Special Post No. 047

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011

 

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011

  

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011 - inspecting work.

 

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011 - "inspecting," poing rather, during triage preparations.

 

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011 - who's photographing who?

 

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011 - leisurely stroll through Qalat with our Number 1 Afghan Pashto interpreter, Craft.

  

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011 - thanking every last one of our FOB Smart professional soldiers.

JL Summerlin - 9 August 2011 - hammer time, what?!

SrA Grovert Fuentes, USAF  - Combat Photographer

 

Downtwon Qalat, Afghanistan - 9 August 2011

 

SFC Robert Russell, US Army and "Craft" on a dismounted foot patrol through Qalat, Afghanistan.



Freshly paved 6th Street in Qalat, Afghanistan.

 

Local Afghan carrying water through the streets of Qalat, Afghanistan.



Afghan Security providing overwatch at Tower 7 outside of FOB Smart.

 

SrA Fuentes, USAF took a brilliant photograph here!

 

Capt Jonathan Ball, USAF providing added security during a Qalat foot patrol.

  

FOB Smart soldiers and airmen resting before a foot patrol.

 

SSG Winkowski during a Qalat foot patrol.

 

Qalat, Afghanistan. A diamond in the rough?



Typical scene during a Qalat, Afghanistan, foot patrol. Fresh fruit.



AF Day 087 - II

FOB Smart at 2215 - Tuesday

Nightfall has overtaken this grand day and my weary bones beckon slumber. I take nothing for granted inasmuch as the beauty of life surrounding me is overwhelming and envelopes me both softly and strongly altogether at once. In my time here, I have come to know and enjoy the company of so many wonderful and passionate Afghans and Americans alike, as well as Romanians, Kenyans, Britons, and the list continues. I would be remiss for not saying that I truly enjoy my time here and simultaneously miss my family and friends dearly.

K&K are happily navigating through their day back home; I spoke with my lovely wife moments ago. Less than 30 days separate me form them and I am eager for time to slip by as though a thief in the night and bring me back into their arms once again.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 087

FOB Smart at 0730 - Tuesday

Wow, the morning here today was beautiful, albeit a little humid, and the brisk "walk" we had through downtown Qalat was filled with unique smells and a current of humanity. I was glad for the mission and for its end and return to the FOB. I have another mission to come later, but now it is breakfast time at the DFAC and I think maybe pancakes and bacon sounds good.

I spoke with K&K as they were sitting down for dinner in Washington. I spoke with my brother, Blake, and his beautiful wife and my dear sister-in-law, Jilly Bean, as they were leaving El Paso after saying farewell to their son, Leyton, who joined the U.S. Army and is leaving tomorrow morning for boot camp in Georgia. Funny enough, Jilly Bean also dropped me off on my way to basic training over 20 years ago. My-my how time flies.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 046

Kaesen Summerlin - 2 Aug 2011

Kaesen Summerlin - Hansen Family Reunion 7 Aug 2011

Kaesen Summerlin - Hansen Family Reunion 7 Aug 2011

Elle Hansen and Kaesen Summerlin - Hansen Family Reunion 7 Aug 2011

Elle Hansen and Kaesen Summerlin - Hansen Family Reunion 7 Aug 2011



AF Day 086

FOB Smart at 1330 - Monday

Monday afternoon already; this day is flying by so far. I spoke with K&K this morning while they were driving home from the Hansen reunion in southern Washington. My day has been fairly low-key with a meeting or two and nothing major planned in terms of missions. Tomorrow is different, as we have multiple missions and multiple projects to complete.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 085

FOB Smart at 0525 - Sunday

Good morning to me means that is must be a good evening to you, hopefully anyway! For me it is definitely a good morning. Who knows what the day will hold and the promise of something special is worth the wait any day of the week.

K&K are at a Hansen family reunion in Washington. Our own family reunion, however small, will happen in a little over 30 days from now. I am so excited.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 084

FOB Smart at 2230 - Saturday

Quiet – it has been a quiet day for FOB Smart. Quiet – it has also been a night for FOB Smart. The unrest from yesterday quelled, we attempt to resume our normal operations… whatever such may be for us here in Qalat at the FOB.

Tragedy struck the United States earlier today. As most of you now know from American news, the Taliban has claimed that its fighters ambushed US and ISAF troops after learning of pending night operation to root out Taliban in the district. The downing and loss of life occurred in the Tangi valley of Wardak Province, where Taliban insurgents are extremely active. This is the single-largest loss of U.S. military troops in one incident during the entire war here in Afghanistan. Thirty-one U.S. and seven Afghans killed. Most of the U.S. casualties are thought to have been Navy SEAL Team 6. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the sons, daughters, wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, family members, and friends of those who gave their lives so that the people of Afghanistan might know freedom and peace.

I am up early tomorrow. I am tired.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 045

Mass Casualty (MASCAL) to Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) in progress at FOB Smart on August 5, 2011

 

Mass Casualty (MASCAL) to Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) in progress at FOB Smart on August 5, 2011



Mass Casualty (MASCAL) to Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) in progress at FOB Smart on August 5, 2011



Mass Casualty (MASCAL) to Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) in progress at FOB Smart on August 5, 2011



Movie night in Jon Leyton's office on August 4, 2011



AF Day 083

FOB Smart at 1030 - Friday

Morning came on with "excitement" here on the FOB. Without saying too much, I could best describe this morning's events as slightly chaotic, then calm, then slightly chaotic with the arrival of two casualty evacuations aboard a US Army UH-60 medevac helicopter. The casualties were a young boy of maybe eight years old and a man of maybe 40-50 years old. Watching our personnel spring into action over the course of thirty minutes and perform triage and then acute care to the two injured Afghans was heartening. I even had a chance to assist with changing litters and comforting the young boy as several of our doctors and medics assessed him. The boy’s father watched nearby and I found it appropriate to assure him is son would be all right and was safe in the hands of our personnel. These two should survive and the events leading up to their injuries were at once saddening.

Days pass by without significant events occurring and then something happens outside the wire and life briefly changes. Regardless of our affiliations, our specialties, our planned tasks for the day, when something happens it is warming to know that the team operates as it should and the professionals I am surrounded by take great care and pride to lend a hand to humanity. Thank you the PRT Zabul, its visitors who assisted, and to the efforts all made to ensure safety and security. You should all be proud of yourselves.

I spoke with K&K briefly when I woke this morning. All is well there and I am comforted with the belief that they are safe and secure in their own life back home.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 082

FOB Smart at 2330 - Thursday

Another good day has come and gone. Another Friday rears itself and I believe the weekend will be fantastic, especially since starting it off with "Any Hat Friday" tomorrow. Saturday we have several missions, Sunday, Monday, and so on. It is like I always say here in the blog, staying busy is the best thing for me. I cannot think of better and more honorable work at this moment than the work we are all partnering together to perform.

Tonight we watched Top Gun. What a great movie that is. It came out over 25 years ago in 1985. I watched that movie with my dad in Tucson, Arizona, the summer I moved to Louisiana. What a great summer that was. I have memories of myself with Chase Foshee hauling butt down Highway 1 to Natchitoches, Louisiana, listening to the soundtrack to Top Gun. We were thinking that we were invincible and how much we wanted to be F-14 pilots for the U.S. Navy! I wore the same Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses Tom Cruise wore in the movie; in fact, I still have them, although I do not wear them anymore. Funny stuff...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 081

FOB Smart at 2230 - Wednesday

We completed missions today. We moved projects forward today. We met with contractors, team members, and Afghan government officials today. It has been a good day. The weather this early morning on my dismounted foot patrol through Qalat was perfect. Leaving early gives us the advantage of cool temperatures, beautiful skies, and minimal crowds. I realized, before and during my first mission that the day was grand and it felt good to be alive!

Tonight I ate a light meal. Tomorrow morning I will awake and exercise again; I think we will do treadmill inclines for thirty minutes and possible a light run thereafter. I felt good after running two miles the other morning, so I imagine I will feel good tomorrow after the workout.

I am close to thirty days before I leave for my first R&R to New Mexico! I am getting very excited at the prospect of being physically close to my family again. Being here really puts the important things in life into perspective for me. Taking the little things we cherish in life for granted becomes obvious and appreciating what we have becomes so very easy when we find ourselves in situations like this contingency deployment.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 044

Typical Afghan "Jingle" truck; in this case, the adornments are located on a haul truck.

 

Typical Afghan "Jingle" truck; in this case, the adornments are located on a haul truck.

 

Typical Afghan "Jingle" truck; in this case, the adornments are located on a haul truck.

 

Typical Afghan "Jingle" truck; in this case, the adornments are located on a haul truck.

 

Capt Jonathan R. Ball, USAF posing in front of an Afghan "Jingle."

 

Capt Jonathan R. Ball, USAF standing near a completed CMU wall covered
with "plaster" at a jobsite in New Qalat City, Qalat, Afghanistan.

 

JL Summerlin posing in front of an Afghan "Jingle."

 

Sgt Farrell, US Army posing in front of an Afghan "Jingle."



Sgt Farrell, US Army posing in front of an Afghan "Jingle."



The above photographs were taken by JL Summerlin during a routine mounted combat patrol, with dismounted patrols at five area projects, on August 1, 2011, in Qalat, Afghanistan. Opportunities for photographs are abundant and the images captured can range from the obscure to the mundane.

Special Post No. 043

CPT Daniel Simon Leonard and the US Army 182 at a local construction project.

 

Typical masonry construction of an Afghan ministerial office building in Qalat.

 

Nice ladder!



Afghan interpreter, "Craft," inside of a typical masonry construction of an Afghan ministerial office building in Qalat.



Typical masonry construction of an Afghan ministerial office building in Qalat.



Typical masonry construction of an Afghan ministerial office building in Qalat.



Afghan interpreter, "Craft," and the rest of the US Army 182 security forces patrolling with me through Qalat.



The US Army 182 security forces patrolling with me through Qalat.



Afghan interpreter, "Khan," and the rest of the US Army 182 security forces patrolling with me through Qalat.



Sheik Mati Boys' Boarding School - Typical Clasroom



Sheik Mati Boys' Boarding School - Typical Clasroom

 

Sheik Mati Boys' Boarding School - Soccer Stadium



Sheik Mati Boys' Boarding School - Soccer Stadium



TSgt Kangas rocking the morning foot patrol!



TSgt Kangas rocking the morning foot patrol!

 

Mike Booth of Tundra Strategies and the Afghan PSD we roll out with regularly!



AF Day 080

FOB Smart at 0845 - Tuesday

I have no missions today and only two contractor meetings later this morning and mid-afternoon. With two miles run in an appropriate amount of time for a 39-year old, my breakfast tasted especially nice this morning after that wonderfully warm shower, and the coup de grâce to anything negative – I was able to speak with K&K via Skype this morning for about half an hour! It is going to be a stupendous day and I am stoked for such.

I love you, Daddy, Viviane, Ninny, Teddy Bear, Dad-Don and Mom-Sue. I love you my dear siblings, you few and wonderful aunts and uncles, and forget you not my rare and fine cousins of mine. Not forgotten, you magical assortment of nephews and nieces and, of course, you solemn and secure friends of mine held true. Love even to you whom I know not although may consider an enemy and, finally, many of you whom I have not nor likely will ever meet – I love you all. Life is good.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 079

FOB Smart at 2300 - Monday

Wow! I have been in Afghanistan now for over 79 days and the journey has just begun. It feels as though I left only yesterday, yet the time between then and now is legitimately verified. I am amazed with the experience I have shared to-date and look forward to the many more I am certain will come my way. No regrets, other than missing my wife and son, and family and friends, as much as I do right now; oh, andmy dogs and cat, too. As I have stated several times before, I am so very grateful for this opportunity here in Afghanistan helping people help themselves to live greater and fuller lives than before.

K&K called me on their way to Kaesen's school; he goes twice per week and loves it. I cannot wait to be able to drive him to school again someday. He is growing up so fast; I suppose it becomes especially noticeable when we have such an enormous time and distance separation from our children.

It is late and I am waking early tomorrow... for a two-mile run on the FOB with several coworkers. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Anyway, I am tired from the 10 projects I observed over two missions, one foot patrol and the other a mounted combat patrol, today. Life is good when I am working hard and living the dream...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.