Afghanistan (picture heavy)

[Edmond]

These are pictures taken by me during my recent deployment. These obviously aren't all the pictures I took, there are a lot more but thought that I could share these.

This is "fancy" for an Afghan toilet. This was at the provincial governor's office:

Me during a long day of patrol. By the end of this day, we had walked about 12 miles through up and down terrain. This was at lunch time when the day wasn't even at the hottest yet:

Afghan children on their way home:

Afghan National Army (ANA) walking back to base after an operation:

And when the ANA get tired from walking, they simply sit down in the middle of the road:

ANA posing with weapons from the Czech's that were with us:

Afghan boy in a village:

This is the most shade I've seen in Afghanistan:

Random shots of villages:

ANA Soldiers:

Me hanging out:

Local apple juice. It had a very bland and weird taste:

Bottled water:

Kids were always staring at my watch

When there is no shade (which was often), we made out own shade:

Tea with a village elder. Shortly after he arrived, machine gun fire broke out nearby, he proceeded to leave and go home but we told him being with us was much safer:

I just had to take a pic of this cave man looking kid:

At one gas station, I did see gas with 85 octane, it wasn't this one, though:

There are a lot of Indian made motorcycles there:

This is a label from a motorcycle:

And this is how the ANA commander carries his AK around:

Me eating bread:

 

[Edmond]

Slept here for a week. It was so damn cold at night, I would wake up shaking because it was so cold:

Graveyard out in the country side:

Working hard:

Me at the mortar pit:

Taking off in a Blackhawk:

You can see the barrel of the 240B:

Meeting time with the governor:

Post meeting lunch with the governor:

Lamb and rice. The day we were on this operation, there was a wedding and we were invited to eat. This was actually very good and from what I've seen, not a very common meal. Funny story is that when we were rotating to eat and pull security, I went to a soldier to man the SAW and he asks me, "Uh, sir, do you know how to use it?"

And this is me eating said lamb and rice:

Lots of views like this:

These are the crappers:

It's basically an elevated platform with a hole in the ground. Where the crap piles up, there is an opening in the back. I'm assuming it's collected to be used for burning, it's used for something.

This is a really filthy country, trash all over the place. We never felt bad about throwing trash just anywhere, couldn't have made the place any filthier:

You also see a lot of water pumps in the more "developed" areas. I use the term "developed" very carefully:

Lots of wheelbarrows around. They even use these to transport people:

We had a few chances for fun, too. Here are some of my soldiers playing football while the commander was inside at a meeting:

Some more pics that I've had time to find and resize.

The First Sergeant and me. He started smoking again on this deployment.

If you can cut hair, you're always wanted around:

While the commander is away, this is what we do:

Just after boarding the plane in Kyrgyzstan and getting ready to fly home:

 

[chad]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for your service.

 

[SirIsaacNewton]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for your service.

This +1000

 

[Mojo Rider]

So sad that a place of so much beauty is overshadowed by so much ugliness.

 

[Skiney]

FANTASTIC PICS

Thank you for your service!!!

 

[dwr461]

Glad you made it back OK. Thank you for taking time to resize and post the images. I enjoyed them very much. Also thanks for your service.

Dave

 

[Jack]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for your service.

This, big time

 

[jimdana1942]

Thanks loads for your service and all the pics. What a barren, forsaken country that has to be. Why would any nation want anything to do with that place. Does it ever rain over there? It looks like none of those people or villages have any electricity. Nightmare city.

You gotta love the kids, though.

 

[GunRelated]

Glad you made it back OK. Thank you for taking time to resize and post the images. I enjoyed them very much. Also thanks for your service.

Dave

+1

 

[deafdave3]

Glad you made it back OK. Thank you for taking time to resize and post the images. I enjoyed them very much. Also thanks for your service.

Dave

He said the same thing I was gonna say. Thank you for your service, thank you for the pictures, and thank you for taking the time to show it to us.

 

[USMC-Deano]

Looks like a beautiful place....to SEE...not to live. I'd like to visit someday.

 

[LA_Huntsman]

Epic thread!

 

[Frogman]

Thanks for sharing your pictures and thank you for your service.

 

[Saker]

Thank you for your service!

 

[RStewart]

Awesome pictures! Thanks for your service.

This says it all.

 

[JCcypress]

Thank you for your service and for sharing some of your experiences with us.

 

[SpeedRacer]

Very cool, thanks for sharing and thanks for your service.

 

[FD807]

Great pics thanks for sharing !
Thanks for your service !!

 

[edrodhdfb]

Glad you made it home!!!Your service is much appreciated!!!...I'm in Qatar right now on a 35 day hitch and have been working in the Middle East close to 4 years now and still can't bring my head around to use one of those toilets other than to ****..lol Even some local supply boats have them! Funny story: My boss was at a Gold Souq and mistakenly took a **** in what he thought was one of those floor toilets and it was actually a foot washer! Needless to say the locals were not happy and were yelling God knows what curses at him. He walked out of there so fast and had to explain to his boss why they had to leave now!..lmao
I will be getting home myself in a few days!..Phew!!! Can't wait to get home boil some craw fish and have a few .