some pictures

a view from the helicopter:


a picture of the sandstorm that stranded
us on the command outpost near the syrian border right before it smashed into us:


and a picture from the right side:


this was the wheel chair that the aid station had:


another picture taken inside the helicopter. the guy was manning a 50 calibur machine gun:




so i made it back to al asad safely.

oh one more thing, if anyone is curious here is my mailing address:

kevin beavers
3/3 H&S Co
Unit 44075
FPO AP 96607-4075

-- posted from my iphone

inspections

a lot has happened since my last post... the unit i'm with is actually spread over several different bases. i'm on the base which is considered the headquarters, and we have been making our way to the other bases to perform inspections to make sure they have everything set up right. i've been on two of those inspection teams i'm actually inspecting another base right now. they had to fly us over here yesterday. so in one day i flew in an airplane and a helicopter (only the second time i've gotten to fly in a helicopter). it was a lot better than driving! that's how i got to the base to inspect the first time, by convoy. that was much much worse.

we were supposed to fly back tomorrow, but as i write this i'm hearing thunder outside. and now rain! this is the first time it's rained since i've been here. and they're saying that a really bad sandstorm is about to hit and all this is going to continue until tomorrow, so in other words i'm going to be stuck here at least until friday. i won't be able to post any pictures until i get back, but i took some pictures with my iphone from the inside of the helicopter. so hopefully i'll be able to upload them this weekend.