Hey ya'll. It rained semi seriously today and thought it would be a good time for a blog. First, the rain had that rain smell which was quite refreshing. It also foreshadowed some seriously muddy conditions in the futuere when we get some significant rain. Apparently the rainy season can be fairly extreme so we are preparing with sandbags around the tents. It is hoped the rain will not slow down the construction and work we are doing out here.

After it stopped raining for a while these beautiful cloud and light visions opened so I tried to get a good picture of them.

I love the light beaming through the clouds like fingers prying them apart to let us see heaven.

The panoramics I have taken are hit or miss. I think this one is more hit. The one that was more miss did not appear on the blog.

A line of 53's I took some time ago. I just can't get enough of pictures of aircraft. This must be why I joined the Navy.

So, in honor of black Friday I took these pictures at our bazaar (misspelled? It is funny because there are only three tents where guys try to charge me 25 dollars for fake Oakley's or some very poorly made wood carving. You can talk them down but when you are just selling junk, what's the point?)
Hooka's anyone?

I think my hat is a desert fox. Growl. I might need a rabies shot.

This is a sweet Gurkha vehicle. Dangerous as it has an open cabin and all will likely die if they hit an IED. Not a comforting thought but the Brits do things a little differently. If this were your offroading vehicle however, watch out. I would totally buy this. Also note the Ma Deuce (50 Cal.) on top and I think a 240 at the front.

We diagnosed this as shingles. If treated in the first 72 hours likely will not have chronic pain related with illness. If you don't treat in 72 hours you are more likely to have worse sequelae. He is doing great, as he was treated early. That is your medical tip of the day-brought to you by Valtrex, not only for genital herpes but for herpes Zoster (shingles) as well.

More Dwyer Pics

A Beautiful? sunset. The Flight line obscured by dust (not fog) is to the right.

I love that despite our Austere conditions some creature comforts, like hair cutting gowns, are always appropriate.

Two of our aircraft refuelers about to refuel those two CH 53's in the distance.

This is the remnants of a DASH. It is a very uparmored vehicle meant to protect Marines. In this case it did. It, however, did not survivie the IED blast. The vehicles protect those inside and that is most important. Though the cost of this war is astronomical, I will say that our government does a good job to protect its Marines and Sailors.

Happy Thanksgiving

O.K. so the gift from my parents finally made it on the blog. Awesome.

Note the Cholula and the dried fruit. Just like they were probably eating in the garden of Eden.

Here is the championship team of the Camp Bastion Turkey Bowl. The MVP is holding the trophy. Note the ground and how rocky, slippery it is. I have the torn up hands to prove it too. However, no amount of pain can compensate for how great it was to beat the other Marines. Note the handsome looking sailor at the far left.

A.J. and Tony enjoying the thanksgiving festivities.

Me and Doc holding up our favorite parts. Him the pie, me the canned cranberry sauce. The food was cafeteria-ish. Not like I wanted, yet still good giving the conditions we find ourselves in. I am just glad we can still celebrate Thanksgiving. I love you all and hope you are having an equally happy day.

So I was at a FOB last week (see last post) and got to get my "hands dirty" while I was there. We are building a runway extension with this heavy metal matting. Here I am with one of the other officers laying some mat. Most people were surprised to see the medical officer out there but I had time and love to get in and do what the Marines are doing. You have to lay the matting in the right geometric pattern to maximize the pieces available and build a sturdy runway up to specifications. While doing this, C-130's and Osprey were landing right next to us, not 50 feet away.

When the Osprey first landed on this runway it totally tore it up. We are jackhamering (this tool is called the beaver) a hole to lock the mat, already laid, into place. This is not easy labor. It took 15 minutes to drill this one hole 3 feet, afterwhich I was exhausted. These guys had like 64 to do. It was a long day. As an aside, I am rocking a totally cool double chin in this picture.

It is very dusty here. We played football and this was the result. We won, I scored a touchdown, what else is there to say? Oh, I did get a shower after. Also, all the Marines when they take a formal picture make this face I like to call the warface. It is like "one word out of you and I will skin you alive" with your eyes. I tried my best impression of that face. It is a work in progress.

A C-130 at night. This didn't turn out quite as well as I had hoped. Right after I took this I had to get on the plane so I couldn't attempt another. I did feel the picture still shows the coolness of the plane at night which is what I was trying to convey.

Lastly, I have to apologize to my parents. They sent me a great package but the pictures would not load so it didn't make the blog. All I ask is for forgiveness because it was a rockin gift. Well appreciated and received.

Random Pics

So here are some random pics form the past few months I have been here. I have some more on my camera I need to upload, but the timing has just not been right. I just came back from a FOB (Forward Operating Base) and have some exciting pictures from that adventure. However, for now you will have to gnaw on these random pictures. In no specific order here they are.

This CH 53 is down and out. Look, you can see the propellars removed and placed on a makeshift rack to the right. I am not positive, but I think they cannibalize this helo for parts to keep the others up and running. This model, the CH 53 D, leaks hydraulic fluid everywhere. On a recent trip I got off this type of helo with drenched pants and blouse stained with hydraulic fluid. Not cool. The slow drip, drip, drip while you are immobile, squished inside of a full helicopter surrounded by gear, bags and other Marines/Sailors is uncomfortable at best.

Here is an old (circa September) picture of me. This one is for the kids. Like I said at the start, random.

A very happy Chief Stubbs. We caught him teaching the sailors. Hoo rah!.

Stein-O-Mite! Nuff Said.

This is the front desk, being manned by our corpsman. Note the happy looks on their faces. Isn't that the sight you want to walk into when you are sick or otherwise afflicted? It sure is for me.

Just to reemphasize, I do have some good pictures coming, and the next blog will be more substantial. Until then, Semper Fi.

Bad Day

So, the other day some Marines were playing softball outside the BAS. All of a sudden a Marine walks in holding his hand tightly in his other. I could see blood coming out from under the one. I asked to see it and the pictures show what I saw. The ball apparently went into the razor wire that is located around the camp and he went in to grab it. When he pulled his hand out with the ball he wasn't as careful as he was when he went in to get it and this is what resulted. We took him to the main hospital to be seen by the surgeon to ensure that no tendons or nerves were involved.

Above is the view after taking the bandage we initially put on to control the bleeding.

After putting on a blood pressure cuff to control bleeding and then washing, to get a better look at how deep the lacerations went. What you can't see as well in this picture is that the lac. only went to the subcutaneous fat. No tendons or musculature involved. Surprisingly.

Same as above

The final product.  I did not sew this up.  After the Plastic surgeon ruled out any tendon damage he let the E.R. intern practice throwing mattresses, simple interrupteds and others.  I was not happy with the end result.  Who knew the British sent interns to Afghanitan for 3 month rotations.  And you thought your intern ear was tough.

This vehicle is like a tactical ambulance. If someone gets hurt they will go after them. What they have that a helo doesn't is that inside the DASC is a Jaws of life, a large saw and something called an exothermic torch which can cut through armor. Additionally there is oxygen and other first aid equipment.

Obviously, a huge beast of a truck.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the Walkers. It was a huge deal. I love these cookies, they are a Holiday favorite. Apparently so do all my Corpsman because they have been pounding them.

BAR B Q

So this blog is to tell you about our Nov 11th celebration. The Marine Corps birthday is on the 10th but we had our shindig on the 11th because we are so far east we didn't want it before the rest of the Marine Corps. Anyway you will see a bunch of grills, food and some cooks. The Marine cooks or "Food Service" personnell are great. When I first met them I thought to myself "you joined the Marine Corps and they made you a cook, that sucks." But you know what, they absolutely love it. They have very high standards and whenever they cook, you know the food will be good. On multiple occassions they have complained and got things changed in chow halls that were not keeping good hygiene or high levels of excellence. It made me laugh at first but now I can say that I know they really love their job and they sure are good at it. As an aside, one of the best things about the Marines is that they are always happy. Sure not everybody every minute, but the Marines are always in a good mood and seemingly better as things get worse. It is inspiring and infectious. I love serving with Marines and am proud to be counted among them.

Some cooks flexing in preparation of the event ahead. Note, these are some of the fittest Marines we have.

After what I said above, is it any wonder a Marine Cook wouldn't want one of these! Grrrrr.

They're heating up!

Chicken

Steak. Mmmmmmm

Recently, I have been asked to give my address. I believe this would be o.k. I can receive mail addressed to:
LT Mike Crandall
H and S Co./Medical
MWSS-372
UIC 42020
FPO AP 96427-2020

Good luck and thanks for everything.

We are starting this blog off with some random pics I have not shown yet. This is A.J. who rooms with us. Just getting some cleaning on.

Note how all the dust in the air causes the snow flake like appearance of the picture. At leaast I think that is what is going on.

Here Mark is demonstrating Warrior 1 pose. Maybe it is Warrior 2 pose. We have been trying to get into Yoga for our flexibility and health. Also because it is totally manly.

Some wiffle ball a couple weeks ago. We totally broke the bat and balls by the end of the day.

So, Tuesday the 10th of November, is the Marine Corps Birthday-Semper Fidelis. The Marine Corps is 234 years old. Yes, older than the U.S.A. For the day we took a tour of the HiMARS. This stands for Highly Mobile _ Rocket System, or something like that. Basically, these very mobile rockets that you drive and shoot. They are ridiculously loud taking off and often wake us up in the middle of the night. It works like this. Our guys on the front lines need some pesky bad guys taken out. They call HiMARS, and can have warheads on foreheads in as little as 6 minutes. Much faster than an airstrike and depending on how many satellites are available for targeting, much more accurate. The best part, they are totally quiet coming in, until they explode and wreak havoc. So they took us on a tour and we got these photos. They drove out to their firing spot but did not fire. They lift those rockets to a 45 degree angle or so and then let them go. Awesome.

The back of the truck, note this one carries six rockets but 5 have been used to blow up bad guys.

The HiMARS after they rolled out to where they launch rockets.

This is the tube the rockets come out of. Note the similarity between the inner barrell of a rifle. Cool huh. I thought you'd like it.

Chief and I trying to get a good shot of the HiMars standing on Humvees.

So this last pic is of me, Chief Stubbs, Mark (Dr. Tucker) and Stein. Actually it's Stein-o-mite. Said like Dyn-o-mite and yelled. Whenever I see him I yell it, whether inside or out. He is a good kid. He once put in 2 I.V.'s in Marine's, at night, using only Chem lights. Pretty impressive.

The Osprey Has Landed

O.K., so today I had a lot to blog and thankfully, the computers were open and moving at unusually high speeds. This morning I went down to the flight line to watch the Osprey's land (V-22 for you aircraft nerds). This is a montage of their landing here and some other sweet pictures. Semper Fidelis!!

The above picture is a Russian made helicopter. Notice the dual propellars on top. Pretty odd looking. However, for you nerds out there, the physics and engineering on this baby have got to be revving your engine.

V-22 coming in for a landing.

Landing in a row.

After landing they taxied right up to where we were standing.

Awesome huh? Some say that they are ugly. Not I. Like the scriptures say, the Lord looketh upon the heart. I looketh upon the specifications. This bird is fast, can take off and land with a relatively short runway or no runway at all and it can carry troops to the fight. What else is there to say. Besides, who doesn't like slate grey.

Happy Blog! This beautiful picture is of a package I received the other day from the Dustin and Kendra Wirig's! Obviously, it was absolutely fabulous. Movies, candy oatmeal etc. Kendra even put cookies in a bag with bubble wrap to ensure they would be structurally sound upon arrival. They were delicious and round. To the D.K. W.'s - thanks. To everyone out there I appreciate all your support for myself and more importantly my family. Mike

To anyone who has been to Disneyland and eaten a Monte Cristo, this collage is for you. This sandwhich is called a "ham and cheese dream". The English cooks name, but it certainly is fitting. It is ham and cheese between bread dipped in egg batter and fried. Something like french toast ham and cheese. Not quite a monte cristo, but we did our best to hook it up, as you can see below.

Chris and I enjoying the feast. At first the others didn't believe me that jam would be good on the sandwhich, but any of my fellow Monte Cristo afficianados can attest to the truthfulness of my statement. After some reluctantce, the others embarked on the gastronomical journey with me and were greatly ewarded. To those of you at home the recipe for real Monte Cristo's can be found on the Disney website, or contact my wife, Shannon for it.