tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130497272011-12-01T23:14:44.906+03:00Life on the FOB.Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1128973692205235932005-10-10T22:30:00.000+03:002005-10-10T22:48:12.220+03:00

Good morning, afternoon, or evening, depending on where you're located around the world. It's been some time since I've posted, and since most of you (my friends and family), who faithfully read this blog know that I am back in the U.S., I don't know how great the audience will be for this final blog entry. For those of you who are still reading, please say a prayer for Martha, Brian, Rob, Paul

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1126588987240033712005-09-13T08:53:00.000+04:002005-09-13T09:23:07.250+04:00

Good evening. For the first time since leaving the states back in May, I feel comfortable using time of day references. Prior to returning, there was always the inconsistency of being 10 hours removed from Montana, and "good evening" just never came across appropriately, as I was usually writing around 0730 hours ... take that back, at 7:30 am. I'm still weening myself from Army speak.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1125688472483460572005-09-02T23:03:00.000+04:002005-09-02T23:14:32.490+04:00

I turned in my IBA today. For those of you who don't remember, that's Individual Body Armor. I've been wearing it everywhere I go for the past 3 months. Again as a memory refresher, it adds 55+ pounds pounds to every step. I'm definitely filing a claim for spinal compression when I get back. (Actually, for you government types reading this, I'm just joking ... unless my back really is

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1124423684853348722005-08-19T07:41:00.000+04:002005-08-19T07:54:44.866+04:00

Every morning (and no I'm not going to start this story off with how I'm currently listening to my daily dose of Miss Jones) for the past 3 weeks I've brought Derek back breakfast to go. Actually, I would bring Derek all three meals a day for the past 20 days. Since he hurt his knee he obviously hasn't been as mobile. Grabbing an extra meal has just become another part of the daily routine

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1123876691578316472005-08-12T23:37:00.000+04:002005-08-12T23:58:11.586+04:00

Has it been five days already since my last post. Time is really starting to pick up here. It's amazing what a little diversity can do for you. Generally everyday seems exactly like the previous. I walk the same route, I eat in the same place (and generally the same meal, there's not much to choose from and the "fallback" meals are becoming more and more common the more I eat at the exalted

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1123388906522143732005-08-07T08:02:00.000+04:002005-08-07T08:28:26.530+04:00

I just got in to work from breakfast at the DFAC. While I was there it dawned on me that the DFAC really takes on a life of its own here on the FOB. I don't know how it is in other places around Iraq, but at FOB Abu Ghraib there is really nothing to do but go to work, go to meal, and go to bed. This place is not big, if I were to guess, I'd say it's not even 2 miles all the way around the

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1123306885385591642005-08-06T08:50:00.000+04:002005-08-07T08:55:29.876+04:00

Hands down the best aspect of the FOB is the sense of camaraderie among everyone, troops and civilians alike. Difficult conditions and the daunting environment have a way of molding people together, rather quickly. We all know we're all in this together, and knowing that we do what we can for each other. It's a great feeling. My point is Norman Rockwell would be proud to know that the sense

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1123128407492056082005-08-04T07:35:00.000+04:002005-08-04T08:06:47.503+04:00

Those were words uttered by Sgt Royal, welcoming a US convoy to the FOB, but more significantly, welcoming a US convoy to the relative safety and comforts courtesy of the US military protection. Sgt Royal works at the FOB gate. I met him yesterday. Like all of the other soldiers here, he is not a hardened, special op-trained, gun-wielding machine. None of them are. Unless you know the

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1122923755003035412005-08-01T22:42:00.000+04:002005-08-01T23:15:55.010+04:00

It's almost 11:00 pm. I'm still at the office. It's still well over 100 degrees outside. I'm eating beef jerkey and listening to Norah Jones. Derek and I have already decided we're going to have write her a letter thanking her for helping us through our deployment. If she only knew. But that's a story for another time. I'm sitting here trying to decide whether this time is helpful or

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1122920651724470152005-08-01T21:50:00.000+04:002005-08-01T22:41:56.696+04:00

Thought I'd share some pictures that one of the paralegals took of the FOB during a duststorm and on a "normal" day, because there are no normal days around here. He took the pictures from the same location and at the same time of day. This is what happens when even a little wind comes in contact with a seemingly endless supply of baby-powder fine dust.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1122181435651387062005-07-24T08:37:00.000+04:002005-07-24T13:31:52.623+04:00

Walking back from chow this morning surrounded by brown and gray and sand as far as the eye could see, which wasn't far, as I was tromping through dust storm number too many to count, I couldn't wait to get to work and hear Norah Jones. Derek and I begin every morning, without fail, much to the chagrin of our co-workers, to both of Norah Jones' albums ... the entire albums. Her voice is beautiful

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1122139503317589202005-07-23T21:02:00.000+04:002005-07-23T21:25:03.326+04:00

This is a picture of Abu Ghraib's newest bar & grill. Well, actually, it's Abu's only bar & grill. Well, actually, it's not really a bar & grill at all. Up until about a month ago, it was just the wall to another living quarters with a hole in it that acted as a doorway. There are a group of guys who work at the hardsite, which is Abu's old hard-structured prison. The coalition detainee camps

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1122043885541581552005-07-22T18:44:00.000+04:002005-07-22T18:54:35.480+04:00

I thought I'd post some new photos. There are many more to come. Take care, All, and thank you for your wonderful support. Martha and I both thank you.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1121958930677732262005-07-21T19:08:00.000+04:002005-07-21T19:15:30.700+04:00

Everyone please wish my brother luck. He's taking the bar exam next Tuesday and Wednesday. He's been studying all summer for it, and next week sits to knock it out. Good luck, Matthew!

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1121536827248635712005-07-16T21:28:00.000+04:002005-07-16T22:00:27.256+04:00

A soldier died today. Many soldiers died today in Iraq, Afghanistan, and soldiers from other countries in other locations. But the specific soldier I speak of died in the courtyard our office shares with the FOB hospital. This afternoon, while processing files because we're always processing files, we all heard an explosion, ... a loud explosion, the second loudest explosion I've heard since I've

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1121315780616339172005-07-14T07:53:00.000+04:002005-07-14T08:36:20.620+04:00

Good morning everyone. It's 7:55 am here, 10:14 pm central time. A quick weather update, it's officially hot as hell. Yesterday's high, in the sun, 128 degrees, and the low, I was told, was 86 degrees. However, I don't know at what part of the day it actually gets that low, because last night at 11:14 pm I checked the thermostat that you reach before walking upstairs to our living area and it

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120896756653559812005-07-09T11:58:00.000+04:002005-07-09T12:12:36.660+04:00

I don't know if I've previously mentioned this, but Abu Ghraib is not exactly Las Vegas. It's a place of limited means and certainly of limited vices. Of course drugs are not allowed, but also outlawed, much to my chagrin, is alcohol. I've already talked about my disdain for non-alcoholic beer so I won't readdress that here. I also know I've previously mentioned my delight in free Red Bull so

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120624371767180272005-07-06T08:19:00.000+04:002005-07-06T08:32:51.776+04:00

Thank you all again for your support. The comments are great, and I enjoy reading them. They are the first thing I check for as soon as I get to work every morning. My sincere Thanks.On another note I've discovered that the joy of learning the "naughty" words in another language is without limitation and appeals to people of all ages, races, nationalities, and gender, etc.... In our office we

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120508122865582462005-07-05T00:09:00.000+04:002005-07-05T00:15:22.866+04:00

Happy Independence Day everyone! We didn't do much special here other than have our friday night fights moved up to tonight. It's not much, but it's entertainment, and everyone on the FOB loves them. We have boxing matches every Friday night. Anyone can join in, and it appears the more amateur the better. There's all types from fomer boxers to first timers, and the laughing and ooohs and

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120418222470378862005-07-03T22:51:00.000+04:002005-07-05T00:08:45.533+04:00

So I told you that we went to the CCCI, the Central Criminal Court of Iraq, downtown. The legal process here is in a word: interesting. It is evidence based rather than charge based, like our American system. The way it operates is instead of evidence being admitted or denied at a trial based on a set charge, the evidence is admitted at a pre-trial investigative hearing. I personally observed a

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120416675964946762005-07-03T22:42:00.000+04:002005-07-03T22:51:15.973+04:00

Okay, I thought I could keep telling myself that it's a dry heat and it's not that bad. Well that sentiment is clearly over. I don't know what happened in the last couple of days, but it is boiling. Well, actually I do know what happened, it became July. It's so hot, it's amazing. I've never felt heat like this in my life. Wait, that's not true, because I've felt the heat of a blowdryer.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120314527167467712005-07-02T18:06:00.000+04:002005-07-05T20:30:34.906+04:00

In most offices here on the FOB interpreters are a necessary part of operations, for obvious reasons. Some are from the local area, but others are ex-patriates who have moved to America to seek a better life for themselves. These ex-pat interpreters are utilized in our office because they are usually more educated, can read and write in Arabic, and have been properly vetted for their secret

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120242303179528772005-07-01T21:59:00.000+04:002005-07-01T22:28:00.276+04:00

Basketball in Iraq. If you haven't seen the pictures I posted, you can check them out through a link on a previous post. In one of the pictures you'll see a basketball court. That is my backyard, and it's pretty amazing to witness a full-court, official basketball court in the middle of camo netting, a dusty/rocky parking lot, a mural of Saddam Hussein holding an AK-47 addressing the citizens of

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120197079700902102005-07-01T09:43:00.000+04:002005-07-01T09:51:19.700+04:00

On our way to breakfast this morning, Tim made the comment that Abu was a lot like what he imagined hell must be. Derek, with a reflection in his voice of someone who had obviously put a lot of thought into the issue, responded with a confident "I always imagined hell would have a lot more humidity." I didn't have a remark because I couldn't stop laughing.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120196546227134172005-07-01T09:34:00.000+04:002005-07-01T09:42:26.226+04:00

Thank you all for the running commentary. I love reading them. The first thing I do each morning is check my email and check my blog. Please know that I'd love to respond to each and every comment that comes to the blog. Some people who post, like Coach Lee and my friend Brad from San Antonio, they post but I cannot email them back. Please know that comments do not contain a reply email

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120130065593935142005-06-30T14:53:00.000+04:002005-06-30T15:14:25.600+04:00

There aren't a lot of great days on the FOB. There will be many good ones, but great days are limited, as the FOB is not the most conducive place to greatness. Unless you're speaking in FOB relativity, which basically bumps this place down several and I mean several notches, much past life as we know it in the states, and that only a FOB resident can know, and then there are much more great

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120127879081872452005-06-30T14:35:00.000+04:002005-06-30T14:38:23.756+04:00

Sorry it took so long and for the confusion in getting my photos published. Many of them may seem strange, and that's only because many of them need and deserve an explanation, which unfortunately I couldn't put under them, nor had the time to do so. But that just gives me something to talk about when I get home. I hope you all enjoy the pictures, and there will be many, many more, so stay tuned.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120126666232689302005-06-30T13:56:00.000+04:002005-06-30T14:35:28.450+04:00

Brandon and Patty, you'll be happy to know that FOB Abu Ghraib is commanded by an Army unit from Quincy, Mass, and everyone's disappointed that they won't be able to watch the Sox repeat from their favorite South Boston watering hole. The FOB Commander is especially disappointed since he has season tickets to Fenway. I had forgotten how everyone from Boston and everyone any Bostonian speaks about

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1120020233791814492005-06-29T08:43:00.000+04:002005-06-29T09:19:54.990+04:00

(1 of 195 pictures)from the Shutterfly album of Walsh David

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119979659969724942005-06-28T21:08:00.000+04:002005-06-28T21:27:39.976+04:00

You really live in a bubble over here. I see television three times a day, at breakfast, at lunch, and at dinner, which all occur at the DFAC (I think I've already explained this acronym/abbreviation). There are several televisions there, and usually the news is on, however, just recently an Army unit from New York City has moved in to take over Medical Operations, and the big screen television

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119978478408918152005-06-28T20:55:00.000+04:002005-06-28T21:07:58.413+04:00

I have my blog comments sent directly to my email account, and boy was I surprised when I opened up my email to find so many comments. Thank you all so much for the support from home. I'll tell you right now, and I guarantee it's the same sentiment for every troop in the AO (Area of Operations for the Army) and AOR (Area Of Responsibility for the Air Force; I just realized my Air Force boss is

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119528438705963412005-06-23T15:51:00.000+04:002005-06-23T16:07:20.573+04:00

So as I was saying yesterday, the individual I went to meet at the FOB gate never showed. Anyway, he phoned and said he could meet today. So again I traveled to the gate. The FOB/CC (FOB Commander) and his PSD (personnel security detail, i.e., a bodyguard with a submachine gun and a serious demeanor) came with us. This time the individual did show up, and we all went to meet him. Since he

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119452812230917652005-06-22T18:35:00.000+04:002005-06-22T19:15:16.740+04:00

Good evening from Abu Ghurayb if you're a local and Ghraib if you're an American. This afternoon I took a trip down to one of the FOB entrance points to await the arrival of an individual. It was a quick trip, not more than a few football fields from everywhere else I go on the FOB. An easy walk, but since we walk around like pack mules around here, we elected to take a vehicle. Oh by the way, my

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119375844250181142005-06-21T21:31:00.000+04:002005-06-21T21:44:04.253+04:00

An obersvation on FOB life in general by my friend, USAF Capt Tim Pomeroy. And an accurate observation at that. Societally, this place is exactly like a Rockwell painting. Everyone is so nice and ready and willing to help. People work together and are always looking out for one another. Attitudes are generally jovial and work ethic is seemingly always high. People are sincere and genuinely

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119119224814805492005-06-18T22:19:00.000+04:002005-06-18T22:29:07.763+04:00

This is a quote from my friend and co-worker, LT Derek Mills, USN. We were walking to lunch when we passed a group of individuals, all of whom were wearing their IBAs (something body armor) (I'm still trying to learn all the Army's acronyms myself, and there are lot of them). In fact on a tangential note, and we all joke about this, the Army even puts abbreviations in its acronyms, such as THT,

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1119118755008563052005-06-18T21:59:00.000+04:002005-06-18T22:19:15.013+04:00

My sister and several others keep hounding me about what I actually do over here. And although this is probably something I should have posted a while ago, it's taken me a couple of weeks to figure out for myself what it is I do. My official title is OIC (Office In Charge), Magistrate Office, FOB Abu Ghraib, Iraq. FOB being Forward Operating Base. The magistrate office is composed of three

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1118928245725978542005-06-16T17:12:00.000+04:002005-06-18T17:55:38.986+04:00

I don't have any direct evidence, but I'm certain the beginning of both movie I and IV of Star Wars were filmed in Iraq. It is hotter than I thought. The temperature today was 114, but the ambient temperature outside was 122, but the temperature outside in the direct sunlight was 135. I'm not shitting you, it was one hundred and thirty-five degrees today. And that was if I were naked. As it

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1118760061177648542005-06-14T18:31:00.000+04:002005-06-14T18:41:01.176+04:00

As you can all see, I've changed the title of this blog. That's because contrary to popular belief, including my own, I am most decidedly not in Baghdad. For the past 10 days I've been forward deployed to FOB Abu Ghraib. FOB, for you non-Army types myself included until 10 days ago, means Forward Operating Base. For the next several months, I'll be stationed at Saddam Hussein's notorious

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13049727.post-1116599863640463542005-05-20T18:37:00.000+04:002005-05-20T18:37:43.640+04:00

This is just a test post to see if this thing really works.

Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706890996387423316noreply@blogger.com4