Currently living in Seattle, it's pretty nice, sun's out, went and got some coffee and walked the dog. I did see someone jaywalk, what an anarchist hellhole......
@@SevenCostanza please go learn more about human trafficking before forming such a stupid statement. Usually the ONLY way out of North Korea is through organized crime and you owe them a debt for getting you out. Again, Google isn’t hard to operate. Learn a thing or two first.
I'm sure a high pay rate and thinking you're going on an adventure with security being promised is probably alluring to most people. Especially during a global recession...
Ha ha ha. 8 Years in Afghanistan. Worked for Afghan companies and international ones there. We probably met. Thanks for the share. There is some real POS expats that were in Afghanistan that were dodgy as f%^&.
All PMC work is the same, not just construction in war zones. "It's only for six weeks." turns into "One more week, we've got some guys flying in next Tuesday to relieve us." over, and over, and over. Lots of promises, always broken. Never EVER fall for it. Never EVER get separated from your papers (passport especially), your shoes, or your rifle. Those three things are the only thing keeping you alive in hostile lands.
@@parabellum1002 well if you wanna stretch it a lil there is ocean front ohio. Ohio is on lake Erie, lake erie flows into lake Ontario, lake Ontario flows into the st Lawrence river, the st Lawrence river flows into the gulf of st Lawrence, the gulf of st Lawrence GOES INTO THE OCEAN
@@mp40submachinegun81 ah, like the Put In Bay Area! I actually forgot all about that and I’ve been there. It was loads of fun and brought back a good memory (thank you!) I see the logic there. We had to ferry over because it’s not connected to land but I agree it’s a stretch to call it ocean front as it’s still fresh water and would take extraordinary effort navigating through some pretty tiny canals going all the way up into Quebec to get to the Atlantic, but touché!
I knew the two Navy guys who were killed south of Shank. They were both found. One quickly, he was found in the vehicle (up-armored Land Cruiser) where he had died. The other was found after several days of searching. He had been beaten to death, stripped and dumped in the river when the Army was getting close to finding him. They had no business going where they went, and they made the decision to drive down there basically as battlefield tourists. That was my second of three tours. Army. Two as a combat advisor.
yup that stretch of road that goes by the main gate of shank is where i saw the most lucky afghan. his truck got shot to hell i mean holes every where on the cab except for the shape his seating. even the military vehicle he was hauling got hit by a RPG. when we got up to his truck he was still seating still in shock of what happened.
@@NASkeywest haha no, having spent time in Afghanistan among other places like it, and then hearing this story just doesn’t add up. I’m not saying he didn’t go there, it’s just not that scary or difficult to deal with. I think he is more interested in the story even if he has to Brian Williams it.
Most security companies that like their worker make it hard to split off if they need you. Not this bad though. Give you more hours but ruin references usually. Douches
I am so glad you got yourself out of that situation. I worked in Kabul as a security contractor 2011-14 and understand everything you have related to us and thankful you are safe.
Oh. My. God. I’ve been deploying as a soldier, and now as a contractor, for a long time... but I’ve never heard of anyone from the states doing anything like that. You are lucky.
My Cousin's best friend when he was in the Army and his first Battle Buddy in the US Army Rangers who spent 24 years in the US Army, six years as a US Army Ranger in the 3rd and 1st Battalions of 75th Ranger Regiment and 18 years SOF in the 1st Group. He contracted with DSS (Diplomatic Secuirty Service) in Kabul, Iraq, Aman, Bogata and Karachi when he retired from the Army. He said there are many expat Americans who flee their employers overseas and some of their stories are just tragic. Every country he worked after the Army and working at the embassies, he said at least a dozen a year would flee to the US Embassy. I'm glad you're OK and you got out.
Yeah, I’ve talked to another guy that ran from his employer and ended walking across Kabul alone. There’s definitely no safety net if you choose to walk this particular tightrope.
@@FallofftheMap Maybe you should do a tutorial because there a lot of Americans who want to do what you do for a few years and a upload on what to watch out for would be good. I'm retired Army myself but after this war of wars, I wanted to go home and only travel with my new wife when we could. I like it stateside. Lol... We actually met overseas when she worked for 60 Minutes
When you described the way they were "reading" your passport I literally lol'd. That's the only thing that made me laugh today. Glad you made it out safely. Thank you for posting your experience. Not sure why it was recommended to me but I actually found your video very interesting.
dang man you literarily almost "fell off the map".. and when you look back at it, youll smile and say "dang that was a good time"... stories like this prevent mid live crises, glad you made it back to "tell the story" ...
Whew... You had potential of being the star of an 'Orange Jumpsuit' video. I'm glad you shared it. The world continues to become less safe and the young'uns need to hear these stories.
I travelled overland in 1977, spent 2 weeks in Afghanistan, from the historic Khyber pass to Jelallabad on roads and tunnels, some a mile long , build by Germany help, Kabul , a city of 200,000 people ,its incredible views of the Himalayan mountains ,the famous hotel metropol ,cleane and orderly streets ,at 5900 feet altitude, mid February is very cold and snowing ,I felt completely safe , chicken street souvenir shops ,the old bazaar and the money markets ,I wandered the streets daily for hours , respectfully asking permission to take people photos, I travelled to Kandahar, on roads built by America help ,a city of about 130,000 ,then on to Herat, a town close to Iran's border, on concrete slab roads built by Russia help , wonderful country ,wonderful people, I hope one day it will be safe for others to experience Afghanastan ,just like I did 42 years ago
That’s awesome. I’ve stood in some of the same places as you, Herat and Chicken Street... it’s very different country now. I wish I could have seen the Afghanistan you experienced. My Afghanistan had IEDs going off on chicken street several times a year and taliban controlling the countryside around Herat. Funny you mention overlanding. I just bought an old 91 Hilux that I’m setting up as my South American overlander.
Derek Miller I second this. I would love to see the photos. Do you have them uploaded to a site you can link or can you put them up on something like imgur and share the link here?
Amazing. I was in the Army and deployed to Iraq but I was a fobbit because of my clearance level. You are incredibly brave and a little bit crazy. You deserve a lot more attention because you tell your story in a low key yet entertaining way. I bet Joe Rogan would love to interview you.
@@FallofftheMap Amazing story indeed. It is rare to hear about the stuff that is going on in Afghanistan form that time that isn't military related. Did your new employer (the ex marines) also shared your view that you would have been kidnapped at that checkpoint if not the convoy?
That's one hell of a story dude, I've heard the same thing happen on the Kuwaiti border and in Baghdad too, definitely not alone in jumping on board with a shady company. Glad you made it out fine.
Derek J. Yeah, over the years I’ve collected a couple stories from other folks that made the mistake of working for Afghan companies. One guy was just a hot head. He flipped out because the Afghans insisted on ignoring him and building everything their own way. He literally threw down his tools and walked out the gate at a base in Kabul. Once he got out to the street he realized he’d probably made a big mistake. This poor guy walked alone across Kabul to another base and cried at the gate until they rescued him. There was a badass lady who was both an electrician and an electrical engineer. She was doing alright traveling around Afghanistan hiding by dressing like a local woman. We were Facebook friends until one day she just went silent. I never found out what happened to her.
@@FallofftheMap Wow, definitely some crazy stuff! Hope that lady is alright. Couple of PSS/ security contractors i knew of got kidnapped in Baghdad couple years back, never heard what happened to a couple of them, a couple others were released/ rescued after a month but not before they were horribly abused/ tortured. Ain't a high risk job for nothing. Definitely got to be hypervigilant outside the green zone.
Hearing stories like this makes me glad I didn't take a contract a few years back that was offered to me. Same premise put a job up online for a truck driver overseas, got a few emails and there was one that was very persistent. That one though I had a bad feeling about, it's hard to explain it was almost like it was instinct. so I kept ignoring that email and eventually marked it as spam enough that it disappeared. Watching this video and listening to your story though makes me glad I did that. Something tells me I could have easily wound up in a very dodgy situation like you found yourself in. Edit: noticed typo, changed promise to premise.
The grandfather of a friend was in Afghanistan around 1980 to do some construction work. He would tell that crazy story of how they got kidnapped and dragged through the mountains for 6 months, untill one night, he and his coworker managed to escape. I think the coworker was killed but the grandfather made it out of Afghanistan alive.
I REMEMBER WORKING AT CACI IN KUWAIT 2007 AND WAS GETTING EMAILS FOR A JOB IN NIGERIA. I THOUGHT NO WAY, BUT I WILL TELL MY CO-WORKERS. 2 SUBCONTRACTS ADMINISTRATORS WERE NEEDED. ONE GUY HAD A BROTHER AND BOTH GOT THE 2 JOBS IN NIGERIA ON A OIL PROJECT. THEY APPARENTLY LIVED IN A HOTEL AND WERE BUSED TO WORK. AFTER WORKING THERE ONLY A WEEK, THE BUS WAS AMBUSHED AND EVERYONE WAS KILLED INCLUDING THOSE 2 BROTHERS. I LEARNED IN THE GREEN ZONE, BAGHDAD, DON'T TAKE THE BUS - EVEN INSIDE THE GREEN ZONE WALLS ( 2004 ). WALK; WALK WITH BODY ARMOR AND HELMET. NEVER NEVER HEAD TO THE BUNKERS ON ROCKET ATTACKS OR BREACHES TO THE WALLS OR CHECKPOINTS. THAT IS THE FIRST PLACE THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK. SLEEP WITH YOUR BODY ARMOR LAYED ACROSS YOUR CHEST AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH A HELMET. A LEAST ON A DIRECT MORTAR HIT, YOU MAY SURVIVE; AND IF NOT; AT LEAST YOUR UPPER BODY WILL BE INTACT FOR THE FUNERAL.
This is the first video I’ve watched of yours and I can tell you’ve got stories. Seem like the unconventional type (I just typed that right as you said it yourself) and those are the ones with a hell of a lot of good stories.
Been there done that,, my first gig started in Iraq, Baghdad. I started with company from Lebanon. After 10 yrs finally made home all in one piece. Hope you made it .
Glad you made it home. 10 years is a damn long time to hang in there. I did a total of five years on 3 different contracts. Left for Ecuador on R&R last March... couldn’t return because of Covid so now I’m just enjoying hanging out in Ecuador.
Ironically, you were probably safer in a Toyota Corolla in Kabul than an up-armored 4WD, because my recollection of Kabul was that every second car was a Corolla! The Afghans love their Toyotas!!
you should get with a movie studio, I would definitely watch a movie about your adventures overseas and I think a lot of people are curious about the contracting work done during the war by Americans.
@@randomragequits6597 I mean...a physically fit, electronically inclined military aged male with Ant Man's "dude, you can trust me, I'm no one special" facial expressions and demeanor....all while being able to talk himself into military bases? He's either a skilled spy or literally just blue collar.
A foreigner walking around in a war zone and doesn't care about the poor living standards. I one entertained someone like that and had the poop beaten out of me by my country secret police who suspected they were spies.
Probably an AK-74. Smaller, higher velocity round. Look up the weapon. Looks exactly like the AK-47 but just chambered differently. Became a very popular weapon a while ago.
"I had to escape my employer." We had that problem here in the States that ended in 1865. I can't believe they sent you to Shank in 2010. I wouldn't have traveled that route outside of an MRAP. At least the 10th Mountain was there during that time. Those guys are pretty rough. As for that shady Afghan company, you should have just ghosted those cats.
@@FallofftheMap They we’re watching the movie probably because of the fierce resistance to the US guys. You do know why the Afghans hate Americans right.
Turned out and trafficked overseas. Damn. 8:40 I remember that. Those guys were found by the Taliban and shot. I saw the video. No idea why they were driving out there by themselves.
I spent over 3 years at Shank, first time when it was a small FOB and the next was after it expanded. I worked for the more senior contractors and mostly fixed all the crap that the Afghan and small contractors built. I know the facility you talked about....real shithole crap work they were always trying to get us to go fix.
I went back to shank later with a blue lanyard. Had to inspect that same screwed up building. Where you there in August 2012 for the VBID? I’m trying to decide if I want to tell that story next.
@@FallofftheMap The water truck that took out the Haji mart....hell yes, I was over in west Shank not to too far from the blast. It took out a 45 foot section of triple Hesco and left a 20 foot deep crater. I got chucked about 4 feet...bounced off some plywood. Was one of the ones clearing the aftermath looking for bodies, weapons and personal effects. Wiped out the hadji mart, most of camp 5...medivac'd a shit load of ppl that day.
@@FallofftheMap My daughter went to school with SSG Michael Shank who the base was named after....I know his mom, visited his grave after the first trip I was there. We built the b-huts for the Czech 's when they first came in there, old west side
OMG ... my ex husband is from Pakistan and I became Muslim bcoz him ...almost 10 years marriage but unfortunately it didn’t work well bcoz doesn’t matter how much effort we try on a relationship with a Pakistani , it’s never enough and live in Pakistan was a thin line between love and hate ...
My little brother lives in Pakistan now, teaching at an international school. He seems to love it there, but I think it’s because of the food and the outdoor adventures rather than the culture and people.
@@jasoncoetzeeadadjjzjdatune9617 well, I became Muslim bcoz my ex husband but I kept following Islam until the end of marriage ... if I was living in a Muslim country I should be Muslim forever (practicing) but now I am living in a non Muslim country ... before Islam I never drank any kinda alcoholic beverage (never), I am vegan since 6 y.o, I never used short or tight clothes (I always used long and well covered clothes), I used to pray always (but as Christian )... the o my difference was that when I became Muslim I used hijab , started to pray 5 times (always doing the Wudhu before the prays) and I didn’t practice the Ramadan because healthy restriction (I had a brain aneurysm rupture and my neurosurgeon send documentation to the Mosque and the Imam accepted my health condition)... I still respecting Islam as all other religions because the problem was not the religion but the extremist ...
@@FallofftheMap Pakistani food is good but they use lots of pepper (and I hate pepper)... I am vegan since my 6 y.o so was very hard to try any Pakistani food (not only Pakistan but some countries I lived and visited was hard for me as a vegan)... the saddest situation was during Eid Al Adha when they use to kill goats ... was too heartbreaking for me (they used to do on the streets) ... another hard situation was temperature ... I always prefer cold seasons and I truly hate sun and hot ... when was cold was great but when was hot was horrible !
@@яэтоя1 thanks for your reply, I completely understand, it's respectful, I lived in Malaysia for a while with my fiance, as most her friends were Muslim I too fasted during hariraya and broke fast when they did, I took heed of what offended and chose how to relate without compromising or overbearing. But these are all rituals, rituals are of religion, and the devil wants everyone to do religion. While we're obeying the rules and devoting this and that , we seperate ourselves from the truth, the truth is a person he is your friend and he offers eternal life and remission from the decay of this lowly world, and he has only two commandments. Love your neighbor as your self and serve no other gods before him. It won't be a regal life and truth brings anguish, but the glory of eternity in the presence of the Creator of Everything is more than I deserve and could ever have hoped for. Have a splendid life, jai ....
@@FallofftheMap one of the more common variants besides old Russian AK-47 type 2s and AKMs is free Hungarian AMD 65, not sure why but I assume they have a contract with the ANA/ANP (afghan national police and national army) because that seemed to be what half were carrying, or those with new(er) weapons >t. Infantryman stationed Afghanistan a couple of times. Fun fact, I carried a Madi AK and a Romanian p63 AK, as well as a G3 at one unit, when I was with the Kurds as a volunteer. There's tons of models floating around the Middle East and it's quite fun if you're an AK guy which I didn't know I was until I got issued one because I had been carrying M4s with the US military until my volunteering adventures
@@roguespearsf I thought about doing that, but heard plenty about volunteers returning and being charged with war crimes. Also Kurd factions being communist. I can't support that.
Bethesda actually, Baltimore is way too similar to my hometown of Tacoma. But what your describing were my childhood visits to grandma’s house, not my overseas career.
True. I definitely found myself in good company. It was like out of the frying pan and into the frat house though. Those boys knew how to enjoy Afghanistan.
That’s what it’s all about. I’m glad I could give you a laugh. If I hadn’t taken an R&R right before the covid lockdowns I’d be sitting in my BHUT in Fenty right now. Stay safe out there.
It isn't trivial. Your stress affects your mind and body as much as anyone else's. Your stress is hard on you. It matters. It isn't trivial just because someone else has a different story.
@@chrystalblu8631 🤣😂 Why do people feel the need to lecture me on my stress. My stress actually is trivial compared to being basically held hostage.Thats the problem these days, everybody feels the need to tell others how they should think or feel.
@@davidsiracuse6672 Because everyone says exactly what you say. Just because others suffer worse doesn't mean someone's suffering is belittled in any way. Every single thread has your exact comment by people. It is nonsensical to think that just because others suffer in their lives worse that everyone else's problems are trivial. Then nobody's problems really matter because someone always has it worse.
I do not think that other people's problems are trivial and I was speaking for myself not others. I could be wrong but I get the feeling that you are most likely a liberal Democrat.
Oh yeah. We pay for everything over there. We train them and pay them their salaries in an attempt to keep them from joining the taliban. Joke is on us though because they take our money and work (poorly) during the day, then they’re taliban and we fight them in the mountains in the evening and night.
Wow
Seattle is so bad people are leaving for Afghanistan
Would be funny if not true.
J B "Wow Seattle is so bad people are leaving for Afghanistan. His leaving Seattle occurred in 2010.
@@focusedeye and 2010 Seattle makes 2020 Seattle look like Disneyland
Currently living in Seattle, it's pretty nice, sun's out, went and got some coffee and walked the dog. I did see someone jaywalk, what an anarchist hellhole......
@@dj007twk have you ever been to seattle?
This is a great story about how human trafficking can happen to anyone.
except he trafficked himself
@@SevenCostanza lmao
@@SevenCostanza then i guess so did all the people escaping north korea and china. loony ass comment
@@jacobreuter people escaping north korea isnt human trafficking
@@SevenCostanza please go learn more about human trafficking before forming such a stupid statement. Usually the ONLY way out of North Korea is through organized crime and you owe them a debt for getting you out. Again, Google isn’t hard to operate. Learn a thing or two first.
I feel like there might have been a couple spots in between Seattle and Kabul that you could’ve gotten a job.
Clearly, poor choices were made.
@@FallofftheMap lol
I'm sure a high pay rate and thinking you're going on an adventure with security being promised is probably alluring to most people. Especially during a global recession...
If people are dumb enough to seek this type of employment then they deserve what they get
Pazazi Morano ouch
Ha ha ha. 8 Years in Afghanistan. Worked for Afghan companies and international ones there. We probably met. Thanks for the share. There is some real POS expats that were in Afghanistan that were dodgy as f%^&.
Thank God for good MEN! "NEVER leave a man behind" even when they are not enlisted! You got so LUCKY for those guys
Yes and no. Had some pretty sketchy moments with the new company too. That video should be coming soon if I ever get off my butt and record it.
And good women to keep those good men on the straight and narrow.
Scott Ashe definitely showing your comment to my wife when she wakes up. :)
Please don’t let them cast Ben Afleck for this
I’d be ok with John Travolta. You know that GIF where he’s looking around all confused. That pretty much sums up my experience.
@@FallofftheMap If you cast Tom Hanks with his lame 'southern gentleman' accent, I'll give you a thumbs-down!
Got to be Matt Damon surely..
@@FallofftheMap: Travolta would be perfect for the part, except on Thursday night. :)
i was picturing Danny DeVito
All PMC work is the same, not just construction in war zones. "It's only for six weeks." turns into "One more week, we've got some guys flying in next Tuesday to relieve us." over, and over, and over. Lots of promises, always broken. Never EVER fall for it. Never EVER get separated from your papers (passport especially), your shoes, or your rifle. Those three things are the only thing keeping you alive in hostile lands.
@Philip Dennis msg me I want to work there
"Safe area in Afghanistan" rrrrright...
😂 it’s like an ocean front property in Ohio.
@@parabellum1002 well if you wanna stretch it a lil there is ocean front ohio. Ohio is on lake Erie, lake erie flows into lake Ontario, lake Ontario flows into the st Lawrence river, the st Lawrence river flows into the gulf of st Lawrence, the gulf of st Lawrence GOES INTO THE OCEAN
You ever been to afghanistan?
@@mp40submachinegun81 ah, like the Put In Bay Area! I actually forgot all about that and I’ve been there. It was loads of fun and brought back a good memory (thank you!) I see the logic there. We had to ferry over because it’s not connected to land but I agree it’s a stretch to call it ocean front as it’s still fresh water and would take extraordinary effort navigating through some pretty tiny canals going all the way up into Quebec to get to the Atlantic, but touché!
@JOE BLOW FROM COCOMO you get it.
Reading a passport upside down, but has the power to take your life.. only this guy knows
Don't stop for a second and think life's ever fair, it might end.
@@ohemge12 Wise man.
I knew the two Navy guys who were killed south of Shank. They were both found. One quickly, he was found in the vehicle (up-armored Land Cruiser) where he had died. The other was found after several days of searching. He had been beaten to death, stripped and dumped in the river when the Army was getting close to finding him. They had no business going where they went, and they made the decision to drive down there basically as battlefield tourists.
That was my second of three tours. Army. Two as a combat advisor.
What were their names?
Thank you for your service.
yup that stretch of road that goes by the main gate of shank is where i saw the most lucky afghan. his truck got shot to hell i mean holes every where on the cab except for the shape his seating. even the military vehicle he was hauling got hit by a RPG. when we got up to his truck he was still seating still in shock of what happened.
As a Californian electrician, I’ve never been hungry enough to try and catch Afghan work. Damn.
when you can make a years salary in a few months, that money looks awfully appetizing
Then again you probably never had aspirations to be a YT Star based on your bull shit stories either.
@@jdenmark1287 how is his story BS? Are you that employer or something? Lol
@@NASkeywest haha no, having spent time in Afghanistan among other places like it, and then hearing this story just doesn’t add up.
I’m not saying he didn’t go there, it’s just not that scary or difficult to deal with. I think he is more interested in the story even if he has to Brian Williams it.
J Denmark I’m guessing you weren’t outside the wire as a civilian.
It’s never good when you have to “escape your employer”.
Make Asylums Great Again • 10 years ago I’m really curious about your clever UA-cam name.
Also, how did you get this comment to look like it was made 10 years ago?
@@FallofftheMap It’s part of his user name
@@FallofftheMap the whole thing is username
Most security companies that like their worker make it hard to split off if they need you. Not this bad though. Give you more hours but ruin references usually. Douches
I am so glad you got yourself out of that situation. I worked in Kabul as a security contractor 2011-14 and understand everything you have related to us and thankful you are safe.
Thanks Victor. It’s a relief telling the story, especially to an audience that has a few people that were out there and really understand.
Wow, had me on the edge of my seat listening...always wondered how you got started in that. It would make a good movie, or mini-series.
God bless those crazy ex Marines 🙏
Indeed.
Hell Yea.
Once a crazy ex-Marine, always a crazy ex-Marine. ;)
@@GM4ThePeople those crayons arent going to eat themselves
Happy BDay To USMC
Oh. My. God.
I’ve been deploying as a soldier, and now as a contractor, for a long time... but I’ve never heard of anyone from the states doing anything like that. You are lucky.
My Cousin's best friend when he was in the Army and his first Battle Buddy in the US Army Rangers who spent 24 years in the US Army, six years as a US Army Ranger in the 3rd and 1st Battalions of 75th Ranger Regiment and 18 years SOF in the 1st Group. He contracted with DSS (Diplomatic Secuirty Service) in Kabul, Iraq, Aman, Bogata and Karachi when he retired from the Army.
He said there are many expat Americans who flee their employers overseas and some of their stories are just tragic. Every country he worked after the Army and working at the embassies, he said at least a dozen a year would flee to the US Embassy.
I'm glad you're OK and you got out.
Yeah, I’ve talked to another guy that ran from his employer and ended walking across Kabul alone. There’s definitely no safety net if you choose to walk this particular tightrope.
@@FallofftheMap Maybe you should do a tutorial because there a lot of Americans who want to do what you do for a few years and a upload on what to watch out for would be good.
I'm retired Army myself but after this war of wars, I wanted to go home and only travel with my new wife when we could. I like it stateside. Lol... We actually met overseas when she worked for 60 Minutes
We'd NEVER leave you behind!!!
That’s damn right
God bless you guys 😢 🙏 ❤️
So what happened in Vietnam then?
@@chrystalblu8631 Nixon.
This is def gonna get recommended to everyone yearly lol
Honestly, I’m totally surprised UA-cam has picked this up and run with it. I’ll take it, but I sure wasn’t expecting it.
@@FallofftheMap I guesse its because the story is so interesting, people watch it till the end, so the algorithm picked it. In any case, great story!
Some nerd is probably going to share it to Reddit and it'll blow up
When you described the way they were "reading" your passport I literally lol'd. That's the only thing that made me laugh today. Glad you made it out safely. Thank you for posting your experience. Not sure why it was recommended to me but I actually found your video very interesting.
dang man you literarily almost "fell off the map".. and when you look back at it, youll smile and say "dang that was a good time"... stories like this prevent mid live crises, glad you made it back to "tell the story" ...
Whew... You had potential of being the star of an 'Orange Jumpsuit' video.
I'm glad you shared it. The world continues to become less safe and the young'uns need to hear these stories.
John Condon yeah, that was exactly what was going through my head during the weird police stop.
Never work for anyone named “Butch”.
Butch? I thought he said Dutch, guy with a thick Austrian accent. Last time he saw him, he was yelling “ I’m getting on that choppa”.
@@Owledg Arthur Morgan knows not to work for Dutch.
I worked for a guy named Butch. Never trust a Butch
Ha true, tho I seriously doubt that was his real name... someone who's fake name is Butch is probably worse than a guy actually named Butch
Butch is just a name used by people who are "juniors", like Jack is just a nickname for John.
I travelled overland in 1977, spent 2 weeks in Afghanistan, from the historic Khyber pass to Jelallabad on roads and tunnels, some a mile long , build by Germany help, Kabul , a city of 200,000 people ,its incredible views of the Himalayan mountains ,the famous hotel metropol ,cleane and orderly streets ,at 5900 feet altitude, mid February is very cold and snowing ,I felt completely safe , chicken street souvenir shops ,the old bazaar and the money markets ,I wandered the streets daily for hours , respectfully asking permission to take people photos, I travelled to Kandahar, on roads built by America help ,a city of about 130,000 ,then on to Herat, a town close to Iran's border, on concrete slab roads built by Russia help , wonderful country ,wonderful people, I hope one day it will be safe for others to experience Afghanastan ,just like I did 42 years ago
That’s awesome. I’ve stood in some of the same places as you, Herat and Chicken Street... it’s very different country now. I wish I could have seen the Afghanistan you experienced. My Afghanistan had IEDs going off on chicken street several times a year and taliban controlling the countryside around Herat. Funny you mention overlanding. I just bought an old 91 Hilux that I’m setting up as my South American overlander.
Have you published the photos anywhere?
Please we would like to see these historic photos before the war
Derek Miller I second this. I would love to see the photos. Do you have them uploaded to a site you can link or can you put them up on something like imgur and share the link here?
Amazing. I was in the Army and deployed to Iraq but I was a fobbit because of my clearance level. You are incredibly brave and a little bit crazy. You deserve a lot more attention because you tell your story in a low key yet entertaining way. I bet Joe Rogan would love to interview you.
Thanks, that’s high praise. Man, I don’t know if I’d be excited or terrified to go on Joe’s show.
@@FallofftheMap So I put you as a link on Joes page. Click on it. It was kinda funny what commercial came up.
ua-cam.com/video/J68gMp9nVE0/v-deo.html
@@FallofftheMap terrified he may bum you
What a story man, glad you’re okay and everything is better now.
Good story! You’re a brave man. I think that was an act of God when the U.S convoy drove by you at the police checkpoint.
Thanks. Yeah, I don’t know if it was God or just dumb luck. Either way, I’m very grateful I didn’t end up in some Taliban beheading video.
@@FallofftheMap Amazing story indeed. It is rare to hear about the stuff that is going on in Afghanistan form that time that isn't military related. Did your new employer (the ex marines) also shared your view that you would have been kidnapped at that checkpoint if not the convoy?
We're glad you didn't end up in one too ! Great stories keep em coming
@@FallofftheMap don’t believe in dumb luck to that extreme. Dumb luck is winning $30 on a lottery ticket
Just as its an act of god there is war there and children being wiped out on the daily.
Smh it was an act of good timing.
"It's illegal to quit"
Oh no, now I'm a criminal. In your house. Next to an AK. Whatever will I do.
I'm sorry, this came up in my feed, so I watched it. Edit to add: Enjoyed it!
Buck Buchanan I’m sorry if you didn’t enjoy it. Edit: that’s for the edit. Good to know you enjoyed it.
Wow he's still twitchy and on edge. But that did sound like a motorcycle you'd hear in the middle East.
@@Everythingallthetime666 The guy sort of reminds me of my uncle when he came off the plane from Vietnam.
He is in Ecuador
I really did enjoy this story. I'm a veteran, I'm happy you made it home safe!
This dude needs to go on JRE
Yup
Awesome story and God Bless those ex-Marines who saved you it was a blessing!
That's one hell of a story dude, I've heard the same thing happen on the Kuwaiti border and in Baghdad too, definitely not alone in jumping on board with a shady company. Glad you made it out fine.
Derek J. Yeah, over the years I’ve collected a couple stories from other folks that made the mistake of working for Afghan companies. One guy was just a hot head. He flipped out because the Afghans insisted on ignoring him and building everything their own way. He literally threw down his tools and walked out the gate at a base in Kabul. Once he got out to the street he realized he’d probably made a big mistake. This poor guy walked alone across Kabul to another base and cried at the gate until they rescued him. There was a badass lady who was both an electrician and an electrical engineer. She was doing alright traveling around Afghanistan hiding by dressing like a local woman. We were Facebook friends until one day she just went silent. I never found out what happened to her.
@@FallofftheMap Wow, definitely some crazy stuff! Hope that lady is alright. Couple of PSS/ security contractors i knew of got kidnapped in Baghdad couple years back, never heard what happened to a couple of them, a couple others were released/ rescued after a month but not before they were horribly abused/ tortured. Ain't a high risk job for nothing. Definitely got to be hypervigilant outside the green zone.
@@DJTheMetalheadMercenary How they were abused/tortured?
From all I've read really awful stuff goes on - young boys sold in the open to Muslim authorities..if this was in 2010 - yep, that makes sense.
@@Mike-yy4ll There's articles out there on their situation, I'm not going to get into that for obvious reasons.
The Afghan police in logar are sketchy as fuck. I was at shank in 2019 in a route clearance package. That was a brutal patch of dirt
the phrase job in afghan alone is enough for me to say NOPE
What a strange company you ended up in. Sounded very sketchy but something neat to look back on I suppose. Thanks for sharing.
Jesus christ my dude. This is the kind of nightmare fuel that keeps me up at night.
God speed you magnificent bastard.
Damn! You got extremely lucky in a couple of those situations. You must have one hell of an angel looking out for you.
I’m glad this was recommended to me.
Those Afghan "electricians" sound like the help I get in Massachusetts.
They mess everything up.
Great story thanks for sharing
Why you say that, the dudes from the MOB dont have electrical experience?
gripping story! your escape (or lack thereof) reminded me of Argo
“Watching Black Hawk Down...” lmao. Can’t make that shit uo
he sounds like he made up half of it.
Hearing stories like this makes me glad I didn't take a contract a few years back that was offered to me.
Same premise put a job up online for a truck driver overseas, got a few emails and there was one that was very persistent.
That one though I had a bad feeling about, it's hard to explain it was almost like it was instinct. so I kept ignoring that email and eventually marked it as spam enough that it disappeared. Watching this video and listening to your story though makes me glad I did that.
Something tells me I could have easily wound up in a very dodgy situation like you found yourself in.
Edit: noticed typo, changed promise to premise.
Always trust your gut.
I was half talked into Chad, luckily the Canadian government has enough travel advisory to talk my broke ass out of it
My dad was a truck driver in Iraq for 5 years. He has some CRAZY stories.
OH MY GOODNESS😳 this story was absolutely insane. You really have been through some stuff overseas.I can’t wait until I leave for my overseas job.
When you go, listen to the old guys, Don't act like you know every thing, I saw that type, They didn't stay long..
@@oldguy7528 most definitely will do that.I want to learn as much as possible
Where area are you going
Welcome home. I spent 3weeks “detained” at the Mexico-Guatemala border. I know what it’s like to think you’ll never see home again
The grandfather of a friend was in Afghanistan around 1980 to do some construction work. He would tell that crazy story of how they got kidnapped and dragged through the mountains for 6 months, untill one night, he and his coworker managed to escape. I think the coworker was killed but the grandfather made it out of Afghanistan alive.
I REMEMBER WORKING AT CACI IN KUWAIT 2007 AND WAS GETTING EMAILS FOR A JOB IN NIGERIA. I THOUGHT NO WAY, BUT I WILL TELL MY CO-WORKERS. 2 SUBCONTRACTS ADMINISTRATORS WERE NEEDED. ONE GUY HAD A BROTHER AND BOTH GOT THE 2 JOBS IN NIGERIA ON A OIL PROJECT. THEY APPARENTLY LIVED IN A HOTEL AND WERE BUSED TO WORK.
AFTER WORKING THERE ONLY A WEEK, THE BUS WAS AMBUSHED AND EVERYONE WAS KILLED INCLUDING THOSE 2 BROTHERS.
I LEARNED IN THE GREEN ZONE, BAGHDAD, DON'T TAKE THE BUS - EVEN INSIDE THE GREEN ZONE WALLS ( 2004 ). WALK; WALK WITH BODY ARMOR AND HELMET. NEVER NEVER HEAD TO THE BUNKERS ON ROCKET ATTACKS OR BREACHES TO THE WALLS OR CHECKPOINTS. THAT IS THE FIRST PLACE THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK.
SLEEP WITH YOUR BODY ARMOR LAYED ACROSS YOUR CHEST AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH A HELMET. A LEAST ON A DIRECT MORTAR HIT, YOU MAY SURVIVE; AND IF NOT; AT LEAST YOUR UPPER BODY WILL BE INTACT FOR THE FUNERAL.
Incredible story. Could listen to these for hours
This is the first video I’ve watched of yours and I can tell you’ve got stories. Seem like the unconventional type (I just typed that right as you said it yourself) and those are the ones with a hell of a lot of good stories.
Been there done that,, my first gig started in Iraq, Baghdad. I started with company from Lebanon. After 10 yrs finally made home all in one piece. Hope you made it .
Glad you made it home. 10 years is a damn long time to hang in there. I did a total of five years on 3 different contracts. Left for Ecuador on R&R last March... couldn’t return because of Covid so now I’m just enjoying hanging out in Ecuador.
Ironically, you were probably safer in a Toyota Corolla in Kabul than an up-armored 4WD, because my recollection of Kabul was that every second car was a Corolla! The Afghans love their Toyotas!!
you should get with a movie studio, I would definitely watch a movie about your adventures overseas and I think a lot of people are curious about the contracting work done during the war by Americans.
Dude, I seriously would have thought you were a spy so freaking hard.
You're convinced he isn't?
@@randomragequits6597 I mean...a physically fit, electronically inclined military aged male with Ant Man's "dude, you can trust me, I'm no one special" facial expressions and demeanor....all while being able to talk himself into military bases?
He's either a skilled spy or literally just blue collar.
A foreigner walking around in a war zone and doesn't care about the poor living standards.
I one entertained someone like that and had the poop beaten out of me by my country secret police who suspected they were spies.
@@africaart Damn which country you’re from?
It sound like one of my stories when I did private military security in Russia 95 to 1998....
I’d love to hear the story.
Sure
Chechnya?
It sounds like you lucked out a few times lol. Love how you tell the story
Well...that was...oddly enough, as weird as I would expect things to be in Afghanistan.
@tanner loehr
I'm really sorry to hear that.
Fwiw, I didn't like the idea of occupying Afghanistan.
this can be a synopsis of a good movie
That's exactly what it is. A script. Its BS.
Shit dude that was a heck of a story I thank the UA-cam for recommending this
Every once in a while UA-cam gets it right.
"NOTHING LIKE LIVING OUT OF SUITCASE OR BACKPACK".
"YOUR HIGH IS BETTER THAN ANY DRUG".
Probably an AK-74. Smaller, higher velocity round. Look up the weapon. Looks exactly like the AK-47 but just chambered differently. Became a very popular weapon a while ago.
typical contractor employment lol thanks for sharing sounds like my experience in fenty
"I had to escape my employer." We had that problem here in the States that ended in 1865.
I can't believe they sent you to Shank in 2010. I wouldn't have traveled that route outside of an MRAP. At least the 10th Mountain was there during that time. Those guys are pretty rough.
As for that shady Afghan company, you should have just ghosted those cats.
Upstate New Yorkers don’t give a shit about anything.
Dude.....why didn't you tell me you were 4 blocks away I woulda walked here......LMFBO!!!!!!
A bunch of Afghanis were watching black hawk down? Thats pretty hardcore
It was surreal
@@FallofftheMap They we’re watching the movie probably because of the fierce resistance to the US guys.
You do know why the Afghans hate Americans right.
Turned out and trafficked overseas. Damn.
8:40 I remember that. Those guys were found by the Taliban and shot. I saw the video. No idea why they were driving out there by themselves.
That sucks. Didn’t know the end to there story until now. Yeah, I remember it being a big mystery what the hell they were doing out there.
Is this a new escape from tarkov dlc
FOB SHANK I was there in 2010-11 Damn small world. Glad you made it Alive. USN
Only 1 way to get someone to go to Afghanistan: lie
He'll recruitment does it lol
Recruiting got me going twice to iraq and once to afghanistan and made me miss it but hate it at the same time lol
I spent over 3 years at Shank, first time when it was a small FOB and the next was after it expanded. I worked for the more senior contractors and mostly fixed all the crap that the Afghan and small contractors built. I know the facility you talked about....real shithole crap work they were always trying to get us to go fix.
I went back to shank later with a blue lanyard. Had to inspect that same screwed up building. Where you there in August 2012 for the VBID? I’m trying to decide if I want to tell that story next.
@@FallofftheMap The water truck that took out the Haji mart....hell yes, I was over in west Shank not to too far from the blast. It took out a 45 foot section of triple Hesco and left a 20 foot deep crater. I got chucked about 4 feet...bounced off some plywood. Was one of the ones clearing the aftermath looking for bodies, weapons and personal effects. Wiped out the hadji mart, most of camp 5...medivac'd a shit load of ppl that day.
@@FallofftheMap My daughter went to school with SSG Michael Shank who the base was named after....I know his mom, visited his grave after the first trip I was there. We built the b-huts for the Czech 's when they first came in there, old west side
@@TheTir1962 u need a Channel and put some of your stories out also. Would be a hit
@@TheTir1962 I smell a UA-cam collaboration in the making
Holy sh@t !!!
I was nervous sitting in my living room
OMG ... my ex husband is from Pakistan and I became Muslim bcoz him ...almost 10 years marriage but unfortunately it didn’t work well bcoz doesn’t matter how much effort we try on a relationship with a Pakistani , it’s never enough and live in Pakistan was a thin line between love and hate ...
My little brother lives in Pakistan now, teaching at an international school. He seems to love it there, but I think it’s because of the food and the outdoor adventures rather than the culture and people.
Are you still practicing the Islamic religion, out of curiosity, they claim conversion is forever but I got a boss who disagrees, .
@@jasoncoetzeeadadjjzjdatune9617 well, I became Muslim bcoz my ex husband but I kept following Islam until the end of marriage ... if I was living in a Muslim country I should be Muslim forever (practicing) but now I am living in a non Muslim country ... before Islam I never drank any kinda alcoholic beverage (never), I am vegan since 6 y.o, I never used short or tight clothes (I always used long and well covered clothes), I used to pray always (but as Christian )... the o my difference was that when I became Muslim I used hijab , started to pray 5 times (always doing the Wudhu before the prays) and I didn’t practice the Ramadan because healthy restriction (I had a brain aneurysm rupture and my neurosurgeon send documentation to the Mosque and the Imam accepted my health condition)...
I still respecting Islam as all other religions because the problem was not the religion but the extremist ...
@@FallofftheMap Pakistani food is good but they use lots of pepper (and I hate pepper)... I am vegan since my 6 y.o so was very hard to try any Pakistani food (not only Pakistan but some countries I lived and visited was hard for me as a vegan)... the saddest situation was during Eid Al Adha when they use to kill goats ... was too heartbreaking for me (they used to do on the streets) ... another hard situation was temperature ... I always prefer cold seasons and I truly hate sun and hot ... when was cold was great but when was hot was horrible !
@@яэтоя1 thanks for your reply, I completely understand, it's respectful, I lived in Malaysia for a while with my fiance, as most her friends were Muslim I too fasted during hariraya and broke fast when they did, I took heed of what offended and chose how to relate without compromising or overbearing. But these are all rituals, rituals are of religion, and the devil wants everyone to do religion. While we're obeying the rules and devoting this and that , we seperate ourselves from the truth, the truth is a person he is your friend and he offers eternal life and remission from the decay of this lowly world, and he has only two commandments. Love your neighbor as your self and serve no other gods before him. It won't be a regal life and truth brings anguish, but the glory of eternity in the presence of the Creator of Everything is more than I deserve and could ever have hoped for.
Have a splendid life, jai ....
God works in mysterious ways. Glad your alive to tell us.
God is the force behind all middle eastern turmoil. Fuck you
Thank God you didn't end up like Ryan Reynolds in that movie where he was buried alive.
Deadpool?
Lol 😆 no I believe it was called Buried.
“An ak-40somthin” oh shit this isn’t gonna end well...
Yeah, I’m not a gun nerd. I know enough to know there’s multiple AK models since the famous 47, but I wouldn’t know the difference between them.
@@FallofftheMap one of the more common variants besides old Russian AK-47 type 2s and AKMs is free Hungarian AMD 65, not sure why but I assume they have a contract with the ANA/ANP (afghan national police and national army) because that seemed to be what half were carrying, or those with new(er) weapons
>t. Infantryman stationed Afghanistan a couple of times.
Fun fact, I carried a Madi AK and a Romanian p63 AK, as well as a G3 at one unit, when I was with the Kurds as a volunteer. There's tons of models floating around the Middle East and it's quite fun if you're an AK guy which I didn't know I was until I got issued one because I had been carrying M4s with the US military until my volunteering adventures
@@roguespearsf I thought about doing that, but heard plenty about volunteers returning and being charged with war crimes. Also Kurd factions being communist. I can't support that.
Oh so thats why i was grabbed by those guys at the kabul airport when they said oh wrong white guy
6:45 Iran would be on the western side not eastern.
Doh! Almost but not quite worth re-recording the video.
One correction to your story. No such thing as EX Marines. Once a Marine, ALWAYS a Marine.
Yep, you and several others politely informed me. Won’t make that mistake again.
Flying to a country we’ve been at war with for a couple decades.....ya, always a good idea.
I have a theory about this guy, he was most likely drugged and chemically hyypnotized and was actually sent to Baltimore...
Bethesda actually, Baltimore is way too similar to my hometown of Tacoma. But what your describing were my childhood visits to grandma’s house, not my overseas career.
Bruh. You're nuts!
Butch must be a great social media influencer now!
You should have stayed in Seattle and got work inside of CHAZ!
If you have US Marines coming to pick you up, they will get the job done
True. I definitely found myself in good company. It was like out of the frying pan and into the frat house though. Those boys knew how to enjoy Afghanistan.
Gotta love Marines! Dont threaten us with a good time!! Lol
rah
Sitting in my CHU on BAF laughing my ass off.
CHEERS
That’s what it’s all about. I’m glad I could give you a laugh. If I hadn’t taken an R&R right before the covid lockdowns I’d be sitting in my BHUT in Fenty right now. Stay safe out there.
This story made me think about how trivial my stressful days at work really are.
Except its not trivial my man. Its all relative
It isn't trivial. Your stress affects your mind and body as much as anyone else's. Your stress is hard on you. It matters. It isn't trivial just because someone else has a different story.
@@chrystalblu8631 🤣😂 Why do people feel the need to lecture me on my stress. My stress actually is trivial compared to being basically held hostage.Thats the problem these days, everybody feels the need to tell others how they should think or feel.
@@davidsiracuse6672 Because everyone says exactly what you say. Just because others suffer worse doesn't mean someone's suffering is belittled in any way.
Every single thread has your exact comment by people. It is nonsensical to think that just because others suffer in their lives worse that everyone else's problems are trivial.
Then nobody's problems really matter because someone always has it worse.
I do not think that other people's problems are trivial and I was speaking for myself not others.
I could be wrong but I get the feeling that you are most likely a liberal Democrat.
"You'll never get out of the country. We're sending people to the airport to intercept you."
"Okay, but, I'm leaving by submarine."
"Damn!"
We will take the fight to the shores of Afghanistan... I mean, we did send navy seals, so there must be some sort of beach somewhere...
Leaving a landlocked country by submarine? Now thats a feat even I would tune in for.
@@1997wolverine They had "their people" watching the docks for DAYS.
Never take a job in a war zone as a civilian
I 100% agree with u, Stryker. I wouldnt do that sh!t for $1 million a year.
Your first mistake was Afghanistan
so truh, try Norway next
@@hulitumlala8231 Norway is bad? Or good. I always wanted to visit Norway, Sweden and Finland
@@dudove1 if u are a tradsman or just have some skills there are good jobs here.
Johnny Sins' adventures in Afganistan.
You stuck out in Afghanistan more than your own nose hairs... hella story bro.
He looks afghan wouldn't stand out much
Spent 3 years in AFG. The whole thing is sketchy as hell. glad you made the right call to GTFOH!
Of course I went back several times after this but never again outside the wire.
Seems like one of those guys that has a book idea but too lazy to write it so you made a UA-cam video about it.
Wow, you nailed it.
So America is paying Afghan contractors to rebuild Afghan buildings....wtf
Oh yeah. We pay for everything over there. We train them and pay them their salaries in an attempt to keep them from joining the taliban. Joke is on us though because they take our money and work (poorly) during the day, then they’re taliban and we fight them in the mountains in the evening and night.
@@justinabbott8481 and what country has gotten the Taliban to where they are today?