Friday, July 17, 2009



















I'd like to mention the passing of a dude I had the pleasure to meet and work with. As a matter of fact, I probably spent most my time here working with this guy. He didn't have any rank, just a Patrolman, but he was in charge of his Check Point because of his experience, dedication to duty and the respect of his men. Gul Alam was taken by an IED recently and he will be missed. He is the model of what the Afghan National Police should strive for. (in the photo's he is meeting with village elders and handing out humanitarian aid to a local village).


On another note;

Witnessed something interesting and disturbing yesterday. I was waiting in line for the DFAC, (dining facility) to open. In line in front of me was an Indian man and in front of him an Army Staff Sergeant. We were in the wash/waiting area with several other people. It was close, but not over crowded. The Sgt turned towards the Indian gentleman and said “Hey, you’re in my personal space, we don’t do that” The other guy just looked at him. He then said “back the **** up” and pushed him back. Nothing serious, the guy wasn’t hurt, it was more a forced step back. I actually thought he knew the dude. Then the doors opened and we moved in to the chow line. I was a couple people behind the Sgt, and meatballs were one of the items available for lunch. There are three or four Indian guys working behind the counter, one behind each section of choices. He hands over his plate and says loudly, “just meatballs, I only want meatballs”. The meatball guy puts one meatball on his plate and the Sgt flips out, steps back and throws his hands in the air, yelling “ what the ****, can’t you people speak English”. He then walks away to the other side of the tent where they serve sandwiches, muttering about how he can’t understand why the people in this country can’t speak English. This guy’s picture should be in the dictionary next to Ugly American.
Several thoughts on this; I’m not sure what kind of training the military gives its guys to acclimated them to the culture of the countries that they may be occupying, but a lot of places in this region of the world don’t have the same views as Americans do as far as personal space goes. It doesn’t mean that much to them. Maybe the Sgt was an FNG to the Stan, didn’t look like it though. As far as the English thing goes, well, do I really need to say that this dumbass is not in Kansas anymore.
It’s people like this moron that are the reason why the US is having such a hard time accomplishing anything over here. It’s the general attitude of a lot of the military. I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it, (it’ll be on the test), we are here to mentor and help in the Afghan’s fight against the Taliban. If this nitwit is treating the people that work on our bases like that, you can imagine how he treats the local villagers.
If the Officers here don’t know how their troops are acting, they need to open their eyes. If they do know, they better wake up and smell the Chai, before it’s too late.

8 comments:

  1. I hope oyu got his info and passed it along. That kind of arrogance is totally wrong. If he has such an ego he needs to go back home and get the hell out of this mission. People like that will get hisself and the people around than killed here. Bet he is a fobbit.

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  2. Many of us who worked with Gul will miss him and the good work he was doing. We can only hope that another will take up the torch he carried and continue the good work he was doing. He was an inspiration to the men he worked with and the model for others to follow.

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  3. Sgt. must have got a Jodi Letter...or maybe he thought his time in the army was going to be like the movie Stripes...or maybe the Indian guy should have stepped up jammed his index finger into the meat ball lifted it off the plate and said ..."this is my safety siiirr..."

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  4. 1st issue - Golf course: Certainly not like the course that I played at Lackland AFB, Randolf AFB (some great par 5 holes) or Barksdale AFB........... Enough said!!

    2nd Issue - Gul Alam: Sounds like a true friend and warrior that stood up for what he believed in. "In the final Measure, nothing speaks like deeds."

    3rd Issue - Sgt Jackass: Having stood in line at the DFAC for more than my share of meals (LOL) the question not only arises of where were the officers were during this, but where were all of the Senior NCO's? TCN's (Third County National's) run the support services for most base operations for next to no money. There would be a heck of a lot more Americans in harms way if it wasn't for those folks.

    4th Issue - WPD Dive Team - Newly Promtoted Sgt. Brain Mulcahey will be carrying on the tradition that you started as Team Leader.

    5th Issue - Stay safe my friend!!

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  5. We'll have to tie Turcotte and Mulcahey together to get one good swimmer.

    "Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." --Bertrand Russel
    Probably the fellas 1st time in another country, and other than Basic, probably his first time away from small-town southern US.

    Stay Safe Buddy,
    Brad

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  6. Steve,
    Sorry its been a long time since I checked the blog. I spoke to Russ and he told me you were home but leaving for Canada. i tried to call ya but I knew you were busy. I hope everything is going well for ya and that your visit home with your family was everything you hoped it would be. Well if you haven't heard already, the RISP asked my PD for a change so I'm back in the Special Squad doing drug work in "the bucket". I was blindsided by my Chief at a Monday morning meeting and they didn't even give me a heads up at HIDTA. Oh well 7 years was a hell of a run and I'm actaully enjoying myslef being back home with the Pawtucket guys. The loss of the HIDTA OT hurts though. I hope everything is well and be safe.

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  7. Some of these people probably have watched too much Full Metal Jacket and crap, and some are probably just stupid even if they were in their own country, and some may not be having a very great time, and some may have personal issues, and so this stuff happens.

    PussDaddy

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  8. This is a note of support for your attitude, from a Canadian who wishes you were alll safe at home, but who understands that these people need help and support from both our countries. Wish it could all be humanitarian assistance, and not fighting, but that is human nature I guess (both sides of it). It's really wonderful to see you posting like this, and I know that the Ugly American stereotype is alive and well, because I was born in the States (Calif) and have been in Canada since '72.
    I'm glad I read this-it restores some faith in me..keep up the good work-your blog is impressive.

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