0500 patroling with a new group.

Up and at em in Baghdad. 5am brought us out on patrol, raiding a dudes house. The guy we were after was reported to be some sort of chemist. Using his skills to make IED's for insurgents.

We rolled up as the sun was coming up, and we waited as a platoon courdened off the area, and boosted the Iraqi Police over his rusted iron gate, once we were in we simply knocked on the door and went in. After a preliminary search, and asking some questions, we found a locked door in the back that the residents claimed they had no key for. Luckily one of our troops was wearing a very large key on his foot. The door opened into a VERY dirty looking bedroom stocked with clothes, bottled water, supplies, and maps. I was told that it appeared to be a safe room for when traveling Jihadists were in the area.

The room was VERY dirty, and covered in a very thick layer of dust dirt and spider webs. It looked like something out of Indiana Jones. The only marks in the dirt were from our boot prints. It was plainly obvious that whoever this room was for, they had not been there in a while.

Since no laws had been broken, and the house occupant did not match the description, we thanked him for his time and left peacfully.

We then realised that the man we were looking for was possibly in the house next door. You see, Iraqi neighborhoods had a habit of changing frequently in the last couple of years. Iraqis can build their own homes in a matter of weeks. Now they need permission from the Iraqi Army before they can move in or out of a neighborhood, but for a while house could just spring up. So the house we were looking for was next door.

Again we searched and questioned the occupants, You need to be very carefull when entering a house at night or in the morning, as most people here seem to sleep on the floor. They also wrap baby's up in blankets on the floor as well, so if you are not carefull you could walk in and step on kids. So soldiers are always VERY carefull when entering.

This house was ALOT nicer than the last one. It still smelled like a toilet in a dumpster, but it was a step up. This guy seemed to be some sort of mechanic, engine parts, and gas cans, big empty jugs laying around the yard. He also had pet birds. This was the first time I'd seen an Iraqi with a pet.

This guy fit the bill of the Chemist we were looking for, but he was not talking very much. While searching the house we also found a small white cell phone under a mattress. The guy had no idea where the phone came from, but his wife was claiming that someone had dropped it off for him to fix. She seemed very nervous. After having our translator check the numbers and the text messages, it turned out THIS phone was hers, and it was to communicate with her secret boyfriend. I wont get into details, but I can tell you this. The messages were very dirty. Like bathroom wall at a Mesquite truck stop dirty.

We kept the phone, and by doing so, probably saved this chicks life. After taling to her a little more, I was told that she gave up the goods on her hubby and he was taken into custody.

After that, it was back to my new home at JSS Khadra.

LIVING AT THE DMV

The MRAP that picked me up from JSS WASHASH was very crowded, and you can't really see out of them.. So I pretty much just slept on my way to my new home. Sleep is something you take when you can get it here. It doesn't really matter what time it is.

They dropped me off and tossed my gear out the back and drove off with no instructions. I had NO idea who I was supposed to be looking for, but as with most situations here in Iraq. If you wander around sooner or later, people point you in the right direction. I went around a group of T-Walls and walked toward the three story building known as JSS KHADRA. THe building is white and turquoise, in a checkerboard pattern. With old style Iraqi flags painted down the columns. I would later learn that this was once the Ministry of Transportation building, and Iraqi Police Station. Thats right, I'm living in an Iraqi DMV.

As I walked up I heard a bewildered "who the *%$# are YOU?". Lt Scott was the one asking the questions, he didnt seem to have ANY clue that I was coming. Even with that, he welcomed me in, and started showing me around. Khada is made up of a couple of buildings, but again only a 9 foot concrete wall seperates us from the rest of the city. The big difference between this and Washash, was that here we share our space with the Iraqi Army. The IA guys try to emulate the Americans best they can, much to the amusement of the US soldiers. The IA wear kevlar vests with no plates in many occasions, and put knee pads around their ankles, even when they HAVE knee pads on their knees. (The knee pads on the ankles thing was popular among US soldiers around 2005-2006 before it bacame mandatory to wear them the proper way). many times they'll have radios that dont work attached just for the look. Thier uniforms never match, and they lack alot of discipline. The iraq Army is just a normal job here. You apply and can quit whenever without consequence. They CAN, however be thrown in jail for ten days for falling asleep, or even WORSE to them is having their head shaved. Yeah, I don't know either. Thats just what they told me.

A quick note. Iraq is the home to about 68,000,000,000,000 flies. I feel like one of those kids that needs 75 cents a day to get the flies to leave them alone.

Khadra was alot nicer than Washash, and alot bigger. Some of the guys made an outdoor bar and barbeque. Even though they can't drink on Iraqi soil, it's cool that they have a place to hang out. This new group also enjoys Halloween more than any other I've seen. They have decorations EVERYWHERE here at the JSS. The iraqi guys thing they are evil pagan infidels for hanging skulls and zombies all over. It really creeps them out.

LT Scott showed me around a little more, including the Iraqi Motor Pool and CCP. Which is Casulty Collection Point. Anytime there is a death in the area. The body can be picked up here. It smells delightfull, as you can probably imagine.

I was given the bunk of a dude that is out on leave, and it's very very cramped. about 14 guys, both soldiers and Iraqi interpreters ("terps") living on bunks in an area about the size of a two car garage.

I'm being kicked off the computer now, so I'll have to do more tomorrow :)

bye campers!

ELJON

FINALLY A NEW POST!!!!

Right, so when they told me I'd be going "outside the wire" they really meant. "OUTSIDE the wire"

(That means I have been off the American base, and living out in small areas outside the fortified areas with soldiers)

Internet and the like have been VERY limited, so blogging has been a little tricky. So I'll do my best to catch everybody up.

After leaving Camp Prosperity, the members of Blood Platoon told me that I'd be teaming up with a different group for the rest of the week. So they gave me a ride to their group CP (command post) to meet their CO (commanding officer) and set it all up. We went to JSS Adl first, which at one time was a four story Iraqi shopping mall. THIS was amazing to see! Both the inside and outside are riddled with bullet holes, and the soldiers have used what seems to be the entire lumber section of a Home Depot to create living spaces, offices, and meeting rooms in what used to be stores. The center of the building is open all the way to the roof. Like most malls there is a fountain in the middle with escalators going up to each level. So you can see down to whats left of the fountain from every room. The escalators are still there, and still work, though they are rarely turned on for power reasons, as well as several remnants of individual stores. (signs, shelves, posters, etc)

It's very surreal, and almost post apocalyptic to see what was once a center of local commerce, completely transformed into a military base. We then went to Camp Liberty for our meeting, where I was able to get some "pougie bait" That's soldier talk for souvenirs. I grabbed some stickers for my file cabinet :)

I spent the next few hours hanging out at JSS Washash. Washash is a very small place. It was once some Iraqi dudes house. Depending on which soldier you ask, it was either a Sheik, Sadaams cousin, a local busniess owner, etc. Very little room and no privacy whatso ever. No shower, and only green torpedos (outhouses) for bathrooms. It's surrounded by nine foot concrete walls, but other than that it is right in the middle of Baghdad. So close you can hear the cars drive by on the other side. The building itself has all the windows blocked out by sand bags, and "sniper netting" on the roof, one soldeir was putting a kevlar plate in one of the windows last week, and had it shot right out of his hand by nearby sniper. As they tell me, "someone is ALWAYS watching"

you hear alot about the dogs in Iraq. They are litterally EVERYWHERE. Sine the army does not allow mascots, or pets, the boys at Washash have their "Security Dog", Scout. A cute little puppy that only likes guys in ACU's. Anyone else comes around he FREAKS out.

The soldeirs do all they can to make Washash feel more like home. Including adding a patio to the side, While helping unload supplies, I saw a big guy named PFC Updike slam his finger with a hammer. He barely made a sound, even though blood was gushing from the wound. The medic gave him a few stitches, and he went right back to work... These guys are the real deal.

I wandered around the house noticing little things. the wall sconces, holes from picture frames, etc. I never in my life thought I'd be sleeping in some Iraqi dudes house in the middle of a war. It's been an amazing experience. I did some call in's with Bushman, talked to two guys from Southern Utah, and waited for my ride. I was sad to leave, I had already made some good friends in the group, and now I would have to start ALL over again.

Food has to be trucked out to the JSS, and that only happens every three days. You can imagine how creative they have to get for the meals on that third day. Turns out the food escort was my ride to my next JSS.

This time I got to ride through Baghdad in an MRAP. A VERY large vehicle meant to replace the Humvee. I like the Humvee better. I could not see much from the back of an MRAP.

Next stop! JSS Khadra!

More on that in a minute.

***side note. My laptop did not survive the journey. So I'm recapping my trip from hand written notes, using shared computers on base. So I wont have pictures posted until I get home, and am recapping the blog best I can.. It's sucks I know. but oh well.***

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Officially inside Baghddad Iraq, I must be totally honest here. That was a sobering thought. Getting off the plane, having NO idea what to expect. Fortunaly, it was alot like Kuwait, at least at first. It was dark when we got off the plane, one thing I noticed instantly was how dark the city was. Many of the buildings do not have, or do not use power.

Our group was shuttled quickly from the LZ to a breifing room and had our credentials and such checked out, and then into the welcome zone. Soldiers check in here and form up to go to their various bases.

I cannot tell you how quickly I realised that I was totally and completly. Lost.... It was not "press friendly" in the least. So, I started asking around, but quickly gave up on the media guys instructions to "find a chopper ride" to the LZ inside the International Zone. So I hopped on a bus with a group of soldiers to Camp Striker, where I could wait for the armored "Rhino" to give me a ride to the US Embassy in Baghdad. (This is why it helps to research the crap out of a place before you get there) While waiting for a bus, a very young and nervous looking PFC (Private First Class) told me "uh, dude, your helmet is way crooked." I told him it was the new style, and that it made me look dapper. I don't think he thought it was funny. Oh well.

At this point I havent shaved, bathed, or even seen a mirror in four days. I'm sure I smell like a bag of shame.

The bus ride is short, as we pull up to Camp Striker, the first thing I notice is a barrage of what they call "t-walls" I know now, that I'll see about a gazillion of these before my trip is done. But these were pretty much the first I'd seen. I make my way into the "Striker Stables" A hotel of sorts for soldiers on their way to various parts of the country. I get manifested, and again, I wait. For 7 hours.

It was a good wait though. Boring as Hell. But good. It helped to kind of wade my way into the fact that I was actually IN Iraq. Not much there but dirt and rocks. Not a sound to be heard, other than Blackhawks flying overhead. Striker Stables is literally lined with Liter sized water bottles, and MRE's, as well as a collection of books, magazines and games sent over in care packages. If you have ever wondered, if those collections of books and DVDs and such are going to a good cause, let me assure you, they definatly are. Corssword puzzles seem to be the favorite.

The TV is on the AFN network, broadcasting a simulcast of both Fox News, and MSNBC. (there are several channels you can choose on the AFN TV). There are signs everywhere stating that there is no sleeping in the common area. If you want to sleep at Striker you can billet yourself a tent at no cost. I chose to hang out and make sure to not miss my ride. After a quick call home to my wife on the satalite phone, a watch some news, walk down to the PX for a Diet Coke and some Burger King, and then take a nap on a T-Wall outside. You would think it would be somewhat disconcerting sleeping outdoors in Iraq. I have no clue why, but I was totally fine with it. Maybe it's the fact that at this point Im at less than 6 hours sleep in four days. Afterwards I go in and make friends with a Specialist Hernandez. He's a really cool medic about my same age, and very outgoing. He's on his way to Taji to finish the last 8 months of his deployment.

The Rhino arrives in the EAAAAARLY AM hours, getting on the Rhino it's clear that you are now in a war zone. A no nonsense contractor instructs on various procedures on what to do if we get hit, designates Spec Hernandez as our group combat medic, and tells us to turn off any and all devices, as they mayy set off IED's. The windows of the armored rhino are all blocked with news paper, and is escorted by the truck with our gear and a combat convoy of MRAP vehicles. (the things that will replace Humvees).

When we get to the wire, and enter the red zone everybody in the Rhino seems a little tense, but not overly so. Hernandez passes the time by talking about his family in Arizona, and asking questions about Las Vegas.

I get to the Embassy, and have the guys at the CPIC (combined press information center) come pick me up in an armored humvee. I was told I'd be out of the CPIC first thing in the morning.

Boy howdy. was THAT ever wrong. I ended up staying there (here...) for the next three days.

More about that, as well as my first daytime look at Baghdad coming soon!

-JON TO THE SMITH

DEW BYE

hey hey I made it!

I am now officially as far away from home as I have ever been. My first time off the continent!

I must say, airports all look the same. That is kind of nice.

People in Dubai smell funny, and I am now very aware of a few things that I have taken for granted in the good ol' USA.

First, MANNERS. Yeah man, like waiting in line. People here don't wait in line. They want to ALL be at the front. They also dont take the hint when the tall white guy makes a loud "AHEM"

ALSO basic custumer service is RIGHT OUT the window here. It has been pretty uneventfull in Dubai so far, everyone speaks English, and the airport looks like a mall. Lots of stuff to bai in dubai.. yeah man, Ive been awake 32 hours. Thats the best your going to get out of me joke wise.

I'm trying to avoid complaining a whole lot on here, but lets face it. Flying sucks. Then top that off with a delayed flight and no cell service, you are in for a little bit a hissy fit.

I sent an email to the army escort that was supposed to pick me up in Kuwait 2 hours ago, to let him know my flight is FIVE HOURS behind schedule. Im hoping he got it. OTHERWISE, you'll get more posts of me whining.

NEW BLOG!

It seems that blogger sucks. So I'll probably switch this to another service!

But in the meantime, this will be the official JON SMITH GOES TO IRAQ BLOG!

here I will chronicle my adventures through the magic of interwebs and computers. Neat!



I don't leave until tomorrow morning, so today will consist of alot of phone calls and packing.

As far as packing goes, it's pretty easy. The Army has issued me pretty uch everything I'll need, so it's just a matter of not forgetting anything.

I'll take some pics or something!

yay!

xoxox
JONSMITH