The miles between us melted away as I learned much of what he's been up to. The operation they were on was called "Operation Swift Change." Here is what Gary and I read read yesterday in the 3/4 February Newsletter that had arrived by email:
January saw India Company conduct its first major named operation. . . (in which they) cleared a crucial piece of real estate of enemy influence between Delaram and Golestan and established a new patrol base. This patrol base dubbed Patrol Base Buji is centrally located in the Buji Bhast Pass which has historically been a Taliban refuge. Through the hard work of your Marines, India Company has brought security to the numerous Afghan villages which are located in this region. In an area which previously had little government influence or protection, the Marines of India Company have brought hope and the possibility of a better life.
Adam told me the four walls of his new base are up, but that's about it. He is living in one "corner" of a triangle of mini-bases. With this mission he has been reunited with all the members of the other companies of the 3/4, many of whom were in Golestan for the last 3 months. He and his fellow marines have all set up their tents and were busy getting things organized. The weather has been utterly terrible since they got there. It has been extremely rainy and when they go up the mountain on "watch" it is very cold. Due to the rain, there haven't been any deliveries of mail or supplies since they got there but they were hoping for one today or tomorow. Everything will have to be trucked in to them in their new location, including water. They are living on MREs and there are no showers. In other words, they are really roughing it. To Adam, it must be just like when he went camping with the cub scouts--it always rained on those occasions too. Oh, he also told me they adopted a stray puppy. He's not sure where he came from, but "Puppy" now has a home with the marines.
Despite the hard work and adverse conditions, he sounded really good. He is getting anxious to be done with his deployment and told me he really wants a cruise upon his return. He's not sure when that will be, but probably sometime in April.
I will continue to keep you up to date whenever I get news. I am hopeful this call was just the first of many to come and that we will get back to our schedule of weekly conversations. I don't know if they will ever get their internet up and running; but if anyone can get that done in record time, it will be the Marines.
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