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
Showing posts with label smith and bushman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smith and bushman. Show all posts
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
