The pictures that are attached are of the advance party and some of the recent activity we have seen since we arrived. The operating environment we will be working in has many insurgents but has many more Iraqi citizens who desperately need help. One of the pictures shows a 10 month old Iraqi boy that had 3rd degree burns on his little hand but was taken care of by one of the corpsman from Alpha Co 1/25 during one of the recent missions that we were able to participate in. Just 20 minutes before the Marines had received incoming mortar fire at a patrol base and had also experienced several other kinetic situations during the day. However, the Marines understand that the future of this country lies in the next generation. They are able to switch between very dangerous situations and very docile experiences in a split second. This is a product of great training, strong leadership and sound discipline. Our Marines must and will do the same during their time here. They will create unforgettable experiences over the next 8 months and I look forward to experiencing them alongside these great warriors.Your Marines performed flawlessly during their last training event at 29 Palms, CA. They received many great comments from the instructor and training staff. They worked hard in the 100+ degree heat and sun of the Mojave desert. They received some desperately needed rest and time off at the end of the training in preparation for the 30+ hour trip they will experience on their way to Iraq. Once they arrive they'll hit the ground running and I know they will perform at the highest levels that are expected of them in this environment. They have trained hard. They are ready and eager to get the mission started.
Also... one day later, Eric sent the following e-mail. Looks like they are now in a different living quarters again so the picture above is probably not current... but I'll post updates as Carol gets more e-mails. :) She asked that I post these for her. :)
I finally made it to my slice of the pie a few days ago. A lot of what we'd been told turned out to be a little inaccurate. We have internet, phones (that require a special phone card that's pretty cheap), hot chow usually once or twice a day, portajohns (we also have the kitty litter bags) and AC. So, things are much better than anticipated. It gets a little hot around noon, but in the morning and evening it cooled down nicely. There aren't too many bugs, just random flies. It hasn't rained, but the spring is the rainy season. There are a lot of wild dogs around, and quite a few cats, too. There was an orange kitten in our hooch last night. We're in temporary housing until the guys we relieve go back home. After they do we'll move into a big building known as the frat house. It's an old Iraqi house with a cathedral ceiling in the middle and a 2nd floor balcony. It may have been nice many years ago, but now the biggest decoration is sand bags. The build quality is hit and miss. I don't think they have inspectors over here. Brad, you would be appalled if you saw any of the concrete work. That's about it for now.Eric
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