Dear family, friends and loved ones,
This "Letters From the Front" was easy to write. Ok so I am not writing anything. I'll let the pros handle it. Below are two links to three articles. They paint a pretty solid picture of life "outside the wire" for us lately. We were lucky to have these reporters with us and I for one am grateful for not having to write something eloquent. Enjoy!
http://www.stripes.com/09/apr09/mirahor/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/world/asia/29afghan.html?pagewanted=1
p.s. - You can see my back in a number of pictures, i'm the guy surrounded by antennas talking to Afghans in cammo. Also, when the stars and stripes article mentions dropping bombs, that was me. BOOYAH! Ok, now enjoy...
06 May 2009
The Harvest Begins
COP Terminator, Afghanistan
19APR09
It has been a bit since the last "Letter" and I apologize. It is not that I do not have the time, some days I have plenty of it, the problem is always what to write about. I have had a number of requests to describe a normal day and our living conditions. The problem there lies in the insecurity of the Internet and the "worst-case" scenario of even the simplest of details falling into the wrong hands. So apology number two will have to be that some parts of this deployment will remain vague until we are no longer here.
That being said, the last month has been anything but dull! I found out yesterday that Shauna and I are having a baby girl. Her name, which anyone who knows Shauna knew she had picked a month after we met, will be Taylor Lynn Woodson. I will be back in time for the birth and nothing could make me happier. We will move right after, courtesy of the Army, but I look forward to our next adventure, even if it means un-hanging all those pictures Shauna likes to have up. Each new home brings new friends and strengthens the ties with the quality people we have met along the way. I thank God for all of you.
The Platoon is well. Action becomes more regular as the poppy harvest gets into full swing. It as very odd felling walking through huge fields of what will one day become heroin and not being able to do anything about it. I could get into all the pros and cons of letting the farmers grow their highest cash yielding crop but I won't. Anyone who knows me well knows my heart aches when I think of all the pain illegal drugs cause innocent families. Hashish is also a regular commodity here, which is less upsetting and more mind boggling. It is as common as afternoon tea. I am very thankful there are so few drivers here in the afternoons!
I am lucky to be surrounded by hard working, intelligent people. The other Platoon Leaders are both top notch and they seem to enjoy teaching me all that I missed in the first months of our unit's deployment. Our Company Commander is very experienced and has a great outlook on our roles as PLs. There is a lot of freedom in our planning and missions that I think we would not have under someone else. I have also started a Bible study here. It is just two of us now, but I think we will grow as people prepare to return to the rest of the world. Deployment has had the odd effect on many here of removing reality and in that space some people become what they normally would not be. Your prayers for the growth of the group and the safety of all are always appreciated.
19APR09
It has been a bit since the last "Letter" and I apologize. It is not that I do not have the time, some days I have plenty of it, the problem is always what to write about. I have had a number of requests to describe a normal day and our living conditions. The problem there lies in the insecurity of the Internet and the "worst-case" scenario of even the simplest of details falling into the wrong hands. So apology number two will have to be that some parts of this deployment will remain vague until we are no longer here.
That being said, the last month has been anything but dull! I found out yesterday that Shauna and I are having a baby girl. Her name, which anyone who knows Shauna knew she had picked a month after we met, will be Taylor Lynn Woodson. I will be back in time for the birth and nothing could make me happier. We will move right after, courtesy of the Army, but I look forward to our next adventure, even if it means un-hanging all those pictures Shauna likes to have up. Each new home brings new friends and strengthens the ties with the quality people we have met along the way. I thank God for all of you.
The Platoon is well. Action becomes more regular as the poppy harvest gets into full swing. It as very odd felling walking through huge fields of what will one day become heroin and not being able to do anything about it. I could get into all the pros and cons of letting the farmers grow their highest cash yielding crop but I won't. Anyone who knows me well knows my heart aches when I think of all the pain illegal drugs cause innocent families. Hashish is also a regular commodity here, which is less upsetting and more mind boggling. It is as common as afternoon tea. I am very thankful there are so few drivers here in the afternoons!
I am lucky to be surrounded by hard working, intelligent people. The other Platoon Leaders are both top notch and they seem to enjoy teaching me all that I missed in the first months of our unit's deployment. Our Company Commander is very experienced and has a great outlook on our roles as PLs. There is a lot of freedom in our planning and missions that I think we would not have under someone else. I have also started a Bible study here. It is just two of us now, but I think we will grow as people prepare to return to the rest of the world. Deployment has had the odd effect on many here of removing reality and in that space some people become what they normally would not be. Your prayers for the growth of the group and the safety of all are always appreciated.
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