More Milestones

Recently, I passed some more milestones. First, I moved out of my room. In anticipation of the new team coming in to replace us, we all have to move out of our rooms. We did this very sequentially, and when my turn came, I fell in line. This was also the first time, since getting promoted, that I experienced the “Rank Has Its Privileges” mantra, and I am very happy. Most Soldiers will move out of their room and into a tent. The more senior officers, of which I am now one, move from one room into another. Since we have been here, I have no complaints about the rooms, whether it be the selection or the quality and that satisfaction continues. I have another great room and I have migrated over my TV, desk and chair, so I will live out the final days here, without complaint.

Another very important milestone was the Customs Inspection. On the plane with us, we will carry two duffle bags. Everything else must go into a connex, which is just a fancy word for box. I personally had a big footlocker, two duffle bags and a rucksack, all of which has to go through Customs. During the inspection, they look for everything and I have nothing to hide, so it went smoothly. Another big milestone down.

Also, today is a big day here in the Headquarters as our replacements are finally here. There is a renewed sense of excitement and energy and just as with any other process, the new guys are wandering around lost with the scared look and we are trying to be as helpful as we can.

I will be home soon. I also hope that everybody had a good Christmas and please be safe for the New Year’s holiday.

Soldier's Prayer

Let me first say, “Merry Christmas” from here in Baghdad. Every week, we publish a newsletter and this week inside the front cover was this prayer. This is a good Soldier’s prayer.

It’s Christmas somewhere, Lord
But the enemy doesn’t take a holiday
Here I am,
Patrolling the streets of Baghdad

Hoping to see your Nativity Star
Shining down through the city haze.
I guess I’ll take a knee for a moment,
And give you a commander’s SITREP

Mission was good tonight…..
Cordon and knock,
Captured some targets,
Patrols all returning safely to the JSS.
They make me very proud,
And I pray I have done right by them.
So many decisions……
{decisions that affect their lives}
Weigh heavily on my mind.
Sometimes I wonder,
Did I do the right?

But I asked for this burden, Lord,
So no grousing from this Joe.
Instead,
I thank you for the chance to lead,
To be in charge.
I thank you….
For NCOs who are not afraid to speak their minds,
Then execute with ferocity, once I make a decision.

I thank you….
For the hard mission,
The ones that test my body,
My endurance,
My will.

But I need your help, Lord,
When enduring a KLE
Not to feel total frustration
At hearing the same thing
Over and over and over….!

And finally,
As I strap on that 80 pounds
Of lightweight gear
To hunt and fight the enemy,
Grant me the courage
To trust my Iraqi partners,
And let them never doubt that I will be with them,
In the mud, and the rain, and the heat.

Let me never forget that you are by my side.
In fact, could you stand watch for a few minutes,
While I curl up in my poncho liner?
Just wake me if you need me,
Or if you hear any sleigh bells.

Goodnight, Lord
Merry Christmas.

Even though I will be on the other side of the world, my heart will be with family, no matter where they are. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Band Christmas

Last night, 22 December, I went to see the 1st Cavalry Division band put on their Christmas show. This was a little different as it was not the whole band, but just 10 members. This group of 10 Soldiers was the Rock band and it was amazing. It was almost a visceral experience. It is hard to believe that these kids are Soldiers first, all of them carrying weapons and musicians second. They were having such a good time and their happiness was definitely contagious as we all were smiling and enjoying the night off. They played for about an hour and it took me back to a few memories.

One memory was my Mom and I went to the NY Philharmonic Orchestra and the lady next to us pulled out her crochet set. People just go to hear good music and it does not take any concentration and although not a memory but a plan, this is something that my kids would really have fun at.

We are winding down over here and there is definitely a buzz in the air, not only because it is Christmas, but because we will soon all be home. I need to send out a public thanks for all of the thoughts, cards and boxes that people have sent. I, and the team appreciate it all.

Sunday Morning Blahs

Sunday mornings here are quieter than other mornings, and I normally do not get into the office until after lunch. To pass the time, I normally clean my room and I have gotten hooked on a few good TV shows. One such show that I have been watching is a PBS show “Carrier” for about the last six or seven weeks. I think it is a 10 part series which covers the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier during the course of a cruise to the middle east and it is almost over. Well, today’s episode was called “Home-Itis” and it went into detail about all of the Sailors and how they were missing home during their six month cruise. Well, I was not going to watch that, so I switched over to the movie channel and “8 Below” was on and I caught it just as he finds out that he left his dogs back on Antarctica. Well, I was not going to watch that one either. This was not shaping up to be a good day.

I flipped over to another channel to find Bobby Flay in one of his famous “Throwdowns.” In this one, he was challenging Juniors Cheesecakes which happens to be in Manhattan, NY. Well Bobby made a traditional cheesecake with caramel apples and walnuts as a topping and Juniors topped his with, not one but two layers of devil’s food cake, all covered with chocolate icing. Hmmm, they both looked really good, but Bobby took the prize. Sunday will be alright after all, and I will suggest the winning recipe to House Hold 6 for a suggestion when guests visit.

Another Milestone

Okay, today will be my last post that I will upload from Baghdad. I will pack my computer up and get ready for the customs process. From here on out, House Hold 6 will upload the remaining few weeks of this deployment.

This is a great feeling and one that we have all looked forward to for some time.

Almost Done

Okay, time here is running short and there are signs everywhere that our time here is almost over. Since we arrived, I have been buying internet service monthly. Well, the time has come for me to begin to pack the bags and along with that, goes the computer.

This Friday, 11 December, I will make submt my last update from Baghdad. After that, I will send House Hold 6 updates and she will do the posting duties for me. This is how we will finish the last couple of weeks, because that is what we are down to; a couple of weeks. Yippee.

Along with the computer, I will pack away, two duffle bags, a rucksack and a foot locker. I will likely load up on Saturday and then the room will look very empty and I will begin to live out of two duffle bags. It is amazing how much stuff we bringand then it all gets stuffed away in a couple of bags.

Before we completely pack up, everybody must lay out all of the gear for a customs inspection. After all, we cannot bring back any illegal items. One of the most common mistakes is the home made movies that were so popular in Korea and are equally popular over here.

Anyway, I will write my final post on Friday, but believe me, it is not a sad event, but a very happy one because it means I am almost home!

Tis the Season

Tis the season for so many things. At the beginning of the month, a few very important events occured. As with the beginning of so many months, we will promote Soldiers and while all of these promotions are important, some are more special than others. This month we had the occasion to promote one of our own. We promoted him to E8, which, if we were in the civilian world, would be the equivilant of going from department head to management. A very special day indeed and we are all very proud of his accomplishments.

As with most promotions, there is cake with the tradional sword.......

a closer view.............

and the ceremonial cutting of the cake......

December also marks the beginning of the Christmas season and we took the opportunity to spce up the place and set into the spirit. In case any of you were wondering, all of the decorations we sent over by HH6 and the rest of the section's families back home. It was a wonderful surprise and made us all feel a little brighter.

The decorations included something to attach either to a window or the fridge.......

Strings of red and green.............

A few hats.........

Decorating in progress.......

and I even took the opportuniy to spruce up my room. Some may look at this as the "Charlie Brown Tree," but I look at it with happiness and love. HH6 sent it with love and I look at it every day and think that this seperation does not conquer the spirit of family.

Finally, as we are in the penultimate phase of this deployment, I saw this and thought that it was very appropriate, that the moon is setting, signaling the end is near.

We are doing well and looking forward to coming home soon. We will get though Christmas and New Years and then we will be home. Almost done.

Once again, thanks for everything.