Operation Swashbuckle Tour

'

Dan's day-by-day trip journal of the Armed Forces Tour to the Middle East.

18 March, Qatar, 10:30am

Last night's show in Al Sailiya was a uproarious good time. The R&R Army Base was primed for excitement at the Oasis Club, a facility that resembles a state-side night club. The "ration" of three beers seemed plenty for the crowd to loosen up and release their tensions. The event delivered non-stop laughter for the full 1 hour and 45 minutes of show time. It was so much fun for the audience and for us!

Today we are hanging out at Camp Al Udeid for most of the day, with a call time of 3:00pm to get our equipment "palletized," or strapped down on a metal pallet for storage aboard our C130 to Kuwait. The flight departs about 6:00pm, which will put us into Kuwait at a reasonable hour.

We are at the halfway point for the adventure, which seems strange since we have done only 8 of our 20 shows and have already visited most of the countries on our trip plan. Clearly, our schedule in Kuwait and Iraq will be more intense than we have experienced thus far. This is what we have been working toward- a chance to get downrange to perform where the tension (and associated danger) is at its highest. The last three days of the trip will be in Iraq where we have scheduled two performances each day.

Meanwhile, life here is pleasant, as we are enjoying comfort, companionship and endless monochromatic vistas. It is extremely bright here, making sun glasses a must! The buildings, sand, rocks and other features all share a common tan hue, reflecting the already bright sunlight and intensifying it even more. Fortunately, it is winter time, which makes the temperature quite moderate, unlike the 120 degree summertime days.

Sgt Whitehead has been a gracious host, as was Sky Simmers, Sgt Malone, Sgt Parks and the rest of the team at Al Sailiya . I left my personal journal there yesterday, and they graciously offered to return it before we leave.

Photo (L) After meeting the Executive Commander at Al Sailiya, Dan backflips in front of the base

insignia. (R) John, Spence, Sgt Whitehead, Dan and Todd pose at Camp Al Udeid.

17 March, 15:22

Happy St. Patricks Day from Qatar! Tonight we perform at "Oasis," the local hang out here at Camp Al Sailiya, and it promises to be a full house and a fun show. Last night at Al Udeid we packed the tent (jokingly called the "Wonder-bra Dome" pictured below at sunset). Daniel Cook estimated the crowd to be around 2,500, our largest yet!

The show was an absolute blast. As has been our custom, we remained on stage long after the performance to meet people, sign posters, and talk about what is happening here and back home. That is by far my favorite time, and I look forward to it every show. We spent about an hour there just chatting with people, hearing about their jobs, their families and their interests, and exchanging thanks for each others efforts

One of my favorite sayings is "you never know who is in your audience." I know in my heart that we are making connections here in the Middle East that may drift apart but will always remain meaningful and will resurface when least expected.

Internet time is tight here on base, so I will make today's message a brief one. We have enjoyed a big lunch (still finding great food- lots of it, all the time!), so I'll grab a work out before tonight's show.

Click image to enlarge.

March 16, Qatar, 16:22 (4:22 pm)

We've been in the country for about twelve hours, having taken a brutal 7 hour C130 ride from Bagram. The plane was packed with about 16 passengers and plenty of cargo, so it is was difficult to get comfortable, let alone sleep. Bleary eyed, we were greeted by Sgt. Les Whitehead, our Point of Contact here at Al Udeid Air Base.

After a few hours of rest, we went to breakfast and then walked around the base a bit. This place is quite impressive, equipped with top notch exercise facilities, an outdoor amphitheater where we will perform this evening, and even a movie theater! Many soldiers seek this destination as a place to enjoy a few days of R&R.

Like everything else we've seen, the logistical effort to run such an operation is astounding. For example, it takes a monthly budget of $2.8 Million to feed the 6,000 soldiers who reside at or travel through Al Udaid!

We just met up with Daniel Cook, the Coordinator for Armed Forces Entertainment in charge of scheduling all of South West Asia. Daniel has worked with Spencer, John, and Todd during past tours, and he really enjoys the performances. The response to this year's shows continues to be extremely positive, and he is already talking about scheduling a return tour in 2006.

In the meantime, this year's schedule continues to be fluid. We learned this morning that we are not, in fact, going to Djibouti. The available air transportation won't support the journey. We could likely get there, but then would have a difficult time returning to Qatar to catch the next flight. So, after performances tonight and tomorrow, we will head to Kuwait earlier than expected, and we will perform additional engagements at the local bases there. One thing is for certain, there is no shortage of need for entertainment.

15 March 0440 Zulu, 0910 local

Starting to get the hang of this time change thing, just in time to leave Afghanistan. Actually, our flight is not until this evening, affording us another day on base to take in the sights, use the facilities, and visit with soldiers. Now that we have done two shows here, people are beginning to recognize us, and that familiarity is promoting some terrific conversations.

Today, March 15, marks the end of rotation 5 of Operation Enduring Freedom. This means that the base is in a state of transition, with many soldiers leaving town and others settling in for their extended stay. While you would think it is a joyous time for those leaving (and it is), it is also extremely stressful for both soldiers and their families. Great efforts are taken by the Department of Defense to provide resources to help make the adjustments more manageable for everyone.

Last night's show was so much fun. Word had spread from our previous performance, and we had a room full of fresh faces. We also performed some new material and this created a spontaneous experience for the audience as well as for us!

While I was initially disappointed that we were unable to fulfill our engagement in "A-Bad", a woman from last night' s audience offered a great shift of perspective. She said, "well, personally, I'm glad you didn't get to go because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see your show." I thanked her, as she reminded me the true goal is not that we have a variety of adventures. That is the natural by-product of the real mission which is to spread laughter wherever it is needed. Another soldier told me he hadn't laughed even once in three months. And during our show last night he found he simply couldn't stop laughing. Mission Accomplished!

Spencer said it great this morning as he reminded everyone, "It's not about us. The Armed Forces are going to significant expense and making a tremendous effort to bring us around the world in order to create memorable and pleasant experiences for these men and women. It is easy to get lost in our own ego trip, but we must always remain focused on the outcomes. It's not how we feel about the performance, its about whether the soldiers get what they need."

There are many ways to provide the lift that is needed. We are a part of that, working with the MWR Organizations (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) at each base. Other aspects include movies, food (which is excellent), sports, phone and internet privileges, bingo night, and a creative assortment of other options. These are not frills, but essential ingredients to ensure the men and women are emotionally and physically capable of fulfilling their mission. MWR's motto is "For all of your life."

0822 Zulu, 1252 local

Just after finishing the previous sentence, Sgt Marx asked us to visit the base hospital to entertain some of the patients- children and adults who are innocent victims of mine explosions, gunshots, and burns. This was by far the most humbling task we have undertaken on this trip. Some moments were simply heart wrenching, and we had to smile in order to suppress our tears..

We met some wonderful people who are part of a talented and dedicated team of medical personnel. And, we were blessed with an experience that deeply touched every one of us. The mood was so heavy when we entered the tented hospital we were at first unsure whether we should perform. You could tell that the care givers were sizing us up and wondering the same thing. But, we took action and started interacting with the patients. The first and smallest child was a three year old girl who was badly burned by a fuel explosion. She and her brother (who was more severely burned) spent four days untreated in their home before finally brought to the hospital. The small child, named Cabannah smiled while watching the crystal balls "float" through the air.

The beautiful girl you see in the second photograph was injured when a mine exploded near her. Her face bears the scars of shrapnel and one arm is badly injured. The other was injured, as well, and we didn't know that at the time. Here you see Todd exchanging a spinning ball from his hand to hers. We later found out this was a "breakthrough moment," as she had not even allowed the Doctors to touch that arm, and she resisted using it at all!

Click image to enlarge.

The 24/7 unrestrained effort of US medical personnel is another example of good works being done amongst so much pain and suffering. This third photo is of a drawing done by a local child to express her appreciation to the American soldiers. It was posted in the hospital. My friend Todd summed up this powerful expeience in his own words:

Please see Swashbuckle Traveler Todd Key to read those comments.

Click to image enlarge.

It rained today. Sgt. Marx tells us the regular rain they have been experiencing of late is something that hasn't happened in this region for eleven years. Many local Afghans associate the return of rain with Americans and regard the rain and the Americans as a good omen.

Today we were able to bring a smile to the faces people who were suffering terrible pain. The relief was real and needed, providing a lift to patients and care givers alike. Perhaps it was only temporary. I would like to think that the people we met will think back on this experience and smile again. But one thing is for sure. The effect this experience has on me was permanant- I'll never be the same.What a tremendous honor to be here.

<Previous Page NEXT PAGE >

.