A holiday spent deployed is a difficult feeling to describe. It is hard to make those phone calls home, knowing what your missing on the other end. There is nothing I want more in the world than to be with you, but it puts me at ease hearing you laugh and knowing you are ok.
Living in such tight quarters has molded us into one big family. We may not agree all the time, but it is our differences which are our greatest asset. Each soldier brings something to this company in such a way that if he was not here, then something would be missing. It may not feel like a lot has changed in the short time that we have been here, but when you step back and look at the soldiers eating and laughing side by side at crowded Thanksgiving tables, you can see the brotherhood which we have become.
I had the distinct honor of re-enlisting one of my soldiers after the meal. In front of our senior leadership and the rest of the soldiers, a fantastic NCO dedicated 3 more years to his profession. I cannot express how proud or honored I was to be a part of this. I am humbled that he chose me to swear him in.
I miss all of you more than you will ever know. It is the laughter around a dinner table which I desire most. It's always been about the food anyway!
Love always
Kyle
28 November 2008
24 November 2008
No News is Good News...I promise
Sorry I have not written in a while. I have been working 20 hour days on average. The stuff I can write about is boring and the stuff I can't write about...well it's just not appropriate to put on the web. Just know that I am having a great time over here, honestly. A Counter Insurgency is such a complex environment. You are always on your toes, and the challenge is both rewarding and stimulating. Sectarian Violence, Tribal Boundaries, Ulterior Motives....it's all there waiting to trump you. This has been so much more stimulating than a traditional war could ever be.
I miss everyone dearly. I would like to thank all of the letters from the Soldiers Angels that I have been recieving. You take the time to individually write us, and it means a great deal. I plan on writing each person back when I get home. I am just too busy right now to even attempt it.
Heres something for your viewing pleasures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsGjcdPbu84
With lots of love
xoxoxo
I miss everyone dearly. I would like to thank all of the letters from the Soldiers Angels that I have been recieving. You take the time to individually write us, and it means a great deal. I plan on writing each person back when I get home. I am just too busy right now to even attempt it.
Heres something for your viewing pleasures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsGjcdPbu84
With lots of love
xoxoxo
18 November 2008
The Few
The sons of Iraq was created to provide jobs to military aged males susceptible to become insurgents. Its like a neighborhood watch group who operate checkpoints and provide security throughout the towns they live in. Many deem it as the turning point in this war...
with that being said I want to share a story with you. Several soldiers have been recieving care packages composed of abnormal contents. Notebooks, pens, flashlights, blankets, etc. When asked why they are asking home for such things do you know what they say?
"Sir, it's for the kids. Sir its for the check points."
Think about this for a minute. How truly amazing these kids really are...
with that being said I want to share a story with you. Several soldiers have been recieving care packages composed of abnormal contents. Notebooks, pens, flashlights, blankets, etc. When asked why they are asking home for such things do you know what they say?
"Sir, it's for the kids. Sir its for the check points."
Think about this for a minute. How truly amazing these kids really are...
15 November 2008
The Revenge of Saddam
I spoke too soon I guess. Shortly after the encuonter with the farmer we returned back to our FOB for a lunch event with all of the local Shieks. They brought the food; chicken, keebob, vegetables, and bread. The bread by the way is the best bread I have ever had. The other food I cannot say the same about. While it tasted good, something went terribly wrong in its preparation. I have been down for two days now with infectuous diahrea and everything that goes with it. The medecine is slowly picking me back up but i have been in real rough shape. Lesson 1 to a deploying soldier; DO NOT EAT THE FOOD!
12 November 2008
Been a While
I know it's been a while, I am sorry. You cannot fathom how stretched thin and busy we have been around here. Its truly amazing what a soldier can accomplish.
We searched a farming area today which we had deemed to be of suspicious nature. We were deliberate in our actions and as we approached the farm house. There were several military aged men on the premises and from surveillance we knew that they had at least one weapon. We were prepared for anything.
As we walk to the house, two of the young men begin speaking to us in broken English. They are very excited to see us and love the opportunity to chat. After several minutes their father, the head of his household comes outside to greet us. He invites us inside his tiny house.
The man has had a tough life as a farmer. He makes best with his farm and lives in a small house with nine children and beds engulfing what little floor space he has. He must work long hours because the water in the canals only comes once a week to feed his wheat. When it comes, it does not last more than a day. The man engages us in conversation, he has long since ignored the pestering of the mosquitos which are attacking us at free will.
I mention this man because he is who I will think of many years from now when I recollect my days in Iraq. The man does not have much, but he has enough. He invites us into his home where we drink sweet chai (Iraq tea) and eat cakes which his son has prepared. We ask if we can bring some of our cakes to our soldiers who are waiting outside, his son has already taken care of them. He cannot stop smiling. He speaks of coalition forces as if we are a part of his family. His village is now safe. He does not have to worry about secratarian violence. Life for the moment is very good.
We return to our vehicles standing a little taller than when we left them. For the first time in a while I felt like maybe, just maybe I was doing something good. Like, maybe this is what is Iraq.
We searched a farming area today which we had deemed to be of suspicious nature. We were deliberate in our actions and as we approached the farm house. There were several military aged men on the premises and from surveillance we knew that they had at least one weapon. We were prepared for anything.
As we walk to the house, two of the young men begin speaking to us in broken English. They are very excited to see us and love the opportunity to chat. After several minutes their father, the head of his household comes outside to greet us. He invites us inside his tiny house.
The man has had a tough life as a farmer. He makes best with his farm and lives in a small house with nine children and beds engulfing what little floor space he has. He must work long hours because the water in the canals only comes once a week to feed his wheat. When it comes, it does not last more than a day. The man engages us in conversation, he has long since ignored the pestering of the mosquitos which are attacking us at free will.
I mention this man because he is who I will think of many years from now when I recollect my days in Iraq. The man does not have much, but he has enough. He invites us into his home where we drink sweet chai (Iraq tea) and eat cakes which his son has prepared. We ask if we can bring some of our cakes to our soldiers who are waiting outside, his son has already taken care of them. He cannot stop smiling. He speaks of coalition forces as if we are a part of his family. His village is now safe. He does not have to worry about secratarian violence. Life for the moment is very good.
We return to our vehicles standing a little taller than when we left them. For the first time in a while I felt like maybe, just maybe I was doing something good. Like, maybe this is what is Iraq.
06 November 2008
Boo Voters
Hey everyone,
First off, I would like to thank you all for the warm birthday wishes. It felt great hearing from everyone. It was weird not being home for it, but the kind words made it alot easier. Thanks again.
Just trying to settle in here as we continue to synchronize ("rip" in army jargon) with the departing unit. It has been a daunting task to establish any degree of normalcy because we are ripping with several different units at the same time. The area that my company owns is enormous. With so much terrain comes the infrastructure and personalities and everything else, its a lot to digest. One day ata time.....
What has been troubling is that one of the units we are replacing has not been doing there job to army standards. This happens from time to time as units become too comfortable in their area. The problem with this is that it leads to complacency, and that is a soldier's worst enemy. As the new unit coming in, I get the sense that their are serious gaps in intelligence that we will need to fill. No problem, just a little more work on our end. It will get done.
In other news, I was adopted! Visit www.soldiersangels.org. Since it has become apparent that alot of people are viewing this blog, I felt I should mention it. Its a fantastic site where you adopt a soldier over seas and send them "goodies." Just do me a favor, adopt an army soldier or marine. The air force and navy guys have got great tans over here from lying around on their fat asses. The same can be said for National Guard. I can't believe soldiers who are currently not deployed are asking to be adopted ;)
Well I guess that's all I have for now. I have to run, theres a job to finish before our Democratic Country decides to take over the world.
Love you all!
p.s. Im glad to see someone got to eat cheescake on my birthday!
First off, I would like to thank you all for the warm birthday wishes. It felt great hearing from everyone. It was weird not being home for it, but the kind words made it alot easier. Thanks again.
Just trying to settle in here as we continue to synchronize ("rip" in army jargon) with the departing unit. It has been a daunting task to establish any degree of normalcy because we are ripping with several different units at the same time. The area that my company owns is enormous. With so much terrain comes the infrastructure and personalities and everything else, its a lot to digest. One day ata time.....
What has been troubling is that one of the units we are replacing has not been doing there job to army standards. This happens from time to time as units become too comfortable in their area. The problem with this is that it leads to complacency, and that is a soldier's worst enemy. As the new unit coming in, I get the sense that their are serious gaps in intelligence that we will need to fill. No problem, just a little more work on our end. It will get done.
In other news, I was adopted! Visit www.soldiersangels.org. Since it has become apparent that alot of people are viewing this blog, I felt I should mention it. Its a fantastic site where you adopt a soldier over seas and send them "goodies." Just do me a favor, adopt an army soldier or marine. The air force and navy guys have got great tans over here from lying around on their fat asses. The same can be said for National Guard. I can't believe soldiers who are currently not deployed are asking to be adopted ;)
Well I guess that's all I have for now. I have to run, theres a job to finish before our Democratic Country decides to take over the world.
Love you all!
p.s. Im glad to see someone got to eat cheescake on my birthday!
04 November 2008
Cry If I Want To...
Haha it sucks celebrating a birthday in Iraq because
#1) You can't let people know or they punch you all day
#2) No Maria
#3) No Momma Dukes Home-made Sauce
#3) No cheescake!!!!
(Sorry the blog cuts off the right side of the pictures. They are just too big for the site.)
#1) You can't let people know or they punch you all day
#2) No Maria
#3) No Momma Dukes Home-made Sauce
#3) No cheescake!!!!
(Sorry the blog cuts off the right side of the pictures. They are just too big for the site.)
03 November 2008
Ever Changing
Only as we begin to synchornize with the unit that we are replacing do you understand how truly dynamic this environment is. While our area (sorry I haven't told everyone, its not worth the risk) has enjoyed relative peace for the last several months, it teeters on a dangerous tightrope. It appears that the political complexities of Iraq are a formidable adversary. With no agreement between Coalition Forces and the Government of Iraq in place and a deadline quickly approaching, we face restriction to our bases and the ultimate return to the states with the mission incomplete. Such a scenario would admonish the fruits of labor of those before us.
The people are as dynamic as the environment. To understand a local national you must first understand his family obligations, his tribal allegence, his ulterior motives. That's the thing here; everyone has an agenda. Compromise is the only way progress can be made. Shieks are concerned with acquiring Wasda within the community. Think of it as "MOJO" or political clout. The Iraqi Security Forces are still far from the goal of maintaining peace without corruption. In the end, it is the people of Iraq who suffer.
The people are as dynamic as the environment. To understand a local national you must first understand his family obligations, his tribal allegence, his ulterior motives. That's the thing here; everyone has an agenda. Compromise is the only way progress can be made. Shieks are concerned with acquiring Wasda within the community. Think of it as "MOJO" or political clout. The Iraqi Security Forces are still far from the goal of maintaining peace without corruption. In the end, it is the people of Iraq who suffer.
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