K :: C :: I :: kansas city indie

Building A Dirt Fort

diputsboy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:11:30 +0000

I’ve been close to several IED blasts this past year, both spontaneous and EOD controlled detonations, and its always a awesome experience. I don’t mean that its cool or that I love it, but just that its literally something of awe. The power and destructive force of the blasts is not in their size as much as it is in the power released from the pressure created the instant of the explosion. Even smallest and most rudimentary IEDs that are buried well can create a tremendous amount of force, its simply physics.

With the recent death of SGT Robert Crow, a great man and a friend, I have a new respect of this power. I don’t know why he was chosen to be taken from this world, but I now understand fully that we have no control over these sorts of things. A simple bomb created by a singular-minded enemy has the ability to take a life. There is no sophistication in the enemy’s methods, especially when compared to our own, but its enough to create fear in us, to doubt our resolve, and to question the effectiveness of the world’s best military training and equipment. My only prayer is that this war will soon end.

A Simple Gesture

diputsboy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:41:43 +0000

I mention in the video how this region is hot. About 20 minutes after we had to take off to provide support to an infantry group that was suppose to meet up with us. One of their MRAPs was flipped over by an IED. That was roughly a half-mile up the road.

Opportunities such as this one don’t occur as much as you’d think. Route Clearance Patrols are strictly controlled, and humanitarian-type work just isn’t part of the mission. Miller was laughing about the “hearts-and-minds” work, but you honestly never know kind of effect a little kindness has on Afghans. These people do value human relationships above pretty much everything else.

Oh, and Travis Miller is a clone of that comic that is always smoking a cigar and drinking whiskey on stage during his act. Whats his name? Ron White, I think.

Ryan Wills New CD “Child Lights”

diputsboy — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:20:54 +0000

This has been a few years in the making, but Ryan’s been a busy guy trying to raise his new son, Jack with his lovely wife, Jodi. Ryan is one of my best friends and I’d love it if you’d check out his new CD “Child Lights”. I helped out on a one of the tracks- see if you can spot it. I love this guy and I look forward to hearing more and more of his beautiful music as the years go on.

Be looking for the music video for his single “Almost Home” this fall!

Magical Maintenance Gnomes

diputsboy — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:59:28 +0000

A few shots of this footage I got a while back when one of the vehicles was hit by a VBIED (Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device). What was left of the car and suicide bomber was nothing but a few scraps, but the vehicle took the hit like a champ and the guys were fine aside from some concussions and bruises. They literally 5 feet away, looking down on this Afghan guy through their windows when he started praying and reached over for the trigger. They stared a suicide bomber down, and lived to tell about it.

Getting the busted-up vehicle ready for transport was no small feat. It barely rolled on its wheels so the Maintenance Recovery guys had to figure out how to get it up on the recovery trailer, and secure it so that it didn’t tip over in transit. And this vehicle is very, very heavy. They burned up their winch getting it loaded, but somehow they figure it all out and got it ready to go. I wish that I could release some of the awesome footage that I got during that mission, but, of course, its classified considering it would enemy propaganda to show it.

A Chaplain’s Advice

diputsboy — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:49:28 +0000

Chaplain Walker is hilarious. I wish that I could post all about this poor guy and his inept chaplain’s assistant. Its truly comical.

The Polish Connection

diputsboy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:43:19 +0000

I really hope some of you make the connection to the famous film, The French Connection. Back in film school, I went on a trip to LA with one of my professors and classmates. One the best things we did while in LA was to get to watch a private screening of The French Connection at Panavision. It was an original print that someone had gotten ahold of. And the best part was that Owen Roizman, the Oscar-winning cinematographer who shot it, attended the screening and did a Q&A afterward. Wally Pfister (Batman Begins, Momento) also attended, as did Mauro Fiore (Training Day, Avatar), and I got the opportunity to speak with them. It was an awesome experience.

The Polish have an interesting command structure that is a relic from their Soviet Military history. The Soviets (and you can see how this fits with that philosophy) had an extremely top-heavy structure that prevented the commanders that were on the ground from really making the decisions. And breaking that structure had serious consequences. It was those at the top that were to make the decisions, and none other. If the US operated by the philosophy, absolutely nothing would get done. We rely on the lowest officer, the one in the fight, to be making the decisions and flexibility is paramount. Yes, sometimes mistakes are made, but decisions have to be made far too fast to be getting approval from those 7 degrees separated from the situation. It is frustrating to the Polish commanders on the ground, but the reason business is still conducted in this way is due to the fact that the war is extremely unpopular in Poland, and a single loss of life can create massive protesting. The Polish Soldiers were telling me (through Karolak) that when they are home, they are looked down upon, unlike what we have when we return to the States. Its really sad- their sacrifice isn’t appreciated by their countrymen. How did so many European states become so spineless?

Purple Hearted Soldiers

diputsboy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:24:32 +0000

The circumstances of the events that these Soldiers were awarded Purple Hearts and CABs are mostly unknown to me. I know that they were medevac-ed out of the area where the IED went off after their vehicle was disabled. Whats really cool here, is the speed with which the bird arrives… its really fast. The 9-line gets called up and the bird is there in no time, and back before virtually anything the Soldier is suffering from, causes permanent damage. The “golden” hour wasn’t always as fast as it is now. Sec. of Defense Robert Gates came here a while back, and the Army commanders on the ground complained that alot of helicopters that were sitting around waiting for base attacks could be used to improve the “golden” hour time. So he made the logical move, cut through all the red tape, and fixed the situation. For that he was dubbed the “Black Chinook”, the one that swoops in with SF Soldiers, takes care of business, and gets the hell out.

Homemade Recreation

diputsboy — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:08:28 +0000

It really crazy how on these remote FOBs, the Soldiers have to build there own recreation facilities. There is alot of gaming that goes on over here, but Soldiers really need to have some type of social and physical entertainment to balance out their lives. They come off these RCPs tired and often stressed out from the mission, and so to relieve stress they… slay dark spawn? I don’t make the connection, but then again, I’m not a gamer. And a gamer friend of mine argues that gamers are actually MORE socially functional and of higher intellect due to gaming, or maybe its just a parallel characteristic. Whatever he was saying, its utter bullshit. Show me a gamer, and I’ll show you someone who is maladjusted to the real world, in some way. Sorry gamers out there.

203rd Soldiers Train Afghan National Army

diputsboy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:07:58 +0000

Afghans are uncomfortably friendly, especially if they get to know you. Phil Kirk trained them for several weeks late last year and found out that he’d almost rather they didn’t like him, as they did in the beginning of training. He developed good relationships with some of the company’s leaders. The Afghan lieutenant shown in the video whose hand he shakes, has known him since late last year.

They had a warm reunion, which I caught on video. Not shown in the edit is about a minutes worth of this guy holding Phil’s hand after he shakes it. Phil is visibly uncomfortable, but he understands that its just custom. So he lets the lieutenant cling to his four fingers as I struggle hold the camera steady while laughing. Phil just looks back at me with a big smile on his face.

And homosexuality is prevalent as well. Phil was propositioned several times while training this group. And he takes it all in stride. He’s a good sport.

The Bloodhound Gang

diputsboy — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:49:46 +0000

I actually pissed off EOD at the beginning of my stay in Salerno. I was shooting footage of them doing their job while out on mission, and an eager Soldier decided to state over comms that I was doing exactly that. Well, I would never publish anything to endanger them, and in fact, I have to go through a rigorous vetting process before I release any of these PKGs. However, they didn’t know that and just assumed I was some jerk with a video camera. After mission I heard an earfull from a number of different people explaining, and threatening me not publish any video of EOD, whatsoever. Knowing that was ridiculous I set out to find the EOD guys and explain how it works in order to get their approval.

They were a little skeptical at first, but warmed up to me after conversing with them a little. And just as I was about to leave they got a call to roll out the wire, to investigate a possible IED. They invited me along, and I got to shoot out the gunner’s turret, which was a rare treat because usually I’m behind 4 inches of hardened glass.

Both Staff Sergeant Campau and Specialist Earle admitted to me that they loved their jobs despite the danger. I guess it has to do with doing something that has a tangible result… kinda like what I do.