Just to let you know...

I will be gone a while conducting a large operation, the first since Operation Matador. I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time, we are going to a dangerous city. Anyways, I just wanted you all to know that I won't be blogging anytime soon, but will return with a story to blog about.

2nd Half

With half the combat tour over with, I am looking forward to finishing the second half strong and getting home. With that in mind, things have been a little bit slower around here than what we’re used to. For the past couple weeks, we have spent most of the time here at the dam running short missions nearby. This has allowed me to get a good amount of rest. Meanwhile, my platoon is staying here at the dam while the rest of the company is conducting a long op out West. So that leaves us doing these short missions around the dam, which can last from a few hours to 24 hours. The best part is, there currently is a shamal, a sand storm, running around here for the last few days. With that going on, helo flights are grounded so that means our missions are also cancelled, most of them anyways. With that being said, there hasn’t been too much going on so that’s why I haven’t posted anything lately.

I have been in contact with a buddy of mine, who was injured in Ubaydi during Operation Matador. His name is Lance Corporal Scott Bunker. He is doing alright healing and being honored by the city of Kettering by calling June 14th Scott Bunker day. I think that is fantastic to hear people back home are treating him like a hero that he is.

Here is one interesting picture that I took while conducting one of our many patrols out into the open desert, surrounding the dam. This missile is like 8 or 9 feet long! Don’t worry, it appears to have been there for a long time and it is hollow on the inside.

Pirates?

Some good news to report, a former Marine of 1st platoon, recently took a trip to drop off some ‘cargo’ at Abu Ghraib prison. While there, he came across a copy of Star Wars III on DVD. Some of you might be saying, “How’s that possible? It just came out in theaters!” Well, my answer to that question might go something like this, “Arrrrr! We be pirates!” Just kidding; there actually are a lot of bootleg DVDs available for sale through the local populace. So, we are just trying to do our part in stimulating the economy.

I must say, it was a very good quality pirated copy of Star Wars III. Since it was a former Marine of 1st platoon, who acquired the movie, he showed it to us first. It just made everyone’s day a whole lot better. A pretty good movie overall with some splendid fight scenes. I would recommend it to anyone.

In other news, I know that it’s been awhile since I have had time to write back to everyone who’s been writing me. So, I took a few hours of time I had to write a bunch of letters to you guys back home. Plan on getting one from me in about a week. Sorry for the delay, but I have been a little bit busy. Just know that when I read a letter from home, it brings me back there for those few minutes of reading and I thank you all for that. Plus, it gives me less of a ‘culture shock’ when I do return home and have been able to keep up to date on happenings back home.


To everyone who reads this blog or checks out my flickr pictures, I would like to say thank you for your support. The continued words of encouragement left as comments, means a great deal to me. I never imagined that I would have complete strangers from around the country and even around the world like Australia. I even had a few German’s, though I don’t hold that against them. I never told anyone about my flickr photos except my friends. Now, I have over 30,000 views of my photos and receive many compliments for my work. I’ve been able to allow friends and family members of Marines in Lima Co., 3/25 the opportunity to see their loved ones and allow the world to see this war through my eyes as a Marine Corps rifleman. This is just totally amazing to me. The best part for me, is just reading all the comments I get; even the bad ones on occasion.

To anyone who reads this:
Thank you once again. You have no idea how much you have touched my life. Hopefully, in some small way, I have touched yours.

New Market

With the completion of another operation, I am still realizing, there are sides to this war that I still haven’t seen yet.

My platoon was given the lovely job of firm base security, but not just any firm base, it had to be the battalion firm base. Needless to say, somehow blousing our trousers will somehow deflect bullets; well, that’s what some Marines on the battalion level would have you believe. We (1st Plt.) just want to stay as cool as possible with the summer temperature coming upon us.

It was a pretty easy job overall; 2 hours on and 6 off, most of the time, for 4 days. During the 1st day of the operation, our base started to take indirect fire, from mortars. It wasn’t something new to us, but it was pretty close on the 1st day. Unfortunately, while I was standing watch on the rooftop, I witness the death of a little boy from these mortar attacks on us. So far, I haven’t seen any civilian deaths while I was here, until now and it was the worst kind. I felt terrible to see an innocent boy be killed by an insurgent attack. The family circled around the boy and the father picked up his limp body, to take him inside the house. Shortly thereafter, they buried him in the graveyard nearby.

For the reminder of the time we were at this base, we continued to receive a couple of mortar attacks a day. The sound a round makes as it flies through the air is something I wish to never hear again. The reason, if you can hear it, then it will be landing near you. All you can do is get low and pray. We would then send out a quick reaction force to try to locate, and destroy the threat. Fortunately, no Marines were injured during our stay.

During one of these mortar attacks, which I have encountered before, I felt scared. With each round making it’s distinctive explosive thud, getting a little bit closer, with every attack, on our firm base. I remember thinking about what people told me back home. They said they were praying for my safe return. Then I was thinking, what if it is not in the grand scheme of things for me to make it home safe. I thought it would be a waste of time and it would be better for them to spend their time praying for me to have a sound mind in times like these. I don’t know why I thought of this, but I did and I just wanted to let it out because it was one of the times in which I felt scared. I will admit that, its war for crying out loud and I know my other Marines had similar fears. I think everyone here fighting, is scared. It’s whether or not they let that fear overcome their sense of duty.

I also have some more bad news to report. My company suffered another lose, this time from 2nd platoon. I’ve had the honor of knowing this good man last year during my UNITAS deployment to South America. He was my squad leader. I will miss you Sergeant David Wimberg. I’m glad you were able to shot that bastard who got you.

KIA May 25, 2005

And I continue on with the fight…

Fallen Warriors

I would like to let everyone know not only the names, but the faces of the Marines, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

“For He Who Sheds His Blood With Me Shall Be My Brother.”
In loving memory of the fallen warriors of 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines:


Lance Corporal Wesley G. Davids, Ohio.
KIA May 11, 2005


Corporal Dustin A. Derga, Ohio.
KIA May 8, 2005


Private First Class Christopher R. Dixon, Ohio.
KIA May 11, 2005


Lance Corporal Nicholas B. Erdy, Ohio.
KIA May 11, 2005


Staff Sergeant Anthony L. Goodwin, New Jersey.
KIA May 8, 2005


Lance Corporal Jonathan W. Grant, New Mexico.
KIA May 11, 2005


Staff Sergeant Kendall H. Ivy
KIA May 11, 2005

You guys are truly missed and we aren't the same without you.

Here Is My Story

As most people who read this already know, my company was part of Operation Matador. We engaged in some heavy fighting and took some losses while conducting combat operations. Here is my story…

After conducting a large scale operation in our AO (area of operations), we went back to the dam for 20 hours before heading back out to Al Qaim. On what was one of the most uncomfortable 10 hour AAV (or Amtrak) rides through open desert, we finally arrived at Al Qaim. Though, Matador wasn’t going to kick off for a few days, my company took the time to enjoy the food and rest offered on base.

At the start of the operation, we had to wait for the Army to set up a bridge for us to cross the river. While the Army was doing this, we were staged just behind them and started to take indirect fire, mortars, from a nearby town of Ubaydi. My company repositioned itself outside the town by at least 1500 meters. I was standing up in the Amtrak providing security so I can see what was going on. I heard the occasional burst of machine gun fire from the town. Apparently, the insurgents were trying to shoot at our helicopters. Now keep in mind we are over 1500 meters away and the helicopters are roaming around us. There was no way those idiots were going to hit them! I found that quite amusing. Shortly after sitting around staring at the town, a stray round ricocheted off the ground about 25 meters from my Amtrak. I was surprised and got a little bit scared cause I never had a round land so close to me. So me and another guy, who was sitting on top of the Amtrak, quickly got back in. Soon afterwards, we realized that we were too far away from the town that they couldn’t hit us.

We then had a sniper get on top of the Amtrak and start checking out the town. But with no luck, couldn’t locate the source of the machine gun fire. After a bit of time, a bunch of us got back on top of the Amtrak to sit and lay down, because it does get hot inside. We sat there for a couple of hours just doing nothing. For some reason, higher ups didn’t want us to go take down the town because it wasn’t part of the major operation they had planned. Eventually, we did finally start moving out to take the town around noon; the hottest part of the day.

On the movement to Ubaydi, I stayed standing up inside the Amtrak providing security out the top of it (you can see all of this in my pictures on flickr). While moving closer to the town I can hear rounds fly over my head. They made a sound one would expect from a Hollywood movie; like a zip and zoom sound. Another new experience for me all together.

Once we reached the outside of the town, the Amtrak ramp went down and the Marines rushed out. Immediately, we came under machine gun fire. I got my team together and ran across the street to the first house while rounds were ricocheting a couple meters from me. That really didn’t bother me too much. My main focus was, believe it or not, was not to trip and fall and to run as fast as I can too cover.

As soon as I got to the first house, we were still receiving machine gun fire, but I couldn’t locate its source. Neither could the other team across the street from me. So, with out further delay, my team jumps the first wall of the house and started to clear the houses one by one. For the most part, the houses had no one inside or everyone who was inside was already all together sitting in a room. The people living there knew the drill and were waiting for us to come by. All while doing this, there was heavy weapons fire from all over the town. It was almost like a scene in a movie; Cobra attack helicopters were making attack runs with rockets, a Huey firing its mini gun, .50 caliber machine guns firing, grenade launchers and small arms fire was heard everywhere.

Luckily, the houses were built right next to each other. All we had to do was jump a 4 foot wall, on the roof, to get to the next house. This allowed us to maintain the best firing position. But I tell you what, after an hour of running around and jumping dozens of 4 foot walls, with 80 pounds of gear on, started to wear on us. Fortunately, most of the fighting had stopped within the hour of us entering the town.

While clearing the houses, my squad ran across several large weapon caches just sitting in empty houses. You can see some of them in my pictures. One house in particular, had dozens of RPG warheads, Russian rockets, and several RPKs with hundreds of rounds. Since we didn’t want to deal with the possibility of it being booby trapped, called in the combat engineers to blow up the cache. I tell you what, I’ve seen some large explosions since being here, but I’ve never seen anything like this, so close. We blew up an entire house while I was only a block away. The explosion sent debris hundreds of feet into the air and blew out every window within a block. It was very cool to see this. Once again, you can see what’s left of the house in my pictures.

By evening, we only got half way into the town and were about to pull back to a firm base. On the last block, of the last house we were going to clear before we leave, hell broke out. My team, with a team from weapons platoon, was clearing one block and the rest of 2nd squad was with 1st squad clearing the block parallel to mine. My team was on the last house of the block when all of the sudden I heard machine gun fire nearby. I was providing security in front of the house when I heard this. Immediately, I ran through the house to the roof. Still hearing more shots, I get to the roof where I left a guy from my team up there for over watch. He said shortly after hearing the machine gun fire, 2 insurgents ran out the back of the house. My guy was on the rooftop behind that house and was able to engage and kill both the guys. They didn’t even see it coming.

From my position, I was able to see clearly into backyard and the back rooms of the house where the machine gun fire came from. Next thing I know, I hear on the radio that we got casualties. What happened was a team from 1st squad was about to make entry into the house when they got torn up by machine gun fire from inside the house. We took 3 casualties right away from that. Then that’s when my guy dropped 2 men running out the back door. They threw in smoke inside the house and a grenade to retrieve the casualties. After the smoke cleared, a team made entry into the house to secure it. They went through the house and made it to the backyard to where the dead insurgents lay. The platoon sergeant told my guy good job and dropping the men and went back inside to pull out a RPK used against us. A couple of Marines left through the front of the house, while 2 stayed in the backyard.

Apparently 1 of the Marines in the backyard went back inside and went to check out a closet to clear it. As he turned the knob, a hail of rounds hit him. The other Marine in the back yard ran back inside and exchanged gun fire for only a second before he had to run back to the backyard. I was able to witness the whole exchange of gun fire. It was horrible and I couldn’t believe that 1 Marine made it safely to the backyard. My platoon then made another entry into the house to retrieve the fallen Marine only to be repelled by a heavy barrage of machine fire from an unknown location inside the house. The amazing thing about all of this, is how well disciplined these insurgents were. They waited patiently inside the house and only opened fire when they knew everyone was inside the house. All the while screaming, “God is great!” in Arabic. All the while, I am standing on the rooftop just watching and not being able to engage because I might hit friendly forces towards the front of the house.

The insurgents were able to fire through several concrete walls with armor piercing rounds. While our 5.56 mm rounds from the M16 could barley penetrate 1 wall. After 2 unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the fallen Marine, we could no risk any more casualties and with a fallen Marine inside, we couldn’t use any bigger weapons on the bad guys. Then the call came to me over the radio. I could still see the Marine inside and was asked whether or not he was dead or alive. A call I never wish to make again, but due to the situation, I had to do it. The fallen Marine never moved since he got hit and I could see a pool of blood from under him. I informed my command that there was no movement from the body. With that call, higher ups called in a M1 Abram tank. My team was ordered off the rooftop to open up a free firing direction for the tank. I had to relocate a block down and joined the snipers. I could do nothing else that night but watch.

After a long day of fighting, my team was pretty drained, and I was experiencing heat exhaustion, so we just rested on a rooftop with the snipers. After what seems to be several hours, the explosive sound of a tank firing was heard followed by a large cloud of orange fire. The 1st tank round lit a propane tank next to the house and the car in the drive way burst with flames. This was followed by 6 more rounds, some of them meant to destroy bunkers. A team from my squad made a another entry into the house with 4 grenades to help clear out the rooms. Yet again, the team entering the house was greeted with a large volume of machine gun fire. One of my buddies, in my squad (2nd), was seriously injured from this. My squad leader was able to pull him out of the house.

After all of this, the company decided to call in air to drop a 500 pound bomb. This was something my platoon commander didn’t want to do, but had to follow the order cause we were given 10 minutes before the bomb was being dropped. By this time, it was a little past midnight. We rushed to get back to a firm base, set up nearby, and waited for the bomb to be dropped. With much anger, the 1st bomb was a dud and the 2nd one totally missed the house. We had to wait till daylight before heading back out to the house to retrieve our fallen Marine.

My platoon cautiously approached the house in the morning. By this time, we knew the insurgents were firing from below the house. So just to be sure, we fired two rockets into the house from a nearby rooftop. Causing the floor to collapse on the insurgents. We think that they either bleed to death over the night or the collapse killed them. After we retrieved our fallen Marine, threw a grenade into the hole, where the insurgents were at, to be sure of their death. This ended the long ordeal with 2 KIA Marines and 5 WIA.

This was the most intense, frightening, and chaotic experience I have ever had. One thing that kept me going, was the fact that I knew I was surrounded by a bunch of Marines watching my back.

The next couple of days, my platoon was assigned to watch a road and block it. It allowed us to get some rest and deal with our losses. Believing we saw the worst of war; we were wrong. There really isn’t much to say about the following day when 1st squad’s Amtrak got blown up from a IED (improvised explosive device). It was just amazing to know that 1 Amtrak rolled over the IED, then my Amtrak did, but 1st squad’s set it off. It was a horrific scene to watch and not be able to do anything knowing that we couldn’t get all the Marines off the vehicle before it went up in flames and soon the ammunition inside was cooking off due to the fire. We lost 6 more Marines that day, 4 from my platoon and numerous casualties from the fire.

The higher ups thought it best that my platoon get back to the rear to deal with everything that happened. They had us do group counseling to talk about what happened and our friends that we have lost. It was hard, but in the end, I think it was a good way to deal with our losses.

War Is Hell

There is a saying that war is hell. I now know why. And just when I thought I have seen the worst of things, it got a whole lot worse.

In case you don't know, stories about my platoon:
MSNBC: Demise of a hard-fighting squad
Lima Company HQ focuses on helping anxious families
Lima Company Hit Hard By Fighting
Deadly firefight in a desert town shocks marines
A crippling end for Marine squad

There Was a Fire Fight!

Spent 7.62 Brass
Originally uploaded by nukeit1.

My title comes from a line from the movie, Boondock Saints, when Willem DaFoe's character describes a crime scene. I just love the way he says it and I think it is appropriate for what my week was like. It goes something like this...

My platoon, by itself, was on a civil affairs mission to a town we recently been to and made use of their schools. It was going good and somewhat fast. On the way out of the town, we dismounted our AAVs and walked alongside them down a street. We were checking on some graffiti that we marked out on a previous mission. There were a good number of kids and adults in the street. I was even giving some candy to the kids.

My platoon was in the process of loading back on the AAVs to head back home. 3rd squad was the lead element with 2nd, my squad, in the middle, and 1st squad last. As we were loading up, a Marine in 3rd squad saw a guy quickly approach a man standing along the street. This man whispered briefly into the other man's ear and within seconds, he had the children run into their houses.

Right when my squad was all loaded in the AAV and 3rd squad was in the process, they (3rd) saw a man run across the street carrying a RPG. I heard this sent over the radio and we immediately disembarked and ran to an abandoned police station that was right next to our vehicle. As my team was running up the stairs to the roof that's when I heard it all begin.

The rapid fire of a RPK machine gun followed by returning fire from 3rd squad. As I got to the roof, I tried to locate where this was all coming from. At this point, I still didn't know where we were taking fire from. I knew it was directed at 3rd squad, but I couldn't see any of it due to the numerous trees nearby. The whole fire fight lasted about a minute or two. After a few minutes of being on the roof, my team then returned to the street to provide security for the AAVs while the other squads attempted to push forward to flank the enemy. We were unable to catch or kill any of the enemy fighters.

My platoon secured the area and begun questioning the locals about the enemy fighters. Later find out that there were four armed men carrying 3 RPKs and 1 RPG. The fire fight was started with the RPG, but luckily the round bounced off the street and did not detonate. 3rd squad immediately took cover from the fire, but due to the well placed firing positions of the enemy, 3rd could not return accurate fire without losing their cover. The 4 armed men took off right away in a car and crossed the bridge to another town. No casualties for either side.

During this whole thing I never got scared or anything like that. I was mostly curious on who was shooting at us and where were they at. I definitely got excited as I thought this was the moment I have trained and waited for 3 years, but still to this date, I have yet to fire my rifle. Not even a warning shot! One of the Marines in my team thought it was funny when this whole thing started how I was just up and walking around on the rooftop carrying my rifle in one hand and had a small snack of trail mix in my other hand; occasionally eating it while trying to figure out where the firing was coming from. What can I say; I'm not going to let the insurgents interfere with my snack time.

Indirect Fire

Today started alright, except for the fact that we had to wake up at 0315 for a short, 1 day mission; just more house searches. While conducting house searches, my platoon was moving at a very good speed. We were in fact, going to get done several hours early. Right when we called up our AAVs to load them and head back to the dam, we started to receive indirect fire; mortars. Though, at this time, I am used to it and it really didn’t bother me because I know the dumb asses you fire them can’t hit anything. Though, a broken watch is right twice a day, they did not hit us this time with the 2 rounds fired.

We got back to the dam and what do you know, as soon as we all start getting off the AAVs, we got 3-120mm mortar rounds. This time, it was closer, like 200 meters away. Once again, the enemy hit out in the desert with no harm caused except some frayed nerves. We did have a mortar round strike our base a little bit ago and injured some Marines, so we don’t like to see them this close.

Then, during dinner, I was happily eating some decent chow, with our fellow troops, the Azerbaijanis (It is a country near Russia). When all of the sudden, I hear the distinct loud, explosive thuds of mortar rounds landing nearby. I thought they struck the dam right above the mess hall. Everyone in the mess hall just stopped eating and looked at one another. Faces of concern we’re on everyone, which some might say it could be fear, but we all try to hide it because well, we’re Marines. Moments later, another explosive thud from another mortar round. This time, a little bit farther away.

Due to the fact that I was hungry from a long day, I continued to eat as well as everyone else because I refuse to the terrorists interrupt my dinner. A couple minutes have passed when the call for ‘corpsman up’ was made. This did concern me because this probably meant someone was hurt. Luckily, not a single body was hurt.

Within minutes of all this, we already had our mortar tubes set up and were rocking off rounds in retaliation. Weapons Company loaded up on humvees and rolled out. Snipers were stationed high with their rifles and spotting scopes in an attempt to kill the a**holes who dare attack us.

The indirect fire count for the day came to 5. A new record since being here, so apparently, we are really pissing off some terrorists. And that is what they are—terrorists.

Adopt-A-Platoon

To balance out bad days with some good ones; I have received packages from two people via adopt-a-platoon. I had no idea that my name was in such a system, but apparently it is a non-profit organization that hooks up people with troops around the world. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a man from Pennsylvania and a lady from New Hampshire have sent me some nice care packages and letters. I just think that is awesome to have someone I don’t even know, write to me when I am half way around the world. I have friends back home that don’t write, yet these strangers will.

I just want to acknowledge and say thank you to Mr. Dave Benner of Pennsylvania and Ms. Candy Brown of New Hampshire.

Sunday at the Dam

Today was a rare day in which I was able to be at the dam on Sunday. So, I was able to go to the first 3rd Bn., 25th Marines Non-denominational church service. This was the 1st service I've been to in a long time; the reason being... the other services offered are geared towards Catholic and Roman-Catholics. It was refreshing to be able to go to service and praise and worship God.

In other news, I just wanted to say thanks to Joel for getting a German translation for me. Though, hard to read, but interesting none the less. Also, to everyone else leaving me comments. I never thought I would have so many people from around the world read my blog and checking out my pictures. It's kinda crazy when I think about it because I didn't think it was all that grand. Anyways, thanks for the support.

Foot Inspections

Just to vent some of my built up stress and anger towards the way things can be in the Marine Corps infantry. Though, I am proud to be serving, some things really get to me and this is one example. The other day, my platoon just came off a 3 day operation. All we did was sit on a road and blocked all the traffic with a rotation of 6 hours on, 6 off. The evening we come back, the platoon sergeant calls a platoon meeting. He then proceeds to ask a Lance Corporal in the platoon to show him the problems with his feet. The LCpl shows his feet to the platoon sergeant and they look alright.

Apparently, the LCpl’s feet, as he tells it, ‘were white and soggy.’ Basically, they looked like he just got out of a long bath with pruny feet. Now, keep this in mind, we have 2 Marines, in the platoon, on light duty because of feet problems. Our platoon sergeant then asks this young Marine when the last time he took off his boots was. The LCpl responded with this, “the last time we were at the Dam.” This, by the way, was 3 days prior. This was an incredibly stupid thing to do, especially when the temperatures are reaching 100s.

The platoon sergeant was furious that the squad leaders and fire team leaders weren’t doing their jobs. I can understand why he would, but then we proceeded with a little speech about the platoon sergeant is now going to micromanage the platoon since the squad and fire team leaders can’t do their jobs.

The platoon then proceeded with a feet inspection done by the squad leaders. With no new foot problems to report, the platoon sergeant then tells that we all will start using foot powder everyday. In addition, he does not like to see dirty socks hanging in our rooms. He says that while in the rear, we should be changing our socks everyday. I totally agree with this. The problem I have is Marines, in our platoon and in the other room, are the cause of most of these ills. Not to mention that their room absolutely reeks of a deathly aroma of feet.

Due to these defects, the platoon sergeant wants another feet inspection in one hour; 2230, that’s 10:30PM for those non-military. So, the grumpy bunch of Marines in 1st platoon goes back to our rooms and we apply foot powder and take down our socks; well, my room does anyway. 2230 rolls around and we partake in another foot inspection; this time done by the fire team leaders. Same as last time, no new foot problems to report and everyone now has foot powder on their feet. One problem, the platoon sergeant sees that there are still socks hanging up in our living quarters. So we have another foot inspection in another hour; 2330 or 11:30PM.

This time, a pissed off platoon goes back to our rooms and corrects the faults. We wait till 2330. We get back in a line; this time for a foot inspection done by our buddy. As before, no new foot problems to report (really, what foot problems can develop in 2 hours while wearing shower shoes?). The platoon sergeant inspects the rooms again, and still finds hanging socks! “This is ridiculous!” I thought to myself as I sit awaiting further gloom in my life. These problems were coming from the other room with a bunch of deficient fire team leaders and 1 squad leader. After another talk by the platoon sergeant about how we can play these games all night, we were able to go to bed after this 3rd and last foot inspection.

Basically, I really hate it when only a few in the group screw up and the higher leadership punishes everyone else for their defects.

Germans

Something very interesting has come to my attention recently. It seems as though some Germans have taken interest in my blog and also quite a likening to my flickr pictures. I was wondering why my blog all of the sudden reached over 1000 hits and at the same time, my flickr photo stream has been viewed over 8000 times! Some individual pictures were viewed over 1200 times! That’s crazy I thought to myself. It wasn’t like this last week. Then I got an anonymous email through blogger and this is what it says:

Sorry, it's me again. If you wonder, why so much traffic is on your Blog, look here: http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/19/19837/1.html
Most of the germans a laughing about this, maybe you understand...and find somebody to translate, it's about you!!!

Also, I got another email that was sent merely minutes before the anonymous one and it is from a German! I won’t show the email address, but here is the message (I had to slightly edit the content):

Hi Fighter *g*
Sorry about laughing, but an hard soldier, who is posting about war, tells something of the mother's accident. Thats,wahat we call "Blender" in Germany. Like a Fake-Rolex,it sems to be something other, than it is in reality...
I hope, you will land fron your "warrior-trip"... Thik only, if somebody would come in your house, only why Bush is an asshole and does much s**t. Nice thoughts? I think not...
Greetz,Megablaster
Quit German Airforce before they gone to war :-)

So, if anyone out there can help me out by translating what the German web page says about me that would be great. Heck, any of you Germans out there want to do this for me, that would be fine as well.

By the way, I’ve been to Germany and I liked my experience and the country itself was wonderful. I don’t mind if you all read what I have to say and learn about my experiences in this war. But please, keep your political thoughts to yourself. I’m not writing these blogs to be anything political or whether or not going to war was right or wrong. I am writing my experiences so that my family, friends, and any one else for that matter, know what I’ve been doing. Letting them see a more positive side, sometimes, to this war that is not shown on any news network. And the sacrifices that my fellow troops have to make, and most importantly, the sacrifices that the Iraqi people make to combat the terrorists in Iraq.

Operation Stay On Line

Yet another completion of a week long operation. Basically, did the same thing we have been doing; house searches, searching fields and farms (while staying on line in a good looking formation), and the occasional raid. There were some highlights about this op. Like the day my squad had to stand security over a fish market. The stench was horrendous and we had to stay there for most of the day. I’ve upload a picture of how they stored fish; Iraqi just keep it on ice and when it thaws out, it drains to the outside.

My squad has also been unofficially designated as the mountain goat squad. Why you ask. It seems like every time there is a cliffs or high ground, we have to be the ones to go up to and check it out. I also ran across a lot of rooms, if that’s what I can call them, built in the caves of these cliffs. People build up mud brick walls and make a little room. From what I have seen, people just use them as storage rooms. I’ve found one full of corn feed. Once again, check out my pictures on flickr.

This past week has also included a lot of action for the Marines of Lima Co. Just to let you know, my platoon, so far, is the only one who has yet to engage in a fire fight or take small arms fire. One of the platoons did get ambushed and it turned into one of the longest fire fights since Fallujah. Can’t get too specific on the details. There was one night when we had 4 separate engagements in one city. Rumor has it, there were at least 30 funerals the following day.

Near the end of the op, we ran across a large weapons cache. It had all kinds of explosives, rifles, ammunition, and machine guns. To set an example to the terrorists in the area, we blew up the house. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a before picture, but did take an after picture; so check it out.

Almost forget, I was part of a raid that netted a high value target. This guy had computer CDs with some pretty crazy stuff on them and even a poster of Osama bin Laden with a lot of stupid writing on it.

If anyone is interested, here is a link to a web site that has adopted our company. It shows all related news stories about us: http://www.reminderpublications.com/marine/marine.html. You will have to look for the link on the left side bar.

Corporal

Finally after 2.5 years as a Lance Corporal, I am being promoted today to the rank of Corporal. That is E-4 which in the Corps means I will become a Non-Commissioned Officer. I am very excited about it. One because I get more pay and two I will be treated a little bit better with the perks that comes from being a NCO in the Marine Corps. Technically, I am supposed to be promoted tomorrow on the 1st of the month, but due to operations, that can't always happen. So if any one reads this and sends me mail, please make the switch to Cpl. McCauley. Thanks.

First Combat Experience

Well, what can I say? I am now a combat veteran, though I really don’t feel like it. I always think of combat vets as old guys who went to Vietnam. Now, I will be one to replace those ranks of veterans. To express some of my experiences on this blog, I hope to remember these times and better myself later in life.

First off, I just got back from a 2 week operation called River Bridge. My company went from town to town clearing each house by house, vehicle by vehicle. We even went through a lot of farming fields. Searching, just searching for anything that would kill us whether that be illegal weapons or explosives. For the most part, we confiscated single barrel shotguns, extra AK-47s (they are allowed 1 per household), occasional handgun, and even a little bit of explosives. We even detained a few people along the way. Some days lasted 24+ hours and we had to learn to sleep an hour here or there during the day to keep us going.

One thing that I would like to let people know about is how friendly some of the Iraqi people are to us even though we enter their homes and conduct a very thorough search of their belongings. We were offered food, tea, and candy, even from a man who I just cut off his lock into his shop down the street. We also went into empty houses or buildings, though sometimes we did not have that choice, and went “firm.” Which means we set up security outside the house and secured the inside as well. Then we took a short break usually to eat lunch or sleep for the night. I found this odd when we had to kick people out of their house even, but we usually let them stay. Even with all this going on, they gave us blankets and food at night. This was truly shocking for me to witness.

That brings me to my next point: breaking into their homes and businesses. This is something that has to be done when the occupants are not home. I got pretty good at it, especially when we had to enter about 50 shops in a row. I am now very proficient in hammering, cutting, or kicking in doors, locks, and gates.

Children generally like us in the towns I’ve seen. Marines hand out candy to them and talk with the ones that can speak a little bit of English. Plus, they treat us kind of like celebrities; asking for our names to be written on their hands. Generally, it is always a good sign to see children around us because Iraqis won’t let their children get hurt by these terrorists.

The biggest complaint I have about my job is the load I have to carry on my shoulders and back. Back in the States, they always tell us to train like we fight, but for some reason they would never give us a full combat load to train with. What I mean by full combat load is this: flak jacket with SAPI plates, Kevlar helmet, camelback with 3 liters of water, 7 full magazines of rounds, a couple hand grenades, a few grenade launcher rounds, binoculars, extra first aid supplies, and other mission essential gear like night vision goggles, breaching kit, flash bangs, and trauma bags with the occasional AT-4 anti-tank rocket launcher. For me, this load is about 50-60 pounds of constant weight put upon my shoulders and back. My shoulder hurts so much that I can barley move my arm to feed myself. So, anyone who wants to send me some good pain killers and icy hot, I would be in your debt. Unfortunately, the mobile PX only comes around here twice a month and sometimes I am out doing ops.

Now for some interesting things that happened on this operation. My platoon did not receive any small arms fire, though other platoons did and it was sniper fire or a RPG that went between two AAVs (Amphibious Assault Vehicles, this is what we use most of the time). The first time I heard an explosion, not our own, was when I was sleeping at our firm base we set up in town. It was a mine that blew up the front of a humvee just outside the wire. Suffered a few casualties and everyone will live. This is not a sound I like to hear wake me, but nonetheless, something I realize I will experience a lot of.

We lost some coalition forces, Iraqi Freedom Guards, during an IED explosion with a brief fire fight. Our Abram tanks were able to roll out and help them out by blowing up a building hiding the insurgents. I did not witness this, but was able to hear the fight in the distance. The Iraqi Freedom Guards are a well trained force that I respect and admire. We lived together for short periods of time and was able to work side by side with them clearing houses. We are also fortunate that they can enter mosques and conduct other operations that the U.S. can’t do.

All this never really scared me like I thought it would until I had my experience with an IED up close. This happened near the end of the operation and we just rolled up into a new town early that morning. Startled the usual house searches and when we got to the second house, I was providing security outside for my team when all of the sudden I was hit with this shock wave followed by a very loud explosion. I turned around and saw a very large cloud of smoke rolling into the air about 200 meters behind me on the road we just rolled up on 30 minutes prior. Luckily, no one was injured and shortly thereafter, weapons platoon lit up a speeding car with a large amount of gasoline in the trunk shortly after the explosion. They killed 2 Iraqis that is believed to be a SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device). One tactic that the terrorists here use is a IED followed up with a SVBIED. After this all occurred, my team was in front of the platoon who was in charge with searching the area. I was walking down the same road where the IED 200 meters behind me went off with a possible daisy chain of 155mm IEDs along that road. I’ll say just this, I was very aware of my immediate surroundings and where my team was moving the remainder of the mission.

I think this will sum up everything that I did for about 2 weeks here in Iraq. I do have some other stories, some tragic and some pretty funny like my squad literally sitting next to an IED for about 5 hours before we noticed it. Thankfully the detonator was broken, so we were told.

Different Time Zones

One thing that I have come to hate about being on the other side of the world is the fact that I am 8 hours ahead of everyone that I know back home. So, when it is 8PM for me, it is only 12PM back home. So that means that people are usually still at work and such. This causes a problem when I get a chance to use the phones. First, I must wait like 2-3 hours to use the phones (sometimes the wait is longer). Then, I have 30 minutes to call people. Usually I make a call to my mother, then to other family and friends. The only person who I virtually always get is my mother, other than that, I have an extremely hard time getting ahold of people back home. This saddens me because I would like to talk to my friends and see what's up. Email works, but voice is better is a faster way to carry on a conversation.
In other news, I hate stairs, the smell and taste of sulfur in the air, and the long periods of boredom that results when one's country occupies another. Plus, not knowing what I will be doing tomorrow, or the fact that I don't even know what I will be doing today kinda sucks as well. I suppose it doesn't really matter because when I do find out stuff, it usually changes anyways.

A High Powered Freedom

A High Powered Freedom

High upon a block suppressant, concealing the liquid might of nature.
High above a valley, lights scattered and squandered.
Almost a vivid reflection of the stars above, the stream blocks the conjoining pattern.
A constant power wind rushes over the peak, grazing across the remianded lake off into the distance.
I feel a sense of flight, a sense of longingness to fly. And fly far away I shall into the distance.
Away from the sulfur scented ways, far from the moans of machines, I take a breath, a somber and longing lover’s breath.
Smiling from my companion’s image and notional scent, I close my eyes and take my flight.
Across the gorge and through the trees, I open my eyes and find my way back leaning against the rail.
Weapons slung standing amongst the wire and armor.
Reiniforced turrets and heavy guns in place, I find myself oddly and silently at home.
A smooth sadness accompany with an empty heart. I zoom out to my self, a mere soul.
A non-significant Marine standing guard over your costly freedom.
A freedom that you complain, a freedom that costs you so little.
Sleep safe America and know that my food tastes better day after day.

Lance Corporal Cohen, A.J.

Operation Iraqi Freedom III

Due to lack of internet access that I will soon have, I don’t think I will be able to keep much of a blog on here. I will try my best with letting my thoughts and such come out on here. In light that someone will have a better understanding of what a Marine goes through/does here in Iraq...
After a long 63 hours of traveling on many various kinds of transportation, buses, helo, commercial flight, and C-117, I finally arrived here in Hadithah Dam last week. Pretty nice place; definitely a lot better than 29 Palms. The chow is remarkable compared to the trash I got at Camp Wilson in California and we finally have a hard floor instead of sand. Too bad I will be leaving soon for another mission that will last for an unknown amount of time and it will be a somewhat remote location; hence no internet for awhile after this.
In other news, we still have to deal with a lot of BS that I thought would have ended when we entered a combat zone; i.e. can’t wear beanies while in the base, had a couple company size formations, on top of a dam might I add, and still have no toilet paper in the heads. On a positive side, tomorrow I will finally be able to go outside the wire and start doing my job. Something that I’ve been training for and waiting for about 3 years now.

29 Palms

Here is an update of what I’ve been doing for the 2.5 weeks. Unfortunately, there is no internet access at the field camp where we are staying, but I am able to have 1 day of liberty to main side and therefore be able to do this.

Our unit has been training mostly in the basics of infantry because it is said that is where a lot of mistakes are made. Spent sometime doing BUST (Basic Urban Skills Training) like clearing rooms and building. Learning about satellite patrolling, through a city, which involves individual fire teams of a squad taking a street each. We also did EMP (Enhanced Marksmanship Program) to better our firing skills in confined spaces. This weekend, we begin our RCAX (Revised Combined Arms Exercise) which involves a lot of live fire ranges on the squad, platoon, and company level. After that, we are being shipped to March Air Force base for SASO (Security and Stabilization Operations) training and that involves basically what we are doing in Iraq right now: policing operations. At the end of SASO, we will be doing a 3 day exercise of it which involves role players, setting up a firm base, and conducting security patrols. After that, we are going to be pretty much done and waiting for further word of our fly out date.

Life here at 29 Palms kinda sucks; we live at a field camp which has hooches that have a hard rood, but sand floors. So everything I have is getting covered in dust. I get to sleep on a cot most nights and it is really cold at night here. It uses to be in the low 30s, now it is in the low 40s at night. Oh, no heaters in the hooches. It does warm up quite fast when the sun is out; like 70s sometimes. I am starting to get used to life here, so I don’t hate it as much as I used to, but still miss home. I try to go to church on Sunday’s, when they let us, but it is not very good. Try and merge Protestant, Catholic, Roman Catholic, and have a Lutheran chaplain. It leans more towards Catholics than anything I think.

Funny thing about here is that the base in Iraq, where we are supposed to be going, is better than this misery. I hear that it will have hard floors and roofs, internet access, and better chow compliments of Halliburton. Plus, locals are contracted to clean our rooms; a nice added benefit of being in a combat zone I guess. That’s it for now. I will post again next month if they don’t take away our liberty to Las Vegas again (1st had 4 days liberty, then no liberty, now 2 days).