Memoirs of a Deployed Airman
The Adventures, Exploits, & Travails of a Combat Security Assistance Officer; Kabul, Afghanistan
by
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May 6, 2007 Today started off very much like it had any other day in Kabul. I ate breakfast at my desk as I caught up with my e-mail for the day. Then, around 1030, SFC Wormer and I went to the U.S. Consulate to close out several cash advances that were still on our books. All in all, we closed out 44 open cash advances for a total of $110,000…our largest closeout by far in Afghanistan. After taking care of the money end of the business for our IMET and JCTP operations, SFC Wormer and I returned to Camp Eggers. We would have gone immediately to lunch, since it was now approximately 1200. However, Omer and Yar had gone downtown to order and pick-up a basket full of kabobs. This would be my farewell luncheon with the boys and they were really treating me well in this way. The lamb kabobs were delicious and the company was even better. SFC Wormer, Capt Moss, Omer, Yar, and I chowed down until we were stuffed. There were plenty of kabobs left, so Omer gave the remainder to the Afghan KBR workers who worked at the Marshall House DFAC. They really appreciated the treat and t prevented us from wasting the food (the Islamic faith does not believe in wasting food). After lunch, we all wandered back to the office to attend to the remainder of the business of the day. It was hard to generate forward momentum though due to all of the kabobs we had eaten. Then, as I was sitting at my desk and contemplating my next move of going to the gym, someone stepped into our office and asked us all to come downstairs for a five minute briefing. I knew that this could not be good, but I did not fathom just how bad the news was going to be. As soon as we had all made our way downstairs in the Corner House, Col Rappaport did not hesitate in getting to the meat of the matter. Essentially, the colonel said, ‘today is one of those days that reminds us of the hazards involved with conducting our duties.” He then proceeded to inform us that two of our friends from Detainee Operations had been killed and two other CSTC-A members had been wounded. Then, the horror of learning exactly who the affected members were; pierced the souls of those who were close friends of them. I saw a lot of teary eyed faces in the crowd, but I didn’t totally grasp its effect until later that evening…because the names did not instantly hit me. After I had gone upstairs to change into my PT clothes for my evening workout, I stopped by SFC Wormer’s desk to see how she was doing. This is something that I often did before I left for the gym, but I made a special point to do this tonight because of the recent bad news we had received. I asked her if she knew any of the casualties, and she quickly responded “yes,” as the tears flowed down her face. She then told me that she was close friends with MSG Wilberto Sabalu, Jr., who also happened to be SFC Sanchez’s roommate. This revelation, of course, totally captured my attention. I then closed the door for privacy as I did what I could to console and to comfort SFC Wormer. These moments are always uncomfortable, but I also understood the importance of being compassionate and understanding. I did my best to just listen, although I did provide my perspective, which was probably less than helpful. In the future, I’ll try harder to just listen and absorb whatever words and info is shared with me. SFC Wormer was very upset that the Soldiers who were killed happened to be driving unarmored vehicles. The command however, is in the midst of a major transition to up-armored vehicles. But, like many hard military lessons of the past, this change did not come fast enough for her friend and our Soldiers from Detainee Ops. For some reason, I felt inclined to provide a rational answer to an un-rational situation. So, like I said, this was a lesson learned for the future. I had an emotional letdown myself too when SFC Wormer explained to me just who MSG Sabalu was…and the fact that I did know him. She explained to me that MSG Sabalu was our Chock Leader for our R&R Leave from Kabul to Kuwait during the Christmas Holiday. As SFC Wormer provided more and more details of just who this man was, I began to hear his voice, to picture his movements, and to reflect upon the wonderful human interactions I had with him myself while he was alive. In fact, I remember his warm smile, his snappy salute, and his cheerful attitude…I had instantly become one of the bereaved. Our conversation ended with me offering to help her get home, but she said that she would be alright…so I went to the gym to reflect on the loss of this phenomenal E-8 Army Master Sergeant. MSG Sabalu had dedicated his Army career to protecting others as a prison guard. His role in Afghanistan was to mentor the Afghan National Army guards at Pol icharki prison, just outside the boundaries of Kabul. Ironically, and tragically; one of the guards who he had mentored, turned his AKA-47 on the Detainee Ops personnel as their vehicles departed from the prison. May 7, 2007 This morning, SFC Wormer and I had a mission to go to the German Consulate to turn-in some visa applications. The visas were for a Marshall Center course in Germany and the visa submissions were already a week late due to many delays in receiving administrative requirements from the Marshall Center. SFC Wormer had to go with me because of her knowledge in processing Schengen visas and it would have been hard to find someone else to go with me on short notice. Everything went well this morning in getting to the German Consulate, we processed through the gates and entrances without any problems, and we were greeted in a friendly manner by the Consulate Officer, Ms. Nora Webber. Then, Nora noticed SFC Wormer’s long face and asked, “what was wrong?” SFC Wormer instantly broke down into tears as she was just barely keeping her emotions together to begin with. So, I had to do my best to both consol her and to attend to my diplomatic duties. Luckily, Omer was there to help me with both. In actuality, the icebreaker question by Nora, followed by the reaction by SFC Wormer, produced a sympathetic response on the part of Nora, as she did everything to accommodate us in short order. Within minutes, we had successfully submitted the Schengen visa applications and we were on our way back to Camp Eggers. As we departed, I thanked both Omer and SFC Wormer for their efforts this morning…and I told SFC Wormer that I was very proud of her for managing to attend to this mission critical requirement for the morning. Back at Camp Eggers, I attended to a melee of last minute requirements as I tried to tie-up all of the loose strings before I depart camp very soon. However, I was unfortunately interrupted just before I was planning to go to lunch. LCDR Estrada approached me with a last minute request. It turned out that something had come up in Capt Prassada’s schedule and he would not be able to go on this afternoon’s convoy mission to the airport, to pick-up Maj Scott Jones and Mr. Don Ebert. So, I reluctantly volunteered to go. I had promised my former roommate, MAJ Jason Crowe, that I wouldn’t go on any “one final trips outside the wire,” and I wanted to honor his request as best as I possible could because I trusted his sense of judgment on these types of things. I put on my full battle-rattle and followed along with LCDR Estrada, SFC Sanchez, and TSgt Bleisner. I drove the second vehicle in the two-person convoy. Everything went very well and it turned out to be one of the quickest convoy runs that I had ever taken part in. We got the job done and I got back to my IMET and JCTP closeout missions.
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Almost as if it were a dream, day number 360 came and I was transported into another world. The flights were long, but within just a couple of days, I found myself back at my original starting point—Salt Lake City, Utah. Before arriving in Salt Lake City though, I was greeted by my parents and my in-laws at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) airport. As I scrambled through the baggage claim area and customs, I made my way towards my release from the regimented deployment world. Both sets of parents were poised and ready to greet me and my friends returning from overseas. Upon catching a glimpse of me, they popped out of their seats and began waving small American flags in my general direction. It was very nice to see them and it was a nice patriotic sight. I arrived at the airport at approximately midnight and I was hungry, so we all went out to eat at an all night diner in Arlington, Virginia. It was about 0300 in the morning when we finished up our meal and headed back to my in-laws house to sleep.
I caught an 1800 flight the next day which brought me to Salt Lake City at approximately 2300 that night. The second leg of my flight from Phoenix, Arizona was very comfortable and relaxing. Wearing my DCUs, one of the flight attendant’s decided to move me to First Class. Not only did this provide me with more comfort, but it also provided me an opportunity to sit next to her husband who had joined her on the flight. I had a really nice conversation with the flight attendant’s husband throughout the flight. Then, as we landed in Salt Lake City, the flight attendant announced to all of the people on the flight that I had just returned home from the war in Afghanistan. Everyone began to clap and I received the honor of being the first person off of the airplane.
I then began my mad dash towards my family. People noticed that I was in uniform, holding two little bears (one for each of my girls), and I was practically running, so everyone pretty much got out of my way. Within minutes, I saw Melanie holding a “Welcome Home” poster and my girls waving small American flags. It was a very impressive and precious sight. I scooped up both of my daughters in my hands and I embraced the whole family. The nice thing was that Suzanna didn’t cry…everyone seemed to at least have some idea who I was this time. In fact, Annabelle wouldn’t hardly let me go out of her sight for the next few days. I learned several days later that Annabelle had a lot of trouble sleeping while I was gone…which was attributed to me not being there and her not knowing when I would come home.
This latter fact is what changed my mindset from wanting to go back to the combat zone any time soon. While I was gone, I made the most of my deployment and I even learned to enjoy many aspects of the adventure. However, when you see the effects of being gone on the homefront, nothing else seems to matter but family. Would I go again? Absolutely. But, I would certainly wait for my number to come up or for someone to come asking for my assistance a little more passionately.
When I arrived at my actual home in the Ogden, Utah area, I quickly noticed several decorations on the property. I hadn’t expected such extravagance, but I was certainly impressed by what I saw. As I walked around the house and the yard in my civilians clothes the next day, surrounded by my family, I finally felt like I was home.
About the Author
Major Patrick B. Monahan was a Security Assistance Officer assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan as the International Military Education and Training Officer, Camp Eggers, Kabul Afghanistan. As he began his tour of duty, he was 33 years old. Major Monahan was born in Washington, D.C. Major Monahan attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in History and a minor in English. After graduation he attended field training at Lackland AFB, TX and was commissioned into the United States Air Force on 26 August 1995. Following his commissioning, he reported to Vandenberg Air Force Base, California for missile maintenance training. Major Monahan performed missile maintenance officer duties on the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana from 1996 until 1999. He transitioned to space launch maintenance in 1999 where he provided direct maintenance support to the Titan & Atlas rocket programs and oversaw the coastal security program at the Range Operations Control Center until 2002. Major Monahan broadened his space expertise once again by transitioning to space control operations in August 2002. There, he led all mission support functions while serving as the Maintenance Officer of the 4th Space Control Squadron. In June 2005, Major Monahan returned to the ICBM weapon system, performing Acquisitions Management for the entire solid propulsion ICBM fleet of 500 “on alert” missiles. Major Monahan is an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary—the civilian arm of the U.S. Coast Guard, accumulating over 1,000 volunteer service hours. His military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with four oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two combat stars, the Air & Space Campaign Medal, and the North American Treaty Organization’s—International Security Assistance Forces Medal. Major Monahan graduated from the American Military University in June 2004 achieving a Masters of Arts degree in Military Studies: Naval Warfare Program. Additionally, he graduated from Squadron Officer School (in residence) in February 2005 and he graduated from Air Command & Staff College (by correspondence) in July 2006. Major Monahan is married; he has two daughters and one son. Major Monahan Separated from military service on 30 June 2008 under the auspices of the Air Force Voluntary Separation Program with an Honorable Discharge. He and his family reside in Ogden, Utah.