If you have never experienced a tactical landing of a US Air Force C-130 plane you haven’t lived! There is nothing like purposefully dropping thousands of feet in altitude while heavily banking that just gets to you. Looking around and seeing the various looks of shock, terror, and enjoyment on the faces of my fellow servicemen and women brought a smile to my face. However, this small pleasure was halted as I disembarked the aircraft and placed my foot on Iraqi soil for the first time.
In the distance you could see the aftermath of a fairly large IED. Smoke rising and gunfire sounding as we walked into the military airport terminal. How is that for a hello and welcome to Iraq…? Reality has just sunk in.
I am here. This is real.
I am currently waiting to be transported to my final destination, which I have been told is the safest place to be. A little place we like to call the International Zone. The same compound which houses the US embassy.
Well, my transportation just arrived. I will write more once I get to where I am going.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Catch up...
The following entries have been written over the past few days as I was traveling from Kuwait to Iraq. Hope you enjoy!
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October 19, 2007
I am in Kuwait now, and have been for the past week. After a quick stop in Germany, and not being allowed to participate in the Octoberfest festivities, we landed in Kuwait City. After landing we were placed in a holding area for several hours with nothing to do, but drink in the bottled water and the views that lay before us. For many on my flight, myself included, this was the beginning of a new experience, virgins if you will. Perhaps we are part of the vast number of “virgins” Allah has promised his people. All joking aside, most of us, as tough as we would like to appear, are scared shitless!
So, after hours of waiting we were bussed to one of the many Coalition Force bases found throughout Kuwait. After another several hours we were escorted to a tent where we were finally able to get a little bit of sleep… 3 hours that is! They then woke us up only to have us move to another base only miles away. Once at this base we were finally able to get a night of good sleep. How precious sleep is!
The next day we were taken out into the middle of the desert to a camp with no running water, beds, or toilets and were embedded with an Army unit from Fort Polk, Louisiana for 3 days of training. The training itself was much like that which we have already been through. However, the education we received from being embedded with an Army unit was like none other that I have experienced. The people in the unit were very kind, humorous, and interesting to say the least. All I can say is that I wish that every Sailor who complains about the Navy could go and spend a few nights with an Army unit in field conditions. God Bless those ships with their running water and beds!
I am not saying that to bash the Army, for they accepted us with open arms and I am forever grateful for their kindness and hospitality. What I am saying is that there is a reason that I joined the Navy, and this trip only helped to confirm that I have made the right decision.
Apart from not showering, using a toilet, or eating anything other than an MRE the experience was amazing. I slept under the stars. I breathed in the dusty air. I woke in amazement every morning to one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. And to top it off… As we were concluding our training a pack of wild camels came strolling across the desert right in front of us. Our entire unit stopped and stared in amazement. For most the only place they have ever seen a camel was at a zoo. Many stared in awe, while other were like giddy school children, giggling and pointing. It was the perfect way to end the training her in Kuwait and remind us that this part of the world is not just dust, trash, and rubble. This is the cradle of civilization. This is where it all began. As desolate, and destructive as it is portrayed there is so much history and beauty to be found here if we only take the time to stop and look, not as combatants, but as a human beings.
This is an experience that I will never forget, and I hope that by sharing through these short little blog entries of mine that you may be able to feel like you are a part of this with me, for I carry all of you with me, in my heart and soul, everywhere I go.
Thanks for reading and thanks for caring.
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October 20, 2007
It’s hot outside today, but this is expected when you are in a Middle Eastern country. I am inside my tent collecting my things and my thoughts in preparation for my entry in to the country of Iraq. This day has lingered amongst my thoughts for the past several months. It is a day that I have grown excited about, and dreaded all the same. The turmoil of emotion that comes to one when they are knowingly and willingly being put into a life threatening position of danger is a very intriguing and difficult one to endure, but I know that I will make it through.
My flight leaves in an hour and emotions are high, but faith prevails and I will persevere. Who knows where I will end up, what I will see, or who I will meet along the way. Everything I have done has been in preparation for these coming months. My preparation has drawn to an end, now it is time to perform.
All I know is that I am here for a reason. There is a purpose behind all of this. I am not sure what that is or why I am here, but I am keeping my head down and moving forward. One foot in front of another I will continue on until I reach my journey’s end and find my way back home.
I will see you all on the other side…
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October 19, 2007
I am in Kuwait now, and have been for the past week. After a quick stop in Germany, and not being allowed to participate in the Octoberfest festivities, we landed in Kuwait City. After landing we were placed in a holding area for several hours with nothing to do, but drink in the bottled water and the views that lay before us. For many on my flight, myself included, this was the beginning of a new experience, virgins if you will. Perhaps we are part of the vast number of “virgins” Allah has promised his people. All joking aside, most of us, as tough as we would like to appear, are scared shitless!
So, after hours of waiting we were bussed to one of the many Coalition Force bases found throughout Kuwait. After another several hours we were escorted to a tent where we were finally able to get a little bit of sleep… 3 hours that is! They then woke us up only to have us move to another base only miles away. Once at this base we were finally able to get a night of good sleep. How precious sleep is!
The next day we were taken out into the middle of the desert to a camp with no running water, beds, or toilets and were embedded with an Army unit from Fort Polk, Louisiana for 3 days of training. The training itself was much like that which we have already been through. However, the education we received from being embedded with an Army unit was like none other that I have experienced. The people in the unit were very kind, humorous, and interesting to say the least. All I can say is that I wish that every Sailor who complains about the Navy could go and spend a few nights with an Army unit in field conditions. God Bless those ships with their running water and beds!
I am not saying that to bash the Army, for they accepted us with open arms and I am forever grateful for their kindness and hospitality. What I am saying is that there is a reason that I joined the Navy, and this trip only helped to confirm that I have made the right decision.
Apart from not showering, using a toilet, or eating anything other than an MRE the experience was amazing. I slept under the stars. I breathed in the dusty air. I woke in amazement every morning to one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. And to top it off… As we were concluding our training a pack of wild camels came strolling across the desert right in front of us. Our entire unit stopped and stared in amazement. For most the only place they have ever seen a camel was at a zoo. Many stared in awe, while other were like giddy school children, giggling and pointing. It was the perfect way to end the training her in Kuwait and remind us that this part of the world is not just dust, trash, and rubble. This is the cradle of civilization. This is where it all began. As desolate, and destructive as it is portrayed there is so much history and beauty to be found here if we only take the time to stop and look, not as combatants, but as a human beings.
This is an experience that I will never forget, and I hope that by sharing through these short little blog entries of mine that you may be able to feel like you are a part of this with me, for I carry all of you with me, in my heart and soul, everywhere I go.
Thanks for reading and thanks for caring.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 20, 2007
It’s hot outside today, but this is expected when you are in a Middle Eastern country. I am inside my tent collecting my things and my thoughts in preparation for my entry in to the country of Iraq. This day has lingered amongst my thoughts for the past several months. It is a day that I have grown excited about, and dreaded all the same. The turmoil of emotion that comes to one when they are knowingly and willingly being put into a life threatening position of danger is a very intriguing and difficult one to endure, but I know that I will make it through.
My flight leaves in an hour and emotions are high, but faith prevails and I will persevere. Who knows where I will end up, what I will see, or who I will meet along the way. Everything I have done has been in preparation for these coming months. My preparation has drawn to an end, now it is time to perform.
All I know is that I am here for a reason. There is a purpose behind all of this. I am not sure what that is or why I am here, but I am keeping my head down and moving forward. One foot in front of another I will continue on until I reach my journey’s end and find my way back home.
I will see you all on the other side…
Friday, October 12, 2007
Soap box of emotion...
Although I told you yesterday that that was going to be my last post for awhile time and emotion had their way with me. I am currently waiting to leave the country with nothing but time on my hands. Knowing that the day has finally arrived to depart this great land, and everyone I love, has played with my emotions more than I had ever thought possible. I have been on deployments before but this, in the words of my good friend Joe, is a horse of a different color.(I'll have to trust him on that one seeing as I am colorblind and all!)
I know that this is going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, whether I realize it at the time or not. I know that there are so many good things that can come of this, but it is the waiting game that allows your mind and emotions to play with you. So, what better time to write than when your mind is full of emotion filled thoughts?
With that said, the following ramblings are the product of the forementioned environment. Spawned out of patriotism, fear, and I honestly think I was just trying to talk myself back to the place where I need to be mentally. Reminding me of why we do what we do, and go where we go. So, take it for what it's worth and enjoy the internal ramblings of my brain...
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I have come to the understanding that war is like prison, inhumane yet sometimes necessary.
When speaking with a friend about this last evening the question arose, "Do you think that one would be easier to endure than the other?" I am sure there are a thousand different ways for that question to be answered, but for me, right now, there is only one truth. War is a raw, gut wrenching, son of a bitch that tells you more about yourself than anything, or anyone else ever will. Some things you wish you had never come to know while other discoveries empower you to push on towards greatness.
Now, I am sure that an all inclusive trip to prison comes with a certain amount of fear, contemplative introspection, and growth, but to me this is where the similarities end.
It is in the choice that we as service men and women make that the difference can be found. You see while overseas we may live in small, prison like rooms. The food may be worse than that found in a prison. We may not have the freedom to go and do as we please. Our lives may be void of the immediate proximity of our families and friends, but... This is because of the choice we made when we raised our right hands and swore to defend this Country from ALL enemies foreign and domestic! We do this not out of obligation, but out of devotion. Devotion to duty, to family, to friends, to the spirit of this great Nation which lives in the hearts and minds of it's people.
I spent the past 2 weeks in the great city of New York. It was the first time for me to be in the city since before September 11, 2001. The day that I decided to walk downtown was a surreal and intimate day for me. I went alone, just me with my thoughts. I went knowing that the journey I am embarking upon to Iraq stems from the great tragedy whose remains loomed before me at Ground Zero. Seeing the ruins and rubble six years after the attacks still being excavated spoke volumes to me. It reminded me that just like the rebuilding of the World Trade Centers, this war is a long slow process of excavating the old and building the new. Not only in the literal sense, but in that we, as citizens of this great Country, are constructing the framework of a stronger America as we learn to overcome and grow in the face of such adversities.
I know that I will not be returning from Iraq the same person. I know that the people to my left and to my right will not be returning the same as before they left. I know that we will return greater, stronger, more resilient soldiers and citizens of this great Country we call home.
I also know that many who may read these words will disagree with not only what I am saying, but also with what the government and military are doing. Is this not what makes this Country so great? Giving those people the ability to complain without repercussion? Allowing them to voice their opinion no matter how different the view may be from that of the government? Is that not what we are fighting for?
I understand that the previously posed question may be a little too political for what I am trying to say here. In all honestly I don't know what exactly I am trying to say here. All I know is that I am nervous, scared, excited, anxious, and ready to handle anything that may come my way. Why? Because of the people reading this now. It is because of you, and your thoughts and prayers that not only allow, but enable me and every other American Sailor, Soldier, Airmen, and Marine to stand up and fight. Fighting not in the name of oil or politics, but for You! For the people of this free world to keep on working, living, loving, bitching, embracing, praying, protesting, and almost every other '...ing' you can imagine!
So, next time you have a moment take that time to say a prayer, send a thought, share a hug, say thank you, or share your heart with those who are giving that and more for you. Not just the Service Men and Women, but to their Wives, Husbands and Children who are sacrificing the same, if not more than their counterparts.
I will now step down from my soap box.
God bless you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I wonder what went through King David's mind before he went into battle?
His words, found below, seemed the most appropriate Bible verse I have found for my current situation.
"Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent." (Psalm 91:9-10)
I know that this is going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, whether I realize it at the time or not. I know that there are so many good things that can come of this, but it is the waiting game that allows your mind and emotions to play with you. So, what better time to write than when your mind is full of emotion filled thoughts?
With that said, the following ramblings are the product of the forementioned environment. Spawned out of patriotism, fear, and I honestly think I was just trying to talk myself back to the place where I need to be mentally. Reminding me of why we do what we do, and go where we go. So, take it for what it's worth and enjoy the internal ramblings of my brain...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have come to the understanding that war is like prison, inhumane yet sometimes necessary.
When speaking with a friend about this last evening the question arose, "Do you think that one would be easier to endure than the other?" I am sure there are a thousand different ways for that question to be answered, but for me, right now, there is only one truth. War is a raw, gut wrenching, son of a bitch that tells you more about yourself than anything, or anyone else ever will. Some things you wish you had never come to know while other discoveries empower you to push on towards greatness.
Now, I am sure that an all inclusive trip to prison comes with a certain amount of fear, contemplative introspection, and growth, but to me this is where the similarities end.
It is in the choice that we as service men and women make that the difference can be found. You see while overseas we may live in small, prison like rooms. The food may be worse than that found in a prison. We may not have the freedom to go and do as we please. Our lives may be void of the immediate proximity of our families and friends, but... This is because of the choice we made when we raised our right hands and swore to defend this Country from ALL enemies foreign and domestic! We do this not out of obligation, but out of devotion. Devotion to duty, to family, to friends, to the spirit of this great Nation which lives in the hearts and minds of it's people.
I spent the past 2 weeks in the great city of New York. It was the first time for me to be in the city since before September 11, 2001. The day that I decided to walk downtown was a surreal and intimate day for me. I went alone, just me with my thoughts. I went knowing that the journey I am embarking upon to Iraq stems from the great tragedy whose remains loomed before me at Ground Zero. Seeing the ruins and rubble six years after the attacks still being excavated spoke volumes to me. It reminded me that just like the rebuilding of the World Trade Centers, this war is a long slow process of excavating the old and building the new. Not only in the literal sense, but in that we, as citizens of this great Country, are constructing the framework of a stronger America as we learn to overcome and grow in the face of such adversities.
I know that I will not be returning from Iraq the same person. I know that the people to my left and to my right will not be returning the same as before they left. I know that we will return greater, stronger, more resilient soldiers and citizens of this great Country we call home.
I also know that many who may read these words will disagree with not only what I am saying, but also with what the government and military are doing. Is this not what makes this Country so great? Giving those people the ability to complain without repercussion? Allowing them to voice their opinion no matter how different the view may be from that of the government? Is that not what we are fighting for?
I understand that the previously posed question may be a little too political for what I am trying to say here. In all honestly I don't know what exactly I am trying to say here. All I know is that I am nervous, scared, excited, anxious, and ready to handle anything that may come my way. Why? Because of the people reading this now. It is because of you, and your thoughts and prayers that not only allow, but enable me and every other American Sailor, Soldier, Airmen, and Marine to stand up and fight. Fighting not in the name of oil or politics, but for You! For the people of this free world to keep on working, living, loving, bitching, embracing, praying, protesting, and almost every other '...ing' you can imagine!
So, next time you have a moment take that time to say a prayer, send a thought, share a hug, say thank you, or share your heart with those who are giving that and more for you. Not just the Service Men and Women, but to their Wives, Husbands and Children who are sacrificing the same, if not more than their counterparts.
I will now step down from my soap box.
God bless you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometimes I wonder what went through King David's mind before he went into battle?
His words, found below, seemed the most appropriate Bible verse I have found for my current situation.
"Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place, There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent." (Psalm 91:9-10)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Adios America...
It's raining in Brooklyn as I am packing the last of my things. I am not sure if I am ready for what is coming my way, but nonetheless it is time for me to go. The past few days in New York have been more than I could have imagined. I have feasted my eyes upon great art, my ears upon great music, but most importantly my heart among great friends. Joe and Christine your generosity and hospitality will never be forgotten.
I am leaving in an hour to travel back to Fort Dix. Saturday I will be leaving for Kuwait and then on in to Iraq. May God bless all of you have helped and supported me with your phone calls, letters, and most importantly prayers. Stacey and I could not have made it through without you all.
I do not know when I will be able to post again. As soon as I am able I will be sure to let you know what is going on with me. I will be sure to post some stories about New York here as well.
Until that time comes know that I love you all!
See you on the other side...
I am leaving in an hour to travel back to Fort Dix. Saturday I will be leaving for Kuwait and then on in to Iraq. May God bless all of you have helped and supported me with your phone calls, letters, and most importantly prayers. Stacey and I could not have made it through without you all.
I do not know when I will be able to post again. As soon as I am able I will be sure to let you know what is going on with me. I will be sure to post some stories about New York here as well.
Until that time comes know that I love you all!
See you on the other side...
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