Thursday, March 31, 2005
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.
Monday, March 28, 2005
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.
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.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
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.
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.
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