More Pics from Ben:

Toby KeithSorry that I haven't been updating this. I have been so busy with taking care of grandpa, taking classes and working. I will be graduating this December with a graphic design degree. I am so excited! I am currently in Lynchbug, VA and loving it!

Hello All

Hello everyone! I'm tired of Afghanistan and ready to come home. 2 months down, 10 to go. I just have to do what Ive done 5 more times. Well, the job is doing OK. It's very busy every day lately. We've been having things to do pretty much all day every day. I think I talk on the phone too much. I'm trying to type this post on a cell phone, so it will be short. I have a headache tonight anyway. I hope everyone is well. I am (except for my headache). The days go by. I just can't wait till 365 of them have gone by. Have a good one everybody!!

One month in

So I've officially been here a month now. Actually over a month. Only 11 more to go! Woo hoo! Well, things aren't se bad here. People bring entertainment. Lately we've been finally catching up with our work in te S4 shop, to where we actually get off before we have to go to bed. We've been watching LOST, beginning with episode 1. It's a fantastic show to get caught up in.

Communication has actually been very good from Gardez. I get to talk to Lauren almost every day, and I have regular access to my personal email. I guess I'm lucky I sit behind a computer all day. One of the perks of a staff job I guess. I shoul dbe getting my own personal internet soon, from a cell phone provider here called Afghan Wireless. The nation's largest cell phone service is ROSHAN with about 47% of the market, but they don't have internet!! Supposedly, they have 3G service here in Gardez. Woah!

Thanks to EVERYONE for keeping me in your prayers! It has kept me going strong for a month so far. But later is when I'm going to need prayer the most, 3/4 through the deployment when I'm REALLY ready to come home!

My job is going really well so far. It seems people are happy with you when you are nice to them. I'm not sure previous units had figured that out. Some locals have told me that people are much happier with our unit, because we actually care about them and treat them like humans. When you take the time to listen to their concerns and do something about them is when you "win hearts and minds". Maybe you've heard about the recent suicide bombings in the country. One was in downtown Kabul, about 2 weeks ago. They killed 20 coalition forces soldiers, and countless civilians. The general population completely hate the Taliban. Then, during the Muslim new year (this past weekend), a suicide bomber killed some civilians celebrating the new year in some random village. It's rediculous what the Taliban do. It's also rediculous to me (and to several locals I've talked to) what someone has to go through to become a suicide bomber. I mean, come on. Who in his right mind would strap 100 pounds of explosives on their chest, march into a crowd, and blow themselves up?? Only someone who thought God told them to do it I guess......

That's about all for now. Y'all have a nice day, and don't forget to write!!

-Ben

Pics from Ben

Here are some pictures Ben sent me! Hopefully he'll have more for us!

Ben and I: Dropping him off :(

On the way to Gardez: 1,000 feet above the village

On the way to Gardez

On the way to Gardez

Ben's bedroomBen's office

FOB Gardez
Sunset from Ben's officeOne of Alexander the Great's outposts as seen from FOB Gardez

Livin the Life

Hi all.

I'm here in Afghanistan living the life. It's an adventure every day. It's interesting to see a unit try and take over where another unit left off. There's a lot of catching up to do for everyone. It's really a lot of work winning the fight against an insurgency. Any insurgency is difficult to beat. Especially in difficult terrain in a foreign culture. The people here are very different. They live differently, have different values, and express themselves differently. It's even more different living in a Pashtun area. Pashtuns have "Pashtunwali", the Pashtun way of life, which supercedes Islam in some ways. It's very interesting working with these people on a daily basis.

It's been a loooong day today fixing problems. Tomorrow will be another long day. I'll get back soon!

Ben

UPDATED ADDRESS!!!

The address written a month ago isn't correct... However, this one is!

1LT Benjamin Ingle
TF Yukon Denali
HHT 1-40 CAV (ABN)
FOB Gardez
APO AE 09354

Thanks everyone!!!

Ben is FINALY in Gardez

This is what Ben wrote to me in an email!

I'm in Gardez now. I flew in Tuesday night and it was a busy day Wednesday. It's pretty cool here. The puddles freeze every night but thaw in the day. I spent the whole day yesterday with my counterpart (the guy that I'm replacing in the unit we're replacing). I experienced some very interesting things. My job will involve a lot of paperwork, talking to locals, and dealing with a lot of stupidity. The kinds of contracts we have are things like a crane with an operator, sewage removal, and a trash pickup guy. There are about a dozen of these contracts just here at Gardez, and I am in control of the contracts in 4 other FOBs too. Afghans are different from Americans in the way they do business. They do whatever they can to make an extra buck, and there is usually some kind of corruption going on. It's going to be a very challenging experience. Ryan said he started out timid and became aggressive very quickly dealing with these people. The same will probably happen to me.

He is starting to get the sniffles (which means he's probably walking around with a tissue in his nose... haha), please pray that he doesn't get sick! Thanks everyone!