Thursday, April 01, 2004
Into The Breech
Journal Entry
May 11th, 2003. Mother's Day [Hi, Mom! Just wanted to make sure you knew I didn't forget!]
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
Left Baghdad Int'l Airport in an 11 vehicle convoy for Camp Webster, at Al Asad Air Base, to link up with our battalion commander, LTC Hector Mirabile, and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Interesting journey.
Response to the presence of my convoy was overwhelmingly positive. Especially among children, who ran alongside the convoy in the towns shouting "I love you! I love you!"
I suppose that will be true as long as we have more candy to give away than the bad guys.
Throwing candy from convoys is stupid. Saw a little boy run into traffic chasing some candy thrown by one of the vehicles behind us and almost got hit.
Almost no damage to civilian areas. Saw several destroyed tanks deployed within villages with no apparent damage to adjacent buildings less than 50 feet away. Their deployment usually made no tactical sense to me. Poor fields of fire, no cover or concealed route of withdrawal, although better positions were available nearby. Most of them were T-72s, which would indicate they were probably Republican Guard, I believe. But I also saw a few T-62s, which would be from the regular army units.
Their crews either died in suicide positions, or abandoned their tanks. It's impossible to tell which, now.
Very little natural beauty, except along the Euphrates (?) river (I still don't have a map).
Passed many small farms. Almost no modern farming equipment, rudimentary irrigation. Populace was very poor by American standards, but did not appear to be starving.
Teenage girls would smile sweetly at the troops in the convoy. Family units would often wave and smile enthusiastically, even from hundreds of meters away from the road. Men would wave, and some blew kisses. A few military aged men were more reserved. Kids were wildly enthusiastic.
Saw a kid of about 8 years old today, driving a cement truck near Baghdad International Airport.
Almost killed in a vehicle accident on the way out there today.
I noticed that several--perhaps a dozen--Iraqi jet fighters were out in the open, near Al Asad Air Base, untouched by Allied bombs. Surprised us. Was there a deal cut? Were they thinking ahead and leaving Iraq with enough power to deter Iran?
Showered via a garden hose into a middle eastern-style 'squat' commode. Very unsanitary.
Linked up with 3rd ACR's Support Squadron (Call sign: Muleskinner). Our sector is apparently quiet. One former Iraqi Army officer in our area of operations is reportedly intimidating the public in one of the towns near Hadithah, and wants to be a warlord. He is not threatening US troops. The locals are turning to the US for help. Which is good, I guess, if we can provide it.
The Iraqi children are cute as buttons, God bless them. I hope we do right by all of them.
Tommorrow, I leave with the trucks to pick up the rest of the company at Baghdad International Airport, and take them back up here. Journey takes about 6 hours, total. That's a 12 hour round trip. Figure an hour to load up, and the occasional pee break, and we'll have to move very fast to get there and back in daylight. I told SSG Best, the truck platoon sergeant, to fuel tonight, and to stage his platoon out in front of the building at 0500. I'll give the convoy brief at 0515, and we'll roll not later than 0530. That ought to have us rolling out the gate at first light.
Passed a Presidential palace. The juxtaposition of opulence and poverty is striking. "Oil for Palaces Program" is right!
May 11th, 2003. Mother's Day [Hi, Mom! Just wanted to make sure you knew I didn't forget!]
Al Asad Air Base, Iraq
Left Baghdad Int'l Airport in an 11 vehicle convoy for Camp Webster, at Al Asad Air Base, to link up with our battalion commander, LTC Hector Mirabile, and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Interesting journey.
Response to the presence of my convoy was overwhelmingly positive. Especially among children, who ran alongside the convoy in the towns shouting "I love you! I love you!"
I suppose that will be true as long as we have more candy to give away than the bad guys.
Throwing candy from convoys is stupid. Saw a little boy run into traffic chasing some candy thrown by one of the vehicles behind us and almost got hit.
Almost no damage to civilian areas. Saw several destroyed tanks deployed within villages with no apparent damage to adjacent buildings less than 50 feet away. Their deployment usually made no tactical sense to me. Poor fields of fire, no cover or concealed route of withdrawal, although better positions were available nearby. Most of them were T-72s, which would indicate they were probably Republican Guard, I believe. But I also saw a few T-62s, which would be from the regular army units.
Their crews either died in suicide positions, or abandoned their tanks. It's impossible to tell which, now.
Very little natural beauty, except along the Euphrates (?) river (I still don't have a map).
Passed many small farms. Almost no modern farming equipment, rudimentary irrigation. Populace was very poor by American standards, but did not appear to be starving.
Teenage girls would smile sweetly at the troops in the convoy. Family units would often wave and smile enthusiastically, even from hundreds of meters away from the road. Men would wave, and some blew kisses. A few military aged men were more reserved. Kids were wildly enthusiastic.
Saw a kid of about 8 years old today, driving a cement truck near Baghdad International Airport.
Almost killed in a vehicle accident on the way out there today.
I noticed that several--perhaps a dozen--Iraqi jet fighters were out in the open, near Al Asad Air Base, untouched by Allied bombs. Surprised us. Was there a deal cut? Were they thinking ahead and leaving Iraq with enough power to deter Iran?
Showered via a garden hose into a middle eastern-style 'squat' commode. Very unsanitary.
Linked up with 3rd ACR's Support Squadron (Call sign: Muleskinner). Our sector is apparently quiet. One former Iraqi Army officer in our area of operations is reportedly intimidating the public in one of the towns near Hadithah, and wants to be a warlord. He is not threatening US troops. The locals are turning to the US for help. Which is good, I guess, if we can provide it.
The Iraqi children are cute as buttons, God bless them. I hope we do right by all of them.
Tommorrow, I leave with the trucks to pick up the rest of the company at Baghdad International Airport, and take them back up here. Journey takes about 6 hours, total. That's a 12 hour round trip. Figure an hour to load up, and the occasional pee break, and we'll have to move very fast to get there and back in daylight. I told SSG Best, the truck platoon sergeant, to fuel tonight, and to stage his platoon out in front of the building at 0500. I'll give the convoy brief at 0515, and we'll roll not later than 0530. That ought to have us rolling out the gate at first light.
Passed a Presidential palace. The juxtaposition of opulence and poverty is striking. "Oil for Palaces Program" is right!
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