Stupid Blogger

I really would like to update my blog to include pictures, but I seem to be having issues with the site. I may migrate elsewhere if this keeps up.

I'll try again tomorrow or later,

Marty

Out of the country

I left the country a couple of days ago and am now in Tanzania. I'll be here for the next few days in case anyone is looking for me. I had an overnight stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopa and stayed in the same Sheraton Ja Rule is staying at for an Ethiopian New Years (1999) concert. I didn't actually see him, but there was a crowd of bodies and reporters that entered the lobby while we were lounging. We assumed it was him among them.

I arrived in Dar es Salaam today and am staying at an awesome hotel with an awesome view. Sorry, but I don't have any way to upload pics right now, so I'll again have to play catch up when I return.

I'm at the country coordination element's house here down the road from my hotel right now, so I was able to jump online and post this. Not sure what kind of access I'll have while I'm here so if you see another post between now and my return to DJ, be surprised.

Enjoying the view,

Marty

Senator and me time

The second day of his visit, Senator Obama took another opportunity to dine with some of the troops. I kind of crashed the party. By that I mean I didn't sign up that I would be attending, but the planners thought I might. Maybe crashed is too strong a word. It also helps to be friends with those planners. Everyone was seated in the dining room and already eating when the senator arrived. There were a couple of empty seats remaining at the U-shaped table setup and an extra 6-top off to the side. I intended to sit at the extra table but it filled up with the senator's traveling companions, protocol and the escort officer. That left me with the seat next to the senator. I fully expected someone to immediately sit by him, but most people were avoiding him. I'm pretty sure he wasn't contagious, so I sat down.

We didn't have an electrifying conversation. He commented on my bowl of oatmeal, as does everyone who eats breakfast with me for the first time (I didn't realize oatmeal was so repulsive or healthy depending on who's making the comment), and I assured him that I was only making up for past indiscretions. When I told him I was Public Affairs he looked at my name tape and recalled we had an interview scheduled for later.

He continued to exchange some small talk with those of us around him for a few minutes and managed to delay his scheduled itinerary by about half an hour. I think the only person who was keeping track was Noel, the protocol officer. After he was finished, he stayed around for some photo ops with the diners who lined up on either side of him. I didn't take advantage of this because I knew I would have a moment in about an hour.

The senator then walked over to another building and sat through a mission brief and a roundtable discussion with Admiral Hunt and his staff. Then it was time for his interview with Public Affairs. Originally, I enthusiastically volunteered to do the interview, but when I found out our chief was an Illinois resident I deferred it to him. He was probably more excited about it than I was. The interview went well. Senator Obama seemed genuinely interested in the CJTF-HOA mission.

Afterwards, those of us in the room had our own photo op. Senator Obama departed the camp shortly after and headed to Chad to round out his Africa visit. I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet this fascinating man. I’m sure he will have a fruitful career in politics.

Voting my conscience,

Marty

First Helo Ride...Oh and I met a Senator

This past week I was privy to escort media during a visit by Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill, as he toured CJTF-HOA.

Part of the Senator's visit to Camp Lemonier was a trip to a contingency operating location (COL) and the tent city the Seabees established for the flood ravaged city of Dire Dawa in Ethiopia. I had to travel to Addis Ababa with the admiral's chief of staff to pick up and escort an AP reporter that would be returning here to camp. I took my first ride on a C-26, a small turbo prop. It was a comfy ride with plenty of legroom and leather seats. In Addis, we picked up the reporter, the US embassy Charge d'affairs and a couple of other people.


("African Queen")

From there we flew to Dire Dawa where the Senator and Admiral Hunt and the rest of the hangers-on arrived via two CH-53 Sea Stallions (big-ass Marine helicopters). They took a road trip to Dire Dawa and returned shortly then we all boarded the helos.


(Senator Obama and Admiral Hunt meet with Janet Wilgus, Charge d'affairs, and an Ethiopian National Defense Force General)


(This will seat 40+ people)

This was my first ever helo ride. I was a little apprehensive but bucked up and hopped aboard. I have to say, it was a much smoother ride than I expected.


(Sarah was the escort officer for the Senator's visit. She's still recovering from the hassle of it all)

They kept the back open for the duration, so as we ascended I could see the ground fall away. We only traveled a few hundred feet or so off the deck so it was interesting to watch the landscape as we flew to COL Hurso.

We landed in an open field and the rotors whipped up a cloud of dirt all around us. After they shut down the engines we got in vans and drove half a mile to the COL, toured, received briefings, and ate Guamanian BBQ. The force protection guys there are all from Guam and apparently are very good at cooking for large groups or big families I suppose.


(Les Neuhaus, AP, interviews members of C-Company from Guam)

After dinner we departed for Camp Lemonier on the helos. For this leg of the journey I rode with the admiral's and Senator’s party. Glad the helo didn’t crash cause I’m sure my death would have been overshadowed a little...“Oh and that Air Force PAO captain too” (I’m not vain really).


(flying over the mountain range as the sun goes down)

We eventually made it back just as the sun had gone down. I was exhausted so I went back to my CLU, had a shower, and zonked out.

I’ll be posting some more of the visit tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Awaiting my next helo ride,

Marty