Across the Pond

Been busy

2006-07-27T22:43:00.000+04:00

My apologies for having gone so long without posting. Life has been hectic trying to get everything in order. Between taking mini vacations and trying to get my classes for the fall semester and all the little nuances of life in between, I havent had time to get to a computer with net access in quite awhile. I should have it soon once my roommate calls the cable company and gets the whole package set up. It shouldnt be too much longer and I will be able to get online and finish up my Iraq saga stories and begin my College drunken stories.

Enjoying Life

2006-07-02T21:26:00.000+04:00

Wow, alot has gone on since I returned home from Iraq. I know I owe everyone stories about my last month or so in Iraq and I will get to them soon. I am saving all those stories for boring rainy days :) Right now I am in NC with a friend. She asked me to go to a wedding with her and like a good friend I accepted. Here is my mini vacation within my vacation.

Since arriving home, it has been a busy couple of weeks. I bought a car, moved into my apartment, seen my "X", ran into alot of old friends, and I have partied alot. The car was a pain in my ass to get. My credit is still shitty and I didnt get what I wanted, but I got a nice car still. I wound up buying my sister's car off of her which is a 2005 Chevy Cavalier. SIe works for a dealership and she did everything she could to get me into what I wanted. But I am happy with the Cavalier. As for the apartment, myself, Matt and Garrett found a 5 bedroom apartment in town close to the college for a little over a grand a month. That is very good for living in the Poconos. Some of the rooms still need to be painted, but it works for me. I started moving in this past week, the other two are moving in after this weekend.

As for my "X", boy has shit changed. I can honestly say I do not know her anymore. The woman I loved is not the one I "met" when I got home. It's all good cuz it makes it easier getting over her. I have talked with her new man, and he is a nice guy. I also have no intentions on trying to get her back and he understands and respects that. I know I had said while in Iraq I wanted to know what happened, but seeing her now and realizing I do not know her, I dont need an explanation. She has already gave me the rings back and as soon as I get the Internet set up in the new apartment, they are going on Ebay. If I thought their was a chance we would get back together I would keep them but their isnt a chance in hell. So, they are going up for auction cuz I can not with any real sense give those rings to another woman.

Well, its time to go get ready for the wedding, see you all later.

"It's not what is underneath that matters, it is what you do that defines who you are."

Home at last

2006-06-20T19:05:00.000+04:00

Finally..after a long, long time.....I am finally home. I officially got home on Sunday. I have some stories to tell about my last month or so in Iraq and the demobilization process but I will save those for another day. I can tell you though that it still doesnt seem real yet. It's like I am living in a dream. Being gone for so long and coming home, it hasn't sunk in yet that my tour is over. I know it will take some time, and some adjusting so I'm not going to rush anything.
Going back to Sunday, we all felt like celebrities, and for that moment, in the city of Scranton, we were celebrities. When the plane arrived at the airport with all of us, we had the State Police there to escort us back to the Armory. We unloaded the plane and got on the buses and away we went. Any vehicles that tried to cut in between the buses got pulled over. As we entered the city streets, citizens were lined up waving their hands and some had little flags they were waving. As we got closer to the Armory, you could see more and more people outside. As we pulled up to the Armory, their were hordes of people everywhere, the city police had barricades up blocking traffic and their were signs and posters everywhere welcoming us home. As the buses pulled up to let us off, you could hear people screaming "Welcome Home" and "God Bless our Troops". As we all exited the buses, their cameras going off and random people just reaching out over the barricades to shake our hands. We entered the Armory from a side door that lead into the gymnasium floor and their were more people inside. I felt like a football player coming out of the tunnel to screaming fans. It was almost that deafening in the gymnasium. We fell into a formation to get released and I was in the front row and I barely heard our Commander say Dismissed over the roar of the crowd. For that moment, I felt like a celebrity. I also knew at that moment, that although not everyone agrees with the War in Iraq, the citizens of our great nation are not going to let this war turn into another Vietnam. That we, as soldiers, have the undying support of not only our loved ones, but from everyone who bleeds red, white, and blue.

Stay tuned for stories and updates.

Yours truly,

Brian

Almost Home

2006-06-12T20:31:00.000+04:00

Just to give everyone an update. I am back on US soil woot woot!! It will be about a week before I am actually back home. Once I get home, I have a few stories and possible a few photos to post. Thank you to everyone for the support!

"We the unwilling, led by the unknowing, have done so much with so little, we are now qualified to anything with nothing." -unknown

Survived my trip

2006-05-20T03:03:00.000+04:00

I made it back from Ramadi in one piece and with all my body parts. On a side note, I FINALLY got to fly in a Blackhawk. It is quite an experience flying in a Blackhawk compared to a Chinook or Sea Stallion. We flew real close to the ground, almost like a “map the earth” type flight. I also got to witness my first firefight from the air. It was wild watching tracer rounds whizzing around, although they weren’t anywhere near us. Besides that, the trip was relatively quiet. The worst part was waiting around for our ride up to the main base in Ramadi. I was up all night because they kept pushing back the leave time. And once they were ready, I still had to jump thru my ass to get over to the rendezvous point. I wound up getting to the main base at about 6 in the morning. I decided to crash out for a few hours because I still had to go to our higher headquarters and drop off admin stuff and pick up awards and what not. That lasted about an hour and then I had some time to kill before my flight tonight was I couldn’t sleep, I was too wired. I was actually lucky I was able to fly out tonight, they only had one flight scheduled going back to my base. We caught the flight at 2245 hrs (10:45 pm for all you civilian folks) and I didn’t land at my base till 0200 hrs. We flew all around Iraq it seemed till finally arriving at my base. Needless to say I am tired to say the least, so I think Im going to go rack out for a little bit although my bed isn’t any better then the ones I slept on the last few days. I am so ready to sleep in a normal bed. I am tired of being here, but it wont be too much longer. This post is officially my last post till I am home safe and sound. Take care and see everyone stateside.

The light at the end of the tunnel

2006-05-15T02:50:00.000+04:00

That's right, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel that is this deployment. I don't know how many more posts I will be able to get in before the 20th of this month between my adventure to Ramadi coming up and my battery charger going tits up on me. For all my avid readers, you can look for a "Im home safe" post around 21st of June. Periodically check back just in case I can find a way to squeeze in one before I plop my butt on my couch. Thank you all for keeping me and my fellow brethren in your thoughts and prayers. It is the concerned men and women like you who keep us going strong when we have nothing left to give. See you all stateside!!

I will leave you all with one of my favorite quotes:

-"we the unwilling, led by the unknowing, have done so much, with so little, we are now qualified to anything with nothing." unknown author

One last trip

2006-05-10T15:19:00.000+04:00

It looks like I will be making one last trip down to Ramadi before I leave here. I had thought that since we had little time left here, the only trips I would have made would have been simple one nighters. Fly down to the base that our brigade is located, pick up any awards or reports that needed to go back to my base. I would fly down, pick it up and catch the next bird back. Simple, easy, and relatively safe for my last month here.

I get to work today and find out we have to make one more trip to visit our outlying companies because they have some guys who want to extend before the current bonus program runs out. And guess who is going to make the trip? You got it, me. I couldn’t be more filled with the joy of knowing I have to make one more dreaded trip in a humvee down one of the worst roads in Iraq. Now, we all remember how my very first trip down this lane turned out. Let’s just hope my last one is as uneventful as all the other trips. I don’t need another Purple Heart or go home in a body bag. I am too close to leaving here with all the body parts I came with.

On to other news, I don’t know how many more posts I will get in before I lose my internet access and go back to the dark ages. On the 20^th of this month, I will have no internet access where I can keep everyone informed. So, you will all just have to cross your fingers and hope that I make it out of here alive. I do plan on doing a post as soon as I get a chance in the states to let you all know how fun the de-mobilization process was.

Update from Iraq

2006-05-02T00:51:00.000+04:00

Wow, I was surprised at how many people shared their memories from the last 510 days in my last post. Time really does fly whether you are having fun or not. As for being here in Iraq, things have been pretty busy. We are getting ready to pop smoke and get the hell out of Dodge soon, although its not soon enough. Hopefully I have more to talk about later on, but for now, life is pretty much Dullsville here in Iraq.

Oh yea, this is my 100^th post, a milestone for me.

How much have I missed?

2006-04-25T04:47:00.000+04:00

You never realize how long 18 months can be. Yeah sure, it’s only a year and half of your life, but have you ever considered how long that time is? How much of your life has just passed? How many events, both good and bad have occurred in that span of time? To give you a clue, think back on everything I have written about, or at least tried to write about, not to mention all the little things that happen back home that never make it to the pages of my blog let alone the local newspaper. Below, you will see the numbers from my Donut of Misery. I came on orders December 1^st of 2004. I was still in Pennsylvania and living with my roommates, but that is the day my life changed. I had to drop out of college since it was too early to take finals and I was driving to Scranton everyday to help get my unit ready for the mobilization to Iraq. So, after you look at the numbers, take a moment to reflect in your own life and see how much has gone on in your own lives since that date to today.

To date, I have been on orders for 72.88 weeks between Scranton Pa, Camp Shelby Mississippi, Kuwait and Iraq. To put it in a different perspective, that is 510 days since I went from a typical National Guardsmen (weekend a month, two weeks a year) who was enrolled in college trying to live a normal life to once again a full fledged United States Soldier. So, in the last 510 days, how much has gone on in your town, at work, at school, your friends, family, loved ones? Take a moment and reflect and if possible, leave a comment. I would love to hear some of the little things that get forgotten that come rushing back when actually thought about.

I would love to tell all of my readers exactly how much time is left but unfortunately I am forbidden by law. So I guess you all will just have to stay tuned in till the end.

History on my Birthday

2006-04-17T20:00:00.000+04:00

I saw this over at Ficken Chingers and I thought I would have a little fun with this. Thanks Angie, for giving a Soldier something fun to do to break the bullshit over here.

Go to Wikipedia and put in your birthdate (not the year) and then list 3 events, 2 birthdays and 1 death.

EVENTS

1609- Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers.
1944- World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies.
2003 - Fifty-two are killed in two Islamic terrorist bomb blasts in Mumbai, India.

BIRTHS

1819 - Allan Pinkerton, American private detective.
1930 - Sir Sean Connery, Scottish actor (I share a B-day with some really neat people.

DEATHS

2001 - Aaliyah, American singer (plane crash)

Happy Easter from Iraq

2006-04-16T23:43:00.000+04:00

Just wanted to say Happy Easter to all. As you sit down tonight for your evening dinner and you say your blessings, I ask that you say one for the Soldiers deployed around the world away from loved ones. It is days like today that the loneliness and solitude tend to flood our hearts and minds.

For myself, I look at it as one less holiday that I have to spend away from family and friends.

This and that

2006-04-10T02:44:00.000+04:00

Things have been quiet around here lately. The rumors of when we are leaving are still circulating and boy are some of them funny. I have heard everything from May 1^st (no way in hell) to July 31^st. I learned a long time ago not to listen to the rumors because the chances of any of them being right are slim to none. I myself have a feeling it will be the last week of May but I don’t go around spreading that. That is my personal pick. I should start something like an office pool with all the dates flying around. I could make some money around here. One thing for certain is this upcoming week we are packing one of the containers with all the equipment we don’t need (i.e. cold weather gear) to be shipped back early. That, my friend is a good sign. It still doesn’t tell us when we are leaving but you know it isn’t much time left. I am sure the “brass” know a round-a-bout date but they are not putting it out yet which I personally understand. When you are in a combat zone, you don’t want information like troop movements, or troop withdrawals being loosely talked about. So I figure we will find out about 14 to 30 days out our official date, and that will change 5 times before the move.

On to other news, I still haven’t been pinned my Purple Heart. I think the company commander is waiting for a day where our battalion commander can present it. Personally, I would be happy with them handing it to me and saying “Good job of staying alive.” But that isn’t how the Army works and I know this. They are going to hold a little impromptu formation and drag the ceremony out. I dread that day, I really do. I also haven’t chatted online with the “X” in quite awhile. A lot has to do with I just don’t go looking for her online. The last time I chatted with her online it was too painful. Now we just occasionally email each other and it is a lot easier on the heart that way. I know deep down I am in for more heartache once I get home and see her again but I am prepping myself now for it. All I can do is prepare myself for my return home. I just hope I have a few days of peace and solace so I can enjoy my return before having to face her. Until next time…..

Purple Heart

2006-04-05T02:44:00.000+04:00

Finally…after all the paperwork and stupid Army bullshit, I received word that my Purple Heart has been approved. My boss actually brought it back with him from his trip down to higher headquarters this past weekend. I won’t actually get the award until the command decides on how they want to present it. I did get a chance to sneak a peak at it (since I work in the shop that handles awards) and it is surreal. I never in a million years thought I would see my name on such a prestigious award. Then again, I never planned on getting wounded in combat. The Purple Heart is the oldest award given out. The award was established by General George Washington at Newburgh, New York on 7 August 1782 during the Revolutionary War. If you would like to read more on it, you can go here.

Someone told me there are certain perks that come with the award. For one, I can join any veterans group like the VFW or American Legion although I already qualified for these groups from my tour in Bosnia. Also, rumor has it that certain insurance companies offer discounted or even free care insurance. I will check up to see if there is any truth to that. I would also like to take this time to say thank you to Aubrey for always asking how I am doing and if I had any update on this award. I think he wanted me to get this award more than I wanted it. Also like to say thank you to Ender, Melissa, Guppy, Stormii, and last but not least Seawave for being there for me these last few months or so. Without them and Matt, I would have gone insane. But they were able to help me keep any shred of sanity I might still have.

“Please sir, do not call me a hero. Heroes never leave the battlefield as they have gave their all for this great nation. And I sir, plan on coming home.” -unknown

Pockets of Resistance

2006-03-29T21:35:00.000+03:00

Catchy title huh? Actually, that is the title of my newest renter's blog, Justdawn. I am a sucker for military blogs and more of a sucker for supporters of military. That is what she is, a military spouse living in Germany right now. She has a wonderful blog where you can get insight to the everyday life of a military spouse living overseas and might even get a funny story here and there. So go on, click where it says Report Here ASAP and get another view of the military, they untold story.

A black hole

2006-03-26T08:33:00.000+03:00

I don’t know what is going on with me anymore. I feel like I am stuck in a void. A dark, bottomless void that seems to tear at me from all directions. I used to look forward to the next day because that meant I was one day closer to going home. Now I don’t know what home is anymore. Everything I thought I knew to be or feel right now seems wrong in my doubtful eyes. All I want to do is run; run as far away as possible. Away from what I do not know.

Lately it seems I can’t sleep. I just lay there, tossing and turning. A part of me doesn’t want to sleep. When I sleep, I fall victim to my mind which can be a terrible foe. Memories and feelings flood me I do not to visit right now. When I finally do fall asleep, I don’t sleep worth a shit. I wake up just as tired as when I tried to go to sleep. I’ve seemed to lost my appetite which wouldn’t be too bad but I only eat once a day as it is. The food just don’t taste good. Partly that’s chow hall food but I know my current state is playing a part in the lack of an appetite.

Now for all you psychologists out there who read my blog daily, I know what you are thinking and although that does play a part of the problem, it is not the whole problem. Some of my feelings are normal for what I have been through in the past month but I am a rational person and can not blame that person for all my troubles. I just seem to have lost myself. I don’t know who I am anymore, or where I am going. I struggle each day against myself, from allowing this god forsaken place to consume me. There are times I feel that if my time came and my ticket got punched here, so be it. Dig a hole in the desert and leave me. I seem to be rambling now but that has been my life lately. A mess of jumbled thoughts and feeling I can’t make heads or tails with. I probably wont be posting any time soon. I have some issues I need to work out and will post my 5 daily readers soon.

p.s. Don’t worry I won’t go do something stupid to myself, I may be a bit depressed but I’m not a threat to myself. I ask that everyone say a prayer for all the troops who are deployed who also may be feeling like me.

College rants and my new renter

2006-03-22T03:45:00.000+03:00

A lot must have changed in the last 18 months. When I applied to East Stroudsburg University, I was practically a lock for admission strictly because I am a veteran before they even saw my high school transcripts. I graduated high school in 1996 and didn’t start college till 2004. My SAT/ACT scores were useless yet I still was accepted into college.

Fast forward to this month and I am starting to wonder if I will even get re-admitted after my little military hiatus. 4 of my friends decided to fill out applications to go to ESU who are serving with me over here and so far 2 of them have been denied. The one soldier did not take SAT/ACT in high school and that was the stated reason he did not get accepted. He was advised to go to a community college for a minimum of one year and then SAT/ACT wouldn’t matter. That right there is bullshit. I knew guys on Active Duty who were total screw offs in high school, got shitty grades, didn’t take the SAT/ACT, joined the military and when they got out were admitted into first rate universities like U of Miami or Penn State. Yet my fellow soldiers can’t get into little ol’ ESU? Another guy had all that shit and was not accepted and he is pretty smart. Right now it isn’t looking good for any of these guys to get into ESU this next semester. I feel bad in a way because a couple of them were applying to ESU because of me. Not just me, but what the school has to offer. I admit, I was doing heavy recruiting for college, not just ESU. I believe in using the money that you earn by joining the military and using it to the fullest. Now so far none of them will be starting in the fall, hell I don’t know if I am re-admitted yet. I will be totally pissed if I am not re-admitted. I was suppose to still be registered, just not in classes. Let’s see if the VA representative did his job right 18 months ago.

On a lighter note, check out my new renter Madbull. His latest creation is Am I Famous Now? His English has gotten a lot better since the first time I read any of his work but the satirical edge will forever be there. Also, since he is such a nice guy, he is giving away free web space to 5 lucky bloggers! Read up to get the info. So go ahead, check out what’s driving him crazy this week.

The journey Pt. II

2006-03-16T03:15:00.000+03:00

The story continued…

After we returned to the base, I had to quickly grab my rucksack and turn my key to my can in. We knew earlier that we would be cutting it close time wise so we were packed and ready to go. The journey from this base to Camp Ramadi was less than 10 minutes long. Before pulling out, we were informed to watch out for vehicle borne IED’s since their was speculation of about a dozen in the Ramadi area. Great, just what I need to know….that every car I see can be an IED. Needless to say, we arrived on Camp Ramadi without any incidents.

We had some time between movements so I decided to take a little nap in our unit’s old supply room. We linked up with our rides sometime before midnight. I was under the impression we were going to go the long way down to Camp Corregidor since the main route through Ramadi had been deemed “black” which means you wanna stay off of it. Who was I kidding? These yahoo’s not only turned to head down the main route like bats out of hell, we did the trip in white lights!!!! What I mean is, instead of using the neat little black out drive and use night vision devices, we drove down like we were back on the block! To top it off, their was still a curfew in the city so no vehicles should be out. Now, I wasn’t worried about our boys shooting us up, they know when military vehicles will be passing through. I was more concerned with the smart insurgents who camp out in the shadows and wait for convoys to come blazing by in white lights. The only good thing was we were driving like Indy Car racers on a road course zipping between lanes and through concrete barriers. Once or twice I could imagine the driver of the humvee I was in clip one of these concrete barriers doing like 55 MPH and flip it over like a Hollywood movie stunt. We got to Corregidor in record time without incident.

We spent about 2 days down at Corregidor doing some paperwork. I got another 4 guys to re-enlist in the military. It’s true, money talks cuz some of these guys are doing it strictly for the money.

After those 2 days, we headed back to Camp Ramadi to fly back to Al Asad. We get there and the first day there are no flights. Practically all of Iraq was covered in sandstorms and visibility was just above zero percent. So we went back to our little sleeping area and crashed for the night. We couldn’t fly until later on in the day so I just read a book. Nothing else to do but read. I had picked up the latest Michael Crighton book called “State of Fear”. It is a great book, one of those hard to put down types. I know because I finished it in 2 days!!!! Over 600 pages in 2 days….. We wound up getting stuck at Camp Ramadi for 3 days due to sandstorms and everybody and their brother was trying to fly during the 3 days of non flights. The day we did get to fly, I was hoping to fly in a Blackhawk. I am yet to fly in a Blackhawk in my military career. I have flown in Chinooks and Sea Stallions and everything in between those two that the Navy and USMC fly. But now we have some Army units with Blackhawks flying the routes and I was soooooooooooo hoping…. Well guess what? I didn’t get to fly in a Blackhawk that night either!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t be so lucky to fly in an Army helicopter…noo! Oh well, I would say maybe next time I fly but their aint gonna be a next time. I am tired of getting stuck all over this damn hell hole. I think I will let Matt make the next couple of trips but one thing’s for sure, the next time I fly its on that big, big plane taking my happy ass to Kuwait…….

This past trip 'round Iraq

2006-03-13T03:27:00.000+03:00

What a week. I have just returned from another trip around Iraq and what a week it was. Of course I did my normal duties while visiting our units down in Ramadi but I also got a chance to do some other things. Our first stop on our trip was to our Bravo boys who just moved over to a new base. They are in their same area they have been patrolling, just a new base. They now have it better than I do. When you first look at the base they are on, you get the feel of a nice gated community with sidewalks and pavement. The base was a former compound of Saddam’s and there are 2 palaces within the base. Saddam’s old getaway and his son’s palace. I didn’t get a chance to go in them but hopefully on my next visit I can take a peak. The atmosphere at Bravo is pretty upbeat. The guy’s there are content with their situation and like me are just counting down the days. While I was down there, myself and my boss got offered a chance to go out on a dismounted patrol which means it was all by foot. With such nice hospitality, I couldn’t say no. It was a short patrol through a “safer” neighborhood but this is Iraq. So I was alert and stayed on my toes the whole time. During our patrol, we had passed some families out in the yard and the children were out playing in the yards having fun. One of the guys in the patrol had brought along candy and was passing it out to the children as we went. At one point, the rear of the patrol had called up to the front and said a child needed medical attention. We stopped there and sent our medic back to link up with the rear of the patrol and gave the child medical care. I believe she had fallen and had cut herself pretty badly so the medic went back and cleaned up her wound, basic things and gave her some candy. The family was grateful for us stopping to assist. While walking through this neighborhood, I got an impression I was walking through Philly or NYC. Some of the houses were dilapidated but in the driveway would be a beautiful Bronco or Caprice Classic.

Our next stop was at the “soccer team”. This particular family is very friendly to Coalition Forces and they try to keep their neighborhood cleaned up. We stopped there for a few minutes talking to the family through the interpreter. The children were out prancing through the yard playing those endless games that children can play without using a lick of energy. I sometimes wonder what goes through these young minds as they see foreigners walking through their yard. Do their parents explain to them in the simplest ways who we are and what we are trying to do? Do they understand that we are trying to make a safer place for them to live and grow up in? I guess these are questions I may never get answered and can only hope that some how, some way they know that we are not the bad guys.

After the little discussions with the family, we headed off to finish up our patrol. As we crossed over a road onto the other side, we started to head back in the direction of the base and we came across a beautiful house. The patrol leader wanted to know if we wanted to stop in. I thought to myself, what are we just going to barge in? The patrol leader stepped up to the door with the interpreter and knocked on the door. The gentleman opened the door and immediately started smiling and asking us to come in and sit down. It turns out that we were in the nephew of a sheik’s house. It seems our guys stop in there regularly to talk with him. He is a very prominent person in the area with a bit of influence. He was very courteous to us and offered us to sit down and relax. Of course you can’t really relax but it was nice to sit down for a few minutes. He then brought out tea for us which was excellent. They were in small cups with about a teaspoon in a half of sugar at the bottom of the cup. The tea, which he called chai, was the best I have tasted in awhile and after finishing the small cup I was wired. The gentleman told our interpreter he wanted the company commander to come out for dinner one night and we happily obliged to set it up. During the conversation, the funniest thing was said. We had asked the guy if he could turn off his spotlights in his yard for they blinded the guys on guard duty at the base. He said of course, that he would turn them off and that he would be marked with a certain color. If the guards saw anyone else in his yard or near his house after hours to shoot them. I couldn’t’ believe this guy said that. He said he wanted to get rid of the bad guys. After our little chat, we headed back to the base. Myself and my boss had to get ready to head out to our next leg of the journey. I will continue another time for this post is already gotten pretty long.

SPCA

2006-03-02T02:53:00.000+03:00

Do you have a dog or cat? Do you love pets in general? Well if you do than go check this site out. My friend B from All-Night Org. is participating in a walk to donate money for the Maryland SPCA. I have already gone and donated a couple dollars to her walk campaign because I love pets. So if you have a couple of dollars you could spare, go on and check out the link. Her goal is to raise 300 dollars total and she is about halfway there. I call on you , the blogosphere, to help out a fellow blogger raise awareness to cruelty to animals. It will only take a moment of your time and its for a wonderful cause.

My newest tenant and Googlism

2006-02-28T02:56:00.000+03:00

I couldn’t pass this up. While surfing My Army, I came across one of my favorite blogs and saw the most unusual meme. So I decided to check it out and I put my last name in to see the results. Since I am of Italian descent, I figured this to be quite hilarious. I changed my last name to “He” since I got to keep some part of me in private. Enjoy.

“he” is a loose cannon who's been a hindrance to progress in the area (Can someone tell the Army that so they can send me home now?)
“he” is going to congress (Thank you all for your support)
“he” is like a district street without potholes ( interesting )
“he” is the perfect choice for those who want a fun party but prefer a polished one
“he” is a "good public servant
“he” is lead guitar player in two bands (it aint easy being me)
“he” is the qualified professional you are looking for to handle real estate service
“he” is going from strength to strength
“he” is a frequent speaker on healthcare reimbursement (Hell yea, Dr. make too much money)
“he” is a complete idiot (well, I am in Iraq)

Also, while you are here musing through my idiocies, please check out my newest tenant for the week. Her name is Dariana and her blog is Almost an Angel. She has a wonderful layout and very interesting reads. She is also a supporter of soldiers (like myself) and I love the fact she is promoting a program called Adopt a Platoon. I can tell you this is one of many noteworthy programs that support deployed soldiers. So go on, head up where it says REPORT HERE ASAP and give her a look, it will be well worth your time.

Guest Post #1

2006-02-17T02:12:00.000+03:00

It is an honor to have the opportunity to write a guest post on Brian's blog here at Across the Pond. Blogging has been a truly remarkable experience for me, not merely because it offers me an opportunity to formulate and share thoughts with others, but more importantly because of the people I have been honored to meet in the process. The author of this blog, this soldier with a huge heart, has been one such individual I feel privileged to have met and call my friend as a result of blogging.

One of the themes that runs through my blog concerns the talents and gifts each of us is born with that are meant to be shared with others to the betterment of our world and for our own sense of fulfillment and destiny. It is a divine spark born into each one of us, intended to burn brightly for all the world's benefit and for own sense of contentment and authenticity.

I am always inspired to meet individuals who have not only discovered their gifts but are also following their hearts in expressing them. Often to his own personal sacrifice I have witnessed Brian's clarity of vision when it comes to his chosen life in the military. Brian's desire to protect his country and its citizens transcends political ideology, and even though he goes through times of personal struggle and sacrifice, his heart is strengthened in the knowledge that he is following where it leads him.

Having been through and seen what he has in his years in the military, Brian has a perspective on life, relationships, and the world we live in that deserves our attention, and certainly our admiration and respect. I know that I feel a profound sense of appreciation for individuals such as Brian who are willing to serve with such a sense of purpose and commitment, regardless of what that may mean for their own lives and the lives of those who love them.

I think we can all ask ourselves today if we are living our lives with that same sense of drive and purpose, and let Brian serve as an example to us of how each of us can ignite our own divine spark and fuel it to burn as brightly as it possibly can.

This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. -William Shakespeare

Thank you for the space here on your blog today, Brian.

Seawave

Soldiers are Human

2006-02-14T07:13:00.000+03:00

It's true, underneath all this kevlar and body armor soldiers also have a heart and soul. Even though we sometimes don't show it, we even have feelings too. We are not always the cold-hearted ruthless trained warriors that is sometimes portrayed. Even when we may be on the front lines doing our job, our heart and soul can be in other places. Their is a balance that each soldier must find between the military and his personal life. No matter where we are in the world, whatever desolate hell we are in, their is always someone who we miss and cherish. Whether it be your mom and dad, your girlfriend or fiance, or your wife and kids, half your heart is with them at all times. It is a balance that is at times difficult to keep. You find out it is impossible to control the events that occur on the homefront, therefore you tend to feel helpless. All you can attempt to control is what you can touch, see, smell, hear, etc. At times these feelings can drive you mad, but then again, we are soldiers so we can not let anyone know we are affected by these events. We must stay focused on whatever mission lies ahead and pray for the best back home.

For the past week or so I have been in a funk. I have had trouble sleeping and have been a tad bit irritable as of late. I had alot on my mind and no one to really share it with. Things haven't been so well on the homefront and I thank God I can still call the woman I love so dearly my fiance. As hard and lonely a deployment can make a soldier, the feelings are tenfold on the people we leave behind. When the going gets rough, the strong keep going. I thank God that I have found someone who is willing to keep going when things get rough, to see this through to the end and for not giving up on us; not giving up on me.

Being in the military you are constantly struggling to keep a balanced life. Each day you wake up, life is a learning experience. The choices you make decide whether or not that learning experience will be solo or not. I can only hope that with each day I do learn how to keep that healthy balance between the military and the woman I love.

So the next time you see a picture of a soldier who is deployed, take a real close look into those eyes and underneath that chiseled and solid look, you will see a heart and soul because we truly are still human.......

Groundhog Day on the back 9

2006-02-10T16:51:00.000+03:00

This week seems to be dragging on. Day in and day out, nothing changes. Right up until this point the deployment was moving right along. I guess I should have known this moment would come, it always does. You start to lose the steam, the motivation within begins to wither away. You begin to wake up each day and dread that day. No longer do you look forward to that day. Each waking moment feels like forever. Time ticks by so slow you feel like its going backwards not forwards. And when you get off of work, all you want to do is go back to your living quarters and sleep. Unfortunately I am one who has trouble sleeping so I lay there and the time goes by even slower. I just hope this little funk I am in ends rather quickly. I have come too far in this deployment to bow down and let this place drag me into depression. The only thing that keeps me going right now is knowing in a few months I will be home and in my fiance's arms. Until then, I have to keep driving on and do my job to the best of my ability....

On another note, I have a new renter this week Scooter McGavin's 9th Green. You get a little bit of everything over there, from sports to tv shows. From politics to whatever catches his eye. Sometimes he even talks about golf. So go on, check out my new renter, it will be a break from my boring chatter.

Active Duty

2006-02-07T02:15:00.000+03:00

In the past few weeks, I have been tossing around the idea with Kristen about putting in an active duty packet under the new "seamless transfer". Basically I put in a packet to the National Guard Bureau and they let me know which jobs I hold that the Army would take me back in. I already have 5 years of active duty time plus another 2 1/2 active duty time in the Guard. So in my 9 year career, 7 1/2 is on active duty. Depending on the job their are pretty good monetary bonuses associated with this program.

At first I was hesitant to talk to Kristen about it because I was nervous about how she would react. I told her awhile ago anything I do with my military career we would discuss it first. I was presented with this opportunity and I am in the position where I can benefit greatly but I wouldn't do it without her. I was surprised at how positive she was about the idea. I explained some of the benefits and of course she knows the downfalls. I can get deployed again or do a tour in Korea for a year. But besides that, anywhere I get stationed she can come with me. She amazes me more and more with her support.

Now I have the packet ready for submission except for the physical. I have a current physical but not in my medical record here in country. So, now I have to go to the hospital here on base and get a physical. Once I get my clean bill of health my packet is getting submitted. This is actually a 3 step process. Submitting the packet is the first part. Then the bureau tells me what the Army will take me as. After that, I see an Active Duty counselor here in country and talk contract. Once I get the offers, I am going to discuss it with Kristen and as long as we both are in harmony and have made a decision I would swear in once again in the Active Army and as soon as this tour is over I would report to wherever they assign me.

I would like to hear what you all think about this upcoming decision myself and Kristen might have to make.

Also, I would like to say Happy Birthday to Kristen because in a few hours it will be her birthday. I love you and miss you terribly. I just want you to know that when I feel lonely, your love fills me with joy. When it all seems dark, you are my light. And when I feel lost, you are my direction and inspiration.....enjoy your day, you deserve it.

Southern women rock

2006-02-04T03:52:00.000+03:00

My newest renter, a southern girl from Kentucky stuck in California. Her blog is the way I like them, straight to the point and hilarious. She has a great looking template and is a great read. If you are looking for some humor, read this post. It will have you pissing your pants. So, go ahead and click where it says Report Here ASAP. It is definately worth your time. I promise.

Suicide Prevention

2006-02-03T02:20:00.000+03:00

After returning from my trip around Iraq the other day, my shop got our Suicide Prevention and Awareness briefing. I knew it was only a matter of time before we got this mandatory briefing from the Army. From my years on active duty, this is about the time we would get the briefing, right before the season of the highest percentages. In the USA, spring time yields the highest percentage of suicides and suicide attempts. Another reason I was expecting this briefing is the fact we are getting close to redeployment back to the states. With that said, although I do not know the actual numbers of suicide attempts of soldiers recently returning from combat, I would imagine we are considered high risk due to rapid change in environment, depression, and other stressful factors. I actually have known someone who committed suicide right after we returned from a 6 month deployment to Bosnia in 2003. It is real and it can happen to anyone. I will indulge into that story another time, but for now I would like to shed some sobering and frightening facts about suicide:

In 2001 in the USA, a person committed suicide every 18 minutes.
2001- Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the USA
Total number-30,622
Suicides outnumber homicides 3 to 2.
Suicide killed more people than HIV/AIDS (14,175)
In the age group of 15-24, suicide was the third leading cause of death.

Suicide is no longer taboo. It is said that in a person's lifetime, they will know at least one person who will commit suicide. I have already known someone and I have a few more years to go in my lifetime. At the time I was unaware of the signs of someone who may attempt suicide or risk factors to help identify possible victims. I say victims because in the end we become a victim of our own conscious. Here are some signs to look for in case someone you know may be on the brink of contemplation or silently screaming for help:

Number one is Depression. Here we become a victim of our own mind. We all get depressed, it is a part of life. The people who are a risk are those who can't seem to shake the feelings. They become chronically depressed.

Mental illness is another which most often is confused for depression.

Physical Illness-someone who may be terminal or a low chance of becoming healthy (cancer,HIV patients)

Physical Loss- people who lose family members or someone dear to them can slip into depression and feelings of guilt.

Family problems- rough childhoods, abusive parents, family members who have attempted or committed suicide.

Abuse of alcohol/drugs

Also people who may become financially in debt and feel their is no way out due to gambling, loss of job, sudden loss of money (stock market).

These are all risk factors with the number one being depression. The rest of the factors can lead to depression. Sometimes people who are close to us may try to reach out for help without saying they need it. It is then, that if we are not paying attention, may miss the clues that might save that person. If someone comes to you and says they are thinking of committing suicide, always take them serious. Do not write it off as someone trying to gain attention or ignore their warnings. Instead, listen to them, let them use your shoulder. Talk to them and together you can overcome this feeling of taking one's life with professional help. Suicide is a real killer and I feel their is not enough awareness out there, especially with teens.

My friend who committed suicide, I had talked to him the day before he took his life. I constantly replay that conversation in my head to see if I missed a hint or clue that may have prevented his death. I do not let it haunt me, but I vowed to get the message out as often as possible and have devoted my life to talking to everyone I know and letting them know they have a shoulder to lean on if needed. I never want to have to go through that again and if I can prevent it, I will. So for all of you who read this, please pass on the word. The more awareness of this deadly killer we spread, the less lives will be lost.

for more information you can go here and here.

Around Iraq pt. III

2006-02-01T02:59:00.000+03:00

As nightfall came, everyone was getting together to prep for the convoy and we STILL didnt have seats. The convoy commander told us he may be able to squeeze us in but it wasn't looking good. Bill turns to me to tell me what I already knew, if we didn't make this convoy we would have to fly back to our base because our timeline was blown all to hell. Just then, in the darkness drove in our answer. 3 more vehicles showed up and a senior sergeant tells the convoy commander that me and Bill were top priority. After a few minutes of discussing this, we got bumped to the top of the list which meant we had seats. Lucky me, I got to ride in the FIRST vehicle in the convoy. Statistically, the first vehicle never gets hit by roadside bombs. It's usually the third vehicle or somewhere in the middle. Still, that didn't sit too easy with me. Oh well, I know Im a soldier suck it up. It had rained pretty heavy a couple days before and the roads were disastrous. Somewhere underneath all the mud and water actually lied pavement and concrete but I rarely saw it. I felt like we were going bajaing down the road and the driver of my vehicle was lovin it. He had to be a country boy although I didn't mind it neither. We got to the base around midnight and I was exhausted. We got up around 6 in the morning and started working.

Nothing too exciting happened while we were here. Their is no pavement at this base so the place looked like a mudslide had gone through there. My boots and the back of my pant legs were covered in mud. Their was 3 different kinds of mud. You had your normal mud, your water mud, and then the mud that wouldn't give you your foot back after you stepped down and your boot was engulfed into the Earth. It is quite interesting trying to get around this base, luckily the only time I had to go anywhere was to get to the chow hall and the diesel latrines. The bathrooms here are only used for "number 1". They are hole in the ground looking toilets, kinda like what you find in China. To do "number 2" you had to go outside to homemade outhouses and 2-3 times a week soldiers have to burn the stuff in these barrels. Quite interesting and the next time I go there I will be sure to get pics. We stayed a couple of days and we had to hitch a ride back with some soldiers coming down from the next base we had to get to.

When the day came to go to the next base, me and Bill were waiting with all of our gear outside the headquarters in the mud. Up rolls 4 humvees and who steps out? Our brigade commander, the "full bird" colonel. He explains that we will be leaving shortly and asks why we were down there. We informed him that we got 12 soldiers to re-enlist and he began to smile from ear to ear. You gotta love senior commanders and the little things that brighten their day. After the "bird" walks away Bill looks at me with alittle bewilderment in his eyes. Then it dawns on me too. We were about to travel down a route that some units try to avoid with Bradley's and we were going to travel down it with just 4 humvees. Oh boy, this could get interesting. We meet up alittle later and we load up our gear on the vehicles and we strike up a conversation with the guys waiting on the "bird". I simply ask how things have been lately and one driver, with a bit of disgust in his voice replies " It's fucking boring, haven't had an IED go off or any haji take a pop shot at us." I always thought that was a good day but not to these loonies. We get all loaded up and leave right around dusk. I got my first look at Ramadi and it is worse than any slums in the USA. There are burnt out buildings, half blown up buildings, trash everywhere, just slumy looking. The trip was only about 20 minutes and luckily nothing happened.

We got to our last stop and got settled in. Bill had been itching to get out on a mission or a patrol for God knows how long. All he could talk about was how he was going out when we got to this base. I was not allowed. Before we left on this adventure, I was given strict orders not to leave base unless I had to. It was actually aimed at both of us but since they didn't say Bill's name, he was going to go anyways. The next day we got to work there and Bill kept hounding the commander if he could go out. They had a little something going on and he was more than welcomed to go. He was like a kid on Christmas the rest of the day. We went to bed early that night because Bill had to be up at Oh Dark Thirty for this mission. He was so excited he couldn't sleep. Then one of the sergeant's come in and tell Bill mission is cancelled. It took everything I had not to bust out laughing because that was his only chance to get out on a mission during our adventure. We wound up leaving the next night, by helicopter. We found out that we could fly out of this base by helicopter so we headed up to their flight line to get on the Space A list. I didn't bother unpacking any of my cold weather gear because I am an idiot. We wound up flying on a Chinook and they have a machine gun port which meant it was friggin cold flying really fast through the air. By the time we landed on our base, about a half hour flight, I was a frozen popsicle. When I finally got back to my room, I took the hottest shower possible to warm up and get any mud I still had clinging to me.

It's a good thing Bill didn't get to go out on a mission because his ass would have been in deep shit. Our boss about tore him a new one saying you both were not allowed. Oh well, I told him their is always next month.....

Around Iraq in 80 hours pt. II

2006-01-30T12:31:00.000+03:00

The trip that was suppose to only be about 4 days at the most turned into an 8 day adventure. Let's start at the beginning. To start things off, planning of this trip went out the window when the powers at be decided to scrap our scheduled flight and have myself and SGT Bill fly out the night before as Space A (space available). When you fly space A you do not have a guaranteed flight and is hit or miss. You may fly that day/night or wait a couple days. So we go up to the airstrip to check in and all flights are delayed because of weather. What are we in the NE United States trying to fly out of NYC or something? Due to dust storms and thunderstorms all flights were delayed and then finally cancelled. So instead of flying out a day earlier, we actually flew out on the day we were originally scheduled to fly. Only problem was we no longer had reservations for our original flight.

We wound up flying in the morning in a C-130 to our destination. That was the worst flight I have ever been on. For those of you not familiar with military planes, a C-130 is a transport/passenger plane. I have flown on many military planes before and although they don't serve drinks or peanuts on these flights, they run pretty smooth. The take off/landings though in a combat zone put your stomach in your throat as they accelerate and pull up as fast as humanly possible and dive down to land in the same manner. This particular flight had the pilots take off and my stomach was in my throat the whole way up to cruising altitude. It didn't help that they banked to get on course halfway up to cruising altitude. They bank the same way they take off and land. My brain felt like it was squeezed into the back of my skull with my stomach in my throat. I have never puked from a flight before but I was pretty damn close this time. We reached cruising altitude and about 15 minutes later we are nose diving for the landing. I had just got the taste of puke out of my mouth and my stomach was back up in my throat trying to jump out. We landed at TQ air base and when I got off the plane my legs were a bit wobbly. To understand the distance we flew, imagine a 747 taking off at Laguardia in NYC and landing in Philadelphia. So we check in at the airstrip and we bummed a ride from a soldier working up at the airstrip so we could get to our link up point. It's around 11:30 in the morning when we get to our link up point. I call my contact and he informs me that the convoy picking us up won't be at our location till about midnight. Now me and Bill have 12 hours of doing nothing ahead of us. What a wasted day that turned out to be. I got a few needed Z's in and then we decided to go to dinner around 5. We finish eating and we are sitting going over some of the things we planned to accomplish of the next few days when all of a sudden some chow hall official starts kicking everyone out of the chow hall. Bill is like WTF is going on? We exit the chow hall with about a hundred other military personnel and head back to our link up point. Upon getting to the link up point, the NCO in charge informs us that the airbase had some mortars hit on the base so they kick everyone out because the insurgents are trying to hit the chow halls. Oh yea, that makes sense. You are in a building but lets send all the miliary personnel out into the open when mortars are hitting the base. REAL SMART. Of course the mortars were no where near the chow hall because TQ is as big as the airbase I am on. I then decide to get a few more Z's since their is nothing else to do. Midnight rolls around and the convoy picking us up shows up. Right from the start we had problems with the convoy getting there. One, they had no idea we were going to be there and we were not priority and two, they possibly were staying the night because of possible insurgent activity on the route. That was just dandy. Now we wasted a whole day at this place doing nothing and we weren't even guaranteed seats when the convoy was rescheduled to leave the following day.

to be continued........

-to live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.-

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom....

Bloggin' Bizatch

2006-01-26T02:02:00.000+03:00

This is my new renter and she is hilarious. She has got a very nice template, not your normal template that they give you for starting a blog. Her template is unique. Also, she is a very good read. I laugh at most of all her entries (seeing a trend here for renting?) and I can almost always relate to her troubles (except the whole breast feeding thing, nope not uh). So go on, go to where it says Report Here ASAP and give her a look around, you will be pleased.

On a side note, I know I owe a report of my journies across Iraq and yes I know it has been over 80 hours but isnt that the beauty of anticipation? So hang in there and I will be posting my adventures soon....

-To live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.-

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

Around Iraq in 80 hours

2006-01-21T01:58:00.000+03:00

Well, its time for me to take another trip around Iraq in 80 hours. I am going on a little journey and will not be able to post for a few days but by the looks of things so far, it should be an interesting journey. I will be sure to post of my adventure upon my return.

While I am gone, go over to Guppyman's Rant Zone and check out a guest post I did. Yea I know, he must be out of his mind to let me guest post..... See everyone in a few days.

-To live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.-

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom....

Syria in Iran's back pocket

2006-01-20T03:14:00.000+03:00

Okay, now this is getting out of hand. Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in Damascus for a few days schmoozing the Syrian government. They are having a little summit that involves just them to. They will be discussing industrial, cultural, and bilateral economic issues and agreements. Now that is all fine and good but Syrian president Bashar Assad agrees with Mahmoud that they should have nuclear capabilities. Another words, he is going to agree with him in hopes that Syria can get their hands on nuclear capabilities and become more than an annoying fly. Don't get me wrong, I believe any nation should have access to nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes like electricity. But since when do you need centrifuges to enrich uranium for electricity? Answer is you don't. You only need to enrich uranium to make it weapons grade. In layman's terms you only need to enrich uranium if you want yourself a nice nuclear warhead. The old saying that if you do not learn from history, history is bound to repeat itself? Well, if we do not put a stop to Syria and Iran, we are looking at another global war with two radical governments who will stop at NOTHING to get what they want. The pot is getting ready to boil and if we don't turn down the heat the lid is going to explode off and the WHOLE world is going to have to wake up and realize we have some major issues going on in the Middle East. For those of you who have never had the luxury of coming over here, be thankful. It is so miserably hot in the summertime you wonder how anyone, and I mean anyone can live in this ungodly heat. When my tour is over in Iraq, I dont want to have to come back..... Let's hope the U.N. can put the red tape away in the closet and get a hold of this situation or things could get ugly.......

-to live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.-

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom......

Possibility of WW3....pt.1

2006-01-19T02:54:00.000+03:00

-the views in the following entry is strictly that of the author and not of anyone else. If you are of the weak-hearted, blind to the world, or so left wing your hanging on to feathers, feel free to leave now. Thank You.

While I have had the luxury of being here in Iraq, I have really followed all news that pertained to the Middle East like an obsessed fan. Their has been alot of things that have happened in the last 6 months and when you tie them all in, it is frigging scary. I will say this now that everything that has gone on so far does not tie into the USA being in Afghanistan or Iraq, that's just a lame excuse a liberal will use. No, the events and exchange of words are true feelings of fascist people who have radical ideas and the Middle East is getting to the boiling point. What I am talking about is Iran and Syria. Both these countries and their radical leaders scare the living piss out of me. Why you ask? I was hoping someone would ask that question. I will tell you why.

We will start with Syria. Now, this little country by itself is no more threatening than Cindy Sheehan and her crew outside Crawford, Texas. But if they link up with a more powerul ally (say Iran) than they are what Italy was to Germany in WW II except a helluva lot more radical and crazy. Syria's leader is nothing more than a punk kid who inherited a nation, or at least that's how he comes off to me. He has a disdain for Israel and anyone who supports them and their cause. Their cause being having their own independent nation. Of course it goes deeper than that, but that is the bottom line. He is an overgrown spoiled brat who should've been slapped a few times growing up. He leads a nation that is borderline radical and they are being investigated into the deaths of some diplomats after pulling out of the Gaza Strip (I hate when I am unsure if I got the right places and Im too tired to google it). Any person who does not agree with the government ends up in jail, or shot. Sounds alot like the Taliban and Saddam's regime, doesn't it? The army he commands is not that big nor that mighty, but they are extremist in uniform so therefore they are dangerous. Syria has also cried wolf many times but fell upon deaf ears when they say US forces were attacking their borders when we were actually fighting insurgents up near the border but never crossed the border. It is almost as if they are looking for a reason to go to war with the USA. Believe me, he would know if we had crossed the borders because if we would have, we would be sitting in Damascus right now. Be thankful that we havent' done anything. Overall, Syria does not scare me by themselves, they are more in tune to a pesky fly that you cant seem to swat away.
On the other hand, Iran is what scares the piss out of me. Here is a country that is ruled by an ultra conservative aka radical extremist, who had a part in the Iran Contra of 1980. What goes around comes back around my friend. He has hated the Western World and the USA for a long time and guess what, he is in power. Since being in office, he has said Israel should be wiped off the planet, the Holocaust did not happen and is a Western Myth, and oh by the way they broke the U.N. seals on nuclear reactors that can enrich uranium into weapons grade material. Are you scared yet? You should be. Their is no doubt in my mind that if Iran can make just ONE BOMB, they will nuke Israel. But don't think Israel does not know this. They have already threatened to strike Iran if the U.N. does not do anything. I don't know about you, but I smell a war brewing and for once the USA did not start this. Iran is doing this on their own, and waving the middle finger at the EU3 (England, France, Germany), USA, and the rest of the world. Now I know all you liberals are saying if we have nuclear power why can't they? They do have a nuclear reactor that is up and running STRICTLY for electricity. If they sunk a little bit more money into this reactor instead of chasing after the technology of enriching uranium they would be better off. But that is not how radical governments work. The future is looking grim for the world, not just the USA. This "War on Terrorism" is just a name that we have given to the events after 9/11, but it is a war that has been brewing not just against the USA, but the western societies since the mid-80's. I will explain that in another post when I get the chance. But for now, look forward to possibly WW III within the next 3 years if the U.N., EU3, and the USA do not diffuse the time bomb about to go off in the Middle East here quickly. That's all N. Korea needs to see............

Editor's Note: As stated earlier, Syria is being investigated for the death of a Lebonese official which stirred up the withdrawal out of Lebanon, not the Gaza Strip. Also, the Iranian president was one of the hostage takers who seized the American Embassy in 1979. Thank You to anonymous for pointing out my errors. No more serious posts when I'm exhausted.

-to live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.-

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

Finger lickin good

2006-01-18T02:46:00.000+03:00

Now, here is a blog that is actually worth checking out. If you have stumbled upon mine I suggest you go click to the right where it says Report Here ASAP because it is worth your time. I have had the luxury to meet Angie through Blog Explosion and chat with her a few times and she is a very funny and heart warming person. As her blog states, she is desperately trying to stay "cool" and I think she is doing a fairly good job. She isn't that much older than me so she HAS to be doing a good job or I AM DOOMED HERE IN A FEW YEARS. Her blog, Ficken Chingers is a wonderful read. Everytime I come across her blog, or go look for her blog, I am amused at what she comes up with. So without further adieu, I suggest you go click the link and amuse yourself for a little while. Go ahead, you deserve it. Make sure you tell her Bon Jovi sent ya!!

-to live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.......

I Have Been Reviewed

2006-01-16T18:46:00.000+03:00

No, I havent got smacked yet by I Talk 2 Much although I am still waiting. Actually, I got an email from the Editor over at Blog Tribune who wanted to ask me a few general questions. After reviewing the questions to make sure I could honestly and accurately answer them, I decided why the hell not. He had 8 questions for me ranging from where I'm from to daily life over here in Iraq. I sent the email back to him last night and already he has finished the review and it is posted already. If anyone is interested in what its like over here in a short story compared to going through my archives click here. So go on, I know you are curious.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.....

-to live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life.

Gut check 101

2006-01-13T03:23:00.000+03:00

This is a long one so bare with me...

The holidays have come and gone and I am now over the hump. I am past the halfway point of my deployment and that much closer to getting home to my fiance. You would think that it would be a point of rejoicement knowing that I will soon be home with my love. But that doesnt seem to be the feelings these days.

Let me backtrack to my first deployment to Bosnia. I was dating someone who I had know for a long time and I thought that a little 6 month deployment to Bosnia would be nothing. Boy was I wrong. We had a relationship that was not real open and we grew more and more distant as the days grew on. We eventually broke up a week after I got home because she didnt want to send me a "Dear John" letter. I respected her for her decisions and we moved on. We are still friends to this day. At that moment I decided that as long as I am in the military that I would be single until I got out.

Fast forward to November of 2004. I had known Kristen for quite some time and we were getting to know each other. I was instantly attracted to her because she has it all. The looks, personality, the whole nine yards. She on the other hand, was hesitant to date someone who not only was a student in a fraternity but also in the military. But, unusual for me, I did not give up on her. Just when I had her warming up to me, I got the call. I found out about a week or two before Thanksgiving that my unit was getting called up once again for Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was floored to say the least. I hadn't even been home 2 years yet and I was getting whisked away again. At that moment I holed up. I was like a turtle who was hiding in his shell. But at this point, Kristen was not going to give up. I went on orders in December of 2004 and when I wasn't in Scranton, I was with Kristen. She finally broke down my wall and we started dating in January 2005. I couldn't be happier that I decided not to stay single.

Here we are now in January 2006. We have been together now for a little over a year and things have been shaky. A bright side to this is that we have a very open and honest relationship which to be honest, I have never had before. The gut check came tonight when we were talking. I had expressed my concerns that I was losing her and their was nothing I could do to stop this. I have been having feelings of hopelessness which can feel worse than any physical pain. My fear was that she would not be able to go through waiting and that it was too much. She admitted to having these thoughts and my heart was dropping each second waiting for the rest of her statement. She went on to tell me that it is hard but that she is still hanging in there. Wow.......my whole world was spinning waiting to hear those words. I told her that when I get home that we can go back to day one again and start over if she likes. I told her that planning the wedding we will do when she is ready. Hell, I'm a guy, I can stay engaged for years because we all know the hardest thing to say is "I do." I also told her that I will be looking for a place to live and that I dont expect her to move in right away if she isnt comfortable. For now, it looks like we have survived the waves and the storm. I can only hope that we can survive as a couple and move on with our lives together.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom......

Burning Evanescence

2006-01-11T21:46:00.000+03:00

Catchy title eh? Anyways, let me introduce you to my newest tenant Pandora and her blog Burning Evanescence. She has a very nice blog going from template to content. She makes for some very interesting reads and you got to love her meltdowns! No Im not talking about her going off the deep end and rambling like a 3 year old, I am talking about a little game she plays where you click the link and their are two or more topics that you can just go off about. This week it is Apathetic People or Internet Grammar. So go on, click where it says Report Here ASAP and go check her site out and get some raning done. It will be well worth your time, I promise.

Your Dismissed.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.

CIB Awarded

2006-01-09T21:30:00.000+03:00

Finally, after all the bickering, submitting, re-submitting and the rest of red tape, I have been awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge for the incidents that occured in Ramadi way back in September. Our higher headquarters at first said I didnt qualify for the CIB because I wasn't Infantry qualified. After showing them that not only did I have the Infantry MOS but that it was my primary job now, they said I still dont qualify because of the job I am doing here. While deployed, I am working in the battalion administration section. It didn't matter that when this deployment is over that I would be a Team Leader in a dismount squad. Well, as everything in the Army, it's all in how you interpret the regulations. You gotta love the Army in that sense, the regulations are there for soldiers to follow and the leaders to enforce. But their is always such a "gray" area that leaves room for interpretation. I was starting to think that I would not be awarded the CIB and what sucks is I didnt qualify for the new Combat Action Badge because that is for everyone who is NOT Infantry. So I was in a Catch 22. Lo and behold to my surprise, we get some orders in the mail and what is there? My CIB orders awarding me the badge for the incident in Ramadi in September. I guess someone up in the higher headquarters blew the dust off the regulation and read it one more time. The funny thing is while in theater, we are not allowed to wear any badges that we are awarded. But you can bet your ass when I am getting ready to board that freedom bird and leave this hell hole I will be proudly wearing that badge. I deserve it as much as the next soldier. Now, just waiting on news of whether or not I will be awarded the Purple Heart for that. That is probably sitting on some General's desk right now collecting dust. Oh well, that is one award I didn't want to get. We'll see.

I Guess Im it

2006-01-08T00:37:00.000+03:00

My good friend Mr. Matt has decided to tag me because I think I said once I have never been tagged. So he decided to help me out in this case.

And here it goes:

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:

Lifeguard
Certified Carpet Cleaning Technician
2nd Assistant Manager at Advance Auto Parts
Soldier

4 Movies You Would Watch Over and Over:

Jaws
The Day After Tomorrow
National Lampoon's Animal House
Varsity Blues

4 Places You Have Lived:

Lodi, NJ
Bushkill, PA
Ft. Sill, OK
East Stroudsburg, PA

4 TV Shows You Loved to Watch:

Las Vegas
CSI
CSI: New York
Third Watch

4 Places I Have Been on Vacation:

Seaside Heights, NJ
Cancun, Mexico
Budapest, Hungary ( 4 day pass when I was in Bosnia)
dont get out much huh?

4 Websites You Visit Daily:

Army Knowledge Online
Espn
Blog Explosion
Yahoo

4 of Your Favorite Food:

Spaghetti & Meatballs
Veal Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan
Fried Calamari

4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:

Home
St. Croix
Cancun, Mexico
Skiing the Rockies

4 Bloggers You are Tagging: (which should read 4 Bloggers u are going to piss off)

My Fiance
Painting Chef
Mjet2
Pandorabox

A Bloody Day in Iraq

2006-01-06T23:38:00.000+03:00

Yesterday marked one of the bloodiest days since the fall of Saddam Hussein. More than 140 people were killed throughout Iraq yesterday, 11 being U.S. servicemembers. I had come to this conclusion awhile ago and yesterday just cements my beliefs. Their is no rhyme or reason to these attacks, they just happen...when you least expect it. Out of all the deaths yesterday, only 11 were U.S. soldiers. That means that 129 civilians were killed throughout this hostile country yesterday. That just screams with desperation on the terrorists' part. But the truly amazing event that happened was that after a suicide bomber blew himself to martyrdom at a Iraqi Police recruiting station that killed 2 U.S. soldiers and countless civilians, the civilians of this country continued to come to the recruiting station to sign up. They did not let a single suicide bomber deter them from doing what they feel is right and signing up to hopefully become a police officer. To me, that is an unprecedented determination that is unmatched even in our own great nation. To be able to look evil square in the eye without flinching and defying these animals is a virtue in its own right. As each day passes the citizens of Iraq and their fledgling government become stronger and more capable to rid their country of these militants.

Their is hope....their is hope twinkling in the eyes of those who shall not be oppressed. And as that ray of hope spreads throughout the lands, it is inevitable that the militants will be suppressed and or killed. Their is an old quote from a German officer from World War II that went something like this "War is organized chaos, and the Americans have mastered that chaos." After being here for 6 months now, I can say that we have taught the new Iraqi military and their police how to master organized chaos.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.......

Another Round of Awards

2006-01-04T21:34:00.000+03:00

I decided that I would do some nominating at the Sixth Annual Bloggies weblog awards. I had some really tough decisions to make but I finally came up with my nominations. I apologize now if I did not nominate you but their should be no real heartburn since none of you will even nominate my blog. Also for the record, I did not nominate my own blog for an award. That is cheesy and I feel that is just wrong. So without further adieu, here are my nominations ( in no particular order):

Best Australian or New Zealand Blog
Earth Sentinel

Best Asian Blog
Onemanbandwidth

Best British or Irish Blog
Gamer for a Laugh
My Waisted Life

Best American Blog
All Night org
Painting Chef
Red Monkey

Best Entertainment Blog
TV is my Drug of Choice

Best Politics Blog
AubreyJ.org
Sailor in the Desert
Patriotic & Idiotic

Most Humorous Blog
We 3 Bitches
Bonanza Jellybean
Fugetaboutit

Best Writing Blog
Red Monkey
Jetting Through Life
Bluepoint

Best Group Blogs
We 3 Bitches
I Talk 2 Much
Ask the Soldiers- ok so I nominated one of mine, sue me

Best Design on a Blog
Adventures of Mauser Girl
Zube Girl

Best Kept Secret Blog
As Confusion Sets In

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paide the ultimate price for freedom.

Life in Paradise

2006-01-04T03:00:00.000+03:00

No, I am not calling this huge desert that I am stuck in for a couple of more months paradise, I haven't lost my mind totally yet. I am talking about my first recruit for 2006. Mommc and her blog Life in Paradise -from the beach in Juan Dolio. She has a wonderful blog with many nice photos of a true paradise. She is a wonderful person with great things on her blog. When I have a bad day, I can go over to her blog and smile because it reminds me that when I finally leave hell on earth that I am taking a vacation to the nearest paradise. I may go visit her at Juan Dolio since it seems like such a beautiful place. So, now that you all have been instructed on your next assignment, I suggest you go click over where it says Report Here ASAP.

You're dismissed.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

Another chapter closed

2005-12-30T14:28:00.000+03:00

Wow, another year of my life is coming to an end like a chapter in a novel. My year actually started last December when I first came on orders in support of the upcoming mobilization. I had to withdraw from college at that point which sucked but looking back is actually better since I was doing horribly. I was doing more partying than going to classes due to the fact I knew I was coming to Iraq and basically was trying to drown out the thought of coming over here. I was scared. Plain and simple I was scared of the unknown. I didn't know what to expect and not knowing what our mission would be had me on the edge. Fear can be a powerful tool and even a more powerful enemy. I let it be my enemy. Also around this time my future fiance Kristen was trying vigorously to break down the walls surrounding my heart. You see, we were friends than and had been talking since the beginning of November of 2004 about dating. As soon as I found out I was leaving for up to 18 months, I pushed her away emotionally. I shunned her out along with everyone else. I couldnt let anyone get closed to me because surely it would spell disaster. So she dated some loser and I went on my single ways doing what single college guys who belong to a frat do. Party and party some more and if some lady wants to share my bed for the night that was okay. I never led any female on, they knew it would be a one night stand. Then around Christmas my future fiance came back around and we had some serious late night sober talks. It wasnt until New Years Day of this year that she finally tore down the wall around my heart and I finally said yes to her. She knew what she was getting into. At that point I was leaving for Mississippi in less than a month.

I look back now and Mississippi was a blur. I spent the better part of the first year down there training up for our mission and the time flew. Kristen came down to visit me a few times. The first time she drove a better part of 18 hours just to see me for a couple days. Never in a million years would I have expected anyone to drive all the way down there for a chance to see me. As the days down there moved on, I fell more and more in love with her. I knew than that she would be the one. After my 10 days of leave in June where I spent every waking moment possible with her we left for Kuwait. Nothing in this world can prepare you for Kuwait. When you step off the plane in the summer months, it is like you have just walked into an incinerator with the wind feeling like a hair dryer. I could not believe how hot it actually got. I thought, "No wonder the people in this region fight wars all the time, the heat will make you miserable." We spent approximately 2 weeks preparing for the next 12 months of our lives.

I have been in Iraq now since June and I have seen quite a bit of shit. I have had the opportunity to go through an IED incident and actually take a piece of shrapnel to my nose. I am a lucky bastard because it didnt do any real damage, besides you cant make this mug any uglier. I have been through a few mortar and rocket attacks and let me tell you, these insurgents have the worst aim. I have already gone on my leave for my tour in October. It is then, after only 10 short months of dating that I proposed to Kristen when we had our "Christmas in October" with our families. I was nervous but I got through it. And to my delight and surprise she said yes. The wedding is planned for May of 2007.

For my tour in Iraq, this is pretty much the halfway point. We have lost 7 warriors in my unit and I pray we dont lose anymore. It can be rough out there but we have a job to do and it is done with professionalism. When I look to my left and right, at the soldiers who might have my back in a firefight, well, I couldnt ask for a better bunch of soldiers. The year has been long and trying but can now come to a close. Another chapter in my short life has come to a close. I only pray that the first half of 2006 goes by a little quicker so I can get back to my family and more importantly Kristen, my biggest supporter. It takes a special person to voluntarily put themselves through the torture of waiting for your soldier to come home.

"To live is to suffer, to survive, well that defines the meaning of life."

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.

My last tenant of 2005

2005-12-27T21:48:00.000+03:00

I decided to have an after Christmas fire sale on my Rent a Blog and was not ready for the amount of bids that I recieved. I had 11 worthy candidates who wanted to rent the space on my blog and be coined the last tenant of 2005. After all, I was only charging 10 credits, how could anyone pass that up? Anyways, after much scrutiny and picking straws, I decided to choose Melissa and her blog Jetting Through Life as my final tenant of 2005. My apologies to all the other bloggers who wanted the space. I chose JTL due to the fact that I have come across her blog on numerous occasions while mindlessly surfing Blog Explosion and have been quite amused when reading her posts. Even when their is a serious theme to her posts, you still wind up smiling at something she wrote. She uses a balanced mix of words and pictures with the pictures adding just the right touch to whatever she is portraying. So, if you have never come across her blog in your journies thru cyberspace, I suggest you march on over to where it says Report Here ASAP and check her out. I assure you that it will not be a waste of your time. Matter of fact, you are wasting more time here reading this than you would over there.

You may carry on now and go click!

Remember to have a moment of silence for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ulitmate price for freedom......

Merry Christmas

2005-12-25T16:03:00.000+03:00

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope y'all recieve everything you want. To my fiance, Kristen, I love you and miss you and I promise to make up for all this lost time. To my family, may the day be filled with as much joy and happiness as possible. Now, I would like to share a little holiday jingle.

A Soldier's Holiday

Twas the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone
In a one bedroom house made of
plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
With presents to give,
And to see just who
In this home did live.

I looked all about,
A strange sight I did see
No tinsel, no presents
Not even a tree

No stocking by mantle
Just boots filled with sand
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands

And this house was different
It was dark and dreary
I found the home of a soldier
Once I could see clearly

The soldier lay sleeping
Silent, alone
Curled up on the floor
In this one bedroom home

The face was so gentle
The room in such disorder
Not how I pictured
A United States soldier

Was this the hero
Of whom I just read?
Curled up on a poncho
The floor for a bed?

I realized the families
That I saw this night
Owed their lives to these soldiers
Who were willing to fight

They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year
Because of the soldiers
Like the one lying here

I couldnt help wonder
How many lay alone
On a cold Christmas eve
In a land far from home

The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye
I dropped to my knees
And started to cry

The soldier awakened
And I heard a rough voice
"Santa dont cry,
This life is my choice;

I fight for freedom
I don't ask for more
My life is my God
My country, my corps."

The soldier rolled over
And soon drifted to sleep
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep

I kept watch for hours
So silent and still
And we both shivered
From the cold night's chill

I didn't want to leave
On that cold, dark, night
This guardian of honor
So willing to fight

Then the soldier rolled over
With a voice soft and pure
Whispered, "Carry on Santa
It's Christmas Day, all is secure."

One look at my watch
And I knew he was right
"Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a goodnight."

New Renter

2005-12-22T04:08:00.000+03:00

I got a new renter and I thought I would pay a tribute to them and give them some exposure. My 2 renters I acted as a slumlord and didn't even give them a shout out at all. So although I cant make it up to them, I can make it a little better. My new renter is Lon, a professor working overseas in China. His blog is the ONEMANBANDWIDTH. It is a very interesting read and gives you insight to a culture most Americans and the rest of the world for that matter, do not know much about. So go ahead, slide your cursor over to where it says Report here ASAP and see what our professor has to offer.

Election Day

2005-12-17T03:44:00.000+03:00

As most of you know, yesterday the Iraqi citizens headed to the polls to elect their first permanent democratic government and the turn out was impressive. Over 70% of the eligible population turned out for this historic event to exercise their newfound rights. It wasnt really too surprising although a few things surprised me. You can read more here. They say it will take upwards of two weeks to tally all the votes. The people of this nation were voting for their 275 member council and had thousands of people being represented to take a seat in this new found council. Once the new government is in place, the constitution which was voted on in October becomes ratified and the new government is off and running.

As some of you know, myself and Mr. Matt have started a question forum call Ask the Soldiers and we field questions from anyone who wants to know something about Iraq. Today we got a very different kind of question that touched my heart. A mother emailed a question to us that has concerned her son. What is touching is her son is 6 years old. He was concerned about the safety of soldiers and their welfare. To know that people even as young as 6 years old, are concerned about us is special. When I was 6, I was concerned with what GI Joe's to play with (my calling), what cartoons to watch, and how I was going to con my parents into letting me stay up past my bedtime. I really didnt know much about what was going on outside my hometown. Its not that I lived a shielded childhood, but I had other things to worry about. If you ask me, if this child is concerned about soldiers at the age of 6, he could end up president of our great nation if he keeps his interest in current events.

Just plain randomness

2005-12-14T02:40:00.000+03:00

*Sigh* Is it time to go home yet? It seems at work I can't do anything right. Everything I do I find a way to screw it up in some way. Nothing major, most you can laugh at but I see a trend starting and I hate screwing up. For instance, preparing our strength report, I get all together, checkin and double checking my work and I get ready to send out the email. Get it all done, hit send and then next thing you know higher HQ is calling cuz I forgot to add the attachment which is the report. I have done that twice this week and its only Tuesday! Then I went to turn on the generator tonite to charge up the batteries and instead just turned off the radios we were monitoring. I walked back in to put the key away and I get a strange look from Mr. Matt. Then SGT H asked if I turned on the generator. Then it hits me! I went to do one thing and did the exact opposite. Maybe its time for a vacation even though I took my vacation already. At this rate, its going to be a long 7 months or so till we get back to the states, hope I can keep my rank.

Anyways, on another note, I REALLY hate anonymous comments. If you got something to say, naughty or nice, say it with pride. Don't hide behind the anonymous name. Im not going to call in an air strike on your house or sneak in the middle of the night and roll a grenade under your bed cuz you blasted one of my posts. Whether or not you agree with what I say is your opinion and I look at it as constructive criticism. I would turn off the anonymous comments but I dont like Blogger's choices. I think its time I upgrade my comment side of my blog, maybe haloscan or something.

Go Sen. Lieberman! Finally their is Dem who believes in what we are doing over here! And for his support, he probably wont get a bid for president which is a shame. Stick to your convictions and feelings Senator, we appreciate it. Speaking of Iraq, please everyone, even if you do not support this war or the troops, say a prayer on December 15th that the elections in this country go smooth with very little trouble. This will be another historic moment in this country that should not go unnoticed. I will have more on that later.

well, enough grumbling for today: Have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.........

Is Iraq a traditional war?

2005-12-10T03:26:00.000+03:00

Amidst my annoyance about Sen. Dean and his comments about whether or not Iraq could be won, my interest became piqued by a comment left by a reader that stated "It (iraq) can't be won....not in the traditional sense anyways."

Hmm, is Iraq a traditional war? Or is this War on Terror traditional? Furthermore, what would classify a conflict as traditional? To even scratch the surface of the first two questions, we must delve into the third question and try to answer what a traditional war is.

Looking back through world history, not just U.S. history, war has evolved and its face has changed many times, right along with the evolution of man. The Romans, who fought with swords and archery traveled the globe conquering their foes and adding to their vast empire. Their reasons were simple, money and extended trade routes. In that era of human existence these conflicts were traditional in a sense. From Rome to China and throughout Africa. War was all about money and trade routes. Empires would rise and fall in the quickness of man's last breath.

Then along came the musket, the birth of firearms. No longer did it matter how heavy or sharp a sword was, how far the arrow sliced through the air, the musket would beat that. A new face for war evolved with the technology of mankind. But the traditions of searching for more gold and trade routes were still the main reason for conflict. Their were also many empires that stretched all around the globe. It seemed even at this point in time the same economic reasons for conflict were used. For example, England's empire stretched across many different islands (trade routes), countries in Africa (gold/diamonds) and even as far as India (trade routes). But something started to change, a new face was being born...Ideology. In the latter years of the original 13 colonies, an idea of being independent of a theocratic or monarchist system began to arise. And in that, ideology bore a new face of war. The American Revolution happened and during the conflict we were fighting not for gold or trade routes but rather something stronger.....a conviction. And with that conviction we created newer tactics to beat our enemy and achieve success. Sure, we still lined up on opposite sides of the field and fired volley after volley at each other, but we also used primitive guerrila warfare tactics. Ambushes, espionage, the whole nine yards. We began to rewrite the book on war. The colonists used any means necessary to achieve victory. Of course in the end the colonists won their independence but that started a change to what traditional war was.

As the time moved closer to the 20th Centure, the traditional war, that reigned for centuries was fading fast. Colonies all over the world began to fight for liberation. Empires began to crumble, the last being the Ottoman Empire. No longer were trade routes and precious metals the sole purposes for conflict. Man began starting conflicts because of an idea. War would begin to phase into this sort of conflicts in the 20th Century. Here are some examples of wars based on ideologies: World War II and Nazism, Cold War and the fight against Communism although a war was never actually fought against the Russians it spawned both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Israel and Palenstine's troubles are all based on the idea of who owns the land. The Balkan War in the early 90's was also based on the idea that Muslims did not deserve to live in Bosnia and the worst war crimes to occur since the Holocaust took place. But once the smoke settled on all but the Israeli-Palenstine conflict, a true victor emerged.

We now come to the 21st Century and western civilization is getting a real taste for what ideology can spawn. Iraq and Afghanistan shed a whole new light on this new evil face of war. The western world has toppled 2 totalatarian governments and freed their people from injustice and given them a voice. A voice that can shape their future and futures of generations to come. Unfortunately, not all want these freedoms, they want to control their people and will not just stop terrorizing and comply because a new democratic type government is in place.

Ultimately, the War on Terrorism is by no means a traditional war and I am afraid that what the world is facing now will be the "new tradition". True victory will no longer be measured as it was 100 years ago. True victory will be when these sibling governments can stand on their own two feet and deal with their problems internally like many nations before have. But beware, the War on Terror will not end with Iraq and Afghanistan. It will end when the the world as a united force, stand up to terrorist organizations and governments and rid them from the world. That my friend, will be true victory.........

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

Dean: Iraq War Can't Be Won

2005-12-06T20:05:00.000+03:00

In a radio interview in San Antonio, Texas, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean stated that the idea of the US winning the war in Iraq "is just plain wrong." Are you friggin kidding me? Where the hell do these friggin politicians come up with these comments? And what good timing they have! In 10 days, another historic date is going to arrive in Iraq and this ASSHOLE is making demeaning statements that can have an effect on the morale of our troops over here and the turn out of these citizens about to vote for their first official government. And to compare it to Vietnam?!?!? By no means, shape, or form is this war like Vietnam. That is an absurdity in its own right. It is people like Howard Dean that make me almost feel ashamed to call myself an American when people in our own government have no faith in its soldiers and rather hide from evil. Howard Dean also stated "We can only win if the Iraqi people are able to play a greater role in peacekeeping," When was the last time he brought his dumb ass over here and saw the progress? Any politician can play Armchair Quarterback and pretend to know all the answers (Just ask Sen. Murtha) but until you come over here and see for yourself, keep your trap shut! We turn more and more of Iraq over to its security forces each month. They now do their own sweeps and searches on their own without our help. That is more than I can say for the S.Vietnamese (although I am rusty on my history).
So America, before paralleling Iraq to Vietnam and saying we cannot win this war, do your homework and dont listen to the baboons holding office. OOOh, im aggravated....

enough grumbling for today- Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.........even if our own people in government do not support us.......

A Special Gift

2005-12-03T03:51:00.000+03:00

As most of you know, myself and Mr. Matt have started a blog where people can submit questions concerning Iraq and the War on Terrorism. This blog has been up for a few days and the number of questions we have answered already amazes me. But that is not the special gift I am talking about here. It is the gift of thanks. If you go over to our blog, you will see questions from Maria. They are not complex questions, but more than likely questions many people have thought. We, as promised, answered them as quickly as we could. I recieved an email thanking us for replying so quick and honest. I emailed her back and told her no need for thank you, it is myself and Matt who should be thanking her and everyone else that submits questions.
A few minutes ago I checked my email, as I do everynite before hitting the rack for some snoozetime, when I saw an email from American Greetings sent by her. What I saw and read touched my heart on many different levels. This being 'tis the season and all the holiday cheer as the rest of the world prepares for Christmas, and the New Year with their loved ones, she managed to find a moment to remember the troops, for although she sent it to me, it was meant for all the men and women who are overseas fighting and can not be home with their loved ones. I would like to thank her and her family for their thoughts. This will be one of those moments in one's life that you never forget. That some stranger you have never met, reaches out and lets you know that what you are doing at that moment, means something back home. In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us, believed in us, kept us in their thoughts and prayers while we battle in our darkest hour.......

Coalition Force Withdrawal

2005-12-03T02:33:00.000+03:00

Just when u thought the media couldn't stoop any lower......they do. To add another twist to the anti-support theme for Iraq, the media published a story that said Coalition Forces were withdrawing at the end of the year. The first paragraph of the story goes on and names like 3 or 4 Coalition Force nations who are withdrawing troops. But if you didnt read anymore and just thought to yourself "hun, I guess the whole world is turning their backs on Iraq and the US."
Well, I am here to tell...the rest of the story. (Kinda like Steve Harvey) The Coalition Forces nations that are pulling out are very minor players like S.Korea, Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc. These countries have anywhere from 10-500 soldiers that are not organized in ground combat missions like the USA and Great Britain. These nations are helping to train police officers and other law enforcement agencies. Also, these countries have honored their committment to the USA and Great Britain and stayed until their mission was complete. But no, the media portrayed this event as more nations turning their back on this most unpopular war. Just as Iraq has asked for a timetable from the USA and GB, they have asked for a timetable for all Coalition Forces. And as these brave young men and women are trained, less and less nations will need to have troops here. So, we need to look at this as a postitive note, because if these nations begin withdrawing their troops, that means Iraqis are skilfully trained and confident enough to begin patrolling and securing more parts of this country. It is stories like this that give soldiers a headache. Also, stories like my friend has to tell about good Ol' USA citizens. Read on to this story and check out the audacity of some our citizens.

Soldier's Story

2005-11-29T02:30:00.000+03:00

ATTENTION BLOGOSPHERE!! After almost a year of blogging here and surfing around the net, I have noticed alot, and I mean alot of blogs are dedicated to politics and Iraq in one fashion or another. A few are from actual soldiers, but most are from the citizens of our great nation and many others around this small world. So, myself and Mr. Matt over at As Confusion Sets In have decided to kinda steal the idea from Zubegirl, Painting Chef, and Bonanza Jellybean and try an open forum for the world to ask us questions concerning Iraq and the War on Terrorism whether it be political or whatever. Now, dont go asking us dumb ass questions like do we support the war because that dont matter, we are here fighting for it. You can either email me (the link is to your right) or you can email us at askthesoldiers@yahoo.com. You can find the blog here.

Now, let the questioning begin!!!!

Im turning into an Insomniac and I have a new tenant

2005-11-27T02:58:00.000+03:00

Its beginning again.....I thought I beat it when I was in Bosnia but alas...its creeping up on me again. It seems lately that I am having a hard time falling asleep anymore. And the last time it happened was around the holidays when I was deployed to Bosnia. The only difference now is back then I only had another 2 months to go. Now, I have till next summer which means I am going to be one tired soldier if I dont kick this insomnia. So last night, during my insomniac episode (is that what u would call it?) I decided to try this Rent my Blog. I started the price out dirt cheap. I would've done it for free but that wasnt an option. Along came my first recruit, and if you listen to the title and click over there, make sure you drop them a line and tell them gigotti sent ya. If this works out, I will do it some more. So my blog recruit, please let me know if I helped ya out any by dropping me a line when you are through. As for my insomnia, if this keeps up, I'm gonna go see our medics and the Doc to see if they can get me some of those good ol' sleepin pills. Maybe that will help me out a bit.

I know what some of the problem is. I am missing home really bad this time around. During Bosnia, I had a girlfriend but things were shaky before I left. Now, I have my beautiful fiance at home and it tears at me to be away during the holidays. The holidays are meant to be spent with loved ones and since joining the military, I have missed my fair share of holidays with the family and thought that I had grown accustomed to being away. I guess I am human after all and the holidays do mean something, especially now that I have Kristen. Once the new year rolls around, its all down hill till I get home to my loved ones. It looks like its gonna be a bumpy road till I get over this hill. Hopefully I can sleep some before I get there. Maybe I should see my buddy Only Time Will Tell to see if he's got something to help me. Oh well.

enough grumbling for today..........go check out my recruit!

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom......

Power of the Stripes

2005-11-23T21:54:00.000+03:00

I can now understand the power that comes with rank. Not just any rank, but the ranks of a sergeant, an NCO. It is almost like a high, the first time you get to use your rank when questioning subordinates. I say use because as a specialist, those same questions a person the same rank or lower could blow you off....but not now. As you ask the questions, they have to answer. And if you dont like the answer, you keep asking questions until they are stumbling over their words. Now I understand after all my time in the military why newly promoted sergeants would go on "power trips". It is a high that you are superior and that no one can deflate your ego because that is what it amounts too. Now, I always promised myself I wouldnt go on those "power trips" but I couldnt help my self in this situation. Read on to the conversation: (editor's note: names have been changed so as not to offend anyone)

It is about 1930hrs and I am working in my office organizing soldier's files when the night person for one of our companies walked in to chat.

SGT C -" Pvt. Hare, where is your weapon?"
PVT H-" My weapon?"
SGT C- " Yes, your weapon, where is it?"
PVT H- " Oh, I havent picked it up yet from the armorer sergeant."
SGT C- " And why havent you picked up your weapon yet?"
PVT H- " Oh, you see sergeant, I didn't have time today to pick up my weapon."
SGT C- " What did you do all day until coming on shift that you couldn't pick up your weapon?"
PVT H- " Uh, well sergeant, I, uh, slept until 1500 or so than I went to the gym for about 2 hours, and then I went back and got ready to come on shift, sergeant."
SGT C- " I see"
PVT H- " Well, I kinda fell back to sleep after I got back from the gym with CPL Jones."
SGT C- (CPL Jones being the armorer) "So, you went to the gym with the armorer, who has your weapon in storage, and you still havent gotten from him?"
PVT H- " Uh, yes sergeant."
SGT C- " And how long have you been off of profile now?"
PVT H- "Its been 2 days... no wait, actually its only been a day and a half sergeant."
SGT C- "So, let me get this straight, you have been off profile for 2 DAYS now and still have not picked up your weapon AND you go to the gym with the armorer?"
PVT H- " Uh, roger sergeant, uh but I will have it tomorrow."
SGT C- " Are you sure you will remember to pick up your weapon? You know, the piece of equipment that might save your life?"
PVT H- " Roger sergeant, I wont forget to pick up my weapon tomorrow, I promise."

changing the subject...
PVT H-" So sergeant, uh, I smoked my self (worked out) at the gym today."

Hehe, privates always trying to change the subject when they know they cant win. Its good to be king, if only for a little while.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

NEW DESIGN

2005-11-23T02:41:00.000+03:00

Well, the new template is up and running and I only have one person to thank for this. That would be mausergirl. She took my ideas and brought them to life. It is better than I could have imagined. So, let me know what you all out there in the blogosphere think of my new design and dont forget to stop over and check her site out too.

Please bear with me

2005-11-15T19:56:00.000+03:00

Since I have some down time, I am changing my template but I cant seem to find one I like or that will fit what I had on my old boring one. Truly, I would like one that is US Military themed whether it be with camoflauge or with a soldier on it. If anyone knows of a site that has one that Blogger would support, please leave me the site. Or if you can create one and are willing to help a soldier deployed out, please leave a comment. I dont care if I have to pay for it or not. So as of right now, my site is under construction. Thank You.

Iraq dont change much in a month

2005-11-14T21:36:00.000+03:00

Well, its been about a week since I was home on leave and I am now back into the swing of things. Being home was great and I miss it. But, I am over halfway done with this deployment. I am still waiting to find out if I will receive the Purple Heart or not for my incident in September. As for being awarded the CIB, well that is another beast. According to Army regulations which our command seems not to ever follow, says as long as your in an Infantry unit, which I am and hold an infantry job title, which I do, you can receive the CIB. But our higher headquarters looks at it a little differently. Right now on this deployment I am not currently in an infantry job position although back in PA I do. They say I am not eligible for that reason. We are still waiting to see if the award comes back approved or denied. So I may still get it. If not, then I am going to be put in for the new CAB, which stands for Combat Action Badge ( I think). This award was intended for everyone who does not hold an infantry job but does infantry duties. So I may end up being one of the only infantry people in the whole national guard of PA to receive this award IF I am eligible. Reading the regulation on this award doesnt seem like an infantry person can get this award. So I may be caught between a rock and a hard place. Oh well, to live to see another day is worth more than any award.

Veterans Day

2005-11-12T00:39:00.000+03:00

Veterans Day has just passed (well in the States it still is) and I have been sitting here pondering the meaning of this day. I have been doing so because I received some emails today from family and friends wishing me a Happy Veterans Day and thanking me for all I have done for our nation. I should feel honored....but I dont. I am proud to be called a veteran like many men and women have before me. I have followed in the footsteps of my family when I joined the military straight out of high school. I dont think I have done anything to earn the right to be honored by this day. This day was created to honor those men and women who served their country with gallantry and selfless service during WW I. As a matter-of-fact, November 11th is the day the armistice was signed ending the "war of all wars". The sacrifices I have made to serve my country are miniscule compared to what some of our forefathers have sacrificed. And not just in WW I, but in WW 2, Korean Conflict, Vietnam and so on. This is a day to honor them, the men and women who sacrificed everything for their country, including their life for many. This is a day to recognize them, not me. Maybe one day when its all said and done I can look back and allow myself to be honored on such a day but not now. I have done enough to be honored.

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom........especially today.

VALOUR-IT

2005-11-09T03:10:00.000+03:00

VALOUR-IT stands for Voice Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops. This is a non-profit organization trying to help injured troops stay in contact with family and friends. Check out the website here.
It only will take a second of your time.

One more for 21st Century History

2005-11-08T23:28:00.000+03:00

History has been made recently but it seems the majority of the world is not aware of this fact. A bit disturbing, but not surprising nonetheless. When the citizens of Iraq went to the polls on the 15th of October, they were voting on the new constitution for this nation. But it is much more than that. They were voting on the cornerstone of their new founded government. The one document that would become the laws of the land. And when that day came around, amidst negative propaganda from insurgents, threats against their lives and their families, and fear, the people of Iraq turned out in large masses to do something some have never experienced.....to vote. And vote they did. It turns out that the majority of the country, including the major Sunni provinces, voted yes for their constitution. Ladies and gentlemen, that was history in the making. But of course, in the days and weeks to follow, the media did not cover this topic as breaking news or even as a story to fill in the gaps. They just cease to cover it. Why? Is it because it is a positive event in a war torn country that is the focal point of our society's administration bashing? Does it not tie in with all the commentators takes on why we shouldnt be in Iraq and how this will turn into another Vietnam? Or simply, because in our society good news just doesnt seem to bring in the ratings?

Being a soldier currently deployed over here, I do get to see truly what goes on over here, at least in my area, and I do get to see and interact occasionally with the citizens of this nation. The views of these people and what I see over here never seem to match what the media puts out. It always seems askewed somehow. It is as though we live in a world that thrives off of what is wrong in this world and the evil-doers who carry out these tasks. It is a sad world that we have come to live in, where Good History is made and it goes practically unnoticed. I feel proud to have been here when history was made, and I will be proud to be here when the people of this nation go back to the polls to elect their very first democratic-type government. And when I return home from this journey, I will not look the other way and forget all that I have been through and seen. Instead, I will constantly monitor the events of this nation long after I am home and all our troops are home. I will do this because I know that I helped make a difference in someonelse's life. So when I have children I know that they can live in a safer world. So ask yourself, where were you on October 15th when history was made? Although it may not affect your life in any way, it will affect those of whom you love who are younger and still have many years a head of them to grow up. Its time our society became selfless instead of selfish and paid more attention to what goes on in the rest of the world because what goes on in our country, many people keep note. All eyes are on our country, its time we turned our attention outwards....

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.......

Another step in the Journey of LIfe

2005-11-06T12:38:00.000+03:00

Well, my time off back with loved ones has sadly come to a close and I am back in Iraq. Alot has gone on since my last real post and now I will attempt to bring everyone up to speed. Here we go...

-The flight back seemed very long and I started to think I would never get back to the states. It is true patience is a virtue, and I am usually patient but not that day. I couldnt wait to see the beaming smile of my girlfriend as I walked through the terminal in my uniform. Every second seemed like an eternity. Once getting into Atlanta, I raced through customs as fast as humanly possible and ran a marathon to the gate in hopes of catching an earlier flight home which, by the way, I made with one minute to spare. One of the happiest moments of this past year was seeing my girlfriend and mother waiting for my arrival and seeing the terminal shine as bright as the sun with their smiles.

-Upon returning home, I immediately went to the local mall to buy my girlfriend an engagement ring. I decided I was going to propose to her while I was home. I had a few hours to spare since my girl had to work with my mom the next day upon my arrival. I actually bought the set with the wedding band included. A little bold but I like that sort of stuff.

-My mom had decided to have a Christmas in October since I wouldnt be home for the holidays. Most of my family showed up, including my brother with my niece (who I havent seen since her birth was during this deployment) and my nephew. My girlfriend was there with me during this joyous occasion and her mother was invited. Unfortunately, her mother had a prior engagement and couldnt be there. Her mother would soon be upset she didnt go. I had decided to use this day to propose to my girlfriend since both families were suppose to be present. Kristen wasn't even expecting the proposal. She thought I would do this when we go to the Virgin Islands next summer. When she opened the present, at first she thought it was a necklace or bracelet of some sort. She also didnt realize I was kneeling right next to her on the couch. As she opened the box, I gently grabbed the box and all I had to say was her name, and at that moment, she realized what I was about to do. She did say yes and that became the happiest moment in my life. Strangely, I wasnt even nervous. It's just another step in the journey of life.

-The rest of my leave went fairly quiet, spending time with my new fiance and some of my friends. We havent set a date yet for the wedding, I told her she can have fun with planning the wedding. I wont interfere and will help when asked. I plan on wearing my Class A Uniform at the wedding. At first it started as a joke but she likes the idea so Im going with it. My best man, Matt will be wearing his too ( Sorry Matt!). Of course me and Kristen went to a Halloween party with our friends and we ate at our favorite restaurants a few times, but besides that it was uneventful. Now I am back in Iraq and its time to buckle down and finish this deployment so I can get home to my fiance. Until next time...

Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom......

Coming Soon

2005-11-02T23:20:00.000+03:00

For my loyal fan out there, I havent died or forgot about my duty to post. I have been on vacation in the states enjoying my time with loved ones. As soon as reality sets back in and I cross the pond back to the wastelands, I will be doing an update.

remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom......

Witnessing History

2005-10-15T22:13:00.000+03:00

Today marked a historic and triumphant day here in Iraq. As the sun began to sink below the horizon and the polls closed, the count begun. Whether or not the constitution is ratified will unfold in the days ahead. The fact that the citizens of this nation, amidst the overwhelming threats of terror and mayhem, made the important decision to take part in the fate of this country is heroic in its own right.
Leading up to this day, tensions have been rising throughout this stricken country as insurgents began their propaganda campaigns threatening to kill anyone who voted or the usual anti-american slogans they have used all along. All the major parties involved, the Sunnis,Kurds, and Shiites were making last minute attempts to get backing from the citizens as all three parties came to terms. The coalition forces were on constant watch for an uprising in attacks from the insurgents. All of the planning, coordinating, evaluating, re-evaluating, re-planning, re-coordinating, all these stress inducing events were high right up until the polls opened this morning.
No one knew for sure what the voter turn out would be, what attacks would be made, and finally what the voters decisions would be. As the polls closed the election officials were able to take a sigh of relief as 2 of the 3 questions were answered. The answer to the third question will be answered in due time. The citizens of Iraq stood up today against chaos, terror and animosity to voice their opinions. By making the decision to help change the fate of this country is a remarkable feat that should not go unrecognized. When they went to the polls today, they brought with them hope. Hope that one day this country can be free of tyranny, free of terror, free from the diseases of evil.
So now I call upon you, the citizens of Iraq, to continue to stand up to the radicals and fascist who terrorize your neighborhood, who torture and murder people for speaking what they believe or for backing the new government. Your new government, military, and the coalition forces cannot rid this country of these beasts without your continued support and help. For the first time in the history of your nation, your voice matters. One voice cannot reform a country, but one million voices can. By going to the polls today to vote on your constitution, you have won a battle on many levels. You show your government that you support them and you show the insurgents you are not scared. My hat is off to you, the citizens, for marking this day as the day you stood up for what you believe.

A Week in Review

2005-10-04T00:12:00.000+03:00

Yes, I know it has been quite some time since my last post but I was busy playing tourist in Iraq. Here are some things that went on since my last post.

- We had moved into our new office which is actually an office type trailer. It is quite nice and enough room for our section, the only problem was faulty wiring. Come to find out the contractors who built this office didnt bother putting wire nuts on exposed wires and basically the office was a livewire. A Marine actually got shocked on the outside of the can and they turned all the power off to our office so we wouldnt have anymore accidents. The office became a sauna and we had to run power off of another trailer to power our computers. It was actually cooler outside even during the day. That lasted about a week and half before someone got off their ass and got the problem fixed. I have never sweated so bad for so long in my whole life.

- I went on a little trip to visit some of our other companies who are detached from us and serving with other units. The visits were of official purposes and I was talking with some of our soldiers, answering questions about leave, reenlisting, bonuses and your basic rumor squashing. While on my adventure, I had the unfortunate luck of experiencing my first roadside bomb. I was slightly injured from the explosion, receiving a piece of shrapnel to my nostril. One vehicle was disabled and I had to help recover it and I wasnt going to see the medics upon getting back to base cuz I thought it was just a flesh wound. But my sergeant made me and its a good thing cuz the tiny piece was actually imbedded in my nostril. I now qualify for a purple heart which I find kinda funny due to the fact the injury was minor. I will update on the progress of whether or not I actually recieve the award. I also qualify for the Combat Infantryman Badge which is also kinda funny cuz its a running joke that everyone is out trying to earn this award and I had no intentions of trying to earn anything. Whether or not I recieve either award is still pending, so I will keep ya'll posted.

- Their is also a somber note to add. While on my journies, we got word that we lost 5 more soldiers from my unit, all killed by enemy actions. Right before leaving, we also had got word we lost one last week. That now brings our total to 7 soldiers from my unit who have paid the ultimate price for freedom. All these guys come from the same communities and I can only imagine the atmosphere back home right now. My thoughts and prayers are with those families during these dark hours.

- On another note, I go home on mid tour leave in 2 weeks. I can't wait till I get home to see my girlfriend, Kristen, and visit with family and friends. I will be able to forget about over here for a few days, at least until I see my friends and they all want to hear the "war stories". I will probably save those for a good night out on the town at our favorite bars.

Until next time.....

Remember to have a moment of silence each day for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who paid the ultimate price for freedom....

Combat Patch awarded

2005-09-19T21:13:00.000+04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, it is official....for the first time since the Korean War, the Keystone Patch has been authorized to be worn on the right shoulder signifying a combat tour. The patch, commonly referred to as the "Bloody Bucket", to me is an honor to wear. The division has a long, proud history of gallantry and professionalism that is unsurpassed by any other National Guard Division and only a few Active Duty Divisions. We were awarded the patch on Sept. 11 of this year in a small and quick ceremony. The patch we wear is actually colored in black, the red is for the dress uniforms. Some of the guys in my unit dont seem proud to wear the Keystone, I guess because they were hoping for something different. Now we will wear the same patch on both sleeves which is fine by me. I am sorta the history buff kinda guy and the amount of history that is associated with this patch, I find it truly an honor to wear. The patch and this division are most famous for WWII when they were on the front lines battling zee Germans. The German Army is actually the ones who coined the term "Bloody Bucket Division" due to the amount of losses we took and inflicted on zee Germans and they couldnt bust through our lines. The name has sorta stuck even after all these years. Hopefully, while on this tour, we dont live up to that name. Now, if only I could find a way to get my Combat Infantry Badge..... oh wait, Im not one of those Keystone Cowboys chasing the glory.

till next time, remember to have a moment of silence for all those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

I Pledge Allegiance....

2005-09-15T00:47:00.000+04:00

You have got to be kidding me?!? A judge in California found that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of the words "under God". What is next? Being patriotic is unconstitutional? The words "under God" can have multiple meanings whether your part of the Christian faith, Judaism, or Islamic religions. But of course, this lawsuit was brought on by an atheist, which for the record, I have no objections of anyone not believing in God, that is their right as a citizen. But to have the Pledge banned from school just because you dont believe in God is a selfish act. You think by having that banned from school your children wont ask what God is or who God is? What's next, have all religious symbols banned from public schools so your children can stay shunned throughout their childhood?

Growing up as a child, I felt patriotic saying the Pledge of Allegiance. While in my younger years, I ask my parents to explain what the pledge meant. My parents did their job as parents and explained what it meant and that not everyone would see it in their view. That is the job of parents. To nurture and teach their children what they cannot learn from others. It is a basic human instinct that this person in California is shying away by having the Pledge banned. Sir, you should ashamed to call yourself an American, for the Pledge is as American as our precious flag. But then again, this ruling came in California, land of make believe and Hollywood where they build their little worlds and only call themselves American when its fitting. This does not apply to everyone in California, just the ones with power.

and i thougtht I was done grumbling for now..........

Sometimes I feel like a Nutt.....

2005-09-14T22:37:00.000+04:00

Well, its been quite some time since I last posted. I really havent had a desire to post, but have decided to give an update. So for my loyal fan out there, here you go:

-Since getting promoted, I had to switch cans (rooms) due to my new rank. I actually made out good cuz I knew my new roommate already and we set up our room the way we wanted. My old roommate Matt got a short end of the stick. He got put in with 5 other guys and it is cramped in there.

-I am tired of hearing all these rumors about a mission change or we are going to Afghanistan as soon as we get home or our orders are getting extended. Come on people! Wake up and smell the burnt coffee. You are a National Guardsment no the friggin 82nd Airborne! You dont go from one hell hole to another in a matter of months. And a mission change, hah, that is a load of crap. Some higher up is pissed cuz we are not "in the shit" like we trained for, instead, got a mission that is a little easier. I'm not saying this is a cakewalk, I am in Iraq and anything goes, but anyone who wants to be shot at everyday, have indirect fire landing on the base everyday, or have roadside bombs that put craters in the roads going off constantly should have the friggin head examined. I know a great mission when I see one and let me tell you, THIS IS A GREAT MISSION. Some of our other brethren who are in the shit would give up a month's pay just to switch with us and THESE morons want all that glory. I look at it this way, destiny has its way so no sense in chasing the glory. Destiny will throw a screwball in there and then you will hate life. Just another example of our wonderful Keystone Cowboys chasing the glory. Now, if the Department of the Army has a mission change for us, so be it, it's meant to be. 'nuff grumbling about that.

-It seems we work for some dumb ass people who dont know how to read their OWN reports. The last 2 days our higher headquarters has called and asked some of the most retarded questions I have ever heard. They will call and ask why a number changed on one report but not another 3 hours before they are do. Relax hotshot! We know what we are doing. This isnt the first time we have been deployed. We also have Marines assigned to us who bravely extended for another tour. Now, we are Army, they are Marines. They do certain paperwork different and use a whole different way of submitting the paperwork. We as Army cant process their leave, or do anything with pay. We had some Marines go on leave and come back. So I emailed their dates to our higher which is Marines. They call us and asked us why we didnt process their leave. Umm, let me see, BECAUSE WE ARENT MARINES! It doesnt take a rocket scientist to comprehend these simple matters but they make it out to be. Just think I still have 10 more months of them.

-Also with our higher guys, they dont know how to use a phone. We call them asking for the number to Red Cross so we could close out a message. They couldnt even give us a number cuz they just email the RC. Nice, real nice. What happens if the 'net is down? Just gonna wait till it comes back up? Pathetic. They sent us a RC message and didnt bother to give us a courtesy ring telling us it was in one of our many inboxes. You know, we have nothing better to do than every 5 minutes check our inboxes to see if anything is there. We hold RC messages with the highest regards cuz 99% of the time someone has died and this is the notification that your mother/father/grandparent/dog has passed away. Working with these people is gonna be really difficult for the next 10 months.

-On a lighter note, my chest is gonna be bruised for the next month from all the "congratulations on your promotion to sergeant" punches I have recieved. Every NCO and officer I have encountered has "congratulated" me. Although some people still have a gripe about me getting promoted. They feel I cheated the system. Ummm, ok, lemme think about this for a sec....no I didnt cheat. I went to a reserve component school, became MOS qualified, and next thing you know the state had me on the infantry promotion list. Then, a vacancy in one of our line companies couldnt be filled and I was next on the list. I dont see how I cheated the system. So to them Phuck Off! Take your one tracked/pig headed/sorry ass somewhere else and piss on someone elses tree cuz I aint havin that shit no more. The next comment I get they are gonna get an earful, and remember, I am the same rank as most of them so they cant do shit.

Well, that is how my last couple of weeks has gone, and frankly, I am tired of some of this bullshit. Hopefully some of it will end, I know all of it wont cuz this is the military. Remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom......

enough grumbling for now.....

Satellites and 50 Cal mounts

2005-09-04T00:43:00.000+04:00

We started getting all the equipment for our satellite internet in bits and pieces. Once we had everything we needed, my sergeant asked me if I would mind helping him the next day put everything together. I said sure, why not? I put in on the satellite so the faster its up the faster I am online in my room. Well, we get off shift in the early morning and I dont usually go to sleep till about 5 in the morning. I go to sleep and set my alarm for the afternoon. I woke up to this annoying buzzing sound and I couldn't turn it off! I start swinging my arm wildly around trying to turn this damn thing off and couldn't find it! I open my eyes to see my sergeant waving my alarm clock around my head so I would get up and help him. Well, I throw some clothes on and go outside to see how much he had done.

I walk outside and see all these metal beams strewn across the ground. Those metal beams were to be put together to create the base for the satelllite. Lo and behold, their are no instructions to go with these. Just a bunch of beams and nuts and screws. OK, how hard can this be? We are soldiers and we got smarts. Well, as we are putting it together, and taking it apart cuz the beams arent lining up, we are getting frustrated. Of course, curious soldiers are watching us try and put this together with looks of awe in their eyes. "You guys got satellite internet now?" Well, in the midst of putting this base together for the umpteenth time in the last hour, one of our second lieutenant's walks up to us and the following conversation ensues,

2LT " Whatcha guys putting together?"

my SGT " A 50 Cal mount for the top of our can." (as straight-faced as I have ever seen someone)

2LT "Really? What's that for?"

Me "Perimeter security."

(our living area is surrounded by security barriers)

SGT "Its in case the alarms go off we can get up on our can and man a 50 Cal so no one can attack our living area."

2LT " How many of these are going up?"

Me " Quite a few, we are just the firsts to get to put it together and get it operational."

The 2LT started nodding his head in approval like it was a good idea. At that point one of the soldiers walks up and says: "Ah, I see you guys got your satellite stuff in?"

At that point the 2LT had a look of disbelief. He actually thought we were putting 50 cal's on top of our living quarters. He walked away shaking his head as we started laughing our asses off. Now he doesnt take anything serious that we say. No matter what generation, lieutenants are just as gullible as a brand new private. Oh, and its great having internet in my room now.

Where hath the faith gone???????

2005-08-29T01:08:00.000+04:00

This is disturbing.....

Why does it seem all of a sudden the American public is giving up and saying that the war in Iraq is not "winnable"? I live this war every day because I am here serving this great nation. I see the progress that we make, no matter how subtle, every day. But it seems that the public feels we are fighting a war we cant win. Why? Why cant we win this war on terrorism and more importantly finish helping Iraq transform into a peaceful democratic type society? Yes, we have lost almost 1900 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in the 4 years that we have been in the Middle East. We have overcome many obstacles and have been able to achieve so much in so little time. Yes, 4 years is little time. Also, we still have troops in Afghanistan since late 2001 but no one mentions them anymore. Those soldiers have have accomplished numerous tasks chasing the Taliban around the countryside while also helping the government rebuild also.

It seems the American public has forgotten about Afghanistan and also feels that the war in Iraq is not "winnable" because the media says so. There, I said it. We as a society tend to believe that whatever Dan Rather or Good Morning America says must be true. It seems that the old saying "Their are two sides to every story" doesn't hold any water in this day and age. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am here to tell you that their is another side to this story and that YES, this war in Iraq is "winnable" and overall the war on terror is "winnable".

The media says that we should pull out as soon as possible and throw in the towel because we are going to lose. You know what, one day I will have children and if I can make a difference by bringing the fighting to another continent to fight terrorism, than thats what needs to be done. This war in Iraq isnt over oil, its about ridding the world of dangerous people. So, their was no massive amounts of WMD, but we have found small chemical factories. Wonder if the media has reported that amidst the anti-war themes. One less dictator in a volatile area is safer than looking the other way and hoping they go away. They will not go away. Did Hitler go away? No, I believe Hitler declared war on America the day after the pearl harbor bombing. We looked the other way for years and then we were dragged into WWII. Now, I am not saying that this is WWIII, by no means does it compare. But if we continue to look the other way and hope they go away, then we will live in fear and terror of these extremists and so will our children. That is unacceptable.

So in closing I ask you, America, to not give up on these men and women who are fighting this war on Terrorism, no matter which country , for they are keeping these extremists off of our land and allowing you to live without worrying about whether or not the car next to you in traffic is go to blow up, or if the person walking next to you is going to explode. If we give up now and tuck our tails between our legs and bring our troops home, than we are telling the extremists that they have won and we will live in fear forever...........

enough grumbling for now.......

Remember to have a moment of silence for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.........no matter your views.

Another birthday, come and gone...

2005-08-27T01:25:00.000+04:00

My birthday was the other day (August 25) and I could've cared less. Yea, woohoo I am 27 now! Yay! But really, what is the big deal about birthdays? To me its just another day of the year. I wasnt always like this though. Their was a time when I adored birthdays. But somewhere around 16 I started dreading the "day". And now, I could care less. If it wasnt for family or my girlfriend reminding me I would never know. This birthday I got to spend in Iraq working the night shift. I couldnt go get a beer to celebrate, couldnt go to dinner with loved ones. No, I was sitting at my desk working promotions. I cant remember how many birthdays I have spent in the Army either abroad somewhere or out doing training exercises when I was at Ft. Sill.

I know my 18th "day" I was in basic training getting "smoked" everyday. My 21st "day" I was on a 45 day training exercise. I have spent a birthday in Germany awaiting to go to Bosnia with my gear all packed up and just waiting to get down there. Yea, that was fun. So, I guess the military is to blame on why I really can care less for my birthday. It goes for holidays too but I will leave that for another post when those "days" start coming around and I am right here in good ol' Iraq.

enough grumbling for today......

remember to have a moment of silence for all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom........

I can see the top of the mountain

2005-08-26T01:15:00.000+04:00

It's official, ladies and gentlemen........I have been promoted to Sergeant. I have overcome the mountain that I thought I would never get over. I havent been officially pinned yet, but since I work for the office that gets them, I saw the orders. I think my company is gonna wait till Hell officially freezes over to pin me since that is when I said I would get promoted. So I hope the Devil got his winter parka out cuz its about to get pretty cold down there!

On a side not, I would like to apologize to my roommate for any comments I may have put in my post. I am not trying to piss anyone off or cause any blog wars, so I will be a man and apologize for any offensive comments made. I just have one question, where did Captain Planet come from??? I will just leave this one alone.

Remember to take a moment of silence each day for the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who have paid the ultimate price.

I hate Sundays

2005-08-21T19:49:00.000+04:00

What a day. I am exhausted and that's an understatement. I got off of work early last night, about midnight cuz I had to go to the rifle range this morning. So I got a few hours of sleep cuz I couldnt just go to bed. I had to unwind a bit so I fell asleep somewhere around 2:30. Now, the vehicles were leaving for the range at 7:30 and my airhead roommate who also was going wakes me and Matt up at 7:15. Thanks Dick, not like I needed any time to get ready or wake up. So, we get to the range and it didnt kick off till almost 10. It is amazing how many people it takes to figure out how to use a radio. They had a portable radio and couldnt raise the proper people so we could kick this shindig off. Something was wrong with the radio. O.K., now they dicked around with it for almost 2 hours and we had like 10 Hummvees out there all with working radios and NO ONE thought of using them till then. Now at this point, I didnt give a shit if I even hit the target. We get our little safety briefing and line up on our targets and we begin. Some people shot 6 rounds, others 3. We head down range to look at our targets and realize that their are 4 people looking at 3 targets. This Jack-Ass lined up on the border sandbag. Didnt he look down range and see white painted sandbags in front of him meaning he wasnt lined up properly? Come on people open up and smell the burnt coffee already. So after we discover this little problem, the range personnel took about 10 minutes to decide how to fix the problem. At this point I was convinced that NO ONE had any brains this morning and I was living a nightmare. So I just shot my rounds, got in my hummvee and went back to go to bed. At this point it is almost noon, so I take a shower to get the smell of carbon and gun lubricant off of me. I didnt lay down to about 1:30. Before dropping us off at our cans, my airhead roommate wanted to know if I would help him do the mail today. I told him to use me as a last resort. WHAT WAS I THINKING? He made me the first option and woke me up at around 3. I could've killed him. Well, I did the mail and went back and woke up Matt and now i am in a weird ass mood. Its gonna be a long night. Well, gotta go drop someone off so.....

till next grumbling......

Time Off

2005-08-17T21:17:00.000+04:00

I am getting my first time off since leaving the States. Tonight, I get off early. I only had to work half my shift which gives me some time off. Finally! It may not be a whole day but you know what, I will take it. When we were training up for this mission at Camp Shelby, Miss. I didnt see a day off till around the 4th month into training. Now I am not one to complain and I am not complaining now, its just our command thinks that we can work 24/7 365 days a year and be happy. Some tried saying that we wouldnt be able to send people home on mid tour leave cuz of manning. That is all bullshit and our commander said eveyone will be afforded the oppurtunity to go home. Well, I leave in a half hour so maybe my next post will be about my time off. ( if I can remember any of the dreams.)

till next grumbling...

Recognition please....

2005-08-12T22:17:00.001+04:00

I was reading an article in the Stars & Stripes newspaper that caught my attention and kinda irritated me at the same time. The article was on the U.S. Marines and how they have the highest percentage of casualties in the War in Iraq. It also stated that Marines are not structured equipment wise to handle sustainment operations for long periods of time inland. I do not disagree with this statement one bit. Marines do a helluva job with what they have to work with. I know because I work hand in hand with the Marines right now. The part of the story that kinda irritated me was that the Marines get all the hard operations. Okay, that is fine but lets give some credit here to the National Guard. 2 weeks ago 14 Marines lost their lives in a span of 4 days. 6 of those Marines were stationed on the base I am on and a couple others were on a patrol heading to this base for whatever reason and were killed. So, it seems the National Guard is in the same hot water as the Marines but yet no one recognizes us. It seems like the Active Army dont want nothing to do with us. We are like the red-headed stepchildren who have to play all by our lonesomes or they send us to the Marines. Now, I am not complaining about working with the Marines, in fact, they have treated us like the soldiers we are. Unlike the Active Army side who tend to snuff us every chance they get. Now, I have been on both sides and believe me, all the rumors and shit I ever heard about the National Guard are just that, rumors and stories. The National Guard is every bit as good as our counterparts thanks to all the training we get and the deployments we get since 9/11.

What really irritates me is it seems no one, not even the media, take us seriously. We are here in Iraq with some National Guard units in Baghdad, Ramadi, Falluja, Mosul.....see a trend? All of those places have been or are currently "hot zones". If we werent as good as any active service, why would they send us there? I feel it is time someone in the media opens their eyes and give the National Guard credit that we deserve. Pa. lost 6 soldiers in the last week and not one of them was do to accidents while sipping a martini at poolside catching a tan. They lost their lives doing their job. I pray we dont lose anymore but war is hell. It's time we got the recognition we deserve.

remember to have a moment of silence everyday for the brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.......

enough grumbling for today....

Realities of War

2005-08-11T21:34:00.000+04:00

Reality of war has reared its ugly form for Pennsylvania. As you may have known, 4 soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard have lost their life in the past week in the War on Terrorism. One of those soldiers was from my unit, although not from my base. Upon hearing that news, I felt displaced. I personally did not know the soldier, but I knew of him. I had served with him in Bosnia along with his father. Now his father I know from working side by side with him. His father had since retired and did not come on this adventure. I am sure that the news of his son's death will be hard on the family and I pray for them. Right now I don't know how to feel for I still feel a bit detached. The tragedy didnt happen here where I am so the emotions of those effected is not surrounding me. I ask that all who read this take the time today to have a moment of silence for the men and women who have lost their lives during the War on Terrorism. Not just today, but everyday take a moment and say a prayer for the soldiers and their loved ones who they have left in the comforts of their lives to fight terrorism and a special prayer for those who have lost their lives protecting America. I can only hope I don't have many more of these posts and especially anyone close to me. War can be ugly and War is hell. I only pray that I make it through this Hell and come home.

100 things to hate about me

2005-08-07T23:24:00.000+04:00

Sounds pretty down huh? Well, Matt gave me the idea about writing 100 things about yourself and since people can be mean, here is a list that they can pick from, enjoy

1. I joined the military at the age of 17.
2.I have been deployed 2 times now.
3.I have been to Germany, Bosnia, Hungary, Kuwait and Iraq while in the Nat. Guard.
4.I wear glasses.
5.I hate my glasses.
6.I love baseball.
7.I definitely love the Yankees.
8.I can never remember my age so I say I am 20 something.
9.I am Italian, Irish and German.
10.I am dating an Italian, Irish and Puerto Rican. (nice mix huh?)
11.I have the most beautiful girlfriend who I plan to marry one day.
12.I joined a fraternity my first semester in college.
13.I love going to college parties.
14.I have been trying to go to college since ’01. (still a freshman)
15.I have lived in Jersey, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
16.I have been to or through almost every state but Alaska and Hawaii.
17.I have owned 2 vehicles in my life.
18.My parents divorced when I was 8.
19.I have 1 brother, 2 stepbrothers, 1 half brother, 2 stepsisters.
20.My older brother is 6 years older than me and used to beat me up all the time.
21.My stepbrother is 9 months younger and used to sit on me.
22.I have never gone hunting.
23.I don’t own my own gun. (yet)
24.I like to go fishing (but I suck at it)
25.My favorite bar is Rudy’s.
26.Miller Lite is my preferred beer.
27.I will drink any beer you put in front of me.
28.Irish Carbombs are my favorite drink-shot combo.
29.I hate Jose Cuervo.
30.I like Liquid Heroin. (thanx Matt)
31.I have driven backroads drunk before.
32.I swear to never do it again. (I live in town now.)
33.I have never been arrested.
34.I have only gotten 2 speeding tickets in my life.
35.I have been in 2 car accidents.
36.I don’t own any credit cards.
37.I hate writing checks.
38.I love money.
39.I never have money.
40.I can’ stand basketball.
41.I have danced in a cage before.
42.I can’t dance.
43.I listen to all sorts of music.
44.You can’t spell crap without rap. (ZBT mix)
45.I like older rap.
46.I even listen to country. (how else do you get drunk in Oklahoma?)
47.I hate the desert. (too much sand and heat sucks)
48.I love sand by the ocean.
49.I have been to Cancun. (great place.)
50.I have always wanted to go to the Virgin Islands.
51.I once won a trip to Australia when I was younger.
52.My dad thought it was a hoax and didn’t let me go. (it wasn’t)
53.I love sharks.
54.I am scared shitless of getting eaten by a shark.
55.I love swimming.
56.I won’t swim in the ocean. (see #55)
57.I used to be a lifeguard.
58.I once wanted to be a marine biologist.
59.My favorite number is 13.
60.I despise the “holiday season”.
61.My favorite color is blue.
62.I am a good listener.
63.I try to keep an open mind.
64.I try not to fly off the handle. (walls and my fists always pay the price.)
65.I don’t have anger issues. (unless I am shit faced and you piss me off)
66.I don’t like selfish people or people who have hidden agendas.
67.I have always wanted to be a porn star. (who hasn’t?)
68.I have had a threesome before.
69.Been there, done that, got the pics.
70.I have had a foursome once.
71.I used to go to strip clubs.
72.I have gotten strippers numbers. (with their real names.)
73.I have never had sex with a stripper.
74.I have been up on stage before.
75.I do have stage fright. (unless I am shitfaced.)
76.My favorite holiday is St. Patrick’s Day.
77.I have never been married.
78.I have lived with a girlfriend before.
79.My longest relationship was 1.5 years.
80.I am about 5’8.
81.I weigh around 160-175 lbs depending on the day.
82.I have never hit a deer. (yet, I do live in Pa.)
83.I am allergic to milk. (something in it, I dunno what.)
84.I love Italian cooking.
85.I am a certified carpet cleaner. (no sexual pun here, I am serious.)
86.I go to the gym to get in better shape. ( I want that 6 pack back)
87.I have never indulged in drugs.
88.I have tried some though.
89.I do not smoke.
90.I do chew tobacco.
91.I hate watching TV.
92.When I watch TV, its usually ESPN.
93.I hate reality TV shows.
94.I am addicted to Playstation.
95.I have always wanted to visit Italy.
96.I have never been to the Statue of Liberty.
97.I was born with curly hair.
98I hate both football teams that play in Jersey but are called N.Y.
99. I love to go skiing and snowboarding.
100. Their isn’t 100 things about me to tell. (sorry if ya read this.)

Bump in the Road

2005-08-03T01:02:00.000+04:00

Well, we and my girl officially had our first bump in the road since I got to Iraq, at least the first I can tell but who knows, Im just a guy. Anyways, she finally opened up and let me know that it has been a difficult month since I left, which I knew was gonna happen just a matter of her talking to me about it which she seemed hesitant. Since I cant just pick up the phone and call her anytime I want here in Iraq, we have been doing most correspondence through email. The last email I recieved was "I was in a car accident talk to you later." WHAT?!?!?! My heart went through my chest. My mind was racing. Who was involved? Is she hurt? Was it her car? To top it all off, we lost all phone and email cuz something happened to the shit on the base. They said it could take up to 3 days. 3 DAYS?!?!?! I was going friggin insane! I got off work last night at 0200 hrs, didnt go to the gym cuz I had too much on my mind, and went to bed somewhere around 0530 hrs and just laid there. I couldnt sleep. As much as my eyes wanted to shut and wonder off into lala land....I couldnt. Not without knowing if my love was injured or not. Well, I came into work today and voila, everything is back up and running. The first thing I did was jumped on my email and their was an email from her. Needless to say, all my worst fears were just that, fears. Toots (my girl) is fine, her care alittle banged up, and she now knows that she can talk to me about anything cuz we are a team. Whew, that was a load off. Now, if only I could fix this problem with the base and its communications crap I would be alright.

You have 1 minute remaining on this card......

2005-07-29T00:48:00.000+04:00

Yep, this post is gonna be a gripe. Not against the military, but against companies who thrive off of soldiers screwing them. We as deployed troops look forward to the chance to call home every now and then and hear familiar voices and put a smile on our faces. But companies like AT&T like to screw us. Here is an example.....A soldier bought a 60 minute calling card overseas and decided to call home. After 5 minutes on the phone, the card was used up. The connection fee was 54 MINUTES!!!!! That is an outrage, plain and simple. I understand that not all phone cards bought in the states are international and that the few that soldiers get for free might not be worth too much, but every bit counts. But when you buy them overseas on bases, you should get the best rate. Their is a soldier who in one month spent over $170 on phone cards calling home. That is BULLSHIT straight up. Companies like AT&T can come up with better connection rates, even in third world countries, for soldiers deployed. They even set up the phone banks for us to use THEIR calling cards and STILL charge outrageous connection fees. Something must be done about this rip off. I for one rather email and send snail mail than use their products. Something must be done about these companies who are ripping off soldiers that are protecting their investments and way of life. Shame on them. I hope they are satisfied with how they operate.

enough grumbling tonight.

G.I. Joe bravado

2005-07-25T01:25:00.000+04:00

You know, we havent been in Iraq one month and the rumors are flying back in the states that over half of us have been injured and we have rooted all the evil out of our sector. That's nice but one problem......its all BULLSHIT. Unfortunately I work in an office but my office deals with personnel and I know when soldiers get injured and so far, thank God, no one has been injured in our Task Force. It seems some of our Keystone Cowboys have emailed home stories of bravery and courage and added that people have got injured. What they dont realize is that if you mention "oh by the way so and so almost got injured" turns into so and so got blown up and is laid up in a hospital. Then word gets to their loved ones and they wonder why the Army hasnt notified them and then THEY call a congressman asking for answers. Another words, shit rolls up hill than comes crashing down. Come on people, we've only been here a month. Give it time and we will have our chance to do our part and HOPEFULLY no one gets hurt or killed. My office has turned into the office that gets the phonecalls from the states and we squelch the rumors. With some of the stories I have heard already we should be initiating paperwork for a Medal of Honor! All I got to say is they all need to stop with the stories and wait till they get home and than they can tell all the stories they want to so they can get laid. It aint helping them here. I for one am not seeking to get into a wild firefight with insurgents with bombs going off around me. Am I less of a soldier? No just one with some common sense. I figure I got at least 11 more years to retire which is probably at least 2 more deployments (sorry hun :)) to earn my Combat Infantry Badge. I dont need medals and fancy badges on my uniform to be proud of what I do or make my loved ones proud of me. And another gripe I got so far is everyone's fascination with the Combat Patch. For those of you who dont know what that is, in the Army we where unit/division patches on our left shoulder signifying who we belong to. When you are awarded a Combat patch, it goes on your right shoulder under the American Flag (on the new uniforms). I personally dont care which patch I get if we get any. Just because we are in Iraq doesnt mean we get a friggin patch, although so far every unit has gotten one because of the events still going on here. Well, i think I have grumbled enough for tonight.....

till next grumbling.....

1 Down-11 to go

2005-07-22T01:29:00.000+04:00

Alright, I lied, 1 month isnt down, but almost! I cant believe how fast a month can go. If the rest of my tour goes this fast I will be one happy soldier. One good thing is I should be taking mid tour leave during my visit here to beautiful Iraq. Its been quiet here at my base, nothing really going on. Its weird seeing the locals around the base. They do practically everything. They cut your hair, serve you food, work in the shops, everything. And I am pretty sure the ones working in the chow halls arent strict muslims. I have been told that muslims dont eat pork or touch pork for that matter. The locals that work in the chow hall serve us bacon, pork chops, etc. I know I am confused. I will just have to ask one of the civilians from the USA what the deal is cuz my curiosity is peeked. Well, its almost time for me to get off shift so I got to get going.

till next grumbling....

I dont think we are in the USA Todo

2005-07-21T11:41:00.000+04:00

Well, I have been in Iraq for about a week now and well........it dont feel like Iraq. Maybe cuz I am not getting shot at everyday or having roadside bombs going off all around. That could be why, but who knows I aint Einstein. Iraq is definately different. Right now I work in an office on a HUGE base in the middle of friggin nowhere. But you know what? I like it that way. Knowing where I am I know my family and the love of my life can sleep alittle bit easier at night knowing that I am safe. Our original mission would have put us in the middle of one of the cities where bad things happen constantly. But someone higher up must have one a game of Texas Hold'em and decided to send us somewhere alittle nicer (if their is such a thing here). I guess they realize that if they send a National Guard unit into a really HOT spot that when shit hits the fan and soldiers get hurt, they are possibly all coming from the same town in the same state instead of Active Duty where the effects are felt at different places all across the country. Don't get me wrong, I am a soldier and have a job to do no matter where and it sucks when my brethren lose their life and I pray for their families, but can you imagine the repurcussions if 2 or more soldiers from the same small town lost their lives the same day? I dont even want to think of that.

Anyways, I am pretty well adjusted to my new living conditions. I live in modified connexes. For those who dont know what a connex is, ever go by a train yard or a port where huge metal containers are stored? We have those with electricity in them and A/C units. It is by far the strangest thing I have ever lived in. But they are new and they are nice. The weather here isnt too bad, better than Kuwait. At least when the wind blows it doesnt feel like a blow dryer all the time. The good thing is it will only last a couple of more months where I am at and than the weather gets a little cooler (If you call 90-95 cooler). All I know is I cant wait till I get home next summer and can take my girl to the Virgin Islands and then I NEVER want to see sand again. :)

Until next grumbling.....

Wind for a Blow Dryer

2005-07-10T07:51:00.000+04:00

Well, its been over a month since my last post. Time flies when you are gaining frequent flier miles. My time on vacation with Kristen will have to wait till another day. Let me tell you about my trip across the pond to Kuwait. First of all, it took 20 hours to fly to Kuwait. Now, it wasnt a continuous flight, but damn, it took a long time. We left one day and when we landed in Kuwait, it was the next day. I was so happy to be getting off a plane. Too bad I couldnt cash in the miles for a free trip to the Caribbean or something. Anyways, as we were awaiting to get off the plane, they had the tv screens with the temperature outside. When we first landed, it was like 1:30 in the p.m. and it was reading 107 outside. In the 10 minutes it took to get off the plane it was 118. That is friggin hot! And it got hotter throughout the day. When the wind hit your face, it felt like a blow drier on high. Everday here it is over 110 and windy. One day it hit 130 and I must of drank enough water to drain the Great Lakes. I dont know how anyone could live out here. For 3 days we had a dust storm. It wasnt a full sandstorm so they say. I guess they have their own system for rating sandstorms like we rate tornadoes. All I know is I got sandblasted everywhere I walked. I cant imagine what it would be like to be in a sandstorm. Anyways, I am still in Kuwait and will be for sometime before heading up to good ol'Iraq. I am patiently waiting but I am getting anxious. They say our tour over here starts in Kuwait, but the faster I get to Iraq, the faster I can come home.

While in Iraq, I plan on starting drives back home to support the soldiers who are with me. Their are simple things that a soldier needs that arent always readily available. Also, their are soldiers less fortunate to get much mail. I want to start getting some of these soldiers some letters from the States or even their hometown. I think I will see if the local university that I attend could set something up. Anyone who reads this, if your interested in "adopting a soldier" for a lack of a better term, just leave a comment and I will get back to ya.

Till next grumbling.......

Happiness is seeing NTC in the rear view mirror

2005-06-08T22:04:00.000+04:00

That was a title on a souvenir t-shirt they were selling on base and it is the total truth! I got back to good ol'Miss. at about 3 in the morning on the 5th and had to go to all kinds of briefings and shit. Let me tell you, they love cramming stuff into small timeframes and make soldiers jump through burning hoops.
I didnt have time to update since coming out of the "box" at NTC so I will fill you in. After we rolled in from the field, we had to prepare to turn in around 190+ vehicles in a week. Dont sound difficult right? Wrong! The civilians there are the pickiest people I have ever seen! They wanted every grease fitting wiped off with not a speck of grease to be seen. They wanted the vehicles totally clean with no dirt or dust on them. We are in the desert people! Dust blows everywhere! Well, our maintenance guys busted their humps and got the vehicles all fixed and perty for the civilians and their was talk of maybe a 24-48 hour pass since we would have some time before returning to Miss. That got nixed cuz a couple of free thinkers decided to rent a car and drive to Las Vegas without telling anyone and come back in the middle of the next day. I was pissed! Cuz of that, they cancelled any plans of letting us do anything. I was hoping they would let us cuz my dad lives in Vegas and I havent seen him in like 2 years. So needless to say I was pretty bent over that. Also, I was put in charge of the section cuz our only NCO (non commisioned officer) left early. That wasnt too much of a problem except I have this 19 yr old who doesnt understand the term accountability of soldiers and would wander off and do his own thing and not tell me. Bad move.....I was on active duty and even though I dont have my sergeant stripes yet ( Hell has frozen over yet) I know how to handle soldiers like that. I kept my cool for the most part and explained that from that moment till be got back to Miss. that he would tell me everywhere he went and get my permission. That included taking a shit. He got the point and reported to me his every move. Haha, their is more than one way to skin a cat.
Well, now it is less than 24 hours till I get home for a few days and relax and I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!! I need a break from the B.S. at least for a few days. Till next grumbling.....

Sleep deprivation at its finest

2005-05-26T15:59:00.000+04:00

Well, I am going on less than 10 hours of sleep in the last 72 hours. I am dog tired at this point. Our time here in wonderful NTC is coming to a close soon so of course the evaluators hit us with everything they got. I got off shift this morning at about 8:30, at some breakfast cake and than went to hit the rack for some z's. That lasted about 3 hours when I was woken up cuz I was driving my captain out for a mission that we were suddenly going on. We didnt leave till like around supper time. We get out there and set up and the shit hits the fan. I was busting my wazoo on the radios relaying messages, writing down casualty reports, relaying those figures to higher, arranging our maintenance guys to retrieve vehicles that were "destroyed" in the battle and so on and so forth. Of course, their were no real casualties cuz this is just training, but let me tell you, in the heat of battle, even if its training your blood is pumping. I didnt get back to our base till midnight than started my night shift. I am starting to feel like that Green Day song, Imsomnia I think its called. I cant remember, my mind is numb. My eyes feel like their gonna bleed........The only good thing about tonight was that I bought 2 Yankees tickets for when I am home so me and my toots can go see our favorite team play. The seats are in great view of the field and now the section we are sitting in is sold out. I got the last 2 tickets for that section! It may be cuz I am tired but I am happier than a pig in mud. Well, its almost time for me to do my last report of the night and HOPEFULLY I can get some sleep before the move back to main base. Until next grumbling.

Songwriting from the Desert

2005-05-22T15:12:00.000+04:00

I was sitting here listening to some music filling out some paperwork when I started singing songs from the past that me and my buddies used to get drunk to and had rewrote. So I thought I would write down the words to the songs.

SOLDIER

(Cowboy by Tim McGraw)

I don't know why I get the way I do,

Like I aint got a single thing to lose

Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy,

I guess that's the just the soldier in me

I got a life that most just dream to have,

Sometimes I still wake up tired and sad

And where this road I'm heading down might lead,

I guess that's just the soldier in me

The first to run the restlessness,

The heart of stone I sometimes get

The things I've done for selfless pride,

To me that's never satisfied

The face that's in the mirror when I don't like what I see,

I guess that's just the soldier in me

Girl I know there's time you must have thought,

Their aint a line you've drawn Uncle Sam hasn't crossed

But you set your mind to see this love on through,

I guess that's just the soldier in you,

We ride never worry about the fall,

I guess that's just the soldier in us all.......

This next song I can't remember the actual name of this song, just that it is a George Strait song on his Greatest Hits album.

Desert Wind

Her telephone rings about a quarter till nine,

She heard his voice on the other end of the line

She wondered what went wrong this time,

She never knew what those calls might bring

A soldier like him it could be anything,

And she always expected the worst in the back of her mind

He said it's cold out here and I'm all alone,

I just got in form Iraq and I'm coming home

I know I've been away too long

I never got a chance to write or call,

I know this Army's been hard on us all

But I'll be home soon and honey is there something wrong

She said don't bother coming home, by the time you get here I'll be long gone

Their's somebody new and he sure ain't no soldier like you

He said I'm sorry it's come down to this, their so much about you that I'm gonna miss

But it's alright baby if I hurry I can still make Baghdad

Gotta go now baby if I hurry I can still make Baghdad

He left that phone dangling off the hook,

Then slowly turned around and gave it one last look

Then he just marched away

He aimed his boots for that Iraqi line

With a little luck he could still get there in time

And in that desert wind you could still hear her say

She said don't bother comikng home, by the time you get here I'll be long gone

Their's somebody new and he sure ain't no soldier like you

Their somebody new and he sure ain't no soldier like you

Of course when you party alot with friends, you tend to make up your own words to songs you hear( at least all my friends do) Their are plenty more that I know and I will probably post them when I am bored.

Grumblings from the desert part II

2005-05-22T13:10:00.000+04:00

I am sooooo tired right now. It is not fun trying to sleep in triple digit heat and you wake up soaking in sweat with little dirtbirds(flies and stuff) buzzing around you and it sooo stinkin hot you dont want to move. Yea, that is how its been since my last post. I dont remember what its like to sleep in coolness. Good thing this journey to Cali is almost over. Luckily for me their are 2 people awake now! That's a major improvement. The evaluators have kept us busy the last two nites and so far tonite they have left us alone. It would be too easy if it was a calm night. Somehow I dont see that happening. They love to mess with us as much as possible. I really hate it when their is a scenario taking place and an evaluator will walk in to the tent as things are going on and just sit down and watch you. Their is nothing more nerve racking then having someone watch you every step. It just gives me the downright creeps. Like this morning before getting off shift, their was a scenario going on and we are getting our reports together and tracking on the map what is going on and he starts taking pictures. For the record, I HATE MY PIC TAKEN! The only way I get in front of cameras is totally 3 sheets to the wind drunk or cuz someone makes me take a pic. Anyways, he starts getting different angles and taking photos and I cant say nothing cuz he's got alittle more rank than me and we are suppose to pretend they are not there. Kinda hard when he is acting like a professional photographer. So I ignore him and go about my business and he finally goes away. I say good riddance. its one thing to watch me work but take my picture? uh huh, not happening. I aint trying to be on the cover of no damn magazine so keep the camera somewhere else. Only thing that keeps me from snapping is the fact we are almost done out here in the desert and I will be home soon to see my family and love ones before my trip across the pond. That gives me something to look forward to.

Rumblings from the desert

2005-05-19T15:42:00.000+04:00

uggh, I really hate being the only one up when their is suppose to be like 5 people up. Anyways, I have already completed all my tasks for the night and I am bored. I can't wait to go home for 10 days and relax. Let me tell you about the last couple of days.
We have been out here for about 5 days now and in the first 4 days we went through 5 generators. I am working out of a tent and everything I do revolves around electricity that these generators put out. They make my job EXTREMELY hard if they dont work. The one we have now has already broke down once right before my shift started and the mechanic miracously got it working. Lets see if it last 24 hours, I will be taking bets. Also, it seems our evaluators out here have nothing better to do than to pick out bullshit that we did or didnt do and fuss about it! Can't anyone look at the BIG PICTURE here? My unit is getting ready to go to Iraq for a year and they want to fuss about stupid shit that has nothing to do with Iraq! COME ONE PEOPLE! Who cares if the map we have doesn't use the same color code as the next one? We are the ones reading it not them! Anyways, I may just be overly tired since I dont get much sleep during the day in the desert. Any guesses why? I will give you 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count. They are calling for triple digit heat for the next few days. Great! I can't win to lose. So, once I got my work done, I decided to have some fun with my blog here. I decided I was going to change some things on the template. Now, I am not the smartest person when it comes to screwing with my template, that didnt sound right, anyways, I do know enough to start with simple shit. So I do, and nothing happens! I tried all kinds of things and nothing appeared on my blog. Am I doing something wrong here? I even went to try and add another link where I know how to do it and what do you know? Nothing happened. I also noticed that my google ads are gone too! WHAT THE F*CK IS GOING ON HERE!!! If anyone can help please do. I am getting frustrated and tired and bored and hot and sticky and I need a shower but cant and LIFE SUCKS RIGHT NOW. Anyways, I guess I have vented my grumblings enough for one day. Hey, their is always tomorrow to rant and rave some more! Gives me something to look forward to. Till next grumbling....

Organic A/C

2005-05-17T11:48:00.000+04:00

Well, yesterday I commenced to bitch about how hot it is during the day in the desert. Useless moaning but I did it anyways. Well, when I got off at 8 this morning it was breezy out still from the windstorm the night before and it was cloudy out. I thought to myself, will it rain today (Does it rain in the desert?) I got to my good ol military cot and quickly got out of my uniform into something alittle more comfortable to sleep in. I had already ate breakfast and I was gonna take advantage of a nice breeze flowing through the tent before mid day heat set in and I woke up. Now, mind you I bitched about no a/c in the tent the nite before and it seems mother nature heard my wailing and decided to be nice. Not only did the breeze stay all day, it picked up and was faster than the night before. We had organic A/C cuz it was a nice and cool wind and I slept until about and hour and a half before my shift. It was my best sleep since coming out to NTC. The breeze is still blowing as we speak so maybe I can get lucky and still have a breeze when I get off and be able to get some more sleep in cool temps. I may be asking for too much since I am in a part of Death Valley but I am a gambler and I'm gonna press my luck on this one. It didnt rain today but it did stay pretty cloudy so temps didnt get past 90. That is a cool day in the desert. I wonder how many of those we will have while we are out here playing soldier. Oh well, only time will tell.

In the Box

2005-05-16T11:58:00.000+04:00

Well, since my last post, I have been sorta busy. By the way California sucks, at least the part I am in which is the desert. They have upgraded NTC since the last time I was here which was around '99. We basically did much of nothing for the first week we were here but draw vehicles and do a bunch of reports. When we first got here, it wasnt that hot out and the desert was awfully green. But give it a few days and it was stinkin hot out again. When we finally were moving out into "the Box" as they call NTC, I sat in my vehicle which had no doors or roof on it ( it was a stripped humvee) for 9 hours in the sun till it was our turn to move to our new home in the desert. Let's say it was uneventful and very very hot out. I got alittle sunburnt on my nose but that it. I must of drank like 5 gallons of water that day and I was still pissing yellow in case ya'll were wondering. Yesterday it hit 100 degrees at mid day right as I was bedding down cuz I am on night shift out here, which I wont complain. Less bullshit at night, same amount of work. Since its only me and Matt on at night, we are going to take turns being in charge, tonites my turn. So I have him outside in the dark digging foxholes. Just kidding, but you would not believe how friggin windy it can get out here in the middle of nowhere. Its unbelievable. Well anyway, I am counting down till I get home for a few days and I am down till something like 25 days and a wake up but I could be off cuz I am dead tired since its hard to sleep in triple digit heat in a tent with no a/c. So until next time.

Time for the test

2005-05-04T00:31:00.000+04:00

Well, tomorrow I leave for Ft. Irwin better known as NTC for the final test to see if we are combat ready. I know I am ready for the "non stop balls to the wall" tempo that traditionally is a rotation to NTC. For those of you who do not know what NTC is, it is basically one HUGE training area for the military to train on in the middle of Death Valley. It is hundreds of miles of nothing in all directions and can be hot as HELL. But the desert is normally hot anyways. This will be my 2nd time in my military career to go there and my 3rd time to Death Valley. On that note, this will probably be my last post till I get back so wish me luck as I venture to the desert for our test. Also, on Memorial Day, make sure to eat a burger and drink a beer and silently thank a soldier that you can still enjoy special days like that and not have to worry about much. I shall be in the desert on Memorial Day and be the first of many special holidays I shall miss and yearn to be with loved ones but have a very important job to do. So over the next year, on these special days, please say a silent prayer for all the troops who are sleeping on the front lines fighting for the freedoms and values we as Americans believe in and the same fredoms and values that the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan want. To take care until next time.

2 for 1 bad for the health

2005-04-30T16:47:00.000+04:00

Wow, it is like almost 8 in the morning and I am still drunk from last night. It was 2 for 1 last nite at a local bar and a couple of guys and I went out. The nite started off fine with me whoopin up on Mike in 5 straight games of pool which puts me at 6-0 against him. He chokes everytime. Well, next thing you know the bar is filling up as everyone is getting out there and the rest of the guys show up. I think their is a magnet on a bunch of Army guys in a group cuz the "shot girls" kept making their rounds and one of us would buy practically the whole tray. They kept buyin some shooter named Green Goblins which tasted good but I think they are what did me in. Next thing I know I am on the dancefloor doing some line dances that I have no idea how to do but for some reason looked like a good idea at the time. Now, when I got to the bar I realized I had forgot my phone and couldnt call my girl which really sucked. So after getting smashed we decided to leave and we caught a cab outside but for some reason we decided to go to Wafflehouee for breakfast. Now at that point it was about 2 am and my drunk ass looks over at my buddy who is holding his cell phone!!! I snatched it up and called my girl hoping she would answer even tho she had dropped her phone in the toilet the other nite. Well, miraculously she answered and i got to talk to her. So I got back on post this morning and here I am at work already. How I do it (and the rest of the army as well) I do not know. It must be some kind of special trait we all have. Well, time to start sobering up and get to work.

The hill that has turned into a Mountain

2005-04-28T21:51:00.000+04:00

Yes, this is another post about me trying to get promoted to sergeant. I found out today that my old platoon sergeant who is the first sergeant of one of our line companies (still following?) offered me a postion in his company using backhome manning rosters. That is good news which means when the new list comes out this summer I would have a VERY VERY good chance of getting promoted. Now I find out that the transfer might have to wait till this trip across the pond is over before I can be transferred. That also means that when it comes time to promote people, that first sergeant cant select me until he exhausts all of his eliglible soldiers currently in his unit before selecting me. Believe me their are more eligible soldiers than postions WHICH MEANS I am friggin stuck as a friggin specialist for another friggin year. Can someone please tell me why the hell I am wasting my friggin time in this friggin uniform when I am destined to stay this friggin rank? Anyways, if you cant tell the word for today is friggin. I am trying to cut down on cursing so I am using friggin for everything. Its days like today that make me want to kick the living crap out of myself for enlisting in the guard when I left Active Duty. I keep putting my life on hold for this fuckin shit (oops slipped) and I cant even get promoted. It seems everyone feels I am more than qualified and I damn well know I am cuz I have stepped up to the plate many of times and filled the shoes but yet I am stuck in a friggin pit and everyone who throws a rope down to me throws a too short of a rope. Well I am done bitchin cuz it wont help me anyhow. Oh well, as my girlfriend says, Life Happens.

Party time

2005-04-27T01:52:00.000+04:00

Yesterday was a very interesting day. The day itself was very boring as most days are lately. But come 3 o clock yesterday afternoon started our company party. So me and my friends from my section went and changed into our civvies (civilian clothing) and headed out to the recreational area on post here. As we pull up what do I see? A beer cart with Miller Lite on tap. I couldnt have been a happier soldier. We were having a huge cookout with hamburgers, hotdogs, and HUGE racks of ribs. So picture over 200 people eating good food and drinking beer....yummy beer. Well, as the afternoon progressed into evening, I was getting pretty lit along with about a dozen or so other soldiers and we were having a grand ol time. We all decided to do our own singing above the songs and somehow I got up on top of a picnic table and singing "I Love this Bar". I should have known then I was getting hammered but hindsight is 20/20. As we are singing, one of the guys comes running up dressed up like a cheesy wrestler with a gawdy blue mask on calling himself the Masked Avenger. Let me tell you he looked really ridiculous at an Army outing. He was dressed more for a kid party. Anyway, he starts singing with us and getting even drunker with us when someone started chanting "In the lake, In the lake!" As the chants got louder, you could tell he was on top of his own little world. So, like any other egotistical, wanna-be macho person he took a mad dash for the lake and jumped in and started swimming in this little lake all dressed up with his mask and cheesy tights. Needless to say, we pretty much kicked all the kegs and ate some good food. So around 8 someone gets the idea to go to a local club. Only problem is that for the next couple of days we are on lockdown and cant get off post. But anyone can get on or off if they arent in the military. Sometimes I feel like they treat us like caged rats with no privilages. Oh well, at least I know that I will be home for a few days soon and a hiatus to the madness. Then the big countdown will start till the madness is over this time.

The unveiling of the new uniform

2005-04-24T02:22:00.000+04:00

It is official, the Army has issued my unit the new uniform replacing the BDU's. These are called ACU (Army Combat Uniform). Isnt the Army so original? Of course the Army doesn't believe in subtleness cuz these are a drastic change from what we used to wear. They changed the design, the colors, how items are worn on the uniform etc. etc. We now velcro things on. Modern technology at its finest moment!!! Myself, I am still wearing the old uniform cuz they ran out of my size pants which is the most common in the Army. Oh, we even wear tan boots now with the new uniform, no more black boots to shine!!! In a way I am glad cuz I used to hate having to get a spit shine on my boots just to get them ruined in the first hour I wore them. But in a way I will also miss wearing black boots. I guess that is the traditionalist in me. Oh well, like anylthing in life it will take time to adjust. My time is winding down here at good ol' Camp Shelby Ms., soon I will be on the plane across the pond to start the biggest adventure to date of my life. The death toll is now at 1550 soldiers since the war started. We are averaging just under 1000 soldiers a year. That never bothered me before but now it makes me think. I guess it really doesnt sink in till you number is called to take the trip to Iraq and than it becomes a part of your life and kinda gives that number life in your eyes. I just pray it is not myself or anyone I know that adds to that number. But life happens so I can only pray.

Gone 2 weeks and all hell breaks loose

2005-04-17T02:14:00.000+04:00

Well, I finished the infantry course and now am qualified as an infantryman. I have decided to make infantry my primary job after these past 2 weeks. I had alot of time to decide and with the help of family and my girl I have decided to go through with it. The course was alot of fun. I had the chance to fire different machine guns and got training on basic tactics and what not. Now comes the task of finding a new home per say within my unit so I can hopefully get promoted to sergeant. I have gotten offers from all three of our maneuver units practically guaranteeing me a sergeant position. In a way I am flattered, at the requests. It makes me feel appreciated around the battalion. On aother note, it seems I am on everyone's shitlist today. I was informed that I have to go back to the rifle range and redo my night fire and gasmask fire. I did that almost 2 months ago and they tell me today I have to go tomorrow. They make it sound like its my fault that I have to redo something because someone lost the paperwork. I was threatened with not being able to go to the National Training Center if I dont redo this. Ooh, cant go to the desert? I'm hurt. So I have to do that tomorrow. Then they tell me I have Combat Lifesavers Course to go to that is 3 days long, right in the middle of my pass. They tell me right after I made the flight reservation for my girlfriend to come visit. I was pissed till they said I only have to do a recertification that lasts one day. I leave for 2 weeks and all hell breaks loose. So now my pass is still intact and I will see my girl for 2 full days. I cant wait. Now that is a morale booster. A couple of days not worrying about Army stuff and being with my girl. Life at the moment cant get much better. Well, its time for dinner although I am not really hungry but I am off nonetheless. Everyone take care until next time....

the saga continues....

2005-04-01T06:44:00.000+04:00

The day after the promotion fiasco, they offered me a chance to go to an Infantry course so I can be a qualified infantryman. Not only is that promotion points, I can possibly use it as a career progression job meaning I can get promoted while on deployment. The only bad thing about that is that I really haven't gone through all the really cool training that the actual infantrymen have for our trip across seas. So if I got promoted while over there and was sent "down to the lines" I dont think I could be a good leader. Their would be privates who would have better training than me. The dilemma I always seem to get myself into. So many forks in the road not enough information on which one to go. A thousand possibilities and million ways for events to go wrong. Isnt the Army beautiful? I will have two weeks to figure out what I am going to do. Any feedback from anyone reading this would be greatly appreciated. My time here in Camp Shelby is starting to wind down and the time to go to Iraq is approaching fast. I only hope I make the right decision for once in my life, making the right decision in my military career would be great. I have only had 8 years to screw up and make bad decisions. Maybe for once the sun will shine on my ass and I will make a good one. Or maybe I am destined to keep picking the wrong path as long as I wear this great uniform. Well, time for me to get going, April Fools is approaching and I dont trust the people I live with. Those wily sleazes will try and pull something so I gots to stay on my toes. Until next time.......

promotion b.s.

2005-03-31T01:07:00.000+03:00

I never knew that their can be so much bull shit over promotions. I know in the civilian world it can be alittle cut throat cuz of job security and what not. This is the army, the biggest corporation in America. Their are more slots than soldiers, yet people in my chain of command (bosses) want to argue about what path would be best for me. I have been hearing this crap for the last three years I have been in the National Guard and I realized today that people only want to see you succeed after either they have benefited from you and have no more need for you or you no longer pose a threat to them/job. I have never been the type of soldier to beg for shit or schmooze my way up. I work hard at what I do and do my best to do it right the first time. My old boss wants to see me get promoted to sergeant on this deployment. Yet their are a few people who dont want to see that happen cuz I think I am a threat in some way. Why? The promotion packets were due today and when I signed mine, I was at the point I just wanted to burn it or use it for toilet paper because that is how much I care at this point. I dont want to get promoted and have people I have to work with second guessing me or constantly bad mouthing me. I am not naive, I know it happens, but when they are in your section and you will see them everyday on deployment and then once a month back in the states, you will get to the point you will just want to shut them up permanently and then I would lose the rank and probably alittle bit more. The National Guard is alot like a country club and if you are an outsider like me, moving up is like pulling teeth out of a tiger while they are awake. If you are not the third generation so and so to join the unit that your great grand dad was in, you are nothing. I never thought I would be so fed up with the guard. I love the uniform, but I hate the guard. Either way I plan on going ROTC when I get back to college. At least if I get a commission as an officer I dont have to worry about too much beauricratic shit till I get promoted a few times. The guard is hurting for lieutenants so that should be easy. Then all these good ol' boys who been screwing with my career can kiss my ass. The only thing I am worrying about from here on out is keeping my ass and my boy's ass alive in Iraq, the rest I give a shit. I am done from here on out, promotions, making people look good, doing everything right, fuk'em. They can find a new lapper. I am done....

night shift

2005-03-28T06:37:00.000+03:00

Well, I got back from my little excursion in the field doing training exercises and I can say I was tired when it was over. I volunteered for the night shift since we were doing 24 hour operations. Its funny how fast the body gets used to change. We were out there a few days and I am having trouble sleeping right now cuz I am used to being up. I cant wait till I go home for a few days before heading over to Iraq. It will be a very much needed rest and a time for preparation mentally. A year over there will not be a walk in the park although with each passing day it seems the country is getting closer to stability. That in its own is great news, not just for America and our troops but for the people who live there. Onc day they will enjoy freedoms they might never have imagined (and some of those freedoms they have now with just the ousting of Saddam) I hope that their new government will reflect on the past to make the decisions of tomorrow and learn from history. If you do not learn from the past, history will repeat itself. After doing a tour in Bosnia in '02 and seeing these people enjoy new freedoms is a touching moment and makes you, as a soldier, feel good that what you are doing is truly helping someone. I hope that when I do get in Iraq that I may see those same things. You really dont understand how well off you may be living under the Red, White and Blue till you go to a country that has never had those freedoms or may not have had those freedoms for many generations. I know I changed when I came back from Bosnia. I didnt take so much for granted anymore and was appreciative for the life I have. I can only imagine how much I will change from Iraq. I do not hate the people of Iraq nor will I ever. I know that 99% of all the drama ( for a lack of a better word) being caused over there are people who are not even Iraqi descent. They are from other countries trying to wreak havoc. I also do not hate the Islamic faith. These insurgents and terrorists use that as a shield, as a crutch, and are shaming the religion almost making the religion an outcast of sorts. The more people understand that the better off the world may be. These are troubling times it seems, and the future is cloudy. But looking back in the last century, this has been one of the most bloodiest times in human history. History, their's that word again. I think its time all the world went back to school and learned history all over again. Maybe we can end some of this violence before the violence ends us. Although that is a humble thought, I think its one of my most naive thoughts ever too. Well, I guess I have rambled on enough for tonight, so I will talk to y'all later.

closer to immortality

2005-03-22T03:15:00.000+03:00

Well, I am fully vaccinated now. If they make a vaccine for it, I got it. Makes you think you are that much closer to immortality, right up until that first bullet wizzes by your head to snap you out of it. I am getting ready to go on a field exercise where I will do my job in a field environment and see how I do. In a strange way I am looking forward to this, to see how I do under pressure. This will be my first time doing my current job in a field environment. I have done plenty of field exercises when I was an artilleryman and I used to get tired of the field. Now strangely I am looking forward to it. I guess once its like a professional ball player who retires cuz they have had enough and then before you know it they're back out there because they missed the thrill or what not. That's kinda how I am feeling about this exercise. On a lighter note, it seems I have started something in my section cuz two more people have started blogs on different matters. For random thoughts and a laugh, check out www.mjohlandt.blogspot.com. The other one i believe is www.darkbladex85.blogspot.com. For a good laugh check them out. Well, I have an early morning so I will blog y'all later.

short-lived?

2005-03-17T19:48:00.000+03:00

I have read in the Army Times that blogs have taken off with soldiers deployed to the Middle East. As this is a sign that soldiers want to make sure that the truth is always told and that people can get a real feel for what is happening during these turbulent times, it seems some people in the military are worried. I understand their worry, for that is how information leaks occur and the enemy may benefit. I hope that they don't ban blogs but rather produce guidelines that soldiers should adhere to or face penalties. Blogs can be a valuable tool to America and the world to understand exactly what soldiers of all countries, who serve anywhere, what they go through day to day and what they feel. Their are times that you need to vent or just need to let your emotions out. What better way than the Internet so the world can understand your pain, worries, or joy. I for one know what I can and can't write in here and as the time comes for me to head over and do my tour, I will adhere to normal regulations and guidelines that the military has set in the past and only give my personal opinions and not direct events occuring. I only hope military officials see it this way and do not shut down this valuable tool. I guess only time will tell what the outcome may be.