Off to Pakistan to help - August 3, 2010

3 August 2010

PAKISTAN FLOOD DEATH TOLL ‘PASSES 11000 - BBC

FOOD FEARS FOR PAKISTAN FLOOD SURVIVORS – AFP

FLOODS RAVAGE PAKISTAN VALLEY THAT ENDURED TALIBAN – AP

Hello from Afghanistan. I’m a Marine Corps broadcast journalist and I have the best job in the military: I get to report on what U.S. service members are doing night and day to answer those recent headlines above.

There’s a good chance I could be classified as the walking dead right now, but it’s completely worth it! I’ve been up three days straight with very little sleep. I got the awesome opportunity to report on a group of airmen in a C-17 that delivered relief, via food and shelter, to the people of Pakistan devastated by historic flooding.

At AFN (American Forces Network) Afghanistan, we cover everything from combat operations to humanitarian missions. I’m always amazed at how fast the American military can spin up to provide help to those most affected by natural disasters. The strength, determination and resolve of individual soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines make me proud to be a part of the brotherhood.

Always being ready is key to our job – you never know when news will break. It’s up to us to be there to cover and tell the public what happened. I was notified about a mission into Pakistan to deliver thousands of pounds of food, late one afternoon. After some scrambling and coordination, I had all my gear and was on the Bagram Air Field flight line covering U.S. soldiers taking boxes and boxes full of Halal (culturally sensitive) Meals Ready to Eat (or MRE’s) and creating huge pallets to load on to Air Force cargo aircraft.

I got to interview soldiers who had been working the last three nights to support the Pakistanis. Always

looking for the next best different shot, I climbed up a metal beam structure and shot some great angles. I even shot the stand-up for ABC Nightly News reporter, Nick Schifrin, for this video story that aired on ABC later that night. When he saw me hanging up there for a shot, he had to have the same. (Marines lead the way!!)

After some 75-thousand pounds of food was loaded into the Charleston, S.C. based C-17, we taxied down the Bagram flight line and started our trek. I was surprised the ride was so short. It only took us 45-minutes to get to Peshawar International Airport in Pakistan.

Tensions and excitement were high as none of us had ever stepped foot into Pakistan – but when we did, we felt it. Immediately the sweat started pouring; not from the 60 pounds of gear on me but the incredible humidity. I’ve been to the Philippines, and all around the Pacific, yet nothing compared

to the humidity in Pakistan. We definitely didn’t expect it, since we were so close to neighboring Afghanistan. What made things worse was the transition from a nice, cold, aircraft cargo bay to a ninety percent humidity, stuffy tarmac. My video camera lens fogged up so badly I couldn’t shoot any usable footage for nearly15-minutes until both myself and the camera got acclimated!

Once I did get ‘rolling’ again, it was great to see the interactions between the Pakistani reps and the Americans. No matter what language barriers exist, the thing I’ve always learned is that a smile can break down barriers and say it all. That’s what I saw a lot of this night.

After three hours on the ground we said our goodbyes, pulled up chalks and flew away. The magnitude of the disaster was great, but "hopefully" everyone thought this flight, our efforts, would help some. It was two in the morning by the time the plane even took off and I used the 45 minutes of travel time to execute a combat nap. I didn’t wake until we hit the 9-thousand feet of concrete back on Afghanistan on Bagram Air Field.

I must say, while the trip was short, it meant a lot to me to be able to go. Not only to say I’ve been to Pakistan, but to say I was involved in a humanitarian mission from the USA. While I didn’t fly the plane, load the supplies or unload the supplies – it was my mission to document and bring the great work of our troops back home. I was honored to be a part of it.

God Bless,

SSgt Jeremy Vought

Afghanistan Freedom Watch Update - July 16, 2010

Today's newscast hosted by Marine SSgt Jeremy Vought.

"IT IS WELL" - Aftermath of a Miscarriage - Video

13 June 2010

Last night Toni was at the emergency room. The doctors confirmed what we feared - a miscarriage. We were so excited to have another child. Our first child, Alyssa, has been a true blessing from the Lord. The worst part about the whole thing was I couldn't be there for my wife, hold her close and comfort her. I felt totally inempt, stuck here in Afghanistan. I wanted to hold her.

I called my parents and I will continue to thank them for traveling last minute from PA to VA to help, comfort, babysit, and bring Toni's mother down. I will forever remember that gesture. They didn't ask me why, they just went. I am so lucky to have parents like them. They are a blessing. Thank you Mom and Dad.



The next morning was rough, but I was glad it was Sunday. My first church service in country. "Is it well" was the subject of the chaplain's message. It was hard to sing the first verse of the hymn "It is well" without welling up. It was the message I needed to hear. I don't blame God, my wife or anyone else. God is good and his plan for us is supreme, even when we don't understand why.

I love you Dear. God continues to bless our family.

Watch a short video blog of the service: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNxhF6nGJJE

(Full blog at www.jeremyvought.blogspot.com)

"ROCKET ATTACK IN AFGHANISTAN" - Video

6 June 2010
Here's a new video blog from Afghanistan. First night at FOB Wolverine and the Taliban throws a rocket at us. Here's the first hand experience from the bunker.

Video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pxSA6Zn8gM



Check out the full blog @ http://jeremyvought.blogspot.com

"ARRIVED IN AFGHANISTAN" - Video

30-31 May 2010

Arrived in Bagram, Afghanistan. Moving down to Kandahar for a while.

"GOODBYE MARINES"

21 May 2010
Today was my last day at work. It was a little hectic, but definitely good to see and say bye to the Marines in my shop. They're all combat correspondents and television broadcasters. We make up Marine Corps News. For a send off, they treated me to lunch at a Chinese buffet in Crystal City near our building. Man, it was good and we all probably gained 15 pounds from the food. I'll sweat it off later.

During lunch, I told them all two things before I left: To take care of each other and never settle. It seems like the past year, their care was in my hands and I've really enjoyed working with and mentoring them. Now they were going to have to take care of each other. As a Marine broadcaster, I'm a big quality nut, so I wanted them to remember to never settle in their work - something could always be changed/tweaked/edited to make a story, video, photo better. Our unit just came off an incredible wining year in Department of Defense media awards, and I think that mentality of never settling helped put us over the top. I want other Marines around the Corps to look at our shop as the beacon in what we do.

We've been sending Marines from our unit to Afghanistan for the past couple years to fill these AFN (American Forces Network) TV billets. SSgt Clint Firstbrook just came home and Cpls. Bryan Lett and AJ Lugo are currently there - they're doing an awesome job, I'm so proud of them as a leader. The nice thing about having/managing these billets is that we get a little more say than the average Marine into when we want to go. This was my turn, I'm excited about the opportunity - especially now that I'll be in a leadership billet. Last time I deployed to Iraq in '03, I was low man on the totem. This time I'll have more of an opportunity to lead - I'm looking forward to it. I chose this rotation during much of the Summer and Fall so Toni and Alyssa can keep busy with all the family vacations to Ocean City, Md., and Assateague Island, Md. I hope that should help pass the time for them in my absence.

"DADDY HAS TO GO AWAY"

20 May 2010

Today was one of my hardest days as a father - it was the day I had to fully in depth tell my beautiful daughter, Alyssa, that I was going away on a trip for a long time. I'd be deploying to Afghanistan for six months. She'll be three in August.

After work in D.C. I came home to eat dinner with Toni and Alyssa. When we finished up dinner, Toni left to go out with a few girlfriends from our church's MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. It was a night for Alyssa and I to spend time together, break the news to her and communicate as father and daughter.
The weeks leading up to this night I had told her little things about me leaving, but I don't think it ever fully sunk in - for her as well as for me. It wasn't real - yet.
During bath time, I started doing some explaining about leaving for Afghanistan and being away for a while. Still fresh on her mind, I had just come home from a two-week trip for Marine Week Boston, so she understands what it's like to have Dad gone. I could tell she was getting a little upset. After bath time, I put Alyssa in her pajamas and we headed downstairs. A while back we all attended a Sesame Street show geared toward military families on Andrews Air Force Base. Each family received a DVD set with the characters that told a story about deployments. Alyssa and I would watch that tonight for the first time.

Cozy in the finished basement, we dimmed the lights, snuggled on the futon and popped in the disc. The basis of the story was Elmo's father leaving on a long trip. All the little talks we had started to sink in for her as she watched the different emotions her furry red friend faced and expressed. Reality was now sinking in. At times it seemed like she was purposely moving a laying away from me in defense. (That could also be me over analyzing her).
If you were watching, you'd probably see my eyes starts welling up before Alyssa's (most have told me deployments are harder on the parents than the children - I didn't believe them, but I'm fast reconsidering). Elmo and his father talked on the computer, wrote letters and said goodnight to the moon each night. It was good for Alyssa to see all the ways we could stay connected. By the end of the 30 minutes we were both hugging kissing and, yes, crying. I wasn't sure how much she would understand, but she understood enough - we were about to go through something tough.

Also within the film Elmo and his father exchange something special. I had an idea. We went upstairs and I sat her on our bed and I gave her my woodland boonie cover. I told her that she could wear it whenever so she could remember me. She started crying and was hesitant to take it - I think because she understood what it meant. I then gave her something special that was between Toni and I when I went off to Iraq in 2003. We had a medallion that on one side had the Marine Corps emblem and the other the words: "The Lord watch me and thee while we are apart." It was split in two and placed on two chains. Now each of us would have a side and when I returned the necklace would be complete again, much like our family. She really liked it.

It's funny because I think she and I grew much closer that night. In between the hugs, kisses and cries she would hold me and tell me things I never heard: "I'm going to miss you Daddy. I don't want you to leave. I love you so much." It seem liked every time she reached over and place herself in my arms I'd lose it. I guess I didn't realize how much I'd miss her when we were separated.

So when I'm out there in the middle of nowhere missing my wife and little girl - this too shall pass.

And to Alyssa: "I love you too....."