Forget Osama! We found more Keebler Elves!

I know I said the other day I wouldn't talk about Qalat and all the desert stuff but when I downloaded the pictures I was reminded of the bakery at the provincial headquarters. SGM and I started wandering, as always and usually with the intent to procure items of interest, and came across a 10X20 room full of guys making dough and baking bread. I'd heard about it and reaped the benefit of the warm bread before but never seen it made. So, here we go........First, the guys on one side of the room throw dough to the other side of the room. That guy needs more flour into the dough and then flattens it out and pierces the dough with his fingers to make little slits in the dough.

Next, he throws it to the baker, kind of like a pizza kitchen. The baker, stretches and shapes the dough into about 8X20 inch slabs.
Then he moistens one side of the dough with salt water and then literally slaps it on the side of an underground oven.
The oven is heated by open wood fire.

It takes about 5 minutes for the bread to bake and then the baker slings the bread out of the oven with this fire poker looking thing. In one stroke he snatches it out and launches it about 8 feet across the room to the guy that cuts it into portions. Meanwhile, the little "kid" helper is walking all over the floor with his bare feet. YUM! The bread actually tastes very good despite the added "nutrition" from the feet walking all over the preparation floor. The bread tastes much like a thin, 1/4 inch pizza crust.
So, there you go.....something new and not about a desert trip.

As Promised

I believe every soldier that operates in the field, especially ones that make daily life or death trips up and down roads or to the bathroom, for that matter, longs to leave some sort of footprint behind to justify the sacrifices he or she makes in the line of duty. Today was one of those days that does just that. SGM and I have racked our brains to develop this camp and with pride today the two of us raised Old Glory over Camp Georgia. Most of our guys were off doing other stuff but the Hajji workers all stopped and watched as the two of us hoisted her up. It was a proud moment for the two of us. Rahim, one of our terps, came over to us, stood at the base of the pole and looked at her. He asked us what the stars and stripes represented and we proudly explained them to him. The others looked for a little while and then carried on but none the less I think many of them understood what was going on. The footprint of Camp Georgia has been laid. More Americans will come behind us and they will have safer, better living conditions than we've had. They will reap the benefit of our work and what more is to come. SGM made a profound statement in that not many people get to establish a FOB, or camp in our case. Nothing to something, so to speak. Just like Afghanistan.....taking nothing to something.

A Sick Call of Change

I had an interesting sick call last night. Usually, I do a sick call about 1700 (5PM) every evening for the ANP. I'm available 24/7 for "emergencies" but I don't flaunt that to the ANP because everything would be an "emergency." All you providers have seen the headache that's been hurting for and hour yet presents to the ER without even the effort of a Tylenol. Here its 2 hours, 2day, 2 months or 2 years. Whatever. But onward.......I wear many hats as the only Army officer on the compound. We've got a Navy 04 here but for the guys on our team, well, he doesn't count as far as leadership goes. Truthfully, SGM is the leader of the team and I'm here to be an asset to him. Anyway, I have to operate on the medical, management, infantry, etc level and deal with the ANP leadership on that same level. Most of the culture here is wrapped around taking care of the leadership, the father if you will. Our military is based on an opposite philosophy. The superiors are to lead and take care of their subordinates. Since being in country, I've not seen one example of the superior taking care of his people, until last night. The Watch Officer for the night came to our terp (Sofat) at 2000 hrs (8PM), 3 hours past sick call. I was in our finally working kitchen and Sofat came to get me and ask on behalf of the officer if I would see his sick men. I said "What? An officer is asking? You serious?!?" Sofat "Sir, he has a list of his sick men and their complaints." "Well, hell Sofat, lets go do it!" The officer introduced himself to me and sat down and checked of his list of men as they came in to see me. 15 people and 1.5 hours later I was done. I told him that he showed the best example of leadership I'd seen on both ANA and ANP sides since I'd been in country. It was the first time I felt even a little bit of hope for this place. What a well needed feeling to justify the pains of being away from home.

Family Time

The other day I said I was going to write some stuff about our little trip to Qalat. Well, after further review of pictures and the trip me, myself and I determined that more pictures of the desert and occasional camel wouldn't be worth taxing the carpal tunnel syndrome, so in lieu of that.....
Camp Georgia is really coming along. Now that most of us have our own rooms, SGM and I have noticed that after we cook dinner and everyone gets food, no one is to be found albeit our intelligent SPC Allee that eats with us. Weird. Before we'd all eat together, chit chat about the day and plans for the next few. Well, last night our generator went out and it was COLD. We grilled out and kept slapping on wood to the grill and gathering around. It was like a KAO without the amenities. The Hajji contractors were hanging out waiting for the mechanic to show up. We fed them and shared Cuban cigars with them and we all laughed and talked about killing Taliban, the cost of the cigars and all sorts of other fun stuff. It was like old home week. The SGTs were actually hanging out as well. About 2100, the power came back up and everyone dissipated to their corners to warm up all their 2000 or so parts. SGM and I talked a little later about how nice it was to have that time together as a team to bond like "old times" (1 week ago) across the camp. It drove home the importance of family time, that time at dinner when people actually sit and commune (communicate) with one another and enjoy the presence of each other. The Afghans do this every night, probably because there's nothing else to do but at least they do it.
I know now, more than ever, what I'd give to be able to sit across from my wife and daughter and hear about their day and their upcoming events. I'm willing to sacrifice my life to continue to give you that opportunity to look across at yours. Please take it.

More to Come

I gave you the flags and Georgia for a taste test. I've got a Christmas Stocking party and a trip to Qalat to follow. After some sleep and killing some barking dogs! Off I go.

Wondering About Georgia?

Well, Some of you may say "what about those animals?" Then again, some of you may not care about the zoo. But I care about those of you who do care......'n stuff! Anyway, Georgia has a new home, with new gravel and a new outlook on life and the world. Yes, it's a little wierd for her but I think she's getting used to the sky line view! Here she is hanging out in here favorite vehicle that happens to be parked next to here cage and again, her hanging out on the wall. It's rough to be a monkey you know!

Camp Georgia Lives

We've had a big week this past week and few days prior so I'm going to post a few different ones at a time. We have officially moved into "Camp Georgia!" Yes the great state of Georgia is now being represented. Well, more like the great University of Georgia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, SGM Allman and I posted the flags on the front of the compound this evening. Don't worry about "Old Glory," she has a place being cemented near by! This was a proud moment for the two of us and here's our proof. It has been a long hard road getting this camp up and running and this was a real pinnacle moment for the two of us to do this!