I have been quite busy in the last little while.
My LT got moved to another unit, so I have to train up a new one. Sunday we're headed out to Death Valley, California to do our last training exercise before Iraq and it will be our first time working together. It's going to be interesting. I've got to feel him out and he has to get to know me, hopefully it'll be a smooth transition and everything will go well. I'll update once I'm home with pictures and all other nonsense.
I just spent the last 2 weeks at the Warrior's Leaders Course. It's basically basic training all over again. It was atrocious. They combine every MOS in the Army into one school and teach you outdated tactics and paperwork. It was the most extravagant waste of time I've yet to see in the Army. But it has to be done. At least I got some promotion points out of it.
The only good part about it was the guys there. I was with a few infantry guys and a Ranger who was one of the funniest people I've ever met. Being a Ranger means all he does is work out and destroy things, ergo if you can't hang with him at PT, you're a dirtbag. Well most people fall into his definition of dirtbag. He loved to point out the fact that the non-combat MOS guys got more excited about calling cadence than they did a good workout, so he decided to call his own cadence during a run one day:
R is for Ranger!
A is for Ranger!
N is for Ranger!
G is for Ranger!
R is for Ranger!
Cus we can do what we want!
Yes it's misspelled on purpose. That was my last 2 weeks. I'm now packing up my belongings and watching my darling wife bake a cake.
30 July 2009
03 May 2009
Duckbuddy and the Jersey Express.
It's been a long time since I've updated this thing. But now I have something to write about again.
I was moved to a new unit and we're headed to Iraq this fall. Because of that I'm spending retahded amounts of time out in the field and at ranges.
This new unit also has a whole new cast of characters for you all to meet. Unfortunately because of the whole OPSEC thing I can't be as specific as I was last time, especially regarding people's names.
I'll introduce the characters of this comedy as they come along so we'll start with just a few tonight.
First of all - you all know me and this time I'm the gunner on "The Jersey Express." I absolutely despise the name, but my driver and TC are both from Jersey and one of the Philly guys in my unit started referring to our truck as that, and it stuck.
Duckbuddy - A Private from Montana. He was in the marching band back in the day and his band buddies called him Duck. And his Mom called him Buddy. So we call him Duckbuddy. And he hates it. He's notorious for falling asleep.
The Don - He's my TC. Has an unnatural love for the State of New Jersey and the Sopranos. Has a pirate tattoo, he thinks it's massive, it's not. If you've ever read The Game then you've read about this guy. He loves the book and practices it. He's good at his job and that's what matters the most.
Barney - My driver. He's getting ready for his second trip over with me and the kid can drive. He can't miss potholes for the life of him though. I swear I'll get a concussion. With the exception of holes in the road the kid knows what's up behind the wheel. He doesn't get stuck and he sees the road the way I see it.
This time we're headed to Mosul supposedly. Read the book My War by Colby Buzzell to get a feel for what it's going to be like there. I have no idea what to expect...
...oh wait, lots of stupidity and a dash of excitement.
I was moved to a new unit and we're headed to Iraq this fall. Because of that I'm spending retahded amounts of time out in the field and at ranges.
This new unit also has a whole new cast of characters for you all to meet. Unfortunately because of the whole OPSEC thing I can't be as specific as I was last time, especially regarding people's names.
I'll introduce the characters of this comedy as they come along so we'll start with just a few tonight.
First of all - you all know me and this time I'm the gunner on "The Jersey Express." I absolutely despise the name, but my driver and TC are both from Jersey and one of the Philly guys in my unit started referring to our truck as that, and it stuck.
Duckbuddy - A Private from Montana. He was in the marching band back in the day and his band buddies called him Duck. And his Mom called him Buddy. So we call him Duckbuddy. And he hates it. He's notorious for falling asleep.
The Don - He's my TC. Has an unnatural love for the State of New Jersey and the Sopranos. Has a pirate tattoo, he thinks it's massive, it's not. If you've ever read The Game then you've read about this guy. He loves the book and practices it. He's good at his job and that's what matters the most.
Barney - My driver. He's getting ready for his second trip over with me and the kid can drive. He can't miss potholes for the life of him though. I swear I'll get a concussion. With the exception of holes in the road the kid knows what's up behind the wheel. He doesn't get stuck and he sees the road the way I see it.
This time we're headed to Mosul supposedly. Read the book My War by Colby Buzzell to get a feel for what it's going to be like there. I have no idea what to expect...
...oh wait, lots of stupidity and a dash of excitement.
15 February 2009
17 August 2008
Married Man.
So I'm finally home. And married.
It's 6:51 AM and I have been at work for the last 12 hours. Oh yeah, and it's Sunday morning, and the guy who was supposed to show up and relieve me....well he didn't. And he won't answer his phone. Nor will anyone ELSE in the freaking unit.
It's 6:51 AM and I have been at work for the last 12 hours. Oh yeah, and it's Sunday morning, and the guy who was supposed to show up and relieve me....well he didn't. And he won't answer his phone. Nor will anyone ELSE in the freaking unit.
We finally got wedding pictures put up! Jessica Bennett was the photographer and she did an amazing job. To get a good look at them all click on the picture above, or go to her website: http://www.jessicabennettphotography.blogspot.com
03 July 2008
Update From Caleb's Mom
Just wanted to fill everyone in on Caleb's situation in Iraq. A week and a half ago, Caleb fell while climbing out of the guard tower. He landed on his shoulder and knocked it out of socket. The problem is, the shoulder kept falling out of socket, so they transported him to FOB FALCON, the big base where he used to live in Baghdad and he saw a doctor. They did an x-ray and exam and relieved him from combat duty (it was his shooting arm) and really believe he needs surgery for ligament damage. He spent several days in Baghdad and is now in Balad, Iraq at a hospital waiting transport to the country of Qatar for an MRI. He is not in pain (unless the shoulder pops out), and he is just enjoying the rest and trying to keep the shoulder stabilized . The doctors in Baghdad told him one of three things will probably happen, if there is ligament damage which they suspect: 1,, they will tape him up and send him back to Baghdad for non-combat duties,(and perform surgery when his tour is over), 2., they will send him to Germany for surgery and rehab, or 3., they will send him back to the US for surgery and rehab.
We are praying for the Lord's will, but would love for him to come back to the states!! Whatever the scenario, it looks as if his combat days are over for this tour and we are grateful for that!!
I asked him if he would receive a purple heart for falling out of the guard tower and he said "only if someone were shooting at me!!" We might as well keep laughing and at least be grateful for this little respite he is having, even if he has to return to Baghdad!!
We'll keep you posted!!
We are praying for the Lord's will, but would love for him to come back to the states!! Whatever the scenario, it looks as if his combat days are over for this tour and we are grateful for that!!
I asked him if he would receive a purple heart for falling out of the guard tower and he said "only if someone were shooting at me!!" We might as well keep laughing and at least be grateful for this little respite he is having, even if he has to return to Baghdad!!
We'll keep you posted!!
24 June 2008
Hot Like Fire.
It's hot yo. Like for real.
Just a little sitrep:
The other night I fell down a ladder and dislocated my shoulder. They took me to a FOB where I got X-rays and the doc told me that my shoulder injury is serious, he just doesn't know what it is.
As of now I'm waiting for paperwork to get pushed through so I can get flown to Qatar to get an MRI.
I'll update as I learn more.
Just a little sitrep:
The other night I fell down a ladder and dislocated my shoulder. They took me to a FOB where I got X-rays and the doc told me that my shoulder injury is serious, he just doesn't know what it is.
As of now I'm waiting for paperwork to get pushed through so I can get flown to Qatar to get an MRI.
I'll update as I learn more.
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