So after more hours than I can imagine on a flight, here I am. We left Friday mid day and headed for Maine. Next Stop was Germany. Finally we landed in Kuwait City, Kuwait. So then we get off a plane and get on a bus. Ali Al Saleem is the camp we are now at. I have never been so happy to see the Golden Arches. They have a bit of home here. After sorting out gear and assigned a tent in tent city, we headed out for food. There is a McDonalds, but I decided on Pizza Hut. So they tell me I will be here till Wednesday or Thursday and then head to Camp KV. Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday and we have nothing to do but relax. I'll take some pictures tomorrow and get an Internet access card. Catch me on IM if you can.
I'm here, I'm safe, and I love you all.
Chris
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Day 7 - Time to go
"I'm leavin on a jet plane. I dont know when I'll be back again."
So we are about to get on board a plane and head to Kuwait. Joy, nothing says fun like a 15 hour flight.
I dont have long but I want to say something for anyone that knows me:
I want everyone to understand that it was my choice to head out on this adventure. I wasn't forced, tricked or played into taking this risk. I made a choice like any other. It is true that Christina and I have had a ruff year. I am not doing this because she made me. I brought this up back when a friend of mine, Greg McKaige, went to Iraq with the same company I am now. At the time I was working for the law firm and Christina was the one that talked me out of it. This was long before the troubles we have now surfaced. When the law fm let me go, I sought out Greg to get the information about ITT. When got what I needed I came to Christina with a plan to correct our fiancial mistakes. We have both been living past our means for quite some time now. Ye, Christina has a great job and I would be able to get a good job if I stayed. The choice I made had little o do with the problems between us, but had everything to do with the problems we were in together.
This is the best way to accomplish several things for myself and my family. Today I truely begin to be responisble. Something I have not been for awhile. It is very inconveinent that the wife and I are having problems. But timing in life is never what we want.
If you truely care for me, are my friend, or believe in me, continue to support me as you are. But please do not forget, Christina is in need of that support as well. She is my Wife reguardless of what is going on between us. I trust her with my life. We will survive this hard year we have just bee through and the year to come. I trust in my faith and our comitment to each other that we will get through this. Come on, has anyone really known me to take the easy road.
Remember this, the only one to blame for me going to Iraq is me. Tread carefully before you judge my wife for my actions. She may not always act as I wish, but I know she loves me. She may not show her fear, but I know its there. She needs your help. She will need our friends and family to help her through a year that I am not there to help her carry out life. Do me a favor, give her a hug for me each time you see her, it still wont be as much as I would but it wil help.
For those that are wondering, Christina and I will be continuing to see the councelor while I am gone. Today is the age of technology. It wont be easy but we will get past or problems and be stronger for it.
Sorry for the spelling and grammer, but i have to go jump on a plane before I get left behind.
I Love you all!!!!
Chris
So we are about to get on board a plane and head to Kuwait. Joy, nothing says fun like a 15 hour flight.
I dont have long but I want to say something for anyone that knows me:
I want everyone to understand that it was my choice to head out on this adventure. I wasn't forced, tricked or played into taking this risk. I made a choice like any other. It is true that Christina and I have had a ruff year. I am not doing this because she made me. I brought this up back when a friend of mine, Greg McKaige, went to Iraq with the same company I am now. At the time I was working for the law firm and Christina was the one that talked me out of it. This was long before the troubles we have now surfaced. When the law fm let me go, I sought out Greg to get the information about ITT. When got what I needed I came to Christina with a plan to correct our fiancial mistakes. We have both been living past our means for quite some time now. Ye, Christina has a great job and I would be able to get a good job if I stayed. The choice I made had little o do with the problems between us, but had everything to do with the problems we were in together.
This is the best way to accomplish several things for myself and my family. Today I truely begin to be responisble. Something I have not been for awhile. It is very inconveinent that the wife and I are having problems. But timing in life is never what we want.
If you truely care for me, are my friend, or believe in me, continue to support me as you are. But please do not forget, Christina is in need of that support as well. She is my Wife reguardless of what is going on between us. I trust her with my life. We will survive this hard year we have just bee through and the year to come. I trust in my faith and our comitment to each other that we will get through this. Come on, has anyone really known me to take the easy road.
Remember this, the only one to blame for me going to Iraq is me. Tread carefully before you judge my wife for my actions. She may not always act as I wish, but I know she loves me. She may not show her fear, but I know its there. She needs your help. She will need our friends and family to help her through a year that I am not there to help her carry out life. Do me a favor, give her a hug for me each time you see her, it still wont be as much as I would but it wil help.
For those that are wondering, Christina and I will be continuing to see the councelor while I am gone. Today is the age of technology. It wont be easy but we will get past or problems and be stronger for it.
Sorry for the spelling and grammer, but i have to go jump on a plane before I get left behind.
I Love you all!!!!
Chris
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Day 6 part 2
So I am all packed and ready to go. Tomorrow starts at 0530. I have no idea how things will be at my next stop which is Kuwait. All I know is that I have a 14-15 hour trip ahead of me. Once I get on the plane tomorrow, I will be turning off my cell phone permanently. Ill get a new number when I return. If you want to get a hold of me just shoot me an email at cbradshaw007@hotmail.com. I may not have Internet access in Kuwait so don't be alarmed if I do not respond to email or post here for a few days. Enjoy the Superbowl and let me know what commercials to look up on the net. I found out the feed they send our way doesn't have commercials. I guess there is a benefit to being over here.
Again I want to thank all of my friends and family for your support. I know a lot of people think i am doing this for the money. It is part of it but I feel its the best thing i can do for my family right now. I can provide a little more than normal, give a bit more space than ever, and ease the burden on my family. Also I am taking advantage of this time to reset myself. Get rid of some bad habits, simplify my life and focus on what is important to me.
I Love you all. See you when I get back stateside!
Again I want to thank all of my friends and family for your support. I know a lot of people think i am doing this for the money. It is part of it but I feel its the best thing i can do for my family right now. I can provide a little more than normal, give a bit more space than ever, and ease the burden on my family. Also I am taking advantage of this time to reset myself. Get rid of some bad habits, simplify my life and focus on what is important to me.
I Love you all. See you when I get back stateside!
Day 6 - A Day to Relax
So I know where I am being stationed, Marine Camp Korean Village. On Google its not listed but I found out its near Ar Rutbah. How near I have no idea. Below is a clip I found on a marine website:
Camp Korean Village / "Camp KV"
Camp Korean Village (also known as Camp KV) is located in a remote stretch of Iraq's western desert, close to the Syrian-Iraq border, and near the highway that connects Jordan with Baghdad. Ar Rutbah is the closest town to Camp Korean Village. Camp Korean Village is believed to be located at one of the H-3 facilities. Camp Korean Village got its name because it once housed Korean laborers who paved the Amman-Baghdad highway during Saddam Hussein's regime.
I'll post more later. For now I'm gong to a formation about the flight and then off to watch a movie and get in a non-mess hall meal.
Camp Korean Village / "Camp KV"
Camp Korean Village (also known as Camp KV) is located in a remote stretch of Iraq's western desert, close to the Syrian-Iraq border, and near the highway that connects Jordan with Baghdad. Ar Rutbah is the closest town to Camp Korean Village. Camp Korean Village is believed to be located at one of the H-3 facilities. Camp Korean Village got its name because it once housed Korean laborers who paved the Amman-Baghdad highway during Saddam Hussein's regime.
I'll post more later. For now I'm gong to a formation about the flight and then off to watch a movie and get in a non-mess hall meal.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Day 5 - Death by PowerPoint
Wow, what a long day. Twelve hours of PowerPoint classes. They ranged from First Aid to what an IED is. I have been involved with so many things that has taught me first aid, it was difficult to pay attention. I will say this, the military is improving things. The new pressure bandage was really neat in how it worked.
I cannot describe the IED class per our instructor. What I will say is this, each day I am reminded of how dangerous this undertaking will be. I wont lie to you, I am scared. I hope that I can follow my training and be ready for the situations that I will face while there. I am not worried about the day to day stuff but I am worried about the travel. Going from Kuwait to Iraq will be when am placed in danger. Also when I travel to go on vacation and finally when I go home I will be in harms way. The rest of the time believe I will be on a base with a big wall and lots of troops that want me to live to do my job. Each day in training I am reminded that the enemy wants to kill me to put fear in their fellow citizens. I have to keep that reality in my head each day I go through this.
Well, the longest day is over and I am a "Go" at this point. Tomorrow I don't have to wake up early. I don't have to do much more than pack. Friday I will be flying out and I don't figure I will have Internet access for a few days. So if you don't here from me don't panic. I will post as soon as I secure Internet access.
The slide show option in this blog isn't working so if you want to see my pictures head over to http://www.flickr.com/photos/34885138@N08/. Enjoy!
Tonight I don't have a quote, but I do have a story that I was remembering today. Sean Dearing is my best friend and we met while I was in training at Lockheed Martin. I fell asleep in class one day and Sean bounced a pen off my forehead. Needless to say when I get in a long boring class, I imagine Sean there with a handful of pens ready to launch.
I cannot describe the IED class per our instructor. What I will say is this, each day I am reminded of how dangerous this undertaking will be. I wont lie to you, I am scared. I hope that I can follow my training and be ready for the situations that I will face while there. I am not worried about the day to day stuff but I am worried about the travel. Going from Kuwait to Iraq will be when am placed in danger. Also when I travel to go on vacation and finally when I go home I will be in harms way. The rest of the time believe I will be on a base with a big wall and lots of troops that want me to live to do my job. Each day in training I am reminded that the enemy wants to kill me to put fear in their fellow citizens. I have to keep that reality in my head each day I go through this.
Well, the longest day is over and I am a "Go" at this point. Tomorrow I don't have to wake up early. I don't have to do much more than pack. Friday I will be flying out and I don't figure I will have Internet access for a few days. So if you don't here from me don't panic. I will post as soon as I secure Internet access.
The slide show option in this blog isn't working so if you want to see my pictures head over to http://www.flickr.com/photos/34885138@N08/. Enjoy!
Tonight I don't have a quote, but I do have a story that I was remembering today. Sean Dearing is my best friend and we met while I was in training at Lockheed Martin. I fell asleep in class one day and Sean bounced a pen off my forehead. Needless to say when I get in a long boring class, I imagine Sean there with a handful of pens ready to launch.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Day 4 - Shots and Gear
Today was a very long day with a lot of waiting around. Sadly all we did was process through medical and get issued our gear. During medical I had the pleasure of getting 4 shots in one arm and small pox stabbed into the other. Take a look on Google about small pox, it isn't fun. I think some one plans days like today. "Hey I know, lets give them a bunch of shots and then have them lug around a bunch of heavy equipment." So with a sore arm I lay in my bunk.
The gear was neat, I immediately had to sit down and put it all together. First I assembled the gas mask. Next I worked on the Helmet. Lastly I assembled the TA-50 gear, otherwise known as a flak vest. Its big, bulky, and heavy but will protect me.
Well, playing with the blog site here I have added a few new features to my site and learned about the spell check (Thanks Tammy...Grammar Nazi!) So far the slide show isn't working but it is late and I need sleep. If you want head over to flickr.com and look me up there. I use the same user id so its easy.
Well tomorrow is called death by PowerPoint so I must get some sleep.
The gear was neat, I immediately had to sit down and put it all together. First I assembled the gas mask. Next I worked on the Helmet. Lastly I assembled the TA-50 gear, otherwise known as a flak vest. Its big, bulky, and heavy but will protect me.
Well, playing with the blog site here I have added a few new features to my site and learned about the spell check (Thanks Tammy...Grammar Nazi!) So far the slide show isn't working but it is late and I need sleep. If you want head over to flickr.com and look me up there. I use the same user id so its easy.
Well tomorrow is called death by PowerPoint so I must get some sleep.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Day 3 - Van Wilder
So today I was given a new nickname. "Van Wilder" for those that haven't seen the movie, well its funny and worth seeing for some college laughs. I have made a few friends while in captivity, err.. I mean processing. Don and Earl are processing here as well and heading into Afghanistan and Iraq. Don started a conversation with me after spotting the Star Wars book I carried to fend off the boredom. Another friend brought to me from a galaxy far far away.
Did I mention the food here is great. Only one problem, large helpings. I use to need this much food when I was a soldier. Now, I just need to remember moderation.
Tomorrow I get suited up in the TA 50 gear. I will try to post some pictures up here to show off the new gear.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."
- Van Wilder
Did I mention the food here is great. Only one problem, large helpings. I use to need this much food when I was a soldier. Now, I just need to remember moderation.
Tomorrow I get suited up in the TA 50 gear. I will try to post some pictures up here to show off the new gear.
"Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."
- Van Wilder
Day 2 - Patience will Prevail
So here we are on Sunday with another day of Processing. The day started early, I keep starting at 6am. I know, I shouldn't complain but I have fallen in the habit of sleeping in. We start early, spend a lot of time waiting, but they are processing over 500 people along with me.
I had to have patience on many fronts today. I was mistaken when I thought I would be leaving some problems behind. Today I was reminded that they will eventually creep back up no matter where I go. I don't care to detail to much but I will say this. Be careful in life insulting some one's integrity. Do it once and they can forgive, after that I personally don't care to much for you.
Well, another thing I can whine about, working out. I vowed to myself that I would work out while gone. So far so good. I planned to run a mile and do some weight lifting each day. So far I have been distracted by conversation each time I run and end up going miles. It feels good to accomplish but I sure walk funny right now. I know it will pass once I get into better shape.
"Sometimes we are forced to be patient. We still have the choice to be impatient but the consequences of those actions are far worse than the discomfort of patience."
I had to have patience on many fronts today. I was mistaken when I thought I would be leaving some problems behind. Today I was reminded that they will eventually creep back up no matter where I go. I don't care to detail to much but I will say this. Be careful in life insulting some one's integrity. Do it once and they can forgive, after that I personally don't care to much for you.
Well, another thing I can whine about, working out. I vowed to myself that I would work out while gone. So far so good. I planned to run a mile and do some weight lifting each day. So far I have been distracted by conversation each time I run and end up going miles. It feels good to accomplish but I sure walk funny right now. I know it will pass once I get into better shape.
"Sometimes we are forced to be patient. We still have the choice to be impatient but the consequences of those actions are far worse than the discomfort of patience."
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Day 1 - Hurry up and Wait!
Well today was easier than yesterday. Typical Army stuff, lots of paperwork and PowerPoint classes on all the wonderful things we need to know to go.
I was able to work out tonight. Planning only to run a mile I got talking to some other people next to me and ran 3. It felt good to be able to do it.
Not much to say tonight other than my computer is a pain. Tomorrow will come early, 0600.
"We feel we must rush through life from one thing to the next. Most of the time we could have moved a little slower and accomplished so much more."
I was able to work out tonight. Planning only to run a mile I got talking to some other people next to me and ran 3. It felt good to be able to do it.
Not much to say tonight other than my computer is a pain. Tomorrow will come early, 0600.
"We feel we must rush through life from one thing to the next. Most of the time we could have moved a little slower and accomplished so much more."
Friday, January 23, 2009
Day 0 - The First Step is the Hardest
Well, here I am. Today is the start of a new chapter of my life. When my wife dropped me off at the airport and drove away, I took the hardest step I will take during this adventure. The one that sends me to Iraq. The one that leaves behind my wife, cats, dog, family, friends, and gerbil. The same step that will clear the debts of my household. The very step that will give my wife the space she needs to figure out who she is and why we are together. The same step that sets me on a new path of self discovery.
Today a lot of people told me how brave I am and how proud they are. Last night when I was in a fetal position in bed I didn't feel very proud or brave. I won't lie to anyone. This scares me more than anything really has. Not because I am heading into a war torn country where I may get shot or blown up. I firmly believe when my time is up it wont matter where I am at. Only pray that your not flying with me as the pilot when my number is up. What scares me is that I am taking a chance. One that will either make or break my marriage.
Over the course of the next year I will delve more into whats going on in my head. I can't tell you whether its for your benefit or mine. Today is day ZERO of my One year term in Iraq. Amusingly it starts in Georgia. I will be here at Fort Benning for the next week and the ship out to Kuwait. From there I will head to whatever base they decide needs a techno geek like me.
Today I weigh 213 pounds. I am out of shape (I had to stop a lot to get my bags to the barracks,) My day was spent finishing cleaning out my office at home. Packing had to be finished so I could leave. The wife took me to the airport and held me so close. (It was great!) I took the Hardest Step I have ever taken. The one that moved me from the spot she left me at. Part of me wanted to have her swing back and get me. But alas, I didn't call and here I am. From there it was nothing more than a short flight, a few shuttle rides from Atlanta to Columbus to Fort Benning. I feel like I am back in Basic Training. If someone starts yelling while hitting a trash can to wake me up I will be back to 1995 yelling "Yes Drill Sergent!"
I am currently in a nice sized room with four bunks and matching wall lockers. Only two of us are here so there is some privacy thanks to the layout of the room. We shall see if it stays that way. I can hear the latrine and the washing machines. Sounds like I need to use earplugs tonight.
Today I was called by many friends and family. Thank you all for your support. Without all of you I would not be as strong as you give me credit for.
So here it is, my blog. Take it for what it is and will become. If you get bored, don't say I didn't warn you!
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
- Nelson Mandela
Today a lot of people told me how brave I am and how proud they are. Last night when I was in a fetal position in bed I didn't feel very proud or brave. I won't lie to anyone. This scares me more than anything really has. Not because I am heading into a war torn country where I may get shot or blown up. I firmly believe when my time is up it wont matter where I am at. Only pray that your not flying with me as the pilot when my number is up. What scares me is that I am taking a chance. One that will either make or break my marriage.
Over the course of the next year I will delve more into whats going on in my head. I can't tell you whether its for your benefit or mine. Today is day ZERO of my One year term in Iraq. Amusingly it starts in Georgia. I will be here at Fort Benning for the next week and the ship out to Kuwait. From there I will head to whatever base they decide needs a techno geek like me.
Today I weigh 213 pounds. I am out of shape (I had to stop a lot to get my bags to the barracks,) My day was spent finishing cleaning out my office at home. Packing had to be finished so I could leave. The wife took me to the airport and held me so close. (It was great!) I took the Hardest Step I have ever taken. The one that moved me from the spot she left me at. Part of me wanted to have her swing back and get me. But alas, I didn't call and here I am. From there it was nothing more than a short flight, a few shuttle rides from Atlanta to Columbus to Fort Benning. I feel like I am back in Basic Training. If someone starts yelling while hitting a trash can to wake me up I will be back to 1995 yelling "Yes Drill Sergent!"
I am currently in a nice sized room with four bunks and matching wall lockers. Only two of us are here so there is some privacy thanks to the layout of the room. We shall see if it stays that way. I can hear the latrine and the washing machines. Sounds like I need to use earplugs tonight.
Today I was called by many friends and family. Thank you all for your support. Without all of you I would not be as strong as you give me credit for.
So here it is, my blog. Take it for what it is and will become. If you get bored, don't say I didn't warn you!
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
- Nelson Mandela
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