At the Check Point

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.
Deuce Deuce

DRIVEN ON! (Shitty Roads)

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!!!

Semper Paratus

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

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

Always On Our Minds

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

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.

The Good Soldiers

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.

September 4, 2007

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

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

Tips for those Considering the Army

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.

19 Forever

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.

2008 in Review

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.

Extreme Makeover Home Addition

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!!!

Thanksgiving past, present, and future

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!

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!!!

Yes he is great!
DEUCE DEUCE OUT!!!

In their own words

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

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

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

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!!!!