Our battalion is back at Fort Lewis, Washington in time for the summer weather. It has been cloudy and a bit cool for this time of year but that is a wonderful contrast to the dry heat of Iraq. The next week will consist of reintegration briefs and medical exams. Yesterday we were lectured on correct conduct in uniform. This morning we did dental check-ups.
It feels great to finally be back in the states after so long. It will take a few weeks to get back in the swing of things but that's fine. Things have changed slightly in the U.S. over the past year. I would describe the differences generally as a quickening of pace in public places and more streamlined operations in stores and the like. I got a cup of coffee at Starbucks and it tasted great. It was partly because I haven't had Starbucks coffee in a while, but I think their house blend got a little better. Prices have gone up but I knew that over in Iraq. Civilians that I have come in contact with are sympathetic and considerate. Most people value what we have done for the country. This is an improvement on the Vietnam era when people were rude to GIs returning home.
Our unit is supposed to redeploy to Iraq in 2010 but I will be out by then. The Army has the right to call me back to duty but I doubt that will happen. It's usually people in leadership positions who are called back. Also with a democratic president taking office there's a good possibility of a troop drawback. Frankly I never want to go back to Iraq. I served one term and that's enough. There were guys with us who were on their second or third deployment and you could see it had a negative effect on them.
My tour in Iraq was a long one, 14 months. Our battalion accomplished a lot over that time. Many terrorist suspects were brought in from the areas we patrolled and things slowly quieted down over the time we were there. There was a noticeable difference in the streets from when we arrived and when we left. The Iraqi Police and Army have picked up some of the slack for us and there is clearly more order in their public works. I am just one person but I know that I made a difference in the war on terror.
Welcome!
13 June 2008
06 June 2008
Day 431
Able Company 4-9 is now in Camp Virginia, Kuwait for three days preparing to go home. We must stay here for 72 hours for what's called "decompression." I guess that means R&R. Here there is a PX, McDonalds, Subway, etc. The local merchants have stores to sell local crafts but a lot of their offerings come from Pakistan where the labor is cheaper. Not all is well however. There is a sandstorm in progress and the sand gets in your eyes. We had to unload our heavy ruck sacks off of pallets and onto trucks. Each man also had a duffel bag and an assault pack with personal items. We did all the loading and unloading with our personal weapons slung and wearing our gear (vest and helmet.) After arriving and taking all our gear from the trucks into the temporary barracks, we all took a nap. Our flight out of Balad left late last night and we didn't arrive until 0900 this morning. Military transit is a real pain because things go so slow and there are lots of changes. We are traveling with part of 2-12 field artillery which includes the commanding officer who is a lieutenant colonel and the battalion sergeant major.
The first two months of the tour were the most difficult. At that time we were still getting situated and patrolling out of Camp Taji heavily. There was no set schedule then and we were going out at all times of the day and night. Danger of hitting IED's or taking fire were high as well. There was a greater sense of urgency and more excitement however. We knew there was enemy in the area and we were there to back up an ailing cavalry unit that wasn't outfitted correctly for patroling the area.
Over the past two weeks all weapons and a wide range of gear had to be packed and put in connexes for overseas shipping. Vehicles had to be cleaned inside and out. That means unloading all of the trash and dirt that had collected in them, unloading all the electronic equipment and cleaning it for inspection, and then driving them to the washrack to wash them down. This was an exhausting process. There were all kinds of loose ends too; medical paperwork to identify possible cases of PTSD among the men for example.
Long days were spent out in the sun doing layouts of all our gear. A lot of guys got sunburnt because we were wearing the PT uniform not ACU's. There were a few fights. The worst part is knowing you are so close to going home and being confined to this place. It has been pretty hot, over 100 degrees every day and there is lots of work. The past two weeks has actually been some of the hardest work I have ever done. In a way I'm glad I'm not 11B, going on night raids and kicking down doors. That puts real wear on you. I spent much of the deployment sitting and waiting, pulling guard. Part of the forces are set aside for headquarters duty, sort of a standby that leaves the compound less. That means safer and easier work. I'll take it.
The first two months of the tour were the most difficult. At that time we were still getting situated and patrolling out of Camp Taji heavily. There was no set schedule then and we were going out at all times of the day and night. Danger of hitting IED's or taking fire were high as well. There was a greater sense of urgency and more excitement however. We knew there was enemy in the area and we were there to back up an ailing cavalry unit that wasn't outfitted correctly for patroling the area.
Over the past two weeks all weapons and a wide range of gear had to be packed and put in connexes for overseas shipping. Vehicles had to be cleaned inside and out. That means unloading all of the trash and dirt that had collected in them, unloading all the electronic equipment and cleaning it for inspection, and then driving them to the washrack to wash them down. This was an exhausting process. There were all kinds of loose ends too; medical paperwork to identify possible cases of PTSD among the men for example.
Long days were spent out in the sun doing layouts of all our gear. A lot of guys got sunburnt because we were wearing the PT uniform not ACU's. There were a few fights. The worst part is knowing you are so close to going home and being confined to this place. It has been pretty hot, over 100 degrees every day and there is lots of work. The past two weeks has actually been some of the hardest work I have ever done. In a way I'm glad I'm not 11B, going on night raids and kicking down doors. That puts real wear on you. I spent much of the deployment sitting and waiting, pulling guard. Part of the forces are set aside for headquarters duty, sort of a standby that leaves the compound less. That means safer and easier work. I'll take it.
19 May 2008
Day 414
Aco. 4-9 is packing up and getting ready to hand over control of the JCOP to 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The tour is almost over for us but their guys will have almost a year left. Headquarters platoon is going back to Camp Warhorse tomorrow night and we will not come back here.
Five days ago another female suicide bomber detonated a vest killing Iraqi Police and Army here in Baqubah. None of our men were injured. It seems that Al Qaeda is targeting Iraqi forces more than us. This is a good thing for me because I just want to get home safe at this point. Two of the Iraqi Army soldiers stationed here received awards for stopping a second suicide bomber and handling the situation.
Things have relaxed a bit over the past month. We have grilled pork chops and steaks and ribs a few times. The chow tent was taken down so we get our food from the chow hall at FOB Gabriel down the road. It will be nice to get home and eat some good food. There was a stomach bug going around for a while, five guys from headquarters got sick including me. I think I got it from the stir fry grill at Camp Warhorse but I'm not sure. I try not to complain about the food because the Iraqi Army soldiers eat chicken and rice every day. When we first got here back in November of last year we had to eat the same thing for about a month. After a while it became hard to eat the chicken and one of the medics said you can actually develope an allergy to poultry.
When people think of war they think of firefights with rifles and grenades, smoke and yelling, like the movies. That hasn't been the case for me and the mortar squad. A lot of the time has been spent in the compound waiting around and pulling guard. Maintaining equipment of all kinds is another big part of what we do. The generator outside that powers electricity to the JCOP must be refueled and tended to. It overheats every so often so a large camouflage net had to be posted over it. Dust makes its way into every nook and cranny so there is always sweeping to do. Trash must be picked up and taken out to the burn pit. Of course weapons must be cleaned periodically. When all the work is done a lot of the guys lift weights, that is the most common activity. I lift weights a few times a week but a lot of these guys lift every day. Even with air conditioning it gets up to 90 degrees inside and guys are pouring sweat. I'll wait till Fort Lewis to get in shape.
Five days ago another female suicide bomber detonated a vest killing Iraqi Police and Army here in Baqubah. None of our men were injured. It seems that Al Qaeda is targeting Iraqi forces more than us. This is a good thing for me because I just want to get home safe at this point. Two of the Iraqi Army soldiers stationed here received awards for stopping a second suicide bomber and handling the situation.
Things have relaxed a bit over the past month. We have grilled pork chops and steaks and ribs a few times. The chow tent was taken down so we get our food from the chow hall at FOB Gabriel down the road. It will be nice to get home and eat some good food. There was a stomach bug going around for a while, five guys from headquarters got sick including me. I think I got it from the stir fry grill at Camp Warhorse but I'm not sure. I try not to complain about the food because the Iraqi Army soldiers eat chicken and rice every day. When we first got here back in November of last year we had to eat the same thing for about a month. After a while it became hard to eat the chicken and one of the medics said you can actually develope an allergy to poultry.
When people think of war they think of firefights with rifles and grenades, smoke and yelling, like the movies. That hasn't been the case for me and the mortar squad. A lot of the time has been spent in the compound waiting around and pulling guard. Maintaining equipment of all kinds is another big part of what we do. The generator outside that powers electricity to the JCOP must be refueled and tended to. It overheats every so often so a large camouflage net had to be posted over it. Dust makes its way into every nook and cranny so there is always sweeping to do. Trash must be picked up and taken out to the burn pit. Of course weapons must be cleaned periodically. When all the work is done a lot of the guys lift weights, that is the most common activity. I lift weights a few times a week but a lot of these guys lift every day. Even with air conditioning it gets up to 90 degrees inside and guys are pouring sweat. I'll wait till Fort Lewis to get in shape.
05 May 2008
The Stryker
We have spent a lot of time in the Stryker vehicles over the past year. Our squad started in the mortar carrier, but the vehicle is not meant for patrol. For the first six months of the deployment the mortar vehicle was stationed at the JSS waiting to fire. We rotated out the two "trucks" from that location back to Camp Taji every five days or so. On occasion we fired the mortar but it was more of a training exercise to assure readiness. As a result I spent a lot of time just sitting in the Stryker manning the radio waiting for a possible call for fire. There isn't much room inside but there is enough to sit down and watch a DVD or read. You can even lay down in the passage connecting the driver's hatch to the main interior of the vehicle.
Our battalion uses several different versions of the Stryker. The first is the infantry carrier vehicle. The interior has benches on the sides and can hold 11 people officially but I have been in one with 18 passengers. The 11B teams use these vehicles for routine patrol and for missions. Examples of missions are raiding a house and bringing in a suspect or checking out reported terrorist activity, whether it be planting IEDs or suspected weapons caches. There is a lot of room in the back so you can haul equipment inside and on the roof as well.
Another variant used by our unit is the Mobile Gun System. The MGS vehicle is a Stryker with a 105mm howitzer mounted on top. This is better than towing the howitzer, but there is very little room inside for the three-man crew, making it uncomfortable. There is also a medical evacuation vehicle with a slightly higher roof and two litters on the sides for casualties instead of benches.
A number of additions have been made to the vehicles during our year here in Iraq. For one we put up sheets of bulletproof glass to protect the vehicle commander and the "air guards" which pull rear security. We've also put large pieces of ballistic fiberglass on the floor of the Stryker to protect against IED blasts. This makes it a little uncomfortable and adds some weight but it could save lives. The slat armor or "birdcage" is a metal fence that stands out a foot and a half from the body of the vehicle and will catch a rocket projectile without allowing it to detonate. We put them on right before we deployed. There is also a need for concealment of the men standing up in the hatches so camouflage netting was attached to the roof. This also provides shade for our guys or anything being carried up top. On really hot days it's almost a necessity for patrol.
The Stryker has been reliable over the course of our deployment. Considerable maintenance is needed for the engine and the tires, etc. We take our vehicles to the mechanics bay a few times a month for minor repairs. Most of the problems were worked out or identified before we deployed.
Looking to the future, the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle has some added features like the slanted undercarriage for IEDs and the full range of vision for the passengers out the side windows. There have been very few reported casualties related to the vehicle so far and it seems pretty hard to knock it off the road. Although I have only climbed in the back of one, not ridden in it, the MRAP seems fairly comparable to the Stryker.
For technical information about the Stryker, see this website:
29 April 2008
Day 390
Aco. 4-9 will spend the next month getting ready to return home. We sprayed fresh bumper numbers on the Strykers so they can be shipped from Kuwait by boat. Some men will have to stay with the vehicles on a special detail and return home a few weeks later. It takes about a month to make the trip. I heard today that the 4-9 battalion advance party is already back in the states. That party is mostly the people that do all the paper work, lucky them.
Two new mortarmen have arrived and been incorporated into our platoon. One has college credit and has been given the rank of Private First Class. I came in a Specialist for completing my degree. It is odd to get new people so late in the deployment. The day after they arrived our platoon went back to Camp Warhorse and began packing our extra equipment into shipping containers, theirs included. That's the way the Army runs things. No point in having them sit back at Fort Lewis until we redeploy.
The Iraqi Army continues to improve their operations here in Baqubah. More and more they look like professional soldiers. It isn't just their conduct but also their numbers that will determine when U.S. forces can hand over control. I heard that as of now there are enough IA to cover 50 percent of Iraq. I spoke with one IA Lieutenant that is a professional soldier and served in the Iraqi Army under Saddam Hussein. He says there have been drastic improvements made to their forces since we stepped in, both training wise and in regards to equipment and organization. Iraqi soldiers now carry M16s and officers have M4s. They patrol in our humvees and old armored personnel carriers. I have seen them in MRAPs as well which is a big deal.
Iraqi Army outposts are not up to par however. They continue to patrol out of old buildings without necessary fortifications. Road checkpoints are guarded out of small bunkers, parked vehicles or from behind concrete barriers. I'm guessing that the construction and engineering section of their army is ailing or nonexistent. Whenever we pass their posts in our Strykers we wave to them. They seem content with their situation but obviously they do not have the training and work ethic that we do. I'm not sure their situation can even be improved greatly, the cultural standard for their army is just more relaxed.
My main concern is still to get out of here unharmed. Pretty soon a new unit from a different brigade will show up and start doing our patrols. I have managed to make it through this deployment without firing my personal weapon (M4). I haven't been in a vehicle when it hit an IED. I have not been in a firefight and there have been no training accidents in our platoon. With all that said, I will not consider myself safe until I am on the tarmac at Balad and board the plane for Germany. Not much more to go, just hanging in there bearing the heat.
Two new mortarmen have arrived and been incorporated into our platoon. One has college credit and has been given the rank of Private First Class. I came in a Specialist for completing my degree. It is odd to get new people so late in the deployment. The day after they arrived our platoon went back to Camp Warhorse and began packing our extra equipment into shipping containers, theirs included. That's the way the Army runs things. No point in having them sit back at Fort Lewis until we redeploy.
The Iraqi Army continues to improve their operations here in Baqubah. More and more they look like professional soldiers. It isn't just their conduct but also their numbers that will determine when U.S. forces can hand over control. I heard that as of now there are enough IA to cover 50 percent of Iraq. I spoke with one IA Lieutenant that is a professional soldier and served in the Iraqi Army under Saddam Hussein. He says there have been drastic improvements made to their forces since we stepped in, both training wise and in regards to equipment and organization. Iraqi soldiers now carry M16s and officers have M4s. They patrol in our humvees and old armored personnel carriers. I have seen them in MRAPs as well which is a big deal.
Iraqi Army outposts are not up to par however. They continue to patrol out of old buildings without necessary fortifications. Road checkpoints are guarded out of small bunkers, parked vehicles or from behind concrete barriers. I'm guessing that the construction and engineering section of their army is ailing or nonexistent. Whenever we pass their posts in our Strykers we wave to them. They seem content with their situation but obviously they do not have the training and work ethic that we do. I'm not sure their situation can even be improved greatly, the cultural standard for their army is just more relaxed.
My main concern is still to get out of here unharmed. Pretty soon a new unit from a different brigade will show up and start doing our patrols. I have managed to make it through this deployment without firing my personal weapon (M4). I haven't been in a vehicle when it hit an IED. I have not been in a firefight and there have been no training accidents in our platoon. With all that said, I will not consider myself safe until I am on the tarmac at Balad and board the plane for Germany. Not much more to go, just hanging in there bearing the heat.
16 April 2008
Day 377
Yesterday a bomber detonated a vehicle borne IED in front of the government center here in Baqubah. Over 40 people were killed and many more were injured. Bombings took place in Baghdad and Mosul in the north the same day, so the bombing here was part of a series of attacks. I was sitting at one of the computers in our upstairs computer room when there was a large bomb blast somewhere close by. You can usually tell the bigger ones because the shockwave rocks the building more. Immediately people started to speculate on what happened. About a half an hour later our headquarters platoon along with the commander and first sergeant were on the way to Camp Warhorse to get the vehicle mounted bomb squad (EOD) and escort them to the site. We had to take a roundabout route to get to Warhorse because the bombing occurred in the middle of heavy traffic on the route we usually take.
It is really terrible that there were so many civilian casualties. I'm not sure how many Iraqi Police if any were hurt, but the bombing targeted civilians, not our forces. Our platoon drove through the crowded street less than an hour before the bomb went off while on a different mission. I feel very lucky we weren't there because a bomb of that size would have injured us even if we were in our vehicles.
Riding through the center of town today I noticed a mark on the pavement where the bomb went off. There was barely any traffic, in stark comparison to the traffic jam there the day before. I looked at some of the Iraqi Army soldiers standing guard on the side of the road there and they looked disturbed. They may have helped haul the bodies off.
Although things have been quiet here for the most part, there is a constant threat. According to Rear Adm. Greg Smith “They (Al Qaeda) no longer possess the capability to terrorize and intimidate major population centers or large swaths of Iraq’s countryside, but they certainly maintain both the will and the capacity to indiscriminately kill and maim innocent Iraqi citizens with vehicle and suicide bombs”
--http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20080416/ZNYT03/804160331/1003/NEWS
I have learned that the conflict is not what you expect or what you want it to be, and that bombings or attacks will come at odd times. We are trained to spot roadside bombs and suspicious vehicles, but there isn't much we can do when the attacks are so few and far between. With less than two months left my main concern at this point is to make it out of here safely. Whether the Iraqi Army and Police are trained and competent to take over our duties or not, I am ready to get out of here.
In other news, a number of our guys have been arrested while on leave or have gone AWOL. One soldier is rumored to have joined the UFC rather than coming back from leave. It's true he is a fighter but I have no idea what he's up to. Less recently one of our guys committed arson while on leave and went to prison rather than come back to our unit. Several others have been arrested on leave for drunk driving and spousal abuse and their return was delayed.
The list goes on - there was a guy from my squad that didn't show up the day we deployed. Instead he stayed back and was attached to a different brigade. Word came around that he landed in jail as well; there was a bench warrant out for his arrest in Louisiana. One of our sergeants supposedly went crazy and insisted that he couldn't take it any more, he needed a drink of whiskey. I was on leave at the time, and when I came back he wasn't with us.
This is not to say all our men are criminals or capable of evil deeds. We have a lot of stand up guys that are here to fight for our country and our people and that includes myself. In fact our unit is statistically one of the better ones. There is enough stress and bad feelings around here that people want to leave for good. Going AWOL isn't the solution though because they usually drag you back.
It is really terrible that there were so many civilian casualties. I'm not sure how many Iraqi Police if any were hurt, but the bombing targeted civilians, not our forces. Our platoon drove through the crowded street less than an hour before the bomb went off while on a different mission. I feel very lucky we weren't there because a bomb of that size would have injured us even if we were in our vehicles.
Riding through the center of town today I noticed a mark on the pavement where the bomb went off. There was barely any traffic, in stark comparison to the traffic jam there the day before. I looked at some of the Iraqi Army soldiers standing guard on the side of the road there and they looked disturbed. They may have helped haul the bodies off.
Although things have been quiet here for the most part, there is a constant threat. According to Rear Adm. Greg Smith “They (Al Qaeda) no longer possess the capability to terrorize and intimidate major population centers or large swaths of Iraq’s countryside, but they certainly maintain both the will and the capacity to indiscriminately kill and maim innocent Iraqi citizens with vehicle and suicide bombs”
--http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20080416/ZNYT03/804160331/1003/NEWS
I have learned that the conflict is not what you expect or what you want it to be, and that bombings or attacks will come at odd times. We are trained to spot roadside bombs and suspicious vehicles, but there isn't much we can do when the attacks are so few and far between. With less than two months left my main concern at this point is to make it out of here safely. Whether the Iraqi Army and Police are trained and competent to take over our duties or not, I am ready to get out of here.
In other news, a number of our guys have been arrested while on leave or have gone AWOL. One soldier is rumored to have joined the UFC rather than coming back from leave. It's true he is a fighter but I have no idea what he's up to. Less recently one of our guys committed arson while on leave and went to prison rather than come back to our unit. Several others have been arrested on leave for drunk driving and spousal abuse and their return was delayed.
The list goes on - there was a guy from my squad that didn't show up the day we deployed. Instead he stayed back and was attached to a different brigade. Word came around that he landed in jail as well; there was a bench warrant out for his arrest in Louisiana. One of our sergeants supposedly went crazy and insisted that he couldn't take it any more, he needed a drink of whiskey. I was on leave at the time, and when I came back he wasn't with us.
This is not to say all our men are criminals or capable of evil deeds. We have a lot of stand up guys that are here to fight for our country and our people and that includes myself. In fact our unit is statistically one of the better ones. There is enough stress and bad feelings around here that people want to leave for good. Going AWOL isn't the solution though because they usually drag you back.
03 April 2008
Day 365
It has been a year since our unit arrived in Kuwait. We were originally slated for a 495 day deployment, but that has been cut short. President Bush vetoed the bill that would have brought us home much earlier, maybe before the end of last year. Everyone has had their fill of the desert and wants to go home to their family and friends.
New Iraqi Army soldiers arrived a few days ago and are being incorporated into their jobs here at the JCOP. I met a group of them on guard today, both enlisted men and officers. They are generally friendly and always ask the same questions like are you married, do you have kids and have you been to New York. A few of them went to the market to get lunch for everyone and they got me something too. We only get breakfast and dinner chow here at the JCOP so it was nice to get a small sandwich to tide me over. The sun is shining every day and the temperature has been in the 80s. Hopefully we will miss most of the heat that comes with the summer. At night it doesn't get too cold either.
The rest of my squad is out on a mission with one of the bravo platoons. I am at the JCOP pulling guard at the back gate. The situation has both good and bad qualities. There is a chance the team will fire the 60mm mortar without me so I will miss some action. It is kind of fun to fire the mortar handheld, but it is a pain to clean up all the packaging from the round casings. The team will be gone for two days and I have the room where we stay to myself. It is relatively quiet so I can read.
Baseball season has started up and everyone has been watching the NCAA basketball tournament on our satellite TV. I hope they broadcast hockey playoffs on ESPN, the Penguins are 1st place in the East going into the playoffs. I might have to wait till next season to see the action.
20 March 2008
Day 350
Today is Good Friday. There is no mass service held here on Sundays or holy days, although the battalion chaplain comes around and holds a brief service every so often. The commander knows I'm Catholic and he mentioned it before our 1200 patrol today. When we reached Abu Matheina's house which was the destination of our patrol, there was a spread of Iraqi food in the main room. On most days Matheina's crew of CLC guards serve us tea as we guard the rooftop and surrounding area. Today I was lucky and served on the commander's team. That means I got to sit in the room where he and Matheina hold their regular meeting. As a result I ate more food than the other guys.
Lamb is a staple of Iraqi food and we ate samoon which is like pita bread, along with salted vegetables (yes salted) and lamb cutlets that were cooked like hamburger. The food was pretty good and it is a sign that the partnership between the CLC's and our forces is progressing. There is hardly an active threat left here in Baqubah. Al Qaeda has been forced not only out of the city but out of Iraq for the most part. Al Qaeda has tainted their reputation with the Iraqi people by killing innocent civilians and using unlawful tactics to fight their holy war.
The other day we escorted a food and water clip around all day as it made several deliveries to the government center from FOB Gabriel only a mile or so away. I stood up in the hatch of the Stryker assisting the driver through tight squeezes and around barriers. The slat armor on the Stryker makes it almost too large for the streets here and traffic must yield no matter what. On the day we escorted the clip around there was a lot of traffic on route Venessa and we had to stop and wait for the IP's to clear the road of the line of civilian vehicles. Even with two sides to the road, there was enough traffic to clog the whole thing. Towards the end of the day we took a break in the staging area near the gate of FOB Gabriel where we loaded up the supplies.
09 March 2008
Day 339
It's finally warming up here and the days are comfortable. Yesterday the temperature was in the 80's and the sun is shining again this morning. The change is welcome because much of our job is done outdoors. The other side of the coin is that we will see 100 degree days before we return home. Wearing full kit and going on patrol in the heat can not only be uncomfortable, it can result in a heat casualty. I have started drinking more water than needed in anticipation of hotter days. It is mandatory to wear a Camelbak on missions, which is a two liter water bladder that goes on your back.
Last summer on a routine mission outside of Camp Taji I ended up with a bad case of dehydration. Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as some of the other guys who actually passed out in the palm groves where we were pulling security. We were only out for three or four hours, but the sun was so hot that it sucked the water right out of us. By the time we made it to shade guys were puking and falling over each other.
I went and talked with my friends from 1-38 battalion and it turns out they have been doing much of the same work we do. They patrol Baqubah leaving from Camp Warhorse either in vehicles or dismounted. Some guys only pull guard in the towers on the perimeter of the camp. One difference is that they go on TST missions, flying around in a helicopter waiting for a lead. When they get the call they land and drag the suspect out of their location. Sometimes the suspect is lying in bed or they will be hiding in the bushes near their house. Our platoon never does these missions. Occasionally we help with raids, pulling security along the usual routes in case the suspects flee. We can also provide fire support with the 60mm mortar. As of late we have been busy going to various public works such as schools and government buildings. We make sure things are running smoothly and that terrorists aren't trying to take control of things.
Yesterday night we took several detainees from Camp Warhorse to Balad. Our platoon ran security for the vehicle that held the detainees and their interrogators. It took only a short time to get there because there wasn't much traffic in the other direction. One hold-up is the narrow bridge that crosses the Tigris River close to Balad. Vehicles can only cross one at a time in one direction so it creates a bottleneck. If a convoy passes you on the road otherwise, only one convoy may move at a time. The other must pull to the side and wait. This is to avoid accidents or confusion in case of an attack.
Once we reached Balad we went directly to the PAX terminal. The detainees were supposed to board a plane and go to a green zone where they will be questioned and eventually put on trial. We arrived around 1030 the plane was scheduled to take off at 0100. Some of the guys used the time to go to the PX which is larger and better than the one at Warhorse. I stayed back and took a nap in the Stryker. When 0100 rolled around, the plane that was scheduled to take the detainees was having engine problems and the take off time was pushed back an hour or so. I went back to sleep and at 0230 Alex our interpreter woke me up. The plane wasn't leaving that night so we mounted up and took the detainees back to Warhorse. We will have to wait until next week's flight which is frustrating. At least I wasn't freezing on the ride there and back.
Last summer on a routine mission outside of Camp Taji I ended up with a bad case of dehydration. Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as some of the other guys who actually passed out in the palm groves where we were pulling security. We were only out for three or four hours, but the sun was so hot that it sucked the water right out of us. By the time we made it to shade guys were puking and falling over each other.
I went and talked with my friends from 1-38 battalion and it turns out they have been doing much of the same work we do. They patrol Baqubah leaving from Camp Warhorse either in vehicles or dismounted. Some guys only pull guard in the towers on the perimeter of the camp. One difference is that they go on TST missions, flying around in a helicopter waiting for a lead. When they get the call they land and drag the suspect out of their location. Sometimes the suspect is lying in bed or they will be hiding in the bushes near their house. Our platoon never does these missions. Occasionally we help with raids, pulling security along the usual routes in case the suspects flee. We can also provide fire support with the 60mm mortar. As of late we have been busy going to various public works such as schools and government buildings. We make sure things are running smoothly and that terrorists aren't trying to take control of things.
Yesterday night we took several detainees from Camp Warhorse to Balad. Our platoon ran security for the vehicle that held the detainees and their interrogators. It took only a short time to get there because there wasn't much traffic in the other direction. One hold-up is the narrow bridge that crosses the Tigris River close to Balad. Vehicles can only cross one at a time in one direction so it creates a bottleneck. If a convoy passes you on the road otherwise, only one convoy may move at a time. The other must pull to the side and wait. This is to avoid accidents or confusion in case of an attack.
Once we reached Balad we went directly to the PAX terminal. The detainees were supposed to board a plane and go to a green zone where they will be questioned and eventually put on trial. We arrived around 1030 the plane was scheduled to take off at 0100. Some of the guys used the time to go to the PX which is larger and better than the one at Warhorse. I stayed back and took a nap in the Stryker. When 0100 rolled around, the plane that was scheduled to take the detainees was having engine problems and the take off time was pushed back an hour or so. I went back to sleep and at 0230 Alex our interpreter woke me up. The plane wasn't leaving that night so we mounted up and took the detainees back to Warhorse. We will have to wait until next week's flight which is frustrating. At least I wasn't freezing on the ride there and back.
28 February 2008
Day 328
We have been given a redeployment (return) date from the commanding officer. Our company is to leave Iraq by the 25th of May. That leaves eighty-six days plus the leap year day tomorrow. The rest of our battalion will be leaving a little before us. We are actually separated at this point from the other three companies of 4-9 Infantry and are currently attached to 2-12 Cavalry Regiment. Our infantry company was assigned to cover the area of old Baqubah because 2-12 Cav doesn't patrol. Cavalry, or tankers as they are called, fire the big artillery guns and drive the tanks. They stay mounted in their vehicles and don't know the regimen of a footsoldier. This is only true to a certain extent however. The 4-9 Infantry battalion commander was a tanker before this assignment and he knows his job well.
Today headquarters platoon went to pick up third platoon after a patrol they were doing outside Baqubah. They were assisting a 2-12 Cav outpost in retrieving weapons that were found in the bushes on the roadside. Specialist Meek, who I went to basic with, was injured breaching a door. The barrel of his shotgun came up and bust his lip pretty good because he wasn't holding the stalk tight enough. A few months ago he was sent back to Camp Warhorse after his third concussion due to IED's. And now immediately after coming back he had another accident. This might be the end of his deployment.
It is almost pleasant to go out on patrol now that the weather is getting warmer. It's a chance to get your legs moving and get some fresh air. There have been a few small sandstorms in the past week as winter fades out. We can't patrol at that time and riding up in the hatch of a vehicle is torture. Riding up in the hatch of the stryker with the 240B machine gun is about the only time I'm glad we wear eye protection. Being in the desert there is always sand in the air and it gets in your eyes even with glasses on.
Standing elevated in the stryker is the best way to see the country in my opinion. There are always kids waving to you; giving you thumbs up, thumbs down or the peace sign. The Iraqi Army soldiers wave from their roadside posts or salute with their palm facing you. Riding from the JCOP to Camp Warhorse on Route Venessa, there are so many Iraqi soldiers and police that there is no point to scanning for possible enemy. The area is completely covered. I'm more worried about one of the drivers rolling the vehicle or running into another Stryker.
In the past week there have been reports of women intent on attacking us with suicide vests. There is hardly a way to stop them because they can just step out of a doorway and blow themselves up as in the past. One of our soldiers is still in a coma from the blast that hit fourth platoon. Last night a dog attacked our section sergeant and he shot it with a non-lethal round. The loud bang came as a shock and the RTO called it in on the radio thinking it was a bomb blast. I just looked down to make sure I was OK, nothing serious.
14 February 2008
Day 314
Three days ago there was a protest at the government center involving all the Concerned Local Citizens (CLC's) and much of the youth from Baqubah. The crowd numbered around 500 and there was a drum circle that played along to the chants of the people. We drove our Strykers through the mass on Route Venessa. The company commander had a meeting with Abu Matheina, leader of the CLC's. I spotted Metheina smiling at us as we passed.
The problem now is that after documenting all of the CLC members, they refuse to join the ranks of the IP's and are now protesting their treatment. It is hard to say whether the problem will be resolved in a satisfactory manner. A lot of the violence going on these days is between the locals, rather than attacks on our forces. They're suggesting we should leave the conflict and the decision making to their people regardless of how ready the local police and the Iraqi Army are. Besides training their security forces there isn't much else to do. We have given them the framework they need to take control and now we are sitting tight letting the glue dry so to speak.
Third platoon ran into some trouble on a night mission last week while working with a team of Navy Seals, who do special operations here in Baqubah. The first incident resulted in two of our men injured. After clearing a building and finding a weapons cache, the Navy Seals came out and decided to frag (throw a grenade in) the building. Before they could do so, either a sniper shot into the house or someone with a remote detonation device destroyed the weapons cache with high explosives. A few of the Navy Seals had to be med evac'd and one of our guys took shrapnel in the leg. After the explosion the two third platoon squads were separated and lost radio contact. Some men were pinned to their locations, afraid to move and become a target. After a few hours radio contact was restored and the reunited platoon returned safely to the JCOP. This incident led the leadership to put out a message that a rally point should be set up before all patrols in case there are any complications.
The problem now is that after documenting all of the CLC members, they refuse to join the ranks of the IP's and are now protesting their treatment. It is hard to say whether the problem will be resolved in a satisfactory manner. A lot of the violence going on these days is between the locals, rather than attacks on our forces. They're suggesting we should leave the conflict and the decision making to their people regardless of how ready the local police and the Iraqi Army are. Besides training their security forces there isn't much else to do. We have given them the framework they need to take control and now we are sitting tight letting the glue dry so to speak.
Third platoon ran into some trouble on a night mission last week while working with a team of Navy Seals, who do special operations here in Baqubah. The first incident resulted in two of our men injured. After clearing a building and finding a weapons cache, the Navy Seals came out and decided to frag (throw a grenade in) the building. Before they could do so, either a sniper shot into the house or someone with a remote detonation device destroyed the weapons cache with high explosives. A few of the Navy Seals had to be med evac'd and one of our guys took shrapnel in the leg. After the explosion the two third platoon squads were separated and lost radio contact. Some men were pinned to their locations, afraid to move and become a target. After a few hours radio contact was restored and the reunited platoon returned safely to the JCOP. This incident led the leadership to put out a message that a rally point should be set up before all patrols in case there are any complications.
04 February 2008
Stuck in Balad 2: Broken down Stryker
Two days ago our headquarters platoon took part in a convoy mission to Balad Airforce Base. We were the security for the large flatbed trucks carrying supplies back from Warhorse, and a few passengers rode along with us. Private Hebert who is new to our platoon is being trained to drive the Stryker. While crossing a narrow bridge, he scraped the slat armor on the side of the vehicle against the guard rails, ripping a large piece of it off and bending it up pretty good. Shortly before entering Balad airforce base, he drove our Stryker into the mud on the side of the road as we passed another convoy on the left. The right side of the vehicle got stuck, and in an attempt to free the vehicle from the rut he blew out the transmission. We used the lead vehicle to tow the Stryker for a few miles to the mechanics bay and then proceeded to wait for the rest of the day for a replacement engine. They also put an exhaust cover on for us so the dirty exhaust doesn't blow in my face when we drive now. They didn't fix the slat armor though. Private Hebert wasn't really punished, because he is still being trained.
The chow hall in Balad is nicer than at Warhorse, but it was kind of a drag waiting around for almost 12 hours for the new engine and interior work to get done. We slept in the transient housing where I stayed before going on leave for a few hours before getting going the next morning. From Balad to Camp Warhorse, a trip that takes 15 minutes by helicoptor, takes about an hour in a motor convoy. You have to consider however that back in October I waited for five days to get on the list for the short helicoptor flight. Go figure. We all got to eat good food and go to the PX as well. We kind of made it into a good time.
We got back to Camp Warhorse the next day for the Super Bowl, which was on at 0230 in the morning. Everyone packed into the chow hall where there are a bunch of TV's on the walls. Of course the more serious fans were in the better seats hooting and hollering. There was lots of food and snacks for the occasion but no beer which is kind of a shame.
This deployment is not all work, in fact there is a lot of down time to hang out and socialize and do what you want. There is a lot of weight lifting and the supplements which go along with it are in high demand. I tried them for a while, but they get expensive. Some guys have spent thousands of dollars in the pursuit of getting bigger. You can always tell the guys that have more time on their hands, because there's signs they lift weights every day. Everything in moderation, that's what I say.
The chow hall in Balad is nicer than at Warhorse, but it was kind of a drag waiting around for almost 12 hours for the new engine and interior work to get done. We slept in the transient housing where I stayed before going on leave for a few hours before getting going the next morning. From Balad to Camp Warhorse, a trip that takes 15 minutes by helicoptor, takes about an hour in a motor convoy. You have to consider however that back in October I waited for five days to get on the list for the short helicoptor flight. Go figure. We all got to eat good food and go to the PX as well. We kind of made it into a good time.
We got back to Camp Warhorse the next day for the Super Bowl, which was on at 0230 in the morning. Everyone packed into the chow hall where there are a bunch of TV's on the walls. Of course the more serious fans were in the better seats hooting and hollering. There was lots of food and snacks for the occasion but no beer which is kind of a shame.
This deployment is not all work, in fact there is a lot of down time to hang out and socialize and do what you want. There is a lot of weight lifting and the supplements which go along with it are in high demand. I tried them for a while, but they get expensive. Some guys have spent thousands of dollars in the pursuit of getting bigger. You can always tell the guys that have more time on their hands, because there's signs they lift weights every day. Everything in moderation, that's what I say.
29 January 2008
Concerned Local Citizens of Baqubah
The most recent developments here at the Joint Combat Outpost in Baqubah have involved the group of Concerned Local Citizens. The leader of the CLC's is Abu Matheina. He was previously a captain in Saddam Hussein's army and retreated to start his own militia group after the formal Iraqi Army was disbanded in 2003. The CLC's which number over 500 in Baqubah, are going through screening to become Iraqi Police. Most of them come from the group 1920 which is a militia that banded together against both Al Qaeda and U.S. forces at the beginning of the war to keep order in their hometown. The group has used guerilla tactics like suicide bombing, car bombs and sniper fire. All of these can be very demoralizing to our more powerful force but cannot stop it.
At this point we have identified most of the active members and are encouraging them to join the Iraqi Police force. In the past ten days we have converted the paper records of the Iraqi government into a computer database, and more importantly taken their fingerprints and a retina scan of each member. I took part in searching them as they lined up outside the compound en masse. Anyone entering the compound must be searched for weapons and possibly explosives.
This documentation process has taken place at several locations. Today our headquarters platoon went to the water treatment plant in town and stood guard while another 120 of the CLC's were registered. The process took about four hours. Another important event was the opening of a new traffic route in town. Route Gold as it is called was sectioned off with concrete barriers for a long time in order to stop the flow of weapons and contraband into Baqubah.
It is hard to believe that a further increase in security is needed. When we drive down the main roads in our Stryker vehicles, there are IP's everywhere directing traffic and throngs of people. Iraqi Army soldiers help with the job and are more reliable. Occasionally they fire their weapons in an attempt to direct traffic and get people to move. Traffic laws are not what they should be and there is a wide range of vehicles on the roads including cars, trucks, minibuses and donkey carts.
Our company continues to patrol the area on foot and mounted in vehicles. There is less and less of a concern for violence as the Iraqi forces take over. One concern is that the groups will be too segmented and turn against each other, reverting to old conflicts between regions in the past. A strong central government will be necessary to direct the nation's security.
At this point we have identified most of the active members and are encouraging them to join the Iraqi Police force. In the past ten days we have converted the paper records of the Iraqi government into a computer database, and more importantly taken their fingerprints and a retina scan of each member. I took part in searching them as they lined up outside the compound en masse. Anyone entering the compound must be searched for weapons and possibly explosives.
This documentation process has taken place at several locations. Today our headquarters platoon went to the water treatment plant in town and stood guard while another 120 of the CLC's were registered. The process took about four hours. Another important event was the opening of a new traffic route in town. Route Gold as it is called was sectioned off with concrete barriers for a long time in order to stop the flow of weapons and contraband into Baqubah.
It is hard to believe that a further increase in security is needed. When we drive down the main roads in our Stryker vehicles, there are IP's everywhere directing traffic and throngs of people. Iraqi Army soldiers help with the job and are more reliable. Occasionally they fire their weapons in an attempt to direct traffic and get people to move. Traffic laws are not what they should be and there is a wide range of vehicles on the roads including cars, trucks, minibuses and donkey carts.
Our company continues to patrol the area on foot and mounted in vehicles. There is less and less of a concern for violence as the Iraqi forces take over. One concern is that the groups will be too segmented and turn against each other, reverting to old conflicts between regions in the past. A strong central government will be necessary to direct the nation's security.
18 January 2008
Sgt. Byrne 92G Food Service Specialist
There is one female soldier stationed at the Joint Combat Outpost, Baqubah, Sergeant Byrne. She is one of the three cooks we have. I asked her some questions about her job to find out what it's like to be the only woman in a large group of men. Here she is standing in front of the mess tent.Spc. Matsick: Do you like your work? How long have you been in the military?
Sgt. Byrne: Yes, I like my work. I've been in for six years.
Spc. Matsick: What's the best part about your job?
Sgt. Byrne: Making the guys happy.
Spc. Matsick: what's the worst part?
Sgt. Byrne: Being in Iraq for such a long time. This is my second deployment.
Spc. Matsick: Where are you from?
Sgt. Byrne: San Diego, California.
Spc. Matsick: Are you married and do the guys hit on you a lot?
Sgt. Byrne: No, I'm not married. The guys are respectful for the most part.
Spc. Matsick: Do you ever make foods that aren't authorized?
Sgt. Byrne: No, no messing around in the kitchen. Sometimes we improvise though. For example the other day we made gravy by mixing the juices from meatloaf and soy sauce. People said it tasted great.
Spc. Matsick: I wasn't sure what it was at first, I thought maybe like a cheese dip. Do you know how to carve fruit and make garnishes?
Sgt. Byrne: Yes, The most common one we do is to make a rose out of a tomato. That comes up pretty often. I can make carvings out of pineapples or watermelons too.
Spc. Matsick: Would you consider preparing food after the military?
Sgt. Byrne: I worked at a few restaurants before enlisting; Sizzlers, a seafood restaurant, and a retirement home. It's my profession.
11 January 2008
Day 280
It has been getting colder here in Baqubah. This morning I woke up to a light snowfall. It turned to a drizzle as the day went on and we lit up the new industrial heaters. The heaters are like jet engines that sit on the floor spitting heat out the back end. Our squad has been drinking a lot of tea and coffee to keep warm, and a few guys are going ot the next level getting all kinds of coffee shipped to them. Today we tried the new variety pack including Ethiopian, Mexican and Indonesian coffee.
Out back on guard shift we have been lighting a small fire. Standing around in the cold can be a real killer. The Iraqi Army soldiers find wood in various places and keep the fire in a small pan to contain the ashes. As I write this in the computer lab at Camp Warhorse I can smell the wood smoke on my uniform. The majority of visitors at the gate want motorcycle badges, which are issued from the compound. Yesterday an Iraqi boy needed to see the dentist so we took him back to Warhorse. The kid played PlayStation while he waited to go and was pretty good at it. I think their family must have been wealthy.
Our headquarters platoon is made up of the mortar squad, the two snipers, the armorer, a guy that is switching to officer, and the medics. That basically comprises all the soldiers that are not 11B infantry. Besides going out on foot patrol with the commander, we do odd jobs like escort people or vehicles to Camp Warhorse and other locations. Occasionally we will do a mission. The other day we went and set up a traffic control point to search cars and identify possible terrorist suspects. I'm not sure found any, but we got a lot of names and license plate numbers. We made a road block with concertina wire and waved the cars through one by one to be checked. After a while too many cars were lined up and we just let them all through. Most of the locals are familiar with a checkpoint and know how to behave. If they keep coming when you give them the signal to stop, we're told to shoot the engine block. After that go for the driver. I think this must have happened enough times that the people know what to do. Luckily there were no incidents, everything went smoothly.
So far in our deployment I have been very lucky. I have not been shot at, rode in a vehicle hit by an IED, or had any accidents. Things have been slowing down, but there is still constant danger. Today first platoon was headed back from the government center and they hit an IED which injured two soldiers. Crawford, a guy from Pittsburgh got a serious concussion, and Hadley from Atlanta took shrapnel. Luckily both of them are able to continue fighting. They will both receive purple hearts.
Pretty soon there will be internet and showers and heat out at the JCOP and it won't be any fun anymore. It will be civilized. There are lots of signs that U.S. forces will be here in Iraq long term. The war on terror will never end it seems. We're just sitting tight waiting for summer to come around.
Out back on guard shift we have been lighting a small fire. Standing around in the cold can be a real killer. The Iraqi Army soldiers find wood in various places and keep the fire in a small pan to contain the ashes. As I write this in the computer lab at Camp Warhorse I can smell the wood smoke on my uniform. The majority of visitors at the gate want motorcycle badges, which are issued from the compound. Yesterday an Iraqi boy needed to see the dentist so we took him back to Warhorse. The kid played PlayStation while he waited to go and was pretty good at it. I think their family must have been wealthy.
Our headquarters platoon is made up of the mortar squad, the two snipers, the armorer, a guy that is switching to officer, and the medics. That basically comprises all the soldiers that are not 11B infantry. Besides going out on foot patrol with the commander, we do odd jobs like escort people or vehicles to Camp Warhorse and other locations. Occasionally we will do a mission. The other day we went and set up a traffic control point to search cars and identify possible terrorist suspects. I'm not sure found any, but we got a lot of names and license plate numbers. We made a road block with concertina wire and waved the cars through one by one to be checked. After a while too many cars were lined up and we just let them all through. Most of the locals are familiar with a checkpoint and know how to behave. If they keep coming when you give them the signal to stop, we're told to shoot the engine block. After that go for the driver. I think this must have happened enough times that the people know what to do. Luckily there were no incidents, everything went smoothly.
So far in our deployment I have been very lucky. I have not been shot at, rode in a vehicle hit by an IED, or had any accidents. Things have been slowing down, but there is still constant danger. Today first platoon was headed back from the government center and they hit an IED which injured two soldiers. Crawford, a guy from Pittsburgh got a serious concussion, and Hadley from Atlanta took shrapnel. Luckily both of them are able to continue fighting. They will both receive purple hearts.
Pretty soon there will be internet and showers and heat out at the JCOP and it won't be any fun anymore. It will be civilized. There are lots of signs that U.S. forces will be here in Iraq long term. The war on terror will never end it seems. We're just sitting tight waiting for summer to come around.
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