Insert Funny Quote Here

Well, I told you all that I was going to run the 8 mile loop for seven days and I DID!! I finished it on Sunday. I am finally off a full day now so I had time to go to the doctor find out that I strained my achilles tendon. That is no fun and it hurts like hell. I plan on running it 2-3 times a week after I get better. I am starting my new shift tomorrow and not sure if I am looking forward to it or not. It is going to be 1pm to 1am. I will have to do all my running and exercising on my own from now on. That is going to be the real challenge.

Other than all that, everything is good here. We have gotten a lot of awards done and still have several to go. There is not really been anything exciting happen that I am allowed to talk about. I do have some funny stories for later though.

Courtney's birthday is coming up soon. I am going to miss her turning 4 and 5 while I am here. I just hope that Christina sends me pictures of the party and of her opening all the things that i got her. I know that she is going to love it all. I am going to order her some more things and hope that they get there in time.

Not much to really talk about right now so I guess I will try to find something to do until it is bed time again.

1300

A Quick Thought

I just finished watching "Charlie Wilson's War". If you have not seen this, please go out and spend the few dollars it takes to rent this movie. It will show you what Afghanistan is like. The country that you see is what it is today. It will also give you a little insight as to why it is what it today. It is from the US perspective, but it is still a perspective. I now know more than I ever knew about this country after an hour and forty five minutes. It will also show you how the US tries to fix things, and does not always finish what was started.

Expect a longer post tomorrow after I get some sleep.

Another WONDERFUL night in Iraq!

Well, it's me again! How is everyone? I hope all is well in East TN or where ever you might be reading this! I hope everyone had a GREAT Mother's Day! Speaking of which,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOMMA!

Yesterday wasn't too bad. I was expecting a busy busy day because it seems like they like to hit us on our holidays....and our Sabbath Day. And because it's been relativly quiet lately. BUT it was a super nice day yesterday. The weather was incredible! I keep hearing about this horrible Iraqi weather that they have, but so far we have only had about three days over 100 degrees... at least while we have been in Iraq. Lately it's been about 80-85....NICE! I cant complain at all! But who knows I probably just jinksed us... oh well. I forgot to put something in one of my previous posts....I menitoned the Lou Au....well, right before we started eating I was standing around watching a game of horse shoes and a nice little birdie shit on my head. Well, the brim of my booney hat anyway. It was pretty funny at the time....1st time I think I've been shit on in while....and it not be someone I know anyway.

SO, any way....I was off work today and that gave me reason to stay up late last night and surf the internet and not go to bed early. So there I was lying on my bed, surfing around on Myspace and ebay......half asleep....my eyes were getting heavy, and I was about to call it a night. I was gonna smoke a last cig...(yeah I'm trying to quit) but there I was half out of it, peaceful, and just about ready to get some beauty sleep.....only to be fully awaken by sirens and a loud voice "incoming, incoming....siren siren siren....incoming, incoming.....siren..." you get the point right? Well....honestly most of the time we ignore the incoming sirens because a bird flying by our "high tech" Army equipment can make it think it's a mortar....and someone quickly comes on and says "all clear" and we keep doing what we normally do....well, last night was a little bit different... the siren lasted more than 5 seconds...more than 10....more than 30...I went to my door to see if anyone else was running to the bunkers....nope. So, I went back inside my hooch....45 seconds...I went back to the door to check one more time...about 1 min...I woke my roommate up and told him maybe we should go out to the bunkers....1 min 15 seconds...it quit. "All clear".....Well now, that was exciting! I wasn't sure whether or not to get into the bunker, or get in bed??? Pretty silly huh? And to add even more to my humor, I asked around today and most people didn't even hear the sirens....hard sleepers I guess. So that was my interesting night. The siren went off another time, but it was a quick 5 sec followed by the all clear.... Odd..... but just so you don't feel like I escaped death or was in harms way too much....we didn't have anything hit inside the FOB last night. Basically, no mortars.

John, don't worry about trying to make people think when they read this....there may be some kids that read it and need your simplicity. :-) Just kidding! Hey it's about time for another picture contest! I've been thinking about what I can do.....so you better put your thinking cap on..... But seriously....I just get bored and have lots of time to think about what to put on here. I don't get on here just dying to make people think about what's going on over here. I just like to try to write from a different perspective once in a while.

Well, enough from me. I miss everyone and hope all is well! Take care and I'll be home before you know it!

Somewhere in Iraq,

SGT Wormy

8 miles X 7 days = PAIN

Not exactly the title that I was thinking about all week, but it will work. My First Sergeant decided that he was going to challenge the whole company into running the eight mile loop around base for seven days in a row. I am going to be the third person in my section to complete this. There was one other one that tried, but she stopped after four days because the pain was too great. At 225 lbs, I am not coasting through this. I just came in from completing day six. My ankle looks like a grapefruit, my knee feels like I pissed the mob off, and I feel like some drained every once of energy out of me. Tomorrow is the last day and I plan making it if I have to crawl. I did not come this far to give up.

After I am done, I plan continuing to run it at least 3 time a week. This is my escape and time to think and clear my head. Jeremy has his quiet time, well this is the only quiet time that I get. It is an hour and and half of solitude. Yes it takes close to an hour and a half to run 8 miles.

I tried to talk to Mom yesterday but the internet was messing up pretty bad so I was not able to talk. It is not much better this morning, but it is good enough to get this up.

I am sorry that I have not updated this for over a week, but I have been really busy and tired. All this running has really taken its toll on me. I promise that I will start doing better.

I am not really full of inspirational talk or anything like Jeremy, but maybe one day I will have something to say to make you think. I will provide you with picture and he will provide the stories and inspiration.

Well, I need to go get ready for work while you all are getting ready for bed. I hope that everyone is doing well.

I miss you all and can't wait to get back to East Tennessee.

Where am I ???

Ahh the sweet smell of fresh air....a soft spring breeze hitting me in the face as I walk down the sidewalk. The sun is at the high point during the day, but its just right....just right. Not too hot, not too cool. Just right for a little ride.....I start to make my way to the garage.... I get my gear.... I'm almost ready. Opps, I forget that I have to change the laundry so I'll go take care of that first. So I'll make my way the other direction to take care of that, once again enjoying the cool Spring breeze. I'm reminded of the song "take me home country home." So picture this....I'm walking to switch the laundry.....lost in a world that I only wish I was in....then, like a train blowing the leaves off a tree that's planted too close to the tracks, a Humvee drives by as I stand on the edge of the curb and takes that thought right with it. Bringing me right back to where I really am....Iraq. Reality sets in...I am walking down the street to get my laundry from the cleaners...then I have to walk back and get my helmet so I can drive a Humvee to the shop for repairs....the only thing not distorted from the first half of this, is the nice unusually cool Spring breeze.
It's nice to forget where I am sometimes...and lately it's not been hard to do that. I've been able to mentally escape from the world I'm really in and go back to east TN....but usually brought back by sound of gunfire or something blowing up in the distance. I guess it's been really good for our guys lately....I haven't had much to do. And that's a good thing. The less I do and more my crew stays bored....the better it is in a sense. We have been keeping ourselves busy with making sure the vehicles are up to standard and learning our way around the ER from the techs that work over there. Ebay has been keeping me busy....unfortunately....unfortunately my camera and my laptop have decided to stop working. So, I'm waiting on both get here so I can do the things I enjoy with less hassle.
I miss everyone and hope that all is well and everyone is getting along ok. I've been gone about 4 months already. Can you believe it? I can't. Some one said that today and I was like "what!" Yeah, it's been that long.
Well....I've written about all that I can think about....I've had this idea for this blog for a couple days...but I'm not sure I painted the picture that I wanted to.....I guess what I hope you understood is that recently it's been great. Walking around my living area being able to totally get away from where I really am and then quickly being brought back by either the sounds of war or a combat vehicle storming by. Sometimes the silence of the situation around you can help you escape the constant wonders of what's going to happen next....what will happen next? Get to a bunker...get back to the CSH....go pick up an injured Soldier....go pick up chow....put the next movie on.....is there anything else on the news other than the damn election bullshit....I wonder if my package came in the mail today....I need to type some papers....I need to get my promotion papers in line.... where does it end.....when does it end? So I bring myself to wondering how people can overlook the new headlines about more and more Soldiers dying and how April was the deadliest month in Iraq in a long long time?? I guess I understand it a little more now. If I can forget long enough for a 30 second daydream that I really am in a war-torn, no mercy, kill all the Americans you can Country.....then I guess I can forgive you for not noticing the headline of *CNN or *WATE Channel 6.

I'll forgive you..... but only once. I said I could forgive you for not consiously noticing a headline, but to ignore is completely different.

*The use of these two names were only used for the sense of easy recognition and comprehension of my point. I do not support nor endorse these channles, so do not read past the black and white.

My eyes are heavy and I feel like I'm blabbering.

I love you all,

Somewhere in Iraq...yes, Iraq not East TN.
SGT Wormy

Good things....

Ok so I said that the next time I put something on here, it would be positive. Well, here it is.

I'm alive and well. Breakfast, and dinner were pretty good today. The weather is nice! It went from 120 degrees to about 75-85....or at least that's what it feels like. My team is doing well. The showers are hot. And.....Hillary Clinton is hopefully going to loose.

Enough of that shit..... back to reality.

Just kidding....It's been a realitively quiet few days....for me at least. Today my team did see an amputation, but they handled it really well. I was off work today so I didn't respond to the call. I keep missing the bad calls if you haven't noticed.... Two nights ago we had a Lou Ou.... or however you spell it. It was nice. They had games and a whole bunch of other stuff for us to do. We had fajitas from the DFAC (Dining Facility) and they were pretty good. They had a stereo system a pinjata, and some other stuff going on.... it was nice to just kinda relax, hang out with new friends and for a minute forget where I was. Last night I bored and wanted to go play some pool, so I went over to the MWR (Morale, Welfare, Recreation) bldg and shot a few games of pool while jammin to the latest hip hop. They had a dance competition too. WOW! $500 1st prize! I tried my best, but I was outdone by so many others... :-( I mean come on....I am white and we all know white boys can't dance. Just kidding I didnt enter....are you kidding me!? I will say that I may have had a chance because the ones that did enter and try to win.....WOW they sucked. Except for 3 of them....they were pretty good. Somehow they let two females enter and they basically put on a stripper's style dance....it was hot, but it really didn't seem right. Here we are in a war zone where sex is prohibited, and girls get raped sometimes, then these two get in front of 100 horny dudes and dry hump each other.....yeah, it just didn't seem right. Don't get me wrong, it was hot.....but at the same time we were like "what?" ANY WAY......tonight was "salsa night" at the MWR. So, I went back to enjoy some salsa music and shoot some more pool. After all I have to keep my skills up on the pool game for when I get back. So Johnny you and Josh better be doing the same. That reminds me, Josh - have a blast in Ireland! Drink one for me!

So, that's about all that's been going on....I've started a new diet and workout program. I hope to look different by the time I get home. Not being able to drink all time will surely help!

I've asked my mom, Johnny, and even my brother for some things that we can't get over here. If you're wondering why it's so hard to come up with even the basic stuff....it's because there are A LOT more Soldiers than there are supplies. So when the truck comes and delivers stuff to the PX most of it is gone in a day or two because people buy so much of it, they don't know when more will come in.

I also want to thank Mom, Dad, John, Johnny, Jitka, and Jana for getting all the stuff I've asked for together. I really feel like a pain in the butt because it seems like everytime I call home I need something different. But they tell me "no problem" everytime. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

I am going to put taking some pictures on my list of stuff to do. It's kinda hard to take pictures where I am because so many places are off limits and could be used against us if they get into the wrong hands, or if the wrong people see them. BUT I will start taking some soon.

One more thing then I'll get off here.....all this positive stuff and I'm gonna end it on a "scary" note. I was taking a smoke break from pool and I was looking over the flight line past the CSH and saw this white flickering thing.....then another about 7 seconds later followed by a boom. That was a first....so naturally I started asking questions to those that saw them too. Two mortars. Small, but still mortars. They were however off post because none of the sirens went off, no one got excited, no one really seemed to care. I walked back to the TOC....our office, and asked if they felt or heard anything....nope not really. So they were off post and at least a pretty good distance away....but it was still pretty damn cool, and scary at the same time. We went up on the roof to see what we could see....5 min later....a big white flash.....but no boom. Odd. No threat to us. No sirens, no comotion, no worries. It was still pretty neat seeing the mortars go up....and come down.

Well, till next time.

Somewhere in Iraq
SGT Wormy

Heroes

Here are a few pictures that were taken a few days ago on the roof where I work. We wanted to get a group photo and single pictures to send to our families. LTC Miller made it happen for us.

We have been having an overall good time. The lack of sleep and difficulty sleeping is starting to really catch up to some of us.

I have been talking to Jeremy after reading his posts on here. He said it's been kinda rough over there where he's at. But he's making it just fine. Yesterday morning I went to my second fallen Soldier ceremony. I talked about this before, but it is still not easy standing there and watching two trucks drive by with an American Hero in the back and the flag draped over the casket.

He has talked about sacrifice. Well, I am betting that you did not hear that were 5 Coalition casualties (casualty means injured, not dead) in the past week. Plus this is Afghanistan and no one cares about it anymore. The injuries belonged to soldiers of another country. We got the message they were all very critical not expected to make it. This is not the first time I got one of these reports. One of my main missions is to process Purple Hearts. This is not fun or joyous. Almost everyday I have to read a report, talk to the Division Surgeon, talk to the Commanding General's staff, and find out if this guys lived, and if so, if the CG is going to pin a Purple Heart on him. A lot of injuries are minor, but some are not. I hate having the General's staff run in and say "Hurry and get me a Purple Heart for this guy. The CG is on his way to pin him, he is going to Germany for treatment. He is serious and the CG needs it 10 minutes ago." Not to mention that these guys are getting Combat Action Badges, Combat Medical Badges, and Combat Infantry Badges. I have to process more of those than you can imagine. 101st officially took over 10Apr08 and since then I have help process over 1200 awards. That is less than one month.

I have to read Silver Star, Army Commendation Medals with Valor, and Bronze Star with Valor (these are just a few of the may that we process) while I am working. Let me tell you, if the news or anyone got a hold of the sworn statements detailing the incidents, there would be a lot more good movies to watch. A lot of these guys are true heroes. Some save lives, and some give their life to save another. There have been many times that I have read statements that bring tears to my eyes. I have seen the senior Officers and Enlisted that vote on these awards get teary eyed over some of these. These men and women are heroes and most do not know it or care enough to know.

I had to read one story of a young Soldier (that means he got out of basic and AIT and went straight to Afghanistan) ......I took this out because it talks a little about strategics and Jeremy said I might want to wait to post about this one. Lets just say that this guy saved a lot of lives before, during, and after almost loosing his life to save his friends.

Back to the Purple Hearts. Doing a lot of these and the action badges that I mentioned before I see a lot of classified and secret documents detailing the bombs used, methods, and such for IED attacks. I have seen pictures of vehicles that were mutilated and you would think that no one would live and the guys were able to get up, get out and kill the sons of bitches that messed up their ride.

I am not in the mood to make you think like Jeremy can. I just want you to know that there is a lot going on here that we cannot talk about, and that you don't need to know. We are both experiencing different aspects in different countries, but we are seeing the same things through different eyes. I read one of the statements and sit back and said a little prayer for the guy that went to hell and came back a hero. It is time that some of you do the same. The next time that you're riding down the road and see a verteran license plate, and National Guard plate, a military sticker in the window, honk your horn, look at them and say thank you. Hell just wave. Do something. The next time you are at the airport and see a group gathering for a soldier coming home, join them and tell them thanks. Or buy them a beer, shake their hand, just do something so that they know you are there and you care. Trust me, there is nothing like a complete stranger coming up and saying thank you!!

There are over 250,000 people in our Army alone. You know one. Call them today and say thank you. Why do you need to wait until Veterans Day. There is a veteran out there right now giving up his time, missing a birthday, missing a birth for that matter, missing his family all so you can go home and sit on the couch and be a fat lazy slob. Get up this one time and do something good!!!

Oh, and Jeremy, I miss you and the stuff is on the way. I miss you Bro and worry my brains out about you. I am headed to Kabul soon so you will get to worry about me for a day. I just wish the day would come soon. I am ready to see more of this country.

Another day I will talk about how other FOBs get attacked everyday. And how there is snow on the mountains and roads that are not drivable and soldiers have to walk these roads in the mountains to find insurgent cells.