093009 The roof...the roof...the roof is on firya! We don't need no watuh...let the mofo burn!

093009 The roof...the roof...the roof is on firya! We don't need no watuh...let the mofo burn!

Fire is dangerous but combined with driest of burning material and 4% humidity winds and you've got a recipe for disaster.  This fire occurred at VBC (Victory Base Complex) when  friend was visiting and he went to chow and by the time they returned...the roof is on firya!

Tents catching on fire are even more dangerous and when I'm sleeping in a tent I make sure to sleep with a knife in case I have to cut my way out.  I've seen a tent burn in 30 seconds so there's little time to escape should there be a fire.

Fortunately no one was hurt in this fire and there was minimal property damage as well.  Oh yea, you get bonus points if you know the band from which the subject line is pulled from.
R/Chris

092709 Battalion Picnic

092709 Battalion Picnic

 

The new commander here at the 402nd is trying to install a bit of camaraderie so we had a picnic last night.  As a contractor there is an 'us' vs 'them' attitude with the military (as I'm sure it is with them.)  Some Army personnel may prefer that you use their rank when addressing some (First Sergeant Blow) while other might just prefer their first name (Joe).  For some others they may prefer rank until you 'earned' the right to call them 'Joe'.  Either way it can be an unfamiliar relationship until there is some degree of camaraderie (such as a picnic!)

We'll probably do this again in month or at least until the Commander see how much it costs to pay for this out of his budget!

Also, the woman in pink in the pics is Jamie Spears.  Her cousin is Britney.  Small world out there.

R/Chris

092609 Rain and 'getting away'

092609 Rain and 'getting away'

It rained here at Balad Iraq for the second time of this season.  There are two seasons in tropics/sub tropic latitudes.  They are the wet season and the dry season.  There really is no spring, summer, fall or winter.  It's either blazing hot and dry or cool and wet (and muddy) here in Iraq.  Also as a contractor or frankly anyone it can be very difficult to 'get away' here.  I have my own hooch (living space) but I share a common bath/shower/toilet.  If you're a new contractor here you can count on being in a SEAhut for at least six months IF can get a hooch.  A SEAhut (basically a big bunk space with 20-30 bunk beds)

The bunkers can be a good place to 'get away' if only for a bit.  Here I can chill and grab a smoke (which I do very rarely). 
R/Chris

092509 Iraqi rugs...made in Iran!

092509 Iraqi rugs...made in Iran!

A while back there was a rug sale here.  The US Army encourages any economic efforts that involve the local Iraqis.  There are a variety of rugs and most are somewhat cheap but durable.  One of the other problems is that the rugs can be quite bulky.  If you want to send home a rug any bigger then 4'x'6, the shipping costs will be more than the cost of the rug itself!  I bought a few rugs and have given them away as gifts.  One of the pics above shows me holding the rug I bought for $150.  I shipped off the rug and am waiting to hear if the recipient liked the rug.  And yes, on the back of most of the rugs it says 'Made in Iran'
R/Chris

092309 Wicked Sand Storm and SPC Cote

092309 Wicked Sand Storm and SPC Cote

Unfortunately I see too many message of the sort below.
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JBB (Joint Base Balad),
     By order of the Installation Commander, Brigadier General Craig A.Franklin, the American Flag will be flown at half staff Wednesday 23 September 2009 in honor of SPC Michael S. Cote, Jr.   SPC Michael Cote, 20, of Fairbanks, AK., died 19 September 2009 at Joint Base Balad. He was deployed from Fort  Wainwright, AK. SPC Michael Cote is survived by his wife Ashlee and daughter Brooke.
     The memorial service for this fallen hero will be held Wednesday, 23 September 2009, 1630 at the JBB Sustainer Theater.  Please keep the family of SPC Michael Cote and Task Force 38 in your thoughts and prayers.
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On 19 September the night started off like any other night and I was having pizza at the new Italian restaurant here on a US Army base in Iraq run by the Bosnians.  A friend and I were outside and we could see lighting in the distance and then he noticed the 'clouds' coming at us.  I said "that's not a cloud" and as the wind picked up we decided to get inside.  On the short walk to get inside the sand storm was on us and we couldn't see even to the other side of the road (maybe 20').  We got inside and just as quickly as it on was on us the storm had passed (maybe 15 minutes total.)  Going outside we now heard sirens and thought maybe a car or two had been in an accident.

 

What really had happened was that two helos were inbound with PAX (passengers) and one helo turned around after deciding that the weather was too much.  The other helo continued on and crashed attempting to land.  SPC Cote died and 12 others were wounded. Today was the memorial for SPC Cote.  I've attended a few of these in the past and decided to go to this one. 

There were about 300 soldiers there and I saw 4 civilians there as well (me being one of them.)  The event is very solemn and  executed without rehearsal due to familiarity that comes being in this environment.  There was also some pics of SPC Cote and mpeg files set to some Rolling Stones music that played on a big screen as soldiers marched past rendering a final salute.  Finally there was a 'roll call' of his platoon where the sergeant barks out names with SPC Cote's name being called last.  The sergeant calls for SPC Cote three times but there is nothing but silence.  He's gone.  Finally there is a rifle salute.

 

If a civilian had died there'd be no ceremony.  We're here for the Army (not the other way around).  It is what it is.
R/Chris