One week in Afghanistan

Been here for a week. I spent two nights on a cot, did not get much sleep, the air conditioner was churring all night. I got into a barracks, and it is much nicer. Quiet, only two other men there, and I sleep fine. The food quality here in Afghanistan is definetly a "step down" from Iraq. The dining hall at Tall'Afar was the best food I have eaten since I have been in this part of the world.

Here at Bagram, we eat off of cardboard. At least they have EGGS!! I have not had an egg since March. This morning, I had two eggs fried, and two eggs boiled. Plus bagel and cream cheese, and bacon and hash browns.

Tonight, there will be a masonic open house, I am anxious to attend. I have not attended any masonic meetings since I was in Moscow Sept 2006. I miss Masonry very much.

The equipment and technology here is the same as Iraq, fortunately. The documentation and business practices are different, but I can learn. Biggest hassle is that I will servicing four bases, I will live at Sharana, and fly between three others.

Arrived safely in Afghanistan

I left Iraq on the night of 22 August. I flew all night, with a couple of intermediate stops, and then the aircraft landed in Kuwait on the morning of 23 August. I waited on the military base for about 10 hours, then I caught a flight to Afghanistan. I arrived at Bagram Air Base on the morning of the 24th. I went to the transient tent, and slept in my two-day old clothes. I finally got a shower ,and a shave and a change of clothing.

I am now undergoing some familiarization, and learning the systems and procedure here in Afghanistan. (It is virtually identical to Iraq). I will be assigned to Sharana base, in a week or so, then I have to arrange a flight up there.

BTW- I am NOT a Lieutenant Colonel. I am a civilian electronics engineer. I was in the Air Force from 1973-1978, and I was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant (E4).

I will list my postal address, when I get one. My email addresses all remain the same. If you need to know my email address, just leave a comment on this board.

Contacting me.

If anyone wishes to contact me directly, just leave a "comment" on the blog, and it will be automatically forwarded to me. I prefer not to post my email addresses on the blog, because I get enough spam and unsolicited email already.

If anyone wishes to email me directly, please leave a comment on the blog, and once I am satisfied that you are not a "spammer", I will contact you directly.

Charles E. Martin

Moving to Afghanistan

I am being assigned to Sharana Air Base, near Kabul, Afghanistan.

My email addresses are all the same. My new postal address is:

Charles E. Martin
UNISYS CORP.
HHC 36th Engineer Brigade FOB Sharana
APO AE 09354