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27 Jun 2009
Mid Tour Leave
The Army will fly a deployed soldier anywhere in the world for 15 days of Rest & Relaxation. They try to make about the middle of the tour, and it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. My midpoint was early last month, so my leave is coming up soon. We’ve decided to meet in Germany, at the Army's recreation hotel, the Edelweiss . It is in Garmisch, where Lisa and I visited several times back in the early 90’s as a young lieutenant. Almost 20 years later, we’ll get to show it to our children! Ethan was so nice about it, too: “Dad, it’s OK if we go to some museums and stuff. I’ll still have fun.” As it turns out, there’s nary a museum in our plan. I’m thinking along the lines of whitewater rafting, mountain climbing, seeing the famous Neuschwanstein castle, and going to the pool a lot!
 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  12:49 | permalink | trackbacks [375]



24 Jun 2009
Jim Reis
Jim and I are both assigned to liaise with the 34th Infantry Division (Liaison Officers). We work together in the G4 section. He’s a great guy with a background in social work and helping older youth. He's part of the core 287th Sustainment Brigade from Kansas, although he lives in a little town in Colorado. He knows the Division operations extremely well, and with my knowledge of convoy operations and Basra experience, we make an excellent team. We recently grabbed this photo: a real pair of mean looking warriors, huh?

Typically, I'll work the early shift, from about 6:30 am to 7:00 PM (1900 HRS!). Jim works about 10:30 am to 11:00 PM (2300 HRS!!). That way, we've got good coverage for all the little things, and big things, that pop up, plus we're double-teamed in the busier part of the day, with either meetings or various projects. That works well.
 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  13:12 | permalink | trackbacks [165]



21 Jun 2009
A Walk Around COB Basra
The Mayor of our little COB, LTC Steve Hanson, takes us on a guided tour of the Basra Coalition Operating Base (COB). There are lots of improvements ongoing, and even though this was just filmed last month, lots has changed since then. Also there are some intentional inaccuracies so that this can't be used by the wrong people.

 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  12:11 | permalink | trackbacks [442]



21 Jun 2009
British Humor
There are very few British troops left in Basra, but I received the message below from one of the officers.


Could you please ask your soldiers to start their ranges earlier in the morning? I find the noise of machine guns a pleasant distraction from sleep.

 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  11:32 | permalink | trackbacks [10625]



14 Jun 2009
The end of another school year
July 14th- the Army’s 234th birthday, and my boys’ first weekend out of school. I miss them a lot, especially now that they’re starting their summer Scout programs and what would have been a few months of family time before Eric starts High School and Ethan moves into his final year of Elementary school.

At the same time, we’re making some great progress here in Basra, with new facilities such as the new post office opening this week, a permanent finance facility before that, and a fuel farm, water purification facility, and a new cargo/convoy staging area. I’ve helped build many of these facilities, both literally and conceptually. Last night, I helped cut, drill and weld a piece of cage material needed for the post office security, and at the same time, I’m meeting with the Division Engineers to plan how we’re going to accommodate traffic flow and container storage, while not interfering with the Division Band’s new practice hall.

The position I assumed in April has me looking not just at Basra developments, but all of southern Iraq (everything south of Baghdad). I must say, the whole picture shows remarkable progress and opportunities for the citizens of Iraq. Basra has made the “Iraqi First” contracting initiative work, and the southern provinces of Iraq all have a tremendous number of infrastructure improvements going on, from beekeeping to cement plants!

This week marks my 6th month in Iraq, and coming up on 9 months of mobilization. Personally, I’m on the downhill leg, and with the President's plan to be out of Iraq by 2011, I know the United States is in a similar stance. There’s still a lot of ground to cover, but it’s easier, I think, when you can look back and see how far you’ve already gone.

GEN Odierno said in a letter to all those serving in Iraq:
Today, our Army remains strong and resilient. The very best Army in the world. The full-spectrum operations you perform are among the most difficult our nation's Soldiers have ever faced, carried out in an unforgiving climate against a resourceful enemy. It is a task which calls for the strength, intelligence and tenacity which you exemplify.
Our struggle to bring stability to Iraq links you to the proud heritage of Soldiers who have fought far from home in the defense of the nation.
Today, we fight and serve alongside our comrades-in-arms from other services and nations. We are part of a Joint and Combined team in Iraq.
We are Soldiers, mentally and physically tough, adaptive to the changing environment, who will always win.


 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  09:42 | permalink | trackbacks [147]





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