Going to Afghanistan

[Matt McKenzie]

I am sure some of you know this, but I will be leaving for Afghanistan on Dec 18th, next Thursday. It will be a 13 month tour for me this time (4th tour since 2001). I will be getting online and posting when I can, but don't know how often that will be. My best means for keeping in touch is my Blackberry and e-mail. If you are interested in keeping in touch fell free to e-mail me at
matt.mckenzie@us.army.mil or
matt.mckenzie@vzw.blackberry.net
If you have a Blackberry, and want to keep in touch via BB messaging, my pin is 31C09BEC.

I look forward to posting up when I can and letting you all know how things are going!!!

**EDIT**

I plan on using this as my official Afghanistan update thread for when I start the trip over and get settled in. With that, here is my mailing address for anybody that is interested.

Matt McKenzie
HHC, 1-32IN, TF Duke
FOB Joyce
APO AE 09354

[Vinnysrt8]

Big brother matt i will miss u alot and thanks alot.

[BJB]

Matt, Take care of yourself and be safe. You are a true American Hero!!

:usa: :smilie_flagge13: :usa:

[BJB]

Oh, and don't forget the Jeep banner, LOL You packed that already, right???

[CHARGERTREV]

Watch your 6, thanks

[HEMISFEAR]

Thanks for all you do Matt! We wish you a safe return!

[Retro]

Take care over there.

[Vinnysrt8]

Hey Matt before u go out over seas bring ur truck to my house i will watch it for u wash it wax it put mods on it if u have any coming and i will charge the battery

[DevssrT]

Matty...just took down your 2 emails and your pin...I just responded to your email and pinned you back also buddy

[Evilways]

Be safe and hurry back home...thanks for your service to us and our country!

[DBTBSS]

Stay Safe and hurry back! Thanks

[NYCSRTATE]

Move fast, stay low and be safe.

Sent you a Blackberry Messenger request.

[RichieRacer]

good luck matt

[PWRtrip]

Be safe and hurry back home...thanks for your service to us and our country!

ditto that :usa:
btw matt...holler if you run short of somethin like calling card mins.,camel jerky,penicillin, ect.

[HarryBallz]

You best stay in touch with us fool! We are gonna miss your posts EVERYDAY for sure. Do us a favor and come home to us safely, cause when you get back, we're having one BIG ASS PARTY!!! I'll drive to wherever for that one!! You know I love me some road trips. Seriously though Matt.... for what you do for us, no one can express or say enough Thank You's. You will be in our hearts and our prayers. If you run into my little cousin, Harrison Newton, make him do some push-ups for me!! I'll try to find out from his dad where exactly he is. Take care Matt and God Bless and God Speed.

[DRKNE55]

matt, thanks for your service dude. i added you to my crackberry. im SS

[SRTLUVR]

Matt, I emailed you back bro. You will be missed buddy.....but only for a short while, cuz you're coming home fast. To a heavily modded Jeep, too!!! Take care man, I know we'll talk soon. :)
Chase

[CTS-Veo]

Don't forget to bring your:
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk350/CTS-Veo/Motivational/1214254263337.jpg
and make sure you send out postcards:
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk350/CTS-Veo/Motivational/support_poster.jpg
But most of all, HAVE FUN!
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk350/CTS-Veo/Motivational/budget-cuts-jet-demotivational-post.jpg

Ok, seriously... Stay safe over there, and thanks for what you guys do!

[Matt McKenzie]

Thanks a lot for all the support...it helps so much!!!!

Oh, and don't forget the Jeep banner, LOL You packed that already, right???
Like I told you last nite on the phone, got it with all my shit sitting in the corner waiting to be pakced up...and I will make sure to get some pics with it over there!

Hey Matt before u go out over seas bring ur truck to my house i will watch it for u wash it wax it put mods on it if u have any coming and i will charge the battery
Thanks Vinny, but it's taken care of already, LOL!

Matty...just took down your 2 emails and your pin...I just responded to your email and pinned you back also buddy


Move fast, stay low and be safe.

Sent you a Blackberry Messenger request.


matt, thanks for your service dude. i added you to my crackberry. im SS
Got all three of you guys, thanks a lot!

You best stay in touch with us fool! We are gonna miss your posts EVERYDAY for sure. Do us a favor and come home to us safely, cause when you get back, we're having one BIG ASS PARTY!!! I'll drive to wherever for that one!! You know I love me some road trips. Seriously though Matt.... for what you do for us, no one can express or say enough Thank You's. You will be in our hearts and our prayers. If you run into my little cousin, Harrison Newton, make him do some push-ups for me!! I'll try to find out from his dad where exactly he is. Take care Matt and God Bless and God Speed.
Thanks a lot Harrison, and I look foward to that BIG ASS PARTY when I get back, but lets not limit it to just the red site, I would love for all the "Blue" site guys to make it too!!!!!

Matt, I emailed you back bro. You will be missed buddy.....but only for a short while, cuz you're coming home fast. To a heavily modded Jeep, too!!! Take care man, I know we'll talk soon. :)
Chase
Thanks Chase....hopefully I will get home as fast as my Jeep drives, LOL! Oh yeah, I cancelled the build on my Jeep....the $30K I was going to spend on it, I decided to save it while I am away and use it as a down payment on a house when I get back! I need some assets:D

[DRKNE55]

Thanks Chase....hopefully I will get home as fast as my Jeep drives, LOL! Oh yeah, I cancelled the build on my Jeep....the $30K I was going to spend on it, I decided to save it while I am away and use it as a down payment on a house when I get back! I need some assets:D

smart man. its a shame when i see returning soldiers blow all their money on useless shit when they dont have a home to live in.

[markus]

keep your head down and smoke some jingles for me. the most important thing to remember is to have FUN!

[Matt McKenzie]

Gotta love the Army.....my date got pushed back two days, so now I am leaving on Saturday the 20th. Yes, I guess it's nice to get a couple more days stateside....but I would rather just get over there and get it started!!!!

[HEMISFEAR]

I wish they would have waited until after Christmas Matt, but I hope all goes well man.

[Matt McKenzie]

I plan on using this as my official Afghanistan update thread for when I start the trip over and get settled in. With that, here is my mailing address for anybody that is interested.

Matt McKenzie
HHC, 1-32IN, TF Duke
FOB Joyce
APO AE 09354

[paxton]

Good luck Matt and hope ya stay safe over there! I've got a co-worker and a good friend over in Iraq right now.

[Matt McKenzie]

Hey everyone, two days left.....I will be flying out around 9pm Saturday nite, fuck I am getting so anxious. Anyways, yesterday I dropped my Blackberry in some slush on the road and had to get a new one. So, if you requested me for Blackberry Messenger before, delete that contact, and request me on my new PIN, which is 31C09BEC. If you have a Blackberry, this will be the best way for me to keep in touch! I also edited the PIN in the first post! Again, the support from this forum as a whole is amazing, thanks!

[Mag 8]

Matt...thank you for your courage/bravery (a family friend is over there in less cool Canadian fatigues).
Do BB us all on MMF when you can. Thanks again.

[Matt McKenzie]

It's hard to believe I head out tomorrow...seems like I just got back, I guess Summer of 2007 wasn't that long ago! So, I have been getting a lot of questions about what to send while I am over there....honestly, pictures, wether by e-mail or snail mail. Pictures are a connection to home. So if you take any nice pics while I am away, feel free to e-mail or mail me some if you would like....I can hang em up on the wall next to BJB's banner!!!! Looks like tonite is my last time on until I get somewhere in a different country, LOL!!!

[HEMISFEAR]

It's hard to believe I head out tomorrow...seems like I just got back, I guess Summer of 2007 wasn't that long ago! So, I have been getting a lot of questions about what to send while I am over there....honestly, pictures, wether by e-mail or snail mail. Pictures are a connection to home. So if you take any nice pics while I am away, feel free to e-mail or mail me some if you would like....I can hang em up on the wall next to BJB's banner!!!! Looks like tonite is my last time on until I get somewhere in a different country, LOL!!!

Stay safe my friend! Hope to see you surfin' again soon.

[DRKNE55]

stay safe dude. copied down your addy, ill find something good to send....hahah.

[Mag 8]

Matt, I just saw some of the pics you posted of your return parties in our "1st pair of titties" thread...you fully NEED to get home safely for some more dat!

[Matt McKenzie]

Well, I am not quite in Afghanistan yet! I am at Manas, Kergystan. Our flight got delayed a couple days out of Drum, so it took us awhile just to get to here! Two six hour flights, and here I am now! Hopefully I should be in Afghanistan within a week. I miss being on here and you guys, I hope all is well in the forum world!

[HEMISFEAR]

Well, I am not quite in Afghanistan yet! I am at Manas, Kergystan. Our flight got delayed a couple days out of Drum, so it took us awhile just to get to here! Two six hour flights, and here I am now! Hopefully I should be in Afghanistan within a week. I miss being on here and you guys, I hope all is well in the forum world!

Yo Matt. Good to hear from ya man. Stay safe.

[HEMISFEAR]

Any updates Matty?

[markus]

Well, I am not quite in Afghanistan yet! I am at Manas, Kergystan. Our flight got delayed a couple days out of Drum, so it took us awhile just to get to here! Two six hour flights, and here I am now! Hopefully I should be in Afghanistan within a week. I miss being on here and you guys, I hope all is well in the forum world!

glad to see you on! shoot me a pm or a message on the space wherever you wind up. my buddy is heading out there with 2nd anglico and i have a few buddies in kabul and a couple at sherb and some other various locations :cloud9: let me know if you need any booze hookups or anything like that.

[HEMISFEAR]

Atta boy Marky! Hookin a brotha up!

[Jeep Trick]

E-mail From Matt:

I am in Bagram, Afghanistan right now, and will be pushing out to FOB Joyce tomorrow. I found out last night that our mailing address has changed, our new one is:

Matt McKenzie
HHC, 1-32IN, TF Duke
FOB Joyce
APO AE 09354

With this new address, please do not put rank in there, just name.

It might be a little bit before we get settled into Joyce, but I will try to let everyone know as soon as I can get online. Take care and I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

[Matt McKenzie]

As it goes right now, I am safe and sound at my permanent FOB, it's called FOB Joyce and it is near Asadabad, Afghanistan...on the border of Pakistan. This place gets rocketed and attacked on a weekly basis, but it is new, and when things get going those attacks will slow down quite a bit. I have a comfortable place to lay my head and to get hot food and warm showers, so all is good on my side. The internet is very scarce here, and hopefully my unit will get it's own internet set up within the month. The speed of this internet makes Dial up look like high speed, and once I post this, it will take about 2 minutes for the page to load and refresh.....gotta love it!

Right now I am pretty bored because the equipment that I should be setting up before everybody gets here, is not here yet....go Army, LOL!

Anyways, I do miss this Forum and the great guys and gals on it....I have been receiving the e-mails from those of you that have my e-mail address, it just takes me about an hour to read through all of them. I am sorry I am not in touch more, but when we get our internet up...it should be a little more often.

Joel, thanks for posting up my new address! I will be around when I can....miss ya guys!

[Vinnysrt8]

Matt good to hear from u again

[1BAMFR]

As it goes right now, I am safe and sound at my permanent FOB, it's called FOB Joyce and it is near Asadabad, Afghanistan...on the border of Pakistan. This place gets rocketed and attacked on a weekly basis, but it is new, and when things get going those attacks will slow down quite a bit. I have a comfortable place to lay my head and to get hot food and warm showers, so all is good on my side. The internet is very scarce here, and hopefully my unit will get it's own internet set up within the month. The speed of this internet makes Dial up look like high speed, and once I post this, it will take about 2 minutes for the page to load and refresh.....gotta love it!

Right now I am pretty bored because the equipment that I should be setting up before everybody gets here, is not here yet....go Army, LOL!

Anyways, I do miss this Forum and the great guys and gals on it....I have been receiving the e-mails from those of you that have my e-mail address, it just takes me about an hour to read through all of them. I am sorry I am not in touch more, but when we get our internet up...it should be a little more often.

Joel, thanks for posting up my new address! I will be around when I can....miss ya guys!

Matty, Big party in Jan. of 2010 dude

[BJB]

Your house!! Right Keoni???? :pounding table:


:jk: NOT

[1BAMFR]

[QUOTE=BJB;23133]Your house!! Right Keoni???? :pounding table:


:jk: NOT[/


Thats cool with me Brian.......You bring the Jaeger and Red Bull

[Vinnysrt8]

party at keonis house

[Grip Grip]

Welcome aboard Keoni, it's nice to have you here. :D

[Grip Grip]

I am sure some of you know this, but I will be leaving for Afghanistan on Dec 18th, next Thursday. It will be a 13 month tour for me this time (4th tour since 2001). I will be getting online and posting when I can, but don't know how often that will be. My best means for keeping in touch is my Blackberry and e-mail. If you are interested in keeping in touch fell free to e-mail me at
matt.mckenzie@us.army.mil or
matt.mckenzie@vzw.blackberry.net
If you have a Blackberry, and want to keep in touch via BB messaging, my pin is 31C09BEC.

I look forward to posting up when I can and letting you all know how things are going!!!

**EDIT**

I plan on using this as my official Afghanistan update thread for when I start the trip over and get settled in. With that, here is my mailing address for anybody that is interested.

Matt McKenzie
HHC, 1-32IN, TF Duke
FOB Joyce
APO AE 09354




Welcome aboard Matt, it's nice to have you here also. ;) :pounding table:

[1BAMFR]

Welcome aboard Keoni, it's nice to have you here. :D


I've been here Anthony.....where you been?:Scottwax1:

I have 56 posts, I'm a veteran:user:

[1BAMFR]

party at Vinnys rich Dads house


fixed it for ya

[Vinnysrt8]

fixed it for ya

ok we will do it one day the bricks is almost done.

[Vinnysrt8]

grip just signed up today and some how he got 1000 of my post

[Grip Grip]

I've been here Anthony.....where you been?:Scottwax1:

I have 56 posts, I'm a veteran:user:

Veteran = me 1,000+ posts! :D

[1BAMFR]

ok we will do it one day the bricks is almost done.


Next time say.......

OK, We'll have a party when the house gets finished, The brick is almost done;)

[Grip Grip]

Next time say.......

OK, We'll have a party when the house gets finished, The brick is almost done;)

Grammar 101 :D

[Vinnysrt8]

Grammer thats what i need.

[1BAMFR]

Grammar 101 :D

Just looking out for good ole' Vinny:coolgleamA:

[1BAMFR]

Grammer(sp) thats what i need.

..............

[Grip Grip]

No offense, but Vinny = Grammar impaired. :D

[Matt McKenzie]

I don't care where there party is at in 2010...I will be there! So, these guys....bad guys, they have rocketed and mortared us for a week straight...fortunately they suck and they don't have good aim....but it still gets annoying! You try to help a country out, and they treat you like this, LOL!!!

[Vinnysrt8]

Matt good to see u on the fourms

[Vinnysrt8]

No offense, but Vinny = Grammar impaired. :D

I have the best grammer and spelling jk

[Matt McKenzie]

And it's good being here when I can Vinny!

[Dr.Steve]

hey Matty - miss you tons bro! got all your emails, hope things have settled down a bunch, good to see you!!!!!!

[HEMISFEAR]

And it's good being here when I can Vinny!

Great to hear from ya Matt! Hope you're keeping safe...we're growing slowly but surely over here brotha! :thumbsup:

[Matt McKenzie]

hey Matty - miss you tons bro! got all your emails, hope things have settled down a bunch, good to see you!!!!!!

I miss you too brother...I am already looking forward to the wecome home party, LOL! The bad guys are keeping us on our toes...but my unit still hasn't made it in yet...so kinda slow and boring, I am ready for it to pick up already! I hope you Sarah and Spencer are doing well....you and your family are in my thoughts bro!

[cheatek]

Hey Matt, stay safe over there and props for doing what you do!!

[markus]

matt,
whats taking you so fucking long? i want my ear necklace already! glad your okay, even gladder you could check in!

[DevssrT]

Miss ya Matty and always nice to get your emails...take care

[Matt McKenzie]

Sorry I have been out of touch for so long guys! I am working 12-16 hour days and it is ground hog day everyday, LOL! I am staying safe, and time seems to be flying by now. I will be going home to California for a couple of weeks in April, and I will get to see my GF (who will then be my fiancee!), and I am pretty excited about that! Miss you guys!

Sorry about the ear necklace Markus....I still need just a couple more, LOL!!!

[SRTLUVR]

MMMAAAAAAAATTT!!!! What up fucker!!! Good to see you posting up over here!! This is fo sho my favorite site. Glad you are well buddy. We sure miss you being around. Keep the emails coming bro.......And kudos on the soon-to-be engagement!!!! Atta boy Matty!!!!
Chase

[Mag 8]

Keep keepin' it safe, Matt.
Hey, now that you're engaged, which of your cars is your fiance driving while you're away!?

[BJB]

I just wanted to send out a quick e-mail with some new photos. My hair is groing back a little bit since the chop, LOL! Things are moving right along, but I still wish it would move a lot faster! I have ben getting lots of care packages and I really do appreciate it...the support means so much!

Anyways, onto the pics:
1) Mine and Guy's living area...not too shabby!
2) Mi Casa...living large, LOL!
3) Guy and I at our chairs!
4) These two guys, Namir on the left and Ahmed on the right, worked with us the last time we were here in Afghanistan, when they found out we were back, they quit their jobs and came back to work for us! Really great guys!
5) The not-so-tough-guy anymore, LOL!!!
6) The Lion Rampant sent by Brian and the SRT banner, sent by the other Brian, haha!

I hope you enjoy the pics! I miss all of you and hope all is well in your lives!!! Take care!

Matt

1
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp312/BJBSRT8Jeep/Matt/1-OurHouse.jpg
2
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp312/BJBSRT8Jeep/Matt/2-MiCasa.jpg
3
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp312/BJBSRT8Jeep/Matt/3-Chairs.jpg
4
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp312/BJBSRT8Jeep/Matt/4-NamirandAhmed.jpg
5
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp312/BJBSRT8Jeep/Matt/5-NotsoTough-Guy.jpg
6
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp312/BJBSRT8Jeep/Matt/6-LionRampant.jpg

[Mag 8]

Humbled by Matt's kindness to take & send those shots, Brian...thanks for posting them up and thanks again to Matt.

[DevssrT]

I got these in my email as well and was going to post them also!!...Glad you posted them though brian!

[BJB]

You know that big ass gun is for protecting the Jeep banner!!

[HEMISFEAR]

How freakin' cool is that! Thanks for the pics bro and stay safe over there.

[BJB]

Matt and I were talking one day and we said if Bin Laden is ever caught he will steach out the big Jeep banner so CNN can get a shot of it!!:pounding table:

[HEMISFEAR]

Matt and I were talking one day and we said if Bin Laden is ever caught he will steach out the big Jeep banner so CNN can get a shot of it!!:pounding table:


That right there is fuckin' hilarious. I can see Bin Laden tied and wrapped in the banner lmao :ROTFLMAO:

[cheatek]

Make it a MMF banner!!

[Matt McKenzie]

You guys are great...man I miss this fourm, I wish I could be back on everyday...just don't have the time anymore. Thanks so much Brian for helping keep everyone posted on whats going on with me and posting up the pics!

Yes, the M-4 is for protecting tha banner...no one touches the Jeep Banner, LOL!

Oh yeah...the fiance has her own car...........LOL!!!!

[Vinnysrt8]

I miss u matt hury on back so we could whore up the forums.. monkey ballz

[Matt McKenzie]

Hahaha....I think my whoring days are done....but I will still be on when I can!

[Matt McKenzie]

Okay, so I need to post some more pics up, so here are four more. The first two are the Hennessey shirt in Afghanistan, the third is my trainer Cliff and the last one is me working hard (check out the calendar behind my desk).

[HarryBallz]

MATTY!!!! What's up bro? Sorry I missed you call lastr week. I was actually ASLEEP!! Hard to imagine that early. The ONE night..... ONE NIGHT I go to bed at a normal time, I miss your call. I'm digging you Representing the GCSRT8 over there. That's cool. Keep on doing what you're doing and be safe bro. Take care.:obscene:

[Matt McKenzie]

Just wanted to give a heads up, I will be conducting what we like to call a battle field rotation. I will be heading to all three combat outposts to monitor how their CPs (command posts) are being ran. A CP is a companies version of the TOC (tactical operations center)...just not as big and it doesn't have half of the cool stuff that we have! Sorry, I know a lot of you know this, but just explaining it for those who don't. I will be making sure that all reporting to Battalion will be to standard of how we want them. I will also be checking the layout, or functionality of their CPs to make sure they are set up in a way that helps them to operate more efficiently.

I will try to get some pics while I am out of the wire, and will get some posted up after my return back to Joyce.

[HEMISFEAR]

Just wanted to give a heads up, I will be conducting what we like to call a battle field rotation. I will be heading to all three combat outposts to monitor how their CPs (command posts) are being ran. A CP is a companies version of the TOC (tactical operations center)...just not as big and it doesn't have half of the cool stuff that we have! Sorry, I know a lot of you know this, but just explaining it for those who don't. I will be making sure that all reporting to Battalion will be to standard of how we want them. I will also be checking the layout, or functionality of their CPs to make sure they are set up in a way that helps them to operate more efficiently.

I will try to get some pics while I am out of the wire, and will get some posted up after my return back to Joyce.

Very cool to see ya back Matt! You're job sounds a lot like mine in many ways except that mine is in Emergency Health. Sooo, do they like you over there 'visiting' them like that? Thanks for the latest scoop bro and keep safe.

:hug:

[Matt McKenzie]

Milan, not really! When they hear I am coming, they know something is messed up in their CP, and I am the one to come and clean it up and let them know how it is supposed to be done. I will sit in the back and take notes, check out the layout. Hopefully one of their units on the ground will get into contact (with no injuries), so I can see exactly how they run things when it matters. I will give them my feedback and what I think needs to be done for more effective reporting...then I will move onto the next one, hoping the last will take my considerations to heart! Why can't I just be out shooting the bad guys...it would be so much easier!

[Matt McKenzie]

Okay, I am back at FOB Joyce....vacation is over and time for me to work my ass off....which is exactly what I am doing! I am a Staff Sergeant (E-6) covering down on my Operations Sergeant Major (E-9) as he is going off to a dfferent camp for a little bit...then on leave in the Summer....damn they are keeping me busy!!!