Day 101

Another three day shift at the JSS is over and without any mishaps. I filled the time mostly with reading and sleeping, although there was some work. We had to fill hesco barriers outside the larger concrete barriers which surround the compound. Although a bulldozer filled the large wire mesh containers, it took human hands to put them in place. They came folded up on the backs of trucks and took as many as ten men to move them, stand them up and unfold them like accordians. Much is being done to fortify our position and maximize safety, although I think 15 foot high concrete barriers are enough. We did all the work under the cover of night. Occasionally convoys would pass and light us up with their headlights and the sergeants would yell in protest. Right outside the barriers is a good place to get shot.

There is a dog that follows us around and hangs out by the front door. We have given him the name rusty due to his reddish color. Most of the dogs are strays of a mixed breed, but this one appears to have been a pet. The Iraqi police don't like the dog, they say it's dirty and see it as a pest. I agree and won't touch it, however most of the guys like him.

One day a man had a heart attack in the village across the way and they brought him over for treatment. Our medics are clearly more qualified and have more equipment than any doctor in the area so sometimes they bring sick people to see us in emergencies. They brought him in on a stretcher and saved his life.

The Iraqi police are beginning to seem more like normal people as we learn their customs and vice versa. We share magazines like Maxim with pictures of women and new cars and watches and comment on them. Some of them know English words so we can piece together conversations. They aren't trained very well and it shows in the way they carry their weapons and conduct themselves. Their are military police from Fort Drum stationed at the compound as well, training them to be policemen.