RIP/TOA

I am doing some "catch up" with my blogs. The most significant event that has happened is that the 101st has take over from the 82nd in this area. This has affected me in two ways: I've had to attend a crap-load of meetings (even though I am NOT redeploying with the 82nd) and I am the Battalions' "Continuity Book" as I am the only officer-type who is staying behind. Fortunately / unfortunately I have scheduled my leave so that I am off for New Zealand when the 82nd finally goes away.

It will be very interesting to see how the command styles differ and how quickly the company commanders can learn their areas of operation. Certainly it is impossible to transfer all the knowledge and relationships learned and built over a 15 month time span in a matter of weeks. The unit that preceded the 82nd (the "Rakassans") made a name for itself by not patrolling and being very heavy-handed with the locals, thus ensuring that the 82nd would receive a warm reception. I think it took more than a couple of months for the 82nd to develop the relationships that allowed them to make some real progress here. Hopefully the next element of the 101st won't be anything like the Rakassans. So far, it seems that they will be exemplary.

More to follow... stay tuned.

The good day before the bad one

I mentioned the VBIED. These and other attacks obviously serve to make everyones life much more difficult.

However, there are some experiences that make my time here a little more rewarding. In this case it is something as simple as handing out some donated school supplies/ toys from Victory Boxes. Ironically we did this the day before the VBIED.

You can find more pictures of victory box pictures here in my flikr collection.

Have a nice vacation!

Ahh, the irony of it all. While we are here, putting our lives on the line for the benefit of a new, prosperous and free Iraq, we find the Iraqi parliment responding to our example by bravely stepping forward...and going on a month of vacation.

So, let me get this straight: whilst we patrol in 130 degree heat with 70+ lbs of armor on for hours on end, trying to bring security to the streets, they've decided to go on vacation while their country burns down around them. My, my, wouldn't thier fathers be proud of them. Perhaps we'll have everything fixed by the time they get back!