After being away from home for over a year, I began my journey home today. I only got about 10 miles down the road, from the center of Baghdad in the IZ out to Liberty Base where the airport is. Tomorrow we fly out for Kuwait and I say goodbye to Baghdad.
Tonight my troops are sleeping in tents, living out of their ruck sacks, and eating MRE's, but that is ok. It is the price to be paid for going home.
This afternoon as we were signing in for our tents we were notified there is a 'Stars for Stripes' (USO) show tonight. When 8 p.m. rolled around we went to their tents to round the troops ufup for the show, but most of them were sound asleep - tough day. So in the end just me and two of my buddies went.
We were right at the stage throughout the entire show. The lead act was the country group Lonestar. I must say they put on one hell of a show. It is cold tonight and you could tell they were noticably freezing, but they kept on playing. The sets they played were a mix of their hits followed at the end of the show by some serious jamming of classic rock.
I have to admit, I almost didn't go. I have never been much of a Lonestar fan. And I have noticed through life that many stars I thought I liked, but when I met them they just didn't measure up. This was just the opposite case with this group. They were a bunch of really nice guys. The were humble, polite, and genuinely friendly before, during and after the show. There was not doubt they were southern with their conversation filled with lots of "y'alls".
The lead singer stopped in the middle of one of his songs when he made a mistake, looked out at the audience and said, "This is making me really nervous. I have never played in a place where every person in the audience has a gun. If we suck, you guys might shoot us."
This was a great way to finish our time here in Iraq - jamming to some good tunes, freezing to death in the desert, helicopters flying overhead, smoke and dust filling the air, and the sounds of gunfire all around the city. You rock Baghdad!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
You Have Been In Iraq Too Long When...
Here are some thoughts some of the guys I work with came up with:
• When mortars land near your compound and you roll over in bed and think "still way off, I have another five minutes"
• When you start humming with the Arabic song playing on the radio on the Hadji bus
• Every woman that reports to your unit starts looking attractive
• Every guy that reports to your unit starts looking attractive
• You volunteer for convoy security duty because you haven't seen the country yet
• You start picturing your wife in traditional Arab dress
• You drink the water from the tap because you want to drop 20 pounds in two weeks
• Driving around in SUVs with weapons pointed out the windows and forcing cars off the road seems very normal to you
• You can put your body armor and helmet on in the dark in under 5 seconds
• When you start to enjoy the rocking of the trailer every time the MEDEVAC choppers fly over
• You enjoy the audience commentary while watching a movie bought at Hadji mart
• You're thinking of buying real estate in the green zone
• You make the new guy show you his “doughnut of misery” just to make you feel better about your time left in country
• You plan on removing all trees and grass in your yard when you get home so it will look more natural
• The temp drops down to 102 degrees and you shiver while reaching for your Gortex jacket
• When you call home and your kids ask "Who is this?"
• When 12 hours is a short work day
• When, During the BUA, "DIV asked MNSTC-I for the FRAGO that MNC-I was supposed to publish, but couldn't because MNF-I hadn't weighed in, since they were too inundated with MOD and MOI war-gaming the JCCs within the ISF to square us away!" is a valid comment and generates no questions.
• When you start using words like G'day mate, Cheers, and Bloody hell as part of your normal vocabulary – love the coalition partners!
• When you can actually tell the difference between the sound of an exploding car and an exploding mortar
• You see an indirect fire attack take out an air conditioner and your vigor to fight is renewed
• You know that you need to run inside immediately after any win of an Iraqi sports team to keep from being hit by celebratory fire
• You decide for entertainment – let’s take a run around Lost Lake at Camp Victory to see if we can get shot at by the sniper
• You never worry about oversleeping because if the morning call to prayers doesn't wake you, the daily 0430 mortar attack will
• A rocket or a mortar really isn't a big deal until the crater it leaves is big enough to trip over in the dark on the way to the latrine
• You go to a social gathering and intermittent gun fire or explosions don't even cause a pause in the conversation
• You believe that Stop signs are really just a suggestion
• Right-away on the road is not determined by who was there first, rather by who's bigger and has more guns.
It is time for me to come home.
• When mortars land near your compound and you roll over in bed and think "still way off, I have another five minutes"
• When you start humming with the Arabic song playing on the radio on the Hadji bus
• Every woman that reports to your unit starts looking attractive
• Every guy that reports to your unit starts looking attractive
• You volunteer for convoy security duty because you haven't seen the country yet
• You start picturing your wife in traditional Arab dress
• You drink the water from the tap because you want to drop 20 pounds in two weeks
• Driving around in SUVs with weapons pointed out the windows and forcing cars off the road seems very normal to you
• You can put your body armor and helmet on in the dark in under 5 seconds
• When you start to enjoy the rocking of the trailer every time the MEDEVAC choppers fly over
• You enjoy the audience commentary while watching a movie bought at Hadji mart
• You're thinking of buying real estate in the green zone
• You make the new guy show you his “doughnut of misery” just to make you feel better about your time left in country
• You plan on removing all trees and grass in your yard when you get home so it will look more natural
• The temp drops down to 102 degrees and you shiver while reaching for your Gortex jacket
• When you call home and your kids ask "Who is this?"
• When 12 hours is a short work day
• When, During the BUA, "DIV asked MNSTC-I for the FRAGO that MNC-I was supposed to publish, but couldn't because MNF-I hadn't weighed in, since they were too inundated with MOD and MOI war-gaming the JCCs within the ISF to square us away!" is a valid comment and generates no questions.
• When you start using words like G'day mate, Cheers, and Bloody hell as part of your normal vocabulary – love the coalition partners!
• When you can actually tell the difference between the sound of an exploding car and an exploding mortar
• You see an indirect fire attack take out an air conditioner and your vigor to fight is renewed
• You know that you need to run inside immediately after any win of an Iraqi sports team to keep from being hit by celebratory fire
• You decide for entertainment – let’s take a run around Lost Lake at Camp Victory to see if we can get shot at by the sniper
• You never worry about oversleeping because if the morning call to prayers doesn't wake you, the daily 0430 mortar attack will
• A rocket or a mortar really isn't a big deal until the crater it leaves is big enough to trip over in the dark on the way to the latrine
• You go to a social gathering and intermittent gun fire or explosions don't even cause a pause in the conversation
• You believe that Stop signs are really just a suggestion
• Right-away on the road is not determined by who was there first, rather by who's bigger and has more guns.
It is time for me to come home.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Stupid Soldier?
We get in replacements all the time. It is a constant flow of those going home and those just arriving. It is so routine that we really don't think much about it - until yesterday.
We got a message yesterday afternoon from a new troop who had just arrived at BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) who said he had just flown in. We called back to the liaison we have stationed over there to give instructions to the new guy. We were told he had gone to chow.
Good deal. He knows where the chow hall is.
So we left a message with the guy at the airport to tell the replacement to go to Striker Stables and catch the midnight rhino (armored car) over to the IZ (international zone). This involves catching a couple of buses across Victory Base, but people do it every day.
At midnight, we were waiting for this guy to get off the rhino, but he was not there. We figured he must have "missed the bus" so we called over to Striker Stables to schedule him on the morning run. They informed us he had never checked in.
Day one and already lost in Iraq. This is cause for immediate concern! Was he lost or abducted?
After a bit of a search, we discovered that he had gotten on the next flight back to Kuwait. "What? No you have to be kidding." So we waited until the flight arrived and called into air ops down in Kuwait and, sure enough, there he was.
He said he didn't know what to do, and no one was there to tell him what to do, so he got on the next plane out of the country.
Now at this point I was thinking, "Is that all you have to do to get out of here?"
He didn't know what to do so he decided the best course of action was to go to a completely different country. Wow!
We scheduled him on the next plane out of Kuwait back to Iraq. This time we told him to check in at the same desk he had in his first trip and not to move from that spot. I suggested they tie him to a chair.
Meanwhile, we sent someone across Baghdad to escort him to the IZ. In five years literally millions of soldiers have come through Iraq and this is the first time we have had this happen. And this guy has been in the military for over 10 years.
Now, mind you, a year ago I could understand maybe getting off of the plane and being frightened enough to catch the next one out of town, but the shelling has almost stopped. Now there is a general absence of mortar and rocket fire. Besides, he had tasted the chow. He must have known we eat better in Iraq than they do down in Kuwait. Food, shelter, and nobody shooting at you--I just don't understand.
This guy is replacing our computer technician who left last week. He has a lot of work to do; I have my concerns. But then again, this guy has to be an absolute computer genius because he has no common sense.
Or he is the smartest guy to come to Iraq so far because he had the shortest tour of any soldier in this war. That is until we turned him around.
It is going to be a really long year for him.
We have nicknamed him "Boomerang".
We got a message yesterday afternoon from a new troop who had just arrived at BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) who said he had just flown in. We called back to the liaison we have stationed over there to give instructions to the new guy. We were told he had gone to chow.
Good deal. He knows where the chow hall is.
So we left a message with the guy at the airport to tell the replacement to go to Striker Stables and catch the midnight rhino (armored car) over to the IZ (international zone). This involves catching a couple of buses across Victory Base, but people do it every day.
At midnight, we were waiting for this guy to get off the rhino, but he was not there. We figured he must have "missed the bus" so we called over to Striker Stables to schedule him on the morning run. They informed us he had never checked in.
Day one and already lost in Iraq. This is cause for immediate concern! Was he lost or abducted?
After a bit of a search, we discovered that he had gotten on the next flight back to Kuwait. "What? No you have to be kidding." So we waited until the flight arrived and called into air ops down in Kuwait and, sure enough, there he was.
He said he didn't know what to do, and no one was there to tell him what to do, so he got on the next plane out of the country.
Now at this point I was thinking, "Is that all you have to do to get out of here?"
He didn't know what to do so he decided the best course of action was to go to a completely different country. Wow!
We scheduled him on the next plane out of Kuwait back to Iraq. This time we told him to check in at the same desk he had in his first trip and not to move from that spot. I suggested they tie him to a chair.
Meanwhile, we sent someone across Baghdad to escort him to the IZ. In five years literally millions of soldiers have come through Iraq and this is the first time we have had this happen. And this guy has been in the military for over 10 years.
Now, mind you, a year ago I could understand maybe getting off of the plane and being frightened enough to catch the next one out of town, but the shelling has almost stopped. Now there is a general absence of mortar and rocket fire. Besides, he had tasted the chow. He must have known we eat better in Iraq than they do down in Kuwait. Food, shelter, and nobody shooting at you--I just don't understand.
This guy is replacing our computer technician who left last week. He has a lot of work to do; I have my concerns. But then again, this guy has to be an absolute computer genius because he has no common sense.
Or he is the smartest guy to come to Iraq so far because he had the shortest tour of any soldier in this war. That is until we turned him around.
It is going to be a really long year for him.
We have nicknamed him "Boomerang".
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A Visit with Nanner at Kalsu
Here are a few pics of Nanner and me having a great time at Kalsu. This is Savannah and her MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) truck. She always wanted a really big 'truck' to drive around in. Now she has one that is bullet and bomb proof. This thing can withstand explosions better than a tank. What a lucky girl!
For Christmas I sent Savannah a box of 7" Churchill Cigars. We enjoyed a couple while sitting on top of her truck enjoying the Iraqi night sky. I see a very expensive habit forming. You have to admit, she looks good sporting a stogie.
She couldn't wait to get me into the 'bomb suit'. This thing is designed to prevent your insides form turning to 'goo' in the event a large explosion goes off near you while you are dismantling a bomb. I say, "Cut the red wire, no wait the blue on." It was unbelievbly heavy.
This is a shot inside Savannah's hooch holding and surrounded by her favorite things: pictures of Doug and Tim, her mug always filled with some serious mud, and goodies mailed from home.
Just before I left tonight, we sat on the mine rollers on the front of one of the MRAPs, smoked a pipe (more bad habits) and watched the artillery boys shoot illumination rounds. What a great way to spend a couple of days with your daughter.
She is doing great and works with some really nice people. I especially liked her platoon sergeant .
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