Das Garten

It's been quite a bit hotter lately. We are now up into the 1-teens. It's shocking how much hotter 114 is than 108. 108 actually seems comfortable. When it dips down to 103 we generally hang out under the cammie netting and enjoy the evening. This usually happens around 1730 or 1800. It's a great time of day. I'll try and attach a picture of one of my favorite hangouts the motor T/utilities section. These guys have basically built a German Bier Garten with no Bier and no Garten. OK, so it's a dive. We play a lot of chess, boggle, etc around their table.
This is an early photo and they've done quite a bit of work since this. I'll update with a current photo tomorrow.
Industrious and motivated are just two of the fabulous characteristics present in these Marines. They are an amazing bunch and they would simply astound you at how typically Marine they can be one minute and how shockingly unique and excellent they are the next. I think they mirror the greatness of our country's peopla and much as everyone worries about the next generation, I can safely say, sleep well.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Ok, so there's no snow and no decorations but there is so much dust it looks a little like a blizzard. This is the third day of heavy dust. Flights are mostly shut down for visibility. This is the worst day by far and this evening especially. You couldn't see the sun after 1730 because the dust is so thick. Past 200 yards you can only see vehicles if they have headlights on. It varies quite a bit from moment to moment but it is quite strange. The lingering 100+ heat disabuses you of the notion that it is the season. I don't think Christmas is allowed here. That didn't stop me from saying Merry Christmas to the African guards at the entrance to the PX. They gave me a big laugh and a smile and wished me the same.
Speaking of the guards, I remember a little Swahili from my buddy John Humphrey. Jambo Mzee is a big hit with them. Mambo is more hip, it means, "Wasssup?" The best response of course is, "Poa" which means cool. This said while dripping sweat down your sleeve and on to your pinkie then onto the ground. I'm pretty sure you could almost track me by it.

A real life saver

So Dave, Casey (Capt McKinney) and I are doing the usual. 0500 rise and shine. 0600 hike to chow. 0700 heading up the hill to the site, when what to our wondering eyes should appear....
Some people here have trucks. Very beat up white rental chevy luv king cab trucks. If you are really important you have a blazer. The official car of OIF. Anyway, the people with trucks some times take pity on your trudging soul and offer you a ride. The hike from the chow hall to the site is about a half mile. This means it takes a fully loaded marine (by loaded I mean full from the smorgasboard) about 10 minutes to waddle up the hill. We are about 5 minutes into our walk when a truck stops and I hear a rather unusual voice ask if we need a ride. "No, ...." my stock response begins to kick in, "...we are just up the..." Dave's head makes a lightning move so fast his nose broke the sound barrier causing a whip crack. Casey winced, thinking we were taking incoming sniper fire. "We'd love a ride!" Somehow, without use of vision, Dave's spider senses detected that the driver was not only female, but attractive. On this base those two characteristics make you legendary. We had heard rumor's of said life guard but discounted them as being a desert mirage.
So we pile into her truck for a 2 minute ride. Being the senior member, I'm up front(rank hath it's privileges). So I make a little conversation asking how long she's been here and where she's from and what she does here. 10 months, Texas, lifeguard. The lifeguard. Capt McKinney of course new this being the tri-athelete in the bunch but tactfully kept his mouth closed on the topic so he could gloat later.
Dave however, being single and in full targeting mode says, "Oh, you're THE life guard, we've heard all about you!"
She replies good naturedly, "I don't even want to think about what you've heard." She knows her fan club includes every male swimmer on the base. Her save rate is astronomical from guys who've never even had a glass of water trying to impress her with their kick turns and forgetting they can't swim. Don't they know lifeguards use those dang mask things now?
Dave: "Oh, it's all good. And you're athletic, cute, and have an accent!" Stunning grasp of the obvious.
Casey and I are now looking for ejection handles but they haven't put them into trucks yet.
She and Dave banter on good naturedly for the next 30 seconds. Dave of course can't get a phone number because no one has one, not even a cell. "We'll see ya'll at the pool," she calls with a wave.
I can't believe this guy has a date with a life guard! I think they may even be engaged, I'm not sure. It was all a blur. Lucky for Dave Base Order 5100.1g paragraph 6.b.7.i states, "no fun" And they are serious. Married couples have to apply for a waiver to live together and after careful review we found no documentation authorizing them actual physical contact, they just get to live together. Whatever happened to China Beach?

DISCLAIMER: Actual events may not be as dramatic or bizarre as portrayed in these stories. If accurate, they would be unreadable.

Camp Cupcake

Here is an article I ran across about this base. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=44196
It's fairly accurate. Like most news story it doesn't match up perfectly with reality but it's a little dated.
Here are a few comments.
I think we only have one pool. If you have a pool in Iraq it better be indoors or it would look like a mud bath. If it's indoors it's got to have a/c or it's uninhabitable. The pool is here for the troops but also the contractors. The contractors live here for a lot more time than many of the troops and some kind of recreation is fairly important to your sanity. You can't exactly drive out in the town to try out there amenities. The contractors are essential to getting the job done over here so they get taken care of as well.
It is a big base and so can support things like an all night coffee joint. I think it's a Boca Java, not sure I've never been there. We have a pizza hut and it's decent (haven't been there either but I had a slice that the troops bought the other night and it was good. We have a Burger King, I heard you should skip it. The PX is stocked, I'm not sure most of you would shop there as the selection is limited and it's always at least 90 degrees inside. I have no idea if we have a Baskin Robbins as the chow hall serves ice cream two meals a day.
Al Asad is clearly not the front line. Those of us in the wing don't make that claim. We admire and respect those who have it harder than we do and we make sure we deliver the best possible air power the moment they need it. It's our only reason for existence.
We make the grunts as comfortable as possible given there forward locations. I know their facilities are constantly upgraded and improved like every spot we have in this country. I notice the grunts don't complain when they get sent here for a day or two to enjoy the vast expansive luxury that is my daily life. Before you know it people from the states will be flocking here for vacation....not.

Weeks fly

Is it Friday already? Time really flies when there is no such thing as a weekend. Sort of like the movie ground hog day. Dave was confused the other day about whether it was Friday or Saturday. I informed him it was Saturday and that it didn't really matter, every day was like Saturday. He then pointed out that it was very important to ask yourself, "So, what's Saturday like." We howled It's now one of our mantras. It's a common question so we always give our stock answer.
I was going to try and post some photo's up but the bandwidth is so bogged down right now it's not possible to upload a picture. Oh the joys or pseudo-connected to the internet. Will get some up Sunday.