Gamberi Trip

So I’m packed and ready to go. I adjusted my battle vest so it fit properly and attached my magazine holders and medical kit. I packed my rucksack for five days and had a camera backpack with the rest of my important things in it (my computer to be exact!) I had to lug all 150 lbs of it plus Mad Max to the office.

My major exclaimed to me a couple times during the days leading up to this much anticipated visit, “I’m not carrying your bags for you Jackson.” I had already heard from my co-worker that he doesn’t do that for anybody but it’s not like I expected him to. I finally asked him if he thought I was a weakling or something and the whole office just started laughing. Were they laughing at me or the response? Who knows.

At this point I don’t know what kind of aircraft will be ferrying us to Gamberi, a small Afghan National Army compound east of Jalalabad. I thought is was going to be a small rotary aircraft like the ones that take us to Kabul, the ones that scare me a little. Nope I was going to have the pleasure of riding in a Huey helicopter. I’m standing outside the flight-line where many types of helicopters are turning rotors and getting ready for their passengers and then I see it. The helicopter that is supposed to take nine of us and all our gear 70 miles across snow covered mountains and wide open valleys. I thought for sure that it was not our aircraft. It looked too small to be able to handle all that weight. I looked around for another helicopter more suitable but none of them were any where near us. I wasn’t afraid just doubtful.

We drag ourselves and all our crap to the helicopter and sure enough everything and everyone fits. I’m sitting in the middle between Zaki, our interpreter and another Army sergeant heading to another base on the way. I start to feel a little excited. I had never been in a Huey and I was anticipating the ride, which I new would be the coolest flight I’ve ever been on. I was not disappointed. As the rotors spinned up and the whole helicopter starts to shake with the vibrations of the engine I get this big ole smile on my face and the guy across from me, a handsome Army captain, says “This is your first time on a Huey isn’t it?” I nod my head because I can’t shake the smile from my face.

The copter starts to rise up from the tarmac and I can feel the torque trying to twist and turn the main body of the Huey but some mechanism keeps it from going out of control and everything stays as steady as it can for such an inventive flying design. We fly low across the flight line to await clearance to leave the airfield and then the copter quickly ascends in a way that surprised me. It’s faster than I expected.There I am about 5,000 feet in the sky seeing things like never before. Afghanistan is so beautiful. As soon as we were away from Bagram, I could see the twisted and uneven terrain of the valleys and they reminded me so much of California. There were canyons and cliffs and many many villages and farms nestled along the bottom of the Hindu Kush mountains.

The mountains were covered in snow, the valleys varied so greatly in terrain that some looked like desert and others like the colorful autumn of my own home state of Delaware. There were rivers twisting through it all and I could see the white water as it ran over boulders in the riverbed. Simply gorgeous. We landed to drop off the cute Captain and his sergeant at a base called Mahtarlam. According to Zaki it was named after a respected village elder named Old Man Mahtarlam. I noticed that most of the village had a rather advantageous vantage point over the small base. There were so many hills rising up around the base that I felt a little exposed. Anyone standing on the those hills could see right into the base and snipe someone. Apparently that has happened in the past. I was glad I wasn’t staying very long.

After refueling we were back in the air and I had managed to get a seat next to the window where I could get an even better look at the scenery. It’s amazing how seeing things I never imagined I would see can take my mind off all the other crap that I worry about daily. I didn’t care that I was in a helicopter that would be my certain death if a malfunction happened and we plummeted to the earth like a rock. Moments later we’re landing at Gamberi and the scenery is not so pleasing to the eye. It’s a very dry desert landscape near pebble-covered mountains and a large lake. I

am going to be here for five days with my Major and Zaki the interpreter. I’m here to cover the leadership summit between our Colonel and some ANA Generals. I was beyond pleased with the Huey flight and now I would see just what I had gotten myself into. Gamberi is where the Army will eventually embed 250 Army soldiers on a brand new ANA base built this year. The purpose of the embed is to train the Afghan soldiers in the effective tactics necessary to fight the Taliban and future insurgents. In theory it’s a great idea but only time will tell if it will be effective and the ANA will be trust worthy and capable. It is a bit unnerving to be stuck in the middle of an Afghan compound not knowing who is and isn’t truly fighting against the Taliban.

Just like everyone else here I put those thoughts aside because the mission is important and requires total focus. So I mentioned Zachy earlier. He is a young Afghan who has almost earned his American citizenship, here making a living by serving as an interpreter for the ANA Partnership team. He is very attractive and obsessed with working on his muscles. I enjoy talking to him about his culture and trying to confirm if my notions of his people are correct and so far most of them are. They are a simple people who live life in such a way to be admired for its honest simplicity. If they like you, it’s obvious and genuine and if not then they won’t even smile or acknowledge you. Quite simple and the fake smile in your face while stabbing you in the back bastards I’ve known could learn a thing or two from them.

The difference is the Afghans aren’t trying to get anything more from you than your trust and friendship so they don’t have to pretend. Of course there are the few that are the exception. So I spent the rest of the day getting settled in. I had heard the Major brag about the accommodations but all I got was a bed with the worst mattress ever. The rooms are small and can realistically only fit one person but if I know the Army they’d try to squeeze two or three people in there if necessary and the Army guys wouldn’t complain either. They’d say, “It’s better than a tent with 80 other people.” Can’t argue with that one.

I met the U.S. Gamberi commander and his executive officer. They seem a little indifferent to my presence but don’t give me a hard time. The Major and Zaki get straight to work on setting up for the next day’s big wig visit. I kind of linger in the background taking pictures.