Pictures from the War

This is THE hat...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flamingbear/425483608/

and to my knowledge you are correct. Only available from TH KAF.

Great pics, great job! Saw them all.

Aside from Timmies, it doesn't look like a place I'd plan as a holiday destination. Tell your son thanks for doing the (mostly thankless) job.

btw What does your son have to say about Michael Yon's latest slam against the Canadian Troops?

Thanks for sharing, and thank your son for the service please.

Congrats to your son for his successful and safe contribution to the effort.

Texas Canuck: I'm not sure what he thinks; I'll run it past him ... or tell him to drop by here to comment.

Whenever I run into one of our best and brightest in uniform, I make a point of shaking their hand and thanking them for serving our Country.
Thank-you to all those brave women and men.

Texas Canuck: I second the request for on-the-ground responses to Michael Yon's slagging.

I posted on comment on his Facebook page literally "respectfully suggesting" he return to his original journalistic roots and move away from his current "activist" campaigns. It was promptly deleted.

Ever since his clash with the UK bureaucracy and the response it elicited, Michael Yon has become arrogant. He concentrates and pulling his perceived weight by pressuring government and military forces to act on anything he deems important and critical to the mission.

If you browse his last handful of articles they cover all the "important people" he's been personally invited to meet. His article posted in the NY magazine states "I said this", "I've spent more time than any other embedded journalist on the ground" - and so on. As if questioning his reporting is so kind of cardinal sin.

His original articles and superb coverage told the story from the ground-level, largely ignoring politics. I miss that Michael Yon.

Cjunk....as a vet...I salute your son for his contribution. We need way more like him. Lefties cannot seem to get it through their empty heads that freedom does not come without a price,sometimes the ultimate price. My question to them is,who are you going to go running to when some terrorist is in your back yard?

Justthinkin: straight into their arms if you're a leftist ;)

JAWZ: Yon has been way off on some of his predictions and analysis. His factual on the spot reporting is first rate and unique; his analysis sucks. If you recall, he predicted that Canadian Forces would lose so bad in 2007 that they couldn't leave KAF ... never happened.

Justhinkin: My understanding is that there aren't too many lefties in the Forces ... I wonder why?

Cjunk, thanks for the pics and thanks to your son for taking up the torch.

To touch quickly on Michael Yon's recent comments:

One or two of his lines kind of came off as slagging the CF, although I truly doubt he has any less respect for our soldiers than he does UK or US soldiers.

However, it is definetly an OPSEC issue to be discussing the effective distances of our IED counter-measures etc, which he did. However much people may think this is common knowledge to the enemy, there is no point making it blantantly obvious and open online. Given the fractured and mixed makeup of the insurgency in Afghanistan, I am sure there are many insurgents there who had no idea what the effective range of our counter measures are, or that they even exist, but could gain that info from reading Yon's post.

I have in the past, and will continue to enjoy Yon's great work, but obviously must critsize when nesecary...especially when it comes to Operational Security.

Junker (Paul's son @ Cjunk)

I am proud of the young men and women who serve our country. Please give him my heartfelt thanks and appreciation.

Thanks for all of the appreciation and thanks by the way.

Having the heartfealt support of so many of the citizens of Canada certainly makes soldiering easier.

Justthinkin
[....My question to them is,who are you going to go running to when some terrorist is in your back yard?]

With the possible exception of Daniel Pearle, most lefties shift immediately to the right.
The most fervent conservatives are lefties who have been mugged by their pets.

Terrific photos! Being an ex grunt there's one thing I would never get used to operating in Afghanistan, that giant ugly spider, camel spider I think,ugh.

Thanks CJunk, great pics, tell your son thanks too, and God Bless You and your Family.

Just a quick thought: I was glad to see Afghan merchants selling their wares. For these men to make an honest living with a little dignity says volumes about the importance of the mission.
Just my thoughts.

Junker, thanks for taking the torch from those of us that used to hold it.

Non Nobis, Sed Patriae

Thanks for pointing us to your sons pics Cjunk.

Give your son a big thank you from my family as well as to pass on the message to all his fellow soldiers that they are every bit important to us.

Joel

Thank your son for the beautiful pictures, Cjunk. Afghanistan is a country of raw beauty and tremendous images. The people who live there are tough and beautiful too - a different kind of toughness and beauty - but very powerful. Fighting in such a nation has never been easy because of the rugged terrain and the resilient citizens. I thank your son and the men and women he serves with for making such a positive difference in the lives of these people and for saving the world from the terrorists who would terrorize Afghans and us if they (our soldiers) were not there.

My hat is off and I'm saluting your son. Thanks for the pics and a big "Thank you" for all you did.

Very much enjoyed! The pics really give you a feel for Afghanistan and KAF.

Many thanks Junker!

What a God-forsaken place. Great Pics, and I'm with h.ryan on the spider thing; I'd sooner go nose to nose with the enemy.

From south Alabama.
THANKS to your son, your family, and your Country.
Congratulations on the Gold. GOD BLESS

Thanks from down here in Virginia. Please give your son a hug from an American mom!

Thanks Kate, Paul & especially Junker. Keep up the good work.

cjunk - you must be so proud. Thank you for the pics, and more so, for your service and that of your sons. It is clear that Courage and Valour is your family's legacy. A sincere thank you to you both and may God Bless and protect your son.