In Iraq for 365

Camera Boy Book Tour

2009-10-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

The first leg of the Camera Boy book tour.

November 5 -- CARMICHAEL'S BOOKSTORE, 7 p.m. @ 2720 Frankfort Avenue; Louisville, KY 40206

November 11 -- Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. @ 4100 Summit Plaza Drive, Louisville, KY 40241

November 16 -- Downtown Borders, Noon - 2 p.m. @ 11 S. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 46204

November 16 -- Barnes & Noble, 7 p.m. @ 3111 South Veterans Pkwy; Springfield, IL 62704

November 17 -- Borders, 6:30 p.m. @ 3300 S Glenstone Ave; Springfield, MO 65804

November 18 -- Full Circle Books, 6:30 p.m. @ 50 Penn Place Oklahoma City

November 19 -- Barnes & Noble, 6:30 p.m. @ Woodland Plaza
8620 E 71 Street, Tulsa, OK 74133

December 2 -- Louisville VA Hospital, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Recent Stories Written About Camera Boy and Fred Minnick

2009-10-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

My Iraq War Memoir, Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq, has yet to hit stores and the press has been fantastic. As a journalist, I always feel a little strange about being interviewed. But, I'm getting the hang of it.

OSU graduate, Army journalist tells his story

The Daily O'Collegian: OSU graduate Fred Minnick was a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who started in the 45th Infantry division. Minnick later transferred to the 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. His stories from Iraq can be found in his book “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist’s War in Iraq.”

Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq

Stryker News: Many long time readers will recognize the name Fred Minnick. He has written a book about his experiences covering the war, including two Stryker Brigades in Northern Iraq, as an army photojournalist (view his story archives). The book, titled Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq, will come out in November, but is available for pre-order now..

OSU grad tells his story of war

Stillwater NewsPress: Fred Minnick was content to sit in the restaurant, sip coffee and talk about his book, “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist’s War in Iraq.”

Book recounts experiences of Norton Commons veteran

Louisville Courier-Journal: Fred Minnick penned “Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq,” which chronicles his time serving in an Army public affairs unit — a time he spent with a Nikon camera slung over one arm, an M-16 over the other. The book is scheduled for release on Nov. 1 by Hellgate Press, which publishes military history books. Two book signings are scheduled: one at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 and another at Barnes and Noble at The Summit at 7 p.m. Nov. 11.

Author Penned Book in Upper Wis. Cabin

Sawyer County Record: Fred Minnick wrote Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War In Iraq in a small, remote lakeside cabin in Barnes, Wis. The peaceful place helped him to recover from PTSD, he says.

Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq

2009-08-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

"Former Staff Sergeant Fred Minnick, a member of the best Public Affairs unit I have ever served with, has captured the essence of...what it was like to serve in northern Iraq in the critical year of 2004. Mostly, what shines through is an intense love of fellow soldiers and of the pride that comes from serving with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of American patriots."

–General Carter F. Ham, U.S. Army Europe Commander

I can't believe my book is finally coming out. Pre orders are available at Hellgate Press.

Follow me on Twitter.

My Book is available for preorder

2009-08-14T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am proud to announce Camera Boy: An Army Journalist's War in Iraq is available for pre order. Be one of the first people to own it and get it a month before bookstores.

http://hellgatepress.com/display_book.php?id=84

I'm Back

2008-01-26T11:18:00.001-08:00

I realize it's been some time since I posted and many loyal readers have emailed me requesting a comeback. But the truth is I could never blog like I once did in Iraq and that's partly why I stopped. I felt like a couch general and didn't think my writing was doing any good. So I stopped blogging about the military and my struggles altogether. Blogging about Iraq also made it difficult for me to move on, to readjust to my new life. It just brought back too many difficult memories to deal with.

But now, I know how to cope with those memories thanks to the counseling I've received at the VA. And I feel like it's time to come back and blog about the military again. This time, I plan to write analysis on military media coverage.

Since I've been gone from the blogsphere, I've become a national freelance journalist working for MSN, Investor's Business Daily and many other national media. You can view my work at FredWrite.com.

She said yes

2006-11-10T20:27:00.000-08:00

I nearly threw up six times before I bought this ring. She loves hot dogs, so I stuck the thing on a dog and put it in the microwave. When she opened the microwave door, she laughed. I kind of figured she'd cry. But she and I are kind of goofballs. Oh, did I mention she said yes? We've decided to keep a blog about our journey to the altar. Read it.

Blog of War

2006-09-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

It is so cool to be a part of something so special.

Poem from a fallen soldier's sister: The American Soldier

2006-08-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to my brother, Ryan David Jopek, serving in Iraq.

He has a strong heart
and great amount of stubborn pride
He's a brave one
and he shows it with every stride
I know he won't let us down
as he serves our country over
in a dangerous land
For, even though he won't admit it,
he's holding God's hand
He'll fight for their freedom
while helping us hold on to ours
Even though he may come back
with some frightening scars
I love this man,
they call an American Soldier
I love him,
he
is my brother

Jessica Lynn Jopek
Copyright ©2006 Jessica Jopek

Lost a dear friend in Iraq

2006-08-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

You may know Ryan Jopek this post, "The Son of Sammy." I am sad to report that he was killed two days ago in Iraq. He is the son of Staff Sgt. Brian Jopek aka Sammy. His death just breaks my heart. I will be going to see the family.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=479630

My friend's blog

2006-06-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Check out my friend's blog, which really isn't a blog... but it's pretty darn funny.

It's called Brain Farts.

Military blog study

2006-05-31T10:51:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't know that military blogs were influential, read this: Don’t tread on my blog: A study of military web logs. It's a study from the University of Oklahoma about milblogs. They used information from military bloggers we all read. And in the report it says the Army should monitor all military blogs to make sure bloggers follow operational security.

Covering President Bush

2006-05-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Last week, I covered President Bush at the National Restaurant Association’s Hotel Motel Show. As a restaurant reporter, I was surprised he chose this venue to speak about the War on Terror more than immigration reform. But as a veteran, I had butterflies in my stomach as he thanked servicemen and women countless times during his very long speech.

I sat in press section, where I was expected to have a stone face and no personality. Reporters are supposed to be objective! (Sidebar: Once I covered my beloved OSU Cowboys and I cheered when they scored a touchdown. The veteran journalists gave me dirty looks.) Needless to say, I found myself clapping along with the crowd and laughing at his jokes. (Seriously, such actions would get AP reporters fired.) But I couldn’t help it.

“President, I’m from Florida and I have to tell you that your brother does a great job for the restaurant community,” a woman said before the president interrupted her.

“Well, he does like to eat, I can tell you that,” Bush said.

Then a man in chef’s attire approached the microphone. Before the chef could say a word, the president said “I bet you’re a chef aren’t you? Want to know how I know?”

He was energetic and talked about issues I had never heard of. Although the audience, primarily restaurant owners, overwhelmingly favored Bush, not all people asked soft-ball questions. When asked, “Is there a realistic, yet aggressive timetable and strategy to get our reliance off of Middle East oil and go to a different fuel source, or ways that the United States can prosper?”

The president responded, “As soon as possible.” He also explained the current plan to move to alternative fuels. He said the United States is making good progress in creating ethanol fuels.

“If you really think about, for example, the penetration of ethanol in the Midwest, it's been amazing over the last couple of years. Indiana people, you're beginning to get E85 pumps. E85 means 85 percent of the fuel you buy at an E85 pump is ethanol. We've put tax incentives in place to encourage the construction of ethanol refineries, and they're beginning to grow quite dramatically.”

Bush talked about flex-fuel vehicles – a term I had never heard of – and said, “There are 5 million automobiles on the road today that are flex-fuel vehicles. In other words, they can use ethanol and/or gasoline, or a combination of both. So the technologies to make our automobiles ethanol-compatible are around. As a matter of fact, you may have a flex-fuel vehicle and just don't know it.”

And Bush seemed to recognize that the Green Peace types want 100 percent ethanol fuels, but “Do we have enough feedstock into the ethanol business to be able to really get major penetration? And that's where we're spending some money. Because we got corn, but sometimes you got to eat corn. And sometimes your pigs and cows have got to eat corn.”

When he said, “Pigs and cows have got to eat corn,” I thought I was going to get kicked off the press stage or the Secret Service was about to club me. He is a genuinely funny man even if you don’t like him.

Last week, I saw a side of the president America rarely sees. Sure he stuttered. I never said he was a great speaker. But he cares about America, and he especially cares about soldiers. He compared the War on Terror to World War I and World War II, two wars that brought democracy to countries.

“Today, after nearly a century of violence and death and destruction, Europe is whole, free, and at peace. And it's important for America to ask the question, why is that the case? Well, democracies don't war with each other, and democracies have taken hold in Europe,” he said.

He then talked about his father fighting Japan in World War II.

“The Japanese. Prime Minister Koizumi is coming to our country soon,” Bush emphasized. “I'll be sitting down to the table with a friend talking about issues like North Korea, or thanking him for having 1,000 troops in Iraq, or worrying about the spread of pandemic disease, or talking about how we can help the young democracy, Afghanistan. And I find it amazing that the President of the United States is sitting down talking about peace with the head of a country that my dad went to war with, and your dads and grandads went to war with.”

Today, the president announced a new bill that will restrict protesters from military funerals. Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, HR 5037, will not stop the protests, but it will restrict under federal law how far away protestors can gather from cemetery access points. I’m sure some people will say that this bill contradicts First Amendment rights. But I say it’s an outstanding law that should have been passed decades ago. And it gives fallen heroes a chance to be remembered without hearing political discussions.

Thank you, Mr. President.

AKO Email

2006-05-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, I had to officially give up my AKO email account, which is the Army’s Yahoo! Mail. I owned fred.minnick@us.army.mil for seven years and the Army took it away from me without warning. Hundreds of people use this email, including every family member and college friend. And I’m pissed!

While I’ve been out of the Army since October, I figured they would allow me to keep AKO Web mail because of my overseas duty and nine years of selfless service. Perhaps it’s just me, but one would think the Army would like to keep close ties with veterans. So I emailed AKO’s help desk. And they sent me one of those generic responses that don’t tell you a damn thing. I swear, generic emails and computer operators are killing this country. What happened to service with a smile? When was the last time you actually talked to a person at a 1-800 number? OK, I digress. But seriously maybe we would be a lot happier in this country if we didn’t use so many machines every day. Enough said.

Back to AKO… Here’s a letter I plan to send to the secretary of the Army:

Dear Sir,

While you’re worrying about Iraq and Afghanistan, hundreds of U.S. servicemen are losing their email addresses every week. Restoring the Navy.mil and Army.mil addresses to former servicemen should be your top priority.

I served in the Army for nine years and gave out my Army email address to everybody I knew, including girls at bars. What if one of these girls wakes up one day and finds an old napkin with my email?

My mother and father also have this email. And sir, my father is a forgetful person. He requested my email address 30 times before saving fred.minnick@us.army.mil to his address folder.

So now, two days after AKO canceled my email, I have to give dad my email over again. Do you realize the strain that will put on my office routines? And my mother, sir. My good mother. She’s a good woman, but my email is the only address in her account. Please help my dear mother by restoring my email address. It would break my heart to know that she is emailing another Fred Minnick in the Army.

Regards,

Fred Minnick
Former AKO Email User"

Political Notio: Ode to the Guard

2006-05-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

MJ has a great post about his neighbor returning from Iraq. It ends:

"After returning home he went back to his job as quietly as he left it. The smiles on his and his wife’s face while they’re out in the yard watching their little girls play will stop you in your tracks."

2006-05-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

President Bush plans to send troops to the Mexico border. Now we’ll be conducting operations in Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qater, Afganistan and the Eastern Horn of Africa along with thousands along the border.

According to the Department of Defense, we may be able to absorb this on-the-border deployment, but I assure you that Marine and Army troop morale will suffer… because the majority of these crap jobs are going to soldiers and Marines. I worry that this border duty may get ugly, too, and may be as violent as Iraq.

I hope not.

My girlfriend's blog

2006-05-13T14:22:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend is a doctor of oriental medicine and now she runs a blog. If you ever wanted to know about acupuncture or different herbs, check out her site, Acupuncture News. I occasionally post something for her, but rarely. I don’t know anything about acupuncture… other than I was just told to promote her new blog or she would break up with me.

We were soldiers author quits writing

2006-05-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

After 41 years on the military beat, covering stories from Fort Riley, Kan. to Vietnam and Iraq, Joe Galloway says he is taking a permanent leave. Come June 1, the 64-year-old scribe will give up his desk at Knight Ridder’s D.C. bureau and settle permanently in the bayfront cottage he owns just north of Corpus Christi, Tex.

“I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world to have survived against the odds, to have had the experiences, the stories, the people that this profession has given me,” Galloway said this week during an interview in the Knight Ridder bureau. “And I got paid to do it, admittedly not much.”

Read more

FBI suspects there are gangs in the Army

2006-05-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

The FBI has assigned an agent to monitor any connections between U.S. Soldiers and a Chicago-based gang alliance, federal agents said. Of particular concern are reports that the Folk Nation, consisting of more than a dozen gangs in the Chicago area, is placing young members in the military in an effort to gather information about weapons and tactics, said FBI Special Agent Andrea Simmons, who is based in El Paso, Texas.

Read more

I've wondered how long it would take for the FBI to get involved with this. I would be willing to bet that every gang is represented in the military. But don't be alarmed. Most of these kids are in for "second chances." And I doubt they would want to go back into gang life after the military bond. According to the above report, there is gang graffiti in dozens of latrines in Iraq. So, it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Stryker Brigade going back

2006-05-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

The brigade I was in Iraq with is on their way back. The 3-2 Stryker Brigade returned home in October 2004 and it just doesn’t seem right that they’re being sent back. I almost feel guilty for being a civilian.

Read more

Support Bill Roggio

2006-05-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

When somebody asks me for money and I don’t know them very well, my first thoughts are: “This is a crooked SOB.” I am such a cynic that I don’t believe anything until the ink is dried and the check has cleared. With that said, every now and then, I meet somebody makes me think outside of norm. One such feller is Bill Roggio, whom I met at the Milblogging conference.

Roggio is a former Marine who volunteered to go to Iraq as a civilian “blogger.” Much like Michael Yon, Roggio gave Americans uncensored an objective perspective and honest writing. But he didn’t earn a dime. While the N.Y. Times re-published Army press releases, Roggio risked his life by going out on patrols in Tikrit and other parts of Iraq. Meanwhile, all the other journalists received steady combat pay from their respective employers and were bedded up in their nice trailers in the Green Zone. But not Bill.

In fact, his readers paid for his way into Iraq. And now he wants to embed in Afghanistan. But he needs your help. Bill still has that Marine swagger; he’s just not receiving their combat pay. His service to our country is worth however many pennies you can spare.

Milblog conference review: Don't blame public affairs

2006-05-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

I have received a slew of emails asking for a milblog conference review. Sorry for the delay. First, it was a true honor to be invited on a panel and to have been alongside these guys: Moderator -- Colonel David Hunt; Panelists -- One Marine's View, The Fourth Rail, Dadmanly and Fire and Ice.

For the first time, I learned people don’t think too highly of the Army Public Affairs. Here’s what people had to say:

“The Army needs to do a better job of informing the public,” one man said. My answer was to go to http://www.dvidshub.net/ or http://www.army.mil/. But another lady contended, “We are not who you should be telling this. They (Army) can’t expect normal citizens to search for the good news.” Then somebody said: “The only press releases I ever get from the Army are of soldier casualties.”

Well, it’s like I said at the conference: Would you compare an Army Ranger Battalion with 10 years of experience to a National Guard Infantry Battalion with zero combat experience? Hell no. For you non-military folks, that’s like comparing Angelina Jolie to your best friend’s grandma. There’s just no comparison. My point is, here’s what my (139 MPAD) public affairs unit did in Iraq:

- produced a monthly T.V. show which aired at Fort Lewis
- produced four 30-page magazines for soldiers about their tours
- produced a weekly field newsletter for 48 straight weeks
- handled the media fiasco after Marez suicide bombing incident
- placed General Ham on network television dozens of times
- spammed thousands of stories and photos to a list of 2,000 media members
- ran a radio station
- and sent daily Arabic press releases to the Iraqi media

The result of this toil was Mosul received more positive coverage than any other city. And when something bad happened, like the Marez attack, we found good stories and disseminated them to the media, which had about a 2 percent pick up rate. We returned home in January 2005 and were replaced by a bunch of fat, unmotivated soldiers. Here’s what they accomplished:

- ate chow every day
- managed to not die

Of course, my unit also earned the highest award for a unit of our size and the fat replacements received butter in the chow halls. But our momentum was not followed and that was a disservice to the U.S. people and the soldiers' families. With that said, public affairs does a fine job trying to get the good stories out. Sure, public affairs has its weaknesses like every leg of an organization.

However, we risked our lives to cover school openings and Iraqi forces raids. But the news organizations rejected our stories most of the time. We would have asked them why, but we were too busy moving on to the next mission.

“Well send the news directly to the people,” a lady recommended.

You know what kind of impact that will have? People can barely stand to hear President Bush speak. Do you think they want to read a government newsletter? And besides, after being home for awhile, I’ve noticed people don’t care about Iraq… unless they are somehow affected by the war. The best way to hit these people who don’t care is through milblogs because the writing does not speak for the entire government or military, which brings me to my next point.

If it weren’t for Colby Buzzell and My War, milblogs may have never taken off. People can say what they want about who was first the first milblogger, (and believe me at the conference, a few people did), but My War was so raw and real that it made New York gay democrats and Montana goat farmers care about Iraq. But Colby’s work was “too inappropriate,” an officer said at the time and he was banned from blogging.

Then the Army came out with a policy for blogging from theater. And the uncensored milbloggers began dropping like flies. Now the Army is considering shutting down blogs, period, because of “operational security concerns.” This is a bunch of crap. Most of the time, the really good information that the enemy wants is in the hands of captains, sergeants and generals… not the specialists and privates who are blogging.

The real reason the Army wants to police blogging is it doesn’t like the idea of a bunch of uncontrolled messages entering the never-ending Internet, where a post can become hot news in a matter of seconds.

But without milblogs, I fear the real story may never be told.

Iraqis protest security

2006-05-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

About 200 Shiites, many of them women in full-length black abayas, rallied Monday outside the Green Zone to demand that U.S. and Iraqi forces do more to stop attacks on Iraqis. Red more

That story just pisses me off. I get so tired of hearing Iraqis complain about the lack of security when half of them look the other way when watching insurgents plant roadside bombs. The security in Iraq will only get better if its citizens decide they want to stand up against the threat. The problem is, they are so used to not having freedom that they don' t know what to do with it.

Teach the Iraqis Franklin and Martin Luther King

2006-04-29T10:50:00.000-07:00

Juan Cole, a blogger and professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Michigan, has come up with an intriguing idea for how to fill the deplomacy gap in the Middle East. He wants to hire skilled linguists to translate into Arabic the classic works of American political thought—especially those works that deal with freedom of religion, division of powers, sovereignty of the people, and equal rights. He has in mind the essays and speeches of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Tom Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., and Susan B. Anthony; a solid history of American Jews and other minority groups; maybe a few good books, written by American historians, about Iraq. Cole also wants to subsidize Middle Eastern publishers to print these books in large numbers and at low prices, and he wants to pay fees to book dealers throughout the region—just as publishers pay Borders and Barnes & Noble here—to display the books prominently.

Think it can work?

He's already got an organization built, which is more than we can say for many American politicians... http://www.globam.org/

President Bush protest at Oklahoma State

2006-04-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

My alma mater, Oklahoma State, landed President Bush for its graduation-day speech. (read here) That’s the first president we’ve had to give a speech since the other Bush. For our graduation, I think we had a veterinarian who performed the first blind-folded horse castration.

Anyway, already the Young Democrats on campus are organizing a protest and so-called Democrats are coming out of the woodworks, saying “we need to show Bush he is not fully supported in Oklahoma and not everybody here supports the war in Iraq.” Now I’m not a big-city lawyer or anything, but the last place you want to protest President Bush is outside an Oklahoma State graduation. Get this, 77 Oklahoma counties voted for Bush and there are maybe 2,000 anti-Bush folks in the whole state. A good portion of OSU grads grew up on farms and have Republican blood. With that said, don’t be surprised to hear about a bunch of Okie Democrats with broken legs after a group of masked cowboys beat the crap out of them. I’m all about free speech. Hell, I might even hold a sign at an anti-Bush protest. But I wouldn’t do it at an OSU graduation.

Canadian soldiers

2006-04-23T00:10:00.000-07:00

In this article, the paper told the news in the first paragraph, which was four Canadians were killed Afghanistan, and then honored the soldiers. Like the American-driven stories in the MSM, the daily list of bad things and the overall "why are we there" are present in the article. But what sticks out is that those things are at the bottom of the story and the soldiers' history and sacrifice were are at the top. The article is a good example of how a very potentially negative story can become balanced. That aside, I for one will be thinking about these four brave Canadians... your sacrifice will be rememebered.

"It is without doubt an incredibly difficult day today ... We have lost four members of our family, this very close family of the Canadian Forces, four incredible Canadians," Gen. Rick Hillier, the chief of defence staff, said yesterday.

"We lost four good men who loved what they were doing," said Hillier, who cancelled plans to visit Afghanistan this week to be on hand when the bodies are returned to Canada Tuesday night.

"Obviously, every man and woman who is part of our contingent in Afghanistan is shaken, but their resolve is not," he told a news conference at defence headquarters yesterday afternoon.

Milblog conference

2006-04-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I will be speaking at the first Milblog Conference. You can view it live. I'll be the guy with long hair...

http://militarywebcom.org/blog

2006-04-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

There are days I search through my old photos, to relive Iraq. And occasionally, I come across a photo that surprises me, even though I took it. Above is a Polish officer with an Iraqi construction worker. The room you see here is a former jail cell. 100 prisoners were once crammed in this very room.

Restaurants serving soldiers overseas

2006-04-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

Eating a Burger King Whopper or a Subway foot-long reminds Capt. Bill Roberts of home. Stationed in Baghdad, the New York-native occasionally skips Army chow and treats himself to the same foods he enjoyed at his local mall’s food court.

“If it weren’t for the fact that everyone is armed and the guards check everyone’s ID before they go in and the large barrier walls around the exterior, it would be like going to a small shopping center back home,” Roberts said. “Getting a Whopper with cheese and fries can make a world of difference in morale for someone who has been out in the sandbox for awhile.”

The restaurants where Roberts eats are facilitated by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which is the military’s equivalent to Wal-Mart. On almost every U.S. base, AAFES has a department and grocery store with QSRs nearby, even in a combat zone.

Read more

The Iraq box

2006-03-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

As a boy, I visited my grandfather’s childhood through his box of memories. Stowed underneath his bed, grandpa pulled out the “box” every Christmas. We gathered around our wise hero and listened as he spoke of his first horse; his mean uncle who road with the bank-robber “Pretty Boy Floyd;” and of course, his days in the military, which consumed most of the stories.

I didn’t realize how influential that box had been on my life until I returned home from Iraq. As the months went by, I felt the need to create my own box. I call it my “Iraq box.” Here’s what’s inside:

4 notepads: As an Army journalist, I carried notepads everywhere, even to the bathroom. In these notebooks are my most memorable soldier interviews and pre-combat checklists. I read through them and laugh or remember my exact feeling when I scribbled the words. But there’s one in particular I’m extremely fond of and that’s the one I used in November 2004. On the fourth page are the names of the soldiers I patrolled with when took Mosul back from insurgents. At the top of the page: David Mitts, SGT; Warrenton, OR.

Staff sergeant rank: When I was promoted in Iraq, it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I’ve always tried to be a humble person. Mom told me growing up: “Nobody likes a bragger.” But on this day, my fellow soldiers told me I earned the rank of staff sergeant. And that felt good. I bragged for a little bit. Then, my first sergeant told me I had more responsibility.

2nd Infantry Division Patch and 25th Inf. Patch: Both are very important to me. You don’t receive a combat patch unless you’ve been in combat.

All the top emails from blog readers: One simply reads, “can I hook you up with my daughter?” I asked for a picture, but never got one.

Original clothing record: Anybody who’s ever served in the military knows paperwork gets lost a lot. When I attempted to turn in my equipment, the supply sergeant said I need not worry about my issued clothing. It was mine to keep. I made him sign a document, to prove it.

22 medals and awards: Although I believe they pass awards out like candy, these days, I am proud of my military accomplishments.

Athens 2004: When Iraq’s soccer team made the Olympics, we made bumper stickers. We couldn’t make enough of them; the Iraqis slapped them on everything in site, including their first born. I’m sure mine might be worth money some day. But to me it’s priceless.

Pocket dictionary: Because SFC Friedman always said to keep one. And she was my boss.

Hemp necklace: Not really sure why it’s in there.

250 Dinar: The only Iraqi currency I have. Samir gave it to me long ago.

One Riyal: Qatar currency.

Purple prayer button: My uncle gave me this, saying to hold it when I prayed. I did.

U.S. Army Medical Card: It holds all my military medical information, which will be important to have when I need proof of my Anthrax vaccination.

Key to my old wall locker: I carried it for so long, I couldn’t give it up.

Rejection letter from Tricare: While I was in Iraq, I continued to receive rejection of payment from Tricare. But Tricare thanked me for my service.

Rick Jervis, Chicago Tribune reporter, card: This guy asked soldiers, “wouldn’t you rather be watching a Cubs game at Wrigley than being in Iraq?”

Two religious medallions. One reads: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9b

Jim Bob’s Tailoring and Leather: At one of the bases, an Iraqi known as “Jim Bob” made custom leather jackets and shoes and dresses. He also ironed our uniforms. As you can tell from his card, he was quite talented and diversed.

Red rabbit foot: Brought me luck. Not sure why it’s red. I’ve never seen a red rabbit.

Dog tags: Nearly lost them a million times, but managed to keep the same pair for two years. And that’s remarkable.

Army Values tag: I will aways place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.

David Mitts and his son

2006-03-18T18:10:00.000-08:00

When Sgt. David Mitts was killed in action on Dec. 4, 2004, I lost a friend; a father lost a son; a wife lost a husband; and soon-to-be born child lost a father.

I’ve written about Mitts several times and his passing has always pained me, because David was such a good man. He was a Pacific Northwest man who lived by a simple code: give respect, get respect… and appreciate your family. As you may recall from previous posts, David intended to name his child Michael Landon Mitts. “Because he stood for family values,” he said to me on a patrol in Mosul. The child was named Landon David Mitts, but did not live long. According to Sgt. Mitts’ father, Landon had SIDs.

So now the little soldier is in Heaven with his brave father. I’m sure David is holding Landon, looking down on the United States and just smiling. I hope both of them know they’re not forgotten.

Postings

2006-03-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

I will try to post at lest twice a week. But I am in the process of switching the entire blog over to www.sminklemeyer.com so once that is up, I'll post more.

In the mean time, if you want to follow my writing, read www.qsrweb.com and www.fastcasual.com. I am the managing editor for both.

Been awhile

2006-03-01T20:41:00.000-08:00

Seems just like yesterday I stepped off the plane from Iraq. And it's been more than a year.

Where does the time go?

It's strange to no longer be in the service. I have sideburns, sleep in on Saturdays and don't dread formations.

To all the loyal Smink readers, I apologize for not posting in such a long while. I'm the managing editor of a couple major trade mangazine and have just been swamped. I will try to get back into the grove, though, as I miss writing about military issues.

Asylum

2006-01-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

Last week, I received an e-card from one of our old interpreters. He worked with Samir and the rest of us.

We tried to get him into the United States, claiming he needed asylum from the terrorists. He got as far as Jordan before being forced to re-enter Iraq. Meanwhile, I knew of dozens of less-worthy human beings who were granted asylum on a school visa or they knew a high-ranking general.

We all made promises to our Iraqi friends to get them back to the United States, but it’s the out of sight, out of mind concept. Today, my friend is a manager for a major Iraq facility that I won’t name because he receives death threats weekly.

I’ll write more on this later, but wanted to warn you that this subject frustrates me beyond Texas.

There's a war going on: Do you know where your child is?

2005-12-29T20:05:00.000-08:00

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Maybe it was the time the taxi dumped him at the
Iraq-Kuwait border, leaving him alone in the middle of the desert. Or when he drew a crowd at a Baghdad food stand after using an Arabic phrase book to order. Or the moment a Kuwaiti cab driver almost punched him in the face when he balked at the $100 fare.

But at some point, Farris Hassan, a 16-year-old from Florida, realized that traveling to Iraq by himself was not the safest thing he could have done with his Christmas vacation.
And he didn't even tell his parents.

Hassan's dangerous adventure winds down with the 101st Airborne delivering the Fort Lauderdale teen to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, which had been on the lookout for him and promises to see him back to the United States this weekend.

It begins with a high school class on "immersion journalism" and one overly eager — or naively idealistic — student who's lucky to be alive after going way beyond what any teacher would ask.
As a junior this year at a Pine Crest School, a prep academy of about 700 students in Fort Lauderdale, Hassan studied writers like John McPhee in the book "The New Journalism," an introduction to immersion journalism — a writer who lives the life of his subject in order to better understand it.

Diving headfirst into an assignment, Hassan, whose parents were born in Iraq but have lived in the United States for about 35 years, hung out at a local mosque. The teen, who says he has no religious affiliation, added that he even spent an entire night until 6 a.m. talking politics with a group of Muslim men, a level of "immersion" his teacher characterized as dangerous and irresponsible.

Read more...

2005-12-29T16:46:00.000-08:00

I thought you would be interested in reading this story on Move America Forward that was published in the Wednesday, December 28th edition of the Wall Street Journal - "Pro-War Group Takes to the Airwaves" is the headline used in the print edition. The story appeared on A-2, A-4 or A-5 depending on the geographic region of the edition printed.

The two photographs that appear in the online version also appeared in the printed version.

WSJ Article here:
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB113572887635032543-MBBcaDkXJAQBlIrm5UujD1fj5qw_20061227.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

2005-12-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

A recent welcoming home party for soldiers in Wisconsin... From experience, I know these parties often wait for hours, often days, for the plane. Delays occur quite frequently, but when you've waited a year for your soldier, what's a little time in the cold? (Photo provided by Wisconsin National Guard)

2005-12-26T08:15:00.000-08:00

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld poses for a photo with a member of Combined Task Force Bayonet at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, Dec. 22, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

MOSUL, IRAQ (December 24, 2005)- Spc. Lucas Crowe a medic with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st infantry Regiment, was awarded the Bronze Star from Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in a special awards presentation today at Forward Operating Base Courage.

On Dec. 15, Crowe saved the life of an Iraqi two-year-old boy who had nearly drowned in the basement of his family home. The child had stopped breathing until Crowe administered first aid saving the boy’s life.

Rumsfeld pinned the Bronze Star on Crowe and congratulated him for a job well done.
The secretary was on a surprise Holiday visit to the troops in Iraq to show his support and appreciation.

General rambling

2005-12-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

Around this time last year, I was ordered to tag along with major brass (generals) to greet soldiers. My job was to take pictures, while the generals shook the hands of soldiers, and the sergeant majors started NCO small talk with buck sergeants and E-6’s.

“Where you from, stud?”

“California, sergeant major.”

“How many push ups can you do?”

“67, sergeant major.”

“That’s all. I can do 78 and I’m an old man. You better do some PT.”

We went from one base to the next and it was the same story every time. Some soldiers grumbled. “Who gives a f#%k that some general is here. I had to wake up for this.” Others were honored. “Sir, may I get your picture.”

The higher ups are much like sports players… they are the well-paid in a poorly paid profession. They are constantly in the limelight, whether in the civilian or military media. And they make decisions that affect everybody in uniform, (which is more like an owner than a player).

I spent countless hours with different generals and or Paul Bremer types, documenting important meetings between them and the Iraqis. And during these mission-oriented events, they did their job; maybe even faking enthusiasm, but you could tell deep down that they would rather do something else. However, when the higher ups visited the lowly soldier, their eyes twinkled and you sensed a re-borne enthusiasm.

Gen. Casey said it best, “I just love soldiers.”

2005-12-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

From Buffbabe, wordsfromiraq.blogspot.com...On December 18, Nathan and I were at the mall shopping when my contractions started coming. They started at 3 minutes apart and we went straight to the hospital where Wesley was born after just an hour and a half of labor. Apparantly, I'm one of the lucky people with a condition called pre-something labor and if I have another one (which we are not planning any time soon) it will come even faster. He came at 1926 hours, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. We're home from the hospital now, just in time for Christmas and busy as can be.

2005-12-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

Caption:
A man displays his finger after voting. Mosul in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by SSG James H. Christopher III. (Released)
Taken On:
12/15/2005
Photographer:
SSG Christopher III, James H.

Great feedback on elections

2005-12-15T16:49:00.000-08:00

From LTC John M. Hughes in Mosul...

Folks - spent the whole day with the TFF CG again busily visiting and observing (from a polite distance) various Iraqi polling sites through out Mosul and Tal Afar (Northern Iraq).

The Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army proved today that they have successfully earned the faith, trust, and confidence of the droves of Iraqi citizens that came out to vote in their National Election.

At each polling site security and control was layered, organized, and provided an efficient and orderly process... The people, many wearing their "Sunday best", came out, stood in line, checked through security, received their ballots and voted... many of the voters left the Polls waving their ink stained index finger to their neighbors still waiting in line. Whole families came; including children of all ages to see and experience the process with their parents... Many old and frail people came out as well and were being carefully assisted by concerned friends and family members...

The people were very calm and showed absolutely no concern for the threats of violence made by the various insurgent malcontents. In some areas it was like a block party and people were happy, jubilant, and congregated in large groups to socialize... Best of all, the WHOLE SHOW was conducted and managed by the Iraqis... They manned, secured, and managed the entire Election process themselves... US Troops had no role in today's Election... We only observed from a distance or made passing visits to congratulate the poll workers and Iraqi security forces on their obvious success... In fact, very few US units were out patrolling the streets at all today...

For the last few days there has been a nation wide "no roll rule" where no civilian vehicles are allowed to even be parked on the streets (let alone be moving on the streets). Consequently, the streets were filled with pedestrians... and LOTS of them too. For the first time in a long time, the Iraqi people confidently "owned" their own city streets... they moved leisurely to and from the polling sites and many just "hung out and socialized" within their communities...

Kids were everywhere... whole crowds of kids (big and small) would rush to and congregate around the US troops and vehicles when we showed up... The kids know that GIs are generous to children... they were not disappointed and many of the troops tossed out and our handed out candy... I gave away all my government issue Skill Craft ink pens, which is a serious prize for the kids over here... Some kid ended up with my ACU (BDU) cap that fell out of my Cargo pocket... The kids picked it up and brought it to me... and as a reward I gave it away (only because I have an extra one)... that hat went from one head to the next is seconds, then moved rapidly down the street with a comet of kids following closely after.

Regrettably, there were some minor terrorist incidents here and there, but nothing of real significance and all the polls stayed open. We did take some small arms fire while leaving Mosul to Tal Afar, but it was only a short burst and very ineffective.

The day was truly great and the only downer was that we sucked down a good bit of road dust... which is nothing new, and well worth the trouble.

I'll send out some pictures in a later email.

As always... BIG HUGS and Much love to one and all.

Elections

2005-12-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

Throw the debates and opinions out, and let's look at these elections for what they are... a historic moment and proud defining point for American soldiers. And of course, I can't think of Iraq without mentioning Samir. He told me once that he didn't care about himself as long as his baby had freedom...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis voted in a historic parliamentary election Thursday, with strong turnout reported in Sunni Arab areas and even a shortage of ballots in some precincts. Several explosions rocked Baghdad throughout the day, but the level of violence was low.

Posts you should read

2005-12-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

Less People Less Idiots. A site of true satire. Very funny.

Powerline gives a great story / interview with U.S. Rep. John Kline. A former Marine, Kline is a true patriot....

Republicans recently became fed up with this misconception and conducted a vote in the House of Representatives on whether or not to withdrawal troops. 403-3 in favor of staying in Iraq. Now if you were to ask me, I would say that the idea of the 'American People' is a group larger than 3. Why wasn't this fact on the news? Why couldn't liberal hypocracy be proven wrong?

vastrightwing.org... Hanoi Jane” Fonda is claiming that ever since Vietnam, U.S. troops have been trained to commit atrocities against innocent civilians as a matter of military policy.

Must read from a Marine... http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/002219.php

Veterans deserve better treatment...Washington, DC - U.S. veterans from the war in Iraq are beginning to show up at homeless shelters around the country, and advocates fear they are the leading edge of a new generation of homeless vets not seen since the Vietnam era.

Republicans and Conservatives: why are we in Iraq. These smiling faces are reason number one. The reason Theater Iraq is a part of the war on terror is that we could not allow these children to be the property of Saddam Hussein or his sons to rape and torture as they please.

Running Scared tells us we rank sixth in jailing journalists, but we still have a way to go to be No. 1.

Counseling

2005-12-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

I no longer live in Milwaukee or in Wisconsin or my home state, Oklahoma. I now reside in the same town as my girlfriend in Kentucky. The people are so nice here and I love everything about the area, but when I decided to move I was parting from a very solid group of friends and a counselor who’d seen me through some tough times. As many of you know, I had my ups and downs when first coming home. Just reading these old posts really puts things into perspective.

I was a different person in Iraq. I had to be. And I tried to become my old self when I returned home, but it was like experiencing puberty all over again… I had all these emotions and didn’t know what to do with them. So I sought help and I had developed a true rapport with my counselor at the Milwaukee Vet Center. While previous therapists wanted me to take pills to numb the emotions, the pain, the nightmares, this guy taught me how to control my nightmares. He gave me exercises to practice when I felt scared, outraged or sad. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I’d be in the situation I am now. Now, I’m back to the drawing board with a new therapist. After our first session, he was amazed by my ability to cope with certain situations and how I’ve followed my heart through it all.

When I first realized I needed help to readjust and I couldn’t tackle it all on my own, I was humbled and to a point, a little ashamed. See, I’ve always been independent and nothing has ever stood in my way. Now, after scores of counseling, good friends and the will to be a productive citizen, I have my old zest for life again. I share this, because you may know somebody who just returned from a combat zone and they don’t seem the same. I encourage all vets to seek some form of counseling, because it works and it’s free. Sure there are bad days. I still get outraged by John Kerry’s comments, and I still shake when I see a backpack lying unattended in a public place. But now, I know how to deal with it. I just count to 10 and think about the Brewers winning the Pennant.

Positive numbers

2005-12-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

According to this ABC/Time Magazine poll, 70 percent of the Iraqis say that things in their life are going well and the majority of Iraqis feel safe in their own neighborhoods despite continued violence. However, half of Iraqis now say it was wrong for U.S.-led forces to invade in spring 2003, up from 39 percent in 2004.

But, according to the poll, “the average household incomes have soared by 60 percent in the last 20 months (to $263 a month), 70 percent of Iraqis rate their own economic situation positively, and consumer goods are sweeping the country. In early 2004, 6 percent of Iraqi households had cell phones; now it's 62 percent. Ownership of satellite dishes has nearly tripled, and many more families now own air conditioners (58 percent, up from 44 percent), cars, washing machines and kitchen appliances.”

The poll also states that the people have more faith in their own security forces, at the local and national levels.

My take on this poll is very positive. While I do frown upon the number of Iraqis against U.S. forces, most of the statistics point toward a growing economy and stronger security forces with more people aggravated with insurgents, saying they’re the reason for security problems, not the U.S. Of course, the numbers were dramatically different between Kurds, Sunnis and Shiite.

Tellin' it like it is

2005-12-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

My job may not have looked dangerous on paper, but I was exposed to some of the heaviest combat in northern Iraq. As a public affairs soldier, I documented and promoted the soldiers’ work. I accompanied the infantry on raids, patrols and school openings. On almost every mission, I experienced the highest level of stress imaginable.

To this day, when I tell people my job, they say, “Oh so all you did was take pictures. You weren’t on the front lines.” This adage certainly frustrates me like a leadoff hitter in a slump. Was my service negated because I carried a camera? Was I not a soldier just because my job was different? Although I do not feel the need to justify my duties or experiences, I am always hurt by people’s first impression of my position. To help them understand, I discuss Iraq.

I tell the questioners about the first car bombing I documented. The suicide bomber targeted an American base in Mosul, but the bomb detonated prematurely and the only two people killed were a mother and her little girl. When I photographed the scene, I came across a little 4-inch foot that lay in the street like a piece of garbage. I photographed it all and the images of the girl’s remains still haunt me.

I tell them about June 24, 2004, when I documented another car bomb that ripped through an Iraqi police station. After I took the needed photographs, we left the site. On our way back to headquarters, another unit received fire from a mosque. We stopped in the middle of the road, blocking the intersection that led to the mosque. When the firefight seemed to cease, we were ambushed. A white van pulled up in an empty field and several men exited. All carried weapons. One fired an RPG to our direction. As the rocket flew directly toward me, time suspended. I knew I was going to die. My life flashed before my eyes. Just as I lost hope, the RPG landed 10 feet in front of me. It was a dud. And we killed the attackers. Their bodies fell to the earth like tiny trees being knocked down by the wind. Shortly thereafter, we were attacked again. This time, they got away.

I tell them of the time I was in Avgone, a small town near Tal Afar. We patrolled through woods that looked more like Vietnam than Iraq. A team of insurgents awaited us. They attacked a squad, shooting the squad leader twice in the legs and once in his gut. But before he went down, he killed an RPG gunner just as the evildoer was about to fire in our direction. The dead insurgent lay in a ravine and I photographed his corpse. He was clearly dead, but I could find no exit or entry wounds. There were just dribbles of blood on the corner of his mouth and arm.

Normally, about this point, those who once questioned my experiences are grossed out. But I don’t stop there. I tell them more. However, I don’t just give them combat stories. I tell them about good friends who died, to let them feel the true emotions of combat.

Like Samir, our interpreter. He was a portly man with a big heart. Because we couldn’t leave the base to shop for souvenirs, Samir would go to the market for us. He bought me a vase for my mother. Even though this exposure put him at risk, Samir bought us rugs, tea sets and external hard drives. All he wanted to do was make us happy, which he did with his gifts and even more so with his jovial personality. Samir was like the Arabic Chris Farley. We would play tricks on Iraqi soldiers. He’d pretend to be abused by me. He would tell the soldiers, “This sergeant is mean. You better not mess around or he will kill you?” He would harass the Iraqi soldiers, saying, “The sergeant will let you have the day off if you give him man love.” Of course, he would always tell the Iraqis he was joking and we all would laugh afterwards. On Sept. 27, 2004, Samir was captured by insurgents on his way to work. He managed to escape, but was gunned down in an open market area. The terrorists told the locals not to touch his body, according a couple market workers, because his body deserved to rot. No doubt, the insurgents would have beheaded him, had he not escaped. I was happy they didn’t have the chance.

The individuals are nearly in tears after Samir’s story, but it’s important to me that they hear about two other fallen friends, Sgt. David Mitts and Staff Sgt. Salamo Tuialuuluu. I first met T & Mitts in November on a large-scale mission, seeking insurgents. Both were married and their wives were pregnant. T was a quiet fellow who commanded his troops like a veteran. He was in his early 20s and reminded me of a black bear: cute from a distance and ferocious close up. Mitts said he wanted to name his child after Michael Landon. Why? Because Mr. Landon represented family values, he said. They were truly the best the Army offered, both passionate for their men and competent when it came to the job. However, what struck me as astonishing was their strong sense of family. After patrols, we often ate breakfast together and worked out. Of all the people I associated with, I enjoyed their company the most because of their righteous nature and I enjoyed hearing updates about their wives. When all you see is bad, it helps to surround yourself with good people. Their spirits lifted you. In a way, I lived vicariously through these two. My whole life I’ve wanted to be a father, to meet the right girl and to settle down. They were who I wanted to be.

They were both killed in December by a sniper. Their deaths penetrated my body armor and killed my heart. Why these two men? Two men with babies on the way. Two men who meant so much to me.

At this point, the listeners are more than captivated, they have respect for me. They often say thanks or want to buy me something. I brought them into a world they could never imagine, and they probably want me to quit talking, but I continue.

I speak of the days following the terrible Marez dining facility attack, when a terrorist dressed in Iraqi army attire killed more than 20 and injured 70 plus. We were so alert that some of our deeds were downright goofy. For example, we mistook a present as a bomb.

Wrapped in a red foil sack, the food caught everybody by surprise. It happened all the time… locals bring us food to thank us. But as this tub of something sat on an office table in the palace, nobody could say who brought the chow. Still warm, the food appeared to be some type of meat and it was unusually heavy. At a time when everybody was extra alert, people asked people who asked people who asked more people. We must have asked 40 locals and soldiers, all of whom absolutely had no clue on where the food came from.

The speculation of a potential “food” bomb in our office began to surface. I’ll admit, I was one of the first to come up with “that doesn’t really look like food; probably just trying to cover something up. And it weighs a lot.” A couple other people, much more senior ranking than I, inspected the potential threat. “Yup, that can’t be food. It’s too heavy, and it doesn’t smell right.” Another fellow walked up to the wrapped tub and slid his hand under the opening, feeling the texture of whatever it was. “It’s too rough to be a meat and it’s not sticky enough to be a sweet. And it’s really heavy. Somebody call EOD.”

EOD is short for bomb disposal. So the unknown package was sent to a safe area, which meant away from the palace and crowds of people. These guys were the experts, and even at first glance, they detected something fishy. “Yeah, that really doesn’t look like food.” They picked, prodded and poked the package. They had some type of meter. One sergeant held his glasses to his mouth, like a professor, as he gave the package one more looksy. “Meter’s not detecting anything. Can’t be a bomb. But that thing, whatever it is, still ain’t right.”

So, the original group of experts huddled one more time. “Are you sure you don’t know whose that is?” Nope. I got it… it’s poisoned. “But, we haven’t even determined it’s a food yet.” Which is why it makes perfect sense! They know Americans love to eat strange things. Have you ever been to the South? They’re still frying sheep testicles. “Good point. So, what do we do with it? See if somebody will eat it?” Yeah great idea, that way if it is poisoned we can watch their eyeballs pop out. The answer is simple, we throw it away.

The thing must have weighed 20 pounds and it had a rough texture. Hard black clumps were embedded in a stiff brown plaster-type substance, which even though EOD cleared it, made people still say “I really think this is a bomb.” It’s not a bomb. Let’s just throw it away and be done with it. Nobody’s claimed it the last hour or asked, hey have you seen that 20-pound glob of mine.

We threw it in the trash can, where I believed it belonged. Even if it were food, who in their right mind would eat that? Two hours later walks in a very important officer. “Hey, have you guys seen a large cake? Somebody was supposed to deliver it a couple hours ago.” Uh, sir, we threw it away. “You what?” We told him the story about this so-called cake being mistaken as a bomb and then poison, emphasizing that everybody’s extremely alert. “You guys are idiots!” He then told us that the strange-looking cake was made by the best baker in Iraq. It cost $200 and was a gift to a very high-ranking person from a very important Iraqi. The cake was supposed to be eaten, not thrown away, the officer said many times.

“It was a cake, not a bomb. How in the world could you mistake a cake for a bomb?” Sir, did you see the cake? “No.” It was heavy and it had these black things in it and smelled like vinegar. “Well, maybe the baker used vinegar to bake it.” Well, sir, why didn’t you tell somebody about the cake? “Because I didn’t think a bunch of idiots were going to throw it away.”

Then, the person who once questioned my job laughs and thanks me for my time and leaves. Truth is, I am glad I have an audience to hear these stories. Occasionally, a person wants to hear more. I guess, it’s only human nature to be inquisitive. They ask about what’s it like readjusting, so I tell them.

When I returned home from Iraq, I felt like I didn’t belong. People cared about petty things like working past 5 p.m. or getting to the store in time for the big sale. All I wanted to do was lay on the couch and hide from people. Crowds made me dizzy and I couldn’t sleep.

Three reoccurring nightmares terrified me during the night. The scariest dream was when I’m in Avgone. We’re moving through the woods. Then shots are fired. A soldier next to me is hit in the neck. I try to help him, but it’s hopeless. He’s lost too much blood as he goes into shock. In the dream, I can feel somebody watching me even as the medics move and a platoon secures a perimeter for a helicopter. The kid is young, maybe 20, and I just look into his lifeless blue eyes while the medics move him to the evacuation point. I feel like I’m invisible and nobody in the dream seems to recognize me or realize I’m standing there with a camera and an M-16. Everybody leaves. And then I am back at the Palace, where again I feel invisible. At my desk is a CD with Arabic writing. I pop it into my laptop, and it’s a video of me.

I’m standing over the dead soldier just looking at him. There’s a rustling in the bushes and I look toward the noise… I’m staring directly into the camera. Somebody is speaking in Arabic and strangely, in the dream, I understand it. The people behind the camera simply say “we’re watching you.” Then, the barrel of an AK comes into the frame pointing right at me… this is when I wake up. My first instinct in the conscious state is to find my weapon and defend the base, normally taking me minutes to realize I’m not in Iraq.

In many respects, being home has been harder than fighting in Iraq. Recalling stories of Vietnam vets ruining their lives with alcohol and drugs, I was determined not to let my issues bring me down to the point I couldn’t function. I sought help. I survived war, and I will damn sure survive peace.

At the end of these stories, people look at me differently. They don’t think of me as a soldier not exposed to combat because I carried a camera. Rather, they respect me, because I fought for my country and struggled to be a productive citizen, to return to my old self.

Steak to Vet

2005-12-11T00:36:00.000-08:00

Last night, I treated my girl to a fancy dinner. She ate some kind of fish while my teeth sunk into the thickest, juiciest, bloodiest medium-rare prime rib and a few sticks of green. I saved about four ounces, fascinating about a future sandwich.

The steak house was walking distance from her condo. On the way home, we enjoyed the cool night air and goofy conversation. When we walked by other couples, I made conversation that must have frightened passerbys.

“Yeah, baby, I don’t know what the rash on my butt is from, but it itches.” Or, “Are warts supposed to show up there?” My favorite, “The baby can’t be mine!”

I can entertain myself for hours and the great part is it makes my girlfriend laugh, but yesterday, the fun stopped when an African American man pulled up next to us on his bicycle. Wearing a worn out, red nylon coat, cargo pants and Pennzoil cap, he made small talk. He then reached inside his jacket and pulled out a red and white badge affixed to the long necklace around his neck. It was his VA card.

“I was in the Marine Corps,” the man proudly said.

“Right on, man, I was in the Army. Got back from Iraq in January,” I said.

“Yeah, f@ck that shit. They f%cked me up. I’m go#d#mned schizophrenic.”

He went on to ask where I was from, what do I do, etc. I think, he felt ashamed for his position and what he’d admitted.

I empathize with homeless veterans. Our society has no idea how difficult it is to come back after fighting a war. If a soldier doesn’t have a support system, friends and good family, he or she could easily fall into the cracks of our world and become jobless, divorced and homeless. Today’s soldiers are lucky there’s free counseling and other programs available, which weren’t for our Vietnam vets.

Needless to say, before he could ask, I reluctantly reached into my sack, pulled out my treasured steak and handed it over to my fellow veteran.

“Thanks, man. But I suppose you don’t have a couple dollars to spare?” the man asked.

“Sorry,” I lied.

I knew the steak would do him more good than any amount of money I had. And honestly, the beef was harder to give up. See, I can’t make a steak, tomato, basil, mozzarella sandwich out of a $5 bill.

Positive News from Iraq

2005-12-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

PFC Cassandra Groce
133rd MPADBAYJI, Iraq

(30 November 2005) – The upcoming mid-December elections in Iraq will be a world-altering event. Iraq will have a democratically elected government. The “Rakkasans,” of Company C, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team have been working tirelessly to encourage Iraqis to vote.

Troops drive through villages with a loudspeaker vehicle playing Arabic messages, telling villagers when the elections begin. Capt. Chris Judge, Commander of Company C, walks among the civilians and talks to them about voting. It is a common site to see the commander, interpreter in tow, speaking with groups of people along the streets.

“The most important thing we can deliver to the Iraqis, as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom, is that they have a functioning, representative government,” said Judge.

A self-sustaining government isn’t all that Iraq needs, so Soldiers also meet with local Iraqi police to discuss their training and control of the area.

“In order for us to leave Iraq and give it any sort of stability, it’s going to be crucial that they [Iraqis] have a police force that the people believe in and one that has authority,” said Judge.“Sheiks are a legitimate source of authority for the Iraqis, so it is important that we have a good relationship with them,” said Judge.

In addition to encouraging the sheik to vote, Judge also discusses curfew changes and additional security measures being taken during the elections week. The curfew is changing from 10 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“We try to make it so that the only people out at night are the bad guys,” said Judge. “It makes it easier for us to target them.”

Judge and Sheik Adnon discussed different avenues to improve Iraqi people’s lives. Currently there is only one gas station in the immediate area.“I am willing to give you guys anything you need – any help,” said Adnon during the meeting.

Judge and Adnon set up a meeting for later in the week, including the city council. At the meeting, Judge can speak with all the village sheiks about the elections and the importance of their people voting.“Sheiks are very pragmatic, reality-based people,” said Judge. “They understand that we are going to be here for a while and that it benefits the Iraqi people to work with us.”

Over the next couple of weeks Soldiers will continue to travel through villages encouraging the people to vote.“When people have free will to do what they want, and they have representatives that enact what they want, countries take a different path,” said Judge.
********
Sgt. Ashly Rice
101st Sustainment Brigade

Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, IRAQ -- Charlie Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment and Rakan Daille, local contractor, dedicated the Shukran Water Treatment Project in a ceremony Nov. 17.

Water serving the area outside of the Q-West southeast gate was unsatisfactory until Oct. 12, when the first fresh water pumped out of the Shukran Water Treatment Project. Work on the water treatment facility began before the active duty unit from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, arrived at Q-West. 2nd Lt. Jeremy Conner, platoon leader, and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Tanner, platoon sergeant, oversaw the project for the unit. 1st Lt. Phillip Kerber, battalion civil affairs officer and executive officer, handled the quality control of the project.

“The Shukran Water Treatment Facility pumps water from the Tigris across the desert to Al Hadr, the biggest town and the other four smaller towns, ," said Capt. James Mitchell, Charlie Battery commander. "The project cost approximately 83,000 dollars to complete.”

Improvements to the water treatment facility include two new pumps that push water to the smaller villages and two larger pumps that push water to Al Hadr. Six repaired filters and new concrete water tanks are also additions to the water facility.

“We have 43 personnel to assist in running the water treatment facility, with seven personnel who look over it constantly,” said Sabar Tali Muhammad, water treatment facility manager.

“[Everyone] worked well on the project, and I would like to give thanks to the Army, Mr. Ali, Sabar and to all of the people who helped out,” said Rakan Daille, contractor. "Before, dirty water was pushed out, but now clean water is pushed out to five villages.

"This project is only the beginning of the help Charlie Battery, has in store for the local area. The unit has future improvements in the works to help restore surrounding towns. “It is a wonderful experience to help rebuild our country,” said Daille.
**********
SGT RACHEL BRUNE
101ST SUSTAINMENT BDE

A mixed class of Iraqi Army noncommissioned officers graduated from the NCO Academy in a ceremony at the MWR Theater Nov. 14 here.

“This was the first class [for which] we brought soldiers down from the north,” said Command Sgt. Maj. William Ulibarri, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The ethnic mix of Kurds and Iraqis did not matter to the soldiers, said Ulibarri.“They said, ‘We are all Iraqis, we have one enemy,’” said Ulibarri, who gave the keynote speech at the graduation ceremony.

The portion of the training that taught unarmed combat was the most important, said 1st Sgt. Hayawi, who was the distinguished honor graduate. He hopes to take the martial arts training back to his unit to pass on to his soldiers, he said.

Hayawi distinguished himself by defeating all comers, including Ulibarri, in the pugil stick pit during training.

“Iraq’s strength lies in diversity,” said Sgt. Maj. Walter Murrell, NCO Academy commandant, to the graduates. “Teamwork is fundamental to what your country is trying so hard to achieve.”

The graduates and assembled visitors watched a short video presentation highlighting weapons training, physical training, individual movement techniques, the obstacle course, first aid, entering and clearing a room and martial arts.

“You are the foundation with which to build effective small units,” said Ulibarri in his remarks after the video. “One thing that cannot be trained overnight is the warrior ethos and building the warrior spirit.”

Ulibarri paused to allow the interpreter to catch up, then added: “That training was not new to you. It was common to all honorable warriors.”After presenting awards to the honor graduates, including a “Leadership Award” and a “Physical Fitness Award,” Ulibarri presented each graduate with his certificate.

Cadre from 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, an active duty unit from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, run the NCO Academy in collaboration with Iraqi Army instructors.Murrell then presented Ulibarri with a special honor, an enlarged, framed picture of the sergeant major meeting his match in the pugil pit.

32 MPs

2005-12-09T12:08:00.000-08:00

Before I transferred to the Wisconsin National Guard five years ago, I was a pathetic excuse for a soldier. In Oklahoma, I often showed up to drill still drunk from the night before’s fraternity party. Then, I walked into the Wisconsin armory and the leaders welcomed me with open arms. The soldiers made fun of my accent, but we still became lifelong friends, and I began to clean up my act.

Through my military career, I had worked with almost every state’s National Guard and there was never a state more professional than or as close to active duty standards as the Wisconsin soldiers.

This week the unit of my friend, Michelle Witmer, will receive one of the highest awards bestowed upon a unit. I’m sure Michelle’s smiling from heaven…

The 32nd Military Police Company, Wisconsin Army National Guard, will receive the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary heroism in action when they were deployed in and around Baghdad, Iraq.

The award will be presented in a ceremony at the Oconomowoc armory, 1215 Wall Street, Saturday, Dec. 10, at 12:30 p.m. The unit, based in Milwaukee with a detachment in Madison, sent about 180 soldiers to Iraq in May 2003 and returned to Wisconsin in July 2004. During its 14-month tour of duty, the unit lost one soldier, Spc. Michelle Witmer, the first female soldier killed in action in the history of the National Guard; and 35 Purple Heart Medals were awarded to soldiers wounded in action.

In the midst of ongoing hostilities, the unit's soldiers also found time to visit disabled Iraqi children in an orphanage run by the Sisters of Charity, Mother Teresa's order of Catholic nuns.
The Valorous Unit Award is given for "extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy of the United States." The award recognizes heroism by a whole unit equal to that for which an individual would receive the Silver Star. The 32nd Military Police Company will be the first Wisconsin Guard unit to receive the award in the history of the Wisconsin National Guard.

The awards will be presented by Maj. Gen. Al Wilkening, the adjutant general of Wisconsin, and by. Brig. Gen. Kerry Denson, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

Iraq smokes

2005-12-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

As I read this article that quotes Saddam complaining about the cheap cigarettes he has to smoke, I was reminded of how much Iraqis like to smoke. I never met a male Iraqi who didn’t smoke. Smoking is like their past time. In fact, I’d be willing to bet the receipts in my wallet that Iraq men prefer Cigarettes over food, sex and obviously, alcohol.

And there is good reason, too. Smokes were less than a $1 a pack and you’re not considered a tough guy unless you smoke. Of course, the tobacco companies in the Middle East don’t have to adhere to an ATF. Once I smoked a fag (British for Cig.) and heard a pop, then another pop and realized I wasn’t receiving any cancerous smoke into my lungs. I pulled the stick from my mouth and noticed both ends had filters.

One guy found a small chunk of glass in his cig.

At least, Saddam doesn’t have to smoke that pack. Or maybe that’s why he’s complaining. I bet Ted Kennedy sends him a carton of Winstons soon and then good old Ted will complain about how we mistreat prisoners in Iraq.

New Blog

2005-12-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of movies, so since I have some time on my hands lately, I thought I'd start a blog on movie and actor reviews. http://moviereviewsbysmink.blogspot.com/ Enjoy!

Miami incident

2005-12-07T21:45:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I watched a national news program that questioned the shooting at the Miami airport.

Here are the facts: A man walks onto the plane. An argument breaks out between him and his wife. He storms through the cabin, saying he’s carrying a bomb in his bag. Then, air marshals on board shoot him. It was later revealed, by the wife, that the man was bi-polar and hadn’t taken his medication.

They shot him. And then the rest of passengers were asked to place their hands on their head and deboard, treated like suspects.

So, people now question the air marshals for killing a man who didn’t comply with their orders. And for treating the passengers like suspects, too, after the fact.

In my opinion, the air marshals did their job, even if there was no bomb. Had they hesitated or waited for the man to take his medication and there was a bomb, the media would then question why suspect was not shot. Got to love our talking heads.

I’m sure now the very left, like John Kerry, will now say that no American flight passenger is safe and that Air Marshals are terrorists.

War mother

2005-12-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

Today, I was reminded of a family gathering before I left for Iraq. All my aunts and uncles were scrunched in my parent’s medium sized living room. The cousins spilled into the kitchen. Nobody talked about Iraq or politics; we just laughed and reminisced about how much of a pooper my brother and I were growing up. Then, it came time for everybody to leave. And to my surprise, mother asked our guests to join her in prayer. All 20 something of my family members formed a circle around me. They laid hands upon me and mother prayed. It would be the first time I could sense or feel her anxiety. As she spoke, tears fell from her bright blue eyes and her voice trembled as if she were at a funeral. But mom was strong and she finished the prayer. It was a dramatic moment I hope I never experience again. To feel my mother’s sadness was more difficult than the task ahead (Iraq).

Nobody feels a war more than the mother of a soldier. Kbug gives us a chance to understand.

Paying for articles in Iraq

2005-12-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

In the public relations profession, there are people with the title of media relations coordinator or media specialist. Like salesmen, they spend their days selling products or ideas. Except instead of selling to consumers, they pitch reporters and editors with the hope of receiving press.

Millions of dollars are spent on these campaigns. I know, because I managed quite a few while working for a major marketing communications firm. Companies target reporters by creating their own studies that may appear to be newsworthy. They send reporters press releases, interviewees and materials or statistics that may help a writer out a little on deadline. For example, I once represented an animal health manufacturer that created a West Nile virus vaccine for horses. As part of our media relations campaign, we sent all the horse writers in America a press release, which included national statistics, and then followed up with reporters weeks later. Had I had a larger budget, I might have sent them something neat, like a mosquito suspended in a vile, and had a better success rate than 5 percent. The point is, targeting media is an effective and cheap way of promoting your product or idea.

I promise you that in almost every article you’ve ever read that contained a product mention there was probably a public relations person behind the scenes, scurrying to get his client some press. The same is in politics. Politicians have press advisers. So do CEOs, football coaches and so on. Almost every word spoken by a professional to the media comes from a strategic platform that benefits their position.

So with that being said, it’s become known that we are paying to place articles in Iraqi newspapers. According to this article, politicians are gravely concerned. I wonder if they were gravely concerned about the paid VIOXX articles in Newsweek.

While in Mosul, we never did this. We didn’t have to. We sent out daily press releases to the local media, and the newspapers ran them word for word. We had built such professional bonds with the reporters in Mosul, that after the Abu Ghraib incident, reporters brought us photography for review. Believe it or not, the photos were worse than what surfaced online. But they were obvious fakes. After one look, my friend pointed out that American soldiers do not wear white T-shirts and we tuck our pants into our boots. They took his word and never ran the photos. We also invited them to school openings, bridge openings and hospital ribbon cuttings. The Iraqi reporters wanted to report the good news. Problem was, the insurgents read their newspapers and many of them were killed for writing positive or pro coalition stories.

With that being said, I think it’s OK to pay for print placement for two reasons: the Iraqi journalists take great risks in covering what their people need to read; and it’s a source of revenue for organizations that have never had freedom of press and still don’t fully comprehend advertising. But I am only in agreement if the placements are true.

The Iraqi people need to know what’s going on in their country, whether it comes in advertising form or an opinion article.

Deception from anti war folks

2005-12-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

The liars ofthe anti-war movement
Posted: December 2, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

For the past two years, the old-line media has been more than willing to help broadcast the allegations made by the anti-war crowd that "Bush lied, soldiers died."

However, no matter how many times the likes of Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan have made this allegation, they've never been able to make it stick.

The only thing they've proven thus far is that they hold a twisted hatred of this country and feel consumed with resentment toward America's economic, military and political superiority.
It turns out that it's not George Bush or Dick Cheney who has been lying to the American people, but the very anti-war/anti-military folks who have been pointing fingers at the administration all along.

The record of deception by the anti-war crowd reached a new low this week when we learned that MoveOn.org was broadcasting an anti-military ad that purported to show U.S. troops in Iraq who, the ad said, should be pulled out of Iraq straight away.

A sharp-eyed American soldier brought it to the country's attention that the soldiers in the ad weren't American – they were British. MoveOn.org can't be blamed, of course, because they wouldn't recognize or appreciate an American military uniform if you paid them.

MoveOn then turned to deception to hide their mistake by graphically altering the uniforms that the soldiers were wearing.

Lies, lies and more lies.

Maybe Michael Moore was in charge of the editing standards for MoveOn.org, because this is the same type of stunt Moore pulled when producing his anti-war propaganda flick, "Fahrenheit 9-11."

In that propaganda piece, Moore declared that President Bush had stolen the election, and that newspaper accounts backed up his outrageous charge.

The film showed a headline "Latest Florida recount shows Gore won Election" taken from a Bloomington, Ill., newspaper dated Dec. 19, 2001. This outrageous story was entirely made up by Michael Moore.

Shockingly, there never was such a story in the newspaper. Instead, there was a similar letter to the editor written by a private citizen two weeks prior. Moore took that letter, and mocked it up into a fake news story. He changed the date and the font sizes and appearance and tried to pass it off as a legitimate news story.

And this week Moore flatly denied he ever owned stock in defense contractor Halliburton – who he has made the boogey man in the Iraq war. Tax receipts show that Moore isn't telling the truth about that either.

Lies, lies and more lies, along with a dash of hypocrisy for good measure.
Anti-war politicians have joined in the game of deception recently.

Congressman John Murtha became a celebrity to anti-war groups recently when he called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

TV analysts breathlessly reported the "stunning" development that a once-"hawkish" representative had turned on the war effort.

The anti-American message board DemocratUnderground was loaded with endless threads of discussion proclaiming the newfound bravery of Congressman Murtha.

No surprise here – Murtha was merely pulling a dishonest political stunt, and he used the willing accomplices of the old-line media and anti-war crowd to pull it off. Fact is, 18 months earlier, Murtha stood shoulder-to-shoulder with one of the most shamefully dishonest members of Congress, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, and declared that we should cut and run from Iraq.
And this wasn't the first time Murtha had advocated cut-and-run.

Pay attention here, because you won't see this fact reported in any major newspaper or alphabet soup network: He gave the exact same advice to President Clinton after American troops were attacked and slaughtered by Al Qaida-backed terrorists in Somalia in 1993.
When Clinton followed Murtha's advice, it is reported to have emboldened Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, who have both said the incident showed that Americans lacked the will to fight for what they believed in.

But there stood an anguished Congressman Murtha under the hot klieg lights, with tears in his eyes, pretending he had come to some newfound opposition to the Iraq war.

Lies, lies and more lies and cowardice in the face of America's enemies to boot.

Is it any wonder then, that some of us do indeed question the patriotism of the anti-war crowd?
While the heroic men and women of the United States military are enduring hellish conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting Islamo-fascists intent upon murdering them, they're being undermined here at home by shameful, guilt-ridden, spineless folks in the anti-war crowd who will tell any lie to justify their reprehensible conduct.

The next time someone on the Left attacks you, or your neighbor, or a friend for questioning their patriotism – calmly look them in the eye and answer back.

Yes, we certainly do question your patriotism.

Bad headline

2005-12-01T05:46:00.000-08:00

When I read this headline, Insurgents attack U.S. bases, my first thoughts were that the insurgents conducted an operation similar to the TET Offensive when the Vietnamese attacked every major base at the same time. However, after reading the article, to my favor, the attacks were merely mortar attacks, which happen every day and are not news worth unless somebody is killed. So don’t be alarmed with today’s headlines.

Mortars in Iraq are as common as a Texan bragging on himself… occasionally it’s annoying, but it’s just part of the environment and doesn’t cause much damage.

Citizen tips Coalition forces...

2005-11-28T17:39:00.000-08:00

A good sign that Iraqis are joining the fight against insurgents...

4th Brigade Combat Team PAO

BAGHDAD – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers captured four suspected terrorists during operations Nov. 24-25.

An Iraqi tipster provided information about a roadside-bomb cell operating in western Rashid. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment responded to the tip and conducted the operation during the early-morning hours of Nov. 25, detaining three terror suspects. The previous evening, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment conducted a mission in eastern Rashid, detaining a suspected terrorist who is believed to be responsible for attacks on Coalition Forces.

The suspect attempted to flee the scene as the Soldiers arrived but was unable to evade the U.S. forces.

Bruce Willis

2005-11-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

In an era that actors and directors so often question the efforts of American servicemen, one of Hollywood’s best is bringing us a movie that portrays soldiers as who they are – heroes. Based on the writing of Michael Yon, Bruce Willis plans to direct a movie on Deuce Four, a battalion I was stationed in Mosul with. The movie dedication is well deserved… http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1892675_1,00.html

Aaron Tippin spends time with troops on Thanksgiving

2005-11-26T12:49:00.000-08:00

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Country music star Aaron Tippin, who crooned such hits as Kiss This and You’ve Got to Stand for Something (Or You’ll Fall for Anything) spent his Thanksgiving with Soldiers of Task Force Band of Brothers, 101st Airborne Division at Forward Operating Base Speicher in Iraq.

Tippin started his visit with the Soldiers by eating Thanksgiving Dinner at the Eagle’s Nest Dining Facility, where officers from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade served up some turkey, crab legs, and all the traditional holiday fixings. He didn’t do much eating, however, as he was approached by a steady stream of fans in the dining facility seeking autographs and pictures.

“Since you guys can’t be home with your families for Thanksgiving, I don’t mind being away from mine,” Tippin said. “I just appreciate everything you guys do for us.”

Tippin signed everything he could before heading on a tour of the 1st Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade flight line, where Soldiers gave him an up-close-and-personal look at an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter. Tippin, who said he is a helicopter pilot himself, sat in the cockpit and was briefed on the various controls and features of the aircraft.

While at the flight line, Tippin again made sure every fan who wanted one got a picture and an autograph. Soldiers brought up guitars, CDs and various other items to be signed while Tippin, donning a black T-shirt with the 1st Battalion “Expect No Mercy” logo on it, signed them all.

At the flight line, one Soldier shook Tippin’s hand and told him, “You’re a great American, Sir!” Tippin looked at the Soldier as he walked away and said, “I think you may have that one backwards.”After spending a few hours with the Soldiers, Tippin departed the area to tour the rest of the installation, including the 101st Airborne Division headquarters, before his 8 p.m. performance at the installation gymnasium.

“I think it was good of him to take time out of his schedule to come visit us and show his support and patriotism,” said Capt. Jason Shultz, battle captain for Task Force Band of Brothers. “He was very sincere. I think it meant more to him to be here with us for Thanksgiving.”

Tippin performed an acoustic set at the installation gymnasium, kicking the show off with You’ve Got to Stand for Something. The backdrop for his performance was the Grand Ole Opry East, a division initiative to encourage other performers to entertain Soldiers. He also included the most patriotic song in his catalog – Where stars and stripes and eagles fly – inspired by the events of 9/11.

“He told the story about the song 9/11 inspired him to write,” Shultz said. “The story really motivated everyone.”After his performance, Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Turner, commander, Task Force Band of Brothers and 101st Airborne Division, presented Tippin with the Screaming Eagle statue to show the task force’s appreciation for his visit. Tippin was the first celebrity to entertain the Soldiers of Task Force Band of Brothers at FOB Speicher.“He gave a very energetic performance,” Shultz said. “You could tell he enjoyed performing for us.”

American Cheetah Saver

2005-11-26T10:55:00.000-08:00

It looks like the American soldier does everything. In this article, we learn U.S. GIs are saving Ethiopian Cheetahs. I wonder if John Kerry will soon be calling for a troop withdrawal in Africa, saying “we had no proof of Cheetahs before we invaded.”

2005-11-25T11:38:00.000-08:00

Iraqi tankers drive T-72 tanks past a grandstand at Camp Taji during a ceremony marking the creation of a new armored brigade in the Iraqi Army on Nov. 17. The 9th Division activated 2nd Armored Brigade during the ceremony. The new brigade is equipped with dozens of main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers donated by Hungary.
Taken On:
11/17/2005
Photographer:
Sgt. Matthew Wester 3/1 AD

2005-11-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

This time last year, I was eating with plastic forks. This year, I will eat mom's pie. I'm so thankful to be home. My best wishes go out to those still in Harm's Way. Godspeed.

Afghan school receives supplies

2005-11-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

By Army Sgt. Phillip Chang
117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KABUL, Afghanistan – A pack of pink drawing paper, a set of multi-colored pencils and a backpack was all it took to put a smile on one student’s face in Afghanistan.

The student, Shkiba, was one of almost 250 in the Professional and Learning Foundation School for Disabled and Girls, to receive school supplies and shirts with the colors of the Afghan flag. Soldiers from the Afghan National Army distributed school supplies to students of the school in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday.

The school was chosen in recognition for the upcoming International Day of Disabled which is Dec. 3.The soldiers are part of the Directorate of Cultural and Religious Affairs. The supplies were donated from Command Forces Command–Afghanistan and the United States Assistance for International Development with participation from the International Security Assistance Force.

Present at the event was Sayed Mohmmad Hadi Hadi, Deputy Minister of Martyrs and Disabled, who also handed out supplies to students.During his speech, Hadi said, “I am thankful for the cooperation and coordination from ISAF and CFC-A.” He added, “I am also thankful for the donations for the students and disabled.” Suraya Omeri, director of the school, was also appreciative of the donations. “While the Taliban was in power, girls were not allowed to go to school. The school was founded to help the disabled and girls get their education” said Omeri. “These gifts will help the students in their progress.”

Students shared their thoughts with the Deputy Minister and director as they shook hands and acknowledged their thanks for the gifts.Muxgan Ahmadi, one of the attending students said, “We are thankful for the gifts of book bags and school supplies, these will help us learn.”

Romanian Lt. Col. Mircea A. Romocia and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Robert Roseman, members of the Ministry Engagement Team for CFC-A, coordinated the event.“This is an example of the Afghan government working together to support the Afghan people,” said Roseman after the event.

“We just came by to help the Ministry with its steps in providing for the next generation,” added Romocia.At the end of the ceremony, Shkiba handed one of the soldiers a sketch of a boy crying. “I wanted to show how it was here before we were free,” reflected Shkiba, as she was admiring her sketch before presenting the sketch. “This is also to show how happy I am now,” she added with pride.

Duck, duck

2005-11-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

This may sound bad, but it is funny to watch somebody duck for cover when a mortar lands 150 meters away. Your typical combat soldier knows it’s a waste of energy, but not the new guys and apparently the top brass…

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051122/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Power to the People

2005-11-21T09:18:00.000-08:00

Written by Sgt. Jason Mikeworth, 207th MPAD

Power to the people. For the Soldiers of the 30th Engineer Brigade and the Air Force’s Design Team 15 (DET 15), 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, this is a mission, not a slogan, as they work to improve the flow of electricity for military bases stretching from Talafar to Taji.

“The mission of our team is to support the 30th with engineer projects in the northern-half of Iraq,” said Air Force Capt. Jon Wahlgren, an electrical engineer with DET 15. “We do design plans and specifications for projects for troop construction and contractor work.”

Wahlgren and his Army counterpart Maj. Anthony Centore focus their energy on providing energy to customer units, working on projects from the electrical source at power sub-stations right down to the individual light switches servicemembers use.“I’ve done everything from small things like rewiring a room that was being remodeled, rewiring whole buildings, all the way up to the design of power grids for some of these enduring bases,” Wahlgren said.

Some of the biggest challenges that the electrical engineers face are adapting to the way Iraqis handle electricity. They’ve had to deal with a variety of different materials and standards, Wahlgren said, including adjusting to the metric sized wires used here.

“Being in a contingency type environment, you can’t just go down to the Home Depot and get what you need,” Wahlgren said. “Sometimes you have to make do with what you have.”Centore, who doubles as the executive officer for the 463rd Engineer Battalion, was assigned to the 30th because of his civilian skills as an electrical engineer.

Safety is always a major concern when working with electrical issues, Centore said, and that is what led to his role as a consultant for DET 15.

“When we came into the electrical needs here in theater, there were a lot of issues dealing with safety,” Centore said. “It was something that definitely needed attention.”

Centore has worked on projects at Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Forward Operating Base Spartan, FOB Warhorse and FOB Endurance.

“I’ve designed new power distribution systems for Rawa and Forward Operating Base Spartan,” Centore said. Although the mission assignments come from the 30th, Centore said he and Wahlgren will help anyone who asks for assistance. “It usually starts as a question. People are looking for someone with a castle on their collar [for an answer]”, Centore said. “It’s nothing for us to go out and resolve whatever issue they’re having.” Along with their missions to help design electrical systems in such a broad area, Centore and Wahlgren have worked to share their knowledge with the electricians in theater through classes.

“We’ve done four or five classes here for electricians as well as designers to help educate those people,” Centore said. “Our Soldiers are very good. What we try to do is draw those people into a classroom environment that may only have the Army’s two-week course.”

“It’s been wonderful working with both of them,” said Lt. Col. Danny Hassell, the team leader for the 30th’s Design Team 1. “They are exceptionally smart engineers with the know-how and ability to teach other people.”

Hassell, who has worked with Centore and Wahlgren on more than 50 projects, added, “We couldn’t have done it without them.”Centore said it has been great working with the Air Force team.“They’re a great bunch. They’re true engineers, very team oriented,” Centore said.Wahlgren said his experience alongside the Army has been equally good.“I’m really impressed with all of the Army individuals I have worked with,” Wahlgren said. “It’s really changed my perspective. I have a lot more respect for the guys in the Army.”

Wahlgren said that working with the Army has led to some experiences he hadn’t expected before deploying to Iraq. “I’ve seen some things I never would have imagined [seeing] as an Air Force captain,” Wahlgren said as he recalled a mission to help the city of Talafar restore power to most of its population.

“I went in there on a civil affairs mission. I never thought I would have been on the downtown streets of an Iraqi city,” Wahlgren said. The experience was very different for the Air Force captain who had spent most of his time ‘inside the wire.’“It was pretty exciting for me. It was a little outside of my comfort zone, but I never felt in danger,” Wahlgren said. “It was very enjoyable.”Centore and Wahlgren share another common bond that has helped them achieve success in their mission. Centore, an Army Reserve officer, works for a Pittsburg-based engineering firm. Wahlgren, an officer from the North Dakota Air National Guard, works for a Minnesota utility company. “The Guard and Reserve have been a huge help to this theater, specifically in the civillian skills they have brought,” Centore said. “If you had to pick something that has made a significant impact, there is no doubt that that would be in the top two.”Centore said he is very appreciative to his employer for their support. He said they worked with him when he left the company early to prepare for this deployment, and have continued to assist him while he’s in Iraq with finding technical documentation for a variety of equipment.

“You can’t say enough about the employers that back their guys,” Centore said.Wahlgren also noted the unique capabilities Reserve and Guard units bring to the mission.“All of the 30th have been a great team. It’s a good example of the potential these joint missions have,” Wahlgren said. “I think it helps bring to light the important contributions the Guard and Reserve can bring.”

English professor protests Iraq speaker

2005-11-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

An English professor protests a Iraq veteran speaker, saying "captalism has killed more people than communism." Move to China, Prof...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47461

School drop

2005-11-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

by Spc. Anna-Marie Risner133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

YETHRIB, Iraq, Nov. 10, 2005 -- Many troops serving in Iraq spend their time hunting insurgents and tracking down those who wish to hurt Coalition forces; but some Soldiers occasionally get the opportunity to show Iraqi people another side of the military.

Soldiers with Company B, 3rd Forward Support Battalion and Troop A, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., spent most of today getting to know schoolchildren near the town of Yethrib, Iraq, at a school Cav troops opened earlier this year. The Soldiers dropped off an assortment of supplies including notebooks, pencils, desks and shoes -- all of which were donated by FSB Soldiers’ families.

“Back around the April or May time frame [we decided] that we would try to adopt a school here in Iraq,” said Capt. Kate Jackson, commander, Co. B, 3rd FSB. “Several Soldiers’ parents got with their churches or other organizations they were involved with like their work and they all collected up … school supplies that these children could use.”

Security for the mission was provided by 5/7th, commanded by Capt. Joel Jackson -- marking the first joint operation for the husband and wife.The operation came to a head when Joel discovered his wife had a plethora of school supplies, but no school to donate them to.

“I walked into my wife’s office one day and she had all these school supplies and I’ve been wanting to do a school drop, and this is one of the areas where I really needed to do something for the people,” he said. “I asked her if she had a school lined up and she didn’t, so it evolved from there.”

Soldiers handed out bags of supplies, helped some children find new shoes for the cold months ahead, played games and interacted with Iraq’s younger generation -- a task many Soldiers feel is important to the country’s success.

“It’s great to be able to go out and meet the kids because the kids are the ones we’re really trying to make an impact on,” said Spc. Joseph Dupree, 5/7th Cav. “I know that if we can interact with the kids and help them to like us, the future generations will be a lot more open and cooperative with the United States.”

“It’s all about the relationships that you can build … for us to get out there and show that we do care and that we have a genuine interest in their well being,” Kate said. “Whether it was just a sticker or it was us playing soccer with them it lets them know that we do care.”

The day wrapped up with a game of soccer between Soldiers and children, followed by goodbyes and thank-yous as tanks and trucks rolled out of sight. Leaders hope their actions today will make a lasting impact on the children and the town.

“By [the families] taking the time to send the supplies over here and us taking the time to go out and interact with the children and to play games with them, they know that we genuinely do care,” Kate said. “At the national level, there’s a lot of efforts going on but to truly [be successful] it takes the boots on the ground, the daily interaction with them and especially with the children … hopefully that carries over to the other generations.”

Terp Goes the extra mile

2005-11-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

The Soldiers who had been guarding the gate shouted alerts and assumed firing positions. They made a circle around Faouzi Hamade, an interpreter for the Department of Defense, who was struggling to take a concealed object from the hand of an Iraqi woman. “It’s a grenade, be careful,” Hamade yelled.Only a few months earlier, Hamade, a Lebanese emigrant to the U.S., was home in Dearborn, Mich., with his wife, Miriam, and four children. He was sitting at the restaurant he owned reading the newspaper when he came across a Titan Corporation advertisement looking for Arab-speaking linguists willing to go to the Middle East. He didn’t have to think twice.“After being 25 years in the United States and that country taking care of you, you want to take care of your country,” Hamade said, “to pay your dues.” For Hamade, serving as a translator for U.S. troops would be paying those dues. After a few telephone interviews and a thorough background check, Hamade sold his restaurant and said goodbye to his family. He spent six days at Fort Bliss for a medical examination and an intense crash course on nuclear biological and chemical warfare before being flown to Kuwait. Hamade thought his mission would be in Kuwait, but he only spent a day there before being sent to Baghdad to translate for the 352nd Civil Affairs Command (CACOM). He was so concerned that his wife and children would worry about him that he did not tell them he was in Iraq for two months.The grenade incident occurred in May, 2003 at the north gate of a U.S. compound in Baghdad. Hamade was helping a Soldier communicate with a local man when he noticed a woman calling to him in Arabic, telling him to run away. As he approached her he saw that she was trying to pull something out of her clothes. When Hamade realized what it was, he stepped forward, seized the hand with the grenade and pulled it away from her body, and squeezed it to keep her from pulling the pin. “At that moment, I didn’t think about anything,” Hamade said. “The only thing that came to my mind is that I am in danger and I have to defend myself, or I or one of the Soldiers will be dead.”Hamade saw the pin was still in place and took the grenade. Up to this point he had been calm but as he held the deadly object in his hand he trembled with fear. Not wanting any of the Soldiers to come in harm’s way, Hamade searched the woman himself. He did not find any other weapons on her, but found an unusual amount of Iraqi money. The woman was detained for questioning, where she gave the names of several men who she said had paid her to throw the grenade at American troops. Hamade was praised for his heroism in civilian and military worlds alike as a result of the incident. The Dearborn city counsel issued Hamade a citation honoring his actions. Brig. Gen. John Kern, commander of the 352nd, later awarded him a coin for his heroism during the grenade incident. Col. John Logan Black, the team chief for the 352nd CACOM Public Heath Team, was so impressed that he wrote a recommendation letter in which he wrote, “Mr. Hamade is a person of high moral and ethical standards… he is within the top 1 percent of all the interpreters I have met here in Iraq.”Hamade’s tour ended Jan. 14, 2004. He spent a year as a truck driver in the United States before leaving on a voluntary second tour in April.

V Day

2005-11-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

Throughout my life, I have suffered from acute identity crisis, a common malady among pop culture kids. In my adolescence, I was first a headbanger, then a cowboy, then a white boy trying to have some soul, then a farm boy, then a football player. In college, I was a fraternity kid, then an ROTC guy, then a college columnist, then an affectionate poem reader who wore turtle necks and dark-rimmed glasses. After college, I was a professional, then a marathon runner, then a triathlete, then a Lyme disease patient. Now, after Iraq, I am a veteran, the one identity I am sure will stick for the rest of my life. And one I will always be proud of.

To all of my fellow veterans, happy V Day. It’s our day.

TriCare

2005-11-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

Insurance. It’s something we must have, to protect us, to give us comfort.

But, man, it is a pain in the ass when you need to file a claim. If you’ve ever dealt with insurance claims, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve always had cheap insurance, so I’ve never known the customer service of Allstate or State Farm (according to their commercials, at least.) Once I wrecked my car and my agent said I shouldn’t have wrecked it. Now that’s service! Even still, that insurance company was hardly the worst I’ve worked with.

Civilians have no idea what bad insurance is.

The military’s provider is called TriCare, and they make a living out of screwing soldiers and their families. I contracted Lyme disease while on duty and went to civilian doctors. Of course, at the time, I had no clue why I was vomiting, had Bells Palsy or felt like spikes were being driven through my head. At first, I used my civilian insurance, which denied payment after discovering that I was on duty at the time of the tick sinking its fangs into my flesh and giving me a nice spirochete. Long story short, I filed claims through TriCare and they denied everything, and everybody I talked to said I needed to talk to somebody else. After filling out 40 forms, they eventually began making payments on some of the bills. Three years later, TriCare has yet to pay in full my entire hospital bill. I’ve called and called, complained and complained, and there is still two months worth of rent outstanding in bills. I’ve done everything but sue the company. And all I really care about is my credit.

Well, that’s my story about TriCare. And sadly, it’s hardly the worst. Here’s another about a soldier soon to be deployed and his family.

Soldiers' Angels

2005-11-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

It’s popular to say, “I support the troops.” People slap a bumper sticker on the back of their car, and they feel they are showing a form of support, a gesture worth the stare of a passerby. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with publicizing support through a magnet, but one cannot label a bumper-sticker-only person a troop supporter. To me, these bumper stickers are nothing more than a fad that has no substance. A true troop supporter prays for people they don’t even know. A true troop supporter sends care packages. A true troop supporter volunteers at the local USO. A true supporter is a person who does something more than placing a bumper sticker on their car.

For those of you who have no clue what the military is like, people don’t join because they support George W. They don’t care about politics. Most servicemen join for their own reasons – college, money, benefits – but all end up serving something greater than themselves. And as citizens, I believe we must show gratitude to those who work hard to provide our freedoms.

Especially this holiday season…

The Holiday Season is not far away and thousands of America’s bravest men and women who are standing watch over our freedom will not be home to share this special time of year with their families and friends. Sadly, there are many other deployed soldiers who have no family to send them a package or even a card at this most special time of year. Many wounded will be celebrating in hospitals.
Soldiers’ Angels, an all-volunteer non-profit organization that provides support todeployed soldiers and wounded soldiers as well as their families, is hard at work on theirannual Holidays For Heroes stocking drive, where stockings stuffed with small butwelcomed items are sent to soldiers who are deployed in the Middle East combat areasand hospital units.
Cash donations are needed to purchase supplies as well as to help with shipping thestockings to the Middle East. Also needed are Holiday Stockings (homemade withspecial decorations and messages are wonderful, store bought is also great) as well as thelittle presents to stuff inside such as:
- Individual packets of hot chocolate, cider or hot soup mixâ€¦- Candy (bite sized, individually wrapped, all kinds)- AT&T Phone Cards (asking for this brand because it works in the Middle Eastarea)- Hand held games (playing cards, battery games with batteries, please)- Small puzzle books- Miniature Menorah- Small, signed Holiday cards from you and your families simply addressed toSoldiers or Heroes. Homemade Cards are Welcome! Be sure to enclose yourname and addressThis is the perfect project for a church, school, club, business, family or for any group toget involved and to participate!
Tax deductible cash donations to Soldiers’ Angels, a 501 ( c) (3) organization, can bemade by going to the Soldiers’ Angels website at www.soldiersangels.org and clicking onthe Donations button to donate using Paypal or by sending a check to:Soldiers’ Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104Please make checks payable to Soldiers’ Angels and make a notation that the check is forthe Holiday Spirit For Heroes fund.
For drop-off locations or questions, please contact:
Becky Morton - rpmorton375@yahoo.com - (336) 227-5621Jamie Hedman – harleyprncs0130@yahoo.com - (214) 507-3263Judi Burns - prteam@gmail.com - (615) 676-0239

MUC

2005-10-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure and honor that I announce that my unit – the 139 MPAD – received the military’s Meritorious Unit Citation award for our service in Iraq. This is the highest award given to a unit of our size. Congrats all 139 padsters. We worked our butts off and deserve the recognition!

Buffbabe turned mommy

2005-10-22T01:29:00.000-07:00

One of my soldiers always referred to me as dad for my strict sergeant ways. You may have read her material under the pen name Buffbabe, http://wordsfromiraq.blogspot.com/.

Well, she is soon to be a mother, a dream she’s always had. I remember being on guard duty with the girl and while I was reliving old football memories, she would discuss how she can’t wait to be a mother. So if you get a chance, stop by her site and wish her well. She’s a good kid. I guess, she’s really not a kid.

I'll never forget

2005-09-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

The two duffle bags were filled with my equipment collection of nine years. Cold weather mittens. Goggles. Kevlar. Canteens, canteen cups and canteen covers. Pistol belt. First aid kit. It was all there. Except for a camel back that was lost in Iraq.

Any equipment not turned in, even after a decade of service, the soldier is responsible for. I signed a statement of charges for a little over $30 for the item and I was done. I wrote a typical military memo, dry and free of inspirational thought, indicating my intentions of getting out.

I wanted to write that I planned to grow my hair to the length of my butt and not shave for two years, but I didn’t. I wanted to say that my final day of Army service was one of the happiest days of my life, but I didn’t. I wanted to thank the Army for losing my medical records three separate times, causing me to receive more vaccinations than a Rabies patient, but I didn’t. I wanted to write about how the Army’s health insurance, TriCare, failed to pay for multiple bills it was responsible for while I was hospitalized with Lyme disease, leaving my credit rating a wreck, but I didn’t. I wanted to ask how some officers ever received promotions while several more-deserving candidates were passed up because they were not good-old boys, but I didn’t. I wanted to demand an answer for why we need to fill out 25 pieces of paperwork to use a toilet in a government building, but I didn’t.

See, I don’t measure my years of service by the Army’s inadequacies or the people I want to forget. Rather, I will remember the important moments.

I’ll never forget the 25-mile road march in basic training. My feet were raw and my arms, back and thighs were sore as sore can be. After the march, we turned Blue, meaning we received the infantry’s coveted Blue Cord. I felt like a man that day.

I’ll never forget my first drill in Wisconsin. The majority of the unit was women. Being an infantryman transferring to a public affairs unit, I felt out of place and in the past harbored ill feelings toward female soldiers. But the females made me feel comfortable and the commander encouraged my creativity. I reenlisted after one year of service in Wisconsin.

I’ll never forget the day I received the “call.” It was Valentines Day, 2003. We were placed on alert and the only girls I called on this day of love were those I called soldiers.

I’ll never forget the time I spent in the hospital. My most frequent visitors were fellow soldiers.

I’ll never forget when we boarded the plane to leave the U.S. Joe and I placed towels on our heads and we laughed the flight away.

I’ll never forget the smell of my first patrol. The mixture of sewage and burning trash is a unique smell.

I’ll never forget our first night in NCO alley, where we learned to leave the war behind and just laugh. We learned the only way we can get through Iraq is by leaning on one another. By laughing more than crying.

I’ll never forget meeting Sergeant Mitts. His smile, his soft-spoken words and his heart impacted me in unmatched ways. At his memorial, I didn’t cry. I smiled in his memory.

I’ll never forget the day Samir bought me a vase from the Mosul market. He tried for a week to find one nice enough for my mother. “For you, sergeant, only the best.” The man made me laugh more than anybody and to this day, I can’t stop thinking about him.

I’ll never forget hearing the national anthem as we walked off the plane. Shaking hands with politicians and seeing American soil for the first time.

I’ll never forget the battle within my mind with readjusting. The nightmares. Fears. And how I overcame them all without medications or drinking. How it was tough and will continue to be a challenge, but I got through it and will continue to do so with the help of special people.

I’ll never forget my last drill. We had two new soldiers, both of whom wanted me to stay in.

“You can’t leave, man, you’re so funny.”

I’ll never forget Sammy’s face as I walked down the long hallway to our office for the last time. Tears filled his eyes as if he were at a funeral. He and I are close.

I’ll never forget opening my car door on the last day and I saw Sammy walking toward me.

“Dude, are you stalking me?”

“No, I got to go across the street to turn in some paperwork.”

I’ll never forget how red his eyes were. They were visible even under his thick magnifying glasses.

I’ll never forget my last salute as a soldier. Near my car in the Wisconsin Guard headquarters, I snapped to attention, looked in the direction of Staff Sgt. Brian P. Jopek, aka Sammy, raised my right hand, touching the brim of my soft cover and simply said “take care, brother.” He didn’t respond and just kept walking. See, NCOs don’t salute NCOs. Technically, you’re only supposed to salute officers and in ceremonies. But out of respect, I was saluting Sammy. “Dude, I’m serious. I’m saluting you.” He returned the salute and held it. “Take care, Sammy. I love you man.” He didn’t respond. “Hey, aren’t you going to say something?” “The last time I said something like that, you called me a faggot.” “I was joking then; I’m serious now.” “OK, I love you too.” He dropped his salute and proceeded on. As he left, I yelled “faggot. I can’t believe you said you love a man.”

I’ll never forget Sammy’s laugh. After all the ridicule I’ve given him over the years, including my in-jest fagot remark, he still laughs at every stupid thing I do. It was this laugh that got the gang in NCO Alley through many tough times.

I’ll never forget my military career. Through all the bad, there was plenty of good. And more laughs than on Comedy Central.

Bumper sticker, seafood and chicken

2005-09-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

I am currently hanging out with Sammy and the rest of my cohorts for the last time as a Wisconsin Guard soldier. Tomorrow, I will turn my equipment in and say goodbye to the life of uniform. Yesterday, my soldiers bought me dinner at a very nice restaurant in Madison. I ate something I can’t pronounce and washed it down with the house Merlot.

Today, I met with our new commander, whom I respect immensely. You may recall seeing his name in the news. He adopted an Iraqi child who suffers from cerebral palsy. His efforts to adopt is new Iraqi son was well covered by the media. Here’s a Journal Sentinel article. (you might have to register to read).

After drill, Sammy and I left to grab some chow. On the way, we came across a pizza delivery vehicle with this bumper sticker: “How many Iraqi children per gallon do you get for your SUV?” Immediately outraged, Sammy and I called the pizza place demanding to speak with the manager. I asked the man if he found it appropriate to have such messages affiliated with his fine establishment. He said no, but to be honest, he didn’t sound too sincere.

I topped the night off with a Peruvian meal that was loaded with seafood. After eating half the mountain of chow, I realized I wasn’t looking at the food I was shoveling into my mouth. At first look, it appeared I was eating uncooked chicken.

“Ma’am is this chicken?”

“No. It’s fish.”

I felt like a moron, and ate it anyway.

Iraqi soldiers donate money for Katrina victims

2005-09-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

This really touches my heart. For those of you who don't believe the Iraqis value our presence, read this article.

News article

2005-09-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Below is a snippet of an article on milbloggers in the Columbia Journalism Review. I and the author of MY WAR are featured...

http://www.cjr.org/issues/2005/5/stateoftheart.asp

Thoughts on the disaster

2005-09-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

UDPATED:

AS POINTED OUT BY MANY READERS AND WELL COVERED BY THE MEDIA, THERE HAVE IN FACT BEEN MANY COUNTRIES CHIP IN TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE HURRICANE. I'D LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY ERROR IN OPINION. I GUESS, I NEED TO WORK ON MY FAITH IN OTHER COUNTRIES. BELOW IS A LIST OF COUNTRIES (CREATED BY WWW.BLACKFIVE.NET).

Australia - eight million dollars.
France - emergency supplies, including tents, blankets, cooking equipment and camp-beds.
Britain - 500,000 military (meals) rations.
Germany - 25 tons of food.
Italy - 15,000 First Aid Kits, along with infant food, blankets, pumps, water-purifying devices and inflatable rafts.
Kuwait - 500 million dollars in oil products.
Qatar - 100 million dollars.
Canada - thousands of camp-beds, blankets and medical supplies. A Canadian Coast Guard ship is bringing 1,000 troops.
Afghanistan (that's right, Afghanistan) - 100,000 dollars.
Indonesia (one of the countries hit by the Tsunami) - 40 medical doctors.
Korea - 30 million dollars.
Norway - 1.6 million dollars.
Sri Lanka (one of the countries hit by the Tsunami) - 25,000 dollars.
China - five million dollars.
Cuba - doctors, 25 tons of medicine and emergency supplies.
Netherlands (Holland) - Inspectors/Engineers to inspect the levies (go figure).
Israel - sending doctors and military support.
Venezuela - doctors, oil products (at cost), and emergency supplies.
Japan - an emergency rescue team.
India - five million dollars, essential medicines and water purification systems.
The Philippines - a 25-member team of aid workers (doctors, nurses, sanitary engineers).
Mexico - 15 tons of water, food and medicine.
Iran has offered to send aid.
The UN is offering their coordination of the international relief. (no, I didn't get that from Scrappleface).

It’s been said a million times already, but it’s true: tragedy brings out the best in people, and in New Orleans, for some people, the worst.

After I saw the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I thought for sure America would join hands and bail out New Orleans and Mississippi just as we have done in Florida after hurricanes, Oklahoma after the bombing and New York after 9/11. And for the most part, this is true. Thus far, Americans have donated $24 million to Red Cross and the Salvation Army. But the most-covered events have been the lootings and shootings.

First off, I can understand taking water and food from grocery stores. But why DVD players and T.V.s? Even if a looter gets away with stealing a television where do they plan on plugging it in? There’s no power in the city! In addition, hundreds of guns have been stolen. And every state in the Union has sent National Guard units to Louisiana for security, not disaster relief purposes. A helicopter was shot at while attempting to load refuges and a police officer and National Guard soldier have been shot. I just don’t get it… why would these people attack the very Americans trying to save them?

Not for one second, however, do I lump all New Orleans residents in with these criminals. My heart goes out to the citizens who lost loved ones and homes. Three months from now, I’m sure we’ll be mesmerized by the fatality numbers and damage. The numbers will more than likely double 9/11. To friends and family of the lost and dead, words will never be able to fill the void. But take solace in knowing that your government and fellow man are doing everything to restore your lands.

Now, we look at rebuilding the broken. I’m no engineer, but anybody with half a brain can look at the damaged infrastructure and know that this will be harder than even rebuilding Iraq. However, I have no doubt that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the countless government and private engineers will do everything in their power to fix Mississippi and Louisiana. The question becomes, though, should we pump all this money into the areas when it can just happen again. I’m of the opinion that New Orleans is too valuable of a city to not repair to what it once was. From economic standpoint, we need the ports in the city to maintain our international marketplace in grain and oil exports. Everybody knows of the oil situation, but not many people understand the wheat, soybean and corn problem. Nearly one quarter of all grains are shipped through New Orleans and now these ports and grain elevators are ruined. If we do not quickly repair these shipping areas, we will not only suffer high gas prices, but the food prices will skyrocket. Another commodity that has been impacted is sugar. Louisiana was the country’s top sugar beet producer. If you put sugar in your tea or coffee, it probably came from Louisiana. Now that this American sugar is no longer available, we will have to import almost all of it from Asian countries, who produce it from sugar canes, which is much more expensive than beets. My rebuilding suggestion is we repair the damaged infrastructure that has the most economic implications on our country first than we concentrate on the homes and businesses. Yes, this may seem to be a crude statement, but we can house the displaced persons in other cities. We cannot ship a million tons of grain from another port that is already shipping a million tons. The facilities are not in place to pick up the slack from the New Orleans ports.

Then, there’s the security situation. For whatever reason, many Louisiana residents have taken arms against their own people. There is no reason for this; they are just causing more problems and slowing down the rebuilding process. But this is just a minor security problem. My biggest fear is that we are vulnerable for a major terrorist attack. With most of our security and rescue personnel focused on New Orleans, I have no doubt that terrorist cells are planning an attack. I do not mean to scare people, but every war fighter knows that the best time to attack is when your enemy is down and or distracted. So what can you do as a citizen? Well, my suggestion is to keep your eyes peeled for unattended bags in crowded areas. If you see one, report it to security immediately. If you’re in a downtown area, watch out for parked cars close to buildings. Statistically car bombers use rundown vehicles, so keep that in mind… even a terrorist doesn’t want to blow up a brand-new Mercedes. My guess is they will not attack a Los Angeles or New York, but a medium sized city that is probably not as prepared like a Louisville or Tulsa. This goes without saying, but stay alert; it just might save your life. Again, I do not mean to strike fear in you, but we have to be realistic here, it is a very possible scenario.

My hat is off to the media. While they have received tons and tons of criticism for their Iraq coverage, they have been extraordinary in covering this tragedy. They are telling both sides of the story and risking their lives in doing so. They are filming looters and rescue attempts in a tasteful manner. While everybody knows that there are bodies floating in the flooded waters, I have not seen a bit of footage of the dead. That is a media director decision, and I applaud their professionalism… they have not formed their own opinions and let the videos, photographs and interviews tell the story. Yesterday, I heard a general say that they cannot get to certain areas. My first thought was how are the media able to get everywhere, but not our military.

If you have not donated money or time, please do so. We are Americans. We take care of our own. And we will get through this tragedy.

To the cabin I go

2005-09-01T00:15:00.000-07:00

The posts will be much more infrequent, not that I've ever really reached a level of consistency.

At any rate, thank you all for your support. With a full beard and water awaiting, I will now travel to a beautiful cabin sitting on a crystal clear lake. I do hope to provide updates occasionally, but where I'm going, there's not even a telephone pole nearby. However, I will make it a priority to write at least one post a week until the book is completed. I'll find a library or a hotel with free wireless or something, because I have fantasy football coming up.

Thanks again for all your support. You have given me the courage to chase a dream I've had since I was six.

On another note, I found this article interesting. It states relatives and friends of soldiers in Iraq support the war. Imagine that.

2005-08-29T11:06:00.000-07:00

To say that Joe (left) and I are odd is an understatement. When we get together, we are automatic trouble. I�m surprised we never ended up in jail. Here, we are causing a ruckus on the plane ride to Kuwait. We got in trouble for singing stupid songs.

2005-08-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

One of the many Iraqi training events I witnessed, this particular session featured some of the top Iraqi soldiers raiding a make-shift house. They stormed through each room and fired at targets. They were really good.

2005-08-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

I tamed that Iraqi horse.

Racism

2005-08-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

Today, I ate at my favorite restaurant. I enjoyed a steak, Spinach salad and cup of coffee. Sitting across from me was this cute elderly couple, who started a conversation.

“What do you do, son?”

I’m a writer and former military.

“Really, I was in the Navy. In the Pacific back in World War II. My brother was in the Navy, too. He fought the war from Miami Beach. I always give him heck for that.”

The gentleman told me his life story, ending every sentence with “I’ve had a good life. I’m 82 years old, you know, and don’t have a single health problem.”

He said his wife made him take a job he didn’t want, and 35 years later, he retired. Currently, he lives off his pension and dances on the weekends. He spoke slowly and sipped coffee in between sentences, reminding me of my grandfather with his deep voice. I found him to be pleasant and very interesting, but our conversation ended when he spoke of how things were in his day.

“When I was your age, everybody worked except for the $%^&**$”

The words hurt. If you want to break relations or a friendly conversation with me say something derogatory about another race. Even though I’m white and 1/16 Cherokee, I get offended when KKK types speak.

I’ve encountered prejudice before. Once I was in the Deep South for business and an executive started the meeting off with a racial joke. Had I not been obligated to be there for my client, I would have caused a scene and left. I would later tell the guilty member of how unprofessional the joke was, which had no impact whatsoever. He called me a Yankee and went on with his business. Later on in the trip, I felt ashamed for even being associated with the man.

But the situation with the elderly man in the restaurant was different. I found myself disappointed as a child would be with a crappy Christmas present. He seemed so genuine and American that it pained me to fathom that he was just one person out of a generation who believed in such nonsense.

Racism exists. And although our country has made great strides in the past 40 years, people still judge others by the color of their skin. In Milwaukee, it seems like blacks and Hispanics are targeted by police. Recently, a Hispanic kid was shot by an officer. The family contests the kid had no gun. I wish I could say this is the first time this has happened, but it’s not. There are still businesses that have no minority employees, and some golf courses in the South still won’t allow blacks on the course.

With that being said, let me tell you about an organization that does not care about the color of your skin or religious belief. It’s called the military. In the Army, you do not see the same racial problems. Black, Hispanic, white, purple… it doesn’t matter. You’re a team of green.

I recall one squad I spent time with. The squad leader was Samoan. One team leader was white, the other was black. One soldier was Indian, another was Hispanic and the SAW gunner was of Middle Eastern descent. When it came time for patrols and raids, these soldiers didn’t care about one another’s ethnicity. They had a job to do; their lives depended on one another. In the end, they became brothers. They would share music and joke about each other’s mom.

In fact, the Army does not tolerate prejudice. If a soldier speaks a racial slur, he can lose rank and half his pay. If the behavior continues, he or she is Court Martialed.

The irony of it is that Americans have the freedom to think what they want to. So if a man wants to hate black people, he can, even if millions of African Americans have fought for his rights.

Maybe one day racism will not exist. Maybe the bigots will realize the errors in their ways. While I hope this happens, I doubt true equality will ever be achieved in this country… because the hateful thinking is passed on from generation to generation. But one thing is for sure… just as my father taught me, I will teach my children not to judge another by the color of skin. After all, America is about diversity and opportunity, not hate.

My very first raid story

2005-08-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

TALL AFAR, Iraq – In a dilapidated two-story building on the outskirts of Tall Afar, the loud bass and electrical guitar of heavy metal music echoes off the faded white walls. On this chilly April night, Soldiers pace up and down the stairs and hallways, pushing each other like football players just minutes before they walk onto the field. Only this isn’t a game, and the opponent isn’t a rival they will shake hands with afterwards.

Under a full moon, superstitions and nerves run high as the infantrymen prepare to seek and possibly destroy their opponent. The goal of their mission is to detain people suspected of leading attacks against Coalition forces.

“This is how we get pumped up for a major mission. I’m a little worried though, because I didn’t listen to Pantera like I normally do,” jokingly says Sgt. Ryan Griffin, a team leader for 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Company C, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team).

Music and superstitions aside, Griffin and his fellow squad members rehearse until they are absolutely ready for the mission. They practice scaling a wall similar to what they might encounter on the battlefield, moving in teams, just like they will in a few short hours.
Their preparation is necessary to complete the 10-hour, two-phase raid. Company C’s 2nd Platoon (Reapers) has the largest responsibility with four objectives.

The mission

Softly purring and making less noise than the average motor vehicle, Company C Strykers transport Soldiers to the first objective in Tall Afar. Inside the vehicle, the Soldiers mentally prepare for their individual responsibilities. The only sounds are radio transmissions and Soldiers slapping magazines into their M4s.

The Stryker ramp drops and Soldiers of Reaper Platoon’s 1st Squad swiftly move into position.

They reach the target house within 45 seconds and immediately establish 360-degree security. As expected a 12-foot-high wall stands in the way, but as rehearsed, the Soldiers breach it, blow open a door and move into the house. Inside is an Iraqi family stunned by the arrival of Coalition forces.

“Do you have weapons,” Reaper Platoon’s Spc. Enrique Murillo asks an older man who has two forms of identification and is suspected of leading attacks against Coalition forces. After questioning the man, the Soldiers confirm he is the suspect they are searching for.

Meanwhile, a team searches each 10-foot by 10-foot room in the house. Blankets are piled everywhere in three of the rooms and broken flour bags lay on the green-stained concrete floor in the other room.

“I have to search everything,” says Sgt. Corey Reeves as he turns over a blanket and finds a baby underneath the blanket pile.

The Soldiers ask why the baby is hidden under a blanket as they ensure that the infant is returned to his mother.

“We are here to make people accountable for their terrorist acts, not inflict harm on families,” says 1st Lt. Leo Flor, Reaper Platoon leader.

The detained man is placed in a Stryker and later moved to a detainee camp for further questioning. Reaper Platoon moves on to the next objective.

Just like the move through Tall Afar, the virtually silent movement to the second objective 45 minutes away in Barzone is uneventful. This time, however, the Soldiers inside the vehicle talk.

“It’s always such an adrenaline rush not knowing what’s on the other side of the door, and the look on the guy’s face when he knew he was caught was priceless,” Staff Sgt. Joshua Watson says about capturing the previous suspect. “When we get a bad guy like that, it’s a great feeling because we know we’ve done our job.”

Ten minutes before they reach the objective of phase two, the silence settles over each man.

When they emerge from the back of the Stryker in front of the target house, each has his battle face in place. In drill team precision, the Soldiers move into position. With the rest of their squad as back up, the breach team moves into the house.

“Do you have any weapons,” Griffin asks the suspected targets. The response is no but the search yields an unlicensed AK-47 in one large room and underneath an uneven bed lying on concrete blocks, three magazines.

The Soldiers detain the two individuals, both of whom are suspected of attacking Iraqi government officials and Coalition forces. They move the suspects to the detainment area with 17 other individuals detained by Company C.

The final move of the night is back to the closest thing to home these Soldiers have in Iraq. The sun is shining brightly by the time they return to their home base.

Although tired and already talking about how long they’re going to sleep, Reaper Platoon’s 1st squad gathers around the Stryker vehicles to reflect on the night’s activities, proud that once again it’s mission accomplished.

“Everyone did a great job last night; I mean, this morning,” Watson says with a laugh. “Get some rest, we’ve got patrols tomorrow.”

Twenty-four hours later, a Pantera CD is placed into a stereo and these infantrymen are ready to start all over again.

New Blog that delivers

2005-08-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

It seems like everybody and their dog has a blog. Some are really bad; some are pretty good. But most get frustrated when nobody comments on their pages of writing. So with that being said, I’d like to direct you to a blog of a fellow Okie and former Public Affairs soldier. A frequent commenter on this site, Word Girl recently posted 100 things about herself. I don’t think I could do that. Let’s give her some support… she’s an excellent writer.

Vietnam vs. Iraq

2005-08-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

I grew up watching Vietnam movies. As a kid, I wanted to wear green fatigues, walk through a jungle and carry an M60. Instead, I get a khaki uniform, a desert and an M16. I always envisioned war in the jungle and so did John Goodman’s character in the Big Lebowsky… “Whereas what we have here? A bunch of fig-eaters wearing towels on their heads, trying to find reverse in a Soviet tank. This is not a worthy adversary,” he said referring to Desert Storm. Of course, Goodman’s character was a Vietnam vet and proudly disputed any war being tougher.

While this character was fiction and played a large role in one of the great 1990’s comedy, there is some true resentment behind his words. Almost all Vietnam vets I talk to speak of their war as the war. And rightly so, they should be very proud of their service. They served a country that was divided, with half hating the men in uniform. And the difficulties they endured from the random jungle disease to ambushes to being captured by a skilled enemy. Vietnam vets deserve recognition, and they are the first to thank soldiers returning home.

Occasionally, I run into this Vietnam vet at the VA, who loves to compare Iraq to Vietnam.

“Vietnam ain’t no Iraq. Shit, we had 50 times the casualties.”

He’s right. In Vietnam, there were almost 60,000 deaths. Currently, 1,872 servicemen have been killed in Iraq.

From a tactical standpoint, the two wars are completely different though. G.I.s in Vietnam fought an army plus random guerillas. Except for the initial ground war, all we fight are guerillas. And in Vietnam, the enemy would sustain a fight. In Iraq, the enemy plants a bomb and runs. In both wars, soldiers rebuilt schools and hospitals, and both enemies are / were extremely difficult.

However, the one thing that sticks out more than anything about these two wars is the equipment. While there have been numerous reports about lack of equipment in Iraq, make no doubt about it, we still have the best equipment in all the land. We have body armor that will stop an AK round. Imagine if our soldiers had this in Vietnam. How many lives would have been saved? We have up-armored hummers that stop bullets, RPGs and shrapnel. And we have robots that search for bombs. Not to mention, today’s aerial support and GPS can pinpoint a target whereas in Vietnam, a lieutenant directed artillery basically off a map and compass… increasing chances for friendly fire.

Plus, today’s medical technology and expertise has saved countless lives on the battlefield. In two years, there have been 14,000 injured in Iraq, half of those returned to duty within 72 hours. That’s credit to the Army Medical Corps.

My point is this, today’s soldier is equipped with the absolute best. There’s no telling how many lives have been saved. But one thing is for sure, you cannot compare Vietnam to Iraq from a casualty standpoint. They are two different wars. But I understand that the major comparisons are more for political reasons. And that’s another story… One that is out of the soldier’s hands.

Sports

2005-08-22T02:50:00.000-07:00

Sports have a way of calming our society. In times of stress, an avid sports fan can get lost in the baseball statistics in the agate of his morning paper. In times of tragedy, we can take solace in the National Anthem before ball games.

One of my fondest memories of our country reuniting after Sept. 11 was seeing an American flag the size of a football field before kickoff. As a high school kid, I remember watching Oklahoma City’s AAA team and before the game, they held a moment of silence for the victims of the OKC bombing.

I believe that sports are one of the things that make our country so great. Perhaps it’s watching two teams or individuals vying to see who is best. But I like to think it’s because of the hard work before the game. And in no other entertainment venue, do you hear the National Anthem. Can you imagine anything remotely Patriotic before a movie begins?

I never feel more American than I do before a baseball game, when gentlemen take their hats off and look at Old Glory. Even as a kid, I never wanted to be late for a game because I wanted to hear those beautiful words… “Oh say can you see…”

Sports are such a large part of our society that I believe we’d be lost without them.

This line of thinking came about after I read this article about basketball coaches traveling to Kuwait to put on a clinic. It's called Operation Hardwood, an eight team tournament made up of the top basketball players stationed in Kuwait. Each team will be comprised of 13 players and coached by the best.

My hat is off to these guys. For one, it takes guts. And two, they are showing support to the men and women in uniform. And these aren’t your run-of-the mill coaches either. Each has led a team to the Big Dance, and a couple have been to the Final Four. For you non-NCAA basketball watchers, this would be the equivalent of the H&R Block CEO going to Kuwait to give classes on taxes.

Reading about this event did my heart some good… I love sports… they’ve always been there when America needed them.

The son of Sammy; the fight for respect

2005-08-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Sammy is one of my best friends. He served with me in Iraq and in this difficult environment, we shared laughs, close calls and toilet paper. Sammy has this infectious laugh that always brightened the dullest moments. In many ways, he was my refuge.

In Iraq, he turned 40, missed his children’s birthdays and injured his ankle on a PT run. Before we left, his son joined the Wisconsin Guard. And now his son is deployed to the Middle East. Sammy Jr. will provide security for convoys, one of the more dangerous missions. Sammy is no longer on the battlefield, but he will now watch the news more closely and cringe at every “U.S. soldier killed” headline.

Since I’ve been home, I’ve followed the news and read about friends being killed. It’s much more difficult to observe the progress from home than it is to witness the carnage. I don’t know why; it just is. And now that Sammy Jr. is crossing the border, my heart hopes he returns unscathed. But I know he will return a man… a man that makes his father proud. I also find myself becoming more and more concerned.

As a soldier, it’s not our job to question the politics behind the conflict. It’s our job to execute. But since I’ve been home, I’ve grown tired of the “Iraq debate” to the point that part of me wishes the war would end and my friends could return home. While I know this is not realistic, I still wonder how much of an impact we are really making on the U.S.-proclaimed “War on Terror.” As our country grows tired of the war, my heart simply aches. With every death, I find myself questioning why.

The reason we went to Iraq was for Weapons of Mass Destruction. Then, it was freeing the Iraqi people. Then, it was fighting the terrorists in Iraq rather than America. I struggle with stomaching the politics behind the war, but I am enamored by the results of our military.

We have built schools, trained security forces and destroyed the hopes of thousands of evil doers, while our fatalities continue to increase. I just wonder when the end will be. Every day, I pray that the killing of Americans will stop, and I hope our society recognizes the trials the soldiers and family go through.

Politics aside, I am most frustrated with the anti-war protesters. I do not believe many of them recognize the sacrifice our soldiers and families make. They march throughout our cities, criticizing our President, chanting “Support our troops; bring them home.” Then, they question the morality of our soldiers after incidents like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. However, I do respect Cindy Sheehan and her views. After all, the war has taken away her precious son. And I guess this is where my frustrations come from… I have lost so many friends. But at the same time, 20 years from now, when I meet with the children of my fallen friends, I do not want to tell them that their father died for oil or for politics. Rather, I will tell them their father fought for their freedom, for all Americans.

I am young and at times naïve to the mood of this country. However, I wonder how close this conflict is coming to Vietnam. It seems like protests are becoming more malicious while servicemen continue to die.

And then, I see another 18-year-old go off to war. A son of a very close friend. While proud of his commitment for the United States, I pray for Sammy Jr.’s safety… and that he may return to a country that supports him. A country that ignores the politics behind Iraq and recognizes the sacrifices of the American soldier.

2005-08-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

In the Kurdish areas of Iraq the landscape is much different. The area is loaded with mountains and crystal-clear waters. This is a water fall in a suburb of Irbil. At the moment of this photo, I wore no body armor. In addition to the area's beauty, it's also very secure. The Kurds have always been a trusted ally.

2005-08-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

Meet Spc. Jose L. Ruiz, a husky kid from New York, who was killed Monday during a driveby. Today, as you read your news, you might see a mention of Ruiz at the bottom of the page. But let me tell you, he was a great soldier. He belonged to the same squad as T & Mitts, who were killed in November. My prayers are with the Ruiz family... your shy teddy bear will always be remembered.

2005-08-16T09:04:00.000-07:00

That's me on the right, giving instructions to the troops. This was our first day in the Middle East. We just landed in Kuwait. Lugging that much equipment around is a huge pain in the butt.

The Cabin Quest

2005-08-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

Since I made the decision to quit my job and dedicate every second to the completion of my novel, I’ve been searching for a quiet cabin somewhere in the woods of Wisconsin or Minnesota. While there are slews of property overlooking pristine lakes, I have not found the “one” that fits my price range. First of all, most cabins are rented by the day or week… nobody wants to stay in these things for months at a time. My goal is to watch the leaves turn and hear the birds chirp, at an affordable price, while I write away. I’ve been quoted everything from $4400 to $1200 a month.

When I ask if they give military discounts, the answer is no or “we’ll take off a day or two, bringing the total to … let’s see here … $3300.” This is where I begin to have a mild heart attack. When I talk to a friend of a friend type, I run into… “well, I’d love to help you out, but we like to go up there on the weekends.”

In two weeks, my lease runs out and I’ll either be living out of my car, writing in a cabin or back to sleeping on couches of friend’s houses. The fact of the matter is I really want to get away and enjoy nature. All my friends live in the city, and to be honest, I am due for a change of scenery. I love Milwaukee, but I’m tired of waking up at night because of the sounds of beer bottles breaking against concrete. I need some good old country life for awhile, especially while I write. But it’s not easy finding that perfect cabin. I and my detailed squad of cabin finders will keep looking, though, because that’s what we do… we don’t give up.

2005-08-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, you're always looking for the perfect shot. Today, I was viewing my Iraq photos and came across this Mosque in Qayarrah, I totally forgot I had taken this, but remember spending an hour waiting for the sun to set for the perfect shot. I was pretty happy with the outcome.

One year and still going

2005-08-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

UPDATED: TYPO

It's been a year since I started this blog. It's been fun. Here's a rundown...

160 posts
200,000 hits
1,348 comments
689 emails
40 hate emails from anti-war types or extreme Islamic folks
1 naked picture emailed to me
37 emails from reporters
15 emails from literary agents and movie producers
42 comments and emails begging me to stop wearing Brut

Have I turned a corner?

2005-08-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

The nightmares continue, only now I cannot remember them. This morning, around 4:30, I awoke sweating like an overworked horse and screamed “no.” The only thing I could recall from the dream was a loud noise, so I searched my apartment to see if any hanging objects fell. Everything was intact. Then, I watched some Sports Center, scratched myself a few times and went back to bed.

What’s different now than before is the nightmares don’t bother me as much. Just as my counselor said, I can control the outcomes. And I wonder if this is why I cannot remember the dreams…. Because in the dreams, I’m actually kicking everybody’s ass and subconsciously I don’t want to get a big ego. Yeah, that’s it.

For real though, I’ve learned to deal with a lot of the issues that overwhelmed me before. Let me give you an example… idiots don’t bother me as much. I recently took a boat trip with a good friend of mine and on board was this anti-war, anti-milk, anti-everything-American lady who debated me on the Iraq war. When her reasons turned to personal insult, I felt no urge to throw her off the boat nor did I throw in her face that the reason she can have opinions is because of the American soldier fighting for her freedom. Rather, I felt sorry for her. In fact, I really think I’ve turned a corner.

Take my job for example. I love the people I work with, but my heart was no longer in the game. Therefore, I quit. My last day is tomorrow and while it will be very difficult to say goodbye to my many friends, everybody understands my reasons for leaving.

I plan to spend the next two months pounding out the final pages of my book. That’s right, I will be a jobless writer… but I’m pretty happy about it. And soon, I’ll be a published author… and everybody likes a published author.

Journalists

2005-08-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

UPDATED LINK

I firmly believe that no occupation exemplifies freedom more than journalism. Of course, the mainstream media has not exactly portrayed the best image. But you cannot argue the premise and purity of journalism. If we didn’t have watchdogs hounding our politicians, stalking our sports stars and celebrities, and holding our military accountable, there’s no telling what kind of country we would have. With that being said, I wish they would report positive news occasionally.

My job in Iraq afforded me the opportunity to work with dozens of media, many of whom were just normal people without a chip on their shoulder. There were also the reporters who were like used car salesmen. I recall a question asked by a Chicago Tribune reporter to an Illinois soldier.

“Wouldn’t you rather be at home watching the Cubs play?”

Of course, he was just baiting the soldier to say something negative. Luckily, the soldier didn’t fall for it. But for the most part, I found reporters to be honest and caring. After all, they were away from home, too, and were subject to the same dangers as us… they just had to report on it.

Yesterday, which was my birthday by the way, a Gannet News Reporter was injured in an attack. He tells his side of the story, at least, what he can recall.

Journalists are good people. Their product is always under a lot of scrutiny, but they continue providing our country a vital resource.

Getting out

2005-07-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

It’s been one of the more difficult decisions of my life. For nine years, I’ve served the Army National Guard with every thing I have. I’ve been to the majority of the Army bases across the country for training, conducted actual operations in Nicaragua, Kuwait and of course, Iraq. But the time has come for me to get out. My ETS date is in October, and now, the retention types and fellow soldiers are telling me that me getting out is a great loss to the Army.

To be honest, when I hear these words, it hurts. At times, it feels like I am betraying my soldiers and country for opting to no longer be a soldier. My decision is not based off of money, passion or disgust for the military. Rather, I just feel it’s time to have free weekends, a full summer and no deployment looming.

Part of me wants to continue climbing the rank ladder, train soldiers and retire. But that desire only comes from serving others, not myself. When I look at the reasons I would stay, none of them are about me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a selfish guy. My life is storied with helping others to the point that I often ignore my needs to benefit my fellow man. For once in my life, I am truly making a decision that is just about me.

I don’t need the money, albeit the offered $15,000 bonus is tempting. Professionally, I believe I’ve gained everything the Army can offer… I’ve led soldiers in combat, strategized and implemented good plans. And I certainly have taken away the most valuable skill the Army gives young people – honor.

However, it’s time for me to build my life as a civilian, to finish this book and maybe one day, raise a family. One thing is for sure… whatever becomes of my life, I will always look back on my nine years of service and one year in Iraq as my greatest accomplishment.

So, I thank the Army for all the good years and the chance to serve my country. The Lord knows that I wouldn’t be the same had I never joined.

Jane Fonda

2005-07-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

VFW is proactively speaking out against Fonda's latest anti-war tour...

Jane Fonda is back on the anti-war trail. Citing support from veterans in her book-signing audiences, Fonda is planning a nation-wide bus tour beginning next spring to protest the war in Iraq. According to Fonda, "numerous" military veterans had provided the needed encouragement for her to end her silence about the war in Iraq.
VFW Commander in Chief John Furgess, who appeared on ABC's Good Morning America shortly after Fonda's July 25 announcement, said her proposed protests would only hurt those closest to the war: America's military men and women in uniform.
"Jane Fonda's anti-war stance back in the 70's helped the North Vietnamese prolong the war," Furgess, a Vietnam veteran, said. "Let her tell the loved ones of a 18-year-old soldier killed by a roadside bomb that his/her death wasn't worth the cause."

Doing more to stop terrorists

2005-07-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

In London, police killed a suspected suicide bomber. They shot the man in the back after seeing wires from a backpack. When I first learned of this incident, I was proud of the English for being brash enough to shoot a terrorist on the open street. Then, after it was reported the man was innocent, it made me think.

Turns out, the man did indeed have wires dangling from his backpack, but he was an electrician. Although he didn’t physically meet the search criteria from the broadcast APB, the man looked suspicious. So the police asked him to stop and the suspected man with wires dangling from his bag took off running. I ask you… if your city had just been bombed, what would you have done in this situation? I know I would have shot him, too. He took off running! If you’re innocent, you stop and clear things up.

Now, the British Muslim community is saying no Muslim is safe. First, to my knowledge, there has not been a government that has come out and said “if you are Muslim, you will be sent to jail, searched and interrogated for terrorist activity.” Both the British and U.S. governments have been very lenient to Muslims in their country, not intruding on their religious rights.

Rather than publicly questioning authorities in their respective countries, I suggest Muslims begin questioning the extremists who are giving their peaceful religion a bad name. I certainly feel for the good Muslims who simply live a peaceful life just as Allah intended, but they must be more proactive in policing the extremists. You have to believe that the good Muslims can get through to the bad guys. After all, they both believe in the Koran and it’s just the interpretation that is skewed.

As for the police, there is no easy way to spot a terrorist. At every ball game, every political event and on every subway or airport, men in uniform scan for suspicious backpacks and abandoned cars. They have a difficult job in this age of suicide bombs and Islamic extremists. And let’s not forget the English still have issues with the IRA and we have anti-government militants, like Timothy McVeigh, plotting to overthrow Congress.

There are many threats within our own countries. But how do you stop them?

Racial profiling? While I could think of dozens of reasons why profiling would be appropriate, I believe this is inappropriate for the simple reason this tactic breeds hate. Statistically, suicide bombers are of Middle Eastern descent, and without a doubt, Islamic extremists are the world’s biggest threat. But I believe that good Muslims or Arabs would turn against authorities. Maybe that’s what is happening now and is the reason why Muslims are not doing more to quell their evil counterparts.

Random searches of Muslim communities and militia compounds? This, too, could easily be favored and would probably lead to the arrests of dozens of terrorists. But again, it would also breed hate among good Muslims.

It’s not a simple fix. And I don’t know the answers. I just know that there are people in this world who could play a bigger role in squashing the problem. We should work together to rid the land of terrorists instead of blaming one another.

2005-07-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

If you look closely in the Iraqi soldier's left eye, you can see my reflection. It's one of the few pictures from Iraq that I have of myself.