Again, another hot, day and there doesnt seem to be any relief in sight. The locals say that this will continue through September, but finally breaks around then. I found out about my future digs in Iraq and they appear to be plush. Theres a Pizza Inn, Subway, and a coffee shop, all are open 24/7. It looks like the chow hall has tables full of food for like 15 20 yards and thats open 24 hours too. Which is cool, since I plan on coming back as my original 6 foot 4 of twisted steel and sex appeal, reserved only for my wife, right honey?

I guess traffic over there is crazy, as in there are no laws. It is complete mayhem and they drive wherever they want, with traffic, against traffic, and across traffic. Traffic comes to a standstill for goats and donkeys and whatever else crosses the road. There is also a constant wind, which I think is called a chamal, that makes you feel like you have a hair dryer in your face constantly. The good news is that there is no humidity, and I am assuming it is considerably cooler than being drenched by humidity. I'll take the dry heat anytime over the humidity. I know I talk alot about it, but it is CONSTANT here.

Here's some of the experiences I have had since being in this uniform since I have been on active duty. I have never had my hand shook more often than ever. Case in point, I am at the local supermarket in Wausau, standing in line with some sundry items for the home, and the gentleman in front of me turned and shook my hand, thanking me serving my country. the lady behind me, in part, did the same thing. I kinda laughed and thanked them, and then said," I dont ever think you would do that if I were in my other uniform," I which time I told them what I did in the civilian world. Well, there was a huge pause of uneasiness, and then I started laughing. Kinda funny. They said they would and I then said,"even if I pulled you over and had my lights on?" Then they started laughing. 'Nother case in point. We were shopping at another supermarket, and Annie, my beautiful wife, told the gal behind the deli counter that I was heading over seas. She came from around the counter and gave Annies a huge hug and said it was for me. No kidding. I think I was reading the latest Musky Hunter Magazine.

We went to Door County over Memorial Day weekend and stayed at the C and C Club with 2 very good friends of ours and I hope you have a chance to read this. That was one of the best weekends I have ever had and it was my priviledge to spend it with such close friends and to enjoy your company. I have my hat here with me and wear it all the time... Needless to say, we drank alot that first night, and I wrestled with a bottle of Jamison and lost badly, of which Annie can attest to. The bartenders at the Club were some of the nicest I have ever met and we held the bar as our court that night. Everyone's eyes were on us and we gave them a good time. We showed up the next night, a little worse for the wear, and they cheered and lined up another shot of Jamison, which I put down. Felt a little better after that. They stated that they would be waiting for us next fall upon my return. Its nice to have people that worried about our Wisconsin native sons.

Thers a difference between active duty and the Guard. I would say we are way more educated and thus smarter than active duty. We are required to accomplish more in a given weekend than active duty. And finally, we are tight with our community. We are police officers, laborers, lawyers, farmers, businessmen, you name it. We are your community and it shows in the support that was present at the airfield when we left. Thanks again for your continued support.

Todd, I got your message. How I missed you in Milwaukee is beyond me, but I am so glad to see you are alive. Please email and gimme an update on your life as I would like to catch up. Its been nearly 20 years my friend and I looked forward to talking to ya.

Well I have bent enough ears. Take care and keep reading...

Sl'ainte

Man, this has been a long day. The good thing is I was able to get a refresher course on the 9mm and it was nice to have some training from another cop. He's from the Atlanta suburbs and we meshed pretty well together. After that, I have done nothing but worked on an order all day to help us load our gear for Iraq. Its been interesting in watching the news and the female marines that have been hit outside Fallujah. I suppose we could arm chair quarter back this, but it appears that they were at check points for entry exit into the city. Males cannot touch females over there, for it means ultimate disrespect to the family and the father of the female has the right to kill, and it happens. It is a really different culture as they make the women eat in other rooms while the ment eat together, are served by the women, and the younger family eat in a different room. We also have to worry about making the OK sign and the thumbs up sign is considered offensive. Plus you cant touch or accept something with your left hand. Its the hand they wipe with over there, and is considered very offensive. So we learn a little about the culture everyday.

I actually had a day to myself since I have been here. CPT Carlisle and myself had to pick up another captain who was finishing school @ FT Benning, located in Georgia. Since today was an actual down day for us, we kinda shot the breeze on the way back and caught up in his absence. Good to have him back on the team.

I also have ben contacted by a few of my high school classmates ( New Berlin Eisenhower, 1986 ) and it is so great to have their support while ramping up for the jump to Iraq. I have my 20th reunion coming up, and of course I will probably be somewhere between Mosul and Kuwait, or wherever I may be. I missed my 10th and more than likely the 20th, so I have decided to try and put together a powerpoint slide show for the reunion. I would like to tell the soldiers story, not what the media is portraying. I sense that my class mates truly support my effort, and I would say that we, as a class, have accomplished alot. Did anyone ever think we would be where we are while we were in Valley View, or Sobottas house, or my basement? Makes me laugh thinking about all the parties and close calls we have had, and those that didnt make it this far. We are a very lucky bunch, and although we havent talked in a long time, its been great to here from Joe Gibson, Kelly Johnson, Steve Davey, and Mike Dugan ( I got it right this time...) Thanks for the support and I look forward to hoisting a few with you all when I get a chance...

We continue to get new equipment, and it amazes me how far we have come in technology. I ahve been trying to get pix of my new girlfriend, "Ma Deuce", (affectionately known as the 'Annie B', honey , you know why) but I think I will wait to get in country and get behind her so you get the full effect. I have seen it second hand on Marine Corps video of snipers in Afghanistan, and trust me, it is a devastating weapon. The last thing they ever here is the boom and its all over. Victor, contrary to our previous conversation, yes, I can use it against "soft" targets. Well, this week I get to qualify w/ the 9mm. Should be easy, I hope. Now we start moving into our collective tasks and the team work will start building.

So, putting it in a nutshell, not much happening today, other than the unyielding support of everyone involved in this. My family and I truly appreciate it...

Sl'ainte

Today I finally got some trigger time in wich I am very happy for. It took 9 shots to set and confirm my zero and then I went to the qualification range. In between, I probably lost a gallon of water from the heat, which was really miserable at the beginning, but a breeze picked up and I popped my body armor off and my Under Armour (thanks, dad) cooled me off immediately. This was after I qualified though. I started out at a great pace and then I couldnt hit the 300 meter targets if I tried. Funny enough, while I was shooting, a bird landed about 40 meters in front of me and started to to move on my position. It zigzagged all the way up until it was 10 meters from me and then started back. While I was watching this, I didnt realize that the targets were still coming up so I missed one or two. So now im pissed because I want expert so I can talk a little smack to every one (40/40 is a perfect score) but that went down the tubes as I watched this damn bird moving on me. So I start contemplating how this bird, with my high powered bullets cracking over its head, is going to pay for my failure to get a perfect score. He starts moving in front of my 50 meter target and I can now rationalize vaporizing this ichtheological pain in the ass and explaining that "I must have aimed low, sergeant" and end the source of my failure. So I set my my front sight post right on his little feathered body and squeezed the trigger. POW! I dropped the 50 meter target and the target dropping finally got him to get out of my lane as he flew away and to stop tormenting me in this heat. Now I cant talk smack, although I did score perfect in my NBC ( nuclear, biological, chemical) part of my qualification 20/20 but that was a little more easier than hitting the 300 meter targets.

I can tell I am tired here. I looked at my watch at wahet I thought was 0430 am. So I get up and grab my shaving gear and head to the bathroom. I find very little activity so I look at my watch. 0330 am. Crap. I still have an hour before I get up. Well, I have to pee anyhow so I may as well make it worth my while. As I walk in the latrine, which is French for " letting my countrymen crap on me" I have another visitor-a nice 3" cockroach who now becomes my tormentor as he non-chalantly crawls down the wall. I immediately curse the legitimacy of his birth and grab the broom and begin my morning stalk. As he moves onto the floor I am spotted; I have no choice but to strike first. Its amazing how fast those things move when a broom is looking to do what a nuclear explosion can't- but my aim was off and he gave me the Heisman and was off into the stalls. Wasnt much interested in chasing this thing. So I finish my duty and head back to my room. My roommate, Josh Carlisle, who is also a captain and in my section, wakes up and stumbles out of bed, looks at the clock, realizes I am an idiot, and stumbles back into bed. I kinda giggle myself back to sleep since who whole look was of bewilderment. And the day goes on..

Sl'ainte

just hanging w/ the SGM and my former company prior to going wheels up to Mississippi 

Hello from the south. Well, our cool spell is broken and we are getting hot again. Yesterday looks like it will be the coolest part of the week at 92 after spending some time in the high 80's. I nearly had to put my coat on it was so cold. Got word from friends overseas. Its really hot over there, hovering in the mid to high 115-120 already, and this is not even their hot season over there yet. Remarkably my friends manage to stay cool. Hydration is key for anyone over there IOT stay combat effective.

We have been in a whirlwind this week, our requirements changing daily and what we need to accomplish changing even quicker. As I siad before, we are doing in 2 months what most units get 6 months to accomplish. That being said, my days are filled with assisting in the decision making for the battalion and ensuring our training requirements are met, as well as keeping the company commanders informed of what needs to happen based on changes. Luckily, I have been able to meet what is required so I can continue my mission. I have met some great people down here, most notably the operators of the "gut trucks" which come by with hotdogs and such. My insides get a relief from the MRE lunch we get, which have rapidly improved in the 20 years they have had them. Some are outright palatable, with enough Tobasco sauce. Some of my trainers are from down south and they coudln wait to come back home. Seems they were not one for the Frozen Tundra. I keep telling them to order snow for us to train in and the laugh and say that paybacks are hell. I tell them they have done real well for only having a third grade education...

So my training has picked up even more. We now have our vehicles to train on and we are going through marksmanship stuff this week. Seems my tactical training has helped since I get asked about my weapons sling and why I bought the version I have rather than another version. Went through computer simulations this morning and faired well on both. We have ANOTHER IED class today for us which will go more in depth. This is taking place of my familiarization on the M2 .50 caliber machine gun. When you absolutely, positively have to wipe everything out in the village, the "Ma Deuce" is the way to go. It can punch through over an inch of steel at 800 meters and can reach out effectively to 2400 meters, and has the maximum range of over 7,000 meters. Nice weapon. Especially if you need to shoot through one house and it goes the whole block. Much more effective than the Mk 19 grenade launcher, which will cause more collateral damge due to the explosion of the rounds. Plus it doesnt go as far. I will be a primary gunner for the 50, which I am looking forward to should I get out of the base.

As much as I hate the New York Times, they have a great article on the insurgency over there. It seems they are fighting each other over the insurgency along the Syrian border. The nationalist Iraqiis want an agreement with the US and want the Jihadist's out. Seems th marines can tell what village favors who by the technology there. Cell phones and guns are the Iraqi nationalists, while the foreigners take away the civilians phones and weapons. ( In Iraq you are allowed one weapon and one magazine to protect your family. Seems a little different here, doesnt it?) SOme marines couldnt figure out where mortar rounds were coming from when there were mortars going over their heads and not landing near them. They politely called in an air strike and took out both sides...

We start picking up the pace even more this week before the 4th of July. Yes, we have 60 days or so down here and 59 is spent training. I had the worst night of my life Sunday when I missed Drop Kick Murphies. If anybody saw the show, please tell me about. I would have payed top dollar and kept the kids out of school to go see them. Also, I have yet to watch more than 3 minutes of TV since I have been here. Thats how busy we are. I get radio once in a while and was fortunate to listen Michael Savage for about 15 minutes the other day but that was it. I do some reading, but I just dont have the time right now to read alot.

I have heard from so many people who are supportive of my family. You truly are a godsend and I know it makes the time passing a little earlier. John, my oldest, is really missing daddy and that is the hard part. I miss playing the sock game with him and power rangers and hockey in the backyard and finding out how smart he really is. I miss Adam's great big hugs and the funny faces and the laughing he does when I chase him through the house. Seems he now aggrevates John into wrestling with him and I really really miss watching those 2 play. But, soon enough, I will be home. The 2 weeks down here are flying. We just want to get trained up and over there so we can come home safe...

Thanks for letting me bend your ear..

Sl'ainte

well, another day has passed and it has been interesting. I ran about 2 and a half miles this morning which is the longest I have run since my basic course. If you remember the scene in "Old School" where will ferrel shoots him self in the neck with the animal tranquilizer, that spretty much me running. I would like to believe that I am beginning to lose weight down here and I really think I am. But of course, after nearly killing myself on the run and waving the ambulance off, I had to get my new drug of choice, sausage gravy and biscuits. It is terribly delicious and I just have them pile it on and wash it down with grits and powerade. Its to die for. I went and chased down the planner for airlifts and have the right name for when we make the jump. We then went and attended an IED class and a radio class, at which time the rest of the evening was filled with meetings. These will never end, I suspect. Once that was done I was able to look at my pictures from recent days. I will have to wait until I get my computer to put them on, but I have 2 pictures of my bed that are filled with orbs. Again some say they are spirits, and there sure are alot of them in these photos. The rest will be of my Forward Operating Base and my roach motel. I got to talk to annie and john tonight and it was a relief to hear their voices. I can tell john really misses me, and the same here. I could hear adam in the background and it was just great to hear them. The next couple of days are for battle staff training and I am looking forward to getting to know my job a little better. Well thats all for now. Talk to you soon...

Sl'ainte

on the way

well, as you can see I am coming out of the stone age. My informal call sign, Knuckle Dragger 66, has caught on from a former battalion commander, who was my boss while in the Guard. I helped set up a recruit sustainment program for soldiers who had enlisted in the guard and we needed to ensure that they stayed. I literally helped stand up a battalion of soldiers in 6 months. I say I, but it was actually 5 oustanding sergeants and their staffs. There is no way this could have been done with out the expertise and drive. This program will save the recruits in the state. Any how, I digress, I had to get that out of my system because it has been a long time coming.

So back to my situation. I found out I was leaving for Iraq about a month ago and my life, as well as my families has been in utter turmoil since. Emotions ranged from hope and bravado to oh my god what have I gotten myself into????? But after the dust and many nights of tears settled, we figured I was leaving and it had only been a matter of time before it happened. I spent money like a drunken sailor trying to get the proper equipment for the desert. I suppose it didnt help that Annie, my beautiful wife who has supported me and been my rock and my barometer and ground, when I have thought up some crazy things, told me I could get what I want. Thats like letting a kid loose in Toys R Us w/ a blank check and saying come out when you are done. Needless to say, I did show some restraint and wound up with some pretty cool equipment to carry gear over there. My dad just squared me away with Under Armour, god bless him, so I can keep cool. Great stuff. I wear it as a cop and it keeps me warm and cool at the same time. I've been hearing from friends I have not heard from in nearly 20 years for this deployment and it is a huge plus.

And more than enough, I cant thank my mom and sister for being there and just listening. You have been really great and I know I can call you anytime and you will listen to me and whatever I need to talk about.

OK. Back to the adventure. The heat down here is murder and they say it will get worse. It has been at least a 100 degree heat index everyday, but we as a battalion, have yet to lose a soldier to heat exhaustion or stroke. We drink so much water its silly. I put down about 3 to 4 gallons of water a day just to stay upright. I make sure I eat for fear of washing the electrolights out of my body. I have been eating great: breakfast is sausage gravy and biscuits, oatmeal, bananas, and powerade. I have not had a dip and have only had 1 diet coke since I have been here. Which is really rough because they have sweet tea down here and I love it, but caffeine is such a dehydrator that I keep it at arms length. We are running around going 8 different directions, but we get stuff done as the day to leaving the country draws closer.

I suppose I am a little apprehensive and have been in a lack of news tunnel lately, but I do try and keep up with what is happening. looks like they finally put a man on the moon. Just kidding. I keep tabs in Iraq and what is happening and tell myself it will be over soon. I will have pix available soon here. Got some good ones and a little story for one of them.

Well, this is all for tonight. I will try and make this daily, but sometimes mission dictates otherwise. Take care and we'll see ya soon.

Dave