ERStettin
08-27-2009, 02:26 PM
This is an e-mail I sent to some family and friends to let them know how things are going over here in Bagram, Afghanistan, since I retired from the Army and took a job as a military contractor. Thought I would share it with you guys as I know some of you have friends or family here as well.
Well, just a quck update on all that has transpired since I have been here in Bagram, Afghanistan. We started out living in a tent and sleeping on Army cots when I first arrived. The temp is usually over 100 everyday and the wind blows this very fine, almost powdery sand everywhere. It gets into everything. The other Avenge guy that I fly with said he was briefed by the US Embassy folks here and they said 20% of the crap in the air, is actually crap and waste...lol. I don't know how, but I am guessing because of the lousy sewer systems.
The first day I got into country, our camp was hit by a rocket attack. It actually landed about 100 yards from my tent. It hit the Aviation chow hall but didn't go off. Several days after that, there were two more rocket attacks in the same day. I heard one of them and ducked into a bunker. They both hit on the other side of the field from me. We are thinking they were trying to hit the Air Force jets.
Last week, I was flying up around the Pakistan border in the mountains, just to the northeast of Bagram and heard a TIC (Troops in contact radio call). A TIC is the accronym used to let everyone know there is a battle going on between friendlys and the Taliban. The friendlys had called in some air support and the next thing you know, two F-16's came screaming by and fired their rockets into this mountainside. Fertilizing the mountainside with Taliban body parts. We flew over the smoking hole afterwards.
Just yesterday we were flying back from our mission. We were on final approach and there were two other King Airs in front of us. Both L3, 350's.. We were number 3. The tower announced there was what looked like a controlled explosion just south of the field. In other words, they thought it was someone detonating something on purpose inorder to get rid of it. It detonated right under the second King Air who was on short final for landing. I saw the plume of smoke and debris because I was flying right behind him. As I got closer to it, I could see it was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) intended to blow people up, in their cars as they traveled the road, just south of the airfield. The bomb had blown a crater into the north side of the road and blew two lanes of it completely away. It didn't look like it blew any vehicles up, though there were several of them in the area and on the sides of the road, further down from the explosion. I called the tower and gave them a SPOT report and let them know it was an IED. I was about 3 miles out, on final approach for landing and by the time I landed and started taxing in, there was an AH64 Apache Helicopter Gunship and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Helicopter in the air and on their way over to the scene.
This is getting to be a regular occurence over here. EVERYONE is armed to the teeth here, whether you are eating in the chow hall, shopping in the PX, or taking a dump or shower. There are M-16' automatic rifles, M9 semi auto pistols and a slew of armament on everyone walking around Bagram. The commanding General (82nd Airborne runs this place) has stated everyone will have their weapons with them at all times.
I have now moved into a B hut. It is like a very small, playwood house. I have a twin bed to sleep on now and airconditioning. There are 6 of us in this thing and not alot of room to move, but it definetly beats the tent and army cot.
The food is pretty good by anyones standards. You can eat 4 meals a day if you want. They have 4 DFAC's (Dining Facilities) on base and 4 gyms as well. I usually eat about 2 to 3 meals a day and eat ALOT of salad, vegetables and fruits. I try to eat just a chicken thigh and leg, or piece of fish, or turkey leg, for my protein and then just veggies and fruits the rest of the time. I am now weighing in the 190's and plan on trying to get into the 180's by the time I get home, November 2nd.
Not much to do here other than fly, sleep, eat, and workout. They do their best to provide us with MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) stuff to do,like movies, shooting pool, internet (VERY slow), ect.. We do have two Dairy Queens, Orange Juilius, Barbeque Restaurant, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Churches Fried Chicken on base. But it gets old very quickly.
I am usually off two days a week. That is because we have enough pilots to fly so you don't have to work a full 7 days on. Today and tomorrow are my days off this week. I have run into a couple guys I knew from my Army days and the guys I have met from Avenge have all been great. I really like doing this job. It is like being in the military again and we are able to see the kind of impact we are making on this war on terror. Everyone is focused, but not scared.
Hope all is well with you guys.
Ed
BTW, we have a UFC Legends Tour poster on our wall in flight operations. Apparently Dan Severyn (spelling?), Mark Coleman and Travis Lutter (spelling?), along with some of the ring girls were over here awhile back and stopped by. They all signed it. THANK YOU!!!!
I hope I am here the next time they come around. Would love to meet them.
Well, just a quck update on all that has transpired since I have been here in Bagram, Afghanistan. We started out living in a tent and sleeping on Army cots when I first arrived. The temp is usually over 100 everyday and the wind blows this very fine, almost powdery sand everywhere. It gets into everything. The other Avenge guy that I fly with said he was briefed by the US Embassy folks here and they said 20% of the crap in the air, is actually crap and waste...lol. I don't know how, but I am guessing because of the lousy sewer systems.
The first day I got into country, our camp was hit by a rocket attack. It actually landed about 100 yards from my tent. It hit the Aviation chow hall but didn't go off. Several days after that, there were two more rocket attacks in the same day. I heard one of them and ducked into a bunker. They both hit on the other side of the field from me. We are thinking they were trying to hit the Air Force jets.
Last week, I was flying up around the Pakistan border in the mountains, just to the northeast of Bagram and heard a TIC (Troops in contact radio call). A TIC is the accronym used to let everyone know there is a battle going on between friendlys and the Taliban. The friendlys had called in some air support and the next thing you know, two F-16's came screaming by and fired their rockets into this mountainside. Fertilizing the mountainside with Taliban body parts. We flew over the smoking hole afterwards.
Just yesterday we were flying back from our mission. We were on final approach and there were two other King Airs in front of us. Both L3, 350's.. We were number 3. The tower announced there was what looked like a controlled explosion just south of the field. In other words, they thought it was someone detonating something on purpose inorder to get rid of it. It detonated right under the second King Air who was on short final for landing. I saw the plume of smoke and debris because I was flying right behind him. As I got closer to it, I could see it was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) intended to blow people up, in their cars as they traveled the road, just south of the airfield. The bomb had blown a crater into the north side of the road and blew two lanes of it completely away. It didn't look like it blew any vehicles up, though there were several of them in the area and on the sides of the road, further down from the explosion. I called the tower and gave them a SPOT report and let them know it was an IED. I was about 3 miles out, on final approach for landing and by the time I landed and started taxing in, there was an AH64 Apache Helicopter Gunship and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Helicopter in the air and on their way over to the scene.
This is getting to be a regular occurence over here. EVERYONE is armed to the teeth here, whether you are eating in the chow hall, shopping in the PX, or taking a dump or shower. There are M-16' automatic rifles, M9 semi auto pistols and a slew of armament on everyone walking around Bagram. The commanding General (82nd Airborne runs this place) has stated everyone will have their weapons with them at all times.
I have now moved into a B hut. It is like a very small, playwood house. I have a twin bed to sleep on now and airconditioning. There are 6 of us in this thing and not alot of room to move, but it definetly beats the tent and army cot.
The food is pretty good by anyones standards. You can eat 4 meals a day if you want. They have 4 DFAC's (Dining Facilities) on base and 4 gyms as well. I usually eat about 2 to 3 meals a day and eat ALOT of salad, vegetables and fruits. I try to eat just a chicken thigh and leg, or piece of fish, or turkey leg, for my protein and then just veggies and fruits the rest of the time. I am now weighing in the 190's and plan on trying to get into the 180's by the time I get home, November 2nd.
Not much to do here other than fly, sleep, eat, and workout. They do their best to provide us with MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) stuff to do,like movies, shooting pool, internet (VERY slow), ect.. We do have two Dairy Queens, Orange Juilius, Barbeque Restaurant, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Churches Fried Chicken on base. But it gets old very quickly.
I am usually off two days a week. That is because we have enough pilots to fly so you don't have to work a full 7 days on. Today and tomorrow are my days off this week. I have run into a couple guys I knew from my Army days and the guys I have met from Avenge have all been great. I really like doing this job. It is like being in the military again and we are able to see the kind of impact we are making on this war on terror. Everyone is focused, but not scared.
Hope all is well with you guys.
Ed
BTW, we have a UFC Legends Tour poster on our wall in flight operations. Apparently Dan Severyn (spelling?), Mark Coleman and Travis Lutter (spelling?), along with some of the ring girls were over here awhile back and stopped by. They all signed it. THANK YOU!!!!
I hope I am here the next time they come around. Would love to meet them.