Home Away From Home

These are pictures from around the FOB that has been Chris's home for the past 6 months. Not surprisingly, what I've been picturing in my head and what these places/things actually look like have been very different, so it has been pretty neat to finally "see" what I've been hearing about and have only been able to imagine for so long.

 COC (Combat Operations Center)

This is a picture of the command center for all of the battalion's operations. All reporting and decisions for the batallion are made here, including any requests for fires (call-in artillery, what Chris does, and jets) and controlling who comes into their Area of Operations.

A closer picture of the entrance to the COC. You can see the "River City" sign is posted meaning they were in a communication blackout during this time.

Marler Hall

These are pictures of the conference room where all of the large staff meetings are held. It is named after a Corporal that was killed in action.

A memorial drawn and painted by one of the Marines. The pictures are of the fallen Marines of 3/1.

These are action pictures taken during the deployment.

This is a picture of Tar, one of the IED Detection Dogs that was killed in action.

Chris's "Office"

Entrance to the office.

The odd looking posters on the walls are propaganda posters that the US military has made for the local Afghan people, trying to persuade them to trust the Afghan government.

"Hesco Village"

This is the grouping of all the living areas where everyone stays. It is called Hesco Village because each living area/tent is fortified with "Hesco barriers" (the large walls you see) to protect them from any mortars or rockets that could be shot into the FOB. A Hesco barrier is basically an expandable metal frame with a liner that is filled with dirt and then placed together to forms protective walls.

An entrance to one of the living areas.

It looks very much like a maze.

A sign one group of Marines made for the entrance to their living area. Pretty funny...

Sleeping Tent/Living Quarters

These are pictures of Chris's living area.

Chris's cot/corner of the tent.

(Notice the bottle of Tabasco and other random things under his cot...boys are so messy! ;) )

Such a ham.



Chow Hall

Please excuse the ugly word on this sign, but I thought it was too funny not to share.

A hand-washing station they finally put in after 3-4 months of everyone constantly being sick because they didn't have the means to wash their hands when they ate or (even worse) served food.

"One of the hardest working individuals I've ever come across in the Marine Corps. He pretty much feeds the camp and carries the chow hall on his back....really good guy." -Chris

Their food comes in large plastic bags that are heated in boiling water and then dumped in and served out of these large green vats.

One of the condiment caddies...Chris says you have to put hot sauce on pretty much everything to make it edible.

The makeshift grill they use on the rare occasions they have steaks.

The new oven they are building to make bread and pizza....after Chris is gone. :(

Gym

The gym is named after a Sergeant that was killed in action.

The "weight room".

I like it...

Chris probably won't like that I put this picture on here, but I wanted to show what they use for a weight bench. It's actually an empty rocket canister with a board placed on top...another innovative use of what's available.

"I don't know. You take a few pictures around here for your wife and dudes want to get in and act silly..."

-Chris

This will be the last of the "Afghanistan Picture Posts"...for now anyway...hope you've enjoyed!! :)

Honoring the Fallen

"Lord, bless these heros;

Who have given their lives.

Comfort their children;

Their husbands and wives.

Let us not forget;

They have given their all.

Let the bugle be silent;

Let no more soldiers fall."

These are pictures of the memorials that have been constructed on FOB Delhi; a somber reminder of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and for their comrades in arms. Lord, let us never forget those who have laid down their lives so that we may live a life of  freedom, safety, and justice.

Memorial Chris's battalion made for the Marines who have been killed in action in this area of operations since April 2010.

The names of the fallen are written on the stones placed at the base of the cross as well as the plaque in front.

The British Armed Forces memorial.

"Greater love has no one than this,

that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

"One of the cool parts..."

...as Chris would say, is getting to radio in helicopters and direct their landing on the FOB (Forward Operating Base**). He really enjoys doing this, I think mostly because it helps break up the monotony of most of his days, but it's really a pretty neat task to get to direct the pilots and help them land in what's proven to be a very small area!

These first pictures are of Chris radioing in a CH-53 Super Stallion. These helicopters were developed specifically for the Marine Corps for "heavy-lift operations" including carrying cargo, vehicles, artillery, and troops.

This next series is of Chris working with a V-22 Osprey, the military's newest helicopter. It is a "tiltrotor" aircraft, which means it takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter, but has the maneuverability and the long-range, high-speed capabilities of an airplane. A down-side to this particular aircraft is the incredible wind speeds and literal dust-storm it produces when it lands. Roofs have been torn off of buildings, care-packages thrown into walls, and one Marine's Kevlar helmet was actually dented after being picked up by these winds and slammed into a nearby building. Needless to say, loose objects are secured and the marines duck and cover when one of these comes in!

 

**For those of you who have already read this, apparently I've been mistaken about the meaning of this acronym the entire time I've known Chris/been around the military, but it's fixed now! Just goes to show you...I'm constantly learning new things everyday as a military wife! :)