Soldier's Diary/The Last 24 Hours In Iraq

[alex e]

too cool. stay safe. what else can we do to help or make a difference?

[LukeO]

Originally Posted by PacToy

First let me say Thank You for all the support we are receiving from mudders. I come to ih8mud to get away from all that is happening every chance I get. Usually at night when we get back from a patrol I'm all amped up and my mind is racing. It takes me a bit to settle down and go to sleep. During that amped up time I have made these post. It is me just posting of the events that occurred during the day. I'm very happy to see that mudders enjoy the posts and further more I hope I can give you all a small insight in my small part of these events in our lives.

04-12-07
Today I had to go to the Desert Wolves (Border Patrol) border fort to hunt down some missing gear we had ordered for the IPs. Then had to race back to meet the general that was coming in to do what generals do when they come to small places like ours. We wasted a good bit of our time standing by to possibly take the general on patrol out in town. The end result for me was I stood around in all my gear for nothing then had to play catch up on the rest of my duties. Oh, well, such is life.

So this evening we went to the IP station gave a few quick classes, did a personnel and weapons inspection and took 7 IPs on patrol. I got to tell you I get more and more impressed by their abilities every time we take them with us on patrol. Remember, these are the young ones (18-30 y/o)who are looking up to us. I see good things coming out of them. I'm holding on to my opinions of the older males for now.

1st pic) Working our way up to the border fort.

2nd pic) Border fort trucks. They had a few FZJ-100s too.

3rd pic) The general is arriving.

Randy,

Are the Fords diesels, 6.0 or 7.3 if so?

Luke

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by SLOwag

Interesting looking border checkpoint, I never would have envisioned it that way.

All of those vhicles are loaded down with a lot of stuff. What are they bringing, supplies they can't get in Iraq?

I'm enjoying reading the personal side of your day-to-day life, it might be routine for you but it gives us over here a perspective that we aren't getting anywhere else. Thanks

Border checkpoint: That is just the beginning of it. There is a bit of a process before they are allowed to proceed.

Cargo: Lots of fruits and dairy stuff and lots of building materials. Oh, I can not forget the all the trucks loaded with carpets, rugs, coke, and candies too.

One of our duties is to inspect the trucks, the cargo and the drivers and their passports. The line of trucks goes as far as the eye can see into Syria.

You can not believe some of the stuff we see on the trucks and how the drivers live off the rigs.

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by alex e

too cool. stay safe. what else can we do to help or make a difference?

The question is a bit vague.

For mudders to make a difference for the Marines here?

OR

Us as a nation make a difference in Iraq?

I just want to make sure I answer the question properly.

If it is the second one I will shy away from answering it though.

[PacToy]

04-14-07

Today started off the same as usual. The damn lights came on way too early! Well, at least we have lights, I guess. The good part is with lights comes electricity which brings me my internet which in turns brings me to mud.

First thing this morning half our team went with the Desert Wolves to raid an area that is known for shady stuff. All went well on the raid and they captured/arrested a truck load of bad guys.

Then as my part of our team was getting ready for our patrol out we heard a convoy pull into our encampment. It was the resupply convoy but this wasn't your average resupply convoy. It also had mail, disbursing and a PX. It has been three weeks since we last saw a PX/Disbursing resupply convoy and our dip and money were in the critical stage.

So the day started off well for at least half our team.

On our way back from patrol we stopped by the IPs to teach them some Soft Knock classes. We were well into the classes when one of IPs says something to our "terp" and the "terp" breaks out laughing his butt off. So our "terp" says that the IP said: Yes, Yes, we all know this, the Marines have come to all our homes and have used this technique before. We all know it very well... So we gave them a smoke break so we could regain our composure.

After the classes we proceeded to patrol over to the IP station where we ate margei. Some type of tomato and eggplant soup with a hunk of lamb thrown in. Then we patrolled our way back to our post. As made it back to our SWA hut it began to rain cats and dogs. The rain did make for good nap as it was tinging off our tin roof.

I hope tomorrow to put together few pics of our camp for you all. That is if I can find the time and not busy or something else.

1st pic) This is our little PX we get all so excited about. It is all left overs from KV which isn't much.

2nd pic) Mail Call! I got a box from my dad today. I was happy.

3rd pic) This is a random pic from my camera. Black oil trucks heading to Syria.

[petescoffee]

[quote=PacToy;2063009]The question is a bit vague.

For mudders to make a difference for the Marines here?

I think he meant for the marines.

How many in your team?

Dave

[alex e]

Yeah Randy I am sure there are guys in your unit who need stuff to make their "stay" more enjoyable, etc. Books? Magazines? Candy? Just guessing here. Seems y'all might get bored quickly. I know it's not summer camp but I'd like to give some thanks no matter how small to the people putting theimselves in harm's way so I can keep shopping and going to Starbuck's, etc. Wife won't let me join the National Guard.......

[nat]

Interesting stuff, thanks for posting it up. Stay safe and watch for the thursday threads

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by LukeO

Randy,

Are the Fords diesels, 6.0 or 7.3 if so?

Luke

Those are V10 SDs.

All of the "Big 3" trucks here are all gassers. Well, at least I have not seen a diesel full size yet.

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by petescoffee

How many in your team?

Dave

There are 10 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman on my team.

[petescoffee]

If some mudders wanted to send you letters or other support stuff, magazines or what ever, how would they get it to you and your team.

This goes for other military men and women serving as well.

Dave

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by alex e

Yeah Randy I am sure there are guys in your unit who need stuff to make their "stay" more enjoyable, etc. Books? Magazines? Candy? Just guessing here. Seems y'all might get bored quickly. I know it's not summer camp but I'd like to give some thanks no matter how small to the people putting theimselves in harm's way so I can keep shopping and going to Starbuck's, etc. Wife won't let me join the National Guard.......

Originally Posted by petescoffee

If some mudders wanted to send you letters or other support stuff, magazines or what ever, how would they get it to you and your team.

This goes for other military men and women serving as well.

Dave

Man, I got to tell all you guys that the support from mudders has been great. I shared this thread with my family and your replies have thrilled them with all the support. All the replies to this thread keep me trying to keep you all up to date with everything. There is a lot of things I can't talk about though so the replies to this thread from me might seem a bit repetitious.

To let every one know, I have already received a couple of PMs and emails from a couple of mudders who are sending me/us care packages. Thanks Steve (Poser) and Rob and family (Landcrusher909).

If you would like to send me and my team a care package, please send me a PM and I will reply with the mailing addy and a beer smiley. I would rather not publicly post our mailing addy.

[PacToy]

04-15-07

As usual we changed up our morning patrol routine, a new time and different route. Seeing how it rained cats and dogs yesterday we sank miserably into the muck and mud under the weight of our patrol gear.

We stopped by our IP station to continue our mentoring and guidance. The IPs are pretty quick to learn. We just got to keep trying to instill in them the confidence to do it on their own.

Classes concluded we headed out for our patrol back to our post. I busted my butt going over a berm. I just hope not too many saw me with my feet in the air and me sliding down the backside of the berm my back. I think I played it off pretty well though.

Back on post we went over our logistics and cleaned crew serve weapons. I got to hang up a couple cool girl pics on my wall as well. Then I got a bit of a nap before our night patrol with the IPs.

On the night patrol we had the IPs meet and greet the locals and ask for IDs. The patrol went pretty good. No one tried to shoot us or blow us up and the IPs got a bit better at their duty.

** DAMNIT! I just spilt my dip spit everywhere. Oh, well, I just found another use for my dirty socks! **

So anyway all is well for the time being. We start again tomorrow and again I hope that I will be back on mud telling another day in our lives in this little place.

1st pic) Giving classes to the IPs

2nd pic) That damn berm.

3rd pic) Security halt.

[brownbear]

Thanks Randy, keep posting!

Amazing how many old suburbans were in one of your pictures. Loaded right to the top

Please stay safe !

[agomez]

thanks for the pics and the updates......stay safe!!!

[stayalert]

Here is one fake Iraqi passport that we cut and arrested the driver. I wonder who can tell me what is wrong with it?[/quote]

bezel upside down on his 40? - I kid. I know nothing of propper ID and what you are doing. Stay safe.

[KliersLC]

PING......

You out there Randy?

It has been more than 24hrs since your last post, we are starting to get a bit worried.....

[Campfire]

Originally Posted by KliersLC

PING......

You out there Randy?

It has been more than 24hrs since your last post, we are starting to get a bit worried.....

X's2

PacToy, this is Stateside.... Do you copy?
please give us a CAN report... (conditions, actions, needs)

[PHAT MAX]

as he mentioned before, his sat single could be MIA......

stay safe!

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by KliersLC

PING......

You out there Randy?

It has been more than 24hrs since your last post, we are starting to get a bit worried.....

..............Pong

IT' S ME, IT'S ME!

Originally Posted by Campfire

X's2

PacToy, this is Stateside.... Do you copy?
please give us a CAN report... (conditions, actions, needs)

Uhhh, negative Campfire, say again your last. All we heard was stateside copenhagen and the Marines started cheering. I lost you after that.

Originally Posted by PHAT MAX

as he mentioned before, his sat single could be MIA......

stay safe!

Our sat is still there. I just passed out last night. I'm not going to mention that I passed out with a dip in and made a mess on my rack though.

If all goes well I'll get some pics up tonight (04-17), okie dokie!~

[PHAT MAX]

Originally Posted by PacToy

If all goes well I'll get some pics up tonight (04-17), okie dokie!~

roger roger

[beaufort-fj60]

Originally Posted by PacToy

..............Pong

IT' S ME, IT'S ME!


Uhhh, negative Campfire, say again your last. All we heard was stateside copenhagen and the Marines started cheering. I lost you after that.



Our sat is still there. I just passed out last night. I'm not going to mention that I passed out with a dip in and made a mess on my rack though.

If all goes well I'll get some pics up tonight (04-17), okie dokie!~

just wondering, how old or fresh is the copenhagen you guys get over there?

[Campfire]

Sounds like us Cruiserheads need to organize a "drive" for some Copenhagen here stateside and get it to the front.
Take care Randy and sleep when you can, eat what you can, and chew what you... Ah, never mind...

[PacToy]

Originally Posted by beaufort-fj60

just wondering, how old or fresh is the copenhagen you guys get over there?

I have no idea. IF you can get some cope here it is that international crap copenhagen in plastic cans. I think it has formaldehyde or something in it?

Seeing how we don't have a exchange we only get the left over stuff from KV i.e. straight, long cut and pouches. Snuff never makes it's way here.