Hello All,
Tonight I’m pulling LNO duty; basically I’m a liaison between my unit and higher headquarters here in Iraq. Nope, not for my 8-up (see FUBAR) battalion but the battalion that is running base operations here. Why does a company need to supply a LNO instead of its parent battalion? Take this as a sign of who’s squared away and who’s 8-up.
Life here is becoming pretty regular and a little boring as well. The company is grooving into the missions and the gray areas are coming into focus. We still have some confusion within our chain of command, but this LNO gig should help out. We’re working 12-hour shifts every day, but there are down days and it’s not too bad. There hasn’t been any enemy aggression in this area lately but we’re keeping our eyes open.
I don’t know what to tell you all. We’re here. We have no idea who will be relieving us or when they will get here, and honestly, I’m beyond caring. I ’ve come to accept this fate and all that comes with it. Nobody promised me a fair or good life, and I’ve got to make the best of each day that comes around.
Life here isn’t bad. A Burger King just opened down the road at the Air Base and yesterday I had my first whopper in a very long time. It tasted so good it was almost like home. I still miss Mom’s cooking more.
DVD players are very big here. After a 12-hour shift there are still plenty of things to get done like weapons and vehicle maintenance, daily S-2
(intel) briefings, personal hygiene (big time here) and eating a hot meal. But after all that you’ve got just enough time to watch a flick, or on a down day (or night for my platoon) it’s a good way to relax. Some troops brought laptop computers, others bought portable DVD players from the PX and everybody shares the DVD’s.
I’ve decided that I will probably take that commission when I get home, but I’m not looking forward to seven months of training that comes with it (2 months in the Basic Officers Leadership Course and 5 months at the Chemical School. Yippie). I’m going to try and put it off as long as possible for my employer, my civilian employer that is. They’ve been great through all this, and I owe then a lot. The folks in the office sent me 11 boxes of goodies, including at least a case of Ramen noodles that I shared with the company when we were in the Kuwaiti desert. Everybody enjoyed them and it was a nice break from the usual Army chow.
I wonder how much at home has changed. I wonder how much I have changed. I wonder if they’ve finished construction on Dodge Street in Omaha yet. Probably not. It’s only been 8 months.
I love you all,
Will
PS – If anybody tells you that morale is good here, they don’t live here. Things were getting kinda ugly when we first arrived, but we’re holding it together. What else can we do?
Will,
It is so good to hear from you. I am glad that you are going to take the commission, the military needs good leaders like you.
Hang in there and stay safe.
Jan
Posted by: Jan on October 30, 2003 05:31 PMHey Will...it's always so nice to hear from you and that you are at least safe! You have a lot of fans out here you know. 4,000 troops just left today from Ft. Lewis headed your way for a years assignment, maybe they are on the way to relieve you and you can finally come home!
The military is a better place because you're in it, I am glad to hear that you are going to accept the commission...there were only two officers I really respected when I served and they were both enlisted first!
All our thoughts and prayers to you, our hero!
Posted by: Sharon on October 30, 2003 05:45 PMHey Will,
I'm glad you're keeping up with your posts to us, it's the only way people can fully understand what it's like to be in the military. I know morale could me much better and I hope there are ways for you guys to stay sane. There is a site (www.militarysingles.com) that could help some of the troops feel like a piece of home is with them. I joined the site to email back and forth with some service members, and I've made some great friends. They look forward to my emails as much as I look forward to theirs. I little bit of support and understanding can go a long way. If anyone wants to know more about the site, give me a shout.
Take care!
Posted by: Kathy on October 30, 2003 05:48 PMHi Will,
It's great to hear from you again. Good for you on accepting that officer commission. You'll make a great officer. I'm sorry to hear that morale isn't so good. I can't begin to imagine what you guys are going through. Just know that there are many people pulling for you, and many that care deeply, laugh with you, and worry too. Hang in there and stay safe.
8 months of 8-up and you are signin' on for more, eh? Awww Will you are my kinda crazy baby and I love ya for it! I only hope that you are they type of leader that other's follow as oppossed to me who is a visionary whose ideas come before there time. Other's just do not seem to be ready for the greatness and the success I have to offer them.
Seems like some people can deal with failure and messin' up because they have known a lifetime of that. But can they handle success? Well they will never know if they do not embrace a winner's mindset and take some risks and a leap of faith now and again.
Go for it Will! I back you up 100% in whatever course you choose to pursue. And I'll tell you why (as if I would ever hold out on you.)
Because our Will here is the kind of man who sees what needs to be done and he does it without waiting for someone to come around and prompt him to do it. He is a take charge fella and when you entrust a job to him you do not need to follow up to see that it was done properly.
In fact Will is the kind of "GO TO GUY" that when someone else has messed a job up royale, you know Will can fix it. And if you have a VIP job, who ya gonna GO TO? Let all the Will fans say in unison please: "Will!"
That said I wish you a Happy Halloweenie Willie! Plenty of things that go bump in the night out there that you can testify to, I'm sure. And that is not fuzzies bumpin together either much to yer all's chagrin I know. Walk in faith not in fear and never falter your integrity cuz I'll be here with the Bullshit detector to make sure everthing clears. Boo to you and the chem squad!
P.S.
Will's for most of you it right now it looks like it will be 12 mos. in country. For some NCO's and unlucky bastards 18 mos. But for you, I'm sure they have an extra special Dagwood sized shit sandwich for you to eat ~ with relish =) Don't shoot the messanger.
Hi Will
Give my fond cheerios to the boys over there. Well if nothing else I guess they are men now...but when they want to relax let the boy in them surface - its healthy to just be a little silly and laugh about something some times.
Take care
thinking of you all and wish you were here with me instead.
American Goddess Down Under
Just because I can...
Get home safe to the people who love you and keep posting because its damm interesting...
Posted by: Cassandra on October 31, 2003 03:05 AMWill, This country was founded by people like you - the ones who see what needs to be done and they do it. Thanks for being you!
Any tips for a gal whose guy is headed over there for the next 12 -15 months? I've got the DVDs and condoms LOL - anything else to make sure he's prepared?
I really appreciate the way you've kept us informed of what's really going on. (Some people don't know about all the 8-ups!) Keep your head down and eyes open and you will be home soon. Hugs to all of you!
Posted by: IRA on October 31, 2003 05:43 AMCongratulations (I think) on deciding to go the officer route. Hang in there. There are tons of us back here who think about our soldiers over there every day and pray for your safety. Your web site helps us feel closer to our soliders. I've printed your site out several times and sent hardcopy to my son who is at Camp Bucca.
By the way -- Dodge Street is still messed up (FUBAR is the term I think would apply the most) as they rebuild the bridges and work on the new 'expressway' things. In addition, they are now 're-engineering' the Maple Street I680 ramps.
God Bless all of our soldiers!
Sue
Posted by: SueinOmaha on October 31, 2003 09:05 AMCongratulations on deciding to go the officer route. We always need a good man to be the level head one in a group of Officers. Well Ca. is still standing. Looks like the are finally getting a hold on most of the fires, some still need more work. I'm sure some of the guys your with are worried about loved one's here. Just tell them to remember we take care of our own. They all ready have fund drives going. Just to worry about getting back safe well take care of those here!! Stay safe!!
Enjoy those Burgers!!
Ok, with that whole officer thing - make sure you do delay it just a bit so we have some time to get to know you again before you leave us. Of course, then we might actually be able to go visit ya this time!
As SueinOmaha said - yes Dodge St. is still a mess and 108th & Maple is a crapshoot for which lanes will be open when. Knowing the 'hood I'm sure you will have to talk to Sally about how much fun that has been.
Happy Halloween to ya. Stay safe and post again soon.
Miss ya, still thinkin' of ya and wish you were here.
Will,
I've been following you since the beginning. Glad to hear you are still hanging in there. I loved the 8-up comment brought back memories of my days in the regular Army way back when. "Private you are 8-up" LOL.
Keep on keepin on...
Posted by: rkinla on November 2, 2003 09:53 AMSo happy to hear from you. A good friend from my hometown just returned home. Have heard many stories about soldier life. I think you are all very powerful people and deserve so much more in life compared to me sitting here at my desk taking life for granted. Even though I knew Tim was coming home, I went into shock when he walked in to work to say hello. To see him in one piece, looking better then I thought he would after being in Nasariah all that time...it was all I could do to let go of that burden held inside for what seemed like so long.
Will, your homecoming will be awesome! Please stay safe and keep your spirits up, so many of us can't wait for all of you to be home, even if it is just for a visit.
GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, KEEP THEM SAFE FROM HARM, KEEP THEIR THOUGHTS AT PEACE AND THEIR STOMACHS FULL. LORD, BLESS THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS WHO PRAY FOR THEM EACH AND EVERY DAY. DEAR JESUS, KEEP THEM ALL RESTED AND WELL!
Posted by: Mary on November 4, 2003 11:59 AMHello Will,
says that when somebody will listen the voice your silences,you have found a friend....We listen you.You don't forget,also if we don't know ourselves...We love you.
Milena & Adriana
Hello again Will....
So...going the officers route..does that mean your hoped for trip across America upon your return is canceled/postponed?
In reference to my last posting to you, I will be cutting this short only because I am drained emotionally, and still have a lot of things to find places for here, from my son's dad's place. After his death, my ex's mom accidentaly (?) let his cat outside, and though we tried for over a week to catch/trap her, we never got Midnight. She was my son and his dad's cat at his dad's house. My son Wyatt was quite upset. As he said, "it's the only living thing I have left from my dad". *big sigh* The will stated Midnight would come live with us and our 12 cats.
Er, correction: now it's 15 cats. *SIGHS* The fellow from and animal capture company we called to use live traps and try to catch Midnight was not able to catch her. He felt really badly for Wyatt, so yesterday, while on a job, he ended up capturing a colony of feral/wild cats. Unfortuantely, he had to take 8 adults to the animal control center, but out of 8 kittens, only one or two went there. As most of us know, kittens have an excellent chance of getting adopted, and are not fully wild yet, but the adults, many times, are feral and unadoptable. He listed several of those adults as adoptable because amazingly enough, they WERE gentle!
I bet you're figuring out where a few of those kittens wound up, eh? Yea, he had found a polydactyl black kitten and thought of Wyatt. Midnight is black, and just last year we had to put down our Skeeter...a pinto polydactyl of 13 yrs. (pinto=black & white, polydactyl = 6 or 7 toes on the feet) Well, I confess...I ended up taking BOTH black kittens (1 polydactyl) and another pinto kitten. I know! I know! I am insane. *SIGHS*
I hadn't planned on taking the pinto, but my neighbor took him for her daughter for her birthday, but their two resident cats, I was told, didn't care for him. He was only over there less than an hour! I suppose most people don't know as much about acclimating multitudes of cats as I do. A cat WILL hiss, growl, swat, etc a new cat in the home...it's the equivilent of dogs sniffing butts and growling. *rolls eyes* By that time, the guy had left, so what was I supposed to do? Call him back, traumatize the kitten more by putting him BACK in the van? I think not. Nah, I'd rather go insane myself, here in my home, and take him too! (oh, brother!)
Oh, and Will? I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP. I'm not making this up to make you laugh. (WITH me, of course, not AT me) It's all truth. If you DO decide to take your USA trip, and you come visit Wyatt and I for dinner, you'll SEE I wasn't making this up!
Godspeed,
Judi
Hi Will,
Today is Veteran's Day and I wanted to thank you and all of our fne young service men and women for serving our country! I appreciate all the sacrifices you have made on our behalf! As I listen to the news from Iraq and see the daily negative spin put on it, I become so frustrated. I hope you and your buddies (and buddietts :) ) know how much you are admired and valued. Thanks to FOX News, we know what a fantastic job you are doing for the Iraqi people and for the U.S.!
Stay strong and know we love you too! Thank you for all the informative and humorus letters. You'll be home soon and your country will be forever grateful!
Best wishes, Connie
I think 1st Lt. Mark V. Shaney USMC said it best when he said:
"Responsible journalism should include responsibility for one's actions in publishing a news story in such a way that puts many other people in harm's way; has a direct result of publication of a particular story might have on other people.
"We are a people that cherish the democratic system of government and therefore hold the will of the enemy is trying very hard to portray our efforts over here, you can refute them by knowing that we are failing, even if we are making the whole world safer. "
Raymond Onnar
And as always: "Quidquid excusatio prandium pro!
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