The following is an email update from my buddy Tristian:
Greetings Everyone,
I am sorry that I was unable to send off my weekly update on time. Last week was a normal week, nothing much happened until we hitched a ride with the Brigade Commander to Salerno for a briefing we had to attend. So first off, I just wanted to let everyone know, that there may be times that I am unable send this letter out on Fridays, due to Internet connection, mission and the sort. As soon as I am able too, I will shoot it out. Just to put to rest some of the concerns people had about not receiving my update promptly on Friday.
So here we go, last week was pretty quiet like I stated, did a QAQC on a local school and the district center, and had the opportunity to have Chi (tea) with the Mayor, or at least that is the position that I think he retains. Right now it is a bit screwy in our district of who's who in the zoo. We don't have many players right now due to the Taliban threat, so each time these guys are introduces, it seems to be with a different title. I think many of them are wearing different hats, so depending on what he is representing that day, he decides to introduce himself with that title. I digress...
So as I have been to 37 countries now, several of which were developing or third world in nature, (Not all with the Army) of course, I am a master of having a conversation with another person without too much speaking. What I mean by this is, when two people talk and neither of them can speak the other's language, many people become intimidated by this event. I on the other hand love it, for many reasons. First, it is always great to have to play pictionary and talk with your hands and do all sorts of silly things to describe what you are talking about. This is a very intimate feat, and the individual which you are "talking with" tends to reach out and appreciate the conversation more. It is a great way, in a little amount of time to develop a strong relationship. It is also a great way to learn about someone, as well as learn new words.
The other reason why I love talking to people in this way is because a person can not lie to you if they can not speak. When you use an interpreter, two things can happen. One information or emphasis can be lost in translation, the other issue, is if a person can speak to you without hindrance, they are more willing to weave a web of lie and deceit. If you can not understand each others language, you can not lie to each other. Too simple of a concept. So the two people talk about simple things, things that they can relate to each other on the basic human level. This is how the intimate bond and relationship is developed. Anyways, my team SGT and I spent an hour or so, sitting in the court yard of the Zormat District Center drinking tea and talking about the little things in life. The funny thing, is that it took nearly 20 minutes to discuss his enjoyment of pomogranets.
Then came the test of faith. He began talking to me about my bald head, it was kind of funny, so he went to his office and pulled out a bottle of Rose Hair Oil. Personally, I don't understand what it was originally created for, but he basicly told me that if I were to put it on my head my hair would grow think and strong. I personally think if was "snake oil" if you know what I mean, but when in Rome, or in this case when in Zormat... do as the Zormatis. So he sprinkled some into my hand and I put it all on my head. He did the same and then offered some to my team SGT, who by the way has a full head of hair, who with a great big smile put it in his own hair. For the rest of the day we smelt like Roses, and this was not missed when I entered out nightly meeting with our Infantry Commander. A good chuckle was had by all..... at my expense. No issues though, we made a great friend that day, and an ally that we will now be able to use.
That was basically the high light until we went to Salerno. We got word late the night before we were supposed to leave that our helo ride was cancelled. We know that the next day our Brigade Commander would be stopping by for his battle field circulation and would eventually be heading back to Salerno. Late the night before, I received a cryptic e-mail stating the a Chinook helo would be stopping by to sling load some cargo in route to Salerno, and that this might be the way to get to where we were going. However things changed as soon as I was invited in to the brief with our BDE Commander. He asked if we were going to the briefing, and when we were going to leave. We told him that our helo ride was canceled, and that the course of action that was currently on the table, was to dress up in Afghan clothes, barrow a couple of AK-47s from the ANA next door, and drive like a "bat out of hell" across the mountain range, so that we could clear them by dark. His expression was priceless. He said, "Nope, your riding with me." And that was that...
We stopped by a little Combat Outpost in the boarder range between our province and the one which borders Pakistan. Khowst Province, this is where all the bad guys travel through to get to Zormat. Anyway, we landed at the LZ and go off. While we were there two Apache Gun Ships flew over head towards a disputed valley on our Eastern flank. Well they got into it with some of the bad guys. And boy did they let them have it. Strife after strife, we could hear the big guns blasting away, and several hell fire rockets were fired. It was pretty amazing, but the big show came later that night.
The helos came and licked us up and dropped us off at Salerno. We got settled in and hit the dining facility. Once we got back to our transient tens out on the outskirts of the base, we settled in and started shooting the breeze, so to speak. Then it happened, a very large rocked shot right over our tent and landed about 150-200 meters away on the air field with a big thud. My experience when I was in Ramadi was with suicide car bombs, they are very distinctive in their sound and in the explosion concussion blast. Lately I have been introduced to indirect fire in the form of mortars and rockets that make a swishing sound when the fly by. Typically this means they are small and home made. But the one that flew over our tent was a whistling or "Screaming" rocket. It was very distinct and loud as it flew over our tent, and the explosions could be felt in side of our tent 150-200 meters away. This is where the humor comes in. Moments later, one of the civilian USAID guys popped his head into our tent with a panic stricken face, "Did you guys hear that, they are shooting rockets at us." We all looked around as we were taking out time to get our stuff on, and basically responded "Yes, we will be out there shortly, and by the way, who brought the goodies for the bunker party?". Once we got our stuff on we went out to the bunker. All of the civilian guys were hunkered down. For many of them this was their first experience with something like this. But for guys that are on there second and third rodeos, it is nothing new.
Typically these bigger rockets are set up during the day and are connected to an alarm clock. With a base like Salerno, all they have to do is point it in the direction of the base and it will hit something and do some damage. Most of the time, the smaller rockets may be on a timer device, but if they are being shot off by actual people, like mortars and such, they will have only time to drop one or two, before our acoustic sensors find the POO (Point Of Origin). They run off real fast, because once the POO is discovered our UAVs and such will pick up their heat signatures and well, we as a collective provide them the opportunity to meet with their GOD!! if you know what I mean. They don't stand a chance. Now for whatever reason, so bad guys were identified by a couple of Apaches that were coming in from a different mission. Not so good of the bad guys. As the civilians hunkered down in the bunker, and I understand their point of view. Once you get use to the tit for tat, you typically stay outside the bunker to watch the fire works show. Anyways, those two helicopter tore into the side of the mountain. We could see the tracer fire from the helo's main gun, but we never saw the helos. They expended nearly 10 -12 hellfire missiles, and lit the side of the mountain on fire. Literally, the fires were still there two hours later.
Well if that were not all. The next day in the middle of class several mortars fell on the base. The funny thing about that was that everyone heard them, but everyone continued on with our brief, until the voice on the load speaker announced that we were receiving incoming. In by regulation, you must go to the bunker. The next evening, I was on the phone with my father, having my first phone conversation since coming into theater, and of course, what happens, we received one very large incoming round that fell about 200 meters north of our tents, I had to explain to him, that I would have to call him back because we were receiving incoming fire. It was only the one, and did not cause much more then a very large explosion. The POO was discovered quickly and several of our howitzers responded in haste, and that was all for the night.
With all of that excitement behind us, be got about a black hawk last night to fly the right route and get back home. The flight was AWESOME.... Very Very COOOOOOOL. It is a bit surreal when you are flying through these mountain passes, and the helicopter can not fly over the mountain because they are too tall. So when you fly through the passes, at times you can look out at some of the smaller ridge lines and see the paths and trees right next to you. As it was a full moon last night, we were able to see everything. The down side was that they could also see us due to the moon, so if someone wanted to invite us to a party, they could have done so very easily. It was an eventful night though, and we were able to see most of our province from the air. Moon light flights are sooooo romantic. :)
Anyway, I am so glad to be back at Zormat, my little slice of the pie. It is always nice to get home and sleep in your own bed. Is it a bad thing that I am referring to Zormat as my home????? Time will tell. Thanks for all of the letters and e-mails you guys sent this past week. And for those how e-mailed me out of concern because I was unable to shoot this letter off on Friday, just remember, sometimes, it might be a day or so late, but we really appreciate your concern. Also thanks so much for all of the support you give to us over here, we really appreciate it, it means a lot to us, and is what keeps us going.
Sincerely,
1LT Tristan Boddicker
DST Zormat Team Cheif (And all around Cooooool Guy)
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