HOME!!!!

Well I did FINALLY make it home!!!! Tress! Flower! Grass and yes my Red Machine...it is good to be home!

USA!

After a 20 hour trip.....Germany ---> BWI ----> Atlanta ----> Gulfport we are at our NMPS and doing our final demob before heading home!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
BWI was pretty neat...it was a military flight from Ramstein and quite a few from USO and others were there to greet us as we deplaned. It was nice.

Germany and Beyond

One picture says it all.  We made it to Germany!

KAF and OHSU DET A!

Well there are not a lot of good things to like about KAF but one of them this time is definetly meeting up with my 3 shipmates from OHSU DET A!!!  That was a treat!!!

The First Leg Home

YES!!  We have completed the first leg of our trip home. We left Apache early this am and are now in KAF for our checkout with TFMS and NAVCENT.  It feels good. Pics are of our second group heading out. Second pic is the ride!

Sitting on the Dock By the Bay

The Crew getting ready to head home! We had our TOA yesterday and we are set to head out and start the treck home!!

A Very Dark Day

"A car bomb blast killed five Americans in Afghanistan, including three US soldiers and a young diplomat on Saturday."
Yesterday was a very dark day for us. We have become so close with our Amry Brigade here. Three of the 5 that died were from our Brigade. After 14 hours of caring for the wounded, we stood as a unit in the dark as the bodies were taken to the flight line, along with pretty much all of FOB Apache assembled including most of Raider 1-3.  So sad.

The Group Now

It is hard to believe we are winding up and getting ready to head home.  It has been on tuff deployment and as no surprise the everyone has done so well. I don't think they realise what an accomplishment to have come from a non-team to this now cohesive trauma unit. Truly amazing and one of the things I think that enjoy most about these deployments. The pic is our group pic outside the FST, now with the Miranda Trauma sign up. It is nice to see that most as still smiling!!!

Plank Owners

During our "TEA" we also had another tradition.  PLANK OWNER. This is a VERY old Navy Tradition where members of the commissioning unit of a ship a giver the "right" to own a plank of the ship when it is decommissioned. In this case the "Ship" is the new Navy Miranda Trauma Center FST Role 2E. It is kind of a neat idea and definitely gives us a sense of ownership for OUR Role 2E FST. We each got a Certificate of Plank Ownership! We also gave each of the unit members a OEF Certificate.

Easter at FST Apache

It is the day after Easter now here. We had a pretty good day considering. It has been raining for its seems forever, and yesterday was actually a really nice sunny day. So it was nice. We had our little "mini" ALL AMERICAN TEA on Easter courtesy of St Barnabas and the crew their. We only got a 2 of the 5 boxes that was sent (mail has been poor here because of the rain) but the two that we did get were GREAT!!! It was very appreciated!

SO3(SEAL) Denis C. Miranda

We had a very special day today as pretty much most of SEAL TEAM 4 came to our FST  for the re-dedication of our new facility to honor Denis C. Miranda a Seal who was killed in 2010. The FST at FOB Lagman was dedicated to him and we have kept that tradition and re-dedicated the new FST at Apache in his name.

Picture below is the folding of the flag at Lagman on the last day and then the presentation to Miranda's Chief at the dedication.  That US Flag  had hung in the FST OR at Lagman since the  original Miranda Center dedication at Lagman in 2010. The flag will be given to the Miranda Family. 

Heart Shaped Pancakes

On a lighter note our esteemed CAPT Surgeon made here famous heart shaped walnut and pecan pancakes. YESSSSSS!!!!!  :)

MUD and Things

Well today is the first day we have not had rain in well...forever. It actually seems like it is going to be sunny...cold..but sunny and will probably warm up!  We are getting ready to re-dedicate our FST to Denis C. Miranda. Many of his SEALs will be coming. It will, I think be a pretty solemn event.

Building a New Hosptial

There was a lot I couldn't write about as it was taking place (OPSEC etc) but now that it is complete...here goes.  Basically got be an active part in the building of a new ROLE 2E facility and medical campus.  Started pretty much when we got here in October and the building and then moving occupied pretty much of our time and effort while out here.  Pic is at "ribbon cutting" the day after we officially became active at FOB Apache with the whole group: SeaBees in front, my unit, Army FST support unit, and some of C-med.

Moving a Small Hospital

It is now pretty much finished. We have moved!!!  Current location about 1 mile from our previous one in a new FOB = APACHE. A 4 month plus LONGGGGGGG effort. Couldn't talk about it much before but now that it is done will tell some of the tale. Pic is the ribbon cutting we had for the 133 SeaBees. Over the next several posts will give a little rundown on how the whole 4 month process went.  Pic is of our unit (well almost all since a few are still at FOB Lagman retrograding the FST there), and a few Army support people to help during the transition.

Live at New Site

This will be a short post.
We are about to go live at our NEW FST at FOB APACHE.
A long hard road to get here. I will post more on this later.

Rain

Well overall I say we have been pretty lucky. Really very little snow maybe a couple of days. But today it rained ALL day. Finally stopped early evening. If you look closely you can see our new home on top of the hill.

A New Role 2E

Well it looks like this isn't a secret any more. Yes we are moving to a new FOB and having a new facility being built! It has been...humm...an experience, as I have had to be very active in this to make sure it goes seamlessly. Not something I expected to do. New structure is really impressive. The SeaBs are amazing!
http://www.dvidshub.net/video/279583/navy-seabees-build-new-medical-facility-fob-apache-afghanistan

A Sheltered Life

Well had another interesting event. Things I NEVER got to do at Bastion. Got to head over to FOB Davis with the Seal Team 4 and have lunch with the Jordanian Unit that helps to train Afghan Special Forces. It was a unique experience and a traditional Friday (their Holy Day) meal.  It was as I said a unique experience, eating with your hands (well right hand only actually), the tradition of the goat head (real long story), but the food was actually very good, and the Jordanians were very friendly and great hosts. Sometimes I realize what a monolithic life I have led.  Pic is of the the CO of unit. It has taken me a while here to realize the importance of the role our unit and our FST has in Zabul Provence and in the relationship of the Joint Task Force here and the Afghans especially the Afghan Security Forces.  It is so like a small town here, and we seem to be the town doc with all that comes with that.

Resurection of a Tradition: Pancake Mornings!

We are carrying on a tradition started at Bastion! Pancake Mornings. Started as Pancake Sunday and seems to have expanded to Pancake Tuesdays also……hummm…..

Also expanded to very fancy scrabbled eggs. SWEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTT

Angie you would be proud  J