Quick last post. Freedom birds are scheduled and there won't be time to get on line after this. Can't post the particulars due to OPSEC. Will be arriving at Buckley at 1230 on the 31st aboard C130s.
Thanks for all the support. I'll continue on with a few stories on here once I get home.
See ya soon.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Happy BirthTOA
Celebrating your 46th birthday in Iraq is not that bad. Today we completed our Relief in Place(RIP). The final day is called the Transfer of Authority (TOA). We had a brief formation and removed our units guidon (pennant) and posted the new unit's guidon. We are officially done with operational duties. The Group CO issued us new orders; we are to retrograde safely and transition slowly back to "normal" life.
We had a formation and presented awards. The CO and SgtMaj both got Meritorious Service Medals for a highly successful unit tour in theater. Success clearly reflects on the leadership. I was shocked to also receive an MSM. I received the award because I'm old and lasted a long time in the Marine Corps. It was a "major" surprise. I had arranged the details of sneaking the presentations for the CO and SgtMaj in by coordinating with Group. They then double crossed me by calling me up to the front after the CO got his presentation. Surprise is a well practiced military principle.
The last event for the day was the running of the new Combat Fitness Test. It is three events. An 880 run, 35 pound ammo can lift (2 min time limit) and Maneuver under fire. The Maneuver Under fire was actually designed by the Marquis deSade and involves crawling, running, dragging a marine, firemans carry of a Marine, Sprint with 2x35lb ammo cans, grenade toss, the sprint back with said ammo cans. My best birthday surprise was that at 46 the scoring scale shifts to allow you more time. I skipped the 880 as my knees and back no longer tolerate such running but I maxed the other two events. Obviously weight lifting paid off as I got 85 lifts in 2 minutes. I'm paying the price tonight as my body feel like I'm 64 instead of 46. It was worth it. The squadron had a good time and we only sent 4 or 5 marines to the Combat Support Hospital. Not a bad outing.
I wrapped up my day heading to the MWR where I met a new Major on base who plays chess.....very well. Major Perera took me down 2-1. It was a fun struggle and made for a good evening.
Now, since we don't have anything to do until 1000 tomorrow, I'll be sleeping in. YES, nothing to do but wait to fly. Now, where did I put the Ibuprofen?
We had a formation and presented awards. The CO and SgtMaj both got Meritorious Service Medals for a highly successful unit tour in theater. Success clearly reflects on the leadership. I was shocked to also receive an MSM. I received the award because I'm old and lasted a long time in the Marine Corps. It was a "major" surprise. I had arranged the details of sneaking the presentations for the CO and SgtMaj in by coordinating with Group. They then double crossed me by calling me up to the front after the CO got his presentation. Surprise is a well practiced military principle.
The last event for the day was the running of the new Combat Fitness Test. It is three events. An 880 run, 35 pound ammo can lift (2 min time limit) and Maneuver under fire. The Maneuver Under fire was actually designed by the Marquis deSade and involves crawling, running, dragging a marine, firemans carry of a Marine, Sprint with 2x35lb ammo cans, grenade toss, the sprint back with said ammo cans. My best birthday surprise was that at 46 the scoring scale shifts to allow you more time. I skipped the 880 as my knees and back no longer tolerate such running but I maxed the other two events. Obviously weight lifting paid off as I got 85 lifts in 2 minutes. I'm paying the price tonight as my body feel like I'm 64 instead of 46. It was worth it. The squadron had a good time and we only sent 4 or 5 marines to the Combat Support Hospital. Not a bad outing.
I wrapped up my day heading to the MWR where I met a new Major on base who plays chess.....very well. Major Perera took me down 2-1. It was a fun struggle and made for a good evening.
Now, since we don't have anything to do until 1000 tomorrow, I'll be sleeping in. YES, nothing to do but wait to fly. Now, where did I put the Ibuprofen?
Friday, January 23, 2009
For the birds
I spent the day Tuesday living out one of my Marine Corps dreams. I spent the day in the cockpit of the MV-22 Osprey flying around Iraq. My host was the commanding officer,"Mongo" of VM-266 and his able and unflappable co-pilot "sugar". If you've never seen it fly, it is absolutely amazing. It leaps into the air like a big cat then takes off like a bird of prey. It is fast, powerful and agile. The two pilots I flew with were both excellent examples of the Naval Aviator in their skills, knowledge and easy going professionalism. It made for my most enjoyable day in country and one of my best in the Marine Corps.
As a side note, when the Marine Corps was recruiting me in 1984 they told me if I went helicopters I could easily end up one of the first Osprey pilots in the fleet. As I prepared to retire 24 years later, the Osprey arrived into a combat theater in time for me to give it a try. I have to say, it was worth the wait.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sleeping with the Elephants
So we move out of our marvelous 12x12 SWA huts into a camp called Circus Circus. Catchy name. You live under the big top. A 30'x100' tent. Supposed to be 50 to a tent but we manage to pack 70 men into it. Lovely. The other reason it's like a circus is because of the animals. Well, it smells sort of like that except Elephants are actually superior to Marines in terms of pleasant smells.
I explained it to my buddy John Humphrey in an e-mail this way.
I can't really properly describe the stench in the tent but try this.
Go for a 5 mile walk. When you return go sit in the sauna with all your
clothes on for 45 minutes. When your done, go back to your desk. Take
off your underwear and stuff it in one of your shoes. Take your socks
and mop under your arm pits and stuff them into your other shoe.. Place
everything in an air tight bag. Turn on a space heater and leave the
bag in front of the space heater until the end of the day. When your
done working, if they haven't thrown you out of the building yet, open
the bag and inhale deeply. Now, multiply by 70.
The replacements are on deck and we are fast out of a job. We couldn't be more excited. Except now I'm losing even more computer access. Typing this from the MWR (recreation center) facility. Just given my 5 minute warning to get off my 15 minutes of computer time. Hasta la vista.
I explained it to my buddy John Humphrey in an e-mail this way.
I can't really properly describe the stench in the tent but try this.
Go for a 5 mile walk. When you return go sit in the sauna with all your
clothes on for 45 minutes. When your done, go back to your desk. Take
off your underwear and stuff it in one of your shoes. Take your socks
and mop under your arm pits and stuff them into your other shoe.. Place
everything in an air tight bag. Turn on a space heater and leave the
bag in front of the space heater until the end of the day. When your
done working, if they haven't thrown you out of the building yet, open
the bag and inhale deeply. Now, multiply by 70.
The replacements are on deck and we are fast out of a job. We couldn't be more excited. Except now I'm losing even more computer access. Typing this from the MWR (recreation center) facility. Just given my 5 minute warning to get off my 15 minutes of computer time. Hasta la vista.
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