AF Day 017

I haven't much to report today, family and friends. The day was hot and dry. The land around me smells of dust and my longing. A longing for lusher climes, verdant grasses and fields of plenty, picnics and parades, fireworks and freedom... Alas, this is not the place for such. Rather, this is the place for hard work, for battle, for winning and for losing... and ultimately, for honor.

So aside from that, today was as normal as one could expect. I met with soldiers and airmen and endured a mild temperature increase from two weeks past. With highs well above the century mark, I expect that this summer will be similar to those I am experienced with, as with Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. If it rains any more until fall or winter it will be gladly welcomed.

Tomorrow and beyond I have but many dreams to dream and many goals to achieve. Someday I will be in a better position to describe certain aspects of life here in greater detail. For now, though, I must ensure that everything I do and participate in has merit and is completed to the best of my ability. I will travel to certain projects tomorrow and Thursday and then Friday I will fly to Kandahar for certain additional training over the weekend.

I miss you, Kimberly. I miss you, Kaesen. I miss you family and friends. Enjoy your beautiful day ahead as mine quickly draws to a close.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 010

More photos...
 

An Afghan interpreter, Craft, our medical doctor, Maj McCauley (USAF), and one of several Afghan doctors at the Zabul Provincial Hospital discussing a recent completion of solar-powered equipment. 

A US Air Force NCO providing security protection during my visit at the medical compound today. 

Two young Afghan boys posing for a photograph. Their smiles seemed to say they were happy to have us there; however, the smaller boy later asked me for a dollar. Look at that motorcycle in the background; I wish I could take one of those out for a spin. Many Afghans travel using these small motorcycles.

 Capt "Chicky" Ciccarelli (USAF) with an Afghan boy during our medical compound visit. These children are bold, they are rugged, and they are not afraid to interact with us, which is amazing all things considered.

Local Afghans, men and boys, looking on as we mentor the contractor's construction personnel at a ministry offices project. The Afghan man standing behind the boy with the black shirt appears to be... let's just say apprehensive of our presence.

AF Day 016 - Memorial Day

With foot patrols to two projects today, we observed progress of construction for a new solar-powered water purification system and recent repairs made in a new womens clinic. The solar project is very interesting and will provide clean water for the needs of the new Afghan medical facilities. Walking through the new clinic to monitor repair work confirmed, again, that I feel so fortunate to live in a country where clean medical facilities, clean restrooms, clean everything ensure my very survival and prevention of infection. We later observed progress on a ministry compound project. Again the perimeter walls under construction and recent completion of foundation walls for new buildings drove home the fact that mentoring is in such high demand here.

As has been the fortunate case for me lately, I completed additional training requirements for my pending appointments to higher positions of responsibility and attended another briefing and had several coworker meetings. It goes without saying that I work with a very talented and professional group of people, both active military and government civilians. Their experiences serve to mold me into the right fit for the time I am here and will benefit me and my family for years to come. It is an honor and a privilege to be here with them.

I learned of more projects coming my way in terms of direct management (project management) and certain oversight. It is exciting to see the military function, especially in terms of engineering and construction, and operate in this environment. Contingency (war zone) construction is a continuous process of rapid decisions, rapid design, rapid bidding, and, you guessed it right, rapid project delivery. We, at times, complete projects that back home would take twice as long, or longer, to complete with better-skilled labor and construction managers and more reliable material sourcing and equipment necessary to complete the projects.

Hooah.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 015

I enjoyed a typical routine today in a place of rarely typical needs. A briefing, a few discussions with my coworkers, certain paperwork assistance performed, and more COR training completed. Tomorrow will likely be more of the same... life is good. I am eager to get out and about more, time and safety permitting, to become more of an asset to my commander, management staff, engineering and construction personnel, etc.

K&K are good. They are planning on several fun activities today, including a trip to the beach and later to dinner at Kimberly's brother's house for ribs (his specialty). I am jealous and also happy they are able to be where they are during my time here in Qalat.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 009

More local photos...

 An Afghan worker sitting atop a newly construction concrete and stone masonry foundation wall. Burlap soaked in water is employed during the initial curing process to help prevent rapid curing.

This young Afghan boy likes to be photographed. One of our interpreters, Craft, is inspecting a masonry wall footing in the foreground. Off in the distance one can see the mountains that surround Qalat. 

These young Afghan boys were all smiles and asked for chocolates.

A school for boys in the background, young Afghan boys at play and an airman protecting me while observing progress on an adjacent construction site. 

I asked the boy in the foreground whether I could take his photograph. He said yes, if not reluctantly. 

These Afghan men and a young boy take a break from the sun under a bridge. Their flock of goats are to their left just out of view from this vantage point. 

 Serious business requires serious business transportation.

Afghan boys taking a break from their playground activities after we enter the area to obtain measurements for their new perimeter wall. Look at the smiles all around. A prison is located adjacent to this particular school and is surrounded by rudimentary masonry walls with concertina wire.

AF Day 014

Today we attended a monthly bid conference with about 50+ Afghan contractors in one of their local government ministry buildings. We arrived there early to setup our equipment, establish security, and receive the Afghan contractors. Two of my Air Force counterparts, including Capt "Chicky" Ciccarelli, led the presentations along with one of our trusted interpreters. Being able to experience this interaction was powerful because we take this process for granted back home. Not only do Afghans have a language barrier to overcome, but they also have to contend with a general lack of quality workmanship standards, business management skills, skilled labor availability, etc. We have at our disposal back home the ability of contractors to rapidly bid work, and if fortunate to be low bidder/qualified bidder, commence the work as soon as possible. So, the experience was enlightening and my Air Force counterparts did an excellent job today.

I met a few more US Army Corps of Engineers staff who work is a nearby location and have nothing to do with the work I perform here at PRT Zabul (FOB Smart). They are our administrative liaison back to Kandahar Airfield, where our current district headquarters and administrative supervisory chain operates. It was good to meet them and put faces with voices and names previously acknowledged.

It is Saturday evening right now and it feels like everyday could be Tuesday here! The days and nights run into one another and weekdays have very little significance right now. The countdown to R&R has commenced. I cannot wait to see my wife, my son, my family, and my friends. For now, however, I feel fortunate to have the weekdays and weekends seem nonstop... well, they are actually!

Hey, y'all, have a terrific day. Hug a soldier, a sailor, or an airman and let them know how thankful you are to have them in our lives. They are the sheepdogs of our great country working tireless 24/7, 365 to provide us comfort, freedom, and stability.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 008

Photos of my son, Kaesen.

143, K&K.

Special Post No. 007

More photos...

Three young Afghan boys; impromptu poses. They had just asked me for some chocolate. In the background is an office building that was built less than two years ago and is adjacent to a school.

 Capt "Chicky" Ciccarelli (USAF) and our Afghan National interpreter, Craft, speaking with a local contractor. Notice the debris we were discussing in the footing trench... that's a "no-no" back home!

MSgt Caillouette (USAF) speaking with two Afghan boys near one of our projects. Some of the Afghan people love to pose and have their photos taken. This works out great for my interests.

Capt "Chicky" Ciccarelli walking through downtown Qalat, Afghanistan. Note the castle atop the hill built by Alexander the Great! Also notice the condition of the buildings, their decorations, and the environment.

Capt "Chicky" Ciccarelli with smiling Afghan children.

AF Day 013

I observed progress on multiple local projects today, which evidenced similar opportunities for mentoring of the Afghan contractors. Mixing concrete, laying concrete, forming concrete, curing concrete, and anything, well, concrete are areas of needed mentoring and growth. I love this experience!

The weather remains moderate and, as with anywhere it gets really warm, the heat starts to come on strong toward mid-afternoon. The environment is certainly enjoyable. As I mentioned previously, the Afghanistan countryside resembles the vast expanses of Arizona and the vegetation is very similar minus the saguaro cacti. Being an Arizona lover, this area of Afghanistan is right up my alley per se.

Several of my coworkers here received their customary Afghan shirt, pants, and turbans today. One can purchase a handmade version with ornate embroidery and custom-fitted for less than $100. Maybe y'all will see me in one soon.

More to follow...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 006

To my beloved wife of 11 years today, Happy Anniversary. May our next 11 years be as memorable, rewarding, challenging, interesting, fun-filled, love-filled, and unbeatable as the first 11 have been.

I love you more than myself and am so thankful each day to have you in my life.

May 27, 2000

May 27, 2011

Eleven (11) is the first number which cannot be represented by a human counting with eight fingers and two thumbs additively.

If a number is divisible by 11, reversing its digits will result in another multiple of 11. As long as no two adjacent digits of a number added together exceed 9, then multiplying the number by 11, reversing the digits of the product, and dividing that new number by 11, will yield a number that is the reverse of the original number. (For example: 142,312 x 11 = 1,565,432. 2,345,651 / 11 = 213,241.)

Therefore, May 27, 2000 (5-27-2000) multiplied by 11 = 579,821. 128,975/11 = 11725. Reversed, this number becomes 5-27-11 (May 27, 2011).

No matter how you count the years (11), the months (132), the weeks (573), the days (4,017), the hours (96,408), the minutes (5,784,480), the seconds (347,068,800), or beyond (5-27-2000∞), I love you more than time itself.

Happy Anniversary, Kimberly.

Leyton

11

AF Day 012

What a wonderful day I had today! I left early to visit multiple project sites south of Qalat, Afghanistan. Along the way we encountered many "interesting" individuals. My team was strong, my eyes were open, and my heart, at times, was racing from the rush of adrenaline. It seems cliche to say, but there are rarely dull moments here. During our visits to the multiple sites we stopped at, I had a chance to take photos and shoot video of the projects and my surroundings. I am looking forward to receiving the external DVD burner that Kimberly purchased for me to enable the readily posting of photos and video herein and elsewhere.

I spoke with Momma this evening (her morning) and also with K&K. All is well on my home fronts in Texas and Washington. It is always so good to hear their voices. I promise to call everyone else as time permits. Family and friends bind us together in many ways. Hearing a voice on the other end of the line allows the world we live in to seem much smaller than it actually is and comforts in ways we usually do not imagine.

Tonight I have no major plans, other than possibly starting a movie. My TV arrived today that I had shipped to myself 12 days ago, so it will be nice to hook my netbook up to that and watch on a larger screen. My bed is not large, it is only a twin, but it feels so good to crawl into it each night after a long day (12 hours of work and 4+ hours more of being awake). It feels good sometimes to just chill...

Tomorrow I will take a look at a pending CMU wall project nearby. Saturday I will join my team in putting a few new projects out to bid. Work is steadily picking up for me. I am scheduling a routine, although in such a manner as to not appear routine, involving the various projects I am covering, assuming, or will be managing. This is good work for me here in Afghanistan!

Okay family and friends, it is time to wrap it up for now. I miss y'all. I love y'all.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 005

Kaesen is an amazing son. He likes to do so many things I liked at his age and older. Look at him in the kitchen, cooking for himself and his momma. Oysters?! Oh well, he likes Mexican food, too - LOL.

Taken 05/25/2011

Taken 05/22/2011

143, K&K.

AF Day 011

It is raining here in Qalat, Afghanistan. The skies have been overcast since early this afternoon. The air smells very similar to what Arizona smells like after a rain - clean and comforting. Maybe the rain will last for 40 days and 40 nights... or maybe it will last for another few minutes. I always like the rain when it comes and goes, just like the Arizona monsoon right before dark.

AF Day 011

Today I observed progress on certain upgrades to an Afghan government compound involving security, walls, foundations, footings, etc. It is always interesting for me to walk out amongst the Afghan people with our security and my engineering and construction counterparts. Never a dull moment for certain! Today was uneventful needless to say...

I spoke with K&K and Dad and Viviane this morning (their last night). I am going to try my momma tonight. One of my nephews, he is also named Leyton, graduated from high school this past Saturday. I am so amazed that my siblings have young adult children in college and heading into military service. It seems as though graduation and military entrance was just the other day for my siblings and me.

I am still working hard on my training to become and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and then to be appointed both a COR and Project Manager, as well as continuing my duties as a Construction Control Representative. Work is good. Work keeps the mind occupied, it makes the days seem to pass by quickly, and it brings me one step closer each day to returning to my family. In the meantime, gaining the requisite and desirable experience here will also go a long way toward future promotions and other interesting US Army Corps of Engineers opportunities and locales.

I love you, K&K. I love you, family and friends too.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 010

Today I continued my Defense Acquisition Training to become a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). I always find myself eager to continue learning, whether in a classroom or online, when there are specific examinations required, in this case all DAU courses must be completed with a score of 100%, to graduate the student to the next level.

I had no other specific tasks to complete today, other than a few meetings/briefings again, which are daily (seven days per week).

Kimberly, Kaesen, and I have been able to speak daily, once in the morning (nighttime for them) and once in the evening (daytime for them). This is good for maintaining the bonds of matrimony and fatherhood.

I wish you all peace and comfort. All is well here...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AMOUNT of TOUR COMPLETED
DAYS										17.89
HOURS										429.46
MINUTES										25,767.76
SECONDS										1,546,065
DECISECONDS										15,460,654
CENTISECONDS										154,606,540
MILLISECONDS										1,546,065,400
MICROSECONDS										1,546,065,400,000
NANOSECONDS										1,546,065,399,999,800
PICOSECONDS										1,546,065,399,999,800,000

AMOUNT of TOUR REMAINING
DAYS										347.11
HOURS										8,330.54
MINUTES										499,832.24
SECONDS										29,989,935
DECISECONDS										299,899,346
CENTISECONDS										2,998,993,460
MILLISECONDS										29,989,934,600
MICROSECONDS										29,989,934,600,000
NANOSECONDS										29,989,934,600,000,200
PICOSECONDS										29,989,934,600,000,200,000

AF Day 009

Day 16+ of my 365-day tour of duty. I miss K&K, and my family, and my friends. I am still very happy to have this opportunity here in Qalat, Afghanistan.

Today was mainly filled with training for becoming a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Air Force, briefings, meetings, etc. I did not meet with any Afghan contractors or work on any projects today.

I received my first care package from Kimberly today (the total mail delivery time was only six days) ! I also received my first letter today (the total mail time was only nine days) from my momma! Kimberly sent me a pair of glasses I ordered online; this was the second/replacement pair - don't do it, they are minimally chipped on an edge of one of the the lenses. Kimberly also sent me a card to be opened on our 11th wedding anniversary, May 27th! Kaesen sent me a picture colored in with crayon. Kimberly also sent much-needed beef jerky and sunflower seeds; these are like gold here! It is nice to hear from home the old-fashioned way. Thank you to Kimberly, Kaesen, and Momma for thinking of me.

I shaved my head several days ago; I previously told Kaesen I'd grow it out like his. Well, let me tell you how hot it gets with long hair beneath a Kevlar helmet - hot! I did keep the beard, for now anyway. We'll see what happens when the weather really starts to turn warm here. My suntan is mainly improving on my face only, since we wear long-sleeved shirts, trousers, boots, and a hat (military uniforms).

Not much else to blog right now...

I love you, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 004

Certain photos of Dubai, UAE, Kandahar Airfield (KAF), FOB Lagman, FOB Smart, my quarters at FOB Smart, certain of our "tools of the trade" here at FOB Smart, etc.

Leyton in Dubai

 Dubai, UAE - Gate 1 to Kandahar Airfield

 Kandahar helipad waiting to fly to Qalat, Afghanistan

 FOB Smart memorial

 One of several small mentoring garden plots at FOB Smart

 Trees?! Notice the guards?

 Afghan guards; they asked me to photograph them

 Trees?!

 This is my ride to work!

 These are my rides to work!

 So, the trees are very nice to have...

 Leyton's house at FOB Smart, Qalat, Afghanistan

 Leyton's house at FOB Smart, Qalat, Afghanistan

 Leyton's house at FOB Smart, Qalat, Afghanistan; notice my Personal Protective Equipment? Check out the comfortable chair left behind for my behind! With two A/C units, this room gets down to nearly 60˚F... think cool, calm, and collected after a hard day's work.

AF Day 008

Qalat, Afghanistan, is a busy little city at 0600 on Sunday morning. Kids were off to school, adult men were off to work, traffic coming and going in all directions. It seemed like a regular Monday morning for what we would expect to see back home. While out this morning, many young men and boys, whether walking to school or working on a project, surrounded me sometimes as we were making our way through certain construction areas. Talk about otherworldly experiences. Some seemed happy to see me while others paid me no attention, at least not when I was looking at them.

We left FOB Smart with several observers and a full security force to perform a project familiarization - for me. We walked quite a good distance here and there and everywhere to look at civil projects, vertical (buildings) projects, and security projects. I used a new Flip video camera along the way, so I will soon be posting some of such in good time.

My immediate take away from this morning's experiences on the various projects I observed is that we have excellent mentoring opportunities here in Qalat. I mentioned this yesterday or earlier in the week as well. Such opportunities immediately include concrete work, masonry work, vertical building construction, etc. I am talking directly about means and methods, not just how to form a concrete floor or lay concrete block or brick. Many Afghan National contractors opt for what some would perceive as ancient building methods for modern construction. I routinely observe the mixing of cement, sand, and water on the ground rather than using a machine mixer. I also see the usage of river water with heavy silt and impurities rather than cleaner well water for the concrete. It is commonplace for locals to leave large stones in their mortar mixes and building concrete rather than screening and washing the sand before mixing. I love this place and the ability to explain why using new methods will help them build stronger buildings and walls that will last for decades or longer rather than five years or less.

We employ translators who have their own unique stories and travel with us everywhere we go. Communication otherwise would be a series of hand gestures and an Afghan version of charades! While the translation greatly improves our communication, the language barrier subconsciously forces one to speak in very short, to-the-point sentences and without the intentional use of very technical terms or American colloquialisms. Think teaching math without explaining formulae.

With such an early mission today I find myself dragging a bit more than I have since I have arrived a week ago. I think it is time for an energy drink! Maybe both an energy drink and a coffee... sound good? Absolutely!

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 003

Kaesen is my beautiful baby boy!

AF Day 007

I went on a rewarding QA/QC mission today. The purpose of these missions, quality assurance/quality control observations outside the wire, are to observe, inspect, and verify quality control requirements are being adhered to or whether necessary measures are being taken to correct deficiencies. As you may imagine, most Afghan contractors do not know what QA/QC is, let alone how to perform their own QC. I am learning that a good portion of the time we spend with our contractors and our translators, we are actually mentoring them. We are helping to refine and/or redefine their construction management and construction practices, which in turn will allow them to become more self-sufficient in their own QC practices. The purpose of my official position here in Qalat, Afghanistan, is to perform QA over the contractor's QC. Since this is generally not the case here in Qalat, I am performing both roles, as well as the mentoring, and reporting the progress of such back up my command management chain.

Today we looked at a series of ministerial buildings, which will house government offices within a new, more secure location (compound) with greatly improved infrastructure. During our visit we observed progress on perimeter walls and the preparations completed and pending for concrete slabs-on-grade (SOG). The locals here build their walls using very rudimentary masonry techniques, including utilizing massive rocks within the foundations (footings) of the walls, then pouring a concrete leveling course above that, and then finally building up with mud brick, or in our case today, with contractor-manufactured concrete masonry units (CMU). As most of you know, I have a masonry background and when I observed the quality of these particular CMUs, I was impressed.

For security reasons I cannot discuss how we got to and from the sites, but think heavy, think highly technological, and think US military strong - MRAPs, MATVs, Cougar MRAPs, etc!

I enjoyed the rides back and forth because it gave me an excellent overview of some parts of Qalat that I had not been able to see yet. These people are essentially subsistence farmers and many are so poor that they have no real homes; rather, they have shanty shacks with soiled fabrics for doors. The faces of these proud people look hardened from living such a hardscrabble life, but every once in awhile, one will smile back at me (I smile at everyone I meet and/or look at). Regardless of the barriers (language, history, etc.), it felt as though, through their grinning faces, there was still something very much in common – an appreciation for life. Anyway, I ramble on sometimes...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 006

Today was a good day in that I completed certain important training necessary for my advancement both here and back home with the US Army Corps of Engineers. I met with engineering staff and command staff today regarding ongoing construction projects. The weather outside was perfect. The trees keep local birds happy, which in turn keep me happy with their constant chirping. There are three dogs that have somehow been adopted as semi-pets; however, as much as I love all dogs, and these three dogs are very friendly dogs, I am reluctant to touch them (read: I will not ever) based on the lack of veterinary medicine available to prevent any and all diseases we take for granted as not being an issue back home.

I will routinely schedule missions outside the wire to allow for QA/QC observations of the various projects I am assigned and others for which my team needs coverage. This means donning full combat clothing and gear, without the weapon (we civilians and non-combatants and do not "need to carry weapons), and charging out with our security personnel on foot patrols or up-armored convoys (MRAPs, MATVs, Cougar MRAPs, etc.). I have had several conversations with our translators, they are nice people, and am adjusting to their accents. It is interesting to hold meetings with Afghans and listen to both them and the translators at the same time, all while maintaining the purpose of the conversation and thinking of the response and follow-up questions or statements.

One of my Air Force counterparts, a Captain, stopped by with an Army Combat Uniform (ACU) top and bottom; alas, the top fit while the bottom...well, let's just say was not my size. Dang, I hope one of the benefits from being here is a reduction in body mass, weight, and improvement of overall health for my sake, Kimberly's sake, and my son's sake. On that note, I enjoy the food here, as I have mentioned previously, and have immediately started a regimen of portion control, which alone will force certain weight loss, and combined with a workout routine will help me achieve my fitness goal.

I wish I had access to the internet through my personal netbook, as I have great photos to post, but that will not occur for some time. One cannot upload photos taken directly from a camera onto a military computer. So please be patient...

It is Friday night here in Qalat, AF, which means tomorrow is another workday, and some of the personnel assigned here will be sitting up playing cards, working out, watching a movie, etc. I plan to watch a movie in my room shortly. I need to have Kimberly buy and send me an external DVD burner for my new netbook so that I may enjoy the hundreds, if not thousands, of shared movies passing around the Forward Operating Base (FOB).

I love you, K&K. I love you family and friends, too. Happy 41st Birthday to my brother, Blake.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 002

This is a love letter to my son, Kaesen Summerlin.

I wrote the following post, verbatim, while aboard a Boeing Triple 7 enroute to Dubai from Washington DC. It was 11:00 p.m. (2300) Pacific Time on Friday night, May 13, 2011:

"You, my dearest son, are fast asleep in your mother's arms as Daddy writes this letter of love to you that Momma is reading to you now.

I have begun an adventure that promises to produce great resolve within me, within Momma, and for the benefit of others who desperately need Daddy's help. Someday you'll understand why we must challenge ourselves to rise above great and often unbearable odds so that others and ourselves may strive for and achieve something greater than ourselves. For me, that now becomes the act and follow through of helping others who are less fortunate than I and who, while some may believe is not worth the risk, will receive benefit from the work I and many others greater than I have fought so dearly to provide - an opportunity to live better lives.

From your moment of inception, from the very first breath your ever took over three years ago, you, my beautiful son, forever changed me, completely challenged me, and permanently caused me to fall in love with you. I am your Daddy and I love you, son.

Be a good boy for your mother. Be strong for your mother. Take care of your mother. Know always that your father is proud of you, needs you, wants you, and looks forward to sharing life with you as long as he lives his life. I am your Daddy and I love you, son.

Know now, as your sweet breath slowly inhales and exhales from the very life your mother and I created not long ago, that I am forever your Daddy and I love you, son.

Sweet dreams, you prince of my passion and son of my dreams.

Daddy"

Special Post No. 001

This is a love letter to my wife, Kimberly Summerlin.

I wrote the following post, verbatim, while aboard a Boeing Triple 7 enroute to Dubai from Washington DC. It was 11:00 p.m. (2300) Pacific Time on Friday night, May 13, 2011:

"While you read this message sometime tonight or beyond, it is really only 2300 (11:30 p.m.) your time as I'm writing this Friday night.

Do you remember when I decided to give air traffic control another shot down in Laughlin-Bullhead? 1997. Wow, nearly 14 years have passed and I can remember the longing I had for you like it was only yesterday.

Look at us now. We have the incredible gift of a beautiful son, a terrific life, comfortable existence, and an incredible love for one another. I feel so connected to you right now and always. I love you so much, Kimberly.

While my heart bears great sadness for being apart from you, it also beats as strongly as it could ever beat. I know that I am always in your thoughts and you know the same occurs with me. I love you so much, Kimberly.

Time will pass by quickly and distance will soon fade away to physical closeness once again. While apart, know deep within that my love for you never escapes my every breath and know I could not possibly love you any less than the greatest love a man has ever felt for a woman. I love you so much, Kimberly.

Miles apart, although only a heartbeat away. With all my heart and soul... forever, my love.

Leyton"

AF Day 005

I completed my second mission today. The first was the mission to get me here from my helicopter site Tuesday morning from FOB Lagman. However, today was my first mission outside the wire here at FOB Smart with my PRT team. I accompanied one of my engineer counterparts, a USAF engineer. We were joined by multiple USAF and USA security personnel (professional airmen/soldiers) and certain Armed Forces nurses and doctors. We observed progress at the Zabul Provincial Hospital, which is about a 3-minute walk from our south gate here at FOB Smart in Qalat, AF. The main focus of today's PRT mission was to observe latent construction defect issues pertaining to a building within the medical compound that was recently turned over to the Afghans.

The Afghan children, playing or sitting within the hospital compound, were seemingly friendly and wanted to shake all of our hands. Some of the Afghan men were noticeably cordial. The Afghan women, while mostly covered in head-to-toe burkas, did their cultural best to avoid the physical presence of men in our group. When the men in my group were not seemingly looking in the direction of these Afghan women (a man should never stare at Afghan women in a sign of respect for their culture), many of these Afghan women could be peripherally observed to be staring at our every movement. My USAF counterpart later informed me that many Afghans believe that we were our darkened ballistic eyewear (tactical sunglasses) because they have capabilities to see through the burkas worn by their women. For any of your readers back home, this is simply not the case.

Today I gained such immense respect for the local culture and humility in my actions and thoughts while walking among the Aghan people at the hospital compound. I am proud to be here and honored to work in this humanitarian capacity, to win hearts and minds, and to help the Afghan people improve their quality of life.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

By the way, the last two nights I missed dinner at the DFAC. Tonight I did not! I had a delicious turkey meatloaf over rice with gravy and Louisiana-style (from Texas) hot sauce. I have been eating my vegetables too!

Peace from the Middle East, y'all.

Jason Stuart, you know this saying isn't just your saying, kid!

AF Day 005

Kimberly told me in the last couple of days that my son, Kaesen, recently modified, on his own, his nightly prayers.

Now I lay me,

Down to sleep.

I pray the Lord,

My soul to keep.

If I should get hurt,

Before I wake,

I pray the Lord,

My soul to take.

Now come on, that is some funny ad-libbing on his part!

My day just started... well, is started at approximately 0445 because my body was telling me I did not require any additional sleep in this day/night cycle. I showered, shaved, and dressed for success. I ate a two-egg scramble in the DFAC amd watched a little of the Eastern Conference Finals on the TV in the DFAC.

I will check back in this evening, which will be tomorrow morning for you stateside readers.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 004

It's all good in the neighborhood here in Qalat, AF. The weather today was beautiful and is warming up quickly to summertime highs. Once my camera photo transfer is squared away, I will post sights from my FOB, the town (Qalat), and other interesting life-here shots. Until then, my delightful writing will need to suffice.

I observed FOB Smart up close and personal today, climbed every guard tower, walked the perimeter walls, looked in nearly all buildings, etc. During this, I had the honor of meeting certain Afghan Security forces assisting in the protection of FOB Smart. The Afghan is a proud man and it was intriguing meeting them and seeing their faces, their eyes, and their work environments.

I work mostly with US Air Force officers/engineers who I am delighted to say are very polite, respectful, and engaging. My coworker, also USACE, is leaving soon to go back after two consecutive years here at FOB Smart. He is a civil engineer and is very well-versed in all things Qalat. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many people who have been here a year or more. There is a lot to learn with regard to the local ways of completing work, meeting with Afghans and interpreters, etc.

My missions will begin soon, which involve security details/briefings, travel - whether by foot, armored convoy, etc., meetings with local Afghan contractors, and QA/QC of my projects. I have several scheduled already, which will include walking around Qalat to observe certain of my new projects. My regular workweek is now 70 hours, compared to 40 in Devils Lake. There will even be plenty of additional overtime available here at FOB Smart for the working!

I miss you, Kimberly. I miss you, Kaesen. I miss you family & extended family. I miss you friends! Days go by so fast here, so the missing really becomes noticeable after all the work is done each day. Fortunately for me, my days will not be much slower again until right before I depart to come home on R&R Leave. Kimberly, Kaesen, and I plan to meet family in New Mexico for a mini-reunion/Kaesen's birthday (fourth).

Mail to:

JL SUMMERLIN

PRT ZABUL

FOB SMART

APO AE 09383

I love you, K&K, WAMHAS. I love you, everyone, as well.

Good night and good day.