I left for leave June 1st, and just got back a couple of day ago. My biggest impressions; the sky is really blue back home, compared to here, and the streets are all swept clean and free from dirt and debris.
I was set to leave the 1st, and reported at 0800, expecting a flight in due course after that. Turned in our weapons and were told to return at 2300. We did, got a couple of briefs about staying out of trouble, and waited for the plane, expected at 0200. We went wheels up in a C130 at 0338, and flew about two hours to Kuwait, arriving about 0600 (0500 Kuwait time).
Deplaned and took buses a short distance and stood around a dirt parking lots for a half hour, then got on other busses for an hour ride to Camp Doha. Turned in our helmets and body armor, and were given large bays containing bunk beds with plastic lined mattresses where we could wait. More briefings. Got our itinerary and tickets around 1100, and reported at 1330 with all our gear to go through customs. By this time, our group had grown to nearly 300, including soldiers from Kuwait, all over Iraq, and Afghanistan.
A bunch of Navy guys scrounged through our gear looking for contraband, and once we passed that we went to another holding area, full of about 300 canvas folding chairs. We hung there until around 1900, then bussed to Kuwait International Airport, arriving around 2030. Stayed on the busses until around 2200, then boarded our L1011 chartered flight and flew to Shannon, Ireland, a six hour flight. The sun came up around 0400, Ireland time (by this time I was groggy and completely lost in time.)
An hour and a half in Ireland, then a 10 hour flight to Dallas, where we were greeted by two fire trucks making a water arch for us to drive through, as a salute. Had a really warm reception in the Dallas airport by a welcoming committee. WArm, but kind of hard to take. Arrived in Dallas at 0920 Dallas time. Got a flight to Denver around noon, and then to Boise, arriving about 1700. I have no idea how much time that all adds up to. I couldn’t sleep on the planes or busses.
The return trip was essentially just the reverse, except no customs search. I left at 0600 Boise time on Sunday, left Dallas at 1830, got to Ireland at 0906 local time (0306 Dallas time). Departed 0930 local time, arrived in Kuwait at 1945 local time, and back to Camp Doha at 2200 local time (11 am Monday, Boise time). Spent the night on the plastic covered mattress, large bay, lights on all night. Got to sleep around 0200, and woke up at 0600. Finally got back to the FOB around 1500 the next day. I’m still getting over jet lag.
1 comment:
Found this blog while looking for something else and was surprised to say the least.
Havnig spent considerable time in theater I was shocked to find so much granularity on our day to day ops posted by a "senior staff officer". You ass! Everytime you spend time making yourself feel important by posting some of this tripe on the web, you give information, aid, and comfor to the enemies of the US.
Yes, yes, I can guess at your defense for such reckless mouthing off at the keyboard including "it isn't something that everyone doesn't already know" or "others have said as much" or the ever popular "I have a right to speak my mind".
Maybe, maybe not. You are a soldier ,if a staff officer can actually be considerd a soldier (how's that powerpoint badge with oak leaf cluster you qualified for look compared to the purple hearts and "v" devices of young soldiers and marines acrually doing the work).
Wise up.
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