Great pictures, merry christmas to you.

Keep your head down mate and remember the Grunt's International Rule #1 ..... NEVER volunteer for ANYTHING!
Stay safe.

Be safe and Godspeed.

I think the skinners picture website is Joe Blog. Maybe someone has the address. Merry Christmas Soldier. Have a Safe Xmas and a Happy Return.

The address is https://www.joeuser.com
I don't know what section the pictures are in but I've seen them there.

Wrong website. You want the Skinnerz Gallery http://koasati.net/pix/index.php?pageNum_qr=0&totalRows_qr=44

Sorry, yep that's it. I knew I saw it somewhere.

Thanks Fuzzy.

Hello friends. I have been busy, busy, busy. well sometimes anyway. most has been rather slow. I have updated my pictures for anyone interested. http://home.earthlink.net/~weathergeeks/
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cool and it is good to hear from you also it is FANTASTIC not being stuck wondering

Hey, some great pic's BTW, is that a POW/MIA Flag flying under the US Flag on that outpost building?

and it looks dang COLD and DAMP up there too!

Godspeed to ya, The Rated PG...

nice to hear (and see) you're still ok.

Be careful over there eh?

this is going to be really long and may start some controversy, but here's a little of my journal for those that want to know a day in the life...

Since being here we have had a few rocket attacks at our base, but the intended target has typically been the airfield rather than the billeting areas. The danger to us is the fact that the rockets are poorly aimed. The launch site for the rockets is usually just a mound of dirt pointed in our direction. Its aimed in the general location of our base and attached to a timer or other created device. The Taliban/Al Quaida then haul butt far away and that night the rocket might go off. And where it falls is anyone's guess. Most are around 5-8 miles away depending on what they use.
Anytime there is an explosion that we do not know about, we immediately head for the bunkers and wait it out. When given the signal we gather weapon, body armor and head for the wire (bunkered walls with wire strands that separate us from the outside world)(Like a prison scene) For two reasons accountability making sure everyone is all right, and the event that an attack actually happens. The rockets only come at night usually during the darkest and coldest time. However wearing 40-50 pounds of tactical gear and the initial rush from explosions and possibly seeing the enemy at the end of your weapon keeps you warm for a while.
Sleep is almost always a forced effort. During the day a lot of scheduled explosions rattle the base due to UXO's unexploded ordinance being destroyed. Mines litter the areas outside the wire from wars of past in this country. Every so often unfortunately a wandering child or animal sets one off, and it makes you want to cry, because you know it wasn't a scheduled explosion. Getting used to this does not happen. About a year ago a French photographer was jogging around the dirt track perimeter and decided to chance it despite the flags and what little barbed wire there was separating him from the minefield. Needless to say he is no longer and avid jogger if living at all. The Egyptians are here in a noncombative role and that's primarily what they do. They have set up a hospital taking care of every horror story you can think of coming from the civilian population.
The base here used to be an active duty base for the Russians when they thought their communistic ideas would work here. When the Taliban overran the base, the remaining Russian military and their families who could not get out or away, were tortured then shot. The buildings used for these war crimes where conducted is on my area of the base. Every so often bones are uncovered when ditched are dug or land is cleared. This is still a concrete pad that has leg bones sticking through when used as part of the mix. There is a building that has scars of bullet holes that paint a canvas of mass shootings against a wall. Stories are that this was done by both sides (Russian and Taliban) Inside this half below ground structure has been painted multiple times to remove the blood stains from activities, but still can be seen. Hooks from the ceiling...enough of that.
We have plenty of rocks here. They are like the gravel roads back in Texas, but they are a pain on the ankles because they are everywhere, every square inch of walkable ground. Trucked in before I came. Most are thumb size, others are fist sized, and even the ankle turning areas of rocks the size of your feet! The whole area was minefield frenzy. Our efforts and skills to remove them all are convincing, but extra precaution cover everything with 2-3 ft of dirt and rock. Dirt is gone due to what little rain this country receives. There are some paved areas on the base and like maybe two paved highways in the country except in the two very large cities. After the rain or snow/mix the rocks are your friends, as you move from one group to another to keep from stepping in to the dust turned mud, keeping your feet dry and from tracking in what little area is clean your B-hut (living quarters) or into work making a further mess of already dusty areas.
Any slight wind during the day will pick up dust and hover it in the air. Some of the weather we have experienced has carried dust from over 1000 miles away. Kind of like a tornado in west Texas that has haze in east Texas. From what I learned and was told to me by older Americans, Afghanistan is a worse environment than the dust bowl of the 1920's. The dust gets into and coats everything including wiping off this computer screen every day to every other day. Iraq is the sand box Afghanistan is the litter box. Conditions are improving living wise as time goes on. There used to be nothing but port-a-john’s (remember the picture Carrie?) Now they have close to normal (if there is such a word here) bathrooms made from hardened shelters. Like the railroad boxcars that fit on diesel truck trailers.
The showers are such a morale booster. The water is most always hot and refreshing. However none is drinkable. Disinfected for laundry and bathing purposes. We have more than enough bottled drinking water to last 2 lifetimes. The portajohns are mostly for local Afghani’s that come in and contract work for us. It is interesting to see how they clean their "LOCALS ONLY" toilets. The truck looks like a chemical lawn truck (no grass here), The driver takes a wand power sprayer and power sprays the entire interior of the port o let and leaves the door open to dry. They don't seem to want to use the toilet paper concept. Their bathroom habits are different. Never shake a locals left hand. That is their unclean hand in Muslim terms.
We do have one store, which is our post/base exchange. They have a little of everything, but is very limited in choices and all depends of what the planes bring in. They have order catalogs. What is interesting is that the areas for nightgowns, bathing suits, bras, and lingerie have descriptions for these items but no pictures. The military does not want to upset the residents of the country should one of these catalogs fall into the wrong hands, as they are the primary contractors of our trash. So dumpster diving is a given I’m sure.
This is an effort of a many country coalition/partnership. I have seen and met many people from at least 15 countries. I am part of a joint special operations task force. Where I work is extremely secure and very limited in who comes and goes. I work along with some of the US's finest and most elite military units and government agencies we have to offer. A few of our allies special forces are in the mix. Needless to say I see things everyday from the moment they happen. Most is classified due to the details involved, but I can assure you it’s very good to see how we are helping this country and the people. I was personally involved in a terrorist raid of a compound searching for HVT's High Value Targets. The very son of a bitches that are responsible for putting the planes into our towers. While conducting this search seizure situation, I had to prevent escapees or runaways once our presence was known. Did not have to engage anyone, but tensions were very high and one guy that tried to get away figured that after the shout his next course was a bullet. I am thankful he made that choice to stop and I did not have to make it for him. We got our men and left without incident. 3 in the morning dark as death (we had night vision) woken up in bed with guys 1 foot away, not much they can do. This guy supposedly had dealings with being OSAMA's moneyman at one time. So he was a very good catch on the war on terrorism.
Other people are here to do humanitarian work. Helping the people learn how to grow crops, build schools, education systems, and trying to help them rebuild their basic infrastructure that has been no existent for many years. You may not like our health care system, they have none to little.
Many medics here do nothing but give basic treatments that we take for granted like our shots before we turn five years old. Most of the nonmilitary agencies and other countries do this. There are public relations teams all over everywhere serving the people on any subject you can think of. They have just adopted a new constitution here recently and many things are looking up. People are beginning to get jobs as they are using their resources for trade, now that the Taliban does not have a noose on everything. They built a paved road that crosses the country to help the people move about. Two lane and not the best road conditions, but its a start. I had to travel by convoy on this road returning from a mission, and it was scary to say the least. Mountain peaks higher than our Rockies in some places. Cliffs unbearable to look down much less drive through. It was supposed to be a year round road, but ice on the shadow side of a mountain was not my cup of tea. Especially when around a corner a Jinga truck (about the size of the largest U-haul truck) is IN YOUR LANE and moving towards you and the ice is beginning to slide your vehicle. No guard rails except on the inside of the mountain to keep snowdrifts away. Angels were hanging on to our vehicles that day. However the view that God created just was breathtaking. I have been here long enough to see that the states are fading away. The Smell of fresh cut grass is non-existent here. Almost 95% of the Vehicles here are non US except of course humvee's. Television is limited to a few American Forces television stations, which are limited in programming. It is good not to watch the stupid and numerous commercials for medications, blue jeans, or whatever junk is being advertised. AFN has clips of video showing American countryside, or public health commercials like breast
cancer, anti drug, or military info type commercials. Here inside my compound it is a little more relaxed due to special force influence. But the rest of the base is full dress, salute, and hat, political
by the book conventional forces. It’s a war, not basic training. A lot of regulars don't understand our doctrine and why our uniform standards are different, no name tags, different weapons, why we don't integrate with them, etc. Needless to say I don't go out there much except to go to the exchange for change of scenery.
The nation of Afghanistan as a whole supports our presence. They are flabbergasted that we are not here to do what many other countries and people have done in their country for many years past. Many of the people actively assist us in identifying Taliban and Al Quaida. Having lost their liberties and freedoms for so many years, it has become part of their physcological mindset. Now with their freedoms and cooperation and helping Americans, the Taliban see the Afghani's as targets and mostly civilian casualties are the result of the terrorist’s plots. We are usually the first to respond with protection and medical attention. These people are seeing who is doing the
bombing and who is helping the wounded. The ignorance and carelessness of the Taliban is making our jobs more necessary and a whole lot easier. We have trained and equipped a standing Afghan National Army eager and prepared to defend themselves. They assist us whenever possible and are eager to go along with us when kicking doors in. Most of the enemy that is left is hiding out in countries sharing borders, or operating in a little as a one person scenario. Usually the bad stuff you see on TV i.e. suicide bombing, or other terroristic careless things.
Being here at the center of everything I can assure you that all this anti-military, political negative biased trash you hear on TV is pure BULL. I don't care what any reporter tells you or claims he saw or what. One of my helicopter rides was with a photographer from time magazine. He's a photographer because his pictures don't lie like his reporting coworkers do. He basically told me what I already know and a lot of people need to get through their thick pig headed skulls.... The truth and good things don't make the news. Horrific things and lies that stimulate our brains and heart rhythm gets the news. Side effect of our human nature. Its a shame...
Lastly I am here just as the Special Forces motto states "Free the Oppressed” Regardless of your view of war or what's going on here I could care less. You don't like what's going on? Freedom of opinion is one of them I'm protecting. You have a problem with America being here? Take a hike. The greatest freedom you have is the freedom to leave. You don't support me I don't care. My wife loves me, my son loves me, my family and wife’s family loves me, and friends as well. Anyone else not concerned about me whatever... I could tell you a little more on the vulgar side, but I'm a bigger man than that to stoop to your level. These people deserve the same rights as we as Americans have. They asked for our help. As I look up from my desk and see giant posters of 9-11 and the smoldering towers here in our command center.
The little Afghani boy that I saw trying to wave at me with a crutch and one leg and one arm. And he was smiling because I waved back. Some of the Real badges are on the wall from New York Police and Firefighters that died trying to save our loved ones. Sent by their families. A picture of every one of their faces is here. Handprints of little 1st grade kids painted on a big sheet of poster board and their names written in crayon thanking us. My loved ones at home I had to leave behind, caused them grief, and wrecked their world, turned it upside down because I'm not there right now. Anyone tries to take that freedom away from my loving wife, or my devoted family and friends, Its my right and OBLIGATION to remove that threat REGUARDLESS OF WHAT ANYBODY THINKS!!
Sorry about my soapbox, but I had to tell everything about here and
could not stop. Thank you dearly for those that support us. Keep us in your prayers and the ones defending our home front while we are here—our families and loved ones. You are our fuel for the firestorm we deliver to our enemies and the love we give to the helpless.

A wonderful read...God Bless You!

Thankyou sincerely for that wonderful insight to the great work you and your fellow liberators are doing over there.
There are many of us who don't believe all the glosssed over hype the media would like us to believe, so it is great that you were able to give us the 'real' scoop on whats happening there. I for one, would certainly love it if you could keep these posts coming (hopefully more regularly so we don't worry about you so much)..to keep us informed of the progress you're making.
And to hell to anyone who does'nt like it, they can leave this thread if they dont!

Once again... thanks

From a supportive Aussie.