4/22/2007
We've been hit with rockets/mortars quite a few times since getting here on the 23rd of March (I believe). Just a few days ago a barrage of probably 15-20 rockets screamed in, killing a DoD civilian that was in a bunker. There are slots (like windows) in all the bunkers which are filled with sandbags. There was one slot on this bunker that was empty...the shrapnel went through it and caught him in at least the chest. The day after we saw the bloody handprint where he probably spent his last moments on Earth, God Bless him and his family. Just this morning Sims and I were watching Family Guy in the SCIF when a blast shook the whole trailer. Was only one round, but damn, it was loud.
I've been thinking a lot on setting up a nice vacation for Amy and I. Maybe drop the kids off at Oma and Opa's house and get Copper in a kennel, then hit the road. I don't want to give too much away just in case Amy reads this before we go. I am really looking at taking a full month off when I get back.
So, I have been working out with Sims to the tune of 5 times a week or so. My lifting weight has improved I still hate going to the gym. It's just not me, and I don't like lifting. At some point, I'm gonna have to incorporate some sort of cardio into my workout so I don't get any slower. I can feel my pullups getting stronger but I need to work on the running at the very least a month before I leave.
Being on the night shift now, I have been able to talk to Amy quite a bit more than previously. To tell you the truth, I miss my family much more this time. I can't really explain it but I am guessing it's because Sean and Ryan are getting older and more aware of what is going on. It hurts that I have to miss the entire Summer, I hope I can some time where school is out and take previously mentioned vacation.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
3rd Deployment Journal - April 19, 2007
4/19/2007
Camp Victory (which is also connected to Slayer and Liberty) is a joke. People talk about this road called "Sniper Alley" because it is overlooked by the Baghdad slums. The houses that overlook it are probably a 1/2 mile away. Some guy wanted to drive us down the road because it was an "intense" experience (he was Air Force if I remember correctly). I've had more intense experiences sitting on the toilet. But, we did see some cool sites in Saddam's majestic city. I could really tell Baghdad used to be gorgeous. It is now falling apart, all plant life is pretty much gone and there is a ton of graffiti. I really hope they can one day rebuild the area and landscape it the way it used to look.
This is where we stayed at Camp Victory:
Here are some pictures of the base and buildings of the old Saddam regime:
Marines really are perverted (we had time to joke around amongst the rubble):
Camp Liberty probably has the most useless array of items (and the best stuff) in its PX. yeah, they have a lot of stuff that could be useful to you but they also have dumb stuff like 47" Plasma TV's. I mean, honestly, can't you spend the money it takes to have those things shipped and use it on getting items we actually need.
Anyway, after a very uneventful stay at Victory for a few days, we headed down to FOB Kalsu. I had been here before but I didn't recognize the base. We flew a CH-47 and it was loud as hell, I didn't have earplugs either.
After taking a few days to walk around, I did start to recognize some things but most everything had a new area. The medical area was the only thing I could recall being in the same spot.
Camp Victory (which is also connected to Slayer and Liberty) is a joke. People talk about this road called "Sniper Alley" because it is overlooked by the Baghdad slums. The houses that overlook it are probably a 1/2 mile away. Some guy wanted to drive us down the road because it was an "intense" experience (he was Air Force if I remember correctly). I've had more intense experiences sitting on the toilet. But, we did see some cool sites in Saddam's majestic city. I could really tell Baghdad used to be gorgeous. It is now falling apart, all plant life is pretty much gone and there is a ton of graffiti. I really hope they can one day rebuild the area and landscape it the way it used to look.
This is where we stayed at Camp Victory:
Here are some pictures of the base and buildings of the old Saddam regime:
Marines really are perverted (we had time to joke around amongst the rubble):
Camp Liberty probably has the most useless array of items (and the best stuff) in its PX. yeah, they have a lot of stuff that could be useful to you but they also have dumb stuff like 47" Plasma TV's. I mean, honestly, can't you spend the money it takes to have those things shipped and use it on getting items we actually need.
Anyway, after a very uneventful stay at Victory for a few days, we headed down to FOB Kalsu. I had been here before but I didn't recognize the base. We flew a CH-47 and it was loud as hell, I didn't have earplugs either.
After taking a few days to walk around, I did start to recognize some things but most everything had a new area. The medical area was the only thing I could recall being in the same spot.
3rd Deployment Journal: 4/10/2007
From my written journal in Iraq during third deployment (March - September 2007):
4/10/2007
1800 Local Time - Well, I've been meaning to write in this thing for a couple of weeks now and am finally getting around to it. What's sad, is we live in such a technical age now, that it is almost foreign to write in cursive when I began this. A lot of things have happened since I've began my third journey to this hellhole called Iraq. I'll start at the beginning. After leaving my family at the airport I realized I forgot to leave my jacket. Even though I've had that jacket (Black w/ white stripes down the arms) for about 8 years and it is my favorite jacket...I tossed it in the garbage because I had no room for it.
The night started off pretty good, we bought some whiskey and mixed it w/ our sodas. You just never know when your last drink will be, fortunately, that wasn't our last drink.
The plane was a MILAIR flight, which just means, it's all coach. Luckily, I had three seats to myself and asked Sims if he wanted to sit in one since he was crushed between two girls.
Pretty uneventful flight but there was some turbulence. Ever since that day Amy, Sean and I came from England on that terrible flight w/ terrible turbulence, I have been very nervous whenever we encounter turbulence. Once we got to Germany, we played the wait game and finally boarded (the same plane) about 2 hours after we got there. I have yet to see more then an airport in Germany.
1810 Local - After Germany, we stopped in Cyprus I think. Not much to say about that since we weren't allowed off the plane and headed to Al Udeid Air base in Qatar. After going through the part I hate most, getting all of our gear and carrying it everywhere, we finally were brought to Camp As Sayliyah. If anyone every says there were "deployed" to this place, you must point and laugh at them. You were allowed 3 beers a night (if the computers went down it would be much more). They also wore civilian clothes on the weekends (if they even worked), massage parlor, Chilis, swimming pool and hot tub on base. The base was a joke, and doesn't even need to be there. It's a resort, and a waste of money. It is so funny how a lowly enlisted man can see so many areas where we could save money. It was here though, we would have our last beers before we really deployed. Fortunately, the computers went down the last night we were there.
I did get to go to Doha while in Qatar, that's where I got the camel bone boxes I sent to Amy, for her and my Mom. The city was in stages of construction but I could tell they were really trying and some day, might even be a very large metropolis area.
After staying in Qatar for about a week, it was time to take a military aircraft to Baghdad. Three hour flight is not something you want to do, but it had to be done. Once there, we went through the whole loading our gear and carrying it everywhere so we could be transported from the airport (BIAP) to Camp Victory.
4/10/2007
1800 Local Time - Well, I've been meaning to write in this thing for a couple of weeks now and am finally getting around to it. What's sad, is we live in such a technical age now, that it is almost foreign to write in cursive when I began this. A lot of things have happened since I've began my third journey to this hellhole called Iraq. I'll start at the beginning. After leaving my family at the airport I realized I forgot to leave my jacket. Even though I've had that jacket (Black w/ white stripes down the arms) for about 8 years and it is my favorite jacket...I tossed it in the garbage because I had no room for it.
The night started off pretty good, we bought some whiskey and mixed it w/ our sodas. You just never know when your last drink will be, fortunately, that wasn't our last drink.
The plane was a MILAIR flight, which just means, it's all coach. Luckily, I had three seats to myself and asked Sims if he wanted to sit in one since he was crushed between two girls.
Pretty uneventful flight but there was some turbulence. Ever since that day Amy, Sean and I came from England on that terrible flight w/ terrible turbulence, I have been very nervous whenever we encounter turbulence. Once we got to Germany, we played the wait game and finally boarded (the same plane) about 2 hours after we got there. I have yet to see more then an airport in Germany.
1810 Local - After Germany, we stopped in Cyprus I think. Not much to say about that since we weren't allowed off the plane and headed to Al Udeid Air base in Qatar. After going through the part I hate most, getting all of our gear and carrying it everywhere, we finally were brought to Camp As Sayliyah. If anyone every says there were "deployed" to this place, you must point and laugh at them. You were allowed 3 beers a night (if the computers went down it would be much more). They also wore civilian clothes on the weekends (if they even worked), massage parlor, Chilis, swimming pool and hot tub on base. The base was a joke, and doesn't even need to be there. It's a resort, and a waste of money. It is so funny how a lowly enlisted man can see so many areas where we could save money. It was here though, we would have our last beers before we really deployed. Fortunately, the computers went down the last night we were there.
I did get to go to Doha while in Qatar, that's where I got the camel bone boxes I sent to Amy, for her and my Mom. The city was in stages of construction but I could tell they were really trying and some day, might even be a very large metropolis area.
After staying in Qatar for about a week, it was time to take a military aircraft to Baghdad. Three hour flight is not something you want to do, but it had to be done. Once there, we went through the whole loading our gear and carrying it everywhere so we could be transported from the airport (BIAP) to Camp Victory.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Second Deployment - The Middle and End
As I had stated in the last part of my post, I was going to be prepared for this deployment. Man, it was great to have my own team and guys to this day I still love.
As odd as it is...we flew over in a plane even though we were a "MEU" and should have been on ships (I alluded to this earlier). But, this wasn't a huge deal although it was extremely hot on those planes especially wearing our gear and I think we even had our weapons with us. Just a little odd bunch of Marines on a commercial plane with our gear and the like.
I can't remember a whole lot about Kuwait except that I just can't believe people can live in that environment, it's inhospitable.
Our command element was put in place (as we all were for the time being) at FOB Kalsu (I would later come back to this base in my 3rd deployment to Iraq). It's a little south of Baghdad and I want to say maybe east of Iskandariyah. It did seem like we were there too long instead of being pushed up with 2/2 (2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines) Infantry Battalion in Mahmudiyah. As always, when you get bored Marines altogether...bad things happen. I was messing around with our Gunny and grabbed his knife from the sheath...he reached down and instead of grabbing my hand he enclosed his hand on the blade and I took it out of his grip. Left him with a huge gash in his palm and he had to get a bunch of stitches...my team and I were on a convoy to a new base within the day.
As we arrived in Mahmudiyah to take over from one of the west coast MEU team it was clear there wasn't a whole lot to the base. We had the normal things like showers, chowhall, haji mart (local Iraqi selling goods), MWR tent. But, just because we had those things didn't necessarily mean they were open all the time but hey...I loved living this way, it always excited me.
We lived and worked in a tiny shack away from a lot of the command things but close to the chowhall, computer tent and heads. As we first arrived, as was custom with my team, Frese went out to learn about the base and make contacts with people (he was my Assistant Team Leader and our people person). He never ceased to amaze me the people he would get in good with to help us out later on (fine example was with the supply chief who gave us brand new sunglasses). We worked with 2/2 for only a month or two and that part of the deployment is hard to remember (except the Commanding Officer coming to me and telling me my guys weren't wearing all the body armor gear they were supposed to be...).
A reserve infantry battalion out of Chicago, 2/24 (2nd battalion, 24th Marines) came to relieve 2/2. We were a little worried about having a reserve unit there with us, you have these pre-conceived notions about reservists that they are fat and lazy and not "real Marines". I tell you what, I've never worked with a better group of professionals in my life. A lot of them had done active time but what really made this group more professional and mature than most Marines is you would have Corporals who were maybe 35 years old and worked as Sheriffs or Deputy Sheriffs back home. So, they had the experience, the maturity, just the "right stuff" to be successful in what they did in the battlefield.
We didn't get hit much by indirect fire on Mahmudiyah, I think the terrorists in that area were just stupid really. They couldn't hit crap even though we were right there in the city pretty much. The reserve unit there decided to take a couple other towns where units had tried but failed continuously. Those towns were Lutifiyah and Yusifiyah, I believe it was Fox company that went to Yusifiyah and we weren't far behind to provide support. We spent a little time there at first only with our Humvee and a tarp as cover. They mortared us multiple times daily and these guys were very good. I know as we were there the first day or so an Iraqi police (maybe military) was hit as well as a Marine. They had to be medevac'd out. Not sure how much time we spent there the first day but it wasn't very fun.
As Fallujah 2 was about to start up we went back out to Yusifiyah, it was in November of 2004 and we celebrated the Marine Corps birthday ball out there. Still got mortared some but wasn't nearly as bad. We ate steak and crab legs for the birthday ball even though we were in a craphole of a place, they did that for us. As we were out there, a long firefight took place and some of guys acted as spotters for the snipers. I think we ended up spending a couple weeks out there or maybe a week, it went by pretty fast.
I spent the rest of the time back in Mahmudiyah and let me tell you about Iraqi winters...it's not warm. We'd wake up in the morning and our bottles of water outside would be partially frozen, we'd have to sit in sleeping bags while working because the heaters wouldn't work. It was much colder than many might think.
I loved this deployment but there were obviously some things that weren't so hot. I remember they closed the chowhall down on Thanksgiving so I had a Turkey MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) to celebrate. A lot of Marines got killed, the place wasn't called the "Triangle of Death" for kicks. We were all there during some of the most important holidays that families get together for.
I do miss the guys I was with, I don't get to see them very often if at all anymore. I'm glad some of them are still in the Marines so I have a better chance of running into them again.
We came back in February 2005, worked out well we went with the MEU instead of with Radbn since we would have been there for a year. That deployment prepared me for leadership more than I ever knew it would and it makes me yearn for more leadership roles.
That was also the deployment Amy became a born again Christian, I resented her at the time for it and didn't want to have anything to do with it. I'm glad God gave me another chance though and she helped lead me to the Lord. Praise God.
As odd as it is...we flew over in a plane even though we were a "MEU" and should have been on ships (I alluded to this earlier). But, this wasn't a huge deal although it was extremely hot on those planes especially wearing our gear and I think we even had our weapons with us. Just a little odd bunch of Marines on a commercial plane with our gear and the like.
I can't remember a whole lot about Kuwait except that I just can't believe people can live in that environment, it's inhospitable.
Our command element was put in place (as we all were for the time being) at FOB Kalsu (I would later come back to this base in my 3rd deployment to Iraq). It's a little south of Baghdad and I want to say maybe east of Iskandariyah. It did seem like we were there too long instead of being pushed up with 2/2 (2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines) Infantry Battalion in Mahmudiyah. As always, when you get bored Marines altogether...bad things happen. I was messing around with our Gunny and grabbed his knife from the sheath...he reached down and instead of grabbing my hand he enclosed his hand on the blade and I took it out of his grip. Left him with a huge gash in his palm and he had to get a bunch of stitches...my team and I were on a convoy to a new base within the day.
As we arrived in Mahmudiyah to take over from one of the west coast MEU team it was clear there wasn't a whole lot to the base. We had the normal things like showers, chowhall, haji mart (local Iraqi selling goods), MWR tent. But, just because we had those things didn't necessarily mean they were open all the time but hey...I loved living this way, it always excited me.
We lived and worked in a tiny shack away from a lot of the command things but close to the chowhall, computer tent and heads. As we first arrived, as was custom with my team, Frese went out to learn about the base and make contacts with people (he was my Assistant Team Leader and our people person). He never ceased to amaze me the people he would get in good with to help us out later on (fine example was with the supply chief who gave us brand new sunglasses). We worked with 2/2 for only a month or two and that part of the deployment is hard to remember (except the Commanding Officer coming to me and telling me my guys weren't wearing all the body armor gear they were supposed to be...).
A reserve infantry battalion out of Chicago, 2/24 (2nd battalion, 24th Marines) came to relieve 2/2. We were a little worried about having a reserve unit there with us, you have these pre-conceived notions about reservists that they are fat and lazy and not "real Marines". I tell you what, I've never worked with a better group of professionals in my life. A lot of them had done active time but what really made this group more professional and mature than most Marines is you would have Corporals who were maybe 35 years old and worked as Sheriffs or Deputy Sheriffs back home. So, they had the experience, the maturity, just the "right stuff" to be successful in what they did in the battlefield.
We didn't get hit much by indirect fire on Mahmudiyah, I think the terrorists in that area were just stupid really. They couldn't hit crap even though we were right there in the city pretty much. The reserve unit there decided to take a couple other towns where units had tried but failed continuously. Those towns were Lutifiyah and Yusifiyah, I believe it was Fox company that went to Yusifiyah and we weren't far behind to provide support. We spent a little time there at first only with our Humvee and a tarp as cover. They mortared us multiple times daily and these guys were very good. I know as we were there the first day or so an Iraqi police (maybe military) was hit as well as a Marine. They had to be medevac'd out. Not sure how much time we spent there the first day but it wasn't very fun.
As Fallujah 2 was about to start up we went back out to Yusifiyah, it was in November of 2004 and we celebrated the Marine Corps birthday ball out there. Still got mortared some but wasn't nearly as bad. We ate steak and crab legs for the birthday ball even though we were in a craphole of a place, they did that for us. As we were out there, a long firefight took place and some of guys acted as spotters for the snipers. I think we ended up spending a couple weeks out there or maybe a week, it went by pretty fast.
I spent the rest of the time back in Mahmudiyah and let me tell you about Iraqi winters...it's not warm. We'd wake up in the morning and our bottles of water outside would be partially frozen, we'd have to sit in sleeping bags while working because the heaters wouldn't work. It was much colder than many might think.
I loved this deployment but there were obviously some things that weren't so hot. I remember they closed the chowhall down on Thanksgiving so I had a Turkey MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) to celebrate. A lot of Marines got killed, the place wasn't called the "Triangle of Death" for kicks. We were all there during some of the most important holidays that families get together for.
I do miss the guys I was with, I don't get to see them very often if at all anymore. I'm glad some of them are still in the Marines so I have a better chance of running into them again.
We came back in February 2005, worked out well we went with the MEU instead of with Radbn since we would have been there for a year. That deployment prepared me for leadership more than I ever knew it would and it makes me yearn for more leadership roles.
That was also the deployment Amy became a born again Christian, I resented her at the time for it and didn't want to have anything to do with it. I'm glad God gave me another chance though and she helped lead me to the Lord. Praise God.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Very busy
So, after that last post I stopped drinking. I found my faults in that verse and have really come to think drinking alcohol is wrong. I have this new craving and eagerness to get into God's word. To have a good testimony and live more for Him. I've been alcohol free for probably 2 months or a little short of it. I don't plan on going back and feel like I have more energy, remembering more and more every day and can get my thoughts across to people in a more professional manner.
This time, I hope I really am ready to start this blog back up.
This time, I hope I really am ready to start this blog back up.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Drinking
I have still yet to find a verse in the Bible that forbids drinking alcohol. In fact, this one really worries me (it basically says the deacon should only drink a little...). It's hard to misinterpret this because if first says the bishop will give into no wine (does not drink) and deacon into much wine (allowed to drink some).
1 Timothy 3
1This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
And of course getting drunk is most definitely mentioned in the Bible is not allowed. So, I've been convicted with drinking is the main point. Sometimes I will have one with dinner but in the last few months I have barely drank anything. And I don't even remember the last time I was drunk. I realize that most fundamental Baptist would rather leave the temptation completely out of their home and I tend to agree with that mentality because since I've been saved I have tripped up, I have gotten a little tipsy and it's because the alcohol is in the house...but that was long ago. I have shown restraint in that aspect and now show restraint this way by just not buying it. I can't say in the future I won't have a beer with dinner or something but I don't want to be controlled by this anymore, I don't want to be controlled by anything of the world any longer and will try my best to do just that.
I plan to start up the deployment posts soon but need to get back on track of where I left off and what I wanted to say.
Take care.
1 Timothy 3
1This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
And of course getting drunk is most definitely mentioned in the Bible is not allowed. So, I've been convicted with drinking is the main point. Sometimes I will have one with dinner but in the last few months I have barely drank anything. And I don't even remember the last time I was drunk. I realize that most fundamental Baptist would rather leave the temptation completely out of their home and I tend to agree with that mentality because since I've been saved I have tripped up, I have gotten a little tipsy and it's because the alcohol is in the house...but that was long ago. I have shown restraint in that aspect and now show restraint this way by just not buying it. I can't say in the future I won't have a beer with dinner or something but I don't want to be controlled by this anymore, I don't want to be controlled by anything of the world any longer and will try my best to do just that.
I plan to start up the deployment posts soon but need to get back on track of where I left off and what I wanted to say.
Take care.
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