For The New Year

Happy New Year everyone! This one has gone by surprisingly (and thankfully) fast. To celebrate the event we had a bonfire, which was constructed of pallets stacked to make a 15' tower. We also threw some smoke grenades and grilled steaks and burgers. Not bad for the middle of nowhere in Iraq. Earlier that day I was a bit disappointed. I had invited some of the Iraqi guys over for pizza because they had never had it before. I went and picked up 5 pizzas from Pizza Hut (yes there is one here) and brought them back anticipating a great lunch and hoping to build a stronger relationship with the Iraqi guys. Sadly though, something must have been lost in translation because nobody showed up and I was stuck with a ton of pizza by myself. The Iraqis are busy prepping a bunch of their vehicle for a parade in Baghdad later this week. The only bad part is that the tanks they are driving are from the 1970s and there aren't many parts to repair them. Hopefully they at least make it the length of the parade route without breaking down!

I will be coming home later this month, so I am very excited for that. I can't wait to see Melissa and Isaac and Luke! I'll even get to see Lola so that's cool too. One thing I want to do while I'm home (besides not freezing to death) is go ice fishing. I haven't done that in such a long time, and I think the boys would enjoy it, so if anyone knows a good spot to go please let me know!

SORRY!!!!!

Sorry that it has been almost four months since my last post, so if you are still following, here is what is happening in my world...

Our team moved to Camp Taji earlier this month in order to advise and assist a new group of people. We are now responsible for the 9th Division EME (Electrical, Maintenance, and Engineering). Specifically I am working with four maintenance shops, each one supporting a different Brigade. Everyone that I have worked with, so far, has been great. They are eager to learn, and are extremely eager to share their culture with me. For instance, last week I was invited to lunch with one of the Colonels where we got to have a special meal called "Pacha". Pacha is considered a delicacy in Iraq and is made of sheep's head. I ate it, though I don't know if I'd do it again. The soup tasted like dirty water and the "meat's" consistency was a little unsettling. I took it like a champ though and earned some cool points from the Colonel. I am currently working on some maintenance classes for the shops that I am working with. Right now I am focusing on the electrical system and troubleshooting, areas that I feel they need the most help in.

Again, sorry for the gap between posts, I'll do a better job from here on out, we'll call it an early New Year's resolution!

Close Call...

So we're taking a ride down the Iraqi highway, I'm the gunner in the rear truck, watching the traffic steadily piling up behind us. As we get close to one of the checkpoints along the way, a pickup decides to jump out of line about five rows back and comes flying up behind us. I don't know if he just wanted to get through the checkpoint faster or if he was testing me or what, but he was about 1/10th of a second from getting his truck shredded by my weapon. I tried to wave him off, I guess he didn't think I was serious until the machine gun was pointing through his windshield. For those that have hunted before, you know that moment before you squeeze the trigger where you kind of lean into the weapon to help brace against the recoil? That's where I was at before he backed off. Lucky day for both of us I guess.

In other news, the Iraqi's are making the best of their new living space. They have electricity running to some of the buildings from a generator and are working on getting permanent power set up. One bad thing is their morale, it's still hot, still Ramadan, and the General that made them move into the garbage dump comes and yells at them for it looking like a garbage dump. Hopefully their conditions start looking up soon. It's hard for me to keep going there and not be able to do anything for them. I feel pretty useless right now, hopefully that changes soon too. I have to run, I just wanted to get some thoughts down before they slip away... I'll post more soon.

Prayer Request

I neglected to add on the last post that we had to send one of our guys home on emergency leave because his wife was very very sick. She is getting better now but it looks like he'll have to stay home and take care of their children because she must go through months of physical therapy to regain her motor skills. Please pray for them and a speedy recovery, thanks.

Big Changes

So a lot has happened since the last post... The biggest hit is the Iraqi unit that we are supporting is moving which is causes a bit of a problem for us - having to be on the road to go work with them. The place that they are moving to barely has room for them, let alone us, so right now we are working to get their area set up first. The conditions are worse than what they had before, if you can believe it. The only good thing is that the have a dining facility within walking distance and they won't have to truck their food in every day. Their new area doesn't have electricity or water yet, it was basically a junk yard that they have to clean out before they can move in.

Another big event started, its called Ramadan, here's a brief rundown on what Ramadan is: It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until dusk. Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. Ramadan is a time to fast for the sake of Allah, and to offer more prayer than usual. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds. The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity. Toward the end of the month is Laylat al-Qadr, considered the most holy night of the year, it is the night in which the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad, the "Night of the Power".

There is an extremist view that believes "When Ramadan arrives, Heaven's gates are opened, Hell's gates are closed, and the demons are chained up" and who ever passes away will enter paradise. This leads to suicide bombings and attacks on US forces, but the majority of Muslims don't view it this way.

I just wanted to throw that information in to give a background on what is going on right now. Other than that, college is going well, I signed up for the next semester already, I'll be taking World Geography, Music, and an English class. I hope you all are doing well, till next time!

Not Enough Power to Give Power...

I just looked at my last post and saw that it has been almost two weeks, sorry for the delayed update. Most of the Iraqis are still on leave and we won't be doing any training for probably the next month as they will be celebrating their holy month of Ramadan. During this time they fast from sunrise to sunset, not even taking water. You can see why we won't be conducting training for them during this period. Also, I would like for them to get the electricity up and running so that they can at least have a little comfort in the AC instead of fasting all day in the heat. I thought I had finally got an answer to part of the problem by getting a crane and forklift coordinated to go over to their side and position the generator that has been sitting on the back of a truck for months. I thought that all they needed was for this generator to be put on the ground and put into operation for their stuff to work. I was only able to get the crane and forklift for an hour in the afternoon, so time was tight. While I was in the midst of getting the Iraqis to understand that we only had a little time to get things done, the Lieutenant Colonel calls on the radio and says to leave the generator on the truck because it's broken and he's going to take it to a mechanic in the village to get repaired...this caused me to have some mixed feelings and questions...

1) Why didn't you tell me it was broken to begin with?????
2) How is the "mechanic in the village" going to fix the huge generator while its on the back of the truck, I know they don't have the means to take it off the truck
3) How long are you going to wait to take the generator to the mechanic???
4) Why are you allowing your Soldiers to suffer every day?????????????????

So, I'm pretty upset by this time and I don't know how to tell the Sergeant Major that I was working with that his boss is jerking us around. The truck is still sitting and the generator is collecting dust as I type this. I at least could have had it taken off the truck and have everything set up so that IF it is broken, we would just have to take the piece off and get that piece replaced.

Another bad turn this week, the maintenance company that I'm advising lost all their good mechanics to the Division. I have yet to get a number on what they have left, but I'm sure it isn't good. They only had 40 something to begin with and of those only a few were experienced. I guess that means I just have to provide more training to them.

On a good note, I started two online college classes this week, Earth Science and World History from 1500, so at least I'll be busy all day and possibly night depending on the work load. The past few weeks have flown by, hopefully these classes make the time go that much quicker. That's all for now...I'll add some pics on the next one hopefully.

Another Week in the Books

Its been a little over a week since my last post, but you haven't missed much. The Iraqi unit that we're helping has been conducting a mission and the rest of the Soldiers are on "Mujaas" or leave in English. That being said there really hasn't been that much for us to do. We are still working on getting them electricity, but the Iraqis don't can't pay for it and the Americans think they shouldn't pay for the repairs even though we are the one's who took away their electricity. So it's basically a political battle and the only ones that are losing are the Iraqis that have to suffer in the 115 degree heat all day and still be expected to do their mission.

I did get to go to a camp in Baghdad where I ran into a bunch of guys that I deployed with last time. It was great to see them again, hopefully I get to go again soon before the go home. I saw a couple of Palaces from the outside, next time I'll try to get a tour set up so I can go inside and take some pictures. I went for a run one morning around one of the palaces that was set in the middle of a small lake. It actually made for a picturesque run, and I saw a guy fishing so I have to check on what I need so I can go fishing next time, too. Unfortunately, the palace has signs around it saying no photography, I'm not sure why that is, but I'll try to at least find a post card or something. Plus I'm sure I could get a picture and get away with it. I don't think the Special Forces are guarding the perimeter of the palace, waiting for some idiot "tourist" to snap a picture. I'll have to test my theory next time...

One last thing; I did get to eat an authentic Iraqi meal, we had lamb, and rice, and chicken, served with pita bread. It made me think of a cross between Greek and Mexican cuisine. Every thing was very good; there was one big difference, the don't use silverware or serving utensils. Everything was done by hand, which is normal for them. Till next time "Fee Iman Allah" (may God protect you)!