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thedrifter
12-23-05, 06:25 AM
Marines pass time while doing field work
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Story by Cpl. James D. Hamel

AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 22, 2005) -- Just as service members have done in wars past, Marines in Iraq are finding their imaginations tested during their “down time.”

More than 60 Marines stationed at Camp Liberty, Iraq, who provided security for Iraqi poll workers, worked full-time jobs with a lot of overtime. But, even they’re confronted with a few hours where nearly anything goes to break the monotony.

“It’s important to find something to do, especially for the young Marines,” said Staff Sgt. De’Shawn Harrison, a St. Petersburg, Fla., native and a sergeant of the guard for Camp Liberty. “It keeps their mind off their work. That helps them out.”

Inside the 20-man makeshift squad bays, Marines huddle around laptop computers, watching movies. A few played handheld video games, while others slept or read. Power converters, allowing U.S. electronics to be plugged into Iraqi electrical sockets, were at a premium.

“We do whatever we can,” said Staff Sgt. Gil Moctezume, a Jacksonville, N.C., native, also a sergeant of the guard at Camp Liberty. “Spades (the card game) is pretty big out here. These guys watch movies a lot, and of course, train for the mission.”

Training for the mission was constant. In a place where Iraqis outnumbered the Marines providing their security by 10 to one, staying alert was important. But, Moctezuma said, so is relaxing.

“It gives your mind a chance to refocus on the mission,” he said. “The more focused you are, the fewer mistakes you’re going to make.”

The operation, by all accounts, was very successful. This election’s turnout, estimated at more than 70 percent, was a dramatic improvement from the October vote. Harrison said that success can be attributed to the Marines’ ability to stay mentally sharp.

Though conditions at Camp Liberty aren’t luxurious, they are an improvement over what senior Marines, like Moctezuma and Harrison, have come to expect from deployments.

When the power generator that provided electricity for the Marines’ barracks stopped working, the junior Marines found out the hard way how their superiors had been living. Movie watching was out the window, and even reading lights were hard to come by.

“Those of us who have deployed before were prepared for this,” Moctezuma said. “This is what it’s always been like, people playing cards, sleeping or reading. We do anything to pass the time.”

Many played football during the day, cheered by a large crowd of Iraqis watching U.S. football for the first time.

“I was doing my Michael Vick impersonation,” said Harrison. “With the power out, it’s too quiet. You do get a lot of sleep, though.”

The Marines of Camp Liberty had to improvise, adapt and overcome, just as Marines of the past 230 years have always done, during peace, war and everything between.

Ellie