Christmas Mission

As promised, a quick recap of the special mission. First the pictures, then an explanation:

What you see above is the 6 hour process of loading a helicopter simulator into a C-5 Galaxy. Or, from a Soldier's perspective, 'like watching a python swallow a rabbit'. More specifically, we were tasked to help some civilian contractors move a Longbow Crew Trainer (for Apache Pilots) from here back to Texas. Because of its importance and price tag ($27M) it cannot travel through normal means. Because of its size, roughly two semi-trailers, it is only transportable by the largest plane in the Air Force Inventory. The trailers require a special forklift to build a special ramp so that a special truck can drive directly on the front of the C5. Even so, the setup affords only about 3 inches of clearance at most with zero tolerance for error. Fun, eh?

Somehow I became responsible for the whole operation, from requesting the aircraft 3 weeks ago to coordinating all the times, tools, and personnel required to load this ridiculous contraption. Unfortunately the first C5 arrived over a week ago but was unable to 'squat' down due to a mechanical issue so could not take the load; That's what happens with a nearly 40-year old aircraft. (I've actually flown Blackhawks even older than myself). When the big day came everything was ready and, though it wasn't pretty, we accomplished the mission. Again, not as exciting as an Air Assault but interesting learning something new and working with a diverse group of people towards a common goal. That's what the military is all about.

We worked through lunch but were done well before Christmas Dinner. Nope, no lefse or lutefisk but there was a watered-down version of Egg Nog and all the usual fixings. All in all, a Christmas to remember.

It was not a silent night...

Today after my 1600 meeting someone reminded us it was Christmas Eve so we should take a 'few hours' off. Tomorrow, Christmas morning, I will be on the flight line at 0530 for at least 5 hours for a special mission--more to follow later. But tonight, at least for a couple hours at the candlelight service it truly felt like Christmas.  I've never heard Christmas songs sung so strong and loud, definitely un-Lutheran like, yet necessary to overcome the constant noise from the aircraft on the runway. This short service may be the only source of hope for some and a lonely reminder of home for others. The Soldiers sang. The jets roared. It was glorious indeed. Reminded me of the first line from this Andrew Peterson song on his classic Christmas album:

It was not a silent night

There was blood on the ground

You could hear a woman cry

In the alleyways that night

On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean

And the cobblestones were cold

And little Mary full of grace

With the tears upon her face

Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain

It was a cold sky above

But for the girl on the ground in the dark

With every beat of her beautiful heart

It was a labor of love

Jocelyn flew with Bella to spend a week with her parents in Texas, where they are enjoying the snow today! This will be my second Christmas overseas, and coincidentally my second without any of the white fluffy stuff (I can see it on the mountaintops however!) We will try to open presents together via Skype if the connection works, so at least we are able to see each other.

Back home the Hermans and Leopolds are undoubtedly cooking up a storm and celebrating together today. Our family has a few unique traditions which I would like to share with you.
Lefse: the magical Norwegian homemade potato flatbred and sugar/butter treat that both Grandmothers make to perfection.
Oyster Soup: Only the older generations actually eat the Oysters. The rest of us just drink the broth or smell out of curiosity.
Snow on the Mountain: A 13-layer Asian fusion combination that has become a tradition on the Herman side. The layers have a particular order and the dish is topped off with coconut. Simply wunderbar.
Walk through the Broomstick: Difficult to explain, but suffice to say I win the contest every year I'm there. I can usually do it in under 4 seconds. Kristin: 4.1 seconds. Dad? 3-5 minutes!
Talent Show: The children/grandchildren must sing/dance/play piano before opening gifts. 
Grandpa reading the Christmas story from Matthew: Priceless, a powerful reminder of why we celebrate Christ's birth.

Merry Christmas,
Mark

SITREP

This week, with the Holidays here, I want to give a quick SITuation REPort via a few articles I read recently:

1. Count this as my first victory. The barracks featured at the top of this article were finally finished last week, 6 months behind schedule, and our Soldiers are moving in to their temporary home. Yes, it is still crowded with six Soldiers per room but they have the luxury of indoor bathrooms (as opposed to the outhouses almost everyone else has to use.) The article itself also highlights many of the current projects I am involved in around the base. Unfortunately the future soccer field is not going to happen :-(
   
2. This article gave me a guilt trip. As Aviators we demand the best and usually get it. After all, do you want your pilots or maintainers sleeping in a hole in the ground? Then again maybe the Marines like it that way, though I highly doubt their Commandant lives like that. Most of these and other surge forces will go to southern Afghanistan. If it is estimated to cost $1 Million/year for every Soldier in Afghanistan you would think that figure would include some sort of tent or basic shelter. 
3. Now, on to the big stuff. An Air Force Colonel explains how their service has largely failed to support the fight in Afghanistan. Maybe they thought the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter were the answer? Impressive aircraft, but the Taliban could care less how fast a fighter flies or if it is stealth.
   
4. Lastly, this is a long one, how and why helicopters are the most important strategic air asset throughout the last three decades of conflicts and even more so today in a modernized counterinsurgency. 
   

Next time I'll write more about what Christmas is like so far from home. Hope all is well with you and yours.

Go Army, Sink Navy!

This is my annual, obligatory moment of enthusiasm for my Alma Mater's football team.  IF we win Army will be bowl-eligible for the first time since 1996. The chances of West Point winning are about the same as the ISAF to be out of Afghanistan by July 2011. That is not a political statement, merely reality. During my four years there the team won a total of 6 games, only once over Navy. Yet this is the only game that matters. 

The picture above is from the spirit video my roommate and I made in Iraq for our unit. We spent probably 2 hours on our backs chalking the 'GO ARMY' & 'BEAT NAVY' on the bottom of the Blackhawks. He roped me into the top gun pose with my Battalion Commander as he operated the camera. After that we ran to the helos and flew 30 minutes to the only major body of water in Iraq, lake Tar-Tar with two OH-58D Kiowa Warriors to stage the sinking of a (toy) Navy ship.  In the end it was all for naught as the video was submitted after the deadline so never made it to the big screen and, alas, my Hollywood dreams were over.

Copied here is my all-time favorite spirit video, made by some of my classmates and Rugby teammates. Unfortunately, this one was not approved by the Superintendent to play at halftime. Apparently he thought the Navy would be offended by our masculinity. Note: I do not endorse the family-friendliness of this you-tube.

If you want to watch (the first half until the game gets out of hand) it's on CBS at 2:30pm (ET). BEAT NAVY! 
p.s. Yes, Jocelyn is in the Navy, but will be the first to tell you who she roots for: GO ARMY!

Workin' on a Building...

So what is my purpose thus far? On the surface my duty title is the Deputy Brigade S4. In short, Logistics: Supply & Services, Transportation, Property, Accountability, Food Service, Budget, Ground Maintenance. I oversee 15 Soldiers to ensure that our units have the beans and bullets they need to fight this war. Believe it or not, every dollar is vetted through multiple levels of authority and every single piece of Army property that is lost or damaged demands a full investigation (which can result in losing a month's paycheck!) To give you an idea of what I deal with on a daily basis here are a couple quotes/comments recently overheard in our section. 
-From a First Sergeant: "Sir, my company needs ice cream and cupcakes to fly our missions." Really? I didn't know the Chinook came standard with a freezer and mini-bar.
-From our Colonel: "I want a life-size statue of Rocky" (the bulldog, our 3rd Infantry Division mascot designed by Walt Disney.) 'Sir, perhaps they have that on Amazon.com' is not the correct response. 

The above all occurs within the confines of a cushy chair. However, it is my goal to spend at least 1/2 of every day outside of the office, and my 2nd job allows me the flexibility and authority to do just that. I've also been tasked as the 'Facilities Manager' in charge of coordinating a massive movement of our operations to the other side of the base. Bagram is an Air Force base, thus the Army is normally treated like a 2nd class citizen even though we outnumber them and, arguably, our helicopters have a much greater combat impact than their jets and cargo planes. My job is to coordinate all these projects with the Air Force powers that be, Architects, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Army itself. This involves almost daily meetings to discuss floor plans, electrical requirements, land approval, and safety requirements. In the past month I've learned the following:

• that hiring 15 local nationals for a week to dig a 3' trench is cheaper, if not faster, than renting a backhoe.
• the suitability of pre-cast concrete for construction in a seismic environment (two 5.0+ earthquakes so far)
• the noise produced by an F-15C at 95% after-burner on takeoff from 200m away (149dB)
• how to respectfully tell a room full of senior Air Force officers that it is idiotic to build a housing area for Army Aviators right next to the runway. (see stat above. Key words were "why don't you or your jet pilots live there?") I won that argument.
• that the HESCO barriers meant to protect us may in fact be full of mines and need to be moved (oops)
• if a building requires 4 months to build in America, take 2.5x that for a realistic estimate. 
• I've forgotten most of my West Point Systems Engineering knowledge but finally use it to my advantage.

So, this is my 'special' job in a nutshell. The command either trusts me or thinks I will do more good in this role than in a Blackhawk! Certainly not as exciting but fulfilling in a different way, especially if I can manage to get some of these projects completed in my tenure here. Praise God for keeping me occupied and safe so far.

That's all for now.

Content

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  -Philippians 4:6-7, 11b-13

Last Sunday the chaplain spoke on this passage, attempting to connect contentedness to thanksgiving. My notes: The greater the sense of gratitude for what you have, the less you will be tempted to desire something else. Being content is the converse of anxiousness, with prayer as the differentiator. What is Paul's secret?

I think he reveals the secret to his contentedness in verse 13 (from the Message): Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Personally I'm not there yet. The last year at home with Jocelyn was the most content I've ever been. Yet now I swing somewhere between appeased and anxious with the uncertainty that is inherent in a deployment.

The collage below was taken today in our Aviation DFAC (Dining Facility). I had the honor to serve meals to the Soldiers for the first hour, but the real workers are behind the scene. I supervise the Warrant Officer and NCO in charge of the whole operation and was impressed by their efforts. Imagine trying to cook for 1800 Soldiers, all served within 3 hours! Here are some facts on the food imported just for Thanksgiving. Amazing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Top Ten

Now that we are one month into this deployment, I have thought about a number of things that peg me as the wife of someone who is deployed. For those of you who have been through it before, I'm sure you can relate and for those going through it now, I'm sure you could laugh (or cry) right along with me.

TOP TEN INDICATORS YOU KNOW YOUR HUSBAND IS DEPLOYED:

1. You sit at your computer half the night waiting for the Skype icon to turn green, indicating that he is on line and able to talk.
2. You have your cell phone virtually surgically attached to your body for the year. (But, hey, he has a gun attached...so, I would rather have a cell phone.)
3. No matter what you are doing, you will drop everything and talk when that phone rings...because you don't have the option to call when it is convenient.
4. Your dog suddenly becomes the recipient of constant hugs and affection, along with new ownership of Daddy's side of the bed. (And, every day you thank God that at least one member of the family is non-deployable.)
5. The saying, "How are you?" takes on a whole new meaning...Everyone knows that question is supposed to be answered with a "fine," but I have started telling people the truth. Sometimes, it's a tough day, so I say so.
6. The number one thing that drives you crazy: When someone tells you "I could never do what you are doing." The truth is, there is no choice in the matter. You just do it. You just live each day and pray God gives you the grace and strength to live that day without your husband. He always does. And, that applies to other circumstances too. If God has brought you to a situation, you can trust Him to be faithful to carry you through. It's not just me that is 'doing this'...it's God sustaining grace that is sufficient for every trial.
7. The nightly news becomes one of the most stressful parts of the day (even though rule #1 for a spouse is supposed to be: 'Never watch the news.') But, the truth is, if you are conscious and go out of your house, you are going to hear, see, or read news about Afghanistan.
8. Suddenly, you can't bear the thought of sitting at the dinner table to eat by yourself. Dinner now consists of me standing over the sink and eating something small that I made in about 10 minutes max (when I am home by myself).
9. The importance and value of a 'supportive family' takes on a whole new meaning. Praise God for amazing family (and friends) who are caring enough to reach out to you when you need it most. And a special thanks to my dear mom who is able come and keep me company for a month at a time!
10. You know the post office lady on a first name basis and every shopping trip consists of figuring out what to include in the next weekly care package.

Meet Earl

Earl is a Staff Sergeant (E-6) in the Army. He is from Talladega, Alabama and is naturally a NASCAR fanatic. Drinks two Cokes with every meal (yes, even breakfast) and has cut is smoking habit down to two packs per week. Married for 30 years this summer to his high school sweetheart (at age 16...legal at the time?) he has three grown children and two grandchildren. After his initial enlistment, Earl left the Army and worked as an independent trucker for 10 years. After September 11, he rejoined the Reserves and eventually came back on active duty. Why? Probably a combination of duty and money. I've met many Soldiers who decided to serve after the attack on our country, including the military lawyer for our unit.

As the Transportation Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) he was almost single-handedly responsible for moving all 3000 people, all 100 helicopters, and hundreds of containers from Savannah all the way to Afghanistan. Over the last year he has worked longer hours than almost anyone to make sure we didn't lose a single piece of equipment. Never one to complain, he put off knee surgery and ignored his other health issues for the good of our Brigade. He doesn't like to type or make Powerpoints (which is most of my job) but would rather be out on the tarmac with the Soldiers and equipment despite the dehydration and sunburn on his scalp. Earl has taught me volumes about what it means to be a Soldier through his work ethic, prudence, and Git-er-done attitude.

So, when Earl asked me to re-enlist him this week I was honored beyond words. Here is a man nearly twice my age, who still salutes and calls me Sir, and evidently respects me enough to help commit the next 9+ years of his life to the Army.  The picture below is from the small ceremony, in which I said a few kind words about Earl and then administered the Oath of Enlistment. Any officer worth his salt memorizes the oath, which I have copied below. Earl has already made his share of sacrifices and will likely deploy a few more times before he can retire. I'm proud to serve with such a Soldier and am glad to have him as a friend and comrade.

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

Neutics

her·me·neu·tic

Pronunciation: \ˌhər-mə-ˈnü-tik, -ˈnyü-\

1 : the study of the methodological principles of interpretation (as of the Bible)

2 : a method or principle of interpretation

Neutics became my nickname during freshman year at Bethel College, thanks to a few good friends who found the correlation of my family name to the Biblical term amusing. After that year I moved on to West Point and have stayed in touch with most of those guys, but nicknames never seem to stick to me (i.e. PeeWee, Hermanator etc.) For the pastors/scholars out there I recognize that the spelling is incorrect and I am likely taking the application beyond the context of the definition. So why is this the title of my little blog?

Hermeneutics to me means attempting to interpret the experience of this year in Afghanistan in a meaningful way. Trying to understand why God has placed me in such a desolate place and how He will use me here. To ascertain the purpose of my position when I am not doing the job I was trained for. Most of all how the distance between Jocelyn and I will once again work for good in our marriage. Essentially this is a format to record my thoughts and hopes in lieu of a written journal. Someday this experience will be a foggy memory and I want to be able to recognize the role this year played in my formation and future decisions.

I'm reading a book by my great uncle Gilbert Esau (see him on wikipedia and You Tube!) about his WWII Memories. He lived a remarkable life after the war, yet from what I understand waited decades to relay his incredible war stories to his children and grandchildren. Both of my grandfathers are veterans of the same war, and I always relished their stories because they told them with such a humble candor. In fact, their experiences were often fodder for school history reports and even poetry. Ask my Grandpa Herman how he turned nicotine into a gold ring! My dad has his own share of exploits from his time as a 'chair-born Ranger' at the Pentagon during the Vietnam conflict. Even in this position he probably saved lives through his actions and decisions. These men are my heroes, not only for their service but more so for how they lived their lives and raised their families after the military. Maybe someday I will be able to tell future generations similar stories from my last deployment; so far this one has been non-eventful so I'll do my best not to bore you with the mundane.

THANK YOU to all who have served before me. This flag was flown in your honor on Veterans Day 2006 in Iraq and is with me here in Afghanistan.

About Bagram

Imagine a place with free food, 4 meals a day, including steak/shrimp/lobster every Friday night. If that isn't good enough there's always Burger King, Pizza Hut, and a Green Beans coffee shop. A decent gym is free to use and a game room with billiards and ping-pong are open 24hrs. The showers are usually warm and all of the buildings have heat and A/C. The office floor is so shiny and clean that it is almost slippery. Where there are contractors paid to clean up after you and even do your laundry. The rooms even have wireless Internet and cable (with HBO) available for a nominal fee. Sounds like a pretty nice place, right? I can't complain.

But Bagram is a contradiction. The Port-a-John's are permanent and often disgusting. With only one main paved road on base, everywhere else is covered in uneven rocks which wreak havoc on your ankles. Concrete bunkers are available for cover when the loudspeaker announces incoming enemy rockets. Oh, and thanks to the Soviets there are still active minefields marked around the base which have not yet been cleared.  Compared to my infantry counterparts scattered about the country in small Combat Outposts, Bagram is the promised land. Ensconced by incredible mountain ranges on all sides (see pictures here on the official Air Force website), the scenery is certainly much more visually appealing than Iraq.

Personally my little room is more than sufficient. Keep in mind that the officers and senior non-commissioned officer's rooms are about 50% larger than everyone else. The bed is elevated to make room for more storage. A wardrobe flanks the door with a nightstand, desk and fridge filling up the space. Problem is the walls are made of plywood which has warped through the winter and is weakened by termites in the summer. This also means I can hear every note of guitar hero from across the hall and I'm aware of my neighbor's snoring habit. From the outside they may not look like much, but these 'B-huts' are home, at least for now. I was pretty sick most of this week with what they call the 'Afghani crud' but am now getting in the rythm and feeling better. I'm heading to the evening church service now and will post more about that experience later.

Final weekend getaway before the deployment in beautiful Chimney Rock, NC

On the Homefront

Mark has asked me to share a little about the emotions from home, and what a unique and challenging position that can be. Although I am not there in Afghanistan, home is full of it's own battles. And, honestly, considering the emotions I have already gone through, I would rather be deployed with Mark. It's such a challenge to explain. I feel like our neighbor, Katherine said it best when she came to visit me the first day Mark was gone. Having been through a 13 month deployment with her Marine husband, she said, "It's like your heart could just stop because it hurts so badly." This was exactly how I felt: My husband, my best friend and the person I love more than anyone in this world, the one I want to spend every waking second with, was simply not there one morning. The night before, in what seemed like a "Twilight Zone" experience, I watched him dress in his uniform and pack all his gear and we headed to the hangar from which his group deployed. He was issued a gun and I couldn't help but think how wrong it felt to see my wonderful, sweet husband carrying a weapon that would become his constant companion for the next year. Then, the final countdown began for when he would officially have to leave me. We stayed nearby the hangar, a time that was a blur of hugging, kissing, praying and crying. He walked me to the car and I hugged him for that one last time, my legs almost giving out on me in my distress/sadness. I got in the car, he shut the door and looked at me with tears in his eyes and, in an instant, he was off running into the darkness toward the hangar and the buses that would eventually carry him to his flight out. After I stopped crying, the silence in the car was absolutely deafening. I felt like time was simply suspended...I almost felt like I wasn't even breathing, or, as Katherine said, that my heart had just stopped. I pleaded with God that I didn't understand why we had to go through this. How was I going to get through this year when I couldn't even get out of the parking lot? Yet, how amazing that God always seems to provide the strength we need at the precise moment we need it. I did obviously get out of that parking lot and home to little Bella (who, I have no doubt, is God's special little angel to help me get through this ).
Now we are one week into the deployment. I have been so encouraged by family and friends, and, of course, by Mark. But, there are certainly good and bad days. Monday was a bad day. News of the helicopter crash sent my heart and mind reeling. I knew Mark wasn't flying, but I know there is a great chance he will be flying while he is there, in addition to his administrative duties. And, of course, I am constantly reminded this is a war zone that my precious husband has been sent into. The news is continually using terms like "mounting casualties" and "deadliest month since the war began." Then, of course, comes the dire warnings of defeat without 40,000 more troops and the lack of a decision by Obama regarding the matter. All these things seem to swirl around in my heart all day long and I literally am brought to my knees in my confusion and my need for peace from God. I would do anything to take Mark out of this situation or to assure his safety...I would, without hesitation, give my life for his. Yet, despite my lack of control, I know HE has everything under His perfect Providence and Mark in the palm of His hand, and I have never before been brought to such a place of complete surrender to the Lord. There is nothing I can do to "fix" this... I can't end this war, I can't bring Mark home right now, and I can't fall apart when Mark is counting on me to take care of things at home and to be a source of encouragement to him. But I know who I CAN count on to take care of every worry in my heart and it will be my daily battle to rest and grow in that faith. And so, that brings me back to a verse which was long ago "claimed for me" by a small group leader at my church at Texas A&M. He had been praying Isaiah 26:3 for me the whole semester and ironically, it now has come to vivid life seven years later. I have no doubt it will be a promise I continue to come back to as I pray each day for the strength to get through this year.

Isaiah 26:3
"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon you because he trusts in you."

Week One

Well, I know it's not healthy to start counting the weeks or days yet it's good to have this first week behind us. We flew from Savannah through Ireland to Kyrgyzstan  and then on to our final destination, about 30 hours total travel time. I am on Bagram, the largest base in the country and also probably the most crowded with a mix of the 3 core branches (Army, AF, Navy) and many other nations (US, UK, Poland, Germany, Canada et al.) I will post pictures of my living quarters once I am fully settled but all in all I'm content if not comfortable.

 Jocelyn will write more about the emotions of this first week from her perspective as all too often the left-behind spouse's role in the deployment is not fully appreciated. We've been able to talk almost every day and now with Internet in my room we can Skype! Of course we'll continue with the old-fashioned letters but praise God for the technology to bridge the gap. With Christ as our cornerstone, communication is the mortar that will carry us through this year. The military mindset is that 'if you deploy with a great/ok marriage, you'll come home to a good/poor marriage'. If that formula holds true I'd like to think that we were on an extended 1.5 year honeymoon when I left and will reunite as precociously in love as ever!

Round Two

Family, Friends;

My flight leaves tonight for Afghanistan and I'm planning on sending updates throughout the next year. I have decided to use a blog format in order to not clog up all of your in boxes so if you know of anyone who may appreciate these updates feel free to forward this URL.

Obviously a lot has changed since my last deployment. Now married to Jocelyn, the woman I had been waiting 27 years for (and the winner of my Valentine's contest you may recall), my priorities have shifted and my attitude is definitely different. I should not be flying this time as I will be working a logistical desk job--which is fine with my wife--so my responsibilities have changed also.

Please pray for us in this transition time as I adapt to a new environment and Jocelyn adjusts to life home alone, lest I forget our little yorkie Bella who will undoubtedly keep her company and give plenty of kisses.

Grace and Peace,

Mark & Jocelyn