Buy:chess
08-21-05, 11:35 PM
So, I have a rough estimate for departure between Sept 4-6 for my 23 hour (assuming everything goes smoothly) flight to Iraq. I'll be there through the holidays, which is probably the hardest part of the whole thing. Hopefully my little guy will handle it OK. I can't really give a ton of details about where I'm going and such, but I'll be doing medical logistics stuff not too far from central Baghdad. I'll be back (again, assuming things go smoothly) in mid-late January.
I'll have access to a computer and such, but I'm not sure whether or not the forum will be blocked by the Army systems guys. Could go either way. If I do have access, I'll try to talk with you guys about my experiences (or at least what I can openly say). I'm guessing we'll see the worst of the casualties since we're taking just about the best surgical team on the planet.
I'm ready to go...or at least as ready as one can be. I volunteered to deploy about 6 months ago, and have known for at least 4 that I was going. I hate that kind of lead up and would almost rather just get the "48 hour" call to pack my bags.
Personal disclosure: Heterosexual white male, 33, Air Force Captain, Medical Service Corps Officer, and dad. Originally from Arkansas. I grew up very very poor, but as an officer am fairly comfortable now. Undergrad at Southern Illinois. Masters at Baylor. Currently living in San Antonio. Edit to add: "engaged" because fiance read this and is wicked insecure.
Political disclosure: As some may recall, my politics lean a bit to the right on economic issues in terms of free markets and fair taxes. I'm what some would probably consider "far left" on social issues. I'm basically a "live and let live" kind of guy and am intolerant of intolerance. I don't have a problem with paying taxes and understand that the government has a function, but unfair taxes (think estate tax) irk me a bit. I tend to vote democrat for lack of a better option, but I'd happily vote for a republican or two if they'd distance themselves from the wacky (IMO) religious right. If anything, I'm truly a guy without a party.
Iraq disclosure: I'm not a raving "blood for oil" type, but I'm not a "rah rah" guy either. Again, I'm somewhere in between. I don't have a problem with going into Iraq, and I wish we'd done it in '91. But I do have a problem with the way this war was presented to the American people, which I think was disingenuous at best. As far as Bush goes, I try not to disparage my CiC, but I'm far more interested in serving the United States Constitution than I could ever be in him. I didn't vote for him, but I respect that enough people did. In short, I do my job, without complaint, and I give my best effort because people depend on me...not necessarily because I think we're in a noble cause...and certainly not because I think it's making the U.S. any safer.
I don't think I'll personally be in any significant danger. Other than occasional mortar-fire, things are pretty quiet where I'm going. And I can take care of myself. I'm an expert marksman on both the M-16 and M-9 and was a former Navy Corpsman (Marine medic) with a bit of field experience. All in all, it won't be bad at all. As I understand it, I'll actually be living in some sort of trailer with actual air conditioning. Other than running water, it will be just like home. Well, like home with no sex, no beer, no days off, probably no football...sigh.
For any who are wondering why I'm bothering to post this, I'm hoping to access the forum while there, and am hoping that talking with you folks will help pass the time and anchor me to home a bit. Oh, and don't let me see any of you in a t-shirt that insults my intelligence or my manhood when I get back. ;) Most probably won't get that, I suppose. If I can't post while over there, best wishes to all, and please, if you can't be moderate or respectful, at least bfrank. :toast:
I'll have access to a computer and such, but I'm not sure whether or not the forum will be blocked by the Army systems guys. Could go either way. If I do have access, I'll try to talk with you guys about my experiences (or at least what I can openly say). I'm guessing we'll see the worst of the casualties since we're taking just about the best surgical team on the planet.
I'm ready to go...or at least as ready as one can be. I volunteered to deploy about 6 months ago, and have known for at least 4 that I was going. I hate that kind of lead up and would almost rather just get the "48 hour" call to pack my bags.
Personal disclosure: Heterosexual white male, 33, Air Force Captain, Medical Service Corps Officer, and dad. Originally from Arkansas. I grew up very very poor, but as an officer am fairly comfortable now. Undergrad at Southern Illinois. Masters at Baylor. Currently living in San Antonio. Edit to add: "engaged" because fiance read this and is wicked insecure.
Political disclosure: As some may recall, my politics lean a bit to the right on economic issues in terms of free markets and fair taxes. I'm what some would probably consider "far left" on social issues. I'm basically a "live and let live" kind of guy and am intolerant of intolerance. I don't have a problem with paying taxes and understand that the government has a function, but unfair taxes (think estate tax) irk me a bit. I tend to vote democrat for lack of a better option, but I'd happily vote for a republican or two if they'd distance themselves from the wacky (IMO) religious right. If anything, I'm truly a guy without a party.
Iraq disclosure: I'm not a raving "blood for oil" type, but I'm not a "rah rah" guy either. Again, I'm somewhere in between. I don't have a problem with going into Iraq, and I wish we'd done it in '91. But I do have a problem with the way this war was presented to the American people, which I think was disingenuous at best. As far as Bush goes, I try not to disparage my CiC, but I'm far more interested in serving the United States Constitution than I could ever be in him. I didn't vote for him, but I respect that enough people did. In short, I do my job, without complaint, and I give my best effort because people depend on me...not necessarily because I think we're in a noble cause...and certainly not because I think it's making the U.S. any safer.
I don't think I'll personally be in any significant danger. Other than occasional mortar-fire, things are pretty quiet where I'm going. And I can take care of myself. I'm an expert marksman on both the M-16 and M-9 and was a former Navy Corpsman (Marine medic) with a bit of field experience. All in all, it won't be bad at all. As I understand it, I'll actually be living in some sort of trailer with actual air conditioning. Other than running water, it will be just like home. Well, like home with no sex, no beer, no days off, probably no football...sigh.
For any who are wondering why I'm bothering to post this, I'm hoping to access the forum while there, and am hoping that talking with you folks will help pass the time and anchor me to home a bit. Oh, and don't let me see any of you in a t-shirt that insults my intelligence or my manhood when I get back. ;) Most probably won't get that, I suppose. If I can't post while over there, best wishes to all, and please, if you can't be moderate or respectful, at least bfrank. :toast: