Murphy Strikes Again!

Auge's How to Prepare for a Deployment:
#3. After you shower, walk to your neighbor's house in only a towel.

A few days ago, I was walking back from work when I saw who I thought to be one of my male Soldiers walking across the area in a shirt and a towel wrapped around his waist. He wasn’t close enough to yell at and we don’t want Soldiers to get so comfortable that they walk back from the shower in towels. Anyways, by the time I got to where he was, he was gone. I figured the next time I see him he’ll get what’s due.

Today, I was in the shower trailer brushing my teeth when one of the Soldiers yells, “Someone took my clothes!” All the females in the trailer looked through their belongings and no one had them. The Soldier recalled Captain Murphy (made-up name) being next to her. We figured it out….Captain Murphy took the clothes. She’s not the brightest bulb and this isn’t the first time she’s done something dumb like this.

I saw my Soldier tonight at gate guard duty and when I asked him what the heck he was doing walking in a towel, he said, “Ma’am, someone stole my pants when I was in the shower!” Unbelievable, Captain Murphy struck again!!!! I’ll have to remember to keep an eye on my clothes when I’m in the shower.

Another latrine story: I went to the latrine trailer the other morning and when I opened the door, there in front of me was the Iraqi cleaning guy in his knee high rubber boots. Immediately, he indicates to me through hand gestures that I can use the latrine. HELL NO! I’m not sitting with my pants around my ankles while a male Iraqi is in the same room. The Porta John was looking good. Really good!

I got to go to lunch today at the oasis. My roommate, co-worker and I were at church and there was Coach (one of the engineers) and he invited us to lunch. He always tells us, “If you go to war, go with the Corps.” A truer statement was never spoken after he shared with us their living conditions compared to ours. What was especially nice about this visit is he is looking for Soldiers to sponsor an orphanage or like organization. If approved we would even have a chance to visit the people/children of Iraq. What an opportunity to actually experience some of the culture here. I was beginning to think I may never experience Iraq except for the cement T-walls and chain-linked fence that keeps the bad guys out but makes me feel like a prisoner.