End of Week 5

Things here are going ok. I am slowly becoming more comforable with my job.

The experience of the week this week is that I attended my first ramp ceremony for a fallen Marine. They have a ceremony every time a fallen soldier from the southern part of Afghanistan is being shipped to their home country or town. We have had them almost every other day since the push into Helmland Province by the Marines to stabilize the Taliban held mid-south region ahead of the elections. The ceremony calls for you to report to the ramp where the departing plane will be parked about 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. At 15 minutes of, you form up on the ramp. It was impressive to see all of the US force branches and also the coalition forces: the Brits, the Dutch, the Canadians, the Bulgarians etc. You then march in formation to the rear of the aircraft. Because this ceremony was for a US fallen Marine, the Marines marched up first. In formation there is a short eulogy given – in this case for a 26 year old lance corporal, a short prayer given and then you are called to attention and to salute as the flag draped casket is carried between the two formations on either side onto the plane. There is a montage of “Amazing Grace”, the Marine song and Taps played on what sounded like a bagpipe. The rear ramp of the plane is lifted – part of the formation turned and saluted the back of the plane before being dismissed. The rest of us were marched off and dismissed.

It was somber, but an experience worth being part of because it reminds you that we are at war and combat operations are occurring in our area where soldiers are risking their lives everyday. It is clear that the Taliban has made its mark in the sand where the Marines currently are because they are hitting resistance. Make no mistake, we are making progress, but it is going to take a some time, effort and lives to complete the mission. Keep those soldiers in your thoughts and prayers.

I am including my new mailing address here (yes, this is the third one if you have been receiving emails). This should be the final one:

LtCol Todd Hirneisen
EPBS-A(S)
APO AE 09355

As far as the picture of the week. I am going to have to refer to the previous post for this week.

Thanks for following along. Until next time......