Dust devils are common here in Afghanistan. I caught this one moving its way through Kandahar Airfield. It seems to reach all the way to heaven, unlike most dust devils here that just a few stories high. When they come through, it feels like a heavy duty blow dryer/sand blaster! They aren’t as bad as the ones I encountered in the desert of Southern California while stationed at Ft. Irwin. Because of the fine “moon dust” there isn’t as much hard stuff in there that stings when it hits you. Up close this dust devil would be a little wider than the length of the MaxxPro truck in the photo.
I’ve lived in the So Cal desert, too.
Like it there.
But once you get sandblasted by one of those things you do try to avoid any others you see coming.
I have freckles, but when I got caught by one in my 20’s I put my bare arms over my face.
Both arms since then have negative freckles.
White spots where the sand blasting took off enough skin to lose pigment from then on.
My car?
I had to replace all of the wind-facing windows, they were scratched into ruination.
It is a beautiful sight….from a safe distance.
Ah, dirt devils and Kandahar. The night time strolls about the board-walk….the Stinky Pond Cafe…the lines at Timmy Horton’s…the %$&*^ traffic…the loud-as-the-gates-of-hell French warplanes…glad I was only there for 2 months.
Thanks for the post, CJ.
Dust Devils? The devil is in the details.
hmmmm…………. seems like they have a number of different types of “devils” in afghan
CJ!: Thank you. Stay safe.
It’s really guys like you that are the authentic heros.
I would like you good folks to read this. PULEEEZE read the whole thing, because you’re in for a shock.
(Perhaps Mata-H and Co. can post this on Veterans Day???)
Never Have Guessed
Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76, which is odd, because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27) His death reminded me of the following story.
Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star generals at Arlington National Cemetery His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here’s a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn’t know the extent of his Corps experiences.
In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima there is only one higher Naval award… the Medal of Honor!
If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.
Dialog from “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”: His guest was Lee Marvin… Johnny said, “Lee, I’ll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima .and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded.”
“Yeah, yeah… I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo, I served under the bravest man I ever knew… We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach… Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men’s safety was more important than his own life.
That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, “Where’d they get you Lee?” “Well Bob…. if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!”
Johnny, I’m not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew.
The Sergeant’s name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo.”
On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps.
He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat
After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist… Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life… He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm…
America’s real heroes don’t flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy.
Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst.
Often, they are the ones you’d least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.
Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers…
Awakening others to what a
HERO is made of…
Nos. thank you for that post.
Most of these guys are way too quiet. They are the backbone of what really is America.
Right now we have two wars. CJ and thousands more are carrying such a load and yet the majority of us don’t realize or appreciate what they provide for us. Write a letter, help out a deployed vet’s family, always wave and smile to vets, say thanks for your service, buy a lunch or dinner, have a backyard picnic and invite a vet over, let them know there are people who appreciate their service.
This might sound like a dumb post, but the message is real and sincere. These guys are the best we have.