May 13, 2020
Sotos Cano Air Base, Honduras
Yes, Day One. Again. After three days of relative freedom, including a minimal amount of in-processing and shots for things like Typhoid, a prescription for malaria prophylaxis (which, by the way, is scientifically proven to prevent attacks by Honduran jaguars), we moved on.
By fits and starts, anyway. A 7 a.m. flight was changed to a 11 a.m. flight which was changed to a 3:30 p.m. flight that was booked but not paid for. Eventually we ended up at a hotel in Charleston, SC. For 3 ½ hours. Then a chartered cargo/passenger flight from Charleston AFB to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. Along with three MP dog handlers and their dogs, one of whom seemed rather interested in eating someone. The dog, that is, not the handler. More in-processing, then into quarantine again for another fourteen days.
Moderately worse conditions here than at FOB Westbrook in NM. Marine Corps tents with good HVAC (mine is actually too cold and it is 93 outside), wood floor, cots instead of bunks, no place to sit in the shade outside, but hot meals, and a First Sergeant who offered to bring us beer each day. For reasons I can’t fathom she likes me and lobbied hard to have me on this mission. Oh, and I brought my $8 PX coffee pot along with four bags of donated Starbucks coffee, so I guess we can get a buzz each night on beer and nurse our headache in the morning with fresh brewed coffee. There is some talk of getting rum, lime juice, and mint for mojitos.
So, I guess maybe things could be worse, all things considered.
ELP airport terminal. Completely empty mid-afternoon, but for the stranded Army medical officers, awaiting someone, somewhere, to pay for their tickets
We’re entering the rainy season. I’m told the whole post is not ugly like this. But we have a bike rack! You’re livin’ large when you have a bike rack!
Back side of the hooches. Latrines/shower/laundry on the left.
My unofficial battle buddy Dereck (physician) and our corner of the hooch. You can’t see the coffee pot on the floor queued up for tomorrow morning. But you can see the 30-pack of beer near Derrick’s leg.
Derreck stashing a case of beer in the AC duct to stay cold. All the comforts of home!
Some folks hang out outdoors a bit after dinner, but most the younger folks retreat to their cots and cell phones around dusk. By about 8 p.m., most have retreated to their music and Internet. Or sleep.
But, hey, at least I’m putting a little remote back in the Remote Medic. Or will be, if I ever clear quarantine.