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"...even the wicked get worse than they deserve." - Willa Cather, One of Ours

Thursday, July 01, 2004

Changes on the Afghan Front

SGT Hook (US Army soldier in Afghanistan)
...Nearly all of the tents have been converted into wood huts with the remaining six currently under construction. I'm reminded of Hogan's Heroes and Stalag 13 when I walk down the rows of identical huts perfectly lined up and dress right dress.

A large blue tractor trailer drove on base the other day and dropped its trailer outside of the Post Exchange. A crowd of Soldiers surrounded the long sheetmetal trailer which of course piqued my curiosity.

"What is it?" I asked a nearby joe.

"Oh, first sergeant, sorry I didn't see you, it's a Burger King," the young Soldier replied.

"A Burger King on wheels eh? I wonder where they'll get the beef to flame broil?"

"Yeah, I never thought I'd see a BK out here in the desert first sergeant," he replied smiling from ear to ear.

"There is always camel meat," I said and walked away. That'll get them guessing.

So we now have a Burger King, sort of, that is not yet open but when it does will serve those delicious American flame broiled burgers from a walk-up window in the large blue trailer sitting in the parking lot of the PX. I wonder how they'll do? Afterall, it is all about location in the restaurant business.

In recent days we've seen truckload after truckload of gravel brought into our camp and dispersed across the ground upon which we walk. Previously, said ground was covered with large, softball-sized rocks that made for quite a few twisted ankles. The gravel is a lifesaver, or at the least an ankle saver, as it makes walking much easier and most importantly still keeps the dust down.

We really can't complain with the improved housing, better walking conditions, and the introduction of fine quisine. However, I just sometimes wish that the bathroom, or latrine as we dogfaces call it, wasn't a football field away. I've been battling an intestinal virus the last day and a half and there is no joy in waking in a panic in the middle of the night and having to put on shoes and sprint 100 yards to salvation. None at all. Still, the camp is shaping up to be quite the vacation place.
The facilities for our troops in Afghanistan is rapidly approaching those found in Bosnia and Kosovo. This makes long-term militray operations much more comfortable for our people.
Posted by: Zayphar / 7/01/2004 06:53:00 AM
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