• Half way to Kabul

  November 20, 2010

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  Tags:  

  afghanistan   101st   travel   life   airborne   radio  

  For those who may not have read previous notes, I'm a talk show host for WLS Radio in Chicago, making my way to an embed for the next 9 days with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan.  

   

  Obviously, there have been more than a few people who have asked me, "Afghanistan? Why the hell are you going?"
  If you haven't heard, I'll be doing a ten-day embed with the storied 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Afganistan and doing reports, call-ins and blogging via WLS, its Web site and also via www.ArmyStrongStories.com ;

  I've tried to craft an answer for those who ask that they'd understand, but it's been difficult. God works in strange ways, though, as we all know. So along comes this essay/speech/lecture from a retired Colonel who seems to have tied a bow on the subject quite well. I've copied it into the bottom of this note and it's really good. I could probably elaborate on it, and might over a cup of coffee sometime with you, but frankly I don't have the time to do that right now, so I'm going to leave it to the words of this gentleman to answer the question of "Why?" The quick answer I've given some is, "Hell, I'll go anywhere to drive something interesting!" But the reason, as always, is deeper than the wisecrack.

  First off, I'm not trying to recapture my youth and relive my first stint in the Army. Anyone who thinks that is flat wrong. Am I going to go there and be some kind of secret weapon? Hardly. To be honest, my biggest fear is that I get in the way of one of our highly trained people. But the way I can contriubute is to tell their story. That's my gift to them. God has given me the ability to tell and emrbrace their narrative. Let them know that while it's easy to say that we support them back home, that some of us are willing to go there to find out what it's like--beyond what we see in the news--and then tell as many people as I can what I saw. These people have balls that should say "Brunswick" on them, and they're doing a serious job. This isn't a joy ride by any means. I'm not treating it as such. I am not going on "the Green Zone Tour" by any means. I'll be in Bagram two days, then to Ghazni with the famous 187th "Rakkasan" combat brigade, and then to Task Force White Eagle, manned primarily with Polish troops who are being assisted by 18 Illinois National Guardsmen. There's a lot of Chicago connection to explore. From people to the vehicles we use there, many of which are locally built by Warrenville-based Navistar.

  I'll also have a rare opportunity to spend "A Day with the Boss," Major General John Campbell, commanding general of the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division. I'll be with him from before sunup for his Battlefield Hop Tour, going from hot spot to hot spot. I'm going to feel like I'm in the room with Patton or Bradley. This is amazing access.

  Most of you know that for a long time I've wanted to go. My hospital stint last fall and business timing prevented it, though, and i guess this is just when God wants me to go. Our "books" are written and we're pretty much just turning the pages, so in the Grand Scheme of All Things, it's time. I've thought about it hard. I've prayed upon it hard. I've tried to prep myself as best I can--both mentally and physcially--for what I'll likely tag into.

  Hey, it's an adventure that only a minuscule percentage of people are able to do--and apart from Tom Negovan at WGN TV, I don't know of another Chicago broadcaster who has had the chance to go there. It's yet another in a long line of blessings I've received. But if you're going fishing for a good story about what they're doing, you've gotta go where there's fish. I wouldn't have been able to do this five years ago. But I can now, so I'm going to. Many of you have either put me on this track or helped me along the trail, but I've never felt so alive, so capable, so ready to do this than I feel right now. I can't thank you enough for the part you played.
  
  Am I nervous? Hell, yeah, I am. I'd be nuts not to! Dr.Fran Langdon (America's Best Concierge Physician) and I talked Saturday as she doted over me (as she has for the past five years), giving me another round of shots immunizing me from everything from hangnail to the hearbreak of psoriasis, I looked at her and said, "You know, Frannie, I could have just gone to friggin' Miami." But we all know that's just not my way of doing things.

  I'll be doing call-ins to the Roe Conn show on WLS Mon-Wed afternoons of Thanksgiving week, plus whenever else we can make the connection and the signal is right. And yes, you'll be able to comment back via Facebook or here.
   

  So now I'm in Frankfurt with a long holdover before hooking up with Safi to get to Kabul. I'm considering taking a train into town, photos, whatever. I don't want to feel like the Tom Hanks character where he's stuck in the airport all day! 

  Here's a link from a Chicago-based media site;  Good stuff!

  http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/1167-wlss-paul-brian-to-spend-thanksgiving-with-us-troops-in-afghanistan 

   

  Anyone know a good way to burn a day in Frankfurt? :)

   

  Best...

   

  Paul

   

  
   

   

  submitted by Paul Brian on Nov 20 2010

Comments

• Bao-Hanh Tran

  Nov 21, 2010 2:19 PM

  I'm very proud of you Paul. Go share the stories, and thanks for doing what you do.

  Best of luck

  _Cdt Tran

  
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• fernando.parrra1

  Nov 26, 2010 11:42 AM

  Way to go. We need more people that will go over there and tell the truth. I will be anxiously following this story.

  
  Reply