SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

This was surely a unique day.  The ten year anniversary of the day that changed not only the world as we knew it but the day that inspired so many to be here in Iraq, fighting for freedom, the safety of America and the safety of those that are oppressed.  There are certainly controversial ideas and thoughts surrounding Iraq and Afghanistan but one thing is clear.....when you talk to the locals, when you learn of their lives before we came in, under a ruthless dictator, under a rule that killed their family members for having an "opinion" that wasn't in line with the regime or killing their children (in the case of a 7 year old) for kicking a soccer ball during a street game, that happens to bounce and hit a poster of Saddam Hussien.  These people are now free to vote and they are proud of that.  There is a daily flight from Baghdad International Airport to Paris.  Other nations are in here working and enjoying the benefits of trade and opportunity.  In school the kids can actually learn about world events from a perspective that takes into account the world as seen from a variety of perspectives....not a world where their dictator was like a God and every textbook praised him and required complete obedience.   

For those reasons and so many more I am proud to be here and I have realized that on that day, ten years ago, part of me knew that I would be more connected to that event than I realized I would at that time.  For the rest of this post I am going to do it in pictures.  There are a bunch but it was such an honor to have the opportunity to fly flags over our headquarters here in a combat zone.  Each flag was marched out to the pole, raised properly with Soldiers saluting and after a time was lowered with honor while Soldiers saluted.  Then it was folded in the proper manner and marched from the area.  This was a great day!

      This is our headquarters building for the 478th Human Resources Company

                                Presenting the flag to the Soldier that will be raising it.

                             Not necessarily in order but this is my raising one of the flags.

                                                             Lowering the Colors.

                                Luckily 4 of us there were Eagle Scouts.  That came in handy today!

                                                    Raising another flag

                               I love these last three pictures. They capture the day for me perfectly!

THE COMBAT PATCH

                                   77th Sustainment Brigade "Lady Liberty" Combat Patch

About a week and a half ago our supply sergeant came around and gave us a patch as well as a memorandum from the commander stating that we were now authorized this deployment patch.  There is a history to the Brigade that this symbol represents and to be honest I don't know it at this time.  I will look it up soon, but not this moment.  It is my combat patch.  This patch goes on the right sleeve of the uniform jacket.  Until a Soldier deploys this sleeve remains bare.  When you get out of AIT and head to your first unit you get a unit patch that goes on the left sleeve.  This makes you feel like you are no longer a worthless, snotty private and now part of a real Army unit.  It isn't long though until you realize that there is something special about the right sleeve.  The right sleeve represents unspoken struggles, hardships, lessons learned, moments of excitement, deep friendships and friendships lost and so much more.  Without the patch you are just a "slick-sleeve".....I was called that more than once.  Regardless of your experience in life, military bearing, level of physical fitness, ability to "beat up" (couldn't resist that one) the person with the combat patch, you are still just not "one of them".  There are a plethora of combat patches out there.  Some represent the historic campaigns that have become the face of WWII such as the 101st "eagle" patch with the word "airborne" over it.  This particular patch however, the "Lady Liberty" is what I get to wear.  Its weight is so little that you can't tell if it is on or off physically, but psychologically it weighs a ton!  It means I am here in Iraq doing my part in the fight on terrorism.  Yesterday we were reminded just how much the fight is still on as our whole bodies shook and compressed as large artillery shells were launched outside the wire.  It is funny that one patch can mean and represent so much but that is how it works.  When you return home you become one of "those guys".  Those guys that deployed and now can look down on the "slick sleeves".  My good buddy Phinney said it right though, slick sleeve or not....plenty of Soldiers that have deployed are still dirt bags and don't know any more about being a Soldier than a "slick sleeve".  He is correct, but that is a topic for a different day.  For today, this is about the patch and I love it.  There is a bond that happens with those that have been "down range".  I feel that now and I look forward to what this deployment will bring.   

KUWAIT TO IRAQ AND AROUND IRAQ

This post I am going to show a bunch of pictures from here to give you all an idea of what life is like here. 

 Loading up and getting ready to get on a C-130 to head to Iraq

 Best part was getting to finally wear our performance tops.  They are way better when wearing the body armor.

 This is my bed.  You will notice the Captain America blanket...  :)

 I love this picture.  American Flag flying in a combat zone. 

 These are the bunkers all over base.  When the alarm sounds for mortar or rocket attacks we are supposed to get into one if we are out in the open. 

 All of our buildings are fortified by these concrete barriers. 

 Sand is everywhere.  There is no escaping it!

 I am still getting used to seeing Arabic writing everywhere.

 All over base there are bunkers left over from the Saddam Hussein days. 

 Another shot of a bunker and some of the "scenery".

 Just another day heading off to the office.....  It was actually about 110 degrees outside so it was REALLY hot with my body armor on!!

We live in these little trailers.  There are 4 of us in each one. 

From New Jersey to Kuwait

My goal for this posting is to include a lot more pictures.  These pictures will highlight my time traveling from Fort Dix, NJ to Kuwait.  Some of these pictures represent the "inside" look into what it takes to get to the Middle East for a Soldier. 

 loading up to get ready.  This pic is a little staged.....

 This was only the duffel bags.  On the other wall are all the ruck sacks and personal bags

 At the airport waiting to check in.  Originally we were told that the flight was over booked and we may have to wait another week to fly.  Luckily that was not the case. 

 Sitting in the terminal waiting a military flight.  It really felt like the deployment was actually going to happen. 

 On the plane. 

 Sitting in Germany. Really tired at this moment.  We had been flying all night with no real food to eat. 

 We landed in Kuwait and had to sit on 100 degree heat from about 9pm to 1am to then leave for our base. 

 4am at our base.  We had a briefing and then unloaded our gear just to load it on another truck to go to another base.  No sleep yet.  But at least it was more like 90 degrees at this moment. 

Home sweet home???  In a large tent with 25 other guys.  At least the air conditioning got the room down to 80 degrees.