Op tempo

So I was looking back at my op log, a record of every time I leave the base. We are actually busier this time than my last deployment. I'm saying this because I haven't written as often mainly because I'm busy. However, most of the time i cannot comment.

Last night is an exception only because it was the scariest night of my life. We have been moving lately on what the Army likes to call "movement to contact." Which is exactly what it sounds like. Our team goes out with the hope of bad dudes trying to shoot us...good plan right? This type of op is surprisingly left out of movies, which of course is why I joined, it looked cool in the movies I've seen.

Back on track...we had heavy Iraqi support which means more than 20 dudes and just half our normal team. We get out and start moving through a, I'll call it a village, and from the tree it lights up with bad asses taking pot shots at us. My team moves on line and engages. However...everyone but my guys had literally just taken off running in the other direction. Leaving us there down about I estimated 3 to 1. This was those one minute seemed like an hour moments and we used every trick in the book to break contact and get out. Everyone is safe, not even a scratch...God loves us. This did however lead to several of our guys needing to be restrained on returning to base and for good reason. The reason I bring this up is for one reason: If any media outlet is saying these guys are ready for total control of their country they are delusional, at best. We're going to be here for a long time and that's sad because there is nothing here worth an American life at this point. So in closing thank you for your prayers but send more because we used a lot them last night and stay involved back home.

P.S. I'm doing well and while dismayed sometimes at our current situation in this war I love my life and job. See you guys in five months.

BORED!!!!!

So I remembered my camera but it was dead so no new vids. But it was pretty cool. Other than that we did one thing and were very successful but I can't really talk about it in a blog. But its a good story and I'll share later. I know that sounds stupid but I would get in trouble and in the grand scheme its not the coolest thing ever.

Overall that means in the past week I've been outside the base for about two hours...its mind-numbing out here right now. We are the only ones on base with Sat TV so we thought we'd be nice guys and invite over some of our security guys to watch the UFC fight. That channel didn't come in too well so I went to mess with the dish. Of course...we lost all channels within 20 seconds of me touching it. But we had another dish flown in this morning so I'm able to watch the NFL. Plus with Florida v Bama this weekend this issue immediately became priority one, so I'm glad we have everything back to normal.

So in recap...I'm very bored. Pros: I get to read a lot, I'm in great shape, and tan. Its like a vacation with the added risk I may get shot at. I'm sure I made the right life path its just a bit dusty right now. Hope everyone who ganders at this is well and I'll see you in the spring.

The Sun?

So we've been busy again and I just woke up a few hours ago. We're going out again for the third night and I haven't seen the sun in almost three days. But its kinda nice because its pretty nice here at night. Even when you live in a small city you never realize how many lights there are until your flying over a desert in a country that has power only in the smallest sense of the word outside of Baghdad.

But another week down..24 to go. Plus we have a big demo op sometime in the near future so I'll try and remember my camera. Hope everyone is well.

Countryside

Landmines

New song...same lyrics

So I finally made it to my base. Still getting settled. But actually being in the middle of nowhere in nowhere Iraq is pretty nice. Its just us and no one bothers us about anything. We've been fairly busy but thats actually a good thing. We were able to get all of our gear used on some easy stuff to make sure everything works right. But out here no one makes us wear uniforms or tells us to do this or that. We workout, play games, sleep and if they get us some work we blow it up. All in all good times.

For the bad...the closest bathroom cannot handle toilet paper which means you have to place in a big garbage hanging in the stall. Needless to say I'm not cool with that and schedule my movements while I'm in another part of the base.

I will try for a lot more photos this time. I also have a video I'll try and post tomorrow. Henne asked me for some video of the beautiful Iraqi countryside and you'll get to see my glorious view every time I go out.

Doing really well. Already have a little routine working so I'll ride that for awhile and see how long into deployment it takes me. Miss everyone already but I'll be home and bored there too very soon.

The Finale

So my postings have dropped off the past couple of months. Since the June 30 pullout of the major cities there just isn't much work and when there is I can't say anything about it over the internet. But we did some really good things, got lucky once, a few funny moments (watching a dude take a header out of a helo into the sand is hilarious).

I should be leaving here in a couple of days. A little R&R at another base for a couple of weeks before we come home. Should land in the states in about two weeks. A stop-over in Germany on the way home should also be fun.

But a genuine thanks to everyone for their support. When you are over here it means the world. Most of you know my girlfriend Kelly, I owe her a lot. She has been amazing during my entire deployment. I promise I will make it up to you Babe!!

My family for always being there if I needed a sounding a board. To this day my only regret about joining is being away from my Dad, Mom, Brother, and Sister. I miss you all everyday and love you very much.

Sorry for making you worry Grandma but its almost over and I'm no worse for the wear.

Special congrats to Justin and Rach, I can't wait to meet Joey. Hopefully I'll be back full-time in Minnesota to toughen him before he becomes his Dad. Chad and Sam for tying the knot, wish I could have been there. Mike and Lisa for their pregnancy...you guys are great and I'm really happy for you. To everyone else if your not mentioned by name trust me you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Be home soon.

THANK YOU!!!

Early Morning

So its 330 am here and I'm awake to watch the Vikings game on TV. Over its the little things that count and missing out on some sleep is well worth it. But we better win. Because I'm going to be up late tonight..the Twins play at midnight my time.

Not many posts lately. Mainly due to the fact we haven't done anything mission related in over a week. Which is good. I'm going home soon and quite frankly I'm ready to leave Iraq and hopefully never return. Our replacements are leaving their base sometime this week. So basically a lot of our video games and dvd players are packed up now so I'm constantly bored. Hopefully this time next week I'll be at another base nearby...they have a pool.

Anyways per usual I miss everyone. Take care and see you soon.

Team Photo

So we took our team photo this week. The actual photo posted is the one we went with but it wasn't supposed to be. The next shot was the 'big one' but we used too much explosive and consumed all of our fuel before the fire ball. The video is interesting because three of these guys run like small children after feeling the heat, so a split second after this shot they are running away patting at their heads. But you can't pick your teammates so you roll with what you got.

Other than that the week was slow. We have some local training this week planned but thats no big deal.

Big win for the Vikes. Not sure we need Farve as long as AP stays healthy. The good news from the Farve saga it made the Vikes/Browns game the game-of-the-week for AFN which meant I saw it live. Let's be honest that matchup would've had no coverage if not for the old man.

Everyone take care. Miss you.

50 days and counting

So its two weeks shy of five months and at times its felt like its gone slow but now that I'm at this point its gone by fast. I have about 5 weeks left before I leave the 'front lines'. The last week or so we spent at another base just chillaxing. Plus that base has a pool that for some reason has a 10m platform which I will be perfecting my cannonballs off of.

Another weekend of activity but overall the tempo is just about right. Not much else...I'm still in Iraq and looking forward to the States.

Oh and the Forys brothers should stop playing fantasy sports...its embarrassing.