Last Post

Signing off this blog. We are heading home. Thanks for reading my blog. Find me on Face Book if you wanna keep in touch.

Been Awhile

I know, I know…it has been awhile since I last posted. Between me going on R&R leave which took almost 30 days due to the sandstorms we had and then trying to get up to speed upon my return…time just flew bye. Anyway, we are all done with out R&R leaves and now we have about 90 days left until we redeploy!!!! Contrary to popular belief, things have not slowed down since the new Security Agreement went into affect. We thought it might, but no such luck. We’ll, I know your not looking at my BLOG to read, so here are the snapshots.

Yard Time

Here is 808 enjoying his “Yard Time” with a smoke. Actually, he is waiting for someone on the Helipad.

RE-UP

808 & Flipper decided they couldn’t give up the Army and I had the honor of being the Re-enlisting Officer. I don’t think Flipper was really cognizant of what he was doing looking at his uncertain grin.

Post it Anyone?

Raven went on a four day (turned into 14 days) pass to Quatar and the guys decided to decorate his desk.

Looks like Mars, huh?

Yes, this is one of the Sand Storms that hit us early mid JUN.

Promotion

808 got promoted to SGT and the Division CSM pinned him

Second Job

Don’t ask. Guess Raven got a second job as a night janitor.

I want one of these

V-22 Osprey….they are coooooool!!

BlackHawk

No reason….I still marvel at helicopters when they take off,

Charlie Daniels Gang

He was in town recruiting and these three volunteered to be in his band

Cowboys

Guess who's Stetson they're wearing?

Life in Ninewa

I just liked this photo with a Mosque in the background. This is in downtown Mosul.

Citadel

This is a very historic gathering place in a town in Northern Iraq called Erbil (capital of Kurdistan).

Monastery 2

Mor Mataai Monaster again, different photo.

Monastery 1

This is Mor Mataai Monastery which is one of several Monasteries in Northern Iraq.

Sand Storm Cometh

This is a photo of an impending sand storm coming over our living trailers. This has happened quite a few times the last couple of months. This when it becomes pointless sometimes to take a shower.

"It's A Dry Heat".....Yeah Sure

If anyone ever says the following about Iraq, they are lying thru their teeth…”It’s a Dry Heat so it doesn’t feel as hot” I here to tell you that hot is HOT, especially when the thermometer reads 110 and it’s only 10 a.m. in MAY. We are so looking forward to July and August….NOT. The lesson here to all of our loved ones and friends and family is to NOT send any chocolate (or things that melt like Gummi Bears) in the mail for awhile. This will be a quick post this time since it has taken me this long to find the time to post. We are excited to be over the hump and by the time I return of R&R leave, we will only have about four months left.

As for the photos this time, I decided to show you some of Iraq and how beautiful it can be if they would stop blowing each other up….but anyway, enjoy.

Right Color, Wrong Team

The Gang with the Minnesota Viking Cheerleaders. Raven agreed to the photo only because they were wearing the colors of the Baltimore Ravens…..yeah right.

Dog Gone it

This is me with the Combat Stress Team and one of their team members. I forgot the dogs name but she cheered me up. I think they roam from unit to unit and attempt to gauge the environment of Soldiers and make recommendations to the command.

I said, Do I Really Have to Run?

Another IFGAR pre-race photo…..again look at Flipper and 808.

Let's Do this Thing

Another IFGAR pre-race photo. Raven did really well, especially since he hadn’t run in almost nine months. He was waaaaaaaaay ahead of me.

Do I have to Run?

Every year the island of Oahu has the Great Aloha Run (GAR). An 8 mile run through the city of Honolulu which the US Military proudly supports. In honor of that tradition, we had the Iraqi Freedom Great Aloha Run (IFGAR). This is a pre-race photo….take a look at “Flipper” and “808” and you know why I titled the picture.

Parole

The guy in the middle finally got his release from prison. Actually, he was moving to a MiTT (Military Transition Team = Train Iraqis) and we had a small going away function. All the best, Jo.

A Change of Seasons

OK, OK, I got the hint already. Between my wife, mom, and the spouse of someone who works with me, I have received ALLOT of subtle hints to update my BLOG….so here it is.

Four months down and number five is halfway over. Time has been flying by here and we have been extremely busy due to all the activity happening in our AO. Easter is right around the corner and someone asked me what I was giving up for Lent and I responded that I had already given up many things while deployed to Iraq…not seeing my family, not wearing civilian clothes, eating out, drinking, etc….I think I’m good for several Lents. What do you think?

The temperatures are not as cold in the evening and we don’t even need jackets anymore. We have had several severe sandstorms (like a very thick fog, but only with sand in the air). I think this is the changing of the seasons and is an indicator of the sweltering heat that is coming in about a month….we are not looking forward to this. As I end this post, I would like to make a special request this month for everyone that reads my BLOG. If you could take one minute out of your day sometime and pray for the Soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and their families. Thank You.

And now for the real reason everyone looks at this BLOG…photos.

The Colonel

We saw this new unit off to their battle space in our AO and decided to take a snap shot with the Commander of that unit before he flew off. He was so appreciative of our hospitality that he coined us (Commanders of military units have coins and present them to people as a rewards or to say thanks. Lots of people in Military collect them). It’s amazing how much sand four Black Hawks can stir up when lifting off.

Gun Control

We were driving buy this one day and these three thought it was “cool” so we took a snap shot (same slow day?).

Just Because

I still have no idea why Raven, Flipper, and 808 wanted their picture taken with Sadam. Slow day I guess?

"The King Lives"

Yes, even the “King” comes to Iraq. Here is Flipper with Elvis for which his family will appreciate this picture and one of me with the King as my Mom will appreciate……thank you….thank you….thank you very much (read in a deep voice).

Olympic Flame

The “Olympic Heroes Tour” came to town and I couldn’t resist a photo OP. From L to R; Speed Skater Joey Cheek, Gymnast Shannon Miller, Diver Laura Wilkinson, and, Sprinter Angelo Taylor. Speed Skater Dude (he won the 500M event, 2006 at Torino, Italy) was nice enough to let me get my fingerprints all over it. It was as large as a CD and it felt like it was about five pounds. He never let me leave his sight.

It's My Party

“808” turned 27 (center) and we paid everyone to attend our makeshift surprise party. We got him what anyone in Iraq wants…six pack of Monster Energy Drinks and a Carton of Cigs. I hope we aren’t around him when he runs out of both things.

New Year...New Hope

With the start of a new year, Iraq looks for new and promising politicians to steer their country to success. This month everyone in Iraq has been busy with Provincial (Province = about equal to a US state) Elections and our Division is no exception. In our Division’s area of responsibility, three of the seven provinces are having elections at this time and just like in the US, things really start happening towards the end. However, unlike the US, the Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces are a necessity in order to ensure that the elections are free, credible, and that citizens can vote without fear.
The evenings are not quite as cold as they have been (30s) and the days are starting to creep into the high 60s which means the desert heat that comes with summer is looming. Two months into our tour, our unit has started the R&R leave process and one of members is on leave and another one scheduled to depart in two weeks. A private company is supposed to start work installing internet into our CHUs this week….which we are excited about since that is a luxury few people have without buying their own equipment or paying out the nose for. They are supposed to offer various plans but we shall see about the quality of service they provide. OK, time for the best part of the blog….pictures….enjoy. Till next post.