Getting settled in to FOB Shank, Afghanistan

[ThankfulJoe]

My apologies as I know it's been a while since my last post. The last few months have been pretty crazy for me and my family. On top of a wedding and a honey moon my unit has been prepping for our deployment to Afghanistan. We've now been in country for about 3 weeks, and I finally have a stable source of internet again! My dad just shipped my Coleman Coolidor (2x65% X-Large Heartfelt Tubes) out so I'm looking forward to that arriving. Hopefully it lands in one piece. We took a lot of care in packing it.

I've been flying my ass off the past few weeks. In 2 weeks I logged almost as much flight time as the entire last year I spent at home. I've already had an engagement as well as damage taken to the aircraft I was flying. Afghanistan is definitely not Iraq. It's a much more kinetic environment, and the flying conditions are much more challenging. We're at 6,500' above sea level and routinely fly 10,000'-13,000'. (That's pretty high for an unsealed cockpit) Our birds aren't a big fan of the high/hot environment.

On the bright side I've settled into an almost daily routine of smoking a cigar after my flight before hitting the hay while it's cool at night. :ccowboy: I'm also meeting more and more cigar smokers out here which is definitely nice.

I'll update soon with more pictures. Hope all is well for the rest of my brothers out there.


(I'm the second from the left)


(What I see when I fly around)

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Cool stuff. Stay safe and keep smoking.

 

[Ranger_B]

Hope your cooler gets there safe. Summer is always the fun time in Afghan. Stay safe.

 

[usmc-walker]

welcome back and stay safe

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Nice "stash" you got going there Tony, stay safe my brother!

 

[blessednxs65]

Thank you for your service. Keep your head down and stay safe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Butchhe]

Be safe over there and thanks for all you do.

 

[danthebugman]

Hope everything arrives in good shape and stay safe :usaflag:.

Dan

 

[orangedog]

Hope everything arrives in good shape and stay safe :usaflag:.

Dan

Agree on both counts! Smoke well and keep it safe.

 

[pnoguy]

Hey man! Uh.....I mean, Sir! Good to see you back. Keep it in the air, bro.

 

[Skitalets]

Stay safe and thank you for your service!

 

[cmhicksusmc]

Great to hear your well. Stay safe and GOOD HUNTING.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Thanks for the update and thanks for your service brother! That's great you can get in some good cigar time... Stay safe out there!

 

[GoingPostal]

Good to hear from ya, keep safe and hopefully that cooler make it in one piece.

 

[Mathen]

I've already had an engagement as well as damage taken to the aircraft I was flying.

I was on a '47 in Somalia that started taking heavy and effective small arms fire as we were coming into the LZ. I have never in my life --before or since-- felt so helpless.

Scariest. Thing. Ever.

Watching little holes open up in the bird, crammed in there like sardines; screaming like a bunch of middle school girls and there was nowhere to go. That flight crew though had absolute balls of steel though and put us down exactly where they were supposed to even though it meant they turned to face most of the fire. They got everyone of us off and on the ground before they even thought of moving.

Balls of steel I tell you. I have tremendous respect for Army aviation. I normally send my friends to war with a hearty "Keep your head down and your powder dry." But for you I echo the earlier sentiment of "Good Hunting."

 

[ThankfulJoe]

Yep, I have a shit-ton of respect especially for the MEDEVAC guys. I've seen them land in LZs not only under fire but completely engulfed in sand to the point where you can't even see the aircraft. We just fly around and kill anyone stupid enough to shoot at Americans. Different set of challenges i suppose.