The continuing tales of Army's adventures at war in Iraq...

[silent running]

On your mentioning the media, the elections here would have gone differently, if people beleived the media. And that should tell you the country is behind you, tough nut to crack, the Irag's have been like this for centuries. If you have to fight, then fighting for the highest ideals is as good as it gets. We know you have a job to do, and we would like to see you all come back safe.

[breg]

Right on, right on. AWSOME!!!! I'll bet that beer is going to taste really freaking good...

[Target Practice]

Speaking of mobilization, you think you'll be able to/want to mobilize with Sarah and I to the IAO?

[Eagle]

Irag's have been like this for centuries.

Um, Iraq hasn't been around for centuries. A hundred years ago they were apart of the Ottoman Empire.

[Doobie]

WhooHoo!
Dude, that's great! And when you are lugging that 400lbs of gear towards the plane and the strap from your duffle is digging in your neck, just remember, the next place you are going to put it down is in Fort Livingroom, USA. I coulda lugged 1,000lbs that day! Congrats and well done!

[Army]

Doob.

Thanks.

You of all people, know how tough this deployment has been on my family. Over a year ago you extended your hand and said, "How can I help?". You and your wife carried a great burden when you both contacted Chrissy to comfort her in her worries.

I have no idea how to repay such a thing.

Perhaps I can simply put it down to...this is how the military family takes care of itself...but having never before relied on such people as you, your kindness was overwhelming to us.

I have no idea how to repay such a thing.

If ever you need anything from me...call, and it is yours. If ever you need me to be somewhere...call, I will be there. If ever your family needs a boost....call, and lean on me.

God bless you brother, and HOOAH!

[Doobie]

Perhaps I can simply put it down to...this is how the military family takes care of itself.

That's exactly it man! No thanks necessary. That is how we do it.

[silent running]

Um, Iraq hasn't been around for centuries. A hundred years ago they were apart of the Ottoman Empire.

The Greeks were part of the Ottoman empire also, the Greeks still held onto their culture and they did not stop being Greek. As was the rest of the middle east, if I am not mistaken the Ottoman empire were the Turks, as in Turkey. There is no denying life under the Turks was a *****, yet people held on to who they were. Yes, Iraq was under Turkish rule about a hundred years ago, but the people who live there now, are decendants from people back then and further back, I think it is safe to say centuries. Their culture, the way they view women for example, goes back a long way, centuries. The heart and soul of the Iraqis has its roots and it goes back a long way, you can tell by their customs and culture. They are from another time, if we do not recognize that, then we will have to blow them all to hell and there are practical problems with that. After all we are trying to bring Democracy to them. Yes, you are correct in saying Iraq as a polical government, on a map. is new, but the people who are living there now have been living there a long time. Change is hard for people even if it is good for them, and the way things are, I do not think we have a choice, either. Two and a half cents worth

[Alpha]

When your on that plane, looking back down to the country... Take a good hard look. I want you to know that you're leaving that country a better place then when you first got there. A job well done.

Come home safely.

[SoldierzHonor]

Army, glad to hear your going home and looks like I'll get to continue this thread (since I just found it lol) Im at FOB Speicher in Tikrit and have about 8 more months to go. Its wierd how you have these pretentions on how a place is going to be and then when you arrive...its worse lol. I just got me a digital camera and will have to figure out how to work this thing through this computer before I can send pictures for everyone to enjoy. Shouldnt be too difficult though.
I finally started going to other areas of paintball forums other than the buy/sell/trade ones lol. Not much I can do in those forums here lol. Anyways, Army...good luck and Godspeed home brother.

[Army]

Army, glad to hear your going home and looks like I'll get to continue this thread (since I just found it lol) Im at FOB Speicher in Tikrit and have about 8 more months to go. Its wierd how you have these pretentions on how a place is going to be and then when you arrive...its worse lol. I just got me a digital camera and will have to figure out how to work this thing through this computer before I can send pictures for everyone to enjoy. Shouldnt be too difficult though.
I finally started going to other areas of paintball forums other than the buy/sell/trade ones lol. Not much I can do in those forums here lol. Anyways, Army...good luck and Godspeed home brother.

Hey FNG

About the only thing I can advise on, is watch what you spend at the PX. Due to the fact that there isn't a damn thing to do but dodge the incoming, buying all kinds of crap at the PX can get addicting. Learn quick to SHARE DVD's, or else you will have a footlocker filled with them.

Also, when the heat gets on...and it will very soon...flat out forget about soda's. Drink all the water you can (add Gatorade or Koolaid to help), and shower as often as possible. You are gonna sweat like never before, and keeping the nasty stinkies off you is paramount. Buy Under-Armor brown T's for the summer, and UA insulated for the winter (if you are here 'til then). Those lightweight, sweat-wicking wonders are magic for staying cooler. If you are going to be shooting a lot (and Speicher gets active every now and then), buy a LULA loader for your mags, they will save your fingers and thumbs, and are really fast to use with loose rounds.

You will get a ton of candy and comfort items from well meaning Patriotic Americans, that will quickly overwhelm your limited storage space. We box it up once a week, and hand it out to the ING or locals...hearts and minds. On that, ALWAYS treat the ING (even the damn stupid ones) with the respect that you would expect. It comes back as troops that are more willing to endure the hardships with you, and will take direction more readily. The locals will be grateful when you also treat them as humans (even the ones that mortared you last night), and respect. However, if you puck someone, all bets are off...screw'em. Our ING have been whacked left and right with vbieds and ambushes, but come back to work the next day anyway...that's cool, and outstanding balls to do.

Good luck man, and watch your 6. You never know when the bad guys are coming....or from where. If it looks suspicious.......IT IS!

[jon-boy]

Ahh, FOB Speicher... home away from home for the better part of '03. I'm sure it's changed a bit. When I was there we just rented some land because we weren't part of 4th ID. We were the red-headed step children.

I remember the flats of sodas sitting outside the PX in 130 plus degree weather popping one at a time. They would explode into a cloud of sugar water and then make mud in the moon dust.

I'm just glad I'm going somewhere new later this year (read: a palace)

Again, Dave, glad you're enroute home.

SoldierzHonor- Keep your head down, stay cool, and ditto all the advice Army gave you.

Jon

[SoldierzHonor]

Hey FNG

About the only thing I can advise on, is watch what you spend at the PX. Due to the fact that there isn't a damn thing to do but dodge the incoming, buying all kinds of crap at the PX can get addicting. Learn quick to SHARE DVD's, or else you will have a footlocker filled with them.

For the dvd's thats what I told people back home I wanted most so I have a good collection already. The prices arent very good on em in the px so I dont even go down that aisle. Already on the sharing since my nephew sent me some of his cartoons and its on a waiting list to be watched by others already lol. The shelves are bare since convoys are far and few between lately with the elections and such. I already have a nice chunk of change saved from what little time I've been here since I left debit cards and all that at home so I could cut down on spending one way or another. Casual pay is a money saver lol.

Also, when the heat gets on...and it will very soon...flat out forget about soda's. Drink all the water you can (add Gatorade or Koolaid to help), and shower as often as possible. You are gonna sweat like never before, and keeping the nasty stinkies off you is paramount. Buy Under-Armor brown T's for the summer, and UA insulated for the winter (if you are here 'til then). Those lightweight, sweat-wicking wonders are magic for staying cooler. If you are going to be shooting a lot (and Speicher gets active every now and then), buy a LULA loader for your mags, they will save your fingers and thumbs, and are really fast to use with loose rounds.

Yea I've already started cutting back on the cokes and junk. Also already on top of the under armor T's. Im a SAW gunner but I'll pass the LULA info on.

You will get a ton of candy and comfort items from well meaning Patriotic Americans, that will quickly overwhelm your limited storage space. We box it up once a week, and hand it out to the ING or locals...hearts and minds. On that, ALWAYS treat the ING (even the damn stupid ones) with the respect that you would expect. It comes back as troops that are more willing to endure the hardships with you, and will take direction more readily. The locals will be grateful when you also treat them as humans (even the ones that mortared you last night), and respect. However, if you puck someone, all bets are off...screw'em. Our ING have been whacked left and right with vbieds and ambushes, but come back to work the next day anyway...that's cool, and outstanding balls to do.

I have OP duty so contact with ING and locals is limited if any. As of lately they have targeted our OP's with mortars and small arms including trying to hit the airfield but I can tell they arent the best of shooters lol.


Good luck man, and watch your 6. You never know when the bad guys are coming....or from where. If it looks suspicious.......IT IS!

Yea our SOG and COR has tried "stealth" mode on us but just wound up being challenged. Still dont know why they want to play games like that lol. Anyway, thanks for the advice and I'll pass it on down the line.

jon boy, yea its rough here now, I think they just opened a spa kind of place and renovating a building for the new PX. Pizza Hut, BK, Subway, and the Coffee shop thingamajig. Rumor has it they are building a indoor pool. Ok, maybe not that rough They do let us know they still have mortars and rockets occasionally and on OP we watch the tracer fire and explosions off in the city along with the plumes of smoke. Our OP has a nice crater beside it where I believe they were trying to tell us something one day. Not sure what it was lol. I did have to correct the chief of operations on the range card he drew up. I just dont think he can judge distances very well lol.

Anyways, do I need a special program for getting pictures from my digital camera to the computer? Friend of mine always handled the picture taking for me when I sold my guns on here lol. I have the cable for going from the camera to the usb port. Thanks

-SH

[teufelhunden]

Soldierz: I have a DVD burner and the ability to copy DVDs. If you'd like anything, let me know. If I don't already have it, I will fast-track it in my Blockbuster Online and send it out to you! Hell, give me a whole batch of stuff you want!

[Army]

Anyways, do I need a special program for getting pictures from my digital camera to the computer? Friend of mine always handled the picture taking for me when I sold my guns on here lol. I have the cable for going from the camera to the usb port. Thanks

-SH

SH, try www.hunt101.com for picture hosting. It's a tad slow at times, and you won't get but a couple mil of megs, but for a quick hosting and posting it's OK....and free! (look for pictures by Army...those will be mine)