True Heroes

Here is a picture of modern day heroes that so often go unnoticed by those who are in Washington and in the news papers. Everyday they strap on their weapons and body armour, suffer through the desert heat, and follow convoys throughout the country side. These convoys are prime targets for attacks from the insurgents and road side bombs. These young men go out into danger everyday and we should remember them in our prayers. From Left to Right (home state): Martinez (CA), Miranda (CA), Hamm (CA), Johnson (CO), Marquez (VA). Fox Company 2 Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Infantry, from Camp Pendleton, CA. Double Clic on the photo for a larger view.

It is the Soldier

It is the Soldier
By Father Dennis Edward O’Brien United States Marine Corps
“It is the Soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.”

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you.
Christ Jesus and the American G.I. . . . .
One died for your Soul, the other died for your freedom.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2009

Memorial Day is normally for remembering the fallen servicemen and women who have sacrificed for this great nation we call America. However, this time I would like to remember and recognize the men and women who are in the service today, the young men and women who VOLENTEER to come to Iraq and Afghanistan, and risk their lives for the Americans at home. Sand storms, oppressive heat (its been in the 100’s this week), all insects bite and are generally poisonous, snake and spiders, scorpions and other nasty things crawl into sleeping quarters, patrols at night through dangerous neighborhoods and getting shot at or blown up are just some of the hardships these young people have to deal with. I have the advantage of working for a contractor here in Iraq and can spend time with these kids, (most of them are in there early 20’s) and get to know them. All walks of life, country boys to city boys, many married, some with children of their own, all have families at home. Their rooms are barren at first, but soon walls are soon covered in family photos, births and sonograms, wives and girlfriends, moms and dads. Some have pin up girls others don’t really have anything except a simple photograph by their bed. Dust covers everything constantly, wind blows it into the tiniest cracks, and the sweat from the days work turns the dust into mud on their hairless faces. These great young people have witnessed the world in ways you and I would never dream of; the nightly news doesn’t even come close to the atrocities witnessed on the patrols and missions throughout the country. Danger from unknown road side bombs, suicide bombers, snipers and Taliban forces are the “normal” day. You can see the stress of being here when you look into the eyes of a combat soldier, only those who know can recognize it. I personally have not been mortared or shot at, thanks to the Marines here, but I know the stress of being here and share in it. This Memorial Day is special in that I get to be here where history is made and being a part of it will always remain in my memories and these men and women I meet will always have a place in my heart. So this Memorial Day, thank a Veteran for the freedoms that you have and for the lives they have sacrificed for you and me.

Dust Tornado??

It is a 100 degrees outside and this is what the wind will do, a dust devil thatis big enough to slam open doors of vehicles or offices, and pick up dust as high as can be. The weather is sunny and HOT!! upper 80's at night and low 100's during the days. Today (18th) we had a yellow heat index, which means we could only work for 40 minutes in the sun and then get out of it for 20. The temperature at 4pm was 106. Luckily, all my inspections are inside a soldier's room, which is air conditioned, but each inspection only lasts 20 minutes then off to the next room. Every day is turning into a Monday, working 14 hours each day, they all run together and with no days off there is no sense of days of the week. Being so hot here I drink anywhere from 2 to 4 liters of water a day. Trips to the bathroom at least once an hour. And the hotter it gets the more your body craves the water. Well, not much else of excitement gong on here, as I get more photos I will update. Dan

Creatures In The Night

While lying on my bed watching a movie, it flashed upwards on the outside wall of the tent. What was that? I grabbed my camera and this is what I found, a lizard had taken up residence in our tent. Hopefully, there are no snakes following close behind. Never know what we will see here at Al Asad.

View from the Porch

Here is a picture from just outside my tent. The sunset is God's canvas, the dust is a desert curse. Pictures speak for themselves. The wooden door is in place of the flaps to the entry of the tent. It helps with the coming and going, but in a real high sand storm, the wind can open the door and allow the sand to blow in. Then we have to clean everything. My Tent is number 4. Dust is always present, some of the areas here is like moon dust it is so fine and light.