Bad Day

This was the start of a bad day. Probably the worst while I was in Afghanistan. The explosion pictured in actually from a MCLIC (mine clearing line charge) so we were expecting it. The picture can't show a few things, though, that are crucial to the story.

First, we were leaving out of the SW gate of FOB Jackson to clear the treeline about 200 meters south of the base in hopes that we could minimize Taliban disruption of the election, which was a day or two after this operation. This was basically a situation where we marched out of the gate in order to draw fire and set off IEDs so Afghans wouldn't have to worry as much about violence if they decided to vote - the joys of counterinsurgency . . .

Second, a sniper had been shooting at us for a while that morning. A bunch of us were sitting around waiting to leave and a big puff of dust kicked up about five meters away with a big SNAP! Everyone scrambled for cover, hoping the bastard wouldn't get lucky.

Third, this picture was taken about four hours after we were supposed to leave. Originally the first element was crossing the LOD at 0600, but it ended up being 0930 or so before anyone stepped off. Something about problems with the MCLICs or whatever. No one ever passed the word.

Fourth, the rest of the day was brutal. It was hot as all get-out. We were ambushed outside of a compound several hundred meters south of the FOB. This was the first and only time in my deployment where we were unable to achieve fire superiority - truly scary. I can't imagine what war was like before we were better than everyone else.

Fifth, it was effing hot. So hot that by 1100 I was drenched in sweat and was sucking water like it was going out of style. Still, it was better than a few months later when I'm pretty sure I spent four weeks without actually feeling my hands. Whatever.