AFGHANISTAN

Well folks my sincere apologies for not updating recently. As you probably know, we have been quite busy. The Roughnecks left Ft. Bragg on 21 December at zero dark thirty. No photos were allowed on the flight line because certain aircraft mistake camera flash as missile flash and then shoot out their flares. No kidding... Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland where Papi met real Irishmen! We then flew to Adana, Turkey where we re-fueled, but were not allowed to get off the plane. Finally after 20 hours in the air, we landed in Manas, Kyrgyzstan on an old Soviet airfield. Manas is located north of the Kyrgz Capital of Bishkek. After a few days, some of us flew to Bagram and others to Kabul on very crowded C-17s.

We flew over some of the most desolate terrain the planet has to offer. I took this photo from the C-17 standing on my gear, the window is about the size of my out stretched hand.

We landed in Kabul the day before x-Mas. We were picked up by up-armored buses (I will post picture later) and escorted to Camp Phoenix by the Germans and Americans. Kabul is surrounded on three sides by mountains, it is pretty hazy and dusty all of the time. But there are a lot of cars and shops which is a good sign.

There is a lot of Soviet equipment laying around some of which is still in use. This is a Russian HIP cargo helicopter in flight over Kabul.

The majority of the troops did not stay in Camp Phoenix, they moved out all over the country. We have soldiers stationed in almost every single province in Afghanistan. Here are the Boys from 5th Platoon the "Fighting 69th" taking off for Gardez on CH-47s.

That is all for now, I will update again real soon. If you have not heard from one of the guys yet do not worry. Some are still in transit, they will get a hold of you. For now-signing off.