our good mate Darren.
Posted on 07/12/2007 7:01:57 PM PDT by SandRat
There is nothing in Wagga to compare to this place; in fact it makes Wagga Beach look like heaven on earth. Welcome to summer in the Middle East .
Corporal Darren Abercrombie, 37, is an Army cargo specialist serving his second tour of duty at the main Australian Defence Force logistic base in the Middle East Area of Operations.
Raised in Wagga Wagga, he is again enduring the harsh desert environment that surrounds the remote base.
“The toughest things about this place are the heat and sand,” he said. “Some days it gets up to about 48 degrees, which can really knock you around. It draws the energy out of you, and when the wind blows up its like standing beside a bonfire with people throwing sand in your face.”
Through this base moves 95 per cent of the personnel and material destined for Iraq and Afghanistan . For Abercrombie this means long days moving everything from ammunition and vehicle parts to computers and soldiers' trunks forward to Iraq and Afghanistan . Despite the hard work he said he was enjoying himself.
“I transferred to the Transport Corps four years ago as a Terminal Operator after spending 14 years as a steward,” he said. “I needed a change, so I decided to become a cargo specialist. This is my second deployment, and I'm having a ball.”
“What makes it bearable are the people I work with and the satisfaction of helping the people of Iraq and Afghanistan ,” he said. “You make some good friends here, and you know that you are achieving something good.”
Back in Australia Abercrombie is posted to the 30 th Terminal Squadron at Ross Island in Townsville, where life is a whole lot greener and relaxed. Townsville is also where he and his wife have their home. “My wife was happy for me come here again to do what I want to do,” he said, “but we do miss each other. I can't wait to see her again, she is pregnant with our first child, and it will be great to get home and comfort her while she goes through the morning sickness and the cravings.”
His mother and grandparents still live in Wagga, and Abercrombie makes sure he keeps in touch regularly. “My mum is a bit concerned about me, but I keep telling her I'm safe,” he said. “My grandfather thinks it's great me being over here. He served in the Second World War at Cowra during the break-out and then in New Guinea .
“Since I was 10 years old I wanted to follow his footsteps and join the Army. He's over the moon about my military career because he never thought I'd last so long in the Army. He thought I'd only do a few years, but I've showed him that I'm a stayer. He's very proud of me.”
His family does their bit to support him by sending a steady stream of mail. “I get a lot of care packages and letters to remind me of home,” he said. “I especially like the lollies and chocolates from Australia , because they are different to what you get here. The only problem is the chocolate arrives melted into one big blob, but I still enjoy eating it while I watch a movie at night.”
While the packages feed his hunger for Australia , there is one thing they can't send that Abercrombie craves most of all. “I really miss the scent of Australia ,” he said. “It will be good to go home and smell some fresh air.”
A Good Mate!
A stayer... Our Senate could learn this lesson.
Oh I don't know about that. I wish most of them would just go... anywhere but the Senate chamber.
our good mate Darren.
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