Great Moments in Afghanistan
There are some good points to being in Afghanistan; at times their pretty difficult to identify but at others their fairly simple to see. I’ll give you some examples.
As we stand in knee deep stinking Afghan Ass mud; with our 14 ton vehicle stuck up to its marker lights. MSG Famine turns to me and says, “Hey Sir, think how great this is for our skin”. Positive time which is hard to identify.
Here’s another one.
The team is burying a $4 million dollar helicopter. Yes, you read that right burying a $4 million
dollar helicopter. If you want; you can
email me and I’ll send you the grid and you can go dig it up. There’s not much left of it after we
destroyed it with a backhoe, but it’s there. You can’t make this stuff up!
Well anyway, SSG Ditka on loan from the VAMPIRE 16 element, looks at me and says, “Damn Sir, this is awesome we could start a treasure hunt now. Kind of like the movie It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Another great moment in Afghanistan, hard to ID. Oh yeah, I may have missed a Mad in there so please forgive me.
But some of them are pretty easy. Such as Toby Keith coming to visit us and becoming an honorary VAMPIRE. Which just happened!
We heard a rumor that he was coming and like all good forward deployed soldiers; we doubted it was true and developed several scenarios where we would get screwed out of it. The last USO visit we had Leann Tweeden came to visit us and we were promptly rocketed by the Taliban shortening her visit to about 20 minutes. We still owe the booger eaters for that one and will settle up sometime in the future.
I digress though. Toby Keith did make it here and it was awesome. The VAMPIRE 06 ACTUAL, my awesome wife, is a huge Toby Keith fan and I like his music but after this I’ll be a huge fan forever. A great American in deed and words.
Our FOB isn’t huge by any means and he flew down here met with all the soldiers, sang an acoustic set and then walked around to the guard towers to talk to the guys that couldn’t come because they were on duty. That is a great moment even I can ID.
So we presented him with a genuine VAMPIRE t-shirt from
Vision Strikewear and he’s now an honorary VAMPIRE. After we explained what our unit motto meant,
“Let them hate, as long as they fear” he asked where he could get some more of
them. We also explained our fund raiser
for Soldiers Angels and he liked it even more.
"Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue"
I have this delusion that the next Toby Keith video will have a VAMPIRE t-shirt in it. You never know!
Is that chopper a Puma?
Glad to hear about Toby Keith. He's my favorite performing country singer.
Reply to this
That is f'ing SUH-WEET!! I love Toby Keith.
Reply to this
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 05/06/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
Reply to this
Okay, now you've gone and done it! I WANT ONE OF THOSE T-SHIRTS IN THE LARGEST SIZE YOU'VE GOT, PLEASE.....
Reply to this
I can identify with those 'moments'. It's one of those, "You had to be there. . ." things. I won't take a moment away from you comparing yours to mine. It's all yours. Sardonic humor, you say?
BTW: Do you have a pin or patch with the motto? Personally, I have subscribed to that motto for years. I'd just like to pin it or patch it on my PGR vest.
HavaHappy!
Reply to this
Thank YOU. We are thankful for you guys everyday, but there are some days that you bring so much glee and joy.
Does air fare & security team come with the grid? =)
Reply to this
Not sure what's more awesome, burying the helo or hanging out with Toby Keith! Hmmmm.... ok, hanging out with Toby Keith!!!
Reply to this
Awesome! Especially the part about telling him about Soldiers' Angels.
Reply to this
Did you guys think of using that chopper's location for geo-caching?
Reply to this
That IS awesome! TK is just a plain ol' "Good American"...period. Don't care about his politics but love the guy's spirit.
In '05 (mighta been '06) we made sure the TOC was covered with old senior guys and sent off every young un that wanted to go see him play at Camp Vic. Smiles for days.
7th trip for TK. He's earning his deployment patch and then some! Ya'll stay safe and shoot straight!
DS
Reply to this
You've gotta make the fun where you can
Reply to this
Way cool about Toby Keith. I loved that you gave him a t-shirt! Stay safe!
Reply to this
Great post and I was never a big C&W fan but have the greatest respect for Toby K. In fact, I have learned over the last couple of years to admire and respect people like Gary Sinese and even David Spade, who just sent like 50K worth of funds to supply new helmets for some of the guys in Iraq. The way that a person treats our brothers in arms, tells a guy everything he needs to know.
I just found this blog, from a comment over at the Sniper blogspot and hope I will have time to explore it in the future. Besides - anyone who has a dog on the main page, is 100 per cent with me.
Thanks for all that you and the other guys are doing there; we pray for ALL our people who are serving the cause of freedom in the worst hellholes known to man. God bless and protect you all.
Reply to this
Hey, what's with the G-Man poster behind Toby Keith? Do you guys have Geronimo's running around the FOB? Best company you can have. I remember watching them give BLUFOR fits every month while I O/Cd at JRTC. Great blog!
Reply to this
Dang, dude! That is way cool for the Vampires and for Tango Kilo to do as he did.
Expecting my Vampire T-shirt any day now ...
By the way, is that a 509th patch I see on the wall?
Reply to this
Awesome!!! I've loved Toby Keith ever since "How Do Ya Like Me Now?"!! I took my daughter (now Navy) to see him with about 1500 people there in Monterey, Ca. when he first hit it big and it was so much fun!! So glad he continues to be the patriot he is. Take care, Vamp 6! Love Ya Lots!!! Navy Mom, MK, Aptos, Ca.
Reply to this
what's the back story on the chopper?
either i'm be getting old, or i haven't had enough beer tonight, but i'm drawing a blank given the bottom aspect of the pic... my best guess is Hip-8.
regards to you and your troops from here in the ZOI.
red,
B-9-2
Harmony Church
14APR83
Reply to this
I am honored to read this web site. My compliments to your team. And by the way...thank you for your service. How is the sniper action??
Reply to this
That's totally cool - You really can't make this stuff up. Hope to see or hear from you soon - "Sweaty". >P.s. also check out my new website: reactivearmortattoo.com - M.K.
Reply to this
Happy he made it out to you! Thanks looong time, Toby!!!
Reply to this
Definitely more fun than PTAE..........
Reply to this
Was directed to this blog through an Aussie blog I read. Would like to link you in my blogroll, if that's ok!
Thanks to you and yours for ALL you do.
Reply to this
You guys are supermen and TK must feel truly honored to have been so cordially received. I thank you every day I breathe free.
Reply to this
great to hear he made it out your way! Saw the Gingerbread Man so you're out there on the perimeter with the best. Godspeed and good luck.
AATW
Reply to this
Stay safe and thanks for all you do! As for Keith-didn't he vote for Obama?
Reply to this