The first month in Iraq

We're here, and don't we look excited! This is the inside of a C-17

just after touchdown at Baghdad International Airport.

One of the first days here my friend and Task Force Chaplin gets

promoted to Captain from the Brigade Commmander. Way to go Shane!

In truth we have been here almost a month now. It has been very busy. Setting up a clinic is a lot harder than just falling into one like I did last time. There are so many procedures to set up and systems to get acess to. We did a lot of work ahead of time, getting SOP's in place for what we could guess would be needed, but doing it for real is more complicated than you could imagine.Our platoon has a lot of good, smart people and that makes things go much easier. Everyone is giving input and pitching in to get things going in the right direction. I'm meeting a lot of them for the first time, since I skipped the Georgia training. Will has done a great job organizing and working on the soldiers behalf. He is a great asset to the platoon!As you can imagine, it's HOT! But, it's a dry heat! There really is a difference. In Texas or Georgia you would sweat and it would stay with you all day. Here or back in Bend you still sweat, but your shirt is dry in 20 minutes. Doesn't make you smell any better at the end of a long hard day,

but you don't have that sticky feeling.

There have been some great sandstorms since we got here. Below is a picture taken at 1500. There is no filter and this was taken standing outside our clinic. The color is amazing.

There aren't any lights visible, but when you see a floresent light, it looks blue.

It is a strange other world feeling.

There is some down time here as we get into a battle rhythm. I get to workout 6 days a week. Hit the gym Mon, Wed & Fri. Go for runs on Tues and Thurs. Below is my reward for doing the running. Got this from a guy that races for Cannondale. It will be Chris' when I get home, but for now it is my Saturday morning PT. Most of the time, if I'm going somewhere under a 1/2 mile, I use shoe rubber. The platoon has an ambulance for longer trips, like going to our 2nd sickcall site. I am going to ride to our other site come fall when the temp drops below 100 in the AM.

Riding gives a sense of freedom. And not being stuck in a heavy truck or grossly sweating on a short walk has it's advantage. I see more and enjoy whats around me to the fullest. Although I must admit there isn't much color here. Even the palm trees are dust covered brown right now. There are little plants outside our aid station that I go out on a regular basis and empty expired IV solution on to clean them up and help them survive.

Even a little green is a wonderful sight!

I live in the 300 block of pad 4. It is a lovely block, (dripping sarcasim.) Everything in the army has a reason for itself. To be honest I don't understand the reason about half the time, but in this case I do. The large concrete structures are called T-wall or Jersey barriers. They are like highway dividers on steroids. They place them around where we live to protect us from a blast, such as motars or rockets. If it does hit in the road everyone in the CHU's should be safe from the blast. If it hits a CHU, only that CHU should be damaged. A CHU is a (Combat Housing Unit) They are kind of like FEMA trailers.
The T-walls surround every building by the way.

Below is the inside of my CHU. I am very lucky, I was rooming with our CO and CO's should have their own room. So I had to move out into this room. No one lived here, so I got a room to myself too. I have managed to fill it up by myself though. When a unit leaves they sell everything they have aquired since getting here and on the last day it becomes a free for all. The room came with 2 beds, 2 wall lockers and 2 night stands. This is suppose to sleep 2. Not rocket science. The room is about 10x10 just to give you an idea. By the way the comforter came with my linens, I didn't bring it. It does brighten up the room though, so I will keep it until it needs washing and then we will see what I get next. I've seen barbie, and Iron man comforters so far. Not exactly army issue.
The next 4 pics give you a panarama of my room. It is not quite the room Chris and I built, but it is where I hang my hat (literally) for the next 8-10 months.


The bed stand allows me extra storage space. It is high enough that I almost have to pole vault into it though. It is like having a bunk bed without someone sleeping below me.

Been working on my putting with the putter my father in law gave me before leaving.

With the garage sale and free for all I was able to outfit my room for 80.00. Should I send it into one of the HGTV shows like "Design On A Dime"? It doesn't have everything though. Not sure if you noticed, no bathroom. That's halfway down the block. Interestingly, in one trailer they have urinals and showers. You have to go to a second trailer that has urinals and sit down toilets. That one is on the other side of the block. I enjoy old world type resorts, but this is a little odd.

Well that's about all for the week. I will try to be better about keeping in contact and letting you know what is going on. All your messages and prayer are felt, thank you!!!!!

Everyone who reads the paper should know by now that a brave Oregon soldier was seriously hurt last week, can't tell you more. Please pray for him and his family.

In Band of Brothers one of the soldiers was asked by his grandson "were you a hero in the war?" To that he replyed, "no but I was in a company of heros"

These guys lay it on the line for you and your freedom!

These guys do it because they care.

I miss you all!