Posted By Bouhammer on October 5, 2006

Day 8 started before the sun rose, which really stunk since we got back so late the night before. We were up around 3AM and were out of the patrol base by 4AM. We moved out early so we could descend on the objective right at first light. The village we went to was the one we had went to at night several days before when we had the AC-130 coverage. There was very bad taliban guys that were supposed to have homes in this town, so speed and surprise was essential.

On the way, we stopped along the highway and dropped off the teenage kid from the day before. Once he was released we re-aligned our march order splitting up the ANA in several groups to move with several groups of 10th MTN soldiers so we could approach the village from multiple directions and encircle it. As the sun was coming up we blew into the village, but not fast enough as around 6-8 guys on motorcycles took off as we were approaching. We had close air support overhead that watched them take off. However they cannot shoot just because some guys take off, but there is no doubt they were bad guys heading for the hills as we came in. We had the ANA and 10th MTN company split into multiple elements and searched multiple kulats at one time. It was what we call a “dry hole” as there were no bad people or bad things found.

We then got info about a place that some taliban stayed the night before and took off right before we got there (part of the 6-8 guys). We searched the place and of course the guy denied everything. There was no evidence to detain him on so he just got some stern warnings and threats. That is about all we can do without evidence. Across the street from this kulat was a mosque, so the ANA gave that a quick search and it came out ok.

We spent a few hours in this village and actually met some very friendly and hospitable people. As part of our search, we also looked for a place to hold another Shura and VMO. We found a gentleman who was more than willing to let us have it at his compound. He was also a barber and offered haircuts, of which several guys took him up on. He did not want paid, but the soldiers paid him anyway as they knew he needed every dollar he made.

We then moved just outside of town and setup a new patrol base in another garden kulat compound. Once we got all the US and ANA trucks in there and established, guys were able to relax and refit. We had two very long and stressful days that both went late into the night. I took this opportunity to take what we affectionally call a “whorebath”. Jawed went and filled up a bucket with well water (which was very, very cold) and I dumped some into another bucket to wash in. I stood behind the humvee butt-naked on my wet weather top and washed as quickly as I could with ice cold water, soap and a washcloth. I hadn’t felt water in so long, even though it was cold I felt very clean and a lot better. I also put on a new uniform as my other one was filthy. Face took one after me, and then we cleaned up all the weapons and the re-straightened the truck out. The ANA and our terps ran into town to hit a bazaar and stock up on fresh vegetables, potatoes, rice and other things like sweetbread and Nan (footbread).

That night the terps cooked us up some sliced fresh tomatoes, onions, okra into a vegetable stew. They got some of that good rice from the ANA and we again ate well. Since I had a bad experience that lasted 72 hours while I was in Orgun-E back in June from eating meat, I refuse to eat it here. Every night has been an almost entirely vegetarian meal, with rice of course. My boys would not believe that I would eat a meal without meat, but no worry as this is only temporary. I love my meat with a meal, just not with an Afghan one. Many of the US soldiers came over (over 20) and they enjoyed a big feast with the ANA. They went for quite a few hours, telling stories, laughing, and eating. This is what embedded is all about.

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