We left FOB Spin Boldak at around 1300 and headed for a little place called Lwar Kalay.

A farmer there claimed that a 155mm shell had landed in his compound and killed a number of his sheep.

Under the command of 1Lt. Patrick Kohler, 1^st Platoon would conduct a consequent management mission to determine the veracity of the farmer's story.

If his story checked out, then he would receive compensation for his loses.

Our subject matter expert on cannon fire was Capt. Brad Fausnaugh, 3^rd Battalion, 17^th Field Artillery.

When we arrived at the farmer's home, we found two little boys in charge.  Their mother would not come out and talk to us. 

Fausnaugh, Kohler and Spc. Benjamin Matthew, 310^th PsyOps, inspected the area.

They found nothing that would indicate that a 155mm shell had landed anywhere near the farmer's home.

For example, the farmer claimed that a car had been destroyed by the blast.  As we looked over the car, it had a number of holes in it - bullet holes.

"There is nothing here to suggest shrapnel damage," observed Fausnaugh. 

Moreover, the explosion from such a shell would have leveled the north side of the farmer's house, which was approximately 20 feet from where he said the shell landed.

One young man even told us that the holes in his jacket where made when the shrapnel passed by him.

He's one lucky guy, right?

Needless to say, the farmer's story did not seem to be valid; however, negotiations were continue as to whether or not he would receive any type of compensation for the goats and sheep he says were killed.

"We are very sorry this happened," said Matthews to the farmer as the village elder listened.

"But we are not promising you anything."

The day almost gone, we headed back to the FOB for the night.