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