New years in Afghanistan
Written by Tpr Monaghan
1 Troop Recce Sqn TF 3-09
Written by Tpr Monaghan
1 Troop Recce Sqn TF 3-09
My name is Trooper (Tpr) Chad Monaghan I am a Coyote gunner with Task Force 3-09 Reconnaissance Squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons in CFB Petawawa.
I am not going to lie, new years in Afghanistan was definitely one to remember. It all started with a cold morning shift at an observation post that our patrol was occupying, my shift was from 0400 to 0600 am. There I sat freezing my butt off looking at the beautiful sunrise from the East and all I could think about was; wow, this is a different experience than my last new years. Last new years I found myself in a pub with some good friends and we were enjoying the World Junior Hockey Championships while sharing a pint or two. As these thoughts went through my head I looked around and watched the boys get out of their sleeping bags, wiping the frost of their toques, and I was back in Afghanistan.
Time to go boys, said the Troop Warrant, Warrant Officer Barrett, and we quickly mounted up and started our move back to our main camp. When we got back to what we call home, our modular tent. We unpacked our bags and sleeping equipment and took a few minutes to hang out, relax and talk with the rest of the squadron who we have not seen in a few days. Our day continued on with maintence and preparing our vehicles for the upcoming operations, we were so busy preparing our vehicles that I did not have the time to think again about new years.
As night fell and it was time to wind down and relax, our self-proclaimed chefs made a delicious meal. We all sat down on our home made benches and enjoyed the meal like a little family laughing joking and trying not to think about the fun and enjoyment that we were missing out on back in Canada. Since there is a large time difference between Afghanistan and Canada, when it was twelve o’clock here it was only two thirty in the afternoon. Therefore, I decided to wait until the next morning to call home and talk to my girlfriend and wish here a happy new year. But, let me tell you it was something I was looking forward to all night.
Some of the lads and I grabbed some scrap wood and some munchies and we had a fire, listened to music and told stories. It might not seem like the most exciting experience to guys back in Canada. But, we made the best with what we have. We sat around the fire for a couple of hours and waited for midnight, and we counted down; 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year! I said, 2010 has started in Afghanistan, what an experience. It will definitely be one to remember, perhaps not the most exciting one; but, it was our party and we had it together. I hope everyone back home has made some good new years resolutions, because I have. To my friends and family, I miss everyone lots and I can’t wait to get home, Happy New Year!
I am not going to lie, new years in Afghanistan was definitely one to remember. It all started with a cold morning shift at an observation post that our patrol was occupying, my shift was from 0400 to 0600 am. There I sat freezing my butt off looking at the beautiful sunrise from the East and all I could think about was; wow, this is a different experience than my last new years. Last new years I found myself in a pub with some good friends and we were enjoying the World Junior Hockey Championships while sharing a pint or two. As these thoughts went through my head I looked around and watched the boys get out of their sleeping bags, wiping the frost of their toques, and I was back in Afghanistan.
Time to go boys, said the Troop Warrant, Warrant Officer Barrett, and we quickly mounted up and started our move back to our main camp. When we got back to what we call home, our modular tent. We unpacked our bags and sleeping equipment and took a few minutes to hang out, relax and talk with the rest of the squadron who we have not seen in a few days. Our day continued on with maintence and preparing our vehicles for the upcoming operations, we were so busy preparing our vehicles that I did not have the time to think again about new years.
As night fell and it was time to wind down and relax, our self-proclaimed chefs made a delicious meal. We all sat down on our home made benches and enjoyed the meal like a little family laughing joking and trying not to think about the fun and enjoyment that we were missing out on back in Canada. Since there is a large time difference between Afghanistan and Canada, when it was twelve o’clock here it was only two thirty in the afternoon. Therefore, I decided to wait until the next morning to call home and talk to my girlfriend and wish here a happy new year. But, let me tell you it was something I was looking forward to all night.
Some of the lads and I grabbed some scrap wood and some munchies and we had a fire, listened to music and told stories. It might not seem like the most exciting experience to guys back in Canada. But, we made the best with what we have. We sat around the fire for a couple of hours and waited for midnight, and we counted down; 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year! I said, 2010 has started in Afghanistan, what an experience. It will definitely be one to remember, perhaps not the most exciting one; but, it was our party and we had it together. I hope everyone back home has made some good new years resolutions, because I have. To my friends and family, I miss everyone lots and I can’t wait to get home, Happy New Year!
Copyright 2010 Royal Canadian Dragoons, All Rights Reserved
