| Tango01 | 14 Sep 2014 9:58 p.m. PST |
"Forward Operating Base Lightning is in its final days. The small base near the city of Gardez in Paktia province, Afghanistan, is down to its final stages as an operational hub for U.S. troops, set to end combat operations in December. Lightning itself is attached to the considerably larger FOB Thunder, home to around 4,000 Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel. How does a FOB wither? It starts with the luxuries. The contracted caterers left a week ago, so the Army has gone back to feeding itself. (Thursday night is Meals Ready to Eat night). The Post Exchange (PX) where soldiers could shop for non-essential items like candy and deodorant closed up the week before that. The garbage guys are no longer picking up. By the end of this week, Sniper Hill, the Afghanistan-wide FOB internet service provider, will remove its routers, equipment and personnel. Across the base, soldiers can be seen dumping those luxuries that they won't be carrying home. Everything from rugs to lamps is piling up around the dumpsters. Everything that exits the base goes by helicopter, or by road, and everything that leaves needs to be provided protection…"
Full article here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| OldGrenadier at work | 15 Sep 2014 4:38 a.m. PST |
Absolutely fascinating! Thanks, Armand! |
| Zargon | 15 Sep 2014 5:35 a.m. PST |
That sketch is wonderful, the guy/gal has talent hope he/she ends up illustrating books for wargamers:)
Thanks Armand yes very interesting, and still wonder why they don't flatten these things they end up derelict and useless anyway when the foreign troops leave anyway (believe a great trade in scrap metal begin when the camps are turned over.
Cheers. |
| Barin1 | 15 Sep 2014 5:53 a.m. PST |
When Soviet Army was leaving Afghanistan, the locations that the local army wanted for itself were left undamaged (however with most of the equipment gone). Some locations were just left to rot, and as the country doesn't have steel rolling capacity, these rusty tanks were still there when coalition forces arrived, and will still be there when they leave… |
| capncarp | 15 Sep 2014 6:55 a.m. PST |
Looks a bit like Jack Coggins' style, I think. |
| haywire | 15 Sep 2014 8:06 a.m. PST |
Great find Tango! Zargon, did you go to the page links? the guy has a lot of great art there. |
 Legion 4   | 15 Sep 2014 8:07 a.m. PST |
Very interesting … It appears as many of us always thought … once the US/NATO leaves, it all goes back to  ! |
| Tango01 | 15 Sep 2014 12:25 p.m. PST |
Happy you enjoyed it boys!. (smile) Amicalement
Armand |
| Joep123 | 15 Sep 2014 7:23 p.m. PST |
Thanks for sharing this story Armand.
Joe |
| Tango01 | 15 Sep 2014 11:18 p.m. PST |
A votre service mon cher ami!. (smile) Amicalement
Armand |
takes inspiration from Doctor Who.
