Warm today, and batty:
The thermometer said 78 today. I think it was a little high, but it was nice without a doubt. The bugs were out in force. I was wading through clouds of gnats to get to chow this evening. The funny thing was that the bugs were gone and the bats were out in force by the time I was walking back. These bats are without fear. They must have some really bang-up RADAR. They were flying within inches of my face and pulling up at the last second. They get much closer than the bats back home. More importantly, I think that they might know the locations of the WMDs. I'm going to pen one down tomorrow and threaten it with some holy water. We'll learn the truth.
A special thanks goes out to Jeanie Weeks for sending me a quality care package. I have re-gained a few of this months lost pounds due to some fantastic snacks and beef jerky that is worth its weight in pepper which is worth its weight in gold.
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq. Show all posts
20070223
20070210
Pass
Well, since my last post, I was given a four-day pass. To those who have no idea what I'm talking about, it simply means that I did not have to work for four days. These were the first and only four days that I had or will have off during my stay in Iraq. For those who are wondering "Didn't you take leave?" The answer is "Not yet." I am taking all of my leave as terminal leave.
I did pretty much nothing but sleep for the four days that I had off. I did eat at the Taco Bell trailer once. That's right, we have a little Taco Bell here. There is also a Burger King, but don't get confused into thinking that they are real. These are as much Taco Bell and Burger King as the Bob Evans trailer at the Meigs County Fair is a real Bob Evans family restaurant.
I do want to thank Diane, Dave, and the Three Amigos: Angie, Amy, and Carly. They were responsible for the three most recent care packages that I received. Diane's had some sugar free stuff in it that I had requested, and it was helping to stave off the sugar fix. The GIANT bag of peanut M&Ms that came from Angie, Amy, and Carly reversed all calorie reductions that I had managed in the month prior. Dave's package saved me from my own stench with some soap and deodorant. I think that I have enough now to hold me for the rest of my stay. Thanks again to all.
Well, since my last post, I was given a four-day pass. To those who have no idea what I'm talking about, it simply means that I did not have to work for four days. These were the first and only four days that I had or will have off during my stay in Iraq. For those who are wondering "Didn't you take leave?" The answer is "Not yet." I am taking all of my leave as terminal leave.
I did pretty much nothing but sleep for the four days that I had off. I did eat at the Taco Bell trailer once. That's right, we have a little Taco Bell here. There is also a Burger King, but don't get confused into thinking that they are real. These are as much Taco Bell and Burger King as the Bob Evans trailer at the Meigs County Fair is a real Bob Evans family restaurant.
I do want to thank Diane, Dave, and the Three Amigos: Angie, Amy, and Carly. They were responsible for the three most recent care packages that I received. Diane's had some sugar free stuff in it that I had requested, and it was helping to stave off the sugar fix. The GIANT bag of peanut M&Ms that came from Angie, Amy, and Carly reversed all calorie reductions that I had managed in the month prior. Dave's package saved me from my own stench with some soap and deodorant. I think that I have enough now to hold me for the rest of my stay. Thanks again to all.
20070107
2006, a year in review:
January and February of 2006 were fairly uneventful. In January, I knew that I was going to be deployed and suspected that it may be to Afghanistan. Way back in 2005, I graduated from my military intelligence officer basic course and knew that it would just be a matter of time before I was mobilized. The Army assured me that I would go to its premier language school and learn Arabic before I deployed. Yeah, that never happened. I tried to enjoy my last month or so at Eastern and was reminded by the people there how great they really are. My coworkers, as well as the students, were very supportive. By the second week of February, my focus was narrowed to three things. I was going to enjoy myself, visit all of the friends and family that I could before leaving, and prep my affairs for an absence of up to two years. I had a good time.
Come March, I was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I was there "training for war" and was fortunate enough to make it down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to see my mother and my aunt. Thanks to my inoculations at Fort Bragg I am immune to many of the world's most spectacular diseases. If any of you are unfortunate enough to need to be inoculated against smallpox in the near future, run and hide under the nearest bed. Holy crap, that one taught me the true meaning of "sick and tired." I got a few pair of the new Army Combat Uniform and some very nice equipment that was part of the rapid fielding initiative. That stuff included Rocky boots and Oakley sunglasses and other items regularly being purchased by soldiers with their own money to better equip themselves.
By the end of April I was in Baghdad. I had been the military intelligence staff officer for the 414 Civil Affairs Battalion while at Fort Bragg. After a few days in Baghdad, Camp liberty to be more specific, I was transferred to the Multinational Division Baghdad staff. There I was assigned to the civil affairs staff officer to the commanding general of the Fourth Infantry Division. I helped write orders directing brigade combat teams in civil affairs operations for a few months. When a particular one of those operations kicked off, I was sent down to the Fourth Brigade Combat Team of the Fourth Infantry Division to support them. I lived at Forward Operating Base Falcon and worked at an Iraqi town hall in the neighborhood of Doura. The Fourth Infantry Division was replaced by the First Cavalry Division and I was recalled from my liaison position. Back at Camp Liberty, I returned to work on the general staff. My new title was Civil Affairs Battle Captain, and I tracked civil military operations in and around Baghdad. I also wrote reports, scripts, and briefs for the division and corps commanders.
It was an eventful year, albeit not an enjoyable one. I learned many things in 2006 and suspected I will learn many more in 2007. I send my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me thus far and my praise and respect to all those who served before me.
May God grant the nations of Man the ability to someday prevent such horrors from ever coming to be.
January and February of 2006 were fairly uneventful. In January, I knew that I was going to be deployed and suspected that it may be to Afghanistan. Way back in 2005, I graduated from my military intelligence officer basic course and knew that it would just be a matter of time before I was mobilized. The Army assured me that I would go to its premier language school and learn Arabic before I deployed. Yeah, that never happened. I tried to enjoy my last month or so at Eastern and was reminded by the people there how great they really are. My coworkers, as well as the students, were very supportive. By the second week of February, my focus was narrowed to three things. I was going to enjoy myself, visit all of the friends and family that I could before leaving, and prep my affairs for an absence of up to two years. I had a good time.
Come March, I was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I was there "training for war" and was fortunate enough to make it down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to see my mother and my aunt. Thanks to my inoculations at Fort Bragg I am immune to many of the world's most spectacular diseases. If any of you are unfortunate enough to need to be inoculated against smallpox in the near future, run and hide under the nearest bed. Holy crap, that one taught me the true meaning of "sick and tired." I got a few pair of the new Army Combat Uniform and some very nice equipment that was part of the rapid fielding initiative. That stuff included Rocky boots and Oakley sunglasses and other items regularly being purchased by soldiers with their own money to better equip themselves.
By the end of April I was in Baghdad. I had been the military intelligence staff officer for the 414 Civil Affairs Battalion while at Fort Bragg. After a few days in Baghdad, Camp liberty to be more specific, I was transferred to the Multinational Division Baghdad staff. There I was assigned to the civil affairs staff officer to the commanding general of the Fourth Infantry Division. I helped write orders directing brigade combat teams in civil affairs operations for a few months. When a particular one of those operations kicked off, I was sent down to the Fourth Brigade Combat Team of the Fourth Infantry Division to support them. I lived at Forward Operating Base Falcon and worked at an Iraqi town hall in the neighborhood of Doura. The Fourth Infantry Division was replaced by the First Cavalry Division and I was recalled from my liaison position. Back at Camp Liberty, I returned to work on the general staff. My new title was Civil Affairs Battle Captain, and I tracked civil military operations in and around Baghdad. I also wrote reports, scripts, and briefs for the division and corps commanders.
It was an eventful year, albeit not an enjoyable one. I learned many things in 2006 and suspected I will learn many more in 2007. I send my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me thus far and my praise and respect to all those who served before me.
May God grant the nations of Man the ability to someday prevent such horrors from ever coming to be.
20061230
Saddam Hussein hanged:
This morning, December 30, 2006, Saddam Hussein was hanged to death for the mass murder of his own people. I requested to be able to attend, and even volunteered to take an active role. The truth is that we didn't know what happened until everyone back home who happened. I personally suspected that they might do it on New Year's Day. Oh well, maybe I will get to hang the next ruthless dictator that we pull out of a spider hole, stay tuned.
This morning, December 30, 2006, Saddam Hussein was hanged to death for the mass murder of his own people. I requested to be able to attend, and even volunteered to take an active role. The truth is that we didn't know what happened until everyone back home who happened. I personally suspected that they might do it on New Year's Day. Oh well, maybe I will get to hang the next ruthless dictator that we pull out of a spider hole, stay tuned.
20061128
Pictures of Iraq:
I know that I said in an email to many of you that I would post pictures of my Iraqi adventures here. That was a failure. This is not a picture friendly blog. Anyway, if you would like to see some pictures of my playtime in the desert, they are posted at my Picasa (service by Google) site at http://picasaweb.google.com/hrunting74/IraqiAdventure .
I know that I said in an email to many of you that I would post pictures of my Iraqi adventures here. That was a failure. This is not a picture friendly blog. Anyway, if you would like to see some pictures of my playtime in the desert, they are posted at my Picasa (service by Google) site at http://picasaweb.google.com/hrunting74/IraqiAdventure .
20061121
October ended with great weather, and November has been nice. I think that the rest of the year is not worth vacationing in Baghdad. Today was cool in the pre-dawn morning and many of the soldiers I saw were wearing jackets. The rainy season will start soon. I'm not looking forward to a 30 minute walk to work in the rain and mud every day.
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