Thanksgiving in Afghanistan

 

Thanksgiving in Afghanistan

Thanksgiving Meal…

Everyone is saying “Happy Thanksgiving” and smiling and acting like they are having the time of their life. Funny thing is to me this is not Thanksgiving… It is Thursday November 26^th and I am in a place where most of the population would not know what a turkey was if it bit them in the ass.

I am not being a stick in the mud I am just not in the mood for false holiday cheer, I am not with my family and I am not deer hunting with my son I am here for a Job to do it and come home I don’t need to wait in line for over an hour for a Thanksgiving meal cooked by people who don’t understand the meaning of the holiday or frankly have the love put into the cooking that those back home do.

We had a wonderful giving chance to some locals where we were able to give out several hundred pairs of shoes and lots of clothing, but they did not understand that this was a holiday they just understood that we were giving stuff away and we were giving it now.

I took a picture of my thanksgiving meal right before I choked it down and went back to work, I ate it in my room while on facebook and frankly the potatoes were instant, the meat was “Beef” and the stuffing was  salty enough to get its own oceanic name.  In the end I was full and I was back to work another Thursday drawing to a close.

So back home I say Happy Thanksgiving, I miss my family, and I will see you soon. Here it is time to get back to work. I have soldiers fighting a war, and they need my support.

Let The Rain Fall

So the other night I heard this large boom and thought oh Sh*t we just got rocketed! Alas it was not a rocket but something even more special and wondrous in this country. We were in the middle of a rain and then lightning storm. After the rain fell we all went outside and watched the light show and I was just amazed at the overwhelming and joyous assault on my senses. Between the wonderful smell of the rain to the flash and bang and rumble of the lightning it was like sitting in the middle of an Orchestra playing a song just for me.

After a few minutes we had to go back in and continue on our own missions that we perform at the hospital but for a few short moments we had this huge group of soldiers and airmen standing out in the rain not caring that we were getting wet, not caring who the person next to you was a male or female, black, white, yellow, brown and even not caring if you were Air Force or Army. We were just all bunched together watching the rain fall and smelling the rain and feeling the crack boom of the lightning. It was one amazing night and incidentally the first rain to this valley in over 1 month.

Lightning strike in Afghanistan.

Back home I usually sit and listen and watch the late night rain from my porch swing so this brought out mixed feelings for me I thought back to one of my last night’s home when my wife and I sat on the porch listening and seeing and smelling the rain. I had yet to be overly homesick but by god I was this night. You would be amazed at how some little thing like the smell of rain can make you feel like you miss home more than anything in the world.

Update and Info

I have not blogged in quite a while it seems like there is so much going on here that when have free time I go and talk to my family (Skype you RULE) and or I read a book and fall asleep. Have you ever watched the movie “Groundhogs Day”? That is what life is like here in lovely Afghanistan. Except for this last week, I traveled to an outlying FOB (Forward Operating Base) and I saw and learned so much it is hard to put into words. It seems that what is boring to me is interesting and unusual to others so I will begin to write down the things I do and experience so you can have a better understanding of this place I call home for now. It won’t all be in order but I will begin to put it to “Paper” and share it with you.

The Base where I live

Another Day Another… Well you know

Today seemed like every other day except for one thing the wind. I swear we had winds in the 60 MPH arena and with the dust when the winds hit just right it looked like rain passing a streetlight.
I am finding that most days are alike but today I got to see some of the kids in the ICW come out for a walk around the hospital. they seemed so happy to be here and loved to be outside. it was almost heartbreaking to look at them though. There were two little boys and a little girl and they all had something going on with them the oldest boy was in a wheelchair and had several bandages visible, and the middle boy most likely should have been too but he stubbornly wanted to walk and make the rounds himself.
The little girl was just precious, she had short dark hair and the biggest brown eyes they you have ever seen. I thought by her size she was maybe 4 or 5 at the oldest but no she is 10 yers old and she mabe weighs 40 pounds at the most. She has learned her first words in English when I went up to say hello she smiled and shook my hand and said “hello sir” in this darling little voice. As I said heartbreaking to know that she is so tiny not because of genetics but simply from a life of malnourishment and mistreatment. Yet she has the strength and ability to smile with the beauty of a morning sunrise and and be happy. Makes me wonder what will happen when we release her to her family for home treatment? Will she still smile and be happy or will she just become more malnourished and not make it.
The politics and customs of this country are so strange and hard to understand, I have been here only a week and I am still confused by the utter disregard for the human spirit and body in this place I hope I can find some understanding………

-C-

Goooood Morning Afghanistan!

31 July 2009

Day 3 In the Sun

You know it is funny when I first had thought of going to war I expected to be tired, I expected to be overworked, but I never expected to live in a dorm like a college student! I have some roommates and I have my own corner, and when the “Rain” comes in from the insurgents we stay here in our “Hardened” Areas rather than out in the sand bag bunkers. I have A/C and I have internet, not exactly roughing it huh? (Internet does cost me a hundred bucks a month so that is rough!)

Had my first day on the job yesterday, the guy I m replacing is in a constant state of nervous and it is simply because he really wants to be helpful and he really does not know this job I do as well as he had hoped. It’s not his fault he is in an office with several Air Force Sergeants who don’t do Army Supply so he has been learning their method, good kid but needs to have some confidence.

I got to finally see what the hell of was yesterday when I was walking thru the outpatient clinic and this child caught my eye. She had the biggest brown eyes that were filled with what seemed like the ultimate in despair. She had been sitting there for over four hours to be seen “If” our doctors have time. Her father or other male guardian was there with several friends talking away and pointedly ignoring her as best they could. Did I mention aside from those pretty brown eyes she was covered on burns, they are healing only by the grace of God but she is surviving on guts and tenacity n a country where when she does survive she will be treated not like a second class citizen but A third class simply because she os female and no longer pleasing to the eye. God help her……

I know there will be more to see and more to experience here and I will share the god and bad. If I seem like I am vague about certain things it’s because I am I don’t want to give up too much information and possible endanger someone. When I first thought of going off to War I always thought it would be with a Combat Arms unit doing the whole kicking doors and taking names thing. Now I know it was, is, and always has been my destiny to be here in support of them, Making sure that they have all they need or want to make them successful. Am I bitter, NOT ONE BIT! I have a job that makes not just a team or squad successful but a whole unit.

I am a Supply Sergeant and I am Good at that job Sustain, Support and Serve!

A Sunny Morning in Kyrgistan

I woke up this morning completely disoriented and wondering where the hell I was.
Then I remembered the 48 hours of Flying and the Layover in Germany and the Flight in to Where I am now. I am not in Afghanistan yet but I can see the mountains in the distance and I know that I am close.
The thing that surprised me was that when I went outside my enormous tent that I am living in with like a hundred and fifty other guys I smelled a smell that reminded me of home. It had recently rained and it smelled like the fresh rain on a newly cut lawn it was refreshing and uplifting to have that as my wake up experience.
This area is really interesting it was once a part of communist Russia and now these locals are propping up their economy and liffestyle on our funding.
Where they used to scrape for basic needs they now sell former communist “Bling” as a tourist attraction and they are making a killing at it! I say good for them.
Not much more to say today but I am going to go now and get my stuff ready to hopefully make it to the last leg of my trip. Take care all and see you later

Chuck

Off to a new chapter

There are many mixed feelings when I consider that I have been trying toget deployed for almot 8 years now. Now that it is a reality it is almost surreal, As I sit contemplaing the vast changes in life I touch on things like m family, my business, my friends, my church. All of these things are important to me in a different wa but equally so. I have been told by several people to go and be safe and try to do the best you can, that I am already a hero to them and deployment will not change that. For that I am grateful, comments like that are things that give me a driving energy and force rom within to keep going, when I am sad and worn out I think of these people and I realize that they are just as much my hero as I am theirs. They are my hero simply because they believe in me and spport me and the love me unconditonally.
Now it is time for me to take all those special memories and put them in a hardened and safe place in my heart and mind and to attend to the task at hand. I love my family and my friends, but now I have to love and care for my soldiers as much if not more. They are my brothers and sisters in arms and they are the people Ihave to depend on, regardless of the fact that I like them or hate them they are my family for the next 12 months.
I am a supply sergeant in the United States Army and I am god at my job, I have proven it at home in an office, now it is time to prove it in the trenches.
I have not tried to bore you the last few months with training and parties and prep to go. These things are the mundane and simple part to the Army. I will now start writing here as often as possible to give you an insight into my life in Afghanistan.
So buckle up and strap yourselves in its going t be a bumpy ride but damn is it going to be exciting and fun!

Take Care God Bless and See you in a year! CHeck bck fr updates!

Chuck

Long Time No ??????

Well so much for the writing daily, let me see what has changed since OCT. Well I am happy to say that Mr. Booth received his Black belt and was able to begin training with a really cool group out of Milwaukee. I have been working like a dog trying to get ahead with work at the Army and trying to make a school grow. (Apparently my wife does not appreciate 70+ Hour Weeks)

Other than that I have been bust trying to help others change their life! Just so you know that is not an easy task. I had a house guest for several months who was living with us trying to restart the life that he was royally F****ing up and so we tried to find him a job and a place to live but all he really managed to do was convince Jen that homicide can be fun and exciting. Well he survived and so did I and now he is off learning to be a combat cook. Fish and Friends is a lesson I have learned well. Two things you should never keep in the house longer than 7 days Fish and Friends! I have found out that I will be going on a vacation overseas in the next 6 months as well and that is just a joy too. Go figure I finally decide it is time to pack it in I have given the Army enough and then they want to deploy me. It is not like I have been trying to build a business and future for my family, why don’t we just throw in a 12 month Monkey wrench in that plan and see how easy iy is to mess with Chuck huh??? Oh well that which does not kill you… Or some crap like that! Time to bounce for now I will talk with you later!!

Mr. C

Good Luck to My Friend

Today my Best Friend is going to sit in front of a panel of men who have never met him and show them the culmination of 9 years of training and hard work.

 He will be testing for his Shodan in Shorin-Ryu Karate. The biggest honor of this though is the fact that he will be able to test in front of the ranking Black Belt of that Style in the United States Hanshi Tadashi Yamashita a 9th Dan Black Belt in Shorin Ryu and Kobudo (Ancient Okinawan Weapons).

Bill as been working his butt of to make himself ready devoting no less than 20 hours a week in the last six months to ensure he is ready. Now by no means am I an expert in Shorin-Ryu, but I have seen allot of Martial Arts and Martial Artists in my time and he is by far the most determined and dedicated I know.

When I started Warriors Academy in the basement of the church, I had no one to help me so I had asked him to assist me as a teacher. It is common for brown Belts to be Assistant instructors, and when I asked he said “I don’t know anything about Tae Kwon Do”. Now a year later he is a Black Belt in Tae kwon Do, and has become one of the best instructors I have ever had the privilege to work with. I have learned as much from him as I have taught him and in the Martial Arts that is always a plus.

So to end this I am simply going to say Good Luck My Brother, you have trained hard and have given your heart and passion to this art. I am proud of you and honored to be able to call you friend and student. More importantly I will also soon be able to call you Sensei.

With my deepest love and respect,

Mr. Chuck

Mr Booth doing a Kobudo Form

UPDATE!!!

 

Congratulations to Bill he is now a SHODAN in Shorin-Ryu! What an acomplishment and kudos to him!

Silence is golden (Unless it involves a beating!)

I don’t know how people will take this but I am going with my gut and putting it all out there for you to see Honesty will either kill me or save me so here I go!

 

 

 

You know my friend Maggie (www.okayfinedammit.com ) did a wonderful post on this month being domestic violence prevention month. The one thing that makes me angry is I have yet to hear anything on the news, or on the radio about it.

This is the one part of my life I don’t talk about a whole lot and try to make sure that my wife and kids don’t see either. There are those that let the cycle continue with themselves when they are beaten or see violence as kids, they usually say “I don’t know any better this is the way I was taught” I for one believe that is a bunch of horse dung! So here is a story of a kid growing up in centeral Wisconsin, who instead of taking the violence another generation down stoped it. Now he teaches self defense and personal awareness to those who need it. This is my story…….

When I was growing up I had several “Dads” and not all of them were of the honorable nature. She had the talent of picking the wrong men and in turn they had the talent of treating her like crap! I remember shortly after she married her fourth husband I was in fifth grade and somewhere around 10 years old, I saw my first bit of “Domestic Violence”.

I was watching TV in the living room like most ten year olds do and I had heard my Mom and Step dad arguing a bit but that was normal. Shortly after that I remember hearing my Mom holler, and then she and my Step-Dad came running out of the bedroom, and I watched in fear and horror when he shoved her down on the couch and started hitting her. At ten I had never seen this and I did not know how to react. The only thing I knew was the honeymoon was over.

This was the first time I witnessed this kind of act but, not the last. After a while it got to the point where I would hear his truck pull in and start to get sick to my stomach thinking of what may happen when he comes in. I was about twelve when I started trying to fight back for her, I was scared, but I was more scared for her. I used to make sure that I was in the room if they were fighting, and when I had to I got in between her and him (NOTE HERE it is not wise for any 12 year old kid regardless of size or strength to get in between a 250 pound man and anything when he is angry, the phone would have been easier but hindsight is 20/20). I got my butt handed to me several times but I would not let him hurt my Mother any more.

 It took about 2 years of me getting in the way for her to realize that either she had to leave or he was going to kill us both eventually. She finally went to the Police, and here is the kicker, because he was an upstanding member of the community and business owner they would not believe the charges, I still remember to this day over 15 years later hearing one deputy say to another as they walk away “No Blood No Foul”. Why? Because they knew him and went to his liquor store and got great discounts.

Two things I want to say and I will bring this story to an end. If one woman reads this and understands she is being abused, I have made a difference. If one Mother reads this and understands that not only is she getting abused but so are her kids, then I have made a difference. I have not lived with that man for over 15 years, and I still remember what was done to me and I know there are kids in that situation as well. So listen up for all of you who think there is no place to go GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN, for your sake and for the sake of your children.

Lastly if you need help, want to learn self defense, feel like you can’t stop him. Come and see me at the school I am more than happy to make sure you can defend yourself when you leave. I won’t even charge you for it, www.warriorsama.com

In the end it is all up to the person being abused to say STOP, without that you just have another punching bag waiting to get another beating, and if that bag gets hit the cycle starts over again.

 

 

Good Luck to the Silent Victims, and to the ones doing the beatings, you better hope that the children of the women you beat have either a short memory, or and enormous capacity to forgive/forget. I know it took me years to understand that and it is a good thing for him I did.

 

 

SPREAD THE WORD THE VIOLENCE MUST STOP!

 

Mr. C