Monday, May 31, 2004
I Have Internet Access
Stay tuned.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, May 30, 2004
I'm sure they meant the sign to say, "The Wolves of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", but ran out of room.
More cars.
Just a routine traffic stop...
Actually, the Soldier paid $4 a bag - quite a premium by Iraqi standards. The problem is that if we try to bargain, it comes across as a shake down since we have all these guns.
Propaganda Poster - The text on the kid's tee shirt reads, "On June 30th, we will win." I thought it might say something like, "I'm the future of Iraq," but maybe that doesn't play well in this society.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
An Abu Ghraib Prisoner and I Agree
I was writing a little something called the Recipe for Abuse, which is: boredom, lack of supervision, and a sense of superiority. I came across this Washington Post article.
"Abdul Aziz Mohammed, who also was released, held out bruised hands and wrists with large, dark rings where he said he was handcuffed. "Look at my hands," he said. "They are full of the torture signs. Look at my arm. They beat me because they were bored, and they found me a good toy to play with."
Someone does something stupid and then each person tries to top the other. It's like being kids and jumping higher and higher off the cliff into the water filled quarry, except instead of the kids jumping, they are trying to impress each other by throwing someone else off.
I was writing a little something called the Recipe for Abuse, which is: boredom, lack of supervision, and a sense of superiority. I came across this Washington Post article.
"Abdul Aziz Mohammed, who also was released, held out bruised hands and wrists with large, dark rings where he said he was handcuffed. "Look at my hands," he said. "They are full of the torture signs. Look at my arm. They beat me because they were bored, and they found me a good toy to play with."
Someone does something stupid and then each person tries to top the other. It's like being kids and jumping higher and higher off the cliff into the water filled quarry, except instead of the kids jumping, they are trying to impress each other by throwing someone else off.
Friday, May 28, 2004
We Adopted a Puppy at the TCP.
Because there are three shifts at the TCP, she, like Tramp, has three names: Jaffa, Scrappy, and Killer. I prefer Scrappy.
Monday, May 24, 2004
A Soldier takes advantage of a light rain.
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Two Soldiers On Emergency Leave
There was a memorial service for the two Soldier’s that were killed. We just found out that one of them never saw his brand new baby girl. This explains why two Soldiers, one
in my platoon, were sent home on emergency leave; they both have new children they haven’t yet seen.
There was a memorial service for the two Soldier’s that were killed. We just found out that one of them never saw his brand new baby girl. This explains why two Soldiers, one
in my platoon, were sent home on emergency leave; they both have new children they haven’t yet seen.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Another candid shot.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Boys with the sheep they have just driven over the bridge.
Lush fields.
Irrigation pump.
Camels
This cement plant was a regular source of harassment which elicited regular requests to return fire:
Us: Permission to light up the cement plant.
HQ: Negative, we may have people in the area.
A much less troublesome cement plant.
My Mail has been Fixed
wendell.colin.judge@us.army.mil
You may get a duplicate email.
A Couple of Questions from Readers
Am I Scared?
Mostly, I’ve been bored and frustrated. I was scared a couple of nights ago when we were starting a new patrol and we found out two guys in our assigned company just got killed. I talked to some of the other guys like there was a good chance we might not come back.
I’m usually nervous when we go out on a mission for the first time; I guess that’s fear of the unknown, but it becomes routine very quickly. It’s not complacency, it’s more like, “OK, here’s the route,” or “OK, here’s the checkpoint,” and I accept my surroundings and my fate, which, I believe, is controlled by God. One thing I fear is losing an arm and not being able to play with my kids or being a burden to my family.
My Daily Routine
Our schedule varies, but right now it’s something like this (I’ve adjusted the times for operational security (OPSEC) purposes):
0000 wake up
0045 have .50 machine gun mounted and ready to go
0145 leave Forward Operating Base (FOB)
0200 start patrols
0700 return to FOB come back to refuel and eat breakfast
1100 return to FOB come back to refuel
1300 return to FOB end of mission
1400 free time: eat, PX, internet, laundry
1600 go to bed
0000 wake up …
wendell.colin.judge@us.army.mil
You may get a duplicate email.
A Couple of Questions from Readers
Am I Scared?
Mostly, I’ve been bored and frustrated. I was scared a couple of nights ago when we were starting a new patrol and we found out two guys in our assigned company just got killed. I talked to some of the other guys like there was a good chance we might not come back.
I’m usually nervous when we go out on a mission for the first time; I guess that’s fear of the unknown, but it becomes routine very quickly. It’s not complacency, it’s more like, “OK, here’s the route,” or “OK, here’s the checkpoint,” and I accept my surroundings and my fate, which, I believe, is controlled by God. One thing I fear is losing an arm and not being able to play with my kids or being a burden to my family.
My Daily Routine
Our schedule varies, but right now it’s something like this (I’ve adjusted the times for operational security (OPSEC) purposes):
0000 wake up
0045 have .50 machine gun mounted and ready to go
0145 leave Forward Operating Base (FOB)
0200 start patrols
0700 return to FOB come back to refuel and eat breakfast
1100 return to FOB come back to refuel
1300 return to FOB end of mission
1400 free time: eat, PX, internet, laundry
1600 go to bed
0000 wake up …
Monday, May 17, 2004
Mail Problems
Looks like the new and improved military mail account has, at least temporarily, lost all of my mail. If you want to send me a note, please use colin_judge@judgedomino.com for now. If you know of a free email service that you like and has POP accessibility, please let me know.
We are back on 13 hours shifts. Well, we need to be thankful for the 10 hour ones while we had them.
Looks like the new and improved military mail account has, at least temporarily, lost all of my mail. If you want to send me a note, please use colin_judge@judgedomino.com for now. If you know of a free email service that you like and has POP accessibility, please let me know.
We are back on 13 hours shifts. Well, we need to be thankful for the 10 hour ones while we had them.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Flooding Problem at Home
Having the washer and dryer on the same floor as the bedrooms is a neat idea - until it overflows, which it did. The water went from the top floor all the way down to the basement. The insurance company is paying for a restoration company which is great, but we've never had experience in this area and don't know what to look for. If you have any tips on things to double check before the final bills are paid, please let me know.
Having the washer and dryer on the same floor as the bedrooms is a neat idea - until it overflows, which it did. The water went from the top floor all the way down to the basement. The insurance company is paying for a restoration company which is great, but we've never had experience in this area and don't know what to look for. If you have any tips on things to double check before the final bills are paid, please let me know.
Pictures
Let me know what else you want to see.
Let me know what else you want to see.
A typical taxi cab.
Overseeing ICDC.
Chatting with ICDC.
Here's me at a checkpoint.
Here's one reason Germany didn't get involved in the war.
Here's another.
A typical truck and, of course a third reason why the Germans did want to get involved. The vast majority of cargo trucks are Mercedes Benz and are painted orange. I'd like to think the factory color is an olive drab, as some still have it, and then painted orange. As you can see they like to decorate their vehicles here.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Clarification
I've received some feedback from you all and I wanted to clarify a couple of things:
1. I did not volunteer for this mission. I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom in the Fall of 2001, but was not accepted. I joined my current unit in April of 2003 and we were mobilized in January of 2004. Though I did want to serve, going just two weeks after bringing our little boy home from China wasn't the best timing, from my perspective.
2. I'm not making a financial sacrifice. in fact I'm making more money now while I'm deployed - at least for the first year. That's because of the excellent benefits my company has. Yes, it still sucks to be here...
I've received some feedback from you all and I wanted to clarify a couple of things:
1. I did not volunteer for this mission. I volunteered for Operation Enduring Freedom in the Fall of 2001, but was not accepted. I joined my current unit in April of 2003 and we were mobilized in January of 2004. Though I did want to serve, going just two weeks after bringing our little boy home from China wasn't the best timing, from my perspective.
2. I'm not making a financial sacrifice. in fact I'm making more money now while I'm deployed - at least for the first year. That's because of the excellent benefits my company has. Yes, it still sucks to be here...
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Helping Iraqi Children
I just found this on Drudge's site. I've thought about coming back here to help, one day.
I just found this on Drudge's site. I've thought about coming back here to help, one day.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Torture of Prisoners
I just saw some photos on Drudge's website and I am shocked. I know of nothing like that going on around here. The Americans who did this should be tried and put in jail. Unfortunately, it's something as basic as boredom that makes these people do these things. It's pathetic.
I just saw some photos on Drudge's website and I am shocked. I know of nothing like that going on around here. The Americans who did this should be tried and put in jail. Unfortunately, it's something as basic as boredom that makes these people do these things. It's pathetic.
What Pictures Do You Want to See?
I’ve taken a lot of pictures and am limited on what I can post. Anyone want to see anything in particular?
Perspectives
Some of the guys were watching “Platoon” the other night. It was the part where Elias stops the murder of the Vietnamese woman and then Chris stops the rape of some girls, stating, “She’s a ****ing human being.” I wonder if we all have the same perspective. I remember watching “Sand Pebbles” 15 years ago, and being right behind Captain Collins up river sojourn. A few year’s later, I saw it as a useless slaughter.
Question to Bible College Graduate
Does God love Americans more than Iraqis?
Answer: I’m afraid he loves them the same, Judge.
Marines
Marines are it. Some Soldiers will admit it, most won’t. The 1st AD, the 82nd, the 1st Cav, all seemed to look down at us, but the Marines don’t – they don’t need to. They have better looking uniforms, both class A's and BDU's, especially the soft caps. They are better trained and travel lighter. They are secure and confident. A lot is asked of them and they endure. Say a Marine gets a AK round through the shoulder and has a tennis ball size exit wound. He doesn't go to Germany or the US like a Soldier. He gets fixed up here and recuperates here, then goes back to the unit. This is quite a testament to them.
For serving up here, we get to wear the 1st Marine Division patch. Their motto is "No better freind... No worse enemy". Most of us prefer that to the 1st Cav which is grotesque is size.
I’ve taken a lot of pictures and am limited on what I can post. Anyone want to see anything in particular?
Perspectives
Some of the guys were watching “Platoon” the other night. It was the part where Elias stops the murder of the Vietnamese woman and then Chris stops the rape of some girls, stating, “She’s a ****ing human being.” I wonder if we all have the same perspective. I remember watching “Sand Pebbles” 15 years ago, and being right behind Captain Collins up river sojourn. A few year’s later, I saw it as a useless slaughter.
Question to Bible College Graduate
Does God love Americans more than Iraqis?
Answer: I’m afraid he loves them the same, Judge.
Marines
Marines are it. Some Soldiers will admit it, most won’t. The 1st AD, the 82nd, the 1st Cav, all seemed to look down at us, but the Marines don’t – they don’t need to. They have better looking uniforms, both class A's and BDU's, especially the soft caps. They are better trained and travel lighter. They are secure and confident. A lot is asked of them and they endure. Say a Marine gets a AK round through the shoulder and has a tennis ball size exit wound. He doesn't go to Germany or the US like a Soldier. He gets fixed up here and recuperates here, then goes back to the unit. This is quite a testament to them.
For serving up here, we get to wear the 1st Marine Division patch. Their motto is "No better freind... No worse enemy". Most of us prefer that to the 1st Cav which is grotesque is size.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Triumphant Iraqi General?
It’s interesting the different perspectives we can have, even a hundred meters away from each other at a checkpoint. I saw General Selah waving the Iraqi flag triumphantly after he negotiated a deal to be in charge of Falluja. What I did not see, but others did, was a bunch of people ripping the flag out of his hands as he drove by. This might have been the reason the US changed their mind, citing that a security check revealed that he didn’t play well with others.
It’s interesting the different perspectives we can have, even a hundred meters away from each other at a checkpoint. I saw General Selah waving the Iraqi flag triumphantly after he negotiated a deal to be in charge of Falluja. What I did not see, but others did, was a bunch of people ripping the flag out of his hands as he drove by. This might have been the reason the US changed their mind, citing that a security check revealed that he didn’t play well with others.
General Selah in car with flag from my position.
Another Soldier's perspective: Crowd about to pull flag from General Selah's hands.
Monday, May 03, 2004
Language Barrier
I met a Marine interpreter who was talking to Iraqis coming in and out of Falluja. Iraqis will usually wave and give a, sometimes, perfunctory smile, but I’ve never seen them glow as they did when they talked to that interpreter. They really appreciated the fact that an American took the time to learn their language. Even women broke protocol to shake his hand and give their opinion. It motivates me to learn the language. I’ve ordered some CD’s, though it’s one of the most difficult ones to learn. The language barrier is the biggest problem we have here. Some think the louder they speak to an Iraqi, the more likely they are to understand. I empathize with the Soldiers who had such trouble in Viet Nam. We aren't given enough interpreters, though a lot of the ones we have are very good.
I met a Marine interpreter who was talking to Iraqis coming in and out of Falluja. Iraqis will usually wave and give a, sometimes, perfunctory smile, but I’ve never seen them glow as they did when they talked to that interpreter. They really appreciated the fact that an American took the time to learn their language. Even women broke protocol to shake his hand and give their opinion. It motivates me to learn the language. I’ve ordered some CD’s, though it’s one of the most difficult ones to learn. The language barrier is the biggest problem we have here. Some think the louder they speak to an Iraqi, the more likely they are to understand. I empathize with the Soldiers who had such trouble in Viet Nam. We aren't given enough interpreters, though a lot of the ones we have are very good.
