Kyle’s Blog

Another break in the action. It’s looking like the only time I feel like I have enough get up and go to write is after a goodnights sleep on dry land. I guess it’s better that way, or maybe not, I always have a lot to say about what I did here and there, but can’t really say… most of you know how it goes. For the friends that email me, I thank you very much. Usually trying to find an open computer underway is difficult, but it makes reading that one email when I have that 5 minutes of downtime worth every sentence. I don’t find myself missing things back home so much, a few things here and there, but mostly I’m too busy managing my weapons department, standing watch, and doing boardings to let my mind wander with thoughts of home. 

Interesting things said to me the last few weeks:

1. “Guns, did you ever do porn?” From one of my buddies onboard.

2. “Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to call you sir, it’s just you sorta have the hair for it.” From a shoreside Coastie.

3. “Oh! El fantasma blanca en la selva sin alma!” Which for the most part means “The white ghost in the jungle without a soul… in regards to me being a black ops DEA agent in Columbia for my next job. The colorful name given to me by both BM1 Kinser and FS2 Martinez.

4. “Screen watching is like masturbation, everyone does it man.” Regarding Halo 3 multiplayer

The patrol was good, even though we’re only out for a not so long period of time, it feels like an eternity simply for the fact that we’re going going going all the time. While the operational tempo makes for a satisfying “end of the patrol feel” it’s definitely taxing on ones body and mind. The highlight of the patrol was a very large 700 to 800 foot motor tanker boarding…

I was doing the deck walk with my shipmate P.J. and the bow was barely visible due to all the dust in the air, and the only thing that broke the silence of the two of us walking the length of the vessel with the eerie shifting of the anchor chain, which was like a large wrench being dropped on metal deck plating. The sound cut through the air and hit us probably about 500 feet away from the bow, which was still in a haze we couldn’t see through. We got to the bow, but found nothing out of the ordinary, and headed back to the stern of the vessel to see that the deck floodlights were on. The lights would usually light of the deck like it was daytime. It was about 6 or 7am and the dust seemed like it wouldn’t let a ray of light get close to illuminating much of anything. Instead the lights gave off a blurry yellowish-gold. P.J. keeping his eyes affixed on what was ahead of us commented that it felt like we were on a different planet, and that the silence was a bit unsettling.  I adjusted the weight of my M4 rifle and recall looking up at the sun, like the lights, trying to penetrate the thick coating of dust all around us. An amazingly illuminate white ball, the sun seemed brighter than I’ve ever seen it in my life. I’d guess the temperature was only about 95 degrees, however with no wind and humidity it was about that time that I realized that every section of my torso that was covered by gear was soaked through with sweat. The sweat that was running off my brow was coming down and stinging my eyes just enough to squint. I made a mental note to myself that a small hand towel would be a good thing to bring the next time, along with a full camelback, and a bottle of water for backup. Welcome to a little taste of the NAG (north arabian gulf).

I must say that it’s not until you’re as far away from the world you know that certain things like missing fourth of July really matters. Ahh four of July, also commonly known as “Get stupid in your backyard with beer, brauts, and overpriced Chinese, fire-spitting, oooos and ahhhhs”. In all seriousness I’ve always really enjoyed America’s holiday, it’s always meant family, friends, and great weather. I hope everyone of you don’t take it for granted, if only for the simple fact that you all have better weather than me. It would probably be frowned upon if we got in the middle of a Bahrain street and started lighting shit on fire with a cooler full of beer, so I task all of you with enjoying yourself today.