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.