Someone’s children

In today’s world it seems that some people do not teach their children right from wrong. I know that parents are not always accountable for their children’s actions. Some them are just rotten.  When I was growing up I could have never even imagined doing intention damage to someone’s property. I did not write on bathroom walls. I did not paint graffiti on walls or sidewalks. I think the most “damage” we did as kids was toilet paper people’s trees or shoe polish car windows and I truthfully cannot remember ever participating in either of these.
 
Just like here in Afghanistan we have people who are just downright disrespectful and nasty. Imagine this, you live in a metal connex. The metal connexes are stacked two and three high in two rows. They all face inward and have a hallway between both rows. Approximately 20 doors on each floor.  These heavy fire doors have assisted closure devices on top to ensure they close behind you. Now the respectful people guide the door closed with their hand to ensure it does not SLAM. Out of the 20 doors on the floor probably 10 of them Slam on a regular basis at all hours of the night. Makes me want to get up at 1 am and just stand outside of my room and slam my door over and over again until everyone comes out of their rooms to see what is going on. Then, with fire in my eyes, I would tell them "NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL!"

Nasty comes in mainly in the restroom. There are some people who do not understand the plumbing here. Without gives too much detail let’s just say it is required to flush before, during and after. If you flush and it does not work then YOU STOPPED IT UP so use a plunger and fix it, but nope they cannot do that. They shave and leave hair in the sink, they cut their hair in the floor and barely sweep it up, they blow their nose in the shower and leave the evidence. I know they do not do this at home and this is my home for the next year. I wish their mothers were here to see these pigs.

So let’s see I am tired of the food, tired of the house, tired of most of the people and really wish I was at home with my beautiful wife, kids and grandkids. I miss everything about home, including the stuff I did not like to do, like mow the yard, take out the trash and even doing the Laundry would be okay right now..  ok well maybe that is a stretch.. I hate doing laundry…

Missing home, but praying for the 12

Military Intelligence?

Military intelligence has been defined as a military discipline that exploits information and analyze it to provide guidance to commanders as they make war time decisions.  The theory behind this concept draws on three types of intelligence sources.  

·         Strategic Intelligence is concerned with broad issues such as economics or a political assessment.  

·         Operational Intelligence is information useful in the planning of strategic objectives.

·         Tactical Intelligence is information to out bound patrols on the local threats and mission priorities.

Our government pours massive resources into the field of military intelligence, making it the backbone of our war effort.  Yet, with all of the recourses employed in this discipline, wouldn’t you expect the people in the military to also have some level of normal intelligence?  I know, for a fact, that there are many really smart people serving in the US military.  I also know, for a fact, that there are many whose behavior makes you question putting the word military and the word Intelligence together in the same sentence.

For example, consider if you will, the flight service center at the military airfield in Kabul, Afghanistan.  A fellow soldier and friend of mine was attempting to make his way from Kabul, back to Bagram Airfield where he is stationed.  With a smile on his face he approached the counter and inquired if any seats were available on the next flight out.  Here the ever helpful representative informed him that what was available to him was the back wall and a red line on the floor.  What he could do was go stand behind it until it was his turn and someone called him forward.  Obediently, although a bit stunned, he moved to the back wall and stood behind the noted red line.  Upon arriving at his newly assigned position, he turned around just in time to hear the same representative yell, “next!”

It was at this point that he realized that his journey might not go as smoothly as he had hoped.  After a rather intense conversation with the not so customer service oriented representative, he was informed that his plane would be loading shortly and he was to have a seat in the staging area where he could wait.  A mere three hours later his group was called forward to go through the security check point in preparation for their flight.  Along with the others, my friend was instructed to remove all metal objects and place them in the plastic bins located to their right.  

As instructed, he removed his bullet proof vest and placed it in the appointed plastic bin.  In addition he obediently deposited his Beretta 9mm pistol with three 15 round magazines, one M4 semi automatic rifle with 210 rounds of ammunition, 2 colored smoke grenades, 3 fragmentation hand grenades, an 18 inch bowie knife and of course for safety reasons, he was also required to remove his combat boots.  

As he moved through the metal detector, he became quite discouraged when the alarm went off and a very large security guard pulled him off to the side for additional screenings.  A total body pat down was performed and then with the help of a hand held scanner it was discovered that he had not followed instructions as his belt buckle was indeed made of metal.  After a scolding suited for a six year, my friend now being fully stripped of his belt and his dignity was sent back through the metal detector.  Once it was confirmed that he was not a terrorist want-to-be and that he was not attempting to sneak anything on the plane that might pose a danger to his fellow passengers, he was allowed to recover his belongings.

On the other side of the counter he recovered his boots along with his Beretta 9mm pistol, his M4 semi automatic rifle, all of his grenades, and the 18 inch bowie knife and was allowed to board for his flight.

I am so glad that the US military has this stringent level of security in place.  You just never know when someone will try to sneak something as dangerous as a belt buckle on a plane.

Feeling secure,

John P.

Praying for the 12.

Old Man in the Mirror

As I sat in the barber chair this morning I pondered, just who is this man looking back at me. Am I who I should be? Am I the father I have always strived to be? Have I loved enough, shared enough been kind enough or am I simple another man. My reflection looks old, the lines on the face are deep and it looks leathery. When did I get “OLD”? My oldest son has called me,  “old man” for several years but the man looking at me is not me, he is old. Where have all of the years gone? Have the best ones been given away to my country? If I were gone tomorrow would my memory fade as home has faded in my 5 LONG months away. Will I be remembered for anything that I have done or will I, am I simply just another Man in the mirror?  Take a little more off the top please, there is still too much gray showing.

Praying for 12

Robin Williams Makes me sick.

So night before last I went to see the USO show, knowing that Robin Williams would be the last performer as he was the biggest name on the bill. First was a female comedian, I cannot remember her name but she was funny, not VERY funny, just funny. Lance Armstrong was the announcer. He was funny but it seemed as if he had better things to do. He really seemed like he was not into it. Then came Kix Brooks and a song writer. I really wish they had not broken up, because without Dunn, they just cannot be the same. They did put on a good performance though. 

Then after about 2 hours of standing outside while the temp dropped from “OH MY gosh cold” to “you must be stupid for standing out here cold”, Robin Williams comes bounding on stage. I saw him arrive in and noticed his smile through the vehicle window. The smile of someone who truly loves what he was there to do. He put on a heck of a show. I think just because he supports the troops he is the best comedian of all time. I remember his Mork and Mindy days all the way till the present. 

After the show the performers staying and took pictures with the troops. This is where this blog really begins. The performance was over and as I began to move off the bleachers I noticed that my muscles seem to have frozen while standing there. With each step I walked my body got colder and colder. At one point I did not think I was going to be able make it back to my room before I collapsed. By the time I reached the door to the barracks I was trembling violently. I was chilled through and through. I went straight to my room and got in bed. There I stayed for 36 hours. I had feverish dreams about numbers. I woke up soaking wet and freezing with chills that hurt. Thanks to my friend Wayne for checking on me, I would not have eaten all day. This morning I still feel chilled but was able to make it to the office. Still feeling a bit sweaty and sick but could not stay in my room for another day.

So Robin Williams made me sick……………..was it worth it????????????? Yeah Robin Williams is awesome..

Pray for the 11

Almost Christmas . . .

I was recently reminded of the time I spent in Iraq back in 2005.  It was approaching Christmas and like every other soldier I was dealing with a host of heavy emotions.  Every fiber of my body wanted to be home, not just for Christmas, but for my children’s ball games, for their birthdays and for my anniversary.  These emotional wants were held in check by the fact that my fellow soldiers and I serve at our country’s bidding, not the bidding of our own desire.  If this means we’re away from home during the holidays to accomplish our mission, then so be it. 
  
I found a wonderful peace one day when I actually realized where I was.  I was in the middle-east where so much of what we call biblical history took place.  I found that even though the birth of Christ had taken place thousands of years before, the Christmas scene had really not changed much.  I actually saw camels that were being led by the stars.  I saw modern day shepherds who stayed awake and watch their flocks by night.  And of course, there were Army tanks patrolling the city streets.  The last part may not sound very biblical, but when you consider that the Roman Army was embedded in the area at the time of Christ birth, the stage for the story really hasn’t changed.  

With this said, it is Christmas in America, in the Iraqi desert, and in the Afghan mountains. I will spend this wonderful time of the year over 7,000 miles from my home.  But before you feel sorry for me, I recall another person who also left their home to accomplish a very special mission.  His name was Jesus Christ and he left his home in glory to be miraculously born of a virgin. Throughout his life he was loved and hated. Some saw His presence as a threat; others embraced the gift he offered them.  In the end, he changed people’s lives and as a result, he changed the world.

When we talk about Christmas our minds produce a host of beautiful images.  We can all visualize the manger, shepherds, angels, and a city called Bethlehem.  But, do you realize that all of these images are pictures from the second act of the story?  The birth of Christ was not the beginning.  The Christmas story began over 4,000 years before the manger in a place called the Garden of Eden.  It was in the garden that our Heavenly Father gave the greatest Christmas gift of all time.  He made the choice to forgive rather than to condemn.  His path of forgiveness walked through the laws of the Old Testament, down the New Testament streets of Bethlehem and up to the top of a hill called Calvary.  This is the Christmas story that brings me peace for today and hope for tomorrow even if I am sitting in Afghanistan.  

This year my Christmas celebration will be eating dinner with a few thousand of my new found friends, looking at pictures of my loved ones, and thanking God for the gift of His son. It will be merry because I choose to make it so. 

Are you still looking for that special Christmas gift? It’s not too late and I have the perfect suggestion.  “Hold the one you love… and cherish the love you hold.” 

May we all embrace our Heavenly Father’s love along with that of our families. May your days be merry and bright and may we all join as heaven and nature sing… Joy to the world; the Lord has come. 

Merry Christmas to all,

John P.

Pray for the 11

Forced March

Today we had a forced March. We lined up in formation at 9 pm(give or take) and marched down to a hangar here. We only knew that some dignitary was coming, we did not know who is was and really did not care. We would have much rather gone to bed as the night before we had a fallen hero ceremony for a soldier killed in action. As we walked through the door we could see off to the left, a band set up on a stage. At first we thought we were being forced to attend a Rock concert where the music was not mixed properly. The drums drowned out the singing so we were unsure of what the songs actually were.

From my vantage point on my tip toes I could see a podium with two microphones. Then I saw a soldier come across the stage and put the presidential seal on the front of the podium. Whether you voted for him or not, whether you think he has run this country into the ground or not, whether you respect him or not, I was in the same hangar with the president of the United States. It was kind of neat. Once he walked out and started to speak I was ready to leave. I came, I saw, I wanted sleep. Then he “acted” as if he was going to cry over the awarding of purples hearts. Was this a ploy to gain more votes or a sincere sadness in his heart for soldiers here, no one will ever know. I know what I believe.

Pray for the 11

Am I a heathen?

Yesterday I got into an altercation with a MSG. He was confronting two soldiers about something that they did not do.  When I started the conversation with him I could have begun it differently. I could have told the two soldiers to carry on or told the MSG to leave them alone or something other than what I said which obviously instigated what turned into an UnGodly shouting match that ended with me calling him something that I never should have been said. He was wrong and was very disrespectful  but I let myself stoop to his level. I am tired of people only thinking about themselves and only themselves. This person is supposed to be a leader of troops yet none of the troops here respect him and he continually disrespects them. Being a Christian but not showing the values of one has made me miserable today. Thus the title of this blog am I a heathen. God challenged me yesterday, It is not a pass or fail but a test to make me stronger. What I learned is listed above.
I am ready to go home….

Pray for the 11

Ode to the Cookie

That kind and gentle woman
Who changed my life today
I find she is the one to blame
For my tooth decay

She made those cookies look so nice
The batter mixed complete
To only eat one dozen each
A task I could not meet

One by one I munched away
With no regard for fat
How shocked I was to finally see
My stomach in my lap

I knew that I should stop at once
Before I had my fill
But darn those cookies taste so good
I didn't have the will

The only thing a man can do
With cookies on his face
Is thank that woman far away
As no cookie went to waste

John P.

Pray for the 10.