More Pictures from Afghanistan

This is what was right outside Bagram Air Base where Shane was based. I think it is so interesting to contrast the modern American military hospital that is inside the fence with the primitive conditions that exist outside it. For obvious security reasons, Shane was never allowed outside the base during his time there.

One of the highlights of Shane's time in Afghanistan was meeting Afghani President Hamid Karzai when Karzai came into the hospital for a check-up.

Here Shane is standing on top of the hospital and you can see a view of the mountains in the background as well as part of the base.

The picture above shows Shane as he is flying into Afghanistan for the first time. He is flying in a C-17. The picture below shows the sign outside the hospital where Shane worked. Check out the weapon that he has strapped to his leg. He had to have his gun with him and loaded at all times.

One of Shane's main duties was to fly medical evacuation missions from Afghanistan to Germany. What this means is that the patients that were too wounded or too sick to be treated in Afghanistan would be flown on special medically equipped planes to an American military hospital in Germany where they could receive more extensive treatment. Shane's job was to fly with them and keep them alive and safe until they reached Germany. This picture to the left shows a C-17 that was set up with bunks for the patients.

This is a picture of a KC-135 plane that had been configured to accomodate medical patients. KC-135s are normally used for refueling and they are much smaller than the C-17s.

This shows a view inside a C-17