Prepare yourself to witness magic. I am going to reach into the dim and seldom accessed vaults of long stored information in my mind and find memories of my trip from Quait here to camp Adder. It won't be easy, this may not be the first time I have had to retrieve information from so far back but if I am in any measure sucessful then it truly will be a first.
We loaded onto busses and drove an hour to the airfield where we got boxes filled with various different packages. We were told it was food, but don't start trying to make me prove it because I'm sure I would be less than equal to the task, even under torture... We sat in a big army line thingy (a.k.a. a formation) for over an hour until we were finally provided with the relief of an old air conditioned tent to finish our time at the airfield. In retrospect I feel it would have been a bit more comfortable for everyone if the males and females had been given seperate tents. Airconditioning is such a loosely used word, it is apparently open to interpretation, fewer clothes is always nicer when sweat it pouring in rivulets down ones body. I managed to find a small spot with a few of the mechanics to play a game of cribbage. The C-17 aircraft was finally ready to load and so we lined up to board. The back of the plane has a ramp that lowers and passengers/cargo all march up the ramp for loading. There are about 30 rows of seats in the forward section of the plane and open space in the rear for the pallets of cargo. There are also seats lining both walls which face inward. Well, I wasn't fortunate enough to get into one of the wall seats. I didn't even get into an isle seat. No, I was sitting there in my full battle gear with my assault pack and weapon in the very middle of a row. The seats have aproximately half the space that normal seats in a midsize aircraft woul have. I can imagine it is supremely difficult to get into those seats completely naked. As it was with over 80 lbs of gear hanging about me on all sides it would have been nice to have a crane system to hoist me into my seat. At last I was sitting in my seat, with my weapon digging into my leg and my pack on my lap wedging me firmly between itself and the seat behind me. The seats to the left and right were so close that I was actually wedged between the soldiers sitting in them. The end result was that I didn't even have enough space to reach into my pockets or wiggle even slightly. I sat there trying to imagine what would happen if someone decided they were claustrophobic (or even that a distant relative had been at one time) or if someone were to get airsick. The flight was actually quite smooth however, and went off without a hitch (or a movement of any kind really). The next coherent thought I had was as I exited the rear ramp I once again felt a pang of shock that someone had left another jet idling right accross our path. Well as it turned out, when I was informed that Quait was hotter than Iraq I was lied to. In Quait it was so hot and dry that my sweat dried almost instantly and I didn't notice it much. Iraq has actually surpassed that and I am once again reminded of how profusely I sweat.
We moved to an actually pleasantly cool holding area for a few minutes before it was back out in the blazing sun to stand for hours in a line waiting to get assigned our CHU's (compartmental housing unit). I'm sure every unit that comes in has to stand in that line for extended amounts of time so I am really confused as to why they haven't erected some sort of shading device. But no matter. We got our chu numbers and walked the half mile to find them, unload gear and get moved in. I don't even know why I bother to mention it because I suppose by now it is to be expected, but after a couple days (or however long they thought it would take me to get settled into my CHU) I was moved to another. Thankfully I don't think it will happen again until we're about ready to leave this place. The CHUs are small trailer looking things in rows, surrounded by 15ft tall concrete T walls. I'll try to remember to post some pictures of my CHU and my roommate (who has also now started a blog). The Battallion senior medic has now moved out of my company and so I have once again taken over full responsibilities as senior medic.
I don't remember how much I have written about this place, so I'll say just a couple things. The chow halls are absolutely FABULOUS. The food is amazing and there is a great variety of both food and drinks. Biscuts and gravy with eggs and iced coffee is especially delicious for breakfast. Surf and turf night means we get crab legs, lobster tail, deepfried oysters and steak... sometimes all the same night. I never touch the steak, I like a lot of blood present if I'm eating a steak. I think I would be satisfied with setting it outside in this sun for a few minutes. What passes as steak here is so abused, cooked, broiled, soaked in hot broth and various other inexcusable acts as to be rendered inedible by me. Of course that only means I have yet to go hungry here. The PX (post exchange) is an old, dim, dirty gym that has some shelves, so it leaves a lot to be desired. Also it is constantly running out of anything useful due to supply convoys being delayed etc. There is a Taco Bell which is out of beans and onions and chicken. The Pizza Hut has no peppers, onions or chips. The Burger King has no whoppers. I think it's all due to supply disruptions, but they don't offer much of an explaination. There is a great salon type place. They cut hair, do various waxing, pedi/manicures and facials. I got a cut there and at the end got a mini massage and then he cracked my neck (a little scary seeing he didn't warn me, just started jerking my head from side to side). I also got a facial because I was told by a lot of different people that it was wort it. Well, it was nice. I have no use for my face getting exfoliated, but I got to lay in AC for 2 hours breathing in steam and at sundry times having someone messing around with my face. After that I got a mini massage too, so all in all it was enjoyable. There is a market of Iraqi shops a ways off to one side of the post. I haven't been there yet, but I actually planned to go today just to see what they have. I know they sell movies for 2bucks each. There are two chapels on post. I've been to both, not much to tell.
Ok, this is really long and I'm getting a bit tired of all the snoring so everone just wake up. If you have questions about Adder I'll try to answer personally or in my next post. I know I can't think of everything, so I'll describe what you wish to see (or take a picture).
Today I'm taking care of a bunch of administrative things. Tomorrow I'm going to prepare for my next mission. I'll try to write about it when I'm back. I'll REALLY try to remember to take at least a picture or two. I haven't been doing all that well with pictures, I think it's because everything here really looks about the same to me. But I know it doesn't to you at home, so I'll try. Oh, one more thing, I don't know the exact dates I'll get leave, but the paper says December-January. I won't find out exactly till the 10th of November.
And another thing :-) My lovely wife sent me a box of this and that... How does she know exactly what to send me? I just want you all to know that there could not possibly be a better wife than mine. I'm certainly the most fortunate man in Iraq... sadly that's not saying much, a lot of people here have marriage problems. Anyway, everyone give Bonnie a pat on the back for being the strong, gracefull person she is through this.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, one more thing... no seriously, that's all.
I thought this was a pretty cool picture, but you can really see in my eyes how tired I am. You can see the sun just beside my head. Oh, btw, sorry the pictures are so grainy, I can't find my camera so I'm taking pictures with my camcorder now.
You can see the humidity that the sun is trying to scorch through. It was an epic war between the heat and the humidity... I'm still not sure which won.
the shirt I'm wearing is called an ACS (advanced combat shirt) it's supposed to be more comfortable to wear under body armor (IOTV) but it's some sort of spandexy thing with pretty thick sleeves, so it was a BIG bistake to wear on that particular mission. I was a bit on the smelly side.
I actually did get a few minutes of sleep.
Our accomodations...
