The Al Faw Palace

We got out a little this morning after our shift, and went to visit the Al Faw Palace, which Sadam built after the Gulf War, in 1991, to honor the soilders who fought to regain the Al Faw Pennisula during the Iran war.

Very Beautiful Structure. Some of our friends work in the Palace, so we stopped and saw them, and spent some time looking around.





This is called the Sadam Chair. It was a gift to Sadam from Yassar Arafat. It is now a photo opp, as everyone who visits the Palace stops to get a picture taken in it. Now it was my turn.











This is a picture of the Chandelier in the main lobby as you come in, there are many smaller ones all over the palace.


Well, that all for today, I will post more pictures later as I get them organized. Off to bed.

Greetings From Baghdad!!

Hello from Baghdad,

I flew into Baghdad from Kuwait on Sunday Arpil 15. Before that I had spent 3 days in the Kuwait desert for advanced training. But, am getting settled in here. The first couple of days in Tent City, transient tents. My sponsor finally came to get us, and we moved into trailer with 2 man rooms. There are trailers, with real showers, and bathrooms, much nicer than Kuwait.

Have started work, and am working nights. Much to learn, but everything is going well. Have found where to eat, which is really good!!, shower, call home, there is even a fairly big PX, (Exchange), here where I can buy most things I need.

The nights have actually been cool here, but it is suppose to start getting warmer.

Much nicer than the tents and open bay barracks that I have been staying in. Well, it's getting late and I need to get to work. More later.

I've made it

I have made it to Kuwait, very hot! Will continue training here. I may be out of pocket for a little bit, but will update when I can. Everything here is fine. I am safe. Better food than at Ft Jackson. More later . . . .

Last Day at Ft Jackson

This will be my last full day at Ft Jackson. We will be flying out tomorrow for Kuwait, and have today off to finish packing. I am glad this class is over, and am ready to go to Kuwait. Once I arrive, my 179 BOG, (Boots on the Ground), clock should begin. I will send a post once I figure out the Internet at my next destination. This should be an interesting trip, I will let you know how it goes.

This has been a busy 2 weeks. I was a bit nervous coming into this. But I did ok. I went through the course along with people younger than myself and made it through. This next part of the trip will be much the same I'm sure. I am a bit anxious about the trip tomorrow. But I am sure, 0nce it get going, it will be fine, just as the last 3 weeks have been. I have 2 friends starting this monday for the next 2 week class here, and 2 more friends starting the class after that. It will be fun to compare notes about everything.

FT Jackson Day 11and 12

Day 11 started with Convoy Training. We had a 6 man convoy, I was in the last vehicle, (#6), which provided security for the back of the convoy. We were ambushed at one turn, on my side of the truck. While I was returning fire, an IED, (simulated), exploded under me on that side, didn't expect that. We went through a couple of more attacks along the way. Finally we reached a town, where our vehicle blocked the road, leading to the town, providing the rear security.

As myself and another person, were on the ground, we say a truck coming down the road. I walked out into the road and had them stop some distance from out location. Several individuals approached us, they were just wanting to get into the town and go home. We had to keep them at a distance, and try to separate them, as we did not know what their intentions were.

I tried to detain the one of the individuals, and a scuffle broke out, nothing big, but I had my hands full. These people were being played by Army Drill Sergeants, (who were in pretty good shape), he did not fight back but resisted, but I did wrestle around with him for a little bit. They finally walked back to their truck, I ran back to out truck and grabbed my weapon, we thought they would be moving towards us, but they come up, told us this part of the exercise was over, and that we did a good job and handled the situation correctly.

The rest of the day was a land navigation course, and then cleaning our weapons in preparation for our upcoming departure to Kuwait, for additional convoy training.

Today, Friday we had a formation run at 5:45 AM, 3 miles, it was also about 31degrees, but I made the run and graduated from the Army Combat Training Course. We had a couple of additional meeting but had most of the afternoon off to begin packing, and taking care any admin details.

We will be flying out on Sunday afternoon, leaving from Columbia, to Gander Newfoundland, Shannon Ireland, Budapest Hungary, and to Kuwait. We will be there for about a week, attending additional training, and then on to Baghdad. I will try to post from Kuwait, have to wait and see what Internet they have there. I am ready to get going and get this started. The sooner I get there, the sooner I can get home.

FT Jackson Day 10

It's around8:30 PM at Ft Jackson. Just got done with meetings, and am heading for a shower and bed. A late night to night. Big Day tomorrow, Convoy operations. I will post more tomorrow. I did find out that I passed my Navy Advancement Exam, and am Board Qualified for the Chief s Review Board. This is a big deal. Maybe this will be the year.

Ft Jackson Day 9

Spent most of the day in classrooms today receiving presentations on Convoy Ops and IED Training. These are presentations that everyone has to go through. Later in the afternoon, when it was hot, we did a simulated patrol in our body armor, and went on another road march. This time we were issued blanks, and had an assault where we practiced our first aid skills. Very interesting. Other than that not too much going on. Tomorrow we will go to an Urban Setting, (an army town that was built), and have a practical application of urban ops. Should be interesting.

Only a couple of more day to go. We should find out our travel schedule in the next couple of days. I am anxious to move forward, and get to my job, and get my 179 day commitment in Iraq started. The sooner I get there, the sooner I can come home.

Ft Jackson Day 8

Today started very early in the morning as we headed to another range to shoot a number of heavy weapons including, 50 Cal Machine Gun, M19 Grenade Launcher, and the "SAW", high speed machine gun. Much fun!!!! We had a class on how to use our Gas Masks. We were done by noon. The rest of the day we attended several briefings, and then a 2 1/2 mile march, at a fast pace, very hot!! But we did get off around5:30 PM which is earlier than we did last week.

Getting ready to leave at "Oh Dark Thirty" in the morning.

At the Heavy Weapon Gun Range, in my "Battle Rattle".

The "SAW" high speed machine guns.

More SAW machine guns.

The M19 Grenade Launchers. You can see the armored vehicles that we were shooting at in the distance. You would shoot 4-5 round burst at them, and the grenades would explode around them.

50 Cal machine guns. Those are armored personell carriers downrange that we were shooting at. We were easily hitting them, and the rounds were going through them. Very Cool!!

FT Jackson Day 7

Today is Sunday. It's easy to lose track of what day it is. The past week has been so busy we tend forget what day it is at times. We have today off also. Last night my friend Jeff and I took a bus took a bus over to the main post on Ft Jackson where the PX is. We bought a few things for our upcoming trip next weekend to the middle east. One thing that we finally found, was a red lens flashlight. All I could find was a small one, I should be able to find a bigger one in country. We have been told that these are nice because we will be living in a tent or a small trailer in Baghdad, the latrines and showers are in a separate shower, which can be a bit of a walk. So if you have to get up in the middle of the night, you have to walk a bit to the latrine, it's better to have a red lens flashlight, it's better for your night vision, and harder to see at night by other people.

This morning, with most people sleeping in, I was able to do a load of laundry. I think that another nap is in order later though. Tomorrow morning will be heavy weapons, which should be kind of fun. I will let you know how that goes. For the most part it will be a day to rest, relax and get ready for the grind coming up tomorrow.