Afghanistan Picture

Can't blog too much here. But this is the only picture we have so far. He passed his medical training test with flying colors! He endured a 6 inch tube going up from his nose to his throat, 3 times! That was the worst. But it sounded pretty interesting working with mannequins that shoots out fake blood & have organs that moves! Pretty hi-tech!

Suicide bomber kills 5 Americans in Kabul

By Aamer Madhani and Paul Overberg, USA TODAY (5/18/2010)

A suicide car bomb attack on a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital on Tuesday killed five U.S. troops and a Canadian officer and has put 2010 on a pace to become the deadliest year of the war.

The attack in Kabul also killed 12 Afghan civilians and pushed the U.S. death toll to 992 for the 9-year-old war, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon data. The U.S. military announced on Tuesday the death of a Marine killed during operations two days earlier in Helmand province.

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Do not worry, Ben and the rest of the Red Falcon Paratroopers are all accounted for and all are fine.

Safe Arrival

Ben has arrived at the big sand pit safely and was able to get on Facebook. He'll be training the locals for several months, and are scattered throughout the country at various locations. If you would like his contact information when it becomes available, please e-mail or call me at eguidosan@gmail.com.

Home Visit

Ben will visit CA during Easter Break next week. He will have a very short stay because he's planning to drive back to North Carolina, visiting couple of his friends on the way.

Returned on Mar. 5, 2010

Ben arrived safely at N.C. at about 11 pm last night. They were processed, check in their equipment, getting meds, safety brief, and stuff. They were released about 4 AM this morning. You should be able to call or text him. He does not have internet access yet for his computer in his barracks. I'm not sure what it all entails. But he is home safe and sound. He's very tired & still have a cough. Praise God!

Facebok messages

Ben 'Facebooked' me and I thought to share with you.

2/14/10 We have a place to keep our bags. And we sleep in the tent where we work at. Otherwise outside. But since it's been raining on and off were all crammed into this little tent. I'm in the army, mom. The infantry. If it comes down to it, we'll sleep outside in the rain. Anyways, can you send some, as in one or two, paper plates, plastic forks, and some napkins? I miss eating like that. Oh, and a few bags of ramen noodles. That's it for now I guess. Thanks

2/15/10 War zone or not, we are the infantry, and this is the Army; we tough everything out. Here are the rumors I've heard: were being extended another 90 days, were going kenetic, meaning start targeting Hatian gangsters and bullets start flying, we're leaving here in 18 days, and we're leaving here around July. So take your pick. Are you saying you haven't shipped the box yet? I think the cookies should be fine too, until they reach the hands of me and my buddies :)

If you have a Facebook account, it'll be fastest way of communication with him. Although it's always nice to receive mail. I'm planning to send another pkg on 2/16 or 2/17. So if you want me to include anything from you, I'll be happy to do that. Just e-mail me at eguidosan@gmail.com. Thanks.

APO Mailing Address

We finally got an APO address to send letters & pkg to him. You can send anything but drugs & weapons, I'm told. Just follow the typical rules from the post office.

PFC Guido, Ben
B Co 1-325 AIR 82nd ABN
LSA RED
APO AA 34068

I'm sending: baby wipes, toilet paper, small mirror, DEET, head lamp, book, paper, pen, envelopes, stamps, candies & non-perishable food items, and some $ for him to buy junk food like sugar cane & soda. It's very hot there so stay away from chocolates & stuff that will melt/spoil.

Last time I heard from Ben on 2/10, he's been sleeping outside on the dirt. They got kicked out of the building because some higher ranking people came in and took over. It was raining that evening and they have no cover. I don't know why they don't have tents to sleep in. He is very dirty as you can imagine life without running water. I don't think they've been able to launder their clothes?! I don't even want to know. Few days ago, he had a 'shower' for the first time in several weeks, from a 5 gal. bucket, with a cup. Apparently the field shower they set up is broken.

I have to say that he's been a tropper out there with the meager living conditions. I have not heard him whine or complain at all. At least not to me. He's probably keeping all the 'bad' news away so that I won't worry.

He did figure out a way to send me flowers for Valentines Day. What a sweetie!

Keep up your much needed & appreciated prayers for him!