One Marine's view from Iraq

[thedrifter]

One Marine's view from Iraq
THE NEWS STOOPER

So there we are watching good ol reliable CNN……….well it was worth a shot to fool you but you are all too smart for that and know its not reliable. A continuous replaying report came on how multiple government facilities and bases were attacked in downtown Ramadi, Iraq on Thursday. They continued to show video of masked men shooting down a street (which should be criminal, if a US reporter cooperates with and films the enemy at their location and aides them in any way, he should be tried for treason and executed in public if found guilty). But wait a second, the report and video don't match, but who back in the states would notice so lets role this footage and fool the sheep who follow our every word. They are too stupid and they won't know. Its video of anywhere but Ramadi. How do we know?? oh because we were downtown Ramadi when all the "attacks" were suppose to have happened. The markets were active and small children were out and about even yes, around the US bases. No bases were attacked and nothing was out of the ordinary as the BIG time news station was reporting. But, they weren't alone. Yahoo reports like this one with little to no meat to the story was also released but now has been altered to read different as they know they were taken to the cleaners. "Insurgents attack government facilities" what a wad of monkey crap!!

America if you didn't believe us in the past, this should do nothing but reinforce how we are saying that the enemy is trying to get to you all at home to go south and demand us to come home before the job is done and that the media is soooo off mark. This just proves we are making huge gains here. Why? Because the real blind sheep…….the big time news agencies bought the trick, line and sinker from the terrorists. They fell for the oldest trick in the book, taking news tips from the enemy and paying them big cash to allow camera men to tag along with them. Yea great idea because a camera might look like an RPG to a Marine far enough away. It's a clever technique that the US invented. Counter pysops is one way to buy out "reliable" sources to submit story's to the press. This is now proof of how desperate the big time news agencies are for bad gauge on the US campaign in Iraq. They have no news so they pay for whatever may come down the line. Lowering their contacts and standards they knowingly purchase news reports and film events from the enemy. Their fat ass reporters that never leave Baghdad buildings sit in a nice protected building and never come where the fighting is. But when its time for their 45 seconds of fame interview on Clown Network News they walk outside and record a breaking news update. Ever notice how clean those reporters are? You don't stay clean running around while bullets are being fired at you. When they do come out for more than a day they hide themselves in hummers and under their ill fitting helmets that slope down and cover their eyes, that is if they don't have it on backwards, that's a sight to see (I got to get a picture of one of them for ya). I swear they must eat big bowls of dumbass before they depart so that they can ask the most retarded questions to troops. They sound like Jane Freaking Fonda herself when they open their mouths. There are a couple reporters that "live" with the troops to get stories, not many but Im quickly loosing confidence in their ability as well since MSNNBC ran the above story as "Breaking News" and then had some cluster screwball that was an "embedded reporter" (traitor) living with the troops, talking about how Iraqi forces arnt even materializing. Holy BAT **** Robin, Im in the wrong work. I should start a news agency called "No **** news" and when I don't have anything to report I would print "I no **** don't have a damn thing to say" at least it would be honest news unlike these walking frauds.

But nope these brainiacks are vomiting so much crap faster than they can validate it. Seems to be a reoccurring event huh? I can just hear two bonehead reporters talking now….. "hey bob I hear there were attacks in Ramdi today, really I didn't get up until noon so Im not sure and you know we haven't had a story in awhile so let me call a guy I met last week carrying an AK47. He gave me this Iraqi cell phone and he will give us the word on the street. You know we need to send some material back to the clown network so our ass's can continue to grow while we are out here playing Nintendo." Hand me that box of Twinkies would ya? Great I'll bring my camera and get some footage of them shooting at American troops! Great idea you're a swell guy bob". Music from the "Leave it to Beaver" TV show begins to play in the background.

Its now so very obvious that the president has just landed a size twelve Monkey Stomp on the insurgents and wayward sheep's chest. With his release of the Iraq Plan the media is dumbfounded and the ones that can read are now scratching their fat asses and saying hummmm sounds like a good plan. Well no kidding Dick Tracy, wake up get on a weight loss plan and smell the freaking roses. If you haven't read the plan do so by clicking here. I'm going to print off hard copies and mail them to all of the news agencies in huge romper room style print just so they cant say they don't know what we are talking about. They can have nap time after they read it.

Apparently, now every time you see a news story, your going to have to ask yourself. "I wonder what really happened" because as you already know, they have lost their most valuable characteristic, credibility and this proves your continuously getting news from the enemy!

We got small arms fire just off the base, gotta go help Marines that are making real news.…….if you see any reporters tell them to drop the Twinkies, follow the cigar smoke and head this way!

Semper-

Capt B out……….

[thedrifter]

ONE TEAM ONE FIGHT
By Captain B in Iraq

I face combat operations. Its dangerous but so is crossing the street in any downtown city. Its all how you look at it. You back home are facing combat operations as well. Look at what is happening in our home. I hear of Merry Holidays? What the hell is that???? In my short life I thought it was Merry Christmas. When did the slap on the table happen for that one to change? I didn't slap the table but maybe its time we do slap some things around.

I don't get it who (ACLU) told everyone that its ok to change history anddelete the words on a recent monument dedicated in DC that removed the word "God" from the presidents words? Who was the one who said "lets stop saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools"? Who is the one that is taking your freedom away through the court systems?

Me and my Marines are over here kicking the living dog**** out of scumbags who want to see us demoralize from within so that THEY can run America and it be one nation under Allah! Sorry scumbags its not gonna happen while Im here and YOU don't let it happen back there while Im here either!

Here is a "No **** Breaking News story" ITS Christmas because it is Jesus's Birthday, celebrated different by different religions and that's fine but it's a religious holiday. If you don't believe in it, don't celebrate it, get coal, I don't care! However, we arnt going to change it nor other holidays because we are afraid of offending you. If your offended……..pound sand I don't care. I respect other religions even Muslim but you don't see me telling them not to play their loud 5 times a day Muslim prayer over their loud speakers forcing it down my neck do you?

Next thing youll here is that I cant take the American flag into battle with me because it would offend the enemy………or better yet we wont be able to sing the National Anthem at baseball games. I tell my Marines when we are back in the states and they do something that might not seem like a big deal, "That's how it all begins, you wear the wrong color t shirt and they next thing you know you are putting in live rounds when you should have blanks in your weapons during training exercises." It may seem small but it roots and gets very serious quick! Its like loading your pack with gear. I like to say ounces are pounds meaning the little ounces build up quickly to add on pounds.

This is the same thing, Merry Holidays, no pledge to allegiance, no National Anthem, what are we coming to? Your Marines are fighting for what you and they believe in here and around the world. We have core values of our country that we don't want changed.

One person can make a difference "ounces make pounds" and by telling your congressman you can show them it matters to you to by voicing your opinion. THEY work for you and don't ever forget that. We are a United team. Are you on the team?

[thedrifter]

Notes from a hometown hero

Wilson County News
30.NOV.05

Thank you warriors!

We get a lot of letters of support from all ages. Remember: letters are great. You don't have to send us a huge package. We love it, but don't forget that this whole thing is about "support."

We will respond to letters, but please be patient as operation commitment comes first. Also, remember to put your return address on your card in your package so we can write you back.

Your Marines have been busy as ever and making great gains, closing escape routes and capturing many listed terrorists through Operation Steel Curtain in the west. Terrorists dressing as women, dropping their weapons, and blending have only delayed their capture as, Marines continue to outwit their opponents.

Recently we celebrated the Marine Corps' birthday and Veterans Day. We received many letters of support and encouragement; they were awesome and helped out a lot.

Below is a short portion of one warrior's Veterans Day experience. Please remember that all year our country is full of heroes who deserve to be recognized on more than just one day!

I have heard from friends from all over the globe these past few days with well-wishes and reports on our fantastic troops. I cannot believe that some within our borders presently waver at support and we are once again hearing the effusive cries of self-defeatism which were so common during the Vietnam era.

We were "greeted" by these idiots at airports as we returned from our tours of duty and even heard their shouts from our hospital beds here in the United States as we recovered from wounds. I heard them in Bethesda, Oakland, and San Diego, and got into a 'tussle' with a couple of the unwashed in Portland, Maine. (Wish there had been a couple more, as I didn't even work up a sweat).

Where do we get such idiotic people who can't see far enough ahead of their respective noses that they refuse to recognize that if the battles aren't stopped in places like Iraq, that we will be bound to fight them much like the French are these days along their parks and streets?

But I digress, as my purpose tonight is one of apology for being late with my own best wishes for our Corps' 230th birthday greetings to all Marines whom I have had the honor and pleasure of serving with and knowing, and for those who came before us and provided us with our legacy, and these magnificent Marines who now serve throughout the world and continue to uphold the traditions in what is truly a fantastic manner. And to our sailors who so valiantly share our burdens by our sides … our "Docs" are also special to us at this time and we honor them as well!

Of course, on Veterans Day, we honor all who have served …especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our beloved country. I attended a very well-done ceremony at Luckie Park with Patti yesterday. New C.G., MCAGCC, and the Sergeant Major were there in Dress Blues "A".

Brig. Gen. Stone gave a good talk that was very well received by all present. Many local folks came up to me after the ceremonies to wish me well, etc., and to say a few words after the events of the day. All was nice but something was missing.

I took Patti home as wind was getting high like it does out here in the desert …

I drove to our local cemetery and had the entire place all to myself … Not a single soul anywhere to be seen.

I went to the special Veterans Section, newly dedicated when I was the mayor of Twenty-nine Palms. Some of the graves had American flags on them and some had Marine miniature colors now flying in a very stiff breeze. There were some miniature flags also scattered among graves throughout the cemetery, where families buried their loved ones before the new section was dedicated a few years ago.

I managed to get to every grave bearing a flag and paid my respects at each one. They were from every branch of our armed forces but, by far, mostly Marines.

Would you believe that for the entire time that I was at the cemetery - over an hour and a half - I was the only person visiting in that entire place! Despite my crippled legs, I managed to visit and say a thank-you and a quick prayer at every grave with a marker and rendered a good salute and the thanks of our nation.

My only companions were the birds in the air and a few rabbits munching on some of the fresh flowers that families had ordered for some of the graves. Not one single soul showed up to say hello to their veterans or kin while I was there. How sad!

I kept my composure until I returned to my car and then, like a fool … I allowed my eyeballs to sweat a bit! I couldn't help but think about how close I had come to not making it to see the Marine Corps' birthday this year or to be able to walk around to pay tribute to these veterans who had come before us. It just got the best of me for a few moments.

Sorry to bore you with some personal "stuff" but this kinda got to me yesterday.

Good night Lobo and Frank …and all friends. May God bless and continue protecting all of our Marines and sailors and all of our fighting men and women, wherever they are throughout the globe.

Also… May God give wisdom to those who send them forward into battle from afar. We are already blessed with terrific leadership where the rubber meets the road and where the warriors are trained and led. I believe they are better than we ever thought of being!

Continue to support your troops - all of them, all the time!

Semper Fi.
Capt. B.

[thedrifter]

Patrolling Haqlaniyah
On patrol with the Raiders of Kilo Company in Haqlaniyah
By Bill Roggio

HAQLANIYAH, IRAQ: The drive from Haditha Dam to Haglaniyah was fast and furious. The night starts with a ride in the back of an open 7 ton transport with a crew from Sky News and a team of Marines. The convoy roared down the roads at high speed during the night in blackout conditions, making turns a truck that large had no right making. The trip from the dam to Raider Nation, the foward position of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion,1st Marines, was low key save some interesting driving.

Raider Nation is one of four outposts in Haqlaniyah. The bulk of the company is stationed at Raider Nation, along with a platoon of Iraq soldiers. The other three outposts are Black Hole to the north of Haqlaniyah, TCP to the west, and K3 to the south. Lima Company sits to the east of the river in Barwana. Kilo Company’s three outposts contain a platoon of Iraqi infantry and one squad of Marines who acts as advisors in addition to their duties.

Checkpoints have been established into and out of the city, which allows Kilo to monitor traffic. The Raiders have cleared each house in the city since Operation Rivergate, and over 35 significant weapons caches have been discovered in the process. One find contained over 100 large caliber artillery shells. The Raiders also agressively patrol the desert regions to the west and south of the city to interdict insurgent mortar teams.

Haqlaniyah is a markedly different town than Husaybah. The residents are more educated, and there are many professionals who work at the dam or in other industry in the area. The streets are cleaner, the people’s dress is more western and there are more expensive cars on the road.

Residents of Haqlaniyah Speaking with Interpreter.

The Marines based out of Raider Nation aggressively patrol the city jointly with Iraqi Army troops. Today I walked the city with 1st Squad from the Raider’s 2nd Platoon. The squad is led by Corporal Joe Sanchez, a tough Marine who is on his third tour of duty in Iraq.

Today’s mission was to escort a psychological operations team from Detatchment 930, Company A, 9th POV out of Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Contrary to the common negative perceptions about their mission; psyops responsibility is to provide information on local elections and information on the Coalition’s reconstruction efforts. A campaign of deliberate misinformation would render the unit inneffective.

The the psyops team is lead by Sergeant Rivers, and today’s assignment was to distribute leaflets and place posters on the walls with information on the election to the residents of Haqlaniya. Sgt.Rivers was adament that this was a job for the accompanying Iraqi troops; “This is their election, and they need to do the work.”

The Iraqi units based out of Haqlaniyah are raw troops, fresh out of training. The Marines here do not speak as highly of them as the tough Iraqis of the 1st Divison they fought with in Fallujah. But there is an understanding that the Iraqi troops they work with are in their infancy, and there is much room for improvement.

Iraqi Troops Hanging Election Posters in Haqlaniyah.

On today’s patrol, the Iraqi troops were not quite as disciplined as those I walked with in Husaybah, but they were capable. They enthusiastically hung the posters and handed out the election flyers to the numerous residents they encountered. Afterwards at the squad’s debrief, Cpl. Sanchez stated “the Iraqi troops performed their mission out there today.”

The walk was relatively uneventful. Two shots from what is belived to be an AK-47 were heard, but their origin was not determined. A car that was on a watchlist for acting as a getaway vehicle in a past shooting was identified, and weaved out of the traffic to elude the patrol. Lance Corporal Randy Lake gave chase on foot, and the psyops Humvee attempted to pursue, but the car escaped.

Just a week ago mortar and small arms fire was common at Raider Nation. The past few days have been quiet in Haqlaniyah and the surrounding areas.

1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

GRAY AREA

The scumbags on defiantly on their heels, IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and IDF (indirect fire) are picking up. I know what your saying if the bad guys on their heels how come attacks are picking up? Well because we are in their heads and every where else and they are being forced to fight. Much like, fish in a barrel. They can’t turn around without bumping into to an Army “jo” or Marine. What a world!

I find Iraq very surreal. Take yesterday for example. The day began as I was awakened at 0400 by the artillery pieces firing 12 sporadic rounds in support of troops in contact and counter artillery. As the day went on I had to PT (physical train) (yes, we stay in shape even in combat) and began just as our mortars opened up and fired 8 rounds right over my head to impact just 300 meters off the base to destroy a few wanna be terrorists. Then just when you have shook your head in disbelief of this place and continue your day a good size gunfight erupts near the base and we call in cobra helos and Harrier jets to do multiple gun runs onto a building with a half dozen terrorists inside who just attacked an observation post and want to meet their virgins. The distinct loud blurb of the 120mm gatlin gun on the nose of the attack helo got everyone’s attention. Ahhh finally time to relax and have a stoag, NOPE small arms and RPG attack on the other side of the base. The smell of explosives in the evening……ahhh almost as good as a stoag!.

Many people leave comments (thank you very much by the way) and send emails about what they can send us, what do we need. What do we need? Really? Its more armor right…..nope. Its more troops right?..........nope. Its gotta be the stooper idea of pulling us out of here, right?..........mention that again and someone’s getting hurt, NO.

We simply need your support. Think back during past holidays. How many American flags have you seen flying? Cmon think!!!! Oh I know you see the usual holiday decorations and flags at the post office and bank but how about your work place, neighbor’s house or even your house? Im not trying to drive up my stock in American flags but the fact that they arnt that expensive and cost about as much as a lunch at McDonalds why don’t you have one flying??? Well???

By flying your flag you show your support for your warriors past, present and future. The American flag is feared in many places and still stood strong after many of America’s battles to include WWI, the Beirut bombings on the US Embassy, Iwo Jima and at the Pentagon after it was attacked on Sept 11th. It is a powerful symbol that you and your fellow Americans have believed in and died for what it represents. In Afghanistan we did one mission where we flew in and established blocking positions and check points to disrupt, capture and kill insurgents and Al Qaeda forces in the area. When we inserted in Marine Corps CH-53 large Helos, the locals and even former Muj ran into the mountains like a bad reenactment of a Monty Python show. While witnessing this we thought it was because there was enemy in the area and they knew there was a gun fight a coming! But only after talking to some of the local tribesman we found out that they thought we were Russians invading again and were running for their lives. Once we learned this we positioned an American flag over our position and the locals came out of the wood work. Once they saw the American flag they knew things were going to be ok.

My old neighbor that lived next to me was from Saudia Arabia (sleeper cell) and had a small flag pole on his porch with a faded torn American flag. Big freaking negative and I tried the typical approach by brining it to their attention that their flag was torn and faded and perhaps they should replace it. Not knowing English I got the normal smile and head nodd from the woman in the Burka. So I bumped it up a notch and being the “friendly” neighbor, I gratefully installed a new stitched beautiful American flag on their pole, saluted it and posted. Thinking they would get the hint. The next day her “husband” took it down and we never saw it again. Hey, it’s a free country and if you don’t want to show your appreciation ok, but to reject the offer and deny the respect of the stars and bars……… I better not hear a single ***** from you on any other topic about this country or you can stand the hell by.

The American flag, a simple symbol that says “Land of the free home of the brave”. A representation of what we believe in and a simple way for YOU to show that you support us and the country. What would potential terrorist think if they went past a street with the stars and bars flying on everyone’s porch? You should make your neighbor feel like major donkey crap for NOT having one displayed. Do you remember after Sept 11th how every news paper put a full page as the flag in the following days paper? Why did they stop that?? So here you go Mr Newspaper companies, Im calling you out, you want to talk the talk and have your reporters do so called “support the troops” stories? Well then lets walk the walk, and start printing US Flags in the paper. If not everyday, then how about Fridays OR for my ACLU readers how about every SUNDAY? Yes, I like that every Sunday toss out those worthless crapy advertisements that paperboys all over the world are cussing you out over and replace it with a full page color American flag What, are you skeeered? Afraid of the repercussion?? Well tell your complaining bed wetters to pound sand if they don’t like it or if they think it infringes on their “rights” (see previous Blog entry, window licker if your that slow) and tell them perhaps they should go to either coast and jump really far into the ocean and leave this great country. It’s very simple, you’re either with us or against us, there isn’t any gray area here.

Time for a C-Gar!
Semper Fidelis from Iraq!

posted by Capt B at 2:22 AM

[thedrifter]

One Marine's View from Iraq

THE FEW THE PROUD

What the heck is up with you Marines a man asked me once. I asked what do you mean? He continued and said you guys have this indescribable bond that even though you may not even know each other personally you automatically are great friends and start talking like you haven’t seen each other in awhile regardless of age, rank or gender and take care of each other as if you were brothers. I laughed and told him yes, it’s a respect thing I guess. We recognize each other as Marines and know the training the other has gone through and earned. When I was enlisted (Corporal) I stayed far away from Officers as possible. They are the “dark side” and will crush you for something or another. But since I had been an enlisted Marine and now Officer I would never ask them to do anything I haven’t done already or wouldn’t do with them. As an Officer you do everything with and for your Marines. As the same goes for any senior rank you take care of the young Marines first, its our “law”. Young Marines always eat first before Staff Sergeants and junior officers eat before senior officers. Not all branches do this but Marines do and when I was enlisted I had the goal to be an officer and promised myself that I would always take care of the enlisted Marine.
We were out in Afghani once and had hot chow arranged special air deliver to us that night . Thinking they would get hot chow a few of the men ate their single ration MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) at about lunch time. We were positioned on a 10,000 foot hill and when the time came for the aircraft to arrive the helos called and notified us of the inability to reach us because we were positioned too high for them to reach and the altitude was to thin for them to fly in. So knowing the men have to eat, the Staff Sergeants and Officers gave up their chow for the Marines. We put the junior Marines first.

In combat, wars are won by the young Marines in the mud in the alleys fighting head to head with the enemy. Granted Officers are in sync with their senior enlisted Marines and formulate the plan but it’s the team leaders who execute and determine if the plan will be a success or failure. As an officer you are responsible for whatever your men do or fail to do. With training, respect and love like they are your own kids you sharpen them to razor sharp non stop so when the time comes that they are deployed to Iraq to enforce the nations policy, you know their capabilities, and they know yours and you are successful at defeating the enemy regardless of the situation. Our bond is a brotherhood, a gun club and some even go to the extent of it being like a mafia. It will always be that way because Once a Marine Always a Marine. There are no former Marines, only dead Marines.

We were in a small village were we knew their were enemy soldiers hiding waiting for us. As we began to move towards the village the enemy small arms fire began with the distinct soundd of the Russian AK47, the Marines began to maneuver spread out and attack moving toward the reinforced enemy and into the oncoming gunfire. One squad moved and began suppression as another unit moved to kill the insurgents. An advancing Marine exposeshimself and gets hit in the leg and is down in the open. His is bleeding badly and is in the the middle of the street. His First Sergeant (senior enlisted in a rifle company) sees the Marine and without hesitation exposes himself to enemy fire runs down the middle of the street to retrieve the downed Marine. He tries picks the Marine up over his shoulder but he is too heavy with all of the gear and he has no time to ponder as bullets continue to be fire at them He drags him back behind a rock where the corpsman begin treating him for his wound. A tourniquet is applied and he will be ok but perhaps not if the 1stSgt didn’t act quickly without care of himself and retrieve the Marine before another round could have mortally wounded him. There are hundreds of stories as this but we as Marines never leave a man behind, never despite the danger.

We as Marines care for one another, police our own and hold each other accountable for our actions. We are Marines by choice, we don’t make policy we enforce it and we do it together as one team, one voice. Apparently this is something Senator Murtha has forgotten. He isn’t caring for your Marines or America. He isn’t speaking with one voice and by pulling out of Iraq or Afghanistan before we are done is treason. He continues with his damage control techniques but it to late Senator. As I sat next to him in Haditha Iraq during his visit and he pounded on the table with his closed fist and stated we are behind you and we want to finish this. Well Sir you finished this alright although Im not talking about Iraq, Im talking about your career and your respect. You have lost the respect of the brotherhood. You have failed to take care of your junior Marines Sir! You have to live with that on your conscious. I would rather be dead than disrespect all of the fallen Marines as you have.

I guess what that guy in the beginning witnessed was the American spirit and the brotherhood of the Marines. Someone who has earned the title of The Few and The Proud and kept it.

May God continue to Bless America. Captain of Marines.

COMBAT UPDATE
Iraqi Army Soldiers, U.S. Marines and Army Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) concluded Operation Gashshaar (Skinner) in central Ramadi today. The operation began on the evening of Dec. 7 and was the seventh disruption operation conducted in Ramadi since Nov. 16 to set conditions in the city for successful elections December 15. The operation netted four weapons caches and several detainees and also two command initiated rocket systems designed to ambush passing convoys in central Ramadi. The combined forces also discovered a roadside bomb that the insurgents planned to use in the rocket attack.Iraqi and U.S. forces also disrupted terrorist plans when they discovered an insurgent bomb making factory in the center of the Ramadi Shopping district. Artillery and mortar rounds, timers and remote detonators were found in the bomb making facility. The previous operations conducted by the Iraqi Army and U.S. Forces in Ramadi recently were: Operation Panthers, Bruins, Lions, Tigers, Shank and Rams. Details concerning Operation Skinner were not provided earlier due to operational security.

posted by Capt B

[thedrifter]

12-12-05 <br />
With an NCO in Iraq <br />
By Richard F. Miller <br />
<br />
Mr. Miller is author of Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as well as A Carrier at War: Shock and...

[thedrifter]

Letters From the Front
Fox News
Monday, December 12, 2005

1st Lt. Brian Donlon granted FOX Fan permission to publish letters he sends home to family and friends as he serves the United States of America overseas in Iraq.

December 10, 2005

Just wanted to give you a heads up that I got hit on the 8th. Had an RPK (Kalashnikov light machine gun) in a combined ambush punch a round through my right quad. I will be off crutches in about five days and back with my guys in about seven or eight. I am recuperating with my Company back at Baharia in the meantime.

— 1st Lt. Brian Donlon


November 5, 2005

To All:

Letters will probably not follow each other so quickly, but things here have finally slowed down. Between acquainting ourselves to this area of operation, the October 15th referendum, and the heightened insurgent activity during Ramadan, October was a very difficult month.

Living conditions here are good. We live at an abandoned Baathist lakeside resort and the Marines have about five men to a cottage. Chow is good and mail comes regularly. Packages tend to get here in 5-10 days, while oddly, letters take about two weeks or more. "Moto-Mail" — e-mails sent and then printed out — come within 24 hours and are a real blessing, keeping everyone in tune with events at home.

The weather here has changed from very hot to quite cool. When we first arrived, temperatures were routinely over 100 degrees. Much has been said of the heat over here, but suffice it to say that once inside an armored HMMWV, sitting in full body armor, windows closed and the heat of the transmission beside your leg, you feel a bit like a chicken in a rotisserie. Goggles fog up, your weapon becomes hot to the touch and you long for even the slightest breeze. The first month in country, the sweetest part of every day was when I re-entered friendly lines late at night, opened my window and felt relief from air that was merely in the upper 90s. Temperatures now are in the low 50s at night and the mid 70s at noon. This would be welcome weather but with it has come with sandstorms, occasional rain and a bitter wind that makes everything feel much colder.

The terrain varies greatly, from sparse desert sands to thick palm groves along ancient canals. War has made its mark here. It is like visiting a Civil War battlefield a year, rather than a century, after the final shot was fired. One is constantly reminded of the timelessness of this place. One morning, while watching a road from atop a hill of deep silt, I chanced upon the site of an abandoned archaeological dig. Foundations of small houses, the remains of a well, the worn stone of a pathway, all that remained of those who were here two hundred or two thousand years ago. Other times, we find dilapidated British Enfield rifles and German Mauser rifles, manufactured in Iran, some carrying ammunition bearing a stamp of 1938 with Nazi eagle and swastika on the brass, reminders that we are not the first between the Tigris and Euphrates.

This fight is a difficult one. The challenge is that the war is truly about winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. Fallujah is strategic both geographically and politically. Located east of the intersection of the main road to Syria and the main road to Jordan, Fallujah is the last stop before Baghdad. For the foreign fighter, this is a path of choice. Here, despite fatuous claims of a great bloodletting of American warriors, the Muj lost the battle last year with the spectacularly poor results of every conventional stand against our forces. For these reasons, there is a concerted effort to retain or regain, respectively, control of this area and its population.

Some days our lives are like that of a police officer, other days that of an aid worker, and others as killers seeking a single target. This constant change of context is not easy. Mistakes and happenstance cause damage quickly; the second and third order effects of each error engendering a negative perception. War is not scrupulous in who suffers. I met a boy who was shot through the knee while asleep on a summer night last year, innocent victim to a gun battle two miles distant between a convoy and the Muj. Another time, we watched an Iraqi vehicle inexplicably careen out of control at high speed, flipping several times. Rushing to the scene, we pulled the man from his vehicle, provided first aid and summoned the police. As we helped this man, accusing eyes peered from every car that passed, blaming us, guilty by association with this accident.

The simplest human emotional response to such events is expression of pity, sorrow and ultimately, resignation to frustrated surrender. It is just such a reaction that the insurgents anticipate and exploit. My Marines have to remain constant professionals, controlling their emotions, managing fear, anger, pity, and boredom; often choosing to kill or not to kill at 60 MPH at night from the turret of a HMMWV. This is an incredibly cerebral battle. It is not easy, especially with little sleep and the exhausting day-in, day-out slog of work, to reason through it all. Absolutes do not work. You can neither sympathetically drop all guards nor angrily point guns in every face. Every Marine must be ready to be a "Good Cop" or "Bad Cop" at the drop of a hat. Against this, conventional warfare, for all its complexity of maneuver and firepower, seems so much simpler. In a conventional war you can give truth to Tacitus's maxim that Roman conquerors would "make a desert and call it a peace." The existence of a front and a rear, clear enemies, straightforward goals and simple rules make a conventional war checkers to this game of chess we play. I am sure I have said nothing new here, but I believe these challenges bear repeating because despite all we face, my Marines have performed marvelously. Two noteworthy examples I want to share:

Corporal Derek Burchfield from Tennessee was in the truck with Sergeant Adams when he was killed on October 15. A week later, Corporal Burchfield was attacked again, this time when his vehicle ran over a mine. The armored HMMWV saved his life, but he was wounded in the right leg. Knowing he was hit, he nonetheless continued to lead his Marines, refusing medical attention, hobbling around the wreckage setting security. He did not accept medical attention until I arrived and took command of the scene. Two days later, he begged me to be included in an operation to catch an IED triggerman and off he limped after the enemy.

One of the biggest challenges we have here is the wear and tear on the HMMWVs, exacerbated by constant use and the added weight of armor. Without the vehicles my platoon cannot accomplish its mission. Over the last month, three of my Marines, Sergeant Matthew Fontenot from Louisiana, Corporal Markoe Beachley from Maryland and Corporal Justin Wess from Ohio have worked in their off hours, often through the night between back-to-back patrols, to keep the trucks running. They have learned on the job to rebuild transmissions, replace half shafts, suspensions, alternators and through a myriad of repairs build a "Monster Garage" of vehicles that often resemble a scene from "Mad Max." Without their work, the platoon would have failed in its mission long before now.

I share these stories for two reasons: First, to show the inspiration that these men give me daily. Heroes like these keep me in the fight. They humble me to do my job with the same passion that they do theirs. Second, because the underlying theme I see in my Marines is that of tenacity. It is this same trait that we seek to articulate to both civilian and insurgent through our words and actions. The message is simple: attack us, wound us, kill us, blow up our trucks — we will keep coming back and will only leave when we choose to. The day Sergeant Adams was killed the platoon was spread over some miles distance. Hearing of his death, I ordered a link-up and we immediately drove back into the area of the ambush. In the final minutes of his life, as he was evacuated, Iraqis along the little dirt road through the palm grove had laughingly mocked the speeding convoy. That afternoon, the second time we left, no laughing was heard behind us but many tears, and three of those involved in his death rode as prisoners in the back of our trucks.

In light of what I continue to see here, I cannot help but find relevance in Winston Churchill's comments about the battle of Gallipoli many years after World War I had ended and the battle, his inspired brainchild, was deemed an utter failure: "Searching my heart, I cannot regret the effort. It was good to go as far as we did. Not to persevere — that was the crime."

All right, enough from me. God Bless, and thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. For all those who have written me: I will try to communicate with you more regularly. Thanks again for all your support. I could accomplish nothing without your support.

— 1st Lt. Brian Donlon

October 1, 2005

To All:

I write this letter after a little over a month operating in and around the city of Fallujah. I am sorry I could not write sooner but communication is much more restrictive and the days much longer than on my last deployment. I get to the Internet and a phone maybe once a week. I am lucky, as some here only communicate with home once a month. We routinely work 18-20 hour days so time is an extremely valuable commodity.

This is the third time I have attempted to put pen to paper. At first, I couldn't find the time to sit and write. Then, in my second attempt, I struggled to coherently piece together all the events which had occurred in so short a space of time. I wrote a letter I never sent on October 13th, a few days before the constitutional referendum. Looking back, I am thankful I never sent it because frankly, I didn't know what I was talking about and it was all pretty much a collection of vain-eloquent tripe.

On October 15th, my platoon sergeant was killed by a roadside bomb while conducting security between two polling sites. His name was Sergeant Mark Adams and he was from Raleigh, North Carolina. He was 24 years old and was without a doubt the best sergeant I have ever worked with and the best platoon sergeant I have ever had. For those who know, I arrived in country with about 80 Marines. Realizing the extremely high operational tempo here, we split the platoon and spread the leadership across the board. I chose Sergeant Adams as my Platoon Sergeant because I knew he was an exceptional leader of Marines. I would like to share a few things about him:

Sergeant Adams left the Marine Corps a little over a year ago, completing his four years of service and attending NC State. At some point in his second semester he realized how disconnected he truly was from his college peers. He realized that he still aspired to lead Marines in combat. Sending off his sons to the trenches of World War I, Teddy Roosevelt advised his young namesake on the eve of departure that "it is best to satisfy the heart's desire, and then abide the fall of the dice of destiny." I cannot think of a quote that better describes Sergeant Adams. Many fear a draft, complain of constant deployments, or begrudge the recall of our reservists, National Guard and inactive ready reserve. The only recall Sergeant Adams answered was the recall inside his own heart.

The first time I met him was early in the summer when he showed up with long hair, dressed like a frat boy with that casual, carefree attitude of the happy times when life lacks tangible consequences. Within a minute, he turned serious and said that he wanted "to get into the fight." After lunch and an hour's conversation, I was convinced that his words were not idly spoken, and that he was perfectly suited to lead men into harm's way. Sergeant Adams was the kind of non-commissioned officer that makes the Marine Corps what it is. He led by example, was firm but fair, knew and loved his men dearly, and was absolutely selfless. His loss was like the loss of a limb to me, and like the loss of an older brother to my platoon. Sergeant Adams was killed while leading from the most dangerous place, from a place where he was not required to be as platoon sergeant. He died leading from the turret of a HMMWV (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) so that a tired machine-gunner could rest.

Some would argue that Sergeant Adam's life was not worth what we are doing here. Some would say that the constitutional referendum and the democratization of this country are not worth the life of one American. These accusations dishonor Sergeant Adams and cheapen his sacrifice. I will not pretend to speak for his family, their burden is one to which I can never give adequate words. I will speak though for myself and my Marines. Knowing the kind of man that he was, our hearts thunder inside us, telling us that if he had to die, Sergeant Adams died as he would have chosen, leading from the front, from the most dangerous place, from what is called the "cone of aimed fire." In other words, where the mujahideen are trying their very hardest to kill you.

In the last conversation I had with him, looking over a map, discussing the area he would enter the next day, he became adamant that he was tired of being afraid of the enemy, he was tired of walking on tender feet:

"We're Marines, sir. Fifty years ago we beat a better-trained, better-equipped enemy without armored HMMWVs and body armor. We can take these guys. We gotta get after these guys, gotta hunt them down where they live. We can beat them. We can't try to avoid them."

I'm not sure what I meant to accomplish by this letter. I am not trying to inflate my experience or claim it is unique -- here death is common for both Iraqis and Americans. Many of my peers have suffered greater losses than I. I'm not sure if I write tonight for myself, for you all, or for Sergeant Adams. I guess I write because watching a BBC broadcast I heard that "only five people died yesterday" to give the Iraqi people the right to vote. As I sat in my chair, a chill passed over me, "only" seeming particularly sharp and hollow in the description of so valorous a loss of life. I guess I wanted you all, my friends and family, to know a bit about one of these men of honor, to know that for all the numerical reckoning of a "quagmire" and rumors of "low morale," that the man I knew, respected and loved, died a hero in my eyes because he fought here only because he knew it was the right thing to do. Sometimes your heart tells you what is right, sometimes a voice speaks inside and guides you, despite all the eloquent conjecture of every panel of second-guessers, arm-chair quarterbacks and purported experts, Shakespeare's "one ten thousand of those men…who do no work today." I will never forget Sergeant Adams' willingness to leave all the comforts we take for granted, those simple pleasures he already so richly deserved for his service. His willingness to enter the fray with full knowledge of the potential costs, to gamble all, to hold nothing back, will stay with me the rest of my life.

God bless and thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.

— 1st Lt. Brian Donlon

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Letter From A Battlefield Hospital

Received this letter via COL (ret) Joel Leson. It's a must read. LTC Barnes is someone you should know:

Letter From A Battlefield Hospital, Scott D. Barnes, LTC, MC, USA

Date: Tuesday, 13 December, 2005 17:42

Well, as promised, with this letter I have kept my commitment to do better in keeping you informed of what I was doing over here in Iraq. Since I had only sent one letter previously, with this update I have doubled my correspondence. Again, if there is anyone else you think would want to get a copy of this letter, please feel free to pass it along.

I had every intention of trying to get this out just around Thanksgiving but very soon after that holiday, things seemed to pick up at work and I have just been trying to keep pace with the influx.

November has been an interesting month. Certainly not as busy as October but patients would come more in waves than a steady stream. During the month of October, the 86th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) was the 3rd busiest trauma center in the world! You read that correctly, only the trauma centers in Miami and Los Angeles did more work that we did. Just think of all the trauma hospitals in New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and those in Europe, Asia, and Central/South America.most of which have 5-10 times the number of staff which we have here. It's amazing what you can get done when you eliminate the burdensome task of JCAHO (hospital regulating organization) and the exponentially expanding administrative tasks that have grown like Kudzu (weed that has overtaken much of the highways in the southeaster US) as they choke off efficient patient care. That and the fact that if you work 24 hours a day and live in the hospital while being locked down to about two square blocks seem to help us see more patients...

...This is medical and surgical care practiced the way that many doctors dream. You see problems, diagnose the condition, quickly plan the operation, and you just do it. Patients don't wait, doctors don't wait, OR staff doesn't wait.it is amazing! We all love it and if it weren't for missing our families or dealing with the occasional rocket and mortar attack, most of us would not want to leave.

I have had the privilege of being adopted by the neuro team. We have world class care here. COL Ecklund is the chief of the neurosurgery program at Walter Reed, COL Ling is the only neuro-intensivist in the entire department of defense (he actually works at Johns Hopkins neurosurgical ICU teaching most of the military's critical care and neurology residents as they rotate through), and COL Mork is the anesthesiologist dedicated to the neurosurgical cases. As a number of head injuries involve eye injuries, it is a somewhat natural pairing. This has afforded me an incredible opportunity to be involved in quite a number of neurosurgical cases. COL Ecklund has shown me how to drill some burr holes in the skull and screw on plates to hold the bones after the case as well as closing up the scalp incisions over the craniotomy at the conclusion of the case. I can operate on the eyeball and use suture much finer than human hair.but to be a surgical assist to such a master as COL Ecklund has been inspiring. These soldiers, civilians, and even prisoners have no idea how fortunate they are to have such skilled hands at work in their case.

The integration of the whole team approach is one of the greatest factors in settings this experience apart.within minutes of a patient hitting the doors of the emergency room you have a general surgeon, neurosurgeon, oral-maxillo-facial surgeon, urologist, orthopedic surgeon, and an eye surgeon all examining and conferring on the way to best care for a patient. The nursing staff, the OR staff, the radiology techs.everything.it all just appears. Sort of like magic.a couple of doctors get called, word starts to get out and the machine starts working. The medics start drawing blood, the radiology techs arrive and start shooting pictures, the administrative personnel (yes we do have some!) start preparing the necessary paperwork, the anesthesia providers coming around like all of the other doctors, blood products from the blood bank starts to appear, and often the chaplain arrives. It really is beautiful to watch if you have a chance to sit back and really see what is going on.

Too often we don't see it because we are knees deep into the moment. We need to be reminded by those outside. Last month, the commander of one of the MP brigades asked to have a service for the OR/ER personnel that have meant so much to this unit over the duration of their deployment. This unit had been hit so hard week after week. Almost 40% of their members have been impacted by injuries. They had been such frequent fliers that we have become brothers in this struggle; the unit commander and sergeant major often join us in the operating room as we work on their men. This closeness and unity of purpose is not commonly seen between the medical corps (docs and the like) and the line units (real soldiers).but in this setting we are brothers. These line units no longer see us as detached, primadonnas who sit in a luxury white hospital while they train in the mud and dirt.they see us in our environment and see the same faces when they come in on Monday morning as when they come in at midnight on Tuesday and again on Thursday night. They ask if we ever get any sleep and how we can keep going.my answer is always the same, "Sergeant, when you are on combat operations, when was the last time you slept and how do you keep going?"

When the unit Sergeant Major told me that they do it because they don't want to let down their buddy next to them because he is depending on that help and they do it because they know that if they get hurt, they feel sure that the medical machine will not let them down. I told him our answer was similar for how we can operate the way we do.I don't want to let down my neurosurgeon or my general surgeon who depend on me for helping with the eyes (a lot of the neurologic function in an unconscious patient comes from the eye exam and in a severely traumatized eye that can be difficult to asses even for an eye surgeon) and I don't want to let down that soldier who puts his life on the line in part because he put his faith in our ability to put him together if he gets broken.

We work two sides of the same street but when we meet it is under the most difficult circumstances. When those young MPs roll in after having been torn up by IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and their lives are in the balance the family pulls together. The unit leaders come into the OR and the jobs are less defined.you just look for something that needs to be done and you do it. One young sergeant was badly broken and rushed to the OR. The IED had done its intended job and shredded this courageous American everywhere that wasn't covered by body armor. He was dying, but we weren't going to let him go without a fight. He had no immediate eye injury, so I just went to work getting the blood and hanging it on the infusers since those that usually do this were otherwise occupied. We kept pouring unit after unit into him but he was loosing it as quickly as we were able to get it in. The trauma surgeon and the vascular surgeon cracked his chest and started going after his injuries to try to stop the hemorrhaging. His heart stopped a number of times. The trauma surgeon held his heart and kept squeezing to aid in circulation while the anesthesiologists were infusing the medications needed to restart the heart. The two unit commanders were right there voicing their support and praying as they were watching the team. Two major injuries were found in the carotid and subclavian artery but too much damage had been done too much blood had been lost, and too much time had passed before his injuries could be repaired. We went through 45 units of blood. His heart stopped 7 times and we were able to restart it 6 times. When it became clear that we would not win this battle and that this young sergeant had gone into that good night, we turned off the machines and monitors, the chaplain stepped forward, and the unit commanders, nurses and doctors closed into a circle and we asked for the Lord's mercy on his soul and for God's peace with the family that will soon find out what we already know. This hero paid the ultimate price while doing his country's bidding.

I walked out onto the hospital roof which has been my refuge after such cases. I usually stay closer to some cover because I don't want to give snipers any target practice but this time I went over to hang over the rail looking down into the parking lot/patient receiving area. This is where the men usually gather to wait for news on what happened to their buddies (we don't have a waiting room). I will never forget what I saw there.for the strength of the emotion but also because I have seen it now too many times. About 30 soldiers hanging out in various groups, some talking, some joking, some smoking, some tossing a football, some catching a few winks.but just doing what waiting soldier do. LTC T (their commander) walked out to the group who immediately jumped up and gathered around the boss. I couldn't hear what was said from the roof, but I knew that commander had a difficult message to deliver. I didn't have to hear the words, these warriors' actions said it all.some just there motionless, some grabbed their buddies and just let the tears run down their dirt-stained faces, others unable to contain their anger, went to find a wall and began hitting it. The commander and sergeant major moved through their guys, reaching out to each one with a hug or supportive arm. Sometimes I can put all the damage and suffering behind me; my years in medicine have introduced me to death and in some ways I can detach myself. But to see this effect on his brothers in arms, transformed my previously detached self and turned on my humanity. In the ER and the OR, I can be the professional doctor.but on the roof, I become a human again. Under the cover of darkness I feel the pain of what I've seen.

Once the sergeant's body was prepared, his fellow soldiers came through and paid their last respects. This will always be the hardest part of my time here.to see these rough men break down at the sight of their fallen comrade. These leaders and subordinates file past their brother, touching him and paying their respects, shedding their tears, hugging their surviving brothers.then in a most amazing display of professionalism, they wipe their tears, put on their gear, and walk out of the hospital back to their unit and start their patrols all over again.

So the Sergeant Major asks how can we go without sleep and how can we operate for hours at a time. After seeing the heart of his soldiers, how can we not?

Under His Omnipotence,

Scott

Scott D. Barnes
LTC, MC, USA
Theater Ophthalmology Consultant
10th Combat Support Hospital, Baghdad

[thedrifter]

THE PROUD IRAQI PEOPLE

From Capt B's Blog

Iraqis have begun going to the polls to vote for the first permanent Iraqi parliament since the fall of Saddam Hussein. As many as 10 million people are expected to cast ballots in the historic election. Violence was reported almost as soon as the polls opened -- a roadside bomb went off in Ramadi, and another blast was reported in Baghdad. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.-CNN

Despite CNN's Anderson Cooper reporting from "Ramadi" (BORRRING) and additional reporting from CNN above, voting here and around Iraq has been conducted flawlessly. In the insert above they report all the negative they can possibly muster with "a road side bomb went off in Ramadi" Yea, no kidding rocket scientist, it was one of many IEDs in Ramadi that went off today which is a daily event that happens in this area. They should move around in the streets and they will probably hear sniper fire as well. What else they didn't report as that when those IEDs went off the Iraqi people in line waiting to vote didn't budge or flee. It's very sad that they have to try to highlight any miniscule possible negative activity about the work your Marines and Soldiers are doing while your service members continue to risk their lives to make things happen for Iraq. Anderson Cooper was in a voting facility in Ramadi interviewing Iraqi citizens and appeared to be in the way, blocking the voters from trying to submit their votes while he did his report. CNN reporter says: Well bob it looks like this thing is going to happen pretty smoothly, Yes it does Anderson but lets sabotage this polling site and we can be the first on the scene to report the deficiencies in the American forces……sounds good……...praise Allah!

The villages and polling areas were basically locked down and denied and vehicular travel to eliminate and chance of SBVIEDs (Suicide Born Vehicle Improvised Explosive Devices, aka 20 arty shells in a car trunk). In many locations medal detectors outlined entry ways to voting sites and Iraqi soldiers provided security with US forces reinforcing them. As the picture shows in this post taken in Husaybah, the Iraqi people are voting! This is a major slap in the face for the insurgency. Although it didn't start today it actually began back in with the successful elections in Oct. This is where a major blow was dealt to the insurgency and their overall demise began to show. Like back in Oct, today proved that although still scared, the Iraqi people were fed up with the insurgent intimidation and wanted a change. Now, in Dec the Iraqi Army successfully voted yesterday and today the entire country was able to vote freely and without intimidation.

From the insurgency view, America has not only won the fight in the street but now it has pretty much won the Iraqi people over as well. Insurgents can't stand to see Iraq become independent and grow. The mere fact that men, women and Iraqi soldiers are voting means the insurgency is on its way out, it reinforces the beginning of their end for the insurgency. We see people coming freely to the voting sites, we see a different Iraqi, one who wants a change and is doing their part to make it happen. Today was a huge turning point for Iraq as a free country and rightfully proves that the democrats back in the states missed the mark and are dead wrong. They defiantly don't "Get it". To follow their plan and pull out US forces when they initially wanted to would have prevented today from happening like it did quiet, without injury and successful. Iraq is becoming free and independent through democracy!

Along with the Iraqi people, I would dedicate the success of today to all of the fallen servicemembers. For their service & sacrifice has made today possible. They will never be forgotten!

NO **** NEWS

Iraqi Security and Coalition Forces helped pave the way for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens in Al Anbar Province to vote in today's National Parliamentary Elections.

Voter turnout was robust throughout the province, with preliminary reports indicating that a far higher percentage of the predominantly Sunni population participated in today's elections than did in October's Constitutional Referendum. Overall, there were few security incidents reported in the Province, and the murder and intimidation campaign that kept many people from the polls during previous votes never materialized.

"Today's vote exceeded all expectations," said Assistant Division Commander, Brig. Gen. James L. Williams. "What we saw today was the result of months of hard work by the Iraqi government, the US Ambassador and his staff, the international community, particularly the IECI and Iraqi and Coalition Forces. Most of all, it clearly demonstrates the resolve of the local Iraqi people to take their rightful place in the democratic process."

In the provincial capital of Ramadi, where only several thousand citizens took part in the Referendum, tens of thousands of voters lined the streets to vote today. Residents were observed dancing, singing and waving the Iraqi flag in a rare display of national pride. Members of both the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Police provided security throughout the city while Coalition Forces remained largely on the outskirts in the event they were needed for an emergency. It is still too early to tell what percentage of voters in the city actually voted, but the numbers are expected to be much higher than they were during the Referendum.

In Fallujah, where an estimated 90% of voters participated in October's Referendum, voter turnout in today's elections was similarly high. As in Ramadi, Coalition Forces turned over much of the responsibilities for securing the vote to Iraqi Security Forces. In Karmah, on the outskirts of Fallujah, a polling site that was bombed by insurgents yesterday was quickly repaired and operational by the time the polls opened today. There were no casualties reported in the incident.

Elsewhere in the province, in cities like Husaybah, Karabilah and Ubaydi, voter turnout was steady throughout the day. Until a few weeks ago, this area near the Syrian border was largely under the influence of al Qaeda in Iraq-led insurgents. Recent Iraqi and Coalition operations such as Steel Curtain and Iron Fist were instrumental in clearing these cities of insurgent fighters. The permanent security presence left behind in this region is seen as a crucial step towards preventing insurgents from establishing a stronghold in the area again.

"No one can look at what happened in Al Anbar today and still deny progress is being made," said Williams. "Overall, attacks against local citizens and Iraqi and Coalition Forces are down, voter turnout is much higher than before and the people are finally beginning to see the fruitlessness of supporting the insurgency. Credit has to also be given to the bravery of Governor Ma'moun, Governor of Al-Anbar Province, to encourage his Sunni population to vote through their tribal leaders' encouragement. While we still have a long way to go, we have made remarkable strides since last January's elections, and now have the potential to establish a real measure of order and security in the Province."

posted by Capt B at 5:48 AM

[thedrifter]

THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Capt B's Blog

I finally get a break from the shopping! We have been running around every mall crowded people everywhere trying to find that particular gift. This place is really crowded. Now we are finished, can we relax now? Are we done shopping for the day? If I have to play lead blocker through the mall anymore or sit outside another dressing room Im gonna die. No puke, no puke then die. We will probably go out to dinner tonight get some chow maybe go for a walk. I sit here and can smell the new Christmas tree, so fresh and nice, with white lights and all kinds of cherished ornaments on it which we have been keeping for sometime. Tada the tree is done, another master piece! Ok not by me but I supplied plenty of support and encouragement. The weather is nice and holiday spirit is everywhere. These bowls of candy around the house are going to turn me into a big fat a$$, its ok I’ll go a little further next time I run. We head out for dinner, to the local steak house. The chow is awesome, holiday music on the radio, friends and conversations are better and its so good to see everyone and they all look great. We get done with a great dinner and head for the house and its suggested we go check out the Christmas lights around the neighborhood. We all pack in a couple cars and head out in the December chill. They are lights everywhere. Are we driving through the International Christmas Light Contest neighborhood? That deer made out of sticks just turned its head and winked at me. These guys aren’t messing around. Flashing houses, bright trees and perfect Christmas trees showing through house windows. Its getting late and we decide to head home. We get a nice pot of coffee on and the house is filled with smells of the holiday as music echoes through the house. There is that dang bowl of candy again………I trouble shoot a string of lights on the tree that has been kicking my butt and on then off then they come back on. It’s the end of another fine day and I think how lucky I am to be here with friends and family.

I take a walk outside to check out the weather as it starts to rain, this is the first rain Ive seen for a year here as it turns to hail. Im not at home anymore Im here still in Iraq, with a different family, the Marine family. Another milestone has been achieved and the elections are a success. A country is in motion with democracy and freedom and the last years work is paying off although we have paid a price. There are no lights here except for the few strings Marines have put up from care packages, and the occasional illume artillery round fired in the night sky. I guess there is a special glow from the chemlights that line the walkway but they defiantly aren’t the holiday type. There are no crowds except for the locals on the street in the city and they aren’t shopping. The IEDs and other explosions echo though the area now days. Im not sure if it’s the cloud cover or what but now when there is an explosion it echoes through the area for a few seconds unlike before. Counter battery rings out and dang that first one always gets ya, at least I wasn’t in the head this time. Sporadic fighting continues around the area but nothing crazy. Marine’s morale is high and everyone has accepted the fact that this is the only family they will be sharing the holiday with and actually that’s not a bad thing. You could say it doesn’t bother you to be away from home on the holidays……. you could say you’re a liar too. However, we are a disciplined force and know we have an important job to do. That job requires discipline, commitment and sacrifice. Sacrifice in the hundreds to those who won’t ever go home, ever. Where ever there is injustice in the world we will go there. Wherever there is an evil dictator killing his own people, we will go there. Why? Because as US Marines that’s our job and that’s what Marines have been doing for over two hundred years. We will fight our nation’s battles in any climb and place and anytime of the year. That young Marine standing post in the chilly desert night knows it’s the holiday season as does that young Marine who is on his second dozen convoy mission through the worse area in Iraq. The Soldier on a lonely checkpoint out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but his team and gun truck, they know it’s the holiday season too. The tanker, the pilot the warrior. They all know it’s better to give than to receive. A simple concept that they and their buddy’s have proven with blood and sweat. A simple concept that many “Don’t get”.

We are a proud military, a volunteer military who take pride in what we do for a nation that is great. This holiday season, cherish what is yours, smell the trees, have fun with family, take walks, have some egg nog and a stoag for us and enjoy your holidays. Although we had rather be home, know that we will finish what needs to be done and you can rest in peace, your Marines are on guard this holiday season.

Merry Christmas & Semper Fidelis

Capt B

[thedrifter]

Purple passions
By Oliver North
December 18, 2005

RAMADI, Iraq.

The defeatists back home didn't think it could be done. But today, the Iraqi people, only recently liberated from a repressive dictatorship, held their third election in a year.

After first choosing a transitional government in January, they returned to the polls in October to approve a constitution. In both cases, they turned out in great numbers under the threat of violence. Today, millions of those same Iraqi citizens trekked to one of thousands of polling places around the country to vote for candidates that will form a 275-member National Assembly, which will take office on Dec. 31.

On Election Day, I was with the Marines of 3/7, atop an outpost in one of the most vicious neighborhoods in this very violent city of Ramadi. It was once a stronghold of Sunni terrorists, but thanks to these Marines, no longer is.

The election began at 7:00 a.m. with a bang, and the Marines were ready. They responded to the improvised explosive device (IED) and afterward, for a time, the streets were nearly empty. But imams, sheiks and local leaders urged people to get out and vote. The turnout was dramatic. One local imam told his followers, "God will bless you with a great life if you go out and vote." That and similar messages were broadcast from mosques all around town.

At the end of this historic day, there was not a sound of gunfire, but instead, as the polls closed, there was a call to prayer. It was even an occasion for celebration as the neighborhood children were in the streets, after dark, playing soccer with equipment given to them by American troops.

Capt. Brian Grant told me the turnout was "an overwhelming success." Indeed it was. Lines wrapped around the block and extended for hundreds of people. Ten polling places ran out of ballots and had to send for more. The safe environment provided by the Marines, with the help of Iraqi security forces and local religious leaders, gave citizens the confidence to go to the polls without worrying about their personal safety.

It is nothing short of remarkable. Because here in Ramadi, which is the capital of Iraq's largest province, and the heart of the Sunni Triangle, there has been tremendous opposition from the jihadists who did everything they could to prevent this election. In fact, in this area during the last election, less than 5 percent of the people turned out to vote.

The violence is caused mostly by the IED -- a terrible thing that remains the terrorists' weapon of choice. The Marines were confronted with several earlier in the week, but the good news is that Ramadi's security is much better today than just a few months ago when I was last here.

It is better partly because there are now many more Iraqis providing security in this area, which was not the case during my last visit to this region. In fact, only a few months ago, there were no Iraqi areas of responsibility in this city. Today, there are Iraqi Army troops operating right next to soldiers and Marines. Now, they have their own areas of operation, with some logistic support from the Americans.

As Lt. Chad Cliver told me, the Marines of 3/7 "work very closely with Iraqi Army troops as well as Iraqi police." Over the last several months, they have spent time training the Iraqis who are making a lot of progress -- so much so, Lt. Cliver says, "Before we leave here, we will have turned over most of Ramadi to the Iraqis themselves."

That kind of steady, persistent progress made by American troops over here accounted for the successful election. In the week leading up to E-Day, numerous Marines with whom I spoke expressed confidence the day would be a success.

I asked Lt. Col. Roger Turner, the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines when I first arrived here, if he thought the terrorists could be held in check and the elections would actually take place. Col. Turner was confident, saying, "I think it will take place [because] the people of Ramadi very genuinely want to participate in elections." He explained the terrorists are desperately want to disrupt the day but their violent tactics are backfiring and they are being "overtaken by events and the momentum that the democratic process starts to gain here."

When Election Day was over, I asked Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Heath if the day was a success for the Marines. His reply:

"Absolutely. This is why we're here -- to help the Iraqi people gain the kind of freedoms that we take for granted back in the States."

A profound and inspiring explanation from a brave and dedicated Marine. If only the optimism so abundant here in Iraq were more prevalent in Washington.

Oliver North is a nationally syndicated columnist and the host of War Stories on the Fox News Channel.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines Report on the Elections
Black Five

Received these two emails via Seamus a few days ago (couldn't post due to hosting issues). The first is from Captain Steve in Iraq. Here's part of it:

...We're hearing the same here on the ground. Even the Sunnis (who boycotted the last major election) are turning out in droves. WE ARE MAKING SUCCESS! Also, today I met a middle aged American of (I believe) Iraqi descent who has been here for a year acting as a translator for the military. He was all smiles talking about how he'd probably aged ten years in the last year working his ass off, but that today the number of Iraqis going to the polls proved it was worth it. His comment I loved the most was, "Today, democracy is perpetuating itself." Cool.

Steve

And this is from a Sergeant Major who has some concerns about the media:

...We had a little rocket fire this morning. Nothing too bad. 1 Marine was wounded. I heard the shot, the whistle and the boom. I told these guys it was incoming, but, they found out soon enough. I was watching CNN and they show you all these insurgents on the street shooting and running around. With the subtitle "election day in Iraq -- polls now open". Well the footage is over 1 year old. It is very calm here. There is sure to be a few attack but let me tell you the polling stations are packed...

Ellie

[thedrifter]

THE PRESIDENT <br />
From Capt B's Blog <br />
Dec. 19, 2005 <br />
<br />
The Honorable Mr Bush gave his Address the Nation speech Sunday night. It was a great speech and said what many of you are saying with one voice....

[thedrifter]

Report from Fallujah: Courage under fire <br />
Marine Moms <br />
<br />
Another email from the front (passed along by JHD), this one by a wounded Marine who provides excellent insight into the third iteration of...

[thedrifter]

A Time For Thanksgiving - Follow Up
Black Five

First, read or re-read this piece from US Air Force (Captain) Doctor Eadie. The email from CPT Eadie will hopefully be published by the Marines (hint, hint - I know the Marine PAO reads MilBlogs).

A Time for Thanksgiving

Randy sends this email, a must read if ever there was one, that he received from Captain James Eadie today:

A Time for Thanksgiving
As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, I eagerly anticipate the plates of turkey and stuffing, the moments of camaraderie around the TV watching football and the sharing of stories amongst friends, but it is the soldiers’ stories of bravery and courage that should be shared on this day of Thanksgiving.

I had the rare chance to talk in depth with one of my CCATT patients on our last flight, a young 24 year old Marine from Camp Pendleton, California. It is Javier’s story hangs with me this day. Javier gave me permission to share his story with you, a true story of heroism, and sacrifice that deserves to be told on Thanksgiving.

On the morning of 16 November 2005, the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment were taking part in operations along the Iraq-Syrian board to clear the towns of insurgents.

Javier, a strong and sturdy looking square jawed Marine Corporal was on his third deployment to Iraq. He had seen heavy combat in his previous two deployments, and had been injured once before earning him a Purple Heart. On this day he was in command of a Squad of fourteen men. I knew just by talking to him that his men were fortunate to have him leading them into battle. He spoke with clarity and confidence of a man twice his age. In the truest essence, he was a Marine.

Taking point, Javier led his five man team towards the house. Shots rang out around them as they advanced. They could see the downed Marines ahead. A young Lieutenant lay face down outside the house. Javier did not know if he was still alive. They would have to act quickly if they were to save him and the others.

As they approached the house the enemy fire intensified and Javier felt a sudden sting and burning in his right leg. He looked down at his leg. Damn, he thought, “I’ve been shot.” He indeed had taken two bullets to his thigh, but he pushed on.

Undeterred, Javier continued to lead his men towards the house. With increasing fire, they took up a defensive posture against the house wall. Slightly protected there, he began tending his wounds with direct pressure as the others returned fire. He could see several downed Marines only arm lengths away, but they could not be reached safely. Gun fire continued to rain down on them. Another member of the squad was hit. They were in a bad position.

What happened next was recalled to me by the Medic that they called Doc. During the barrage of fire, with their backs literally up against a wall an enemy grenade was thrown out of a window landing in the middle of the five men. Doc told me “It was amazing. I was applying pressure to one of the injured soldiers when someone yelled out GRENADE. Javier just dove at the grenade. I have never seen anything like it.”

Javier grabbed the grenade with his right hand. He told me “I knew I only had three to five seconds before it would go off.” With his body shielding his men from the grenade, he made a valiant effort to heave the grenade away. As the grenade left his hand it exploded.

Javier’s right hand was immediately amputated at the wrist. Shrapnel from the grenade penetrated his left thigh. Others in his group took shrapnel to their arms and legs, but no one lost their life.

Doc told me on the plane that he was convinced that they all would have died if it were not for Javier’s heroic actions.

The fighting continued. As more Marines approached the house to provide covering fire, Javier now with two gun shot wounds to his right leg, shrapnel to his left leg and an amputated right hand worked to get his injured men clear. With the aid of his Platoon Sergeant, Javier and his men walked out of the kill zone to the casualty collection point away from the fighting.

Doc stayed in the fight for a while despite being hit with shrapnel from the grenade. He tended to the downed Marines and at one point crawled into the house to pull out the Marine who lay inside. Unfortunately, most of the Marines they came to help had been fatally injured. There was little that could be done. Doc continued to care for the downed soldiers until others noted his wounds. Doc was finally escorted out of the fight to attend to his injuries.

In all told, Javier’s Squad took heavy injuries. We air lifted out 6 members who had sustained shrapnel injuries and one who lost his leg. Javier clearly took the brunt of the injuries, but miraculously no one lost their life. Javier’s selfless action had saved the lives of many men.

I spoke at length with Javier on the flight to Germany. Perhaps it was the awe that I felt talking with him that kept me coming back, or maybe the fact that his men admired him so much. In the end, I think I was drawn in by him because he was just like you and me. He was real. A soldier who had done everything asked of him by his country. He fought with honor and dignity, and led his men with courage. Above all, he put his men’s life above his and protected them from harm.

He didn’t ask for honors or special treatment. His biggest concern when we were loading him onto the plane was his fellow soldiers. He would not lie down until he had visualized and spoken with all of his troops on the plane.

When I arrived home from the mission, I opened the paper. There before me in simple bullet format read the names of the most recent US deaths in Iraq. I generally do not look at these lists. They are just names with no personal connection. But this day, halfway down there were five Marines listed including a young Second Lieutenant all from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment from Pendleton, California who had died on 16 November, 2005. These were the men that Javier and his Squad gave everything to try to save.

I stared at the paper for many minutes, recalling the story Javier and his men had told me. I marveled at the sacrifices they made and felt a tremendous sense of loss for these men whose names now stood out from the paper as not mere records, but as living, breathing men who gave everything their country asked of them.

As I get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Iraq, I have so much to be thankful for. My wife is amazing, we have been blessed with a child on the way, and I feel like I have the greatest family and friends that one could ever wish for, but there is more. I see around me everyday soldiers giving everything they have with the full belief that their actions do make a difference. That their sacrifices are for freedom and will one day improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis.

When I sit down on Thursday to my thanksgiving meal, I will be holding these soldiers and their families close. We as a country have so much to be thankful for.

For me, on this Thanksgiving Day, I will be thankful for Javier. He has given the gift of life to his men and their families. I often ask myself if I was in his position, what would I have done? I don’t know, but I certainly hope that I could be like Javier.

My warmest wishes to you all for a wonderful Thanksgiving, we truly have a great deal to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving,

James S Eadie, Capt USAF MC

332 Expeditionary Air Evacuation Squadron

Balad, Iraq

Critical Care Air Transport Physician

The men who died that day were Lance Corporal Roger Deeds, Lance Corporal John Lucente, Corporal Jeffrey Rogers, Corporal Joshua Ware, and 2nd Lieutenant Donald McGlothin - all from the Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 13th MEU, 1st Marine Division.

Follow Up
The Marines also provided a follow up to another Marine that died the day that Javier Alvarez died:

This is another testament to the metal of the young Marines we have serving in our Corps. Marines who continue to honor those that have gone before us with their bravery and love for their brother Marines. Where do we find such men?

I personally attended the funeral of one of those fallen warriors of 16 November that the yet unpublished article below mentions. His name was Corporal Joshua Jared Ware of Apache, Oklahoma. Corporal Ware was a Kiowa and Comanche warrior who proudly served his Country and protected the freedoms we hold so dear. He was the 19th Kiowa to die on the Field of Honor since WWII, and his story will be told by the Kiowa in song when they celebrate their proud history. I can’t tell you what a powerful experience his memorial and funeral service was. I also can’t say enough about the patriotism of the fine people of Apache. I don’t want to take away from the powerful article below with a long story about Corporal Ware and his proud family, but I can’t help but remember him and his story when I read the article below. I will, however, share the Famlies and the Kiowa Nation’s farewell to Joshua Ware, born 25 May 1985, died on the Field of Honor 16 November 2005:

Today we must lay a young Kiowa Warrior to rest, who proudly gave his life for his family, friends, his people, and all the people of this great Nation. He stood there fearless, believing in himself and what he was protecting. He proudly and honorably accepted the path of a warrior, as those who have walked before him. He gave the greatest gift he could have given to his people, his life. We are saddened by our loss, yet proud. Our hearts weep, yet are filled with honor to have known such a great young warrior. What an honor to be his mother, father, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, grandparent, cousin, nephew, niece, or his friend. We can see his grandmothers, aunts, cousins lulling in the wind, as the tears fall from their cheeks. We can hear his grandfathers, uncles, and cousins singing songs of warriors that have gone before him. Oh Lord, let us pray now for those who he carried deeply in his heart, his family. Let us surround them with the “Great love” and “Compassion” we Indian people have for each other. Let us sing high up to the Lord for letting us have this young Warrior as long as we did. Let us pray that the pain in our hearts will soon be filled with happy memories, and with the understanding in our hearts that we will see him again. Let us leave this place knowing that he is with the Lord. Amen.

Please publish on the all hands, and thank you again for your service. May we never forget the service and sacrifice of the Men and Women of are Armed Forces.

Happy Holidays to your and your Family.

Semper Fidelis,

Scott D. Keller

Chief Warrant Officer 2,
U.S. Marine Corps

Ellie

[thedrifter]

LEAVE, WE JUST GOT HERE!
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From Capt B's Blog

Pull the troops out? We were loosing? We cant win?? Did these people eat a bowel of frosted dumbass for breakfast? I just got back from seeing Marines, Soldiers and Sailors in bases like Korean Village and Al Asad in western Iraq. These warriors are going strong, fighting hard and full of motivation eager to fight and kill terrorists, taking the fight to the enemy. Why would we even mention pulling out of here until the job is done? It would be like forfeiting a baseball game in the ninth inning and quitting with a two run lead. We are winning this war and for anyone who says different, get your facts together (yea right) and come play ball, Im waiting. For all you "I didn't get enough attention from daddy when I was young, left wingnuts" out there, we are AT WAR and we defiantly are winning! To be more specific it's a counter insurgency war. Well, why isn't it wrapped up and finished then like Desert Storm?? Well my little cup cake it takes approximately 10 years to extinguish a counter insurgency. We began the war on terror hard core about three years ago so by the left wingnut book of all answers, we should have about seven more years to fight this evil regime before its defeated, right? Nope! We have overthrown their insane dictator, stomped a mud hole in the insurgents ass, established a government, restored economics and set the tone for the surrounding country's that if they don't play nice, they too can have a Marine Infantry Battalion sitting off their coast just as easy in only three years. Holy haji stain Batman, if we stayed here seven more years I could have a Walmart Super Store chain established and smoking cigars in my downtown Iraqi bar! (don't steal my idea!) Have we had to pay a price? Hell yes, at the tune of over 200 Heroes since March of 2005 alone.That doesn't count the battle of Fallujah, OIF 1 or Desert Storm. Are their service members who disagree with what were doing here? Probably. Are their workers where you work who don't like what they are doing at work or disagree with it? Yes. However, we volunteered and yes, we will go and stomp holy monkey meat out of the insurgency in (Insert country name here). Why? Because we are Americans!

Attention, Attention all terrorists world wide if you attack, no think about attacking America, when we find out, you will get one of many things. 1) Get to hear what a 2,000 pound guided missile sounds like vaporizing you and fellow scumbags, 2) The roar of turbine driven tanks driven by very angry people or "Johnny tell us whats behind door number three…..Thats right bob, A close and personal introduction to several thousand short fused, short hair angry Marines!

Whoa, decisions, decisions! What my little Haji friend doesn't understand is that we are committed to fight terrorists and people who want to kill us and destroy our way of life. Whats that you say, America is fed up with terrorists? That's right, there isn't anywhere safe for you to run anymore. Saudi Arabia doesn't want anything to do with you, Iran is trying their best not to get us fired up and in case you didn't realize everyone else is a weeeee bit smarter to screw with us. Operation Iraqi Freedom is a small example what is in store for terrorist wherever they show themselves. We will not bargain or give in to terrorists, period. They will not threaten my homeland, they can't change what America is and they will never, ever take America's freedom. NEVER!

You see America there are some that think we should just simply employ sanctions, sing coombiyah,have peace talks and ask terrorists nicely over a cup of tea not to reduce America's large buildings filled with loved ones in our metropolitan citys to dust. They want you in the states to think that OIF & OEF and the fight on terrorism " was a mistake" or "The President made a mistake by overthrowing Sadam" or one of my favorites, we are loosing the war……. Hack, snort, chuck vomit! Give me a break! The warriors I saw recently arnt loosing anything. Nor are their leaders all the way to the President. We, like many other Americans still feel the anger and fire in our guts when we saw Americans jumping to their deaths on Sept 11th. You think you can come to my country punch me in the nose and walk of to allah? Silly Haji. Every time we go into the attack we remember 9/11 and the Americans you made suffer. Know, that when you see the Stars and Bars flying free in the wind, we arnt loosing and we are more than ready to go into extra innings! So the next time you here someone state we should pull out, we are loosing or any other crack head statement that wastes perfectly good air, let them know how you feel. Your service members need to know you support them as does your president!

Keep Attacking and enjoy a cigar!
Capt B

[thedrifter]

CHRISTMAS LIFE
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From Capt B's Blog
Dec. 23, 2005

A couple minutes turn into an hour, a few hours turn into a day, weeks to months and before you know it, the year is over. Another turning point another fork in the road leads you down new paths. Its always unpredictable but you have to have the time of your life.

It’s a great run and we all have to enjoy life and live every second. Not just because we are in Iraq but that does make things a lot clearer to live life through this stuff. Sure you could get whacked back in the states by some drunk driver but you haven’t, not yet. Marines dodge bullets, cheat death, spared by modern technology Kevlar and reinforced hardened steel. Taken a shot in the Kevlar vest trauma plate, getting knocked down but getting up and scratching off one of the nine life’s from the list. Having the entire Hummer engulfed from multiple shelled IEDs and gasoline detonating on you where other wise you would have been Swiss cheese and goo. It wasn’t your time, not yet.

Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt / killed in Iraq? A young kid wrote in a letter to me. Yes. But you accept that it could happen and if its going to happen its going to happen. Why worry about it? When it’s your time it’s your time. The explosives here are so big you won’t know what hit you and it will be over in a flash.

This place and Afghanistan are ugly places. No care for life as I remember manning a check point. A van pulled up and when the family got out a baby girl (maybe a year old) fell out of the van to the ground head first and began to cry. I reacted to go pick it up as the several adults continued to step over it and while getting out they continued wrapping themselves in their traditional dress. Dirt kicked on her, tears streaming down her ear pierced face as she bellowed her heart out on her stomach. No one was helping her, no one cared as they got out of the car. Arms not even long enough to extend past her sleeves as she lay helplessly on the deck, gasping for air. I moved pretty quick and as I headed for the van my Marines knew something was up and reacted to a possible threat and things got real exciting as my men drew in on the people getting out. As I began to pick up the little thing, knowing the many customs I was about to violate by handling females, I really wasn’t concerned about some custom that states that men, especially foreign men aren’t suppose to have contact with their women, whatever. Just before I picked her up I was distracted by a man that began beating a woman and shouting at her. Not because she dropped her kid but because they allowed me to get close to her. Beating me to the baby, another female barged in to pick the tiny thing up. Crying louder, just wanting the pain to stop, I felt like I could help but then I knew things had to go on like they were for a reason. It was their customs not mine. There I sat on a knee shaking my head at the lack of care for life here. They will kill one another especially their own family in a blink of an eye.

We are away from home this holiday season to complete our mission and to eliminate terrorists and defend our nation. It is unfortunate for us to be away from loved ones on earth and in heaven however, its probably the best Christmas gift Ive ever given. No family gatherings, snow drifts or missile toe. Just always on watch ready to go. Scumbags are scared and are on the run, regardless of wherever they go they will find us with lots of guns. While you are in the states celebrating the season know that we are on the front lines for a reason. As this war continues you may not always hear it, but we are full of American and Christmas spirit.

As you celebrate Christmas, be thankful for what you have and where you are. Know its better to give than receive and be thankful you are with someone who cares enough about you to pick you up when needed. You don’t need a lot of money and fame to have a great Christmas just the Christmas spirit is enough. Enjoy your health and enjoy life. In the states, on a rocky Afghani mountain or Iraqi desert, have a Very Merry Christmas and this holiday, have the time of your life.

From your Marines, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from Iraq.

Captain B

[thedrifter]

HO HO, Ho Ho Ho
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From Capt B's Blog

Christmas Eve. We chilled out by trying to watch a movie and enjoy a stoag as it was a quiet day. The movie began and so did the excitement. One post calls out that they have aggressors moving towards the parameter wall. A single pop up goes out to the north east then all the shooting began. AK 47 and M16 rang close with more illume going up into the sky. We were use to such probs and attacks and we continued to watch the movie. Quiet again. Another illume and then more shooting but this time a close 240G medium machine gun opened up and began to mow down the would be attackers. Easily going through 100 rounds the M16s continued to pick off dark shadows as the 240's released hell. More illume and the shadows stopped. Nothing moved anymore and the night was quiet again. The weather last night and all today (Dec 25th) was like back in the states. A nip of cold, a light rain which is very strange. The burning trash just off the base made you think of fire places burning, except is was rubber and other nasty crap. We were a bit wound up and decided to perhaps watch some TV but when we turned it on it blew out. Not so good. Being the Marines we are we figured, adapt over come adjust and hell, we can fix this thing no problem, out comes the screw driver, out come the screws, pieces fall out and I send a Marine for the duct tape. A couple IEDs detonate off base, its about 2200 now and football it starting in the states, Operation TV patch up was underway. It was a Panasonic 24 inch and has a couple fuses in it-go figure. Replace the fuses plug in, put on ballistic glasses and stand back. As we plugged it in the devil shot out he back, small animals scurried away and a mattress caught on fire………….situation under control! The Lt and I debated what we need to pull out and tear off that wasn't needed, we began with the burnt pieces. We called a time out and had some "Whoopers" that were sent to us……….man they are GOOD! So the Lt was feeding his pie hole and I told him I'll give you $50 to eat all of those and the box and you can use some all the grapefruit juice you want to wash it down! He did pretty good and then realized the cardboard box wasn't going to go down as easily as first thought and we bailed the idea.

Christmas day morning began with me sleeping in. Quiet, peaceful. It was a bit nippley out but all in all good. We took care of some morning items that needed to take of and then lit up a nice stoag for breakfast. We hit some golf balls into the Euphrates river and everyone enjoyed more stoags………it was great and the sentries took cover from our slices!

Went and delivered some Christmas presents to some younger Marines. Young Marines enjoyed their special gifts (things they need) and said a simple "Thank you". Although I heard it, the words were meant for all of you back home. There isn't anything that can replace the smile on a young Marines face when you give him a gift that he wasn't expecting. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to do that. I owe it all to you. We have some good chow today and I will take my place behind the serving line to dish out some good chow to the Marines today. Its not home cooked but its not MRE's. I took my place and added a bit of "Elvis" to the chow line. Its ok mom, everybody that went through got plenty of vegetables, I made sure of it.

We had a couple of Santa's that conducted a frontal attack on one location as their fighting spirit rang through like the holidays as they kicked in doors and delivered their gifts, what a country!

They opened up the BIG can of whoop ass on one terrorist but then of course we gave them a medal, some more ammo and claymore mines and fired our support by fire positions to let them continue their attacks.

Im going to watch Madagasgar the movie now as a couple little warriors back home thought I would like it and if I watch it, it will somehow connect us and we too will be together this holiday.

We hope you all back home have the very happiest of holidays and know we are honored to be on the front lines for you. Sleep well tonight the Marines are on watch!

COMBAT UPDATE: We are still kicking their Haji Ass!

Merry Christmas & Semper Fi from Iraq!
Capt B

[thedrifter]

WE DO WINDOWS
From Capt B's Blog
Dec. 29, 2005

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas and you should drink lots of water to prepare for your New Year celebrations coming up and stay hydrated!

Im glad you all are back safely. Things have been constant here in Iraq. Christmas came and went as the other holidays while deployed here, no biggie. The phones did work pretty well and after about an hour I got through back to the states.

We haven’t let up on momentum in the region and I just returned from being out and about in our Area of Operations. Your Marines out west near places like Al Asad, continue to keep the enemy off balance and conduct operations to disrupt insurgency forces. By maintaining permanent presence in outlying villages enemy forces are now forced to leave their safe havens and flee. Before we would attack insurgents in villages, eliminate them and then return to our base. Now we do the same but include Iraqi forces and leave both Iraqi and American forces behind in the village to maintain security and safety. Unlike before this has totally disrupted the insurgency plan of action and now they cannot hide and torture Iraqis and force their way of life onto innocent people.

In Fallujah, Marines are continuing to keep the enemy off balance within the city and surrounding areas. By training Iraqi Special Forces, Iraqi Police and additional forces, Iraq’s military force is gaining strength. Beginning with the basics and having them go through Marine style tactics and procedures they build their foundation a respectable force and will be able to defend their region when American forces depart. They will never be up to the standards of Marines and Soldiers but that’s ok. We are training them to be competent fighters and maintain the capabilities to defend what is theirs. From talking to Marines that have fought with the Iraqi’s they say they are a proud and courageous Army that doesn’t run because they have learned new things and have gained confidence in their abilities. They are tired of the insurgency and although are ready for the Americans to leave they know they need our training so they can do what they desire and fight off the insurgency.

All of the Coalition forces in Iraq are constantly training the Iraqi forces. Many Americans back in the states watch the news and would correspondingly think that anytime we do anything it is an airplane bombing, 50 cal shooting door kicking in operation. Although we are more than willing to do this type of a “Kinetic” operation we also do many additional building operations that help the country of Iraq. Combat Engineer’s continue to build schools and patch buildings that fall apart or otherwise don’t get repaired because of constant enemy sniper fire. So with security the engineers move in to reconstruct neighborhoods with electricity and plumbing. US Forces that move into villages take up residence during the operations. They then leave the area better than they found it. Clean the place up, leave the family money, make some repairs and apply some manual labor from the Marine unit. This has developed a relationship of Iraqi people telling our unit commanders “come back to my house when you visit here again” because they know they will get something in return instead of back a few years ago where Marines were taking residency and then leaving because of other operational commitments and additional fighting. This type of relations has been one of many building blocks that have assisted in strengthening the country and allowing the country to conduct successful elections. The elections were successful in Oct and Dec because of all ofg the unseen work done by your service members.

The Coalition forces have retaken over 14 cities throughout Iraq. Freeing captive tribes held by insurgents, established peace in areas of danger and murder. We are now in full motion training the Iraqi Army to new levels and help them to protect their country. Before you even ask, let me answer, Yes, I think the Iraqi Army, Police and Special Forces will be able to protect their country. Why? Because they have the desire to. This doesn’t mean there won’t be all out civil war here but lets look at our own history before we judge. The country does have democracy, businesses are thriving and people are much safer and freer than they were 3 yrs ago. They are getting to a level of self sufficiency and before we know it will be time for us to depart and let them have it.

Corpsmen and doctors are establishing a medical foundation to help fight some of the many diseases and injuries in the area. Civil Affairs groups are building the bond between different tribes to help them help one another instead of continuous fighting one another. We have no problem eliminating an evil dictator, fighting in the streets of Iraq, building schools and houses, repairing and bringing electricity to places that never had it before, helping a village who is dying live and yes, ………we do windows.

Time for a stoag…………Semper Fi

[thedrifter]

Six Mideast countries can get along; if five are nuked
From Capt B's Blog
Jan. 3, 2005

Red is a color often characterized by violence and bloodshed, shock and awe in real life as well as in art and literature. It often suggests the meaning of courage and sacrifice. Traditionally, officers and noncommissioned officers of the Marine Corps wear a scarlet red stripe on their dress blue trousers to commemorate the courage and tenacious fighting of the men who battled in places like Chapultapec in the Mexican War. In the Corps, this stripe is more commonly known as the "Blood Stripe." Along with many other items on the Marine Corps uniform the blood strip on the trousers has a significant meaning.

The significance of the Blood Stripe carries on through from previous campaigns to the Marines who have been fighting here in Iraq. Many have been hit by IEDs, shot at and in some cases wounded and killed. They don't sit on the sidelines, they don't ponder of "what they should have done" they act and they make things happen. Many people may wonder what of if they made a difference to somebody. But the young Marines out and about don't have to worry about that because they know they have made a difference. Not on paper, but in person and sometimes in blood. The Marines "out there" "your Marines", are "git n" some!

Last Sunday it was a quiet day, weather was nice and then friendly counter artillery began to pound Haji into submission. (this time I wasn't in the head) Then four enemy mortars impacted just off base with no injuries to anyone. We delivered another barrage of artillery fire to the points of origin of the mortars. Almost simultaneously a small arms attack began off base between a check point and insurgents. It only lasted about 45 seconds but to those fighting it seems like a lifetime. After a lull in the small arms, our counter battery radar identified incoming rounds to our position. The recorded "Incoming" "Incoming", "Incoming" voice began to sound off on the loud speaker and those of us outside didn't hang around to see if it was accurate or not (usually its on the money) and made a sprint for a hardened structure. The familiar sound of "Crump", "Crump," "Crump," "Crump," increased again off base. Haji is getting brave again and even though the elections were a success the threat is ever present.

Like those in the past who have earned their "Blood Stripes", Marines out in Al Qaim, Haditha and HIT continue to stay on the attack and in Haji's face. I recently traveled to these areas and saw the Marines who are taking the fight to the enemy our west. They are defiantly putting a pile driver into Haji's vacation plans and continue to really ruin their day. Continuous and permanents presence by Marines in villages continues to reassure the Iraqi people we are here for them and are making a difference, and they see it. I shot the **** with a few young Marines who had rotated back from an out post back to a major camp. They were your basic 17-19 year old American kids (man Im getting old) and they were pumped up, motivated and professional. I asked how they were doing and they said they had a lot of care packages and were good to go, had a good Christmas and really liked the Hooters calendars I left them (errrah!). Typical, find a really crappy place put up some plywood and put the Marines there. Yea, we like it too, I know we are sick!

I want to thank everyone out there who voted for all of the Blogs, especially mine during the Milblogs of the year awards. One Marine's View won the Marine Corps section of best Marine Blog. All the recognition goes to you all. The blog is for you and actually about you and me. I am humbled and very appreciative, Thank everyone out there who voted and Milblogging.com for the competition.

Time for a Cigar!
Semper Fi, Capt B

[thedrifter]

News from the Front

(from an unidentified USMC officer)

Things are going real well over here. We had a fantastic turnout for the elections a couple of days ago. I should preface that by telling a story of a couple of nights ago. On the night of the 13th, I was up at one of our satellite bases on the Syrian border in the city of Husaybah. The Company Commander for the area was having a sit down with some tribal sheiks that evening and he asked me to go along. Our entire area is Sunni for the most part. We have had very little participation in this area during previous elections and the area was largely anti-Coalition Forces. The Company Commander wanted to have a sit down with this sheiks to talk to them about the upcoming election and to urge them to talk to their followers about voting on election day.

We went to the house of the sheik around 7:30 at night. We rolled up with armored humvees and 2 dozen Marines who cordoned off the house. It was a real big, stone house with a walled off yard in front, which is common for many of the homes in this area. We went inside the house, took off our shoes and were ushered into the dining room. They do not eat at tables or use chairs here. Instead, they lay down a blanket on the floor and sit cross legged. Also, all meals are communal and family style, rather than having individual plates and meals. In the middle of this room, there was a giant metal dish, approximately 3 feet in diameter. The plate was piled with rice, nuts, dates and grilled mutton. They have large circular flat bread, looks like a cross between an Indian Nan and a giant wheat tortilla, that are about 1 foot and a half across. You sit cross legged around the metal dish and tear the bread into pieces. Then, no forks or utensils, you use the bread as a tool to pick up the food off the plate and eat it. It was really good and a very interesting experience. Of course, being that America is everywhere, we washed it all down with an RC Cola.

After the dinner, we retired to the edges of the room. The sides of the room were surrounded with pillows lining the walls in a U shape. The pillows looked and felt similar to couch cushions. The younger men of the tribe, probably teenagers, swept away the meal and the elders took their places against the wall. The chief sheik sat at the curve of the U, like being at the head of the table. This guy was the top sheik for the entire tribe in the country of Iraq. He was an older man, probably 70, had a white mustache, headress and robes with golden trim. There was small talk around the room (difficult because everything was being done through interpreters) while the young men of the tribe served chai tea and fresh fruit. Suddenly, the chief sheik called everyone in the room to quiet and gave a long speech to the Captain who is the Company Commander.

The Sheik said that the Sunnis understood that democracy is the only option for Iraq. He said that in the past, they had boycotted the election process. This was completely true for our area. Last January, when the elections for the transitional government took place, our area did not have 1 single voter. Not 1 vote. In October, when the constitutional referendum election was held out here we had a few hundred voters. This was a big success in our minds, because we had been told that no one was going to vote, but still not the turnout that one would hope for. The sheik explained that they knew that these boycotts of the process had only hurt the Sunnis because they were not able to get their agenda and their representatives into the process to help form the new government. The sheik further stated that before, the insurgents had told the people that if they voted they would be killed. He said this scared many Sunnis away from the polls who might have otherwise wanted to vote!

Now, though, he said that things have changed. He claimed that because of our two operations, Steel Curtain and Iron Fist, and because of the Coalition presence in the area, the people felt safer and more secure. They felt that the insurgents had been largely neutered in the area and they wanted to participate in the process. He also said that they wanted to get involved to ensure that they had representatives in the new Parliament.

Well, when the elections came about on the 15th, we had 20,000 voters show up to cast ballots in our area alone. From 0 one year ago to 20,000 for this election. The lines were a half mile long and people waited for hours to get inside the several polling places out here. That was close to 60% of the entire eligible voter pool. A pretty amazing turnaround in less than a year's time. Things are getting better out here.

Not that you will hear about it on tv. I watched CNN last night while I was eating dinner. They ran a story about my battalion on there that was originally run 5 weeks ago when we were in the middle of combat operations in the area. It was a story about a family that was killed by American bombing runs in the city of Husaybah. The family had been kidnapped by insurgents and held inside their house while the insurgents shot at Marines. Air strikes were called in and the family was killed inside the home when the bombs dropped. The video showed people wailing and crying and talked about how Americans had caused the deaths of the family. This story was 5 weeks old. When we were doing offensive operations out here, we had 25 plus reporters from CNN, USA Today, the NY Times, Time Magazine, among others. Now that the bombs aren't dropping and the cities have been stabilized... we had 1 reporter here for the elections. She is from the Christian Science Monitor. Not exactly the most widely read publication in the US of A.

So, instead of CNN coming out here to report on the current situation and the success of the elections, they ran a 5 week old story showing wailing and crying and dead children. CNN has it out so bad for George Bush, that they cannot even bring themselves to accurately report the gains that are being made by us out here. They are complete misinformation artists - and I have seen first hand how they warp and manipulate the "truth" to fit their agenda. I have been on the scene and witnessed a situation with my own 2 eyes, while CNN was standing right next to me (Arwa Damon and Jennifer Eccelston have been our 2 offenders by the way). Then, the story that I read on their website or saw on CNN International did not even remotely resemble the actual scene. The video had been altered, edited out of order, and the narration used in such a way to warp the situation and twist it into what they wanted it to be. It is amazing and despicable.

[thedrifter]

"CNN Despicable" - Marines Say
Back Five

Here is one report among many that I've been getting about the media's (disinformation) operations in Iraq. It's the first one that identifies journalists at the scene. A Marine sends the following:

Things are going real well over here. We had a fantastic turnout for the elections a couple of days ago. I should preface that by telling a story of a couple of nights ago. On the night of the 13th, I was up at one of our satellite bases on the Syrian border in the city of Husaybah. The Company Commander for the area was having a sit down with some tribal sheiks that evening and he asked me to go along. Our entire area is Sunni for the most part. We have had very little participation in this area during previous elections and the area was largely anti- Coalition Forces. The Company Commander wanted to have a sit down with this sheiks to talk to them about the upcoming election and to urge them to talk to their followers about voting on election day.

We went to the house of the sheik around 7:30 at night. We rolled up with armored humvees and 2 dozen Marines who cordoned off the house. It was a real big, stone house with a walled off yard in front, which is common for many of the homes in this area. We went inside the house, took off our shoes and were ushered into the dining room. They do not eat at tables or use chairs here. Instead, they lay down a blanket on the floor and sit cross legged. Also, all meals are communal and family style, rather than having individual plates and meals. In the middle of this room, there was a giant metal dish, approximately 3 feet in diameter. The plate was piled with rice, nuts, dates and grilled mutton. They have large circular flat bread, looks like a cross between an Indian Nan and a giant wheat tortilla, that are about 1 foot and a half across. You sit cross legged around the metal dish and tear the bread into pieces. Then, no forks or utensils, you use the bread as a tool to pick up the food off the plate and eat it. It was really good and a very interesting experience. Of course, being that America is everywhere, we washed it all down with an RC Cola.

After the dinner, we retired to the edges of the room. The sides of the room were surrounded with pillows lining the walls in a U shape. The pillows looked and felt similar to couch cushions. The younger men of the tribe, probably teenagers, swept away the meal and the elders took their places against the wall. The chief sheik sat at the curve of the U, like being at the head of the table. This guy was the top sheik for the entire tribe in the country of Iraq. He was an older man, probably 70, had a white mustache, headress and robes with golden trim. There was small talk around the room (difficult because everything was being done through interpreters) while the young men of the tribe served chai tea and fresh fruit. Suddenly, the chief sheik called everyone in the room to quiet and gave a long speech to the Captain who is the Company Commander.

The Sheik said that the Sunnis understood that democracy is the only option for Iraq. He said that in the past, they had boycotted the election process. This was completely true for our area. Last January, when the elections for the transitional government took place, our area did not have 1 single voter. Not 1 vote. In October, when the constitutional referendum election was held out here we had a few hundred voters. This was a big success in our minds, because we had been told that no one was going to vote, but still not the turnout that one would hope for. The sheik explained that they knew that these boycotts of the process had only hurt the Sunnis because they were not able to get their agenda and their representatives into the process to help form the new government. The sheik further stated that before, the insurgents had told the people that if they voted they would be killed. He said this scared many Sunnis away from the polls who might have otherwise wanted to vote. Now, though, he said that things have changed. He claimed that because of our two operations, Steel Curtain and Iron Fist, and because of the Coalition presence in the area, the people felt safer and more secure. They felt that the insurgents had been largely neutered in the area and they wanted to participate in the process. He also said that they wanted to get involved to ensure that they had representatives in the new Parliament.

Well, when the elections came about on the 15th, we had 20,000 voters show up to cast ballots in our area alone. From 0 one year ago to 20,000 for this election. The lines were a half mile long and people waited for hours to get inside the several polling places out here. That was close to 60% of the entire eligible voter pool. A pretty amazing turnaround in less than a year's time. Things are getting better out here.

Not that you will hear about it on tv. I watched CNN last night while I was eating dinner. They ran a story about my battalion on there that was originally run 5 weeks ago when we were in the middle of combat operations in the area. It was a story about a family that was killed by American bombing runs in the city of Husaybah. The family had been kidnapped by insurgents and held inside their house while the insurgents shot at Marines. Air strikes were called in and the family was killed inside the home when the bombs dropped. The video showed people wailing and crying and talked about how Americans had caused the deaths of the family. This story was 5 weeks old. When we were doing offensive operations out here, we had 25 plus reporters from CNN, USA Today, the NY Times, Time Magazine, among others. Now that the bombs aren't dropping and the cities have been stabilized... we had 1 reporter here for the elections. She is from the Christian Science Monitor. Not exactly the most widely read publication in the US of A. So, instead of CNN coming out here to report on the current situation and the success of the elections, they ran a 5 week old story showing wailing and crying and dead children. CNN has it out so bad for George Bush, that they cannot even bring themselves to accurately report the gains that are being made by us out here. They are complete misinformation artists - and I have seen first hand how they warp and manipulate the "truth" to fit their agenda. I have been on the scene and witnessed a situation with my own 2 eyes, while CNN was standing right next to me (Arwa Damon and Jennifer Eccelston have been our 2 offenders by the way). Then, the story that I read on their website or saw on CNN International did not even remotely resemble the actual scene. The video had been altered, edited out of order, and the narration used in such a way to warp the situation and twist it into what they wanted it to be. It is amazing and despicable.

Again, this is not the only first-hand report that I have received about CNN's election coverage.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Entries from Capt B's Blog
SUPPORT YOUR TROOPS, SUPPORT YOUR PRESIDENT
Jan. 5, 2006

It's a nice day today a bit brisk but nice after I have my Pop Tart and Cigar breakfast I read about how some article is boasting about how the support for President Bush and the fight in Iraq is dropping from troops. This is a pretty good article...a good article to poop ON! Give me a break, the democrat that wrote this article that based it off a Military Times Poll is another example how desperate the Dumboscabs are and how weak their attempts are to bruise the Boss. The article even disproves itself when it states, the survey was conducted through the mail, which affects the sample and margin of error. (Obviously they have never shipped anything to support the troops overseas) "Moreover, as the Military Times noted, respondents to the poll tend to be "older, more experienced, more likely to be officers and more career-oriented than the military population." For all those future article writers out there, know that there are almost three times the amount of enlisted service members in all branches than officers, you do the math. Another point, they are saying troops back in the states are stating that "The poll also found diminished optimism that U.S. goals in Iraq can be accomplished' Well another note to future article writers………..get your facts from the ones doing the work on the ground, actually seeing the results…….bright one!

If you're going to say we support the troops but not the war, Don't do it! If your going to say the war is going to hell in a handbag and quote people that aren't there fighting,,,,Don't do it. If you're going to blab an article out there without getting accurate facts and give us your two cents, Don't do it! The only facts this article has to back its gargle up is more BS from CNN……..don't get me started on them. (good choice on facts base……not)

Lets just pretend this article is remotely accurate, then why has the Marine Corps retention personnel goals been exceeded and continuously met, recruitment goals met (destroyed) and promotion throughout the ranks at a all time high?

Or how about where the article states that our goals cant be achieved here in Iraq? Well, numerous insurgent terrorists killed in combat fights, destroyed approximately hundred of thousands mortar rounds, thousands of grenades, rockets, mines, and millions small arms (RPGs, AK-47s, machine guns, rifles, pistols etc),increasing Iraqi Army that grew from a platoon to two full divisions of 18,000 plus soldiers. To date, 3 Iraqi Army Brigades and 8 Iraqi Battalions conduct independent operations and control their own battle space. But I know that's not accomplishing our goal here in Iraq, ohhh yea did we mention that we ultimately made possible the largest Iraqi voter participation in history for the national elections and established democracy??? Achieving our goals?? Sheesh……….I know you tree huggers out there want hurled peas but lets let your infamous Green Peace fight that war, we are fighting a bigger one at the time, get in line.

The Military forces fighting here are majority in support of President Bush and without a doubt what we are doing here in Iraq. Are there some that aren't in support of what the President is doing? Sure, its called a free country and we demonstrate our opinions at the polls. That's what makes America great. If you look closely you will see where Iraq is heading the same way. The troops are fighting hard here and in Afghani because we believe in what we are doing. You don't spend a year in another country, get promoted, stay out of trouble and kick butt because you don't believe in what you're doing. That's what your Marines are doing.

Your Marines are taking the fight to the insurgents because we want to! We fight hard because we know the American people are behind us. They're not you say?? Well just go take a look at numerous websites like AnySoldier.com where thousands of service members receive support from twice as many supporters. Ive said it before and I'll keep saying it, Haji cant beat us here, they cant beat us in the military field. They will try to beat us on the home front though. They will commit their every asset to convince you at home that we are loosing the war on terrorism. A perfect example is the "poll also found diminished optimism that U.S. goals in Iraq can be accomplished" or continuous negative press from stations like CNN. This is where YOU come in and make a huge difference for us. You can dispel negative articles, stories and lies about what you know the troops are doing in the war. Write your newspapers and show them you are watching them and watching for accuracy. Don't let them drive the news to you, you tell them what you want to hear about. They are supposed to be a public service, and not a piece of paper for catching dog crap.

Semper Fi-Keep Attacking!
"Hook em Horns"

[thedrifter]

Happy New Year from 1/2 Marines
A New Year's message from LtCol. LtCol "Drew" Smith; CO of 1/2 Marines:

Best regards and "Happy New Year" to the families and friends of Battalion Landing Team First Battalion, Second Marines,

BLT 1/2 ...Since the last update BLT 1/2 continued combat operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The BLT is operating within the City of Hit (pronounced "heet") and surrounding areas and we are fully underway in counter=insurgency operations. The BLT, in conjunction with operations of 22nd MEU are intended to neutralize anti-Iraqi forces, support the continued development of Iraqi Security Forces, and support Iraqi reconstruction. Our daily activities and operations will be a significant contribution to an overarching focus on giving the people of Iraq a chance to live in a peaceful and democratic society that has so long been denied them.

The Environment...The BLT's area of operations is along the Euphrates River Valley and centered on the very old, perhaps best described as "ancient" City of Hit. The geographic area that surrounds the city offers some distinct contrasts. Extending laterally from the river for approximately a mile or so, one can readily encounter palm groves, agricultural facilities like rice paddies and date groves, and small towns -"villes"-in Marine vernacular, serviced by the consistent water supply offered by the Euphrates River. Beyond the river valley proper, one almost immediately encounters a blend of desert terrain comprised of small mesa-like features to lightly rolling desert hills and wadi to barren, flat desert floor. With the exception of the occasional oasis and palm grove, the desert area is abundant with dirt and sand, and the "mix" results in a silt-like powder that floats on the surface of the desert floor. When agitated by vehicles, helicopters, or natural winds, the powder can certainly take up home in nostrils, eyes and in the mechanisms of our weapons and equipment.

The City of Hit is by and large the center of the BLT's AO and has drawn our attention in these initial days of combat operations. With the City of Hit being a "focal point" if you will, the units of the BLT are arrayed in manner that supports interruption of insurgent activities and routes while maintaining mutual support with adjacent BLT and 22nd MEU units. As one might suspect, routes and activities of the insurgents are woven with that of everyday civilian life of the area to offer the necessary "cover" for preparations and actions and to facilitate the illicit activities that fund insurgent operations. It is in these areas that we will go to root out the enemy and disrupt his activities.

An insurgency historically looks to capitalize on areas/community centers plagued by a number of negative factors, not the least of which can be an unresponsive and fractioned local leadership, long-standing or developing rifts in tribal and religious affiliations, an unstable economy and slow to stalled development of infrastructure, questionable and/or defunct police forces, and finally a populous that due to the strain brought on by the noted factors makes it susceptible to the manipulation, in this case by a variety of anti-Iraqi forces. Our actions are helping the citizens of the area maintain a level of security and normality in their lives while also helping to set the conditions for increased local security, responsive local government and improved economic development - key aspects in beating back and ultimately defeating of the insurgency.

Drilling down, "patrol operations" have been the "business of the day" these first several days for each of the companies. On a continual basis, vehicle and foot-mobile patrols are out and about in the untidy streets of the city and in and around the rural areas of the river valley, all focused on seeking the enemy and disrupting his plans by our direct actions and, in many respects, merely by our presence. "Your warriors are getting after it." "We are all here," ... AAV crews, artilleryman and their howitzers, combat engineers, tankers, infantryman, "docs" and chaplains, all working together. I have watched them "gear up," I see the confidence they have in themselves, their fellow warriors and the confidence they have in their equipment. They are all impressive. It is early yet and there is hard work ahead, but I know that it will be the sense of mission accomplishment and shared dangers that will positively fuel this fine team each and every day.

Concurrently, we are working to engage the local citizenry to gain their confidence and their assistance in addressing the threats within the area. Providing some semblance of security, and in that normalcy of life for the citizens of the area is an important task. Our security operations (patrolling, etc) coupled with engaging and assisting the legitimate, local leadership and operating with and assisting the local Iraqi Army are other key aspects to achieving that end.

As you no doubt have come to understand through the media, and perhaps from a loved-one's previous tour in Iraq of Afghanistan, countering an insurgency involves demanding and at times dangerous work. Let me tell you that your Marines and Sailors are on their toes every day, executing smartly and doing their part. We've encountered the enemy; he knows full well that we are here and that we have every intention of hunting him down. No surprise when I tell you that our enemy is allusive and our mission has risks and won’t be easy, but the members of this BLT are displaying tremendous qualities within a demanding environment. I am extremely proud of our Marines and Sailors.

"Home Is Where You Hang Your Rifle" ... As the header may infer, "home" is where Marines hang their weapons up and where they try to clean up and rest from the day's operations and prepare for the next. For units of the BLT, "firm bases," - buildings in a unit's designated area of operations reinforced with a variety and in many respects robust physical security measures - "firm bases" serve as "home" for now. There are several firm bases in the BLT area and although they offer little to nothing in the form of creature comforts, they offer several key aspects of force protection, not the least of which is added security that a hardened cement structure affords against mortars and rockets, and a location that is guarded by our Marines and with the assistance of Iraqi soldiers-our fellow counterparts in this fight. It is in these small bases where your Marine or Sailor can rest, get some "hot chow," relax with fellow warriors, get cleaned up and plan and prepare for operations. My medical officers and their corpsman are also dispersed throughout the firm bases, sharing in the patrols and hardships and capable of providing 24/7 assistance to the warriors. Through the hard work of our brothers and sisters in the MSSG, these firm bases have expeditionary showers and Marines have the capability to heat tray rations, a step up from the Meal Ready to Eat (MRE). 22 MEU as a whole continues to commit every available resource to these bases to give our warriors the life support to stay healthy and ready for operations. We are in good company and we're in great shape.

Mail continues to flow in and in large quantities. Always great to see the letters and care packages...and the grins that go along with news from home. A reminder on MOTO Mail at www.motomail.us ...a great way to stay in touch.

Happy New Year ...I extend my best wishes for a safe and prosperous New Year. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. My "thanks to all" for the steadfast commitment and support for this BLT.

Semper Fidelis and best regards,
LtCol "Drew" Smith
Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/2

[thedrifter]

GLADIATORS!
Sunday 8, 2006

Modern day warriors. So we aren’t beating the crap out of criminals or fighting lions on Saturday afternoons in coliseums and eating chicken drumsticks in the streets (ok Im not sure about that last one) but today’s warriors are as tuff and have the same fight in them as the old Roman tuff guys did.

Covered with armor, multiple weapons hanging on them and traveling in packs, today’s Marines bring victory in multiple size cans of whoop ass and flexibility to respond anywhere in the world. Tuff, young full of tenacity and spirit, we defend a country and help the little guy all in the same set of armor.

We wear the white hat and do what’s right even when its not popular. Selfless sacrifice, it isn’t uncommon to here of Marines giving their all to aide others and paying the ultimate price in doing it.

The recent book “Jarhead” story’s and other neanderthal style inaccurate view of us are in mostly error, in the minority and are derived from an one viewed originator with little experience or future. Today’s Marines are smart as a whip, dedicated, healthy and strong. They have goals and are determined to make a difference in the world and are a good example of how one person can make a difference and did I mentioned they volunteered for this stuff?. Brave, tuff as nails and confident, today’s Gladiators demonstrate how they can be your worse nightmare one second and care for children the next. Young Marines make life threatening decisions in a blink of an eye, leading squads of Marines in way that large corporations could only dream about having in their management team function and doing it in the worse conditions. In fact many corporations do pursue Marines to employ as they know they have the leadership, organizational skills and maturity demanded in upper management businesses.

The young Marines are the ones getting things done on the streets. The Gladiators in the arena of today’s battles.

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Scout Sniper, Scout Sniper Platoon, in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During the battle for Baghdad, Sergeant M's sniper team arrived within Company F's position as they came under heavy small arms fire from a determined enemy force. He immediately encouraged Marines to deploy and return fire. Noticing a disabled civilian vehicle on the road in the line of fire and with complete disregard for his own life, he rushed forward amidst a hail of gunfire and dragged a wounded Iraqi civilian to safety.

Returning to the front, he spotted a wounded Marine struggling to get off the same fire swept street, he risked his life to lead the Marine to safety. Returning to the front, he spotted a wounded Marine lying in the street. Ignoring the hailstorm of bullets, Sergeant M rushed into the street for a third time to carry the injured Marine to safety. Sergeant M returned a fourth time to evacuate an unconscious Marine.

Returning to the front again, he dashed into the contested street and assisted a Marine to safety who had been dazed by an explosion. Sergeant M ensured medical attention was administered and verified that evacuations were ongoing. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Sergeant M reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT(Paris Sorbonne,1910)
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Automatic Rifleman, 1st Plt, Company L, 2d Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06. O 8 May 2005, during an assault in New Ubaydi, Iraq an enemy ambush seriously wounded four members of Lance Corporal C’s squad and trapped two of them in a courtyard. Leaving his covered position, he engaged the enemy at point blank range with his M249 machinegun thereby allowing one injured Marine to be pulled to cover. He then joined a Marine in a frontal assault of the ambush site forcing two insurgents from the rear of the house and into friendly fire and permitting the recovery of the wounded injured Marine. As the assault to clear the house continued, armor piercing rounds were fired from a hidden bunker beneath the floor boards, mortally wounding another Marine. Lance Corporal C refused to leave the building without the fallen Marine, and twice brave intense machinegun fire while attempting to recover the fallen Marine’s remains. On 11 May, an improvised explosive device destroyed Lance Corporal C amphibious assault vehicle, killing or wounding all 17 passengers. Ignoring his wounds, he attempted to recover wounded Marines trapped inside the vehicle to only be thrown out of the vehicle from a secondary explosion. Receiving additional shrapnel wounds, yet undeterred, Lance Corporal C returned to the burning vehicle and pulled a Marine to safety. By his bold leadership, wise judgment and complete dedication to duty, Lance Corporal C reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Honoring SSGT Daniel Clay, USMC

SPEECH OFHON. JEFF MILLEROF FLORIDAIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESTHURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2005
Mr. MILLER of Florida.: Mr. Speaker, this week I attended the funeral of SSgt Daniel Clay. Sergeant Clay was from my district and one of ten Marines killed by an IED in Fallujah, Iraq on December 1, 2005.

Dan's father, Bud Clay, shared with me a letter his son wrote to his loved ones before he was killed. Accompanying his son's letter was a letter Bud had written to President Bush. Mr. Clay asked me to take this to Congress and share with you so that we could all see Dan's final thoughts and wishes.

May God Bless SSgt Daniel Clay, his family, our veterans, our troops, and the United States of America.

MOM, DAD, KRISTIE, JODIE, KIMBERLY, ROBERT, KATY, RICHARD, AND MY LISA: Boy do I love each and every one of you. This letter being read means that I have been deemed worthy of being with Christ. With MaMa Jo, MaMa Clay, Jennifer ..... all those we have been without for our time during the race. This is not a bad thing. It is what we hope for. The secret is out. He lives and His promises are real! It is not faith that supports this .... But fact and I now am a part of the promise. Here is notice! Wake up! All that we hope for is Real. Not a hope. But Real. But here is something tangible.

What we have done in Iraq is worth any sacrifice. Why?

Because it was our duty. That sounds simple. But all of us have a duty. Duty is defined as a God given task.! Without duty life is worthless. It holds no type of fulfillment. The simple fact that our bodies are built for work has to lead us to the conclusion that God (who made us) put us together to do His work. His work is different for each of us. Mom, yours was to be the glue of our family, to be a pillar for those women (all women around you), Dad, yours was to train and build us (like a Platoon Sgt) to better serve Him. Kristie, Kim, Katy you are the five team leaders who support your Squad ldrs, Jodie, Robert and Richard. Lisa you too. You are my XO and you did a hell of a job. You all have your duties. Be thankful that God in His wisdom gives us work. Mine was to ensure that you did not have to experience what it takes to protect what we have as a family. This I am so thankful for. I know what honor is. It is not a word to be thrown around. It has been an Honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to. This is as close! to Christ-like I can be. That emulation is where all honor lies. I thank you for making it worthwhile. As a Marine this is not the last Chapter. I have the privilege of being one who has finished the race. I have been in the company of heroes. I now am counted among them. Never falter! Don't hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting. Now here are my final wishes. Do not cry! To do so is to not realize what we have placed all our hope and faith in. We should not fear. We should not be sad. Be thankful. Be so thankful. All we hoped for is true. Celebrate! My race is over, my time in war zone is over. My trials are done. A short time separates all of us from His reality. So laugh. Enjoy the moments and your duty. God is wonderful. I love each and every one of you. Spread the word .... Christ lives and He is Real. Semper Fidelis,
December 7, 2005. President George Bush, The White House, Washington, DC. DEAR PRESIDENT BUSH: My name is Bud Clay.

My son, SSgt Daniel Clay--USMC was killed last week, 12/01/05, in Iraq. He was one of the ten Marines killed by the IED in Fallujah. Dan was a Christian--he knew Jesus as Lord and Savior--so we know where he is. In his final letter (one left with me for the family--to be read in case of his death) he says ``if you are reading this, it means my race is over.'' He's home now--his and our real home. I am writing to you--to tell you how proud and thankful we (his parents and family) are of you and what you are trying to do to protect us all. This was Dan's second tour in Iraq--he knew and said that his being there was to protect us. I want to encour! age you. I hear in your speeches about ``staying the course''. I also know that many are against you in this ``war on Terror'' and that you must get weary in the fight to do what is right. We and many others are praying for you to see this through--as Lincoln said, ``that these might not have died in vain''. You have a heavy load--we are praying for you. God bless you, BUD CLAYPensacola, FL

The above two award citations and last letter home are good examples of countless events that happen to Marines every day here in Iraq. These examples display selfless actions on the battlefield, acts of bravery and show the core Gladiator spirit which is still alive in your Marines. This spirit has been in Marines throughout the years to include WWI & WWII and even back then they had the same warrior mentality.

Don’t fret America, our nation will prosper and grow because we have young men and women in our armed forces who will be tomorrow’s leaders, who knows what the word commitment means, who don’t cut and run, who know we can’t let mad dictators eliminate innocent people and completely understand the cost of these actions but still have the guts to do something about it. We protect life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Nobody’s going to come to our shores and tell our children what we can and can’t do, I will be dead before that happens. Yes we are in good shape America because we have modern day Gladiators amongst us!

Semper Fidelis, time for a CeeeGar!

Capt B


COMBAT UPDATE
IEDs are ever present in the area (big surprise) although them enemy tries intimidation tactics of suicide bombers in Iraqi Police recruiting areas and fails to deter the Iraqi’s from making a difference. These tactics show how desperate the insurgents have come in their attempts to discourage the Iraqi people. Because of Gladiators like the above, they are failing.

[thedrifter]

Good things are happening in Iraq
LtCol Rob Kosid, 1st LAR, sent this update - not sure when it was written (or over what time period, since it references both the October 15 elections and Operation Santa) but it's a fascinating look at the success brought by the efforts of this force.

Dear Friends and Families of the Highlanders,

Happy Holidays from your Marines and sailors of 1st LAR Battalion (Forward)! We're doing well and continuing to make a difference in at least two Areas of Operations. More on that a bit later. Of course, we hope that all of you enjoying the Holiday season back home - at least as much as you can under the circumstances. Believe me, we think about you all the time and are eagerly anticipating our homecoming in a few more months. In the meantime, thanks for all the cards, letters and packages.

Currently, the majority of the Task Force is conducting operations in our normal/assigned area of Operations near Ar Rutbah. Weapons Company, on the other hand, is currently working for 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines in the vicinity of Al Qaim. I speak with Capt Sucher on a regular basis and he reports that Warlord is doing very well and doing what they were trained to do. Am also getting many compliments on their performance from the Commanding Officer of 3/6. Their terrain is a little more urban than ours and they have the opportunity to do some great work in an area that has, up until last month, always been a thorn in the Coalition Force's side. Their Engineers have done a remarkable job turning an austere combat outpost into a functional Company firm base. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's "comfortable" but it's a vast improvement over what they originally moved into! For those who participated in Operation Santa back home, we have made arrangements to have Weapons Company's packages sent up to them.

The rest of us have had a busy first half of December. On the 6th, we had the good fortune of hosting the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Hagee. He stayed with us for approximately an hour and a half and gave all of us more than enough opportunities to talk with and listen to him as well as numerous photo opportunities. SgtMaj Ward has even figured out a way for you to see all of the photos. If you hit this link: www.usmc.mil/cmc/photos/index.html and go to the Al Asad section of the December 3-9 CENTCOM visit, you can find our photos beginning on page 11. Our server's a little slower out here but there are lots of photos and the chances are good that your Highlander is in there somewhere! Following our visit, he took a flight out to our POE at Trebil where he visited Capt Jeff Goodell and our Marines and sailors of Alpha Battery - their pictures begin on around page 23 or so. All in all, the visit was a success and the Commandant had great things to say about what we're doing.

While CMC's visit was certainly big news, our biggest event occurred yesterday - 15 October. We set up and provided security for two polling sites in advance of Iraq's election of a full-term Parliament. Alpha Company (Apache) teamed with two Platoons from our partnered Iraqi Army unit - the 2d Company 2-1-1 and established a polling site in the vicinity of Ar Rutbah. All was set on the evening of 14 October and I visited the site at approximately 0845 on the 15th. In short, as surprised as I was at the turnout in Barwanah on the 15th of October, I wasn’t prepared for yesterday's voter turnout - it was unbelievable. As you probably already know, we're in a heavily Sunni dominated area and the turnout for the previous two elections was minimal at best. Without getting into too many details - official results are apparently a week or so away - the IECI workers (poll site employees) ran out of ballots and the line of voters stretched, at times, at least a quarter of a mile. Our polling site that H&S Company (Hammer) and their partnered platoon from 2d Company set up in Akashat had similar success - over 350 women voted out of approximately 1500 very enthusiastic voters there. When we visited that site, there were many people in the area and virtually all proudly displayed their ink-stained fingers. We attribute much of the success - at least in terms of how security affected the turnout - to the great work done by all of the Highlander elements in the few weeks preceding the election. I could not be more proud of their efforts and the expressions on the Highlander faces yesterday spoke volumes. Good things are happening in Iraq.

As I type this, we are in the process of sorting through the two tractor trailer-sized containers of mail brought to us by Combat Logistics Battalion - 2 last night as well as the four containers brought in by helicopters a few hours ago. Our company office is literally stacked to the ceiling with boxes from well-wishers. Both SgtMaj Ward and I cannot overstate how thankful we are for the wonderful generosity shown by so many of you. It inspires us! There are so many people to thank that I’m going to send a separate update and attempt to provide a proper "thank you" shortly after Christmas Day. Until then, thanks for your support!

[thedrifter]

SACRIFICE
Jan. 11, 2006

While in this country of Iraq, I have seen a lot of great things transpire, people stand up and a country become proud and strong. I could tell you how your Marines brave small arms attacks; tracers in the cold night, IEDs exploding just feet from them, sometimes underneath them, nightly Islamic prayers played on loud speakers during sundown and intermingled with a low base IED explosions off in the distance. The smell of trash and tires burning continuously throughout the day. I could explain how during a cold brisk morning we went out and about through the city escorting a few more "passengers". Life is good, things are just freaking chipper. The schedule is on track and we pause and stop to observe some new Marine Corps equipment and as we begin to get briefed from the Soldiers who run the gear, two enemy sniper rounds fired from at least a mile away hit in close proximity. The Marines know what they heard and move to protect our passengers when a 60mm round hits about 30 yrds in front of us. We had a good berm to cover us and we continued to move into our hummers to evacuate the area before they can bracket us and lock onto our position and do some real damage.

But what I will tell you about is the smell inside an envelope from home. Where you can actually smell some of the things that where there when the letter was written. You can close your eyes and recognize the smell of the familiar little one who wrote you the letter. You can pick up on familiar surrounding's like the pledge cleaner that was used on the table where the letter was written on or remember where the flowers are in your home that are neatly placed and accompany your letter. The smell of the room where the letter was written in cuts through the familiar burning tire trash smell you're currently surrounded in. It's a nice treat to get mail regardless who it is from. You get the letter here in a country that doesn't even have a mail system. It might have been a week old which is better than past wars where it could have been months before you received a piece of mail, it's a special piece of home.

I can tell you about the sacrifices your service members have made in this war alike the ones in the past. The birthdays you miss, the graduations that are complete minus dad, the dad that has to be both a mom and dad. The feeling a young Marine father has who stands guard on a post during a national holiday while his kids open presents back home. Having to deal with monsters in closets and taking off training wheels at home while their warrior is away helping a country take their training wheels off as well. The simple words from a youngster saying "I just want my daddy home" can carry a ton of weight just as much as a warrior says, we will prevail and we are here to help. Both know the meaning of sacrifice, both smell the envelopes from their loved ones.

Your service members and families know sacrifice because they not only feel it, they live it. Not just from Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, but as long as this country has had to make war, we have made sacrifice. Sacrifice as a country at home and a far. Its not easy, its not always fun but when we make a sacrifice it is for the good and a good cause. We help others who have no hope, we dedicate our loved ones to complete the mission. We don't take it lightly and we play to win. We know the sacrifice and we are proud of what we do. The next time you write your service member a letter, know what is going into it and what they will get out of it. While in the country of America, I have seen a lot of great things transpire, people stand up and a country become proud and strong.

COMBAT UPDATE

Things continue to keep you on your toes. IEDs a plenty and the sporadic small arms fire are continuous. Marines continue to take the fight to the enemy and continue to show the enemy the definition of sacrifice and we allow them to experience it.

Iraqi Army soldiers and U.S. Marines uncovered hundreds of mortars, artillery rounds, rockets and other warheads during the 3-day sweep near the ancient town of Hit in Al Anbar province.

"This was our biggest find to date," said 1st Lt. Antonio Agnone, the combat engineer platoon leader for Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. "We've uncovered numerous, and significant caches the insurgents have hidden in Hit in places where they thought they would have easy access to them."

In just a few days, Iraqi soldiers from 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and Marines under 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), 2nd Marine Division unearthed nearly 500 rockets and artillery and mortar rounds, along with approximately 100 tank rounds and large quantities of rocket propellant, fuses, and blasting caps. These supplies are the components insurgents commonly use to make improvised explosive devices. A stockpile of assault rifles, ammunition and two IEDs were also discovered. The weapons and ordnance were destroyed.

Iraqi soldiers patrolled the perimeter of the cache sites to keep residents away from the insurgents' unexploded ordnance and answer their questions concerning the operation.

According to Agnone, what amazed many of his Marines, who are new to the theatre, was the lengths the insurgents would go to hide the caches. In one instance, the insurgents defiled a local cemetery to place their stash.

Acting on a tip, Iraqi Army soldiers and Coalition Forces carefully searched the cemetery and found caches in grave spots adorned with both head and foot markers.

"We went over the area very carefully with mine detectors," explained Agnone, "and that led us to the sites. We were very careful and didn't disturb any civilian graves in the process."

In addition to BLT 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, the 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its command element, MEU Service Support Group 22, and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced). The 22nd MEU is in the Western Euphrates River Valley area conducting counterinsurgency operations under the 2nd Marine Division.

Keep Attacking!

Time for a CeeGar!
Capt B

[thedrifter]

Interview w/ Capt B in Iraq <br />
From BlackFiveDotNet <br />
<br />
Many folks asked for interviews with milboggers who are &quot;boots on the ground&quot;, Capt B of One Marine's View is the first victim. I like his mix of...

[thedrifter]

Team update - 11 Jan 06 <br />
<br />
Hi everyone. <br />
<br />
I’m back. Try to contain your shock; I know you are used to only one entry every three weeks. Well, Christmas has come early. <br />
<br />
It is now the year 2006....

[thedrifter]

SAVING THE WORLD
Jan. 15, 2006

There are many things we do to assist the Iraqi people both visible and sometimes not very visible. Many smaller events get accomplished so that larger ones can continue to move on and form the country's independence. The event themselves I wont discuss but you can get a feeling at least of how we felt traveling around the area saving the world or so it seemed.

Our convoy began in the dark. It was a good one and longer than most. All was good as I peered through my ballistic orange glasses for low light use. Not many Haji's out and the travel was fast. The sun began to come up and we had to move to another base. Our mission would help many other Iraqis in the long run down the road. It was imperative to get there as we would be going through a lot of shady parts of town (Regular freaking carnival ride!). We moved through a farley large city and it looked like ruins of some Roman Empire with black smoke throughout. (no kilts) Our gunners fire a few warning shotgun shots at a car that doesn't want to stop. The whole time your doing the continuous IED scanning from hell, here there everywhere, where is the next one going off going to come from? The black burnt craters from past SVBIEDs are always reassuring and a deadly reminder along the highway. Truck one relays to watch the black bag on the right shoulder (characteristic of IEDs). We adjust. Flash bangs detonate near another truck who isn't stopping. (9 out of 10 times they just don't see us until we are upon them but the one time is the one that will kill you) This is why we use an escalation of force instead of gunning them down right off the bat. The sun is coming up and its an huge yellow sun rising with clouds above it and looks like something out of the holiday season tv version of the Ten Commandments. We get closer to our destination and more traffic is appearing but the Marines handle it well. Adjusting and clearing traffic we reach our destination without any problems. The credit goes to the young Marines being vigilant and proactive. What great leaders our county has to look forward to as they young Men continue to grow. We complete the first phase of our mission which takes the majority of the day. Many key personnel are involved and Iraq's future begins to become visible and Americas exit begins to become even more apparent. We are finished here and now have to move to yet another location for more business to conduct.

We began our helo departure as it was dark, wind blowing and cold. The low illume turquoise lights from inside the helo showed our small group onto the aircraft. Crew chiefs manning the guns with their green glow around their eyes from their Night Vision Devices (NVGs) sat ready manning their 50 cals as we began to take off. Engines whining, fluid dripping (it's a good thing when they leak, its when they quit leaking is when you worry) The aircraft noses down as we lifted off for some reason the song "Born to be wild" by Steppenwolf began to play in my head and my toes began to tap. The low illume lights went out inside the helo and the ever present smell of JP8 aircraft fuel ran through the cabin. The shake of the helo is perfect to put you to sleep. It's a short hop so I fight the sleep and look out the back ramp of the helo and see lit up clouds by a full moon. Its pitch black in the cabin. As we travel I catch the dark yellow moons reflection on the Euphrates as we fly over a section of the river. As we continue the moon disappears because of darker lower clouds we fly into and they begin to surround us. Its completely dark in the cabin minus the green eyes behind the 50 cals and a couple instrument lights in the cockpit. Then, a big flash and I fight my gear to twist to scan out a window and begin to clean the crap out of shorts. Its never good to see a big flash in the sky with helos. There is no more moon out and the flash was very bright. Were not hit I thought as we are still flying. As I always sit in the same place on the bird I know how to get out if we go into the drink (water) and as I reach for a well known handle to turn just in time to see spider webs of lightening go through the black cloudy sky just above us. Great! Grand! Wonderful! Were heading into a thunderstorm. The kind or lightening you see out on the prairie in the movies. Its actually pretty neat to see, just not at a few thousand feet. The aircraft drops down nice and a lot lower than usual as I can easily see the halogen lights that light up the houses in Haji land as we fly over them. For some reason I think about the last cigar I burnt about a half hour ago, it still tastes good. More lightening bolts off in the distance as the flight is pretty smooth surprisingly and there is a diamond shape cut out of the clouds as the full moon briefly shines through then goes behind black clouds. We approach our landing site banking hard left and I can make out a black helo silhouette behind us as the "Dash 2" helo approaches in our adjacent path. We are low over the city and anti missile chaff begins to deploy off the aircraft to misdirect surface to air missile (basically it seems someone is locking on to us ) CRAPTFREAKINGASTIC!! Just what I need. I have had a long butt crack day, been up since yesterday, sitting in crap (not really) and now surface to air threat. We land however without any problems (ok the flyboys did a good job) and we are on the ground. Its dark, soaked ground from hours of past rain and our night begins to wind down but before we rack we go over the next days plan.

It was a short night (stooopid alarm clock) and its still dark as I enjoy a nice pop tart and coffee………..cigar to follow of course. We have yet another mission and its going to be a white knuckle ride. Im not humming Born to be wild anymore more like ****ting diamonds cause we are so puckered. Helo support is above us and nice and low where I can see the pilots. I like it that way! We begin out the route weave through the many barriers to only be met by the many IED pot holes in the road right off the bat. My driver hits a pot hole (never good) and I say do you think we can go AROUND the potholes; I really don't want to hit any mines today! He is trying but he still hits a couple. We can't afford to get dead. Not today. We continue to motor down and have the air support about 50 yrds ahead of us at a couple hundred feet just looking for ass to beat. Our Forward Air Controller (FAC) vectors them to recon our path and watch our flanks as the city is bare and empty. We have a million moving parts to today's op and for some reason things are just not going as planed. They say the best laid plan changes as soon as you step off. We ours went into another millennium. Adapt, overcome feel like shooting something, its all good we adjust and overcome. We get to our destination in downtown. First class craphole. Its like if you ever asked yourself, hmmmmmmmw here is the worse place I could think about being. BINGO, your there. The buildings shot up from previous gun fights, collapsed building floors, nasty standing water and a nice stench lead your way. We conduct our business with the Hajis's who we are working with. Its pretty interesting and they are doing their damnedest to build their country. You got to give it to them when they know America's history and George Washington better than some Americans. We talk and they tell us, yes like George Washington this and GW that, our country will be great soon. Good on em………time to go, see ya. We load up our Marines and do the smashed pedal race back to base. The Army works well with us as they cover our flanks as we move through the city. Im always scanning and all of a sudden I see a black silhouette on a roof top and so does the gunner as he swings the turret around and the split second that goes by I make out a burkah and not a black hooded RPG shooter. The gunner and I comment on that later and agree it got our attention as she was just hanging laundry, the young Marine says with a **** eating grin on his face. We continue to haul ass back home and arrive without incident. Another couple fun packed days in Iraq.

I figured I would try to give you an idea of what it's like here a couple days at a whack. For those Marines who are on post consecutively and cant email you and explain what they see and do, the above is for them and for the Iraqi we are helping. The Ones who are working with us and the ones who cant do it for themselves.

Semper FI
Capt B

COMBAT UPDATE

Approximately 400 Iraqi Police candidates arrived in Baghdad early this morning from the Al Anbar Province to begin a ten week Iraqi Police training course. Half of the men were recruited from the Al Qa'im region in western Al Anbar and the other half from the provincial capital, Ar Ramadi. On Jan. 5 a suicide bomber attacked the recruitment center in Ramadi killing more than 30 applicants. Despite that attack, the recruits returned en masse today. There are approximately 1,200 Iraqi Police Officers patrolling the streets of Fallujah with 400 more attending the Baghdad Police Academy. This is the first large group of Iraqi Police candidates from Ramadi and the Western Euphrates River Valley to attend the Ministry of Interior's police training. U.S. Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) assisted in providing security for the convoy to Baghdad. Subsequent groups of candidates will attend this training course in the near future.

posted by Capt B at 8:13 AM

[thedrifter]

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

THE MARINE


He’s Billy from down the street, your friends kid, your old student. He might have cut your grass you might have watched him as a kid. He left home to the unknown, was taught and tested until he earned the title. He has learned the meaning of Semper Fi. He doesn’t see black, white or brown, just green and we never leave green behind. He became comfortable being miserable and welcomes fear and knows how to deal with it. Sent around the world to do a man’s job and became a man in the process. He puts up with a **** ton of crap, *****es and moans but gets it done and better than most adults. Adapts to change easily like a chameleon and uses flexibility as a foundation. Smart, cunning and loyal. Will listen to what he is afraid to hear and acts on it. Will walk to hell and back with the ones he respects. Razor sharp, smart and shinned. A bit cocky, and mean as hell. Full of fight because that’s all some have. Single, orphaned; only son, outcasted he has joined the Marine family and for some that’s all there is. Proud disciplined, cleans up well and short haired. Keeps his body and mind tuned and improves both constantly. Follows direction even when he is too tired to know why. Proud enough to give his life for others but takes others if he has to. Returns home in the middle of the night, no welcoming bands, no flags, just his fellow Marines and gets ready to start all over the next day. He’s pushed his body to failure then continued and went further. Measures twice and cuts once. He can sleep on a rock, in the mud or out to sea. Walks in the footsteps of warriors past and isn’t afraid to stand and protect the weak. Because of warriors like him we are free.

He’s a son, a daddy, an assault man, a tanker, a brother, a daughter. A feeder to the hungry and a killer of evil. He wants to be different and make a difference. He’s the one you didn’t think would amount to much but has become one of the few. He wears his uniform proudly when it’s not popular; he stands watch while others rest. The mention of his name puts the fear of god into his enemy’s hearts. We send fewer men like him to do the work of many and expect greater results in a shorter time. He welcomes the impossible. He thrives on challenge and loves it when they say he can’t do it. Polite but a bit rough around the edges and crude. Smells like oil, grease, dirt and sweat. Likes his team logo on his arm and everywhere else. He does all of this with honor courage and commitment.

He’s the kid down the street, the little brother, the new born father, the uncle you met once. He’s the man your mother tells you about in all of the pictures that you would have liked to have met when he was alive. He’s your dad. He volunteered to do all of this for you and me; he’s the best you’ve seen because he’s a US Marine.

To all the Marines out there. Thank you & Semper Fi.

Capt B,
Taking Care of Business (TCB)

COMBAT UPDATE
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HIT, Iraq – Iraqi Army soldiers and approximately 1,000 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), are conducting counterinsurgency operations in the Al Anbar province. Operation Wadi Aljundi (Koa Canyon) began Jan. 15 in an effort to capture or kill insurgents and to locate and destroy their weapons caches in the Western Euphrates River Valley between the Jubbah/Baghdadi region and the city of Hit. This combined operation involves 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Division, and the 22nd MEU’s ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.
The majority of the forces are conducting cordon and knock operations and searching areas of interest for weapons and insurgent activity along the Euphrates River, approximately 80 miles northwest of Baghdad. In addition to the Iraqi Army, Marines are also working with Iraqi Police in the Baghdadi region. More information on the operation will be released as it becomes available. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is operating under the tactical control of the 2nd Marine Division. For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC) visit www.22meu.usmc.mil.

posted by Capt B at 9:14 AM

[thedrifter]

Friday, January 20, 2006 <br />
<br />
<br />
TWO TRYING THE SAME THING <br />
<br />
If your out of toilet paper you can print out the below section and use it because that’s all it deserves. I was going to use this entire...

[thedrifter]

BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE

Iraq, like America continues through its growing pains and tribulations to become a new nation. Great strives have been accomplished throughout the country at the expense of Iraqi, Coalition and International forces over the past year. Like America it has become a new nation conceived through liberty and freedom.

Its amazing how solid history tends to hold true throughout time. Like America, Iraq is growing as a country and we can see the same growing pains in Iraq that we experienced here in America. Your service members continue to make sacrifice, reinforce dedication to what they believe in and continue to make valuable gains for the people of Iraq. Their efforts here in Iraq and Afghanistan will not be forgotten and will forever be placed in our history as selfishness acts of freedom and gratitude and it will never be forgotten what we accomplished here, for the people.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

Like the Iraqi people, we in America need to always remember what we have and not to take it for granted. It is easy to take your way of life for granted. Your means of travel, your house, your job and the simple things in life you have never appreciated unless you've done without. Imagine what it would be like without them. Imagine what it would be like without freedom. With your continued support your service members have been the military force to help Iraq, but you the people of America people have been the spirit to help a nation grow, both their and ours.

Keep Attacking!
Capt B

[thedrifter]

Giants Among Men

By LtCol Craig Covert, USMCR

I interviewed some pretty incredible Marines over the last two visits with 3/7. They are typical of young fleet Marines. Cocky and filled with bravado, they call themselves an "old guy" or a "senior Marine" as a Lance Corporal (E-3) or Corporal (E-4). I chuckle to myself, as many were merely toddlers when my troops and I deployed for our first wartime experience during Operation Desert Shield. They enlisted in 2003, their recollection of September 11th simply a distraction that captivated their parents while their attention was focused on their next algebra exam or football game at school.

Barely out of high school, the youth of these young men is apparent. They love their video games and Sony Play Stations; they boast about their girlfriends and make plans to get an apartment with 3 or 4 of their friends when they return to CONUS, splitting their expenses to save money for beer and parties. Yet outside the wire, they magically transform into completely different individuals. Gone is the boyish grin, the horseplay and the thoughts of home. These attributes are replaced with steely grit and determination, strength and courage. They are all business, every bit of energy and every ounce of concentration focused on the mission and the safety of their fellow Marines.

These young men have experienced things that took my generation an entire career to experience. I'd like to mention a few of these young men, the future leaders of our Corps, and the reason we are still able to enjoy our freedoms at home, safe from the threats these Marines face on a daily basis.

There's SSgt. Andrew Yellope, Weapons Company, 3/7. He joined the Corps at age 17 and was deployed to Afghanistan during the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). One evening, while sitting in a defensive position near Khandahar airfield, an illumination round set the brush on fire in front of his unit's position. Over the next hour, twenty-six mines proceeded to blow up from the flames, the area laden with mines and unexploded ordnance. He escaped without a scratch and currently faces a similar threat of unexploded mines and IED's in the mean streets of Ramadi.

One month ago, Corporal Matthew Conley's platoon from Weapons Company was serving as the Battalion quick reaction force, or QRF in Ramadi. Lima Company hit and IED, then shortly thereafter, a secondary IED went off in the same vicinity. Corporal Conley and his squad arrived on scene within 7 minutes from receiving the call and assisted the severely wounded Marines, some with legs and feet missing from the effect of the explosion. They quickly hauled the wounded to "Charlie-Med," the surgical facility at Camp Ramadi, only one Marine losing his life due to the quick reaction of Marines like Corporal Conley.

Kilo Company's Corporal James Dodson, Jr. received his baptism by fire on April 17, 2003, during the battle for Husayba, a small town along the Syrian border. The city was crawling with organized bands of insurgents suspected to number around 300 strong. While pushing through the city on foot, Marines in another squad were wounded and Corporal Dodson's team filled in the gap, taking heavy fire from insurgents who had set up sandbagged machine gun positions. Fighting the way through the cramped alley ways, he and his team spent the next three nights on a rooftop, sitting on overwatch to ensure the insurgents couldn't escape 3/7's noose slowly tightening around the city.

Corporal Adam Frickey, India Company 3/7, was conducting a patrol near an abandoned house in Ramadi and got a funny feeling when he passed an abandoned building. Taking a quick peek inside, he found himself staring at an insurgent strong point that had been recently vacated. Lying inside the room was a box containing 14 mortar rounds, grenades, and other ordnance and weapons that could have been used against his buddies or himself. Shortly afterward, his company conducted a sweep near the Euphrates that recovered approximately 90 AK-47's, countless rocket propelled grenades (RPG's) and launchers. All in a days work.

Like Corporal Dodson, Sergeant Ryan Bilbao, Platoon Guide for Kilo Company, found himself embroiled in battle with insurgents in the streets of Husayba in April, 2003. He recalled receiving a quick warning order and loading onto trucks to conduct a sweep of the city. Under sustained small arms fire, his platoon walked block by block to clear houses and building through the middle of the city, from east to west, all while being engaged by insurgents hidden within the city walls. In addition to his standard combat load, Sgt. Bilbao carried nearly 1400 rounds of ammo for his M-249 squad automatic weapon (SAW), a total weight in excess 100 lbs. He scanned overhead as Cobra gunships and FA-18's rained fire from above onto the insurgents and their hideouts.

Cpl. Phillip Gutierrez recalled his first ride into battle on the back of an MTVR 7-ton truck. Excited and scared at the same time, he compared the experience to the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan", where actor Tom Hanks waits aboard a naval landing craft enroute to the beaches of Normandy, not knowing what to expect when the ramp of the landing craft opens up as they hit the beach. Cpl. Gutierrez and the other young Marines knew not quite what to expect, riding quietly into battle as sniper rounds snapped above their heads, the sounds of battle getting closer as the trucks rumbled along. Only hours later, he'd gained firsthand knowledge of the fright and excitement of battle.

Cpl. Jordy Vega, a Texas native who graduated from boot camp in 2003, is on his third combat tour 3 short years. Shortly after arriving in Ramadi in September 2004, his HMMWV was hit by an IED. The vehicle was carrying 9 Marines, protected only by the hillbilly armor installed around the crew compartment. Rolling down the road, their lives were changed forever when the IED was triggered, a bright flash of light and wall of heat hitting the occupants full force. Cpl. Vega awoke to find an injured and unconscious Marine lying atop of him in the back of the burning vehicle. Under small arms fire, he helped drag a number of his wounded comrades to a casualty collection point, himself wounded in the leg from the shrapnel of the IED. He proudly showed me the scar on his right ankle, a permanent reminder of that day and his time in Iraq. A purple heart will adorn his uniform in the rear, a badge of honor among Marines.

Major Bradford Tippett, the Battalion Operations Officer, summed up the actions of the Marines in his unit who do the job "no one else wants to do." To liberally quote Major Tippett, "…the Marines do a job they don't fully understand, but they know has to be done. The odds are often against them. They are scared and afraid but go out and do what's required of them. The same kid, the same young men you wear out for getting drunk and stupid at 29 Palms is the same kid, who after a firefight, has done things that only giants of men do when they are here. They've done things we've only read about in the annals of history; that we've read about in the award citations from Guadalcanal and the Chosin Resevoir, things we wondered how anyone could do. I've seen it. I've watched these men, these Marines, do extraordinary things. They do phenomenal tasks that the American public will never have a full appreciation for, but should forever be appreciative of. These Marines are doing what they won't. They are giants among men."

[thedrifter]

Tuesday, January 24, 2006
THE TRUE BOYS IN BLUE

I received this in an e-mail from Capt B and I thought that I would share it with you.
THE TRUE BOYS IN BLUE
The other night I heard a song called “ Have You For Gotten “ by Darryl Worley. If you get a chance to hear it, I’m sure you’ll like it. I started to think about my freedom and the high price that’s been paid for it. I began to think of the battles you have fought, lives that have been lost and families that have touched for that price of freedom. All the tears and blood that have soaked into the ground as the price of freedom we all take for granted.
I thought about that ten year old boy, who just became head of the household because he just learned his father had fallen fighting the British during the Revolutionary War. How scared a thirteen year old young man must have felt during the Civil war his brothers on one side, father on the other & townsmens around him. In his cross hairs his best friend, fighting alongside the Union Army.
I began to think about the window mother down the street from my grandmother’s house. She lost all three of her sons during World war One. How many empty, lonely nights did she cry herself to sleep ?
What about the sixteen year old young man bones shaking so bad from the icy cold water splashing him in the face and blowing off the Normandy frontlines. He’s praying to himself, hoping he makes it home to his bride.
I drop a tear for all the men that walked for days during the Great Bataan March.That freshly graduated high school eighteen year old man, who went off to war in 1968. His parents are still waiting to this day for him to walk in the back door.
I mostly remember the Delta & Special Force Rangers being dragged through the streets of Somalia.
You have made more personal sacrifices than I can even began to imagine.
These words, HONOR,COURAGE & COMMITMENT mean more to you than words can express. I mean you guys are the best of the best ! Toughest of the toughest ! You move in the shadows like demons in the night, stalking your prey like a wild tiger. When the timing is right you strike like a Kentucky lighting storm.
You see, I grew up in the back yard dirt like any every other normal boy. Playing army digging trenches, tunnels, bases, with sixty-five helicopters and about one hundred US Marines on my side.
Of course I always won, because I had you guys on my side.All I thought about when I was growing up, I would follow in my fathers footsteps, joining one of the toughest elite force in the world. So I could become one of the best America had to offer. Standing toe to toe with my brothers on the frontlines defending this great nation. To know that feeling of putting my life in someones else’s hands and theirs in my hands. I mean you guys are incredible !
You’ll go in a moments notice, leaving your loved ones on the docks, eyes full of tears. Hiding your emotions so deep in the bottom of your soul. Pushing your bodies to the max, and your state of mind to the breaking point.
You’re the first to go last to know, but always willing to fight. You’ll fight for those who can’t fight for themselves, who are to week to fight back. You’ll travel to far off islands and strange countries, to fight for total strangers. You’ll fight for us back home who can’t fight.
I’ve seen the news with anti-war protests and human shields, Americans going to Iraq. I just have to shake my head. I sometimes wonder if they are would step out of their three million dollar Malibu homes? Locking their luxury vehicles in the garage and tossing the keys into the deep blue sea? Canceling their country club membership and winter trips to Aspen? Are they willing to lace up your boots & run 1.5 miles in 13 minutes?
They might know how it feels to watch that first drip of sweat roll off your forehead, in a push up position on hot black asphalt in the middle of July. With a drill instructor screaming in your ear, less than two inches from your face. You watch that drip of sweat hit the asphalt.They might know that victorious, joyful look in your eyes, when dawn breaks on graduation day. The satisfaction that you made it and no one can take that away from you. They just might realize how much pain, blood and raging emotions you have pushed through your body, to see that dawn break on graduation day.
I’m serious as a heart attack when I say “ WE STAND BESIDE OUR TROOPS & SUPPORT WHAT THEY DO. LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND !"
There have been some things said over the years about the Marines Corps. When I read these quotes, it hits my bones & I say a small prayer for our guys.
They remind me why you’re standing on that line and they make me proud to be an American."
Behold a pale horse and upon him sat death & hell followed “ God“
The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines, Lord how they could fight. “ MGen Frank E Low USA Korea 26 January 1952
“ Come on you sons of *censored*es you want to live forever ?" GySgt Daniel J “ Dan Daly"USMC near Lucy Le Bocage as hed led the 5th Marine attack into Belleau Wood 6th June 1918
Sincerely,
Josh W.
Downey, Ca
P.S. That’s just where I stand !!
And, I stand there with him!

[thedrifter]

Bada Bing"


Dear Gang,

I have received requests before to talk about the “Bing” and what we have here. First of all, I live and work in a tower, not a pretty tower but never the less we call it home. On top of this old control tower there were tons of busted air conditioning units, scrap wood and basically left over junk from when the Iraqi’s had this joint. When my boss showed up here last year, that is where they would smoke cigars at night and drink near-beer.

Of course being the creative, improve your spaces, Bob Villa has nothing on them type guys, they decided to build a bar. Not any bar, but an all ranks social hangout where you could enjoy great company, have a pleasant view of the base and get away from the doldrums of everyday life here. To start they had to chunk all of this crap off the top of a 100 foot building down into an abandoned parking lot in the back with a big metal dumpster there. It all had to come down, that took a day. Then there was a big pile of wood left over from when the Army vacated, so they dug through that to find the right pieces to form a roof, but with the high winds, it would fly off like a sail, so next came a frame around the roof. They attached cammie netting, built benches and a bar, but what to name it???

The crew here watched all 5 seasons of “The Soprano’s” on DVD and decieded to name it “The Bada Bing”, the strip club on the show. There is a kid downstairs who is an incredible artist and he freehanded the painting of the Bing girl and boom we have a bar. This place complete with music and a T.V. became the hangout on the base. My Aunt in L.A. thought that we were getting drunk everynight here when she saw all this pictures of me with a "Becks" in my hand. Little did she realize they weren't real beer...

When I arrived in Oct on this base as the AirBoss, I thought about what great digs these were but it needed some fun stuff to go along with it. So I designed coins and shirts that folks could buy to remember it by. We have had many famous guests up there to include Ollie North (although he refused to have any pictures next to the girl on the wall), some MWR cheerleaders and some gals called the Perfect Angels.

Now Marines across this A.O. all have a place to hang out but I can say without a doubt in my Military mind that ours is the best!! One base has a place called “Club 9” where they smoke cigars and chip in to drink near-beer. It’s Club 9 because they put it in building 9 and it’s about 4x4 tiny closet room so after about an hour in there, your underwear reeks of stale cigar smoke. Another base I was stationed on, would go on top of one of the buildings and watch helicopters fly by to land from there.

I can tell you that as a “Staff guy”, I am to old to kick in doors, so I contribute in different ways to the war effort here. When I go back to the states, some of the fondest memories I will carry with me are up at the “Bing” watching a College football game on Saturday nights with the sounds of generators chugging along on one side of us and choppers flying by with the “Womp, Woomp, Woooomp” as the blades pound the air into submission.

I can guarantee you that there are Marines and Army Soldiers improving their spaces and making a nice little “slice of heaven”. Those of you who have served will probably have flashbacks of the great place that you hung out too. A place where you blew off steam and deals were brokered. This is what makes guys so tight. When the next AssClown on TV says that morale sucks over here, look him in the eye and ask him if he ever smoked a Cee-Gar at the Bing!! You all take care and keep up the fantastic support WE see from here!!! OOOHHHH RRRhhhaaaa


S/F
Taco

[thedrifter]

THE YOUNG MARINE BREAKS THE CODE

Type type type, ="<$BlogURLTyPingSuCks#@$>">…..HTML code is FUN! I try to tell myself as I continue to get severely beasted on entering some good HTML upgrades for the Blog. So as I continue to hack away at the computer with a dull hatchet and say nasty things about its mother, I seek help from one of our computer Jedi's. After pulling a standard mind trick on me……….Sir, you will not figure it out, got to bed as he waves his hand. We continue our conversation and he mentions how he is trying to get into school and increase his education. Like many young Marines he's a sharp guy, not just because of his computer skills but as his overall character makes him well balanced. So instead of putting the post I had ready, it can wait as below is Sgt M's essay.

After you read it you too will agree America is lucky to have these young warriors on our side and so eager to serve, ……..Sir, you are taking too much time and babbling.(hand wave)………..Knock off the hand waving already MR jedi, your making me tired.

When I joined the Marine Corps in February of 2002, I was really looking for a way to pay for college. The college I attended for just one semester went bankrupt, causing me to lose my full scholarship. I signed the enlistment papers never thinking about going to war, even though the United States was attacked by terrorists just a few months earlier.

I drifted through the first year of my military career unmoved by what was happening around me. Units were deploying, there was a war in Afghanistan, and tensions were mounting in Iraq. I went through recruit training, combat training, and my military occupational specialty school, each putting more and more emphasis on being prepared to deploy.

My first duty station was at the 2d Marine Division, a Marine Corps infantry division. For the first six months after my arrival on Camp Lejeune, I watched the wars on the evening news. Nothing about the either war, Afghanistan or Iraq, had affected me personally yet.
One day in the summertime, shortly after the invasion of Iraq, I was told to assist in the preparation of a memorial service that was for Marines who died in the first wave invasion of Iraq. I figured I would be setting up chairs and tents for the ceremony. That day, however, changed my life; my duty was much different from what I pictured in my mind. As we ushered the families of the fallen heroes, I realized how much had been given by these Marines. I was selected to accompany a young woman, who was approximately 20 years old, carrying two children. I took one of the children, and she wrapped her arm inside mine as we walked forward to the memorial service.

We were seated side by side with the rest of the mourning families. The death of her husband was being represented in true military fashion: a kevlar helmet, wearing a set of goggles, perched on top of a rifle that was standing at attention muzzle down at the heals of the boots that the young man wore in Iraq. A set of dog-tags dangled from the hand grip of the rifle. This was one of twenty-six displays in front of the families and the formation of over two thousand Marines in attendance.

They play taps on a trumpet when a three-man detail of Marines lowers a flag at sunset. I have since heard it several times, but that day marked the first time that I heard taps being played when Marines, not our nation's colors, were being laid to rest. The young woman found temporary comfort in crying on my shoulder, though I knew it could never take the place of the husband she was laying to rest. I cried with her, for I felt I had lost a brother. It was then that I realized what the Marine Corps was all about.

There had been talk about our division deploying to the war in Iraq, but the dates just kept being pushed back further and further. After two years on station, I could have requested to be moved to a different unit or a different base. Just before I made the decision to change units, our date was set: our division was finally deploying for Operation Iraqi Freedom. We were going to war.

No matter what kind of danger I just put myself in, I could not coax myself out of being faithful, especially to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice. My decision to stay in the division a little longer was rewarded with the opportunity to go to war in Iraq with my fellow Marines, my best friends. At first, there was nervousness throughout the platoon from not knowing what to expect, but we were there for each other. We talked about what our jobs were going to be and we focused on doing those jobs perfectly. By the time we got on the bus in late February of 2005, we were ready.

Eleven months later, we are nearing the end of our tour and I am still here past the end of my four year contract. Not because I was forced; rather, I am here because I volunteered to stay so that I could be with my friends. Today we said goodbye to a couple of guys from my section, the first of many. Unlike some goodbyes in the past, these ones are cheerful because these men are going home to be with their families, not to be buried. In the last year, we learned to live comfortably together, work seamlessly together, fight fights together, celebrate happy times together, and mourn the loss of our friends together. We became a family, however we are going home with one less member than we came here with. But like any family, that one member will always be with us in our hearts.

I joined the Marine Corps over four years ago for the college money. Now that I am about to finish my tour, I am reflecting on what I got out of it. Yes, I will get the college money, but what I was given is much deeper than the materialistic values. I have the advantage of knowing that I served faithfully with the greatest fighting force in the world. I have the benefit of knowing that I was part of the strongest brotherhood known to man, a brotherhood whose members would gladly go to war with you and lay their lives on the line for you. I have the profit of knowing that I retain some of the strongest friendships that could ever exist, friendships that most people will never be lucky enough to experience in their entire lives. I have the honor of knowing that I am a United States Marine.

Thanks Sgt M for sending me your essay, it's a pleasure to serve here in Iraq with you and the many other outstanding Marines like you.

Semper Fi
Capt B
Time for a CeeGar!!

[thedrifter]

Redman and Rotten eggs <br />
<br />
From Sandgram's Blog <br />
Jan. 25, 2006 <br />
<br />
Dear Gang, <br />
<br />
Well in the light of my glass half full, here is a post that hopefully will bring a smile to your face. This happened...

[thedrifter]

Friday, January 27, 2006


JUST ANOTHER DAY
What was your day like? Yea, so was mine…………well, I bet ours was a bit different. I take for granted that you don’t know what our day is like. This is our way of life here and sometimes you think that’s all there is. You back in the states……..your in another world entirely. Here in Iraq you have your routine and you don’t think about the states or at least you try not to. Over the past year here its almost like the states is make believe. In Afghani, it was all mud huts and generator power. Few cars and all the other healthy stuff that comes with a third world country. Bacteria that eats the flesh, things that grow in the dirt I wouldn’t mention at a biker bar and its not if you get sick but just how bad you get sick. HA!! I laugh at you Montezuma’s revenge! You little girlie man virus!

Your day may have entailed getting up, going eating breakfast (probably not for what ever reason) hurrying off to work, dealing with delusional idiots on the road who ate one too many stupid pills or are still asleep. Or perhaps you had a special day where your car didn’t operate correctly and the **** storm began there. Once getting to work you put in an honest day (had to listen to that damn big mouth down from you, who you might want to drop kick into a four lane highway) and for you female gender out there he probably has hit on you time again and wont get the hint when you call him Eric Estrada…you say “idiot” as you have mental thoughts of charging a Browning Urban Assault black tint shot gun and aiming in on him….snap out of it woman! You boss is an idiot and you clinch your fists together and say in a mumbled stuttered voice…..give me another report and I’ll, I’ll burn building down……..

An overpriced lunch that some 18 year old threw together for you…….I cant describe where that could go or what is really in it. Back to work to finish up the day to only deal with even more idiots, dodge the bus driver who doesn’t see you or swerve to prevent a side swipe by the driver changing lanes without looking (no more pills idiot! ) . Get home, ponder whats for dinner and try to salvage some family time before you pass out. Man you guys are screwed, Im not coming back, end of post…………

Our day or I should say routine is a bit different. Yea I know we are in a war zone. But going back to what you are doing there in the states may be scary as hell. At least here when I hear an explosion, I know its either incoming, outgoing, IED, SVBIED, etc etc. We get up, now in this time of year its still dark and you get moving. Some days you are the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug. Sleeping in, forgetaboutit! But wait, before we go any further let me tell you about 0100 when the IEDs went off or the incoming hit and you use to get up and get your business suit on and now your like……uh..oh it was and IED and far enough away and go back to sleep. Days are different out here. Sometimes your off base and Taking Care of Business (TCB) but while your off base the paperwork beast awaits for your return. Yes, there is always a chance of having a rocket come out of no where and turn you into a stain on the wall but hey that’s why we say when it your time its your time. Your aware of it but you don’t let it drive your actions.

So no **** there we were……….hehe, the day had been going good. Nice quiet, a time that we are back on base and not out and about. Cleaning up a few things and was able burn a stoag or two……..maybe three as we field day the area (cleaned up). I can hear my mother NOW, those are bad for you………..yes, but so are RPGs!! Everything is freaking GRAND when a launch is heard (rocket launch) and the subsonic flight of the rocket cutting through the air is very distinctive. Its not headed directly for us but it still makes you run for your shelter. Impact is about 200-300 yrds away and it’s a good one. Shortly after the impact our counter battery is all over them dumping “justice” on top of them. Eat that **** birds!!!! A bit later I think then as things cool off, I should go PT and go for a run.

Im telling you there must be a Haji appointed to watch me for when I go to the head and tell his buddies to launch the mortars as soon as I go in. I fooled them for awhile with my double………..not! No sooner do I get one foot outa the shower after my run. Crump, Crump……….Crump. I think to myself, those little mother Ffffff (sorry kids) scratches as I hug the ****ter floor. Nothing to be excited about as the head floor is pretty nasty. Floor scum or shrapnel, scum or shrapnel…….tuff one. I take the floor scum. Small arms and RPG fire breaks out following the incoming. Well there isn’t that special……they decided to conduct a nice coordinated attack just off base (said in the church lady voice). So I finish toweling off and figure I’ll stay put for a minute as the couple min small arms fight subsides and the facility Im in is bunkered protected. There begins a lull so I figure, ok Im gonna make a run for my hooch. One step outside and just as I do a RPG impacts off base and the small arms begins again (Im so going to get that guy watching me) and as I begin my sprint for the hooch, two small arms rounds are distinctly heard going right over my head. OK, this looks like a good place to seek cover as I duck behind some sand barriers. Ho hum life is grand as all hell breaks loose across the way. One of our guards waved to me from his bunker in full gear. I wave back with a sarcastic “Hello” Smart Ass as he has a big **** eating grin on his face as he watches me do the “oh **** sprint” behind cover. Once things go into a lull I begin my shower shoe shuffle back to my hooch once again I think, man that would suck to buy the farm in the head. REAL great. Tomb stone reads “died in Iraq fighting soap scum” GRAND, Fierce!!

The funny thing is that “Taco” was supposed to be here the day this was going down. We would have been looking at each other laughing at each other like little school girls I bet as **** hit the fan. This reminded me of the time about 7-8 months ago when I got back on base late and went for a run at night. It was the summer time and my mother continued to ask me if I had been going to church. I said nope, I don’t like going to gatherings of large amounts of people cause it’s a mortar magnet. I still got a lecture. So as I ran I passed the church with her words in my head. No sooner do I get 100 yrds past it a bad sand storm develops quickly and its hard to see and dark. Then I heard lightening, or I thought but it was yet another rocket attack and guess where it hit? Yip,the church. Bad Haji’s very baaaaaaad.


Evenings are usually pretty mellow. Many finish up work around 1900-2000 as almost a way for the time to pass quicker if your busy. Then maybe a nice stoag while the constant prayers wale about, sending their propaganda through the city….Americans are bad……bla bla bla….or ……stay inside so you don’t get hurt during upcoming attacks against the infidels. The summer time it was still in the 90s around 2000 and we would be outside in PT gear but now with an occasional rain and it dropping into the 30’s we be loading up on the snivel gear to hang out at night. However its amazing how pretty the sunsets can be but know on the other end of that there is so much of a lack for life here as well. We work seven days a week with a partial day on Sunday and you may not do anything in the morning but work until the late hours of the night. You’re a Marine 24/7.

Here the days are exciting and the nights, if quiet, then they can get exciting. Your days although crazy will get quiet. What was your day like? Yea, so was mine…………

Keep Attacking!
Semper Fi
Capt B....moving towards a CeeGar!

[thedrifter]

Bad Timber


Dear Gang,
There is a fellow back home In California, who is doing his job. Writing. I would say that he is very successful and with his last little OpEd piece, will get a lot of attention for a long time. I give him credit because he did his job, right, wrong or indifferent on how you feel, emotions aside, he has you talking. Now I feel sorry for the S.O.B. because what he wrote might be the straw that broke the “Camels” back for some guy that has been over here in Iraq fighting and he might go pay this nameless person a visit one night. I believe that he wrote this to get people fired up and mad on purpose. Why? The Attention of course!!! My Mom said “doesn’t this make you mad son?” And I can say “No”. Now, would I waste my urine on the guy if he was burning in his wrecked SUV out in L.A.? Probably not, but then again, I’m trained to help everyone so I might toss a couple of drops on him before I rescued his sorry “I hate the military, don’t know what is going on in the world” Ass.


Since he is now nameless, we’ll call him Mr. AssClown. I have more respect for the Anti- war guys who have actually been embedded with the troops here and taken fire. At least they have an understanding of what’s going on. We are fighting religious nuts over here. They have no uniforms, they follow no politics, they are just crazy religious Zealots (Chuckleheads) who are willing to give their life up for no good reason. They would kill this nameless Assclown in a Los Angeles minute (might take hours if you count freeway time) and every other none believer because they are not the same religion.


I have no problem with Mr. Assclown running his pie-hole and spewing madness, he is only doing what he has the right to do in the U.S. and what we as the Military are paid to protect this right for him to do. We have a Government, a President and leaders who allow this form of free speech to happen. If you don’t like something, then change it!! Get out and vote to make a change. That is what they have done here in Iraq. They voted to put the person in power who they feel will help them best. That is a privilege we have as Americans, but so few take advantage of during the elections. Too busy I guess, maybe the traffic was too bad; it’s easier to ***** out loud at Starbucks while you’re drinking you low fat double diet Pepsi latte’ with just a hint of Madagascar spice while you watch Communist News Network on cable television.


I will get off my soap box now, but really, just treat this nameless indigent like the tree in the Forest… if no one is around and it falls, does it make a noise??? You guys have a great day and if you are reading this Mr. AssClown, I understand you were doing your job, but try to remember the next police officer who pulls you over, just may be a former Jarhead, so keep your anti-military comments to yourself during that stop. But if you ever desire to see what we do and feel the urge to strap on a flakvest, we’ll be here for you 24/7. OOOOHHHH RRRRRRhhhaaaa MARINES!!


S/F,
Taco

[thedrifter]

Monday, January 30, 2006
"Chunky"



Dear Gang,
You know, call signs and acronyms are abundant in the Military and the Marines so I thought I would talk about that today for those of you new to my blog. This will help you non-military types understand the lingo that you may encounter out there in Cyberland when reading other MilBlogs.


As a pilot, you usually get a call sign for doing something stupid or its part of your name somehow. I think I could write a book based solely on this topic. As a former KC 130 pilot with the last name of Bell, and the type guy whose love of Mexican food causes massive odiferous odors to exude from my orifice, well, there you go...TacoBell. There is a flight surgeon running around out there named “Warf” because of his bad hair transplant, his head looks like the security officer from Star Trek TNG. Poor guy never figured out why he was always losing at poker when it was his night to host the game… in his office and his examination mirror was right behind him.


We had a Sgt. named Reilly, but we called him ripsaw because he could tear through anything and get the job done. Of course there was Major Ward, “Wardo”, and his constant copilot, “Muscles” (liked to work out and he was big too). Then it’s not to hard to imagine why some are called what they are, there is “Toecheese” (smelly boots-socks-feet, “Cocheese” (part Indian), and “Chowhound” (would eat your hand if it’s too close to his tray). With a last name like Flanagan, of course his call-sign is “Father” but we can’t forget the best one like “Wedge” (because he was the simplest tool known to man). Others I recall were “Rainman”, “Sticks”, “C.B.” (chatter box, she talks a lot), “HeHaw” , “Chuckles”, “Chunky” (puked in his helmet bag in flight school and it’s stuck since). I always liked my buddy Malcolm’s callsign “Roth La Doad”, (red on the head like a dick on a dog) or my old roommate at another base, “YFB” –Young Fighting Blanch. Then my other buddy there “Tattoo” a Huey pilot, remember fantasy Island (ZZZeee Plane Boss). We call our young lance Cpl “Leg Hound” because he’s like my Colonel’s old dog, which would take off chasing the UPS van and not come home for hours. This kid will get the keys to our vehicle to make a short errand, then three hours later he’ll be spotted on the other side of the base with the windows down, head bouncing up and down, cover tilted to the side and country music blaring. We were just short of having the QRF (quick reaction force) plant him down face first on the deck for grand theft auto. We ended up putting a BOLO (Be on the look out) out on all the radios for our LegHound.


Then you are running around trying to figure out the chat stuff on the computer such as “Mams” military aged male suspect and BB’s are Burka Babes. BBGW’s refers to the gals washing their clothes along the river banks but that is in hopes that they would take it off and go swimming (never happens) then they would be Burka Babes gone wild. “Tits” (kids who are doing the dirty work digging IED holes hence Terrorist in Training), “NP” no problem, “TY” thank you, “C/S” call sign, “ISO” in support of, and of course ETD/ETA not to be confused with IED or IDF (Improvised Explosive device/In Direct Fire). SAF should sound like special armed forces but means Small arms fire while the “TIC” is troops in contact and CBRU is cancelled by requesting Unit.


The “head” is a bathroom, “deck” is floor, “hatch” is a door, “butts” are cigarettes, “Smoking deck” is a place to smoke said cigarettes. The chow hall is just that, the hodgies (really Hadji’s but Hodge is a buddies name) are either the name of the guys working in the chow hall who are really “TCN’s” (third world country nationals) and the “LCN’s” (Local country Nationals, Iraqi’s in this case) or the guys lobbing rockets at you. I prefer Chucklehead for the bad guys, although, Ass clowns has been tossed around a lot. The Hodgies or TCN’s who have the market on the haircuts here are really from Tibet and nice guys. They give you a hair cut and short massage which we call the Hodgie Man Massage, not to be construed with “HML” Hodgie Man Love stuff that goes on, another subject. (read a book called the Arab mind)


Skids are Hueys, and slicks are Cobra’s and the CH-46 is called a Phrog (Frog) and they are all located on the Lilly pad, their tie-down area. You’ll hear guys talk about the “Big Voice” which is the alarm that goes off when we get rocket attacks. All time is in the 24 hours fashion 0100 is 1am thru 12pm then add 12 to the twelve hours so 1pm for you is 1300 for us. We run on Zulu time which is English time but we’re 3 hours ahead here so “C” time is Zulu plus three, most confusing if someone tells you the VIPs are showing up at 1300 and the entire staff is out waiting for Senator X to arrive only that was really 1600 local… you can see the problems that arise from that. Well I hope you gained a better understanding of our language here, not as hard as say German, but it does takes a bit of getting used to.


You guys have a “kick butt” day and I’ll talk to you soon.
Semper Fi,
Taco

[thedrifter]

ACE IN THE HOLE
Feb. 1, 2006

Have you ever had to do something that was complex, crazy but required. Something that if it went astray the domino affect would be catastrophic? When you experience these type of events and you are hit with a size 12 shoe from Murphy (Murphy's law) you had better have a plan B set up. Well My plan B was shot to hell and we were loosing altitude and airspeed quick as we were headed towards a very bad area. To say **** was hitting the fan is an understatement. Everyone going 50,000 directions and dealing with one of those events where if you forget the smallest detail you would be swallowing a big spoon of trouble. This is the perfect time for your one "Ace in the hole" to shine. You know the guy that gives you what you need just as you go to ask for it. The guy that comes up with a nice cold glass of ice water in hell. That's this guy. I know one of "those" guys. He's worth his weight in gold and he is hard to replace. Were not talking reliable. Were talking how in the hell did you pull that off reliable.

This guy could have been Wylie Coyote (Canis latrans,) pulling rocket launchers out of the ACME box as he always comes up with what he needs just in the right time. Although he has a lot better luck than Wylie with his results. This guy doesn't work for me here but that's all the better. Here in Iraq, it's the land of "hook ups" and this guy is the man for hook ups. He tells me you can get anything in Iraq, you just have to know where to find it. Nothing criminal of course, as we don't keep what we are borrowing. Its just that back in the states if you need something you go to the store if you don't already have it and get one. Here, if you didn't bring it in your pack, you got to go a searching and bargaining and that is time demanding and time is our worse enemy sometimes. Its almost a game and a challenge for him because we hit him with some crazy stuff sometimes and during those "tuff requests" we will get the response of, "I'll get you one, it might take be a couple hours but I'll get you one"

We are currently looking into cloning this guy and I must say we have a good start. The coffee can has a solid buck twenty five in the coffee mess. "So your saying there's a chance"……... We were almost successful last time, we went to clone him but we didn't tell him we were doing it and his pockets were full metallic stuff and everything got cloned but him………..minor set back…don't stare at the lump on the side of his neck if you see him…..the machine kicks out some serious radioactive material.

The best is when you need "X" and you need it in an hour. You make your usual calls and then after you can't find one you "make the call". Its like out of a movies, "Mr President, its time to make the call". By combining ingenuity thinking, time management and savvyness this guy can be a deadly weapon in this area.

I guess this guy gets his creativity from being part Marine, Canis latrans, magician, MacGyver, part server. He just won't be beat and takes on the challenge to help. Wanting to help and giving a crap to get off his butt to do it is what sets this "go to" guy aside from others. He also doesn't let distraction get in his way "keep the drama for your mama!!!

This guys resume could read like the intro from the A team.

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped the maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles Underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-team.

Are their guys out there like this that you know?

Semper Fi
Capt B

COMBAT UPDATE

Press release-Approximately 1,000 Iraqi soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (28th Infantry Division) completed Operation Al Dharba Al Nihaa'ya (Final Strike) in the Jazerra area northwest of Habbaniyah, 75 km west of Baghdad yesterday. The eastern Jazerra is a known insurgent staging area for attacks against Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Security Forces and Coalition Forces. Operation Final Strike is a counter insurgency operation aimed at neutralizing the insurgency activity and providing a secure area for the citizens of the Jazerra.

The Iraqi soldiers discovered an improvised explosive device and a small weapons cache during the course of the daylong operation.Third Brigade controls their own battle space within the 2nd BCT's area of operation. Since the end of August, 3rd Brigade has been conducting independent counter insurgency operations in this area. The morale of the Iraqi Soldiers of this brigade is very high; the work that they are doing shows their ability to properly execute missions. The Iraqi Army is earning the trust of the Iraqi citizens by protecting them from the insurgents and their terrorist operations," said 3rd Brigade Commander, General Abdul Amir. Third Brigade is composed of three Iraqi Army battalions, a commando company and the brigade headquarters unit.

posted by Capt B at 6:39 AM

[thedrifter]

Monday, January 30, 2006 <br />
Fun and Games <br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Gang, <br />
<br />
Sometimes you try to find a laugh out of everyday ordinary events. There are folks out here who don’t have to try hard--it just happens....

[thedrifter]

Friday, February 03, 2006

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY

For all the free people that still protest, you’re welcome, We protect you and you are protected by the best. Your voice is strong and loud, but who will fight for you? No one standing in your crowd.

We are your fathers, brothers, and sons, wearing the boots and carrying the guns. We are the ones that leave all we own, to make sure your future is carved in stone.

We are the ones who fight and die. We might not be able to save the world , well at least we try. We walked the paths to where we are at and we want no choice other than that.

So when you rally your group to complain, take a look in the back of your brain. In order for that flag you love to fly, wars must be fought and young men must die.

We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear, if that’s not respected we would rather stay here. So please stop yelling and put down your signs, and pray for those behind enemy lines.

When the conflict is over and all is well, be thankful that we chose to go through hell.



It’s an early Sunday morning. The anticipation builds along with excitement. Nerves twinge and fears and worries race through your head this morning. It’s the big event, the Super Bowl. I’m not talking the football game I’m talking about your next convoy.

But wait everyday is the Super Bowl here. That’s the mind set. You get your “gear” on, have a pre game (order & rehearsal) and you’re always practicing. Sure there are some big time pressures in a Super Bowl football game and I’m sure they seem grand with high stakes. A lot at stake, trophy, money, fame, victory but it’s still a game and not your life at stake. If it comes down to the last few seconds of the game and you begin to see teammates holding hands like they did in their college days on a knee as the kicker lines up to kick the winning field goal and the kicker misses, you aren’t going to have to begin first aid treatment for a sucking chest wound…….well usually you wont have to but the fans may wish otherwise. If they don’t get to the first down hash mark on third down during the fourth quarter, you’re not going to have to go to physical therapy for six months to learn how to use your prosthetic. But if you catch a glimpse of a Marine taking a knee, do us a favor and keep your pie hole shut and respect em while they do it.

Sure the coaches and players on Sunday will have plans and plays for their strategy. But will they be reading the surrounding citizens in the stands to see if they are pulling their kids off the streets because of an immanent attack? Will they see a piece of press trash blow towards them on the side lines and flinch because of a past IED experience? Will the game be interrupted by incoming mortars??……..not while were at work.

It may not be fair to compare the Super Bowl with combat action in Iraq and Afghanistan but if you want to talk about the “Big Show”, all the marbles, what you’ve been training for your entire life then, yes you can compare the two.
You can compare the stresses, fear, anxieties, joy and sadness.

However, we are 10,000 miles from anyone who really likes us and do it everyday not just on one particular Sunday. No autographs, few positive interviews, no contracts for endorsements or rolling around in expensive cars or nice houses. But I do have a sweet cot they can borrow…….when I don’t need it and I’ll take my scratched armed to the teeth hummer over their new Mercedes here any day.

The game comes on around 0300 for us, not that it will be any different from any other day heck, Christmas wasn’t different why would the Super Bowl create a special day? We won’t see the two million dollar commercials as the government station that shows the game will only produce safety commercials and weather reports for the region instead. The standard day’s events will take place and we will have our own game to fight.

As you watch the game this Sunday, having a cold one with your cigar, chips and dip and family and friends, take a couple seconds and remember we are out here for you and proud to do it. Some on their third tour, some here for a year, some just getting here. As you watch the game, know that that somewhere a young Marine is walking the streets of a foreign land, driving the armored hummer on their billionth convoy or standing a post to keep the wolf at bay while the game is on. When they play and sing the National Anthem, listen to the words carefully because we are making those words actions here taking care of business during our Super Bowl. The super stars on the field will play their game but regardless don’t believe the rumors, your Marines are human.

This Super Bowl Sunday the players will don their battle gear, conduct their press days, living with excitement and fame. Enjoy their moment to shine and they will do everything in their power conquer and seize the moment for when they will make a difference. Your Marines, well we will be doing the same thing here.


Semper Fidelis
“Get Some”
Capt B


COMBAT UPDATE
This raid was conducted by Iraqi soldiers not any of the tribal groups that have been stated in the press. There were American soldiers in support but this was an Iraqi Army raid.
PRESS RELEASE- Soldiers with 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division conducted a targeted raid in Ar Ramadi against a foreign insurgent cell suspected of operating in the provincial capital. The intelligence attained by the Iraqi soldiers led to the capture of 15 suspected insurgents, 11 of which are identified as Syrian nationals and the remaining four as Iraqis. The raid took place at a factory in the Tameem district of Ramadi at about 1 p.m. today. The foreign insurgents surrendered to the Iraqi soldiers and were taken for further questioning; 36 AK-47 assault rifles were also taken in the raid. No casualties were sustained during the raid.

[thedrifter]

Assignment: Iraq -- Five months in Iraq: strain & focus
By RORY QUINN , Associated Press (ASAP)
© February 5, 2006
Last updated: 8:31 AM

EDITOR'S NOTE -- This the latest in a series of stories written for asap by a Marine captain in Iraq. It is aimed at offering one voice from someone on the ground in Iraq, and should not be seen as telling the whole story of the events of the war. Before the writer submitted the dispatch for publication, it was reviewed by Marine officials to make sure it did not reveal military security or logistics details.

RAMADI, Iraq (AP) _ Capt. Rory Quinn and his unit have been in Iraq for nearly five months, and he says the strain is beginning to show.

His Marines are getting in fights. Some are permanently cranky.

''I've been away from my wife for five months, yet I'm still two months from seeing her again,'' Quinn says. ''Two months.''

In his latest exclusive dispatch for asap from Ramadi, Iraq, Quinn writes about the hard work involved in staying focused on the daily tasks of war after spending months patrolling a dangerous Iraqi city. Here, in his own words, is what he had to say:

___

January 29, 2006:

Wow. The deployment can really drag on, at this point. We're approaching the five-month mark, and as with every deployment, the signs that we've been gone a while are starting to show. Marines are fighting more. Some have become permanently cranky. There is tension in the air.

I've been away from my wife for five months, yet I'm still two months from seeing her again. Two months.

The company's leaders work hard to keep the Marines focused on the daily tasks of the war. There's some humor to break the monotony, though. Here's a bit of conversation from the other day on the radio, to a friend of mine:

Marine: ''Sir! We've got a guy here. I think he knows where the terrorists are and he's trying to tell us.''

The very concept of that is funny -- the Marine doesn't mean it this way, but it comes across as if this is the one Iraqi, in a town of 400,000, who knows the physical location of every terrorist in the city. The Marine continues:

Marine: ''What should I do, sir?''

Company Commander: ''Have him tell you where they are, Marine.''

Marine: ''Sir! He doesn't speak English. I need an interpreter.''

There's no interpreter available. The Captain thinks of an alternate strategy.

Company Commander: ''There's no terp. Have him write down the information for you on a piece of paper, and we'll take the paper back to camp.''

The interpreter will be able to read it on our base and translate it there. We do this frequently when there aren't enough translators to go around.

Marine: ''Sir, I don't think he writes in English, but I'll try.''

The Marine is off and running.

Marines are so close to the fight that sometimes they can't see the forest for the trees. It's an endearing trait, actually. He's trying so hard to accomplish good things that he sometimes loses perspective.

A different Marine received a letter from an American student the other day. We receive these fairly regularly. Kids make then in arts and crafts. Most are pretty straightforward: The children wish us well. They draw American flags, or pictures of their families.

One of them was from out of left field, though. It went something like this: ''Dear Soldier, My name is Braedon. I'm 6 years old. I like video games. Have any of your men been shot?''

There's a kid who doesn't have trouble cutting to the chase. Thankfully, lately, the answer has been no.

Things are going well fighting the war. Our company's main mission is to train four different companies from an Iraqi battalion to be self-sufficient, so they can take over daily operations, and U.S. forces can go home.

One company just did a sweep through a part of the city, completely independent of Marines. They went through about 40 houses -- knocking on doors, talking to occupants, and documenting all sorts of information about who lives in each house. It's much like a census. The ability to be anonymous and hide amongst the population is the most sophisticated weapon the enemy has in this war. These census-like operations slowly take that away from him.

We've already conducted several successful missions as a result of previous census operations. It's a good technique, and it allows the Iraqi soldiers to be seen going through Iraqi neighborhoods.

There are personal developments as well. On long deployments like this, you have to break things down into phases. In the beginning, much of my energy was spent focusing on getting to know the city and learning the specifics of the enemy we were fighting. I did relatively few recreational things. I was worried that if something happened to a Marine, I wouldn't be able to face myself if I knew I could have worked harder to stop it.

So I didn't watch any movies. No working out. No pleasure reading. That mentality lasted for half of the deployment.

But after three months of running around the city, constantly getting in and out of trucks, my body was starting to break down. My knees were killing me, my elbow couldn't bear weight, and there were other little aches and pains.

At the halfway point in the deployment, it's common to develop a new hobby to avoid being bored to tears. My hobby became the gym.

The day I deployed, I weighed 207 pounds. I'm six feet tall. Marines may be muscular, but I wasn't all muscle. For the final two months in the states, I didn't exactly live like a Spartan. When you know you're coming to a dusty, lonely desert, you drink that extra Corona. Or two.

Thirty days after our arrival in Ramadi, in the heat of September and sprinting all over the city, I weighed 193 pounds. There were some gaunt-looking Marines walking around the camp.

The gear we wear each time we go out easily weighs 50 pounds, and these are not strolls in the park. Marines gradually adjusted, but you get worn down. There is a reason that recreational runners don't run on the pavement. Normal people run on the grass. Shin splints are not any better in combat boots. Before too long, I was popping a Red Bull and a painkiller every time I left the gates.

Now, six weeks into the workout phase, I'm back up to 201 pounds, but it's a very different 201. This is one my wife is going to like. And if I can let you in on a little secret about Marines: As hard as we work to come across as outwardly tough, most of us are only interested in making our wives happy. There are some cretins in the Corps, for sure -- but most Marines are softies.

When I'm stuck in a barren desert and there's nothing but trash and filth on every street corner, my wife's soft cheek and flowing hair are sometimes all I think about. The only time I try not to, in fact, is when I'm on those nasty street corners. Those are thoughts best left on base, when none of us are in anybody's cross-hairs.

And now, as we head into the last two months, we see signs of real progress going on around us. Some of the progress is beginning to appear in the mainstream newspapers on the Internet, but only sparingly. There is significant infighting going on between the insurgents. The nationalist insurgents have had enough, it seems, of the foreign ones.

On Jan. 5, a suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd of Sunni police recruits just a few hundred meters from where we live. This was a spectacularly stupid move by the al-Qaida in Iraq guys, for a couple of reasons: First, many locals are without work, so they'll show up for any job interview. And with so many terrorists around, the people have been clamoring for police, so offering jobs as police officers to local Sunnis was the perfect solution for both problems.

Then the suicide bomber killed over 30 of Ramadi's sons. Many more were injured. It was a gruesome scene. That's when the local Sunni citizens seemed to revolt.

Since then, there's been an increase in violence around the city, consisting mainly of Iraqis hunting down foreign terrorists (the al-Qaida in Iraq guys) and killing them. We hear about it on patrol from people on the street.

The local Iraqis want the same thing from the coalition forces as the coalition itself wants -- to train Iraqis to defend Iraq, and then to go home. We both want the Marines out of Ramadi, once conditions are right. It's a beautiful partnership.

Hopefully, we'll both soon get our wishes.

[thedrifter]

Feb. 06, 2006 - 8:00 AM
Dispatches from Iraq
In Iraq, the Untold Stories Pile Up, One by One by One
Paul McLeary

This is the final part in a series about the life of an embedded reporter in Iraq.

FALLUJAH, IRAQ -- When it was time for me to leave Echo Company and make my way back to Baghdad, and then home, Capt. Pinion arranged to have me catch a ride with the "Road Show" -- a weekly convoy from Camp Fallujah that brings a traveling PX (the military's "general store") out to units in the field.

Before I left, I spoke with 2nd Lt. Frederick, who had led a late night patrol the evening before and picked up a suspect. Seems that the guy in question was shining a laser light at one of the Marines in a Humvee, and, all things considered, was probably lucky to be taken in one piece. He was being processed in a little building Echo had set up apart from the main train station, with a sign spray-painted "Detainees Only."

The "Road Show" shoved off in the early afternoon for a stop at Golf Company, on the outskirts of Fallujah. Our convoy consisted of a few large trucks loaded with Marines and the PX goods and a couple Humvees, one of which I squeezed into the back of, next to the feet of a machine gunner who manned his rooftop gun. As we drove, the terrain changed from the brown, winter desert landscape of Fallujah to green farmland, dotted with small villages and palm groves. We bounced through the countryside, keeping to the rough dirt roads for a bit before banging our way up to the highway, where we were more exposed and the danger of improvised explosive devices (IED's) was much greater.

Golf Company operates out in the countryside. From what I had been told, they tend to see quite a bit of action, and encounter many more IED's than the units in the city itself. Their base of operations is a large, crumbling four-story building set back from the highway in a palm grove, floating today -- thanks to the rain that had been off and on all morning -- in a thick, muddy swamp that sucked in your boots as you walked. Golf shares the building with an element of the Iraqi Army, and when I asked if they share the same living quarters, a Marine laughed and said, "different floors."

I decided to wait in the front room of the building while the Marines lapped up cigarettes, magazines and junk food, small comforts to help them get through another week. There, I met Toby Morris (as civilians, we immediately recognized each other as such), a photographer working through an agency back in the States. He had been to Iraq a few times before, and was doing another multiple-month stint, part of which he was going to spend with Golf.

Like other reporters I met, he had seen quite a bit of action in his various trips to Iraq, and was furious that he had missed what he considered a great story the day before. Seems some Marines from Golf were out manning a checkpoint when they saw a car full of masked men coming at them. They signaled for the car to stop and fired some warning shots but it kept coming, so they shot out its tires and engine block, but still to no avail -- so they shot to kill, stopping the car in its tracks. Once the car stopped rolling, the Marines searched it and found an Iraqi man in the trunk who had been kidnapped by the masked men to be held for ransom. The Marines told Morris that the guy was ecstatic, and kept saying how he loved the Marines, who had just accidentally saved him from certain death. In a weird way it was a funny story, and it would have been even better if anyone had been around to record it and get all the little details.

All of which got us to talking about the dwindling number of reporters that are embedded in Iraq. Iraq's a big place, and with the fighting being scattered in small pockets over a wide area, reporters can't be everywhere, but from the anecdotal evidence I collected it's clear that news organizations have scaled back so much that there are fewer and fewer reporters to go out on embeds with the military. As a result, everyday stories like the kidnapped Iraqi are being lost.

I'm not saying that those stories would be front-page news if they were told -- most of the time, they probably wouldn't even make the back pages. But the fact is that the grinding, day-to-day reality of the war is essentially being forgotten. Some will undoubtedly take that as an indictment of reporters in Iraq, which it isn't. With a dwindling number of people assigned to cover the war, there is only so much that can be done, resulting in coverage restricted to the "big" stories, while many of the small, daily victories and defeats go unnoticed. And in that, the enormity of the story itself gets diminished.

Pick up any American newspaper on any given day, and unless there has been a major attack, an election or some kind or a power struggle between the major political players, you likely won't find the war mentioned on the front page.

Iraq is unquestionably the biggest story of our time, and one which will affect American foreign and domestic policy for the rest of our lives -- but if news organizations won't invest the money and manpower to cover it from top to bottom, it will end up becoming a story told only through its major disasters and victories, without many of the small, personal narratives and struggles that give the story its humanity.

It's an enormously difficult undertaking to try and digest an event as big as a war, especially one as chaotic, decentralized and piecemeal as Iraq, and I can't pretend to say that I was there anywhere near long enough to have fully grasped its enormity. The reporters I met were all there by choice, and were doing everything they could to cover the story the best they could -- but there just aren't enough of them to give the conflict its due.

Which is too bad, because from time immemorial, the best war reporting has been done down in the dust and the mud, elbow to elbow with the soldiers doing the killing and the crying and the sweating and the dying (see Pyle, Ernie) -- not from command posts, and certainly not from press centers.

[thedrifter]

Monday, February 06, 2006

I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN

So, Im in my sleep coma and life is good. Then the alarm clock from hell part two sounds off at 0130 Monday morning. The Super Bowl pre game is starting and I asked myself, self why am I getting up?? The Cowboys aren’t playing, the Broncos aren’t playing (the two greatest teams that exist-in that order I might add) so why get up? Knowing I could watch the game and enjoy a cold haji Pepsi and cigar was a good enough excuse to get up and check it out.

Detroit or also pronounced Detwa, The land of the automobile, Motor City, Motown with its 900,198 residents. What a place to have a Super Bowl and what a great theme for the Super Bowl. But as I watched the beginning I waited and anticipated the National Anthem. I still get chills when it is sung and so I tend to enjoy that part of the Super Bowl or any other major event that showcases the anthem. As it approached, the crowed and millions of viewers were informed of the Katrina victims etc as they were recognized on the the jumbo tron screen. Understandably. The Marine Corps Color Guard was introduced and I thought ok here we go fellas, get some. Then I blinked and that was all I saw of them. OK no big deal they will do good Im sure and Aaron Neville & Aretha Franklin began to let er rip. They sang it and seeing them made me feel even older than before…….and seeing The Stones at half time really made me feel old…………..but not as old as them (No offense Mick).

But wait a second the anthem ended and as I got to enjoy a great commercial that followed from the US Army about Hummer safety, I thought WTF??? No mention of the hundreds of thousands of service members deployed kicking holy bat **** out of guys that want to chop the heads off of reporters and anyone else that looks like a westerner?? The discipline safety commercials ended (joy) and the sports announcers did mention “We would like to welcome all of the service members watching on the Armed Forces Radio and Television Stations (aka A-Farts…..don’t get me started) across the oceans and on board ships and foreign land joining us today”. You’ve got to be ****ting me? OK, it’s the Super Bowl, its not about us, its about football and we know that but for the love of god throw us a bone, will ya??

Lets take a quick look back at Super Bowl XXV when Whitney Houston sang the National Anthem. Remember that one? That one was **** hot! The crowed had the “Support Our Troops” signs in the crowed and the halftime show at least had an American flag in it. But now with hundred of thousands of troops deployed keeping the wolf at bay, squashing the insurgency and freeing and establishing democracy in two country’s you would have thought you would see a couple seconds of the usual shot of troops deployed warriors watching the game in ****ville or something, right??? Nope. Did you even know they had a jet fly by the stadium?? Although a covered stadium they did a fly by at the end of the National Anthem. Didn’t get to see that one either. What happened? What did we change? Why have we changed? We still need your support like we did back in Super Bowl XXV.

I understand there was suppose to be a scheduled “Service member Acknowledgement” commercial shown, (ohhh lets not go crazy now and run a commercial supporting the troops ohh we might make some one mad…..) but since I didn’t get to see the commercials I don’t know if it was shown or not. BUT I have to give it to AFARTS as they showed families saying thanks and come home soon taped messages on our commercials and political leaders thanking us for our service. Cool.

With the 133.7 million viewers and it being one of the 10 most-watched programs in TV history why wouldn’t you want to run a “That a boy” for your fellow warriors out getting some?? Money?? Na, the government sponsors www.Americasupportsyou.com and they could have made crazy support by running a spot but didn’t. They’re were even wounded veterans in the crowed, did they get a pat on the back or recognition! So I ask WTF over? Is it because there wasn’t any negative news?? Maybe if hundreds of Marines were killed or lost comparable to the losses of Katrina we would have gotten some recognition? If that’s what it takes I never want recognition.

Monday morning Fox news did show some Army Joes watching the game in Baghdad just after they did the follow up story on that pinko punk ass from the LA Times that says we shouldn’t recognize the service members for what they are doing. Maybe he was on the Super Bowl committee?? I don’t have to tell you gang that if it weren’t for that 18 year old out on patrol while many over paid fat butts were watching the game in the big dollar press boxes, they would have been complaining big time about security searches and everything else that would have been installed because of the threat at the game. But they didn’t moan about cavity searches because it didn’t happen because Haji is on the run from that ****ed off 18 year old and not worried about melting a stadium down and killing thousands. I think that deserves a “that a boy” at least, especially since it’s his third freaking tour over here.

I don’t know maybe Im off the mark here and have had too many close calls with explosives and two pots of coffee to many, but my gut call is this could have been done a lot better, especially if the Cowboys were playing. Now I know why I woke up to watch the game, its because down deep I knew this was going to happen and I guess I just thought I might be wrong. Has the media convinced you that what we are doing is wrong or not significant since Marines arnt dying at the cyclic rate? No big deal, its come and gone and we continue to carry out operations against these scum bags and open cans of whoop ass on them, regardless of what was shown during the Super Bowl, its our job and we are glad to do it regardless of the “Thanks”. We wish you could have seen some of the real Super Bowl out here, or at least let that 18 year old Marine watching the game and all the other Americans out there know you were thinking about him, but the Super Bowl didn’t run that play.

With or without Super Bowl recognition,
SEMPER FIDELIS
Capt B
“Keep attacking, we are”

COMBAT UPDATE
(Press Release)

Approximately 250 Iraqi Police candidates left Al Anbar last night to begin their 10-week police training course.

Approximately 100 were recruited from the provincial capital of Ar Ramadi. This is the second group of Iraqi police recruits to volunteer and ship out for training in the last three weeks. The previous group of candidates left Ramadi for the Baghdad Police Academy on Jan. 12. Ninety candidates are from the western Iraqi city of Husaybah and the remaining 60 are from Fallujah. After graduating from the training, the police officers will return to Al Anbar and assume their policing duties. On Jan. 5 a suicide bomber attacked a police recruitment center in Ramadi killing approximately 30 and wounding many more.

Four insurgents were killed after they opened fire on an Iraqi Army and U.S. Marine patrol operating along the Euphrates River south of Hit yesterday. The combined patrol was conducting a cache sweep when the insurgents attacked with small arms fire. Iraqi soldiers and U.S. patrol returned fire killing four insurgents and detaining three others for questioning. In addition to their weapons, one killed was found to be wearing a suicide vest of the bodies of the attackers. Operation Cart Aldachan (Smokewagon) began Feb. 2 and is a 2nd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) operation along the Euphrates in the vicinity of Hit.

No Iraqi Army or U.S casualties were sustained during the raid.

[thedrifter]

"Singing in the Rain"


I once wrote about the hazards you face while out here on Combat duty. You worry about the rockets and stuff, but it’s the simple things that can really hurt you around the base. Take for example the rain. When it rains here, it comes down like a cow ****ing on a flat bed rock. Big ole’ drops that actually hurt when they hit. Since this is all talcum powder sand with a clay base, there is nowhere for the water to run off so it collects and forms little mini lakes around here. Having walked over the same route to the Chow hall, I know where all the pot holes are and low spots where you need a boat to get through. The smaller puddles work great to get the mud off of your boots as you splat through mud, water, mud, water on the walk.
The other night as I was walking back from dinner after the big rain all day, I was following two new Marines as they navigated the little lakes in their path. I say new Marines because if they had been here long they know the cardinal rule of “never walk through a puddle” It was a guy and girl combo. The guy was taking the direct path through the water puddles and the female Marine was skirting around the edges. I was following the route of the female Marine, taking my chances with the mud and muck. She was not having an easy way with the mud and decided that after this next puddle she would walk with him. Big Mistake…
There in front of us was a mini lake with the access around the edges made up of 6 inches of mud. They start plowing through the middle of the water joking about having to put on new boots. I stopped to watch for a minute because if I’m not mistaken, there is a giant hole right about there… the guy on the right steps off into a foot and a half hole, pitching forward grabbing the closest to him who was this poor gal standing all of about 5’4. Both of them go face first into this giant puddle and disappear under the brown muddy bath. When they trudged unhurt out of the puddle, you could hear them screaming all the way to the other side of the base. She was screaming “I told you so” and cursing “****, ****, ****, my uniform is all messed up!!!” I asked if they were ok, and had to bit my tongue not to laugh out loud.
That, I’m sorry to say made me chuckle though as I walked around the edge of the lake taking my chances in the mud. Those two have just learned a valuable about walking around in Iraq… It’s not just the Rockets that can get you and don’t trust your buddy who says, “come on, it’s not that deep”
Take care guys and I’ll talk to you soon,
Semper Fi,
Taco

[thedrifter]

Only the best for our guest!!

From Sandgram's Blog

Dear Gang,

You have to love VIP's, those Very Important People who cause all sorts of chaos around the area as they just stop by for lunch and some "I love Me" pictures with the Marines etc. I received a call from higher headquarters somewhere out in the green zone that we had 6 congressmen arriving who just wanted to pop in say hi and then go tour another base. I said, "that's fantastic, give them my number, I'll say hi and they can stay there with you!" He just laughed at me "Nice try bubba, they are coming to you, I'm tired of dealing with them, and so I'm passing this monkey to your back."

There was a weather system building to the south that looked pretty bad and I knew it would cause them to be stuck somewhere and by God, I was hoping not here!! "Hey, do you realize that we're about to get hit with some weather later today?" maybe common sense would keep these VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE, there where they could have more fun and out of our hair. "Taco" he says, "That's not a problem, just put them in your VIP lounge and let them cool their heels there" VIP LOUNGE!!!! Who do you think we are? The Air Farce, VIP Lounge… "We don't have one" I say. He is still laughing, "Take them up to the Bing and let them smoke a Cigar". This isn't very funny, as much as I would love to entertain them up at the "Bada Bing", I don't know if they would like their picture being taken next to the mud flap gal on the wall. Plus it might be raining by then.

HHHHmmmmm, I'm thinking now, VIP lounge, I think I can fix that problem… make a nice cozy VIP lounge that they can relax, smoke a cigar in and watch the pretty sand billow up and swallow their aircraft and never want to come back. The day that they arrived, it was suppose to be a drop off here on a C130 and then picked up by some Army choppers to take them to another base. Now I'm happy, because they changed their minds and will tour another base not to far away from here. Things should run nice and smooth, the C130 drops them off, and they run onto the Choppers presto, VIPs are far, far away from me…

The C 130 arrives early; the choppers arrive late, so now I'm stuck with them by the taxiway waiting. Waiting for word as to why the Army is late. I hate that because folks look at you with this "brick" radio in your hand and expect you will know the answer, chop, chop. Tough since we don't control those aircraft and have no visibility on them. Well with the delay I ask if they would like to move over to the VIP lounge? Congressmen X says, "VIP LOUNGE, that would be outstanding, please lead the way" I start walking to this wooden bench we had built with the new sign overhead I had just painted the day before that read "VIP LOUNGE" in blue. No special room, no plasma screen television, no coffee, only the best that we could offer…

They loved it, thank god it wasn't raining. They ended up going to the other base, the weather came in that afternoon like I was told it would and they were stuck there for two days. I think they were shelled a couple of times which will make them think twice about coming on out here again. Just visit the Air Force bases over in Kuwait next time, they have some nice stuff there and no one is trying to kill you. Hell you might just make it in time for the water polo matches at the base pool, or the crud matches at the O club.
Well just remember this, "I went to war and Garrison broke out"….

OOOOHhhhhhh RRRRRRRRRRhhhhhhaaaaaa,

Semper Fi,
Taco
posted by Tacobell @ 11:39 AM

[thedrifter]

WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THIS PLACE??
Feb. 13, 2006

Hey Gang. Weve been on the road a lot these past few days and all is going well. Blogger is giving me hell and doesn’t allow me to sign on but I have my ways but still cant add a photo or the post I had for today so it will be posted next time.

The Marines are doing very well along with the Iraqi’s who are gradually coming up to speed and taking things on themselves. Throughout our travels and as a light at the end of the tunnel begins to appear you come to forget some of the basic things you might take for granted back in the states. Besides the obvious, running water, cars and economic structure that allow you to buy anything you want just about anytime of the day, you forget about what’s it like to do the basic things that use to be common practice. Hot water in the shower is a nice thing. Radio stations, TV other than DVDs and FOX news and some crazy Haji station. Having not to decide what you’re going to wear because you’ve worn the exact same color all year, something out of an Einstein story as he would always wear the same clothes so he could eliminate that problem of his day. Yes wearing blue jeans and shoes other than the slipper formed combat boot may be a shocker. Traffic lights, adjacent traffic, cars besides armored hummers, crowded places and all with out a gun or two or close air support clearing your way??

Going out to dinner with the family and friends. Not being at work 24/7 from 0600 to whenever and working weekends and holidays. Holidays? What are those when you’re in a combat zone?? Interaction with people who aren’t readily trying to kill you and no immediate threat of indirect fire or trash on the road covering IEDs. No more “situations” as the major situations back home might be a flat tire or a car wreck………..but not an impeding sniper picking off warriors downtown or the small arms fighting just off base. No I anticipate what it will be like to go out for dinner and sit among people not in body armor, with weapons and couple day sweat worn camies on. To eat with metal utensils and have real glass of real milk. To not have constant dirt, dust, pollution, burning ****ters or the otherwise in the air as your daily fragrance.

To live in a house, not a semi trailer and acquaintance myself with a real bathroom and not a shoe box disguised as a port a john. Try climbing in a port a john with combat gear on. For the love of god don’t drop any gear down that hole and don’t mind the shrapnel holes in the side of the cozy crapper either. Doing my laundry in a house and learning how to use money and its denominations again. To see my family and have a BBQ with American meat. To watch TV on the same time frame as the rest of America and not have to stay up to 0200 to watch a Sunday morning football game.

How I will miss the ever constant low fly over of helo gunships, aerial reconnaissance aircraft, jets and occasional mortar, RPG and small arms rounds. Tracers through the sky and warning sirens. The many flys trying to get you’re your mouth and the rat that thinks my sleeping bag is a good place to give birth. Our melted and burnt TV and mattress ( we will miss it so), walking to the head in shower shoes and having Haji attack. Of course how will we adjust without having sand everywhere, under and atop everything and in all cracks? The need to use boxes sent to you to send out your own packages and filling out the hundred lined customs form. The many uses of an ammo can from cigar humidor to useful furniture. Hitting golf balls over the Euphrates river and seeing the FOX news reporters (ladies) and thinking “that’s what American women look like” I think. Donning the ever loving body armor in the 120 degree weather, sweating until salt forms on your clothes and you see Elvis streaking across the Iraqi road as you are crammed into a reinforced hummer. Drinking the tasty bottled water out of the UAE shipped through several Arab country’s to us in another Arab country……….does that make sense??

Being in Iraq is like being in Hawaii. You are stuck on a base (an island) and if you go into the waters you might get attacked. But here everything is crap brown and Hawaii, well it’s the totally opposite of crap brown. Yes, the frequent shock wave created by incoming and out going that you feel in your chest will never be replaced back home but at least the Iraqi’s are gradually coming up to speed and taking things on themselves.

Burning a stoag for all of you
Semper Fi
Capt B

COMBAT UPDATE

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division spearheaded their second independent operation yesterday. Iraqi soldiers led a security presence and sweeping operation today in the village of Subiyhat to clear the area of insurgents and interact with the populace. Subiyhat is a small village located in rural, eastern Al Anbar Province, home to more than 2,000 citizens in the vicinity of Fallujah. Operation Tawakalna Ala Allah, (Trust in God) was the unit’s second battalion-sized operation in the Al Anbar Province planned and conducted by the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade leadership. Marines from 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team - 8 assisted in the operation by providing security on the outer perimeter. The operation resulted in the detention of four suspected insurgents and enhanced relations between the citizens of Subiyhat and the Iraqi Army. “I want the people in this area to understand that we are here for their protection and we are here to stay,” said Col. Najim Abdullah Menahi Salmon, commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade. “I am very proud of the way my soldiers operated today…our mission was a success.” The operation involved three Iraqi army companies from the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade which patrolled the village. Two additional Marine companies from 1st Battalion manned the outer security cordon. The primary goals for the Iraqi soldiers were to meet with locals and search for illegal weapons. They also distributed leaflets with the battalion’s tips line phone number so residents can report insurgent activity. In addition, the soldiers passed out several dozen Iraqi national flags while interacting with the villagers. “The national flags are popular because it gives the people pride to receive the Iraqi flag from the soldiers of the Iraqi army,” Najim said. “I plan to build on our success today and increase these types of operations in the future.” The Marine commander supporting the operation also considered the day’s efforts a success. “My number one priority during this deployment is to facilitate the development of the Iraqi army capabilities,” said Lt. Col. David J. Furness, commanding officer, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. “The more [the Iraqi Army] operates, the more confident they become in their abilities, and the more eager they become to assume responsibility for security.” Iraq’s 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade assumed their current battle space from the U.S Marine’s 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment Feb. 1. This operation was the next step in the progression of this unit gaining complete operational independence in this area of operations, Furness said.The 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division is partnered with Regimental Combat Team 8, under the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

posted by Capt B at 11:10 AM

[thedrifter]

Monday, February 13, 2006
"What's for Chow???"


Well Gang, what’s going in the life of the office?? We had a helicopter lose his cockpit door one dark night on their way out of here. We call this “TFOA” sounds like tofu and it means “Things falling off Aircraft”. It’s a big deal because in the states and something falls off, next thing you know, it’s on the news that Grandma was almost decapitated in her garden while planting her tomatoes. Even the stories about the giant chunk of blue ice that fell from the sky, that’s TFOA and these things happen. So the next morning, I go into the office “What’s up Ssgt?” He replied “The Col is out with Leghound looking for that door that fell off the 46 last night” Me, “have they found it yet?” “No Sir” he says. I pick up the brick, “Col, any luck with the door?” The Col says no and if you want to drive around come on out.

I load up in the trooper and head to the end of the runway. Hmmm, if I was taking off going where they were heading to their base, where would I look? I drove straight out to a parking lot past the runway and outside the wire.

There sitting in the middle of the lot was the door. I was certain that it was going to be under a foot of moon dust out there, but it was the only metal object in sight. My total time was 10 minutes. I called the Col with the news “Sir, I found the door” He was on the radio in a heartbeat,"No flippin way!!!

Where are you?” Me, “Sir, I’m in the middle of a parking lot outside the wire by the departure end of the runway.” He arrived in about five minutes and was just shaking his head. He drove through the same lot only 30 minutes before but was looking left and Leghound was looking to the right, almost where the only object in this entire lot was. The Col remembered when they drove through that lot and all Leghound talked about was “Wonder what’s for lunch, hope it’s good” and “Oh Sir, I know where that door is, it’s over by the rocket motor I saw off of Kilo taxiway” Well they drove back and alas no door but he got his rocket motor that was leftover from some old rocket attack on the base. They were out there for hours and I found it in 10 minutes. Better lucky then good any day I say!! The fun part was holding it ransom from the Squadron and demanding a Squadron tee shirt, coin and 3 pizza’s with everything on it. They brought the payoff to our vip pad and we made the swap. That was a pretty successful day for me!! Ha!

Today is Valentine’s day, so this is for my wife who takes such good care of me and the family.

My True Love,
Here I sit, 7000 miles from home, watching the sun set across the deserts of Iraq. I know what love is, and you encompass it all. I often dreamed about marrying a woman of your stature and beauty. God granted me the chance to meet you and for that I’m blessed! As the sun sets here, know that my love will rise to meet it in the morning. Happy Valentines Day Honey, I love you!!!!

As for the rest of you Taco fans, I hope you have a wonderful Valentines days with your special person.

Semper Fi,
Taco

[thedrifter]

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5482/1686/400/Unbreakable%20Chain%20Feb%2011B.0.jpg

THE UNBREAKABLE CHAIN
(From the picture)

Pear Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraced Marine Staff Sergeant Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas yesterday. Graunke lost a hand, a leg and an eye when he defused a bomb in Iraq last year. This weeks image of U.S. troops in combat in Fallujah deepened the day’s significance for many who attended tributes held in San Diego and across the nation (Last years Veterans Day)

I have been out and about a lot lately across Iraq. The destination names change but the Marines there are the same wherever you go. They have been trained with the same foundation of warrior ethos and know what is expected and demanded of them as Marines. We police our own and fix it if discipline strays or leadership weakens well before others get the chance to do it for us. As an officer if you see something wrong and you don’t correct it, your just as guilty and you’ve let that Marine down if you don’t “fix” it on the spot. We maintain our corps standards regardless if we are at Camp Pendleton in the states or in the middle of the desert in Iraq because in this business if you begin to stray, people can get killed when you screw up.

But why do we do it?? Is it the Money, yea right, is it the fame? Nope were not apart of the NFL. Then why do young men joint the Marine Corps, get physically demolished at boot camp, travel to the crappiest places in the world, face the toughest enemy’s and win?? Because they want to be different. They want to be challenged and they want to be a US Marine. Marine Corps boot camp breaks down recruits from how they did things as a civilian and makes them time efficient, physically top notch warriors. They learn to do more with less and be the first ones to take the tuff jobs head on.

Overhear in Iraq they do it for one another. Each Marine knows that he must do his part or the Green Machine will become weaker. He doesn’t want to let his fellow Marine down. In day to day operations, combat operations, wounded situations and in the attack. Marines may come across as cocky, arrogant and mean. However, when you look at it, its one Marine taking care of business for another. That’s why you see a Marine run out in the open to grab his fellow wounded Marine. He might get hit as well but he’s not going to sit there and let some bag nasty low life hurt one of our own. This why you might see Marines traveling around in squads or fire teams back in the states in your near a USMC base. They have lived, eaten slept, worked and died together. That bond continues when they return to the states.

Ever seen two Marines meet for the first time? Usually they ask what the other does and then begin to swap stories. One time a buddy and I were out and ran into this guy who said he was a Marine. Ok, when we began to ask him about duty stations or what he does, all the wrong answers came out. He obviously used this “act” to pick up chicks. Wow was he embarrassed when we exposed him for the truth. Here in a foreign country your fellow Marines are what you have. They are your family. A place where you make sure they are fed before yourself. You make sure they get the gear they need to do the job you ask. You make sure you take care of your Marines. Regardless of what others think of you, you know you Marines know you and you know them

Marines stick together. Sure there are Marines who don’t get along, who don’t agree but all that goes out the window when its them against us. When you are facing the enemy, nervous our out numbered you and your Marines have a common bond, a chain and neither of you will break it, its unbreakable. Regardless of rank or age, Once a Marine Always a Marine. We take care of our own.

My tour in Afghanistan is over and now my tour in Iraq will end soon too. There are thousands of Americans out there who have helped us in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Sending packages and letters love and support. It would seem impossible to put the thanks into words and express the gratitude and the appreciation. One of the best ways for us to express our appreciation is through a few simple words. Thank you for your support!!

One organization has made a lot of this possible and has helped me back when all of this started in Afghanistan.

ANYSOLDIER.COM started the “on line support your troops” and still offers thousands of service members who need your support. It’s the simple things like letters letting them know your out there and that you care that matters. Knowing they have your support makes a difference.

On April 29th, Any Soldier.com will be hosting a Dinner Cruise aboard theAmberjack V. Its on a weekend in NY city where this all started near the Statue of Liberty. I owe it to Marty and you all to be there. Please if you can make it, join us and allow me to thank you in person, where meeting you and thanking all of you it would be my pleasure.

SEMPER FIDELIS
Capt B
“Keep Attacking”


COMBAT UPDATE
Late yesterday afternoon, three Iraqi citizens and two Iraqi soldiers were killed by a suicide car bomber at a vehicle checkpoint near New Ubaydi in western Al Anbar.

Additionally, two Iraqi soldiers and a U.S. Marine were injured by the blast and were transported to a military medical facility nearby. New Ubaydi is 20 km from the Iraq-Syria border along the Euphrates River and was cleared of Al Qaeda in Iraq-led terrorists by Iraqi and U.S. Forces last November during Operation Steel Curtain.

Vehicle checkpoints are established to deny AQI terrorists the freedom to re-establish a presence in cities once cleared.

Since the combined Iraqi-U.S. presence was established in the area, New Ubaydi has seen few signs of insurgent activity.

During the Dec. 15 National Election citizens of the area voted in considerable numbers.The nationality of the bomber is unknown.

[thedrifter]

Saturday, February 18, 2006
Garage Sale


Dear Gang,
Life is good here. Not as good as when I get home very soon, but for the most part good. I called my wife up to tell her the good news and oh by the way, I mailed home a trunk full of junk from Iraq. Her response, “That’s great and we’re going to put this stuff where???” My mind is racing now, “Honey, don’t worry, I took apart the engine from an old Mig 25 that was sitting out in the junk yard.” Mind you it took six Marines, four hours in bitter cold, a blow torch and a heavy duty pickup to make all this happen, so by God, I was going to get my turbine fan blades come hell or high water!! “Don’t worry, they will make awesome gifts to some of my pilot buddies” I know she is thinking…(garage sale). She just doesn’t understand the importance of such a find. This could have belonged to an Iraqi jet that maybe shot down an Iranian back in the 80’s when they had their war together. Who knows what they could say if they spoke. Not that we’d understand it all since they would be speaking Russian. But really cool to think about. I have left a ton of junk here too just because it’s to much a pain in the rear to mess with.
I used the “left handed metric crescent wrench” LegHound found for me, to get a bunch of old panels off some of the derelict bombers sitting off the each of the runway. Then I had a talented Marine downstairs paint them up as going away gifts. I have one too that will be hanging on my “I love me” wall at home. When guys come over, I can proudly show off my piece of Iraq that I brought back as a war trophy. That and the 10 inch silver looking polished intake blade from the engine.
You make the best of it over here and with that attitude, the six months have flown by. I will be out of pocket for a week or so, keep checking b/c I may be able to post something at a later date this week. With that in mind, I hope you have a great day and look forward to talk to you soon.
Semper Fi,
Taco

[thedrifter]

THE NEWS ILLUSION AROUND THE WARRIOR

We travel a lot around the country of Iraq we we see alot of great things being done by the Coalition & Iraqi forces. Im sorry, but to hear nothing but how the VP shot a fellow hunter, a four legged show mutt bailed at the air port and has ran away, or any other sorry filler for "news" is a dang disgrace.

Lets talk about the recent news articles regarding operations of the coalition forces, or how about the latest school openings in Iraq or better yet about how many Iraqi civilians didn't get blown up because we foiled numerous SVBIED attacks because of the continuous aggressiveness of coalition and Iraqi forces. But oh we cant because those arnt in the news. In fact I haven't seen anything in the news regarding Iraq for almost two weeks now. Yes, you have the "cartoon" affect that the MSM tries to spread all over like a bad rash but look out - - - This is a No **** News Breaking Story- - - It's not a big deal IN Iraq!!!! Nope, their isn't any burning, rioting etc etc. Are their demonstrations? Very limited and hold on to your seat cape crusaders, they're peaceful!!!!! Yip that's right BUT they don't talk about those do they??? The MSM are too busy evaluating the VP and his hunting accident so much they are missing what THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT. I SEE THAT AS A MAJOR FAILURE. In fact a failure in their responsibilities as a news agency and a failure of their leadership! Iran? Nukes? Ladies & Gents, don't pull the fire alarm over Iran please. They are simply bowing up. We have them under control. Don't be distracted as the news rolls "Nuclear Standoff" on their screen. Hell, you would think there is another Cuban missile crisis on the brink.

Desperate? The news is so desperate they no have gone and began running "new" 2 year old pictures of Abu Gurab prison. Oh for the love of god move on!! We have and or will punish those idiots who did wrong. That's a good barometer America of how desperate and incompetent the news agency is for actual news! BTW, I just came back from Baghdad and tried to find some reporters "reporting", going on convoys ANYTHING. None were to be found. You do the math. How about all the reporting about the reporter and camera man Martha Raddatz and Bob Woodruff??? I couldn't believe all the shows and updates on these two. Tragic? Yip, but hello your going into a war zone, your making a **** ton more money than me and you've been warned repeatedly. Haji wants to kill you and he doesn't care that you carry a microphone or camera. The truth? WHY isn't there the same coverage on EVERY single Soldier & Marine getting injured by the same weapon? If they are going to do it for one guy than ya got to do it for all. Is it because the reporters are special? Famous? BETTER?? You do the math America. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck HEELO it's a freaking DUCK!

Your Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen are kicking major butt here still! The fighting hasn't lessoned. The obstacles haven't gone away. We are making ground with the implication of the Iraqi Army and to have a force that doesn't sign a contract to serve for a determined amount of time but simply has men who are tired of the insurgency and have had enough to fight back come and volunteer to fight. Every day the Iraqi Army becomes stronger and stronger and the insurgents become weaker and weaker. The Iraqi citizens as well are becoming stronger as they to have increased their information process to the Coalition forces to rat out bad guys. It's a good sign that although the Iraqi people want us out they will help us in the process. Iraqi service members helping wounded coalition and vise versa. The team has developed nicely and soon it will be time for the Iraqi Army to take things on themselves and Coalition forces to reinforce them and back off.

We are still busy and we have a lot to still do although some warriors may leave here. They job isn't over and the Fat Lady hasn't arrived at the theater yet so we keep full throttle and keep on keeping on until she sings. Then we will do the high five and let those fresh ones come in to advance the ball even further in Iraq and Afghanistan and continue the fight.

Through the past 8 mos in Afghanistan and a year in Iraq, the biggest down fall without a doubt hasn't been the service members completing the mission or a lack in body armor, tanks or battle equipment, its been the media support back in the states. Without fail the media has done its best to downplay the elections, create doubt and instability. Sure they covered the battle of Fallujah but that was easy for them. Now, when the rubber meets the road, where are they? Where are the stories? I there are othe very important things happening in the world that should be reported on to inform America, Instead they are busy reporting about show dogs escaping!!!

Time for a Cee GAR!
Capt B
Semper Fi

posted by Capt B at 5:11 AM on Feb. 19, 2006

[thedrifter]

On Paper, 8,000 Miles Away, Without Responsibility, The Opinions are Easy <br />
Faces from the Front <br />
An Open Letter to Kevin Drum, Jane Mayer, et.al <br />
<br />
Have you ever seen a man turned to...

[thedrifter]

YES, IM STILL HERE
posted by Capt B at 12:06 AM
Feb. 23, 2006

IED's , mortar attacks and the ever so crappy SVBIEDs are continuous throughout the area. I say that not to say things aren't getting better because they are but I say it because the American public needs to be aware that although our trusty news service doesn't report it we still are fighting our asses off here and Marines are still dieing. Not to take away form Afghanistan or Africa where most recent two CH53s crashed in maneuvers killing 10. I happen to know one of the pilots who survived and was able to swim to safety. Hardly any scratches then the others past on. Proof that when its your time its your time.

I caught a news blip last night as a burned a nice stoag and a guy used the analogy that Iraq is like a classroom that has 3 gangs in it and they have been fighting for the past 30 years. This guy made the point of what would then happen if the teacher called in sick or a substitute showed up one day?? This isn't too far off and could be expanded that now the student can read and do math and all the bully's are now gone or moved to another part of the school that wont affect the class. However, much of the outcome depends on the student attitude and will. Many ask what will this place be like when we pull out?? Will there be a civil war? Who knows but the country has a lot to work out still. Is the Iraqi Army ready to fight without the Coalition? Not all of them but a lot of the Iraqi units are.

Yes, Im still here in this glorious country as we have stayed busy to the last day as if it were our first. The number of attacks have dropped in the area in the past few months around here and so has the IDF (indirect fire aka mortar, rocket fire). IEDs continue to the ring of about 10-12 a day in some areas and twice that that we find before they detonate. Still the preferred coward tactic used by the local insurgency groups. Suicide attacks are sporadic but evidence that they are getting desperate. There isn't a lot of kinetic (dropping bombs, artillery missions etc) fighting because the major insurgency cells have been eliminated. Are there still fights? Yes, without a doubt just not like 6 months ago and your service members here in Afghanistan and around the world need your support! This is important because Ive notice especially since about the time frame of the Super Bowl, the Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa operations, have fallen off the radar as far as reporting. We have minimal embedded reporters in theater and thus little news gets out. Its almost as once the elections were done back in Dec, Iraq was no longer a problem in the MSM eyes. Well I got another NSNF (No **** News Flash) for ya, there is a **** ton of work to be done still here and our main focus is to give the Iraqi Army the final shove to get on their feet and take care of things.

Marines are great at fighting and taking objectives. Its our bread and butter. We have that down. Now what the hard part that lies ahead is for the schools, electricity and additional civil additions to continue to grow. They will and we will continue to train and build the Iraqi military and government.

Just because all of the in your face fighting has been reduced don't think all is peachy here. Its not but we have a tight two handed grip on it and its not going anywhere. Your service members still need your support!

COMBAT UPDATE

More than 3,000 pieces of various types of munitions were discovered yesterday by U.S. Army soldiers conducting a reconnaissance patrol near Al Quratiyah, approximately 350 km northwest of Baghdad. This cache is among the largest discovered to date in western Al Anbar province. The soldiers, from the Fort Wainwright, Alaska-based 4th Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, assigned to Regimental Combat Team-7, were actively seeking out weapons caches. Local citizens provided information regarding the site, where the soldiers discovered two displaced piles of dirt and rocks near a vehicle trail. Upon further investigation, the displaced areas were identified as weapons caches and they were excavated. The vehicle path and shallow depth of the rock piles where the caches were discovered indicated that the munitions were easily accessible to terrorists.

"This find means a serious reduction in the IEDs (improvised explosive devices) available for anti-Iraqi forces to use in cowardly attacks," said Army Maj. Doug W. Merritt, operations officer, 4th Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. The cache of munitions ranged from 60 to 125 mm mortars and included various other projectile-type munitions. The munitions discovered in this cache site are typically used to make roadside bombs that injure and kill Iraqi civilians, coalition forces and Iraqi Army soldiers. This latest cache is the 118th found by soldiers from 4th Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry Regiment. In a similar find last October, soldiers here discovered about 1,000 122 mm artillery rounds, 40,000 armor piercing bullets, 1,000 .50 caliber rounds, detonation cord and various bomb-making materials.

It's a shame that this as all my other "Combat Updates" are released world wide the same time I get them and how few appear in any news, simply tragic!

The most decisive actions of our life - I mean those that are most likely to decide the whole course of our future are, more often than not, unconsidered. (Andre Gide)

Keep kicking butt & taking names!!

Semper Fi
Capt B

[thedrifter]

1/7 Marines arrive on the Syrian border
Marine Corps Moms

1/7 Marines have landed in Iraq and are settling in for seven months on the Syrian border. First reports are encouraging according to my Marine son who called this afternoon - no IEDs when they toured the town in their LAVs. It's all good.

LtCol Marano, Battalion Commander sent this letter out to families shortly before they left:

We, the Marines and Sailors of the First Team, will soon begin our deployment to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07. I would like to share a few thoughts with you, our family and friends, as we leave home one more time. I am the most fortunate man in the world as I have the honor of serving with the bravest and most capable Marines and Sailors in our Corps - your sons and husbands. We have trained hard for eight months and I can report to you today that we are well-led and ready for what is to come. No two deployments are ever the same, and this one will be different from our last. Much has changed in our Area of Operations, and the situation on the ground has changed considerably since the First Team last patrolled Western Al Anbar Province. For the first time, I am optimistic that we are making a difference and will eventually succeed - and I base that optimism on a cold analysis of the facts on the ground. Large numbers of Iraqi soldiers and police are in place or will soon be. In fact, we have an entire brigade of Iraqi soldiers operating with us, not long ago there were none. We will soon have hundreds of Iraqi police operating with us, not long ago there were none. The platoons and companies of the First Team will conduct joint patrols with these Iraqi security forces; my goal is to start turning urban areas back to Iraqi control during our deployment. None of this will be easy. Training Iraqi security forces to do the job that US Forces currently do will be difficult, plus Iraq remains a violent and dangerous place even on a good day. Your Marines and Sailors, however, are up to the job. This battalion has a proud history, your loved ones will be writing a new chapter of it.

I want all the families to know that you are always in our thoughts and prayers and know that we remain in yours. Despite the frequent separations, you have remained strong and have kept the faith with us, and each other, especially during periods of maximum stress and high anxiety. These deployments are much harder on wives than Marines. You must keep the family going by yourself, taking care of everything from children's grades to the leaking radiator while wondering and worrying about your husband and your family's future. Your strength is comforting to us and your support of each other forms the basis of what is a very strong support organization.

I would like to recognize the fine work of the battalion's Key Volunteers. These ladies have provided us the love and support we need as we embark on this latest deployment. They have worked selflessly to make sure that every family has the information they need and is prepared for the hardships of this deployment. I want to thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart.

Each platoon will be working directly with an Iraqi Army platoon. By the time 1/7 leaves next fall, these soldiers will have gained invaluable skills from our Marines - the best trained and most revered fighting force in the world.

However, alliances are formed on arenas other than the battlefield. An early request from 1/7 is for baseball gloves, bats, balls, and other gear so that they can introduce their Iraqi brothers to this most American game. (They know they'll get their butts handed to them on the soccer field but this will help even the score.)

One week down, seven months to go.



Ellie

[thedrifter]

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

IM HOME!

America, this place is awesome and now I see fist hand what we have been fighting for. The trek home was a beast. It took about 4 days to get home with a fun 14 hour flight going through Ireland. It began with a helo ride out of Fallujah to another air station which we linked up with a C-130. We took off and flew about 200 feet off the ground until we were out of enemy threat. We even were in the fight up to the last day where sniper fire hit our posts. The last couple days were the worse as I then actually saw what all we do in a days work because the last day or so we didn’t have much to do and along with anticipation the day drug. 24 hours felt like a week.

I tried to sleep most of the flight as my days and night were swapped and all I could think about is getting back on US soil.

Eating the airline chow and watching a few movies seem to make you feel guilty for sitting on your butt for so long doing squat. The airplane landed on the east coast as the pilot stated “Welcome back to the United States Marines” and the plane erupted in cheers.

The air smelled fresher and so many colors. Seeing other people in clothes that weren’t desert color. Many people asked what have I noticed the most. Chow, beer etc and I guess the most is family and friends and the threat of someone trying to kill you. It allows you to let your guard down and rest. It is still hard to believe Im here back in the states. Sure we had a bit apprehension when we drove from the air field home and had other cars right next to us. But we got use to it over time. My stomach is getting use to the chow here as it did back when I first got to Iraq. I went to watch a soccer game and felt kinda out of place. This man was chasing a soccer ball behind me and ran up on me as we watched a game. Not a good idea for him as I turned quickly and began to grab him thinking he was a threat. Hey, give me a break he surprised me ya know?? Good for him I didn’t have a weapon. After a little explaining he understood and all was good.

No problems sleeping as somehow we adjusted and I snapped right in to the daily routine here. I devoured my first quarter ponder with cheese without tasting it and look forward to the next. I watched some TV for the first time last night for about 15 min before falling asleep and laughed at the commercials. I told the Mrs that I bet that commercial was a Super Bowel commercial, she just looked at me like I was a weirdo. I cant drive for **** and Im terrible with directions around town now.

Curbs? Red light…….what red light? I need a 50 cal mounted on my suburban!! I wasn’t able to check any of my email for the past couple weeks so Im sure its good and clogged up. We have it so good here in the states and its even more evident as I return.

Patience……..Im working on it. Coming from having things done by well oiled professionals to well,..... kids…….skreeeeeach!

Nothing really has stressed me out as everything here isn’t a life or death situation. Today I got to see many of the Marines who returned with me. I missed them the few days I hadn’t seen them. We laughed as we shared the same stories about being back home, being a bit jumpy and trying to explain our experiences to family and friends who wont really get it because only the ones there will know what we mean even if I tell about every detail. Having a nice toilet, shower and many other luxuries around the house are great but I do think of the 289 killed and over 2100 wounded we left behind. How their families felt as we returned and they didn’t.

I have unplugged the phone, stocked the fridge with beer and killed some chow at the Cracker Barrel restaurant for breakfast the other day. I’ll be off line for a bit as I remember what the states are like, what money is, how not to drop "F" bombs all over and try to adjust. Probably take some leave and disappear to some island somewhere. If you know any good resorts that allows cigar smoking and lounging………….let me know, Im looking.

I had a lot of family and friends to meet me and that really made the difference as to see them and get hugs allowed me to take a deep breathe and say to myself………Im home.

COMBAT UPDATE
Marines in Iraq are kicking ass!

From a grateful Marine………
Semper Fidelis.
Im going to get a cigar!

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5482/1686/400/Welcome%20home.jpg

[thedrifter]

&quot;Can I lick your Foam???&quot; <br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Gang, <br />
&quot;Sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a mighty trip...&quot; Flashback a couple of weeks to when I cleaned out my room in the tower and moved into...

[thedrifter]

Saturday, March 11, 2006 <br />
&quot;Can I lick your Foam???&quot; <br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Gang, <br />
&quot;Sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a mighty trip...&quot; Flashback a couple of weeks to when I cleaned out my room in...

[thedrifter]

MISSING WITHOUT ACTION <br />
<br />
From Capt B's Blog <br />
<br />
One week back in the states. My hair began to grow out, I wore green cammies instead of tan and I continued to get back to the civilized way of life....

[thedrifter]

Friday, April 14, 2006

EASTER WITHOUT THEIR WARRIORS

Leave was great and now its back to the gridiron. Things have been going fast and Ive pretty much snapped into the routine here in the states now. There hasn’t been any PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in my experience or really in many other Marines I know. We all experience being shot at and blown up but I guess the combination of getting old and the training we receive you just adapt to it. “OK Im not going to flip out or anything” (said from the Jerry McGuire Movie as you imitate the body spaz)

My billet (job) recently took me to Norfolk, Va and the Norfolk Naval Base over the past few days. Good ole Navy guys, god bless em. Always around to take us Jarheads to war. During the butt flattening drive I began to think of the 228 Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors that were lost over the year I was in Iraq. Their families and how they must not be forgotten, ever. I did think about them recently again as I came back home. Standing on US soil just before meeting my family as I returned from Iraq. I thought to myself there are some families not here today and have nothing good to look forward to coming from Iraq.

You think of all the what if’s and close calls we had. The times you left the base to head into a dangerous convoy, stressed about the IEDs etc and only to hear of injuries from indirect fire on the base you just departed from. Im a firm believer that when it’s your time, its your time and you might as well not worry about it. Be prepared to meet your maker and then get on with your life and make the best of it. Its too damn short!

I thought about each and every name that I read, heard or saw regarding being injured or killed. Its not like they woke up that morning and said well today is it. Nope they pressed on and whatever was their fate they were ready to take it on, head on every day. As much as it rips my guts to see the young knuckle heads here (dependants of fallen warriors) that don’t have a daddy anymore, I know their daddy or mother died doing what they wanted to be doing and they died warriors. It’s not another number of some scumbag news agency’s Iraqi war tally. It’s not another shot to our leaders to drive a point home to get out of Iraq or Afghanistan. Its about men and women doing their job across the pond in harms way and kicking the crap out of anyone who gets in their way. Summed up, their Americans.

Its easy for some to shake their head and spout disbelief and criticism about our involvement in Iraq. Its easy for them to push blame and disagreement towards our leaders. I think it cowardly for them to do it but if they choose to react this way they must know that without our leaders, the ones for them to blame, thousands of Iraqis would simply be dead now and even possible thousands of Americans as well.

I haven’t been to still since Ive been back and had a quick two day trip to DC where I elbowed my way through neighborhoods to look for a possible house to live in. Low and behold from one hook up to another I get in contact with this real-estate agent. He was a vet like many are in that are and he decided to wear his “Don’t blame me, I voted for Kerry shirt” when he met me. ………..First impressions are a lot in my book. His, well……..not so much. I put up with his antics and listened as he tried to sell me a house way to big and expensive for what I need. My better half told me while he was out of the car, “look past his T-shirt” as I just mumbled something (nice of course) under my breath.
I didn’t buy a house from the guy because he had that shirt on or his views. Hell, its what I love about this country. We have and allow everyone to have their own opinion and beliefs. But when “JACKO” starts slamming my fellow leaders and fallen warriors in front of me, stand the hell by.
Regardless of what your beliefs are, never slam the fallen warriors or make their death miniscule. They rate much more than that and during this holiday season, take a couple seconds and remember the little ones and other family members who will wake up on Easter without their warriors.

Semper Fi from the states!

Yes, Im going to go get a cigar………….

COMBAT UPDATE

AL ASAD, Iraq -- In the early hours April 3, Marines and sailors with the Incident Response Platoon prepared for an operation that would take them outside the wire and into the local town of Baghdadi, Iraq.The IRP is attached to Marine Wing Support Squadron 274, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and is responsible for providing security in support of response and pre-planned missions throughout the Al Anbar Province.Their scheduled task was to escort members of a Civil Affairs Group and Police Transition Team to a housing complex where they would carry out their mission.Once the convoy arrived safely at the small outpost, the Marines were able to give a much needed break to infantry Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment who had spent three days in the area with little sleep.The same day, multiple roadside bombs were discovered and a seven-ton truck rolled over in a flash flood in the Western area of Iraq. Although this was a dangerous mission, the group of Marines returned to Al Asad Air Base later in the day without incident.

**NOTE**
It is with my deepest regret that I will not be able to attend the Milblog Conference this year as expected due to a situation that has arose that requires me and my position in the Marine Corps to attend during the dates of the conference. Unfortunately, although I just returned from Iraq, we are Marines 24-7 and we are never “off”. I am truly disappointed that I have to withdrawal and appreciate being invited. I apologize for any inconvenience that it may bring to you and the conference.

Milblog Conference (April 22nd)The 2006 Milblog Conference will take place in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 22, 2006. The conference is designed to bring milbloggers together for one full day of interesting discussion on topics associated with milblogging. We will explore the history of milblogs, as well as what the future may hold for this medium which the military community is using to tell their stories.

Dinner Cruise aboard theAmberjack V Saturday, April 29 7pm-11pmEnjoy a wonderful buffet dinner with DJ and dancing to follow as we cruise around the Hudson River. Take in the beautiful views while passing the Manhattan Skyline and Statue of Liberty!

posted by Capt B

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Taking Care of Business

From Captain B's Blog
April 19,2006

Got back from Norfolk, hid some Easter eggs, smoked some Easter Maduro Cigars and washed the car to only have it downpour on it. (Note to all third world country's, if you have a shortage of rain and need an invasion, call the Marines and ask for me because it is a guarantee to have it rain shortly after I wash my car!)

Easter was great with a sunrise service with Marine Corps Band, and to the point message. Followed up with a Cracker Barrel breakfast the holiday was a hit. Not to fully enjoy Monday, off we departed again on the road to Washington, DC. We got there late afternoon and decided to go for a run to the monuments downtown. Not have seen the WWII memorial, that was our target (3 mi each way). Great run and a lot of scenery so my fat butt was happy as the run went quick) We got to the memorial and although somewhat crowded we checked it out and must of stood out as a few people asked if we were Marines and then about the memorial. Running back we blew through the Lincoln memorial (very cool) and then back to the key bridge area. Staying at the Key Bridge area (nice area) there was plenty of restaurants to enjoy. Before we went to eat we stopped by the Iowa Memorial. Regardless of how many times I see it it is pretty cool. I picked a nice place called Orleans steak house to eat at (kick butt prime rib & recommended by Taco so how could I go wrong?).

We began the day at the Pentagon taking care of business (Note: Pentagon is the biggest building in the US by square footage). We began our trek through DC dressed in our "Service Charlie" uniforms (tan shirt & green trousers) and got some stares although there are a lot of "joes" (Army Soldiers in their uniforms/camies in the area. I couldn't help but to remember Sept 11th and what must have been going on here in this building during the terrorist's attacks. The picture at the top of this post is of the entry point of the aircraft into the pentagon and where a Marine flag still stands.

I swore I heard the Darth Vader sound track playing as three of us motored through the Air Force section of the Pentagon. Completing our business there I happen to look upon the walls of the section we were in and low and behold there were some of my Marines from 1st Bn 6th Marines which I commanded in Afghani. They had some great shots of them on display with other forces on that wings wall. I started naming the knuckleheads in the pictures to my buddy there and could remember the exact day, temp, and smell they were taken.

Now back in Lejeune, we went and visited the wounded Marines Barracks here on base. There are a couple dozen warriors that are here with the gauntlet of injuries. These guys are studs though and don't complain. Many nag the Commanders there to get back to their units. One needed his jaw re-broke to begin his recuperation. He told the docs and his Commanders, I can chew, and breathe and can wait on the "re-braking" process. As the docs agreed he was sent back with his Marines in Iraq. This actually is one of the biggest mental contributors to wounded service members. They just want to be with their men and feel guilty sitting on their butts. Just like these studs I met many Marines that were amputees and returned to active duty in country. Its part of the healing process in a way.

Some of the best news though ….. ….the events that were requiring my attendance during the MilBlog conference were moved and NOW I will be attending the event. I plan to be in the area Friday night, hit the Key Bridge Marriot then head over to la la land. So stand by you nasty twelve sandwich eating, pinto driving, pot smoking, flower child, Kerry lovin PINKO's. Ima on my way to your neighborhood and Im bringing hell with me!!! I'll be the one with the "See me, if you have a compliant" sign, cigar and in a kilt!!! Swords are optional! Buhahaha!

Keep attacking!!!
Capt B

[thedrifter]

THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY
From Capt B's Blog

The first annual MilBlog convention is over. What a pleasure it was to meet everyone and put a face to a name. Thank you all that got to attend for those that couldn’t you got to come out next year! I departed for the convention at 1400 (2pm) on sunnyfriday afternoon which would put me in the Walter Reed area in plenty of time to go bash some pinkos! Entering Va, the sky’s opened up and everyone decided to get on their cell phones and drive 45 mph in front of me. So if you were on I-95 around then, I was they guy shouting at you to move it or loose it sister!!! Arrghh!! By the time I got in to the area it was 2000 (8pm) and I headed over to Mr & “Ma Bells” (Taco’s mom & dads house) where I stayed for the weekend.

What great folks, great hospitality and care. Thanks again guys!! We went out the night before to meet everyone at “Frans O’Briens” and share some story’s. It was a great time for all to meet and recognize our like minds. The next day, we headed for the convention while yes, it continued to rain. The conference was divided up into the three panels where all of the panelist spoke and shared their experiences and techniques. Lunch was sponsored by Military.com which provided great chow and educated us on the improvements of their site and where its headed. A very professional event through and through put on by “Andi” and served great for the first event.

An overview of the conference was that the “word” wasn’t getting out to the American people and Milblogs and Blogs in general filled that gap and continued to overflow and may take over the entire information requirement one day. In general the information flow that blogs fill is described by me in three ways. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

The Good

What we are seeing today and what’s to come in the future. Technology continues to expand and in conjunction with that so will blogs and ways people need to get the information. Giving accurate information from a source is worth its weight in gold. A good rule for any blogger is to stay in your box. Talk about what you know and talk about it well. That’s a solid guide for any blogger, novice or experienced. You can help the machine grow by educating friends and people you care about so they too can know the truth. How tuff is to send a friend a link in an email?? In the future, we will see Podcasts, live feeds and instant information which will require the media sources to rise to the competition or be left behind. Currently, they are slipping in my opinion and will be left behind as a new era of information sources appear.

The Bad

Inaccurate information or no information at all. Look back 10 years where email and the internet was an infant and where its at today. What will it be like in another 10 years? Letters from soldiers and infrequent phone calls as recent as Desert Storm help demonstrate the strives that have been built from bloggers and other sources. In the past, “other sources” have told the story and haven’t done a respectable job in doing it or told the story with their spin on it. This is why blogs can be so powerful.

The Ugly

Summed up, the media. Many “sources” take a basic topic, read into it, add their two cents then fire hose it out to the masses. The worse part is that everyone listens and believes it for gospel. Hello sanity check, here come blogs in your face. Some say I want the info from the Government. OK, that could be done but then all those bed wetter’s out there would scream like little girls because “it would be tainted” by the Government in their favor. Then you have some say they want info from the “only” source, the current media stations. Holy bat ****! Yea great idea. That would work if we fired most of the current media freaks and replaced them with bloggers WHO get the info they talk about from the source (usually themselves) who are making the news. Do bloggers put their spin on what they write about? Yip, they do but they are also human and keep things original and don’t get paid for persuading the public in one way or another. Bloggers don’t tell a story about Iraqi’s in Ramadi rioting then show footage of Iraqi’s in Baghdad running around and selling it as Iraqi’s rioting. What would they gain by doing that??

From the conference, blogs have become a sanity check, a source of information, entertainment and even therapy for some. If you can take a Milblog, generate support for service members and increase the education of the average joe about what really is going on with the warrior, family member or average joe…………then I say blog away until your fingers bleed, then tape them and blog some more………….within your box.

One Marine’s View is adapting. I say adapting because Im not in Iraq anymore and we Maries always adapt and overcome. So a few additions that you will see on the site in the near future in conjunction with posts, in no particular order are below:

WHAT ARE THE BAD GUYS SAYING?

Here I will get you the info on what the bad guys are saying about a topic. How they perceive things and how they use the information

COMBAT UPDATES

If you have been to the site before you’ve probably seen these at the end of the posts informing you of what the hell is really going on the battle field.

WHAT CAN I DO??

In the past Ive been reluctant to post donation, charity etc events. I truly felt if I did one then I should do all. So in the future when you see this title you can expect some information on something where someone needs your help. Come on folks, give til it hurts……….or enlist and go to Iraq, your choice!

Last but not least……

HERO’S CALL

Here I will bring the attention to a warrior, citizen, American that has done the good deed and perhaps paid the ultimate price. Its not a mourners board but a place where you can find out about warriors like Sergeant First Class Smith (Fist Medal of Honor recipient of the Iraq war)………this will be good!

While I drove back another 6 hours today………in the rain today I thought about the conference and where we are today and where we are headed. The center of it all is you. You, me everyone needs the truth and as much info as possible to support, affect and to make a difference. If you want sit aside and let others tell you what’s going on around you then don’t ***** when you don’t get the real deal. You can make a difference!

Returning to base, Capt B sends
“Semper Fi”

[thedrifter]

ONE MARINE'S VIEW <br />
Wednesday, April 26, 2006 <br />
ATTACKING THE ENEMY &amp; REMEMBERING THE WARRIORS <br />
<br />
To follow the milblog conference, Ive been pretty busy and almost couldn’t attend the conference...

[thedrifter]

NEW YORK, NEWWWWWWWW YORK!

We just returned from NY where we had a great time on the Amberjack cruise boat and celebrated all of the warriors returning and building support for all the ones still there. First class treatment for all of the participants as AnySoldier.com Marty Horn showed up in a classy Army uniform and looking better than he did they day he got it.

Many supporters arrived on the “boat” early evening as the area weather was great and as the sun began to set, the ship began the cruise. Music, drinks, appetizers and the such were a plenty as all of the “Junkies” got to meet all of their warriors that they one time supported. Meeting the supporters and putting a face with a name was the best part. Although boating through many of the city’s famous places was outstanding at night. Lit up bridges and Statue of Liberty really made the evening. This was the firs time I’ve seen the Statue of Liberty or even been to NY. The view of her from the water was great. Detailed and proud. The crew of the Amberjack was awesome. All very professional and helpful made the evening a hit with both service members and “junkies”.

Marty and Nancy from AnySoldier were the back bone of the event. The Horn family was in full force for the event and looking great!

It was great to sit down, listen to folks and hear their reasons why they supported the troops. Share funny stories about the melting of chocolate Easter bunnies, and how some joker out there would send me an occasional box of half eaten Twinkies, dog chew toys and the like…..(Im still looking for that guy).

Being in NY there was one attraction that I had to see while being there. Ground Zero. We went the next day via the train (the only way to go) and then the subway to “downtown”. Arriving there was surreal. Although time has passed the anger was still in my gut. Fighting in Afghani & Iraq made it only fit that we see where it all started. They have a picture board of whats to come with the site and progression over the years and shows what will be built on the site. You can see the progression of the “Freedom Towers” here and get real time camera footage. The small church across from Ground Zero holds many artifacts from that day in September and has many stories of what happened that day as well. (great place to see).

Following Ground Zero, visiting NY just wouldn’t be the same without going to Time Square in the heart of the city.

We plan to attend a New Years bash there some year but not sure when. Its one of those things we would like to do. Following the square, we headed to a couple churches. What a great place of history and beauty. To close out the day we had to visit the Empire State Building. Seeing the view from atop the building is awesome. I couldn’t imagine being there on Sept 11th and witnessing the events unfold from that close up seat. While walking through central NY, a Fire Engine was on its way to a call as I watched it on the corner. I was in uniform and as the truck passed they gave me a wave and I returned it. Kinda of our way of saying thanks to one another. Great guys!
We must never forget 9-11!! We were attacked, were were down but now, even today we continue to take the fight to the scumbags who did this to America. I wanted to puke at the Ground Zero site but knew we have delt a severe blow to the enemy and they have done nothing but make America stronger. They are finding that out the hard way! The premire of flight 93 is coming out……..get out and see it.

All in the all the AnySoldier cruise was a hit. I feel bad for those that missed but I bet Marty will hold another event next year………Vegas maybe????

SEE MORE PICS FROM THE CRUISE HERE
anysoldier.com/SuccessSto...#amberjack

Thank you for all of you that came out. You made a difference for us whiole we were deployed.....and you continue to support us here at home!
God Bless and Thank you all!
SEMPER FI

Capt B

COMBAT UPDATE

CAMP HABBINYAH, Iraq (April 30, 2006) -- Nearly 1,000 Iraqi Army soldiers graduated boot camp today, beginning the first step toward an integrated army in Al Anbar Province.“The movement of an integrated army in Al Anbar is the only future,” said Col. Larry D. Nicholson, commander of Regimental Combat Team 5, based in Fallujah. “When people look out their window and see the army, they need to be able to say, ‘It’s my army.’ Today, we took a very positive step in that direction.”A total of 973 Iraqi soldiers graduated a nearly five-week training regimen that turned civilians into uniformed Iraqi soldiers. They were recruited from across Al Anbar Province, with 813 coming from Fallujah.“That’s a very positive sign,” Nicholson said. “When I left here in March ’05, local authorities refused to recruit for a national army. They wanted a Sunni army. This is a huge sign for significant change.”

posted by Capt B


Ellie

[thedrifter]

America's first counter-attack on 9-11, Flight 93

From Captain B's Blog

Flt 93........So we headed to the movie theater following a nice dinner. Talking about the rare occasion, it was already in the air that we were going to see the movie, Flt 93. My better half mentioned Mission Impossible III and that it would be opening as well and showing earlier. I stated, were going to see Flt 93.

No surprises in the movie. Yes, it ends like you're fearing and know it's going to. BUT, it does give a very good detailed description of what they have pieced together of the occurrences that transpired that day. As events unfold and footage from the attacks on the World Trade Center are shown, I began to get that nervous chest tightening feeling again as I experienced in theater before going out on convoys. I knew what was coming up in the movie and although not sure of the details I knew the tragic outcome.

The story is straight forward of what they believe happened and could piece together. They are many thoughts of what happened. The flight was shot down, mid air break up etc. The bottom line is that even if the passengers never made into the cockpit, they are hero's as are the other passengers on the hijacked flights during 9-11.

I left the theater with that ****ed off I wanna go stomp some more Monkey Ass feeling in my gut!. Angry as the movie reminds people in the theater WHY we are still in Iraq and Afghanistan. Angry because in the jumbo theater I was in, Flt 93 was only in one theater of 12 in the building. Angry because the theater I was in was only half full. Meanwhile little girlie man "Tommy Cruise" is running around with his wireless mike trying to complete MI III. There should be a line outside of people wanting to see the movie Flt 93. Not ready for it? Scared? Not wanting to face the ending all over again because you know the result?? Bull****. Get you ass out there and see it. It's a damn good reminder of what the hell those bastards did to OUR country on that September day!!! If you think your going to drive home after the movie all glum and sad as "wooo as me I am sad because those poor people had to die and it's a sad movie" NO, your going to feel a since of what the hell our country is made of, HEROS! This was America's first counter attack on the scumbags that attacked the WTC and Pentagon. Those great Americans made a decision to take a stand there and with all of the input the received from cell phones from loved ones, knew they were destined for a terrorist objective and would probably die as they called and wished love ones good bye. They decided to face fear and take over the plane. They were successful and they saved many, many lives. Maybe even yours. See info on the approved Flt 93 Memorial here.

Don't ignore this movie because of what the public is saying and thinking about the ending. Don't ignore this movie because you know the ending. GO see it. Go watch how the hero's on that flight made a difference. Quit thinking about yourself and how you may feel after it and think of it as a way to thank the warriors on those four doomed flights that day. If you were a passenger on Flt 93 that perished, would you want you to go see the movie?? I bet the answer is yes. If you're going to catch a movie, the least you can do is see Flight 93 first. Mission Impossible III will be out on video soon enough!

Here is to the hero's of all the flights that day..........(crisp salute)

Time for a CeeGar!

Semper Fi
Capt B

[thedrifter]

HEY, Ma Ma's BOY!

From Capt B's Blog

Its Christmas and you've gotten your 3 year old son a new train. It's his sixth birthday and now he learns to ride his bike without training wheels. You send him off to school with the lunch you packed. He's 16, got a girlfriend but not a real serious one. He wants to serve and be different from the rest. He's headed for boot camp in Parris Island or Sand Diego to be one of the best. He's now kicking in doors and saving lives in some of the god forsaken places like Iraq, Afghanistan and every other hell holes out there that need a hero or someone to rescue them.

He's dedicated and maybe he even signed up to joint this gun club under age and needed his parents permission………….or maybe just his mothers permission. He is surrounded by friends that may not know him like a brother but are his brothers and some his dad. He faces a relentless enemy that would cut his head off rather than see him spread democracy, but he doesn't fear that enemy, its not like the fear his mother could bring.

He is busy twenty four seven, three sixty five. He doesn't get a lot of down time but when he does he likes to think of how great home is and what he has to go back to……..and who he has to go back to. There are a few things inside him that keep him going when its tuff and he doesn't want to let his fellow Marines down or his loved ones at home either.

His buddy's back home are working at the burger joint or the mall. He just secured a building that had sniper fire coming from it wounding two of his fellow Marines. He thought he would miss home when he left but now home is a memory and where he is today is his new home. He's not six anymore and he doesn't need support from training wheels, he's a US Marine and he now gives support where its needed. He's tuff as nails, calloused and smart. He attacks like a bit bull and believes in what he's doing with all his heart.

Where he is at, his efforts are evident and gains are real for a people in need and an enemy to coward. Back home the news talks about movie stars and everyday events. None of their reports portray his daily events.

People don't really know what he does in the Marines but they know he's tuff and a bit stubborn as they watched him grow up. Now today as he thinks about the one who brought him into this world on Mothers day and he's the one trying not to tear up.

Thanks Mom.

…………yes Mom I know cigars are bad for me.

Happy Mothers Day to all Moms out there. Without ya we wouldn't be here!

Semper Fi,
Capt B