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Time to once again open my life up a little in order to share the plethora of wealth I'm about to absorb. I'm going to be back in Iraq through September, so hop on board and check back every couple of days, I'll do my best to update as much as possible. Questions? dtate38@cox.net And check out the site I'm working with: http://www.billroggio.com Support independent journalism!
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Monday September 13, 2004
The next day I was brought up to the ANA brigade HQ because the E.T.T.'s I was with wanted to make sure it was alright I was there and wanted to check with the lead command element, which now happens to be the 25th Infantry Division's 3/4 Cav. I'm not really sweating it because I am working through Task Force Phoenix and the ANA. Technically, I'm attached to the U.S. Army still, but I play the ANA card a lot, as I feel I'm entitled to.
The E.T.T.'s brought me up to the 25th's HQ, which is now located in the "Jihaddi House". This is no regular house. It's a nice size home sitting in the side of the mountain. No other house is higher. It's unclear whether Ismail Kahn owns this house, but it is clear that this house is where his Jihad against the Soviets began, so there is historical significance here.
Inside are murals of the jihad and old weapons in glass cases. Up the stairs, the hall wraps around leaving the middle open. 5-6 bedrooms branch off the hall. Nice furniture and some accessories. A little bare minus the 40 or so soldiers inside.
Not long ago Ismail Kahn held audience and meetings here. Now it is bristling with U.S. Army brass which is working overtime to coordinate a force of roughly 500 U.S. soldiers with the Afghan's and their U.S. trainers, which number over 2,500. I get a quick tour and meet the big guys. All seemed to go well, which was good. I was warned to expect some shit over the fact that I'm unescorted, but it never came. I was just in time for the evening B.U.B ( Battle Update Brief), but I wasn't invited to stay. Understandable. I've been in on many, but it depends on command and considering I just met these men, I expected no different.
Outside, the house has a spectacular view of Herat with barren moonscape mountains to the rear and the flanks. Just below (or so I thought), was two guesthouses of Kahn's. One was still being built, the other was a barracks for more men from 3/4 Cav. The house under construction had a huge mural of Kahn on the side, as well as one with Ahmad Shah Masoud. The workers told me the new plan was to make it a restaurant. Maybe Kahn will give up war and go into resorts, like some of his fellow warlords. Doubt it, but who knows.
After getting some shots, I decided to head back up the hill. On the way I had a heart attack, but eventually made it. This is where the wind became incredible. It was blowing hard to start with, but all of a sudden we weren't in Kansas anymore. After 25 minutes of abuse (I was waiting for some soldiers), a Spec Ops guy and I climbed into his truck to get away from it. This is the same Spec Ops guy I ran into in Bagram and Kandahar 3 or 4 months ago. This is when you realize how small this war really is.
Back at the E.T.T. barracks, I was given a cot on the enclosed front porch with a couple of the E.T.T.'s that put me up the previous night. The wind continued to rage, but I slept through it. Actually reminded me a lot of a multitude of times and places I've spent listening to Lake Huron as I grew up. Being from Michigan, I am very fortunate to have many memories of the Great Lakes, in particular Lake Huron. Than I woke up...
Actually this E.T.T. pad has qualities of a cabin "up north". In fact, several of the guys commented on its "hunting cabin" feel. It's just a single hall building with room of of it as you walk up the hall. At the end is the kitchen where the guys take turns making the meals and cleaning up. They live apart from the army and count on the local economy quite a bit. Their job is to advise the ANA and fight alongside when necessary. A Green Beret job in Vietnam, now one for the 76th Indiana Infantry.
Although the unit hails from Indiana, it has drawn members from 16 states. In this unit, I'm with soldiers from Indiana, Oregon, Alabama, Mass, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio, and Illinois. I'm sure there's another state or two that I'll hear about later. Anyway... great crew. Fought some very hairy action earlier in the week and they've been shaking it off in a very professional manner. So I decide to ask to stay a few days and they give me the green light.
The next day I was brought up to the ANA brigade HQ because the E.T.T.'s I was with wanted to make sure it was alright I was there and wanted to check with the lead command element, which now happens to be the 25th Infantry Division's 3/4 Cav. I'm not really sweating it because I am working through Task Force Phoenix and the ANA. Technically, I'm attached to the U.S. Army still, but I play the ANA card a lot, as I feel I'm entitled to.
The E.T.T.'s brought me up to the 25th's HQ, which is now located in the "Jihaddi House". This is no regular house. It's a nice size home sitting in the side of the mountain. No other house is higher. It's unclear whether Ismail Kahn owns this house, but it is clear that this house is where his Jihad against the Soviets began, so there is historical significance here.
Inside are murals of the jihad and old weapons in glass cases. Up the stairs, the hall wraps around leaving the middle open. 5-6 bedrooms branch off the hall. Nice furniture and some accessories. A little bare minus the 40 or so soldiers inside.
Not long ago Ismail Kahn held audience and meetings here. Now it is bristling with U.S. Army brass which is working overtime to coordinate a force of roughly 500 U.S. soldiers with the Afghan's and their U.S. trainers, which number over 2,500. I get a quick tour and meet the big guys. All seemed to go well, which was good. I was warned to expect some shit over the fact that I'm unescorted, but it never came. I was just in time for the evening B.U.B ( Battle Update Brief), but I wasn't invited to stay. Understandable. I've been in on many, but it depends on command and considering I just met these men, I expected no different.
Outside, the house has a spectacular view of Herat with barren moonscape mountains to the rear and the flanks. Just below (or so I thought), was two guesthouses of Kahn's. One was still being built, the other was a barracks for more men from 3/4 Cav. The house under construction had a huge mural of Kahn on the side, as well as one with Ahmad Shah Masoud. The workers told me the new plan was to make it a restaurant. Maybe Kahn will give up war and go into resorts, like some of his fellow warlords. Doubt it, but who knows.
After getting some shots, I decided to head back up the hill. On the way I had a heart attack, but eventually made it. This is where the wind became incredible. It was blowing hard to start with, but all of a sudden we weren't in Kansas anymore. After 25 minutes of abuse (I was waiting for some soldiers), a Spec Ops guy and I climbed into his truck to get away from it. This is the same Spec Ops guy I ran into in Bagram and Kandahar 3 or 4 months ago. This is when you realize how small this war really is.
Back at the E.T.T. barracks, I was given a cot on the enclosed front porch with a couple of the E.T.T.'s that put me up the previous night. The wind continued to rage, but I slept through it. Actually reminded me a lot of a multitude of times and places I've spent listening to Lake Huron as I grew up. Being from Michigan, I am very fortunate to have many memories of the Great Lakes, in particular Lake Huron. Than I woke up...
Actually this E.T.T. pad has qualities of a cabin "up north". In fact, several of the guys commented on its "hunting cabin" feel. It's just a single hall building with room of of it as you walk up the hall. At the end is the kitchen where the guys take turns making the meals and cleaning up. They live apart from the army and count on the local economy quite a bit. Their job is to advise the ANA and fight alongside when necessary. A Green Beret job in Vietnam, now one for the 76th Indiana Infantry.
Although the unit hails from Indiana, it has drawn members from 16 states. In this unit, I'm with soldiers from Indiana, Oregon, Alabama, Mass, New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio, and Illinois. I'm sure there's another state or two that I'll hear about later. Anyway... great crew. Fought some very hairy action earlier in the week and they've been shaking it off in a very professional manner. So I decide to ask to stay a few days and they give me the green light.
