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Mansions of the Lord

by | Jan 25, 2020 | Uncategorized

#NeverForget

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, Eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
All through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

“Mansions of the Lord” is a hymn written by Randall Wallace and set to the music of Nick Glennie-Smith, written for the 2002 film “We Were Soldiers”

Sightseeing & Training

by | Jan 17, 2020 | Uncategorized

Western Afghanistan was an interesting place to fly. Team instructor pilots would often go out for multi-ship cross-country flight training with our Afghan student pilots.
On this particular day, we departed Shindand Air Base (OASD) and went south through the mountain range and on to the US FOB near Farah for refuel, then returned to Shindand.
On the flight down, I asked my Afghan trainee to take a video clip of me flying.
Also on the way south, we orbited this old citadel. I haven’t been able to find any information on who made them, but there is a chain of them between Herat and Farah. In my opinion, they look 18th or 19th century-ish. Can you spot the MD530?
On the way back to Shindand Air Base from Farah, our team of 2 found a nice wide ridgeline at about 7000’MSL.
After a good flight, safely back at Shindand Air Base, our sightseeing, um, training flight complete, there was time for a selfie, then put our trusty steed away for the night and head over to chow.

#Pamir62
#Sightseeing
#Training

January 17, 2013

Here is a link to the citadel in Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/YZvAz5m9CU2KRtsL6

  

Giving Tuesday

by | Dec 3, 2019 | Uncategorized

I know the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas season is a time of giving, especially on Giving Tuesday. A lot of people give to various charities towards the end of the year.
If you’re in the charitable mood, may I suggest one or all of the following organizations:
American Red Cross @RedCross
Wounded Warrior Project @wwp
United Service Organizations (USO)  @the_USO
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)  @VFWHQ
Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH)   @MOPH_HQ

I have been touched by each of these organizations since I was wounded in September 2013. I am so very thankful for the support they gave my family & me, and continue to give all our military men and women in need.

Shat to celebrate

by | Nov 29, 2019 | Uncategorized

The Afghan Air Force invited us to a small celebration over at their headquarters building on the Shindand Air Base FOB. I think they were having a reception to congratulate the small class of fixed-wing flight school graduates. There was the usual array of snacks, cookies, and of course there was tea. The cooler in the corner with factory-sealed beverages appealed more to me until I saw the cans. This still makes me chuckle.

27 November, 2012

#Pamir62
#SevenYearsAgo
#OASD
#Shat