Well another holiday here in Iraq. Today we got steak and corn for chow, though the steak wasn't as good as what I can russle up, it wasn't bad. Right now I am in Abu Ghraib and let me tell you it's not a very fun place to be. Not that any place in Iraq is fun, but some places are just plain ol' unpleasent to be. It's a fairly large camp with large open spaces, and when the wind kicks up watch out because sand and dust get's everywhere. There is a lot going around here as you all can probably figure out by watching the news, but I won't go into that here.
Recently I had the chance to go into some of the bombed out palaces around camp, and the former Baath party HQ's. I have some great photo's that I look forward to sharing with everyone, unfortunately I still can't post any on here. My computer actually crashed the other week (I'm glad I back my stuff up) so it's has to get repaired. Hopefully it will be fixed by the time I come home for RR and I will be able to put some photos up here for you all to see. I know my blog isn't that interesting without the photo's. Well Happy fouth of July everyone, I hope you all take a moment and remember the soldiers over here fighting so that another country can celebrate independence.
I love you all.
Jul 4, 2006
Jun 22, 2006
Another Day, Another Dollar, Iraq Just Keeps Getting Hotter
Well folks, I have passed the halfway mark if as you can tell my my counter. My computer is broke so I still can't post any pictures which is kinda funny because people are signing up for this internet service that we are supposed to be getting soon. Hopefully it will get fixed soon and I can update you all on everything that has been going on. Things are ever changing around here, and lots of stuff on the news lets you know that Baghdad is the place where it pretty much all happens. I wish I could let you all know more of what goes on where I am at but at this point in time it is a very sensitive subject. Who knows what the future holds for Iraq, at this point in time things aren't looking very good even though we killed their top leader. Everybody keeps wanting to look at troop pullout, but I think we need to be here for a long time possible more than 10 years, if not a permanet force like south korea. Well thats all I got folks, sorry it's been awhile since I have updated but you know how it goes.
Love ya all
Love ya all
Apr 25, 2006
What It Means To Be A Soldier
"Take a Soldier and put them alone,
Put them ten thousand miles from home.
Empty their heart of all but blood,
Make them live in sand, in mud.
This is the life a soldier has to live,
this is the soul to God they must give.
You have your parties and drink your beer,
while young men and women are dying over there.
Plant your signs on the White House lawn;
"Let’s get out of Iraq".
Use your signs and have your fun,
then refuse to pick up a gun.
There's nothing else for you to do,
but we're supposed to die for you?
There is one thing that you should know;
and that's where WE think you should go!
Some already there yet for some it's too late.
We've traded all our love for all this hate.
We won't hate you till the day we die,
but if you could hear a Battle Cry,
see the wounded and the blood that’s been shed,
or hear them say, "This one's dead".
It was a large price to pay,
to let you live another day.
We have the guts to fight and die,
to keep the freedom you live by.
By US dying, your life WE buy,
but who gives a FUCK when a Soldier dies!"
-Anonymous
Apr 22, 2006
More pictures for everybody
So here is the new pictures of shit I've been up to. I'll try and update them with titles so you know what the hell your looking at, one hint (Iraq) LOL! No just kidding, there are different towns and stuff, and so look in the next couple of days for updated titles, AND leave some comments on this message or the pictures, whatever your pleasure!
Peace
Peace
Apr 21, 2006
World Politics, a brief word on my views
Trouble's in the mideast are starting to become a trend lately. Iran is not making things any easier, and we wonder over here, when are we going over there, 6 mo, year?
Everyday I read the paper Stars and Stripes over here and nothing seems to be getting better, more Iraqi's are leaving thier homes out of fear. We don't have enough manpower or the resources to quell this strife between the religious parties that has existed for years. But we committed to this place and are trying day after day to help Iraq's goverment on it's way to independence, sometimes seemingly to no avail. The situation kind of reminds of an example I like to use sometimes that I heard in a movie ($10 to anyone who can tell me which one). Here it is, if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, he will jump out. But if you set him in there when it is cold and slowly heat it to a boil, it will boil to death. The comparison I am trying to make here is that no country would want to come into a precarious situation like this, but us having gotten in over our heads (and being stubborn) plug along, day after day trying to reaffirm our lies to ourselves that we are going to make this place a working democracy. I don't have any good answer's to what we should do, like most people spouting off in the media "do this, do that". I don't disagree that Saddam Hussein was someone who needed to be held accountable for his actions, but how we went and are going about this operation is not working very well. My only hope is that since we cannot change how or what has happend, is that we learn from this and we LEARN as a democracy to hold our elected officials more accountable for their actions, and not let them run wild on a whim.
Everyday I read the paper Stars and Stripes over here and nothing seems to be getting better, more Iraqi's are leaving thier homes out of fear. We don't have enough manpower or the resources to quell this strife between the religious parties that has existed for years. But we committed to this place and are trying day after day to help Iraq's goverment on it's way to independence, sometimes seemingly to no avail. The situation kind of reminds of an example I like to use sometimes that I heard in a movie ($10 to anyone who can tell me which one). Here it is, if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water, he will jump out. But if you set him in there when it is cold and slowly heat it to a boil, it will boil to death. The comparison I am trying to make here is that no country would want to come into a precarious situation like this, but us having gotten in over our heads (and being stubborn) plug along, day after day trying to reaffirm our lies to ourselves that we are going to make this place a working democracy. I don't have any good answer's to what we should do, like most people spouting off in the media "do this, do that". I don't disagree that Saddam Hussein was someone who needed to be held accountable for his actions, but how we went and are going about this operation is not working very well. My only hope is that since we cannot change how or what has happend, is that we learn from this and we LEARN as a democracy to hold our elected officials more accountable for their actions, and not let them run wild on a whim.
Apr 19, 2006
Burnin day's, good and bad
Wow, the more places I get to see the more I get a bigger picture of Iraq. I just completed another mission to a site that has an interesting story behind it. I am getting to do so much stuff with these mission's that most of us aren't getting to do, I love it! Our guys are doing yet another mission, this one involves going outside the wire on a regular basis, which around here brings all the ramifications that Baghdad brings... Charlie Daniels band came here the other day and preformed an awsome concert. I got to get my picture taken with him during his meet and greet and he gave a handful of us a small preformance. It was just us guys and him sitting on a chair with a guitar, strummin out a few songs and chattin it up with us. He's an awsome supporter of the military and it was appreciated by us all to hear it in person from someone like him. A lot of celebrities and public figures say they support us and our mission over here, but not a lot have put their money where their mouth is and came over here. It really makes it worth the crap we have to put up with on a daily basis to get a chance to see some entertainment, especially from great preformers.
Some days are harder than the other, it rained again the other day and the whole camp turns into a sloppy muddy mess. Everywhere you walk you have to trudge through thick mud 6 to 8 inches deep, go the long way around to place's to avoid small "lakes" and then at the end of the day you have to take those mud caked boots off before you go into your living area. But not everyone does, so you have mud tracked down the halls, into your room, and in the bathroom (if you have running water at the time...) You also cherish the moments when you have to take a piss or #2 at night or right when you wake up and have to slide into crusty hard boots just to trudge (hoping you don't stumble in the dark and fall into the lovely mud) to a rancid smelling shitter (porta john) with all the imagery that comes with that, and have that single ply TP waiting for ya (thanks MOM and Rach for the Charmin! So that gives you all back home a tiny picture of some of the things that grind on you.
I tell you all alot, and I'm going to keep saying it, that I love the packages, letters, and photo's. It keeps me in touch with home which seems so far away and almost hard to remember how easy and fun life is back there. I mentioned a few things for you guy's to send and I got tremendous support. Most of you all know that there is a PX here that I can buy pretty much anything I could use or need over here as far as food stuff and personal hygiene (except the Charmin) and have just ask for DVD's and CD's. I won't list any on here because everybody will go out and get the same one and I'll have 10 dvd's of one thing, so just shoot me an email and I'll give you a few titles to work with. Also I am still working on that iPod, and a lot of family has helped out, but I'm not quite there, if you want to help out that way I would really like to have some portable music to listen to, talk to my mom or Rachael if you want to help and they will take care of the details. I'm gonna try and just post my thoughts so you guys have some more stuff to read, I have been kinda busy and negelected my blog, so I apoligize to all you wondering what I've been up to...look forward to more soon!
I love you all!
Some days are harder than the other, it rained again the other day and the whole camp turns into a sloppy muddy mess. Everywhere you walk you have to trudge through thick mud 6 to 8 inches deep, go the long way around to place's to avoid small "lakes" and then at the end of the day you have to take those mud caked boots off before you go into your living area. But not everyone does, so you have mud tracked down the halls, into your room, and in the bathroom (if you have running water at the time...) You also cherish the moments when you have to take a piss or #2 at night or right when you wake up and have to slide into crusty hard boots just to trudge (hoping you don't stumble in the dark and fall into the lovely mud) to a rancid smelling shitter (porta john) with all the imagery that comes with that, and have that single ply TP waiting for ya (thanks MOM and Rach for the Charmin! So that gives you all back home a tiny picture of some of the things that grind on you.
I tell you all alot, and I'm going to keep saying it, that I love the packages, letters, and photo's. It keeps me in touch with home which seems so far away and almost hard to remember how easy and fun life is back there. I mentioned a few things for you guy's to send and I got tremendous support. Most of you all know that there is a PX here that I can buy pretty much anything I could use or need over here as far as food stuff and personal hygiene (except the Charmin) and have just ask for DVD's and CD's. I won't list any on here because everybody will go out and get the same one and I'll have 10 dvd's of one thing, so just shoot me an email and I'll give you a few titles to work with. Also I am still working on that iPod, and a lot of family has helped out, but I'm not quite there, if you want to help out that way I would really like to have some portable music to listen to, talk to my mom or Rachael if you want to help and they will take care of the details. I'm gonna try and just post my thoughts so you guys have some more stuff to read, I have been kinda busy and negelected my blog, so I apoligize to all you wondering what I've been up to...look forward to more soon!
I love you all!
Mar 10, 2006
Sweatin it out in Iraq
I just recently completed my first visit to a camp in my mission as part of a Chemical Assessment Team, and it was a success! I can't mention where do to OPSEC reasons. I look forward to our next assignment, and the chance at utilizing my knowledge again in the specialty I chose. I have some pictures of one of the town's we passed through enroute to our location and will try and get those posted soon for everyone. Things are starting to heat up here, the other day we had a mild dust storm (imagine a light fog, except the haze being dust in the air instead of clouds) it kinda sucks when we have them because everything gets coated with a layer of dust quicker than normal, and you have to wrap a cloth around your nose and mouth to keep all the dust out. Now that the heat is starting to set in underamour t-shirts are gold because they allow the sweat to evaporate and cool you off vs. soaking up your shirt and being miserable! If anyone wants to send one you can get them at www.rangerjoes.com (I wear size large, tight fit, color desert tan). Thanks for all the comments on my pictures everyone, I love the comments as much as I love taking the picture!
Feb 27, 2006
Vactioning in Iraq
Lots of cool pictures for everyone from my vacation here in Iraq (gotta put a positive spin on things!). I've been sightseeing, shopping, and interacted with the locals (some don't seem to care for us American's...?). Oh geeez guy's I'm just joking around, seriously though there is a lot of beautiful structures here and I have been lucky enough to have access to one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces. The throne I am sitting on was his "greeting throne" and it is pretty wide as you can see why I do not know. There are a lot of things around here, but unfortunately you can't take pictures, but whenever I get the chance I will take pictures of what I can. I hope these will do for now, sorry it's taken so long to get you guy's some cool pictures...enjoy!
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