At the moment, those are my two most favorite words these days. Of course, it refers to our battalion getting closer to completing its year long deployment in Iraq, and heading home. Hallelujah!! From today, we have around 27 days until folks start leaving for Kuwait. We are all anxious to be away from here, and out of harms way. Most of us are getting pretty tired of dodging the daily mortars and rockets fired
at our base. We are continuing to fly our missions, and keeping people busy.
The weather is a different story...I never would have expected that June would be our worst time to fly, due to dust storms. We've had quite a few days of 'no flying' and very poor visibility. It's pretty warm here too, getting up to 110-115 degrees or so a few times so far. We know it's only going to get hotter, but that's o.k. - means we're closer to going home.
We're still seeing more progress in Baghdad. Even after the latest uprising from Sadr City, things have quieted down, and the majority of the people are returning to their former activities. The people want to just live and work without fear. There are more little shops opening up, and even a couple pools have opened up again...seems that Iraqi kids like to play in water too...go figure.
I just finished up a long stint in the AMR cell, building more mission sets that we fly. Probably my last time, as I now return to the Company to fly again, and see if I can get a little more flight time. I've only flown about half of everyone else, due to my job in the AMR cell. So tomorrow, I get to fly...I'm really looking forward to it. We still have folks down at Basra (see last months blog). In fact, they will likely stay there until our replacement types show up. There is going to be a larger, full time presence there to help the area get back on its feet. Our replacements will probably be split with some here, some there to support the continuing effort. We'll look for more good news from there as time goes on.
Riding the 'A' bus to the other side one day, I heard other soldiers talking. It was sure nice to hear someone else talk 'newbie on the base' stuff: where things were, what bus to take, etc. Nice to see more new people coming in all the time, and patiently watch as we get closer to leaving. Nice to be the big dogs on the base.
Of all the things there are to spend money on here, you'll be happy to know, I've fought off the urge to get a tattoo (not really that tough). Don't laugh, lots of our folks are coming home a little more colorful than when we left...must be a combat zone thing, I guess.
DNR NOTES -- Not a whole lot to mention here, still seeing the usual birds, especially the English Sparrow. Way too many of those, and obviously they've spread a bit too far. I have seen a Kestrel like bird around the tall roof lines of the DFAC, but I can't seem to locate nests
anywhere. I'll be busy looking for more stuff when I fly again. Had a bit of a concern a while back, seems there was a cobra snake roaming around our housing area at night. We were advised to always carry a flashlight and walk carefully. Thankfully, they wouldn't be interested in us, but if someone stepped on one by accident, that would not be cool. And did you know that only Chuck Norris can prevent forest fires??
We've heard that our replacements are soon to arrive in Kuwait, and the early advance group should be here in about two weeks...means as more start trickling in, and get up to speed on the
missions, we start trickling out (same as last year). Boy does that sound nice. We're all ready to start doin' some chillaxin'...
Once again, thanks for the thoughts and prayers, it means a lot to have your support whilst we do a difficult job. We will continue to stay mission focused, and keep dodging whatever they may shoot at us, until the aircraft are shutdown and ready to be loaded on the ships in Kuwait. We are making a difference here, and it shows. God Bless, and be safe at home........ Thanks.
Now if I can get my son to post some more pics on here before Sept. (haha) you'll be all set... : )
at our base. We are continuing to fly our missions, and keeping people busy.The weather is a different story...I never would have expected that June would be our worst time to fly, due to dust storms. We've had quite a few days of 'no flying' and very poor visibility. It's pretty warm here too, getting up to 110-115 degrees or so a few times so far. We know it's only going to get hotter, but that's o.k. - means we're closer to going home.
We're still seeing more progress in Baghdad. Even after the latest uprising from Sadr City, things have quieted down, and the majority of the people are returning to their former activities. The people want to just live and work without fear. There are more little shops opening up, and even a couple pools have opened up again...seems that Iraqi kids like to play in water too...go figure.
I just finished up a long stint in the AMR cell, building more mission sets that we fly. Probably my last time, as I now return to the Company to fly again, and see if I can get a little more flight time. I've only flown about half of everyone else, due to my job in the AMR cell. So tomorrow, I get to fly...I'm really looking forward to it. We still have folks down at Basra (see last months blog). In fact, they will likely stay there until our replacement types show up. There is going to be a larger, full time presence there to help the area get back on its feet. Our replacements will probably be split with some here, some there to support the continuing effort. We'll look for more good news from there as time goes on.
Riding the 'A' bus to the other side one day, I heard other soldiers talking. It was sure nice to hear someone else talk 'newbie on the base' stuff: where things were, what bus to take, etc. Nice to see more new people coming in all the time, and patiently watch as we get closer to leaving. Nice to be the big dogs on the base.
Of all the things there are to spend money on here, you'll be happy to know, I've fought off the urge to get a tattoo (not really that tough). Don't laugh, lots of our folks are coming home a little more colorful than when we left...must be a combat zone thing, I guess.
DNR NOTES -- Not a whole lot to mention here, still seeing the usual birds, especially the English Sparrow. Way too many of those, and obviously they've spread a bit too far. I have seen a Kestrel like bird around the tall roof lines of the DFAC, but I can't seem to locate nests
anywhere. I'll be busy looking for more stuff when I fly again. Had a bit of a concern a while back, seems there was a cobra snake roaming around our housing area at night. We were advised to always carry a flashlight and walk carefully. Thankfully, they wouldn't be interested in us, but if someone stepped on one by accident, that would not be cool. And did you know that only Chuck Norris can prevent forest fires??We've heard that our replacements are soon to arrive in Kuwait, and the early advance group should be here in about two weeks...means as more start trickling in, and get up to speed on the
missions, we start trickling out (same as last year). Boy does that sound nice. We're all ready to start doin' some chillaxin'...
Once again, thanks for the thoughts and prayers, it means a lot to have your support whilst we do a difficult job. We will continue to stay mission focused, and keep dodging whatever they may shoot at us, until the aircraft are shutdown and ready to be loaded on the ships in Kuwait. We are making a difference here, and it shows. God Bless, and be safe at home........ Thanks.
Now if I can get my son to post some more pics on here before Sept. (haha) you'll be all set... : )