Thanksgiving Explosions

Thanksgiving here was more of the same. You wouldn’t have known it was Thanksgiving if you didn’t go to the chow hall. That is rather odd because while Eric and I were eating, right in the middle there was a rather loud explosion. Imagine being one of the few individuals that doesn’t have a firearm and everyone around you is a little trigger happy with theirs. When a loud explosion occurs and it is not expected, many Marines go for their weapon and begin to load the magazine. This reaffirms that the military engrains procedures and training into the heads of these Marines and oddly makes me feel good about it. As it turns out there was a rather large controlled detonation that occurred right as everyone was sitting down to eat the Thanksgiving meal. Typically we are warned about such events right before they happen so that we can maintain some semblance of calm and professionalism but that was not the case on Thanksgiving. We got the e-mail that it was going to happen about an hour afterwards. There is nothing like having things like this to remind you where you are.

Here are the details of a controlled det. A controlled detonation is when they take an unexploded ordinance (UXO) and they safely blow it up hence the phrase controlled det. Most times when EOD (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) finds an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) that they can safely transport back to the base, they will do so because we want to run the controlled det to see how big of an explosion these IEDs are causing. Research is always occurring. This is also a great way to remind anyone around us or those that are on base and shouldn’t be, that we are still here and they may want to think twice about doing anything stupid.

We fire rockets that are called HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) and it is phenomenal. If you wait until you hear it, then all you see is the trail of smoke from where it flew up. If you are lucky enough to catch sight of it when it is fired, you are truly in awe of it. It is almost like seeing and hearing an F-22 flyover head. When they are firing one, they will probably fire more. I have seen dozens fired since I have been here and I am still like a kid in a candy store when it happens. Shortly after that I have to make myself remember that the result of the HIMAR is tragic and shouldn’t be celebrated but it is captivating nevertheless. 9 times out of 10 if you are reading about casualties from a rocket attack, it was a HIMAR.

There are firing ranges everywhere at Leatherneck and they are used constantly. Marines here have itchy trigger fingers and they must get a work out either for training or in combat, either will do. Gunfire from an M-16 (the rifle that all junior Marines carry) and an M-5 (the pistol that Marines carry) is rather boring and hardly noticed. When the big guns are being shot, everyone knows. I can actually pick out the differences in gunfire from a .50 caliber to a 40 mm to a 20 mm. Note: faster sounds and fire equal smaller round. All of these weapons can be put on the vehicles that the Marines drive in convoys and anywhere outside the wire. I have yet to hear a .762 mm or a 1.05 mm but these are more commonly on Air Force Gun Ships (1.05 mm) and Helicopters (.762 mm) and I would be shocked if I ever got to hear it. It doesn’t mean that I can’t hope.

Since I have been in Afghanistan, we have experienced the bloodiest months of the war here. I am extremely thankful for what I am about to say but it is also odd. I don’t feel like I am in a warzone. I got to experience a rocket attack on my first night in Afghanistan and that has been it and it wasn’t here at Leatherneck. To read the newspapers and see that the war is getting worse doesn’t seem like reality here at Leatherneck. It does seem like reality for those units that I support at the outlying FOBs (forward operating bases) because they are taking the brunt of the attacks. I am glad that I haven’t had to experience some of those things but it is not what I expected. Reality definitely sets in at the ramp ceremonies and visits to the medical center here. Those are stories for another day though.

So that is what I am thankful for this year. My family, my friends and each one of the devil dogs out here that is ready and willing to make sacrifices that seem foreign to all too many.

Another month has come and gone which leaves only one more month to get through before I get to go home.

Outback and Ayla

Yesterday was rather interesting. Armed Forces Entertainment (please do not confuse them with the USO…more on that in a bit) brought Outback Steakhouse to Camp Leatherneck and the musician Ayla Brown. In the roughly five months that I have been here, this is literally the only form of entertainment that has occurred.

I found it very interesting that Armed Forces Entertainment would allow me to participate in their events. I bring this up because the USO will not let me use their services or participate in their events. We have a USO facility here at Leatherneck and because I am not active duty military, I cannot use their services. Apparently it doesn’t matter that I am an American citizen or that I work for the Department of Defense or that I am deployed to Afghanistan which is an active warzone. I have written the USO about this and receive no response. I can definitively say that I will never be donating any money to the USO.

Outback brought 45,000 pounds of steak with them from the States and more than 40 volunteers to help cook, set up and promote the event. Outback has been doing this once a year since 2002 and it is absolutely free. They are not paid for it and all they get in return is lodging while they are here (not to mention a bunch of good PR). Outback is owned by the same company that owns Carrabbas Italian Grill so we had some Carrabbas food too. The food was amazing. I can’t even begin to describe how good a bloomin’ onion can make someone here feel. I never really understood why little things like this would make a difference but I do now. Outback scored major points with me.

The mission over here is convoluted at best and most times the troops over here really couldn’t tell you why we are here. During the intermission of the concert, Major General Mills (the commanding general of Leatherneck) came up to give a speech to everyone. During speech he gave the microphone to the Outback spokesman. The Outback spokesman made it clear why they are supporting us. The Outback spokesman basically said that 9/11 wasn’t an accident and we are here to bring the fight to them. As long as we are over here, Outback is going to keep coming out to let us know that we are not forgotten and the cause is still supported. Please note, I have taken out the large amount of profanity that accompanied this statement. Whether or not you agree with the statement, it was nice to hear. I liked Outback before but I think I am going to give them a little more business now.

Ayla Brown is a former American Idol contestant and her father is a US Senator from Massachusetts (he won Ted Kennedy’s seat). Her music was average at best but it was nice that she and her band came out. Before the concert began, a Master Sergeant sang the National Anthem while the marines presented the American Flag. It is hard to describe this but I will try. Everyone was standing at attention and saluting the flag while the Star Spangled Banner was being sung. The speakers and amplifiers were purposely turned up so that anyone near Leatherneck would hear it. It literally gave me chills and that is not just because it was 41 degrees outside. Keep in mind that Camp Bastion is a British base and the song was written during a battle between the US and England. There were even a few Brits in the audience. With about 200 years between when it was written and now, it still stings a little bit for the Brits even though we are great allies with them now. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the overtones of blasting it in an active US warzone. It is something that I will never forget. It may be one of those experiences that you just had to be there for.

All throughout the concert there were Marine MPs (military police) all around the staging area for the concert and they had quite a few IED sniffing dogs with them. I was standing near the back, near where a lot of the MPs were, and I witnessed something truly unique. A group of TCNs were coming to enjoy the concert and their IDs were being checked (typical and per policy). All of a sudden a dog started giving his handler the signal that he smelled something. This sign is only given if the dog smells one of the chemicals typically used in IEDs. Needless to say, about 5 MPs tackled this TCN and “subdued” him. In this instance, the individual in question is immediately declared an enemy combatant and rules basically go out the window. This is done without as much as a word being uttered. I have no idea what the result was after they dragged the TCN off. It could have turned out to be nothing. I mean after all most of the TCNs here are tasked with cleaning and things of that nature and any number of chemicals could have been on his clothes. All I know is that I was about 15 feet away from him and when I recognized the situation, I had a simple thought. Oh shit. Nothing more and nothing less. A simple thought that was followed by more expletives sprinting through my head than I thought I knew. Before anyone potentially freaks out you should remember that the stories I tell you are nothing compared to what I don’t tell you. Now you may freak out but remember sometimes you just gotta have faith. Now please channel your inner George Michael and sing the chorus.

Veterans Day

In honor of Veterans Day, I thought it would be appropriate to tell a few stories about the folks that I work with over here.

Most people who know me, know exactly how to answer the question, “do you want the short explanation or the long one?” Unfortunately for some of the Marines that I work with, they don’t know how to answer it. Let me start at the beginning. Quite a few Marines that I work with are pursuing their college education while they are out here. As such, they have assignments that they are always working on and have to turn in for grading. One of the Marines here wants to major in Criminal Justice. Despite my best efforts, I could not dissuade her. There really isn’t much you can do with the degree and CSI won’t be calling you anytime soon for a position.

Regardless, she knows that I have a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Psychology and asked for my assistance with her paper that she was writing. Two hours later I finished giving her my help. For those of you that have watched Glenn Beck on Fox News (I will pause momentarily for cringing….ok you can stop now), you will notice that he uses a chalk board in just about every show. Replace the chalk board with a white board and you had me. I was able to take a simple psychology question and illustrate how the military can be a bit socialist in nature.

I will trace a brief outline for you, nature vs. nurture turned into socialism vs. democracy which then in turn became practical application of economic theory. I have a unique ability to tie just about anything into a totally different topic. Anyway, I was able to successfully convince a group of Marines that the military is socialist in nature and could threaten the very fabric of American society. Yeah, they are a little too easily led. Don’t worry, I tried to undo the damage by pointing out how the military embraces freedom, social equality and a promotable hierarchy which can call be tied back into democracy and capitalism. By the end of my “lecture” there were 7 Marines listening to me and sadly there was an officer in the group as well. I shudder to think about what I could do if I started my own cult.

Since I have been here, I have encountered a number of rather interesting things that I haven’t seen before. For instance, on my first day at Leatherneck I walked into a room and literally saw a group of Marines measuring their muscles with a tape measure. I have witnessed Marines duck taping another Marine (think being tied down) and then giving him a few shots to the body just because it was his birthday and then to top it off, they shut him in a 20 foot metal container while still taped up. He got out about 5 minutes later.

I think what has topped the chain and blown my mind is the following story. Here at Leatherneck we use port-a-potties to do our business. Some of these facilities have a venting tube that comes out the back and rises up like a chimney would off of a house. This tube is about 10 inches in diameter and it goes directly from the “holding” area of the port-a-potties, straight up in the air. The holding area is filled with a blue liquid that is supposed to disinfect and keep the spread of disease to a minimum. The Marines has these same types of facilities in Iraq and they brought a little tradition with them to Leatherneck. Marines and the Army do not get along. It is basically like oil and vinegar. So they take every opportunity to screw the other over that they can. The Army typically has decent facilities with actual bathrooms so the port-a-potties are not exactly their cup of tea but they use them anyway. When a Marine is able to identify that an Army soldier is using the facilities and is going to be in there for a bit, they find a sizeable rock that can fit down the venting tube and throw it down as hard as they can. The rock will then cause a splash that can only be rivaled by the wave that results from the fat kid that does a cannonball into a pool. The solider will then come out of the john and be soaked with blue liquid and all of the other lovely things that are deposited into a port-a-potty. I laugh every time I see an Army guy that is all blue and pissed off.

These are our Veterans even if you don't want to claim them and on this Veterans Day we salute them.

Animals

Today is my 121st straight day of work without a day off. I work 12 hour days every day except for Sunday and then it is just 8 hours. All enlisted Marines and contractors get a day off every week. I forgot what it was like to work this many days in a row. While I was in college I would often times have 2 or 3 jobs while going to school but even then I was able to line up a weekend every now and then that I could take off. I am pretty sure that is why I got sick. My body just wanted to rest. Not that I did rest as a result but the thought of resting was nice enough.

We have animals all over this base. Most are transported here after they snuck into some of the containers that were shipped over. Most of the cats here are fed by someone and a few even have collars on them now. It doesn’t mean that I am going to be taking them in but it is nice to see that all humanity isn’t lost out here.
One of the IED sniffing docs came into my office the other day. Her name was Rita and she had a hurt paw so she was on light duty. Rita is a German Shepherd mix and she is kind of small for a German Shepherd. IED sniffing dogs are always one rank above their handler and will get promoted as they do. For example, Rita was a Corporal because her handler was a Lance Corporal. These dogs are awarded medals and are treated as Marines. If the handler mistreats the IED dog, then they get NJPed (Non-Judicial Punishment…typically involves loss of rank and pay with extra duties) and can even be court marshaled depending on the offense.

If Rita to were walk by you, you would just see a dog. She walked around the office and loved the attention. Rita stopped so anyone who wanted to pet her could. She had the roughest dog hair/fur coat that I had ever touched. You could tell that she had spent a lot of time outside under the hot sun. When she came next to my area, she licked a few drops of water that had fallen from my bottle of water. So we got a Styrofoam bowl and filled it up. Then we filled it again and again and again. We filled it until three bottles of water were gone. Typically you would have water everywhere but not with Rita. Rita made sure that that bowl was almost as dry after she was done with it as when she started. She was a happy dog after that and she left with her handler to go back to her area with the other IED dogs.

Eric and I have noticed as of late that there seem to be a family of pigeons that are living at Leatherneck. Now I have no idea if they were here before we got here but it would be poetic if our gift to the Afghani’s were pigeons. It’s almost as bad as the Indians giving the early settlers tobacco.

There is a phrase that the Marines love to say and it drives me crazy. Kill bodies. This phrase is used to show affirmation, gratitude and understanding. Occasionally they just say the word, “kill.” Regardless of what they say, it absolutely drives me up a wall. From my view is says a lot about someone who would ever want to brag about that or get excited at the prospect. Most of the times when I hear one of the Marines say it, I remind them that they work in supply and I have more time experienced outside the wire here than they have. They don’t like that very much.