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I remember on one of my last missions seeing a sign the sign read "Farewell Baghdad". I had seen this sign on many other occasions on this route. And that night this sign had held a little more significance for me. I knew soon we would be saying our own farewells to Baghdad.
As many may have heard I am going home in a matter of days. Needless to say, the other night I had the opportunity to go on one last escort mission. OK, I really didn't have a choice, but I was still pretty stoked for one last ride.
One of the things that I hate about the Army and find to be more than a bit mundane is going to the range and shooting. For me it seems the range is something that should be fun, but like any fun thing the Army finds a way to make it lame and dare I say boring.
A few days ago I woke up to do my normal daily wake up routine, I turned on the computer, and logged on to the internet, OK I tried to log on to the internet. But to my chagrin the internet was not up.
Recently a lot of my thoughts have been going back to the first days of on ground here in Iraq. The days we spent getting trained on where all the various "yards", fuel points, and other points of interest on the FOB.
Last night was like any other night. I opted to gun last night, so I spent in the turret behind the gun. For most of my career I have been a gunner, so the transition is pretty smooth. To tell you the truth, at times I actually prefer gunning over any other position on the truck.
Prior to leaving for my four days of fun in the desert sun. I found out my new section was going to be on "Red Cycle", (don't ask me why it is called that because it is a bit above my pay grade), the week following my pass.
Our days here are winding down. And although we have been busier there is a knowledge that my unit will not be here forever. Some nights while waiting to leave prior to missions when I sit back with my iPod and watch the planes and helicopters take off from the airfield.
R&R, Rest and Recuperation Day 4. Well, considering where I have been the past 8 months. The camp I am doing R&R has been paradise. From day zero until now I have spent my time the best I could.
Five years ago I was sitting in a tower at the ECP in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Behind an M249 Machine gun watching the vehicles enter and exit the ECP. Listening to the short wave radio, I bought from the Bazaar, I heard the news. The war has started.
I have been becoming a home body. Unless on missions or going to chow I rarely ever leave my CHU (Trailer). Yes, I do run and make it to the gym on occasion, but for the most part my chair and bed have a permanent Rob indentation.
First, let me say we all have a job here. There are so many different parts running the show here it can make person's head spin. I respect each and every person serving here and doing their part to do our mission. My job requires me to go "outside the wire".
Some times the days can start out perfect. Yesterday another mission day could not have started out better. At our daily gun line brief our Section Leader was putting out the "poop". All the brief times and when we leave from Liberty to run our mission.
About a month or so ago a good friend of mine sent me a book. Now honestly, I did a lot more reading on my first tour than I do now. Blame this on the internet as well as my trusty PSP.
I am not one to use the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) Center. Here in our neck of Camp Liberty it is big tent ran by KBR. And for the most part sponsors certain activities to keep our minds off the bad things.
What is the hardest part of my time spent here in Iraq? Is it the uncertainty of not knowing what goes on a daily basis and how so much can change here in one day? Is it the uncomfortable bed, cold shower, or public restroom you must use daily? Is it the fact that I have 10 peopl …
Recently on another thread I was asked a series of questions about the Armed Forces Network (AFN) here in Iraq, and because I am not in the business of thread jacking I decided to write a little article about it.
There are days here it seems nothing goes right. Days that seem to last forever. Days where all I want to do is curl up in a ball and sleep away the time. Days when I miss having the option of a sick day.
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