I'm Okay

Hi there,

I'm currently at a place called Strong Point Bravo, a U.S. Marine Outpost in south Helmand province, in a region called Garsmir. I'm healthy and safe, though these last few days have been very physically demanding. The heat here is worse than anyplace I've ever experienced - regularly over 110 degrees during the day. This remote base has no air conditioning, no fans, and very little shade. I consumed more than two liters of water before 11am and am still dehydrated.

But it's hard to complain about that after what happened last night.

A patrol left the strong point just before dusk and within a few miles was struck by an IED. The first vehicle in the convoy was completely destroyed, and by some miracle of God all five occupants got out alive - though two were medevac'ed and the Marine on the front passenger side lost a leg.

Chris Jackson - the cameraman traveling with the FOX news team was right behind that Marine in the back of the humvee. The blast blew his door open and threw him partially out of the vehicle.

Though dazed and disoriented, and with ammunition already beginning to cook off in the vehicle, Chris helped pull the wounded Marine to safety. His cameras and gear were a total loss - as was the vehicle.

I was at the base and heard the sound of the blast. Seconds later I heard the radio call come in that there had been an IED strike with two severely wounded. Grabbing my camera, I ran out and climbed in a humvee with the Quick Reaction force that was scrambling to assist.

At that point, we didn't know who had been wounded, and I prayed as we hurried to the blast site that Oliver North and Chris were okay. When we arrived, my heart sank as I saw the wreckage - completely engulfed by fire - there looked to be no way anyone could have survived the blast. Marines were fanned out on either side of the road as medics worked feverishly on the casualties. Within moments a medevac helicopter arrived to whisk the wounded off to surgery.

Chris was wearing my body armor, because he was afraid he'd become a heat casualty on the patrol if he wore the stuff supplied by FOX - which is closer to a full suit of chain mail. So since I wasn't going on the patrol, I'd happily lent him my gear. I'm doubley glad he escaped with only scrapes and bruises - because if he'd been injured because he was wearing my lighter armor, I'd have felt pretty bad about it.

Anyway, the Fox team fortunately had backup gear and can continue, despite the loss of a camera and other kit. If that had been me, my trip would have been over. As it is, I'm struggling every day to keep my equipment functioning - the sand and the heat are brutal.

The day we traveled out here was the hottest day I've ever experienced in my life. Riding in the back of a seven-ton truck, being covered by suffocating layers of fine dust kicked up by its' massive wheels, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into.

I have to hand it to these Marines. They've been out here for upwards of 90 days, working in this heat with virtually nothing in the way of creature comforts. And yet by and large morale is high. These are truly some of the toughest men on earth. I'll be proud of myself if I can hang with them for a week and live to tell about it.

Please pray for the families of the two marines who were wounded yesterday. And pray for rain in Afghanistan, or an early fall.

Chuck Holton
www.livefire.us