Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Camp Mike Spann weather update






The base where I spend most of my time is Camp Mike Spann. Mike Spann was a CIA operative working in the Mazar E Sharif area at the time of the Taliban overthrow. He was also a former Marine Officer, which is near and dear to my heart.




The Northern Alliance fighters had recently taken control a prison complex outside of town. Spann was in the prison questioning prisoners of interest including the "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh. Unfortunately the Taliban prisoners made a breakout and Spann died defending himself and his brothers-in-arms. He is interred at Arlington. Camp Spann is not on the site of his death, but it is nearby.




Camp Spann is the HQ for the American and Coalition Advisors for the Northern region of Afghanistan. There are Americans, Germans, Swedes, Norweigans, Croations and occasionally some French, Polish or Hungarians in the area. This is the hub from which these forces move out to work with the ANA and ANP forces. Units are here teach and advise the Afghans, not fight the war for them. But Force Protection is a big part of what goes on here.




The weather today is hot, dusty, windy with poor visibility. I must have started to acclimate, since it doesn't feel as hot here as it first did in Kuwait. The clinic thermometer read 130 in the sun. The photo is of a thermometer that was in the shade. Thankfully there is usually adequate water to drink and use for hygiene purposes.

18 comments:

  1. Appreciate reading your blog - my son is also at Camp Spann. He was raised in Phx, AZ - so he's diggin' the heat ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I believe Spann, when he was a Marine officer, was an ANGLICO guy too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My son is there now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My son is there.
    Roll Tide

    ReplyDelete
  5. My son is scheduled to be shipped out to there in March. He is an MP in the Army. I am scared for his safety.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My husband is there now.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MY SON ARRIVED TODAY AT CAMP SPANN. IT WAS A TEARFUL COMFORT TO SEE THE US FLAG AND PLAQUE FOR MIKE SPANN. MY PRAYERS ARE FOR OUR SOLDIERS
    WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My niece is there now with the Navy Seabees. She's tough as woodpecker lips like her Ranger uncle!

    ReplyDelete
  9. My grandson is there now and I pray for his safe return. I fear another grandson who is now in basic training will also be sent to Afganistan. I pray for all the soldiers there and a quick end to this terrible "war".

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for doing this blog. My husband (father of our two young children) is there now. He's been there for months now, and I've written the name Mike Spann on the packages going to him, but I didn't know who Mike Spann was until today.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My son should be arriving there today or tomorrow. He is also a Navy Seabee. Having a very hard time here in Illinois. Hope and pray every day for all the men and women to just come home safely.
    I miss you James!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. My son isa leaving tonight from FortHood and was just given his address from him as he waits for his flight and it says Camp Spann so I'm sure this is the place he's headed. He is a Combat Engineer, 21 Bravo. This has been a difficult time as he deploys to Afghanistan. I have him and all the soldiers at Camp Spann on our prayer chain at my church in Bennington,VT. We miss you Tyler! And praying for all the men and women that are serving a safe return.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My daughter is also with the Seabees and arrived at Camp Mike Spann a few days ago. We're already showering her with care packages to share with all of the soldiers and sailors serving our country. Our prayers are with them all.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Please remember OPSec, do not post informations with unit information, dates or timeframes; this can be used to harm us.

    ReplyDelete
  15. my son just got there, hope him and every soldier there keeps safe and returns to their home soon

    ReplyDelete
  16. My son arrived at Camp Spann in February also. Just trying to get information and a general location & feeling about where he is for the next 9 months. My thoughts go out to all the soldiers stationed there and to their family back home. We are proud of everyone in and supporting our military forces!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Greetings to all at Camp Spann! It should be mentioned, and another U.S. allies who are there from 1 September 2012! These are Montenegrins! Their origin says that they never surrendered. Capitulation is not in their vocabulary. So Americans should be proud that they are still with them.God bless all!

    ReplyDelete
  18. George ....Hoppas allt är ok med dig saknar dig så <3 /Christina..

    ReplyDelete