We’re only going to be in Mosul for a couple of days. This is one of the short missions where we teach classes. Unlike last time I was here, I’m not staying on FOB Marez. Instead, my team is housed on FOB Diamondback. It’s the LSA that surrounds the airfield. Marez is adjacent, but you have to pass through a serpentine checkpoint. Interestingly, our classes were taught at the Marez MWR. The last time I was at this MWR was for the blowout Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Some of the decorations were still hanging from the ceiling. I know it’s been four months ago. I guess taking down the Cinco de Mayo decorations isn’t a top priority.
Mosul is a city of several hundred thousand (mostly Kurds). It’s pretty peaceful here in the north. The Kurds have self-governed for years now and aren’t interested in disruptive violence. Ramadan began recently as well. The city is practically right outside the hesco barriers of the FOB. The rooftops and spires of mosques are quite visible. A person can’t help but notice the twinkling lights of the city at night. Another nice touch is the rolling hills. The further north you go in Iraq the more mountainous the terrain becomes. Mosul isn’t exactly surrounded by mountains. However, the rolling hills are a welcome break from the pancake-flat terrain further south. I think this region of the world has been continually inhabited for about 8000 years. I know it has seen the rise and fall of many an empire.
Although we were all pretty smoked from our early morning arrival, I told the supported unit to leave the start of our classes for 0900. Around 0700 I met up with my team and we went to breakfast. The unit had loaned us a Chevy Suburban so we had no problems getting around in style. The Diamondback DFAC was practically empty. As we walked in we noticed the signs advertising “Karaoke Dinner Friday.” I’ve never seen a DFAC that hosted such a venue. It will be interesting to see what that’s all about. Anyway, around 0800 we drove over to FOB Marez. It was a beautiful day. The temperature was perfect. As we drove through the checkpoint that separates Diamondback and Marez we saw that the coalition troops here are from Albania. As the day progressed we encountered the Albanians everywhere – on the internet in the MWR, in the DFAC, shopping at the PX, and cruising the stores run by the locals. They seemed much more like happy tourists than soldiers.
Our classes proceeded without a hitch. By 1500 we were done. Most of us took a nap to make up for our earlier arrival. I think we went back to the DFAC around 1900. Afterward, we stopped by the Diamondback PX. I bought a six pack of Beck’s non-alcoholic to go with some cigars we brought along. Once back at our hooches we sat around, smoked cigars, and drank our fake beer. It was a surreal setting. In the cool night air we were surrounded by the calls of the Mullahs at the Mosques. Since the city wraps around the FOB, the calls from the mosques were coming from every direction and echoed off the jersey barriers. The calls must’ve been part of the traditions of Ramadan. They were spooky, yet soothing. It’s strange but that’s the description that comes to mind.
Unfortunately, our conversation turned to the Red Sox. How in the hell can the lead be down to one and a half games? Damn if it ain’t happening again. Oh well, the Yankees still suck.
Mosul is a city of several hundred thousand (mostly Kurds). It’s pretty peaceful here in the north. The Kurds have self-governed for years now and aren’t interested in disruptive violence. Ramadan began recently as well. The city is practically right outside the hesco barriers of the FOB. The rooftops and spires of mosques are quite visible. A person can’t help but notice the twinkling lights of the city at night. Another nice touch is the rolling hills. The further north you go in Iraq the more mountainous the terrain becomes. Mosul isn’t exactly surrounded by mountains. However, the rolling hills are a welcome break from the pancake-flat terrain further south. I think this region of the world has been continually inhabited for about 8000 years. I know it has seen the rise and fall of many an empire.
Although we were all pretty smoked from our early morning arrival, I told the supported unit to leave the start of our classes for 0900. Around 0700 I met up with my team and we went to breakfast. The unit had loaned us a Chevy Suburban so we had no problems getting around in style. The Diamondback DFAC was practically empty. As we walked in we noticed the signs advertising “Karaoke Dinner Friday.” I’ve never seen a DFAC that hosted such a venue. It will be interesting to see what that’s all about. Anyway, around 0800 we drove over to FOB Marez. It was a beautiful day. The temperature was perfect. As we drove through the checkpoint that separates Diamondback and Marez we saw that the coalition troops here are from Albania. As the day progressed we encountered the Albanians everywhere – on the internet in the MWR, in the DFAC, shopping at the PX, and cruising the stores run by the locals. They seemed much more like happy tourists than soldiers.
Our classes proceeded without a hitch. By 1500 we were done. Most of us took a nap to make up for our earlier arrival. I think we went back to the DFAC around 1900. Afterward, we stopped by the Diamondback PX. I bought a six pack of Beck’s non-alcoholic to go with some cigars we brought along. Once back at our hooches we sat around, smoked cigars, and drank our fake beer. It was a surreal setting. In the cool night air we were surrounded by the calls of the Mullahs at the Mosques. Since the city wraps around the FOB, the calls from the mosques were coming from every direction and echoed off the jersey barriers. The calls must’ve been part of the traditions of Ramadan. They were spooky, yet soothing. It’s strange but that’s the description that comes to mind.
Unfortunately, our conversation turned to the Red Sox. How in the hell can the lead be down to one and a half games? Damn if it ain’t happening again. Oh well, the Yankees still suck.
1 comment:
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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