Buffiniraq

This has been a another fast week. Began with number of site visits and meetings with Turkish GC and staff to get up to speed on work in progress and procedural matters concerning pay requisition based on work in place and acceptable standards etc. Besides the work, got first experience with laundry and pressing uniforms. Make you happy Colette to see how domesticated I've become...Drop off laundry and pick up 24 hours later. Drop off uniforms to press shop and pick up 24 hours later! Buff's idea of domestication...LOL Rummy came on base yesterday and surprised the troops. Got in and out OK and was good for us to see him. Worked til 10 last night and started at usual 7 AM so days here become a blur. Sometimes, we lose track of whether it's Monday or Tuesday...Everyday ,seems the same except for sand storms which come up every now and then and are really something. Can't see the sun at all - just blowing light brown dust with visibility about 100 yards. Lasts from 1 to 3 days so far. The first of our 14 guys rotated back to his stateside office in Vicksburg MS yesterday. Good man and many will be leaving over next 2 months. Be down to 7 then and don't know if guys are being replaced. If not, my job reponsibilities will increase and that won't be all bad. The more the better. Means I have to work harder and more effectively...thank God for the latest tools of technology to help me keep them straight. ..

Seems like a month but it's been only been 15 days since I've signed on to the Corps. Only 54 more weeks to go...at this rate I'll be here forever! LOL Only joshin Colette. It really is an awesome experience and I've certainly done a whole bunch in my 63 years to say the least. I say this because it's so humbling to see our young people carrying the load for us back home. They go about their business in typical American style...we gotta take careabusiness, so let's get it done and go home. That's the mindset whether rebuilding or rooting out these nutzoids. The Iraqis are by and large...like us. The ones I meet are grateful for what we're doing and want to learn everything so they can do the job(s) themselves and maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to carry on for themselves. It's hard not to see their interest when working along side of us, whether it be security or rebuilding. They'll learn how to paint a wall with a brush instead of their hands if they have the right "tools". Just keep the Faith and know that we're "teaching a man to fish..." and he will be able to provide for his family. It truly is an awesome experience...and a blessing for me.

Been here 5 days and have been bogged down with paperwork in-processing and trying to familiarize myself with procedures and personnel involved in reconstruction on base. Been to first site, a postal facility for the Air Force which will eventually be given to the Iraqis when we leave. Many major projects underway and Corps personnel are very busy keeping up with managing these projects. Wish I could learn more about everything faster but these folks are life long Corps pros and I'm not..... sooooo I'm cramming. Work goes on 7 days a week for us so the time will pass quickly. I'm a happy camper because there really isn't anything else I'd rather be doing. Malling at the PX is not my idea of spending any spare time! Hope to get some pics I can post soon. It would be neat to share with yall so you can see what an awesome place this is compared to what's outside the perimeter. My friend Harly (whom I met from Cal during training) was here since arriving Monday, but he's head of Baqubah operations and has had to leave this AM. Saw him off with full compliment of S African guards in 4 vehicle convoy for 50 mile trip across "badlands". Thank God he arrived safely.

Finally arrived here in Anaconda, Iraq (about 40 miles N of Bagdhad) Monday July 18. Had to stay in Kuwait City at Camp Doha for 3 days until C-130 available to fly us here. Have my own trailer with private bath, desk, closet and TV(not working) . There are 8 others Engineers living in this fortified compound about half mile from HQ. Get ride to HQ at 7:30 AM with other engineer and have my own desk space, puter and fortifications...sand bags and concrete barriers all around most GI residences, offices and work places. Everyone here is armed and ready for anything. Base is 4 miles wide and 7 miles long with fence and concertina wire around entire perimeter. Lots of building goin on as base is a beehive of daily activity. No one can get in or out of base without going thru a serious security check by our soldiers. Today we had 2 incoming mortars but no damage/injuries thank God. Am finding out lots about the way mil gets things done utilizing us engineers under these circumstances. Gotta get some z's...time difference is North Carolina time + 8 hours.