Hello All,
I'm sorry that I haven't written in a couple days, the desert ate my floppy disk with my next rant and I've come down with some weird sinus infection. No worries though, I'm feeling better now. However, let me tell you all about his week's events!
On Monday the Navy was supposed to show up with a whole bunch of ammo for us to wash. I was not terribly surprised, however, when they did not show up, can you imagine that? However, when I was on duty on Tuesday morning, they did show up, imagine that? Now, considering all that we've been through on this little expedition to the desert, the Navy being a mere 24 hours late is not a bad thing. Hell, I take it as a sign that things are getting better around here! They only brought half the load we were expecting, but we finished it in less than half the time the Navy had projected, so I am very happy all the way around. It might seem funny (funny in an odd kind of way, not funny ha-ha) that I'm not bitching about something, but I did have to attend a driving class, and that was hella-stupid (see 90 minutes out of my life that I won't get back).
The driving class was to help military personnel deal with Kuwaiti drivers. Apparently the Kuwaitis drive a bit differently, and ALL soldiers need to attend this class before they drive on Kuwait's highways. I didn't have the heart to tell the instructor that we've been driving here for over a month
now. I hate it when people steal my thunder so I try not to steal other
people's. There were specific examples of things that the indigenous people do that US personnel need to know about. Examples? Sure, I can do that, and I swear that the instructor made all these statements.
Kuwaiti people have little regard for speed limits and will drive as fast, or slow, as they want to at any given moment. Yeah, we're all used to seeing that one guy driving way too fast (usually it's me) and weaving thru traffic like a madman. However, when you’re doing 60 mph and come up on a truck going 20 mph, on a highway, that's something else entirely. Yep, it happened to me.
Kuwaiti people will drive along the dotted lines straddling two lanes. Ok, a little weird, but who hasn't seen this in the States? I used to drive into downtown Omaha everyday and saw it at least once a week.
Kuwaiti people will drift into your lane for no reason whatsoever except their own amusement. Um, what? Say again? For their own personal amusement, you say? Apparently they don't realize that I have a rifle in my Hummer!
Kuwaiti people will drive in the wrong direction on the highway if they miss their exit. Yep, it's true because I saw it myself. When I was in Korea I made the comment that the locals have no idea of their own mortality. It's like they get in a car and they think that aluminum and plastic will protect them from a head on collision. These people are even crazier. I am glad that my Hummer is made in the States and it's steel and Kevlar.
Out of time, will write more later…
I love you all,
Will
Will -- glad to see that your sinus infection has not infected your humor! I live in Florida and the drivers here are MUCH worse than your Kuwaiti drivers....(see blue hair drivers that are not taller than the steering wheel).
Hope you're back home soon.
Theresa
Posted by: Theresa on June 6, 2003 10:52 AMglad to hear from you again, I was getting a little worried about the car wash gang. Hope you get to come home soon, keep writing and let me know about your book tour.
debby in texas
Posted by: debby on June 6, 2003 10:53 AMGood to hear your your still in rare form. I know what your talking about-My cousing came to visit from England (see driving on wrong side of the road) So I took them sightseeing, he said he had to drive as it was a rental. I own a truck so no room for 3 of us. Okay little did I know I was taking my life in my own hands. Cut people off, no turn signal fast, slow. I was just glad they had rented a big car. More protection, I made sure I sat in the back seat after the first trip. I'm short so not as easy to see my life being possiable cut short. So take care and hope your back soon!
Posted by: Chris on June 6, 2003 10:56 AMgreat writing! i love the driving, it sound just like mine(see women driver). i live in houston and see that all the time. keep out of to much trouble. write soon!
best wishes,
Renae, houston, tx
Hi Will,
So glad to see you're doing well, at least as well as you can be in the middle of the desert, in June with a sinus infection!! Yucky!!
Any word at all yet as to when you guys are coming home? I know you can't be specific, but how about a hint?! Are there are least rumors going around?
Thanks for your wonderful stories Will..take care of yourself!!
Love....
Posted by: Sharon on June 6, 2003 11:32 AMWill,
Sorry to hear that you had a yucky sinus infection.
I love to read your rants.
Take care and come home safely.
Jan
Posted by: Jan on June 6, 2003 11:40 AMHi, Will. GOOD to hear from you. Sorry to hear you've been sick~~that must really suck.
No word on when you're coming home yet, huh?!? Hopefully soon.
Driving classes, eh? More folks could use them. Driving with a gun in yer hummer sounds like defensive driving to me. hahaha. Find that in the states all the time by jokers who aren't even in the military or on the police force. That's scary.
Take good care, Will. Look forward to your next post and I hope that sinus infection clears up completely soon.(sniff). Kris
You know, you would have saved a lot of time getting the driving lessons while on the way to get mail with a couple of guys in the back seat cleaning some ammo. Then you have the firepower if you come across someone going the wrong direction and venturing into your lane for the fun of it!
:)
It was great to get an update and a well needed laugh. Take care and stop snorting sand, it's not good for the sinuses...
Heeyyyyyyyyy Will!
Yea, I know about sinus infections, and I LIVE in the desert! (See WAHHH)
(fade in 'old timer's music) Why, I remember way back in 2001...yea, that was the year I had to have sinus surgery. It was rough...things were different back then you know. I recall the pain as though it were yesterday, nearly as bad as a sinus infection traveling to ears and lungs every damn month that year prior. Yea.....those were rough weeks, son....(music fades out)
:)
Count your blessings Will..the driving class could have been that one where you go to get out of points on your license. You know the one..where they show you cross sections of brains, fiery crashes, death and destruction...remember those good ole days? (See SARCASM) You sat there for half a day watching rolling, tumbling, fiery balls of metal sliding into abysses of death. But that's the good part, isn't it? Then you get to see mangled, decapitated, bloody, twisted human remains too!! What a way to spend a Saturday...break out the popcorn everyone! *rolls eyes*
Well, time to run...there's fish tanks that need cleaning here Will. Hmmmm...wonder if washing all those vehicles made you adept at fish tank cleaning too...whatcha think?
Take care and Godspeed
Judi
Posted by: Judi on June 6, 2003 06:58 PMHi Will,
Sorry to hear about your sinus infection. Hope you're feeling better real soon. Thanks much for the post, was getting worried. The way people drive in Kuwait doesn't actually sound much worse than the way they drive in Wisconsin. I can relate to Theresa's comments about Florida drivers. My sister lives in Florida, and she said pretty much the same thing. Having lived 2 years in Japan, I believe they have the worst drivers in the world. That was the only place I've ever been that had traffic jams at midnight! Unreal. Glad to see your sense of humor is intact. Hope to hear you'll be coming home soon. Can hardly wait to see your book. Hang in there, and stay safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Will
Wow - am amazed that in the desert heat, there is anything liquid left to clog the 'ol sinus pipes! Ewwwww.
I can appreciate Kuwaiti drivers but have to say you have never been in "driving hell" until you are standing at the gates of Sun City, Arizona.
You start by thinking you have wandered into a lifesize plastic replica of Earth because all of the trees have trunks painted white, with the painting all ending at the same spot on all the trees, the grass is cut the same height and everything is lined up like, well, soldiers. Once the initial shock of this wears off, then come the golf carts (GC). Now GC's have their uses, however, do not think they were ever intended as street machines. But, here in "make your own reality" Sun City, they are legal street vehicles. Honest. Wouldn't pull your leg, well, can't pull your leg. Ever been stuck behind a golf cart in 120 degree weather minus air conditioning with 3.5 minutes until a particular store (5 minutes away) closes for the weekend? We're talking heart attack and ulcer bundled into one convenient package.
So, to end a short story turned long, you have my sympathy on the driving. It just goes to show that a automobile/vehicle, really can be considered a murder weapon and that there is no such thing as idiot-proof!
Take care
Posted by: LV on June 6, 2003 11:05 PMHi Will,
Glad you're ok, just a little under the weather. Probably all that dust and sand in the sinuses.
As for driving, 90 min isn't sooo bad. I have a friend that recently moved to Ireland and she has to get on a waiting list to take the driving test. She has to wait 6 months. HMM.. mother with 2 kids not driving for 6 months. I think your safer. Also, next time drive a tank. That aught to solve a few road issues.
Take care
Williams family
Posted by: williams family on June 7, 2003 02:42 AMHey Will,
Glad to hear you are feeling better. I really laughed at your description of the drivers out there, and the accompanying commects posted by your 'fans' (see eager females), I hope you get to read them too. You see dodgy driving over here in England all the time, no golf carts but motorised wheel chairs with wing mirrors occasionally decide to come off the pavement to try the roads (I kid you not), if they weren't already in a wheelchair, this act would soon make that outcome very likely!! (sorry, English sarcasm).
Write soon, Becky.
Driving... always assume the other guy is even crazier than you. Yeah, all those things happen here. I think state DMV's teach some of 'em. Living on the RI-Mass border, I've noticed that the use of turn indicators is fairly constant in it effect. In Rhode Island, it is a test of how macho others are, they must beat you to the corner and cut you off, while in Massachusetts you can turn with ease because other drivers all stop - apparently never having seen one, they probably think it is some kind of HazMat warning.
Just learned WD-40 was developed as a missile-parts degreaser. Huh.
Glad you are better, enjoy hearing form you.
Sgt. Will,
Yeh, sure sinus infection - that's the ticket! I always tell my friends I have a sinus infection when I have been doing a lot of crying.
May have to make like you are all away at a deranged summer camp and you are the camp counselor. Sounds like the troops have a real bad case of homesickness. Gonna have to pull out all the stops and be creative to ease the grief of the "no end in sight" dilemna.
I'm thinking "Talent Show?" Some kinda contest, competition, hijinks, goodtimes, to get your minds off your minds.
Keep your chin up, make yourself at home cuz' wherever you go there you are.
Worse comes to worse, may have to put in to go back to Bahrain and then have scavenger hunt for hooch. But you didn't get that idea from me, cuz I ain't one to break the UCMJ's.
You all are the important! You are professionals! And gosh darn it people like you!
We really, really do,
Szaffie Blue
It must be nice to have armored Hummers! You'd think that since I'm in a Combat Arms MOS our unit would have some hardbacks, seeing as how many non-combat units such as MWSS-371 have them. But such novelty doesn't make it to our side of the Camp. Even our MPF vehicles didn't include a single hardback. Just a bunch of M998s, a 1038, and a handfull of 1123s. At least the MPF was nice enough to have all 10 of our 1123s painted tan! All the rest were green...in a desert. Yeah.
BTW, don't let the Arab driving creed get you down. My unit's convoy got cut off several times in both Kuwait and Iraq, and I had a M240G! Others had MK 19s and Ma Deuces. Evidently they aren't aware of just what such toys will do to their cheap white-striped-with-orange-and-red Toyota 4x2 trucks. I've seen what they'll do to a BTR-70 and MTLB Armored Personnel Carriers. It ain't pretty.
Posted by: CPL Fiero, Russel T. on June 16, 2003 08:43 AM
Will is a pretty good writer and this is the collection of his writings. It'll be interesting to hear updates from a soldier's point of view, so I'll be posting them for all to read.
Take care Will