Notes from Operation Rolling Thunder
Katherine O'Neill, June 2, 2008 at 7:18 AM EDT Article Link
It's already been three days since I've returned to Kandahar Air Field (KAF) after being out with the Canadian battle group all last week, but I'm still quite jumpy. All it takes is for a door to slam to fray my nerves.
I was the only journalist embedded with the military during Operation Rolling Thunder, a secret mission conducted last week by Afghan and Canadian soldiers in Pashmul. The objective was to disrupt Taliban activity, including bomb-making labs, and for three extremely hot and dusty days Canadian soldiers engaged in combat with insurgents. It was the heaviest fighting troops have been involved in so far this year, and not one Canadian soldier was injured.
On the first day of the operation, I was standing in a wheat field with two soldiers from 2PPCLI, C company, 7 Platoon and an Afghan interpreter when bullets first starting flying.
We immediately dropped to the ground and then scrambled to safety behind a mud compound.
On two day, we were standing in a wheat field again when we heard the distinct cracking sound of bullets being fired from AK-47s. Stray bullets starting whizzing by us, so we dropped to the ground again. This time, an Afghan interpreter and I were stuck there – nose to the ground -- for what seemed like an eternity while soldiers tried to figure out where the gun fire was coming from and pick a suitable place to take cover (there weren't many).
By day three, I knew the drill when a lengthy gun battle erupted. Luckily, I was in a lush grape field, where there was ample cover and shelter from the shrapnel being sprayed from the constant artillery fire by the Canadians.
Each day lasted about 12-14 hours. At night, the soldiers would return to nearby forward operating bases to eat, rest and share war stories. For many, it was the first time they had ever been to battle.
Despite the stifling heat, long marches and early mornings (one started at 1 a.m.), I rarely heard soldiers complaining. There wasn't even a lot of grousing on Wednesday night when news quickly spread throughout the small forward operating base that senior officers from the battle group were holding a private BBQ beside the mess hall while they ate rations.
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Katherine O'Neill, June 2, 2008 at 7:18 AM EDT Article Link
It's already been three days since I've returned to Kandahar Air Field (KAF) after being out with the Canadian battle group all last week, but I'm still quite jumpy. All it takes is for a door to slam to fray my nerves.
I was the only journalist embedded with the military during Operation Rolling Thunder, a secret mission conducted last week by Afghan and Canadian soldiers in Pashmul. The objective was to disrupt Taliban activity, including bomb-making labs, and for three extremely hot and dusty days Canadian soldiers engaged in combat with insurgents. It was the heaviest fighting troops have been involved in so far this year, and not one Canadian soldier was injured.
On the first day of the operation, I was standing in a wheat field with two soldiers from 2PPCLI, C company, 7 Platoon and an Afghan interpreter when bullets first starting flying.
We immediately dropped to the ground and then scrambled to safety behind a mud compound.
On two day, we were standing in a wheat field again when we heard the distinct cracking sound of bullets being fired from AK-47s. Stray bullets starting whizzing by us, so we dropped to the ground again. This time, an Afghan interpreter and I were stuck there – nose to the ground -- for what seemed like an eternity while soldiers tried to figure out where the gun fire was coming from and pick a suitable place to take cover (there weren't many).
By day three, I knew the drill when a lengthy gun battle erupted. Luckily, I was in a lush grape field, where there was ample cover and shelter from the shrapnel being sprayed from the constant artillery fire by the Canadians.
Each day lasted about 12-14 hours. At night, the soldiers would return to nearby forward operating bases to eat, rest and share war stories. For many, it was the first time they had ever been to battle.
Despite the stifling heat, long marches and early mornings (one started at 1 a.m.), I rarely heard soldiers complaining. There wasn't even a lot of grousing on Wednesday night when news quickly spread throughout the small forward operating base that senior officers from the battle group were holding a private BBQ beside the mess hall while they ate rations.
More on link
