Day 91

Happy New Year (s eve). I have been greatly chasticed, and properly so, by many people, friends and family alike, for being negligent with my photography duties. Such is not my intent to leave those at home in the dark about my surroundings, but rather my lack of interest in picture taking. How, oh how, will I be able to satisfy the requests of those whose voice I hear, like a cry in the wilderness? I have spent many long hours, well, maybe seconds, trying to figure out how to properly fulfill the multitude of requests for pictures, and like a two-by-four to the skull, it finally occured to me; we have a Public Affairs Office whose mission it is to take pictures, documenting our journey here and back again. For the most part, those pictures you see will have not have been taken by me, but rather either by a member of the PAO office, or by a loyal contributor. Phew! Now that that's out of the way, here are a few pictures. I have often written about my adventure, using the word 'journey'. When I read a book or watch a movie, I take a particular enjoyment in the journey; let me see, either on the screen or in my minds eye, the steps taken by the character as their jouney is made. I want to see the mistakes, the triumphs, the daily grind, that makes this character who they are. Some writers are a bit too ponderous, and I find the journey a bit tedious. Books such as "Moby Dick" or "Silas Marner" bore me to tears. Well, my jouney has not been a completely uneventful experience. For those of you who know my love of flying, you'll enjoy these pictures. In one, we're finding our seats to get on the plane; another, we're so much cargo on that plane; and the third is our happy release from the confines of our flight. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of flying the friendly skies with the US Military, look at the pictures and compare it to the last commercial flight you took. I, for one, will be very hesitant the next time I think of complaining because there wasn't enough ice with my 7-Up. By the way, if you're looking for me, I'm somewhere in the middle, front to back, and somewhere in the middle, side to side. Those of us in the middle are facing forward, just in case you can't tell the front from the back. For those of you who care, I was told that this aircraft is a C-17.

Day 91 - Benchmark 2

If you've been following the blog, you'll know that I have set some benchmarks for myself. That is, things that happen on this deployment that are out of my control and are set only by the passing of the calendar. Benchmark 1 was my arrival in Kuwait. Benchmark 2 has been successfully completed. Today is the 91st Day I have been on orders. By successfully completing 90 days on orders this side of 9/11 I now qualify for the new GI Bill. As a National Guardsman I may not get the full amount, in fact I've heard they may be only paying 60% to us, but I think I should be getting; $792 a month for having deployed to Iraq, 60% of $1,000 a year for books, 60% of housing allowance based on a E5 with 12 years; the full amount is about $550 a month, and the North Dakota Guard should pay my full tuition and fees through a doctoral degree, if I choose to go that far with my schooling. Plus, my monthly drill pay is just over $300 a month, so as a full time student I'll make about 2/3's of what I did working full time for the Guard. One of life's little ironies; I had to leave home to come here so I can go home to start over. Oh well, others have fared fairly well after wandering through the desert for a time. I had practice tonight with the Band I play with in church. I'm not all that good, but they're just so happy to have a keyboard player they're willing to put up with my poor playing. I heard an interesting story this afternoon. When our people went to the Camp Post office today to pick up the mail, there was hardly anything there. They were told that the mail truck in the States had been accidently misrouted and ended up on a ship instead of being loaded on a plane. The best guess given for a delivery time was 'somewhere around 30 days'. Hopefully this doesn't happen too often. I guess the US Postal system delivers through rain, snow, sleet, and dead of night, they just take their own sweet time getting it there.

Day 90 - part 2

Sad news from the home front. One of my aunts, Greta, died yesterday. My Dad is the oldest of the 4 kids, then aunt Greta, aunt Themla and aunt Muriel. He's always been close with his sisters and it hurts me that I am not able to be with him right now. The original plan had Dad flying back to North Dakota today, Monday, so there wasn't a rush to get him back home. I think my sister is going to travel to North Dakota for the funeral. It's tough no matter when this happens in a family, but I notice it a bit more here, I think, just because I know I can't return for the funeral. If any of my family members are reading this blog, please know that I'm thinking of you and for Greta's kids and grandkids. If there is anything I can do from this distance, please let me know.

Day 90

The Army tasks soldiers in many different ways to ensure the accomplishment of the mission. Things we have to do include shooting, exercising, driving, knowledge of our individual jobs, typing, and over and over again we take tests. Tests, tests, tests, tests, tests. It seems as though testing is a never ending process. Well, today I got voluntold to be the proctor of a mandatory test every soldier must take, the pee test. Oh, many people stay up hours and hours studying for the test. The rigors of the testing procedure leave many people strained. What, may you ask, is involved with the duties of being a proctor for the test? Why, I get to watch men pee in a little plastic cup to ensure that it is in fact their urine in the bottle and not some substitute. There are many different terms for the test, but the one I like the best is "Operation Golden Flow". Also, there are many different titles given to me by those I have to watch, and the one I have adopted as my unofficial title is "Meat Gazer". This morning at oh-dark-thirty, with the temperature hovering somewhere around the freezing mark, I entered the testing facility to perform my duties. Now, this is Iraq, and there is no indoor plumbing in any building, so we had to walk to a latrine trailer adjacent to the building. There's only one trailer but one with 10 stalls, so the men-folk used a stall on the left end of the trailer while the women-folk used stalls on the right end of the trailer. One of the rules is that I have to keep an eye on the bottle at all times to ensure nothing enters the bottle that should't already be there. Almost everybody passed with flying colors. In fact, there was one soldier who was in such a hurry to take the test we ran to the trailer. (A first for me; not running, but running after a pee-er). I have yet to figure out which is more humilitating; being the watcher or being the watched. A puzzle for the ages.

Day 89

My Dad is at my sister's place in California for Christmas, so at least some of the family was able to get together for the holiday. My sister and I made contact over the web using Skype. When Dad tried to use it he couldn't understand me. So we experemented. When contacting Dad, he sits at the computer and talks and I type on the Skype chat. It's a bit on the surreal side of life. I type as fast as I can so the conversation doesn't bog down too much, but the Skype delay is now added to by the typing factor. It'll work for us, and that's all that matters. Skype is a wonderful tool. If I ever meet the inventor I'll buy him a beer, and I'll have one with him. Everybody here uses it. Those people here with kids and spouses and family back home love it. I know I'm getting old when a 'golly-gee-whiz' like talking over the internet, with video and chat, seems new and almost magical to me. I wish I had this years ago. It's a great way to stay in contact.
On the non-technical side of the house, I played piano and organ in church today. I found what's going to get me through this deployment; performing music. There are other musicians here and one of them wants to start a rock/blues band, just for fun. He wants to include me, and I hope he does. I just wish there was a way to bring my vibraphone here, and get it back safely. Good thing they're WAY too expensive for that. We picked up a new Major to our Brigade last week. He's from Atlanta and he is a former Army Band Bandmaster of a National Guard Army Band. He said he was the highest ranking officer of the oldest National Guard Army Band in the US. It's nice to have other musicans with whom I can visit about things other than work. I'm reading books. I wanted to buy myself an Amazon Kindle for Christmas, but they're 11 to 13 weeks backlogged, so I'll put my name on the list and hope to see if I can one any sooner than that. Other than that, it's work as usual. I've had more than one, and one emphatic, request for pictures. I'll start taking pictures soon and begin posting them to the blog. I'm also experimenting with a Google tool and post more there, too. That is, if I can figure it out. I'll post directions when I'm sure I've got it working. On the bright side, we don't do our own laundry. We have washers and dryers close by, but they're supposed to be for emergencies only. In an effort to save water we use the post laundry facilities. We can take up to 20 items at a time and get them cleaned. It takes about a day and a half to come back all clean (well, sort of) and folded. So, I don't cook for myself, I don't do my own laundry, I don't pay utilities, I don't have a car payment, I don't have a mortgage payment, I don't buy gas, and the best part is, I don't pay taxes!! The downside is I have to clean my room, take out the garbage, and be away from my friends and family just to make a new life. It's all good. Still, being this far away from home and being here, I have no regrets. It is what it is.

Day 86

Merry Christmas!! On this day of happiness I almost hate to cloud it with a note of sour feelings, but I need to get something off my chest that's been bothering me. I know this may not be a big deal to some, but it has gotten me so riled up I feel as if I'll burst if I don't get it off my chest. I hate the word Hooah. The Army personnel use it as an affirmation for everything good but I'm here to say its use has gotten WAY out of hand. If somebody is feeling good, they're hooah; if the food is good, it's hooah; if the truck is running smoothly, it's hooah; if the weather is good, it's hooah; if the shower water is warm, it's hooah; if you slept well, it was hooah; if the microwave popcorn tastes good, it's hooah; if your uniform is clean, it's hooah; if you're in a good mood, it's hooah. Enough already. If you're interested, Wikipedia has a definition of the word. My view of the word is that it's kind of like cursing. When a person doesn't possess enough brain power to form a coherent sentence, they revert to a standby, be it a curse or the word hooah. I know it's a bit early for a New Year's resolution, but here is mine; I will do my best to never ever again infinity plus one, use the word hooah, except for writing it in this blog. I'm not kidding, I heard, from more than one person today, "Merry Christmas, hooah." I even heard one person use the hooah in lieu of the Ho's for the greeting, and it came out as, "Merry Christmas, hooah, hooah, hooah." As a good NCO I made an on-the-spot correction and gave the offending soldier a butt stroke to the groin. (Well, maybe in my mind, but it still made me feel good, and after all, it is all about me.)

Day 83

My first Iraqi sandstorm. Boy, are these fun. Thank goodness for wet wipes. You can't get your whole body clean, but you can wipe your face and hands and at least feel a little better. I have got to start carrying my camera with me. From the roof of our office we had a good view, of what we could see. And the wind seems to blow from every direction. I know the sand filled every crack and crevice. I was chewing sand and cleaning it out of the corners of my eyes. And it wasn't even a bad sand storm, or so they tell me. Can't wait for the big one. I updated my thoughts on a new camper. My original plan, before I took this all expense paid trip, was to retun home, trade off the PT Cruiser, use the Starcraft as a trade-in and get me a pickup and a new pull-behind camper. I like my Cruiser. I don't like my camper. So, I thought that since I only go camping 3 or 4 times a year, I might be better off if I were to purchase a van camper. It doesn't have to be new and it doesn't have to be pretty, it just needs to have a good engine and transmission, as I can't turn a wrench to save my life. As I get closer to my coming home date I'll start looking online for what I want. Makes more sense to me than getting a pickup with poor gas mileage just so I can go to the mountains every other year or so.

Day 82 - part 2

I have decided that I need another tattoo. Oh, I'm still getting Elmer Fudd on my butt. And Kate designed a really neat Concord Minuteman tattoo for me, but before I do that I need to find appropriate wording. The new tattoo I want to get will be a song. It'll start on my upper arm and wrap around towards my wrist. The only thing upon which I can't decide is what tune. I don't have a favorite song. I don't live my life by a specific tuen. I could use some input from all you all on what song you think I should use. I intend to have a five line staff with notes and chord symbols and lyrics. What tune? What tune? Oh, and by the way, I have already considered and dismissed a song from the "Wizard of Oz", "If I Only Had a Brain". But then again, I am in Iraq, so that is fairly appropriate right now.

Day 82

By the time this deployment is completed, my NCOER is going to need a continuation page. Late last week I was informed that I was going to be the range NCOIC for the Brigade. Mostly a symbolic appointment, but one that looks good when it comes time for yearly evaluations. And only yesterday I found out I got another additional duty; I am now the Fire Marshall for our building. Yep, I'm fire marshall Bill. I have to go to a class before I get my little red hat and badge, and I hear that's all of 45 minutes of training. Phew, good Army training there. Seriously, I could use a little plastic firemans hat and a fire chiefs badge. Feel free to send me more than one. Things are starting to smooth out here and late last night I remembered something that I wanted to share with all you all. (Good thing I have this forum otherwise I'd be talking to myself.) While at mobilization station we all got a four day pass. I went to my sisters place just outside of Sacramento, California and we did family stuff. Mainly I slept while she made me supper. On the day I had to return to Ft. Lewis, I knew I wouldn't need my civilian clothes, so I dressed in my Army uniform, with beret. On the drive to the airport, we pulled up to a stop light. I noticed the biker pulling up on the passanger side looked in my direction as he came to a stop, noticed how I was dressed, and then did a double-take. I nodded to him and he asked me, through my open window, if I was going to or returning from overseas. I told him I'd be leaving in a few days. He then stuck out his right hand, I did the same, and while we were shaking hands, he looked me in the eye and said "Thank you". The light turned green and we went our seperate ways. I never know what to say to people who say that. I always end up saying thank you back to them. It only seems polite. I honestly don't think this is that big of a deal. All of us in uniform today are volunteers. Just being in uniform deserves a thank you. To step up and say I'll spend some time in Iraq is, to me, not that big of a deal. I have a friend who some of you know. His name is James Coler. When we were at Guard drill back in the late 1980's, one of his sayings was, "My time is your time. I signed the contract in good faith. Just don't bore me." The Army has paid me, housed me, fed me, trained me, so why shouldn't I put all of that to use and be here for a while? It's just like a long, long, long, long Annual Training, the only difference being I don't get to see my friends or family for a long, long, long, long time.

Day 80

If I learn nothing else from this deployment, I will have learned this; the correct spelling of the word "Google" in Arabic is "Google". I obviously am still having problems with my country of origin issue and blogger. What's a guy to do? Even though the last couple of days have been 14 hour days fighting with the Active Army, I still have time for personal reflection, thoughts of introspection, and general day dreaming. On that note, I found a thing I miss; I miss buttons. On the BDU's, all of the pockets had buttons. When you wanted in, you undid a button, put in your thing, re-buttoned the button, and got on with your day. With these ACU's, velcro is kicking my ass!! You lift the flap to put something in, and if you wait more than one-tenth of a millisecond, the stupid flap falls back and the velcro reattaches itself, and you have to start the process all over again. And while you're fighting with your pocket, trying to put your hat into the cargo pocket, your notebook falls to the floor, and your rifle starts falling off of your shoulder, and the people behind you in line are getting miffed because you're blocking the isle. I miss buttons!!!

Day 76

Well, we got through the Transfer of Authority ceremony in fine form. The ceremony ended with the playing of the Army Song. When it played, everybody sang. Not the first verse, oh no, that'd be too easy. They sang the second verse. Which got me to thinking; I don't know either verse to the Army Song. I never had to learn it at Basic or AIT, and being in the Band we perform the song for others and never sing it. I had to get the words sent to me so I could learn them so I didn't look too much the fool in the formation. For those of you who don't know the words either, check it out;

First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.
Then it’s hi! hi! hey! The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong;
For where’er we go, You will always know
That The Army Goes Rolling Along.

If I hadn't been giggling so much at the others in the crowd that were as clueless as I to the correct words, it may have been an actual touching moment.
I got my first packages from home yesterday, from Dad and my sister. It's amazing how objects, and some Christmas cookies, knowing they were last handled by a loved one, can have such a greater meaning, particularily when I'm this far from home.

Day 75

It gets dark here at about the same time as it does back home; sunset at about 5 pm and sunrise at about 7 am. We're outside when it is dark and I can see the sky, but it's not the same sky with which I grew up. Oh, we have the moon; that at least looks the same, but the stars are all wrong. I've been reading the blog of a buddy of mine, and recently he posted that he was longing for a plate of pancakes. I miss cooking for myself. Open a cupboard, check the freezer to see what you can put together, and make it yourself. The food here is good, and there is plenty of it, but I still miss being able to cook a meal for me. I think I need to buy a grill, some charcoal briquetes, and grill myself a meal. That should take the edge off.

Day 74

Ok, serusly, I nead sum healp hear. Mi blogg sight thincks I liive in Iraque. Sew, mi speell checque findds prublums wisth eavery whord I tipe, becus nun of the wurds ar in arabik. Kan sumboudy pleze tell mi howe two reset mi longuige bak to englioush? I already went to "tools", internet opotions, language, and made sure it was setto englioush. What othr opotiions doo I hav? PLEEZE HULP!!!

Day 73

Today was an Army kind of day. There is a Transfer of Authority, TOA, ceremony soon and I was chosen to be one of the 20 soldiers from the 287th to stand in formation, representing the 309 soldiers of the brigade. We had a rehearsal for the ceremony. So far, we’ve had 6 rehearsals. Mainly we’re working on saluting, present arms, and ending the salute, order arms. Oh, we weren’t good enough for the active Army Sergeant Major, so in addition to the 6 full rehearsals, we got to have a unit specific rehearsal. Present arms; order arms. Repeat as necessary. My oh my, what a fun time. I haven’t had to do this since basic training, a little over 20 years ago, but what’s up with the people who went to basic in the last 5 years or so. It’s like trying to herd cats. The unit we’re replacing, the 7th STB, finally handed over the office to us yesterday afternoon. They inherited the job 15 months ago from the 82nd Airborne. When they moved in, they left everything as they found it. Today when I was cleaning up, I found a newspaper that was 15 months old. Remind me again why the active duty always gives the Guard grief? There is a 61 year old Warrant Officer with us who people say looks much like me, and that I look like him. (I’m not sure if I am being insulted) Yesterday one of the NCO’s saluted me, thinking I was the Chief. Two steps later he was close enough to me to see his mistake and apologized. One of these days I’ll get a picture of us together and you can decide for yourselves.

Day 73

Yesterday we finished all of the paperwork and officially began our duties here in sunny Iraq. Now I just need to figure out how to do my job and I'll be happy. When I installed Skype the other day I accidently put my location as Iraq, not the United States, and that information bled over into other programs, such as Blogger. So, now, whenever I start this program, the log-in screen is in Arabic, and whenever I run the spell check, it says all of the words are mispelled. Ah, war is hell. Things here really aren't all that bad. There are two dining facilities, and there is lots of food and it is better than average. They rotate through a 14 day menu, and we've had steak, and surf and turf, and turkey and stuffing, and there is a sandwich bar, and a potato bar, and a very extensive salad bar, and a pasta bar, and a dessert bar, but nowhere do I find a bar bar. They serve non-alcholic beer in the chow hall, and you can buy it at the PX, but I figure if I can't catch a buzz, what's the point. Down at the PX compound, there is a Burger King, a Pizza Hut, and a Taco Bell. There are several resturants on post, one Italian and one Mexican. I'm going to do supper tomorrow night at the Italian place. The PX is stocked with esentials, such as Doritos, and dip, and salsa, and pretzels, and microwave popcorn, and sodas, and movies, and shoes, and bedding, and TV's. And I do like the PX people. Rather than have any of that stuff at a reduced price, just to make it easier for us, they kept the prices the same in this PX as they have in the PX in North Dakota. Isn't that nice of them? This way I'm not confused while I'm shopping. I'm so glad they're here for us. I still don't have a TV in my room. We have a cable hookup, and I understand there are 15 channels to choose from, and they're all free, but I'm liking coming home and not having to watch TV just for something to do. I do so enjoy the peace and quiet.

Day 69

Today is the first day of the second week that I've been in Iraq, but who is counting? It's not my first time away from home, nor is it the furthest from home I've been. It is, however, the furthest I've been from home when I know I won't be home "in just a few weeks". Of course the biggest thing I miss is my family. And my second family. And my friends. It has come as a shock to me that there are so many small things I miss after only a week in Iraq.
I miss my recliner and being able to put my feet up after a long day at work. I miss being able to walk somewhere and not have to have a rifle slung from the shoulder. I miss being able to cook my own food. The things I know I won't miss at this point are; drinking all my water from water bottles. I won't miss taking 2 minute showers. I know more will come up in the next several months, but this is it for now.

Day 66

As I sit in my new temporary home I have to think of the places I've recently lived. Here are some pictures of my old house in Devils Lake, all empty and stuff, my temporary house in Ft. Lewis, my temporary house in Kuwait and my temporary house in Iraq.

Day 66 - morning

I got up today and had a few extra minutes before I have to go to work, so I thought I'd post a picture for you all you all. I know it's one of my new favorites.

Day 65

We're slowly taking over our operations from the Active Army unit we're replacing. For me, it's been many inventories of equipment so we can get our people up and running and doing their job so the unit we're replacing can go home. Not much else right now, but enjoy the picture. I do!

Day 64

Hi,
Well, I've finally got an internet connection to my room so I can start keeping up with this on a regular basis. I took some time in Kuwait to make some blog entries without actually posting them. Feel free to catch up. Pictures will be forth coming, I promise.

Day 51 – Benchmark 1 met

Today I am writing my Camp Buehring, Kuwait. It’s flat, sandy, and there’s no beach bar anywhere in sight. We all got here ok, even on that DC10 built in 1970 in which we flew. If there’s one thing they did with great aplomb, it was food. I think we got fed every 3 hours. It was good food, but when you’re jammed into a seat built based on the average body sizes of Americans from the late 1960’s, and in a jet with no way of moving in order to work off some of that rich food, the flight gets a little tedious and, shall we say, a bit backed up? We’re here and living in tents. It’s kind of like living in a C-141, but at least it is air conditioned. I have roughly 15 inches of space on either side of my Army cot. What’s at the end of those 15 inches you ask? Why, it’s another bunk filled with a sleeping soldier. At least it’s not Ft. Lewis with it’s cold, rain and fog. Wasn’t it nice of the Army to send us, for six weeks, to a training area that was SO much like our area of operation?
If you notice, I have added a special marker to my day. I have some personal benchmarks for this deployment; things that will happen only by the passing of time and days marked on a calendar. Benchmark one; I got out of the United States and into theater. I am not yet in Iraq, but that wasn’t the benchmark. I figure that if anything happens to me from this point on, the Army will have to leave me on orders long enough for me to get to benchmark number two. I have no intention of spoiling the surprise of the other benchmarks; they’ll be announced as those dates are reached.

Day 58 – Thanksgiving Day
When you can’t spend this day with your family, or your second family, it’s best to spend it with friends. I don’t yet know if the 287th is my 3rd family, but they’re moving closer to that designation. My second family, for those in the dark, is the 188th Army Band. Yesterday was an interesting day. I had to go get some equipment that I couldn’t get here. It was at the next post over, Ali Al Salem. I got a tour of the Air Base; concrete bunkers built by the French that were not good for anything now except for catching water; the dining facility on the hill called “The Rock”, with a nice view; and a few local shops to get some stuff for our driver. There were Prada hand bags there for $50 and Air Jordan shoes for $75 and pirated DVD’s for $5 apiece or 6 for $20.

Day 60
It’s Saturday the 29th and I’m having an interesting day. Tomorrow I fly into Iraq to my duty station at Tallil. This morning as I was taking care of some personal bodily issues it dawned on me that tomorrow I’ll be in a combat zone. I may never hear gunfire or see the enemy, but I’ll be there just the same.

Day 62
Today is my first full day in Iraq. I’m stationed at Camp Adder, Tallil, Iraq. We’re living in trailers called CHU’s, pronounced “chew’s”. There are three each two-man rooms in each CHU, and there are two beds in each room. Each room is about the size of a college dorm room. My room has its’ own air conditioner/heater, 5 electrical outlets, a cable tv hookup, two beds, two wall lockers, and two night stands. My toilet is about 200 feet away and the shower is about 200 feet past that. Porta-potties have been replaced by flushing porcelain toilets. (Thank goodness). When I go 300 feet the other direction from the latrine, there is trailer with 10 washers and 10 dryers. I’ll get pictures out at a later date. I found my office and we worked all day doing inventories of the equipment we’re getting from the unit we’re replacing. My office is in a building that I think dates back to World War 1, I’m not kidding. But everything here is so dirty and beat up, it may be only 5 years old. I’ll look into seeing if I can find the age of the building. Pictures of my office and building will be coming at a later date, like when I get around to taking them.