Despite losing 16 members of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in June, including 8 Marines, one Navy corpsman and seven soldiers (one active duty, one Michigan National Guard and five New York National Guard) the command was determined that the task force would celebrate the nation's birthday in style. We took advantage of the fact that the holiday fell this year on a Friday, which is usually a "down day" for our Afghan hosts and an opportunity to back down a little on our operational tempo for just a little while.
First thing in the morning, a 5-kilometer fun-run was held at the Camp Phoenix track and more than a 130 runners - all services, civilian employees and resident coalition partners - participated. Even at 7 a.m., the heat was oppressive and was over 90 degrees and climbing. As the runners went around the track, they listened to the Beach Boys and other summer tunes. First Sergeant James Meltz, a New York state trooper from the Capital Region pushed out with his unit's guidon - SECFOR Delta (Security Force Company D.)
When it was over, everyone moved from the track back to Patriot Square for a brief ceremony. Colonel Brian K. Balfe, our commander, led 20 members of our New York team in affirming their service oath. These Soldiers re-enlisted from here, the combat zone.
During his remarks, Col. Balfe reminded everyone of the importance of the day and that those who signed the Declaration of Independence had taken a bold step at great risk. He also went on to say the it wasn't the Declaration that made America free; it was the Continental Army that made it free, and since then all of the nation's service branches had fought and sacrificed in its defense.
The commander thanked all of the members of the task force who had answered the nation's call to serve, noting that most people at home don't. Those who do are special, and the nation takes note of them.
The KBR people who run the Dining Facility outdid themselves on the 4th. They had everything for us -- barbecue chicken and ribs, hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, deserts - just great. And the first thing you saw when you came into the dining hall was a great patriotic display complete with Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, the Pentagon and huge decorated cakes. The cakes were not only inspiring, but also very tasty.
We weren't home, but we had our friends with us, and most of us called home later anyway. We needed a break. There was so much bad news, and we had a run on memorial ceremonies. We just needed a break and got it.
Fortunately, Saturday and Sunday were routine days over here, busy but with no disasters. We have a Long Island Newsday reporter embedded with our Bay Shore armory-based SECFOR Charlie troops and a Washington Post reporter is set to go north to embed with a some of my New York City comrades.
Monday started off pretty good, and I got to spend a little time with some great guys I have known for a few years who serve on a Police Mentoring Team down East in Ghazni. Captain Rich Redmond from Utica is the team leader and his NCO in charge is Sergeant 1st Class Robert Marshall from Watertown. What a great combination these two are.
They had a close call early in May when an ambush took out there armored vehicles, but fortunately they didn't suffer a scratch. They were rolling through on a maintenance run on their vehicles, and I took some time out to see them as they left. Being in the Guard for as long as I have, there are a lot of guys and gals I know over here and they are scattered in their assignments all over the country. They mean a lot to me, and yes, I do worry about them.
Late this morning, I got the news that a suicide bomber had detonated his weapon in Kabul near the embassies and the Afghan Government Ministry of the Interior building. The casualty figures among civilians and members of the Afghan National Police is very high.
One young soldier I know from Buffalo came into my hut a little while ago and said he was there. Sergeant Jon Aisel is a medic assigned to a SECFOR team supporting mentors up north. His dad was here a year ago as a National Guard NCO in charge of an embedded training team. Jon did an telephone interview with the Buffalo News last week from my office.
He and his team are staying at Camp Phoenix and were inside the MOI complex when the attack came. None of them were hurt -- just startled. But these guys are combat veterans now and knew what to do. Jon said they went out to help as they could with the wounded.
He described a horrible scene to me and we talked for a while. The whole team will be debriefed and will see the chaplain, too. He wanted me to know that he was OK and that he had already called home to let his folks know.
In the short time we have been here, he has already seen quite a bit, been under fire, treated gunshot wounds during an ambush, lost a buddy from the Buffalo area and more. He told me straight out that what bothers him most about today was the site of pieces of children spread through the street among the carnage and wreckage. The image of little feet and hands will probably stay with him now forever.
We have had a our break now and reality is back. After all, this is Afghanistan -- a combat zone.
(To view photos to accompany this entry, visit the photo gallery "Pictures from the Front" by clicking here.)
