I was reading the Idaho Statesman, where columnist Dan Popkey was writing about an effort in Idaho to enact an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment. Popkey wrote that Jeff Esters, Pastor at Fellowship Babtist Church, said that failure to approve the amendment could lead to men marrying dogs, or television sets. Now there's a leader who thinks outside the box.
The idea of marrying a dog is pretty far-fetched. After all, a dog is already man's best friend, so what would be the point. Plus, the thought of a dog wearing lipstick gives me the willies.
Now, marrying a TV is a different thing altogether. Imagine. The TV is never too tired to turn on. The TV never asks you to carry out the garbage, or nags you to fix the dripping faucet. If the channel you're watching is boring or depressing you can change it. You are in control of it's moods, not hormones. And, of course, the best part; the mute button on the remote control.
Jeez, what a slippery slope. We fail to pass an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment, and soon guys are marrying TVs. What's next, guys marrying 12-packs of beer? You know what would happen then. The guy would get down to his last beer and say "Honey, I'm leaving you. I've found another 12-pack, one with a full set of cans."
Still, Pastor Esters might be on to something. What I'm confused about is, if he thinks that defeating the amendment will lead to men marrying TV's, why is he against it? He must not have a TV.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
CNN Election coverage
I have been watching CNN's Iraqi election coverage, and, while I like CNN, I don't know that its election coverage is all that swell. If you watch, the reporters usually have the same backdrop. A multi-story building on the right, the reporter's left, and on the other side, a mosque. I'm guessing this is from the balcony of a hotel. So, rather than reporting from out on the street, they report from the hotel. I think they send cameramen out, but I don't see reporters reporting from the scene, much, although it is possible to see some on the scene reporting.
I was listening to Christiana Amanpour talk about "expected" voter turnout. At one point, she said "all the commanders" agreed on voter turnout. I'm not involved in the elections, but I'd know if she, or someone from CNN, had come around and asked the commanders here about turnout, and no one did. So, I think she was speculating, and was overstating her case.
I was listening to Christiana Amanpour talk about "expected" voter turnout. At one point, she said "all the commanders" agreed on voter turnout. I'm not involved in the elections, but I'd know if she, or someone from CNN, had come around and asked the commanders here about turnout, and no one did. So, I think she was speculating, and was overstating her case.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Barber-Hana
This being a military installation, there are two barber shops available. There is also a beauty shop, but I've never been in there, except once to pick up some mousse. I usually go to the barber shop staffed by several Nepalese barbers. Recently my hair was cut by Ram. The price for a military haircut is $3.00, and it seems that most soldiers tip $2.00. For $3.00 you don't spend a lot of time in the chair, but you do get a pretty good military haircut. After all, these guys cuts lots of hair. Which is a good thing, because they don't speak English, so you're pretty much limited to pointing and waving to show how you want your hair cut. I just pointed at a soldier whose hair looked OK to me, and that's how my hair was cut.
While you're waiting, you can watch the Bollywood videos that are always playing, or look at the recent but dog-eared copies of Maxim, Stuff or VHM.
What I find most interesting is how the Nepalese guys make such a production out of the haircut. Ram was clacking his sissors off the comb and my head and seemed to get a nice percussion beat going, like the Beni-Hana chefs who clang their knives together. At the end you get a brief neck rub, but you also have to endure them beating you about the head and shoulders. They're really into making noise, so they've found ways to make pops and snaps when they thump on your head. For example, they slightly interlace the fingers of both hands, fold down the little fingers, and whack you on the head with the ring fingers. This somehow makes a satisfying pop. I think they compete for the noisiest haircut. At the end they slap you on both sides of your head, slap slap, and you're done.
While you're waiting, you can watch the Bollywood videos that are always playing, or look at the recent but dog-eared copies of Maxim, Stuff or VHM.
What I find most interesting is how the Nepalese guys make such a production out of the haircut. Ram was clacking his sissors off the comb and my head and seemed to get a nice percussion beat going, like the Beni-Hana chefs who clang their knives together. At the end you get a brief neck rub, but you also have to endure them beating you about the head and shoulders. They're really into making noise, so they've found ways to make pops and snaps when they thump on your head. For example, they slightly interlace the fingers of both hands, fold down the little fingers, and whack you on the head with the ring fingers. This somehow makes a satisfying pop. I think they compete for the noisiest haircut. At the end they slap you on both sides of your head, slap slap, and you're done.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Good deed
No good deed goes unpunished, they say. The other day I went to pick up my uniforms from the laundry. The Iraqi behind the counter handed them over and we signed the receipt. I said thanks and he mumbled something in return. I turned to leave, then turned back and said "Shukran", thank you, in Iraqi. This made the clerk break out in a big smile, and he started chattering at me, and gesturing at me to walk behind the counter and into the racks of uniforms.
I'm wondering what this guy has in mind, when he started showing me a bunch of other soldiers' uniforms. If you are familiar with "The Band of Brothers," you may recall the scene where the soldier went to pick up his laundry, and the woman asked him if he knew the soldiers who had not picked up uniforms from her laundry. In that case, the soldiers were dead. In my case, the soldiers had dropped off laundry at a different drop off point that later shut down. They forwarded the uniforms to the other point and were trying to get rid of them. I ended up walking out of there with my uniforms, and one for another soldier. Luckily the service is free so I didn't have to pay for the other guy.
I'm wondering what this guy has in mind, when he started showing me a bunch of other soldiers' uniforms. If you are familiar with "The Band of Brothers," you may recall the scene where the soldier went to pick up his laundry, and the woman asked him if he knew the soldiers who had not picked up uniforms from her laundry. In that case, the soldiers were dead. In my case, the soldiers had dropped off laundry at a different drop off point that later shut down. They forwarded the uniforms to the other point and were trying to get rid of them. I ended up walking out of there with my uniforms, and one for another soldier. Luckily the service is free so I didn't have to pay for the other guy.
Shortages
Well, now we're out of regular milk entirely, as well as apple juice. The horror; the horror. All we're left with is chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and banana milk, as well as grape, grapefruit, pineapple and mixed fruit juices. And plenty of soda pop and coffee.
Materials and workmanship
I'm not sure about specific contracting requirements, but I can tell that much of our money being spent over here is not well spent.
Showers and restrooms were installed before we got here, but they can't be too old, maybe a year or so. These are free standing buildings, each large enough to hold about 8 shower stalls and sinks. I wrote earlier about some of the problems with the showers. These buildng are up on cement blocks, so air can circulate underneath. Anyway, most of the buildings leak. Whether it's just water, or gray water, I'm not sure, but some of the puddles underneath the buildings are green or otherwise look pretty nasty. Some of these puddles extend out into our walking area. I don't understand how PVC pipe under a building, not subject to freezing or being bumped into, can spring leaks, especially so soon after installation.
A new laundry facility was recently installed, maybe a month or so ago. Very nice. 50 washers and 100 dryers, or thereabouts. Brand new W&D, new building, new everything. Well, almost immediately the dryers started blowing circuit breakers. The wiring was insufficient to handle the load. Next, dryers started conking out, probably due to bad power. Then washers broke down. I saw several that were full of water, wouldn't drain. As of a couple of days ago, the entire facility was shut down. I heard that a fire broke out in the wiring.
We still have another self laundry facility available, and we can turn laundry into KBR, so we have clean clothes.
Showers and restrooms were installed before we got here, but they can't be too old, maybe a year or so. These are free standing buildings, each large enough to hold about 8 shower stalls and sinks. I wrote earlier about some of the problems with the showers. These buildng are up on cement blocks, so air can circulate underneath. Anyway, most of the buildings leak. Whether it's just water, or gray water, I'm not sure, but some of the puddles underneath the buildings are green or otherwise look pretty nasty. Some of these puddles extend out into our walking area. I don't understand how PVC pipe under a building, not subject to freezing or being bumped into, can spring leaks, especially so soon after installation.
Many of the water heaters for the bathrooms and showers don't work. Again, only a year or so old, and already the heating elements have quit working.
A new laundry facility was recently installed, maybe a month or so ago. Very nice. 50 washers and 100 dryers, or thereabouts. Brand new W&D, new building, new everything. Well, almost immediately the dryers started blowing circuit breakers. The wiring was insufficient to handle the load. Next, dryers started conking out, probably due to bad power. Then washers broke down. I saw several that were full of water, wouldn't drain. As of a couple of days ago, the entire facility was shut down. I heard that a fire broke out in the wiring.
We still have another self laundry facility available, and we can turn laundry into KBR, so we have clean clothes.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Elections
Iraqi elections seem to be on everyone's lips these days. The media is certainly predicting lots of excitement, but since they don't seem to get and mingle with Iraqis much I'm not sure what they base their predictions on.
I don't know much about what we're planning for the elections, and even if I did this would not be the place to discuss it. I do know that we have been planning for them, and that we have some really smart planners and some dedicated soldiers to carry out the plan. I was in one briefing about the election, and I came away pretty impressed about the depth and scope, and ingenuity, of the plan.
I'm curious to see how the elections unfold, and what happens afterward. Notwithstanding anything else that might happen, a good hard rain on election day will probably deter much mischief.
I don't know much about what we're planning for the elections, and even if I did this would not be the place to discuss it. I do know that we have been planning for them, and that we have some really smart planners and some dedicated soldiers to carry out the plan. I was in one briefing about the election, and I came away pretty impressed about the depth and scope, and ingenuity, of the plan.
I'm curious to see how the elections unfold, and what happens afterward. Notwithstanding anything else that might happen, a good hard rain on election day will probably deter much mischief.
More shortages
We have now run out of fresh eggs on our FOB. I only discovered a couple of weeks ago that we could get fried eggs here, and now we're out. Back to scrambled eggs, I guess, for those days when my cholesterol level dips too low. We can also get omlettes, but, like the scrambled eggs, they are made from a pre-mixed egg batter, and just don't get it for me.
Also, we're now out of low fat milk. Our milk comes in boxes, which stack nicely. The milk is made from 100% fresh milk powder. The milk I drank this morning had an expiration date in December 05. We usually get two choices of milk; full cream, and half cream. I guess the half cream equates to 2% or something. The full cream milk today had 6% butterfat. I long for good ole fresh watery 1% milk.
Also, we're now out of low fat milk. Our milk comes in boxes, which stack nicely. The milk is made from 100% fresh milk powder. The milk I drank this morning had an expiration date in December 05. We usually get two choices of milk; full cream, and half cream. I guess the half cream equates to 2% or something. The full cream milk today had 6% butterfat. I long for good ole fresh watery 1% milk.
Monday, January 24, 2005
TP Shortage
One of the effects of the upcoming election is that vehicles aren't moving around the country as well as they have been. I think one reason is that many shippers just don't want to be on the road right, anticipating attacks. I think another reason is that traffic is now subject to more checkpoints. And, there are election requirements that use up available shipping assets. For example, trucking ballots around.
I hear rumors that we might not be able to get fresh fruit and things like that. That's OK, our chow has good variety. The real bummer (pun intended) is that we have run out of toilet paper. We are using paper hand towels for TP. Wonder what it's doing to the plumbing?
I hear rumors that we might not be able to get fresh fruit and things like that. That's OK, our chow has good variety. The real bummer (pun intended) is that we have run out of toilet paper. We are using paper hand towels for TP. Wonder what it's doing to the plumbing?
Friday, January 21, 2005
Jumpy
The internet cafe is a quiet place. Soldiers are emailing or reading news ore researching, so you just hear typing and clicking. Some soldiers talk on the phones, but do it quietly. If they speak loudly, everyone hears them.
I was in the internet cafe the other evening, when BOOM!, and the building rattled. It became instantly noiseless. Heads popped up and soldiers looked around with their eyes bugged out. We waited for the alarm to go off, but it didn't, and no more explosions happened, so everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Later we learned that the ordance disposal guys had blown up some captured Iraqi ammunition. People are just kind of jumpy here.
Later we heard maching gun fire and saw tracer rounds climbing into the sky. I guess that was celebratory gunfire. A muslim holiday and celebration is happening, to mark the end of the Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.
I was in the internet cafe the other evening, when BOOM!, and the building rattled. It became instantly noiseless. Heads popped up and soldiers looked around with their eyes bugged out. We waited for the alarm to go off, but it didn't, and no more explosions happened, so everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Later we learned that the ordance disposal guys had blown up some captured Iraqi ammunition. People are just kind of jumpy here.
Later we heard maching gun fire and saw tracer rounds climbing into the sky. I guess that was celebratory gunfire. A muslim holiday and celebration is happening, to mark the end of the Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Bizarre
We had local vendors put on a bazaar, at which they sold various, well, junk. They sold stacks and stacks of Saddam dollars, and had some sets of various bills and coins. Turning something worthless into something of value, I guess. They had silver and gold chains and jewelry, lots of rings (of a different style than you susally see in the States), carpets, blankets, and the mother-lode of Haji DVDs. All kinds of DVDs. I saw one DVD with all 4 Indiana Jones movies on it.
It's easy to tell the bootlegged DVDs, by the packaging. However, I same some "boxed sets" that looked just like the ones they sell in the PX or back home. I was wondering about whether they were Haji movies, or legit ones. They had several boxed sets related to certain actors. They had a Sharon Stone boxed set, and a Nacholas Cage set, for example. I looked at the Cage boxed set, and it included National Treasure. I can't belive that is out in legit DVD already, so I'm guessing they are Haji bootlegs. Still, they ask full price for them.
Our GIs aren't used to haggling over price, so they tend to pay the full freight. It seems to me you can take the soldier of out the mall, but you can't take the mall out of the soldier. These kids have pretty good income, and nothing much to spend it on here, so merchandice, crappy though it was, was flying out of the door.
Before the bazaar opened up, they took explosive sniffing dogs through all the stuff. Each vendor had a soldier in the stall keeping an eye on things.
It's easy to tell the bootlegged DVDs, by the packaging. However, I same some "boxed sets" that looked just like the ones they sell in the PX or back home. I was wondering about whether they were Haji movies, or legit ones. They had several boxed sets related to certain actors. They had a Sharon Stone boxed set, and a Nacholas Cage set, for example. I looked at the Cage boxed set, and it included National Treasure. I can't belive that is out in legit DVD already, so I'm guessing they are Haji bootlegs. Still, they ask full price for them.
Our GIs aren't used to haggling over price, so they tend to pay the full freight. It seems to me you can take the soldier of out the mall, but you can't take the mall out of the soldier. These kids have pretty good income, and nothing much to spend it on here, so merchandice, crappy though it was, was flying out of the door.
Before the bazaar opened up, they took explosive sniffing dogs through all the stuff. Each vendor had a soldier in the stall keeping an eye on things.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Yada yada yada
I have often heard that the subject people most like to talk about is themself, and I find more and more that is all too true. (Themself, themselves, hs or her self, their self; what is the correct grammer?)
Ya know, the older I get, it seems the less I have to say. It is just easier for me to listen than to think up something to say. Sometimes I wonder if the other person thinks I'm a dud or boring because I don't say much. Guess I won't worry about it. If I felt like the person was interested in what I was saying, I'd talk plenty.
It just seems as if people are only interested in what they have to say. And it's amazingly easy to tell. I wait for them to ask a question, maybe about me, maybe to clarify something I said, maybe just to ask to hear more. But they never do. I am always amazed at how people display no interest in what I'm saying. Maybe I'm just boring.
It amuses me what people ask me how I'm doing, or what I've been doing, or some such opening statement, and I answer "Fine", or "Not much," then immediatley ask about them, and they're off to the races. No one ever seems to notice that at the end of the conversation I've said almost nothing, they've learned nothing about me, but that they've spent the whole time talking about themself.
I read two gems of wisdom on cards stuck into the border of my friend's mirror, in fourth grade. His grandfather had given the cards to him. The first showed a foot and a dripping nose, and said "If your nose runs and your feet smell, you're built upside down." The other showed a smiling cocker spaniel, and said "The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue." Words to live by.
Ya know, the older I get, it seems the less I have to say. It is just easier for me to listen than to think up something to say. Sometimes I wonder if the other person thinks I'm a dud or boring because I don't say much. Guess I won't worry about it. If I felt like the person was interested in what I was saying, I'd talk plenty.
It just seems as if people are only interested in what they have to say. And it's amazingly easy to tell. I wait for them to ask a question, maybe about me, maybe to clarify something I said, maybe just to ask to hear more. But they never do. I am always amazed at how people display no interest in what I'm saying. Maybe I'm just boring.
It amuses me what people ask me how I'm doing, or what I've been doing, or some such opening statement, and I answer "Fine", or "Not much," then immediatley ask about them, and they're off to the races. No one ever seems to notice that at the end of the conversation I've said almost nothing, they've learned nothing about me, but that they've spent the whole time talking about themself.
I read two gems of wisdom on cards stuck into the border of my friend's mirror, in fourth grade. His grandfather had given the cards to him. The first showed a foot and a dripping nose, and said "If your nose runs and your feet smell, you're built upside down." The other showed a smiling cocker spaniel, and said "The reason a dog has so many friends is because he wags his tail instead of his tongue." Words to live by.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Promotions
I have had my Army job described, pretty accurately, as a troubleshooter. Part of the duties involve hearing soldier problems and complaints, and helping the soldier resolve them. I enjoy that aspect of the job, mostly. Only a few of the complaints are frivolous. I do get quite a few where the soldier has not tried to work the issue through the chain of command, or where the soldier wants me to be a private research assistant. I'm getting better at turning those down.
Lately, I've been getting lots of complaints about promotions. Soldiers want to be promoted. The Army promotion system, while not rocket science, is still pretty involved. I think that most soldiers don't understand it. It is vastly more complicated when National Guard soldiers go on active duty.
Each state maintains a list of who is first in line for promotion. It is separated by MOS (job description), and soldiers get points for various things. Unfortunately, each state does things a little differently than the others. And, it's not the same as the active duty system. And, things are more complicated because on deployment we have different jobs than before deployment.
Anyway, I'm working on helping soldiers understand the system, and with helping some of them get promoted. This is a morale issue; the ones who feel cheated by the system do not have good morale. If they don't understand the system, they feel cheated. Being the Army, sometimes they do get cheated, and that is where I can usually right the wrong.
Lately, I've been getting lots of complaints about promotions. Soldiers want to be promoted. The Army promotion system, while not rocket science, is still pretty involved. I think that most soldiers don't understand it. It is vastly more complicated when National Guard soldiers go on active duty.
Each state maintains a list of who is first in line for promotion. It is separated by MOS (job description), and soldiers get points for various things. Unfortunately, each state does things a little differently than the others. And, it's not the same as the active duty system. And, things are more complicated because on deployment we have different jobs than before deployment.
Anyway, I'm working on helping soldiers understand the system, and with helping some of them get promoted. This is a morale issue; the ones who feel cheated by the system do not have good morale. If they don't understand the system, they feel cheated. Being the Army, sometimes they do get cheated, and that is where I can usually right the wrong.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Information management
There is a push here to restrict information going home. A new policy, a punitive one, has been announced limiting what we can tell people back home. It also calls for a prior review of certain means of communication. Letters to the editor or anything that is submitted for publication, blogs, chat rooms, internet bulletin boards, anything in those media are supposed to be submitted for review by the Army before it is published. If you violate the policy, you can be punished.
I support this policy, mostly. We have some boneheads who are giving away harmful information. For example, what time a convoy will leave, and what route it will take. This type of stuff clearly shouldn't be published. It can get soldiers killed. We also have soldiers telling folks back home inflated stories about injuries or firefights. These stories make people at worry needlessly, and sometimes cause our leadership problems by having to try to calm the waters.
My personal opinion is that the policy goes a bit too far, insofar as it requires the prior review. However, I understand that in WWII, letters were read by censors before going home, so maybe the prior review is ok. I don't think we're making an effort to choke off all info outflow, rather just trying to stop the stupid stuff. There is always a tension between commanders who want to limit information flow to protect their troops, and freedom of speech. Tough issue.
So, I hope the this blog gets past the censors. I expect it will.
I support this policy, mostly. We have some boneheads who are giving away harmful information. For example, what time a convoy will leave, and what route it will take. This type of stuff clearly shouldn't be published. It can get soldiers killed. We also have soldiers telling folks back home inflated stories about injuries or firefights. These stories make people at worry needlessly, and sometimes cause our leadership problems by having to try to calm the waters.
My personal opinion is that the policy goes a bit too far, insofar as it requires the prior review. However, I understand that in WWII, letters were read by censors before going home, so maybe the prior review is ok. I don't think we're making an effort to choke off all info outflow, rather just trying to stop the stupid stuff. There is always a tension between commanders who want to limit information flow to protect their troops, and freedom of speech. Tough issue.
So, I hope the this blog gets past the censors. I expect it will.
Haji DVDs
I have heard about the movie industry complaining about pirated movies, but I didn't take it too seriously. There is obviously plenty of $$ in the industry, and they overcharge for DVD movies. Plus, I never saw any pirated movies around.
Well, you can get Haji movies here, and various locations. $5.00 will buy you at least 2, sometimes 3 or 4 movies, all on one DVD. They have some technique of squeezing multiple copies onto one CD.
A friend of mind had a twin pack with Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. The latter had been out less than a week. Amazing. Apparently, the pirate sits in a theatre and uses a camcorder to film the movie. The sound is really good, so the pirate must do more than just use the mic on the camcorder. The quality ranges from OK, to viewable, to not very good. I have heard that in some movies, you will see a person stand up and exit in front of the screen, or you might see someone stretch.
I don't really like to watch them. I watched one, and started to watch Meet the Fockers, but I wasn't in to it. For one thing, the picture is grainy and I like a sharp picture; part of my viewing pleasure, you might say. I do know that a lot of folks don't share my viewpoint, because a lot of the Haji movies are being sold around here. I think the main effect on me is to make me even less likely to spend $19.95 on a DVD.
Well, you can get Haji movies here, and various locations. $5.00 will buy you at least 2, sometimes 3 or 4 movies, all on one DVD. They have some technique of squeezing multiple copies onto one CD.
A friend of mind had a twin pack with Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. The latter had been out less than a week. Amazing. Apparently, the pirate sits in a theatre and uses a camcorder to film the movie. The sound is really good, so the pirate must do more than just use the mic on the camcorder. The quality ranges from OK, to viewable, to not very good. I have heard that in some movies, you will see a person stand up and exit in front of the screen, or you might see someone stretch.
I don't really like to watch them. I watched one, and started to watch Meet the Fockers, but I wasn't in to it. For one thing, the picture is grainy and I like a sharp picture; part of my viewing pleasure, you might say. I do know that a lot of folks don't share my viewpoint, because a lot of the Haji movies are being sold around here. I think the main effect on me is to make me even less likely to spend $19.95 on a DVD.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Soldier morale
I talk to soldiers every day, here and at other FOBs. It's one of my job duties. I always ask them how things are going, if they get enough to eat (always - all the bad food you can eat), enough sleep (seldom), if they get mail, email, internet access, PX access, etc. I ask them if they get enough bullets, fuel, training, etc. The don't seem to be bored. Lots of books, and more prevalent, DVDs and video games.
I also ask them generally about their life, and missions etc. I have found that it takes a while of just shooting the breeze with them before they open up much. If an officer just up and starts quizzing them, they tend to say whatever they think 1) the officer wants to hear, and 2) will get the officer to go away the quickest.
These are great kids. They certainly like soda pop - I see a lot of Mountain Dew next to bunks - and they don't seem to worry about carbs, but they are all healthy and happy. And, surprisingly, they are all pretty upbeat about what we're doing here. They find the missions to be fun and exciting. They have been in threatening situations, but their training and equipment and fellow soldiers gives them superb confidence. I suppose if I interviewed a kid immediately after a firefight, especially if there were casualities, I'd get a story much like we hear on the news. Give it a few days, and catch them in calm circumstances, and the soldiers are OK with being here. They'd rather be home, of course, because it's home, but they don't seem to mind life here.
I talked to some who are living in a tent, about 25 guys. They have to use a porta-potti every time they go to the bathroom, have to walk to another building for a shower, and have to stay out late, come in and get little sleep then go on perimeter guard duty. And yet, they say this is the best they've had it so far.
I also ask them generally about their life, and missions etc. I have found that it takes a while of just shooting the breeze with them before they open up much. If an officer just up and starts quizzing them, they tend to say whatever they think 1) the officer wants to hear, and 2) will get the officer to go away the quickest.
These are great kids. They certainly like soda pop - I see a lot of Mountain Dew next to bunks - and they don't seem to worry about carbs, but they are all healthy and happy. And, surprisingly, they are all pretty upbeat about what we're doing here. They find the missions to be fun and exciting. They have been in threatening situations, but their training and equipment and fellow soldiers gives them superb confidence. I suppose if I interviewed a kid immediately after a firefight, especially if there were casualities, I'd get a story much like we hear on the news. Give it a few days, and catch them in calm circumstances, and the soldiers are OK with being here. They'd rather be home, of course, because it's home, but they don't seem to mind life here.
I talked to some who are living in a tent, about 25 guys. They have to use a porta-potti every time they go to the bathroom, have to walk to another building for a shower, and have to stay out late, come in and get little sleep then go on perimeter guard duty. And yet, they say this is the best they've had it so far.
Soccerballs over Iraq
I got to visit some other FOBs the other day, via Blackhawk helicopter. Same kind of flight as before; pretty low, some juking back and forth, kind of fun.
I am kind of amazed by some of the housing. It looks like the housing, and certainly the architecture, hasn't changed for hundreds, or thousands, of years. Mut huts, or so they appear at first. Now that I've had a chance to take some pictures and look at them, I do notice a few things. I saw a house with the roof off. The inside walls had been whitewashed, so it's probably lighter than I was thinking. Also, I see lots of rungs hanging outside during the day. I guess they have dirt floors, covered by rugs, which is probably pretty nice. I saw different styles of mud hut in different places. I saw the flat-topped mud hut, and the rounded top mud hut. Some have livestock pens right by the house, some have them a ways away. Saw a fair number of satellite TV dishes.
As we flew over kids, herding sheep or whatever, the crew of the helicopter threw out white soccerballs to the children.
I am kind of amazed by some of the housing. It looks like the housing, and certainly the architecture, hasn't changed for hundreds, or thousands, of years. Mut huts, or so they appear at first. Now that I've had a chance to take some pictures and look at them, I do notice a few things. I saw a house with the roof off. The inside walls had been whitewashed, so it's probably lighter than I was thinking. Also, I see lots of rungs hanging outside during the day. I guess they have dirt floors, covered by rugs, which is probably pretty nice. I saw different styles of mud hut in different places. I saw the flat-topped mud hut, and the rounded top mud hut. Some have livestock pens right by the house, some have them a ways away. Saw a fair number of satellite TV dishes.
As we flew over kids, herding sheep or whatever, the crew of the helicopter threw out white soccerballs to the children.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Iraqi elections and TV ads
I don't suppose that anybody really knows what will happen after the upcoming election. The Army is planning for the big event, to help the elections happen safely and fairly.
I don't have any special insight, but I can tell you what's broadcast on TV here. I see a few commercials, basically 3, promoting the election, but those 3 gets lots of rotations. Lots and lots. Production values are minimal.
#1, an (apparently) older woman, dressed all in black with a scarf over her head, slowly places a ballot in a ballot box, then smiles a gap toothed smile at the camera. A grinning kid pops up on the screen for a moment, then back to smiling lady. The ballot is written in an arabic script, with what appears to be a sentence on it. I imagine it says something like "Vote for the candidate of your choice," or "Help Iraq become a democracy," although it could just as easily say "This ad paid for by the Republican National Committee."
#2 shows three men and one women each depositing a ballot. Again, each deposits the ballot slowly, so the viewer can see what's written on the ballot. (Support Iraq. Vote!) It looks like 3 different ethnic groups are represented, given the dress. One is clearly an arab (headdress, robes), another is probably a Kurd, and another might be a Turkamen. I think the woman is either a gypsy, or a floozy. She's wearing an ankle length dress patterned like a shower curtain, gold stripes and patterns on a dark background. After they drop the ballot, they stand by the wall behind the ballot box, which is center stage. After all four are done, they just stand there uncomfortably and look at each other for a while as music plays.
#3 is similar to #2, but it has about 12 or so folks instead of four. After the 12 slowly deposit their ballots (Eat at Joes!), they also line up along the back wall. This ad features the four stars of #2, but with others. One fella on the right has a falcon perched on his head. Once they're all lined up, they start to dance . At first, just a few of them, then more, then everyone. Just standing there, kind of bobbing and shaking their hands, palms up, in time to the music. Each time falconhead jumps, his falcon flaps its wings for balance. Then, sudddenly, four of the guys on the left start holding hands and doing a line dance. Pretty soon the whole group is holding hands and line dancing. This is not Boot Scootin' Boogie, however. It is more just a group two step. Not sure how it relates to voting, but it must work. Otherwise, why would they play it so much?
I don't have any special insight, but I can tell you what's broadcast on TV here. I see a few commercials, basically 3, promoting the election, but those 3 gets lots of rotations. Lots and lots. Production values are minimal.
#1, an (apparently) older woman, dressed all in black with a scarf over her head, slowly places a ballot in a ballot box, then smiles a gap toothed smile at the camera. A grinning kid pops up on the screen for a moment, then back to smiling lady. The ballot is written in an arabic script, with what appears to be a sentence on it. I imagine it says something like "Vote for the candidate of your choice," or "Help Iraq become a democracy," although it could just as easily say "This ad paid for by the Republican National Committee."
#2 shows three men and one women each depositing a ballot. Again, each deposits the ballot slowly, so the viewer can see what's written on the ballot. (Support Iraq. Vote!) It looks like 3 different ethnic groups are represented, given the dress. One is clearly an arab (headdress, robes), another is probably a Kurd, and another might be a Turkamen. I think the woman is either a gypsy, or a floozy. She's wearing an ankle length dress patterned like a shower curtain, gold stripes and patterns on a dark background. After they drop the ballot, they stand by the wall behind the ballot box, which is center stage. After all four are done, they just stand there uncomfortably and look at each other for a while as music plays.
#3 is similar to #2, but it has about 12 or so folks instead of four. After the 12 slowly deposit their ballots (Eat at Joes!), they also line up along the back wall. This ad features the four stars of #2, but with others. One fella on the right has a falcon perched on his head. Once they're all lined up, they start to dance . At first, just a few of them, then more, then everyone. Just standing there, kind of bobbing and shaking their hands, palms up, in time to the music. Each time falconhead jumps, his falcon flaps its wings for balance. Then, sudddenly, four of the guys on the left start holding hands and doing a line dance. Pretty soon the whole group is holding hands and line dancing. This is not Boot Scootin' Boogie, however. It is more just a group two step. Not sure how it relates to voting, but it must work. Otherwise, why would they play it so much?
Monday, January 10, 2005
Field expedient
In the Army, when you have something that is field expedient, it means you are making do with a substitute. For example, a field expedient shower might be a five gallon water can on its side on a vehicle, with the cap opened partly so water trickles out. It works, but it's not the real thing. You're out in the field away from your normal stuff, thus, field expedient.
Today in the washroom, I saw a guy use a field expedient towel. He washed his face and hair in the sink, then went to where he had his uniform shirt hanging, and used his shirt for a towel. He shaved, rinsed off and again used his shirt to dry his hands and face. Afterward, he put on the shirt and walked out. The back of it was wet from the bottom up to the shoulder blades.
Looked to me like this is this guy's typical pattern. After he washed his face and hair, he didn't look around and express consternation. "Jeez, I forgot my towel!" He just went right for the shirt like that was his plan all along. I wonder how many days in a row he wears his towel.
Today in the washroom, I saw a guy use a field expedient towel. He washed his face and hair in the sink, then went to where he had his uniform shirt hanging, and used his shirt for a towel. He shaved, rinsed off and again used his shirt to dry his hands and face. Afterward, he put on the shirt and walked out. The back of it was wet from the bottom up to the shoulder blades.
Looked to me like this is this guy's typical pattern. After he washed his face and hair, he didn't look around and express consternation. "Jeez, I forgot my towel!" He just went right for the shirt like that was his plan all along. I wonder how many days in a row he wears his towel.
Pay scale
I talked to a fella at dinner who works for AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Service). He said he is on a 6 month rotation through Iraq. He makes $6.51 an hour back home, but over here it is more like $17 per hour, counting his hazardous duty pay and all. Not a bad raise.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
False alarm
I was watching Kill Bill Vol 2 the other night, wearing headphones, and I heard a distinct thump. Great, I thought, incoming. I wasn't sure though, so I put on my helmet and stood outside my door, which was pretty dumb because I ought to be inside when rounds are landing.
I heard voices in a nearby bunker, so I figured it must be Rocketman at work. However, I hadn't heard the "Alarm......Red.........Alarm.........Red" message broadcast over loudspeakers. I walked over to the voices and heard another explosion, but again, no alarm. After a while we decided it was our guns doing the firing and I went back to my movie. I later confirmed it was our guns, "firing in anger."
Interesting that something as normal as wearing headphones could be so risky. The headphones can obscure the alarm, and if the movie happens to be having explosions, - and really, what good movie doesn't have explosions - you might not discern the rocket attack.
BTW, I know that many folks think KBV2 is the best movie since Pulp Fiction, but I don't get it. For one thing, no explosions.
I heard voices in a nearby bunker, so I figured it must be Rocketman at work. However, I hadn't heard the "Alarm......Red.........Alarm.........Red" message broadcast over loudspeakers. I walked over to the voices and heard another explosion, but again, no alarm. After a while we decided it was our guns doing the firing and I went back to my movie. I later confirmed it was our guns, "firing in anger."
Interesting that something as normal as wearing headphones could be so risky. The headphones can obscure the alarm, and if the movie happens to be having explosions, - and really, what good movie doesn't have explosions - you might not discern the rocket attack.
BTW, I know that many folks think KBV2 is the best movie since Pulp Fiction, but I don't get it. For one thing, no explosions.
Friday, January 07, 2005
In the dark
My dad used to tell a joke about Key birds that live at the south pole. They walk around all day going "key... key...key riste it's cold down here!" Well, key..riste it's dark around here.
Nothing in the troop area is lighted, outdoors, so the enemy doesn't know where to aim rockets. I think this is a great idea, but it does make it tough to get around at night. The air is usually thickened by dust or smoke or clouds or something, so we get little starlight, and usually not too much moonlight. There are no street lights, or light coming out of buildings, so it's like being out in the woods, or in the middle of the desert. Just dang dark.
It's getting dark here a little after 1700, so when you come of the the bright chow hall into the dark, it's hard to see. I try to just tough it out and not use a flashlight, which is odd for me since I love flashlights. My eyes usually adjust OK, except for the errant headlights or flashlight that gets since in them. It's funny to see soldiers walking back from the chow hall. Most of them have these new little LED flashlights, which come in red, green, blue and white, so you see a string of colored lights bobbing up and down along the road.
It's about 5 to 7 football fields from my CHU to the DFAC. The route is over gravel and dirt paths, across a large field transected by a drainage....canal, I guess. The canal has gently sloping sides so you can walk down through it, or even drive a Hummer across it. An alternative route goes along the road, but they've dug deep ditches along the roadside so they can install drainage pipe. Part of the road is paved, part is oiled in prep for paving, and various and sundry obstacles have been placed in our path, just to make things difficult. We have to go over/under barbed wire to get on/off the road, we have to jump the ditch, go around cement barriers placed to keep vehicles off the road, and avoid mud puddles and other soldiers. If you walk too close to another soldier who has a rifle slung, you can whack the barrel painfully with you hand or knee or whatever, depending on how it is slung.
It's pretty much the same story going to the bathrooms or showers. I have walked smack into a dumpster going back from the bathroom. Good thing I was returning from, not going to the restroom. I might have had a negligent discharge, if you know what I mean.
Nothing in the troop area is lighted, outdoors, so the enemy doesn't know where to aim rockets. I think this is a great idea, but it does make it tough to get around at night. The air is usually thickened by dust or smoke or clouds or something, so we get little starlight, and usually not too much moonlight. There are no street lights, or light coming out of buildings, so it's like being out in the woods, or in the middle of the desert. Just dang dark.
It's getting dark here a little after 1700, so when you come of the the bright chow hall into the dark, it's hard to see. I try to just tough it out and not use a flashlight, which is odd for me since I love flashlights. My eyes usually adjust OK, except for the errant headlights or flashlight that gets since in them. It's funny to see soldiers walking back from the chow hall. Most of them have these new little LED flashlights, which come in red, green, blue and white, so you see a string of colored lights bobbing up and down along the road.
It's about 5 to 7 football fields from my CHU to the DFAC. The route is over gravel and dirt paths, across a large field transected by a drainage....canal, I guess. The canal has gently sloping sides so you can walk down through it, or even drive a Hummer across it. An alternative route goes along the road, but they've dug deep ditches along the roadside so they can install drainage pipe. Part of the road is paved, part is oiled in prep for paving, and various and sundry obstacles have been placed in our path, just to make things difficult. We have to go over/under barbed wire to get on/off the road, we have to jump the ditch, go around cement barriers placed to keep vehicles off the road, and avoid mud puddles and other soldiers. If you walk too close to another soldier who has a rifle slung, you can whack the barrel painfully with you hand or knee or whatever, depending on how it is slung.
It's pretty much the same story going to the bathrooms or showers. I have walked smack into a dumpster going back from the bathroom. Good thing I was returning from, not going to the restroom. I might have had a negligent discharge, if you know what I mean.
ND 2
The first kid who had the negligent discharge is now pulling duty, checking to ensure that weapons are cleared.
I asked him about what he thought when it went off. He thought at first it had been a mortar round. The clearing barrels are just 55 gal ( or whatever size) drums cut in half with a few sandbags put inside to absorb the round. Standing right in front of the barrel, it reflected the "bang" right back at him and sounded louder than just a rifle shot.
He thought it was a mortar round, and thought "Well, that was close but I'm still alive.", which explains why he just stood there for a moment; he was savoring life. Then people around him started reacting and he realized "I pulled a boner." He went from feeling great to feeling really lousy. Still, he was philosophical. And he had developed a new technique for clearing his weapon. Now he puts his fingers into the magazine well and ensures he does not have a magazine locked in place.
I asked him about what he thought when it went off. He thought at first it had been a mortar round. The clearing barrels are just 55 gal ( or whatever size) drums cut in half with a few sandbags put inside to absorb the round. Standing right in front of the barrel, it reflected the "bang" right back at him and sounded louder than just a rifle shot.
He thought it was a mortar round, and thought "Well, that was close but I'm still alive.", which explains why he just stood there for a moment; he was savoring life. Then people around him started reacting and he realized "I pulled a boner." He went from feeling great to feeling really lousy. Still, he was philosophical. And he had developed a new technique for clearing his weapon. Now he puts his fingers into the magazine well and ensures he does not have a magazine locked in place.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Negligent Discharge
Negligent discharge, a term to strike fear into the hearts of commanders. No, it is not the same as premajure ejaculation, but there are similarities.
The Army tries to be very careful about ensuring that soldiers are not carrying loaded weapons around the FOB. We are supposed to clear, i.e., remove the bullets from, our weapons after whatever event occurs that required the weapons to be loaded. If we are outside the wire, we stop on the way in and clear the weapons. We also have clearing barrels outside the PX, DFAC, and other public areas, and we are supposed to clear the weapon before entering, even if we have cleared it many times before. I have cleared my pistol about 28 times since I last had a bullet in it. Interestingly, the Air Force doesn't clear weapons before entering buildings.
Sometimes we get a soldier who screws up and doesn't properly remove the bullets. As part of the clearing procedure the soldier is supposed to check the chamber, and then pull the trigger. And that is the moment of truth. If you've botched it, a round goes off, and you're in big trouble.
This is serious business, because we are determined to prevent a soldier from getting shot by another soldier who failed to clear the weapon.
A week or so ago, a captain had a ND. Among other things, he was required to stand outside the DFAC at dinner (3 hours nightly) for a week and check weapons for clearing. I brought him coffee each night and stood with him for at least a while. I watch soldiers and look for trends, and report them to my boss, so weapons clearing procedures are something I pay attention to.
Last night I was standing by the captain and saw a soldier whip his rifle up to the clearing barrel and pump the charging handle a couple of times. I saw a flame leap from the end of the rifle, and saw debris blow back out of the barrel. The kid looked over at us the way a dog looks right before you kick it, and he staggered over with his mouth quivering like he was about to throw up. We wrote down his info, sent him off to dinner, and I called in the report. The captain was thrilled that I had been there because he was worried about being accused of not doing his job, and I could be a witness for the defense.
This kid had been on guard duty and forgot to remove his magazine. When he pulled back the charging handle, he loaded a round. He obviously didn't inspect the chamber as he should have.
Tonight I walked up to the captain again and watched as he checked weapons. I was there about 3 minutes when I saw a soldier point his rifle into the barrel, pull the charging handle back about half way, then pull the trigger. A loud bang and debris blowback signaled another ND. This young kid stood there, frozen, looking at us in disbelief. I signaled him and he stumbled woodenly over to us, like a zombie. However, his face was flushed, and he looked like he was going to cry. He didn't have a magazine. Turns out he had the bullet in his rifle since the day before, just carrying it around. He obviously did not properly clear it for two days. We sent him off to dinner, but he shook his head and stumbled off into the dark, a night of the living dead.
After getting his info, I went off to call it in. The captain said he was afraid for me to leave.
Given the emphasis we've been placing on proper clearing, there is no excuse for NDs. The commanders of these soldiers will doubtless be explaining why their soldiers are not following safety procedures. I'm glad I was just a witness.
The Army tries to be very careful about ensuring that soldiers are not carrying loaded weapons around the FOB. We are supposed to clear, i.e., remove the bullets from, our weapons after whatever event occurs that required the weapons to be loaded. If we are outside the wire, we stop on the way in and clear the weapons. We also have clearing barrels outside the PX, DFAC, and other public areas, and we are supposed to clear the weapon before entering, even if we have cleared it many times before. I have cleared my pistol about 28 times since I last had a bullet in it. Interestingly, the Air Force doesn't clear weapons before entering buildings.
Sometimes we get a soldier who screws up and doesn't properly remove the bullets. As part of the clearing procedure the soldier is supposed to check the chamber, and then pull the trigger. And that is the moment of truth. If you've botched it, a round goes off, and you're in big trouble.
This is serious business, because we are determined to prevent a soldier from getting shot by another soldier who failed to clear the weapon.
A week or so ago, a captain had a ND. Among other things, he was required to stand outside the DFAC at dinner (3 hours nightly) for a week and check weapons for clearing. I brought him coffee each night and stood with him for at least a while. I watch soldiers and look for trends, and report them to my boss, so weapons clearing procedures are something I pay attention to.
Last night I was standing by the captain and saw a soldier whip his rifle up to the clearing barrel and pump the charging handle a couple of times. I saw a flame leap from the end of the rifle, and saw debris blow back out of the barrel. The kid looked over at us the way a dog looks right before you kick it, and he staggered over with his mouth quivering like he was about to throw up. We wrote down his info, sent him off to dinner, and I called in the report. The captain was thrilled that I had been there because he was worried about being accused of not doing his job, and I could be a witness for the defense.
This kid had been on guard duty and forgot to remove his magazine. When he pulled back the charging handle, he loaded a round. He obviously didn't inspect the chamber as he should have.
Tonight I walked up to the captain again and watched as he checked weapons. I was there about 3 minutes when I saw a soldier point his rifle into the barrel, pull the charging handle back about half way, then pull the trigger. A loud bang and debris blowback signaled another ND. This young kid stood there, frozen, looking at us in disbelief. I signaled him and he stumbled woodenly over to us, like a zombie. However, his face was flushed, and he looked like he was going to cry. He didn't have a magazine. Turns out he had the bullet in his rifle since the day before, just carrying it around. He obviously did not properly clear it for two days. We sent him off to dinner, but he shook his head and stumbled off into the dark, a night of the living dead.
After getting his info, I went off to call it in. The captain said he was afraid for me to leave.
Given the emphasis we've been placing on proper clearing, there is no excuse for NDs. The commanders of these soldiers will doubtless be explaining why their soldiers are not following safety procedures. I'm glad I was just a witness.
Detention facility
I got a quick tour of our detention facility today. We have soldiers who run the D Cell, and they house people, mainly Iraqis, who are picked up for whatever reason. Maybe we've received a tip, maybe the guy is on a watch list, maybe we caught him shooting at us or carrying weapons or explosives. Anyway, once we pick up the person, off he goes to the D Cell. I don't think we've had any females go through it. Did have one midget there, for a while.
The cells are clean and well lit, and all I saw had windows (and bars). Good ventilation; in fact, possibly a bit too good, as it was kind of cold in there. However, the prisoners have blankets, and the guards are in the same area without blankets, so it's definitely not oppressive.
I got to see a prisoner extraction exercise. The senario is, a prisoner gets unruly and the guards have to grab him, subdue him, and put him in another cell. I'm not sure why they move him. Maybe the change of scenery calms him down. I dunno. Essentially, the soldiers stack (line up closely) outside the cell door. They throw in a stun grenade, then rush in and grab his arms and legs and head and pack him off to the new cell. It's not rushed, but it moves very quickly, and was well done from what I could see. They just practiced, without a real prisioner.
The D Cell has strict timelines for how long they can hold a prisoner. The timelines vary depending on the prisoner's status and the reason he is in the D Cell. The small fry get released pretty quickly, I think usually is just a few days. The bigger fish are hustled off to a different holding facility, where again they are held for certain time lines depending on status. We're still holding Saddam, for example.
I am told that only one person has escaped from our D Cell; the midget, and during his escape he ended up naked. You'd think a naked Iraqi midget would easy to spot, but I was told that he was never captured.
The cells are clean and well lit, and all I saw had windows (and bars). Good ventilation; in fact, possibly a bit too good, as it was kind of cold in there. However, the prisoners have blankets, and the guards are in the same area without blankets, so it's definitely not oppressive.
I got to see a prisoner extraction exercise. The senario is, a prisoner gets unruly and the guards have to grab him, subdue him, and put him in another cell. I'm not sure why they move him. Maybe the change of scenery calms him down. I dunno. Essentially, the soldiers stack (line up closely) outside the cell door. They throw in a stun grenade, then rush in and grab his arms and legs and head and pack him off to the new cell. It's not rushed, but it moves very quickly, and was well done from what I could see. They just practiced, without a real prisioner.
The D Cell has strict timelines for how long they can hold a prisoner. The timelines vary depending on the prisoner's status and the reason he is in the D Cell. The small fry get released pretty quickly, I think usually is just a few days. The bigger fish are hustled off to a different holding facility, where again they are held for certain time lines depending on status. We're still holding Saddam, for example.
I am told that only one person has escaped from our D Cell; the midget, and during his escape he ended up naked. You'd think a naked Iraqi midget would easy to spot, but I was told that he was never captured.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Rocketman, again
We had more rocket attacks. An early one landed as I walking back from chow. It landed a ways off, but still I heard a loud "crack" as it exploded. Another landed later in the evening. I didn't hear it coming because I was in my CHU watching a movie, but I definitely heard it go off. This one had a different sound to it, sort of a ripping sound. It might have been an air burst. Anyway, it hit in CHUville. A couple of soldiers were injured by shrapnel, but the injuries were minor. Had everybody talking about it, though. The novelty is wearing off, and folks are wishing the attacks would stop. Luckily, our CHUs are pretty well protected with sandbags and concrete barriers.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Showers
Nothing is more relaxing than taking a nice long shower, especially in cold weather. It's warm, the sound of the running water is soothing, you can let your mind wander, and after you towel off with a thick, soft towel you feel refreshed and ready.
Showers here in the FOB aren't quite like that. The good news is that we have showers, they are indoors, they are in individual stalls, and they are usually warm. Otherwise, these showers really make one appreciate a shower in the comfort of your home.
We seem to have plenty of water, but it isn't always warm. Sometimes it's luke warm, sometimes it's cold. We have learned to check the thermometer on the water heater before entering the shower building. (There are multiple shower buildings, each with 8 or so stalls. The one I go to is about 100 yards from my CHU.)
The showers consist of shower pans and a curtain. The pan is about 3 Ft square, with a drain. Unfortunately, the stall is bigger than the pan, so lots of water runs onto the floor and into the common area. The floor is usually wet, which is kind of nasty when you undress. One worries about the floor being a breeding ground for things you'd just as soon not have come in contact with your feet, especially since not all soldiers are as clean as we'd like. Most of the curtains are still there, but they are the flimsy plastic ones and are pretty ragged.
Sometimes it rains here, and the mud sticks to our boots. Can't help it. Well, when you go into the shower, the wet floor sluices off the mud from the boots, and you then have a muddy floor in the shower. Hope you don't drop your towel, as I did, because it will be wet and muddy. Luckily I dropped it after my shower.
I don't know how long the showers have been here, but long enough for the drains to clog. The showers usually drain, just slowly. So, the pan fills up with the soapy water, and you end up standing in it up to your ankles. I usually wait for a while after I'm done and go back and wash my feet.
Some of the pans leak, so under the buildings (they are placed up on cement blocks) a permapuddle lurks to catch unwary soldiers. The puddle extends out past the building into the walk areas. The puddles are soapy and hairy.
I am told that come summer, March or so, we have no problem with insufficient hot water. There are 6 large water tanks, painted gray, which store water. I understand that the water, which is already 95 deg from ambient heat (days get up to 115 or so), heats up even more in the tanks. When you take a shower on a 115 deg day, you want cool water, but you get hot water. At least the hot water won't run out.
Showers here in the FOB aren't quite like that. The good news is that we have showers, they are indoors, they are in individual stalls, and they are usually warm. Otherwise, these showers really make one appreciate a shower in the comfort of your home.
We seem to have plenty of water, but it isn't always warm. Sometimes it's luke warm, sometimes it's cold. We have learned to check the thermometer on the water heater before entering the shower building. (There are multiple shower buildings, each with 8 or so stalls. The one I go to is about 100 yards from my CHU.)
The showers consist of shower pans and a curtain. The pan is about 3 Ft square, with a drain. Unfortunately, the stall is bigger than the pan, so lots of water runs onto the floor and into the common area. The floor is usually wet, which is kind of nasty when you undress. One worries about the floor being a breeding ground for things you'd just as soon not have come in contact with your feet, especially since not all soldiers are as clean as we'd like. Most of the curtains are still there, but they are the flimsy plastic ones and are pretty ragged.
Sometimes it rains here, and the mud sticks to our boots. Can't help it. Well, when you go into the shower, the wet floor sluices off the mud from the boots, and you then have a muddy floor in the shower. Hope you don't drop your towel, as I did, because it will be wet and muddy. Luckily I dropped it after my shower.
I don't know how long the showers have been here, but long enough for the drains to clog. The showers usually drain, just slowly. So, the pan fills up with the soapy water, and you end up standing in it up to your ankles. I usually wait for a while after I'm done and go back and wash my feet.
Some of the pans leak, so under the buildings (they are placed up on cement blocks) a permapuddle lurks to catch unwary soldiers. The puddle extends out past the building into the walk areas. The puddles are soapy and hairy.
I am told that come summer, March or so, we have no problem with insufficient hot water. There are 6 large water tanks, painted gray, which store water. I understand that the water, which is already 95 deg from ambient heat (days get up to 115 or so), heats up even more in the tanks. When you take a shower on a 115 deg day, you want cool water, but you get hot water. At least the hot water won't run out.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Rocketman
Rocketman is what we're calling the guy who fires rockets into our FOB from time to time. It appears that Rocketman is tuned into our holidays. He launched a rocket on Christmas eve, but it landed way off the mark. He launched 2 on New Years eve. One of them landed nearer than the others. No injuries, but everyone felt the concussion. I was in my CHU and it rattled things. Another one landed later that evening, but again off the mark.
I stayed up til 0400 watching the Liberty Bowl. I had just woken up the next morning, about 0800, when another rocket rattled my CHU. It sounded really close, so, not wanting the humiliation of dying in my undewear in bed, I got up and got dressed. Apparently that rocket also landed near our chow hall.
The rockets have to be tough to aim and to judge the proper elevation. Also, I'm sure that relative amatures are sending them, which explains the success rate. Sometimes the rockets land but don't explode. So far, nobody from my unit has been hurt by rocket attacks.
I stayed up til 0400 watching the Liberty Bowl. I had just woken up the next morning, about 0800, when another rocket rattled my CHU. It sounded really close, so, not wanting the humiliation of dying in my undewear in bed, I got up and got dressed. Apparently that rocket also landed near our chow hall.
The rockets have to be tough to aim and to judge the proper elevation. Also, I'm sure that relative amatures are sending them, which explains the success rate. Sometimes the rockets land but don't explode. So far, nobody from my unit has been hurt by rocket attacks.
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