Terry, notre ami en route vers la maison mais...

Terry a passé 15 mois ici dans cette mission. Il est marié, c'est un médecin de formation et un militaire réserviste. Tout semblait être bien calcuté pour prendre une retraite bien mérité mais des évemenents inattendus se sont succédés. Ça fait maintenant deux semaines qu'il a quitté le théâtre et il est encore dans ses bagages en direction de sa famille.

Je lui ai demandé la permission de placer l'histoire de son périble sur mon blogue. Son témoignage est un peu inquiétant car ça fait maintenant deux semaines qu'il a quitté le théâtre et il est encore dans ses bagages en direction de sa famille.

Terry parle et écris le francais et il m'a répondu ceci mais voilà ensuite ce qu'il nous a écrit. Bon courage mon ami

François 
P.S. J'ai changé certains noms par mesure de sécurité et surtout pour préserver un peu d'intimité au couple.

From: <terry@.....>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:57 PM
To: "FrancoisJ" <francoisjcouture@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: STILL NOT HOME!!

Cher François! Merci pour ta réponse! Oui, que je suis déçu d’être encore ici!  Bien sûr, tu peux citer cette drôle (très irritante) histoire de mon retour, pas encore arrivé au but!  Chapeau d’avoir  réussi de créer un site pour raconter tes expériences pendant cette mission! vMoi aussi, j’ai voulu gérer un site internet pour  raconter ce qui m’est arrive ici, mais comme autres projets prévus de faire, jamais réalisé! Pour moi, c’est égal sans ou avec noms. Mes pensées à l’équipe et surtout, bonne et sûr route!

Mes amitiés pour toujours!  Terry

MES FÉLICITATIONS!! Ton blog!! Je suis bien impressionné! Ça me fait plaisir de le lire!! Je vais passer qq temps là maintenant!!

From: <terry...>
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:54 PM
To: "FrancoisJ" <francoisjcouture@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: STILL NOT HOME!!

Quoting FrancoisJ <francoisjcouture@hotmail.com>:

Terry, this is unbelivable.   Hoping this is coming to the end.

My friend, have a look on my web page. I published some pictures and few words also.  I created a page on side and if you authorize me, I would appreciate to paste your text . Tell me if you would not like to see your text or parts of it on my page as a "témoignage".  I'll understand.

I wish you to get home very soon.

François
Sincères amitiés

 -----Original Message-----
From: stantons...mailto:stantons...]
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 8:58 PM
 To: NPCC
 Cc: Isaf
 Subject: STILL NOT HOME!!

Hi Vito, Daniele, Francois, Dave!!! (no easy accents on this PC computer). Here is the note I sent to my relatives a few days ago. It is MONDAY and will be here until weds or thurs!!! NUTS!!! I WANT OUT OF HERE!!!  I was worried about you guys when I heard of the attacks against ministries last week, until I found out not MOI nor MOD. Sorry for the worries about your safety you have all the time there!! I will be SO GLAD to get home; poor NATHALY is at the end of her rope! She was crying last night , which really made me feel awful and helpless. Having 300 enployees under her, and then to run the whole house, pets, financial, etc is becoming too much. I hope someone or a few are continueing to feed the cats... Are things going decently for you?? No fuss in the CJOC??  Did the Afg get the DARI maps dvd? That would make me so happy to have that accomplished!! Thanks so much for finishing that task!! Thinking of all of you often!! Hope all going the best possible!! SAFE JOURNEYS, my sincerest wishes to all of you, my friends!!  Terry

Hello everyone!!! In case NATHALY has not contacted you, and sorry, I have not, here is where I am-> Fort BOUMM, ! I left Kaboul on 29 Jan, and got stuck waiting in BAGRAM, the biggest ... base in AFG , until 5 Feb ONE WEEK, because I could not find a plane to HITCH HIKE!!! A large aircraft belly landed on the runway, closed the main runway, then flights cancelled, then bad weather. I was in the "distinguished visitors" TENT on a crummy COT, with bathrooms, sink, shower a block and a half away, 250m. Last time here, we had beds and the bathroom ?containers? were 20m away.! Left AFG 5 FEB Thurs, got there in KAWAT 04h00 Fri and had a day to rest and repack to get up Sat 01h30! **54 HOURS** until I next got to next lie in a bed. I was SO TIRED!! The ARMY treats us like a file cabinet or desk. They don?t give e S---, HOOT about us. We are furniture to them!! Up at 01h30 for a flight at 22h00!!!! Locked in customs the entire time, EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE to inspect, *5* duffles full!! We are presumed criminals and smugglers!!!!  Really LOUSY thank you for out service!!!
Oh how I despise them, Customs!! Flight from KAwAt to Fort BOUMM by way of McGuire AFB and Fort TEN. Wish could have gotten off there!! At least by the time we reached KAWAT, insurgents were no longer trying to shoot us or blow us up!!
NATHALY felt better about that when I left AFG!! Got to Fort BOUMM to out process for 5 days (so I thought). Had a band there for us at Ft BOUMM, but the big deal addressing us in the terminal, NOT ONCE MENTIONED AFG! I felt insulted.
AFG is taking heavier casualties now and going far worse and WORSENING!!. To help REINTEGRATE us INTO SOCIETY, they ISOLATE us in the WOODS, 35 min from the main base area! MORONS! They may fix this next year , as if they did not already have several years to do this!! We do not need weapons ranges, compass course, urban assault/room clearing practice, etc AGAIN, so why are we out here??  I should have left yesterday, but for 2000-3000$$ difference I decided to wait, tho?
NATHALY VERY disappointed. 

Poor NATHALY is REALLY at the end of her rope!!! Spouses are the ones who really suffer! Yea, I am  in danger, but the daily overwhelming work of house, family, car, work, pets, finances,etc, etc, falls on the spouse. All we soldiers have to do is concentrate on our job and pay attention and be careful not to get  hurt or killed, but far worse at times are the unfortunate spouses that get overwhelmed. And if children involved, even worse! I hope to get out of here mid week. I am so TIRED of ALL THIS! It feels so strange and very uncomfortable not to have the weapons on our person. We had rifles or pistols (me) on us ALWAYS except for sleep ( next to us), bathroom, and exercise. Still not used to it not being on my waist. Tried running some but knee caps still aggravated and will be so for a while from carrying around so much the 35+ lbs, ( 16kg) ( depends pistol vs. rifle) pounds of armor, helmet ( K-pot), weapon, ammo MINIMUM, then add the mission specific gear. For infantry, can go over 100lbs (45kg). The meals here in the chow hall are only so-so? I guess I was well fed in theatre; good food does help one deal with things! Email access will be limited later since bunches of people arriving tonight and only 12 computers for hundreds of people going to and from theater. Cell phone works and can receives SMS/ text mess now also ( AFG too too primitive)

Will go to supper shortly.  LOVE TO ALL and can?t wait to resume normal life and see all of you again, now or on trips in future soon, I hope.   Terry