Hello All,
In case you haven’t been keeping track (and why would you, I’m the one that’ s here) I been on active duty for 180 days now. Yep, a whopping six months. Whew, where does the time go? I suppose that I could reminisce about all the things that I’ve been through to date, but that would be way too depressing for me so I’m gonna talk about the newest event here in Kuwait. Humidity.
“Wait a minute,” you might say, “there’s no humidity in the desert!” And until yesterday I would have agreed with you. But yesterday morning I walked out of the tent and saw something weird with the sand. It was a deep, dark brown. Now, I am by no means a morning person. So as I stumbled to the Port-O-Crapper I only gave the sand passing notice, but after relieving myself I stopped to notice the wet sand. And then the humidity broke through my semi-lucid meandering and landed on me like a brick. The air was (and still is for that matter) thick with moisture and the morning sun was focused through it like a magnifying glass. At first I couldn’t recognize what was causing me all this pain, but then somebody said, “reminds me of Ft. Leonardwood,” and it all became clear. I had forgotten that water can hang in the air like a sheet and focus Mr. Sun’s (my old
friend) energy on my head like a sadistic kid burning ants on a sidewalk. Oh happy day.
The good news is that the humidity is coming from the Persian Gulf and it has lowered the high temperature around here, yesterday we had about 80% humidity and a high of 111. I thought that I knew what hot weather was, but I was wrong. What’s that old saying, “Never think that you’ve seen the best because there’s always someone better waiting to show up and prove you wrong.” Ok, so that’s not really an old saying, but it does resemble one. Anyway, I am currently enjoying a new experience here, and if you consider it’s about a 500 meter walk to the shower, you begin to see how pointless the act has become. In these conditions I broke a sweat walking to the shower. The huge silos that hold the water for the shower sit outside, and naturally are full of warm (see Hot, thanks to Mr. Sun) water, so I take a warm shower. There are little fans in the wall to blow air around the shower area and they feel pretty good, but then I get to walk the 500 meters (see Quarter mile) back to the tent. And I’m all sweaty again, HUZAH! I don’t know how, but I’ll just bet that General Winter (see Asshole) has something to do with this.
The light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger, I just hope that it isn’t a train. On the 1st of August the powers that be requested that my unit be released from the Marines early. No word if it’ll happen, but if it does there is the potential to come home early as well, but that depends on the Army. After the Marines cut us loose, we fall under Army command. That ’s where the train comes in. I’m actually a little worried about what my real bosses will have in mind for us. Another mission or a trip home? How much time will we have to out-process? Will any of my guys make it home for college, or will they just miss it? What the hell is going on in Korea? Everyone here is wondering and worrying about all these same questions and the tension is getting higher.
The ammo is rolling in again, and the work is helping people work off frustrations, but there is a rumble rolling through the company. I fear a major explosion, and have felt the urge to fight myself on more than one occasion. I love these people, but I am sick of living with them and tired of this place. I don’t mean to bitch because the folks in Baghdad have a much worse life than I do, but I have found myself looking to pick a fight or elevating an argument for no reason. I have seen the same actions in others here and it’s happening more and more frequently and if we don’t get some good news soon I know that there will be a blow up. Put too many rats in a cage for too long and they will fight, it’s just a matter of time.
Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. A little fist fight is a good thing now and then, and we are soldiers. We should be able to take a couple punches here and there, and dish ‘em back out. Finally there’s a good reason NOT to have alcohol here. If there was, we’d be having fights from the second week, but then this tension probably wouldn’t have gotten to this level either.
180 days of active duty. Humidity. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Maybe pigs will fly!
I love you all,
Will
In an effort to alleviate some tension, do not worry about Korea. It is just the usual peninsula game of one-upmanship to receive more foreign aid. Remember, watch your lane.
It sounds like frustrations are about to come to a head. As a suggestion, if you aren't doing PT, it might be time to restart your program. I know it is difficult in that type of environment. This would entail having to get up before dawn or having a formation in the late evening when the temp is only around 100. Be sure to train safely (read carry water, brief on heat injuries [again]). Although this will meet resistance at first because everyone will know it is just to burn off excess energy, everyone will begin to "cool off" after a couple of weeks. Make it fun, act like you are in basic training again. Nothing like NCOs running through your sleep area at 0430 banging on trash cans, telling you to get down to the PT pit yesterday. Plus there is the added PT benefit of being "stylin', profilin', and beguilin'" when you get back to college/work.
Oh yeah, you are not rats in a cage. You are soldiers, NCOs, and officers just having to deal with the hurry up and wait culture of the military. It has been that way since your basic training, and has been dealt with by all the generations that have gone before you. It's tough, but don't dwell on it.
You are doing fine, hang in there and be safe.
Posted by: Paul on August 5, 2003 12:26 PMWill:
This is not to be meant as torture to you or the guys over there.....but as I sit here in the temperature controlled atmosphere in my office I want you and all the people over there to know how much I appreciate that what you all are doing is allowing me the freedom to do what I'm doing (which is actually working my butt off to support 3 children, who unbeknownst to them actually live the high life compared to children and grownups in other countries. If you ask them, they live with a dictator, but part of being a good mom is being a little tyrannical).
I'm not sure many people actually realize the extent of what our military does for us (even when there isn't a conflict) to allow us to live the way we do.
Keep the faith! Be safe!! And hopefully, you'll be back in the good ole U S of A soon.
Posted by: Theresa on August 5, 2003 12:53 PMGuess that old NE humidity isn't looking so bad now is it? I found the same to be true when Carol and I were up in Cairns - never thought it could be worse than here. Granted I'm sure you would take Australia humidity over Kuwait humidity anyday - but you get my point.
180 days? Just seems like 6 months ago when you left :) Ha, Willy, I slay me. Rest assured, there are those of us keeping track at home too.
Let me know who I need to call in the Army to tell them you all have been there long enough and to send your asses home!!
Keep cool my friend (temp and temper).
Ooohhhh Will...
I should have warned you...so sorry! As you know, I live in Arizona, and you always hear others who DON'T live here say, "oh, but it's a DRY heat"...yea....like in an oven! And when the summer comes, and the REAL heat starts pushing up ole Mr. Mercury, lo and behold, that's when our 'monsoon' season conveintently begins. Joy, joy! We FINALLY get rain (or precipitation of ANY sort) and it comes smack in the middle of the H*E*A*T. What the ****....????
Not only that, but many a time the dark clouds roll in, the moisture builds to OMG level, (for a desert) the lightning and thunder begin, (FLASH!!! ***RRRRRUMMMMBLE) the winds pick up, (I smile since I love storms) and my hopes escalate........................then a few sprinkles.
Damnit! Mother Nature teasing us yet again! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I ougth to have warned a desert virgin such as yourself, and I am most apologetic. However, if I HAD warned you, you would have been dreading it, hmmm?
Hon, try not to wipe the sweat off...if you have ANY sort of breeze/stir of wind at all, it will feel better if it hits your skin WITH the sweat rather than dry skin. (See AS IF YOUR SKIN COULD BE DRY AT ALL ANYWAY IN THESE CONDITIONS)
How's Jacob doing? How's the crappily-ditched soldier doing?
Still praying for you,
Judi
Take care Will. It may seem trying at times but you'll get home to your adoring fans soon. Maybe not soon enough but.....what can you do. Even Canada is rooting for you! Come back soon.
Posted by: Ryan from Canada eh? on August 5, 2003 03:35 PMHey, I follow your stories religiously, and worry when there isn't a post in a while.... I am praying for your nephew and I just wanted to let you know that I went to see the WTC Ground Zero last weekend and bawled. 9-11 was almost two years ago and there is still such a huge scar there. Photos and newspaper articles don't do it justice. Anyway, to make a long story short, I thought of you while I was there and I wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you and others like you are out there protecting our country from things like what happened at Ground Zero.
So, thank you for doing the job that I can't do myself. I owe you my freedom.
Karry
Posted by: Karry in Fla on August 5, 2003 04:37 PMHi Will,
Wow. 180 days. And now some nasty humidity to go with the hellish heat. I was complaining earlier today about how humid it got in my little corner of the world in Wisconsin. I feel like such a jerkwad. I can't even begin to imagine what you guys are going through.
Regarding the request for the Marines to release you all early, I'll keep praying that you finally get some good news about coming home real soon.
I firmly believe that it's time for you all to come home. 180 days over there would probably seem like 180 years. Mere words cannot begin to express how thankful I am for all of your sacrifices over there. God bless you all (getting verclempt).
Nobody in America should take the many freedoms we enjoy for granted. It's because of people like you that we have them to begin with. I won't forget.
Will, I'm worried for you guys. I can't imagine how tired you all must be. Please hang in there, and stay safe.
Will, ya know I luv ya and ya know I mean it and I appreciate the hell out of the irony of the Chem Warfare aka Car Wash unit getting amped up for a bare knuckle fight.
I mean, thankfully, up to this point y'all have been deprived of the whole adrenaline rush brought on by the moment of truth.
Years of acquiring skill and drilling and now you are close to the chaos and fracus - ready to spring into action and yet mercifully thus far we really must be grateful that that moment has not yet arrived.
No one would fault a one of you for having pent up aggression. It is like you never really got to confront the enemy - even if some that have would gladly trade places with you now as you said.
You have witnessed (or lordy have you been party to?) enough bar fights to know that the person who throws the first punch is the one most desperate to escalate the power struggle but they do not always come out the winner.
A wee bit of direction and creativity on behalf of the leaders that prepared y'all for that state of readiness may help focus the fury. Any type of friendly/funny/healthy competition, even Lizard races can go a long way to help the situation.
From the relative comfort of my home in AZ I have my own frustrations regarding the situation in Iraq. But I am a writer not a fighter.
180 days without injury or incident (except J's nail) is a victory all its own. Stay ready, be prepared and may your unit remain united against an aggressor who may use the type of weapons you are trained to contain.
If you have ever seen a surrenduring Iraqi waving his white underwear, you'll know the worst type of defeat is self defeat.
Something tells me you may have an answer by Aug 15th or in another 180 days..."don't quote me boy I ain't said sh1t."
Posted by: SzaffireBlue on August 6, 2003 04:01 AMPT is the answer to six months in the fooking desert!
By the time I hit six months during the first war, I doing PT twice a day to alleviate the pressure of wanting to choke the crap out of my fellow Marines.
Damn I looked good when I got home - three months after that :)
If that doesn't work. . . I'll ship ya a SoCal gang banger to take your frustration out on.
Semper Fi.
JCL
Posted by: jcl on August 8, 2003 01:08 PMDear Blogger Compatriot,
Please support President Bush in his defense of the Iranian People in their fight against tyrannical dictators who rape them of their freedoms and murder those who speak out for liberty.. We must explain to Americans how important a Free and Friendly Iran is. Iran is not in the mainstream news yet - but it will be soon.. jump on this issue and lets go with it: visit http://www.activistchat.com - if you would like to get mobilized and connected - News, Views and Facts!!! It is important that right-thinking sites like ours push the true message and gain massive amounts of support and momentum for the movement, the Iranian people,
and George W. Bush!
Please help spread the word about this crucial message and movement...
This is a war on terror --
And this is the right fight--
We Must Stand Together and Unite!!!!
In Unity,
Haleh
Activistchat.com
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