Day 56: 22 MAR 08

Well I am back from what was arguably the most risky thing I have done in my life. Marriage, commitment to God, choice of school, occupation, and military service can all be reneged upon for better or worse. But for the convoy I went on that was not an option. We left FOB Sharana and headed for FOB Kushmond which is close to the Afghanistan/ Pakistan border. That place is a real crap hole. I feel bad for the soldiers and Polish troops who are stationed there. I rode in a MRAP (Wikipedia it) which is about the newest and safest vehicle available. On the way down we had good intel that IEDs were on our route. Sure enough the crew ahead of us hit a small one. In that I mean it was designed to injure or kill a person walking. It did not have enough power to hurt the vehicle. Anyway that was in the convoy ahead of ours. Then we got there spent the night and stopped at a few places on the way back. I will upload pictures tomorrow. Overall this has been the longest and most remote trip so far. I am really getting out and seeing Afghanistan. I have been working and traveling with combat engineers. Basically guys that can both shoot and build in the middle of Afghanistan. They do have to do both to be honest. These guys and gals are out here for 15 months! They leave in May and the next crew comes in right before that. I am sorry but that’s just too long to be in a combat zone! 1 year at the most in my opinion. I have to say that this deployment is truly changing me. As long as I get home safe, which I have faith that I will, it’s a great experience. It just opens your mind and eyes to so many things. I think if our idiot politicians and average American could see this stuff it would change the way they think. I mean if I ever get into politics I know this trip will shape the way I view the world and the privilege it is to be an American. Unfortunately most of our politicians did not serve, so Vietnam and Desert Storm are nowhere on their radar (John McCain is the exception as he spent 5 or 6 years in the Hanoi Hilton so he gets my applause but still will not get my vote). Anyway tomorrow is Easter and yet again I will not be home. I have to say though I am use to it. For me holidays are important based on their cause, and in tomorrow’s case Jesus died! We all know that but I promise you that your holidays are more shaped by the people you spend them with and the traditions you carry out in front of them. Christmas, St. Patty’s Day, Easter, Super bowl, etc. are all for a good reason and some better than others but in the end if you are not with the people you care about then it’s really not a holiday. I will probably go to some service tomorrow and pray and thank God but without my family it is not the same. I am fine with it though as the majority of my good memories concerning holidays are from circa 1990 – 1994!(our years too but those were the best = all of the family were alive and getting long) Thanks for all of the comments and just know I am fine. I should be back to Bagram this Monday. The 2 month mark is coming up this week so time is definitely going by fast. I love all of you and really miss the states. I know I will be ready to leave Europe but still have a few places to see there. Ok well look for pictures tomorrow and a little post. Rob