Losing A Whole Year

Missing major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years feels like losing a whole year. These occasions are momentous events and signal, to me, the end of the year. With no holiday memories with the family, this year doesn't feel like it should be over. New Year's Eve won't be the same without Casie. I will help myself close 2006 with a look back. Have fun clicking the hyperlinks!

The year that was 2006:
- 05 Feb Superbowl XL takes place in Detroit, MI (Steelers v. Seahawks)
- 15 Apr I went to the first of four Tiger games this MLB season (1, 2, 3, 4)
- 07 May I ran my second Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon (26.2 mi) in 4:43:48
- 02 Jun Detroit Pistons lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the eventual NBA Champions, Miami Heat
- 25-30 Casie's Family reunion in Cedarville, MI
- 28 Jun Superman Returns to theaters
- Casie's sister Becky moves in for the summer
- 17 Jul I am notified I am heading to Iraq
- 20 Jul Casie and I go to Kentucky with Katie and Becky ;-)
- 05 Aug to 04 Sep I attend Combat Skills Training (CST) at Camp Shelby, MS
- 18-22 Sep TDY to Washington DC
- 23 Sep last day in the United States
- 26 Sep arrive in Al Udeid, Qatar
- 04 Oct arrive in Baghdad, Iraq
- 10 Oct arrive in Mosul, Iraq
- 12 Oct first mortar experience
- 14 Oct Detroit Tigers win AL pennant and head to their first World Series in 22 yrs versus the St. Louis Cardinals
- 18 Nov I start this blog
- 23 Nov I escort MGen Holland around FOB Diamondback/Marez in Mosul
- 25 Dec I was named Time Magazine's "Person of the Year"
- 27 Dec I take the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force
- 28 Dec it snows in Iraq

What will you remember from 2006? Leave a comment.

Those Holiday Nights

This holiday week has been exceptionally hard on me. Stateside, people are enjoying family and old friends, in front of crackling fires enjoying holiday deserts and washing it down with eggnog or hot coco. I am in Iraq, trying to put away terrorists. How does one cope being deployed to a foreign land? I will tell you how. This is what I did this week (in no particular order):

1. Bury yourself in work (if applicable). Unfortunately that wasn't the case everyday this week.
2. Go to the FOB theater. I watched Groundhog Day and The Breakfast Club.
3. Put your Christmas-in-a-Box back in the box.
4. Fight with finance back home about your entitlements (the holidays make for a slow week back in the states).
5. Fight with Sprint about getting reimbursed for service you didn't use for three months.
6. Watch TV shows Casie recorded for me. (Prison Break, Studio 60, Smallville, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, The O.C.)
7. Read. I am reading Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons (I received it from my sister for Christmas)
8. Clean your CHU. Dirt+Rain+Snow=Mud=Mess
9. Think about working out. It's too cold out! (I know, I'm a bum)
10. Listen to music and as a last resort, sleep. The problem with sleeping is a man can only rest so much before he isn't tired anymore.

That was the Reader's Digest version of my holiday week. What was your crazy holiday week like?

Leave a comment. Pretty please

Frigid Air

Yesterday it snowed, but today it is just cold! High 47, Low 24. I may have to dig out my winter gloves. I packed them at the last minute, just in case, not thinking I would ever have to use them. Now they are at the very bottom of one of my bags. It will be like a treasure hunt in my CHU tonight. Who needs reality TV! :-)

This morning there were ice puddles on the way to the shower, the locks on our vehicles were frozen, and we had thick ice on the windows. We couldn't get into our vehicles and even if we were able to get in, we wouldn't be able to see out of the windows (no ice scrapers).

My mom asked if it was unusual for Iraq to get snow. I am deployed during Mosul's rainy season, November-April. Mosul is located in the northern portion of Iraq where it can get cold during the winter months. So snow is definitely possible, but it doesn't really fit the Iraq stereotype, does it? I asked a few of the linguists who have been in country for a while and they said 2004 was the last time it snowed in Mosul. So I guess it is unusual.

Don't take this as me complaining. I'll take a 47 degree high any day compared to an Iraqi 130 degree summer high temp! It is just eye-opening to be experiencing this type of weather in Iraq.

A Snow Day!

Not in the Midwest sense, with schools being canceled, but today it snowed in Mosul, Iraq. Imagine my confusion when I opened my CHU door to walk to the shower this morning and saw snow. I thought I woke up in the twilight zone. Once I got to work we were like kids; laughing, joking, smiling, and taking pictures in the snow. It was like seeing snow for the first time again. How many people can experience snow for the first time, twice?

Here are some of the photos:

This is what I woke up to. Click the picture to see the snowflakes.

The snow came down hard. The left picture is of the detention facility and the right picture is my work facility.

It was beginning to stick in the little bit of grass I could find.

Every good set of war pictures need the perspective from the bunker .

As proof these photographs were taken in Iraq; a stop sign with Arabic and a mosque on post (not used any more) in the "snow storm".

I few months ago my goal was to get some great dust storm pictures. As of today, I have yet to see a dust storm. The snow is following me.

Captain America

I am a "LT" no longer. This morning I came to work as a captain. It isn't much different than being a lieutenant. I didn't think it would, but people always ask. I did not have a "pinning on" ceremony due to the fact I am currently deployed to a "war zone" in the Middle East. There wouldn't be anything to pin since I wear BDUs and it is traditionally done in service blues. I'd prefer to keep it low key anyways (except for the party!). My co-workers all took double takes this morning and then congratulated me with handshakes.

My first captain picture - My Superman pose with heat vision (referring to the red eyes).

What I was looking at (in case you were wondering). A mop drying out on a clothes line.

My first duty as a captain was to replace my ID card which stated I was an LT. In my new picture I have a shadow over half of my face. This makes me look like a burglar in a western (you have to see the picture). My next duty was paying a visit to alterations to replace the rank on two of my uniforms. I emphasize the word "paying" because I think I was overcharged. They must think captains are made of money.

I must admit it feels good to finally have a new title. LT was getting kind of old after four years. Plus I don't have to say "Sir" to Martinez anymore! :-)

Dad - There is a Capt Wolak in the family now!

Christmas Leftovers

Well another holiday has come and gone in Iraq. You wouldn't have known it was Christmas Day if not for the verbal greetings of "Merry Christmas". I still worked 13 hours, the PX remained open, and there was still a mail call (Thanks Briar for the x-mas card).

I had a Christmas morning thanks to Casie and her Christmas-in-a-Box^tm. I unwrapped two picture frames, one for the office and one for my CHU. She also sent me a little memento of home, a Magna Doodle the exact same color, about half the size, of the one I have at home. The best gift was a 20 minute Ben & Casie picture slide show set to songs that hold special meaning to us. I miss you cutes, but staring our pictures together helps! :-) Thank you.

The chow hall was decorated and had another amazing spread of food like they did for Thanksgiving. I had roast turkey, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, a fresh baked roll, and a slice of cheese cake. They also had a specialty drink section with about ten varieties of non-alcoholic concoctions. I had a mocha cream drink that tasted like a Starbucks drink, it was yummy.

The only thing missing was my family, but I was able to get through the jammed phone lines (thanks Martinez) to talk to my family on the phone for over an hour. I also called Casie, at her parents, for about 30 minutes. The phone calls made the day about as perfect of a holiday as you could hope for over here. I haven't talked to my brother and sister on the telephone in months. It was nice.

The greatest gift I received was a Christmas away from home thanks to all my family and friends who sent trees, wreaths, stockings, gifts, cards, and cookies. A Christmas in Iraq could have been very forgettable, but it become special and one I will never forget.

Merry Christmas!

It's a Wonderful Life

Last night I saw It's a Wonderful Life at the FOB theater. I got to watch my favorite movie of all-time, released in 1946, on the big screen. My deployment is all downhill from here. Life in Mosul doesn't get much better.

I get choked up every time I hear Harry Bailey give his toast, "to my big brother George, the richest man in town." Frank Capra is a genius.

There's something about the movie that I can't place just one finger on. I could point out all the great parts, but I won't bore you to death with an essay. In short, no matter how rough life can get at times (like being deployed 6,000 miles away from home) your friends will always be there to help you get through it. Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.

Below is the best feel-good-movie ending ever for your viewing pleasure.

I was reminded yesterday that I truly have a wonderful life, even if it is waiting for me 6,000 miles away.

Santa's Convoy

There may be no snow for Santa's sleigh in Iraq, but he does have other options with a little help from his friends at the US Army. While actual pictures of his convoy are classified, these are "lawn models" of Santa's convoy below.

Instead of nine reindeer to pull his sleigh, Santa utilizes an eight vehicle convoy to get him from house to house on the night of Christmas Eve.

Since Santa is "flying" lower than normal each HUMVEE is manned with Elf gunners, Santa included.

Of course HUMVEEs don't run on carrots, like reindeer, so they're maintained at various garages across Iraq provided by the US Army. Mosul's is pictured below.

You can track Santa's sleigh at: www.noradsanta.com

For more than 50 years, NORAD and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) have tracked Santa. The tradition began after a Colorado Springs based Sears Roebuck & Co. store advertisement for children to call Santa on a special "hot line" included an inadvertently misprinted telephone number. Instead of Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief's operations "hot line". The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, received the first "Santa" call on Christmas Eve 1955.

Santa's convoy operations are classified. Sorry.

Christmas Portraits

Well there is no Sears department store around, but that won't stop us from getting our Christmas portrait taken.

This is our second group photo we've taken since I've been here. The cast has changed a bit from last one. Bottom row (from left to right): Pen, Majed, and Julie. Top Row (from left to right): Bill, Roland, Nasrat, Mr. Norm, Fred, Tom, Me, John, and Rodney. Photo taken by Steve Morris (not pictured)

My Army DOCEX team, IS2 Tom Pilson and I. Is two people considered a team?

Army DOCEX in our thinking caps. I wasn't too enthusiastic about the hat (as the picture depicts).

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Great Read

I finished yet another book, The Darwin Conspiracy by John Darnton. I found this one during one of my last weekends in the states. I didn't need another book, but it looked like a really good read on my deployment.

Without telling you too much, it centers around a secret diary by Charles Darwin's daughter, Lizzy. The diary is fiction, discovered by fictional characters, but is used as a device to explore Darwin's famous voyage on the HMS Beagle. The historical characters are real. The outcome, like The Da Vinci Code, must not be taken too seriously, but it is fine storytelling.

It did not disappoint. If you liked the The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown I highly suggest this book.

Blue Christmas With a Lot of Brown

I have been spoiled with too many Midwest Christmases. Hearing songs like White Christmas are depressing. It so brown here, forget a White Christmas, it won't even be a Green Christmas!

I can see why so many people have a hard time during the holidays, especially if the radio is on. Just listen to the songs; Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), I'll Be Home for Christmas, The Only Gift I Need, and Blue Christmas.

No trees, lights, wreaths, or Christmas cards can replace being with your family during the these times. I am grateful that in my four years of military service this is my first Christmas away from family. I keep reminding myself that these experiences will make life that much sweeter when I return this spring. I miss you all.

No Chocolate Puddles

I've gone almost three months without pure milk chocolate (a new personal record!). The chow hall is very accommodating if you like cakes, cookies, pies, and ice cream. There is not much variety within each of the deserts types they offer. In the time since I've been here, they've served the same three Sam's Club-type cookies; double chocolate, oatmeal with raisin, and peanut butter. Curbing a sweet tooth craving is very hard to do here. You can't run to the local gas station or drug store. The PX carries M&Ms (they're chocolate, but have a candy shell) and once in a while they carry foreign chocolate, but it flies off the shelves.

You can imagine my excitement last week when I received my first care package, from the states, containing milk chocolate. The peanut butter Santa Clause and holiday M&Ms were not a puddle, like many of you may have thought they would arrive. The Peeps survived too! They all taste delicious. Thank you Auntie Pam, Uncle Gary, Chris, Sara, and Kelly for taking the chance.

To the rest of you loyal readers:
Chocolate is accepted and always appreciated! :-)

The Only Gift That I Need

I am sure many of you are tired of hearing Christmas music already and it isn't even Christmas yet. As we head into the final week before Christmas, I have been desperately trying to make it feel like the holiday season. You'd think with all the great care packages I've received that it would, but something's missing. Maybe it could be not dealing with crowded malls, or seeing familiar ornaments, or lack of anticipation of seeing family this weekend. As a last resort I have been listening to Christmas tunes in the evening, looking for the right song to make the season feel more alive.

One particular holiday song hit me hard this year, Dashboard Confessional's The Only Gift That I Need. It has always been a favorite of mine. The song has so many parallels to my Christmas this year, it gives me goose pimples. The lyrics are below.

The Only Gift That I Need (right click to save mp3)

You'll be leavin' for the winter,
But I can see that it's true it's the right thing for you.
But it's tough to be moved with the holiday spirit,
But to tell you the truth I had big plans for Christmas
And high hopes for you...

I want you here by my side
Cold nights, and fires, and white wine.
And dreams of holidays to come.
But I'll wait for spring to bring you to me.
Only gift that I need.

I'll be livin' off your phone calls, in your letters, and your postcards.
Every single word is like a secret wish come true.
But who cares if we're apart for the big days
Since the small ones that made me fall in love with you (fall in love with you).

I want you here by my side
Cold nights, and fires, and white wine.
And dreams of holidays to come.
But I'll wait for spring to bring you to me.
Only gift that I need.

Only gift that I need.
Only gift that I need.
Only gift that I need.

Sunday Basketball

Today I played in my second session of Sunday basketball, which is becoming a 1100 Sunday staple with my co-workers. We usually have enough for 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 games and play for about two hours. I played great compared to a couple weeks ago. My shot was "on" and I gained some credibility with a few of my co-workers. So in case some of you were wondering, "The LT can shoot!"

I felt like a new man on the basketball court because Casie sent my basketball shoes from home. It was getting pretty competitive and the running shoes just weren't cutting it. Who would have thought I would need my basketball shoes? Thanks Casie!

It is nice to be able to hang out with your co-workers outside of the work environment. No personal workouts to accomplish or deadlines to complete, just some competitive basketball among friends.

Band of Brothers

Waking up at 0630 everyday, walking in 34 degree temps to the showers, working 13 hour days, eating the same chow every other week, making my two or three phone calls a week, and missing Casie, alone in my CHU, in the evenings are beginning to wear on me.

When you're so far removed from the freedoms you are protecting, it is hard to feel patriotic. Recently I was watching an episode of Band of Brothers titled Bastogne. This is one of my more favorite episodes because it shows the troops dealing with the December cold, a part of WWII that is rarely shown.

My situation is very similar. Everyone sees Iraq as a great big desert with 130 degree days. I am in the northern portion during the rainy season and it gets cold. Not Michigan or Ohio cold, but cold enough for jackets, morning frost, and seeing your breath.

Watching the men of Easy Company remind me that things could always be worse. I could be without a shower, a warm meal, with post mail as my only source of communication, in a foxhole covered in snow, and getting shot at daily. While my experience is pale in comparison to Easy Company's, I am beginning to understand, with this deployment, why the U.S. men and women of WWII were called the greatest generation.

Office Love

It's official, I no longer have a Charlie Brown tree. My office, back at Wright-Patt, sent me HUGE package. They hold the record for biggest box to any of my deployment co-workers. My tree now is almost too small for all the the ornament's they sent me. I must say, the ornaments are unique. If you click the picture, for more detail, you'll see that the bulb ornaments have the faces of each of my co-workers, all eleven of them. They're a little spooky. With my CHU being small, no matter where I am in it, I always have someones eyes staring at me.

Are those Superman Christmas ornament hooks? Nope, just your standard office paper clips bent into hooks. They do look like the Superman S, don't they?

The top of the tree was still looking bare so I added my Detroit Tigers winter socking cap. I'm thrifty, I know!

My office also sent me a enough snacks to feed an army. (Hmm that's where that phrase comes from.) Dave Ryans' donated some cologne (how fitting). Doug parted with an issue of his Maxim subscription (he has a Maxim subscription?). I love the CD mix Laura, but it should be called Laura's Deployment Survival Mix Vol 1 (I can't wait for Vol. 2). The newspapers and magazines are great. Everyone here thanks you for all the goodies.

My office loves me, they really love me! :-)

99 Days

The end of my deployment is only double digits away! Iraq hasn't been too bad, but things that once were new and exciting are beginning to loose their sheen.

I had the exact same feelings when I was deployed to Tyndall AFB in Panama City, Florida. The first two months flew by. The third month got slower. The fourth month, and supposedly last, crawled knowing I'd be home in less than 30 days. Then when I was told I would be there a fifth month because of Hurricane Katrina I was indifferent. I made it that far what is another month. It also helped that Casie paid me two small visits during that 4th and 5th month.

This deployment to Iraq is six months in length. I can't even imagine what that 6th month will feel like with no Casie visits. I will approach the rest of my deployment, the only way I know how, one day at a time. Your emails, comments, and care packages help A LOT!

A Charlie Brown Christmas

It wouldn't seem like the holiday season without some classic Christmas cartoons. Last night surfing YouTube I came across my favorite Christmas television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, performed by the cast of NBC's Scrubs. I guess the cast got together and recorded dialog written to match the animation. This show keeps getting better and better. Great theme song too.

Enjoy this while I play catch-up from yesterday!



Not bad, eh?

I'll Be Grey By Christmas

The Air Force 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group Commander, Col Lawrence Jackson, paid a visit to local airmen stationed at FOB Diamondback and FOB Marez today. This was a short notice visit which, once again, required me (the ranking officer) to organize. Let's see, where did it all begin to go wrong?

No transportation was available from the Army. I had to escort and drive everywhere. The colonel's flight arrived at 1340 instead of 1240. I had plans for him to conduct his commander's call during lunch, at 1315, with the airmen. When we arrived at the chow hall it was closed and the airmen gone. I thought the other chow hall might be open longer, but that one was closed too. No commander's call and now I have a hungry full bird colonel.

We stopped at the PX for "lunch", if you can call tuna and potato chips to-go, a meal. After touring a few of the missions the airmen support I took him and his three staff to the airport at 1630. They weren't manifested on the last flight of the day. That would mean entertaining him the rest of the evening and arranging billeting for their overnight stay. The two-star general's visit went so much smoother.

There is a God! The airport representative read the wrong flight manifest. They are manifested, but the flight leaves in two and a half hours. I offered to pick up some carry out plates from the chow hall since they haven't ate a real meal since breakfast. They ate, I said good-bye, and I sent another Air Force distinguished visitor on his way.

I may not be home for Christmas, but I may be grey by Christmas! (my hair that is)

More X-mas Decorations!

Well this should be my last entry talking about Christmas decorations. Last week we also decorated the office since we work 12-14 hours everyday.

Through our sources we were able to get our hands on a closer-to-full-size tree. And don't ask what the presents are, for all I know they could be various shapes of garbage. The two green wrapped packages on the left remind me of water melons, don't they?

Our stockings hung on the cipher locked door with care.

Lastly, another random artificial Christmas tree has popped up outside on the way to the bathroom. It actually scared me because the first time I saw it there was a cat laying under neath it, on the tree skirt.

Lazy Sunday

Today was another Lazy Sunday. I watched two movies, cleaned my CHU, hit the gym, and got a bad haircut.

I look like a peach! I told the guy a number three on the top and a number one everywhere else, just like all the previous haircuts I've gotten in here. I don't think he changed the guards or maybe switched to a number two instead of a number three. So you'll be getting no pictures of myself for at least a week. :-(

I finally watched All the King's Men and The Prestige. All the King's Men was okay. It had fine acting, but was very predictable and slow. The reason I had interest in this movie is I heard the book may be the best ever written about corruption in politics. I was greatly disappointed in the movie. I guess I'll have to read that book. The Prestige, on the other hand, was fantastic! Great acting and plot. This is where I normally would say I haven't seen a movie this good in months, but I did watch Flags of Our Fathers last weekend.

It is nice to have a slow day, but they're too slow. Let's hope there aren't many days like this. I miss everyone!

Little People

I've just finished reading The Children of Men (P.D. James). It was a book Casie recommended and is now a major motion picture. Good book, spooky cover, and perhaps too well written. I didn't know a ton of the words.

I did an experiment, being the nerd I am, and wrote down all the words I didn't know in a 25 page span.

These were the words: inviolate, malcontents, importunities, hamlet, tattered, profusion, prudence, decree, cassock, recalcitrant, unpretentious, denuded, blight, palliatives, grenadiers, fiefdom, dinghy, magistrates, farfel, sulky, cosseted, hieratic, jerkin, etiolated, melancholy, nonplussed, despot, edict, pittance, sojourner, indignation, derelict, estuary, pendulous, festooned, chalets, weal, crepe, posy, disheveled, buffeted, jetty, pirouetting, macabre, detritus, irresolute, chintz, palatable, and laden. Is it just me, or are these hard words?

The total came to 48 words. I could still get through the book and understand it, but maybe my vocabulary needs a little work.

The book talks about the world becoming infertile in the year 2027. It isn't hard to imagine, here in Iraq, since I haven't seen a child in over 75 days! The things we take for granted.

It Made It!

I came back from breakfast yesterday to find this box on my desk.

You'll never guess what it was (except Mom and Dad 2). A fresh Christmas wreath! It arrived in great shape too. We have seen many artifical 2-3 ft trees, but a fresh Christmas wreath made it's way from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Iraq. I think my office went into shock.

It was a group effort to hang it on the outside of our building door . It was the topic of conversation all day. My co-workers were walking up to it to touch and smell it. I think all of us did our fair share of staring too. This simple item brought more holiday cheer than many of you reading this can imagine. Mom and Dad 2, a big thank you from Iraq.

I am embarrassed to admit this, but this is my first fresh Christmas wreath. Do you water these things? I've been told to splash water on it to keep it fresh.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot like Christmas!

Even in the C-Bunkers, the Christmas season is alive and well. As I was walking back to my CHU the other day I ran across this sad looking tree.

I love the added touch of 550 cord. Someone must be thinking ahead. You never know where you'll be spending your Christmas morning over here, in Iraq!

Martinez Comes To Mind

I bought season four of Scrubs out of boredom about a month ago at the PX. I was never a religious viewer of the television series on NBC, in fact, I don't own any of the previous seasons, but I do like Zach Braff as an actor. I have already watched a third of the season and I am hooked. The show is hilarious! As soon as I finish season four I am definitely buying the previous ones.

I guess Scrubs season six started a few weeks ago back in the states. I ran across this on YouTube.



It's kinda catchy, don't you think? For some reason Martinez comes to mind every time I watch it.

Oh Christmas Tree

I have a Christmas tree! Casie sent it and it arrived fresh from the states yesterday (maybe not fresh). Casie sent me what she refers to as Christmas-In-A-Box. Casie says it is everything I need to make my holiday brighter. It contained one tree with lights, two stockings, a tree skirt, two Christmas Cd's, five Christmas DVDs, hot chocolate mix, and four gifts.

The Cd's are: A Christmas Together by John Denver and The Muppets and a mix of Holiday Classics. The DVDs include: It's A Wonderful Life (my favorite), A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and Elf.

The kit came with explicit instructions. First, find a coffee can and fill it with sand. Finding sand on post is a harder task than many may think. The coffee can is used as my tree stand. Second, put up the tree immediately. Third, not to open the gifts until Christmas morning. Any lastly, do not be sad this holiday season. The last instruction will be the hardest.

So I guess it will feel like Christmas in Iraq after all. Thanks Casie (I love you!)

Meet the Family

With the holidays ahead, many are looking forward to spending some quality time with their families. I've been fortunate that, in my four years being in the military, this will be the first year I will be away for the holidays. While it will be rough holiday season for me I do have an extended family to help me cope. I could not have asked for a better group of people and I think it's about time that you meet them.

From the left to right, bottom row: Khalil, Roland, Joe, Rodney, me. Top row: Majed (my linguist), Nasrat, Mr. Norm, Marcel, Bill, Julie, John, Chuck, and Tom (my analyst). Not pictured is Steve, the photographer, and Pen, who was on leave. Marcel has since moved on and Fred has taken his place. This picture was taken on Halloween (this explains the black cob webs on the wall and black roses some people are holding). I will try to get an updated group shot and post it in the near future.

These are the people I work with, eat with, live with and will be spending the holidays with. Remember what makes the holidays special isn't the gifts, or the food, or the drink, but the people you spend them with. I hope nobody is getting too stressed out over the shopping and time spent in the kitchen.

At the Movies

Today I watched Flags of Our Fathers. Great movie, but the book is alot better. I highly suggest the book if you liked the movie or you haven't even seen the movie at the theater.

I have on tap All the King's Men and The Prestige to keep me entertained. I don't watch too many movies because it is a big time commitment. I have time, but broken into small pieces throughout the day. Not conducive for watching two hour movies, but TV shows yes. Thanks Casie! :-)

Though, I would like to see Stranger Than Fiction and Casino Royale next. Both look like great movies.

What movies have you seen recently? What did you think of them?

Good Times & Goodbyes

A third into my deployment and I am already saying goodbye to the many good Army friends that I have made. Whereas in the states, friendships are forged by similar hobbies or interests between you. This is an environment where your friends are determined by the work we do together and their proximity.

Our schedules don't allow us to play ball, workout together, or go out to the bar to shoot the shit. We do everyday things together, like catch breakfast after a shift change or, by chance, run into each other for lunch. But something happens when you do these minuscule everyday tasks, you begin to learn about them. You begin to learn about their interests, views, experiences and the families that are missing them. At some point they go from being a co-worker to a friend. My friends (from left to right): Me, SSG Z, Chris Ostrowski, Nick Knoebel, Zack Curry [not pictured is Tom Pilson taking the picture] Behind us is an old bunker the Iraqi Army used.

While parting ways with friends is never a fun experience, the events leading up their departure usually are. This week, we have had a bonfire each night of the week with steaks, dogs, near-beer, and a soundtrack provided by Johnny Cash. This was how we deployed military men say goodbye, with fire and near-beer!

I would never had guessed a few months ago I would have Army friends and now it will be strange not having them.

A Soldier’s Silent Night

Since it is the holiday season I wanted to share with you a holiday poem I heard on the radio in Detroit last year around this time.

Written by former Marine Corporal James M. Schmidt, in 1986 when stationed in Washington D.C., it was pounded out on a typewriter while awaiting the commanding officer's Christmas holiday decoration inspection. It was originally title "Merry Christmas, My Friend", and was an instant success that reportedly brought tears to the eyes of the barracks Commander who ordered it distributed to everyone he knew.

The poem was recorded as a tribute by Father Ted Berndt, a former Marine and World War II Purple Heart recipient.

It has an even stronger meaning for me this year, being in Iraq during the holidays. Enjoy!

A Soldier's Silent Night
(right click to save mp3)

'Twas The Night Before Christmas,
He Lived All Alone,
In A One Bedroom House
Made Of Plaster And Stone.

I Had Come Down The Chimney
With Presents To Give,
To See Just Who
In This Dwelling Did Live.

I Looked All Around
A Strange Sight To See,
No Tinsel, No Presents,
Not Even A Tree.

No Stocking From The Mantle,
Just Boots Filled With Sand,
On The Wall Hung Pictures
Of Far Distant Lands.

With Medals And Badges,
Awards Of Every Kind,
A Sobering Thought Came Alive In My Mind

This House Was Different,
It Was Dark, It Was Dreary,
I Have Found The Home Of A Soldier,
I Can See That Most Clearly.

The Soldier Lay Sleeping,
Silent, Alone
Curled Up On The Floor
In This One Bedroom Home.

His Face Was So Gentle,
The Room In Such Disorder,
Not At All How I Pictured
A United States Soldier.

Was This The Hero
Of Whom I'd Just Read?
Curled Up On A Poncho,
The Floor For A Bed?

Then I Realized The Other Families
That I Saw This Night,
Owned Their Lives To Soldiers
Who Were Willing To Fight.

From The Morning Round The World,
The Children Would Play,
Grownups Would Celebrate
A Bright Christmas Day.

But They All Enjoyed Freedom
Each Month Of The Year,
Because Of Soldiers,
Like The One Lying Here.

But I Couldn't Help But Wonder
How Many Lay Alone,
On A Cold Christmas Eve
In Lands Far From Home.

The Very Thought
Brought A Tear To My Eye,
I Dropped To My Knees
And Started To Cry.

The Soldier Awakened
I Heard His Rough Voice,
"Santa Don't Cry,
This Life Is My Choice;

I Fight For Freedom,
I Don't Ask For More,
My Life Is My God,
My Country, My Corps."

The Soldier Rolled Over
And Drifted To Sleep,
But I Couldn't Control It,
And I Continued To Weep.

I Kept Watch For Hours,
So Silent And Still
As Both Of Us Shivered
From The Cold Night's Chill.

I Didn't Want To Leave Him
On That Cold, Dark, Night,
This Guardian Of Honor
So Willing To Fight.

Then The Soldier Rolled Over,
In A Voice Soft And Pure,
He Whispered, "Carry On Santa,
It's Christmas Day, All Is Secure."

One Look At My Watch,
I Knew He Was Right.
"Merry Christmas My Friend,
May God Bless You This Night."

I (heart) Books

If I go into a mall I have to go in the book store. I am attracted to the dust covers, the smell, even the texture of the pages. Casie hates our weekly marathon trips to Barnes & Noble on Sundays. She loves books too, but I love browsing for new reads. She would prefer to buy one and curl up at home to actually read it.

I have about a million (guess-timation) books sitting on bookshelves back home. Casie is always reminding me to read what I have. The problem with that is it requires time, that is better spent running, watching television, or reading magazines/comic books back in the states. Being deployed has afforded me the time to get reacquainted with reading books again.

So far I've read this deployment:
Angels & Demons (Dan Brown)
Inside Ring (Mike Lawson)
Animal Farm (George Orwell)
Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

I just finished reading Flags of Our Fathers (James Bradley) today. Excellent read. Very detailed description of the events leading to, the flag raising, and events afterwards. Emotional last chapter. I bought the DVD for $4 from a local vendor last week. The movie looks good, but I try to read the book before going to see the movie. Now I can!

What are you reading? Post a Comment.

It's A Sign

I took this picture a few weeks back at the tank grave yard at FOB Marez. What are the odds? I think it's a sign Frank (he'll know what I mean).
For all of you who care, I was able to stare till my hearts content at the Superman Returns 2-Disc Special Edition DVD cover art at the PX today. Then somehow it ended up in my basket! You all know what I'll be doing this Sunday. :-)

Superman Doesn't Return in Mosul

Out of all weeks! The PX (Post Exchange) in Mosul has been great with DVD releases since I've arrive. They would even have the DVDs on the shelves on Monday instead of Tuesday in the states. But just my luck, this week they did not have the Superman Returns DVD nor any other new media releases for that matter.

Now I know Casie will be buying my Superman: Ultimate Collector's Edition 14-Disc Box set this week at Best Buy, but I just wanted a glimpse. Can't a man salivate at the DVD cover art of his boyhood hero's return to DVD? Somehow looking at this cover art spread online doesn't do it justice.
I know, your thinking poor Ben. I know things could be worse (read previous entry), but it is the simple things that keep me a little happier about being away from home.