timbslim

Unbelievably hot, and, I found myself hiking the ridge of a mountain range at the Pakistan border. It was 130 degrees. It was my assistant, Thompson, and I. We had flown into Torkham on a bird. The helicopter ride was great, rolling in and out of the mountain passes. At one point, I could have almost reached out and touched the face of a mountain. In reality, it was a good 30 yards away. It’s just that I have never flown past a mountain that closely, but, back to Torkham. Unbelievably hot, and up the ridge we went. Thompson and I were walking around on the FOB. We began to talk to some guys about the mountain ridge that led up to some stuff that will remain undisclosed. In the conversation, one of the guys said, “You should hike up there; it’s beautiful. My immediate response, of course, “That would be great.” So, off we went. Thompson didn’t decry going then. There were too many men around. He had to look at least as willing as I was. His willingness would wane. He wi...

I grabbed the front right handle of the gurney. The eight of us pulled it from the Blackhawk. It was dark. The wind from the rotors was violent. The sound drowned out the possibility of conversation. It wouldn’t have mattered. Conversation was not necessary, nor was it fitting. It was difficult to see. It was hot. It was calm. My assistant, Thompson, was immediately to my left, holding the front as well. We made our way across the flight line. The fallen hero was draped in an American flag, the most fitting garment for his honor. He had taken his final breath defending freedom. He never knew that I would be retrieving him that night. He pushed forward with little if any concern for himself. Now I, and my comrades, had the privilege of giving him the honor due him. We walked about 150 yards from one bird to the other. Once we got out from under the rotors of the delivering bird stillness gripped the moment. It was like slow motion. We approached the departing bird....

The treacherous landscape was displayed in my window as we darted through the majestic mountains of the Afghanistan countryside. I sat with my face in the window for the entire journey. Seeing things through the portal of a helicopter here is a view that is unparalleled. The mountains are jagged and barren. I imagine them in late Fall and Winter with snow, maybe in the Spring with brush strokes of green - but not much. It takes a tough plant to survive these conditions. Green is a scant sight here. Doesn't matter; the view from my seat was exhilarating. It is the kind of feeling that you get when you take in a deep breath, enraptured by images that catch you for the first time. The whole experience was like standing where time ceases to tick. Many thoughts flooded my mind. In the mountains I would see the occasional tent or lean-to dwelling. Once we entered the flatlands, there were more. I began to think to myself, “How does a person live in a tent in this arid place?” But, there...

I am sitting in my Chapel here at my Forward Operating Base (FOB). I am listening to a guy play a cello. Yep, a soldier brought his cello. I am watching him drag his bow across the chords as he plays a song called “Majesty.” This cellist joined our praise band last week. His music puts the finishing touch on the worship. As he plays, my heart is warmed. It is so unusual to be here and to be practicing for worship for Sunday. Somehow it doesn’t seem right. Yet, it seems perfect. My assistant and I suited up in full battle gear today, adding about 40 lbs. We drove over to the Entry Control Point (ECP). This is the main gate. There we walked around and talked with the soldiers who work that detail. They stand in the heat, some days in the 130’s, and guard the entrance. They do this in 13 hour shifts (one hour is a lap over). They do all this in full gear. So, my assistant and I decided to spend some of the day with them. It didn’t take long for me to be drenched in sweat and my back to hu...

Today I am sitting in my office. There is a normalizing sound that permeates my "B" Hut. It is the sound of baby birds chirping. There are baby birds in the wall where my air conditioning unit lines are placed. It's good to hear. It is good to hear because I hear it over all the other strange and awkward noises of a Forward Operating Base (FOB). There is the occasional sound of gunfire. Sometimes it is gunfire from our ranges. Sometimes it is the real deal. There is the occasional sound of an explosion. Usually, that one is real. These aren't as common as you might be thinking, except the gunfire. There is the sound of a huge generator that powers a Pizza Hut next to my office. You might say, "I bet Tim loves that." You would be wrong. I hate Pizza Hut. I don't like pizza, for a later conversation. But, the birds provide me with something different. I call the baby birds a normalizing and familiar sound for my day. I have heard baby bi...

08Jun09/Monday/8:16 pm I am on the greatest and most uncertain adventure of my life. Adventure here doesn’t mean that I am going on a thrill ride. For the first time in my life, adventure means that I am going into danger. I certainly don’t want to play that up; I feel that I will be cared for and safe. But, I am entering a war zone. Men and women do it all the time, every day. They have done this throughout history. Today, however, it is real to me. Today, I have set out to walk as many who have gone before me. I have sung the national anthem on many occasions. I have said the pledge of allegiance to the United States more than I can enumerate. Something has shifted within in me this last year. I have been an active duty officer in the US Army for one year today. When I hear the national anthem or say the pledge of allegiance today, my throat closes up, tears fill my eyes. It is different to me now. I have walked with soldiers for a year. I have seen what they do. Certain...