Where'd December Go?

First December I've ever had that Christmas is just not on every corner, every message and everywhere. I don't have a TV - so the blessing I guess is that I haven't had to suffer through the endless Christmas commercials. We don't have radio stations here, they're here, but the radios in our vehicles don't go that high on the band (they stop at 90mhz). There's some - but not much of any Christmas Decor anywhere.

I did however, get a wonderful - huge package from my wife and children. It had so much stuff in it - candy, toys, gag gifts, small items I've asked for.....like glade air fresheners that plug into the wall, kleenex, wet wipes....Crystal Lite individual packets....etc...and most of all it was filled with love! They sent me one of those singing fish....that hangs on the wall - and you squeeze it's tail and it sings.....kinda funny...I'm sure driving my neighbors crazy.

They sent me a Denver Broncos Santa hat....and Jonah - bless his little heart sent me a Jelly Belly Dinosaur..... The cards from Karen and the boys were too sweet, and melt my heart. I can't wait to see my family. I'll be home on December 27 - and am so looking forward to being with my family. Thank you so much Family! Made me feel at home.

So - what's happened in the past 2 weeks:

• Got arrested by the International MP's



• Bailed out one of our 3rd Country Nationals (TCN's) who got arrested by the International MP's



• Had a gun drawn on me....with a round chambered..



• Got woken up in the middle of the night by the International Red Cross trying to find one of our staff.

Those are just a few highlights.....

The rules on Kandahar Airfield are extremely strict when it comes to having the proper badges disployed on your person, or being escorted if you do not have them. I have the appropriate badges, and I'm also a badged escort on base, so occasionally I find myself escorting TCN's.

One day I took three Expat's and one TCN down to the Kandahar Command Operations Center (COMKAF) to begin the badging process. The TCN individual from Bosnia wanted to ask a question about getting his previous NATO security clearance forwarded to Kandahar. When he stepped up to ask his question, he was immeditely asked about his badge, and how long he'd been on base. When the communication broke down, a Royal Air Force Sgt came storming out of the office to arrest the man, and his escort....which was me. This Brit got spun up so quickly over such a stupid little thing as not answering a question precisely he wanted it was ridiculous. The poor gent from Bosnia in an attempt to communicate in a kind way - smiled when he talked which only made the RAF angrier. Needless to say - he carted us off to the IMP office at KAF and turned us over to the MP's.

Luckily the MP"s were more calm - and actually answered the man's question, and released us. Much ado about nothing.

About a week later, I came back to Camp Hicks (our Life support area or LSA) about 10:30 at night, and noticed a soldier standing in our Security Office. I knew something was up, but walked on past hoping to "avoid" whatever it was. No such luck. My phone range 5 minutes later. Apparently this soldier - a Major in the 82nd Airborne detained one of our TCN's for smoking what this soldier thought was marijuana. This gentleman was from an African nation, and was obviously scared. The good Major had removed all of this man's possessions and placed them out on a desk. While standing there, the man's phone range, and he reached for it, the Major freaked out, and pushed him back into his chair thinking he was reaching for "the evidence". I stepped in between the two and held the gentleman down - not knowing what his intentions were.

As I'm standing between the Major and this man sitting in a chair - in our security office - I hear the Major draw his sidearm and the distinct sound of him chambering a round. Not Cool!

Now the good Major has just elevated his status in my mind to "Captain America", saving humanity one African national at a time...

The IMP's come, and take the individual into custody (they are joking around about it) - and I follow them down to the US MP office. It's after midnight now. I'm beat. Wait an hour or so, then get called back into the back by the MP's. This US MP is great - he says "I'm a copy back in the real world - I don't think this is pot....I'm releasing him back to you..." Again - much ado about nothing - which could have been disastrous had Captain America gone that one last step in the security office.

Being the Operations Manager for an operation that has now grown to over 2,1oo staff in Afghanistan - I never stop being amazed about all of the different situations I get called into. We've med-evac'd people, we've tracked them down for family emergencies....we've transitioned one third of our staff from one company to another company all while delivering our service. It's non-stop all day everyday.

It's Christmas Eve in Afghanistan - it's hard to believe it.....I'm listening to "What Child is This..." as performed by Andrea Bocelli -

NOEL - Merry Christmas - Hosannah to the Most High!