Sergeant Major Robb Ochsner enlisted in the Army in 1985 from Waukegan, Illinois and attended One Stop Unit Training at FT Knox, KY as a 19D Cavalry Scout. Upon completion of Basic training and Airborne School SGM Ochsner was assigned to C Co 3-73 Armor, 82 nd ABN Division where he served as a M551A1 Sheridan Driver, Loader, Gunner and Tank Commander.
Now is Christmas Eve here in Afghanistan. It's 0847. Cold, heavy sky, might rain or snow, smells more like rain though. The mountains are standing out in stark contrast to the dark sky. To the North, the mountains are snow caped. We have a Christmas party planned for later today to hand out stockings sent from several organizations and relatives in the States. We'll start with the lowest ranking Privets and work our way up, play Pictionary and get a little speech from the DCO. Maybe play some Christmas tunes. We, HHC TAC/MICO/ Coms/ and other ad hoc units, are safe, snuggled into the FOB of Camp Stone. I may sleep in tomorrow.
To the Afghans, today and tomorrow is just another day. They don't understand our infidel ways. There is always an attempt to make these Christmases far from home in a combat zone seem Christmassyier. But there is always that little bit inside of you that misses snow, Christmas trees, traffic, the Malls, Christmas music (no matter how canned and repetitious). Nothing beats waking up in your own home in a warm bed with your family all around. Feeling the quiet anticipation of the kids and enjoying their excitement as they rip through the wrappings to get their cool new stuff. Having dinner at a table with a table cloth, real silver ware, wine, good friends, and food that you made.
The thought is here though, and so is the attempt at a Christmas feast. That helps a lot. In the past I've dealt with Christmas Rocket attacks, regular patrols, resupply gifts of rip its and individually wrapped Otis Spunkmyer muffins, wrapped in gaily spray painted sand bags wrapped with Glid tape as ribbons and bows. Good cheer and good luck passed between friends as they kit up to go out into a cold night's patrol. Sharing summer sausage humped in a pack and warmed up for all to share on a kerosene heater in an Iraqi house, while the thud and boom of 500 pound bombs smash the enemy. Death and destruction in a pastoral display. Sharing homemade fudge with The Sergeant Major before loading into our trucks and going out on an assault that we didn't know at the that moment was going to end in tragedy.
"Merry Christmas Tutten"
“You too, Top"
Another family's Christmas shattered a few hours after that. Overall, we try hard to maintain some sort of Christmas cheer, but nothing ever really replaces being there, with our families and friends at this time of year. So raise a glass, and toast us and remember us, and know that in our hearts we are all there with you.
Robb
Report from Afghanistan: 3 Dec. 09 - The insanity of war...
All,
We Put SGT Islip's remains on a C-130 this morning to continue his onward movement home. This event showed how dedicated the US Army is to making sure all Soldiers make it home. It was amazing the resources that appeared to support this operation
In the month of NOV the Brigade had Four Soldiers KIA, and Sherman and Islip. Six dead. Another guy lost his legs. The four guys KIA were all in RC South. Two to a VBIED and two to an IED.
Fortune Smiled on us and during the actual fighting in Bala Murgahb the Brigade elements took no casualties even though from the stories I got the fighting was very intense at some points. The Marine SF guys took four WIA and the AFghan Commandos ended up loosing 8 guys and about 16 WIA. At one time I had four Medevacs en route and using two CH47's to bring in troops and exfill wounded. An RPG went through the front of one of the CH47's, bashed through the control panel, glanced off the pilot's helmet flew into the back, whanged the side gunner on the back of the head and landed on the floor by a wounded guy. The pilot lifted, got the bird back to the FOB, They moved the wounded guys off, and a EOD guy walked in, picked up the RPG and they flew the bird home, nobody hurt. Insanity of war.
Anyway, The President says he will send us more troops. that's good. Congress is going to tax every American that hasn't served in Iraq or Afghanistan ( unless you aren't paying taxes already.) that will pay for health care. Sounds like a mess to me.
Yesterday I flew down to Farah. It was a blast to get off the FOB and get Out. You can't beat this place for Vistas. Absolutely stunning, flying through the mountains. Staying about 50-100 feet off the ground. Following creeks and rivers. We hovered around a castle built onto a mountain crag. It was a little disconcerting to have the pilot taking pictures, but that's why they have two of them right? Nobody, not even the locals, know when it was built. It's called the "Infidel" because it's either haunted or was there before the Muslims came.
