Afghanistan My Last Tour

First of many stops was an ANA observation post perched high on top of a steep hillside.  Our MRAPs pulled off the highway and maintained a security posture while the ANA LTVs climbed up the switchbacks leading to the OP.  Our Marine brigade commander accompanied the ANA General on the trip along with his interpreter.

Most of the Observation

Posts are strategically positioned overlooking a valley or village below.  By holding the high ground they can see for miles and have a tactical advantage against insurgents who might try to attack them, while at the same time providing security for the village.  The Light Tactical Vehicles (LTV) had no trouble motoring up the incline.  I wasn’t sure if our MRAPs could lumber up the hillside, but I was soon going to find out.

The hill was rather steep, but with over 300 horsepower powering me, my tires dug into the soft soil and propelled me forward.  I was cognizant of my tilt gauge and periodically glanced at it so we wouldn’t roll over.  The last part of the hill was the steepest and my tires were spinning and I am vocally coaxing my MRAP up the hill.

Once on top, we had a perfect view of the valleys and villages below along with an adjacent ANA OP.  Most of the OPs have no electricity and the soldiers have wood burning stoves to heat the sparse rooms they sleep in.  The kitchens are very primitive and the stoves are also wood-fed.  Despite frequent rocket and

mortar attacks, bitter cold nights and less than palatable food, these ANA soldiers are resilient and determined.  A personal visit from the ANA general helped to reaffirm his commitment to them and boost their morale.  Now if the Minister of Defense (MOD) cronies who award the logistics contracts would stop subcontracting and

supplying inferior quality materials.  Instead, focus on a nationalistic effort instead of capitalistic endeavors to line their pockets, the soldiers’ quality of life would improve.  Better yet, I would love for them to doff their expensive suits and give up their creature comforts of electricity, running water, and flush toilets in their mansions and spend a week with

these hardy soldiers to truly appreciate the sacrifice these men are making for their country’s security.   Perhaps then, they would have a change of heart and their greed would dissipate.

Throughout the day, we would visit various ANA COPs and OPs.  After awhile, they all started looking the same.  Basic construction consisted of walled facilities surrounded by rows of Hesco barriers filled with dirt.  Unfortunately as lead driver, I had to remain with the vehicle at all times and was unable to tour the facilities or take many pictures.  One of my gunners was generous enough to take a few snapshots at places when he dismounted the MRAP.  The interpreter was tied up with the Brigade commander and this also limited my ability to find out interesting facts or history surrounding the outposts.

It was a long day and the sun was beginning to set.  So we made plans to turn around and drive back north to COP Sayed Abad and stay there for the night.  Initially we pulled into the ANA COP at the foot of the hillside thinking we were going to spend the night with our ANA brothers.  While there, an ANA soldier injured his hand.  Apparently he had his

hand in the space between the door hinges and when the heavy metal door was closed, he crushed 3 of his fingers.  Our Army medic with the Sgt Major assisting provided treatment and applied a splint to the fingers.  Afterwards, a determination was made to transport the soldier to a local hospital because more than likely he broke some of the fingers.

After the ANA soldier was treated, a decision was made to spend the night at COP Sayed Abad.  This was a US COP and if we timed it right, we would make it in time to have a hot meal.  Previously I saw the COP by air, but this was my first visit on the ground.  Since we missed out on having lunch, we were all pretty hungry.  The chow serving line was rather

small and tonight’s menu included meatloaf, lumpy mashed potatoes, cooked peas and a leafy green salad.  The mess hall to sit down had a couple of plywood tables and wooden benches to eat at.  The facility is too small to accommodate all of the soldiers, so they eat in shifts or utilize take out trays.  The meatloaf was actually pretty tasty and because I was

hungry, I didn’t mind the large lumps of potatoes mixed in with the mashed potatoes.  The potatoes come ready-made in a large sealed plastic bag.  The cook places the bag into a large pot of boiling water to heat them up before serving them.     Nobody complains and nobody on my team dare complain because we are spoiled by the contractors at our camp

who serve a variety of hot entrees and a sandwich bar.

For the night, we were crowded into a large b-hut with cots.  Twenty people on my team would sleep here, to include a female Army Captain.  We stood up some cots around her cot to give her a sense of privacy.  We had one heater for the facility and someone turned it up too high and the condenser froze during the night.  It was a very cold and uncomfortable night even with our multi-layered sleeping bag.  Before going to sleep, I visited the small MWR facility and was able to chat with Liisa on Messenger before calling it a night.  Day One had come to a close and tomorrow we would venture farther down the “Highway of Death”.

Filed under: Missions Tagged: | Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, ANA, COP Sayed Abad, Deployment, ETT, U.S. Air Force, war