‘Not Everyone Came Back’

I was trained to be a Field Artillery officer, but I have found myself acting as a liaison officer between the Iraqi Police in Karbala to the US Forces on my Forward Operating Base. It has been quite the rewarding experience so far, as I am getting to experience first hand the inner workings of the Iraqi Security Forces.

I am in charge of 38 soldiers over here, and I must say that we have become quite the close-knit group over here thus far. Not all of us get to do the same missions together, but there is a corps that I get to work with fairly often. Of that group, I have my Gunnery Sergeant (Gunny), approximately 15 soldiers that vary each trip, and myself each time out on a mission. We have gotten to know a lot more about each other than I think that we ever would have hoped to learn or ever thought that we would learn. Everyone wants to say that they have the best group of soldiers or work with the best, so I guess that I'll follow the pack and say the same thing. I just want to put a little more emphasis on mine though!

My guys have gotten to know a lot of the Iraqi Police that we work side-by-side with here in Karbala. We have made some really good friends, and are getting to know more and more about each other everyday. Even though we can't speak Arabic, and they can't speak English, we can sure communicate through body language, hand and arm signals, as well as facial expressions. Even if you don't know what they're saying, you can figure it out by how they're saying it. Then you start to pick-up on words or phrases. Then you're able to start having conversations. It's just amazing how much we've been able to accomplish in the past months.

As for the weather, you wouldn't believe how cold it gets over here. It is starting to warm up a little bit now, but back in mid-December it was getting down right cold over here. We would get a high temperature of maybe 45 and then a low of 27 some nights. That's right, freezing temperatures in Iraq. Almost made me wish I was back home a few times after calling and finding out that Nebraska was having some nonstandard Nebraska weather back in Falls City. But, give it a couple months, and I'll be wishing that I was as cold as I was in December.

Speaking of December, one always thinks of Christmas. I know that this was my first one away from home, as it also was for most of my guys. A few of us were even "lucky" enough to be able to spend it away from our FOB, and got to spend Christmas together in Karbala. We had a great Christmas MRE and just had a great time spending it together as best we could. It was an experience that we won't soon forget.

What I meant to write in this letter was a thank you. I know that my address was published in the FC Journal in one of the issues. I have received so many packages and letters of support that I can't possibly find the time to thank each and every one of you that have sent me something.