Afghan driving range

The last couple of days has been relatively quiet. We're still patrolling everyday, but we are now 4 so the load is a bit less to carry. We've had a chance to catch up on some construction projects around here and wood is no longer in demand. Capt. Hachey has stockpiled us for the next little while with 6 x 6, 8 x 8, plywood, and plenty of 2 x 4s. Our ANA counterparts are leading the way more and more, and our relationship with the crew is growing. Language is still the primary barrier, yet I am slowly learning bits and pieces just by the tone of their voices, and by their body language. If I'm not sure I simply say "whoa" which is Pashto for yes. Sometimes I get a confused look, but most of the time I'm bang on. Today we patrolled around the town plotting new routes, and having a look around. Our objective was to find a sheep for a cookout to be had with our ANA buddies. At one point, ole Hawk wanted to go halvers with me on a camel. 500.00 will get you a camel around these parts, however that was probably the market price for that day. Now, I'm sure it would be 600. At any rate, we found a couple of locals that would sell us one, however getting it back here may be a problem, being on patrol and all.
Looks like we'll be back down to 3 engineers here for awhile. Maddin is required to augment another platoon house for 2 weeks and Stink is going home for a vacation. Ole Hawk is on light duty until his leave, but will be back in Feb. It will be really great when all of us are back in one place. This will be in mid March when I return from vacation.
Theres been a lot of artillery going on here in the last few days. The yanks are keeping pretyty busy by the sounds of it just north of us. We watched a mountain get lit up the other day with an a-10 warthog doing straffing runs onto it. Then came the super bomb. The whole mountain went up in a plume of smoke. Last night and today more of the same. All we heard on patrol was artillery shells pounding the ground to the north. Then we heard the distinct sound of IED blast. C Coy had struck one to the west and we all expected the worse. Immediate comms lockdown so we figure its bad. Have no details about it, but the comms lockdown was only in effect for 2 hours. We're all hoping and praying everyone is alright.
We're learning a lot from the locals around here. They're all scared shitless and about half of the population like our presence. The other half.....not so much. The kids are all pretty friendly, but again, the language barrier. I made somewhat of an arrangement with the little buggers but firts a little background. My sister sent me golf clubs, tees, and balls around Christmas just to whack around a bit. So, this afternoon, after patrol, I hobbled up to the roof and teed a few up. Well, I sure as hell don't want to retrieve them after I hit em, so I get the kids to do it. I'll trade them a handful of candy for every ball they return. Well, this poses a problem after the first one is hit. They all go scrambling on to the "driving range" so to speak. I try to do it when no kids are around, but once the club face hits that ball, its like they spring outta nowhere and go after the little white suckers. We got the interpreter to tell them to clear away while I hit, and it worked somewhat. Then an ANA Sargeant wanted a go. Well, Ill be damned if he didn't shank one right towards the gaggle of kids. The ball screamed right through the group of them and then off they went runnin after it. I gotta say, for the first time hitting a club the Afghan smoked it, albeit a little to the left. Anyway, no, I don't crush golf balls at the locals. I make sure its safe before I hit, however I do try to nail the sheep that flock out in our front yard. Its a hoot, and some of the guys are working their swings, tuning up for the spring/summer for when we get back. We manage to get a 60% return of balls, which is better than I expected. Some of the kids hourde them in exchange for the entire bag of candy. They get nothing. It's the little guys and girls that give the balls up.
Well, tomorrow more of the same. D Coy can hold their heads high after this tour. We've been run ragged out here and the work we're doing is second to none. Our numbers show it. The most IED's, the most caches, and by far the most patrolling. Chimo Delta and a solid RED DRAGONS...........