TheAngryAmerican

Christmas in Kunduz

2011-12-28T08:55:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas away from home. They started back in 1995 my first military Christmas was in MCRD San Diego. On Christmas eve we moved all the bunks to the back of the bay to set up the "grinder" so that we could practice our close order drill. Punishment for poorly performed rifle manual and drill were swift and hard. If you couldn't get right you were invited to the "quarter deck" and you were put through a myriad of physical punishment while everyone else continued to drill. There were usually only just a few people on the quarter deck while the rest of watched out of the peripheral, paying special attention to the commands being given and hopefully not ending up in the little circle of pain. The majority of the performance was satisfactory, and our reward was to eat all of the cookies that had been sent from our families, the catch was we had 15 minutes to eat all of the cookies. Failure to eat all the cookies would've resulted in a "quarter deck" smoking that would bring the cookies right back up.
On Christmas day I remember we went to theatre and watched Desperado. We were 1st Phase recruits, the lowest of the low. The top button of our cammies buttoned to the top, and our trousers un-bloused, and rolled so that you could recognize how nasty and undisciplined we were.
We were sat in the theatre with our company, all around us the 3rd Phase recruits with their name tapes, and the coveted Marine tape over their hearts, uniforms pressed to perfection and trousers bloused over highly spit shined boots, they gorged theirselves with "pogey bait" purchased at the snack shop in the theatre. We hadn't been told there would be snacks, so we watched them eat, we must have looked pretty pitiful. I enjoyed that movie, the most memorable part of the day because I got to see Selma Hayeks beautiful breasts, she made my whole Christmas. I really can't remember anything after that. I don't think we got to call home either. It was the first of many that I would spend away from home.
This Christmas I got to spend it with my brother. He arrived in country on the 23rd. The last Christmas we spent together was in 1998, after my first deployment with the Marine Corps. Christmas eve we hung out most of the night, since it had been a year since I had seen him last. On Christmas day we ate lunch together. It was pretty nice to spend the holiday with him. When we were kids we were pretty lucky we got to celebrate at least 4 times, we were constantly on the go. It was pretty busy but it was nice to spend it with the whole family.
This year I watched my own family enjoy Christmas through my wife's pictures on the internet. We had a secret Santa here, I think everyone liked the gifts I presented the best which were 2 Mylie Cyrus blow up dolls. I know what people like.
I hope everyone got to spend good time with their families. You shouldn't ever take it for granted.
The Brigade did a little story on my brother and I. Here is the link http://170infantry.armylive.dodlive.mil/2011/12/25/for-brothers-christmas-in-kunduz/.

Soldier Hard

2011-12-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

I saw this video and had to repost, in dedication to the fallen, and thier loved ones. I think he says a lot on how we are able to do what we do, and why we do it.

Veterans Day

2011-11-12T06:43:00.000-08:00

11-11-11, on this day 3rd PLT Cco spent it in a small town in Northern Afghanistan. Back at the FOB the cooks were preparing a nice meal with BBQ steaks, and other goodies, we celebrated with Kabobs from a local shop and slept under the stars.
On Veterans Day we honor those who came before us, those who we serve with now, and those who paid the ultimate price. I come from a long line of Veterans, their pictures and stories that sparked my imagination and facination with the military. I knew at a young age what I wanted to be when I grew up. My friends and I would play "Army" and fight the Vietcong in fields, and in our backyards. We flew Tomcatbobcat Destroyers on the swings and when hit we would "eject" into the pea gravel of the playground.
15 years after raising my right hand, I reflected a little under the Afghan starry sky, about the people in my life that lead me here and inspired me, and those that inspire me to continue to serve.
I've been blessed to serve with some of the best Americans anyone could hope to know. Young men that I've watched risk their lives to save their battle buddies. Soldier's with multiple deployments, who've been to one memorial service to many, wounded in action, encountered mulitiple IED's, small arms fire, RPGs, rockets. Their ears ring constantly, occasionally have nightmares and on days like this when its quiet and they reminisce about the brothers they have lost, wheep silently to themselves. They lace up their boots, put on their body armor, check their Soldier's and roll outside the wire.
When I get to go to a military course and meet Soldier's from other units for the first time, and it seems that you've known them forever, then later seeing those names in the Army Times memorial page, or on the front page of a news paper as a living recipient of the Medal of Honor. It motivates me to continue to serve, that I actually meet and know people in real life that I used to read about as a child. I feel honored to have at least known some of these Soldiers for a short time. I'm saddened by their loss but to those of us who serve they are not just faces in a newspaper.
On Veterans day many flip burgers and spend time with friends and family. Some of us look down at the black metal bracelet we wear and we rub it and read the names, the bracelet is scratched and worn, and we don't take it off. Although their names are engraved on it we can see their faces, remember their laughter, the good times, and the horrible time that took them away.
This Veterans Day I want to thank all those that paved the way for us, those that influenced us, those that risk their lives daily, the warriors whose lifes were forever altered, those who paid the ultimate price, and the families that support them.
To the families that have lost loved ones, your loved one will never be forgotten as their legacy and memories live on through those of us that their lives touched. Through generations of Veterans to come their influence, leadership and light will be passed on.
Thank you for your service.
"The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it...the American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died protecting it. American Soldiers don't fight because they hate what's in front of them...they fight because they love what's behind them."

A Friggn Poem

2011-10-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

I wrote this poem. I also feel like I should tuck my junk and paint my fingernails tiger striped. Let me know what you think, feed back would be nice, honest feed back, not that bullshit kiss my ass feed back.

I have no place to call my own,

Upon the Battlefield I roam

Its all I have in these green bags

Sometimes carried, sometimes dragged

To far off places over seas

The starry skys will be my sheets

In freezing snow and pouring rain

With empty heart I feel no pain

No time for love I'm gone again

if I'll return I don't know when

if I Live or die you'll never know

For on the Battlefield I roam

Shitty

2011-10-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

It seems every friggin deployment I have to have some issue with my bowels, it never fails, those that know me would say "Roo, you have problems with your bowels in the states to. How many times have you shit your pants?" I would say yes this is true and its none of your damn business how many times I've shit my pants.
Right now there is some awesome virus floating around the camp that gives you explosive gut wrenching, balloon knot puckering diarhea. I swear I can't eat a fucking Twizzler without having to spray it all over the shitter 5 seconds later. Some of the toilets here are of German decent, in Germany the toilets have what I like to call a shit shelf. In AMERICA when you drop a deu you are comforted by the nice plopping sound it makes at its the water, in Germany its a nice dull thud on the shit shelf as the water and the drain are at the forward part of the bowel. You can actually look at the mess you've made with some sense of wonderment and pride. Lately I've been doing immediate colon clearing some times on the shit shelf is a sizeable pile of shit in which I take a little pride in creating. With the recent even of pray and spray though its just thoroughly disgusting.
I spend a lot of time worrying if my bowels are going to fuck me when I'm outside the wire in no direct vicinity to a toilet, or even worse some Afghan shit hole. It smells terrible inside and its extemely gross, THESE PEOPLE DONT USE TOILET PAPER. They take a water pitcher or water bottle and spray there butt holes clean.
Here I'am again sick as fuck with an early work call for tomorrow, so I bid you farewell since I must immediately run to the shitter- ya its not down the hall for me I have to go outside and hope that I make it and if not will anybody be there to see me shit my pants. Who knows and stay tuned
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dirt Baggin

2011-10-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

Another week has gone by, and we were over tasked with Police Training Classes so that we can train the ANP on Police operations. Thank goodness for the 4 day class as my men and I are fully trained to mold the future of Afghanistans Police Force. Thats if they would like to train. For the most part they do seem very motivated to train, unless its to hot. I've been pretty fortunate to work with some of the ANP that are a little more high speed than some. One instance we stopped at a Police Station earlier on when we first got here, my PL went into a room for a meeting and I didn't see which one he had went in. I went room to room looking. I entered one room and it was a bit dark, I full on walked in on a Cheech and Chong session that would make Jimmy Buffet blush. I quickly exited the room, strangely craving Doritos. Anyway think of me as Commander Lassard.
I've tried to keep the men busy with advanced shooting ranges, which they seem to enjoy, but the fact of the matter is we were only able to do 2 and so just when I'm feeling good about what were doing and the training we are conducted, we have that one moment where you just get shat on. One of my Soldier's was discovered with holes in his boots from higher up, I didn't catch it so bad on me, though his Squad Leader was tracking, I was later invited to a little meeting in where I was told that I essentially wasn't doing shit that I was supposed to. Not the exact words he used but the message that I got. It reminded of the time me and Hubble busted our asses back in 1998 getting a Huey ready for flight we worked for over 10 hours trying to get it fixed, got it up and ready for inspections by 0600 the next morning. My Gunny came out and saw us on top of the bird without our ear muffs on our cranials. (Hearing Protection). Mind you we were in the hangar and had these damn things on for hours. He called us into his office and chewed our asses, our hard work had delved into an ass chewing for not wearing ear-pro inside. I understood the point, that was brought home with this story- "You can build a 1000 bridges, the most beautiful bridges the world has ever seen, but you suck one cock your a cock sucker for the rest of your life." I looked at Hubble and said "You never told me you used to be a bridge builder." The Gunny looked at us and told us to get the hell out of his face.
This week I've changed trades.
The boredom is overwhelming its all I can do from going out of my school, and not being a fan of paperwork I can only do so much until I want to run head first into and not limited to steel, wood, and concrete items.
Being in the military feels like working as a surprise party planner throwing a party for someone who lives in a half way house. You have a plan you have some semblance of coordination, but the asshole that walks through the door is never the asshole that you've planned the party for, so you yell "Surprise!", then "Fuck." then reset the entire place, you just never know whos going to walk through the door.
Confused? Bad analogy? Maybe, but stay with me, at the end of the day I attend a meeting, now usually they go pretty good, usually. Somedays you have a great day and then attend this meeting and leave feeling like you want to rinse your mouth out with buck shot. Somedays you leave the meeting after planning a patrol and have your entire plan rearranged because of some awesome FRAGO that came out, then you spend the rest of your night jumping through your ass to pull off whatever is. The next day your well planned feaverish hoop jump through from the night prior falls to complete shit because of things you were counting on to happen, don't, equipment that you were promised, ya they don't have. The list goes on. Anyway some how you miraculously pull the mission together and execute, bust your ass all day long, avoid all of the IED and other deadly pitfall situations that lay in wait outside the wire for you, you get back your exhausted then get called to the "mans" office only to be chewed out because one of your Soldier's left his lap top secured. You hunt down the Soldier to find that he had stepped out to take a piss in the middle of watching Vampire Diaries only to come back to his lap top missing with a note that says tell your Platoon Sergeant to come see me.
If there was ever a time in my life that I felt that I couldn't win for losing it would be this time.
I need to go jump through my ass and watch my plan fall apart right about now so have fun in lala land, with your commercialism and fast foods and such.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slacking

2011-10-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

Slacking or no real time to write down my thoughts and experiences? Maybe both coupled with a bit of laziness. Most likely. Through three deployments I can't recount how many times I've "almost" been blown up or "just missed" an IED or VBIED. Once again and for the 2nd time since I've been with this company, we have "just missed" another.
When I wrote the above portion I was feeling good and optimistic about what we were doing. As of late I'm extemely bored and disapointed with this area of Afghanistan. I really expected more. We supposedly know where the bad areas are we know how to get there but they won't let us go. This frustrates me to the brink of self destruction. I keep the men occupied with training so that they don't lose focus. We are changing our focus once again to a mentor type focus. We are being trained to train the Afghans in Police work. Interesting enough, without going into detail I can't really say to much even though its extremely boring and I have my own thoughts on it. Once again I will execute and perform the task to the best of my abilities but shit man, when is enough fucking enough.
I will hopefully get to elaborate more at why I'm frustrated with this fucking system, but I'll give it a try first and see what comes of it. Attack it with a half opened mind.
I'm feeling pretty negative and run down, on a positive note I ate dinner at the German DFAC and it was delicious, I had a huge rip in my trousers, and during deployments I always rock commando. I wasn't going to go in at first but these uniforms come with sticky patches so I covered myself with one. I went and ate and came back outside, when I tried to remove the patch it was stuck to me. Like really stuck to me. I figured if I pulled it off fast it would be ok..... No that shit hurt like a fucking bastard.
Good fucking times people. Anyway negative Nancy will be signing off for now.
DEUCE DEUCE ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Days Go On

2011-09-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

I love how you get 7 months deep into a deployment and your days roll on into the "Groundhog" genre. My men are constantly busy between missions, pulling guard and doing whatever else has been thrown their way. I'm truelly amazed by the resiliency of the American Soldier to Soldier on through days that tend to repeat themselves. They seem to draw their strength from the simple fact that this shit sucks.
At ages between 18-25 probably like any young men with the fire and thirst for adventure they join the Infantry seeking the romantic adventure and glory that war might bring. They watch the news and You Tube videos and see Soldier's in a valiant fight on the dust covered streets or alpine mountains of some shitty foreign country. At some point they are driven into the reality of how boring it actually is. Waiting and wanting a fight. Held back back by beaucrecy, and a nation that is so geared towards safety that we are afraid to sacrifice to hold or gain ground.
We watch as our sister units fight to stay alive in the south, yet we hold back when Afghan security forces are under attack by insurgents. They question our presence here and its up to the leaders to tell them what we are doing is making a difference, in which it would be easier to believe if they could see that we were in all actuality making a difference. One day your hosting a meal for the Afghan security forces, the next you drive by their check point and the children throw rocks and the people scowl, and don't wave.
Conducting assessments of check points as we move away from being a kinetic force in the AO. We know whats wrong but getting the people to fix it and finding the resources escapes us.
I try to explain that this really isn't such a bad thing, being in situations where a hidden enemy is always attempting to kill you. Dealing with the loss of your friends, to some this deployment is not a bad deployment. This is another one of those deployments that is %90 dumb shit and %10 holy shit.
I find it frustrating as well to see my sister units deep in the fight and here we sit complaining that there is nothing going on. I truelly believe that the Infantry Soldier is content on being uncontent.
I was able to conduct some training today with the junior leaders in the Platoon which seemed to go very well. I think that we are pretty lucky to have a CSM that ispires us to train and think outside of the box. My platoon was tasked to come up with an LPD on the 240B Machine Gun, and they took to the task with a lot of motivation.
Not to much to report, a lot of questions from the men and from myself about our lot in life. I'm reading Hunter S. Thompsons The Proud Highway. I enjoy his writing style a lot probably my favorite but I'm not well versed in literature, so maybe for a ground pounder but I like his style.
Keep on keepin on America!
Deuce Deuce out!

At the Check Point

2011-09-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Last week was my first time at the check point that my Platoon occupies. My first couple of days there were enjoyable as we had a generator that powered the AC in our tent and the MWR where our SPAWARE computers and phones are. Well the generator shit the bed and so we spent the remaining time without creature features. I actually had to start reading again. I actually like to read believe it or not. I finished 2 great books and started another. I read Legion of the Lost by Jaime Salzaar about a guy tired of corporate America and he joins the Legion and quites later, good read though. The other book I read was SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper by Howard Wasdin. It was a really great read as well about Seals in Mogadishu. I'm reading a Hunter S. Thompson book now volume one of the Fear and Loathing letters. I love HST.- What am I boring you, I was just explaining that I could actually read- losing interest? Fuck you.
Anyway it was really routine for the most part as routine as you can get with driving down a crater layden road known for blowing up. The kids around the check point call us John Cena. I think that is pretty cool and I'm appreciative that they recognize me as a desiel handsome WWE athlete. Though it gets fucking annoying. They kept finding wires in the road. We reward them with MRE's and shit is why they keep finding these. We went to investigate one of the sites and it actually looked legit so we called in EOD to come and clear it. We set up security and waited. They arrived and blew a charge, it turned out to be nothing. Better safe than sorry though. The most fun we had which wasn't really fun was the check point manned by Afghans took fire. We rallied up and were chomping at the bit to assist and kill bad guys. Our Battalion told us to squat hold and drink water until they could get the eye in the sky to check it out. Funny thing is they call back and say they can't see anything, meanstwhile (I know its not a word)RPK and AK are ripping up the night with rounds cracking over head and the insurgent and Afghan security slinging RPGs at eachother. No the eye in the sky can't see shit, and it sounded like the command doubted that this was really going on. My men were ready like pitbulls at Mike Vicks house. It made me proud that my men were willing to run to the sounds of a fire fight, standing ready to engage these Taliban shit bags and assist our Afghan security friends down the street. Alas the fire died down, and we just went back to bed. The men were let down, the command thought that we just wanted to willy nilly jump into a fight. Yes we were ready to scrap but no I would never rush wildly into a situation like that, I had a plan, just wanted to make sure we could move to assist if they needed us.
I'm confused still as to what were doing here. We are supposed to do partnered patrols, and find out what our counterparts need to accomplish there mission. They mainly need to be paid and also ask for supplies to build up there check points. We can't get them paid and not allowed to give them our scrap wood. They want them to utilize the "system", the "system" is obviously broke and we can't fix it at our level. Its frustrating to the Soldiers and to the Afghans. We know what you need and what you want but we can't do shit to get it to you so where does that leave us? Then people back at the big base watch a T.V. screen (the eye in the sky) and determine that there is nothing going on, they can't confirm that there is small arms fire going on and believe that the enemy only let off a couple of pop shots, and the Afghan security started lighting up the area. When we on the ground are watching a volley of fucking RPG fire. Man WTF?
Our PL did have a dinner for some of the local Afghan security guys, they actually showed up and we cooked some steaks and chicken and bought some bread and drinks off of the economy. My men set up a nice area and even made tiki torches out of pickets, soda cans, sand, and diesel fuel. I was really impressed and damned proud. The men really like the dinner and chalked it up to a pretty big success to the end of a frustrating week.
Right now I smell like 6 days of funk and I'm hankering for a strawberry Fanta. Until next time, I'll try not to bore you next time.
Deuce Deuce

DRIVEN ON! (Shitty Roads)

2011-09-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

Routine is a word that we use to describe or daily rituals. Most everyday starts out routine then evols in to a good day, or a shitty day. On Facebook people FML all the time, i.e. "My car won't start. FML.", "My baby daddy got a new bitch and don't pay me my money. FML."- so on and so forth.
Mostly the day starts out the same, I wake up in the small plywood room in a hard stand building, an upgrade from a tent? Maybe. Question my existance and motive. Evaluate all the shit I have to do, conduct personal hygiene and the rest of my morning ritual. Roll to the CP get the scoop on anything else I have to do. Go to the trucks where my men are getting ready for the days mission, conduct inspections and commos checks and roll out the gate. On this day we decided to take a different route since the purpose of the mission is "Route Recon". It was a shitty road, as most are in the Stan. Someone in the department of defense decided to purchase vehicles almost to wide and way to heavy for the shitty dirt roads that spiderweb all over this place. I get it, they want to protect us from IED's and such but in the thinking of the new vehicles why didn't they consider who we were chasing and what they get around in i.e. dirtbikes, bongo trucks, ford rangers, donkeys.
We stopped at one village out in the middle of no where, which is everywhere. On the way there we got stuck, then during a brown out my driver almost took us into a unforgiving hole, we avoided a couple roll overs, but hey its a route recon. At this particular village we speak to some Pashtuns, and start talking about a school and how they set aside land for a school but the government won't give them the money for the school. Well in the village there is already a building for the school but due to some crazy lost in translation shit, the kids don't go there. Well we walk down the road to the school to talk to the people that reside in the school. Its a residence that is supposed to be a school. There is an imaginary line in which the Pashtuns don't cross. We get to talking to a fellow that knows about the school, he is Tajik, his brother was the principle and the Pashtuns killed him for one reason or another. I'm still pretty confused as to the Tajiks (which are fewer in population than the Pashtuns in this village). There are tons of kids and as we leave they follow us up the road and once again they stop at the imaginary line.
We talk to the Pashtuns again and I'm outside with the guys pulling security when my driver tells me about a guy who crawled 400m up the side road outside his window. The medic and I go to check it out and it was about a 18 year male who had horrible birth defects which limite him to scooting and crawling. I tried to give him some water and he swung at me, but when doc checked him out he let the doc touch him. There was nothing we could do for him. He kinda looked like the chick from the Grudge, the men said that he was a zombie and a bad omen.
Well he was.
We drove up the road a little ways and passed over a colvert that looked very sketchy we turned the trucks around and headed back over the same colvert, first and second vehicle made it over, but the third in front of me the right tire bounced the giant truck shifted, then in slow motion the truck slid right and rolled off into a 15ft ditch. I was terrified, the truck landed on the turret completely upside down. I called on the radio that the truck rolled, I ran and jumped into the ditch as the driver was eggressing. I asked if everyone was ok and they assured me they were, I asked again, they confirmed everyone was alright. Unbelievable lady and gents seatbelts save lives. 5 Soldiers rolled over upside down off a 15 foot road and nobody was hurt not even the gunner. We waited for 6 or so hours for QRF and recovery assets to make it out to us. I set in an OP on top of a hill while the rest of the men pulled security on the truck below. I believe that the Russians dug the op we were sitting in because it was perfect. 360 degrees and upto 3km vis in every direction. Had the Taliban decided to descend on us in our weakend state they would've got their asses handed to them. They didn't (unfortuanately)the wrecker driver was amazing and picked the truck out of the ditch and then towed it across those shitty roads we passed earlier. We all felt very relieved when we got back on the hard-ball road (paved road). Any slight jerk to the right or left though on the way back freaked us all out in my truck at least. We talked in length about our sighting of the man from the grudge.
Routine, sometimes routine turns into holy shit, and FML. I got back and saw the usual facebook posts. I laughed at the FMLs that were posted, and thought that had something been a little different someone might have been killed or seriously injured, in the routine day to day life, on a "route recon" a mundane and boring mission. Routine.
FML
J/K
LOL
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Time Lines

2011-09-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

On my first deployment there were several times when the CSM would run late and prevent us from SPing on time. Sometimes that tardiness would save our lives. A VBIED would blow up on our route or an IED would go off. Today was another one of those times. We weren't late by any means but at the same time we didn't plan our SP until a little later in the morning. We missed an IED that hit our German counter parts. Everyone was ok but it left a hell of a hole in the road. What amazes me is how nonchalant everyone is about it, even myself. We just missed a big IED that was on the route that we were going to take, it could've been us that hit it. It didn't really dawn on me to be concerned, quite frankly I wasn't concerned. The consensus was- "At least they found it for us."
How much of this is really luck? It just goes to show that in a moment everything can change, but todays moment changed nothing. I've been blown up a few times with them just missing or being buried to deep. A missed moment or just luck?
This is our "normal". As abnormal as it is. Other than that it was an uneventful day and the weather was nice. Nothing new to report at this time.
Deuce Deuce OUT!

Semper Paratus

2011-09-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

I just got back from RnR. Its always hard leaving the ones you love. I foolishly spent a lot of money. In hindsight was it really foolish? 4 years ago this month my Battalion lost 7 Soldiers, out of the 7 4 were from my platoon. It reminds me in this buisness that life can change for you in a matter of seconds. A routine patrol can change the course of life for so many people. While families sleep sound in their beds 3000 miles away there loved ones are taken away in a matter of seconds. While they sleep and they dream men fight to save those who are in need because they know that the Soldier's, their friends, their brothers in that burning blown up vehicle need their help they risk their lives to save them even when a part of them knows that there is no chance they survived.
In the month of September in 2007 the 4th day of that month a 20" EFP struck the lead vehicle of a convoy of 3rd Platoon Charlie Company 2/16IN. It killed 3 instantly, 1 Soldier later died of wounds, and 1 Soldier lost both of his legs.
Though the truck was on fire and ammunition was cooking off and peppering the area around it, Soldier's knowing full well that there was explosives as well in that vehicle risked thier lives to save their friends.
As time moves on details are forgotten about the day, but some things are etched into our dreams forever. On one day in a matter of minutes many lives were altered.
I go back to thinking about the money that I spent on RnR and I don't regret it at all. You never know when your time is coming.
For the Soldiers that were there and to the families who's loved ones were taken from them that day in those few moments changed them forever. To the families I hope their is some peace in knowing how much your loved ones meant to us and how tight our little family was and how that incident drew us closer. Your loved ones will never be forgotten. A little bit of them lives on with us and is passed down to future Soldiers.
To the Soldiers who were there I will never forget your bravery, or the bond that we shared. I would walk into the valley of the shadow of death with you any day.
I recently spoke to a senior NCO who was on a MiTT attatched to 2/16IN. He told me he was really impressed with the Soldiers of the Rangers. We would lose our dear brothers then be right back out patroling. The mahdi tried to kill us everyday and you men Soldiered on.
SGT Joel Murray, CPL Duncan Crookston, SPC David Lane, SPC Randol Shelton KIA SEPTEMBER 4, 2007, Semper Paratus. You will never be forgotten.

Kris Lorenzo

2011-08-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to work with Kris during my sting at Fort Jackson, hard working and funny you could always depend on him. He was the guy that would help everyone move and fix their cars, he even came to all the functions. He was a great dad and we all loved the company of his kids and his wife. I got to talk to Leah a little bit while Kris was in transit to Afghanistan and was hoping that some how we would link up. One day on Facebook, I read Leah's post that blew my mind, that her husband had been killed by an IED in Kunar province.
Its hard when you see the names and faces and you know them and you the families. My heart goes out to Leah and her beautiful sons.
I found an article on Leah's page from the LA TIMES and I hope that you will read it and learn a little bit about Kris Lorenzo. Never Forget.
Kris Lorenzo LA Times

6 Months and Counting

2011-08-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

It was a hot August Ramadan day. I hadn't been out of the wire in a while. I had new scenery to look forward to. I'm comfortable in the city. In Iraq I was in the city for 14 months. I don't know why I feel more comfortable, I feel like more bad things could happen but strangely enough I'm fine with that. 6 months down, and my Afghan experience has not been what I expected. I've lost a good friend already this year in Afghanistan, he was in a different unit down south. The news of his loss came as a shock to everyone that knew him. He was a good man and a great husband and a fantastic father. Rest in peace SSG Kris Lorenzo.
My time in Afghanistan has been slow and uneventful, painstakingly slow, and it pisses me off to know that people are fighting for their lives here, but yet I don't feel like I'm doing anything. I want to kill Taliban. Excitement has been picking up around here and we have been fortunate in not having casualties. It is still not what I expected. I'm old enough to know better but I expected more Restrepo, all the buddies I have talked to that have been in Afghanistan had crazy stories to tell, right now it just seems like there is nothing going on in our neck of the woods. I do know from experience though that just when you think nothing is going to happen shit just hits the fan. Like I tell people my last Iraq deployment was 98% boredom and 2% HOLY SHIT!
I just read an article about the government putting up military pay and benefits on the cutting board. Thats real fucking sweet, our retirement even. Outstanding. When people risk their lives on multiple deployments, when you hear of someone getting killed by an IED. As we stay here and you read the Army Times obituaries and the faces and the names are familiar, Soldier's and Marines that you have served with on past deployments, have made their final roll call, and you wonder when is it your turn. You find out your own government wants to cut your retirement, so is it really worth it? I re-enlisted indef, I'm in till the end, and everyday that I come back inside the wire is a good day- a lucky day. At the end of this road though is it really fucking worth it?
The time we spend away from family and watching our kids grow up in pictures and videos, the missed birthdays and holidays. Most do it for the love of the fight, for the love of Soldiering, for the camradarie, and some for our country. In the end the repayment is less than 50%.

.....It'll get better....

2010-10-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I got drunk with the most awesome person ever.... Me. Anyway, I was watching Breaking Bad season 1 which is awesome. I leave to go to the field on Tuesday, I'm really excited since I will be around other people and looking forward to brushing up on my computer Solitaire skills, since I'm a staff bitch now.
No fucking Internet apparently TKS the local conglomerate of communication here has to fly in Al Gore apparently to invent my Internet.
I have no luck though at all, from paying my rent, to cutting my hair. I went to the bank in town to deposit my rent into my land lady's account. First I couldn't draw out enough euro I reached my max limit, that and at noon the bank closes and everybody goes to lunch. I walk my happy ass back up the hill in which I reside call my bank and have my limit raised. Wait an hour travel back down the hill draw the money out and explain in pigeon English what I want to do. Apparently I need a passport to put money into the account. I'm in uniform mind you so this kinda pisses me off. I then have to walk up another large hill onto post to the bank on post where they are awesome, and help me out and I get the money deposited. Go community bank you rock!
I buy a thirty dollar pair of high speed clippers that cover a lot of dome surface area to cut my hair with, I even buy a voltage regulator to plug them into, I'm cutting my hair (shaving it bald) and they stop working. Meanwhile hair cut is incomplete and the PX is closed so I can't get another set, the closest thing to a WalMart is a 15 min drive away ohhhhh and I don't have a car. Germany, its all about inconvenience. I love America in all its infinite laziness which drives us to find ways to make things easier.
On a good note I found some awesome beer that's from the Czech Republic, I saw these little gems at the local German grocery store, they have chicks on the front of the bottles, with little silver bikinis on, I then realized that you can scratch them off and it reveals boobies and hairy bush. Drinking those beers was fun, it was like getting a little reward for drinking them.
So anyway going to the field on Tuesday won't be back until the 28th. Hurray! Hopefully all my shit will be here and maybe even my car thatd be really nice. Then I'll only have to wait one more week for my Internet to get invented. Until then...................

Update... GO GAMECOCKS

2010-10-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

I've been in Baumholder Germany now for 2 weeks. I'm not impressed with U.S. Army Europe. Germany looks like upstate New York, your not missing much. They put me in the Land Ulrich Hotel, I had no say about these accommodations. I was then told I had to pay every ten 10 days out of my pocket and the Army would reimburse me later. I trade to pay on the 5Th day after I got done paying my bills. In 10 days the bill would be something I couldn't afford. I went to housing 3 days in a row trying to get on post quarters in the barracks. The new CG policy is that E-7s and above cannot live on post. I talked to 3 different chiefs of housing and they told me I could possibly move in for 30 days I just needed my CO's signature. Well he is in the field and the next in line does not have signing authority so we e-mailed the letter to him. I then brought a copy back of the sent e-mail because housing told me that this would be sufficient to get me out of the hotel and into a room in hopes of avoiding being broke. Well day 3 I go in with said print out of e-mail in which they tell me its not signed. AHAHAHAHA. No shit? Really yesterday you said all you needed was to know I sent it. Housings story begins to change, 3 chiefs in the office and the head guy and he is German starts talking to me like I'm a retard and makes suggestions to what I should do, which coincidently I had already done. He proceeds to piss me off and so I begin to swear. Though foul language makes me sound less intelligent as they say it makes people take me more seriously. Let me say this about myself, I'm easy going but once I get upset and a few words of curse slip its like opening a flood gate of aggression, hence in forth is why I do not like confrontation.
Well this guy gives me my very own German home inspector and we look on AHRN for apartments we find one out in Baumholder, which is close to the post. We drive out there and meet the landlord and make a deal. Its a nice little 1 bedroom down stairs apartment with a big yard and no one living above me. The lady keeps it for herself when she is visiting Baumholder.
6 days in the Land Ulrich Hotel in town cost me 525 euro, what does that translate into American dinero? 777 fucking dollars out of my own pocket after I had bills and child support and ass raping money to pay out. It ended up working out, I have a semi-furnished apartment, i.e. bed, fridge, microwave kitchen table. No one got punched in the face, as that was where that was really going after the German chief of chiefs of chiefs at housing told me I should apply for an AER loan to pay for the hotel, though in the end I convinced him it was more logical to find me a place to live.
The reason I haven't been online is that I have no Internet yet I have to wait 7 to 10 days for Germany TKS to hook it up, and they will be notifying me by e-mail when they do? WTF? After that I have to purchase a router from TKS??? So we have a four day and it was actually cool last night because I got to watch South Carolina upset and by upset I mean upset Alabama drink some German beer and play Halo Reach. But for the remainder I have no car, no T.V., no Internet. My Army gear will be getting here soon but they don't know when my household goods are coming i.e. T.V. XBOX. My car hasn't left the states yet. Paying the land hotel left me with 50 bucks in my pocket, and I think I quite possibly over drafted my bank account. Good times in Germany. Oh did I tell you I'm on Brigade staff. I just want to come back to the states where I can actually do things on my own and understand the people.
If you are coming to Germany I would advise you leave the fam behind until you get situated or you and your wife and kids will be staying in a hotel about 15 to 20 minutes away from Baumholder, with no car, and btw that hotel is 100 euro a night, so do the math. My advice is goto housing as soon as you get here to lock on a place to live for your family, but if you can help it come alone and get set up, it will be a good month before you get your shit. I'll post more on some tips about PCS'ing later when I get my Internet but I hope that tid bit helps you a little if you have questions e-mail me at tristan.ruark@gmail.com and I'll try to answer questions and tell you things that nobody told me and I found out the hard way.
So once I leaved this place I'm using the net at I'll walk the 3 miles back to my lil apartment and sit and play solitaire. For now DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

IT PUTS THE LOTION ON ITS SKIN

2010-10-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

I'm coming into the realization that I will just never ever be happy with anything ever. Except maybe if I win the lottery then I might have some sort of joy. I would pay bums to fight each other and be over excessive with my money and blow it all in 2 and a half weeks, if that just to be miserable again. I think that I enjoy it. No I really don't. I hated Fort Jackson, well no I hated Fort Jackson but I loved South Carolina, I loved the Columbia area and Myrtle Beach and Charleston but hated the job. I only hated the job because the hours were obsessive. I loved the people that I worked with but not so much the people that I worked for. They had their days but what made the job tolerable were the friends that I made there. We partied hard and had a great time. Even now when the occasional Soldier I had sees me or writes an e-mail to me (in which I do not respond) and tell me how I helped them or thank me for helping them, that is actually pretty rewarding. Lets not forget though that I fucking hated being away from the line.
I did actually, in fact in February get to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. That was awesome, and only that was awesome, anything leading up to or afterwards except for falling out of the sky was gay.
I was the first class at Airborne school in over 20 years to be trained on a new parachute system the T-11. Its a larger parachute with a slower rate of decent in comparison to what they use now the T-10B. We weren't the first people to jump it, it had gone through years of testing and actually some of the Airborne units even have them out there, but we were the first class to actually be trained on it at Airborne school. Before I went to Airborne school I attended the Senior Leaders Course which was long and boring but I did get into Crossfit there made some good friends. One of these friends was another NCO that worked as a Black Hat at Airborne school. Another one of my Black Hats was a guy I knew from a previous unit, needless to say they took great care of me. I'd like to say this though the cadre from 2nd Platoon Charlie Company were true professionals in every sense and the periods of instruction that they gave at Airborne School as a whole were great, and they adapted to the new POI as they were the first company to have to pitch it so kudos!
I did run into my old XO from 2/16 now LTC Brett Cummings, he saw me in the chow hall and called me over and talked to me. He made the first Airborne School jump with the T-11 and waited for me on the drop zone. I love that guy. He couldn't come to my graduation though because he was headed up north to see 2/16 Soldiers that were still in the hospital. Truly amazing.
Hahahahahaha I digress. Anyway I'm not in Fort Jackson anymore, 2 long years away from the beloved Infantry I came to a unit that I know is deploying in my near future. Honestly that is really the only reason I'm here, I could care less to see Europe, I want to see a foreign country where I can kill terrorists. I get here and I'm all excited, thought I was going to 2/18IN, no, no that would make me a winner, that would've made me happy to have my own merry band of teenage murders. Noooooooo the Gods of War smiled and laughed. They put all of us just getting off the bus into a room, a SSG from 2/16 is there to pick me up, when the guy running the show at this particular debacle says "No SFC Ruark is going to Brigade." Some of you who don't know about the Army or things of that nature, are not aware of the impact that those very words can have on the soul of someone who just came out of a small hell known as TRADOC. I didn't believe my ears and asked him to repeat his self. As I thought, I felt as though someone stepped on my heart. Crushed my soul. You see reader, Brigade is not where the war fighter goes, the war fighter goes to Battalion, and Battalion sends the war fighter to the Company, where the war fighter is inserted into a Platoon so that he can practice his trade of closing with and killing the enemy. Brigade is where one goes to sit and check e-mail. Where he worries about ink for his printer and takes care of the entire units administrative tasks, and training and planning. Some folks get to roll out the wire, but its not the same as being part of a Platoon. Noooooo 2 years of TRADOC and then to BDE staff. In a country where its like being a baby. I don't have my car, I don't have a place to live, I don't have my stuff, my kids are across the ocean, I can't understand the locals. If you are saying "Oh man you bitch your in Germany its so awesome." I really don't give a shit about Germany, I joined the Army to be an Infantryman but yet again for another how many fucking years I don't know, I have to suck it up and bend to the Army's will. One day maybe all this bending and generally dry ass raping will pay off and I will be happy again. Whats so great about Germany? I haven't seen the sun since I've been here and its about to be cold and snowy out, everything is expensive. Its almost just like being in upstate New York. Bleak, cold and miserable. Oh PS to upstaters you talk like Canadians, its true you all sound the same. Not taking a stab at you Johnny V cuz your the coolest upstater I know. Well there are a lot of cool ones but I'm being bitter and mediocruely vial. (If the former is even a word. Which its not I just spell checked it W.E. I gives a fuck.) Ya so another fucking year soon to be wasted, a trip to the Sandbox spent sending e-mails and worrying about printer ink. Fucking dorkdom. FML
DEUCE DEUCE PENCIL PUSHING EXTRAORIDNAIRE OUT!!!!

I leave you with this and hopefully it will bring you as much joy as it did me.

Always On Our Minds

2010-09-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

Long time no post. On Joels birthday I contemplated posting and I never ended up doing it. Last night I talked about Joel a little bit. The other day Setz called me and we talked about the 4th. How it was always just right there in the little time crook of the mind. Buried but not to far from the surface.
If your seeing this post for the first time then I urge you to keep reading and learn more about these men. If you already know these men and you've seen this picture before think about them and their families. Never Forget.
I'm glad that I had an opportunity to get to know these guys and I think that if you don't know them that you should click on the links on the side and read more about them, or Google them and learn more. Find out why they mean so much to so many.

David Lane April 3, 1987 - Sept 4, 2007

2010-04-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

On April 3, 1987 David Lane was born in Mesa Arizona. I met David Lane close to 20 years later at Fort Riley Kansas. I sat on Staff Duty with him he was my runner. He asked me if he could have dinner with his wife since we weren't getting much family time. Later that week the "new" guy would role his pick up truck on the way into work. The initial reports that we heard was that he was in ICU fighting for his life. That later proved to be a stretch of the truth and shortly after Lane was back with us at work. He immediately made his presence known as the clown within the Platoon. He was put in SSG Rich's squad and they developed a father and son relationship that brought comic relief to everyone.

In Iraq David brought smiles to all of our faces when people were worn out and dragging ass. You couldn't stay mad at him for long his antics and his silly faces would always make you smile.

David is survived by his beautiful daughter, Issabelle, and his loving mother and siblings.

Check this page out here that was set up to remember David.

Happy birthday David rest in peace brother you are never forgotten.

26 January

2010-01-31T20:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Duncan, the 26th of this month would've marked Duncans 22nd birthday. Your not forgotten Duncan. You are missed by many.

DeuceDeuceOUT!

The Good Soldiers

2009-10-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

I recently got done reading The Good Soldiers, by David Finkel. It brought back memories and stirred up emotions that I had already set aside. I've been reading war stories since I was in the 3rd Grade and it was exciting to read one about my unit and events that I actually took part in.
Its a good read and mainly focus's on the troops that we lost in the Battalion. Some information is skewed but I think that is with anyone telling a story you can't always get the facts straight. I'm just as guilty. If you read this blog or read it during the time when we were in Eastern Baghdad, pick up the book and you will probably be able to recognize things in which I talked about in some of my posts.
Mr. Finkel talks more so about the injuries that the Soldier's suffered in which I was a little afraid to talk about. Mainly because I didn't know if the families were reading, and I didn't know how what they had been told about how their Soldier was wounded or killed. I left a lot of detail out of the Sept 4th post, but I did this after talking to a couple of the people that were there.
I remember the reporter that wrote this article in the Stars and Stripes, when he came to interview us, my roommate Ume and I agreed to not say "Shit." to him about the extent of the injuries that our guys had and what we had seen when we first got to them.
One point in the book towards the end he talked about the vehicle that had taken our last casualties of the deployment. I remember looking in the vehicle with Simmons the Rocket Magnet and wishing that I hadn't. The smells and the image immediately posted itself in the fore front of my mind.
I talked to a couple people from my last unit who are currently in Iraq now and they had mixed feelings about the book. I think David Finkel did a pretty good job of telling our story. A lot of people when they were first in the Battalion talked about how fucked up it was and how it was the worst unit ever. I think a majority of us after seeing how the other units operated out there changed our minds about it. I think that we followed a higher standard. I know that some of the Soldier's that moved on to different units missed being with 2/16IN.
I enjoyed the book and I encourage you to read it as well. Its a story about- The Good Soldiers. Its the story about our Good Soldiers that didn't make it home. A lot of times in the news and in war stories you don't get to hear those stories.
Below are some pics that I had found on that disc that Garrison had made for me many moons ago.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Hannibal holding a Dragunov SVD sniper rifle, that Setz had found in a home search. The rifle was hidden in a piece of furniture with a removable panel.

One of our many search and clear missions off of a tip where we stayed and looked in shit for hours in the searing heat and never finding anything.

The mission that never went. This was another one of our attempts to do the Barrier mission that would later cost the lives of Joel Murray, Randol Shelton, David Lane, Duncan Crookston, and would cost Joseph Mixson his legs.

Joel and I conversating about something I can't remember but the other pictures I have leading up to this was us at the gate talking to Iraqis. I want to say this was the day that Kuwait and Iraq played each other for some Soccer title and Iraq won. Everything was closed up early for this even the gas station.

No Fight for Me

2009-10-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

I contacted my branch manager the other day. I asked him if there was anyway I could get a requisition to get out of here. His reply pretty much ripped my heart from my chest.
"That's because we don't have anything available right now. You can expect to stay there for at least 24-36 months."
A year and a half more? I know that's not me, that is not me, I can not stay stagnate here for another 21 months. I've done 15 I'm so stabilized that I have no personality anymore. I've been mistaken for a t.v. tray I'm so stabilized. I know as you move up in rank its harder to find a slot because there are fewer but can you really tell me that someone anyone is not ready to come off the line?
My options as I've been seeing them, are possibly Korea, which is good because its a year long tour and I'll be outta the fight but I'll be back on the line. The other option I was looking at was maybe going to the Old Guard. I'm a hell of a lot closer to the Infantry, and I'll be able to finally go to schools. Not entirely where I want to be but close enough.
Everyone keeps telling me to go Drill Sergeant and that its good for my career so on and so forth. I understand that but thats 2 more years away from the line as an E-7. I need to get back so I can get Platoon Sergeant time in an MTOE unit. (Active line Infantry unit). I've dealt with Privates and I've trained them and I'm ready for change, time now. I've posted a unit swap add in the Military Shopper and I have had no replies.
Crazy crazy shit I guess. I'm ready to go though. I'm getting fat here, since I started learning to cook. I've been doing a pretty good job of it. Now I just have to get back into my good PT regimen. Well that's the update for now. If you know me then you know its where I need to be, if you don't you'll think be careful what I might wish for. The thing is I've BTDT and that's what I enjoy doing. That and I need to save some money. Real life is expensive.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Perpetual State of Un-Happyness?

2009-10-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

I just got done perusing some Mil-Blogs trying to get back into the swing of things. What I came across was a lot of people who were disenfranchised, IVAW, people just pissed off about the whole thing. I didn't come across a lot of positive feed back. Maybe there isn't, war isn't positive. Did I enjoy it when I was there? I don't think that I did, it sucked some days. Nothing sucks more than losing your friends. I can't by any means say it was for nothing, I refuse to. Call it what you will, opinions are like ass holes and everyone is different and who the hell is right? No one is right.
I'm not a politician, I'm not republican, and I'm not a democrat, I don't really know what the hell either believes in. I like some of their views and dislike some as well. I like what our founding fathers set up as a the corner stone for American democracy. I certainly don't want to live anywhere else in the world. Some of the 3rd world shit holes that I've visited. I've actually visited some nice European countries as well. I would much rather reside here. Do we need change yes we do but so does everyone.
Like Pluto said "Only the dead have seen the end of war." We are violent by nature, everything about our history our genetic make up is violent. This planet was shaped in the face of violence. Violent weather conditions, whether you believe in the "Big Bang" theory or you are religious violence has shaped this planet and our culture around the world. Peace isn't natural for us. We seek it but the fact of the matter is that we are violent-naturally violent.
I think I hated it (Iraq) when we were there. Now I miss it. My good times and bad times. My high times and low times. I know I could depend on those 9 men that looked to me for leadership. Maybe I didn't have a horrendous enough time there. Maybe I wasn't blown up enough, or shot at enough, or cried enough..... I don't know what it was but I miss it. I felt normal there. I don't like being away from the line, I miss being surrounded by trigger pullers.
When I read back I was unhappy there. I was happy to get home to be with my family and watch them grow and grow with them. I was unhappy at Riley I wanted to get to Fort Jackson as if it was my "Somewhere over the Rainbow". I got here and it was the happy beginning to a very sad end. I worked more weekends and hours here then I did when in a line unit. Dealing day in and day out with Soldier problems. Trying to tell kids to stick it out when they wanted to quit because they missed home and missed their wives, there teenage girlfriends and fiances, there moms and there dads. Though they had only been gone from home for a little more than a week. Mean while in my own house I was coming home just during or after dinner, the weekend plans were ruined because of the weekend work I was doing. I didn't understand why out of all the jobs where no one does anything on Fort Jackson I was in a position that required more of my time then I wanted to give to it.
My family has been gone since April. The walls feel like the tighten on me here everyday. I want to be deployed so bad. I have a multitude of reasons why I want to go. Financial, personal I feel like I let down the guys from 2-16 that went again. I should be with them. I miss Iraq there I had a purpose. Sometimes I questioned that purpose, and a lot of the times things we did there didn't make any sense at all. When we left I remember feeling like we had done nothing. Days before we left we helped the militia destroy so many things that we had worked hard with the Iraqi people to rebuild. I remember the feeling I had watching them in the streets pulling up bricks of the sidewalk and meticulously laying down a new one, at the same time I was scared that in those piles of bricks was an EFP in disguise.
Some of the barriers we put up- the ugly cement barriers, they painted beautiful murals in a language that is easy on the eyes, in bright pastels. I didn't know what they said, maybe they said "Fuck you America!" maybe they were just an advertisement for some shopkeepers wares on the other side of that barrier, but they took the ugly off of the barrier.
I'm not ashamed or disgusted by my time there. I lost good friends and I saw people changed forever. I won't though believe for a minute it wasn't for anything. Say what you want. I'm not a politician, I'm part of America's warrior class, and I serve and have served with the baddest, and bravest motherfuckers this country has to offer. I personally do not care why I fight I just want to fight. If I don't believe in where my leaders have put me or why they put me there, then I believe in that man to the right and left of me. I'm only the weapon in the hand of the arm of democracy. I signed up of my own free will. I would love to go back. Life in garrison and in TRADOC is draining me of my will to carry on a career in the Army. When I hop back across the fence will I find misery my long lost and dearest friend? My companion, my battle, my sure fire drinking buddy? I probably will. My curse in life is this perpetual state of un-happyness that I tread in.
All in all and hindsight being what it is I enjoyed a lot of aspects of being deployed and despised a lot of it. 2 Iraq deployments, and FJ killed my marriage. I'm thinking of starting my own group TSAT (TRADOC Soldier's Against TRADOC). Well for now I'll just be happy to be un-happy. Did Iraq change me? Ya it probably did, I still like to play XBOX spend time with my kids, drink beer and punch the clown. I hate crowds and South Carolinian drivers, I have a short fuse but I think thats always been an issue. I hate fuzzy right sleeved NCO's, and Kinkos. I love Soldier's though,- Warriors I love Warriors. This is why I do it, and why I will do it. You won't catch me in a Kinkos shirt, but maybe you might catch me on your right or your left, in the end its all about your brothers, the Warrior to your right or left.
I'm Deuce Deuce and I'm happy to say that I was there, I'll go back and I'll stay until the jobs done.

Civilians

2009-10-26T11:25:00.001-07:00

I personally have had the worst experience dealing with the DOD civilians that work here on FJ. Maybe I'm wrong and its like this all over but I'm speaking of my particular experience at the finance office today. Which wasn't the first time I had dealt with the lady. I went in last week trying to figure out an issue with an allotment I'm setting up. Right off the bat she greated me with attitude and I believe made it quite evident that I was interrupting something. She talked over me as I asked my question, and in the end I think that she felt vindicated that she had successfully thwarted my attempt to get an issue resolved. I seriously feel as if she felt victorious over that fact that she provided me no service what so ever. On top of all the my question was never fucking answered. Instead of resolving said issue she just reassured me I was screwed and didn't really want to help me.
I wouldn't feel so bad if at somewhere along the line I had never had good customer service, but I have (back at Riley) where the civilians there seemed concerned and eager to help you and wouldn't except no until they absolutely had to. This woman I feel went over to her dry erase board, and chocked another line up under Fucked. Fucked 28/Helped 0.
I eventually went online and canceled the allotment, all I was trying to do was get it broken up between the pay periods so I didn't have a huge amount coming out all at once which would royally foul up my bill schedule. To her this might seem to be a big deal but I assure you my property management group would not understand.
I went in today to try and start from scratch and see if she could just do this for me. Once again I was greated as a pest versus being greated as a Soldier trying to get his hard earned money situation resolved. This time once again she talked over me, she told me to "Get the form and take it to your S-1." I didn't know what form she was talking about. The CIB on my chest designates me as an Infantryman not a finance dweeb. I ask her what form she is referring to she doesn't say anything but goes in the back grabs the form hands it to me and walks off. Really????? Fucking Really??? At this point I'm pretty livid about the situation. When I get mad like that and attempt to argue I get whats known as sewage mouth. My tact and patience go out the window. I mustered what patience I had left and grabbed and ICE (complaint) form and walked out.
At some point the civilians forget that their mission is the damn Soldier. They support us not the other way around. I've noticed that some of the DA civilians are spouses of senior NCO's or officers and sometimes they wear that rank. At the same time some don't its good or its bad just like anything. I'm pissed because my shit is fucked up and the person getting paid to help me with that isn't. I'm the mission, the Soldier is the mission. Really though if your a mil spouse and you have a DA job then you should know how critical it is to recieve good service. If the situation was reversed I wonder how she would feel? That'd be nice let me work with your money one day.................... Ya buddy!
I'm just saying you work in customer service. How bout you provide some good service. We expect things to be a little off kilter when we are deployed, but back in the rear we really shouldn't have any problems. Now I have to go work on this ICE sheet and let them know how their service is going.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

...................

2009-10-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

Time still dredges on at Fort Jackson with no end in sight. I re found my lost motivation and started training the Soldier's a lot more so that is a plus. At the same time I find myself struggling for sanity in an environment where so many people hide from deployment, in that I can't seem to get myself back on to one.
Reading back on my past posts where I was deployed, I realize my days went by in blurs in that I couldn't remember all the shit that had taken place in a 10 day rotation out to the Combat Out Post. I didn't take good enough notes to remember what the hell I had done, or things that we had done blended into one blur where my stories blended or overlapped one another. I don't really have anything to write about anymore. I would like to tell you I enjoy my position but its worn old now. I do enjoy the impact that we are having on the young Soldier's that pass through this program but this is truly where I do not need to be.
Since I started writing this I noticed that I progressively got more into not writing really how I felt to avoid hurting any ones feelings or disagreeing with the policies or the image the Army wants us to display. The Army has told me to "tell my story". I think I've told it pretty good covering some of the less than finer points of a deployment. I did leave a lot out though in fear of repercussion. Overall I love what I do and as any careerist in the Worlds Biggest Gun Club would tell you I some times have my FTA days. It seems though I have them more and more. I was recently approached by the re-enlistment guy. I went into his office and he brought up my profile on his computer. He looked and my rank as he spoke.
"Ahhhh SFC Ruark, hey man high speed E-7 like you I know your gonna re-enlist. Pretty much on easy street now. You probably already know this that your only eligible for option 1-"
I did know that I was eligible for this "Option 1". Option 1 was simply, no bonus, needs of the Army, and the time of service I would have to raise my hand for was indefinite. This means I have roughly about 8 or 9 years until I retire, so for I would be re-enlisting for about 9 years, for no bonus money, no choice of where I would like to go in the Army and I would still be stuck in Fort Jackson.
"Naaaa Man. I'm not gonna do that, unless you can get me outta here."
That was that, I really don't want to keep going. This place has left a sour taste in my mouth about the Army. Maybe if something changes but at this point I'm going to wait until the last possible minute to re-enlist. My contract is up in 2012 so that will give me plenty of time to think about an indefinite re-enlistment. No bonus for 9 years. Meanwhile we entice young men and women off of the streets to serve with 20,000 dollar and or more bonuses for 3-4 years of service.
Deuce Deuce OUT!!!!

September 4, 2007

2009-09-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Two years have passed since the men in 2-1 took their final ride. In the lead on a hot September day they drove right into eternity. SGT Joel Lee Murray, CPL Duncan Crookston, CPL David Lane, and SPC Randol Shelton may they never fade from the memories of the peoples lives that they touched.

2-16IN recently redeployed to Northern Iraq. I know that the men from 2-1 will once again be sitting in over watch to see them safely through their deployment, as they did with ours. Not to long ago Val sent me a link to a website for David Lane please take your time and check out. It paints a nice picture of David who was the goofy one of the group, definitely the goofiest guy out of the whole platoon. He had the ability to make anyone laugh no matter how tired or mad you were David could put a smile on your face.

I recently spent sometime looking at a memorial page for Joel Murray. How much Joel had touched peoples lives and how much his wife loves him. Its truly heart warming to know that love like that exists in real life. Its an attestment to what a great man he really was.

I was planning on trying to make a trip up to Schiller Park Illinois to visit the Shelton family but my plans fell through at the last minute. The next time I have some time though I'm going to go and try to meet the people that raised such an outstanding young man. He wasn't afraid to stick up for people, and he knew how to have a good time, and he also knew how to make that time enjoyable for everyone. He was the guy everyone wanted to be around, he was dedicated and loyal. I don't think there was a day when he ever missed going to the gym. I certainly do miss his drunk dials to me to let me know how much he loved me. Randol Shelton the legend of Charlie Company.

Duncan Crookston the resident genius of the Company. One day I will actually find that video of him doing the Rubik's cube in under 2min. As I type on my lap top now and every time I turn it on I'm reminded of him. He helped me upload all the music on to it. He helped everyone with something. He started out as my driver but he was way to smart for that position. Though I liked him there because I knew I could count on him. Thats why they made him the RTO because he was smart, and they knew that they could count on him. Crookston was severely wounded in the blast, yet he lived and fought long enough to be reunited with his family. He finally succumbed to his wounds the day before his 20th birthday on January 25, 2008.

SGT Joseph Mixson was blown from the vehicle. He was the only member of the 2-1 crew to survive. The explosion took his legs but it didn't take his spirit or his sense of humor. The last time I saw Mixson was at the Regimental ball before I left Fort Riley. He partied just as hard as before September the 4th.

I miss these men tremendously, not a day goes by that I don't think about them. I talked about legacy before and that's part of the reason why I will always post so that these men will never be forgotten. Take some time and click on some of the links I've posted and get to know these men. If they didn't stand up to believe in something then who would? You believe in something or you die for nothing, and I know these men believed in what they were doing, for a love of country and the man to their left and right. They loved us as we loved them.

To talk about their losses I also have to mention the bravery of those that came to their aid. In that they loved their brothers so much that it didn't matter that there was fire, or bullets sailing through the air and explosives that might go anytime, they risked their lives to get the men out of the vehicle. We all knew, had it been us they would've done the same, and that we could not live a life knowing that we didn't do all we could to help our brothers who were in need.

Never Forget!

God bless the families of these brave men, and the men of 4th Brigade 1st Infantry Division that have deployed again to Iraq. May they come home safely.

Happy Birthday Joel

2009-07-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

We will never forget you Joel. I think about you a lot. I know we all do. You touched so many people in your life. Godbless you and your family. Happy Birthday friend.

SGT Joel Lee Murray 09July1981-KIA 04SEPT2007 Baghdad Iraq

http://roodawg.blogspot.com/2007/09/in-loving-memory.html

http://joel-murray.memory-of.com/

http://roodawg.blogspot.com/2008/09/legacy.html

http://roodawg.blogspot.com/2008/05/never-forget.html

Busy

2009-03-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

The last couple weeks have been pretty busy, with pick up and getting my SFAS date changed, and getting ready for that. I had changed my work out to focus a little bit more on running and laid of the rucking just a tad. The workout in the book calls for doing both in a day but try as I might I can't do both.
Being that I changed my date I was eligible once again to attend the EIB lanes they put on here, I just had to knock out land nav, the road march, and qualify expert with my rifle. All the pre- req's were done the week prior so when they told me I could participate most of the candidates had already completed them and were hitting the practice lanes. I spent my time trying to find a rifle range and doing land nav and the road march. I thought it was a pretty good opportunity to practice land nav, and my rucking.
Last Monday I hit land nav and blazed through the day portion, it was pretty simple as most of the points were located off of fire breaks, at night I tried to depend more on terrain association which failed me, but hey it was my first night land nav in almost 2 years. Last Tuesday we road marched, I loaded up my ruck with the packing list they gave me and a little extra for my SFAS training, 12mi in 3 hours is the standard. I took off at a quick pace and after 2mi I left the pack behind me. The route they chose for the march had a lot of hill my strategy was to make up time on the down hill and step hard on the uphill. It worked and at the 10mi point I had 40 min left to pick up two miles. I ended up coming in at 2hr and 53min. I petered out on the last 2 hills and I came in 2nd out of 20+ marchers, out of the 20, 7 of us made the time standard, out of the 7, 6 people had the right packing list. Who was the one? This dipshit. I was missing poly pro bottoms.
The balls of my feet blistered up pretty nicely and after the road march we went down and walked the lanes, or hobbled them anyway. One of the medics treated my feet and cut drain holes in them which later would be a mistake, and I walked with my feet all bandaged up.
I eventually reassessed my night land nav mistakes, and figured the best way to find my points was to stay on pace and azimuth and wouldn't you know it worked. I eventually got a range and shot expert, but while doing all this I was missing valuable lane time. Still I was looking at walking again on Sunday.
This last Sunday, 9 of us stepped out and 2 of us made it. I ran most of the march and hit the 6mi turn around at 1hr 16min. I finished at 2hr 46min, a minute shy of what I was shooting for but I was ready for it this time with my ruck packed to standard and in the end I wasn't tired in the least bit. 2 good conditioning marches I can't complain. Monday came and I decided to double no go at the M4 lane. Not because I don't know how to perform a function check or load a rifle but more so because I have so many years of bad habits. During my function check I charged the weapon before I rotated to burst, and during the loading, I did not slap the magazine upward after inserting it in the magazine well. I grabbed the magazine in the middle inserted it listened for the click then tugged down ward to make sure is was locked in. So no EIB for me, maybe next year. I wish I would have had an opportunity to do EIB when I first came in versus now trying to unlearn years of bad habits. Its good training though.
The good news is I made the E-7 list with a low sequence number.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

This Place Sucks!

2009-03-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

I'm in the process of moving my SFAS date to April. I was supposed to go next week but I may have been a little premature on thinking how my conditioning was going to be. It was going good but the last 2 weeks I had been really sick. I eventually ended up in the Urgent Care Facility getting blood drawn and peeing in a cup. They patted my back told me I had a UTI of the Prostate kind??? Is that possible? Gave me drugs and sent me home.
I went back last Monday and talked to my Primary Care person, and she looked at my lab results and the pee was clean, I had no infection. She asked me if I had been sick when I was on the line. I was never really sick when I was back on the line, then she asked if I liked being here. I said I hate this place, she told me I'm getting sick basically because I hate this place.
Last week I worked out everyday except for Thursday, and tomorrow I'm doing a road march in the A.M. since I don't have to go to work till later.
I picked up a new Platoon last Thursday. All male this time in which I'm relieved. I'm not used to working with females. I can raise them fine but working with them is weird for me. Though it seems as though most of the pussies that I get are males. The females usually seem pretty hard core and have more of a desire to succeed. Out of the last 2 platoons that I've had, I've had no quitters, and handed out no Article 15's. I contribute this to the other NCO's that I work with we have a pretty good system and make a really good team. I guess I was due a bad one as right off the bat I have a guy trying to ride his Asthma out of the Army. He got a good talk from my buddy SSG Cas, and it seems that he might be alright.
Last night one of my new troopers I guess made a "suicide attempt". He had come to me earlier in the day and told me that "This wasn't for him." I gave him a good ol pep talk but he was not moved. He didn't give any signs that he was a danger to himself or others, he was also one of the Soldier's who had tested high on the TABE test and was going to test out in his first week. I told him he would be able to talk to the Chaplin on Monday, he told me he was not a danger to himself or others so I left it at that. Apparently that night he took the razors out of his shaver and "scratched" himself horizontally accross the wrist. My friend who has spent 15 years as a mental health specialist told me that it wasn't an attempt that had a lot of heart in it. He scratched to draw blood and that was it. I asked him if he thought it was a cry for help or an attempt to get out. He told me it was an attempt to get out.
Later today my boy called me and said that he had went to the nutty ward at the hospital where they send the big Vag's that try to escape their obligation to the Army and he said when he saw the Private the shitbag looked at him and smiled all big. Later the platoon would tell us he got the idea from talking to another shitbag soldier who was also getting out of the Army.
I have no apathy for that shit. It wasn't a cry for help, it was an attempt to get out of his contract with the Army. An 18 year old kid with no education, single no kids. How bad could life really be? I was in the Combat zone for 15 months with Soldier's who's wives were shacking up with other dudes in their own homes, that they paid for. Soldier's who's grandparents died the same night we were hit with an EFP. Soldier's wives that were having mental breakdowns to the point of hospitalization. My Soldier's never quit, they never felt sorry for themselves, they never shirked their responsibilities. I can't feel remorse, pity, or sorry for a Private who is homesick. I can't do it.
I cannot wait to go back to the big Army where I get to lead warriors into combat. When I won't have to hear the words "This isn't for me." Where foul language and lewd behavior is acceptable. Where I won't get yelled at for calling someone who is fucking up an asshole.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

New Vid from old times

2009-02-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

getting hit by an I.E.D. and a R.P.G. at the same time.

Right before we were relieved by 4th ID we got into some serious shit. I posted it here. I was going through MySpace, when I noticed that Reis had add the video of Tom's truck getting hit in the intersection. I was the 3rd truck in the order that day. At the time we thought that they had been hit with an EFP then an RPG but it looks like only the EFP. The huge black smoke from the middle of the intersection is because a transformer blew up at the same time the EFP did.
Thanks to SexyRexy for posting and Reis for leading me there. Enjoy.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Deserters

2009-02-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

I guess you could say I'm into the whole online social networking deal. I have a MySpace, and a
Facebook. I'm nosy I guess. I like to read Autobiographies, I'm interested about people. The other day I get a friend request from one of my Soldier's from 2/16 who went AWOL after the summer block leave session. Which means he missed all the field time and train up that we all went through to bond as a unit. The Soldier never called me only text messaged me a couple of times, and from what he told other Soldier's he was supposedly having family problems. Now if he had went through the right channels and talked to me about it I would've been able to help him out or get him a leave extension. He wouldn't even answer the phone when I called. He deserted us.
Before we deployed I did get a replacement for him and it was Duncan Crookston. Duncan was later put into the RTO slot because of his technical prowess and his ability to dominate anything electronic, maybe even for his bread making skills. He was the best candidate when our RTO went on RnR and didn't return. This piece of shits name was Mavity, I would put his first name but I can't remember it. He married a whore that he had barely known and while we were in country for just a month she became the village bicycle of Junction City. Mavity was the first to go on leave and when he got home he tried to play the crazy card by sticking a shotgun in his mouth. Apparently he didn't suck hard enough because he is still alive stealing oxygen somewhere.
I digress, back to my facebook friend request. Any who this dirt bag- and we will call him George decides 2 years after the fact that he wants to return to Fort Riley and be a Soldier. I accept the request to dig up intel then quickly delete him. His little comment says, "George is trying to stay in the Army." Like he wants some kind of retribution or something, maybe he thinks because now that he is ready to come back that I will understand and welcome him back with open arms. I don't fucking think so, if it were up to me........ Well lets just say it wouldn't be pretty. Maybe just maybe though it will be worse for him to live as a deserter and a quitter, and when he tells his kids what he did in the war he can tell them that he ran away and left his unit before a deployment. I did respond to the request.

I can't and I won't be your friend here on facebook or anywhere. You deserted. You come back after 2 years and change and expect some kind of retribution you won't find it here. You need to do a Google search or ask around about CPL Duncan Crookston, he took your place in 2nd Squad when you left. He got dicked over again when Mavity took rnr and didn't come back into country they moved Duncan to the RTO slot where Mavity should have been.

You weren't there on Sept. 4th when brave men died, where brave men stepped in front of a burning vehicle while rounds cooked off and zipped by there faces to help save their buddies. You weren't there 3 days before RIPTOA where we fought for our lives and our chance to go home after Sadr lifted his cease fire.

Make sure why you are there in Kansas to go visit SGT Murray's grave. He is buried in the Fort Riley cemetery. You can also go and pay your respect's to David Lane's family, they live right up the road, I know you knew Shelton and Mixson.

You try to come back 2 years later, you should've come back 2 weeks later. Though the people don't say it to your face there at Kansas or don't know you, the truth is you quit on us your not a part of the brother hood that was born in fire, blood, explosions, and heat. Just do me a favor and make sure that you find out who Duncan Crookston is because he went on your behalf. The Army isn't going to keep you because you already quit on it once. But sleep peaceable in your bed at night because rough men DID do violence on your behalf.

He will never be forgiven, not by me.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

Tips for those Considering the Army

2009-02-06T18:38:00.000-08:00

When you go to basic training you are going to get yelled at so grow some thick skin real fast. Don't take it personally just suck it up and drive on.

I thought I would take the time to write down some random thoughts for young, or old men and women who are considering joining the Army or have already signed up.
1. Remember that you are VOLUNTEERING as we liked to say in the Marine Corps "U Signed the Muthafuckin Contract. Don't go to basic training and cry like a bitch and talk about "This is not for you." YOU VOLUNTEERED! We are not just going to let you go because your a huge pussy and miss your momma, there are repercussions for not honoring your service!!!!!!!
2. If your crazy, stay the fuck away from the recruiters office, we don't want your emotional pill popping ass! Don't need you don't want you. If you decide to come into the Army and can't hang and want to play the crazy card, guess what? Our mental health specialists talk to quitters like you everyday so they know when your bullshitting, and when we find out we are putting a black mark on your permanent record so good luck with getting a job in an overly competitive job market.
3. Don't plan your ship date when your wife or girlfriend is 9 months pregnant and will have your child while your at basic. Thats probably not a good time eh? Your heart might shrink and you will want to go home.
4. Here is a good one.... Get your ass in shape. If you've been sitting on the couch stealing oxygen and playing Call of Duty 4 thinking of how cool it would be to run around with a M-249 SAW and shoot everybody, and eating twinkies and Big Macs all fucking day and get winded when you goto take a shit you might want to do some running and some push-ups and sit-ups.... Excercise? Look that shit up its good for you. You get in a little shape before you come to basic training it might prevent you from crying like a bitch after you did 3 push-ups. Oh ps, all that shit your character on Call of Duty is wearing, in real life its close to 60-80lbs of equipment and in the countries we are in now it can get upwards to 140 degrees out. If your almost passing out after a shower in your air conditioned home...... psssst you might want to workout. You are joining the Military for Christmas Sakes!!!!!!!!!!!
5. Remember this YOUR NOT GAY YOUR JUST A QUITTER. How about you research our policy on that before you come and try to pull that shit. Your Drill Sergeant just might decide to call your parents and verify your story....... Hope they aren't hearing that shit for the first time.
In all seriousness make sure that all of your personal affairs are in order. If you are married and have bills to pay make sure you have a plan. Its just like starting any other job your not getting paid as soon as you get here, your pay catches up to you. Its not easy but its not that hard. All you have to do is stay motivated and follow these 3 rules.
Do what your told.
Do what your told!
GOD DAMMIT do what your told.
You follow those 3 things and you will be just fine.
The military is an opportunity to try and turn your life around, nothing pisses us off more than when you come here and try to do all the same shady shit you have been doing your whole life.
Seriously get into some semblance of shape... For real. Your Recruiters are supposed to make sure that you pass some sort of physical fitness test before you can ship. I know from experience that this shit doesn't happen. If your recruiter is not doing this for you he is setting you up for failure. Basic Training will get you in shape, but if you come here with a good base it will be easier for you.
You are not alone when you get here and miss home, everyone else does too they just handle it differently. Maybe you have never been challenged your whole life and have been on the teet for to damn long. Do something for yourself, make something of yourself.
I've been doing this for 12 years and it is a great life and I love it. Sometimes it sucks but thats life.
Good luck in your future endeavor and if we do happen to meet in the IET environment, trust me I've heard your story. If you have questions about what to do or what to expect in the IET environment feel free to ask and I will help you succeed. Honestly that is what your Drill Sergeants are for is to help you succeed.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!
You will be physically challenged these are called flutter kicks.

Friday Joined in Smoke session with the Privates, numerous push-ups, flutter kicks, and other exercises until reached muscle failure. At the end of the day went on another 4mi road march 38lbs finished in 52min.
Today Ran 3mi my time was disgusting so I won't post it first time I ran since getting bronchitis so not to bad.

....and so it begins

2009-02-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

My packet is complete and the date is set. March 14th, which also means that the course has increased in length to 19 days where it was 21 then recently 14 but mine will be the first back at 19 days. Which means................ our class will be the test bed.
I've been trying to find time to mimic the workout in the hand book that they gave me in order to set myself up for success. If you've been reading when I first got to Jackson I broke my toe, then a couple of months ago I severely sprained my ankle, and I'm just getting over bronchitis now.
Monday I swam 8 laps in the indoor 50m pool
Tuesday I hit the gym hard my workout consisted of-
2mi run on treadmill (I did this inside because it was about 25 degrees out and I'm trying to prolong the bronchitis.) I ran it at a 7:40min/mi pace moderate because I'm getting back into running. Following the jog I did a circuit that consisted of Bench Press- Pull ups- ABs. I did 3 rounds of this 20 reps on bench, 10 reps of pull ups, and 25 reps of ABs. Nothing to crazy as I hadn't worked out in over a week.
Wednesday in the morning we PTed with the Privates and went to town with Conditioning drill 1 doing 50 reps of squat benders followed by 20 forward lunges. Then we did a Push-up, Situp drills to muscle failure. Later that afternoon I did a 4mi road march with 38lb pack, cross country on semi flat but sandy terrain. My finish time was 55:05. According to the book I have an hour.
Today I picked up a new platoon so I didn't have much time for a workout asides from some push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. Tomorrow in the morning we are teaching the privates conditioning drill 1, which will take the entire pt time until chow. I will try to go for a 3mi run, then later that day myself and my battle buddy are doing another 4mi road march with 35lb pack.
I'm starting out fairly light but next week I'm going to turn it up. My main goal is to achieve a proper fitness level without subjecting myself to injury in order to be able to pass SFAS. I've waited a longgggggg time to be able to attend this course. I was always cut short by my GT score which no longer stands in my way.
The road starts now with no time to spare.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

19 Forever

2009-01-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

Duncan and Droll

Today would have been Duncan Crookston's 21st birthday. He would have been of legal age to go bar hopping and partying. Unfortunately on September 04, 2007 Duncan was severely wounded in EFP strike that severely wounded SGT Joe Mixson, and killed SGT Joel Murray, SPC David Lane, and SPC Randy Shelton.
Duncan fought for his life for 4 months until his body succumbed to his wounds. It was not lack of spirit by any means because Duncan showed that he was as tough as they come. A true warrior. He died in the presence of his beautiful wife, his mother, his battle buddy SGT Joe Mixson.
As his mother said in a letter sent to family and friends, he will forever be 19. I think about him often and wished that I would've expressed to him how much I admired his skill, intellect, intelligence, and warrior spirit. He first came to my squad right before we deployed in support of OIF. Everyone marveled at his genius, and later at his bread making skills when we were in country. He was so smart that when our shit bag RTO Mavity didn't return from RnR Duncan was the only logical choice to be in charge of the Platoons radios. I was so pissed off when they took him from my squad. He was my driver at the time and also my Grenadier. When he died I often wished that it was Mavity in his place as which it should have been. I really wished it never happened but if it had to be someone not him. He should have been in my truck with me.
Duncan was nothing shy of truly amazing with the heart and stamina he possessed surviving as long as he did so he could get home and be able to see his family one last time before he passed away.
I post here to keep his memory alive and to remind people that rough men do stand ready to violence on their behalf. Duncan was smart enough to go to any school he wanted but he chose the Army and he chose the Infantry. If there were not patriots like Duncan ready to answer the call this country would cease to exist.
Here is the letter that his mother sent out the day he passed away.

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

Forever 19, Happy Birthday Duncan. You will never be forgotten.

Ya man....

2009-01-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

This Sunday Exteme Makeover Home Edition. They are doing Tutweiler's house in Kansas. You will be able to see some of the guys from Charlie Company in there, and the Chapman community along with help from loads of volunteers, help rebuild after a huge Tornado damn near wiped them out.
I keep trying to work this schedule thing, and the more I try the more I realize that the "Oh Shits, and wait-a-minutes" are not on that fucking thing. This weekend I have off but next weekend I'm working because I'm the "Graduating Platoon" then the weekend after that I'm working because I'm the "Pick up Platoon". I feel like I just worked back to back weekends about a week ago..... Oh yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, I did.
I did goto the gym today so that was a plus, hopefully do some road marching tomorrow. Wishful thinking at best. I did take 4 days off that turned into 5 days though so I can't bitch to much (though I will anyway). We took a trip down to Orlando to hit up Disney. It wouldn't be a Deuce Deuce family road trip with out random vomiting though. My little girl tends to get sick every time we take a road trip. Every time. I planned ahead this time and brought scented garbage bags. Little did we know is that what she had was the flu. We realized this Sunday night when my son decided to vomit on the floor of a nice restaurant in which we were in attendance of my wife's Aunt's birthday. Fun times.
We returned Monday afternoon, and as I bedded down early to catch some winks before I had to go to work at 0'dark thirty I was awakened by the sound of violent vomiting, as my wife had caught it also. I stayed home on Tuesday to help take care of the kids and my wife and after about the 3rd time of rinsing out the puke bucket I gave up, as I was about to be down with the sickness.
Knock on wood though I've been back to work and haven't come up with the Flu yet. Just a major case of the Ass is all. Anyways I've cleaned and seen enough puke to last me the rest of 09. Oh and shit lets not forget the shit. Diabungabetis of the blow hole if you will, aka Spray and Pray, you know the kind of violent diarrhea that goes everywhere but in the bowl. Ya that kind, kind of corny eh?
Just waiting on one more document before I can send my packet up, and then its all about the PT. I'm motivated to PT but finding time here is difficult because I also have to manage family time. You've heard the term "If momma ain't happy, then nobody's happy." I have to abide by that. She has been very supportive of it though but I do try to get home to spend time with kids and help with homework before they go to bed. I know that she gets frustrated when she is doing it all, I would too.
I would like to send a shout out to the drivers in the South. Hey your fucking car has a blinker for a reason. Try using it and you could probably avoid most major accidents as people might actually have time to react to you when you lane change like in NASCAR.
We have EIB coming up soon so I'm stoked for that. I've only been able to test twice for it. The first time we had 2 days of train up and trying to divide into 1 during "Guestamate Range" fucked me. The 2nd time I rolled my ankle on a dark tank trail, real bad. That was at mile 2, I then walked 6 more miles on it before I hopped in the truck. Later that night they needed me to range saftey the night range. When I pulled my boot off at 3am the next morning, and mind you the road march started at 3am the previous day. It looked like I had an egg plant holding my foot to my leg. Hopefully this time I will have ample train up and being able to knock this shit out.
Well I'm out I have to sleep so that maybe tomorrow I won't flip out about toilet paper. Yes this afternoon I lost my mind with some of the Privates concerning toilet paper. Most of it was an act, but a lot of it was because they were unable to follow the simplest of tasks, though they are extremely intelligent individuals.. Well shit, I'm out!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Workout today-
2.5mi Run
Circuit= 4X 10 Thrusters, 10 DIPS, 25 AB exercise (each one different), 5 Chin ups 30 sec to 1min rest between exercise.

Hashing Shit Out!!!

2009-01-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

This morning was pretty interesting. I've been voicing my concerns about the schedule a little bit, but this morning good natured ribbing began about me and my "issues" and I decided not to let it go. The 1SG took the lead and this time I stuck to my guns- respectfully of course, the CO jumped in a little bit but I didn't budge. Needless to say we all walked away feeling equally butthurt at one another, and though my fellow NCO's and I always "gripe" about this very subject and share the same feelings on it I was kinda left out there to tread with the sharks. Its like being in a pool everyone gravitates towards one another but at the first sign of trouble everyone swims away. I knew this was going to happen but oh well.
Later during the day the CO talked to me and he came to the conclusion that I bring it on myself as a workaholic. I tried to tell him that just some times shit pops up that has to be dealt with. The 1SG came up with a model schedule to show me where I can get myself and the guys that work with me the time off. I liked that approach because instead of staying butthurt and micromanaging the schedule he did what good NCO's should do and pretty much chalked it up to developmental training. I'll work on making sure that I try to get out on time and making sure the guys that I work with get good time off too. I definitely don't want to sham, or give anyone else the impression that I sham and maybe that is the problem and maybe quite possibly its not the schedule at all and its just me. I'm not thoroughly convinced but I have most definitely been wrong before. I have time off coming and when I get back I'm really going to try and make it work. I always tell the guys at work I'm leaving then something pops up and an hour later I keep saying I'm leaving and they laugh at me.
The trainee shenanigans have started up with Soldier's acting up in class and going to sick call, I didn't think it would start this soon as I really thought that this was going to be an awesome class. Today was only one day and I only had to talk one guy out of quitting. My office has become quite the popular place to hang out with the addition of a microwave, fridge and coffee pot, and now everyone bringing in their left overs. Nothing says "Welcome" like free food.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Bitter

2009-01-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

I'm really trying to find funny shit to write about now a days. Its getting more difficult by the day. Though tons of funny conversations and shit happens at work it is over shadowed by my extreme level of butt hurtness. I'm haunted by the assurance that I shouldn't be working as much, though now I found out I'm supposed to be at work until 1700, well I get to work at 0500. Thats 12 fucking hours oh thats on a good day. Thats 12 fucking hours 6 days a week and 2 back to back full weekends every 4 week cycle. Did I mention there is no special duty pay like the Cadre at WTU get, and Drill Sergeants get.
I hate to bitch I really do but shit man. The only thing they really try to sell me on working here is that its a great new pilot program and on Fort Jackson its the only place to get rated Squad Leader time. Thats super! I already have enough rated Squad Leader time. I want to have semi regular hours with plenty of time at home and weekends off and at least a couple of FULL WEEKENDS. Unlike some of the senior people around me I just got back in April from a 15 month deployment, where I managed to miss my oldest daughters birthday 2 FUCKING TIMES.
When I mention this shit though they look at me like I have cock growing out of my forehead and chalk up to nothing more as me being a whiny bitch, they actually get pissed off at me. Granted yes even to me I sound like a whiny little chode but shit man this schedule effects my home life, and I'm definitely not selfish between 2004 and 2008 I've spent probably 6 fucking months with my family. I think I have a little right to be PISSED. Especially around here when there are guys just chilling on the ranges and got promoted here on Fort Jackson and I know they don't have any rated time in their pay grade, not to mention one fucking deployment maybe in 2003. Lets not even begin to mention those home steading here with no combat patch.
I'm not alone with my thoughts of not being in the shit Joe from Fobbits Need Ice Cream Too, recently returned from deployment and is trying to hop on the next thing smoking and I totally feel the same way.
I'm not afraid of hard work in the least, I just had a different idea of what this tour here at Relaxin Jackson was going to be like. Lots of time for PT and schools and shit. Try no time for shit. "Oh you have plenty of time after work to PT Sergeant Ruark." Ya when I get off at 1700 maybe if I don't want to eat dinner with my family.
Fuck I really screwed the pooch on this one. So far now this is me applying generous helpings of Vagisil to my aching gape filled with sand. Imagine the pearl I'm about to pull out!
DOOSH DOOSH OUT!!!!!

.....Still Here

2009-01-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

Remember when I posted about being back at work? No shit I'm still back at work. I haven't had a day off since then. What am I fucking deployed? The 1SG assured me that with the manning and scheduling that we would be getting more time off, though now we work back to back weekends now. The graduating platoon comes in and works a Sunday, and then again when you pick up which is-back to back. I'd tried to go over the logic in my head but I'm really to tired to grasp it. Yesterday I got home laid down and was lights out for 2 hours. Thursday and Friday I pulled 15 hour days. Yesterday I came in a little later and took a PT test. I was surprised as far as not doing as bad as I thought I would. Another 2 weeks and I would have gotten the score I wanted. At least it gave me an idea where I have to go and what I need to do to improve.

We picked up the new Platoon on Thursday. In the beginning they always seem to be a good group until about week 2 when they go completely insane. I already have one with his bi-polar issues that will soon become a poison to the rest of the Platoon as has happened in the past. You get one who figures out how to undermine the system and not soon after he talks to those Soldier's who are borderline and gets them hop on the wrong side of the line. I have the most females in this class than I have had in the past. Statistics show that I will catch at least 3 for fraternization. Hopefully not though, I challenged all of them to make a liar out of me but we will see.

Week 2 is usually when they get bold and start seeing how much they can get away with, but in comparison to my last Platoon this one has started off a lot better and hopefully will perform a lot better.

I'm definitely looking forward to this next long weekend. I'm planning on taking a trip down to Florida and hitting some of the parks in Orlando. Especially after working 2 weeks without a break I'll be ready. You would think after 15 months deployed I wouldn't give a shit, but its one thing being thousands of miles away from the family versus being 15 miles away. I would almost just rather be deployed if I'm not getting time to spend with my family. At least I enjoy what I do over there.

Back to Work

2009-01-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

Friday I went back to work. I was half hoping that we were just going into sign in and get a couple things in order since I won't pick up a Platoon till next Thursday and maybe have Sat and Sun off. I should know better than that shit. We didn't do much we only had about 6 Privates back from Christmas Exodus. The bulk majority would be back later in the night. Not to bad though out of 91 Soldiers that went home only 3 decided that they didn't want to come back. Hey more power to ya good luck getting a job with the economy the way it is and a Dishonorable Discharge.
Today I went in early to help with the wizz quiz. Before all the Soldier's went home for Exodus they were told that there would be 100% urinalysis when they got back. I'm not UPL qualified so I got to meat gaze. I wasn't looking forward to going to work needless to say to have to watch dudes piss in a cup. I wasn't alone I was accompanied by 5 other cock watchers. We took turns escorting Privates to the latrine and watching them make piddle in the plastic cup. 5 Infantry guys. Infantry guys have a way of turning anything that sucks into something amusing.
For the Privates it was their first piss test in the military other than MEPS. I'm not even sure MEPS has cock watchers. Our job is to make sure they are not giving a false sample or making attempts to contaminate the sample. Though from what I've heard about UA technology today it is pretty damn hard to get one over on the military wizz quiz. The first kid I got decided he would just unbutton the fly and pull it out and pee. No thats not how we do it. I told him to lift his shirt up and drop trow down to the knees. He looked back at me and said "Sorry?" "Ya buddy I have to make sure that your not trying to fake the funk so I have to see your junk."
"Don't get cocky with me bud, piss and lets go!"
I'm not trying to degrade them I mean for fuck sake who is more degraded the guy trying to piss, or me put in the position to stare at another mans ass and genitalia? Not just one I probably monitored 15 guys. That should be enough for a trip to the psych ward, its not natural.
Needless to say I felt hoodwinked. For about 4 hours we took turns as Cock and Ball sentry's. Protectors of the piss cup. Then when your about done you have your guys that miss fire and stall for time. You make them drink water, exercise a bit, talk about waterfalls. All the tricks you can think of and the dudes won't piss. If they don't piss you can't go anywhere till you do. Two Soldiers decided to post pone the unavoidable, they dicked the dog for an hour, and we were pissed off. Not only did we have to meat gaze all the way into our lunch our now we were stuck baby sitting gun shy pissers. Most likely unable to piss due to the fact that they are guilty. Most of the Privates that went through we try to get them to go by lightening the atmosphere with dick jokes, and they laugh then pee. Believe it or not there is kind of a science behind meat gazing and making the testers actually pee on the first go............. O.k. there really isn't I'm just saying that to make it sound like my job was really much more important than it was alright..
You could tell these guys were nervous, we would crack jokes and they would flash back nervous smiles. Apparently one requested to talk to the Commander and admitted that he may piss hot. After over an hour of waiting for these two they finally pissed and we were mission complete.
Later one of the Soldier's I've had for 3 cycles now due to an injury told me that he had over heard Soldier's talking about how they would be alright because they took some kind of cleanser. No they won't and by the time we get the results, they will be in basic not even thinking about the test, most likely thinking they had passed, when one day they will get called out and sent packing for being weak and not wanting to adhere to the Army Standards. I wonder if their parents will be proud.
Anyway thats how I spent day 2 at work, on cock and ball watch. I have to go now and douse my eyes with bleach. Hope every body else's New Year is going better than mine.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!!!

2008 in Review

2009-01-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

2008 is behind us now.

I started 2008 at FOB Rustamiyah, and if memory serves me well shortly after midnight there Garrison burst through my door in a thong that said "I love my Soldier" and jumped into my bed. The rest of the men were gathered outside snapping pictures. I don't know where those pictures went but they will probably resurface if any of those guys read this post. I was there for the first snow fall in Baghdad in roughly over 60 years. That was the same day we escorted a bunch of nuclear waste, that was a fun day let me tell you.

A good man's body succumbed to injuries he had sustained 4 months earlier the day before his 20th birthday. Duncan Crookston the resident Charlie Company Genius will never be forgotten.
Things were relatively quite in our sector and we were doing barrier missions and setting up check points on one of the worst routes in Iraq at the time. We were trying to get that stretch of highway in our area safe for all those that passed through it. Many a night we were out there laying down jersey barriers and building checkpoints that the Iraqi's and us could use to set up traffic control points. There was still the ongoing mission of grabbing high value targets in which we favored over the barriers. We reoccupied the COP and felt safer out there than we did at the FOB since the rocket and mortar attacks had increased.
Then only days before handing over our sector to the 4thID we rolled out into the streets in mid day to find all the check points abandoned and nobody on the roads. We hit a mosque and found loads of weapons and IED and EFP making materials. We stirred a hornets nest and on the drive back to drop the cache off the Rocket Magnet (Simmons) lead vehicle was hit with an EFP and RPG. Rendering the vehicle useless so that we had to get out and hook it up to tow. Once that crew dismounted the small arms fire picked up and we started to fire back at suspected enemy locations to din the fire long enough to get the truck hooked up.
During this uprising two more Task Force Ranger soldier's were killed and others severely wounded. Sadr's uprising and ending of the cease fire were in full effect and everybody came out to fight. The day after the Mosque raid and ambush we headed back into sector and got into a short skirmish just minutes away from our COP which ended after our 1st Platoon opened up on a wahabi that had just fired an RPG at them with a .50cal. Later that night my Platoon raided the Mosque down the street from us that we had been waiting to hit forever and a day. It was a dry hole and then later we were summoned to help out our sister company, and also relieve some National Police that were holed up at their compound. D co lead the way and it almost seem like every 5min you heard an IED blow up. No casualties as we monitored their net and sped to link up with them seeing all the destruction that nearly missed them in their wake. They began shooting anything suspicious which paid off after several more explosions. Only days before we were supposed to be relieved we were caught up in a huge fire fight. As dawn broke RPG wielding terrorists braved the roof tops to fire down on our Dco sent into get a platoon from one of our sister companies. Hannibal let fury ring from his 24o and mowed them down. We were sent down to pull security on the exfil route and it seemed as if everyone with a weapon wanted to come out and play, we continued movement once the rest of the convoy was ready to go and steady shot our way off of a 2mi stretch of road. Some of the terrorists Hannibal would shoot would be dragged away from their machine gun at the end of the road and another would jump behind it.
2nd Platoons last days in sector would be spent on COP security and the other platoons going out into Indian Country. A couple of weeks later we were on birds headed for home and reunited with our families. Its hard to believe that just last March we were in a pitched battle only days before heading for home.

Reunited with our families most of us took block leave to get reacquainted. Some of missed the camaraderie of the people we had just spent 15 months with. As is true in the Army, they built a great family and then separated them. Some getting out just last month and others getting out this month and in the next couple of months. Some stayed on for another tour, and some are actually already back in Iraq.
I bid farewell to Kansas which in hindsight was stupid because Fort Jackson flat out sucks, and now I realize that my place is on the line getting Soldier's ready to go to war. It wouldn't be so bad if I actually had more time to spend with the family but right now the job that I'm in doesn't offer it. Quite frankly none of them are to excited to be here. I asked for it and I got it, well doom on me.
I have had the opportunity to open some more doors though and we will see which ones I can actually get through. I've gotten to spend a little quality time with the family which I'm thankful for. I miss the old friends from Riley, and I wish I still had the opportunity to lead those that stayed on back there.
The world is a pretty unstable place leading into 2009, we have a new president that has promised us change, we will see what happens. We could certainly use some change.
To everyone I wish a happy New Year and hopefully this one is better than the last. To all my friends and brothers in harms way stay safe.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

Reunited with SGT Joel L. Murray on his birthday shortly after arriving home. He was laid to rest in Fort Riley Kansas.

Christmas and dog ass hair

2008-12-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

And indeed it was a Christmas at home! I'll say it topped last years spending it with my family, but it wouldn't have been bad to have that other family here with me too. Yesterday I had to brave the holiday traffic sans gunner, with my daughters for some last minute shopping for mommy. The closest place to my house being a Wal-Mart. My wife had been gone all day with my Mother-In-Law looking for last minute gifts which upon her return gave me roughly an hour to before (southern drawl) The Wallllll Mart closed.
First thing, I'm patient I really am. Second I hate traffic, 3rd I hate crowds. Hence, so there I was in the middle of Wal Mart, an hour before it closed on Christmas Eve, with my daughters. Heads down girls! "FRAG OUT!!!!" That would've been awesome to have an episode but I decided that I would attempt to stay out of jail this Christmas. The girls knew what they wanted to get Mommy, but all their ideas had probably been bought out earlier in the day. We opted on some slippers with the promise of a shopping spree for mom accompanied by her 2 biggest fans.
I made it out of Wal Mart without burning it to the ground or choking anybody. Yay me!
I mentioned earlier that the Ma-In-Law came up. This was good because my wife and I can't cook. At one point in my life I could but I lost the touch sometime ago. My wife tells me she can cook but since she worked in the Food Service Industry for so long she hates it. Hates it...... Ma-In-Law whipped up a bad ass Christmas dinner and I sit here typing on a bloated stomach.
She also brought up her dog which is a cross between a poodle and a hippie. It is a little short dog with long hair. That dog doesn't like my dog and for some reason. I'm half tempted to just let them Mike Vick it out in the living room, I'm sure my dog could take the Hippie dog my wife is not so sure. The other thing is that this dog likes to sit on my couch. This would've been fine if 2 days ago I didn't give him an ass hair cut to remove a piece of shit that was stuck to its ass before it came back into my house. Yes thats right I had to cut dog ass hair. That was a first for me. Holding the dog trying to keep him from moving and slinging this turd around and just hacking away with my wifes wrapping paper scissors......................................... Did I wash those off? Don't get me wrong I like the dog but when I see it on the couch all I can see is that turd swinging on a strand of ass hair.
Christmas was good though, the kids made out, my Ma-In-Law finally got to spend a holiday with her family. Usually she is lonely in Florida so I'm glad that she got to come up here, cook, and spend time with us. I got fed and now I'm tired and tomorrow I'm looking forward to a fun work out. I hope that everyone had a fantastic Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, and whatever else I'm missing.

The Holidays

2008-12-22T07:30:00.001-08:00

Its so weird being home this year for Christmas, especially more so in South Carolina. It's not that cold, there is no snow, but there are lots of cool Christmas lights. Kara did most of the shopping since I was in class, and we really don't have a baby sitter. Which is alright since I'm not a very big fan of large crowds and pushy shoppers. Shopping would be more fun if I went with the squad and moved in a file, entered and cleared a department store and shoving people aside from the cash register.
The roads are pretty outrageous everyone getting their last minute shopping done. A majority I firmly believe haven't driven in months possibly years and out of sheer necessity of purchasing Christmas gifts, have left the shelter of their homes to brave the shopping malls. Needless to say riding in the car with my wife is pretty amusing. She has to be the most impatient driver on the road. It would be awesome to see her TC a truck in Iraq with her own machine gunner at her disposal. I need to get a PA system for the car so when she actually swears at the incompetent motorists in her way everyone could hear. I need to bring the Camera out next time and get some of it on tape.
Last year my biggest Christmas wish was not to get killed any where near the Christmas holiday so my family wouldn't have to associate a holiday with tragedy. I felt that way every holiday, and birthday. I was relieved when the holidays would come go without incident. Now my biggest worry is some kind of road rage incident.
I hope everyone has a happy holiday.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

116

2008-12-19T19:27:00.000-08:00

I got a 116! I'm actually pretty relieved as when I was doing the test the math was unnervingly easy. Now on to the PT portion. I started with the prescribed 5 week plan that they have on the website. I did a 3mi road march today and made the time hack well within the limits. I did have a huge blister blow out on my pinky toe. For a moment I thought I had broke it again because the feeling is similar. I was relieved to pull my boot off to see a ginormous piece of skin flapping in the breeze. Tomorrow is an easy work out day so probably off to do some sprints and such. I have most of the paper work done right now for my packet and I just need to get the physical, and a couple more pieces to the puzzle before I can submit it. I talked to the SF recruiter today he let me know what I needed to get and said once I get it all together he will try to get me a date in February. I'm hoping to be physically ready by then, if not it will have to wait until I'am. I'm on leave now so I'm going to dive in to the physical part of it. Just another path in the journey and I've cracked the door at this point. We will see what happens.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Updizzate

2008-12-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

Went back at noon and talked to the counsellor. I got a 114 on the Predictor, and supposedly this predictor is harder than the actual test. The actual test is tomorrow. Can't wait to get this knocked out and over with and concentrate on things that are a little more in my favor.
I'm at the library now and about to get my study on then go run. My throat is a little sore now from clearing it repeatedly and now I'm typing annoyingly loud. It seems that some people- an officer think they are above and beyond the rules of the library and common courtesy well, at least the one talking on his cell phone right now is and has been for the last 10 minutes. He must have missed the giant sign in bright red letters with a BRIGHT RED circle with a cross going through a picture of a giant 90's style cell phone and below the pictures it doesn't just say "NO CELL PHONES, it says CELL PHONES PROHIBITED. How do I remember this you ask, well for starters I couldn't miss the sign on my way in and I was like "Wow they said prohibited, they ain't playin in this library." I guess it would be one thing if he was discussing the training or the security of the free world or something work related but alas its of a personal matter a doctors appointment. How do I know this well he is speaking above the tone of a whisper. Pretty much the whole reason I started to post I was originally on the ASVAB website.
Ouch, I just tried the "Hey sir." approach. I said "Hey sir, there are no cell phones allowed in here." Very respectfully of course cuz I'm all about that. He looked right in my face then down to where his rank is, back to my face and and kept talking. Wow.
Well looky there he got it he left hurray! With a 110 GT score I will soon be able to talk on my cell phone in the library as well. Well now thats out of the way back to studying.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Post Test to the PreTest of the Test

2008-12-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took the Post TABE. The TABE is a test designed to see what level of schooling your functioning at. I fared pretty well when I took it prior to this class, the only thing I was under 12th grade level at was Math, and I was right around High School Juniorish...... Or was that Junior High Schoolish???? The TABE was long and not to hard, I later went home and ate like 27 chicken wings to celebrate which put me in a foul mood that led into this morning.

I took the GT predictor today, and hopefully will know the results later this afternoon when I speak to the ed counselor. The VOCAB part went peachy, I got a little flustered on the Paragraph comprehension portion as my common sense took leave of me and I tried to convince the Proctor that a portion of a question was missing. I shortly realized that I was a fucking botard and wasted precious seconds getting pissed off at something that really isn't that hard. I flew through the reading and completed the rest of that portion of the test.

Then the Math. I thought I was doing pretty damn good at first, I was banging out questions, which I thought rather quickly. Suddenly the 5min mark was called and I found myself staring at over 10 unanswered questions. I quickly did the ones I knew for sure but guessed on 9 of them since I was down to a minute left.

All the study and prep for this math shit and I'm left pretty much in the dust. The Proctor said that the Predictor is harder than the actual test and there is like a 10 point difference. I guess I will have to wait to see my predictor score to really be worried.

I will be happy to get a 110 even a 100 so I can put in my SF packet then I really just have to focus on my PT and my land nav skills. Rest assured if there are any story math problems during the course I might be fucked. They should maybe gear the story problems towards real life situations versus the outdated shit that they put on it now. Like gas is even close to .64 cent a gallon come on.

They should be more like this.

If Ahkmed has 100% of body but is hit hit by 1 M19 round that takes out 85% of his body, which they only find 2%. How many virgins will he actually receive when he gets to heaven?

A. 2

B. 20

C. 100

D. None Because Ahkmed's Terrorist ass is going straight to hell.

Then I could probably get into the math a little bit.

DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

BSEP

2008-12-11T19:24:00.000-08:00

For the last week and a half I've been attending Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP). Its a program the Army came up with to help Soldier's raise their General Technical (GT) scores. Your GT score is basically derived from the Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Mathematics Knowledge. Pretty much a 110 will get you to where you need to go, if you want to go Warrant Officer, OCS, AWG, CAG.... etc... etc.. etc...
Well I can't remember what I got when I originally took the test back in 95, but when I came back in I had to take it again. I remember thinking "I just want to be a Grunt so who really gives a shit about math as long as I can pull a trigger right?" WRONG! To go to Sniper school you have to have a 100, trying to put in an SF app. if your already in the Army you need a 100. Trying to go to Old Guard they want you to have a 110. Well I ended up getting a 96 and it has forever hindered me from branching out and trying other things. Well that and my favorite place to vacation at- Iraq.
I finally got some time and got into the class. My words and reading are fine its the math that straight kicks my ass. Its only a 2 and a half week course so we start at Barney level and move rapido through Percents, ratios, geometry, and a little Algebra. You know it makes me feel good to go home with homework and find my 4th grade daughter is doing the same shit.
She thinks its funny but at least I can SPELL! Apparently the schools now-a-days don't believe in teaching kids how to spell they think it is o.k. for them to sound them out and call it a day.
My daughter had to write out a word problem as part of her home work. It went something like this.....
Gia has 10,000 lolly pop rapers, and her friend Kat has 20,000 lolly pop rapers, how many lolly pop rapers do they have all together?
If I was Gia or Kat I would get the hell away from those lolly pop rapers!
My baby she is smart, smarter then me (at math). She gets straight A's, and thats pretty good since a 93% in this school district is considered a B. The school doesn't teach them to spell. I remember when I was a kid we had spelling lists and a test at the end of the week.
Anyway I've taken 2 little pre-tests and have scored above 115 so hopefully things go well and I will be able to start sending applications out, so I can get off of Fort Jackson. I have one out now and I'm waiting for the powers that be tell me yay or nay. Hopefully that will work out, I'll keep you posted.
Just think if I get a 110 I'll be smart enough to be an officer.......
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Extreme Makeover Home Addition

2008-12-05T19:11:00.000-08:00

I love this show, and I think what they do for the family's they help is outstanding. Especially even more so now that they helped one of our guys that was shot by a sniper in Iraq. I had blogged the event in Luck Worn Thin. Later we would eventually catch the piece of shit Iraqi Police Officer that shot Patrick Tutwiler.
I Tutwiler almost died that day, he was later flown to the states to recover. Right before I left Kansas a huge Tornado hit the town of Chapman were Tutwiler resides and essentially destroyed the town, including the Tutwiler's home.
I found out that EMHA was there when I called one of my Soldier's to ask him a question. There was a lot of background noise so I asked where he was at. Thats when he told me that him along with pretty much the rest of the company and thousands of other volunteer's were helping EMHA build the Tutwiler's a home.
God bless the Tutwiler's and all the volunteer's that came together to help them and the Chapman community out. You actually NEED to read the story which is here. The episode is supposed to air on January 25th. Check it out.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Video Find

2008-12-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

This video was taken I believe during the summer of 2007. Our Bravo Company was occupying the DAK hall when they started taking fire from the building you see getting destroyed in the video. Later in April '08 when Sadr lifted his ceasefire the insurgents tried to attack the Iraqi Police and a Platoon of Bravo company again from that building, that time they dropped a JDAM on it.
I was at our COP when they dropped the JDAM and we all heard it scream over head followed by a huge explosion.
Later during that siege we had to go to the DAK hall to help resupply the Iraqi Police, and assist our BSB, and Delta Company to recover a vehicle that had been hit with the EFP that killed 2 and injured the rest of the men in that truck, and also escort a Platoon of Bravo, back to the FOB.
A huge fire fight ensued and my gunner Hannibal would later be awarded an ARCOM with Valor for his keen eye and M240B finesse.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!
P.S. Thanks to Cho for the link!

Thanksgiving past, present, and future

2008-11-30T15:07:00.001-08:00

My first Thanksgiving with wife and kids since 2005. We were going to go to upstate New York to visit the wife's family and attend her high school reunion then opted on using that money to facilitate a splendid Christmas. Honestly I was not really excited to drive 12 hours to stay for 2 days then drive back. I was looking forward to home cooked food and seeing my father-in-law.
I made sure to take leave so that nothing would interfere with this Thanksgiving holiday, which was a fantastic idea. We decided also to avoid the hassle of cooking our own dinner. We went out to eat at Ryan's Buffet, in which I do have to say they had a tremendous spread. Once we finished eating we went and saw Bolt the movie in 3-D. After words we went to the house and relaxed, no clean up no nothing just family chill time.
Don't get me wrong I do occasionally get home sick for the beautiful Lewis-Clark Valley, in which I was born and raised. My Thanksgiving's there were some times 2 day extravaganza's in which I would spend time with my mother's family and my father's family. My father's family is split between his mom and dad. Sometimes it was spent going to my Grandma Maggie's, then to my Grandma Gladys's. Each having there own special moments and memories.
The last time I was in the Valley and got to spend Thanksgiving with my family was back in 1995. That December I joined the Marines, I wasn't supposed to ship until after the holiday's, but they called and asked me if I wanted to leave the following day once I was cleared at MEP's. I declined but thought about and told them I would leave on that Wednesday (the next day). I said my good-byes, quit my job, and was off. That was DEC 5th!
My first Thanksgiving away from home was in 1996 I was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River, in Jacksonville NC. My good friend Saladine Hines invited me to Conway South Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with him and his family. Sal was black but in the Marines we all saw each other as green, there was no race divider we all had a common bond. Where Sal lived I was definitely the minority, as in I didn't see any white people at all. His mother took me in as if I was her own and on Thanksgiving she had to work, but the next day she was up early cooking us a huge feast. My first experience with Southern home cooking and it was awesome. In 1997 I found myself in New Jersey with one of closest friends John Timms. It was pretty crazy and was just what I would expect from a New Jersey family. Their accents were thick and Johns grandmother yelled at me in her thick Jersey accent to "Pass the fuckin potatoes!", apparently she had asked a couple of times but I couldn't hear her. 1998 I had Thanksgiving dinner on the USS Austin somewhere out in the Black Sea if memory serves me well. On the actual Thanksgiving day we were low on supplies and did not get resupplied until that night or the following day so for Thanksgiving we had chicken and rice. The next day though we had a spectacular feast. I do remember the Austin having outstanding chow. 1999 I had Thanksgiving with my new wife in upstate New York, this is where I would have Thanksgiving until 2003 when I had Thanksgiving at a Residence Inn in Fishkill New York. I was doing a security mission with the NYANG.
Which brings me to present time where in 2006 I was at BNCOC and my battle buddies and I had arrived one minute late to the DFAC and the doors were closed. We beat on the door, until one of our fellow classmates opened the door for us, the next day was actually Thanksgiving where we went to the Airborne chowhall and parked in the Dco's Company Commander's parking spot. 2007 I ate along with my whole Platoon at the FOB Rustamiyah's DFAC. We were fortunate as we were not back at the COP yet and not on gate guard.
Each time though and even more so now I give thanks for the great family I have, and often think about Thanksgivings that I had when I was a kid. I give thanks for being lucky and still being here, I give thanks for those who couldn't be with us for those holidays, I give thanks for the men who surround me. I could go on forever. Thanksgiving is definitely a time for family and to remember those members of the family who are no longer with us. When not home I've been blessed to spend Thanksgiving with my military family.
Thank you for all of my family oversea's spending their holiday's away from home. I wish you all a safe return.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Incoming!

2008-11-22T21:11:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by Big Tobacco on this post as I was from the Blogosphere Awards post. He is battling insomnia. I remember those days. During the summer of 07 at the COP it was so hot and we were understaffed and we were doing 7-8 days out and 2 (if we were lucky) in. We would roll from the FOB in the morning and begin conducting patrols. The SWEAT assessments, or clearing if you will. House to house to house to house. Upstairs and downstairs, "Oh hey lets stop at the 4 story apartment building". 130 degree days clearing for 12 hours, climbing at least over 500 stairs. Come in eat take a nap only to be woken up by the LT. "You gotta come down and get the mission brief." Go down get the brief. Raid at 0'dark thirty. Bed down for an hour wake up conduct Pre, combat, checks (PCC's). Prep for mission back brief, stage and roll. Make it on to the objective conduct raid, fuck around for a couple of hours if we couldn't find who we were looking for then roll back to the FOB. "Bed your guys down for an hour, then wake up and assume COP security.
COP security with minimal staff involved 3 on 3 off guard schedule on the roof in the baking sun. Unable to remove our ACU tops. 3 on 3 off for the next 48 hours until we go back into patrols. On your 3 hours off you try to go back down into the warehouse to sleep. You can't though because the generator or the AC is broken and its like an oven in your area. You pass out from shear exhaustion to be awaken by the off going to come relieve him, a puddle of sweat lay beneath your COT.
Even when we moved back to the FOB it was hard to sleep. We begin chasing HVT's and many nights we would be on stand-by to 0'dark thirty in the morning only to stand down, and do it again the next night, a little sleep during the day depending on what kind of asinine detail came our way, or if hajj wasn't launching rockets at us. Sometimes we would be on stand-by all night and then have to be up in the morning to escort someone to a meeting or go play happy fun town.
Right before we left they really started to rocket the shit out of us. This is why we called it Rocketmiyah. I mentioned my good friend Tom the rocket magnet. I used to stay awake all night at the MWR just to be in a hardened building verse being in my trailer.
I found this video when I searched Rusty on youtube. This day sucked, I didn't film this I myself was in a bunker on the other side of the FOB. We were pissed off sitting in there baking with nothing that we could do about that shit. We were so pissed, then finally the Gunships and a Brad bore down on the dump truck parked outside of our FOB with its make shift rocket launchers in the back. A hill billy MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) if you will.
Enjoy DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

ALLAH AKBAR!!!

2008-11-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

Yes he is great!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

VOTE

2008-11-21T19:46:00.000-08:00

Go here and vote for some of your favorite blogs. Check out the blogs I follow and that are listed on this page. There are some good ones and go and place your votes.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Just when you think you've heard it all....

2008-11-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

My battle buddy from another Platoon, came up to me and pulled me aside "You gotta here this one, its new I had to break out my book and write it down."
One of his Soldier's that just got here last Thursday came up to him and told him that he had to use the phone. "Why do you need to use the phone?"
"Well I just do Sergeant?"
"Well why do you need to use my phone your gonna tell me why you need to use my phone!"
"To call my lawyer Sergeant?"
-quizzical pause
"Why do you need to call your lawyer?"
"Failure to adapt Sergeant."
"Really your trying to get out of this?"
"Yes Sergeant I failed to adapt within 6 months."
"Well it hasn't been a week and your adapting fine, but if your lawyer can get you out of full filling your GOVERNMENT contract give me his number so he can keep me from going back to Iraq."
Yes folks the things they will come up with to try and sherk responsibility. The problem is a Soldier that we can't get rid of has become a poison among the new Platoon. The dirt-bag claimed mental illness after he got his GED so he wouldn't have to ship. The Army has about 15,000 grand rolled up in this kid now and as soon as the head shrinker's told him he wasn't going to ship suddenly his panic attacks disappeared. Now the new Soldier's that arrived in that platoon are suddenly coming up with the same symptoms.
Also had a guy try to run today, but he chickened out apparently he is to far from Ohio. Nope Army is not for him. We have to have "man hug" time with this guy every other day. If I had it my way these guys that quit and get chaptered would spend the rest of their enlistment in federal prison, giving back to their country and to the military.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

One of those days.....

2008-11-17T15:19:00.000-08:00

Holy crap since I hurt my ankle I turned into a huge slob. I like to eat and not do any exercise except for what I do at work. Which amounts to very little considering if I deviate from the training and conditioning drills for the Privates my bag would be in a sling of sorts. Tomorrow I tell myself, tomorrow!
This new platoon is turning about to be very terrible. Honestly the first 2 I had were good. Too good, I found that I was spoiled. The other cadre already knew this and keep telling me "bout time". Thus far we have gotten two Soldier's to stick it out and stay. I have one Soldier who is a giant doosh bag in a little body, and he thinks he is billy bad ass. I've assured him he is not in a not so loving but more nurturing tone. He likes to throw down his cap and his canteen and storm off like a 2 year old when I dig into his 4th point of contact. To this I laugh and say "When it gets rough out there you gonna pop the hatch on your tank and walk out?" He assures me that would be a different situation, but as we all know stress is stress, its how we handle it that makes the difference. Mister tough guy has started to cry openly now on more than one occasion. He seems to think it is my fault but out of 48 Soldier's who are here for 4 weeks and hopefully shorter, I really shouldn't even get to know their names, thats just the nature of the beast. This guy, I know his name, his history. The rest of the Platoon despises him. We had a little sensing session today and I let the Platoon speak their mind about this kid directly to his face. At first he responded with flipping the Soldier's with harsh words off. No words sting so heavily than those that are full of truth right? He does this knowing full well that he is under my protection. The Platoon has already voiced consensus on physical violence. Don't get me wrong in this environment I do not condone that behavior and I make that point very clear to keep their hands to themselves. This little guy runs his mouth to other Soldier's I know damn well could "beat the brakes off" of him. No matter what I say though, I'm sure someone is going to weigh the consequences versus the lesson it may teach the Soldier, some of the Soldier's come from different backgrounds and they take his defiance as a huge sign of disrespect towards me and are more than willing to throw him an ass whipping on my behalf. I'm flattered and all but that is not how business is done now-a-days.
I find myself in a Jedi-trial. I must Jedi mind fuck (if you will) this young Soldier into putting on his "Hooah" face and getting with the program. Time for the arm chair leaders to come in.... If you suggest it, I've already tried it. My other NCO's are working the issue with me. One of my guys is a mental health specialist with 15 years on the job and we are both racking our brains. In the end I will win even if it means kicking a Soldier down the road, I haven't had to yet and I don't intend to, but I will not send a dirt bag to a line company to get someone else killed. The poor Drill Sergeants have their hands so tied down that the word on the street in basic training is that the Privates rule. Is that true? I don't know thats just the word.
I know it wasn't like that when I went through in 95. We all knew our place.
Roger, another bitch session by me. This platoon trips me out though hopefully they will get the point. It really is their Drill Sergeants job to square them away but as long as they are here and wearing a uniform and drawing a pay check by god they will conduct business as Soldier's and not some damn high school punks. The proof is in the pudding all the students that we have talked to that have gone to basic training and or graduated have had positive things to say. Thanking us for prepping them for Basic and also getting their GED's.
Me though I need to be doing Infantry stuff that would be alright with me.

I just remembered...

2008-11-14T20:57:00.000-08:00

LOL I was eating with the fam tonight, and I recalled that last Veterans Day, I was headed back to Iraq from RnR. I was in uniform obviously, I flew into Phillie, and had to deboard and go back through security. The line was long as hell and I was thinking "Sweet man I'm gonna get to Atlanta late and they will have to put me up in the hotel". Well with it being Veteran's day and all and being in uniform they insisted that I go to the head of the line. I didn't want to be rude so I went. I should have been like "Whooa I'm going back man, I don't mind lets take our time." All in all it was pretty funny.
I had lunch with my old PL he is here at Jackson, along with another Captain from 2/16. We had a good time and talked of old times and about what was going on now. I then went back and took one of my reluctant little Joe's to a Basic Training graduation. He has been a holdover for me now for almost 4 weeks. He is afraid to ship to Basic. He is a good kid and I know he has the potential to be a great Soldier. The other reason I went to this graduation, is because the first class that I had at APS was graduating. I had one Soldier there that I had almost kicked out of the Army, I didn't give up on him and neither did he. His mother was there just as I had told him she would be and she was proud of her son. He thanked me and went on his way. Another Soldier that was in the same class was there also, he had gotten an infection in his leg and I made sure he had enough rest so that he could be successful when he went to basic training. He thanked me for looking out for him and said that coming through our program first had made Basic a little easier for him.
I'm on my 4th class now and this one is the worst yet, as far as attitudes and people that want to quit. It's always the same story about how this isn't for them and I don't understand....... I was lucky I guess with the first 3 because they were good. Well one more week until I go on leave and spend the first Thanksgiving with my wife and kids in 3 years.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Thank You

2008-11-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

To all Veteran's past and present, thank you for your service. To all the Veteran's in the OP in the sky thank you for your overwatch. Thank you to those who support us and what we do.
I was asked to come into my daughters class today and speak to the children. We live about 20 minutes from post so there is not really a lot of exposure for these children to Military personnel. I brought in some gear and had made a slide show from pictures that I had taken in Iraq. I was really compelled to do this because the day prior my oldest daughter had asked if they were going to get today off. Other children in the 5th grade class replied "Why would we get tomorrow off?" My daughter replied because its "Veteran's day." The student replied with "Why would we get a day off for them, they just fix your animals when they are hurt or sick." Once again my daughter was stymied by the answer of her classmates. Her disgust for some of the non DOD kids began in September when she first started the new school. The kids in her class were making comments about September 11th, and during the moment of silence they were talking, which my daughter thought was very rude, considering we lived in New York during this time. One of the comments was "Why would American's bomb their own building?" My daughter then informed them that the buildings weren't bombed that terrorists crashed planes into them, and the Pentagon and that one crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Her classmates were dumb founded and didn't believe her until the teacher told them that yes that is what happened. 5th grade, 5th fucking grade and these kids are not educated to an event that changed the world that happened in their life time???????
Needless to say my daughter was happy that I came into school and explained some things about the military and Iraq to them. Some even questioned the legitimacy of her father actually being a service member. I will say that the school did explain to them what Veteran's Day is and what it is for. I went back later in the day to have lunch with the girls and sit in on a Choir performance that my oldest daughter was in. The children got the point of the day, many of them waved and told me thank you.
Happy belated birthday to my beloved Marine Corps, and Happy Veterans day to my fellow brother and sisters in arms, and thank you for your service. To everyone deployed I wish you a safe return.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!

NKOTB

2008-10-30T17:53:00.001-07:00

Wow, my wife went to an NKOTB concert in Charlotte. Apparently one of her childhood friends resides there and they were huge NKOTB dorks back in the day. Her friend won the tickets online so now they can relive that dorkdum. I can only imagine a bunch of middle aged moms out there "hangin tough", or maybe get a piece of one of the band members. Seriously I'm laughing my ass off and kind of feeling sorry for the guys on stage because 15 years ago their fan base had perky boobs, the horror they must feel when the same girl that flashed them years ago and now in a sheer moment of fanaticism whips out the milk machines again, for that brief moment she has forgotten that a combination of children, age and gravity have pulled them down from their original point of origin. Poor New Kids.
Anywho I had the day off from work, waited for the plumber to come and fix my toilets. I'm really half tempted to call a plumber on my own and send my Property Manager the bill. The shit is getting old and they keep telling me they are working on getting me the HOA card that supposed to come with the house, in reality they aren't doing shit I know this because my neighbor so graciously pointed out to me that the owner of this home that I pay a mortgage worth of rent for is behind on his HOA payments. Hmmmmmm.
Not only that but I played the role of Mr. Mom. My wife decided to to take the SUV to the concert because she doesn't feel comfortable driving my car, but I'm supposed to shuttle 3 kids in a Sebring coupe? My son's car seat was behind me and he was uncomfortable so I had to scoot my seat up to where the steering wheel was in my chest.
Real life, real problems. This time last year I was on RnR at Disney. Good news is that I'm taking leave for Thanksgiving and this will be the first one I've spent with my family in 3 years.
Tomorrow its back to work and my remaining Soldier's will take the GED test, next week I will pick up another class and they will be the last one until next January.

All in All

2008-10-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well today was a graduation day. It wasn't even my week for graduation thats next week. This class though I had some really smart Soldier's. If a Soldier scores high enough on the pre-GED then they can test out within the first week that they are here. My first week I had 21 Soldier's test out. Last week I had over 20 Soldier's test, not to mention the Platoon who is actually graduating this week and a couple of early tester's from other Platoons we had over 40 Soldier's test last Thursday and we got the result's in and we had 100% pass.
The school is actually doing really well and we have a 98% pass rate. We've only had 3 Soldier's completely fail out but it was pretty much their lack of wanting to be in the Army. Not to mention that they were utter and complete oxygen thieves.

Like I said before I believe in the school and we are doing great things for the nation and the Army. I mean really we are giving an education and actually for the most part setting up Soldier's up for success before they go to BCT. Its just not for me. Not to mention that the fam is not really happy with this post nor my work hours. Could be worse I could be back in the Box........ But is it really though?

Its funny because there are Soldier's that come here to hide from deployment. Not to mention NCO's, and senior NCO's that are here that have never been deployed. Just the other day I was going into a building near by to look for some one when a 1SG asked me "What the fuck?" was I doing in his building, and proceeded to give me a rash of shit for trying to go in his building, when I was trying to find another NCO to get something that I needed for my Soldier's. I looked at his right sleeve and low and be hold it was slick with no combat patch. No he didn't forget it, because I've seen him many other times since then. Pretty much I just chalked it up to Combat Patch envy and left it at that.

Seriously though....... APS is a great program and I'm not just saying that to be all PC and kiss ass if you have read for awhile you know thats not me. I was skeptical at first but I do think that its a good idea. Especially with the way the drop out rate is now for America. Its just not what I want to do............. But we can't always have our cake and eat it to. Sometimes you just got to gnaw on the shit sandwich for a while.....
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

CQ

2008-10-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

Charge of Quarters that is my duty for the night. My duty is to make sure everything is secure, and that the Privates are all accounted for. I have had some interesting nights the last couple of times I've pulled this duty. Everything from crazy people that had sleep in the office with me to Privates taking off into the woods never to return. This particular night some Privates with a little integrity informed one of the other Platoon Sergeants that one of the Soldier's being held over had cigarettes, and a knife. Those things in the IET environment are contra-band. We went through the proper channels and started to look for said items. Now mind you I've searched thousands of houses, and found everything from documents to weapons, now here I'am searching for some smokes??? At first I thought the crafty little Private's had out smarted us, but it wouldn't take long but we found them.
Private's (and probably myself when I was a Private) think that everything they try is new and innovative. They don't realize that we we're once Privates too. Upon finding the stash and a myriad of pogy bait wrappers, we then had a mass formation. I asked if any of the other Private's had smoked the cigarettes or bought some. Nobody fessed up- at first. Using sweat as a truth serum one by one they started to come clean. One Soldier claimed that he had paid $13.00 for 1 cigarette. If I was that guy I definitely would've ratted way before he actually did.
So anyway that is what my life has come down to. I feel stir crazy. I talked to my good friend Rich back at 2/16 and he told me that all sorts of school slots opened up, for Ranger, Airborne, and Air Assault. Ya I've definitely been shoeing myself in the ass. I feel stir-crazy. I tried to play some Halo 3 to take the edge off but it didn't work. I miss my job. I'm looking at some other opportunities hopefully that I might be able to work out, I'll let you know the outcome as soon as I know. I'm pretty positive that I do not want to stay here at Jackson for the next 2 years. The grass on the other side of the fence turned out to be damn cactus that I got stuck in when I hopped over. Well gotta go check on the kids!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

ANNOYED

2008-10-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

I definitely don't like the TRADOC environment. I miss the line, though at times it sucks complete ass and you think that the grass is actually greener on the other side. Low and behold it really isn't. I miss the field, I miss the weapons, and I miss the training, and I really miss the camaraderie. My head spins silly with way's to uplift and move from this post to something a little more tactical, where I can use swear words at my very leisure. I decided to pursue a dream of trying out for Special Forces. I'm scheduled to start a class next month to raise my GT score, I didn't do so well the first time I took the ADSVAB. I've been (was) PT-ing like a maniac but last week on a long interval run I rolled my ankle and apparently tore some ligament, it is still black and blue. The training some what has been put on hold. As soon as I lift the ol' GT score though I'm trying out for everything.
Then I can get away from conversations like these:
"Um, Sergeant this isn't for me."
"What isn't for you?"
"The Army Sergeant its just-"
"Why?"
"I'm not that type of person-"
"What type of person?"
"I just can't be away from my family I can't do that to my kids-"
"So your saying I'm a shitty father?"
"No I'm just saying-"
"That you signed a contract and you don't want to fulfill your obligation to your country why brave men fight on your behalf?"
"No Sergeant thats not it I just-"
"What want to quit, cuz you miss home?"
"NO I just don't want to get killed or kill anybody."
"But you expect me to because you won't? What if someone is trying to kill you, you wouldn't kill them?"
"No-"
"Ok so you would let them kill you and take you completely out of your children's lives?"
"I couldn't kill anyone-"
"Do you know who SGT Alvin York was?"
"NO-"
Then I go into this whole big tirade about SGT York, and god and country, honor, courage, and commitment. I have to have at least 3 or 4 of these little talks a cycle which isn't bad but seriously if you chose the MOS 11B Infantryman, then all the sudden decide you can't and don't want to learn to kill people???????? You chose the MOS just because you came in the Army after playing 3 years of Call of Duty 4 and thought it was all about running around shooting people then you get here and realize that there is some yelling and physical training that you can't hang???? Maybe we should come out with COD 4 mixed with the get fit program so you actually have to run and do push-ups before you can start missions and shit.
The really funny part is they always tell me that I don't know them, and that I don't understand, but somehow we have the same conversation verbatim of all the others.
If your planning on joining the military its all or nothing, you can't come and just try us out and go home. All or nothing. Don't just come for the cool gear and the Army Strong back pack your recruiter gives you come because you have a higher devotion then yourself. Its not that hard.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.....
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Change

2008-10-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in awhile. Not to much to write about now a days. I've been at my new job for a couple of months. I'm a Platoon Sergeant at the APS (Army Prep School). I came to Fort Jackson in the hopes of spending more time with the family, focusing on myself a little bit as far as career wise goes and taking some college classes. Instead I work 10-13 hours a day, every weekend taking care of Soldier's trying to get there education and get to basic training.
I believe in the program and I think the Army is doing a good thing, for me personally though its not quite what I wanted, I find myself trying to squeeze in PT time because these Soldier's are fresh out of blue jeans and keep up with the kind of physical fitness that I would need to maintain so we have them do CD 1, 2, and some light running to break them in but keep them from getting injured. Some how they find a way to break though. Man have things changed since I first went through Marine Basic Training back in 1995.
TRADOC was definitely not what I thought it was going to be like. I yearn to go back to a line unit and keep proficient at my skills. I feel like Martin Sheen in the beginning of Apocalypse Now.
Skip ahead to about 5:15 and you will know what I'm talking about.

I enjoy coming home to my family but at the same time those times are very limited. I love the Army, I believe in the program but I'm not happy with the job and so goes the Army. Suck it up and drive on. Could be worse?
I miss the line and the men that drive it. They don't have tiny heart syndrome and were never "Sick Call Rangers". Some would drive on with impacted wisdom teeth, or broken or sprained ankles and feet and accomplish the mission. These are men that had my back and I theres. Men willing to put there life on the line for yours and vice versa. They say you never know how good you got it until its gone. Even my wife thinks the same way. We opted to live off post this time and she finds it harder to make friends. Military wives share a common bond. In Riley we would go to a small fair and you couldn't help but stop by and run into 20 people that you knew.
I thought I set myself up for success with this move and apparently I didn't. We will see as time goes on if I can accomplish the goals that I set out to do. People told me that it would be a "break" to go to TRADOC. Thats not the case. I work more hours here than I did on the line.... Asides from deployment and field time. Field time is always good to break up the monotony of garrison life but if you have a good unit they always make sure to try and make that time up to you. This post is more so me whining than anything but I made the bed and now I'm laying in it. I hate deployed life because you miss out on so much family time, but I like it because you don't deal with "Real Life". Real life being the bullshit that is going on back here with politics, gas, bills and stuff like that. Deployed life your so worried about staying alive and keeping your men alive you don't really worry to much about the other stuff, family but thats pretty much it for me. You have your FOB b.s. that gets annoying sometimes. Like not being able to use a plywood door in the middle of some T-Walls to exit the DFAC contonement area and if you do you will get an article 15, or not being able to wear a black organizational PT shirt to the chow hall because its "too hot" to be wearing a black t-shirt........
I guess you really wouldn't understand until you walked in those dusty boots, some would probably disagree, but most people I talk to feel the same way Martin does in Apocalypse Now.

"When I was here, I wanted to be there; when I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle. I'm here a week now... waiting for a mission... getting softer; every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger. Each time I looked around, the walls moved in a little tighter."-Captain Benjamin L. Willard.

In their own words

2008-09-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of the guys e-mailed me their thoughts and feelings about some of the men that were killed on SEPT 04. I've been so busy that I didn't have a chance to put them up. I apologize...
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!

Sgt. Murray - one of the best leadership I have ever had in my entire military career... when everyone would give up on me... he would always try to motivate me in a positive way... no matter if I was a screw up or not... I was his screw up n he wouldn’t let me fail... n today I'm the man I am today... when I came to him I was an E-1 that was a little under 2 years ago... and I'm now standing today as a proud E-4 in the United States Army... and a huge part of that is thanks to him and his kind heart and tactical leadership skills he used on me... he was a leader... a mentor... and a friend of mine n I will never forget him

PFC Shelton - Shelton was in the same boat as I was when I came to Charlie company... except he screwed up after I did... and yet he STILL got promoted before I did... he was a soldier among soldiers.. He learned from his mistakes as I did and he wasn’t gonna let the fact they demoted him stop him from being on top... unlike a lot of people in the army. When he was offered to leave the army he stayed and stuck it out dealing with the consequences as I did. he has my utmost respect for doing so and doing it so well...

SPC Lane - I didn’t get to chill with lane a whole lot... but every time I did it was... well.. unique... he was like the best fuckin driver we had in 2nd platoon... so good he was point... one thing that sticks out with lane and me... the day I started turning my poetry into rap songs with the guys I rap with now.. When everyone else made fun of me for being white and rapping... lane told me straight up... "Hey man u might sound white... but your lyrics r really fuckin good" that meant a lot to me...

SPC Crookston - this kid was the smartest dude I ever fuckin met in the infantry. I think Crookston was too smart for the infantry to be honest... but even so he did his job day to day and met the physical conditions with no qualms... n yes I learned that word from him... I learned a lot from him...

SGT Joel Murray
SPC Crookston
SPC Lane
PFC Shelton

fightin along my side all thru my deployment... to fightin along my side for me to be a better person... for never giving up on me... for never excluding me... for makin me feel a part of something so much bigger than myself... from me tryin my best to help u when u needed me the most... to you sacrificing your lives me n the rest of us that appreciate what we do for a living...

you men r my fucking hero's!!!

cant believe its finally been a year... my you be at peace and with god... n for any family to these men... may god be with you and yours... these men are so much more than met the eye... although I don’t know them the best for I am not there family... but from what I do know n have seen.. Is in utter and utmost soldier like courage and the pure definition of a MAN... I love you 4 so very much...

PSALM 23 part 4

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

.. HOOAH men... HOOAHSPC Winkler, Andrew

To everyone, especially in C-co 2.16 INF, Ft. Riley, KS "Rangers" who all served in Iraq from Feb.

07-April 08.
SGT.

Joel Murray
SPC.

David Lane
SPC.

Randy Shelton
CPL.

Duncan Crookston
CPL.

Joseph Mixson

These men were, are and always will be the best at what they did, PROTECTING THE U.S.A. from harm getting here. Please say a prayer for these BRAVE, GRATEFUL, CARING AND AMERICAN SOLDIER'S and their families. To all of my BEST buddies who gave the greatest cost of all, your life, over-sea's, serving with us, I know that you all are always with me and my buddies, and families, watching, protecting and always guiding us in the correct direction.

So Instead of feeling down about Sept.4, 2007 for these great heroes, let's not cry but celebrate the day that they are re-born in Heaven with and for all of us. I Love you and miss you all soo much.

Brother's ForEver:):)
To everyone that says a prayer for these great men, THANK YOU SOO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT:)

P.S.

Below is the prayer from PSALM 91 that I prayed that day for these great and true AMERICAN SOLDIERS:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, "My refuse and my
fortress; my God, in whom I trust.

"
For he will deliver you from the snare of the
fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will
cover you with his pinion, and under his
wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a
shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor
the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A
thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at
your right hand; but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes and see the
recompense of the wicked.

Because you have
made the LORD your refuge, the Most High
your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no
scourge come near your tent.

For he will give
his angels charge of you to guard you in all
your ways.

On their hands they will hear you
up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder, the
young lion and serpent you will trample
under foot.

Because he cleaves to me in love,
I will deliver him I will protect him, because he
knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will
answer him, I will be with him in trouble, I
will rescue him and honor him.

With long life
I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Please say this to honor our great hero's

Today Sept 4th has been a year now even though it still feels like it was yesterday. There Shelton and I were talking before I headed out for my R&R about a week before Randy was going to be on his. Randy and I were talking about how we would meet up in the states before I had to head back and meet his family along with showing me around his home town. Randy and I have been friend’s since day one of Basic Training. We went through 30th AG and ended up being in the same platoon and same squad when we reached Riley now what are the chances of that! Randy was a outstanding friend, brother, and just one of the greatest soldiers I have ever meet in my life just a better man and better friend then I can say about anyone of my friends back home. Randy always knew how to make the shittiest of situation be one of the greatest things to laugh about at the end. He always had a joke for everything and always knew how to put a smile on your face but he also knew when and when not to be serious. He was amazing role model among his peers.
Randy Shelton took his job seriously he was always on top of things. As well as being the first person to always be putting up his gun and helping others that’s needed to be helped. When we weren’t on mission wether we were able to have down time or if we had the shit shift of the C.O.P you would always find Randy hitting the weights. He was always making sure he kept in shape which is more then I can say because I along with most of us didn’t do shit, but be lazy on our off time and try to sleep the little bit that we could, But not Shelton. Then there was always the Bears he loved his team he would never miss a game and when he had to he would always be pissed. Before I had left to go back to the states I Know the one thing he was looking forward to see was that Bears game. I also know that he very much loved his family and could not wait to go home to see them he talked very highly of all of you. When not working Shelton always loved a good time not only can he put a smile on your face and make you laugh, but he also knew how to give a person the best time of there life wether it was watching a football game or going out for a night out in town. Randy always wanted to start up his own business. Which was the reason he joined the army. Randy just wanted to find direction and to be able to make the right moves first. There are many things I will never forget about Shelton, His smile, his Laugh, Jokes, and his way to have a good time. For all the people who know Randy we all learned a lot from Him as well made a very large part of there lives. We will NEVER FOR GET YOUR FRIEND, BROTHER, and SOLDIER.
Spc. Picard, Christopher 1sqd. Team leader

I’ll never forget Randy’s sense of humor. He always found away to make me laugh whether it was from a joke he said or just himself laughing at a stupid situation. I remember no matter how much I used to tick him off he always tired to square me away or help me along no matter how bad it got. He also made guard shit SOOO much better. I don’t think I could ever forget his laugh or the fact the David used to make fun of it. Hehe. On top of that I think one of the weirdest things I’ll miss, but the funniest is how he always seemed to pass gas just as SSG Wade got into the humvee or if we where on a long as heck mission. Then he’d always laugh and say, “Sorry Sgt., I had spicy food for lunch. Hahaha..” And oh man was it bad. On top of all that I won’t forget how he was always the first gunner out there mounting his .50 cal whether or not anyone was there to help him, and while that he managed to help the other guys prep the truck early. Also another great thing was the fact that he always had some joke about how old or how big Rodriguez’s head was and it ALWAYS made everyone laugh their head’s off. He was a great soldier, a true friend, and the best brother anyone could ever ask for. No matter how many days go by I’ll never forget Randal Shelton or his smile, laugh, and sense of humor. That day was a nightmare but it will never cover up how great of a man he was.
As for the rest of the guys, no matter how jacked up I was they always wanted to help. No matter how bad the job was they always found a good side. No matter how much it just SUCKED!!! They always put their “smile” on. And that’s why I’m proud to say I served 1sqd, 2plt, Cco 2-16. Because no matter how much they tried to beat us down, take us out, or just straight piss us off, we only got closer to each other. You we’re my brothers, friends, and piers. I’ll always love you and miss.
Spc. Anderson, Michael 1sqd.
SAW Gunner

Legacy

2008-09-04T17:40:00.001-07:00

It was a very hot September day, and our attitudes towards our next task were piss poor to say the least. We are fighters, we are America's Warrior class, we are killers, we are Infantrymen. That day we were playing chauffeur to escort someone to a meeting, when in the scheme of things was small to us but to the rebuilding of the sector in which we patrolled would play a large part in rebuilding that area. Our mission was two-fold we also had to take an Engineer to do a sight eval at a gas station were 2 of our 2/16 brethren had been shot by a sniper. We would take him there and he would determine what we could do to make the gas station safer for our guys inside.
On the way to a meeting my gunner noticed some suspect wires in the road and I called to the lead vehicle to watch them on the way back. The lead truck commander called back to me and said he got it.
We dropped off the people for their meeting and began phase 2 of the mission. We passed back by the place with the wires with no issues. We made a right turn onto Route Predators. One of Iraq's most deadliest routes. We drove up after that turn about a thousand meters. People were out in the streets shopping and going on with their daily routines. I was the last vehicle and just making it to a bend in the road where I could only see 2 trucks in front of me.
A loud explosion would change the lives of many forever. It was so hot that day.

One year has past since the events of Sept 04, 2007 and I find myself wondering if the last thing that I said to my good friend Sgt Joel Lee Murray was "Watch out for those wires." The wires I'm referring to were just down power lines and about a mile away from the explosion and had nothing to do with anything, though even months after September 4th those wires were still there and I thought hard to remember if we had said anything to each other after that. Even now I wonder.

For me the sights and sounds of that day are burned into my mind like a computer monitor left on to long. The memories of those that past never fade. I talked to several of my fellow 2nd Platoon members today, I miss them and their camaraderie and I feel that they are the only ones that truly understand.

I told some young Privates today about Legacy, and how in the military good leaders and Soldiers live forever. They live forever through their guidance and actions. Former leaders that I had, live forever through me as I pass their style, and wisdom down to younger Soldiers. I know that Shelton, Crookston, Lane, and Murray will live forever, forever young and forever Warriors.
Shelton tought people to accept everyone, he was the guy that took a lot of people under his wing and showed them a good time. His Loyalty will be passed down to younger generations through lives he touched.
Lanes sense of humor and love of life will be passed down. He had the ability to lighten a situation with a joke so not funny that it was hilarious or a silly face that would make you have no choice but to smile.
Crookston's intelligence will never be forgotten, as he was the computer guru and Rubik's cube master, no one that was touched by him will ever be able to look at a Rubik's cube and not think of him. Most of all Strength, as he lived when the doctors said he wouldn't make it through that September night. He lived for 6 months before his body gave out, though spiritually and mentally he never stopped fighting.
Sgt Murray passed on his leadership and knowledge of his chosen profession. The young Soldiers that he mentored are now preparing to become NCO's and leaders. Their kit bags are full of good tactics and leadership principles that Sgt Murray up held and held them to.
I could really go on forever on how the LEGACY of these individuals will be passed down forever. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
Joseph Mixson survived the blast but his life is forever altered. He would lose both of his legs. Mixson is with us but his Legacy is set in stone, as we learn Courage, and Strength.

Not a day goes by in which any of us that were there that day doesn't think about what happened, and plays the what if game. We remember the good times that we had with those guys which were many. On this day I just wanted to take the time and let everybody know that as time goes on their memories will not fade, and their Legacy will live forever. Anytime you see a Soldier in uniform somewhere down the line, there is a good chance that he or she has a piece of SGT Murray, CPL Crookston, SPC Lane, and SPC Shelton, and CPL Mixson in them.
Deuce Deuce OUT!!!

Moving on and Moving Out

2008-08-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well I've made it to my next duty station and, well haven't really settled into my new job. My last days at Riley were spent getting ready to move here. Though the day before I left I was honored to be able to escort Sgt. Joel Murray's family around the post for the change of command ceremony, and the dedication of Victory Park. It was quite the honor spending time with his father who I had heard so much about. Joel had to go on emergency leave when we were in Iraq because his father had slipped into a coma after an ATV accident. When Joel came back he had told us of his efforts to get his father to wake up and it had worked. It felt good to spend time with Mr. Murray because his son, and him share the same sense of humor and mannerisms (Murrayism's) and in some ways it felt like he was right there with us. I finally got a chance to chat with his wife and we finally talked more than we had ever before, she honored the Company with a large banner of the picture of the crew that was in 2-1. I was just sad to have to leave without being able to spend more time with her and her son, who is by the way a spitting image of his father.
The whole platoon came down to the dedication of Victory park, where they honored Medal of Honor recipient Spc. Ross McGinnis and all of the Big Red One Soldier's who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the war on terror. We paid our respects to our dear brothers stones laid out among the rest of their military family.
It was also where I would say my final goodbyes and move on which is such the life of a Soldier. A lot of my men looking forward to getting out and some of them preparing to go to their next duty stations. 4th Brigade was different from any other unit that I had been in for the fact that all my Soldier's were brand new fresh out of basic training when I first got them. We had lived a life time together in just 15 months. We know everything about one another. They had truly grown to be my family. I wish all of them the best of luck in future endeavor's and hopefully will see them again somewhere in the Army. It was really an honor to get to serve with them as they are all heroes and always rose to the occasion and never backed down when it got to bad. I really couldn't have been luckier to be left in charge of America's finest.
I can't help but tell you how much deployed life is so much simpler than real life. I thought I would be able to adjust to TRADOC but I miss leading Soldier's that I know will walk with me into harm's way. I'll give it some time maybe it will grow on but right now..... I don't like it. I thought I would have more time to spend with my family but right now that is just not the case.
For now though-
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Heat+Boredom= Tastless Humor

2008-07-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Tasteless humor ahead if you care to keep reading if you are offended by explicits about the human body and so on so forth or generally don't like MAD LIBS stop reading!

For those of you who are with me........ I've told you time and again about some of the boring mundane missions we have done, i.e. gas station duty, or gate duty, or maybe waiting around for a mission to go off that may or may not be tentative, other wise known as "Stand-By".
One of my books for soldiers supporters had sent me some MAD LIBS. I took them out to the truck one day, one hot ass 125 degree day in the shade day, with the soul purpose to hand them out to the kids. In retrospect it must have been pretty hot because how the hell were kids that didn't speak any English going to fill out some MAD LIBS?
Well our time kept getting pushed back, so after awhile those of us hangin out at the trucks or in them rather with the AC on started doing some MAD LIBS. They were pretty damn funny. A bunch of bored hot and tired grunts doing MAD LIBS. One of the hardest parts is getting the guys to come up with proper Adjectives sometimes I just had to throw that one out because we didn't know, care or remember what they were (even though it said what they were inside the book). MAD LIBS became one of the standard time killers other than Hannibal's bad ass stories of the things that happened on the Left Coast.
I was unpacking some of my things looking for gear that I had to turn in when I came across my MAD LIB books. I took them upstairs to the kids so they could have them........ Then it hit me man I better check these. Before I came home I had sent some home in the mail to the kids but I had ripped out the naughty ones and gave them to my GareBear. Low and behold I found some filled out by tired hot Infantrymen. These are by no means the best that we had done, because we had done lots of them. They are pretty funny no less, or lame, but at the time I know that they were hilarious and a good way to murder time.
If you can't read them click on them and they get bigger.... Don't we all wish it was that easy!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Ball Pictures

2008-06-29T16:20:00.001-07:00

A little slide show of the ball.

Army Wives

2008-06-29T15:58:00.001-07:00

O.k. laugh all you want to, yes I do admit I did see a couple of episodes. My wife loves the show and she wanted me to watch it with her. She loves that show and on a couple nights her friend came over and they sat and watched and cried together. I have to admit its an alright show but a lot of it is pretty corny.
One thing that I noticed that they probably don't have a chance to show is the separation from those families who we have grown so close with. When we first got to Fort Riley my oldest daughter met her BFF at school. Through that little girl my wife got to know her mother who was pregnant at the time with their 2nd son. Through them I got to know her husband who is in a different unit than me but we are still in the same Brigade.
Last weekend they PCSed (permanent change of station) to another post and soon we will be PCSing to another post farther away from them. My wife's initial plan was that she wanted to follow them to their post, but the Army had different plans.
My oldest daughter went to school with their oldest daughter for 3 years and within that 3 years they became the best of friends in turn we watched their family grow and they watched ours. Their youngest son and our youngest son are great little friends also, and there oldest boy and my youngest daughter (who are the same age) are good friends also.
We watched their youngest son along with them learn to walk and talk. When they could the oldest girls did everything together. The last deployment myself and Ron both deployed to Iraq he was at Falcon and I was at Rusty. Our wives drew together for support and were essentially each others life line.
Last weekend Ron's family packed up their house and set off for their next duty station. His wife Rora took the youngest boy down to the Doctors office I think maybe to avoid having to have an emotional good bye. Though I know one will be waiting later on in July, as we plan to visit and stay with them in route to our new duty station.
I feel bad for my daughter for having to leave her friend like that and I can only hope that at our next destination, and or destinations she can continue to make friends like that. Its pretty hard to explain their relationship and I probably don't really understand it being from the male end of the spectrum. It really isn't so much a friendship but a sistership that they have, both the wives have the same relationship also.
Thats just one of the situations I didn't really see on Army Wives that I felt that I had to write about. Most people will have friends that they've known since childhood. We have friends that we have met on different assignments, and shared joy, laughter, and sorrow. We watch each other's children grow and learn together, and they become just as much as family as your own blood relatives, and in some situations closer than that.
Soon we will be leaving more friends or more so "family" and headed to another place to meet more, then 3 years down the line another and possibly another.
Deuce Deuce OUT!!!!

Slide Show

2008-06-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

Ok I figured it out for the most part but I'm using photobucket and apparently I have to upgrade to be able to post the plethora of photos that I have posted to photobucket... I will work on it and see what I can come up with. Enjoy!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

30 days leave....

2008-06-13T13:47:00.001-07:00

Last Monday ended 30 days leave. A lot happened in 30 days and its really hard to come back to work after having 30 glorious days off. We are on a 4 day pass right now. We are enjoying this 4 days off in conjunction with the Battalion Ball we had on Wednesday.
A lot of things were accomplished on leave and a lot of things that I failed to accomplish. I met wonderful people, and was reunited with some dear friends. On memorial day I went to the Fort Riley cemetery for the ceremony and I finally had the honor to meet SGT Joel Lee Murray's parents, wife and son. I attended it with my good friends the Richardson's and 2 other soldier's from my squad. It was really emotional but I'm glad that I finally had the opportunity to talk with them.
Last Monday our dear friend Joseph Mixson flew into Fort Riley to attend the Battalion Ball. It was great to finally get to see him again. He is just as crazy as I remember. One of the jokes I used to play with Mixson is that of the ball tap. When he was least expecting it I would hit him hard in the balls and usually drop him to the ground. I had to be on my toes around him as he did not forget and he chased me around trying to exact his revenge.
The ball was nice and at the beginning we do the tradition of honoring the fallen at their table. It is a table with set for dinner with 14 seats in memory to the 14 fallen soldiers of 2/16IN. It was a somber moment as we remembered our comrades.
Later that night a Tornado touched down in Chapman KS, and Manhattan, killing 2 and causing severe damage around the area.
During leave my wife went down to South Carolina and secured us a home to live in. Which is nice so when we get there we don't have to hunt around. Next week I will begin clearing Fort Riley and in July I start my PCS (Permanent Change of Station) leave. It will be a sad time leaving the men that I watched and trained but its Army life just the same.
I'm still working on the slide show and hope to have it up and running at the end of this pass. I have to go get ready to leave so I can head down town for some dinner.
Its good to be back and have had some time to spend with my family and friends.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

NEVER FORGET

2008-05-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

This Memorial Day remember those who gave all and sacrificed their lives for God, and Country, Family, and Friends. The following are the Soldiers of 2/16IN who were killed during the "Surge" 2007-2008. Never forget these men, their faces, their sacrifices, or the people that they left behind. I'm very greatful to have known a few of them but wish that I could have known all of them, and I'm very proud to have served during the same time and within the same Battalion as them. Remember all those who were wounded and forever changed on the battlefield. Do not forget those still out there on the Dangerous routes of Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Never Forget!
Semper Paratus

PFC JAY CAJIMAT KIA APRIL 06, 2007

Pfc. Jay Cajimat died on Good Friday, April 06, 2007 in Iraq from wounds caused by a roadside bomb that exploded near his unit in Baghdad, he was the first Soldier KIA from 2/16th IN since the start of the surge.

Family and friends said Pfc. Jay Cajimat, 20, a resident of Lahaina on the island of Maui, had been eager to join the US Army before graduating from Lahainaluna High School in 2005.

They described Cajimat as a “loving son,” a “role model” to his siblings and the “unspoken leader” among friends.

Cajimat was born in Manila. His family moved to Maui when he was three years old. He enlisted in the Army immediately after graduating from high school.

He was with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.

“He was a good soldier, and he loved to serve his nation,” his mother, Lilibeth Cajimat, told Maui News reporter Lehia Apana.

“He always said he wanted to be in the Army,” added his 16-year-old sister, LC.

Her brother had a “positive personality and was always easy to get along with.”

“He was really funny, lovable and just a fun person to hang out with. He loved to play and joke around,” LC said. Anne Goff, an 18-year English teacher at Lahainaluna, recalled Cajimat as being “very sweet, hardworking, very respectful.”

“His dream was to go into the military to serve his country,” she said. “He could hardly wait to graduate to join up.”

Cajimat is also survived by his father Dionie Cajimat and two other sisters Kaya, 18, and LJ, three.

Dionie Cajimat said his son always set a positive example for his three younger sisters. “He was a good son, always talked nice about his sisters and always advised them to be good.”

Longtime friend Walter Batarina, 19, said Cajimat “had his good and bad days” but was “definitely proud” to serve in Iraq.

However, Cajimat regretted being so far away from his three-year-old sister, LJ.

“She was attached to him, and he would always take care of her,” said Batarina. “I guess he was scared he wouldn’t be there as she got older.”

Cajimat’s sister, Kaya, agreed that he wanted to be home and watch over LJ. “I think he regretted going because he wouldn’t get a chance to see her grow up.”

Friends said it would be difficult to accept that someone who they leaned on is now forever gone.

“He was the leader of our group,” said classmate Germine Corpuz, who first met Cajimat when they were about four years old at a church event. They were friends and schoolmates ever since.

“We couldn’t believe that a guy like him actually passed, and now we’re just trying to collect ourselves,” said Corpuz.

“Within our group, he was the unspoken leader, although he’d never admit it,” said another classmate Rodney Saribay, who was friends with Cajimet since third grade at Princess Nahienaena school. “If you had a problem, you’d go and see Jay.”

Cajimat still seems to be around for his friends even after his death, Saribay said, “We still confide in him and still go to him, even though he’s not here.”

PFC. SHAWN D. GAJDOS KIA JUNE 06, 2007

By Captain Michael A. Jurick Jr
I had the highest honor to serve with Private First Class Shawn Gajdos as his Company Commander from April, 2006, until 31 May, 2007. He was everything you could ask for in a Soldier.

PFC Gajdos didn’t join the Army for college money, or to impress some girl; he joined because he wanted to serve his Country….bottom line. After his basic training, he was assigned to 2^nd Battalion 16^th Infantry Regiment, part of the First Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kansas. Maybe not the dream assignment for a new Soldier, but he made the best of it. He made friends quickly. There aren’t many people in this Battalion that didn’t know Shawn Gajdos.

He was the Soldier that all leaders loved to have on their side. He was smart; he was the go-to guy to get things done. The first time I got to know him was when he was handpicked to attend an Arabic language course with me back in May 2006. I was super amazed at how quickly he picked up on it, and was instantly impressed. I knew right away what a special Soldier he was, and how valuable he was going to be to our company. PFC Gajdos was the guy we sent to get trained on new equipment because we knew he wouldn’t have any trouble mastering it quickly and be able to come back and teach us. He was hand picked to serve as my driver. A Commander’s driver is a demanding position that requires only the smartest and most proactive Soldiers. Any task he was given, he took it and beat it into submission. There wasn’t a thing I asked him to do that he never did. Serving as my driver, there were very few moments I wasn’t around him. Prior to our deployment to Iraq, he served in our training room; another tough, demanding job. Not only did he handle a lot of the administrative paperwork of the company, he was also within throttling distance of the company First Sergeant. But he rolled with it, never letting anything distract him or get to him. He was a single Soldier, but that never stopped him from wanting to be involved and help out when we held our Family Readiness meetings. He was 25 years old, a little older than the typical Private that joins the Army, which inherently made us expect more out of him. While most of his buddies were out getting drunk and stupid (or arrested, which would get me called at 3 AM), he would be smart. Never did we have to deal with him in an adverse way. He epitomized the Army Values; Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.

Shawn Gajdos deployed to Iraq with Delta Company, 2^nd Battalion, 16^th Infantry Regiment on February 6^th, 2007, as part of the troop “surge”. He spent less than three weeks in Kuwait training before finding himself in Baghdad, Iraq, living on his new “home”, Forward Operating Base Rustamiyah. Being my driver in a combat environment, much more was expected of him. We had been fielded a new type of radio that we have never seen before. Problem? Absolutely not….Shawn Gajdos sat through a quick class, and in no time, he was teaching others how to use that radio. Gajdos and I were a team. We rode together on dozens of combat operations. Being the commander, I needed the flexibility to be able to essentially move on demand…not problem for Gajdos. All I had to do was tell him a time, and he was ready to roll. While my gunner was on leave, he jumped right up in the turret and took over. I never had any doubt there wasn’t a single job that he couldn’t excel at. He was a warrior; we conducted about every mission you could imagine. From making six trips clear across Baghdad, to reconnaissance missions, to sniper emplacement missions; he wasn’t afraid to do anything. He was proud to be doing what he was doing, knowing he was making history.

We spent so much time together that it is quite possible that he knows more about me than my own wife. He was my “insider” into the world of the Soldiers. If there was any juicy gossip, he made sure I was in the loop. We would talk about everything:

I know all about life in Grand Rapids.

I know all about the “LP” and how to never accuse someone from Grand Rapids of being from the “UP”.

I know all about the “wet burrito” and how only someone from Grand Rapids would know what that is.

I know that East Grand Rapids was the city that the American Pie movie series was based out of.

I know about every single girl that he liked and how he thought that they were out of his league….I say to any girl that this applies too, including Stacey Kiebler, the exact opposite couldn’t be truer. Shawn Gajdos is out of your league.

I know how all he wanted to do was to pay off his debt, get home, and buy a new Volkswagen.

I know how he subscribed to Stuff Magazine, Guns and Ammo, and Computer Shopper; making him about as well rounded as you can get.

He is one of my MySpace friends, and will continue to be. Shawn Gajdos and I even named our truck; being huge fans of the move “Super Troopers”, we referred to ourselves as “Car Ramrod”, a name that I told him I would take with me when I relinquish command; which I did four days before he died. I always teased him about saving Middle Earth, knowing he hated “Lord of the Rings.”

I know how badly he wanted his CIB. The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, in the Army, is awarded to only Infantrymen that are engaged in direct ground combat with an enemy force. Every time we would get ready to roll on a mission, Gajdos would sometimes ask, “Are you going to get me a CIB today sir??” or I would say “Gajdos, we’re getting you a CIB today”. Well Gajdos, you earned that CIB. I hope that you pin it on and wear it proudly as you now walk humbly at the right hand of God.

PFC Shawn Gajdos was killed on June 6^th, 2007, when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq. He was temporarily serving as a gunner. I saw him the very second he rolled out the gate, with my final words to him being, “be safe man.” I never would have guessed that would be the last time I would see him. Even with this being my second tour in Iraq, and after going through numerous Soldiers’ deaths, I have never lost a Soldier so close to me. I find it almost fitting that he died on such a historic date, June 6^th. Just as his past brethren stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, 67 years ago, PFC Gajdos, also, has made a footprint on history. PFC Shawn Gajdos now joins the ranks of other great American Soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country and the defense of Freedom.

PFC Shawn Gajdos, you were a phenomenal Soldier, an outstanding Man, a true Friend, and a great American. Rest in peace my friend, I will never forget you. Car Ramrod Forever!!!

This entry was written by almartine and posted on June 17, 2007 at 11:18 am and filed under Politics. At http://www.abigpond.com/blog/2007/06/17/pfc-shawn-gajdos-hero-from-grand-rapids/.

PFC. CAMERON K. PAYNE KIA JUNE 11, 2007

When Cameron K. Payne enlisted in the Army, it was not necessarily to fulfill a lifelong dream but out of a sense of duty toward his growing family.

"He did not join the Army to be G.I. Joe, he did not join the Army to be anyone's hero," said his mother, Denise Jackson. "The reason he joined the Army was to support his family."

Payne, a private first class, was killed Monday in Iraq when a vehicle he was traveling in struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations in Baghdad, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

Payne, 22, was the proud father of an 18-month-old daughter and a 4-week-old girl. Just last month, Payne witnessed the birth of his daughter Kylee in Corona while home on leave.

His wife, Julie, 22, recalled her husband as a family man. She said their elder daughter, Annaleese, bears a striking resemblance to her father.

"They look like twins," she said. "She's got his personality, his humor."

Payne met his future wife, who described him as "the funniest guy anyone could meet," while the two were students at Buena Vista High School.

"He was actually my secret admirer in high school," she said. The couple married in October 2005 after a courtship that included trips to amusement parks and surprise flower deliveries.

Jackson, Payne's mother, said that "falling in love" made her son more responsible and goal-oriented.

One of his first goals was to join the Army to support his family. The transformation became apparent after basic training, his mother said.

"After he went through his course he was a totally different person," she said. "He had goals and he knew what he wanted."

Payne enlisted in the Army in 2005 and began basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., that November, said Army spokeswoman Alison Kohler.

In March 2006, Payne went to Fort Riley, Kan., where he spent the rest of the year preparing for deployment to Iraq.

Payne and his unit arrived in Iraq in February, Kohler said.

Many corrections officers at the California Rehabilitation Center, the medium-security prison in Norco where Payne's mother works, have known Payne since he was a child, and news of his death hit many prison staffers hard, said Lt. Mike Brownell, prison spokesman.

"Folks are pretty upset, but we've banded together to offer her our support," he said.

Payne's death has been especially difficult for his younger brother, Cody Gowens, their mother said.

Whether it was camping trips or visits to the beach, "we did everything together, that's how we rolled, we rolled the three of us," she said. Payne's father died when he was a boy, and the siblings were raised by their mom.

Payne's mother said she tried to steer her son toward a career in law enforcement or corrections, but he found certain aspects of the Army more attractive.

For instance, when he re-enlisted in May, he was told he could eventually relocate to any base he chose. Payne had his sights set on the Seattle area, his mother said. He thought the Pacific Northwest offered a more "pure and clean" environment for his family than the Inland Empire, she said.
Article found- http://www.flickr.com/photos/52961928@N00/547070403/

PFC. ANDRE CRAIG JR, KIA JUNE 25, 2007
By Kenton Robinson

Joyce Craig opens her well-thumbed Bible, unfolds a worn and tear-stained letter and reads:

“ 'Hi, Mom, I'm glad to hear that you are still focused on your ministry. You are truly my inspiration. ...' ”

She pauses, closes her eyes, tries to stop her tears. Even her grandchildren, restive in their parents' arms, grow still. After a long silence, she resumes:

“ 'I want to say thank you for raising me to be a man. You never let me quit, and you never let me settle for less. ... I'm glad you accept my dream. And I'm also happy to finally say, “I made my mother proud.” ' ”

She folds the letter back between the pages.

“That's what he wanted to do,” she said. “He wanted to make his mother proud.”

Army Spc. Andre Craig Jr. was just two weeks away from his 24th birthday when he left his mother's house on New Haven's Rosette Street for the last time in June 2007.

On leave from duty in Baghdad, he had come home in May to see his family and to meet his daughter, Taylor Craig, who was born while he was in Iraq.

He had grown up here and on Carmel Street, two of New Haven's tougher neighborhoods, with his mother, brothers and sisters, and he had shunned the shoals of crime and drugs to chase his dream.

“It was always his dream to go into the Army,” Joyce Craig said, “to fight for the people. And I asked him, I said, 'Why the Army?' He said, 'Ma, it's my dream.'

“He wanted to go into the Army for college, to get money for college, and he wanted his family to live and have better than what they had. ... He didn't want us to struggle to pay bills.”

Knowing well her son's determination, she gave him permission to go. Her middle child, the one they called Dre, whom the others called the Momma's Boy, went off to war.

He left behind two older sisters: Valencia Cook, 31, and Debra Russell, 29; and three brothers: Michael Cook, 26, Jonathan Craig, 22, and Matthew Craig, 20. He also had a half brother and half sister, 27-year-old Andre Brown, and Nashimma Williams, 29.

His sister Debra muses about the special bond Andre had with their mother.

“Every parent has ... a child they have a closer bond to. My sister and I were more independent, and Michael was more independent, whereas Andre ... he was joined to my mom's hip a lot.”

“He was a momma's boy,” agrees his other sister, Valencia.

They laugh to remember how, when the sons and son-in-law Julian Russell went bowling last May, their mother insisted she go along.

“Dre said, 'Ma, there ain't no girls going.' I said, 'I don't care, I'm going with you. ... I'm gonna go and I'm gonna kick you all butts.'”

The night got wild when her sons began stacking up the shot glasses and bowling two balls at a time down the same lane.

“So I really had to take them out of the place, because they were cutting up,” Joyce Craig said. “And they walked outside busting out laughing. And I said, 'That's not funny, because you were disrespectful.' ”

Russell said that when Andre came home they decided they weren't going to let anything spoil their fun. “Life's too short,” he said. “You never know.' ”

•••••

Certainly, Andre had had his eyes opened.

He wrote to his mother telling her of the horrors visited on the Iraqis.

“I'm glad that I'm down here and I can help them,” he wrote. “All I ask for you to ask the church to do is to pray for God's mercy on these people.”

And when he came home it was as if the sun itself had broken through the clouds.

“He came home and he just showed everybody how much he loved us,” Julian Russell said. “He came home and did everything for everybody. Cooked, cleaned. He came to show love.

“The funny thing is you wondered where all his love came from. You wondered how this man, that I'm older than, that I can look up to him. Because he chose to go where I didn't want to go. I joined in 2000, and, believe me, if I'd known I was going to go to Iraq in 2004, I wouldn't have joined. He was a braver man than I will ever be.”

Debra Russell added, “When my husband was in Iraq, my brother took care of me. I was pregnant with my daughter and ... Andre would take my car, pick me up, bring me to my doctor's appointment, so much so that in the beginning, before they knew my husband was in Iraq, they thought he was my husband.”

“He was the first person to see my daughter walk,” Julian said. “He was the first person to be there and encourage her and to give her a nickname. He loved my daughter a lot.”

And he was smitten, they say, when he learned he had a daughter of his own.

“He had wanted a child to leave behind in case something happened,” Joyce Craig said. But he had had no children with his wife, Shawntia Craig, who could not be reached to comment for this story.

So when Joyce Craig told Andre that a former girlfriend had had a child by him, he asked his mother to go see the baby.

“When I walked in the house, the baby was sitting in a chair,” Joyce Craig said. “And I said, 'Oh, my God!' It looked like I had Andre all over again. It was like Andre was in that chair.”

Soon the whole family was spoiling Taylor, especially when Andre came home on leave.

•••••

Andre had always loved children.

“He would leave the house at 8 in the morning; he wouldn't come back till dark time. He'd play basketball all day with my son. He would play ball in the street with the kids,” Valencia Cook said.

“And that's how he ended up having a close relationship with the children on this street, and that's how they ended up naming the corner of Wilson and Rosette Street after him.”

After Andre's death, Joyce Craig said, she learned that “there were times when some parents would have troubles with their kids, and they'd call Andre, and Andre would go and talk to them. ...”

“And I know that Andre wanted to leave a legacy to let people know that just because you live in the 'hood, doesn't mean that you can't fulfill your dream and be successful.”

She remembers that whenever she would ask Andre about Iraq, he would assure her, “Ma, I love my job.”

And yet, when it was time for him to return, “we all sat in here, and we had a prayer, and he broke down and cried,” she said. “He cried so hard, as if he knew that one day he might not come back.”

July 25, 2007, the day Andre Craig died, was one week after his 24th birthday. It was also the day of Valencia Cook's baby shower, the day — three hours before the shower — her water broke.

“He called me at the house,” she said, “and I said, 'My water broke,' and he said, 'I told you you were gonna have that baby 'round my birthday.' And the next day we got the call. ... I was in labor when he passed away.”

And so Valencia Cook named her baby Andre.

•••••

Joyce Craig still struggles to make sense of it all.

“He was just willing to die ... for his country, for his family, for his friends. I still cannot get the grips of that,” she said.

“He didn't die on the street behind drugs, you know? He died with a purpose, and he left a legacy. 'This was my purpose, to be successful. And this was my legacy, to let other kids know that just because you are poor or you live in a bad neighborhood, doesn't mean that you can't be successful.' ...

“So constantly thinking on that, it helps me more ... and my anger at him is not like it used to be. I'll tell him, I'll sit and say, 'I'm proud of you, and you are my hero.'

“I just want to say to other children, if it's not your dream, and it's not really in your bones, don't do it. ... Now is not the time to do it, because so many of our children are dying in this war.”

Article found TheDay.com

SGT. WILLIAM W. CROW JR., KIA JUNE 28, 2007

The Associated Press

Army Sgt. William W. Crow Jr. was tough-looking, big-hearted man who loved going skateboarding and hanging out with his buddies.

“He was a happy person. He liked to make people laugh. He was a joy to be around,” recalled his close friend and high school classmate, David Bowman. “It’s like losing a brother.”

Crow, 28, of Grandview Plaza, Kan., was killed by a roadside bomb June 28 in Baghdad. He was a 1997 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Riley, Kan.

Crow enlisted in the military right out of high school. He went to Korea, and then to Iraq. This was his third trip to Iraq. On a previous tour he was awarded a Purple Heart.

He and his wife, Michelle, married four years ago. She already had two sons, Chris, 10, and David, 8; with Crow she had two girls: Alexis, 4, and Kala, 2.

His mother, Kathryn Mondini, last talked to him before Mother’s Day. “I’ll miss his hugs,” she said. “I just want to hear him say ‘Mom, I love you. It’s going to be OK.’ ” “He was my baby,” she added, “he was my lifeline.”

PFC. JAMES J. HARRELSON, KIA JULY 17, 2007

The Associated Press

19 year old Pfc. James Jacob Harrelson, who was known to friends and family as “Spanky,” was killed by an IED July 17 while driving a Humvee in a convoy as part of the Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion, his parents said. They said they were not told where in Iraq their son was killed.

Harrelson’s family said anyone who met him instantly became his friend, an Alexander City newspaper, The Outlook, reported.

“He didn’t have an enemy,” said Christopher Baker, Harrelson’s older brother.

Tammy Kinney, Harrelson’s mother, who now lives in Alexander City, said her son joined the Army right after he graduated from Dadeville High School in 2006 and had been in Iraq since May.

“He wanted to continue his education and serve his country,” she said.

Dadeville High School football coach Richard White told the newspaper Harrelson always had a smile on his face.

“If things weren’t going good he would cheer you up,” White said. “It’s really sad. I’m going to miss that smile. He brought a smile with him when he walked. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

White said Harrelson talked to him about the future toward the end of the 2006 school year.

“He thought he would join the military,” White said. “That was probably a good choice at the time since he needed financial help to go to college. Now, looking back, it may not have been a good choice.”

Kinney said she supported her son but was not enthusiastic about his decision to fight in Iraq. Baker, who had already served in Iraq as a Marine sergeant, also opposed his brother’s decision.

“I tried to tell him what it was like but he told me he could handle it,” Baker said. “He just thought it was right.”

Kinney said her son hadn’t made specific plans for the future but that he knew he wanted to live on Lake Martin and have children.

SGT. JOEL L. MURRAY, KIA SEPT 04, 2007

How do you describe an Infantryman? Some would say it’s by the blue cord, the medals, tabs, and badges they have. I can tell you it’s someone who eats, sleeps, and breaths Infantry. It’s someone proficient in battle drills and the weapons of his chosen profession. It is someone who is calm cool and collected in the face of danger. It is someone who can make life or death decisions on the fly. Sgt Murray did all these things. Sgt Murray is how I would describe an Infantryman. If you didn’t know him you wouldn’t think that this skinny non smiling soldier was the embodiment of an Infantryman. Looks can be deceiving. Sgt Murray was full of courage, natural leadership ability, and stamina that you can’t even imagine. I was amazed by Sgt Murray during the squad eval at range 10 or the ‘Suck Fest’ as we lovingly referred to it. It was only supposed to be a 14km movement, but somehow we managed to turn it into 22km. Under a brutal Kansas sun, we lost half of the platoon as heat casualties in the first day. Not once can I recall ever seeing signs of suck on Sgt Murray’s face. It carried on over here and became somewhat of a contest between us, trying to catch each other tiring out. Captain Anderson told us that when we started feeling fatigued to ‘smile’ and keep moving on. Sgt Murray and I referred to this as Smiles Time. He would call me on the radio or come over to my side of the street and take a knee and ask me if I was ‘Smilin’ yet. I would never admit to it nor would he, but at the end of a mission there would be Sgt Murray smiling from ear to ear, and he was not alone.

Sgt Murray was brave, and I know I had never seen him scared. There was a time where he got shot at while pulling COP security. I heard the 240 rattle off and I was like what was that. Seconds later I hear Sgt Murray come over the radio. “I took small arms fire and returned fire to let them know I mean business.” That was Sgt Murray, all business. Super cool is the best way to describe him under fire. He always wanted to be out front and in the lead, a true no nonsense, leads from the front NCO. He loved to lead the way as he would tell us “I love having the open road in front of me.” He loved being an NCO he told me he liked being a Squad Leader more so than a team leader because he could have more influence over more Soldiers. He loved to mentor and teach and there is not a single soldier in 2^nd platoon that has not learned something from Sgt Murray. That is his legacy and those of us touched by his leadership will carry a piece of Sgt Murray and pass it down to other young soldiers’ for years to come.

He had this dry sense of humor, and was just hilarious. Out of the blue he would say something so random and straight faced that everyone would burst out into laughter except for him and he would make you wonder whether or not he was joking. He thoroughly had Serrano convinced one day that getting an exhaust sample was part of a PMCS. As everyone who was there will remember Serrano walking around holding a large trash bag full of humvee exhaust for hours. He also had these Murrayism’s that he would come up with. My favorites, “The Highest of Speeds”, and “The Hooahness”. He was always challenging his men to be of the Highest of Speeds. Knocking on ones door at random hours of the night, to see if they wanted to disassemble a SAW or something.

We talked about what we wanted to do career wise, and he said this is what he wanted to do. Be in the Infantry, go to Ranger school and just be in the Infantry. He had found a home in the Army.

I’m glad to have known Sgt Murray because we had a lot in common, he was a real man all the way around because it takes a real man to admit they are a classic Star Trek fan, or X-files. We would sit together out at the COP and try to get through episodes of the original Star Trek, and then try to remember why we used to enjoy them so much long ago. He was a really smart guy and had done so much in life. He ran the NYC marathon; he had been all over the world. He loved to see new places and do different things; he was a modern day explorer. He loved history and he would encourage others to learn and to try something new, before I knew it he had me reading the Iliad, and would always ask me if I was done so I could start the Odyssey.

Sgt Murray was a great person too; recently he had told me that he wanted to become a Free Mason. He liked what they stood for and had told me that he thought he could become a better man, how he always wanted to be a part of something like that, helping people and kids, and being a part of history, so many other great names in history had been Free Masons. What I didn’t get to tell him and what I want his family and everyone here today to know is that, Joel you were already a great person, a great man and leader, and someone that I will strive to be like, a great role model for any young soldier or grown man. Sgt Joel Lee Murray was an outstanding leader, Soldier, Hero, Husband, Father, and friend. We miss you, and we love you. You will never be forgotten.

SPC DAVID J. LANE, KIA SEPT 04, 2007

Emporia Gazette

David J. Lane wasn’t letting a war and 7,000 miles come between him and his plans for coming home.

Lane already had contacted friends to arrange get-togethers next year and bought a piece of property with a friend serving with him at Camp Rustamiyah, Iraq, in eastern Baghdad. They planned to open a business together when they got out of the Army.

Lane’s plans died Tuesday when a device exploded near the Humvee that he and two others were using on patrol outside Rustamiyah. All three were killed.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the Humvee was hit with an explosively formed penetrator, a type of bomb that the U.S. alleges Iran has been supplying to Shiite militias. Iran denies the accusation.

Friends of Lane, who was 20 years old, said the young man was looking forward to his homecoming, even though it was months away.

"I talked to him on MySpace all the time," said one of his friends, Denisha Seiter, 20. "...And he always ended everything with ‘Peace out, E-Town.’"

Seiter and her boyfriend, Michael Watson, both communicated with Lane over the Internet. On Wednesday afternoon, Seiter had been re-reading some of the messages Lane had sent.

"I was just reading them a minute ago," she said, "and he says on one of them that he’s still in one piece over there and he’ll be back next year for the Fourth of July and for the fair."

Lane had entered his oversized, 4x4, 1979 Chevy pickup in the truck pull at the Lyon County Free Fair for the first time in 2005 and had pulled about 79 feet, Seiter said. He was in Iraq during this year’s fair, and was eager to try it again in 2008.

"We had so much in common — music, riding four-wheelers, going muddin’ in his pickup truck," Watson said.

Lane enjoyed muddin’ immensely, Maria Lane said, and he’d modified the Chevy to make it as tall as he could.

"The tires are bigger than the truck, I think," she said, laughing about her son’s fascination with wheeled vehicles.

And David Lane had a studious side. He’d been home-schooled after moving to Emporia four years ago from Arizona. After receiving his high school certification, he enrolled in a mechanics course at Flint Hills Technical College before circumstances allowed him to enlist in the Army.

"He loved school. History was his favorite subject," Maria Lane said. "The Civil War was one of his favorites. He did a lot of re-enactments before he got into the Army."

Always and forever, though, Lane wanted to be a soldier. A hearing problem caused him to have several surgeries and about two years ago, doctors put a titanium implant in his ear that made all the difference.

"He was able to get into the Army," Maria Lane said.

After he was deployed to Iraq, the private second class kept in touch with friends and family to let them know what his life was like in the Mideast.

"He thought the days were awfully long," Lane said. "It was hot. He was always glad to get back to the base. He felt like what he was doing was what needed to be done. He was doing the right job. He did everything that a good soldier would do."

David Lane told his mother about the children he’d befriended and talked about one Iraqi boy who came daily to the gate of the base to take orders for a tasty flat bread the soldiers had developed a taste for.

"If they gave him some money, he would run and get it hot, and it was so good," she recalled her son saying.

Maria Lane remembered her son as a helpful young man, loyal to friends and always willing to lend a hand.

"He’d do anything for anybody that needed it. If they called him and couldn’t get their car started, any time of the day or night, he was there," she said.

David Lane had done just that for another friend, E-2 Pvt. Justin Brummett, who is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas’s Army base.

Brummett said he’d joined the Army after seeing how much Lane enjoyed serving. The two became friends three or four years ago, and when Brummett needed help, whether it was 4 a.m. or 4 p.m., Lane would be available.

"You couldn’t ask for a better friend," Brummett said. "He was always there."

Seiter talked about the close friendship that had developed in the relatively short time she had known Lane.

"He was amazing. He was a kind and gentle man. He’d give the shirt off his back for everybody, and everybody knew that," Seiter said. "In that year, he became my best friend. He was so caring. He was always there to give you advice, to let you talk.

"He always had a shoulder for you to cry on."

But crying wasn’t Lane’s way. Family and friends all say that laughing and making people laugh is one of the things he did best.

"He was full of life, just full of life," Maria Lane, said. "He loved to joke and make people happy."

David Lane’s friends agreed.

"He’s goofy and I’m goofy," said Watson. "We hit it off pretty good. We loved to do off-the-wall crazy things."

Watson really didn’t want his friend going to Iraq.

"I’d just tell him he’s crazy for doing it, with what’s going on right now. ‘I can’t believe you’re going, but I stand behind you 110 percent, if it’s what you want to do,’" Watson remembered saying to Lane.

Watson and Seiter recalled Lane’s last visit home on leave this spring, when seven friends got together for a farewell celebration and finished off the evening at the Golden Corral restaurant.

"My favorite memory of him pretty much to this day is him snorting a line of ice cream," Seiter said, laughing at the thought. "I felt sorry for the waitress that night."

Watson had buried his face in ice cream and Lane, not to be outdone, sniffed the ice cream up his nose. He said that it burned and was cold, simultaneously, Seiter said, and it brought out gales of laughter from the group.

"He made you laugh. That’s why we called him ‘Goofy Dave,’" Seiter said, mentioning the nickname friends had affectionately given him. "He made you laugh, no matter how sad you were."

SPC RANDOL S. SHELTON, KIA SEPT 04, 2007

Army Pvt. Randol S. 'Randy' Shelton was planning to go to a Bears game and be the guest of honor at several family parties after arriving home on leave. But the 22-year-old stationed in Iraq never got to go on leave to his Schiller Park home.

'The sad thing about it is he was scheduled to come home,' said his father, Bryan Shelton. 'I had planned my vacation time around him coming home. He had his heart set on going to a Bears game.'

Randy Shelton died with two other soldiers on Tuesday from wounds inflicted by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, the Defense Department said in a statement. Shelton, Sgt. Joel L. Murray, 26, of Kansas City, and Spc. David J. Lane, 20, of Emporia, Kan., were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Shelton, who joined the Army nearly two years ago, was sent to Iraq in late December, his father said. The East Leyden High School graduate went into the military in an attempt to gain direction.

'He was just trying to better himself, get some things going for himself,' Bryan Shelton said. 'Once he got out he wanted to go to college and have some money for college.'

Bryan Shelton said his son dreamed of opening his own business, possibly a restaurant, one day. In the meantime, however, he was just looking forward to coming home.

Randy Shelton was family-oriented, his father said, and called home often.

'He was a beautiful son,' Bryan Shelton said. 'He has an older brother and a younger sister. And they just adored him. And they couldn't wait for him to come home.'

Randy Shelton had waited as long as possible to take his leave so he would not be overseas as long after it was over, his father said.

'He would say, 'Dad, some days are good and some days are bad,' ' his father recalled. 'He didn't hate what he was doing, but he didn't love it. He was there to do a job.'

Nevertheless, his grandmother, Carol Shelton, 71, said he was proud to be serving his country. She said her grandson called her regularly as well.

'We're all very proud of him, and we're all devastated,' she said.

SPC. JOSHUA H. REEVES, KIA SEPT 22, 2007

Robertson County Times

-- In the span of a day, Leslie Reeves both welcomed a newborn son and learned of the death of her husband Joshua, who was serving in Iraq.

Those who know Reeves - a 2001 graduate of Hendersonville High School who was living with her parents here when she gave birth last Friday - admit little can be said to relieve her grief.

Reeves delivered seven-pound, 14-ounce Joshua Jackson Reeves on Friday at Centennial Medical Center.

Soon afterward she phoned Iraq to deliver the happy news to her soldier-husband of two years, Spc. Joshua H. Reeves. Reeves was stationed with troops from Fort Riley, Kan. and was due to come home in November for two weeks of vacation.

"He got to hear him cry over the phone and said 'Hi' to him," the new mother recalled. A short time after the birth, the specialist, 26, also received photos of his son via the Internet.

"I just wanted him to have seen his son," the mother said. "That was comforting to me." The young mother's joy, however, turned to sorrow on Saturday as a bomb detonated as Joshua Reeves' Humvee drove down a Baghdad street. Leslie Reeves was still in the hospital with her new baby when she learned she was a widow.

"Everyone is just deeply saddened," said Paula Fortner, owner of Hendersonville's American Academy of Dance.

Leslie, who has danced since the age of six, was a former student of the academy as well as a teacher there as recently as two days before her delivery. Her mother, Marikay Burke, is the office manager at the studio.

Pastor Tim Reynolds of Hendersonville's First Presbyterian Church was all set to visit the new baby in the hospital Saturday when he received a call that Joshua Reeves had been killed.

According to Reynolds, Leslie had been active at his church before leaving to attend the University of Georgia. She had even been on the search committee that hired him.

"There's no explanation that can be given when something like this happens," said Reynolds. "It becomes a ministry of presence. They just need to be loved. There are no answers. You just try to be there and show the love of Christ."

"It hurts so terribly," said Joshua's father James. "You just can't know how bad it hurts."

Three years ago when their son told them he was going to join the Army, the Reeveses were not surprised.

"He wanted to fly helicopters, that was his dream," said James, an eighth-grade teacher. "He went to an aviation school after high school but he decided that joining the Army would get him to that point quicker."

"He was always determined, in everything," James added.

"He was such a good-hearted person. Everybody loved him," added his mother Jean said.

Jean talked to her son last week by phone. Sometimes, she said, he confided to her that he sometimes had trouble sleeping and worried about roadside bombs, the ubiquitous weapons of this war.

"But even so, he was real committed. He had just re-enlisted for six years. He supported his country. He supported the Army. He supported his President. He cared about the Iraqi people," Jean said.

The couple was in Hendersonville Monday, where James nodded to the screen of a laptop computer.

"Let me show you this," he said.

His fingers clicked the keys, opening files until he found the photo he searched for.

Another click magnified the image. Joshua sat cross-legged on the floor of an Iraqi house, a guest for a Ramadan meal. He looked at the camera with a quizzical smile as he held something to eat in his fingers. The specialist appeared to be at ease, among trusted companions.

"Isn't that just absolutely the greatest shot?" James said, chin on his neck, tears flowing unchecked, shoulders bobbing from the sobs.

"We got this last Wednesday."

Now the photo becomes his son's parting image.

In the next room, Leslie Reeves held her sleeping son close.

SFC JAMES D. DOSTER, KIA SEPT 29, 2007

The Associated Press

WHITE HALL, Ark. — An Army sergeant from Pine Bluff died Sept. 29 in a roadside bombing and gunfight in Baghdad, the Defense Department said Oct. 1.

Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster, 37, served as a convoy leader in Iraq, his mother, Billie Doster, said Oct. 1.

Doster, a White Hall High School graduate, is survived by his wife, Amanda, and two young daughters, Kathryn, 6 and Grace, 3, who live at Wamego, Kan.

“Kathryn was counting down the days until he was supposed to be home,” Doster’s mother said. “She doesn’t really understand. All she says is, ‘It’s not fair.’ They had so many plans for when he came home.”

Doster served in the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kan., before the unit was deployed to Iraq.

Doster left for Iraq in February. He had joined the Army 17 years ago during his second year at Hendrix College and served mostly as a recruiter, Billie Doster said. Doster served in the Gulf War and was in one of the first tanks on the battlefield in that conflict, she said.

“It’s so easy to read ‘an American soldier was killed’ in the papers. You don’t really make the connection,” Billie Doster said, quietly weeping. “When it’s your own, you find it a lot harder.

“His wife is devastated, but is clinging to the knowledge that ... he died doing something he believed in.”

CPL DUNCAN C. CROOKSTON, DIED OF WOUNDS JANUARY 25, 2008

Denver Post

A Denver West High School graduate — one of two men to survive a deadly roadside blast along one of Baghdad's deadliest roads — has died from complications that resulted from his injuries, the Department of Defense and the soldier's family said Sunday.

Pfc. Duncan Charles Crookston, 19, an airborne infantryman who enlisted after graduating from West High School in 2006, died Friday at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He had been fighting for his life since an improvised bomb exploded near the humvee he was in Sept. 4. He was severely burned and underwent multiple amputations.

"He was very intelligent, very into science and was able to teach himself things about things, especially electronics," his mother, Leesha Crookston, an animal control officer with the city of Lakewood, said in a phone interview from San Antonio. "He ended up being placed as a radio-tech operator in his unit because he was so good with electronics.

Crookston was riding in the rear of a humvee carrying Sgt. Joel Murray, 26, the truck commander, Spc. David Lane, 20, the driver; Pvt. Randy Shelton, 22, the turret gunner and Pfc. Joseph Mixson, 22, when they were hit by a roadside bomb, according to Stars and Stripes newspaper. All of the men were with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.

Three of them — Murray, Lane and Shelton — were killed in the blast or died a short time later.

One of the men in his unit told the newspaper that Crookston was soft-spoken and well liked.

"He was always helping us with our computers cause he knew about everything digital," Staff Sgt. Welby Richardson, 31, from Gonzales, Texas, told the Stars and Stripes.

Crookston was badly burned over 50 percent of his body. Both of his legs were amputated, along with his right arm and left hand, his mother said.

He had slipped in and out of conciousness these past few months at BAMC, but recently developed an infection followed by a fever, his mother said.

His family decided to remove life-support, and he died the day before his 20th birthday.

"Everyone hoped for the best, but he was always just kind in and out and kept getting infections," said Estevan Ruiz, 20, of Denver, a longtime friend of Crookston.

"He was a really great guy, and he helped everyone out whenever they needed him," Ruiz said. "And he knew everything about anything — music, computer games, books. And if he didn't know it, he was sure to learn it because that was just the way he was."

Ruiz said Crookston started dating his wife, Meaghun, their last year in high school.

While serving in Iraq, Crookston had been in frequent touch with family in the Denver area. He was home on leave for a few weeks last summer, his mother said.

"It was kind of hard to tell (how he was adjusting) to being there," Leesha Crookston said. "He kept a lot to himself and didn't talk about a lot of stuff that went on there. If anything, he was more interested in what was going on here."

His unit was scheduled to return from Iraq in April, she said.

Crookston leaves behind a wife, his parents and five brothers.

SPC. DURRELL L. BENNETT, KIA MARCH 29, 2008

By Karen Johnson Seattle Times staff reporter

Durrell Bennett traded in a football jersey for a microphone at Spanaway's Bethel High School.

At age 17, he filled his free time with choir practice and impromptu performances with his rap group, Lavoi and Red.

When the musically inclined man enlisted in the Army at 19, he bought recording and production equipment with his first few paychecks.

And when he was later deployed on a 15-month tour of Iraq, he used his off-duty time to broadcast his beats to friends and family via his MySpace page.

"He was always posting music from Baghdad," said Bennett's 18-year-old brother, Darnell Bennett. "It's how we knew he was OK."

Spc. Durrell Bennett, 22, died Saturday in Baghdad from wounds suffered from an explosive device and small-arms fire, the Army said Tuesday.

He had been assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan.

A 2004 Bethel graduate, Spc. Bennett was less than two weeks from completing his 15-month tour when he was killed.

His father, former Army Ranger Dempsey Bennett, said his son had already packed up his prized music equipment and sent it to his family home in Spanaway.

The box postmarked Baghdad arrived just a few days before they learned their son had died.

"Durrell loved music, he produced music and wanted to do this professionally one day," Dempsey Bennett said Tuesday evening. "I knew he was close to coming home when that box arrived."

Music was not Spc. Bennett's only passion; he also excelled as a soldier. He was promoted three ranks in his first three years of service, his family said.

"I've got to give him props," said retired Army engineer Waymon Hawthorne, Spc. Bennett's uncle. "He got promoted fast because he was willing to take the reins on anything."

Dempsey Bennett said his son re-enlisted in December and planned to serve an additional six years, with the condition that he could be stationed at Fort Lewis so he could be closer to his friends and loved ones.

When he returned, Spc. Bennett had planned to rent an apartment, where he and brother Darnell, a senior at Bethel, could live after he graduated this year.

"He wanted to see me go to college," Darnell Bennet said. "He was going to let me stay with him and he was going to help pay for my college. He was going to get his life set and we were going to get things started together."

In addition to his father and brother, Spc. Bennett is survived by his mother, Doris Bennett.

PFC. PATRICK J. MILLER, KIA MARCH 29, 2008

Tampa Tribune

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pfc. P.J. Miller shipped his personal belongings from Iraq to New Port Richey because he was expecting to come home in a few weeks. The 23-year-old was one of two U.S. Army soldiers killed in Baghdad over the weekend, the Department of Defense announced today. "He thought we needed to be there," his mother, Kim Miller said. "He thought what we was doing was right and he wanted to defend our country." P.J. Miller was a graduate of Mitchell High School in New Port Richey and earned a degree in biology from the University of South Florida. He aspired to attend graduate school to study genetics. "He was a fantastic human being," Patrick Miller said.

Books for Soldiers needs our help

2008-05-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to Books for Soldiers, by my late friend Sgt Joel Murray. He told me about the website and I went there and put in a request and shortly after I had the exact book that I wanted. Your only allowed one request per month and you can get a video game, or book, or movie. What I got in the end was some awesome support. I actually had a couple volunteers call me their own basically. They would both send me packages on a regular basis and I got a Peanuts movie for every holiday!!! Which is really awesome since I'm a huge Peanuts fan.
When the unthinkable happened on Sept 04, 2006 the volunteers from this organization flocked to our sides and flooded us with letters of Sorrow, and Support it was really awesome. BFS does not only help out the Soldiers in the box but also those who are severely wounded in action and in one of the Army hospitals between here and Germany.
Through blogging I was able to get know a couple of my volunteers, and when I posted Blood Brothers one of my volunteers actually knew and sent packages to some of the soldiers from 1/26IN. These are just a few of the many great things this organization and its volunteers does for our Soldiers. I got an e-mail today from one of the volunteers that helped me out, I'm posting it below please take the time to read it. If you can help or you know of some corporations that might be able to or if you can just pass this on to ass many people as you can. This is definitely an organization that deserves the money. Thank you for your time and your support!

Books For Soldiers
2008 Fundraising Update Newsletter April 2008

___________________________
It Is A Bad Economy

Starting at the first of this year, BFS started a robust fundraising campaign here in North Carolina. We contacted small companies and some large companies you probably have heard of. To date, we have received a stack of letters that begin with "we deeply regret not being able to donate this year" and no cash. From our corporate donation campaign we have received a tad under thirty dollars from a philanthropy grants group in Winston Salem, NC. That was it, nothing else.

Times are tough for all non-profit groups, food banks from all around North Carolina and across the nation are suffering from a lack of donations and a sharp increase of those in need. The article below arrived in my email today about a women's shelter closing because of a lack of donations.

http://www.the-signal.com/news/article/1356/

___________________________
The Next Step

The BFS Board of Directors have discussed this problem for some time and have decided to have another go at fundraising. We are working on a different campaign aimed at companies in larger states - California for example. Every time we want to do fundraising in a state (cold call, direct mail, advertising) we need to file with that state's Secretary of State - filing in all states if prohibitively expensive so we have to pick and choose.

In our last newsletter, we reported on the hacker attacks that coincided with our 5th Anniversary. Those DNS attacks didn't help our balance sheet. Our final IT bill from the datacenter for that week was a tad over $11,000. If you recall, the hackers brought down the whole datacenter just to try to kill us.

The Board set a goal of $70,000 to raise by November 1st of this year. If that amount is not raised, the site will close on December 31st, 2008.

If we cannot make the fundraising target, the Board will seek to sell the site to another 501(c)(3) and any new owner will need to be qualified - have the IT talent to run the site, the funding to keep it going and the funding for the required upgrades, both software and hardware. We would also stop accepting new OVs on November 1st and stop accepting new books requests from soldiers on December 1st, 2008.

___________________________
What Does It Take?*

It takes a lot to run BFS on a monthly basis. The monthly funds required to run an operation like BFS are large. Here is a partial summary of where the donations go.

All figures are a monthly average for 2007.

Books, DVDs, other carepackage items	$1153
Postage	$812
Rent	$1600
Utilities	$277
IT Services (server farm, hosting, bandwidth)	$4258
IT Maintenance Contract	$1500
IT Security Software License Fees	$350

There are other things like broken computers, the occasional software purchase, insurance, pencils, toilet paper for the bathroom, etc. that we purchase.

No one at BFS receives a salary.

The BFS presence on MySpace, Flickr, YouTube are all free. Our presence in Second Life has also been donated.

We will be disabling the uploading of photos in the next few weeks to save bandwidth. Please post your photos to the Flickr BFS Group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/booksforsoldiers) and include the Flickr link to the photo in your forum post. If you want keep your photos on BFS, place them on Flickr and post the code in your post. Instructions can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/help/photos/#68

My hopes is that eventually we can raise more than the $70k survival goal. Last year our goal for 2008 was to move to a website design where the cumbersome OV process was performed online and searching and finding soldiers would be a breeze - subscribing to soldier requests is my favorite new BFS feature. Now we are just struggling to stay open.

___________________________
How You Can Help

The ONLY reason we are open today is because of the OVs that have donated so far this year, but now I need to ask more of everyone.

1) Office party fundraiser - Coordinate a "Save BFS Day" at work and urge, beg, cajole your co-workers into coughing up something for BFS.

2) Have your company cough up some cash. We will send your company a formal donation request, just send us the company name, contact name and address and we will get it out right away. Send these requests to me personally (storm@booksforsoldiers.com)

3) Have your place of worship pass the plate (hat, kippah, whatever) for BFS. Consult with your church's leader about holding a "Save BFS Offering" one day this month. Checks should be made out to "Books For Soldiers." If they have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly to set up a call.

4) Visit our donation page and give what you can.

http://booksforsoldiers.com/donate.php

or by check

Books For Soldiers
2008 Fund Drive
353 Jonestown Rd #123
Winston Salem, NC 27104

___________________________
In Closing

I started BFS five years ago and fully expected it to be online for only six weeks, that is the length of time I thought it would take for our troops to finish up in Baghdad and come back home. I am also terrible at predicting who is going to win the next NASCAR race.

If worse come to worse, it has been a good run - a great run in fact. In the first 6 months of operation, we collectively shipped over 400 tons of packages to the Middle East, that is when I stopped counting. We also built the largest English library in the Middle East - together with US soldiers at the Baghdad International Airport in the months following the fall of Baghdad.

We have done a lot of tremendous work, made a lot of great friends and even a wedding or two! We have also lost a lot of friends and we have received way too many memorial flags. Either way, you can all be proud of what we have achieved.

I promise that we will do everything in our power to meet our fundraising goals and will appreciate any help from you.

Thank-you for your support, patience and hard work over the last 5 years.

And most of all thank-you for your support of our troops.

Storm Williams
Founder
Books For Soldiers

*Legalese: BFS is exempt from filing IRS Form 990. Any financial information found here should not be considered as a replacement for IRS Form 990 or a supplement to an IRS Form 990.

(posted for Stormbear by nyndnpa)


« Last Edit: May 03, 2008, 06:12:50 PM by nyndnpa »

TWOTS

2008-04-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Blessed are the days that we are released at noon. By the way which is like everyday so far. It sure is nice too let me tell you. Today we did PT for the first time as a squad (which is a bit of a fluke cuz were not supposed to do organized PT until after block leave). I've been running and biking a little on my own to try to get back into shape. Apparently humping around all sorts of heavy shit is a lot different then running in short shorts and a PT shirt. I took the guys on a slow run around the hill. As we neared one of the motor pools and explosion went off which for a split second had us ducking our heads a little. "Thats fucked up!" was the consensus. It was pretty funny though.
Block leave is getting closer to becoming a reality and I very much so plan to set up a slide show on here if anybody still reads. Not much to write about as my secret identity life is pretty mundane. We spend most of our time with just Soldier maintenance trying to get everyones affairs in order and such. This weekend Setz is trying to organize a Squad sky diving session so we will see how that works out.
Another thing I have noticed is that at times I find myself extremely fucking bored. I watched the show DEA the other night and those guys are out doing raids and what not and I was there on my couch routing them on like it was some kind of Superbowl of sorts. I haven't held a weapon in weeks and I miss it.
My children keep me thoroughly entertained though for the most part. My oldest daughter was discussing a business venture that her and her BFF were planning. They were planning to make bracelets and sell them at school. I was pretty impressed, she even had a name for these bracelets. She says "We even have a name for them." "Whats that I asked." "TWOTS." she simply replied. Hmmmmmm. I thought to myself my ears ring pretty loudly and I'm not quite sure she said what I think she just did. "What was that baby? What are you calling them?" "Twots you know its a twist with a knot at the end." she said obviously annoyed by my lack of hearing. At this point my wife has hit the floor laughing and the look on my daughters face is utter confusion, she doesn't understand what is so funny about her business idea. "Indeed. Well thats great." I said. "So your going to be selling twots at school then?" My daughter looked at me and shook her head then looked down at her mother on the floor with a puzzled look on her face.
Through gasps of air between gut rolling laughter my wife explained to my eldest daughter what a twot was. We all had a good laugh at her embarrassed expense. The next day when she got home I asked her if she had sold any bracelets at school, and she gave me a false laugh and a smirk.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Chillin

2008-04-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well I've been home for a week and some change now. Nothing really going on to much, just getting rid of the jet lag and spending time with my family. Coming home this time was different than the first time, I'm not checking the sides of the roads for IED's or anything. I catch myself more just taking in the scenery (my wife hates when I drive). Kansas has some nice scenery to take in thats for sure. I haven't ate out as much as I thought though you know I had to hit up the Flame Broiled Mecca for a beastly steak burger. I can definitely understand why the dude in the commercial powered his way to the window.
Our week has just been filled with in processing stuff or reverse SRP if you will. Making sure that our admin stuff is squared away and doing some medical check ups, a lot of briefs about reintegrating into real life. We are pretty much out at noon every day which is really nice. Nobody I know so far has gotten into any trouble. I'm proud of those guys before we left I would at least get one phone call on the weekend but since we've been back they have stayed pretty low key.
With getting out of "work" early I had the opportunity to go to my kids school and have lunch with them which is very interesting. I had lunch with my youngest and listened to a heated discussion between 2 boys and a girl. The one boy was saying how he wished he could get bitten by a spider like in Spiderman so that he could have Spiderman powers. The other boy he was talking to was like ya that would be cool. A young lady who over heard their conversation butted in (like women do sometimes) and made an attempt to squash their hopes (also another trait of women) of being bitten by a radioactive Spider. They went on back and forth until it was almost time to go to recess. I told them if they eat their peaches that it would give them the ability to run faster. Since this privy knowledge came from an adult soon the whole table had wolfed down their peaches and were prepared to go outside and try out their new power.
That situation in itself was very different since I was able to communicate with the children and there was no language barrier. The kids in Iraq loved us and would surround us for hand outs and be talking a mile a minute in their native language and through broken Arabic and English we could communicate a little bit.
I did find that I have a few quirks and one being I cannot stand the sound of dogs barking. I have a dog and she is the sweetest but her barking drives me in-fuckingsane. The quiet is another thing, after the kids go to bed it is so quiet. In Iraq there usually is a generator somewhere in the back round or dogs, or birds or some thing. Since it is so quiet the ringing in my ears is amplified, or I guess noticeable now and it is so loud that it irritates me.
My final bitch for now, we had a brief at the wee hours of the morning and it was over quickly so we decided to hit the chow hall for some breakfast. We waited an hour for it to open when we noticed people going into the front door. Taking the cue and thinking that they had opened fifteen minutes early we mozied on up to the door and went inside. Pretty much the whole DFAC staff which are civilians and Soldiers started bitching that they weren't open yet and being pretty rude about it. Well we didn't unlock the fucking door, so we waited in the breeze way for them to "Open". They opened and we got in line. At the DFAC in Iraq its ran by KBR and all of the people that serve the food are foreigners, from all sorts of different countries. Here the servers are Soldiers. I got in line to get my omelet, and the women making it was an E-4 a pregnant E-4 and she complained the whole time, did a shitty job making my omelet and took for fucking ever. In the box at least the dude though we didn't speak the same language understood ham, cheese, and mushroom, and could cook more than one omelet at a time, and moved down the line for some scrumptious bacon, and there was a male E-4 behind the counter. "Bacon." I said. I watched this high speed individual serve me up some scrambled eggs, you know of course I have an omelet and I really want so more fucking eggs? I tell him bacon again but this time a little louder. Fuck me I thought to myself at least the dude in Iraq could understand me. Well I ended up with a shit ton of eggs and some bacon.
Thats an update of my now boring but blessed life I apologize for stealing precious moments of your day. Once I become not so lazy I'm going to try and set up a slide show and probably in the future go over things that happened in Iraq that I forgot about or ready to talk about.
Thats it for now. Once again thank you for all of your support.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!

Finally

2008-04-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

I sit here posting this one from the comfort and safety of my own home. Hanging out with my wife and she finishes up some homework she has due on Monday. It felt like forever from Rusty, to BIAP, to Kuwait and then to here. I stay in Kuwait was nice and short and they have the Customs portion down to an exact science it seems. With customs knocked out we were herded into the waiting area until our plane was ready for us. The weight of 15 months slowly started to drift away as the pilots roared away from Kuwait. We ate a light meal on the plane watched a movie and before we knew it we were in Germany. A quick pit stop and much needed smoke break for all the smokers and we were back on the bird for the long leg of the flight. I sat next to Doc so I had access to the best sleeping aides. When I woke up I saw the green hills, and forests of Maine. We were almost home, we were finally in the good ol' U, S, of A. We landed in Bangor Maine and were greeted by veterans of WWII and Vietnam and several other volunteers. They had free cell phones for us to use and also took a bunch of pictures which they posted seethepics, check out you might even see me in a couple of those.
We landed in Kansas and had to take care of some admin type things before we would head down to the ceremony. We mustered into the building and they formed us up. Everyone was thinking the same thing, "Hurry the fuck up." We've been waiting around for days now lets do this. We filed off one rank at a time into the main area where the families were waiting. I was one of the last people to come out and as the first entered the building you could here the cheering from the families watching to see which hero was theirs. They played the National Anthem, a quick prayer, and an even quicker speech from some Colonel I didn't even now and with a dismiss from the 1SG the families poured out of the bleachers. I saw mine, made my way to them, my daughters jumped in my arms. My son was a bit more hesitant but it was 3am after all. He came to me and I picked them all up. Tears welled up and in my eyes and spilled over it felt so good to embrace them instead of just their pictures. All the times that I spent wondering if I would ever get to this day all that emotion surfaced. My son spoke to me and it was so weird hearing his tiny voice in person I laughed.
We went home and settled down for essentially what was left of the night. I dozed off for about 2 hours when I opened my eyes my sons head was level with the bed and he was staring at me. He took off running and I woke up and went down stairs and made him breakfast. We didn't do to much that day. My daughter had soccer practice and before that I wanted to go see my friend. We drove to the Fort Riley cemetery and I walked among the rows of fallen heroes until I came across a newer looking marker. I knelt next to my friend and set a flag down for him and some other things. I thanked him for watching over us, and once again assured him that he will never be forgotten.
Today was great as my son woke me up early and told me "Daddy you need to come down and make me breakfast." No one can resist such an offer and I picked him up and treated him to some Trix. (Hey thats what he wanted!)
Home finally and it feels so good to be here. It was great when Setz came over and brought his family. His little girl played with my kids and I could tell by the look in his eyes that he was happy to be home and was completely in love with his lil lady. Everything is pretty surreal. Sleeping in a nice comfy bed next to my lovely wife. Raiding my own fridge, not having to walk 30m to the shitter, having my own private personal shitter, channel surfing.
When you are gone its like stepping into a time warp and when you come home you are hurled into ever day life. Apparently from what I understand the K-State students are excited to have the battle hardened Soldier's home apparently one lucky student was escorted out of a window by one of the returning Soldier's.
I know this post is pretty random but there is a lot of things going on right now. The jist of it is that I'm home. Finally, this time I really never felt like these days would get here. Thank you once again to all of you that have came here to read about what goes on over there and for all of your support. All of our friends at Soldier's Angel's, Books For Soldiers, and our friends from 15 minute Lunch. To everyone that stopped by. I really do appreciate all of your support.
I'll keep posting as I continue to sort things out and get my thoughts and feelings and everything in order. I did eat at AppleBees today and that was great not the best but its a 5 star compared to the KBR DFAC. Alright folks thank you again, and to all my brothers still out there stay safe and godbless.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

Pitcher's

2008-04-12T19:39:00.001-07:00

Coming back from the DAK and these guys were looking all tough until the bullets started flying.This is a busy street and nobody was out and they parted a set this NP truck ablaze seconds after this pic was taken we started receiving heavy gun fire from all sides and found ourselves in a fire fight until we got back to the COP.
Back at the COP shooting militia pidgeons.
The cooks had left us to fend for our selves. Here Davis and Setz are grilling frozen lasagna and they used diesel fuel for extra flavoring.Chilling in BIAP waiting for the bird to take us to Kuwait.
Me on the bird going to Kuwait.
America land ho!The good and true Red White and Blue!!!!
D-Roll and Naughton Keep occupied at Bangor.
HOw do you keep grunts well behaved at the airport? Put one of those whirly quarter things in the Airport.

Ok I was really gonna try to make whitty comments for all the pics but the format for this shit is really kicking my ass and pissing me off.
Deuce Deuce Out!!!!!

HOME!!!!

2008-04-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

We're HOOOOOOMMMMMMEEEE!!!!!!!
Stay tuned for pics and a post.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Half Way There

2008-04-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

Just making a pit stop about 11 teen hours to go...................
deuce deuce alviederzein...!!!!!!

Purgatory

2008-04-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm in Can'tWait now fucking finally got in here this morning at 3am tried to throw myself into a medicated slumber until somebody decided to wake me from it. As if I needed anymore time awake in the nightmare that I'm already living. We were stuck in limbo in Iraq for awhile waiting for a flight out. Finally got the word to go and boarded a big Chair Force plane. Nothing like sitting elbow to elbow with all your gear, bag, body armor, and weapons. The plane roared to life and we were off. We all cheered and breathed a sigh of relief to be the fuck off the ground and headed south. The pilots pulled into a steep climb which produced more cheers, hands went up into the air like some kinda psychotic roller coaster ride. The cheers from the Grunts in the back motivated the pilots for more gut wrenching maneuvers in a giant airplane. I'm sure the pilots were having a grand ol' time, and I was too I'm not gonna lie. Then they did one more and instead of cheers there was mostly grounds. I smiled happy to be making distance between Iraq and me. Not out yet but close enough to smile.
We touched down in Kuwait and were hurried on to bus after bus, some not having time to pee after the big plane ride, and took the opportunity to hang the wang out the window of the bus and piss on the go. I'm wondering what the bus driver in the bus behind us was thinking when both sides of our bus sprung a leak.
Kuwait is nice, I like it its find sand, its a little humid and your most positively out in the middle of no where. Nothing as you drive from camp to camp. Pitch black emptiness, and its quiet. We arrived at the camp and down loaded the gear. Unfortunately I was a man short because do to a serious fucking miscount they told us the plane was full and we had to drop 2 people. Sorry if your last name starts with Z, and Y. Then we get here and they tell us that a small portion will have to stay behind for the next flight. Most of us were pretty pissed and WTF was thrown out at will. The boyz of Charlie lucked out as we all made it on. We have a good portion of Charlie on the way home as I write these words. We were broken up a little bit, but shit as long as everyone makes it home I'm cool with that.
Honestly I can't even believe I'm here and its so close to going home. Granted I was here about 6 months ago for RnR but that was a lot different, I was going back to the shit hole and was uncertain whether or not I would get to be on the trip home. I find myself thinking of Joel and things we would be talking about, about how the pad in BIAP had changed and the deployment and all. I can't help but feel a little empty because I know that we did not bring everyone home. It kinda feels as though we left them there in Iraq. I know in my heart though that they are at peace on American soil in a better place, together watching over us. How else really could you explain everything that happened during the uprising and none of us being hurt or killed.
I'll be here for a few more hours, not gonna give you any times cuz that would just be really stupid of me but I will let you know when we are all kissing American soil, and our families. In the meanwhile I've to make a pit stop to get rid of the pizza thats seeping its way through my colon. Kuwait is great! They have a McDonalds here of all things. The internet is kinda pricey 5 bucks for an hour and considerably slower. Riddle me that one. Thats all the update I have for now. To all my brothers still in the shit keep your heads down and your trigger fingers itchy! To everyone else no shit, I'll catcha you on the flip side!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
PS
If anyone from 2/16 is reading this trying to get info on when we we are coming back keep contacting your FRG rep or go to the website. I understand that some FRG's really don't have a clue about whats going on right now (I know from talking to my friends who are married and my wife) but just keep contacting them if you haven't got an answer as of yet. I apologize for not putting anymore than I already now but unfortunately I cannot do that on a public website. I apologize for the inconvenience but we will be home soon.

A giant fucking Leap

2008-04-06T05:37:00.000-07:00

Ohhhhh SHIT SON!!!! I just got done having DA DA DA DAAAAAAA...... BURGER KING!!!!!! and a nice cold monster. Thats right ladies and gender benders we have made it the fuck off of Rocketmiyah. Fuck Rocketmiyah you can have that shit. We made it off and trust me haaj gave us a pretty sweet send off.
We had our CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) ceremony early on in the afternoon. The SGM and BC had just finished with my Squad and started on 3rd when I hear the faint but familiar screeching of a Rocket flying over head. The alarm failed to registar that one until it hit, and I laughed out loud and thought to myself, "Hell ya! Our platoon would get rocketed during the CIB ceremony." The SGM yelled out "Incoming!" just as the siren started to blare. We all broke ranks and hauled ass for cover most of us laughing. Simmons was right behind me and I yelled "Stay away from me you son of a bitch!" He laughed and said "What?" I know those fucking rockets follow that asshole. With rockets done and exploded we finished up the ceremony and moved along the streets to eat our final lunch at the haaj restaurant.
Later that day we finished cleaning and the 1sg came by inspected rooms and we moved out to the assembly area. We loaded our rucks onto a truck and then moved to the helo pad. There was at least over 100 of moving in a single file line with body armor, helmets, weapons, and assault packs moving to the helo pad in a single file line that stretched at least about 200m. Suddenly- WAAAAA WAAAAA WAAA INCOMING INCOMING INCOMING. With one bunker in sight we made a mad dash to it as we heard the rockets scream over and impact near by. A rocket makes a distinct sound when it reaches its final destination its weird its like a crushing sound followed by boomness. With all this shit on not all of us could make it in and we hunkered out side. With that close call behind us we finally made it to the pad. As we waited haaj decided that one more attack would be nice and we heard the sirens again and close, it was if someone was calling in our movements as once again the rockets impacted nearby. One final rocket attack at Rocketmiyah no one hurt and we were waiting for the birds. You know who I was standing by every fucking time??? Simmons that right! Simmons the fucking Rocket magnet. He told me I didn't have to worry that we was good luck. I had to remind him of the guy running behind him from the rocket attack a couple of days ago that caught a hot piece in the back. Everytime we could hear the chop of the rotorblades people would cheer then we would realize they weren't ours and everyone would sigh. It was kinda like a big rollercoaster ride. Eventually the birds landed and we boarded. Everyone hoping the bird would take off soon to avoid any rockets if haaj cared to share again. The bird pulled power and lifted into the night the cabin erupted with cheers as we were off.
No more Rocketmiyah. Right now were in limbo in transit waiting for that big bird to send us into Can'tWait. I won't say where though if you've been to Iraq you know! I will say that they have a big PX (Not as big as the big big PX nearby) and you heard it in the begining the church of Flame Broil. I still have the after taste of Whopper lingering on my taste buds. Maybe not so much as lingering but dancing and playing and making love to my toungue! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Not to much longer folks and the big National Lampoons Iraqi vacation will be a not so distant memory for me and my days of sitting on the porch sippin my Sweet Iced Tea with my wife and kids in SC are just down the street.
Well thats it for now and I'll let ya know as soon as the men from Charlie 2/16 are safe at home. Back to the reality of real life in the real world. Until then.........
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

UPDATE
Apparently we got out of there just in time as I came across this hot little article on yahoo. Rocketmiyah

So Close but so Far Away

2008-04-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

The last couple of days have been really busy. 2nd Platoon's done there left and right seat rides and traded places with our replacements. We've turned in our gear and other equipment. Today me and my roomie just finished field daying our room. Earlier this morning Val and I were out burning left over junk when suddenly the incoming alarm went off. The burn barrel was only mere feet from the bunker so both of us calmly made our way to the bunker. That is until the rocket landed on the other side of us and a huge chunk of shrapnel made a whirring sound as it flew over our heads. We then leaped into the bunker and started laughing. Even though we are not going out anymore we are still dodging rockets. Once again Simmons comes up lucky as he was running for the bunker the guy running behind him got hit with a piece of shrapnel, on the 28th Simmons vehicle was hit with an EFP, before that an incoming rocket landed right behind him as he was coming back from the shrapnel. Note to self, stay away from Simmons the remainder of the time I'm here.
Our last missions pretty much consisted of driving around to IA and NP checkpoints to make sure they were out doing their jobs. During the uprising all of the checkpoints had been abandoned. Driving around sector that day it was just completely different, stores were opened, people were out, the roads were congested. I laughed when we rolled up to one check point and there were only 2 NP's there. No wonder why they ran, shit I would run too if someone left my ass hanging out in the wind like that. "Here you go men, you two sit here and hold down the road!" Right?

We had to go have a pow-wow with the head doctor this morning. They wanted to get a feel for where every bodies heads were at since Sept 4th. She did most of the talking and we for the most part clammed up. We talked about the events together with each other, but it almost seems harder to talk about them in front of everyone, especially when an outsider is present. Those guys were our family, our brothers its something only the families of the fallen and we can understand.

Yesterday we attended the memorial of the 2 Alpha Company soldiers who were KIA, Specialist Durrell L. Bennett, and Private First Class Patrick J. (PJ) Miller. The Chapel was packed with Soldiers who came to pay their respect. I didn't know them personally but being so close to going home it hit everybody pretty hard. They will never be forgotten.

The days are coming to an end for us in Iraq real soon. I will post again when we are out of here.

DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Rest in Peace

Specialist Durrell L. Bennett

Private First Class Patrick J. (PJ) Miller

Fuck the Militia

2008-03-31T00:57:00.000-07:00

"You guys have to go check out National Police check points that have been over run." "Wow that's gay." "After that we are linking up with 1st PLT to raid a Mosque in [Nasty Part of Town]." "Okay that's not so gay."
The main route we had been working on recently was empty and it was the middle of the day. Smoke from tire fires was in the air. Lately Sadr's militia went buckwhile coming out to fight. Fighting from Sadr City spilled east into Bravo Company's sector. Alpha, and Bravo and some elements from an Armored unit were in the midst of a heated battle in Bravo's sector uprooting militia men from the check points. We drove by a check point tower we had built and the side of it had been hit by an RPG. We drove past numerous check points that were abandoned. Reports of a certain checkpoint that had been taken over by JAM came across the net. We drove to the checkpoint and it was manned by a bunch of National Policeman. Maybe they were JAM but they were in uniform so it wasn't cool if we smoked them.
We finished up with the checkpoint tour and drove to the link up point. We waited for an hour for 1st to link up with the NP's and then to link up with us. Only one NP volunteered to come with us. We moved to the target block and set up a cordon. 1st hit the Mosque and they found several EFP's lots of explosives and weapons. Meanwhile gun fire and explosions went off around us. The LT took a team to a roof where they took small arms fire. An RPG flew up the street directly infront of the trucks of 1st Platoon and they clipped his ass. We rounded up the explosives into 1st's trucks and we were given the task to lead back. There was some argument about which direction we should travel and finally we went with the LT's pick of south when the consensus was to avoid the street the RPG was fired up. We moved slowly it was dark now. Air assets were in the middle of calling up "We have personnel with RPG'S moving u-" BOOOOOOM. An explosion followed by 2 bright blue flashes from transformers coming down lit up the road in front of me as I watched the lead vehicle disappear clouded by smoke. My mind flashed back to Sept 4th my hand on the handle of my door ready to get out and assist. Immediately 2-4's back up lights lit up the street as he came across the radio. "We're good! Backing up!" Everyone was good but the truck was fucked. The LT and my truck moved up to secure the intersection so that we could hook up and tow the truck back. Air assets were calling up people moving to our position. Small arms fire started to poor out of every nook and cranny. I told Hannibal to fire high and down the streets to keep people off of them, finally after so much small arms I told Hannibal to fire on a building where we saw muzzle flashes. Hannibal laid down a sustained burst on the building. With the truck hooked up we towed and fired our way out. We had to tow the truck in the middle of the night down one of Iraq's most dangerous routes. We made it back to the FOB with 1st safely and no casualties. 1st PLT had schwacked a couple of people along with us.
The next day we moved with 1st back to the COP as we went to cross the highway we heard small arms fire coming from our sector. 1st was out in front and had immediately started taking contact. An RPG flew past their lead vehicle soon after he was cut to pieces by a 240B. I believe that the fire died down as they realized how big our element really was. Burnt remnants of tires at almost every intersection, and no on was on the streets.
Later that night we found ourselves hitting another Mosque. 2nd Platoon was tasked out as the main effort. We moved down dismounted and stacked by the door. The breach element kicked in the door and threw in a flash bang. The stun grenade went off and my men flowed into the mosque. We searched from top to bottom and found nothing. Apparently it was bad intelligence. After we searched a couple surrounding buildings and coming up with nothing we headed back to the COP. Hours later we were told we had to go to the DAK and pick up equipment for the "beleaguered" NP's. We would be moving with a Platoon from Delta Company who were escorting a BSB element to pick up an Alpha company truck that had been destroyed. 1st moved dismounted to link up with the NP's. As we moved mounted to link up with said NP's I was monitoring Delta's net as we heard an IED go off, then minutes later another. It was delta they hit 2 IED's within 5 minutes of each other. We linked up with the NP's and drove to link up with Delta, they were about 10 minutes in front of us. Now it was to the point they were reconning by fire possible EFP's, and IED's. We were doing the same.
We made it to the DAK and linked up. A follow on mission came over the net and Delta was tasked to pick up a platoon from Alpha's COP. No sooner did they leave the gate then an Explosion ripped through the night, and then another. The Delta 2-6 element came over the net "They almost got us again we are good." What a lucky bastard this dude was eating IED's like pez just near misses every time. At about the same time Hannibal yells. "RPG on the roof!!!!" "Fire, shoot, shoot, shoot!" I yelled. Hannibal started laying waste to the roof tops. The other gunners picked up on his fire and put fire on the roofs, then Hannibal spotted another and let the 7.62 rain on his militia ass too. Meanwhile Delta was firing on the buildings with thier .50cal machine gun doing some serious demolition and remodeling. It was a steady gun fight until they pulled back into the DAK with Alpha. The thing is it was really about 1.5km from the DAK to Alpha's cop.
It was daylight now and the men from 2nd Platoon had been moving since 9am the previous day. With the NP equipment loaded and BSB still trying to load the Alpha truck up our element went out to secure the Route we would be traveling on. We drove down past the burnt out NP truck on the side of the road and got eyes on our egress route. Dco called up and told us they were moving, suddenly the air erupted in small arms fire from all angles, every vehicle 2nd platoon had started to fire. Kum spotted a guy with a machine gun down the street firing on us, he told Hannibal and seconds later his militia ass was looking for his 40 virgins. It was solid gun fire on buildings and down the street we were on. Hannibal's eagle eye picking them out then his deadly finger picking them off. C Wade in the lead truck was picking off guys in a window and he said it was like a video game, he would fire the guy would go down then come back up. After a final burst his ass didn't get back up. Delta moved out in front of us and we moved slowly. We saw a spot in the market where the militia had put an IED that had detonated on Delta. The market was burnt out they destroyed their own fucking market, and for what?
We made it back to the COP gun fire and explosions coming from muhallas around the AO.
Today I read a message from AlSadr's office calling for a cease fire. I would hope so because the only people suffering from their actions are their own people. They found that out when they hit a tank and then a tank and a Bradley moved up firing main gun and 30mm coax. DOOM ON YOU FUCKERS!
2 Soldiers from Alpha were killed and 2 severely wounded. Less than a week to go.
FUCK THE MAHDI
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Not Out of the Woods Yet

2008-03-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

I told Kum to grab the AT-4 (medium anti-tank rocket launcher) and sling it on his back. With the recent spike in violence I wasn't about to start taking chances. My team leaders checked their men and prepped them to step out of the gate. No trucks were coming with us tonight. It had been a while since we moved dismounted through the sector and it was welcome stretch of the legs. The big iron doors squealed open and my men and I made our way out into the street. It was by my account just a familiarization walk as we had officers from the unit relieving us in our formation. We got our spacing and moved silently into the night. Checking roof tops and the sides of the roads through the green hugh of the night vision for any signs of unwanted company or things that go BOOM. We moved silently until a pack of wild dogs that roam the streets of Baghdad decided they wanted everyone to know we were out. In the distance we could hear our sister company's in contact and air weapons teams raining down death in the form of hellfire missiles and 30mm cannon fire. It was a short walk and before we knew it we were back in the comfort (if you can call it that) and safety (I use the term loosely) of our COP. Anticipation for contact was high considering all the shit going, but returning with nothing further to report is also a blessing in its own way. Then again going out and looking for a fight and coming back with out firing a shot is a real let down. I will compare the feeling to "BlueBalls" and saying that a majority of you will know how I feel. Try 14 months of "BlueBalls".
We pulled into the FOB this morning and I got out of the truck and shrugged my gear off. I'm tired, more tired than usual, the last couple of days have been interesting. The heat has picked up a bit and we are sweating a little more than usual. Along with the heat comes the crazies.
I took a look at the guys and I could see the fatigue in their eyes. The last two days have been long and interesting. Right before I got online the incoming alarm went off as I was getting my hair cut. I waited and waited and when I tried to leave they told me I couldn't go out yet. This was after a sufficient amount of time had passed. The FOB Nazi's were holding me hostage afraid that if I go outside into the big FOB of uncertainty that I would get whacked. Where are those guys when I roll out the wire. "Hey no Deuce you can't go its dangerous out in sector." I feel as though I live in a huge oxymoron.
I got online to check out the news to maybe find out a little more about what the hell is going on here. I read an article about how the Green Zone is "Under Seige"............ Wow. That's it, that's all the fucking news that is going on about recent events here. Have all the reporters gone home or they are just holed up in the GZ drinking mocha frappies and shit and a couple of rounds hit in the GZ so suddenly its under seige? I might be speaking out of turn but hey around the whole AO shit has gone a little loopy. If you call getting rocketed a few times Under siege then I don't know what you would call ol'Rocketmiyah? Under-apocalypse??? Just be thankful your not driving around in the IED laden streets of B-dad you fucking Burger King eating fucks. (I apologize for using Burger Kings name in vain) Explosions and gunfire are a constant more so now than it has been within the last month. Apparently some people not so happy with AlSadr are pissed and have been trying to step up. (That's according to the AP). On the roof of the COP you could look out and see smoke from JAM guys lighting tires on fire. Maybe they had just seen Blackhawk down on cable? I'm not understanding why they just couldn't wait till we left to start some shit. Now it feels as everyday that we get closer to leaving the more dangerous it's getting for us. To bad though we won't hole up. JAM has really picked a shitty time to give AlSadr the bird and start fighting on their own. You see, you have a shitload of trigger happy Grunts itching to settle a score, you wanna fight fuckheads????? Good!
Well before the shit started to splatter upon the fan roughly about 3 days ago. We were out into the wee hours of the morning trying to make our little piece of shitty highway safe for all who travel the road. We were up all day and all night and when we got back to the FOB I crashed. I slept hard until about 2pm. I woke up conducted the 3 S's and mozied my happy lil 11B firm buttocks down to the PX. When, hark what do I see? People walking in 2's and in 3's. Under their arms what do they hold? Mops, brooms, and drawers of plastic mold. Oh what is that what could it be? What is their patch, oh I must see. Oh yes it is our relief, its the Ivy of 4th ID.
Boy was I happy they are here, and even last night they went out on a dismounted patrol with us. Later the novelty wore off as I went to the phone booth and it was packed with people that just fucking got here. You can't help but hold a grudge as you go use your creature features around the FOB, mainly internet, and phone and find people that have only been in country a couple days yacking and typing away. Meanwhile we've been away from home for 14 months and out at the COP for the last 9 days, and all you want to do is make a call and here is this doosh that just copulated with his significant other only maybe a couple weeks prior sucking up phone time. I'm not bitter though cuz soon I will be going home!
Like I said with sudden hemorrhoid flare up the days have become longer and are at the most dangerous since we are so close to popping smoke.
I would tell you about our "Assault" into the swimming pool to grab 40 armed men, but uhhhh it was pretty fucking stupid.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

Reup if your crazy....

2008-03-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

Well........ I did it again. 4 more baby 4 more. I didn't get any money. I did get my choice of duty station. I can say its non deployable and I'm really excited about that. Its off to Relaxin Jackson when I'm done here.
Its actually pretty sweet. Since 2001 I've hardly been home at all. I was in the New York Guard and after 9/11 they kept me busy and away from home. Out of the last three years I've been home for 7 months of it. I'm excited to actually be able to be home and be a father and husband. Part of me will miss being deployed, thats what we do, its what we train for. I don't really know what I'll be doing in Jackson but I do know I will not be deploying.
A couple of people have told me that it will be range cadre or assisting with the training of the new recruits that go through there. That will be cool I love to train soldiers.
It was really a mutual decision between my wife and I. She only wanted me to take a tactical halt for a while. I knew ever since I was a kid this is what I was going to do. I love it, I love the people, I love to lead and I love to teach young Soldiers. I love being in the company of heroes.
It was crazy though as my wife and I talked about life since 9/11 and how much I haven't been home. Babies became big kids and I missed pinnacle moments in their lives. I know for the next 3 years (depending on my work schedule) I will be around for birthdays, Christmas's, and all that other normal guy stuff that everyone else gets to enjoy. What the remaining years have instore after that I don't know. The way most of us have to look at life in the Military is one deployment at a time.
In 1995 a punk ass kid from small town Washington walked into a Marine recruiter office, and was later wisked away to MCRD San Diego, 12 years later here I sit in Iraq for the 2nd time, with another 4 years ahead. Its been a strange and wonderful trip. I've seen and done things I never would have imagined. I'm doing what I dreamed about when I was a kid watching Tour of Duty and playing with GI Joes. Hopefully now that I'll have some stabilization I'll be able to attend the schools I've been trying to go to for the last 10 years. Most importantly I'll be able to watch my kids grow up live and in person. We will see what the future holds.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!

Picture Page Picture its time to grab a pen and a pencil....

2008-03-21T08:22:00.001-07:00

Its me and Setz packing up things and putting them away.... Ohhh its getting close.

2nd Platoon PUNISHERS. 2nd to None.

DOC sleepin in the truck.
No thats not dirt on my lip.....
SGT Mildog fellow former Marine, turns out we were on the same boat together and also went to the same CAX never knew eachother but been to the same places.
Locals playing soccer on the field we had made for them.
Big splosion.... It was big.

ASS IN 9

2008-03-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

Ok so I know that I said I was going to post pictures (lied) I know I said I was going to post a thrilling new post in the never ending saga to bring peace to Iraq (lied). Not really I didn't really so much lie as I did maybe misinform- DON'T JUDGE ME! I learned it from the military! Well I mailed the lap top home today so its one less thing I have to carry on the freedom bird when and if I do so make it on said imaginary airplane. Due to a series of misfortunate events i.e. sleeping in, I didn't quite get on there and write what I said I was. I will though.......... Pictures, I got the pictures on a thumb drive and when I get back out to the COP I will upload them. It seems as if the MWR computers inherited viruses from peoples thumb drives so they don't let them load up anymore.
Right now I'm supposed to be back at the chews going through my Soldier's computers checking for porn and inappropriate pictures, i.e. savage death shots, and burnt up trucks and the like. I'll get to that soon enough. The PL came up to me and told me I was to do this and that later he would go through and "Spot check". The word Spot Check really aggrivates the shit out of me. Especially when said Spot Checking will be done by a man who is younger than me and has less time in the Army than my shaving kit. Spot checking I know must be done. It's supposed to be done. Never the less to me it screams "I DON'T TRUST YOU!" Although I do spot check my team leaders, not that I have any doubts in their abilities to accomplish the mission, but at this point I have more time and experience in these things than they do in which my PL does not.
I tell the PL "Well if your gonna do that why don't you just check em, and then that way we are not wasting time double dutching." Then we got into this whole conversation about what spot checking is. He has his views and I have mine. It really could be that its my time of the month and had he initially come up and handed me 100 bucks it still would've made me butt hurt.
I later went to chow and encountered the PSG and he told me that when we get to the COP we have to do a 100 percent ammo count. I know these things have to be done but they get under my skin and what time they pick them to be done at or by. Sometimes it doesn't make any fucking sense. Last time (in Iraq) we did the ammo count we were mission complete pretty much not punching the wire anymore. Does that not make more sense then to conduct the count after we're done punching the wire? Its probably just today getting on my nerves. I might need to sleep in. All these very small issues are annoying the shit out of me.
On a good note though we did have Nacho's for dinner and they rocked. Well I have to skee dattle and go call the misses then I will conduct Operation check for inappropriate photo's. Finish packing whats left of my gear, play some Call of Duty Roads to Victory on the old PSP, read my book and then go to bed, and not in that particular order.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

Shorter than a Midget on His Knees

2008-03-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Where the fuck have you people been? Oh ya its me that dropped off of the net. Well quite frankly I just haven't felt like writing and really nothing significant has happened for me to write about. There probably has but most likely I've been really lazy. Anymore we are just doing the same old shit day in and day out. Not like the wahabi's haven't noticed either, they are pretty smart like that. Dusting off the old Kalashinikov's and RPG's to come out and take pot shots and such. Clever little fellas.
Packed my bags tonight its getting close really really close. Its interesting all the conflicting information that we keep getting about what the hell is going on. You'd almost think that these people haven't done this shit before......... Oh yeah. They haven't. Needless to say I'm a tad frustrated but at this point its to be expected. Fuck it just go out to the COP one last time burn some shit barrels, say good by to my kiddie friends down the street (today Setz gave away his T.V.). Come back to the FOB do play the connex game, hurry up and wait and we will be on that bird baby. Soon really soon.
Nothing really going on to much sorry to disappoint really. All we've been doin is playin combat engineer and occasionally hanging the ol' arse out on the side of the road trolling for VBIED's. Any day is as dangerous as the next, we are still on a roll just missing EFP's or hajj will set them out right after we leave to taunt us, but we have something for that ass big man so keep it up. The next time you think your being sneaky you'll wind up with a 2nd asshole somewhere in the vicinity of your forehead! hehehehehehehe.
I'm gonna post some pics later to those faithful readers that keep coming back and cursing me for not writing anything new, I apologize. I'm just as bored as you are, between dodging road side bombs and rockets and what not.
Well stay tuned and I'll post some pics and hopefully a little better post on the next one. TTFN.
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!

P.S. Blogger the damn spell check still doesnt work readers are going to really start to notice that I have the IQ of an Infantryman soon if you don't fix that shit!

Dogs and Pony's

2008-03-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

What? You guys in a hurry?

There is probably nothing so unnerving then walking up and down one of the most deadly pieces of highway in Iraq ok ya there is. It’s setting up a traffic control point on said highway. Especially after we’ve gone after terrorists who are known to build and traffic vehicle born IED’s (VBIED- [V-BEDS]). What makes it worse is knowing the destructive power a VBIED has. I’ve been near to these massive explosions caused when some fuckhead loads up a truck or car with as much explosives as he can. They are fucking crazy. I think the people that don’t respect them are those who have never been near one.

Somewhere up the chain someone figured that doing these TCP’s along major thoroughfares was a stupendous idea. Once you stop traffic it takes about 5 minutes for that shit to back up about 400m with cars jam packed 3 lanes. Anyone who has ever driven on the belt way or any major freeway and has seen what an accident will do to the traffic has an idea of what I’m talking about. Take that and put it in a place where Snipers live on the left and right of you, maybe some one has a VBIED in the garage near this place (its not like they don’t know what were doing we have kind of fell into some patterns) and plans on hooking up with 40 some odd virgins on this lovely day. I forgot to mention that in the past there were a couple of RPG attacks on this lil stretch of lovely asphalt.

D-Roll searching a truck with a dead sheep and a live sheep in the back. Good job D-Roll, yes yes you do have to search the dead sheep it might have a bomb up its ass. Ok D-Roll roll up your sleeve time for the live one.

My job in all of this is to initially stop traffic. Me and my boyz have some tricks up or sleeve to try and mitigate the risk for all those involved. –I’m not telling you but if you’re in the military and want to know what they are feel free to comment and I’ll e-mail it to you. The men of 2-2, our piece of the pie is to stop traffic and begin to funnel it to the search guys. The search guys have it the worst but that’s as far into that as I’m gonna go. Use your imagination. We do all this all the while you couldn’t fit a BB up our asses. One day we got Froggy and handed out Newspapers to those stuck in traffic. Hindsight being what it is makes me think “What the fuck was I thinking.”

Attempting to get traffic to stop and move in an orderly fashion, with a little help from the National Police.

That’s all well and good and we’ve somewhat got a system down and we really do what we can to mitigate risk. Honestly I just don’t see the logic behind it. Seriously if you got some bombs in your trunk and your coming down the highway and you see traffic backed up, are you gonna take the risk and wait? Now don’t sit there and Armchair General because anything your thinking we’ve thought of……. Trust me!

Here’s the meat and potatoes of all this. If you’ve been in the military or hell if you work some where that has “Big Bosses” you will know what I’m talking about. You know that when the head cheese comes around, a General, Congressmen, Regional Managers, what ever it may be, you know that things get dumb. Clean isn’t clean enough and on the fine day I’m describing the idea was for said General to “See us out there.” The whole day’s events were orchestrated and timed for us to out walking up one of the deadliest highways so the General could “See” us. You think this guy saw a dismounted element on the ground on the side of one of the most deadly roads in Iraq and stopped? No, he didn’t. I’m not even sure if he waved. This isn’t the first time we’ve played this game. The honorable Senator Joe Liebermann once came out to visit the market in our sector. It happened to be as hot as donkey balls (that’s really hot) and we walked it once to secure it which is Officernese for kill time. Something I learned you can count on with VIP’s is that they will always be late, so that your ass can hang out in the breeze when they come through they are gone faster than when they arrived. Senator Liebermann walked about 300m got his picture taken and rolled out. We waited for 3 hours that day for him.

I get it everyone wants to look good, but if you already look good then why go out of your way. I understand the Army side of it, and the political side of it. It’s a game and you just have to play it. My problem with it is that the pawns have names, families and lives. Why do something for the sake of just doing it to show face when it doesn’t have any tactical value?

The walk up the road for the General- we had already been doing that shit, the TCP’s we set up before that they do serve a purpose for the most part. Do we like doing them? Fuck no!! They are dangerous as hell. You know as well as I do when big heads come around mid management likes to put on the Dog and Pony show.

Here is a video to give you an idea of the magnitude of these fucking VBIEDS its an old video that I found on YouTube but you'll get the idea.

DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!!!!