Landlocked Sailor 2004

Me, sleeping on the helicopter. At over 10,000 feet, you get tired.

Me, my rifle, and Herat in the background:

Me "concentrating" on the NAVC opening. After a short while, I started understanding Dhari.

The hall where the luncheon after the opening took place:

Hey! Who's that guy in the middle?

The Herat PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team), these guys are living good:

LTC Frank, at lunch following the NAVC opening. What the hell is this stuff?

Me, LTC Frank, Maj Steve and a local guy at the luncheon:

During one of many helo trips, getting some spades in:

We landed in the middle of a sand storm in the center of nowhere:

Maj Steve, and a local boy who we were taking to Kabul, at Herat Airport:

Thanksgiving Day lunch at Herat Airfield. MREs al fresco:

It gets pretty cold over 10,000 feet:

The helo on day one of the trip:

I'm gonna fly in what?

An old Hind Helo outside Kabul airfield:

OK, this got me a bit worried, in the middle of the flight the crew pulls out a paper map and a ruler:

Refueling in Gardez:

I was in Herat to attend the grand opening of the local National Army Volunteer Center.

Making final preparations for the ceremony:

The newly completed building:

Dead Goat Walking:

Same goat:

Mullah, opening the ceremony:

The master of ceremonies:

The NAVC Commander:

The governor of Herat:

The recruiting General:

School Girls singing:

Closer:

Dead goat:

Raising the flag:

Views from the helicopter:

Outskirts of Herat:

The most water I have seen since being in country:

New snow on the mountains:

Outskirts of Kabul: