Marine Lance Cpl. Josh Coulter said he thought the heat in Florida was tough to handle, when he called the Democrat from Afghanistan Thursday.

“It’s hot as hell, I’ll say that. Yeah, it’s pretty warm,” said the 20-year-old Suwannee County native.

Coulter called from Afghanistan Thursday to share his thoughts on life in the Marines.

Living in a “can”, a small aluminum building that houses 12 marines, Coulter said living conditions aren’t exactly ideal, but he’s not complaining–though he’s sick of the dust.  When he wakes up at 6 a.m. and makes his way to the chow hall, all he sees is sand.

Coulter is a logistics vehicle system operator with Marine Wing Support Squadron 272. He is currently working to excavate land for new living areas on the flight line at Camp Bastion. Once completed, the project will include living areas, and dining and recreation facilities for Marines with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing aviation squadrons.

“Basically, I drive trucks,” said Coulter.

The 2009 Suwannee High School graduate said he was involved in every sport from baseball to the swim team during his school years. The son of Terrie and Gene Skinner, Coulter said it was weeks after speaking to a Marine recruiter that he finally worked up the nerve to tell his mother he was enlisting.

“I didn’t tell my mom for several weeks, but she was supportive. She’s probably glad to have me out of her hair,” he laughed.

After being raised in a small, rural area, Coulter, serving a six-month tour in Afghanistan, said he was ready to see some of the rest of the world.

“I needed the adventure, to see places around the world and travel,” he said. “I figured this was going to be the only chance I was going to get to do that, and I better jump on the train.”

While he would not describe the climate in Afghanistan as “calm”, he did say the war’s effort seems to be “under control”. As for his personal opinion on the war on terror as a whole, Coulter said he prefers to just to his job and not get into the politics of it all.

“I don’t have much of a chance to see the news on TV,” he said. “Even if I could find one around here that works.”

With Afghani and Iraqi personnel working on base, Coulter said he enjoys working with locals and described them as “respectful” of military.

So far, he said no one from his squadron has been killed or seriously injured.

“I haven’t lost anyone yet, and hopefully I won’t,” he said.

If Coulter does not decide to become a career Marine, he said he hopes to come back to Suwannee County and work as a welder.

“I miss my wife, my dog and fishing,” he said. “ Ahh, I miss going to the coast, and going to Suwannee Lake and not catching anything all day.”

The Marine is just a little homesick.

“Every other day I call home,” he said.

Coulter said he looks forward to coming home to a home-cooked meal by his mom and dad.

“Steak on the grill, fried green tomatoes–the good stuff,” he said.