Today had a life of its own. It seemed as though it would never end. We did more in one day than most people accomplish in three. It started early – around 0630 – when I got up for breakfast. This was our last day in UNION III so we had to get on up and get busy before it was time for our flight to Camp Taji. Our show time was 1245. That meant we had to wrap our work, make a quick sightseeing circuit of the Green Zone, stop at the embassy for lunch, and check-in at Washington LZ. I’m just warming up for how the day turned out.
We loaded all our gear at 0930 and stopped at UNION I. I needed to walk the line of their containers and ensure they were all in order. They were. It only took a few minutes. Then the sightseeing began. Our first stop was Prosperity Palace. Yeah, I know… I’ve been to all the places I’m about to mention. However, my two team members had not and they were excited. They were snapping photos faster than a couple of Japanese tourists in New York City. They posed with the Saddam colossi, snapped pictures of the wrecked palace, the compound gates, and any thing else that drew their attention. In no time we were off to the crossed sabers parade ground. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the best photos here because there was a coalition unit having group photos made. My guys had to snap pictures from a distance. Surprisingly, neither of them posed with the sabers in the background.
Our next stop was the embassy palace. For me it was yet another visit to my old MNF-I stomping grounds. It was hilarious to watch my team. Their heads were on a swivel. First they were checking out the palace and the next one of the many females that work there. I gave them a quick tour. Afterward, we stopped at the embassy DFAC. This facility is so far removed from the austere DFACs at the FOBs. Everything is pristine. All the selections are fresh. Even light jazz music plays in the background. The patrons are a mix of high ranking U.S. military, civilians (contractor, state department, etc.), and coalition. It’s incredible to see the number of pretty females. My guys were particularly smitten by a young civilian girl in nice jeans, a pink top that was almost sleeveless, and a pink bandana in her hair. She looked like a college intern. When she got her food she asked a single Major a few tables down if the seat across from him was taken. He reacted with surprise that she had asked and offered the seat. I then gave the play-by-play (because I had a direct view) of the Major. He had the perfect opportunity but he fumbled badly. First he got fidgety – obviously trying to think of something to say. He’d look all over and attempt not to stare. Eventually, he’d say something and then stumble over what to say next. Before long his window of opportunity was dwindling fast. He became more noticeable in his stress. He finished his meal but loitered. I guess he was hoping she’d say something to him. He got a cup of coffee and tried to play Joe Cool. He waited too long. First, a cock-blocking female sergeant sat down next to him and started talking to the pretty civilian girl. Then the civilian got up and left. The look on the Major’s face was obvious failure. I could almost see his lips mutter “fuck” under his breath as he picked up his tray and left. Go sit back down on the bench until your ready to play Major.
After lunch we went straight to Washington LZ. Our blackhawks were on time and we made a short, uneventful flight to Camp Taji. Our contact wasn’t there to meet us so we had to wait awhile at the pax terminal. A thermometer in the shade read 110. It seemed a lot hotter. Our ride showed up about twenty minutes later and whisked us to our billets. We were all roomed together because there’re simply no available billets here. Taji is packed. The units we’re supporting here wanted to wait a day to start but we had none of that. We insisted on getting started immediately. We’re not here indefinitely. The sergeant providing us a ride took us to the first unit. It was located near the main gate. Just as we were walking towards the unit HQ there was a thunderous explosion nearby. The shockwave actually scooted some containers in the same parking lot a couple of inches. A VBIED (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) had detonated just outside the main gate. Thank God – nobody was hurt. It definitely was a break from the monotony though. I actually say that tongue-in-cheek. We could do without VBIED’s.
We ended up working until after midnight. A lot was accomplished. At around 0100 I walked to the latrine and took a shower. It was the first one I’d had in three days. I lingered for about thirty minutes. It felt damn good.
What normally would follow a relaxing shower after such a long day would be deep, relaxing sleep. Well… This is Iraq. Our billets were only about 400 meters from some big Paladins (self-propelled 155mm howitzers). They were sending their deadly packages down range on a frequent interval. That meant we were subject to the concussive blast of the big guns every time they fired. The noise would shake the buildings every time the guns fired. I guess I slept all of about two hours the whole night. I hope the guns hit their targets. They expended a lot of ordnance.
Actually, this was the “Readers’ Digest” version of today. It was even a lot more involved than this.
We loaded all our gear at 0930 and stopped at UNION I. I needed to walk the line of their containers and ensure they were all in order. They were. It only took a few minutes. Then the sightseeing began. Our first stop was Prosperity Palace. Yeah, I know… I’ve been to all the places I’m about to mention. However, my two team members had not and they were excited. They were snapping photos faster than a couple of Japanese tourists in New York City. They posed with the Saddam colossi, snapped pictures of the wrecked palace, the compound gates, and any thing else that drew their attention. In no time we were off to the crossed sabers parade ground. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the best photos here because there was a coalition unit having group photos made. My guys had to snap pictures from a distance. Surprisingly, neither of them posed with the sabers in the background.
Our next stop was the embassy palace. For me it was yet another visit to my old MNF-I stomping grounds. It was hilarious to watch my team. Their heads were on a swivel. First they were checking out the palace and the next one of the many females that work there. I gave them a quick tour. Afterward, we stopped at the embassy DFAC. This facility is so far removed from the austere DFACs at the FOBs. Everything is pristine. All the selections are fresh. Even light jazz music plays in the background. The patrons are a mix of high ranking U.S. military, civilians (contractor, state department, etc.), and coalition. It’s incredible to see the number of pretty females. My guys were particularly smitten by a young civilian girl in nice jeans, a pink top that was almost sleeveless, and a pink bandana in her hair. She looked like a college intern. When she got her food she asked a single Major a few tables down if the seat across from him was taken. He reacted with surprise that she had asked and offered the seat. I then gave the play-by-play (because I had a direct view) of the Major. He had the perfect opportunity but he fumbled badly. First he got fidgety – obviously trying to think of something to say. He’d look all over and attempt not to stare. Eventually, he’d say something and then stumble over what to say next. Before long his window of opportunity was dwindling fast. He became more noticeable in his stress. He finished his meal but loitered. I guess he was hoping she’d say something to him. He got a cup of coffee and tried to play Joe Cool. He waited too long. First, a cock-blocking female sergeant sat down next to him and started talking to the pretty civilian girl. Then the civilian got up and left. The look on the Major’s face was obvious failure. I could almost see his lips mutter “fuck” under his breath as he picked up his tray and left. Go sit back down on the bench until your ready to play Major.
After lunch we went straight to Washington LZ. Our blackhawks were on time and we made a short, uneventful flight to Camp Taji. Our contact wasn’t there to meet us so we had to wait awhile at the pax terminal. A thermometer in the shade read 110. It seemed a lot hotter. Our ride showed up about twenty minutes later and whisked us to our billets. We were all roomed together because there’re simply no available billets here. Taji is packed. The units we’re supporting here wanted to wait a day to start but we had none of that. We insisted on getting started immediately. We’re not here indefinitely. The sergeant providing us a ride took us to the first unit. It was located near the main gate. Just as we were walking towards the unit HQ there was a thunderous explosion nearby. The shockwave actually scooted some containers in the same parking lot a couple of inches. A VBIED (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) had detonated just outside the main gate. Thank God – nobody was hurt. It definitely was a break from the monotony though. I actually say that tongue-in-cheek. We could do without VBIED’s.
We ended up working until after midnight. A lot was accomplished. At around 0100 I walked to the latrine and took a shower. It was the first one I’d had in three days. I lingered for about thirty minutes. It felt damn good.
What normally would follow a relaxing shower after such a long day would be deep, relaxing sleep. Well… This is Iraq. Our billets were only about 400 meters from some big Paladins (self-propelled 155mm howitzers). They were sending their deadly packages down range on a frequent interval. That meant we were subject to the concussive blast of the big guns every time they fired. The noise would shake the buildings every time the guns fired. I guess I slept all of about two hours the whole night. I hope the guns hit their targets. They expended a lot of ordnance.
Actually, this was the “Readers’ Digest” version of today. It was even a lot more involved than this.
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