparks which light up the dust and can confuse pilots who are wearing extremely sensitive nightvision goggles.
Michael
The War in Afghanistan has truly begun. This will be a long, difficult fight that is set to eclipse anything we’ve seen in Iraq. As 2010 unfolds, my 6th year of war coverage will unfold with it. There is relatively little interest in Afghanistan by comparison to previous interest in Iraq, and so reader interest is low. Afghanistan is serious, very deadly business. Like Iraq, however, it gets pushed around as a political brawling pit while the people fighting the war are mostly forgotten. The arguments at home seem more likely to revolve around a few words from the President than the ground realities of combat here. I can bring the ground realities, but can sustain the coverage only by the graciousness of readers. Please keep that in mind. Please click…
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Subscribe to this comment's feedPixie Dust
You're the best Mike...Intriguing photo. Can't wait til Monday. A sincere thanks. Please take care. Our military is the best. Oh that they had a leader worthy of them. You are all in our thoughts and actions.
,
August 07, 2009
Keep em in your thoughts and prayers!
Great photo. No words can begin to describe the feelings one has when landing in a hot LZ. My heart sinks everytime I think about our men and women that are being killed daily in that dump. I am so glad that we have a reporter like Michael over there, doing great work, taking pictures for us all to see. Everyone, pray for your people that are over there going through hell everyday so that we may live here in peace.
,
August 07, 2009
Ask the brits?
You mentioned the Brits are really glad to see and use the US Medvac heli and US medical facilities. Do they have a good long term follow up on their active service health issues in the UK, i.e. like the US troops have with the VA? I read they do have a National Health Care system. Does this health system work well for them and their families or do they need private health insurance as well?
Peter
Peter
,
August 07, 2009
...
Great image Michael! I was hoping you would try to capture that nightime dust effect. Best still photo I've ever seen of it. I read your posts many months ago about your trusty Canon and that influenced me to buy more Canon gear. It would be great to hear more about your photographic techniques. Perhaps you could offer a link to Canon retailers on your site to generate some income.
,
August 07, 2009
What is success in Afghanistan?
Thank you again for all you do for our troops and those of our allies. Have you heard yet of any overarching strategy for success in Afghanistan? As GEN Petraeus said, "How does this end?" I am surprised that this war still has support of the American people remembering how opposed they were to the war in Iraq. I hate seeing our brave men and women being killed and wounded without a clear exit strategy in sight. BTW, I flew Chinooks in Vietnam and know how versitile and useful they are to troops on the ground. Keep up the great work, Michael.
,
August 07, 2009
Awesome
Mike - the photo is awesome. I believe the pilots are even more awesome. I can't imagine how hard that must be, to deal with brownout and night and nightvision goggles and pixie dust. Never mind that someone is shooting at you. If you ever get a chance to talk to one of those guys, ask them if they played a lot of video games as kids. They were probably champs.
Wilson
Wilson
,
August 07, 2009
Another Award Winner:-)
Awesome shot! I would loved to been there to capture that on my HandyCam Pro:-)
BTW Really enjoyed listening to you on Dennis Miller. Your SITREP is clear, concise, and honest. Something totally lacking in the MGMSM!
CCR;-)
BTW Really enjoyed listening to you on Dennis Miller. Your SITREP is clear, concise, and honest. Something totally lacking in the MGMSM!
CCR;-)
,
August 07, 2009
Support?
Are people in support: seems to me that the media is not blowing this up in the news like they did Iraq. Do we hear about every single death with numbers every day? They are barely covering Afghanistan and with instead people are focusing on the economy and health care and Sotomeyer. It is ridiculous and sad.
,
August 07, 2009
Fantastic!
Great photo Michael! Wow our military is like no other any where in the world, god bless all our men and women serving. God speed to you all.
Looking forward to the dispatch thanks so very much.
here is a really awesome tribute to one of our own Sgt. First Class John C. Beale sooooooooooooo worth seeing, much tears will be shed though, beautiful!
http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE
Looking forward to the dispatch thanks so very much.
here is a really awesome tribute to one of our own Sgt. First Class John C. Beale sooooooooooooo worth seeing, much tears will be shed though, beautiful!
http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE
,
August 07, 2009
Please thank them...
Hi Michael, thanks for this amazing photo, and all your posts that keep us so riveted and in touch, at least a little bit with what is happening there. Please extend our most gracious thanks to all the warriors you encounter for joining us in this fight for such a beleaguered place and people. May they all have some sense of the eternal significance of the battle.
,
August 07, 2009
You should have been a photo journalist
Another excellent photo. Look forward to your report on Monday.
,
August 07, 2009
...
Given Mr. Yon is with British Forces right now I suspect the Chinook is British.
Stay safe, Michael, nd keep up the good work.
Stay safe, Michael, nd keep up the good work.
,
August 07, 2009
As it is
As a 14 year veteran of the South African / Angola bush war during the 70's and 80's I really appreciate the calm and rational dispatches from Mr. Yon. A very real experience so well conveyed.
All the best and be safe.
All the best and be safe.
,
August 07, 2009
Great picture, better story
Mike, this pic is now on my desktop. Thanks so much for your efforts--but we depend on you to tell us what the shooters are doing, since they can't do it themselves. So stay safe. The DOD may not realize it yet, but you're a critical resource.
,
August 07, 2009
Beautiful
This is an amazing photo of a fascination effect. I'm so glad you are there to be giving us accurate reports of the battles in Afghanistan.
Thank you so much!
Sandy
Thank you so much!
Sandy
,
August 07, 2009
Safe
Mike, stay safe brother. Thanks for being on the front lines for us.
Saw that three paratroops were killed in a Jackal there in Helmand Province.
Saw that three paratroops were killed in a Jackal there in Helmand Province.
,
August 08, 2009
Thank you
Michael, iam on a fixed income but I will definitely give wat i can. I arrpeciate ur work, the risks, etc, we need more choppers there, and the UK/US had better get moving. How can you get from A to B the safest, fastest way? HELICOPTERS. MORE. PLEASE!!
,
August 08, 2009
Pixie Dust
Please make the Pixie Dust photo available for sale in your on-line store. It is a stunning photo.
,
August 08, 2009
don't know why....
I read every column you put in my inbox. I don't have a lot of extra money, but I figured I could buy you a couple rolls of film or maybe a meal in some airport. God bless you.
,
August 09, 2009
sorry for the dumb title in previous post
I think I forgot to mention that I don't know why it took so long for me to send some money. I certainly didn't mean "I don't know why I read every column." I know exactly why -- you do excellent work.
,
August 09, 2009
Brownout
I'm a helicopter pilot who recently returned from the middle east. The greatest relief for me was not finally returning home after so many months, but the fact that I wouldn't have to do any more of those night sand landings! Best wishes to the brothers and sisters still over there.
,
August 11, 2009
