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"The worst camp experience I've ever had," is the way Spc. Josh Socha of Portland, Oregon, describes his time at Combat Outpost Nolen in the volatile Arghandab Valley of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
The men of COP Nolen have been in that valley for just over a month and have already seen their share of the most intense combat in Afghanistan. When last we reported, one of the camp's platoons had experienced severe casualties, losing nearly half of their men. As they are moved to the rear to regroup, a new set of troops is arriving to reinforce the position. Nolen comes under attack nearly every day, and patrols that leave the protective razor wire around their compound often run into either small arms fire or homemade bombs – IEDs, as the military calls them.
Four to five men sleep in the cramped rooms of this former school. With daytime temperatures often reaching 115-120 degrees, the stench from body armor, equipment and clothing is overpowering. It's nearly impossible to escape the oppressive heat. The ground is littered with spent shell casings from the daily firefights and the cigarette butts that often go hand-in-hand with those firefights. A well provides water for showers, shaving and laundry. The men burn their own trash and feces – a task that often falls to the lower-ranking soldiers.
Bottles of drinking water are stacked in cases in the compound. To keep the water cool the men put it in a large deep freezer. But they burn through water so fast that finding a cool or lukewarm bottle is like hitting the lottery. Breakfast and dinner are cooked by Sgt. Jeffery Meador, who the soldiers swear can make a gourmet meal out of anything. Steak and lobster were even served here this week – a rare treat.
Morbid humor and relentless teasing pass the time. Wives, girlfriends, mothers and past missteps on patrol are all fair game. Men who share the same shoe size joke that if they step on an IED with opposite feet, they can split the cost of a new pair of shoes. The bond of brotherhood runs deep. These men have shared experiences and a part of their lives they will never forget.
I often ask the soldiers what they miss about home, and the answers usually run the gamut from the sarcastic to the sweet. But my favorite came from Socha.
"I miss for the most part that it's never sunny with a chance of RPGs," he said, referring to rocket-propelled grenades.
"There's never a chance of mortars at home unless it's the 4th of July and you just came home from the reservation with a boatload of illegal explosives or fireworks. So that's what I miss most about home. That there's an innocence there that you can do things that are dangerous but it just isn't the same there as it is here. Just going outside can get you injured, or killed, or maimed."
Editor's note: Associated Press photojournalists Evan Vucci and Rodrigo Abd are Photoblogging for msnbc.com while embedded with U.S. troops stationed at Combat Outpost Nolen, in the volatile Arghandab Valley in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
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Dudes Abide
Barb wire, trip wire, live wire, under fire,
Watch your flank, ain't got a tank, what's a rank?
Keep alert, up all night, might be ied under tire.
Rotary wing helo, looks like a haloed angel, from above,
Gotta keep truckin', no sleep, and can't tire,
Up the wall, down the hall, hanging pictures of love......
-Phrog, ribbit rappin'
Your story is not helping the tourism industry in Afghanistan. The UN just advertised specials, the daily cost of staying in Kabul or Qandahar at $70 US dollars. Approximately 61% of these costs were estimated to be the price of a room in a guesthouse of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Big dreams are reflected in the azure-hued shimmer of these pristine mountain lakes. Sounds like the UN can put frosting on a cow pie and market it to the world.
Having served in Korea in 1957 i wonder how these guys go out in full combat gear in that kind of heat. Even in fatigues we had them sweated through by noon and we were not in combat conditions just no A/C.
I really thank these guys for what they go through for all of us. Wish them the best and hope most of them can come home in one piece and not a bb.
Just an old DMZ vet.
My future son-in-law will be returning home from this awful place in just a few days. Where are the snipers? They are there....their job is for you NOT to see them. ; ) My highest respect to all past, present and future veterans who sacrifice for us all. Never take our freedom for granted....
This war, like all wars, is a tragic failure of human understanding, and I pray it ends soon.
I pray for these, our soldiers, for their wounds and their memories, some of them worse than wounds, that they will carry for the rest of their lives, and I pray for their families!
I pray for the Afghans, especially the women, who live such oppressed, abbreviated lives.
I pray for our enemies, that they, like our soldiers, may be released from the perceived "necessity" of this conflict soon and begin, like our soldiers, the process of healing and of living Real Lives, rather than the alternating terror, horror and torpor that is combat.
May God forgive us all.
Responding to Sarah in 3.1 who wrote to Mike 411574:
"...we'd just be setting our boys up for failure."
Such would provide the intelligence to target the area(s) for grenades/rpg's and where a physical assault could overrun the place-as you hint. My uncle did three tours in 'Nam, and indicated when civilian workers at a forward operating base left for the day, the weapons would be shifted. They knew some of the workers provided intel to the VietCong.
I lived at this base for 7 months, Just left a few weeks ago. Not once did I let a soldier eat in a guard tower without his helmet on not able to scan is sector without ammo even in the weapon. WTF? Maybe if the army was smart they'd have relieved us with an Infantry unit who knew how to handle this type of situation. These guys are artillery. .
Sgt Airborne...I was wondering the same thing!!!
If he is suppose to be on "guard duty", I know he has to eat, but you are right, he should have had his helmet on and his weapon since he is out in the open and suppose to be "watching" and guarding (don't think that's a word but...lol). Although I am not military, I did see something wrong with that photo.
Thank you for all you do for my freedom..I pray everyday for all of you to come home. Stay safe and come home soon to you family, along with the rest of the soldier's over there...GOD SPEED!
Best defense is offense, Patton would agree.
.......having been there, done that......the photo of a beautiful woman is just a taste of home in an ugly situation.....a lot of photos is just more of the same....wonderful American women....and some pretty cute ones not from America, too....Hooooaaaaah........
What difference does it make for reason this war is being fought for. After this war is over, if it ever is. There will be another one, and another one, and so on. More people will suffer and die, more countries will be left in ruin. Like the start of Riddley Scotts' movie Black Hawk Down, "Only the dead have seen the end of war".
And when 30-40 years pass, this war like many others will be another chapter in some high school kids text book. He or she will never understand why it happen or how it happen, or even bother to care. Maybe some Hollywood director will make a movie about it, or some city council will erect a statue to remember those braves souls that sacificed themselves in that battle. All the while why this is occuring, the minds and hearts of that future generation will be debating like we are all now about the new conflict that has engulfed their lives.
My respect to the jounalists and photojournalists ... good job.
I have to wonder if this war is fought for the reasons they say; if the remarks are really because of an offense......
First, I say, "don't take offense, take a gate". I mean really... I didn't even NOTICE the pictures and thought "what are they talking about????" (I found them).
Secondly... could it be... and this is just a thought... that these young men and women are over seas fighting a war to introduce the FREEDOM THEY LOVE BACK HOME to a nation who knows nothing of it but should?? Hmmm.....
I'm just sayin'.
Watertown, SD
Holly, Seems you have been given some heavy and healthy advice here today. I only wish that it would not have fallen on deaf ears. My military experience simply tells me that it is far greater to stamp out the evils designs of evil men some where else where is born and grows than to let it come to our neighborhood. God bless these men that are willing to sacrifice past and present to keep the the nazi, communist, dictators, and rebels from taking a foot hold in this world and especially this country.
Hope all that you have heard rings in your ears til you get a grip on reality.
well ive read all of these comments,wiping tears away alot of the time,you see im a vietnam vet,only one term,not 2 or 3 or even more like our men and women have to now.i know a couple things for certain,one is ive been there seen it done it,and ill tell you rt now im afraid of realy nothing,and i consider myself a real man,and lived my life as such,but to indure what these men and womem our soldiers have been doing,2 or 3 trips there,well you see im not the man i thought i was,they are the real heros,people if you never been to war you cant emagine what the men and women are going trough,think of hell if you are a believer,thats where there at now,if you want to think or try to put yourself in there postion,thats where they are,and we back here in the states well were in heaven rt now.and for holly well lets just say im glad im not close to rt now,ive never hit a women,but with your stupid commit i might reconsider.god bless our men and women of all branches and may you all come back to heaven soon.
You know... I can understand every comment on this thread clearly... I disagree with only a couple of ignorant victims of today's society... I am ashamed of the mentality of Junaid... very embarrasssing in fact... wow what kind of drugs or alcohol or whatever has diminsished this unfortunate soul... as for Holly... oh my, what a moment for her to remember the next time she wants to open her mouth before thinking! Now as for our men and women serving their country... GOD Bless them and keep them and get them back home when it is finished and done! One thing about this country that stands out above all other countries in the world or history... everyone is entitled because it has been duly paid for... whether you are speaking bad or good... it has been paid for... it doesn't seem fair sometimes, but because it is paid for and constitutionally based... it makes this country great in its own way... I say, respect the position if not the man... valves are subject to how we raise our children... if we raised them correct... they are respectfully and honorable shown in the pictures above... if they are raised improperly... they end up as a sad contemporary of our society of losers like Junaid and Holly... All said, Thanks to our women and me in uniform!
Junaid-2074748: You have chosen an identity in which the first part is an interesting Arabic name that loosely translates to a "fighter or warrior whose strength is equal to a small army". Is the 747-48 a reference to a Boeing aircraft...if so, what does the "20" stand for? You are simply an antagonist with an egotistically inflated name. It is always easy to criticize solutions to a problem, but it is ten times harder to actually do something about one. Your lack of action is noted.
Holly – in the future, try engaging the brain before engaging the mouth, especially when emotional. Perhaps some time spent outside the comforts of this country will change your naïve perceptions.
To SSG Chavez and the all of the soldiers of COP Nolen – thank you for your sacrifices and service to our country. Every one of the photos of COP Nolen reminded me of another war 20 years ago and what I experienced as a young soldier. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.