Lieutenant Colonel Groulx transferred to Kabul (6 photos)

SooToday.com has received another e-mail update (below) from Lieutenant Colonel Eric Groulx, the former commanding officer of Sault Ste. Marie's 49th Field Artillery Regiment.

The local soldier writes from Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, where he is now serving in operation with the Canadian Forces.

The photo shown was taken as Eric began a leave in Dubai.

The gallery accompanying this article includes other photos from Dubai, as well as images from Kabul.

************************* Sixth letter home - now from Kabul It has been some time since I have written - but that is mostly due to the fact that I was home for leave.

The Canadian Forces generously allows us three days per month on tour for leave.

Some folks travel to different parts of the world, and some go home.

I chose to be at home.

I did have the benefit of a visit with my good friend Paul Ness who now lives in Dubai.

I spent the day with his family, went out on his boat in the gulf, and had a marvelous day to start my leave.

At the end of the day, began the very long series of plane rides to get home.

After flying from Dubai to Frankfurt and then to Toronto, I was very disappointed to learn that my flight from Toronto to the Sault was cancelled due to the weather in Sault Ste. Marie.

After dealing with the initial shock of the Air Canada agent telling me that they could not book me on another flight for two days, I asked them to get me on a flight to Sudbury.

We took off in a couple of hours, and then in air over Sudbury, the captain announced that they could not land due to weather conditions.

He said that he could circle for 20 minutes, and then would have to turn back to Toronto.

I was overjoyed that an opening in the weather allowed us to put down in Sudbury.

After landing, my intent was to rent a car, and drive the rest of the way, but I happened to see a Bearskin flight in front of the terminal getting ready to leave.

It turned out that the plane was heading to the Sault!

Bearskin Airlines was generous to let me onto the plane for a very reasonable fee, and within minutes, I was airborne, and heading home.

My time with my family was great, and it was a real treat to be at home when all of the snow melted.

I find it difficult to describe how it felt to be home - because the world is so incredibly different, and knowing that I would be returning to Afghanistan after only 18 days, it was somewhat surreal.

Everything in the Sault seemed somewhat new.

When I met people, they were always quick to ask when I was heading back.

It kept me on a constant countdown, and always very aware of my limited time at home.

This countdown was most apparent when I was at my son's soccer game and my reply to the return question was “in one hour.”

My return to Kandahar was uneventful - 48 hours door to door - with airport layovers, and a stop at our support base to pick up my uniform, weapons and ballistic vest.

It was nice to finally arrive Kandahar Airfield and rejoin my friends in Regional Command South.

One of my closest friends in Kandahar is Lieutenant Colonel Mike Voith.

I shared an office with Mike.

Even when not in combat, it is interesting to see that strong friendships develop between deployed soldiers.

Mike is an engineer officer, and has commanded the DART (Disaster Assistance Recovery Team),

He deployed with the DART in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan.

His experience is a great benefit to Regional Command South Headquarters where he is the senior staff officer responsible for governance across southern Afghanistan.

My other office partner was Lieutenant Colonel Colin Magee.

Colin is an infantry officer who comes to Afghanistan from staff at the Senior Officer Staff School in Toronto.

Here in Afghanistan, he is responsible for advising on political matters in southern Afghanistan to the headquarters in Kabul.

While I was away on leave, a decision was made to move me from my position in Kandahar to a newly created position in Kabul.

Initially, the plan was for me to work at the National Police Coordination Centre.

At the same time, a German officer was selected to work at the National Military Coordination Centre (NMCC).

The German began his duties while I was on leave.

Unfortunately, the German resigned his position due to the unpleasant working conditions.

With the resignation of the German, I was rushed up to Kabul to take up position at the NMCC in order to be there in case anything happened at the Mujahadeen victory celebration held on April 27 .

I was able to visit the NMCC on April 26 to see where I would work, and introduce myself to the Afghan army officers in the centre.

I arrived on the morning of April 27 with my translator, and we were watching the beginning of the parade on the television when we began to hear shots fired before the live broadcast was cut.

It was an interesting experience to see the Afghan officers who were just seen on the parade hurry into our command centre and begin taking action.

My responsibility was to keep ISAF headquarters informed of all of the activities and decisions of our Afghan army partners.

I was able to send continuous updates, and answer inquiries from my headquarters throughout the day.

At the end of the day, it was very rewarding to be praised for my efforts.

A decision was made to keep me in the NMCC, and another officer will be found to fill the post at the National Police Coordination Centre.

I spent a day to get myself sorted out here at my new home for the next three months.

I find my new quarters very crowded.

My room which I share with an officer from France is seven feet wide, and 18 feet long.

They are really built for one person, but with the removal of desks, and any furnishing other than a locker and a bed, we do fit, but I would not call it comfort.

I am not complaining - when front line soldiers rarely see a bed at night at all.

I look forward to the next few months where I will be working very closely with the Afghans.

The officers that I work with are all older, and more senior.

In a short discussion with one of the colonels, he described his career and life a bit.

He has been in the military for 29 years, and it has always been in battle.

He is now tired, and does not see much hope for the future.

I will do what I can for people like him - but more importantly, for his children.

Take care,

Eric

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