Saturday we experienced our first sandstorm! I included two pictures; the one is of a wicked sandstorm that hit a few years back – the mother of all sandstorms. The one on Saturday was much weaker, but if you look closely at the picture I took, you can just barely make out the outline of the sand. It was awesome, seeing it move closer and closer… the wind picked up and the sky got dark as the sand and dust occluded the sun. We bolted the doors and braced for impact. When it was all said and done we only had a light dusting of sand though. But other storms can dump inches of sand on you. I wanted to build a sandman but there wasn't enough wet fresh sand to do it!
I've been e-mailing a lot of organizations who provide relief items to soldiers overseas in the form of care packages and letters. I want my squadron to be reminded in the middle of their grueling work schedule that their efforts are appreciated with every passing day. One such group is called Soldier's Angels, and like the others I've contacted– Operation Uplink, Books For Soldiers and Operation Military Pride, they all have one thing in common - to provide support to their troops overseas. It's been so encouraging reading their e-mails and all of their kind words. They have told me they'll be sending me free calling cards, gym clothes, books, cds, dvds, personal letters, e-mails, treats, and toiletries to pass out to my squadron. It's inspiring that there are people that belong to these organizations whose sole job it is to respond to our needs while we're over here, and also send us a little part of home. It fills me up with warmth and appreciation. Some of these marines (teenagers and young men) have no family or no one at home at all. These are the people for whom it's especially important to be reminded that there are thousands of people out there who pray for them every day and consider them part of their own family. These people are Angels.
I'm getting more used to our drills. Every once in a while, unannounced, usually in the middle of a dead silence, a base siren will go off. This siren signals one of two things, either a drill is occurring or the base is actually taking enemy fire (missiles). When this occurs, we race inside, put on our Kevlar (helmet) and Flack Jacket (body amour). We then make sure we have accountability for all of our troops and we wait to hear all clear, or wait for further instructions. For me this drill serves to remind me what everyone told me before I left, "Watch your back! And keep your head down!" This is a war zone and despite the pecan pie that gets served with dinner, we're not out of the woods yet.
Speaking of food, I find the chow hall more and more fascinating every time I go there. Enclosed is a picture of the chow hall right by our hangar on the Flight Line. This is not the big one on base, but this is the one I go to at least for 1 or 2 meals daily. Anyway, the chow hall doesn't get things quite right and it's very amusing to me. Every morning I drink SKIMMED milk (not skim) unless they run out then I have the FULL CREAM milk (not whole milk), and today for lunch I had a STUFFING Pepper (not a stuffed pepper). It's just a little off, but it keeps me smiling.
Last weekend I met the other Flight Surgeons on base. In fact, one of my friends from my own Flight School class is out here, Jason Henry. It's great to see him. I know several of the other Flight Surgeons as well from when I went to Yuma, AZ last November. This was my first meeting with them. They took me on the roof of their medical shop and they all smoked cigars as we watched the jets take off across the street. Sounds great, except that I was deaf and choking from the cloud of stagnant smoke within the hour. It was pretty sweet though. Not a view that many others have.
Work is good and I feel the importance of my mission, to ensure that I maintain the health of every pilot, aircrew and support staff in my squadron so they can all function to get the job done, while acting as a 'morale officer' to keep their spirits high. (Sorry I can't say more of what we do other than provide support). I like my job and my own spirits remain high. Some of you have asked for what my office looks like, and what the base looks like, so I enclosed some unclassified pictures for you. Until next time!
P.S. I saw my first snake here the other day and last night I saw two jackals (or maybe hyenas?) fighting outside my barracks. I may need to use my pistol yet…
4 comments:
the pics are awesome. I can see the yankee candle burning in your office. LOL!
You and your whether occurances....you would love a sandstorm! Feel like I am there with ya! Glad you don't feel alone.
Wow, sounds like quite an experience over there. There isn't too much new over here. Same old same old. You take care of yourself and others and see you when you get back.
That office is *definitely* RJ. No doubt!!
Do you have access to the Weather Channel? :-)
I have to know what scent the candle is.
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