Good Lookin' Out

The day after the memorial we suited up and rolled out the gate for one of our infamous 'meetings'. Right before we rolled out we caught word that on the route we take to get there some local nationals chased away some undesirables that were apparently digging a hole in the road for a nice fat bizomb. Well EOD rolled out and cleared the area. After that our alert was even higher than it usually is. I was scanning looking at everything hoping that I would be able to identify an IED before it identified us, which usually isn't the case. Needless to say pucker factor was high. We made it to the 'meeting' sans explosions. Minutes later after arriving we recieved a call that Delta Company had been hit at one of the places we had just driven past, only minutes before. We had driven past that same fucking spot, the exact same fucking spot, only minutes before. As we sat at the meeting my gunner Hannibal heard several more explosions in the vicinity. As we prepared to leave we heard a huge explosion that vibrated through the vehicles and it had exploded about 600m from our position. This explosion had also happened at a place where we drove past. We rolled out with seats sucked up our ass's in pucker factor 10. We made it back to the FOB without incident but it was a pretty tense drive. Thank god no one was killed from Delta Company, the information that I've heard has been conflicting on his injuries and as far as I know only involved his foot and the soldier is stable.

I woke up this morning not looking forward to the task at hand. Especially more so when I found out 3 more IED's had hit random units during the early morning hours. Oh boy!!! Well we rolled on out in search of some people doing something bad- supposedly. We found some random weapons, and encountered the same old story- "No, misster, no Militia we are all good great gravy, nothing is wrong......etc....etc....etc". I definitely was feeling like I was making a huge difference. I got to talk to an LN and I asked him some questions that I had about the Jaish Al Mahdi in my never ending quest to know my enemy. He told me that the JAM is over 600,000 strong. This isn't the first time I've been told this by ISF. But like everyone else when you start asking about the JAM they get mum real quick.

All together it wasn't a bad mission, and from my point of view we didn't accomplish shit but I'm sure on somebody's report it will be a huge hit. I went to a class on how to speak to the locals and they told us to not threaten them. The reason for this is that they don't give a fuck. Especially the Shiia after being oppressed by the Baathist party for so many years, they know that there isn't a damn thing that we can do to them that would even equal some of the atrocities that Sadaam commited towards them. Hey maybe threats from us work on some but for the majority we are just wasting our breath. Confused? You probably are but I can't tell you any more without saying too much as we've discussed before. I apologize its not that I want to but I know you understand.

The culmination of the night is when some LN's approached us and said they had found a grenade on their roof and they believed that someone had thrown it on there to get rid of it. We had some National Police (ISF) rolling with us so they went to go and investigate. They found the grenade and a bayonet and when they went to search some surrounding houses the arrested a guy where they found him to have a bunch of different style military uniforms and some body armor. The grendade turned out to be a US issued flash bang. The NP's took the guy in and we rolled out. Here I sit writing to you so everything worked out hunky dory.

I have this strong feeling that the guys from 2-1 were looking out for us yesterday we dodged 2 fucking IED's thats just to crazy to be coincidence. We looked hard to find anything in the road. It's just that they are hard to find, and unfortunately somebody else found them the hard way. No deaths as far as I know though.

Well I hope that my posts from here on out are as boring and bland as this one is. To make up for it here is a little vid that someone threw my way from a MySpace bulletin. Its Montel Williams representing the Soldiers on FOX news.



DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!!

Goodbye

2nd Platoon will never forget.
2nd squad says goodbye we miss you.

Davis and Rod will never forget.


In a somber mood this morning we slogged our way through the mud on our way to the chapel. We made our best attempts to kick the mud off at the door and took our seats to bid farewell to a friend that had fought so hard for so long. In the wake of Duncan's passing memories of September 4th were brought to the forefront of our thoughts. Mixed feelings about what if this and what if that.


We settled in our seats and waited for the rest of the battalion and special guests to arrive at the chapel. For the most part I kept my face burried in my memorial pamphlet staring at Duncans picture, and reading his bio over and over. All of us did. The memorial began by sad songs playing to a slide show of pictures of Duncan that members of the platoon had put together. You could feel and hear the emotion build in the hearts of second platoon, grown men fought back tears, and many unsuccessful. Shortly after we regained our composure as the Chaplain brought us to our feet and the National Anthem was performed. The chaplain delivered the invocation, and the scripture reading. We seated in silence as our battalion commander took the podium and spoke about Duncan, and how he had went to see him at BAMC during his leave, my throat lumped up as he spoke about giving Duncan his Commendation medal and Combat Infantry Badge.


Our company commander got up and spoke on Duncans behalf. Through this everyone was alright. LT Hart spoke about his RTO and reminded us of differences and similarities of their nature. His voice broke as he read a part of the letter that Duncan's mother had sent out, and as his voice broke ours did as well. Next SPC Davis spoke about his friend. Duncan and Davis had become close during the deployment, and we learned of Duncan's desire to be in the military at an early age, we were reminded of Duncan's intelligence and stubbornness, his caring, and his will to fight and carry on. We were given a small glimpse into Duncan's life and how he eventually married his childhood sweet heart, a woman that was unbending in her devotion to Duncan and stayed by his side until the end.


Any attempt to remain stoic had left my control and I cried, I was not alone. Next SPC Hughes Duncan's fellow RTO and talked about his friend and battle buddy. He reminded us of Duncan's wit and warm friendship, as he talked about watching LOST episodes and Duncan giving Hughes a techno beat and Hughes said "What am I supposed to do with that?" Duncan simply replied, "Well you rap don't ya?".


Final roll call was conducted, and after 3 times of Duncan's name being called followed by an eery silence, the firing squad conducted their salute, it was crisp and clean, all rifles firing as one, and you could barely make out the commands from outside. Then TAP's began to play. Anytime I ever here that played I will remember always the men killed on September 4th and the man that fought so hard to stay alive. I will never be able to hear TAP's played without welling up. I'll remember Randy and his huge smile, David and his goofyness, Joel and his dry humor, and Duncan and his technical prowess. Those traits are only the tip of the iceberg.


2nd Platoon says goodbye to Duncan, inspired by his will to fight, devastated by his body's inability to carry him through it. We all thought that we would get to see him again. I know I did. One day we will. For now 2-1 has an RTO to overwatch from the OP in the sky.


You will never be forgotten.


Deuce Deuce OUT!

Memorial Photos

2-1 Remembers.
2-6 Crookstons crew.
PL and the PSG
Goodbye brother.

Rest In Peace Crookston

Yesterday evening, Duncan Crookston passed away. He had been severely wounded in the EFP attack that had killed, Joel Murray, David Lane, and Randy Shelton, and had also wounded Joseph Mixson. When Duncan was evaced that night they had told us that he wouldn't make it through the night. He fought hard for 5 months, he had the Doctors at BAMC perplexed.

Duncan had come to my squad late in the year in 2006 right before we deployed to Iraq. The first time I met him everyone was like you gotta check this guy out he is the smartest dude ever. I walked down to one of the barracks room where he was hanging out and watched this kid complete a Rubix Cube in under 56 seconds. His knowledge of computers, and iPODs and PSPs and electronics were unchecked in the platoon, if you had a computer problem you called Duncan, you wanted games on your PSP, take it to Duncan, right before we left I had to have him come and fix my home PC because my wife couldn't get online to do her home work for college. Because of his technical prowess he was moved to the Radio Telephone Operator position in the Platoon. That pissed me off because I knew that Duncan was a good Soldier and I hated losing him. Over all it was the best decision because he was the most qualified Soldier for the job.

Duncan was many things to a lot of people. He was a son, friend and husband to a woman that stayed by his side the whole time he was at BAMC. My heart and prayers go out to her and Duncans family. He is definitely a hero, and a warrior. You fought so hard Duncan now you can be at peace. You made an impression and impact on all those whose paths your life crossed, we will remember your humor, your caring, your genius, and the bread you used to make with your bread maker. Anytime anyone picks up their PSP, or iPOD or opens a program that you got for them on their computer, they will always think of you and remember that no matter what you were always willing to help them. I will remember the Fedalayah water. Just a drop.

I know that when he went that Murray, Lane and Shelton were waiting for him, and because God called for him there isn't any better group of guys that he could be with.

Duncan will be missed but Never Forgotten.

Here is a letter that his mother sent out to us to better tell you about the battle that Duncan fought.

Dear Friends and Family,It is with great sadness I write to you today - Duncan passed away at 3:346 p.m. today after the decision was made to stop heroic measures. Duncan developed another infection over the past two days, the effects of which were causing him a great deal of pain and causing him to run a fever of 108* F overnight. The doctor who treated Duncan said he had never heard of anyone surviving such a high fever, and that normally the body did not allow itself to sustain such a high temperature for even 15 minutes, let alone the 2 hours Duncan suffered with it. The doctor said it was an indication the hypothalamus of the brain, which regulates body temperature, was damaged. He also advised us even though Duncan survived, he would have permanent and widespread brain damage that would eventually cause his organ systems to fail, and that his kidneys were already dialysis dependent, and he was quickly becoming ventilator dependent. Meaghun and I were asked to make a decision, and we chose to allow Duncan to die a dignified and peaceful death, so he was given a morphine drip and taken off the ventilator. He died about 45 minutes later surrounded by his beautiful wife, his mother, his battle buddy Joe Mixson and the hospital chaplain he had come to know during his stay. It is the closest thing to a "good death" one could ask for a young man who fought so hard and long, only to have the limits of his body betray him. Once we knew there was no chance of any sort of quality of life, we felt we could not ask this brave young man who lived life to its fullest to spend his remaining days hooked to machines with no chance of recovery.Words cannot express the gratitude we feel towards all those who offered support and prayer to Duncan and our families during the past 5 months. We can take away from this experience the knowledge that good people exist in this world, that evil is worth fighting or that reason, and Duncan was a proud example of a good person who did not stand by and allow it to flourish by doing nothing. Duncan would have been 20 years old tomorrow - he will be forever 19 now, and forever missed.Love, Lee Crookston

Engaging the Populace

I found this posted up around the area and I had to post it because its true of going out and talking to the Iraqi people. Some of it I think is that maybe our conversations get lost in translation between the Iraqi and the Interpreter, but it happens so often like after an RPG was fired at our COP no one in the area had heard the rocket launched. This is a no bullshit conversation between a Platoon Leader (PL) from one of our sister platoons, and a Local National (LN)

PL: Good afternoon.
LN: Hello hello.
PL: Do you mind if I ask you some questions about the mosque?
LN: Yes, yes there are a lot of people who go there to pray.
PL: Thanks, does this mosque broadcast a message to the area on Fridays?
LN: Yes it does, it is Shiia mosque so every Friday around 1215.
PL: It's 1230, did it broadcast a message today?
LN: Umm no, but it should soon.
PL: Ok, thanks, so last week it gave a message?
LN: No, I don't think this mosque gives messages.
PL: But I thought you just told me it should broadcast a message soon?
LN: What? NO. What mosque I don't know of any mosque around here.
PL: (Pointing to the mosque 100ft away) That mosque right there.
LN: I don't see a mosque.
PL: Is this guy serious?
RTO: I don't know?
PL: Sir, do you see that building, it has a dome and two huge blue and purple towers right in front of you... That MOSQUE?
LN: Oh wow, I've never seen that before, it must be new.
PL: So....
LN: I mean I'm new to the area I don't know anybody.
PL: You just told me a lot of people go to that mosque.
LN: What mosque?
PL: Ok, thanks for the help, I'll see you later.

We don't make this shit up. Seriously. Thank you to the PL from the sister platoon for relaying the info.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Ashura

The last couple of days have found us pretty busy. Today we were able to take a break and tend to maintenance with the vehicles and other annoying shitty admin things that have to be taken care of. The Iraqi's are celebrating Ashura right now. I don't know if celebrating is the right term, maybe morning the Ashura. Essentially the Ashura is "a major festival, the tazia (ta'ziyah). It commemorates the death of Husayn (also spelled Hussein), son of Imam 'Ali and grandson of Muhammad, on the 10th of Muharram, AH 61 (October 10, 680), in Karbala, Iraq. The event led to the split between the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam, and it is of central importance in Shia Islam. " Like any Iraqi holiday the streets and Mosques are decorated with the colors of Islam, Green is Islam, Red is Sacrifice, White is Purity, and Black being Martyrdom.

The beginning of our balls to the wallage, started by going out and taking pictures of billboards, to make sure that their were not any anti-ISF, or coalition sayings on them. This kinda prompted me to start taking more pictures of billboards here but that is for another post. The down side to this was driving up and down the main roads, which in recent days became a hotbed for EFP's. It snowed and hajj got all nutty and broke out the EFP's he had in the shed or something? After we drove around taking pictures of signs, we went and investigated some houses next to where an IED was found. The houses were just squatter shacks, built of mud bricks. I met some kids there who were actually not that annoying and very lovable, I seldom feel this way but I really wanted to take them home, maybe it was because they were about my daughters ages.

Damn the ground hog dayness of this place because I know we did some other shit but since I didn't write it down, I can't even remember what the hell we did. We did go out and try to give money out to local businesses and engage the population and hand out tip cards. We went out and secured an area and waited forever for someone to come out and do a meet and greet but low and behold said someone was running late so we waited an hour for nuthin. It was pretty cool because I got to meet the dude with the coolest mustache in all Iraq. I saw him walking as we drove by about a month ago, and I was totally stoked by his mustache, it was a muchacho mustache, a mustache that screams I'm a fucking bad ass. After talking to him in minced English and Arabic, this guy ended up being a pretty bad ass dude, in a good way.

Ah I remember what we did now..... We went and looked for supposed militia members renting out supposed houses, and my guys came across some old school jet fighter helmets, and flight suits in one house, and it turned out the guy that lived there was once a fighter pilot in Saddam's army back in the day.

Lately the militia has been threatening the locals, and people who are actually trying to help Iraq and make it better. We went to investigate this on the day before Ashura. People had the decorations up and the neighborhood was friendly enough. Our mission was to get out and talk to the people. You can always tell when your in a militia rich environment because the people will tell you "No meester no militia here this is a good area." They will also tell you "Everything is fine I cannot talk to you." After they tell us repeatedly at every house on the block that there is no militia you see these

Yup no militia here!

Other big indicators is if we try to get a young male alone to talk to him and his family starts freaking out. The people are either affiliated with the militia in some form or another, or scared to death of them. You won't ever really find a guy willing to rat out the militia because they know that if they are caught they are going to end up in some remote location with their head missing.

Muqtada called for a ceasefire among the Jaysh Al Mahdi to clean house as some have put it. Other news sources report that he is trying to get on board and make positive changes in Iraq. Hey I'm all for it. Its been quiet for the most part. Its frustrating because the militia is the major problem we have in our area, some will tell us fuck the Mahdi or spit at the name of Muqtada but you can't always tell if they mean it or if they are hiding it. Maybe they are part of a militia splinter cell and just don't like Muqtada for trying to make Iraq a better place. One thing is for sure is that the Iraqi people fear the militia, and if they would just take a stand against it and help us maybe we could make bigger gains in defeating them. Shit the Sicilians are starting to unite against the Costra Nostra. From what I understand the Jaysh Al Mahdi was formed in order to protect the Shiia from Sunni violence, then what it boils down to is that they actually bully and terrify their own people. I hope that one day we can just work together for the common good of Iraq because I think that it has every possibility of being a great nation.

Thats about it other than recieiving a lil info about a possible IED and going to investigate it as if we were some form of EOD. I hate that shit, "Um ya we have a possible IED at such and such grid and we are going to investigate it." Does it say EOD on my fucking shoulder patch? No. Why don't you have the experts look for that shit. The only time I seem to find the damn things is after they blow up on my fucking truck. No its not that I'm not looking for the shit, cuz I do. I look so hard that when I redeploy it will be months before I'm driving down the interstate not looking for them. It's that they hide the fucking things real good, not to mention that in my mind everything is a possible IED because it doesn't look right and if it were up to me I'd make EOD clear every 5 feet of road in front of me and we would never make it anywhere on fucking time. Ya ok! We'll go investigate it, like we are the fucking CIS for fucking bombs and shit.

Well till next time peoples.

DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!

Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers is a story that the Army Times published in a 4 part series about the men from Charlie Company 1/26 1st ID. They were the hardest hit unit in Iraq. I remember these guys from 2005 when they were getting ready to go home as units from the Division I was were coming to relieve them. They were smack dab in the middle of one of the worst places in North Central Iraq, a little place called Samarra, in a little piece of shit Patrol Base in the heart of the city. Their second trip would not be any easier in a place called Adhamiya.
It is a very good story, an unfortunate one. Once I started I could not stop reading. It reafirmed the reason why I serve, because heroe's like this actually exist in real life. If you got time check it out, a lot of it is unbelievable and heart wrenching. I'd ask that you pass it on to others so they can now also about the men from 1/26.

www.armytimes.com/bloodbrothers

Deuce Deuce OUT!!!

note: sorry couldn't get that link to turn blue so you could click on it but if you click on the title it should take you to the site, if not cut and past, if not then google it. I apologize for the inconvenience.

When Hell Freezes Over

Today was fucking wierd, we woke up this morning to snowfall. Thats right snow, fucking snow in Baghdad, and I guess according to Reuters, its the first time its snowed here in like 100 years. The Iraqi's were all excited and were quoted as saying, "Snow means peace." Boy oh boy the problems in Iraq were solved in one day by snow. I'm certainly excited, I hope that this means the war is over and we can finally go home.

The snow didn't stick though and it turned the dirt into a nice slushy mudtastic mess. You take 10 steps in this shit and your boots end up weighing about 10lbs. Probably the coolest thing though of it snowing here is that I videoed it and I think was the first person to have it up on You Tube. I can't confirm that but I can think what I want.

We did see kids out playing in the 'snow'. They built a snowman and it looked a little like this...

They were really getting into the spirit of snow, running around chasing eachother throwing mudballs and everything, making little martyr's in the mud. I'm kidding they really didn't play in the shit. It was definitely balls cold. I came out to the truck to find my seat completely fucking soaked nothing that a few garbage bags won't fix. Then after the mission I looked and some how managed to get mud stuck in the compensator of my weapon that was nice. Walking anywhere on the FOB has become a jim dandy, the mud just sticks to your boots like crazy and you track that shit everywhere.

Pretty fucking crazy though, it snowed in Iraq and I was here. Wow that really sucks. Here is the video my narration sucks but I wasn't going for any Academy Awards.

Deuce Deuce OUT!!!!

Shitting Out

You can see what a mess the wires are, and there is no standard as to the type of wire that they use.

All of these wires run to a generator. I'd hate to be that guy.

Warning! The following post will reference to shitting, pooping, dumping, defecating, dropping a deuce, dropping the kids off at school, sending another officer thru scuba, so on and so forth etc. etc. So if you are easily offended by poo then stop reading. If you continue to read you are voiding any or all rights to comment negatively. So with out any further ado.....





Well we kicked off the New Year with a stellar mission. Things were off to a great start as we were 15 minutes early to SP, coms were working great. Well we might have been 15min early and ready to go but the other platoon and the command element decided to make us wait for another hour, I got it shit happens. We waited no big deal understandable. Once everyone was up then we were off. We had to stop in one section of neighborhood and get out and talk to the folks and hand out tip cards in hopes that they will call us and rat out nasty no good types. We handed out candy to the kids and it was goin pretty well. Our whole day was planned out pretty much for the most part we knew exactly what and where and when we were going to be doing things. In the military and especially in the combat zone, as we and you yourselves have learned that sometimes that isn't always the case. FRAGO. Okay we had to go check out a Mosque with our friends the Iraqi National Police. Now for the most part I like to work with the NP's we have had some good times together, and for the most part they seem pretty motivated. Well we were on our way there and it seemed like one turn after another we would get snagged; on power lines. You have to understand that since we took over the place we are now, we have worked exceptionally hard to build a good re pore with the people in this area. Kind, and courteous respectful and so forth. [Now I'm about to leave a whole shit load of info out I'm sorry but its for the greater good, I'm sure you could go to any other news media outlet and read about the things I'm leaving out but I still have some time left with my career and don't want to jeopardize anything like that so I apologize.]


Like I was saying about building a trust with the locals, within 30 minutes of driving we really probably fucked that up. Not on purpose by any means, we know better you don't piss these people off you just don't. Bad shit happens when you piss them off, some of you may think "Well were the baddest, bestest military on the block who gives a fuck?" You can think that shit from the safety of your armchair back in the states but in the real world bad attitudes towards the locals can shift their support in the bat of an eye, and any angry local can become a trigger man or whatever else. Needless to say its like raking your nails across the chalk board watching this unfold. We actually damn near take out a transformer, I think we actually did as I watched the blue sparks chase each other on the power lines and heard the loud popping noise that it makes as they do so. We get out and apologize to the people and issue them claims cards to be reimbursed at their closest FOB.


We get to the objective and sweep it then set up security and wait for the other platoon to join us. We wait, and wait and wait, then they join up with us and now we have to wait for permission to enter the mosque. Other times we have done this the old unit was pretty quick to give us the yay or nay, the new unit... well we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally they said it was ok if the Iraqi Security Forces with us went in. Well they didn't find shit. Finally it was time to go home, and nobody was looking forward to this drive considering the amount of people that were probably sitting home pissed off, and cold because the Amrekee's had knocked out their power. Can't blame them I'd be pissed off to. I have to paint you a little image of the Iraqi power dilemma, only so many people are connected to the local power plant, the majority (at least where we are) rely on other Iraqi's that own big huge diesel generators. They have lines strung up like cob webs across the streets and sometimes on make shift line poles. They are relatively low and not very sturdy, so if you have a really tall vehicle then the chances of you ripping them down are pretty damn good.


We made it home without incident but everyone was really nervous.


Ok so now on to shitting. I come back to the truck after hours of pulling security and the first thing Kum tells me is that Hannibal shit in the truck, well thats not new to me because I remember another time that Hannibal and shit in the truck out on mission. The reason I'm writing about this is I thought it might be interesting for you to know how creative Infantrymen can be when it comes to taking a shit with no available facilities. The mission I just discussed was about 10 plus hours of being out. Sometimes you just get that twist in your gut where you know your gonna have to shit out, but are no where near any place where you can. For me back in the world its always Wal Mart, we go there after eating Chinese and suddenly I'm smitten wit da shittin. I go to the front of the building to the bathroom but usually discover that some how some one has figured out how to shit on the ceiling making the bathroom unfit to use, my trick is to go to the back of the store and use the shitters back there. I digress.


Well I wasn't as impressed with Hannibal this time as I was the first time. The first time many moons ago he had to go and some how managed to shit into a Gatorade bottle. Perplexed? Amazed? Yes I was, I didn't actually see the bottle so I was a nay sayer, it couldn't be done. Could it? Just to prove the theory, Setz shit in a Gatorade bottle, and we all held it and looked at it as if it was some mysterious artifact, like a ship in a bottle except it was shit in a bottle. He said that bottle emplacement is key.


Well this time that Hannibal shit in the truck he used a Styrofoam 'to go' plate. This idea was made popular by Setz, who during a gate guard shift found himself with 'the pain' and with no where to go, improvised a shitter out of a Styrofoam 'to go' plate. I was on the other gate and just braced myself against a wall the old fashioned way. Your probably wondering, well if you guys shit on the go what do you wipe with? Well faithful reader as men who are experienced in shitting on the move you never go anywhere without your handywipes! You either have a big thing of them in the truck or you carry your individual packets on your person. If you have faltered and forgot your wipes, you can cut away the bottom part of your undershirt, or just use your finger. When we are in the field we rely on trees or use our entrenching tools which fold over and you can sit on the shovel part with one cheek, placement of the tool is critical because you don't want to shit on the handle. To be courteous to your fellow soldier you dig a small hole then cover it up when your done, or you can be a dick and leave it exposed in the hopes that your fellow soldier may step upon it during a night patrol.


There is one more problem when shitting in the vehicle- the smell. Now Kum found that by smoking upto about 3 clove cigarettes you can eliminate the odor. I was quite impressed because had they not told me I would have never known that Hannibal and shit out in the truck. The most important part of shitting while out on patrol is security, security, security. Make sure your battle buddy is pulling security for you while you shit, it would be a shame to catch a round in the ass with a terd half hanging out of it.


There you have it, amazing isn't it? If you have any questions about shitting on the go feel free to comment and I will consult our experts to make your on the go shitting experience a pleasant one. Thank you.


Deuce Deuce OUT!!!!!

2007 A YEAR DEPLOYED

2-1 Your always with us!
2nd Platoon before we left Kansas
1st Squad 2nd Platoon
The original 2-2 before we left for Iraq.

How my son's known me most of his life.

Here it is 2008 a new year, though it doesn't feel new. I look forward to 3 months of 2008 and god willing going home to my family safely. In January of 07 we departed Kansas and arrived in Kuwait where we waited and trained at Camp Buerhing, then from there made our way North to Baghdad Iraq. I remember talking to my friend SGT Joel Murray and talking about the first time we had been in Iraq and that nothing had really changed in reference to where we were waiting to catch our bird to take us to Rusty. Later on in October I found myself waiting at that same place waiting for a bird to take me home on RNR. I didn't think I would find myself there reminiscing about my friend who was killed on September 04, 2007. I thought that at the end of the deployment we would be back there at that marshalling area talking about all the fucked up shit that went on during our deployment.


We arrived at FOB Rusty with only a handful of us combat vets and the rest bright eyed cherries with no idea about being blown up and shot at. Who were romancing the idea of being at war. We took up residence in a burned out Spaghetti factory in the heart of an Iraqi neighborhood. No frills no gimmicks, and not much time for rest. Coming in for refit days you could see the exhaustion in their eyes, sunken and black around the edges. It wasn't all bad because many good times were had out there and we bonded as a Platoon. We were attacked with rockets, mortars, improvised claymores, and EFP's. All close calls with no or mild injuries. The device would explode just in front of us or on the vehicle with a near miss, just taking out engines or tires. SGT Murray looking over at me and saying "That was a bitch ass IED." The radio call would come over that everyone in the truck was ok, then we would either dismount and start searching houses or just Charlie Mike (continue mission). I sat out on an OP (observation post) where dogs gave away my position and we started taking small arms fire impacting around our position, I look back at my guys and smile and assure them that this shit is hooah. When I went away to BIAP I get an e-mail telling me my truck was destroyed by an indirect 120mm rocket. One rocket took out all of our trucks as the platoon was headed out to mount up and conduct mission. We were on stand by for missions to go put barriers up around a gas station to keep snipers from shooting our guys in the gas station, only to be told to stand down because of a crane being down, or people not showing up with the equipment. Then one day we went to 'assess' where the barriers would be emplaced and before we even got to the fucking gas station a 10" EFP took away from us 5 guys. 3 of them forever watching over us, and 2 of them who's lives were drastically altered for ever.


We pulled together and looked for strength from one another. We weren't defeated just determined. We grew to hate barrier missions, though we've accomplished several after the fact, even though the locals move them anyway. There is a road and a turn that we take only a few hundred meters away from where we lost our dear friends, and every time we take it we look ahead and are reminded of the deadliness of our adversaries. We never let the memories dim and talk about the good times we had with those we lost. We continue the mission pulling bad guys from the night, trying to make friends during the day. We live day to day until those days become weeks and the weeks become months and we find ourselves able to see light penetrating the blackness. Under 100 days and time slows as attacks have picked up around us.


We fall under a new unit that took over and with change of command comes change. Higher ups that don't like one thing or another and seem to make changes just to make them. "Hey I don't like boonie caps you can't wear them!" Is that really relevant? I guess it could be argued that is relevant in the good order and professionalism of the United States Army. Roger! I will enforce the standard HOOAH!


2nd Platoon is still stomping. We have learned a lot about the ever changing situation here on the ground, we bitch a lot but we remain flexible. Remember? Semper Gumby!!


Happy New Years, and Holidays, from the men of 2nd Platoon and Charlie Company. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. 12 months down, 3 to go.


DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!