Week 1 - My Week in Iraq

Good Morning everyone!

Since you are reading this first thing Friday morning (if it sends correctly) - it is probably early afternoon in Umm Qasr (UQ from now on - but I am 7 hours ahead of Eastern time). This is the first of my "weekly updates" from Iraq. Friday is our "down day" - meaning that we don't start work until about 9 or 10 am (we get "brunch" at 10!).

I hope you enjoy this update - but first a few admin notes (you will only see these this week..so the email is a little longer than usual.)

     
     1. This is my personal email account (wadeiniraq@yahoo.com). You are free to send me stuff (don't spam me....) as much or as little as you want. I pay for the service out of my own pocket. I will tell you that I read everything -as it helps to quell the "groundhog day" effect of being deployed.

   
     2. I have received many (many, MANY) OPSEC briefings and training sessions.  I will NOT be discussing anything that is sensitive or classified - such as troop movements, exact project details, etc. I will speak in generalities and occasionally make up a name (I will try and make it obvious...like "I met with Captain James T. Kirk yesterday...."). But understand, my goal is to tell you about my experiences here - not to give you exact details or insider info....as silly as it sounds, the enemy is out there - and they really do use the net to full advantage.

     3. Also, you are free to forward this email to anyone you care to. They are free to forward, yadda, yadda, or write me (and ask to send directly to them). This is as much for me as it is for you - I have this "need" to share my adventure with as many people as I can. I love it when people write to me and ask to be included. I will try and only send 3 or 4 photos per week (no guarantees) - but if you want to see more photos you can "friend me" on Facebook or write me and I may send you some.

     4.  Finally, this is my personal opinion. I don't represent the US Gov't, the Iraqis, the AF, yadda yadda. It's just Wade commenting on what he sees. Okay?  So with that, let's move on....

WHAT A CRAZY WEEK!

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I had so many ups and downs (literally and figuratively). I started off last Saturday morning - having a cup of mocha latte in Baghdad. The weather was about 80 degrees and sunny. I was sitting in a chair in the shade sipping the latte and watching the birds fly around when it finally hit me...... HEY! I'm sipping a latte in the middle of Baghdad! How many people can say that today?? If you look at #100_1258, this is me standing in front of an outbuilding near the "blue dome" in the Green Zone.  
Of course, that same day, there was a very severe sandstorm that happened at UQ. Apparently it even made the news at CNN! 

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So I took the trip from the green zone back to the Airport Complex - where i spent the next couple of days. 
Photo #100_1269 is me standing in front of the Al-Faw palace (one of Sadaam's palaces). By the way, the chow at the Complex DFAC was excellent. I can't believe we don't have a bunch of fat soldiers walking around....It was like eating at a Golden Corral - for every meal. Any rate, I finally get the call that I can start moving towards UQ. Now let me tell you, moving across the country in a war zone is not easy.....I got started really well - but wound up spending the night in a terminal - but (and here is the really cool part) - I got to take several rides in a blackhawk helicopter.....WHOO-HOO! I love flying anyway, but that was FUN! The photo #100_1298 was one of the "views" from one of my rides. The marshes are absolutely beautiful. Although I didn't get a good picture of one - there were a lot of little boats in those fingers of the marshes.

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Okay, so I arrive at UQ early in the week.  First (and most important) - I have my own hootch! And my own bathroom! At least for now. As stated above, I have my own internet - and I have a nice big office (it is not as cool as my "superhero" office back at "good ol RX" - but it is nice enough). I told the camp mayor (which was the job I was originally to do here - but I am much happier that I am the Base Development Officer - as I can just focus on construction) that as long as I had internet, hot coffee and a hot shower, I was good. Well, the internet I got - and frankly, for a war zone, it is pretty darn good. I can't get Hulu (bummer - they don't go outside the states) or Netflix (apparently too much bandwidth) - but overall still not bad and I can pretty much buy any movie (including newly released ones) really cheap at the local Haji shop. My hootch is REALLY close to the DFAC (dining facility) and the DFAC is open 24/7 so I can get up anytime and go get a hot cup of coffee (I am one of those people who occasionally get up at 3:30 in the morning and like to just enjoy the silence of the morning with hot coffee). And of course the shower....let's talk about the shower....here's the deal....I "share" the hot water heater with my neighbor. The hot water heater is (literally) smaller than a 5 gallon bucket. My neighbor came over and told me to do Navy showers (turn on water, get wet, turn off water, soap up, turn on water, rinse, dry off) and you have enough hot water for a shower. I am using the "dribble technique" (turn on water REALLY low and let it dribble over you for about 5 minutes)....I prefer that - so I can thank the Lord above for hot water (part of my morning ritual)....Any rate, bottom line is my accommodations are pretty nice - for a war zone. One of my jobs is to make the infrastructure "better" before I go home - and I am working hard to improve it and I am loving every minute of it....

Here at UQ, we have a little bit of everyone working here. We have US Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen, British Soldiers and Marines, Iraqi Navy, Third Country Nationals (TCNs), Locals, Contractors and a couple of Fed Civilians (like me). We get along really well - although to be honest, sometimes I understand the TCNs better than I understand the British....but that is probably just me: "he-ah half a bangah mate" translates to "would you like a sausage with your eggs?"....again, probably just me - but they are really good guys.

Several people have asked for my address.  Here it is:

          Wade Brower

          ITAM-Navy

          Base Development Officer

          COB Umm Qasr

          APO AE 09375


I am really doing fine with food/supplies, etc. So you don't need to send anything, but I would love to get letters or postcards (again as stated above - the biggest problem here is "groundhog day" - where every day blends into another - so anything you write or send is appreciated.) Since it is an APO address, it is relatively inexpensive to send me mail. The postal service doesn't come here everyday - so if you want to talk with me fast, email is the best way to go. I try and check it every morning and night before I go to bed. Also, the weather here is already in the 80s - low 90s - so the "season" to ship chocolates is past....it is really nice now (Jeanette said it snowed this week in Dayton....) but it is supposed to be in the 120s this summer.....so I don't plan on moving here for the weather....

Other than that, I want you all to know that I am safe, having fun and trying hard to make a difference. I hope in the coming weeks to "share my adventure" with you all....and if you have specific questions - please email and ask. I am working a lot with Navy people - and I see it here as well as when I worked with the Army (Afghanistan) and the Air Force (all over the USA)....they all make me VERY proud to be an American. You should be too...


God Bless America

Wade