Boots On The Ground

After we delivered our precious human cargo at the destination in the Middle East, we pretty much hung around for the next four hours while the troops unloaded all of their gear from the cargo hold. As expected it was a well-organized military operation performed with precision. Our job was primarily to stay out of the way and out of sight. With temperatures hovering around 121 degrees outside and a fine dust that permeated you through your pores, it was easy to stay on the aircraft. To think of all of them experiencing physical exertion in these conditions was sobering. Just to step outside would make your breath stop from the heat until you would start coughing from the dust and blowing sand. It was harsh and it was night!

That first night it didn’t take long after we landed for the Scud Missiles to start flying. We were just getting used to the reminder that we shouldn’t even take off our chem suites (the packed ones strapped to our hips, we didn’t put them on) even in the bathroom when the tracers lit up the sky. You know, I had seen that on CNN so many times and I knew we were flying in close to the situation, but the sh*t got real at that point. Oddly, after a while, we went out on the steps of the plane to watch. Like it was some fireworks display or something. The mind does crazy things to calm itself down.

Eventually we settled in for some rest and to read and such, when in pops a young man bringing us gifts!! We were quite taken aback, but delighted to see him. The young man gave each of us a “Starbucks Kuwait City” Mug! I kid you not. It was so surreal to be in the Middle East with Scuds flying by and get a Starbucks mug like I had gone to Disneyland. Shut me right down.

When the troops were finished with unloading the plane and loading up their vehicles, their commander stopped up to say goodbye and thank us for the ride. That first group was part of the 4^th Infantry Forward Support Battalion and he awarded each of us a Challenge Coin from their Battalion. I think that was the proudest day of my career. I felt like we had made a difference. I pray to this day that every one of those men and women came home as strong as the day we dropped them off.

CRAF and 4th Battalion Infantry Challenge Coins

Then we turned off the lights, fired up the engines and headed North. We had no idea what was about to happen behind us or ahead of us, the sky can be so peaceful.