Two weeks from today I will be in Kuwait waiting on the plane home.
I need a break. Burn out is hitting me bad.
Some other things of note. I am back up to around 200 lbs. I was down to 194 but put on about 6 lbs of muscle. I normally skip lunch and go to the gym here. Bet that will change when I get home.
I have tentatively excepted a new job. I say tentative because it is all dependent on the security clearance being processed. I am told this can take quite sometime. I am really excited about the job. It is not only a promotion, but a different field of work in the IT industry. To be honest programming has lost its appeal to me; the challenge just isn't there anymore. On the down side, I will have a long commute for a while, at least until we can sell our house and find a new one.
There is a lot to do while I am at home this time. I have to take my polygraphs, visit people at the Bureau of Public Debt, see some friends, spend time with the wife and kids, and of course Christmas and New Years.
I took time in the evening to play a video game, F.E.A.R - First Encounter Assault Recon. Great game and great story line. I can't wait to be able to try the multiplayer out. I was a little disappointed with the ending though.
Big thanks to my friend, Rick, for the care package he sent. The cookies were great and the jerky was awesome. The cookies did put a dent in my meal plans. I guess I will have to put in an extra few miles this week.
Back to the job. The funny thing is I applied not thinking I would even get an interview. So next thing I knew I got an email asking to arrange a telephone interview. Now you have to understand this was for a networking postion, which is alot of my responsibility here in Iraq and includes the telephone system we use. It just happens that the day I had my interview the network was having problems due to satellite issues and coomunications with the teleport in VA. Not even halfway through I lost the connection to the states. I finally got things under control and was able to finish the interview. Later that day I was offered the job.
So when I am at home on vacation I will be doing alot of running around to finalize when I am going to come on board with my new agency and when to tell my old one goodbye. I don't know much at the moment over here beyond what I just told.
God bless,
Frank
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Labor Day Run
On Labor day I did something I have not done in a really long time. I ran in a US Corp of Engineer's 5k run.
My hat off to MAJ Bill Cowling for getting the event started. Bill is a high school principal back in Missouri. He let out one email slip saying he was thinking about getting a 5K run set up on our FOB. Next think he knew is he had a banner and t-shirts. Envy him.
Anyway, I did respectable. Run time was 28:08. We are sponsor the Vetran's Day run and I hope to improve my time.
I have hit a slump in my weight loss. I can't seem to break 200lbs. The Vetrans day event will give me motivation to up my cardio training and back off the weight training.
I had someone take video and I hope to be able to get it editted and up on my website so Bill's students can see there principals and their handy work.
Later and God bless,
Frank
My hat off to MAJ Bill Cowling for getting the event started. Bill is a high school principal back in Missouri. He let out one email slip saying he was thinking about getting a 5K run set up on our FOB. Next think he knew is he had a banner and t-shirts. Envy him.
Anyway, I did respectable. Run time was 28:08. We are sponsor the Vetran's Day run and I hope to improve my time.
I have hit a slump in my weight loss. I can't seem to break 200lbs. The Vetrans day event will give me motivation to up my cardio training and back off the weight training.
I had someone take video and I hope to be able to get it editted and up on my website so Bill's students can see there principals and their handy work.
Later and God bless,
Frank
Monday, August 22, 2005
115 Degrees Refreshingly Cool!!!!
This goes down to the subject "You know you have been in Iraq to long when...".
I just walk out of the gym. Usually go at noon instead of lunch. I walked out and thought to myself "It is a rather cool pleasnat day!" Then I heard on Armed Forces Radio, Mosul current temperature was 115.
Yeah, I think I have been in Iraq too long.
Things have been busy for me here. Currently I am the GRN Information Management Officer. I have been busy managing personnel and resources.
Also been busy applying for jobs outside of the Public Debt. Don't get me wrong I love working there, but I think I have out grown the job and there is no chance for me to advance. I really like what I am doing here, but it is beginning to take a toll on my family.
Oh by the way, I am now down 65 pounds, just above 200. I have lost over 6 inches on my waist.
God bless,
Frank
I just walk out of the gym. Usually go at noon instead of lunch. I walked out and thought to myself "It is a rather cool pleasnat day!" Then I heard on Armed Forces Radio, Mosul current temperature was 115.
Yeah, I think I have been in Iraq too long.
Things have been busy for me here. Currently I am the GRN Information Management Officer. I have been busy managing personnel and resources.
Also been busy applying for jobs outside of the Public Debt. Don't get me wrong I love working there, but I think I have out grown the job and there is no chance for me to advance. I really like what I am doing here, but it is beginning to take a toll on my family.
Oh by the way, I am now down 65 pounds, just above 200. I have lost over 6 inches on my waist.
God bless,
Frank
Thursday, May 26, 2005
On my way - "Home sweet home"
Time is close. I will be stopping in Las Vegas for CCNA training. I feel your sympathy from here. I will be either flying or in airports for over 28 hours, yet still land on the same day I leave.
Well I made it to one of my goals. I've lost a total of 50 lbs since a have been here. I can bench press my weight and on the Hammer bench press I can do 300+. Still think you will catch up, Rickster! More than welcome to try. I have now become the poster child for going to the gym at the office.
It has been rather exciting here the last few weeks. We have gotten mortarred a few times. Once when I was away traveling, a mortar hit our parking lot and busted the glass and flattened the tires on all four vehicles we had at the time. I will catch hell over this, because I have kept it from my wife and mother so they would not worry as much.
It is starting to get hot here. It is nothing for the temperature to be 100+, but it is a dry heat. Everyday during lunch time a job to the gym and my lips are starting to crack by the time a get there. The moisture just gets sucked out of everything. So when I get back at the end of June things should be really hot.
Hated to heear that my favorite gaming group is now defunct. LanXtreme you will be missed. I plan on holding a small LAN party when I make it home this coming winter. You guys might stand a chance.
Well I made it to one of my goals. I've lost a total of 50 lbs since a have been here. I can bench press my weight and on the Hammer bench press I can do 300+. Still think you will catch up, Rickster! More than welcome to try. I have now become the poster child for going to the gym at the office.
It has been rather exciting here the last few weeks. We have gotten mortarred a few times. Once when I was away traveling, a mortar hit our parking lot and busted the glass and flattened the tires on all four vehicles we had at the time. I will catch hell over this, because I have kept it from my wife and mother so they would not worry as much.
It is starting to get hot here. It is nothing for the temperature to be 100+, but it is a dry heat. Everyday during lunch time a job to the gym and my lips are starting to crack by the time a get there. The moisture just gets sucked out of everything. So when I get back at the end of June things should be really hot.
Hated to heear that my favorite gaming group is now defunct. LanXtreme you will be missed. I plan on holding a small LAN party when I make it home this coming winter. You guys might stand a chance.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Update
Sorry all!
The USACE office here has just finished a move and it kind of put the hammer to me for a while.
You might remember this pic. It is of me on Jan. 16th, 2005.
This is me today. Forty pounds lighter and four inches in waist less.
I am working hard to suprise the inspiration of my life, my B E A Utiful wife Julie. I love you, baby.
So, as I was saying we moved. We orginally occupied a small area on the the second floor of a three story palace. The one below, in fact.
This is our new place. Smaller and nicer is a cozy sort of way. Only one story, but we have it all to ourselves.
Oh yeah, this is me working.
It was hot inside and cool outside. This was me dimantling the server so we could get the steel server rack down the stairs. Took eight grown men to get it down the marble staircase.
You can reach me with comments and questions at frank.wolfe@gmail.com .
Later and god bless,
Frank
The USACE office here has just finished a move and it kind of put the hammer to me for a while.
You might remember this pic. It is of me on Jan. 16th, 2005.
This is me today. Forty pounds lighter and four inches in waist less.
I am working hard to suprise the inspiration of my life, my B E A Utiful wife Julie. I love you, baby.
So, as I was saying we moved. We orginally occupied a small area on the the second floor of a three story palace. The one below, in fact.
This is our new place. Smaller and nicer is a cozy sort of way. Only one story, but we have it all to ourselves.
Oh yeah, this is me working.
It was hot inside and cool outside. This was me dimantling the server so we could get the steel server rack down the stairs. Took eight grown men to get it down the marble staircase.
You can reach me with comments and questions at frank.wolfe@gmail.com .
Later and god bless,
Frank
Friday, March 18, 2005
Our kids in this?
A school in a small mountain village in Iraq
A friend of mine, John Binford, is a construction representative for the Army Corp of Engineers in the Dahuk province of Iraq. These people are poor, yet they constructed a school house for their children out of the best materials they had available. You may laugh, but they live in mud huts. John says it breaks his heart when he goes to these villages. He, as an American is welcomed with open arms. He is often invited to eat, but delicately refuses. He knows that the children would go hungry, because they would give him more than they could afford to give in food.
John is a jovial sort, always a jokester. He and I have become close friends and enjoy each others company when we have the opportunity. But when he talks about the kids, I've seen his eyes well up with tears.
So here is how you can help, it is not much. The school teachers have to by their own chalk and no supplies are provided to the children. If the parents can't afford pencils and paper the kids don't go, instead help tend the sheep and cattle. Gather up some school supplies and things for children and mail them by US Postal Service to:
USACE Dahuk RO
426 th CA BN
Task Force Olympia
APO AE 09334
Also it would be nice to send a small note thanking the Construction Reps and Engineers representing us all so well.Please pass this link along, the more people that can help the better.
God Bless,
Frank Wolfe
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Combat Zone Rainbow
I big thunder storm blew through Mosul on March 3rd. Lightning and thunder like you wouldn't believe. So dark you would have thought it was after midnight. Like all storms it blew over finally and left behind a beatuiful rainbox. The big concrete things are Texas barrier or T-barriers. They surround all the no harden structures.
The white spots are, believe it or not, are white doves.
Was a beatuiful site. Gives one a sense of hope for this region of the world.
The white spots are, believe it or not, are white doves.
Was a beatuiful site. Gives one a sense of hope for this region of the world.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Update from Mosul
Sorry it has been awhile. They have been keeping me really busy. Usually working 12-14 hour days. I've lost about 30 lbs. Know I am not starving. The food is pretty good here.
Here is what the average day is like.
5 AM go to gym work out for an hour
1/2 mile walk to gym
1/2 mile walk back
7 AM go to Office
1/2 mile walk there
additional 1/2 to new HQ (palace) and back. Go there 3 or 4 times a day.
10 PM Go back to hooch.
Pass out
Repeat.
The Corp of Engineer's headquarters is moving here, so since IT is everything here, even telephone service, I am going to be really really busy the next couple of weeks. But hey that is the price you pay when you move into a palace of your own.
It had been peaceful hear until a day or so ago. Hey, the occasional rocket attack breaks the monotony. Myself and two coworkers were on our way to the new HQ. We had just walked thru the anti-vehicle barriers in front of the old palace, when we heard a whistling thru the air. Yes folks, it sounds just like in the movies. We all in the ground fast and hard. About 30 people were basically out in the open or between the barriers. The weight loss and workout has been helping. Everybody got up and broke for the hard cover of the old palace. I was first or second thru the doors, beat most of the soldiers in.
Most attacks are hit and run and they can't hit crap anyway. But... You can't count on just one coming in. The rocket hit a Texas Barrier (t-barrier) wall that surrounds the places people sleep and work here. (These are concrete sectional walls that are 20 feet high and 2 feet thick at the top.) It made a dent in the outside of a t-wall, damage a couple vehicles parked there, but no one was hurt.
It doesn't happen often, but God you feel really alive for an hour or so. LOL
Don't forget to check the post about schools and please try to help if you can.
God Bless,
Frank
Here is what the average day is like.
5 AM go to gym work out for an hour
1/2 mile walk to gym
1/2 mile walk back
7 AM go to Office
1/2 mile walk there
additional 1/2 to new HQ (palace) and back. Go there 3 or 4 times a day.
10 PM Go back to hooch.
Pass out
Repeat.
The Corp of Engineer's headquarters is moving here, so since IT is everything here, even telephone service, I am going to be really really busy the next couple of weeks. But hey that is the price you pay when you move into a palace of your own.
It had been peaceful hear until a day or so ago. Hey, the occasional rocket attack breaks the monotony. Myself and two coworkers were on our way to the new HQ. We had just walked thru the anti-vehicle barriers in front of the old palace, when we heard a whistling thru the air. Yes folks, it sounds just like in the movies. We all in the ground fast and hard. About 30 people were basically out in the open or between the barriers. The weight loss and workout has been helping. Everybody got up and broke for the hard cover of the old palace. I was first or second thru the doors, beat most of the soldiers in.
Most attacks are hit and run and they can't hit crap anyway. But... You can't count on just one coming in. The rocket hit a Texas Barrier (t-barrier) wall that surrounds the places people sleep and work here. (These are concrete sectional walls that are 20 feet high and 2 feet thick at the top.) It made a dent in the outside of a t-wall, damage a couple vehicles parked there, but no one was hurt.
It doesn't happen often, but God you feel really alive for an hour or so. LOL
Don't forget to check the post about schools and please try to help if you can.
God Bless,
Frank
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Please Help Iraqi Children and Schools (Kurdistan Province)
I know you all see the news, but this is not getting covered. It's not sensational enough. Americans are loved as heros in this part of Iraq, and every time I get a chance to visit the Iraqi states of Erbil and Dahuk I take it, for more often than not, selfish reasons.
But I would like to help and give something back in a small way. You can help too.
First let me tell you what our government is going here on our thru the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). We are building schools and renovating new ones. We are building schools in the poorest parts of the country. Place where Sadam Hussein gassed, burnt all the forest, and placed minefields because the people living here are Kurds.
I know what some of you are saying, there are places in the US that need help. That may be true, but I have never seen anyone ever live the way some of these people do. Even our homeless can find a place in a shelter with a warm bed, shower, and electric these people can't.
We are trying to help these people by educating their children. Not giving hand outs. Sure we are doing power plants, oil fields, and military outpost, but none of those projects will have as a lasting effect as the schools we are building. I think the pictures will speak for them selves.
So here is how you can help, it is not much. The school teachers have to by their own chalk and no supplies are provided to the children. If the parents can't afford pencils and paper the kids don't go, instead help tend the sheep and cattle. Gather up some school supplies and things for children and mail them by US Postal Service to:
USACE Dahuk RO
426 th CA BN
Task Force Olympia
APO AE 09334
Also it would be nice to send a small note thanking the Contruction Reps and Engineers representing us all so well.
Please pass this link along, the more people that can help the better.
God Bless,
Frank Wolfe
But I would like to help and give something back in a small way. You can help too.
First let me tell you what our government is going here on our thru the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). We are building schools and renovating new ones. We are building schools in the poorest parts of the country. Place where Sadam Hussein gassed, burnt all the forest, and placed minefields because the people living here are Kurds.
I know what some of you are saying, there are places in the US that need help. That may be true, but I have never seen anyone ever live the way some of these people do. Even our homeless can find a place in a shelter with a warm bed, shower, and electric these people can't.
We are trying to help these people by educating their children. Not giving hand outs. Sure we are doing power plants, oil fields, and military outpost, but none of those projects will have as a lasting effect as the schools we are building. I think the pictures will speak for them selves.
So here is how you can help, it is not much. The school teachers have to by their own chalk and no supplies are provided to the children. If the parents can't afford pencils and paper the kids don't go, instead help tend the sheep and cattle. Gather up some school supplies and things for children and mail them by US Postal Service to:
USACE Dahuk RO
426 th CA BN
Task Force Olympia
APO AE 09334
Also it would be nice to send a small note thanking the Contruction Reps and Engineers representing us all so well.
Please pass this link along, the more people that can help the better.
God Bless,
Frank Wolfe
Satellite Dishes Are From Hell
Warning those of you that are not true computer geeks stop reading now.
Talk about stress. I can now honestly say that when it comes to working in the IT field I have done it all. These past few days I have been installing a satellite internet system for our resident office in Dahuk, Iraq. When I say install, I mean build the dish that comes from Satan himself from the ground up. Can you tell I didn't have a great time doing it. LOL.
When we I was building the dish, assembling the frame and mounting the dish on the brackets, I didn't realize the previous owner was he DEVIL. What you have got to realize is we don't have any of the fancy equipment the pros have to site the dish in.
Let me explain the process a little.
First someone provides the GEO coordinates for the location the dish is to be provided. You see this was my first mistake. I took somebody's word for the location. The location is then sent back to Segovia, the company providing the equipment and service. They then give an elevation for the BUC and LNB (geeks no what they are) to site the antennae.
Now please take a minute to think about the task at hand. Satellite 23,000+ miles away (size of a desk, small desk), one man trying to find it with a 1.2 meter magnifying glass. Tough enough as is!!! No throw in that I was given wrong latitude. Off by about 30 minutes. So my location appeared to be about 200+ miles further south. Making the angle of elevation more than what it really needed to be.
So we construct the dish and aim it in the general direction and elevation (in this case 136 azimuth and 23 elevation + 10 degrees). Then we slowly rotate the dish left and right by hand. It is very tough to move also. Drop it a half a turn on the elevation screw. Repeat or and over!!!!!!
Now another IT person is setting in front of the PC watching the signal strength. Back ground noise registers as .03000 volts. You see a lot of that number. Come to find out the siting software in faulty and there are some undocumented tricks to get it to work properly. Discovered this after troubleshooting my coax cable for 6 hours. See Satan was at work from almost the beginning. LOL
So on walkie talkies. (borrowed some) you hear the following conversation.
"Turning antennae"
turn, drop, turn, drop
"Anything yet"
"NO"
turn drop, turn drop
"NO SIGNAL YET"
2 hours later
"GO BACK GO BACK"
Guess what? Wrong MF satellite!!!!!! Really fustrated at this point!!!
2 1/2 days later, we finally found the right bird. I am grumpy, tired, sore and really stressing. Rest of work took remainder of third day, but who cares we already missed our ride to the next site.
God Bless,
Frank
Talk about stress. I can now honestly say that when it comes to working in the IT field I have done it all. These past few days I have been installing a satellite internet system for our resident office in Dahuk, Iraq. When I say install, I mean build the dish that comes from Satan himself from the ground up. Can you tell I didn't have a great time doing it. LOL.
When we I was building the dish, assembling the frame and mounting the dish on the brackets, I didn't realize the previous owner was he DEVIL. What you have got to realize is we don't have any of the fancy equipment the pros have to site the dish in.
Let me explain the process a little.
First someone provides the GEO coordinates for the location the dish is to be provided. You see this was my first mistake. I took somebody's word for the location. The location is then sent back to Segovia, the company providing the equipment and service. They then give an elevation for the BUC and LNB (geeks no what they are) to site the antennae.
Now please take a minute to think about the task at hand. Satellite 23,000+ miles away (size of a desk, small desk), one man trying to find it with a 1.2 meter magnifying glass. Tough enough as is!!! No throw in that I was given wrong latitude. Off by about 30 minutes. So my location appeared to be about 200+ miles further south. Making the angle of elevation more than what it really needed to be.
So we construct the dish and aim it in the general direction and elevation (in this case 136 azimuth and 23 elevation + 10 degrees). Then we slowly rotate the dish left and right by hand. It is very tough to move also. Drop it a half a turn on the elevation screw. Repeat or and over!!!!!!
Now another IT person is setting in front of the PC watching the signal strength. Back ground noise registers as .03000 volts. You see a lot of that number. Come to find out the siting software in faulty and there are some undocumented tricks to get it to work properly. Discovered this after troubleshooting my coax cable for 6 hours. See Satan was at work from almost the beginning. LOL
So on walkie talkies. (borrowed some) you hear the following conversation.
"Turning antennae"
turn, drop, turn, drop
"Anything yet"
"NO"
turn drop, turn drop
"NO SIGNAL YET"
2 hours later
"GO BACK GO BACK"
Guess what? Wrong MF satellite!!!!!! Really fustrated at this point!!!
2 1/2 days later, we finally found the right bird. I am grumpy, tired, sore and really stressing. Rest of work took remainder of third day, but who cares we already missed our ride to the next site.
God Bless,
Frank
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Snow in the desert
This picture was taken about 15 minutes into the snow storm. It has been snowing for about 2 hours now and we may have an inch on the ground.
Well the VSATs are in and it looks like we are going to be traveling again.
I will try to keep everyone updated as I get the systems installed. If I can't get them to work I won't be able to post updates.
God bless,
Frank
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Waiting to get back in the groove?
First good news people. frankwolfe.net is about ready to go live. At least for pictures anyway. For the time being you can access them at http://odessa.sslcatacombnetworking.com/~frankwol/images/.
Many of them are pictures of schools and the work that is being done there. I have alot more to post and will do so withing the next day. If you have any questions email me with the directory and pic number and I will provide some clarification.
So, I am back at Mosul Palace (aka FOB Freedom) my home away from home. I will be on the move again soon setting up sattelite interent systems at out other sites through out northern Iraq.
I might get the job as IT Chief for USACE northern district here in Iraq. It is still up in the air, seems there is a GS-13 slotted to come here, but the deputy commander here wants me for the job. He says it is a combination of me being prior service and understanding the mission comes first, that this is not a state side duty with me being operationally oriented and not organizationally oriented, and finally I have both a communication and IT back ground. Either way it doesn't matter to me. Would look good on a resume though. IT Manager US Corp of Engineers Northern Iraq District lol
I have been back here for about a week doing admin duties. I won't bore people with all the geeky details. If you really want to know email me. I will be soon taking off again. In all we have 12 VSATs to install and it will take me from almost to Syria in the West to almost Iran in the East and city of Duhuk in north to Bayji which is just north of Baghdad.
And while we do all that, it seems we are moving to different digs here at FOB Freedom, IT systems and all!!!
God Bless,
Frank
Many of them are pictures of schools and the work that is being done there. I have alot more to post and will do so withing the next day. If you have any questions email me with the directory and pic number and I will provide some clarification.
So, I am back at Mosul Palace (aka FOB Freedom) my home away from home. I will be on the move again soon setting up sattelite interent systems at out other sites through out northern Iraq.
I might get the job as IT Chief for USACE northern district here in Iraq. It is still up in the air, seems there is a GS-13 slotted to come here, but the deputy commander here wants me for the job. He says it is a combination of me being prior service and understanding the mission comes first, that this is not a state side duty with me being operationally oriented and not organizationally oriented, and finally I have both a communication and IT back ground. Either way it doesn't matter to me. Would look good on a resume though. IT Manager US Corp of Engineers Northern Iraq District lol
I have been back here for about a week doing admin duties. I won't bore people with all the geeky details. If you really want to know email me. I will be soon taking off again. In all we have 12 VSATs to install and it will take me from almost to Syria in the West to almost Iran in the East and city of Duhuk in north to Bayji which is just north of Baghdad.
And while we do all that, it seems we are moving to different digs here at FOB Freedom, IT systems and all!!!
God Bless,
Frank
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Post Election Update
Sorry I haven't updated this in a while.
Since Jan. 28th I have been in the city of Dahuk in the Kurdistan area of Iraq. While here, I was caught by the travel ban, which was just lifted on Feb. 1st. I however won't get back to my home base, Palace in Mosul(aka Camp Freedom) til Feb 5th. Since Mosul is a hot area I have to wait for a PSD team to arrive with someone and hitch a ride back.
I finished up my IT related work here in the first two days, so I have been playing a sort of tourist. In case I didn't say it before Kurdistan is almost an entirely different country, we are loved here.
Here in Dahuk, travel is more limited in ErBil, mainly because there is an Army Major here in charge of the PAO (Public Affairs Office) compound that USACE is a part of says so. So we travel with Pesha Merga guards. They are a great bunch and all battle hardened. They all fought the Replublican guard here in the north. They are slowly teacjing me a little Kurdish. That is all I need my fifth language to butcher.
So I have been visiting projects with the USACE construction reps. Mostly schools in poverty ridden areas. When we get there the kids swarm us. Alot speak english very well.Sort of like Darrell before he has his coffee in the morning. (Sorry Darrell! lol) I have pics and short videos I will post soon. These kids are the real reason we are here.
The mountains here remind me alot of home, except there are no trees. Not because they won't grow here, but because Saddam order everything burned to make it hard on the Kurds. Erosion of the mountains can be seen everywhere.
When I get back to Camp Freedom I will post the pics.
The election up here was completely different than in the rest of the country.They were very open, of all the Kurds I met the first thing they did when they met you on election day or the day after they showed you their right index finger with its blue tip from the ink.
Got to see two other countries today, Syria and Turkey. Could have thrown a rock and hit both. Also saw a 1000 year old bridge in the northern most city of Zakoh. Yes I got pictures and yes I Will post them later. lol
God Bless
Frank
Since Jan. 28th I have been in the city of Dahuk in the Kurdistan area of Iraq. While here, I was caught by the travel ban, which was just lifted on Feb. 1st. I however won't get back to my home base, Palace in Mosul(aka Camp Freedom) til Feb 5th. Since Mosul is a hot area I have to wait for a PSD team to arrive with someone and hitch a ride back.
I finished up my IT related work here in the first two days, so I have been playing a sort of tourist. In case I didn't say it before Kurdistan is almost an entirely different country, we are loved here.
Here in Dahuk, travel is more limited in ErBil, mainly because there is an Army Major here in charge of the PAO (Public Affairs Office) compound that USACE is a part of says so. So we travel with Pesha Merga guards. They are a great bunch and all battle hardened. They all fought the Replublican guard here in the north. They are slowly teacjing me a little Kurdish. That is all I need my fifth language to butcher.
So I have been visiting projects with the USACE construction reps. Mostly schools in poverty ridden areas. When we get there the kids swarm us. Alot speak english very well.Sort of like Darrell before he has his coffee in the morning. (Sorry Darrell! lol) I have pics and short videos I will post soon. These kids are the real reason we are here.
The mountains here remind me alot of home, except there are no trees. Not because they won't grow here, but because Saddam order everything burned to make it hard on the Kurds. Erosion of the mountains can be seen everywhere.
When I get back to Camp Freedom I will post the pics.
The election up here was completely different than in the rest of the country.They were very open, of all the Kurds I met the first thing they did when they met you on election day or the day after they showed you their right index finger with its blue tip from the ink.
Got to see two other countries today, Syria and Turkey. Could have thrown a rock and hit both. Also saw a 1000 year old bridge in the northern most city of Zakoh. Yes I got pictures and yes I Will post them later. lol
God Bless
Frank
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Kids make the heart soft
We went shopping again for more supplies that they need here. This time we went in uniform. The kids came up to me all the time and ask if I was American and if I was from Texas. Alot of kids stared from far off, I would wink and smile at them and watch there face light up.
I befriended a 12 year old boy, Shahib, and he kinda followed us around the market. Found out he has no father. Really made me feel small. He ask about sports the kids played and he said he liked soccer. We were down there 3 or 4 hours and he kinda grew on me. He was in rags. Most of the other kids were dressed well but you could tell he didn't have much. When we were leaving I gave him $10 , a day and a half wages here, and told him to go by a soccerball and give the rest to his mother. Thought he was going to cry, as we pulled away I was tearing up.
Earlier in the day, alittle boy maybe 7-8 tugged on my shirt sleeve. He was very well dressed. He kept putting his fist over his heart and pointing to me. A shop keeper who knew him said he was deaf and mute. That was okay I understood him perfectly. If I didn't know what we are doing was right I did then.
I befriended a 12 year old boy, Shahib, and he kinda followed us around the market. Found out he has no father. Really made me feel small. He ask about sports the kids played and he said he liked soccer. We were down there 3 or 4 hours and he kinda grew on me. He was in rags. Most of the other kids were dressed well but you could tell he didn't have much. When we were leaving I gave him $10 , a day and a half wages here, and told him to go by a soccerball and give the rest to his mother. Thought he was going to cry, as we pulled away I was tearing up.
Earlier in the day, alittle boy maybe 7-8 tugged on my shirt sleeve. He was very well dressed. He kept putting his fist over his heart and pointing to me. A shop keeper who knew him said he was deaf and mute. That was okay I understood him perfectly. If I didn't know what we are doing was right I did then.
Joking around in ErBil
So early on the morning of the 24th of Jan. I left Camp Freedom in northern Mosul for ErBil which is in Iraqi Kurdistan. PSD team was armed to the teeth. I saw at least 3 AK-74, the gun truck had a 50 cal, and every one of the team had atleast 2 personal rifles. Oh yeah, It was pissing down rain and really cold.
After all that build up, nothing happened on the trip.
Kurdistan is completely different from the rest of Iraq, they are actually glad to see us here. We can go out on the streets. There needed to be supplies bought for the little local Corp of Engineers office we have here in ErBil, so we took a trip into town. The resident engineer, the Major I am traveling with, our young female Iraqi intrepreter, and myself.
One of the things we had to get was a propane cook stove, which we found. The stores in town are laid out like a bazaar. Appliance stores one one street, computer stores on another, and cell phone stores on another, you get the idea.
Anyway, the propane stove needed an adapter to run off the small propane tanks they deliver here. We called it a head and we had to pay $5 extra for it. You can see where I am going with this. Major made a wise crack that for as much we paid for the stove we should have got head for free. The engineer said only in Iraq could you get head for $5.
Granted in the U.S.A. this joke would have been dead after that point. Enter our young female translator, hope was taking the term head literally. She would chime in that she thought in was a good price for a head, or if we shopped around we could of gotten a better price for a head. I was in stitches. She must of wondered what we were laughing about.
Also ate at a kurdish resteraunt, dont know what it was exactly. Was a lot of it and it tasted great.
God Bless,
Later,
Frank
After all that build up, nothing happened on the trip.
Kurdistan is completely different from the rest of Iraq, they are actually glad to see us here. We can go out on the streets. There needed to be supplies bought for the little local Corp of Engineers office we have here in ErBil, so we took a trip into town. The resident engineer, the Major I am traveling with, our young female Iraqi intrepreter, and myself.
One of the things we had to get was a propane cook stove, which we found. The stores in town are laid out like a bazaar. Appliance stores one one street, computer stores on another, and cell phone stores on another, you get the idea.
Anyway, the propane stove needed an adapter to run off the small propane tanks they deliver here. We called it a head and we had to pay $5 extra for it. You can see where I am going with this. Major made a wise crack that for as much we paid for the stove we should have got head for free. The engineer said only in Iraq could you get head for $5.
Granted in the U.S.A. this joke would have been dead after that point. Enter our young female translator, hope was taking the term head literally. She would chime in that she thought in was a good price for a head, or if we shopped around we could of gotten a better price for a head. I was in stitches. She must of wondered what we were laughing about.
Also ate at a kurdish resteraunt, dont know what it was exactly. Was a lot of it and it tasted great.
God Bless,
Later,
Frank
Friday, January 21, 2005
A few sites I have seen
The mountains outside of Ft. Bliss, Tx.
Me in an old Kuwaiti Trainer
One of the palaces we lit up.
Sadam's parade ground
Me in an old Kuwaiti Trainer
One of the palaces we lit up.
Sadam's parade ground
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Good Morning Baghdad
Well I've been in Bagdad for going on 4 Days.
I started on in Ft. Bliss for a week of shots, physicals, and briefings.
A bunch of us left(15) left there at 2 PM on Friday the 14th of Jan. We arrived in Kuwait at 2 AM Sunday, later that afternoon we went on to Baghdad airport where I was finally able to get a bed and sleep some.
The next day Monday another guy and I moved to the Green Zone. But before we could leave a motar attack came in. We heard the whistle, but before it registered what it was it impacted about a klick away (1/2 mile) with a loud explosion. No one was hurt they over shot and it landed in an unused portion of the base. It was at noon and I think they were hoping for a lucky shot on a chow hall. Was enough to make my butt pucker!!!!!!
The trip from BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) was wild. It is follows a route the Military call Irish, the most dangerous 14 km of highway in the world. We traveled with a civilian PSD team (Personal Security Detachment) of 3 armoed SUV vehicles armed to the teeth.
The Iraqis still use it and at times is got very dicey. If this was the Old Disney land it would be a lot of E tickets. Speeds reach at times up to 90 mph with a lot of evasive driving thrown in.
Yesterday, there were three car bombs set off outside the Green or Internation Zone. Sure you all saw it on TV or Google News. They were any where form a mile to 3 miles from where I was working. Very loud heard in doors and all the windows rattled. one as outside the Australian Embassy and another at an Iraqi Police Station of some type. You also here alot of small arms fire around here, you here a few last from AKs then a whole crap load of ours. They might fire 10 seconds buts we follow and light them up for 3-4 minutes.
Sometime later I will be moving up to Mosul then back south to finally end up in Tikrit. One of the many hot beds around here.
Will right more then.
God Bless
Wolfie
I started on in Ft. Bliss for a week of shots, physicals, and briefings.
A bunch of us left(15) left there at 2 PM on Friday the 14th of Jan. We arrived in Kuwait at 2 AM Sunday, later that afternoon we went on to Baghdad airport where I was finally able to get a bed and sleep some.
The next day Monday another guy and I moved to the Green Zone. But before we could leave a motar attack came in. We heard the whistle, but before it registered what it was it impacted about a klick away (1/2 mile) with a loud explosion. No one was hurt they over shot and it landed in an unused portion of the base. It was at noon and I think they were hoping for a lucky shot on a chow hall. Was enough to make my butt pucker!!!!!!
The trip from BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) was wild. It is follows a route the Military call Irish, the most dangerous 14 km of highway in the world. We traveled with a civilian PSD team (Personal Security Detachment) of 3 armoed SUV vehicles armed to the teeth.
The Iraqis still use it and at times is got very dicey. If this was the Old Disney land it would be a lot of E tickets. Speeds reach at times up to 90 mph with a lot of evasive driving thrown in.
Yesterday, there were three car bombs set off outside the Green or Internation Zone. Sure you all saw it on TV or Google News. They were any where form a mile to 3 miles from where I was working. Very loud heard in doors and all the windows rattled. one as outside the Australian Embassy and another at an Iraqi Police Station of some type. You also here alot of small arms fire around here, you here a few last from AKs then a whole crap load of ours. They might fire 10 seconds buts we follow and light them up for 3-4 minutes.
Sometime later I will be moving up to Mosul then back south to finally end up in Tikrit. One of the many hot beds around here.
Will right more then.
God Bless
Wolfie
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