Auge’s How to Prepare for a Deployment:
Rule #6: Spend hours and hours digging a hole in your yard. Call a company to remove the pile of dirt only to later find the dirt back in your yard.
As mentioned previously, I’m assigned the additional duty of Environmental Compliance Officer (ECO). Recently, I received a call from our team notifying me of an oil spill from a generator. I explained to them the process they would need to follow to clean the spill. In this particular situation, they would have to contain the contaminated soil. Once contained, there is a company on the COB who is contracted to take the contaminated soil away. I was later notified that the spill had been contained and was ready to be hauled away. This took a great effort by all members of the team since they had to dig and dig and dig to remove the contaminated soil. The company was called and a couple days later, they hauled the contaminated soil away…or so we thought.
A couple of our Soldiers were going for a run that day and as they were running by on the other side of the street, the company was dumping the dirt. Now no one would have been the wiser if our runners hadn’t seen this in action. The gray T-walls block the view from the work site. Good thing we have Soldiers who exercise!
A couple witness statements, pictures of the dump site and a memorandum from yours truly were submitted to the Mayor Cell. Hopefully, they will square these knuckleheads away!
October 14, 2009
October 10, 2009
THE OASIS
A new addition to COB Basra is The Oasis. This place offers civilians and military members, living on the COB, an opportunity to purchase items from local nationals. And if you’re interested, even have the opportunity to ride a camel! The area is surrounded by the gray T-walls, but once you walk through the entrance, it’s almost like a little bit of heaven in this God-forsaken country. One entire length of T-walls is painted on the inside and overhead is a sunscreen to filter some of the hot sun. There are approximately 8 vendors with typical mini-mall type shops and vendors who can set up for the day under huts.
MAJ Riha bought some bread from one of the vendors. He purchased three big pieces of bread for a buck. All I was thinking…did the guy wash his hands when he was making it?!!! Yes, I did end up tasting it and it was definitely good. Maybe next time, I’ll try riding the camel.
The Oasis entrance
The courtyard
Nice pond, however, no goldfish
The place Major Riha purchased the bread for us to try. The bread is on top of the blue cloth.
A man and his camel.
MAJ Riha bought some bread from one of the vendors. He purchased three big pieces of bread for a buck. All I was thinking…did the guy wash his hands when he was making it?!!! Yes, I did end up tasting it and it was definitely good. Maybe next time, I’ll try riding the camel.
The Oasis entrance
The courtyard
Nice pond, however, no goldfish
The place Major Riha purchased the bread for us to try. The bread is on top of the blue cloth.
A man and his camel.
October 8, 2009
Fallen Red Bull Soldier
The fun atmosphere surrounding the Vikings win was quickly overshadowed when news spread we had lost one of our own that morning. Immediately, our phone and computer lines to the outside world were shut down. This allows the Casualty Notification Officer (CNO) the time to notify the family members. We lost this Soldier to a non-combat death. Once again, we stood on the flight line as the Blackhawks took another Red Bull Soldier away. The memorial ceremony took place this evening and Soldiers who knew him well spoke of his character and what he meant to them. His death was certainly unexpected and it’s obvious his presence will be missed amongst the Red Bull Soldiers. What was so obvious to me….we truly must live as if each day is our last.
A number of years ago, I pulled from a magazine the following quote by Michael Landon: “Someone should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
A number of years ago, I pulled from a magazine the following quote by Michael Landon: “Someone should tell us, right at the start of our lives that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
October 6, 2009
GO VIKES!!!!!!
For the last three week, the excitement surrounding the Vikings vs Packers game was often a point of discussion. Lots of good natured ribbing was going on between Soldiers, however, one in particular got quite a bit of razing: Staff Sergeant (SSG) Peer. He’s a diehard Packers fan and from the sounds of it, he practically has a shrine in his home to Brett Favre. I was excited to finally see a quarterback who isn’t afraid the throw the ball.
In order to watch the game on real time, I got up at 0300 on Tuesday morning. Our Soldiers had set up a projector outside of the tent and displayed it on the gray T-wall. And just like home, they grilled brats and hot dogs. Sergeant Crooks made some tasty nada colodas topped off with umbrella straws. True to form, I fell asleep during ½ time.
It wasn’t like being at the dome but the excitement was still there and we all look forward to giving SSG Peer grief!
Our screen...just like being at the dome...NOT!
Yummy Colodas! Nada that is.
Hookah smoking.
I was actually cold and luckily one of the Soldiers had a quilt.
In order to watch the game on real time, I got up at 0300 on Tuesday morning. Our Soldiers had set up a projector outside of the tent and displayed it on the gray T-wall. And just like home, they grilled brats and hot dogs. Sergeant Crooks made some tasty nada colodas topped off with umbrella straws. True to form, I fell asleep during ½ time.
It wasn’t like being at the dome but the excitement was still there and we all look forward to giving SSG Peer grief!
Our screen...just like being at the dome...NOT!
Yummy Colodas! Nada that is.
Hookah smoking.
I was actually cold and luckily one of the Soldiers had a quilt.
October 4, 2009
The “Basra” Army 10 Miler
My roommate and I were up at 0430 to participate in the Basra Army 10 Miler. It was a beautiful morning for a run; cool and not too much of a breeze. Coach and I ran together finishing in 1:29:52.
Last year, Mom and I ran the Army 10 Miler in Washington D.C. It was by the far the best race I have ever run for a number of reasons. While 26,000 people waited for the start of the race, Black Hawk helicopters flew over the group. The National Anthem played and a cannon was fired to begin the start of the race. In previous races, I have never been close enough to hear the gun but I certainly heard that cannon! It was a beautiful day running around the monuments and parks as by-standers cheered us on!
Thirty thousand were signed up for the race this year in D.C. I can’t wait to run it next year with Mom!
My running partner: Coach
Giving my roomie a goodluck hug! She came out as the #1 female!
Mom and I at the Army 10-Miler in Washington D.C. October 2008!
<
Last year, Mom and I ran the Army 10 Miler in Washington D.C. It was by the far the best race I have ever run for a number of reasons. While 26,000 people waited for the start of the race, Black Hawk helicopters flew over the group. The National Anthem played and a cannon was fired to begin the start of the race. In previous races, I have never been close enough to hear the gun but I certainly heard that cannon! It was a beautiful day running around the monuments and parks as by-standers cheered us on!
Thirty thousand were signed up for the race this year in D.C. I can’t wait to run it next year with Mom!
My running partner: Coach
Giving my roomie a goodluck hug! She came out as the #1 female!
Mom and I at the Army 10-Miler in Washington D.C. October 2008!
<
October 1, 2009
Hello October!
Another flip of the calendar and once again I was happy to see a month go by. October is one of my favorite months of the year. Bayfield Apple Festival, autumn leaves at their peak of color, Halloween, hot chocolate, bon fires and a crisp cool run in the morning to name a few things I love about October. It’s hard to know I will miss out of some of these things; especially autumn colors. Other than Holy Joes tent, it is sans color at COB Basra.
Starting this week, Holy Joes is open from 0600-0900 and it’s starting to feel like the local coffee shop. They have a coffee bar and as Soldiers make their way to work, they filter through to have some fresh brewed coffee. It’s become my new oasis since the Corps’ dining facility is no longer. Coach and his crew have to eat at the same places we do.
Yesterday one of our Soldiers was rushed to the emergency room (tent) since he cut his leg. Well the story is this: He was looking at someone’s brand new knife and decides to hold it point down against the top of his thigh. Supposedly he moved wrong or was testing the sharpness of the knife and he instantly ends up with a knife wound about 1 ½ to 2 inches deep in his upper thigh. Needless to say, he’s been receiving a verbal beating from his comrades. I think he needs to teach a class on knife safety.
Another one of our Soldiers cut himself in 2004 on a different deployment. He was on pass and him and some other Soldiers went to a nearby Renaissance Festival. He was admiring an artisan’s knives and holding one of the knives with the tip pointed toward his stomach. Somehow, the rack holding the remainder of the knives came crashing down and he tried to keep the rack from falling only he stabbed himself in the stomach. The knife went in 3 inches but he was lucky enough since it didn’t hit any organs.
I’m sure some type of an award will be presented to our newest injured Soldier. Probable on the lines of a plastic knife!
Starting this week, Holy Joes is open from 0600-0900 and it’s starting to feel like the local coffee shop. They have a coffee bar and as Soldiers make their way to work, they filter through to have some fresh brewed coffee. It’s become my new oasis since the Corps’ dining facility is no longer. Coach and his crew have to eat at the same places we do.
Yesterday one of our Soldiers was rushed to the emergency room (tent) since he cut his leg. Well the story is this: He was looking at someone’s brand new knife and decides to hold it point down against the top of his thigh. Supposedly he moved wrong or was testing the sharpness of the knife and he instantly ends up with a knife wound about 1 ½ to 2 inches deep in his upper thigh. Needless to say, he’s been receiving a verbal beating from his comrades. I think he needs to teach a class on knife safety.
Another one of our Soldiers cut himself in 2004 on a different deployment. He was on pass and him and some other Soldiers went to a nearby Renaissance Festival. He was admiring an artisan’s knives and holding one of the knives with the tip pointed toward his stomach. Somehow, the rack holding the remainder of the knives came crashing down and he tried to keep the rack from falling only he stabbed himself in the stomach. The knife went in 3 inches but he was lucky enough since it didn’t hit any organs.
I’m sure some type of an award will be presented to our newest injured Soldier. Probable on the lines of a plastic knife!
September 27, 2009
You Go Girl!
The temperature has cooled down quite a bit. It certainly isn’t Minnesota weather but I’m not burning my butt on the Porta John seats anymore. Which reminds me; I received a care package prior to going on leave from my friend, Paul Bakken. His letter included the following paragraph:
The last item is technically from my wife - you'll understand why when you see it. I was talking to her a while back and mentioned the story on your blog about all of you lady-folk scorching yourselves on the porta-potties. She looked at me and said, "She needs a Go-Girl. Send her one". I am not one to disobey my wife, so the items in the padded envelope are the result of her directive. (While placing my order, I mentioned that it was for a friend in Iraq. They doubled the order and threw in some promotional items for free!) May these items aid you in your quest to avoid biffy-burn.
So Paul, I haven’t had the chance to use one and maybe I’m scared of how well it would work. I could just see someone asking, “Why are your boots wet?” However, we had a good laugh when I opened one of the tubes and out popped the “Go-Girl”! It was just like a Jack-in-the-box coming out of that tube! I opened this during our Friday at 5 event and the room was in a roar.
My roommate coordinated a Sunday get-together for today with some of the other women on the COB. We met for coffee at Holy Joes. Every week there are improvements to the COB and one such improvement is the construction of our chaplain’s tent. This tent is used for a multitude of purposes from classes, bible study, watching football games, crafts and meeting with friends for coffee. They finished the tent in August and part of the completion required the tent to be sprayed with foam. This keeps the tent cool; however, it makes for an ugly color.
One of the stories shared by a fellow officer was her response to the IDF alarm going off one morning. She told us about her AC not working in her trailer so she was sleeping with hardly any clothes on when the alarm sounded. She jumped up from the bed and grabbed her body armor to throw on. It was then that she realized the body armor was all she was wearing on top. We laughed at the picture of her lying on her floor with her body armor on and underwear. BTW, it was a false alarm. You just never know what interesting situations you’ll find yourself in Iraq!
The Holy Joes tent or otherwise known as the Twinkie.
Inside the tent. To the right is the plasma TV to watch the football games!
Fellow officers.
GOGIRL Don't Take Life Sitting Down at www.Go-Girl.com
The last item is technically from my wife - you'll understand why when you see it. I was talking to her a while back and mentioned the story on your blog about all of you lady-folk scorching yourselves on the porta-potties. She looked at me and said, "She needs a Go-Girl. Send her one". I am not one to disobey my wife, so the items in the padded envelope are the result of her directive. (While placing my order, I mentioned that it was for a friend in Iraq. They doubled the order and threw in some promotional items for free!) May these items aid you in your quest to avoid biffy-burn.
So Paul, I haven’t had the chance to use one and maybe I’m scared of how well it would work. I could just see someone asking, “Why are your boots wet?” However, we had a good laugh when I opened one of the tubes and out popped the “Go-Girl”! It was just like a Jack-in-the-box coming out of that tube! I opened this during our Friday at 5 event and the room was in a roar.
My roommate coordinated a Sunday get-together for today with some of the other women on the COB. We met for coffee at Holy Joes. Every week there are improvements to the COB and one such improvement is the construction of our chaplain’s tent. This tent is used for a multitude of purposes from classes, bible study, watching football games, crafts and meeting with friends for coffee. They finished the tent in August and part of the completion required the tent to be sprayed with foam. This keeps the tent cool; however, it makes for an ugly color.
One of the stories shared by a fellow officer was her response to the IDF alarm going off one morning. She told us about her AC not working in her trailer so she was sleeping with hardly any clothes on when the alarm sounded. She jumped up from the bed and grabbed her body armor to throw on. It was then that she realized the body armor was all she was wearing on top. We laughed at the picture of her lying on her floor with her body armor on and underwear. BTW, it was a false alarm. You just never know what interesting situations you’ll find yourself in Iraq!
The Holy Joes tent or otherwise known as the Twinkie.
Inside the tent. To the right is the plasma TV to watch the football games!
Fellow officers.
GOGIRL Don't Take Life Sitting Down at www.Go-Girl.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
