Skull Nation in the Sandbox

Having connectivity issues

2011-02-27T14:09:00.000-05:00

I'm days away from Internet access. I can't uplod pictures with my itouch or tablet and have no battery in my laptop. Blogs are blocked on government computers. Sattelite should be good to go soon. Things have been quit this time around. That's good because it's not like I can get pissed off about an event and go outside the wire. Other than flying from base to base there is no outside the wire. Combat operations are over. Force reduction has begun.

Feb 25th was the Iraqi "day of rage" in step with many other mid east countries following Egypts lead. There was concern that insurgents would use demonstrations to mask thier actions against us and that theywould attack IA and ISF to undermine authority. I believe the country was rather quiet though. Will bring blog up to speed soon

Fate Tempter

2011-01-21T13:34:00.003-05:00

Last time around Gary M gave us the moniker of "War Enders", a tongue in cheek poke at ourselves. We also sounded off with "We're all gonna die" at many of our small formations. Suprisingly all made it home, mostly intact too. I thought I would pay tribute to that group by flying solo with a new motto rhyming with the old one. Is it fitting?

Kuwait...Again.

2011-01-20T12:08:00.002-05:00

I haven't taken any pictures yet because I HATE THIS PLACE. The only saving grace is that I'm here in Winter instead of Summer so the weather is ok. Same old dirt. The place has grown since 2005.
I noticed on the ride from the airport to the base hundreds of tents set up on the roadsides. It seems the local populace are paid to experience thier Bedouin tribal heritage by sharing the nomadic lifestyle. To me as an outsider looking in it seems tarnished by the fact that some run electricity to the tents. Imagine an Amish family using a motorcycle to pull the cart instead of a horse. Hey, who am I to judge. Whatever.
The troops are in good spirits but itching to get to work. Should be heading North soon. Despite the challenges ahead we are sick of waiting.

Operation New Dawn

2011-01-01T16:00:00.003-05:00

Well, at the very least I'll get a new ribbon for this mission. Hope it isn't pink. This will be very different from the last mission. The country has changed, the mission has changed, I'm even more of an ADMIN fobbit with the change in rank. The ROE are more restrictive, and I am responsible for seven times as many soldiers as the last stint. No more scurrying around local neighborhoods although I will see more of the country from above and many more FOB's this time. We have a dozen or so different areas to cover. In Texas at the moment for some training. Will leave when we are done. Yes that is snow on the mountain.

Anbar Awakening

2007-12-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

RAMADI, Iraq - Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha, who took over as leader of anti-al-Qaida Sunni tribes after his brother was assassinated, said he will leave Thursday for a two-week trip to the United States.

Abu Risha’s younger brother, Sheik Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, was largely credited with bringing a measure of peace to Iraq’s vast and western Anbar province by uniting tribal forces and siding with the U.S. military against the terror network. The Sunni stronghold, which shares borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, was among the most violent in Iraq a year ago.

The Anbar Awakening Council founder was killed Sept. 13 in a bombing, just 10 days after he met with U.S. President George W. Bush in Anbar. Bush hailed the Sunni leader’s courage and pledged to help rebuild the province.

Sheik Ahmed Abu Risha, who took over the movement, told The Associated Press in an interview this week that he will leave Thursday and will visit Vermont, New York, Texas and Washington, D.C., where he hopes to meet Bush, although his itinerary was not fully determined.

“I will not come back to Anbar if I don’t meet with President Bush. If he doesn’t meet with me, I’ll go to the Democrats and see what they have to say,” he said, laughing.

The sheik said he wanted to learn how individual states work within the larger U.S. federal system. He hoped to attract investors to Anbar to provide jobs.

“We defeated al-Qaida, but what then? People need jobs,” said Sameer Rashid, Abu Risha’s assistant and translator.

Abu Risha said he will visit the 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor Division of the Vermont Army National Guard, a unit he befriended when they were stationed in Ramadi from July 2005 until June 2006. He also will stop at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, the nation’s first private military college.Abu Risha will travel with Maamoun Sami Rashid, the governor of Anbar.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad confirmed that Iraqi officials from Anbar were traveling to the United States as part of an international visitor’s program, which aims to increase mutual understanding.

Embassy spokeswoman Mirembe Nantongo said the delegates would meet with state and local leaders as well as hold meetings on the national level. But she declined to give more details about the trip or confirm the identities of the travelers.
(AP)

Ramadi Update

2007-12-27T08:45:00.000-05:00

RAMADI, Iraq - For veterans of Ramadi, it seems like a different place and a different war.Just last year, soldiers were breaking down doors, hunting insurgents and struggling to secure the city block by block. U.S. troops now are invited into the homes of sheiks for lunch.
Life is not all good in this former Sunni extremist fiefdom about 70 miles west of Baghdad, but it’s better. Today’s worries aren’t car bombs or shelling in the streets. There’s peace enough to complain about the crippled electricity grid, dirty water, broken sewers.

Marines and soldiers also have adopted different roles: urban planners, community relations managers and political operatives.
“We’re knee-deep in counterinsurgency here,” said Marine Capt. Brian Cillessen, who’s in charge of a group of about 150 Marines living and working in a house they rent in southern Ramadi.

“We came here with a very conventional mind-set. We weren’t expecting this. … I joined the Marine Corps to be a point man on a patrol,” chuckled the San Juan, N.M., native.
Instead, Cillessen and his troops are conducting a census and registering weapons, repairing sewer systems, ensuring fuel for cooking and heat is sold for fair prices, approving contracts to build new schools, parks and playgrounds, and perhaps most important, cultivating relationships with Iraqi police and citizens.

The violence in Anbar province is by no means over. So far this year 135 troops have died here—16 percent of all military deaths in Iraq, according to figures compiled by The Associated Press.

But from 2004 through 2006, an average of 345 members of coalition forces died each year in Anbar province or about 41 percent of all military deaths.

The decline of violence rests on a widening basis of trust. It’s cultivated in handshakes, platters heaped with rice, chicken and lamb, cup after cup of sweet tea and clouds of cigarette smoke.
Anbar is a sprawling western province that includes Ramadi and stretches through mainly desert from near Baghdad to the borders of Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Last year, U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officials declared Anbar lost. “The social and political situation has deteriorated to a point” where U.S. and Iraqi troops “are no longer capable of militarily defeating the insurgency,” according to a five-page report written in August 2006 by Col. Peter Devlin, a military intelligence officer with the Marine Expeditionary Force.
The Sunni insurgency had sunk roots so deep in Anbar that the Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaida front group, declared Ramadi its capital.

“These guys were ruthless,” said Col. John W. Charlton of Spokane, Wash., the American commander responsible for Ramadi. “They would come in and cut young men’s heads off and drag their bodies through the streets.”

An important turning point was the founding late last year of the Anbar Awakening Council by the charismatic Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Risha. He united dozens of Sunni tribes against al-Qaida.

Fed up with the violence and eager for revenge against al-Qaida members who killed 10 family members, including his father, Abu Risha persuaded citizens to join the police force. They did—in droves—despite past attacks against recruits.

“Sheiks see themselves as prominent leaders of the community. They recognize you have to have good, intelligent people running things,” Charlton said. “(Abu Risha) wasn’t saying, ‘Do this for me.’ He was saying, ‘Do this for your family, for your country.’”

There are now 8,000 police officers and 14 police stations in Ramadi, according to the U.S. military. That’s compares with fewer than 200 officers in spring 2006.

“Al-Qaida was just reeling,” Charlton said. “They lost their capital. They lost all their good areas around there. … We essentially made a gated community out of a city of 300,000 people.”

Full AP article by Kim Curtis here.

Sorry, I've been fishing...

2007-12-08T20:41:00.000-05:00

It really is great to spend a day fishing for fish instead of fishing for patterns in enemy indirect fires. This Blue isn't huge but 31" isn't bad. The transition has been fine for me. I don't expect anyone is still watching this Blog after a year and a half of inactivity, so I guess its just theraputic for me. I am going to post a couple of updates on Ramadi though just in case someone is interested. Kev

666

2006-06-06T07:12:00.000-05:00

Well, at least the day we left Ramadi will be easy to remember (although it freaks me out a bit). We're on our way home, we're going home. I'm trying to get us all on the same flight to Logan but its still up in the air. The group that left on the 3rd is already at the Demob site in America and I think it only takes about 3 days to clear that place. 6-12 days till you see us again folks. Can't wait!!!!!!!

From Today

2006-06-01T11:33:00.000-05:00

Last looks

2006-06-01T08:11:00.000-05:00

Some of the boys. Internet is supposed to be shut off today so I am trying to get some last minute stuff on here. We are almost gone. There are alot of troops here and things have quieted down as the enemy thinks about their current situation. It will be interesting to track events from home instead of living it.

Ther will be a lull in the site soon as we travel, but I hope to have a grand finale just before we get home with a "best of" gallery of each soldier. Stay tuned. KT

Parting Shots

2006-06-01T07:12:00.000-05:00

Pack it up Boys

2006-05-27T10:02:00.000-05:00

Today we had a customs inspection and packed up all the crap we aren't using. We also had an awards ceremony and it was cool to see our soldiers get some recognition. I'm very proud of them. It was very hot today. Tree and I are beet red. The base is getting CROWDED. I've been smiling a little more now that we are so close. The new guys are ok and excited to be somewhere a little more kinetic than where they were. They will clean up our leftovers in short order.
I love you Deanna. See you soon baby.

Sunset

2006-05-25T13:27:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure where this photo came from but it is fitting for the narrative to follow. I'm happy to say that the sun is setting on our mission. We will be returning soon and according to CNN three times our number will be replacing us. Some are already here more are not far behind. The enemy already knows so hopefully they chill out for awhile. We are happy to turn Ramadi over to the "New Guys". With the amout of firepower heading this way I think and hope that the insurgent's days in this area are nearly over. Once this city is cleaned out, the road to success will be much shorter.

I've been bugging our soldiers to provide pictures for this site, but haven't had much luck. I stopped taking pictures a month ago so everything I have is old. Oh well. Everyone is fine and we are looking forward to seeing our loved ones VERY soon. I'll try to get one last photo of each soldier up before the site closes.

On a sad note: SPC. Sales father passed away recently. The BDE got him out of here the next day and he is home with his family. We get so wrapped up with the possibility of death here that we forget its possible anywhere but here. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Sales family. We are comforted that Andrew and his dad did get to see each other while he was on leave. I don't think he had been back for much more than a week before he got the terrible news and headed back home.

Thanks EOD

2006-05-08T12:08:00.000-05:00

This is one of the many vehicles that clear our dirt roads of IED's. Its designed to deflect the blast with its boatlike V shaped hull. You can have this job.

Random Pic

2006-05-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

Suprize Sandstorm

2006-05-08T11:49:00.000-05:00

Look who showed up to the party. Saw this coming for about 15 minutes. Was cool watching it roll in. The pics didn't come out that good but you get the idea.

REMF

2006-04-24T12:16:00.000-05:00

Well, John is back in the states. He hurt his back. Some crazy insurgent shot at him (We'll not at him but near him, many of our enemies don't aim well). So he did a double backflip with a triple gainer trying to get to cover. I hear his patrol mates held up signs giving him a decent score; 8.75, 9.25, and the Italian in the group gave him an 11 (even though we all know 10 is the best score possible).

You realize that the ratio of Officers vs Enlisted leaving the fight is 3 to 1. Conspiracy theory anyone? John was a great boss while he lasted. He took the heat instead of passing the buck, backed me on most of my rants, defused my when I need it, and didn't micro manage. Hope his injury heals quickly.

We killed alot of bad guys this week. They are acting up and making themselves more visible. While you may think this is a bad thing, there is some satisfaction in seeing your enemy so you can shoot them vs getting shot at and never seeing who shot at you. Or so I hear anyway. I don't get to share the burden too often. Stay Tuned...

And Now For Something Completely Different...

2006-04-23T14:38:00.000-05:00

How many of you are old enough to know where the tag line comes from? MP is the only clue I'll give. Craig at Lesco: What a great and unexpected package that was! All the papers from opening day, Boston Sports Review, Cracker Jacks, peanuts, Sox tshirt, Sox scratch cards (won $5), Man did it make me feel normal again. Thanks bud.

I've been thinking about the transition from soldier to civilian over the last few days. Will it be difficult? Not for me. I am so sick of who I am here I can't wait to be me again. Some of our boys will have trouble though. Folks back home should talk to the Family Readiness Groups so they are prepared for and can identify some of the bullshit they are in store for when we get back. I will start planting seeds here so they are thinking about the transition too. Realize that many of them have seen and done shit that is not normal back home. Try to understand and prepare yourselves for weird moods and "left field" crap. It will pass.

We are almost home! Soon, soon, soon. Our replcements have representatives here preparing for the handoff. I think between our final push and the doubled forces taking our place the bad guys are screwed. If Haji is reading this: You are finished. you should leave before you can't or prepare to meet your maker. You have lost. Power has noticed your recent boldness and is happy you are visible for a change. Eat lead.

I can't wait to watch baseball again, bloodless rivalries. (I wouldn't mind seeing ARod bleed just a little).

Blah, Blah, Blah

2006-04-12T00:26:00.000-05:00

It occured to me today that I never mentioned our role here in Al Anbar province. We are attached to our maneuver counterparts, a team for each company. We provide lethal and non-lethal targeting for the Company commanders. As artillerymen, we are trained to bring fires (artillery, mortars, close air support) to kill the enemy. I can count the times we have been able to do that on one hand. Our other job is Information Operations. We have no formal training in this skill and pretty much make it up as we go. Guidance from Higher HQ is minimal so we are often frustrated. The best analogy I can come up with is we are like cops walking the beat gathering info and handing out the Mayor's message. We try to find the movers and shakers but usually meet resistance and lies. Sometimes we get good information that leads to catching bad guys. At our level we pretty much speak to the average citizen who has no say in anything. As you go up the chain the commanders speak with the influential leaders.

Usually we are lied to or told what we want to hear. Despite the frustration we drive on and do our best. We find ways to gather information and have gotten quite creative in our methods. In the city itself IO is pretty useless as there are so many insurgents that the "good" people are afraid to say anything out of fear.

I think the unit that replaces us is going to go about it differently. Can you say "Fallujah"? We really didn't have enough combat power to roll through Ramadi, but thats what needs to happen. Talking nice has gotten us nowhere.

New link over there on the right>>>>>>

2006-04-09T14:23:00.000-05:00

The 2/28BCT (The Brigade we belong to) has started a Blogsite. I think although we may not share the same views described there, it is more informative than our site. It is a "top-down" view of things, the views of the big bosses, not the Joe's on the ground. Take from it what you will. The picture here is from their website which you can find by typing the keywords "iron Soldiers".

I-95

2006-04-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

Can you imagine trying to cross I-95 like this? This is a major highway in our area. It blows my mind. This isn't even a good representaion of how crazy it is. Get me out of here!

The Glass Factory

2006-04-06T15:16:00.000-05:00

Our base is behind this complex. That is the Euphrates river in the foreground. This is where the Iraqi Police recruiting drives have been held in our area. Just outside the base and this factory is the most violent city in Iraq. It needs a military solution much like Fallujah as playing nice is not working (my opinion). This place is a magnet for "undesireable" types, and may be the last bastion for organized insurgent cells. I think if Ramadi could be purged of terrorists and insurgents, it would break their collective back and would jumpstart the political process here.

Alas, I am a lowly E-7 with no power whatsoever. I offer my opinions to the wind. I do think that as a Brigade we have made progress and the effort has been worthwhile. I have to think that way as I'd like to think the families of soldiers we have lost will find some comfort in their loved ones sacrifice. Hopefully they (we) will be able to look back on this 20 years from now and say it was worth it. I look at the pictures of soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice evey day and thank them. I will never forget them.

I am very proud of the soldiers we brought here. Every one of them. They impress me every day. I am proud to have served with them. I will do my best to bring them all home. KT

Pulitzer Prize

2006-03-23T23:42:00.000-05:00

Says it all doesn't it? Sales sending a message home.

Thanks David

2006-03-23T23:36:00.000-05:00

My brother sent me the flag you see here. It is the largest American Flag on the post. I just wanted to show him how it looks and thank him in a public forum. Thanks bro.

Lucky Sevens

2006-03-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

The Chad and his new best friends

2006-03-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

Shizmek!

2006-03-18T10:14:00.000-05:00

Combat Scarf

2006-03-18T10:10:00.000-05:00

Patrick

2006-03-18T08:05:00.000-05:00

Raid at a gas station. Tried to get them to chant "Go Red Sox". No dice.

TC

2006-03-18T07:37:00.000-05:00

Big Joe

2006-03-18T07:31:00.000-05:00

2006-03-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Baby You Can Drive My Car

2006-03-16T11:10:00.000-05:00

Yes I'm gonna be a star...
Sunday drive anyone? This car was captured along with their occupants who we later found out were a good catch. V&W presiding. I'm sure we all wish we could drive around with our M-4's back home too.

Highway Patrol

2006-02-19T12:54:00.000-05:00

Hunting Wabbit

2006-02-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

Chris wth a seized weapon. You know, we picked up three bad guys once and when asked why they had weapons in the car (they aren't supposed to) they said they were hunting bunnies. HAHAHAHA. I have never seen a bunny in Iraq, and hunting them with an AK-47 is crazy. Hunting bunnies my ass. Crazy insurgents! They are so funny.

Tanks

2006-02-18T12:02:00.000-05:00

Target practice

Before

2006-02-18T11:56:00.000-05:00

During

2006-02-18T11:51:00.000-05:00

Target Hit!

After

2006-02-18T11:46:00.000-05:00

This actually looked like a car minutes before. Love the HEAT. This was an empty car on a target range. No one was hurt in this excercize.

Teddy, Terp, and F bomb

2006-02-18T11:34:00.000-05:00

Ted is back. Saw pics from home and it was obvious he had a good time. Terp in the middle already went home, and F bomb on the right is leaving soon. The rest of us can't leave soon enough.

On Ice

2006-02-17T23:29:00.000-05:00

Leger and Patapumba. I am pretty sure it was Leger's first time off the FOB into the AO. That's a mountain of glass they are on at an old glass factory where we had a sendoff for the new Iraqi Police recruits. Although there were threats of violence, nothing really happened. This is the place (not far from this spot) where the suicide bomber killed Mac and a bunch of IP's. Things have been relativly quiet. More pics later

Three Weeks

2006-02-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

Three weeks without a picture. Sorry. My computer stopped working again two weeks ago. The spare I am using has a broken USB port and no CD burner so I have to get pictures from people and burn them on someone elses computer to get them to my computer. Its a pain in the ass. Plus the internet connection has been so bad that its usually impossible to post pictures. I'll get to it soon.

Things are the same here except its raining alot. My name is mud. The boys are all well.

Mortars Rock

2006-01-11T14:58:00.000-05:00

I just like this picture. Our mortars shooting last summer. These guys don't get enough credit. These 120's have awesome rates of fire and pack quite a punch.

My Name is...

2006-01-11T14:42:00.000-05:00

Mud. Everywhere. Its not warm enough to evaporate puddles, so we go from lakes to puddles to thick sticky mud that has staying power. That's Q on the right. It's cold and damp and cloudy here. So is my mood. Our CSM back home sent us some musical instruments so I'll post a pic soon of us using them. Its Kind of cold to hang out so it may take awhile GW. We have the Father of Skull Nation in country and hope to see him soon. Too bad only John and I know him. That will be cool. I picture him tearing up the FOB on a Harley...KT out

Goodby Mac, We'll miss you.

2006-01-06T06:04:00.000-05:00

Well all, as you may have heard on the news, yesterday was a very bad day for us. Although none of our boys were in the area, we lost our BDE FSO, Mac to a suicide bomber. He was a charismatic leader from PA who was an exemplary leader and a friendly associate. He was quick to correct us but in a way you felt ok about it. He loved the sound of his own voice and would go on until he forgot what he was talking about. I loved that about him. He was quite a character whom I had a lot of respect for. I will miss him. It hit me kind of hard when I found out combined with seeing the dead, dying, and wounded troops and civilians at our medical facilities. It was overwhelming to see so many ambulances; dozens, bring them in, triage, blood, death, helicopters taking the most critical patients away.

The incident happened right outside our FOB. A suicide bomber wearing a suicide vest detonated in a crowd of locals who were there to apply for Iraqi Police jobs. I saw the aftermath on a display in the TOC from a UAV feed. I talked to some of the Fire Support boys that were there to console them as best I could.

Hopefully some good can come out of this and the Sunni that revere the “freedom fighters” will see now that they are nothing more than criminals killing their own sons. This is not Shia Bagdad. It is Sunni Ramadi. I hate this place. KT out.

BTW, Mac is the guy in the PT uniform on the left. Patrick is on the right. It’s the only pic I have of Mac. He came out that morning to check on the troops after a rocket attack and we bumped into him while doing crater analysis.

Kurt

2005-12-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

Kurt in Tammim (Ramadi). This was taken awhile ago, but its still relavent. You wouldn't want to step in that liquid in the gutter. Smelly place.

Dirka dirka

2005-12-30T06:59:00.000-05:00

Ummmmm...

Another View

2005-12-30T06:53:00.000-05:00

Bombs-eye-View

2005-12-30T06:47:00.000-05:00

IED that hit Dex, Ramon, Luis, and Ug last month. Everone walked away. No worries.

Ron

2005-12-30T06:39:00.000-05:00

Ron at the Tiki bar at Halloween. Two MVR guys with him

Dex and his Replacement

2005-12-30T06:32:00.000-05:00

Patapumba

2005-12-30T06:26:00.000-05:00

Proud Father

2005-12-30T06:21:00.000-05:00

Here's Joel and Madeline! Congradulations Amy and Joel! Suprized you can hold her like that with the bum shoulder and all. (kidding of course)

Sam's New Freind

2005-12-26T01:41:00.000-05:00

This guy is way too freindly. He is a Lt. for the ISF who are taking over for us (we hope) someday. There were no negligent dishcharges this day so things have improved with them a bit. This was our Christmas eve/day mission. Cavender planned and executed a 51 person mission that went very well. The kid is amazing. With all the stress in his life he produces like no other. Be proud Cav Sr., and Cetrano Sr. too.

Hajikins

2005-12-19T15:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess I can say I've done it all now. Teaching Iraqi forces crater analysis. Can I get a "Go Team" on three? No? You sure? Cause, cause I'm ready, you know..., ready, for, for, the "go team" No? Maybe another time yeah? Maybe you're hungry, need to go eat somethig, yeah? No "go team" today, hmm? (Read that again like stewie)

Take one for the Team...

2005-12-18T04:18:00.000-05:00

Guess who? Got an auto graph for my dad. No I do not smile. Ever.

Under Pressure

2005-12-18T03:51:00.000-05:00

This is what a pressure switch IED looks like. There are 2 wires that touch when you run over it, functioning the device. Haji even hand painted it to look like the road. This was my welcome back present from Haji as I returned to the FOB. We got so close to it the gunner could no longer see it from his position atop the Hummer. There were 2 170mm artillery rounds connected to it.

How Bout Some Holly for Christmas?

2005-12-10T09:58:00.000-05:00

This is my fat bastard from PA. Good guy. He found true love while on leave although we all know she's a he. He won't admit it though. We caught him eating his mattress last night...FF. He works with JD and Patrick.

Chad and Chris

2005-12-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

Well leave was great. I saw Chris at TQ so I know he is home by now. The flight was long. The flight into Iraq was eventful as the plane took evasive action and set off flares. I had no idea what kind of sounds and visuals flares made so when I heard "BANG, BANG, BANG....BANG, BANG, and saw orange flaming richochets out the windows I thought we were taking fire. The on the ride to the base I was in the lead vehicle and nearly ran over a pressure switch IED. Four feet from setting it off. WELCOME BACK TO IRAQ! This place really blows; er, sucks. Gus has pissed some people off (imagine that), Kurt is all better and back to work, Mat's baby weighs 10 pounds and his wife is fine too, Cavender is working way too much, Chambers has the shits or something and according to his peers is quite crazy (I know better), Patapumba has lost weight (Sammy found it though), Teddy has a giant bleeding zit in his eye, The boss gets less mail now, Dex is overworked, Ramon is headed home for Christmas, Luis I never see, Sales I see even less, Ron is sleeping I think, Ryan is a vampire complete with pale skin, Q is Q ( I think he got a haircut to please me on my return, although I know he hates to cut it. Good kid.) Kelly is a grumpy bastard but so am I, he's home now, and finally, James D. is.

Well thats it for now. Couldn't really keep this up while at home. Will collect recent pics and get them up soon. KT Out.

My Old Car

2005-11-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

Man do I miss this old girl. 1971 Ford Torino GT. Only had her for 1 year (I never was a gearhead and the car had front end problems). That was a fun year man. Driving down the cape with my long hair blowing in the wind...Dreaming of better days I guess.

Count to ten, NOW

2005-11-11T01:36:00.000-05:00

Andrew and Kurt. Substitute teachers from hell. Make your own caption.

Nice Composition

2005-11-11T01:28:00.000-05:00

Jesse has a good eye for a decent photo. Unfortunatly, he also takes ALOT of pictures of himself. When I grabbed his files I had to delete half of them because they were of him modeling for the camera trying to get that "model" facial expression down. Tedious work. This one is quite good though.

Is my Godchild in Iraq?

2005-11-11T01:19:00.000-05:00

This is a pic that Jesse took in his travels. She looks alot like my Godchild back home, the daughter of a former Fist member. I'm thinking that he or his wife has been to Iraq and left behind a dirty little secret...Kidding of course. What do you think Kara?

Second Shift

2005-11-06T02:51:00.000-05:00

The boys of the BN TOC. The "E" behind Mat's neck stands for East as I am easily lost once in the building. There's a letter on each wall so I know where I am referencing direction. Sad really.

Brass

2005-11-04T16:46:00.000-05:00

Dex and the boss. This pic is kind of old but its new to you. I'm not sure what JC is wearing in/on his IBA, but I'm fairly certain its not tactical gear. Cowboy. Gotta love him...

It Ain't ALL Sand...

2005-11-04T16:26:00.000-05:00

I gets out once in awhile. Another long boring mission. Just the way we likes em. Its strange watching a patch of woods through the green glow of your NOD's all night and then seeing it in the daytime. I went out to overwatch barrier emplacements with the real heros of Ramadi. They let me play once in awhile and I am grateful. If only I could call for fire on some shitheads...

Big Up Dem Chess

2005-11-04T16:09:00.000-05:00

Well, it finally happened. I got Ron with the old "whats this on your shirt" joke. Moments later I flicked his nose when he looked. Just kidding; I'm really wiping a booger on him. Just kidding. Seriously, Congradulations to Ron for finally nearly mastering the position of attention! Just kidding. Hey SSG congradulations man. 50 years and 50 MOS's into your journey you've got your 6. I'm looking over my shoulder now. Drive on soldier.

Bradley and the Boys

2005-11-04T16:04:00.000-05:00

Cute

2005-11-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

This is one of the cute kids I was talking about. I had posed with her but the guy I had take the shot was an idiot and missed it. Her family is poor. I think she is too young to help the insurgents, so it warmed my heart to see the smile on her face when I gave her the stuffed animal. Her brother was just a bit older, maybe 5. I got sick of a dog yapping at the edge of the yard and threw a rock at it. The boy followed suit and pegged the dog from 20 feet about five times. I was amazed at his accuracy for such a small child and his unorthodox style. MLB will have to check out Iraq in the future...

Poo Site

2005-11-04T05:46:00.000-05:00

This is the bathroom in an Iraqi's house. No the toilet is not missing. Use your imagination. By the way, this family is well off monitarily. Most bathrooms are not nearly as nice.

Rugrats

2005-11-04T05:39:00.000-05:00

Typical Ramadi village and children. This was the backside of a polling site where we were providing overwatch while the political proccess began. Unfortunatly, these kids are older and more coniving / less innocent than the younger kids. Punks. Grabby.

A Change of Season

2005-11-04T05:33:00.000-05:00

Cav thinks he's back on the block. The weather went from hot to cold in about one day. We had a day of clouds and then a thirty degree drop in temp, and its stayed that way. Its about 50 in the am and 75-80 in the afternoon. Nice!

2005-10-11T06:52:00.000-05:00

A Toast to Survival! I'm not trying to ride Kurt's new fame: my wife complains that there are no pics of me and this one is ok. Bottoms up baby!

2005-10-10T06:45:00.000-05:00

Kurt had a close call today, but as you can see he is fine. If insurgents are reading this: FUCK YOU.

2005-10-10T06:43:00.000-05:00

Lifesaver. Kurt just got this thing, and it probably saved his life. You can see the bullet hole on the left.

2005-10-05T00:31:00.000-05:00

Dwyer teaching sign language to the kids

2005-10-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

Are those crab legs? Parlin with the rockin helmet

2005-10-04T07:45:00.000-05:00

gus with eyebrows. (in honor of Teddy's caterpillars

2005-10-03T01:55:00.000-05:00

Killer chicken.

2005-10-03T01:54:00.000-05:00

Sam, Gus and Patapumba

2005-10-03T01:51:00.000-05:00

wheelbarrow of doom. They will launch rockets from anything. Hey Phil, You should get one for the back of your truck. A real motivator on the jobsite!

2005-10-03T01:46:00.000-05:00

He's only sleeping. Nice eyebrows huh? Gus performing "things you should not do while on patrol"

2005-09-25T08:33:00.000-05:00

Softball players. Nice to be civilized once in awhile

2005-09-03T11:45:00.000-05:00

New Orleans in better days. I can't believe we were just there. It is so sad. At least I am limited to access of news and pictures of the disaster. Kind of a fog...We remember the casino's of Gulfport Mississippi too. All gone. Unbelievable. We aren't the only ones going through tough times...

2005-09-03T10:21:00.000-05:00

Someone ask for Chris? Mosque in the background

2005-09-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

Cav & Ted

2005-09-01T08:57:00.000-05:00

Cav with Punk

2005-09-01T08:53:00.000-05:00

jujubee, this ones for you....

2005-09-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

G.M. War Ender
Well sweetheart, sorry it took so long to fullfill your request, but here he is: G.M.He is enjoying his new safe home in the TOC. 8 hour shifts, nice big room...but there is a caveat; he is on a demerit system so he must always be on his toes or I'll kick him out. It started at 100 and goes down to zero. He's at 98 now and lost points can not be made up. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Its good to be king!

That's Vinnie in the background on my display case. Suprized myself with my newfound drawing abilities. I NEED PAINT TO FINISH IT AND SOME BRUSHES! You boys at the Unit know the colors. I also want to put the 29ID colors in the background. KT out.

CAPTAINS NEED LOVE TOO...

2005-08-23T01:06:00.000-05:00

Well, we haven't seen much of this guy on the site. Mostly cause I don't see him outside of my area and don't have the opportunity to get pics in the field. So as pics filter in I grab what I can and put them up here. Jim is doing well. He is in some Iraqi town gathering information and getting the pulse of the local population. Children, or the lack of them when they should be around, are a good indicator of safety in a given area.

Everyone is doing well as far as I can tell. We've had a couple of close calls but no injuries. My job is boring. I've finished all the groundwork for my position and have no challenges now. Days are starting to slow down. I'll have to learn all the Task Force duties just to keep busy................

The Library

2005-08-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

They say you should stay random here; not fall into patterns. So I go to a different portajohn each time I need to...you know...read. I watch the new scrawl appear on the walls and get a different story each day. Mostly marines dis'n the Army, dis'n the national guard. And poop limericks! Cool.

I wanted to show you what a HESCO barrier looked like. They are those dirt filled cylinders protecting everything everywhere. These are the johns outside of where I work. No outside reading material needed.

RE-UP (you're cazy)

2005-08-08T12:16:00.000-05:00

I guess I'll have to deal with him for another 3 years. Kids got balls resigning for three years in a friggin combat zone, knowing that it is very possible he will be deployed again before three years are up. I think he secretly lives for deployments. I'm so glad its this J.C and not the other one. He is morphing into NCO before my eyes. One day we'll have a long conversation about something serious and I'll see whats ticking in there. Jess is an enigma. I'm not sure I could handle whats in his head...

LUCKY 7

2005-08-08T11:48:00.000-05:00

Folks, the site is going to get serious now. Everything has been fun and games but you better be prepared to hear the worst. Soldiers who pay the ultimate price will be remembered here. Close calls and celebrations of survival will be recorded here. If you are not ready for it (and you aren't) than decide now to stay onboard or call it quits. I am not going to hold back and things are getting ugly around here. I promised to keep your kids safe and I will do all I can but I can't send them home and I can't be with all of them all the time. We are in a war zone with real enemies. There are things I wont publish because I dont want to inform that enemy. Many incidents you will read in the papers or see on the news before you see it here. Theres a reason for that. I am not trying to alarm you, I simply can't pretend that everything is great for a whole year.

I asked C.P. if he really wanted to publish this picture and he said yes. So here it is, lucky # 7.
The armor really does work. The scar on the door is from an RPG which then hit the mirror and exploded. No-one was hurt in this ambush which included small arms fire. The crews reaction was suprise and anger and they attacked before heading back home. C.P. has earned his Combat Action Badge today.

Proud Fathers

2005-08-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

Duarte and Nowack. In a race to the finish and by a nose, Duarte wins! Baby Duarte didnt want to come out, Jaqueline is about 3 months overdue. Baby Duey is an estimated 25 pounds and 2.5 feet long. Just kidding of course. She is a bit overdue and will give birth today. Congradulations Jaqueline and Luis!

On a more serious note, Baby Nowack is as impatient as his/her father. Jennifer will have their baby a bit early and will have a bit of work ahead of her. Jennifer, the people closest to your husband are helping him through this, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.

We all look forward to the good news and new stories in the days and weeks to come.

Retraction: Nowak's won. Duey a close 2nd

2005-08-03T13:43:00.000-05:00

Office Supplies can be Dangerous

2005-08-03T07:21:00.000-05:00

Well all, sorry for the delay. We have been pretty busy. We are settled (unsettled?) in our new home(s) now at Camp Ramadi. For those of you into geography ar Ramadi is about smack dab in the middle of Iraq in the Southwest corner of the Sunni triangle. The local residents were Sadam's peeps so they aren't especially helpful. We are trying to win their hearts and minds so that they can help us rid their country of insurgents and govern/police themselves. Then we can leave.

There is a lot of history here. Its said that this is the birthplace of mankind. The Garden of Eden may have been in Southern Iraq where the Euphrates and Tigris rivers meet. We are also across the river from Uday Hussein's palace. He's dead now.

We are all split up now to different Companies in the Battallion. Each company does different things in different areas. I can't be specific for operational security (OPSEC) reasons. Most have adjusted well. Some of us got the shit end of the stick with personal space but it could have been worse. I won't see most of the guys as often so I will have to have them email me pictures and text they want put on this site, otherwise you will see way too much of me and Q. We share the day shift duties at the BN TOC, our section is pictured above. Those of you who know "Vinnie" will see him on the map board ( a very nice board by the way). We are going to paint the 29th ID for a background with Vinnie and crossed cannons in the foreground and "WAR ENDERS" surrounding Vinnie. Its a 4' X 4' mapcase. We will probably paint Skull Nations logo on the floor.

The weather is hot, 115 +/-, the food is still good but a step down from Kuwait, and the dust is everywhere. There are Palm trees and farmland near the river and desert beyond that. I have internet access in my room now so I should add posts more frequently now. We are 8 hours ahead of EST.

H Stern

2005-07-13T03:02:00.000-05:00

This is an older pic of Duarte. Had to share it.

Will be able to fill everyone in on location next week, along with mailing addresses. Moving north this week...

Twins

2005-07-13T02:58:00.000-05:00

Sgt. Cetrano and our newest Co. FSNCO SSG. Hugendubler. Can you tell who's who?

Send in the Reinforcements!

2005-07-13T02:54:00.000-05:00

Well, we have 8 new FIST members and a new Maneuver Co. added to our BN this week. These are my new soldiers from Pa. They are good men and once they learn New England humor they will be fine.

DEX

2005-07-02T00:14:00.000-05:00

Finally got a good pic of Lt. Dexter. This is out front of our area. We are in tents once again, but they are sealed and air conditioned. Not bad.