Just checking in from the great Baghdad, Iraq

Well, what can you say about Iraq? 10,000 miles away from home. Trying to keep up spirits I go on R&R in May. I tell you guys one thing I am sure we have a few vets on here it started easter and did not stop for a week rockets / mortars being lobbed at us. I hear we had 17 go on to a better place. I am lucky to work in a hard structure and also live in one. When my name comes up for a hooch (hooch = soft shelter office like structure with a bathroom that divides the 2 sides I will just take a pass and stay in the barracks. Funny  thing is they make us wear 75 lb bullet proof vest and Kevlar helmet which if hit by a rocket or mortar or IED will not do much good. I mean if we were getting snipped I could understand. But the American media have no clue on what really goes on here I have figured that out quickly. It will take 20 years to clean this place up. I mean yeah we can hand it over but it will not get much better outside the wire = red zone all you see is trash etc. Its pretty bad. The only thing this place has going for it is its oil if it can get rid of the so called holy fighters and start selling there oil and pumping money back into there communities and there infrastructure. IE power plants, waste water plants etc. But that happening is a fat chance since there port city get**** on a daily basis and they hit the oil lines. Well about 3pm here I guess I am back to work everyone have a good time and be safe.

Great to hear from you Reggie and it's fascinating to hear about the real skinny going on in Iraq. Like you said, it's going to be a loooooong haul to get things fixed over there but we can't just up and leave now. What a waste if we did. Stay safe my man! Boner

Reggie, It is good to hear from you.  I appreciate your service. I'm glad we are fighting the "holy fighters" there and not here in the US. Stay safe.

Reggie, Thank you for your service to our country!!!   And thank you for sharing your story.  Stay safe and keep your spirits lifted high.  There are those of us here at home that do truly appreciate your service to our country keeping us the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave." Bill

Reggie, THANK YOU for your service to our country. And thank you for the insight into the real story over there. Keep yourself safe, keep your head down, and take care of yourself.

I echo all the others sentiments.  Despite what negative things you might hear about what is going on here know that we all Love You Guys and are praying for you all daily. God Bess  "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but  by moments that take our breath away"

How did you get back in the military?  When I inquired about getting out of the IRR back in an Army reserve or guard unit they promptly served me with discharge papers when I told them I had undergone gastric bypass.   One of the reasons I was placed in the IRR was because of my weight in the first place.   I was on the fat-boy program and I came up for promotion to O3.  Since I couldn't be promoted because I was in weight control, they kicked me out of my unit, discharged me from the Army National Guard and put me in the IRR. 

It kinda pissed me off a big because I'm in MUCH better shape now than I was straight out of boot came or even OCS.   They are weird about **** like that so screw em.   It's their loss.

Keep your head down man and I wish you a safe tour of duty. 

Chad (formerly 1LT Soileau, 21 Bravo, Combat Engineer, U.S. ARMY)

Good yo hear that you are OK. We appreciate your service very much. Bless you and stay as safe as you can.

Lou

Thank you for your service to your country.  God bless you all.  I echo all of the sentiments here.  My son's unit just came back.  Keep your head down and come home safe. 

Stay safe Reggie . You have mail .  Best wishes  Nick