FA LA, LA, LA, LA

Me and the Christmas Carolers from our Division Band. Yes, even the band deploys to a combat zone. They mostly pull sentry duty when they are not performing.

Kripendorf's Tribe

808 & Flipper trying to convince this Ugandan (Yes, Uganda) guard that they are from the INOKEA tribe in Wianea, HI. Can you tell from the look on his face that he’s not buying it?

Atlas Shrugs

We didn’t know why Flipper was laughing so hard when this pic was taken. However, a few minutes later….we cleared the room thanks to his odiferous emanations…if you know what I mean.

"One More Rep!!"

Anyone here the Rocky Theme Song in their head? 808 is showing Raven how to “Get Big”.

Corona Christmas

Flipper (front) found some spare plywood and decided to use his artistic inspiration to give the “The Shack” some “Aloha Spirit”. The three girls are from the Lawyer section and decided to check out our new home.

Electric Strawberry

This is our unit patch that was enlarged. We call it the “Electric Strawberry” and everyone has their picture taken in front of it…we started that trend.

Ohhh Christmas Tree

Trees are hard to come by in Iraq but someone somehow got this over here. Someone wrapped a bunch of care packages that came from anysoldier.com so that it wouldn’t look so sparse but that was after this picture was taken.

Every CHU in CHUville...

These trailers are called CHUs (Crew Housing Unit) and these are what we live in. Each trailer is split in half (Left to Right) into two rooms which are about 10 x 10 and each room houses two people. So each container has four people living in it. The trailers on the far end are community bathrooms and showers. The sand filled baskets on the left are called HESCO barriers and are there to mitigate blasts. The concrete looking thing in the middle, ¾ of the way up is a concrete bunker in case there is indirect fire coming in. Yes, those are wires going everywhere to the satellite dishes for either cable (AFN = Armed Forces Network) or internet….all of it is jerry rigged.

Christmas Follies

I know……I know…..I have not posted for awhile but we have been quite busy in the days since we took over the battle space. The guys have been bringing me “to go trays” from the DFAC over the past three weeks because I can’t seem to get away even to go eat. They are the best cast of characters I could ever work with and they have made our unit look good with every mission we’ve had (which is many). Our Christmas and the weeks leading up to it were spent working, but we did get a half the morning off but no other fan fare. Part of our work was moving our section to a new trailer outside of the main building (a trailer) which the guys have dubbed “The Shack” in honor of the Bar and Grill located in Mililani, Hawaii. If anyone goes there, please send us some paraphernalia (napkins, menus, signs) that has their logo so we can make it look sort of like it. Well, enough of my blah, blah, blah. Here are some pics…some have nothing to do with the Christmas…..some do…..Mele Kalikimaka.

Last Action Hero

“Ehh Bra, Gimme me all your Spam or I gonna do Da Kine” Looks like “808” is going through Spam withdrawal.

*Disclaiimer* - SPAM = It's a Hawaiian thing.

RAMBO....PART 5

Sly Stallone he is not but “Flipper” is working on it at the gym in his spare time. This must be the “before” picture.

PUT ME DOWN!!!

WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) came to our COB (Contingency Operating Base) to say thanks for our service. This wrestler used “808” to supplement his workout but said his back hurt after he put him down…..Lay off the deserts there “808”

One Month Down.....

The good news is that we have completed one month here…..the bad news is that we have 11 more to go. Our days have been getting busier lately since we (our unit) have taken control of things without the responsibility while the outgoing unit gives us advice and tips. December 9 marks the actual date that the Transfer of Authority will “officially” happen and we will be responsible for everything that occurs in our area of operations. This will probably without a doubt be the most difficult month for all the Soldiers in the unit because of the Holidays approaching. Luckily, we have been getting lots of love through the mail since I signed us up for anysoldier.com and the packages have been rolling in. If anyone who reads this contributes to that program….a simple THANK YOU does not convey the gratitude we feel for the labors of love you send us. THANK YOU AGAIN from all the Soldiers who benefit from the packages. The following pictures above this post are moments where we get to forget where we are for a moment and laugh it up….enjoy.

Who's the Turkey?

Nothing special. Just a picture of us with a big plastic Turkey because we were bored. The girl in front is a friend of “Shadow”.

Grown up Table

They finally got to move the kiddy table in the garage to the "Big People Table. More after Thanksgiving dinner antics. “808” said that this is the size of his table at home.

Funny Faces

After Thanksgiving dinner clowning around at the aviation DFAC. I think “Flipper” and “Speedy” modeled for the melon carver. The girl in the back (a.k.a. Shadow) tagged along for the ride and after dinner antics.

Gangs all Here

Here is our entire gang. We got a new addition to our section (left side behind 808) and we call him “Speedy” because he talks so fast. We are happy to have him in our section because we will really be busy. Notice who has the most food?????

Gobble Gobble

We decided to eat at the North DFAC for Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime. The lines to eat were longer than a Wal-Mart checkout line on “Black Friday” I decided to sit and watch everyone’s weapons while they got their food and about30 minutes later the guys brought me a plate with all the trimmings. The DFAC really tried to make it worth our while to eat but the food wasn’t the same as being home. Here are some photos above this posting.....enjoy - Tino.

Kids in Action

As a proud Daddy, I had to post a couple pics of my two oldest in action. Luckily I attended both of these before I deployed.

Send off Pictures

Here are a couple pictures from the send off.

The picture of my guys are nicknamed L-F = Flipper (likes Miami Dolphins), MAJ Tino (Me), 808 (from Hawaii and is area code), Raven (look at jersey). Great pic of "Team Tino" huh? Ethan was dressed for his Flag Football Game (they are now 2-0), Audrey was dressed for Cheerleading (she cheers for Ethan's League), and Avery just finished playing in the mud - Miss you Family.

Till the next post....Tino

Mail Request

- For anyone who wishes to send me and my fellow Soldiers things from home, here is my mailing address:

MAJ Frank D. Constantino
OPS CO, STB, 25th ID
Command Group
COB Speicher, Iraq
APO AE 09393

- Here are some things I could really use if anyone could help me out. Just post what you are sending here but if I get to many of one thing, there are plenty of Soldiers to share with.

Hangars, 3M Hooks (various sizes), Fabreeze (everythings stinks here), Stick-ups, Baby Wipes, Kleenex

- Here are some nice to have things that I'm sure we would appreciate:
Movie DVDs, Coffee, Flavored Creamer, Candy, Snacks (I'm particularly fond of Almond M&Ms & Snickers, Gummi Bears, Sunflower Seeds, & smoked sausage), Cigars

Until next post....Tino

Journeyman

Travel Log - NOV 08

- Since I had just made the journey to Irag no less than 12 months ago, I had a pre-conveived notion of what the trip would be like....it would suck beyond belief. However, truly the most difficult part was bidding farewell to Janette and the kids at the send off location (photos will be posted later). They were inadvertently the center of attention (which I found out later) from our Division public affairs and everyone on my Chalk (flight). Everyone told me later how sad they were to see Janette and the kids weeping while waiting for our buses to depart and a film crew was taping every minute of it. We'll see if they get their unwanted 15 minutes of fame.

- Let's see.....On the the last journey to Iraq, We had a small raggedy plane that broke at every stop, I got a seat in the last row of the plane and nothing worked...no lights, no recline, headset jack broken. The only thing I could do was sleep sitting upright. Well HELLO KARMA!!!! This time we had a Boeing 747 Jumbo and I got to sit in the front in BUSINESS CLASS. The seats reclined all the way back, my own private screen, and business class service. I almost thought I was on vacation minus my weapon and uniform. That was a great flight.

- After twenty-eight hours of straight traveling and two stops (SEA-TAC, Germany), we finally made it to Kuwait and am now waiting for the Air Force to give us a ride to Iraq. Not much has changed here in Kuwait aside from a few more ammenities being offered and the tents we sleep in are a little more sturdy and insulated to keep the heat out. Also, the Dining Facilities (DFAC) are much nicer in appearance but the food is still the same. The food in Iraq is much better.

- That's all for now.....till my next post. Thanks for all the replies, prayers, and love. I truly appreciate every word you type. - TINO

Hello & Goodbye

Hello everyone!! If you are reading this, you have been successful at finding my first blog. I will try and post something once a week or more if I can, so check back regularly. Once I get set up in Iraq, I will get a camera and also post pictures.
To my family....goodbye is so hard, so I will say see you later.

Tino