“The Last Journey” #5 First Impressions Part II
Thursday
30 July 2010, 1945 hours
Bagram Base, Afghanistan, Media Support Center
I have arrived in Bagram via C-130 transport plane, the place where my Soldier son Jimmy came to in late 2001 after the events of September 11 summoned him into duty. I wondered if I ever would make it to this place.
Getting on today’s plane was no small feat. There were over 200 people waiting to get to Bagram from Kandahar. The recent dust storm activity had caused a back log of passengers and I was beginning to have my doubts. It’s always a good thing to know good people; and always a good thing in a war zone to be on your best behavior. Guess my attitude paid off. I was put on the plane with 24 other passengers. Inside I was leaping for joy. The scruffy older looking guy with a camera and a New Mexico hat, finally met the right people to help him out. What a real blessing. Some of the best people are hidden in the most unlikely of places.
Upon arrival in Bagram, the C-130 opened its tail gate. Mountains. That’s what I see, and they are high, very high. At first it looks a bit like New Mexico. It’s quite dusty outside but not as bad as Kandahar. I’m upcountry now and I’m about to go deeper into “them thar hills”.
I’ve been notified in less than 30 hours I should be on a helicopter headed to Camp Salerno. That was always a goal of mine. I’ve been told that the public affairs folks will come get me in the middle of the night and I’ll be one step closer to my embed with 101st Airborne. I will be spending my birthday with these folks, at this time in my life I doubt I could ask for a better present.
I’ve been walking around the base for a couple hours since my arrival and getting set up in my room. It’s a huge base and there is no way I could ever figure all that’s here. One thing I’ve noticed is that there is a large contingent of multi-national forces. There’s a tough enemy and many are united in the fight. I know that there is one more day in July and it has been the deadliest month yet in this war. The Afghanistan surge is beginning to really mobilize and the authorities have been warning it’s going to get deadlier before it gets any better and soon I’ll be reporting on the fight first hand.
Reporting,
Jim Spiri In The Stan
Candi, I love you and soon I’ll be home.
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All funds go directly to Jim Spiri. The more funds we raise, the more time Jim can remain abroad giving us an unvarnished look at our conflict in Afghanistan. All monies remaining in this account upon his return will be donated to Soldiers’ Angels. Not a single dime will be kept by Jim Spiri, Ranger Up, or Devil Dog Brew.
