thedrifter
06-30-07, 07:26 AM
Of Fallujah and body bags ...
June 27, 2007
It is difficult to explain exactly how I came to this point in time of documenting what I have seen recently in Fallujah. For the readers benefit, I will back up a bit and explain as best I can.
In January of 2004, I came to Iraq for the first time.
I was a civillian contractor with KBR-Halliburton, the company once run by current vice president Dick Cheney. I spent over two years working the flight line at night with what is called, "pax movement".
That simply means that I brought in the new troops, and sent home the old ones and spent many, many nights watching and assisting in the loading of wounded soldiers. And there were plenty of times that I attended what is called "patriot details" when a KIA would pass through our flight line. I also at times, assisted in the carrying of body bags off of helicopters when KIA's were brought directly from the battlefield.
It was in April of 2004 that I first learned of a place called Fallujah. In February of that same year, some Puerto Rican members of the Florida National Guard, whom I was escorting to the freedom bird, told me in candid conversation while waiting to leave, "to keep my eyes on a place called Fallujah".
During my time there at camp Anaconda, in Balad, I was able to move about at times with particular units and see what there was to see. By March of 2006, my wife and I returned to Albuquerque and took a break. What we did was work on a small farm/nursery and I also worked in the flight line at various forest fire support air bases throughout the western United States. In September of 2006, we took work in Kuwait on the flight line, she in pax movement, myself in the cargo side of the house.
In March of 2007, I took a journey to Ramadi to scout out how it works for an embed. I had some help from the USMC, as my wife and I were both honored guests of the corps, two years in a row on November 10, the birthday of the USMC. Once in Baghdad, in 2005, and again at camp Arifjan, Kuwait in 2006. It was at these times, that I made a decision to do the journey I am on now. So, I did the paperwork, went to Ramadi for my "R and R", for two weeks, and learned the ropes with the help of the USMC Public Affairs Office.
Upon my return, I told my wife, that I had figured out how to get to Fallujah, and I would be returning in the latter part of May. This is what I did.
In March of this year, I ended up at Ramadi and began for the first time, in depth, seeing what many of us had only heard about. So, I have included in this blog, some photos for reference purposes, so that a kind of background can be understood as to how I came about doing this journey. In Ramadi, I was hooked up with the Civil Affairs Group where the "Anbar Awakening" was in full swing. I learned what the plan was for security and the transition for security to be handed over eventually in full swing to the Iraqis.
Back in April and November of 2004, while in Balad, I saw literally, hundreds and hundreds of wounded Marines coming out of Anbar province. We shipped them most every night to Germany and I have seared in my memory and in my mind, scenes and conversations that compelled me to one day visit this place called Fallujah. Yes, I had always been extremely interested in history. I was not getting any younger, and things I had photographed in El Salvador 20-years earlier, in black and white, were now forcing me to press on towards Anbar province one day.
So the photos from Ramadi, give only a short insight into what I began to see this year. I felt it important for the viewer to understand why.
Eventually, I may visit many other parts of Iraq, as I have already, but for now, what you see is what you get. It is important to note that Ramadi was just as violent, if not worse, than Fallujah, in recent times past. But Ramadi is where the new security plan was implemented first in Anbar, and now Fallujah is following suit.
Iraq is a very complicated place and cannot be explained in one or two paragraphs. I beleive that is what those in the current administration have been trying to say all along. Perhaps, it is even more complicated than anyone even thought of, that remains to be seen. But for the time being, this is where I am and those of you that are viewing and listening to what I have to offer, will have to educate yourself best you can on the geography and the inner workings of Iraq with whatever sources you find available to you.
For me, I consider myself an historian of sorts. I am not necessarily a journalist. I am for sure a "freelancer", as working for free is what I am doing at the moment. The entire burden is so compelling that for me, I have no other choice but to continue as long as I can, with what I have, at the age I am. It is my hope and prayer that everyone that sees or hears what is offered here on this blog, understands completely that history is unfolding before my very eyes and I am most blessed to be among those that are the main components in this event.
Perhaps twenty years from now, someone might see that what I see now, will be and education for those that will be carrying the torch then. For now, in 2007, what I see, will become the future soon.
Sincerely,
Jim Spiri
June 27, 2007
It is difficult to explain exactly how I came to this point in time of documenting what I have seen recently in Fallujah. For the readers benefit, I will back up a bit and explain as best I can.
In January of 2004, I came to Iraq for the first time.
I was a civillian contractor with KBR-Halliburton, the company once run by current vice president Dick Cheney. I spent over two years working the flight line at night with what is called, "pax movement".
That simply means that I brought in the new troops, and sent home the old ones and spent many, many nights watching and assisting in the loading of wounded soldiers. And there were plenty of times that I attended what is called "patriot details" when a KIA would pass through our flight line. I also at times, assisted in the carrying of body bags off of helicopters when KIA's were brought directly from the battlefield.
It was in April of 2004 that I first learned of a place called Fallujah. In February of that same year, some Puerto Rican members of the Florida National Guard, whom I was escorting to the freedom bird, told me in candid conversation while waiting to leave, "to keep my eyes on a place called Fallujah".
During my time there at camp Anaconda, in Balad, I was able to move about at times with particular units and see what there was to see. By March of 2006, my wife and I returned to Albuquerque and took a break. What we did was work on a small farm/nursery and I also worked in the flight line at various forest fire support air bases throughout the western United States. In September of 2006, we took work in Kuwait on the flight line, she in pax movement, myself in the cargo side of the house.
In March of 2007, I took a journey to Ramadi to scout out how it works for an embed. I had some help from the USMC, as my wife and I were both honored guests of the corps, two years in a row on November 10, the birthday of the USMC. Once in Baghdad, in 2005, and again at camp Arifjan, Kuwait in 2006. It was at these times, that I made a decision to do the journey I am on now. So, I did the paperwork, went to Ramadi for my "R and R", for two weeks, and learned the ropes with the help of the USMC Public Affairs Office.
Upon my return, I told my wife, that I had figured out how to get to Fallujah, and I would be returning in the latter part of May. This is what I did.
In March of this year, I ended up at Ramadi and began for the first time, in depth, seeing what many of us had only heard about. So, I have included in this blog, some photos for reference purposes, so that a kind of background can be understood as to how I came about doing this journey. In Ramadi, I was hooked up with the Civil Affairs Group where the "Anbar Awakening" was in full swing. I learned what the plan was for security and the transition for security to be handed over eventually in full swing to the Iraqis.
Back in April and November of 2004, while in Balad, I saw literally, hundreds and hundreds of wounded Marines coming out of Anbar province. We shipped them most every night to Germany and I have seared in my memory and in my mind, scenes and conversations that compelled me to one day visit this place called Fallujah. Yes, I had always been extremely interested in history. I was not getting any younger, and things I had photographed in El Salvador 20-years earlier, in black and white, were now forcing me to press on towards Anbar province one day.
So the photos from Ramadi, give only a short insight into what I began to see this year. I felt it important for the viewer to understand why.
Eventually, I may visit many other parts of Iraq, as I have already, but for now, what you see is what you get. It is important to note that Ramadi was just as violent, if not worse, than Fallujah, in recent times past. But Ramadi is where the new security plan was implemented first in Anbar, and now Fallujah is following suit.
Iraq is a very complicated place and cannot be explained in one or two paragraphs. I beleive that is what those in the current administration have been trying to say all along. Perhaps, it is even more complicated than anyone even thought of, that remains to be seen. But for the time being, this is where I am and those of you that are viewing and listening to what I have to offer, will have to educate yourself best you can on the geography and the inner workings of Iraq with whatever sources you find available to you.
For me, I consider myself an historian of sorts. I am not necessarily a journalist. I am for sure a "freelancer", as working for free is what I am doing at the moment. The entire burden is so compelling that for me, I have no other choice but to continue as long as I can, with what I have, at the age I am. It is my hope and prayer that everyone that sees or hears what is offered here on this blog, understands completely that history is unfolding before my very eyes and I am most blessed to be among those that are the main components in this event.
Perhaps twenty years from now, someone might see that what I see now, will be and education for those that will be carrying the torch then. For now, in 2007, what I see, will become the future soon.
Sincerely,
Jim Spiri