Friday, August 07, 2009

FOB Architecture

In the wild west, they had wooden forts-- today, in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have the HESCO FOB.
Golf Company 2/8 Marines depart on patrol from PB Hassan Abad, Garmsir District, Afghanistan

In my travels to Iraq and Afghanistan, I have always liked the many creative ways the HESCO barrier can be used, and how Marines make FOBs, PBs, and guard posts out of them. And I have always loved to see and draw ruins also, whether the Alamo, or the Alamo-esque buildings used to form much of FOB Delhi near Garmsir, Afghanistan.

A shot-up archway at FOB Delhi, near where they kept the cold water, and had the improvised chow hall...

Post #3 at FOB Delhi (the cammie netting which hung about it had an organic quality, and reminded me of webs and Spanish Moss):
Post #5 at Delhi (I was drawn to draw the post because of the improvised stairway, and the HESCO stamp on the barriers...)
Here's an old drawing I did of a post in Saqlawiyah, Iraq; interesting because of its ingenious use of stilts and several kinds of barrier, including Jersey walls, HESCOs, and good ol' sandbags.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

WOW!! THese are powerful and beautiful drawings!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! I appreciate it.

And I love your profile image!

Kristopher Battles said...

I meant to be me, not Anonymous, on the above comment!

Kellie said...

Thank you for posting your artwork. It was nice to see FOB Delhi, not sure what I expected from my husbands descriptions but your work is exceptional.

James Kalb said...

Where specifically is the archway? It looks like it might be at the angle of the main building from the old agricultural college, viewed from the east. If so there was the principle's office to the right, the school library to the left. It's hard to make out from the picture though. (I taught there as a Peace Corps volunteer from 1348 to 1350 (aka 1969-1971). Different days.

Kristopher Battles said...

Mr. Kalb
I do believe it was part of the old college (obviously not having classes these days!)...