Long Time Coming

Well it has been a long time since I last posted.  Since that date...3 years ago I have aged.  I put a new pic on, but it was from the time that I started this in 2004.  I look so young in them.  Thankfully I have not been to Iraq since I returned in '04, although judging by the wrinkles on my face now... Maybe I should have stayed there.  

We moved in early '05 to South Carolina and I have been stationed here ever since.  Getting ready to move again, not sure where to though.  I have missed a lot.

I got back on here because my wonderful wife started a new Blog about her trials after having a SARPE  and finding blogs about others who are sharing the same pain she is.  So I thought I would get this going again.  

Anyway, with that I thought I would post some stuff about what is going on now and about my UPPP and Septoplasty from last Jan.  I will provide some pics for those who might be getting ready for the surgery.  According to my wife..well we will discuss that when I address the surgery in detail.  Until next time...  Have a great day, sit back and enjoy the ride...nothing is worth that much stress and worry...

Semper Fi

Brett

Sorry for the Delay and Happy Birthday Marines

Well Hello out there...
First my appologies for not posting in a while... Just so that you all know, I am home, safe and sound... and have been for about three to four weeks now... funny, I seem to have lost track. Anyway, I have been busy... I am currently on leave, but made a deal with my wife to tile the floors (still not sure what I am getting out of this, but as long as she is hapy with me I am happy). Wow, a few days behind on the work, but the first room is almost complete... Woo Hoo. But the big project is about to start... So things are going well, the reunion has been good, and I am ready to stay here at home for a while. Not sure what the future holds for me at this point, but I am sure that it will be interesting, between Cathy, Brianna, and the Marine Corps there is seldom a boring day.
As far as Katie the dog goes... well she has stolen my heart... she is doing very well and growing up quickly. We will know in a couple of months if she will live a long life or just for a little while... intuition tells me that all is well and she will be around for a long while. Thanks for all the prayers for her.
Thank you all for your support and kind words while I was gone, I will try to keep you all updated as to what is going on as I find out.
Finally, Happy Birthday Marines...today is the 229th Birthday of the Marine Corps... Semper Fidelis...

I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream

Well I am still not home, but Kuwait is a sight for sore eyes. Wow, this place has it all... Burger King, Baskin Robbins...and the chow hall is awesome... They even have a swimming Pool... I almost feel like I am back home. This is good though, breaks the culture shock of getting home. Anyway just wanted to let you all know that I am safe and on the way home very soon...

Brett

Pie Ala Mode

Well, it is another day out here. I feel like...well...Crud... My back is aching lower, middle, and upper... my knees ache... I have a sore throat... Congested.... oh... and I can't sleep beyond four hours... I blame all the new blood that just arrived to replace us... Seven months and I had made it without getting sick... it has to be the new guys... That was dinner....

Now onto the Pie Ala Mode... dessert... I figured this an appropriate title as I am quite sure that this is the last post for a few weeks.... WE ARE OUTTA HERE!!!!! well not quite, but the relief in place is going well and I will when we depart the current location in the middle of Western Iraq... it is movement to the freedom bird. I still have a couple of weeks here, but a huge burden has been lifted, after tonight... no more responsibility, just be at the right place a the right time, make sure everyone’s heads are still in the game, and stay alive..

The next post I will make will be an I am safe and in the States message, so for those of you hoping and praying for a safe return... Pray and hope 2-3 times as much.... The light is there.. Hope to talk to you all again soon....

One more prayer for you all, Katie...the puppy is very sick...need you all to give a shout out for her too...


S/FBrett

Oh No!! Not Tray Rations Again

So another day passes, we got another rocket attack yesterday, first one in over a month. We have been pretty aggressive at trying to deter IEDs, rocket attacks and the likes and so far pretty successful, yesterdays attack was more a hail and farewell I think. Farewell to us, and a Hello to our relief (I wanted to use replacements here, but thought of the movie, and these people are just as good, maybe better than us). It was however the first rocket attack since my first arriving here to land inside our camp. Barely inside, but inside... Nothing damaged, nobody hurt, but enough to keep the eyes open. Seven Marines were killed yesterday by a VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device), they say the engine block of the car used was found over 400m away from the blast. Don't these people realize that for every Marine they kill they seal their fate that much more... No Marine is going to let this go untouched, We (the Marines) will find you!!!

OK, time to change speed...and direction, that is not where I was headed when I started this.

So I have had the miserable job of handling all the Battalions Detainees for the past seven months. It has been good in that I have had the chance to see and meet a lot of Iraqi people and get more insight than most on the people and culture. Anyway, yesterday they bring in a guy, who has a vehicle that matches the description of one that we are looking for... he has his two sons with him, I would say that they were approx 4 and 6... As I was returning to the facility I see them pull up and being carted in, I had to break into a run... Now I have some good Marines working for me, but common sense sometimes is just not there... So I get in the door, just in time to see father and sons being put in the cell.... Oh Boy... So I stop the whole movement and get them all back outside, grab some chairs... Those poor boys... scared out of their minds and crying... Ends up this poor man and his sons were in a similar vehicle. So glad I had the chance to sit down and be hospitable before sending them on their way.

Sitting in the meeting tonight, we get told... as all the units relieving us are coming there are going to be longest lines at the PX, Phone Center, etc... really, hmmm no kidding... The greatest part was, sue to the influx of people you can expect to go back to tray rations until we leave... OK, let me get this straight, you are going to make me wait in line longer for food, that is going to be worse??? Don't you think that I have lost enough weight since I have been here. I felt my upper arms, that is where my biceps used to be, the other day... and came to the realization that my arms are about the same as most of the Iraqis I deal with at the facility...skin and bone... I need real food....Soon...

I am at a blank for what to write at this point, there are so many things that I want to say and write about, but I promised myself I would try to refrain from politics and what I think about current events, so with that, I am going to sign off... Later...
Brett

Pizza

The title actually has absolutely nothing to do with what I am about to write, however I thought I would stick on the food theme for titles. Besides, pizza is something that I am looking forward to eating, maybe I will even be able to gain some weight back... oh is that the wrong kind of weight.

So as much as I am trying to avoid thinking about it time is getting closer and closer to heading home. I am trying not to think about it in an effort to stay focused on the job here and make it home safely. Just last week two Marines died on their last patrol, they were leaving 7 days later, so I guess that is some incentive to stay focused.

Really not a lot going on out here, I have been way too busy the past few days, taking time I would normally spend here on the computer in bed sleeping. Luckily for me Cathy and Brianna went away for the weekend to visit some friends.

So if you haven't heard by now, there is a new addition to the family when I get home. Katie, a miniature schnauzer... So miniature at this point that the cats are bigger than she. Sam as tiny as she is looks bigger from what I am told, and well Mogley, he may always be bigger... So hopefully all goes well and my ankles won't get too bloodied when I walk through the door.

Not too much to say really, just the same old story... trying to get through another day... Every day has to be a good day out here... Still alive, got all my limbs, and a day closer to getting home, and to a huge slice of hot and greasy pepperoni pizza... My lick the food will be a shock to the system and I'll get sick...Between that and the Bacon Whopper with Cheese, extra onions no pickles, I'll probably not eat for a week beyond that...

Well, I think I am going to cut this off... I wanted this to be interesting, not to bore you all to tears...

Later,
Brett

Beef Stew

So, I called this beef stew to build on the theme of Onion Soup, no I figured that I was going to hit a lot of topics today therefore like Beef Stew a lot of ingredients. Well as usual I am getting my butt handed to me by Cathy at Backgammon, but every once in a while I get to win (I think she lets me just to boost my ego), and Brianna is such a good Chess player… So lets get to the meat and potatoes of this stew…

In my time here I have come to see the Iraqi people as a strange group. I mean when we came through during OIF I (don’t you just love that we are numbering them already) people lined the streets (for the most part) and waved, happy to see us. After the initial war we started the first phases of rebuilding… The Iraqi people were so happy and we were making fast progress. Then, six months after returning home I am back here again… I really hate to slam the Army (not really) but what did they do? All the projects we started all the things we had moving in the right direction…stopped… We got back here and so far, the unit I am attached to has lost more Marines than the unit I was with during the war… So far over 85 purple hearts, more than the unit I was with during the war… I will add, that 1st Bn 2nd Marines, the unit I was with during the war, saw the fiercest fighting and resistance of the war… So what is going on. After 30 years of repression, the Iraqi people think that we are trying to keep them down, they are not seeing the so called changes… One Marine out here summed it up wonderfully, I am going to clean it up a little, but it is a pretty good analogy of what they Iraqis think of Capitalism and Democracy… First we came in and kicked them really hard… square between the legs… and before they could get back up we offered them water and said no really, its good… I don’t know it seems that most of the local Iraqis are pretty good people, some are a little dense, but they are good people. Problems are we are and always will be inferior in their eyes… And as long as the Mujahdeen (now that I have written this word in here every watch dog in America is going to be reading this… So Hello and welcome to the Watch Dogs…Big Brother…lol) and Freedom Fighters keep them inside and scared, they will continue to feel repression. I love that the families are close, and that an Arab will assist another Arab almost without question, but it can only go so far… Then there are all the family disputes… Such a strange culture, old and established, historical yet so infantile… I guess things would be a lot easier if the everyday person would come out and assist in the fight, point us to the bad guys who are messing up their cities and get it over. You can’t help but feel sorry for these people, but then again, I so understand the frustration of the personnel stationed here… Here is an example… Many IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) are placed along the roads, in holes that are dug and in the guard rails… It seems that Guard Rails are a commodity out here as soo many people are trying to steal them… So we have passed to the local city officials, the Imams, Sheiks, etc… anyone caught digging of tampering with guardrails will be considered a threat and shot (due to the IED/Mine threat…is it fair, no…but we have to protect ourselves and we put the word out)… So there was a patrol the other night… there are 10 Iraqis stealing guard rails for scrap metal… they are being guarded and protected by the Iraqi Police… to top it all off these people stealing the rails are in Iraqi National Guard Uniforms… I am at a loss, this is an Army mission out here, not a Marine mission…how the Corps got stuck with this one for two years or more I won’t ever know…(OK I do know…when you want the job done send the Marines…) Bottom line…it’s time to come home…

Iraqi Soccer—I have to admit it has been good to see the Iraqi National Soccer Team doing well in the Olympics… They can actually play when they don’t have guns pointed at them… I don’t know what it is, but is good to see the underdogs doing well, this country is so behind them and I think it would do the people of this country well to see their team medal in the sport… A step toward better things, I really think it might help.

I remember watching the Olympics as a child, and it was a pretty big deal, over the past few Olympics it has not been that big a deal… I figured it out while over here… Patriotism is great, but the Olympics are about International Competition but more so Peace. The Olympics in the US play second and third tier to many other sports, and unless it is a US team or person it really does not get a lot of air time. I get to watch the BBC over here and local television, and the Olympic coverage is awesome. They show all the small countries winning and the pride on the faces of those competitors, now that is Olympic Spirit. That is what the games are all about, the little guy… it is great to get a lot of Gold Medals in the Sprints and Gymnastics etc…, but what about Ethiopia… Gold and Silver in the 10,000 meter. That is impressive to me. Well just wanted to give out some perspective… Have to go…. Hope you enjoyed the Stew…

Later…
Brett