Working out on the wire

Hello all,

So today one of the units at the FOB I'm at invited me along on a mission. Been pretty cool in this area “so shouldn't be anything to worry about”. I would learn later that this must be code for it's fraggin' crazy out there. So after we're a ways outside the wire we make contact with some armed insurgents. They fired on us and the solder beside me was hit almost immediately. I took his weapon and started returning fire because it didn't look like he was going to be needing it any more. I hit one of the insurgents for sure and possibly a second one. Strange the feeling you get taking a live person out like that. The firefight must have lasted hours but the way time flew by it seemed like minutes because before I knew it we had to shut off the Xbox 360 and go back to work... after all these guys had soldering to do and I had wireless radios to put up, no time to play Call of Duty right now! April fools day beatches!

And the pics I took today while working at the edge of the FOB

A look at the inside of a fighting position

I'd like to thank the Paramount people for allowing me to take a picture of their mountain

And here's a Chinook otherwise known as a Boeing CH-47

(This one probably tops my list of "Helos Ray want's to fly in!")

Out to the field

Ok so even though I'm still waiting on an ID to be able to get around and do my job... Managed to get out to the field to help setup one site. In fact just got done making a dish active today so that I'm able to get online and post! Here's some of the stuff I've seen over the last few days. Right now as I'm posting this I'm listening to the sound of Black Hawks flying out of the FOB.

These first couple were actually taken in the city before I left out. Some rare night shots overlooking the city.

The first thing I flew on... hmm this is not exciting I've flown on the crop dusters back home.. Big deal

Afghan from the air... oh and on this flight the cockpit door was open so as we're taking off out of the mountains I get to hear the electronic voice "TERRAIN TERRAIN PULL UP PULL UP" 

Beatle I found around the air terminal at night 

And some shots taken from my first helicopter ride.

Oh if anyone knows anything about posting up video I need a program to convert to a format with decent quality and small file size. Bandwidth limitations here suck so once I figure it out I'll have some video to post up too.

 Didn't fly on this one

Did fly on this one

View from behind the pilots. Can't tell it here but could see out the front way better than you can tell here.

Turning in a huey provides some pretty badass views of the ground

 And some pictures I took since I've been on the ground

I'm not sure why I have this picture of the ground? But here it is!

Black Hawk taking off

And not that this is all that interesting but it's the base of an antenna mast that I set up and took this picture for work purposes so.... Ummm enjoy!!

And to end this post the last two are making my list of  "Things I hate"

Heights... You might find it strange that a guy 6'2" doesn't like heights but, I don't and this rickety ladder and flat top roof... well not fun but, I deal

Snakes... just starting to warm up and every place I go I see these signs with the local tale of the guy who was surprised by the local wildlife...  Ah looks to be a fun summer!