After almost two moons of neglect, I once again take time to peck out something of my life for everyone with an interest to read. Not much has happened except for Mary and Becca's visit last week. It is so good to be back though. Seeing everything green and growing and being able to communicate and just get up and go somewhere. The little things take on a strange importance that you took for granted until you left them. Anyone who has been to Haiti understands what I'm talking about.
We've been working short days and taking care of all the medical stuff that goes with coming back from deployment. I have two or three dental appointments and one to get my glasses replaced coming up before leave. I've also been picked to be the battery's new armorer so I may have classes for that soon. That basically involves taking care of the battery's weapons and sensitive items. We had a pt test this morning and I did a lot better than I thought I would, scoring a 271 out of 300. Not bad for coming off six months of no pt. Going to the gym in Kuwait is what saved me from a horrible score.
For those hooligans out there I call family and friend, I will be taking leave from 14 Dec to 6 Jan and the trip to Haiti is planned for the 18th to the 31st. Kent is working on his leave and as soon as we get that figured out we can buy tickets. His team leader is a moron and no help whatsoever so he has to call his platoon sgt who is temporarily in OK. What a zoo. The army is retarded. If anyone wants to send gifts, we plan on carying as much stuff as the airlines will let us =) I can't wait to see everybody. It feels lke forever. Love y'all
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Happy September
Just like the many journals I have started and have died of neglect, the posts on here are getting further and further apart. Part of that is because of our crazy schedule and a little bit could be contributed to laziness. My goal is at least two updates this month =)
During the last month, I was once again at the jss for a week, bringing my total time there to a month. I am more than happy to have left Alpha Battery behind me. When I came back the battery had moved into surge housing as our replacements were moving into our former quarters, so my whole platoon was in one not-too-large room. I was there about ten days during which time we sat at the Rte Islanders tcp's (traffic control points) in 12 hour shifts and I caught a slight cold. I had a couple days off =) and went out on my last mission on the 29th. We left Taji on 1 Sept and flew to Camp Stryker on Chinooks (for those of you with limited militatry knowledge, those are the really big ones with two rotors) =) We spent two days there and were SUPPOSED to leave yesterday. We got up at 0530 and were at the airfield by 0730. We sat out under this open tin roof until 1800 when our ride developed 'mechanical problems' so they bussed us to nearby Camp Liberty. We spent the night and are supposedly leaving tonight. We'll see. While we were at the airfield I read a 350 pg book and somehow managed to burn one bicep. huh?
That's pretty much it. If I don't post again in the next week, somebody write and yell at me ;)
During the last month, I was once again at the jss for a week, bringing my total time there to a month. I am more than happy to have left Alpha Battery behind me. When I came back the battery had moved into surge housing as our replacements were moving into our former quarters, so my whole platoon was in one not-too-large room. I was there about ten days during which time we sat at the Rte Islanders tcp's (traffic control points) in 12 hour shifts and I caught a slight cold. I had a couple days off =) and went out on my last mission on the 29th. We left Taji on 1 Sept and flew to Camp Stryker on Chinooks (for those of you with limited militatry knowledge, those are the really big ones with two rotors) =) We spent two days there and were SUPPOSED to leave yesterday. We got up at 0530 and were at the airfield by 0730. We sat out under this open tin roof until 1800 when our ride developed 'mechanical problems' so they bussed us to nearby Camp Liberty. We spent the night and are supposedly leaving tonight. We'll see. While we were at the airfield I read a 350 pg book and somehow managed to burn one bicep. huh?
That's pretty much it. If I don't post again in the next week, somebody write and yell at me ;)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Back again
Hey everybody. I'm finally back from the jss so you should start hearing more from me now =) I'm glad to be back. I really don't like the NCOs out there at all. They give their specialists too much authority so it turns into a case of too many chiefs and not enough indians. When you're one of the few indians life can suck at times.
We got some more people so I'm not the newest new guy anymore. One of them is in my section. I haven't met him yet but I'm told he's 30 and has a master's degree. I don't think they're rolling out with us yet. They're probably still going through all the trainning and classes still.
It's gotten hotter here. Mary tells me it's in the 90s in ND. That sounds positively balmy. I would probably have to wear a jacket at night :)
I gotta go to work soon. I'll write emails when I get a chance.
We got some more people so I'm not the newest new guy anymore. One of them is in my section. I haven't met him yet but I'm told he's 30 and has a master's degree. I don't think they're rolling out with us yet. They're probably still going through all the trainning and classes still.
It's gotten hotter here. Mary tells me it's in the 90s in ND. That sounds positively balmy. I would probably have to wear a jacket at night :)
I gotta go to work soon. I'll write emails when I get a chance.
Friday, July 13, 2007
I know, I know
It's been awhile. I've been trying to get the internet in my room to let me post pictures but it's got a burr in it's craw and won't let me do it. So you'll just have to settle for a note for now.
Things have been pretty much the same since I got back from the jss. Missions at night, sleep through the day. Nothing exciting has happened and that's a good thing =) In a day or two we'll be switching to different missions during the day for awhile :( Not really looking forward to the heat again. It's getting hotter as we get toward August.
People have been asking about an address so here it is: PV2 Byers
C Btry 1-37 FA
FOB Taji
APO AE 09378
Things have been pretty much the same since I got back from the jss. Missions at night, sleep through the day. Nothing exciting has happened and that's a good thing =) In a day or two we'll be switching to different missions during the day for awhile :( Not really looking forward to the heat again. It's getting hotter as we get toward August.
People have been asking about an address so here it is: PV2 Byers
C Btry 1-37 FA
FOB Taji
APO AE 09378
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Not too much going on
Ok so it's been awhile since I've written anything but to tell the truth not much of import has happened recently. You will notice that my posts get shorter as the life becomes routine. As it get less exciting to me, it gets harder to believe you all out there might be interested.
A few days ago I was lent to a different battery because they're short on people and came out to this little outpost with few less of the comforts of home :) Not much doing. Just guard shifts every day and routine patrols now and then. I took advantag of being up during the day for once to take a few off-the-fob pictures. They're not the greatest, but better than none. Today we're headed back to Taji, hopefully to stay back with my rightful battery and decent internet and food =)
A few days ago I was lent to a different battery because they're short on people and came out to this little outpost with few less of the comforts of home :) Not much doing. Just guard shifts every day and routine patrols now and then. I took advantag of being up during the day for once to take a few off-the-fob pictures. They're not the greatest, but better than none. Today we're headed back to Taji, hopefully to stay back with my rightful battery and decent internet and food =)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
....
Hey everybody. Just sitting here at work waiting to head out on another mission and thought I'd post something quick since I haven't in a while. This is our first mission in 5 days. Things just kept not working out so they'd call it off. We're definitely going tonight though.
Beth, the cell is a great idea but I don't know the number.
Beth, the cell is a great idea but I don't know the number.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Good Night
Ok this is me very tired and muddy so this might be kind of short. I just got back this morning from my second mission outside the wire. We walked through several fields and there are lots of irrigation cannals and since I'm the new joe, I carry this big pack which throws me off balance so I fell in the mud a few times. Plus, walking with NVGs (night vision goggles) messes with your depth perception cause they stick out six inches in front of your face.
Both missions were uneventful with not a shot fired which seems to be the norm. We brought back six detainees from each mission which then of course have to be guarded continuously until they're done questioning them and pass them on to someone else. Tonight we used the Blackhawks for the first time in a real mission. That part at least was fun. I love how they take off when they come get us after the mission. They don't want to be on the ground any more than they have to be cause we might have pissed somebody off. They go straight up like a really fast elevator then bank and get out of there. If you'd have told me a year ago that I'd be riding in a Blackhawk with the doors open and a detainee acros my lap, I'd have said you were crazy. Hmm, life is funny. I gotta go. Toodles.
Both missions were uneventful with not a shot fired which seems to be the norm. We brought back six detainees from each mission which then of course have to be guarded continuously until they're done questioning them and pass them on to someone else. Tonight we used the Blackhawks for the first time in a real mission. That part at least was fun. I love how they take off when they come get us after the mission. They don't want to be on the ground any more than they have to be cause we might have pissed somebody off. They go straight up like a really fast elevator then bank and get out of there. If you'd have told me a year ago that I'd be riding in a Blackhawk with the doors open and a detainee acros my lap, I'd have said you were crazy. Hmm, life is funny. I gotta go. Toodles.
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