There was an unscheduled formation called today. Unscheduled formations always mean one of two things: yelling or bad news. In this case it was the latter.
Our reliefs are delayed and thus our deployment is extended. Hopefully only a couple of weeks. In light of my post yesterday, it should not be such a surprise. I wrote about blog posting and karma many months ago. So it seems that I have fallen trap again.
Unfortunately the news coming this late in the process, has thrown many of us for a loop. The business of the day has been characterized by unpleasant calls home and disappointment. Reunions will have to be put off and homecoming plans will need to be rearranged.
In the end, you cope by pressing on, not worrying about what you cannot control, and the knowledge that it could be worse. One of our SEABEE colleagues told me today of a sister unit that was extended by three months. He is concerned that the same thing will happen to his unit. Such is the nature of military planning. Expect the worst, hope for the best, and don't count your chickens early.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Final Countdown
It is likely our last full week of clinical responsibility. Our replacements have nearly completed their pre-deployment training. One of the surgeons is blogging about his experiences. Much time is now devoted to wrapping up unfinished business, starting to pack, and planning the trip home. Still, until the next team actually arrives, we try to avoid attachment to any certain dates.
Casualties have been light to non-existent. In the past two weeks, only one patient had minor injuries from a mortar round. Hopefully this bodes well for the spring and summer but skepticism about this abounds. We continue to treat injuries that result from the conduct of daily business. It is good to end the deployment without the casualties that had been so commonplace.
I sound like a broken record talking about the weather but we are drying out as the extensive rains continued last weekend. We tested the watertightness of the 'temporary' tents in which so many of the troops are housed. Some of them looked to be in danger of floating away until shovels and some frantic labor resulted in new drainage ditches. The OR in the FST had some flooding as well which was controlled by some determined effort by our teams. The hard structures here were built 30 years ago by the Soviets during their invasion and their age is really showing.
I have spent a lot of this forum poking fun at the FOB and deployment life but just to show that there is beauty everywhere, even austere environments, I am have included some pictures to prove my point.
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| Newly snow capped mountains |
I sound like a broken record talking about the weather but we are drying out as the extensive rains continued last weekend. We tested the watertightness of the 'temporary' tents in which so many of the troops are housed. Some of them looked to be in danger of floating away until shovels and some frantic labor resulted in new drainage ditches. The OR in the FST had some flooding as well which was controlled by some determined effort by our teams. The hard structures here were built 30 years ago by the Soviets during their invasion and their age is really showing.
I have spent a lot of this forum poking fun at the FOB and deployment life but just to show that there is beauty everywhere, even austere environments, I am have included some pictures to prove my point.
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| Sunset |
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Life On The FOB: Part 11 - All The FOB's A Canvas
You might think that the military suppresses creativity and individual expression. I do. Wait did I just admit that? Nevertheless, it still creeps out in unexpected ways and places. No less on the FOB. Where most see mundane concrete, earthworks, and defensive structures, some see a canvas. And, still others see an opportunity to critique. So let's celebrate the Hesco and jersey barrier as vehicles for artistry.
For some, the unit is the muse.
For some, inspiration comes from national identity.
For the FST, we just wanted the best. Everything is a competition, you know.
Then there are the Hesco artists, who favor rawer sketch techniques.
But in the end, isn't all art simply emotion?
By the way, we were thinking of auctioning these priceless treasures. If you want to bid, let us know. Shipping not included.
For some, the unit is the muse.
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| Seahorses and whacking bushes where there are none. Hmm, abstract. |
For some, inspiration comes from national identity.
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| Iconic |
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| FST virtuosity. No seriously. |
Then there are the Hesco artists, who favor rawer sketch techniques.
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| Primal rage. Get thee to Combat Stress Therapy. |
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| It speaks to the interconnectedness of man, woman and guns. I think. Maybe. |
But in the end, isn't all art simply emotion?
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| I smile therefore I am...a Hesco. |
By the way, we were thinking of auctioning these priceless treasures. If you want to bid, let us know. Shipping not included.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Super Soiree' at Sunrise
Game time was in the early morning hours here and no one was going to let the 0400 kickoff stop the party. The DFAC opened and served plates of calories and cholesterol deep-fat-fried to perfection. Near beer flowed freely.
Taunting between camps also flowed freely. It is fortunate that they don't organize units by states, ala the Civil War. Otherwise things might have really gotten out of hand.
We didn't get to see the commercials. Instead, AFN broadcast homemade public service announcements submitted by units worldwide. They were, um, as good as you might imagine. Also Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs, in a blatant attempt to catch us paying attention, thanked us for our service. Personally, I prefer Pepsi, Budweiser, and GoDaddy.com but oh well.
Taunting between camps also flowed freely. It is fortunate that they don't organize units by states, ala the Civil War. Otherwise things might have really gotten out of hand.
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| Missing the Cheeseheads |
We didn't get to see the commercials. Instead, AFN broadcast homemade public service announcements submitted by units worldwide. They were, um, as good as you might imagine. Also Defense Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs, in a blatant attempt to catch us paying attention, thanked us for our service. Personally, I prefer Pepsi, Budweiser, and GoDaddy.com but oh well.
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| No couches for these potatoes. |
Thursday, February 3, 2011
They Also Serve
We had a birth this past week. The wife of one of our air force medics gave birth to their first child, Landon. Mom and baby are doing well.
The occasion is a good opportunity to sing the praises of the military family. It sometimes feels disproportionate to compare acknowledgment of our contributions with the acknowledgment of our families. We, the deploying service members, are hailed with accolades, shows of support, care packages, and thanks while they are unheralded. Imagine being a single parent usually with young children living in a military community removed from your social support network for six, eight, twelve or more months. My own wife has often complained that she feels like she doesn't have 5 minutes to herself. Back home, I do a lot of work on the base hospital's labor deck. It is not an exaggeration to say that not a single day passes without a delivery in the absence of the deployed father.
It is not easy on the children either. A few months back, I saw a father Skyping home at the USO. On screen, there were three school-aged girls gathered around the kitchen table when the mother appears with a birthday cake. They were having a family celebration, deployment style. Nikki, one of our newly arrived nurses, managed a few days of leave after completing the six weeks of predeployment training. She had left her behind her 22 month-old son. Initially, he was quite angry with her when they were reunited. However, all was soon forgiven. Then after a few days home, she left again to come join us here. Her son is left to readjust. We are lucky that kids are resilient.
Two recent news items, one encouraging and the other devastating, highlight the plight of military families. First, was Michelle Obama's new campaign to advocate for military families. I do not know how effective the subsequent initiative will be but I do appreciate our leaders remembering the families left behind. The other item was news of the wife of a career army officer who murdered her teenage children while he was deployed. It was the talk of our unit last week as we gave pause to wonder how our families were holding up. Obviously, you cannot lay the blame for such an unfathomable crime with the military but, on the other hand, repeated deployments, moves, and transitions compound underlying stress. We pray for those impacted, especially the father.
I am going to finish this with a bit of homerism by way of showing how much little Landon is going to change while his dad is overseas. My son, Jack, was born days before I left for the Middle East. I last saw him when he was two days old. He is getting to be a big guy now, very busy exploring his world, sitting up, and showing support for his favorite team. I look forward to making his acquaintance and watching future Super Bowls with him.
After going blind, John Milton, the English poet, wrote a sonnet about his own disability and his contribution to society, in spite of his limitations. It concluded with the famous thought "They also serve who only stand and wait." This notion was co-opted long ago to apply to military families in the midst of war. We can attest that, indeed, they do also serve.
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| Newest addition to our unit |
The occasion is a good opportunity to sing the praises of the military family. It sometimes feels disproportionate to compare acknowledgment of our contributions with the acknowledgment of our families. We, the deploying service members, are hailed with accolades, shows of support, care packages, and thanks while they are unheralded. Imagine being a single parent usually with young children living in a military community removed from your social support network for six, eight, twelve or more months. My own wife has often complained that she feels like she doesn't have 5 minutes to herself. Back home, I do a lot of work on the base hospital's labor deck. It is not an exaggeration to say that not a single day passes without a delivery in the absence of the deployed father.
It is not easy on the children either. A few months back, I saw a father Skyping home at the USO. On screen, there were three school-aged girls gathered around the kitchen table when the mother appears with a birthday cake. They were having a family celebration, deployment style. Nikki, one of our newly arrived nurses, managed a few days of leave after completing the six weeks of predeployment training. She had left her behind her 22 month-old son. Initially, he was quite angry with her when they were reunited. However, all was soon forgiven. Then after a few days home, she left again to come join us here. Her son is left to readjust. We are lucky that kids are resilient.
Two recent news items, one encouraging and the other devastating, highlight the plight of military families. First, was Michelle Obama's new campaign to advocate for military families. I do not know how effective the subsequent initiative will be but I do appreciate our leaders remembering the families left behind. The other item was news of the wife of a career army officer who murdered her teenage children while he was deployed. It was the talk of our unit last week as we gave pause to wonder how our families were holding up. Obviously, you cannot lay the blame for such an unfathomable crime with the military but, on the other hand, repeated deployments, moves, and transitions compound underlying stress. We pray for those impacted, especially the father.
I am going to finish this with a bit of homerism by way of showing how much little Landon is going to change while his dad is overseas. My son, Jack, was born days before I left for the Middle East. I last saw him when he was two days old. He is getting to be a big guy now, very busy exploring his world, sitting up, and showing support for his favorite team. I look forward to making his acquaintance and watching future Super Bowls with him.
 |
| Jack, Steeler fan |
After going blind, John Milton, the English poet, wrote a sonnet about his own disability and his contribution to society, in spite of his limitations. It concluded with the famous thought "They also serve who only stand and wait." This notion was co-opted long ago to apply to military families in the midst of war. We can attest that, indeed, they do also serve.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Life On The FOB: Part 10 - Wetter Wonderland
Oh, Afghanistan, I didn't know you had it in you. 'It' being about an inch. That's my estimate of how much rain has fallen in the past two days. Our crisp desert FOB has been transformed to something new and exciting which I'll term the Wetter Wonderland. It features:
combat zone smoking which, like the postal service, comes rain, sleet, or snow,
the big fashion houses launching their seasonal lines,
the appearance of new amenities,
and the botanical gardens readying for the spring extravaganza.
combat zone smoking which, like the postal service, comes rain, sleet, or snow,
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| Cig-ing in the rain |
the big fashion houses launching their seasonal lines,
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| Classic accessorizing: watch cap, shower shoes, and a cig. |
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| Trendsetting: Dave's Prada puddle jumpers. |
the appearance of new amenities,
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| New Jacuzzi spa for shower trailer. |
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| Trout pond. Ready to stock. |
and the botanical gardens readying for the spring extravaganza.
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| An ornamental accentuating the Hesco hedgerow. |
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| FOB Blooms! in the Bulb Garden |
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
I've had a bit of a hiatus posting due to internet problems and feeling under-the-weather. We are experiencing a torrential downpour here which is fortunate. How else were the locals to fill their swimming pools before the hot weather arrives? It also gives me hope of finding some greenery, and I'm not referring to the camouflage or the dining facility's meat loaf. Thank you very much.
We continue to get casualties mostly from areas along the Pakistan border, a marked difference from the autumn months when the action was frequently in the surrounding area. One of the casualties last week had multiple gunshot wounds including one that pierced the wallet in his breast pocket. Unfortunately, it did not stop the bullet but it may have spared him worse damage than the lung lacerations he received. He should survive the wound. His wallet is a different story. Sadly, it could not be revived.
One of the consequences of the more distant location where the action is occurring is the greater delay between the call for and the arrival of patients. This brings up the subject of the post, how to spend all that time waiting...
professional reading,
fun and games,
stories,
and intensive mental preparation.
We continue to get casualties mostly from areas along the Pakistan border, a marked difference from the autumn months when the action was frequently in the surrounding area. One of the casualties last week had multiple gunshot wounds including one that pierced the wallet in his breast pocket. Unfortunately, it did not stop the bullet but it may have spared him worse damage than the lung lacerations he received. He should survive the wound. His wallet is a different story. Sadly, it could not be revived.
One of the consequences of the more distant location where the action is occurring is the greater delay between the call for and the arrival of patients. This brings up the subject of the post, how to spend all that time waiting...
professional reading,
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| Danielle Steele's Handbook of War Surgery |
fun and games,
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| Paul: transplant surgeon, pub-crawler |
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| Manuel's array of talents on display |
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| Uncle Kenny, the ex-Green Beret, tells tall tales |
and intensive mental preparation.
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| She's got her radio, so lay off will ya? |
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