KUDOS!

Yes...
I know...
I suck because I haven't posted in so long.
Sue me.

Since SFC Fisher & I were pulled away to other assignments last week, we were unable to take part in the Tarmiyah Youth Sports Program as planned.
But, I wanted to give public kudos to the following units for making yesterday's Tamiyah Youth Sports Program a resounding success:

• Tactical PSYOP Team 1213
• Team Blue, 1-111th Infantry
• Charlie "Choctaw" Company, 1-111th Infantry

I want to give special kudos to SGT Choe, SGT Green and SFC Boos. SGT Green and his team provided convoy and site security so that everyone got to Tarmiyah and back safely. SGT Choe & SFC Boos planned executed the whole operation with minimal input. SGT Choe even organized the Iraqi Army, the local Iraqi Police, the Sowha (Sons of Iraq) and the local politicans to work together and take ownership of this event.

It was truely an event for us and the Iraqis to be proud of. Thanks to everyone who supported us with soccer balls or otherwise. Over 1500 children showed up for this event. You helped us make a difference here in Tarmiyah!

(now if we can just keep the Iraqi police from stealing balls next time...)

-JGH

Dust... Revisited

First, I'd like to offer my obligatory apologies for not posting in such a long time.

Yeah, yeah, I'll try to do better... blah, blah blah.

Truth is, I've been busy. Gimme a break, will ya?

Anyhow, a few blog entries back (like in January) I queried, "Which came first? The Army or the Dust?"

The answer, it would seem, is definitely the DUST. And, I have found the origin of ALL dust on the planet.

IRAQ.

Yes, that's right. This clean-air forsaken republic is certainly the source and origin of all dust that appears on your coffee tables and in your attics.

Why just yesterday, we suffered through a HUGE dust storm that left the ground (and any other surface) absolutely covered by the dreaded grayish-brown powder. And no, this wasn't a three or four hour storm that gave way to blue skies and chirping birds. This monstrosity is JUST getting started!

So, I have yet another day of lung-clogging goodness to look forward too.

Joy.

And with that, I leave you all with these departing thoughts:

1. If this country is supposedly the site for the Garden of Eden, then I understand fully why Adam and Eve ate the apple.

2. Dust. It's what's for dinner!

Take care y'all.

-JGH

Six Months Down

Well folks, it's all downhill from here.

Sunday, April 19th was the six month mark for this mobilization. I am definitely into a "battle-rhythm" now. So far, I've managed to keep myself un-perforated. This is good thing.

Folks keep asking me to describe the sights, smells and sounds of Iraq.

Well, I am based at Camp Taji. We are just north of Baghdad. But, we may as well be on another planet. The Tigris River borders us on the east. As such, there is very lush vegetation in my area. In the morning, there is a syrupy sweet smell in the air. It's a bit like a mix between thistle and morning-glory flowers. Other days, the air stinks of burning trash.

Every so often, dust storms blow in from the west and give the air a freakish red glow. Most days though, it's bright and sunny. Occasionally, we get a thunderstorm here. The rain is always welcome. The mud it creates, however, is NOT!

Most days its fairly quiet here on Taji. Occasionally, you can hear the crazy Iraqi trucks on the highway that borders our base. There is a huge flock of mourning doves that lives near my office. So, every day they are out coo'ing or clucking or whatever sound they make. Out in the towns, there is the usual hustle & bustle of a rural market place. The only odd thing is hearing the call to prayer being sung at noon. I have to admit that it was a bit weird at first. Now, I barely even hear it.
At night, the most common sound is artillery. We fire a lot of illumination to keep the bad guys on their toes.
Of course, the one sound that you hear 24/7 is helicopters. They are everywhere.

For sights, follow this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/halljg6/Iraq2009?feat=directlink
This is where I am keeping a photographic log of my time here in Iraq.

Anyhow, I will try to keep of with the blog better.

No promises though.

Take care!

-JGH

Status Quo

Two-Hundred fifty-six days to go.

Not too much to write about this week. We are continuing to push civil governace & rule of law to the leaders of our area. Some get it. Others, not so much.

Today makes five months since I reported to Ft. Benning for this mobilization. Time is definitely moving fast. I just wish it would go faster.

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes last week!

Take care!

-JGH

It Ain't All Kittens & Cuddles

Two-hundred seventy-four days to go.

First, sorry for the communications blackout over the past few weeks. I would love to blame it on me being lazy and not writing. But, unfortunately, it was caused by a much more serious matter.

Last Saturday, my unit suffered it's first soldier killed in action. While I didn't know the soldier personally, I certainly felt the gamut of emotions that accompanies a loss like that. I hope that this is the last casualty that we'll have on this deployment. I know that the leadership of our battalion is working tirelessly to that end as well. But, this is still a combat zone. We are still soldiers. And, it is our duty to go into harm's way. Please keep the guys "on the line" in your thoughts and prayers.

I'm going to switch gears a bit since, well, this is my blog and I can do that.

Almost everyone that emails me asks what kind of care package they can send.

Seriously, I want for nothing here. I have a full Post Exchange where I can buy everything from Bic razors to a bicycle. Plus, we are OVER fed here. There is so much food here that I have to work hard NOT to over eat.

If anything, I'd ask that you send school supplies and soccer balls. The kids here cling to anything that our soldiers give them as if it were a gift handed to them by Santa himself.

Our battalion has already received soccer balls from the Kick for Nick program. I can't wait to get them out to the schools in our battalion area. If you'd like more information, go to http://www.kickfornick.com.

Well, that's it for now.

Y'all take care.

-JGH

Outside of the Wire

Two-hundred ninety days to go.

As usual, change is constant in the Army. So it comes as no surprise that my job has changed as well.

I will now function as the battalion S7. Just what is the "S7?" I'm glad you asked! The S7 is the information operations officer.

Just what does this "information operations officer" do exactly?

Well, THIS. I am the guy in charge of getting my commander's message out the the local populous here in Iraq, the families back at home and the greater viewing public of the good ole' U.S of A. As well, I coordinate any media visits into my battalion's area.

This isn't a position that I am unfamiliar with. In fact, I served in a similar capacity back in 1998 at the National Training Center with my old active duty unit, 1-67 Armor.

So, on my first day on the job as the S7, I accompanied my battalion leadership to a council meeting of the local sheiks in our area. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about leaving the safety of the base. However, I rode in an MRAP and our convoy was VERY well armed. The MRAP was a fairly comfortable ride and I felt quite safe with it's armor protection and safety features.

The council meeting was a bit surreal. There were dozens of sheiks there in traditional headdresses. But after a few moments, I realized that they were functioning not unlike any city or county council back home in the US. In fact, I really became impressed with the political savvy of many of gentlemen in the room. Granted, Iraq has a LONG way to go with stopping corruption & violence and increasing civic governance. But, that's what we as citizen soldiers bring to the table. And let's be brutally honest, these are the same issues that we still deal with back in the US.

Overall, it was a good day.

Take care y'all!

-JGH

Sand, Dust & Good Chow

Three-hundred days to go.

If I were to sum up Camp Buehring, Kuwait, it would be:

Sand.
Dust.
Good chow.

Camp Buehring has this incredible beach quality sand. When I was at the range last week, it was like being on the beach. Only, there was NO OCEAN! Anywhere.
The vastness of the open desert is truly a sight to behold. It's been years since I was at NTC (Ft. Irwin, CA). So, to see the open desert was incredible.

The dust comes with the Army. I imagine that anywhere the Army goes, the dust follows. Dust is a natural part of being in the Army. It begs to be asked. Which came first? The Army or the Dust?

Camp Buehring has one of the best chow halls that this soldier has ever had the pleasure of frequenting. I can only hope that the chow is this good when I go north into Iraq.

That actually brings up another point. Chow.

In the Army, everything revolves around chow.
We get up. Conduct personal hygiene. Eat Chow.

We train/conduct maintenance/attend a meeting. Then, we go to chow.

We train some more/conduct more maintenance/ attend another meeting. Then we go to chow.

We go to bed. The cycle begins again.

Oh well....
Time for chow.

-JGH