Welcome Home party

Well the first drill weekend is upon me.  This is supposed to be our welcome home drill weekend.  Strangely though no one has been notified until Wednesday of this week, and only the wives were notified by the ombudsman…hmm…should I wear desert or woodland uniform this weekend?  Oh well it doesn’t really matter I’m still going to get paid. 

I’ve been at work now for about 2 weeks which is great.  My wife likes the fact that I am back doing something now other than messing up her house :)  I love spending time with Shanon and Lauren when I come home from work.  I love sleeping on the train on the way home and not having to worry about abdar and his band of murderous thugs  trying to make me die an infidel’s death.  I love being able to walk downtown chicago and see the sights.  It troubles me that very few people have a concept of how big the world is, or just really how big a sacrafice a reservist makes.  People are clueless.

They had a nice reception here for me at the office and decorated my new cube, which was very thoughtful.  All in all I enjoy being back to normal life…Good Luck CHARLIE

Honey....... I'm home!!!

Hello Everyone,

I know it has been a few days since the last posting. That's because I have been in transit to my home of record :). We departed from Kuwait and arrived in Norfolk VA, on March 20th you can read about it here. I spent a few days in Norfolk demobilizing and processing out and then boarded a United Airlines 2hr and 34min flight home where my wife and daughter awaited me. I have been taking it easy at home and spending quality time with Shanon and Lauren.

That's all for now, I will post a couple more times to wrap some things up and then unveil my new blog.

Take care
IT3

Coming soon...

Hey everyone, in anticipation of going home I wanted to mention that
Phone Home will become inactive. A lasting memory of a moment in time
for my life for however Blogger chooses to allow it to stay dormant.
I will however continue to blog at a new undisclosed secure location
:) soon, and will post a link to it here when I officially sign off
this one. Thanks for reading with me while I was away...stay tuned
for more information

IT3

Changes

Remember how you felt on Christmas Eve when you went to bed, on the
day before the last day of school? How you couldn't wait for
tomorrow. One would think that we'd be having feelings like that
here, but you don't. The only feeling is ... the absence of feeling.
I feel kind of numb. I took a break last night early in the morning
like 1 - 2 am and just sat outside for a few minutes in Cookie's
Chair... and just thought about where I am. With the constant
communication to home it seems that I haven't been that far away, but
I really am. I am so ready to go home I don't know what to do with
myself. I walk around the base, and look at things and think about
how long I have been here. It seems like home but it isn't. I don't
have that antsy feeling like I thought I would. I miss my wife and
daughter tremendously and would rather be with them than here, but
it's just something that I'm going through I guess.

I wish that all of Bravo were standing down at the same time, that way
we could all hang out together, that would make this time more
memorable in my opinion, but that's the problem you have when you are
not getting a relief, rather just packing up and leaving. No one to
turn over too, which means they can keep you working until they choose
to say you are done. It is really a shame because it is rubs people
on the 2nd wave the wrong way. I am busy packing my bags and getting
my final package to mail out tomorrow, checking in my sleeping bag and
all that good stuff :) One final trip to the laundry trailer to wash
everything before I pack it up. I've got some disposable cameras that
I am going to burn up since I don't have a digital camera any more :(
... I'm just glad that we didn't have to move into the CMU buildings.
The F.A.N. smell in there is horrible I'm told :) at least they got
something right :)

IT3

NYTimes.com - For Troops, Home Can Be Too Close

Here is an interesting story about instantaneous access to loved ones via, email, blogs, cell phones in the current war. I think it is pretty accurate, I've been able to talk to my wife almost every single day that I've been here. I rarely miss out on things at home. Although not in Iraq, things can become stressful when the communications are down, which happens quite often.

IT3

For Troops, Home Can Be Too Close

Detachment

We've begun standing down. Many of us can taste the stale bag lunch
sandwich we'll be handed for our flight out of here :) that'll be the
only meal I am looking forward. We had a briefing yesterday and when
the words "your demobilization orders are being printed as we speak"
were said there was a slight eruption of elation in the crowd. There
are those who choose not to celebrate until we're wheels up. I think
it is a pretty sad state where a person has to be in a constant state
of waiting for the other shoe to drop, and its not that we are
untrusting its just that we've been given no reason to believe that
anything is what it seems to be until it has happened. Unfortunately
that is the state a lot of people are in. I find myself looking back
and feeling bad that I didn't take more pictures, that I'm not in more
pictures, that I didn't buy more memorabilia, well maybe not more
memorabilia. The first class association for FWD Bravo has done an
excellent job on these "Life in Kuwait" videos, and there are 4
volumes of them. I didn't get any of those, but I think I will ask
for the final slide show that CS1 has put together for our farewell
dinner.

I look at my little 8x8 space and see it becoming more spacious every
day...things disappearing, into the trash or being turned in :) or
being packed into my bags. I am going to miss this space, but maybe
its not missing; missing assumes that I will return to it later on
that I will come back. I won't be coming back. So maybe it is just
my saying farewell to 27H. I am proud to serve in the Navy and for
the work we've done. Seeing all the pictures and statistics that were
served up by the officers yesterday made me feel proud of the work
we've done. I've tried to suppress my cynicism when it comes to the
statistical reporting that is done, and just be proud of the numbers.
Having been responsible for reports, numbers are relative to how you
want to display them and what criteria is used for reporting :)

I will not miss Kuwait, or Camp Patriot. I will miss the friends I've
made here, and spending time with them. I will be able to move on
though, we'll see each other on AT's where we'll be able to have fun.
Where we'll look back on this time and say...man that was screwed
up...or remember when... I am ready to see my baby girl, and my wife,
to see Chicago, to see my home :) to feel the lukewarm air of late
March, to smell the grass growing and snow melting and fresh smells of
spring, to return to freedom. There are so many things that I feel so
thankful for, and will not ever take for granted. It cannot be
explained, to try and explain this feeling to someone who has never
experienced separation like this, it cannot be done. My wife
understands, maybe my parents and in-laws, but certainly no one else
except those who have served. Who've had to leave precious loved ones
behind can understand.

There was a video shown yesterday at our all hands award ceremony,
American heroes. It was moving, the song is one by Enya, and I forget
the name of it, but it was just background music, as it allowed the
pictures to speak for themselves rather than overpowering them,
causing you to focus more on the music than the pictures. We're
heroes, everyone of us. Not just NAVESLF FWD Bravo but every veteran
of every conflict, and those who have served but never served in
combat zones. I think of the line in Armageddon just before they take
off in shuttles named Freedom and Independence "You guys are already
heroes just sit back and enjoy the ride", we were heroes before we even
left Chicago.

We came here to do a mission, and we did it better than the group we
relieved, better than any group before them, and probably any group
after us. We jumped right in and tackled the mission with strength,
and safety. We set a precedent and raised the bar to a point that
will be tough to live up to in terms of work completed. We have every
reason to be proud of the work we've done. There have been some
disappointments, and I know that personally I will not forget them
because they were glaring errors and ones that should never be
repeated. These disappointments will probably cost NAVELSF skill sets
that will be hard to replace. Life goes on though.

I know that when I return here, I will have a different focus. I will
be a veteran, someone who's already been there done that. Next time
around it will be a test of can I do it better than before, have I
matured since the last time, a refining time. Lets hope that it
doesn't come too soon.

IT3

Picasa 2

I have found a new tool that I like for managing graphics on my computer. I have Micrsoft Office 2003 installed which includes the Office Picture Manager and it is a nice piece of software, however Picasa 2 from Picasa a Google owned company is light years beyond Office Picture Manager. There is also a tool that is like an IM client except it is used to send pictures to contacts. It is called Hello from Picasa, it allows you to IM pictures to those people you setup on a contacts list, it also allows you to post pictures to your blog on blogger.com. I must say I am becoming more and more impressed with Google's online offerings. They are easy to use and powerful. Try them out.

IT3

Picasa 2

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

For some time there has been discussion on the creation of separate campaign medals for various operations in the all encompassing Global War on Terrorism. The GWOTEM and GWOTSM medals respectively were supposed to cover all operations now and in the future, but the instruction from DOD would only allow the medals to be issued once with no service stars for subsequent issuances as with a medal such as the National Defense Service Medal. Veterans and current servicemembers felt that this was in adequate and petitioned Congress to push legislation for the creation of separate campaign medals for Afghanistan and Iraq. The fruits of which are seen below. I have not been able to find an instruction guiding the issuance and eligibility criteria, when I do I will link to it here.


Operation Enduring Freedom Campaign medal. For service in Afghanistan. Created by Presidential Executive Order on 29 November 2004. Expect guidance from DOD on issuance and eligibility criteria. 

Iraq Campain Medal

Like the Afghanistan Campaign Medal above. Will post more details once they become available.


Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign medal. For service in Iraq. Created by Presidential Executive Order on 29 November 2004. Expect guidance from DOD on issuance and eligibility criteria. 

The End is Near

Well, the time is coming close to where we will have to move out of our tents :( the H row of Camp Patriot is scheduled for destruction...as were the rest of the tents... but we've been fighting the establishment to keep them until we go home. The Tent Camp is now almost gone ... it is so weird to see it now like it is. Everywhere I go I see new faces, new Army, new Navy... and a lot of the old faces are gone.. which means it is about time for us to go too :) hopefully soon.

It rained this evening, pretty hard, and out of now where. Thunderstorm weather, heavy down pouring rain, heavy winds. For about an hour then it was gone.

The Laundry trailers were working tonight too... that's a pleasant surprise. Considering every other time I went to wash my clothes late at night when no one else is doing that... they didn't work, no water, or all the wash machines were turned off.

IT3

CNN.com - Poll: Most Americans unfamiliar with blogs

You gotta love this...I admit that I didn't know much about blogs until I started mine last year, and got into it while being deployed over here. It appears that CNN might be a bit sore about the loss of one of their senior editors Eason Jordan over the "targeting journalists" scandal.

>>from the article
But blogs have been credited with forcing the mainstream media to pay attention to issues they might otherwise have disregarded, such as the authenticity of a CBS News report that raised questions about President Bush's Vietnam-era service in the military.

>>>
"forcing the mainstream media to pay attention to issues that might otherwise have disregarded" yeah you know... little things like FACTS help in reporting.

IT3

CNN.com - Poll: Most Americans unfamiliar with blogs - Mar 3, 2005

Happy Birthday Dad,

Sorry I'm a little late with the Blog post... but I wanted to wish my Dad a happy birthday and a quick recovery surgery :) You are the coolest Dad! Love you lots. Be home soon...

me

Spades

Sorry I haven't written a lot lately, but things have been busy, and
I've been wondering what to post exactly. I can't talk too much about
what goes on here any more because it seems that everything is OPSEC
related. Oh, well I will say they have gotten rid of the port o
potties and installed the flushable toilets that have all been jammed
as of late :( in a sad way I miss the port o potties.

Other than that off time is filled with playing Spades...the past time
of many a sailor , so I'm told, that and poker. Looking forward to
going home :)

I will write more later
take care

it3

US - Italy Relations chilled after killing of reporter

WOW, maybe they should get the facts straight. The title is that a reporter was killed, when it was a security force personnel. Tragic still but there are other issues surrounding this incident. I think Reuters is trying to spin the fact that Americans are "targeting journalists" a la Eason Jordan's tales. Do a google on Eason Jordan, you will see what I am talking about. This article is truly shameful reporting. Where's the accountability? Hell...where's the editor ?

Politics News Article | Reuters.com

UPDATE : Captain Ed at CQ has more information on Eason Jordan, and an update on this story.

NAVELSF Patches

Here are some patches I designed, I'm taking names of people who want to purchase one, and will be collecting money as soon as I get 30 people for each patch. If I cannot get the minimum number of people, I won't get them made. I'm not in this to make money so the patches only cost 10.00 which covers getting the patches made.








john

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to take a minute to wish my wife Shanon and my daughter Lauren a Happy Valentine's Day. Sorry I can't be there honey, that makes two in a row now. I love you very much, I hope you like the gifts I picked out for you. Be home soon.

Love you
me

Yahoo! News - Dolly Scientist Gets Human Cloning License

I find any sort of cloning to be disturbing, animal, or human. That along with stem cell research. I understand the desire for humankind to want to solve serious medical diseases, and developing transplantable organs. I feel though that messing with natural processes or, divine order is not a good thing. If it is your time to go...then it's your time to go.


Yahoo! News - Dolly Scientist Gets Human Cloning License

Yahoo! News - Kuwait warns terror could spread through Gulf

NO KIDDING!!! Here you have one of the smallest middle eastern nations, neighboring one of the biggest terrorist exporters in the world, with 5 of the top 30 terrorists to be reconciled with allah in Iraq sending the warning to the rest of the Gulf. The pot is being stirred up big time folks. Soon the concern won't be how much they can scam us for oil, it will be how soon we can get our troops in there to save their rear ends. For too long the activities of these terrorist have been ignored by the gulf state governments, not denoucing them because of their deep Islamic governmental roots. Now it is coming back to bite them...but then we should try to be diplomatic with them. They really don't mean any harm now do they.

Disclaimer...my views are my own and in no way reflect the opinions, views, or doctrine of the US Navy, or the DOD.

Yahoo! News - Kuwait warns terror could spread through Gulf

Little bundle of Joy

In the midst of everything in the world that is bad, and there is a lot. My little Lauren is one example of all that is good and right in the world. The innocence of a little child, who knows not of the evil, hatred, and pain in the world. Only that she has a mother and father who love her dearly. Everytime I look upon her face, and into her eyes. I forget where I am and imagine that I am back home. She truly is a gift from God, that brings joy to both her mom and I.

To my wife, thank you for the devotion to our family and all the things you have had to endure for our family while I am away. I love you and cannot wait to hold you in my arms again :)

BLACKFIVE: The Latest From "Mayhem Six" - 2/24 Marines in Iraq

I was sitting in the chow hall today at breakfast (lunch actually but because of my schedule it is breakfast for me :) and seeing the number of Marines that are here, and thinking about one of my closest friends who is in Iraq right now. The unit that he is with is mentioned in the article I've linked below. LtCol Smith from the 2/24 has on a regular basis sent out emails to the families of the 2/24 about their Marines. These warriors have fought valiantly for the Iraqi people, and the determination shown in this article I have found no where else in the mainstream media. It is a pity that they cannot be recognized on the national scale for their efforts. The caliber of leadership found in the Marine Corps, I have not found elsewhere.

My friend and I were mobilized around the same time and I remember those days and weeks before we left, and the time we spent together talking about these very events. He and I will both be home soon and will have more stories to talk about, but time together will mean that much more for the experiences that we've had.

IT3

BLACKFIVE: The Latest From "Mayhem Six" - 2/24 Marines in Iraq

Now here's a story

I had a chance last night to be "hold boss" in charge of alpha deck on the ship we are working. In cargo operations you typically have two functions going on LO/LO (Lift On / Lift Off) and RO/RO (Roll On / Roll Off), and a third one we've affectionately named DO/DO (Drag On / Drag Off) for the equipment that should probably have never come here. LO/LO operations usually consist of containers (Connex boxes), or GENOs (GENeral cargO containers), and this was what was going on alpha deck. It was fun, to be in charge of the hold, and making sure that things go in the right place and according to the stow plan as best as possible. I had to work with about 10 FNs (Foreign Nationals) and get them to place the stuff where I wanted it so it could be lashed down. They are good at what they do, and have good suggestions on how to get things done so I was thankful for their input.

The bad thing about working on the ship is that it is so noisy people can't hear you. The good thing about working on the ship is that it is so noisy people can't hear you :) The reason I say that is, because last night when it was slow, I found that the song for the Beverly hill billies was in my head and the only way I could get it out was to sing it out loud. Soon I found my self singing it out loud...NOW HERE'S A STORY 'BOUT A MAN NAMED JED... and so on. So for about 15 minutes...that's what I was doing...and the only one that could hear it was me :)

....aaaahhhh the beauty of ear plugs and noisy ventilation systems :)

take care,
IT3

Comments...

I had no idea the amount of people reading my blog, but I have seen some of the comments that have been left. I at first did not have comments available to everyone because I didn't know how many people would respond. If you have something to say about a post that I make, or something in general, please leave a comment. I would be more than happy to respond to them to carry on a dialog with my readers. Thanks for visiting my blog, I really enjoy updating and reading comments.

Thanks
john

GMail Invites

I have 43 GMail invites left folks. If you've never heard of GMail it is a new free email service, from Google. You get a 1GB free email account, that is fast, and reliable. It is built from the ground up on the newest technology, for the geeks, you can RSS your mailbox and view emails as conversations. You also have the power of Google Search technology to find any email that you've ever received or sent from GMail. It is a revolutionary service in my opinion and I have been using it since I got invited back in October and I absolutely love it. I rarely delete email messages as it is, and this service allows you to never delete another email message, and find it instantly. It also has unique filing functionality. If you want an invite, email me at johnwildes@gmail.com with and I will respond with an invite.

take care
IT3


Gmail

Task Force Uniform - New Navy Working and Service Uniform

The Navy is working on new uniforms for us. The new Navy working uniform is a BDU type uniform, in either a digital (marine corps style) pattern, or the traditional woodland pattern. The colors are blue, haze gray, deck gray, and black. They recently arrived here at Camp Patriot, the people from Squadron 25, Naval Costal Warfare are wearing them. There are lots of features with these new uniforms. I personally like the rounded collars, and could go either way with the digital or woodland patterns. I like the pockets on the upper arm rather than the ones lower on the blouse. The mock turtleneck is sweet too, no more wooly sweater :) It will be a few years before these get issued, but they should have a decision made sometime in June hopefully on what uniform will be the new one.

They also have a service uniform that they are testing which will replace the service whites and service blues. These are typically office only type uniforms, and are distinctly Marine Corps looking, which is fine by me too. Who wouldn't want to mimic the best ground fighting force in the world :)

I had a chance to talk to Master Chief Carroll and ask some questions that I have been dying to ask since I first saw these uniforms, and I must say that seeing them in person is much better than seeing them online in pictures.

take care
IT3


Navy NewsStand - Task Force Uniform

Cargo Ships reach Antarctic base

Not that any cargo hanlders were a part of this, but I think it would be cool to go to Antarctica to unload a cargo ship. The American Tern a ship that we unloaded when we first got here has made it to Antarctica. You can follow the link to see the picture of the ship and a brief synopsis of what it took to get there, and the reason behind its visit.

American Tern visits Antarctica

Pictures of Grounded Sub USS San Francisco

You may have remember the USS San Francisco that recently struck an uncharted underwater mountain. It was travelling at 30 knots underwater, which amounts to about 34 miles an hour. The pictures are unbelievable. Condolences to the family of the sailor who lost his life. I also want to wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured in the collision.

UPDATE: I realize the link I posted yesterday required one to register for Military.com, to view the pictures. I have since saved them to my personal web space, and have linked them below. Sorry about that.

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

Checking in...

Hey everyone,

Sorry it has been such a long time since my last personal posting.
We've been quite busy here. The elections have come and gone and
things in Kuwait remained pretty much the same, except that the
Kuwaitis are tracking down militants, with a vengence apparently.
Guess that the fighting has turned personal, especially since a couple
of Kuwaiti police officers have been killed, now it makes sense to
start pursuing these wastes of oxygen and send them to allah. Boy
will I be glad to get back home :)

Take care,
IT3

Froggy Ruminations: A Disabled Agenda

Meanwhile in other news...

The terrorists have slipped to a new level of depravity. How 'bout this one folks, doesn't this just rally you to their cause. Lets take a mentally handicapped youth and strap a bomb to him, and tell him to walk up to the polling center then blow him up. COWARDS!!!! Why wasn't this on the front page of MSNBC news...guess the Saddam story was a little more touching.


Froggy Ruminations: A Disabled Agenda

UPDATE : Here is another link to the story with some more details, from Jihad Watch (www.jihadwatch.org) Down syndrome youth used as suicide bomber

MSNBC - Saddam, an eligible voter, didn't cast ballot

I expect no less from MSNBC, than to post a story on the homepage of msn.com about the deposed psychotic dictator that is Saddam Hussein on how he was eligible to vote but didn't. Guess he was one of the few...I don't know who was more foolish Saddam not to vote, or MSNBC to write about it.


MSNBC - Saddam, an eligible voter, didn't cast ballot

The Small Things In Life

Here is one of the blogs that I frequently visit. American Soldier has hit it on the head as far as what makes you happy in life. He's also going through a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

American Soldier

NCO Class update

Hello Everyone

I finished the Army PRE-PLDC NCO Class on Friday. We graduated, and I graduated second in the class. The SGT that was honor graduate earned it well. The Army is a different beast than the Navy and after seeing the class I am proud of the naval heritage and history that I am a part of. I am sure the Army feels the same way about their service as well. The Army does their job efficiently and effectively and this was shown throughout the class. The Army expects a great deal from its Junior NCO's and trains them well on how to be great leaders. I enjoyed the PT formation and Drill and Ceremony (DNC) training as well as the Land Navigation course. The stuff in the middle, PowerPoint presentations on EO, and Sexual Harassment etc, are the same for each branch so those were kind of boring. I enjoyed making new friends in the Army and hope to keep in touch with them in the future.

Living at Arifjan however for the week is something that I know I can do without. That place is a dump, and has no character whatsoever. Yeah they have a bigger exchange and wireless internet from AAFES, but gaining access to all those services is like drinking a thick milkshake from a straw...pointless. The tents were dumpy and old, plenty of profane graffiti in the bathrooms that one could deal without. I'll take Camp Patriot over Arifjan any day of the week.

We got our lockers while I was out, so I am trying to put everything I can in there so I can clean up my space and make it spacious again...it is kind of crowded right now. I no longer have the use of a digital camera so I won't be able to post pictures unless I borrow someone else's or get another one. If anyone finds a DC290 on eBay for cheap...that would make an nice early Birthday present :)

I am trying to get some packages out to people at Aon and family and friends around here, and some letters too. Bear with me I'm not the best at navigating communication means other than email or IM or the phone :)

Take care,
IT3

NAVELSF FWD Bravo Sailors Return Home

Hey everyone,

Guess what!!! No its not me. No we aren't home, but the Fuels and Mail component of FWD Bravo have made it home :) , :( . We're grateful for all the hard work they've done and the fact that they have returned home safely. We await our turn...hopefully they'll write an article for us :)


NAVELSF FWD Bravo Sailors Return Home

Army NCO Class

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for not updating in a while, but I wanted to let you all know
that I was selected as the NAVELSF FWD Bravo Blue Jacket of the
Quarter or BJOQ. Also another petty officer and I are attending a PRE
PLDC Leadership course for the Army. It is the first time Navy
personnel have attended this class so they are looking for us to do
well. It is interesting to say the least, and there has been a lot of
comparison discussion between Army does this, Navy does that type of
thing. I hope all are well. Internet access, and phone access are
severely limited due to where I am at now. I will try to keep the
blog updated as to our progress :)

Take Care
john

The Rat...and a day off

Hey everyone,

Last night, well early this morning, we had a BFR in our tent (big freaking rat). One of the tentmates said he was surfing the internet, and then this rat walked up along side his bed and stared at him. He then ran off. So we spent the better part of an hour looking for this rat, and assumed he ran out the tent, which he did. I go outside to head to the bathroom and walked a few feet from the tent, only to hear him (the rat) running across the gravel at full tilt towards our tent. He ran inside and I followed after him. We never did see him again, but we put out rat poison for him. He was HUGE must have been like 9 inches from nose to the beginning of his tail, not counting how long his tail was. He looked like a ferret somewhat and moved real quick. The rats and mice wouldnt be such a problem here if people (namely the girls who find the cats cute and adorable) would stop feeding the cats. The cats on base are here to catch mice and rats not to be fed Starkist tuna from a can.

Anyhow, after a grueling stint down at the pier we have a day off, and will probably have tomorrow off as well. I am trying to get my laundry done here so that I can veg out the rest of the day tomorrow.

Take care
me

## and a wake up

Hey Everyone,

Its 0222 12 Jan 2005. ## days and a wake up until I find myself in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I miss home so much. This place is wearing on me lately. The constant problems with being able to communicate with home, bulls$*t day in and out, traveling under the threat of attack to and from work everyday, ungrateful people I could go on and on but I think one needs to be here to gain the perspective that I have. People hate America, but they want our money when bad things happen, and they want it fast. People hate America, but every socialist nation in the world, cries out for the freedom we have. No one believes we are good, everything we do has a hidden agenda. Liberate the people in the tortured nation of Afghanistan from the Taliban, free the people from the grip of Saddam Hussein and his sadistic psychotic murderous family friends relatives associates thugs, and all people can say is ... they want the oil for themselves. That we kill innocent civilians and enjoy it, and look at those brave insurgents (read TERRORISTS) standing up to big bad America. THIS COMING FROM OUR OWN PEOPLE IN THE DAILY NEWSPAPER!!!! We provide millions of dollars in aid to Indonesia, the US military was among the first with BOG (boots on ground) to deliver much needed food and fresh water and medical help to that devastated area. Almost immediately. There was no hesitation to display our goodwill and the kindness of the American people. Yet we are "stingy" and only seek to subvert their culture as well, to convert them to Christianity, and that we'd better get the hell out of there because the Tsunami was an act of Allah because the Indonesian people were not islamic enough.

Now here in Kuwait. Kuwaiti military servicemembers plotting against American warriors while we train their forces to defend themselves. Kuwaiti police officers murdered because they were hunting al-qaeda who were Kuwaiti nationals, and targeting Americans and American warriors serving in Kuwait. Do these people suffer from amnesia? Did we not save their country from the brutality of the Iraqi regime? Do I not every day walk out of my tent and look at the wall where Kuwaiti officers were EXECUTED by the fedayeen!!!

Each day I drive to work expecting some crazed islamofacist to attempt to bring jihad to me and my shipmates. Expecting us to be weak and to cower in fear of them. I can guarantee you we will not, I WILL NOT! THEY ARE BUT A LION WHOSE TEETH AND CLAWS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. All bark and no bite yet they are glorified and we are slandered. They brutally murder our citizens by sawing off their heads in the most inhumane fashion ever, and when justice is brought to them they are martyrs. Yet when the ugliness of war is brought to light it is not the enemy is who is ridiculed and torn apart in the public eye. It is the American warrior, and reservists at that who support America not only with their blood and sweat, but their skills as a civilian.

So ## days and a wake up, and I can begin to return my life. To MY COUNTRY where I can sleep under the blanket of freedom provided by the men and women who will continue to stand the watch. To my beautiful wife and daughter, family and friends. To my job. To my church.

Fly your flag folks, fly it proudly. Never forget our men and women here. Continue to show the kindness and generosity, and compassion that America is known for. Live free. Think for yourself.

john

NCHB1 Deploys for humanitarian assistance

See folks this is the kind of thing I am talking about. We are experts when it comes to moving any kind of cargo. The fact that NCHB1 is heading there now shows that we know our stuff, and other know it too. So much for the miliary "not knowing disaster relief".


Navy Cargo Handling Battalion to Assist Tsunami Relief Effort

Git 'er Done !!!!

I haven't posted anything about the Tsunami in the Indian ocean and Indonesian area, partly because I don't want to be one of those bloggers who constantly blogs about current events. Not that it is bad, but its not for me. There isn't a day that doesn't go by that I can turn on the news and hear about all the bad stuff going on in the world. Nothing good. With regards to the tsunami, the US Military has been called upon to take part. A full Carrier Strike Group has been called upon to provide relief assistance. Yet MSM and the UN think we are "stingy" and "do not have experience in disaster relief". If you check out the link for the Carrier Strike Group, you can imagine the amount of money it costs to send one to do a job, and the amount of people, and equipment required. This cost mind you is not included in the $350 Million in aid that we will be providing but in addition to. I'm proud to serve in the heart of Navy Logistics at NAVELSF (Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force) we know how to move cargo, and move it efficiently. Those skills, meshed with the human desire to help, and the vast resources of the US, and its military (food, water, equipment, personnel) proves to be the most effective disaster relief group ever. IMHO (in my humble opinion :) to say nothing for the UN and its group of acronym soup of committees of people who are out of touch with reality.

As for us here in Kuwait, we're continuing on with our mission. We'll be home to our families in about ## days. It is getting warmer here which is nice...although I shouldn't complain my wife said it was -4 degrees at her parent's house in northern WI. :)

Take care,
IT3

Links to check out
The Diplomad Blog
EagleSpeak a retired US Navy Captain's perspective

Happy New Year....for real!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!!!

I got up just in time to be able to call my wife. It was about 5 min til midnight here. The Kuwaitis / Bedouin people have been lighting fireworks off since dark (which around here comes at 1800) and I climbed the second guard tower here by the corner of our base to see the finale. Everywhere I could see in a 180 degree span I saw fireworks lighting up the sky, professional grade fireworks mind you. The kind that should be handled only by professionals. These fireworks were in the hands of mere mortal people. Which was scary, cause it seemed that everyone had them and was lighting them off in their back yard. Nonetheless though it was an impressive display of fireworks, and noise. The noise is what makes the guys in the guard towers kind of nervous at night as it would me too. You hear explosions and the ground shakes, and sometimes if you weren't watching the fireworks you would swear we were under attack. You can hear sounds of "celebratory gunfire" that always makes for an adrenaline filled few moments.

Yesterday 31 December we worked pretty hard, and earned our paycheck yesterday. I have to work again today so I will be going back to sleep here to get up in a few hours for breakfast. Working on New Year's day :) I don't think I've ever done that before, but the mission goes on.

Have a safe and happy new year celebration everyone.
john