Letter 5

Joint Base Balad, Iraq October 26, 2008

Everyone:

Well, I have finally made it into Iraq. The trip was a bit arduous in that it took awhile. In typical military fashion, we got up at 3am, drove an hour to Ali Al Salam (another base in Kuwait). We proceeded to sit in this “airport” for about 15+ hours. The reason for this long delay was the Air Force. We drove all the way out to our plane, only to find out that “their duty day was over”…meaning that the crew was done flying for the day…even though we had a scheduled flight. So we did not end up leaving Kuwait until after 2200 hours (10pm). The good news (sarcasm) is that we were able to fly in a C-130 (this is a 4 propeller cargo plane). This plane is not built for comfort as can be seen in the picture below:

What is hard to see is how tight it really is. You have to make a deal with the person sitting across from you on how to work your legs. Of course we have to be in full gear as we can take small arms fire while over Iraq. Notice the red straps on the left…these came down to form a very comfortable mesh seat for us…nice.

We finally arrived safely in Balad, Iraq with no problems. We slowly got settled into our new living quarters (I will discuss more below), met the soldiers that we are replacing and immediately got to work. The base that I am at used to be known as LSA (logistic support area) Anaconda, but is now more of an Air Force base so it is known as Joint Base Balad. It is one of the largest bases in Iraq, housing as many as 30,000 people! It is divided into East and West sections based on the runways. The base is affectionately known as “Mortaritaville” due to the high number of mortar and rocket attacks that it receives. In the past two weeks we have received numerous attacks, the sirens go off, and we get into bunkers…I think I have slept through a few…most of the time we never hear any impacts or detonations. I guess that they land on the other side of the base. Either way, we have lots of “things” here to keep us safe.

Let me show you how nice my room is…best accommodations I have had while in the Army. I have been a bit lucky as the Brigade that I am normally a part of and the soldiers that I deployed with to Afghanistan are all here on the same base…they have taken care of me and again “found” items for me to “set me up”.

Here is the inside of my room. Check out my desk and chair! I was told not to ask…so I do not ask. If I turn the camera just slightly to the left:

I have the Butler flag flying proudly in my room…thank you to everybody for signing it. When I find that I am having a hard time, all I have to do is read a few lines and it really “picks me up”. I appreciate it. Of course, I have my trusty new body armor close on its stand (another gift from the Brigade). The next picture I stepped up by my chair and essentially it is 180 degrees from the above picture.

I actually have a TV which has about 6-8 channels from the Armed Forces Network (AFN). These channels carry a variety of shows from ESPN to ABC etc. They switch and are varied. There are no commercials though…so the military makes its own commercials…I call them my daily download of brainwashing messages. I have a DVD player, a refrigerator and a microwave. I am living like a king now. The door to the room is just out of site to the right next to the big chair. I am good as long as a mortar does not come crashing through my ceiling.

If you walk out my door here is the view:

This is the back of our housing units. The concrete all makes a big bunker to protect us from indirect fire (mortars). If you go down my stairs there are more concrete bunkers inside the big housing bunker that we get into when the “Red Alert” sirens go off. This gives us some added protection. The reason that the picture is a bit grainy is that I took it during a huge sandstorm.

The first few days that we got here the temperature was Hot! There is a thermometer outside 1LT Welch’s room that read it as 120 degrees. Then we got a cold front that instead of bringing in thunderstorms it brought us a sandstorm. If you go down these stairs to the edge of the bunker and turn to your right about 120 degrees you get a view of our PX:

It may be hard to see in this picture, but the big white building is the PX (mini-Walmart type place). The white roof is actually a mortar protection structure build over it. The smaller brown building in front is actually a little food court. If you can see the three small signs on the building they are for “Cinnabon, Burger King, and Pizza Hut”

Here is the same picture during the dust storm:

The above picture was taken in the middle of the afternoon! It looks like fog, but it is literally sand and dirt. It gets in your hair, ears, mouth…pretty terrible.

I showed my room with the Butler flag, well I flew it over the base. Here is the Butler flag flying proudly over Balad:

On the bottom picture you can see all the signatures!

I wanted to take the remaining time with this letter to see if I can help make clear some of the geo-political issues here in Iraq. Below is a picture of Southwest Asia and the Middle East which includes the Arabian Peninsula between Africa and the Middle East (Persia).

First Balad is about 40-50 miles due north of Baghdad. There are two major factors at play in Iraq. The first is based on ancient geographic history. To the West (and including Iraq) the people are Arabs…being from the Arabian Peninsula. To the East is Iran, which is ancient Persia. These people are known as Persians (not Arabs). Iraq sits between these two populations and is the “crossroads” between them. The Arab influence is the red arrows coming in form Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and of course Saudi Arabia. The Persian influence comes from Iran. There are enough feelings over this Arab versus Persian that the Persian Gulf is often called the Arabian Gulf by some Arabs. Collectively this area is known as the Middle East (although technically Iraq and Iran are Southwest Asia). Afghanistan and Pakistan are actually part of Central Asia which has a large Asian influence and are thus not technically Arabs or Persians, but rather Asians. What makes this more complicated is the second feature which is Religion. The Arabs are traditionally Sunni. Most of the World’s Muslim population is Sunni ( ~90%), and the Persians are traditionally Shi’ite. In Iraq, the Sunni population is the majority and is mainly located in the central and western parts of the Country. The Shi’ites are found south of Baghdad. These two groups do not get along and essentially hate each other. The third group are the Kurds (tribal group), who are located to the North by Mosul.

What is the difference? Well, The Islam religion was founded by Mohammed in the seventh century. In 622 he founded the first Islamic state, a theocracy in Medina, a city in western Saudi Arabia located north of Mecca. The hatred between Sunnis and Muslims goes back to 632 CE and the death of Prophet Mohammad. The most critical issue following Mohammed’s death was his succession. The forbearers of the Sunnis followed the tribal tradition of having a council of elders select as the head of the Islamic community the individual most qualified to lead. The forbearers of the Shiites on the other hand believed that Mohammad’s heirs should rule the Islamic community. The conflict came to a head in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE when the Sunnis forbearers massacred the prophet’s grandson Husayn and his followers. Gleefully, the victors carried Husayn’s head to Damascus and paraded it there. This is why for the next thirteen hundred years, there has been hatred and recurring warfare between these two sects within Islam who differ radically in their religious practices.

One can begin to see that many of the foreign fighters here have alternate agendas rather than just “anti-US”. In the Shi’ite South is a city known as Najaf, it houses the Imam Ali mosque and is considered to be the third holiest Muslim site in the World especially to the Shi’ites. Muqtada al-sadr is a Shi’ite cleric in Najaf and was a source of one of the largest resistance forces in Iraq. There is obvious tension between his Army and the new Iraq Sunni Government. Iran obviously supports Al-sadr and wants to “be a good neighbor” and build a highway to Najaf for all the Persians (Iranians, Shi’ites) to be able to get to Najaf…of course this would flood the Iraq with the Shi’ite influence and help push its “beliefs” west. The Sunni’s do not want this for obvious reasons. This may just give you a hint at some of Iran’s motivations (remember that the some of the more extreme Shi’ites want a return of the Caliphate).

Many people want the US to just leave Iraq. If we just leave, there will be a huge power vacuum and all the “arrows” will flood into Iraq…there would be a civil war between the Sunni (Arabs) and Shi’ites (Persian) with the winner gaining control of Iraq and the influence at the “crossroads”. This is why Syria and Iran have both been very interested in getting the US out as each side thinks it will gain the upper hand. The other exit strategy is to carve the country into three pieces…Sunni, Shi’a, and Kurd….the problem is that you have two religious groups and one tribal group. Also the Sunni area is mostly desert. Not so sure the other two groups would go out of their way to help the Sunni state survive (Saddam was a Sunni). The bottom line is that there really is not a good solution. The US is trying to help Iraq become strong enough with all the groups to prevent the impending civil war.

I think that I have given enough of a liberal arts lecture here, please know that this is very simplified and how I best understand the situation. Finally, I wanted to include some nice emails that I have received recently for my “shout out section”. It is essentially a prayer that was shared with me by my friend Alex Ansara, which in turn, I wanted to share with you. It is essentially two prayers. The first is a prayer that he says daily…not a bad idea:

"Look at your life. You can walk. You can talk. You can hear, see, taste, and touch. You have your family, you have great friends, a good job, a place to live, food to eat, clothes, a car, TV, internet, and the joy of music. Most importantly, as if all that isn't enough, you're healthy and you have God in your life. What the heck are you upset about???"

The second prayer:

DEAR GOD: I want to thank you for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you because; YOU haven't given up on me.

Thank you again to everybody who continues to support my family, and me. I miss all of you. I almost forgot to give you my address:

CPT Mike Roscoe
Phipps TMC / 215th ASMC
APO AE 09391

Finally, never forget our soldiers, their families, and all those who serve. Never forget that we live in the greatest country on Earth. Never forget all our blessings. Please remember to vote…does not matter which side of the fence you are on, just don’t sit on it! To my PA students…keep working hard!

CPT Mike Roscoe

Letter 4

Camp Buehring, Kuwait
October 9th, 2008

Everyone:

This letter opens as Charles Dickens Tale of Two Cities ”It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The best of times was that I was able to spend 4 days with Shelby; the worst of times is the time spent here in Kuwait.

I will keep this letter in chronological order and start with my leave time that I was able to spend with my wife. My leave started with a day trip into Seattle. We went on a walking tour of the Seattle underground. I love trivial knowledge so let’s take a moment and share what I learned. Seattle at the end of the 19th century had a large fire and had a serious sewage problem as it is basically at sea level on an island. They decided to rebuild first, then “fill in” dirt around all the buildings. So when they rebuilt the city they made all their entrances in the 2nd and 3rd floors depending on what block the building was located. This was accomplished by placing large concrete barriers at the edge of the street and letting dirt fill in the “gaps”. The tour actually let us walks on “old” side walks between the barriers and the old buildings (underground). It is hard to explain, but it is pretty cool.

I think this area of Washington is beautiful, although the humidity is high enough that it rains a lot. It is not really rain, but more like a mist, something that you would see at the supermarket in the vegetable section. This high humidity coming off the ocean tends to get caught on the Cascades [mountains]. This creates the ever present gray clouds, rain, and thick fog. The picture below shows this effect as we were driving into Seattle.

The picture is a view of downtown Seattle. There are numerous other skyscrapers, but they are occluded by the clouds/fog. Most of this was burned off as the sun came up. After our day in Seattle we went north to Anacortes, Washington which is about as far North as you can go and not be in Canada. This was a beautiful sleepy area that just happened to have a motorcycle rally going on when we were there. Here are a few pictures of Anacortes.

This is a picture of deception point which is a bridge that spans between Fidalgo island (where Anacortes is) and Whidby island. The water flows between that gap at about 17 knots (fast current). I actually tried to make a video for my physiology class showing how flow can have a high velocity (in the middle), but with reduced volume (laminar flow)…I am really dorky, as I can not seem to turn off the teaching gene. Here is another picture of the bridge, it actually gives a hint at the velocity of the current.

It is hard to demonstrate the beauty of the tree-lined cliff face with against the ocean, but it is a magnificent view. The picture below I included because I promised my wife…she was fascinated by the seals.

The seals are in the middle, if you look close you can see them lying on the rocks. I almost got in trouble when she grabbed me to show them to me…I said something to the effect of “yeah, their seals” (maybe with a less then enthusiastic voice)…I felt a tremor in the force as Shelby began to get irritated and I quickly made a recovery of fascination at them just lying there and how it would be nice to just be able to lay around…I think it worked…well at least until she reads this letter. Here is Shelby and I at a nature part at the base of deception point.

It was so nice to be able to spend some time with my wife before I left, it was very hard though to say goodbye again, and I wish I could have spent some time with my kids. Sometimes, you just wonder if you have said everything that needs to be said to those you care about…it just seems that words often fail. I feel that way with everybody that is currently helping my family…thank you…it just does not carry the emotion of my feelings.

Well from the best of times to the worst of times…Shelby had to return to Indy, and almost immediately we prepared to move to Kuwait. Here I am at the Air Force terminal getting ready to leave.

“No liquids please, you will need to throw that away…but you can keep your sidearm.” We flew on a commercial aircraft from essentially Tacoma, Washington to Bangor, Maine. This flight took about 6 hours. In Bangor we were greeted by about 20+ veterans who were there to cheer for us and shake our hands as we entered the private terminal. These guys have not missed a military flight in 5 years. It actually brings tears to my eyes writing about it as they ranged from WWII to Vietnam (the most numerous). They came in the middle of the night just to greet us…to make us feel special. I did not know what to say, especially to the Vietnam vets, who are working so hard to make sure what happened to them does not happen to us. To any Vietnam vets (and all other vets) I thank you for paving the way for all of us, and your service…Thank you dad, Uncle Greg, Dr. Hatcher, Uncle Walt (gone, but not forgotten!)…and all others! There is no “shout out” good enough for all of our past veterans, especially those veterans that came in the middle of the night in Bangor, Maine just for us.

From Bangor, Maine we flew across the Atlantic to Leipzig, Germany. Here is was a bit cold, but we stayed only long enough to fuel the plane. This leg took about another 6 hours. So, we are at about 12 hours of flight time and counting. From Germany, we flew into Kuwait City, Kuwait. This was another 5+ hours…that puts total flying time at about 17.5 hours…too bad I do not get frequent flyer miles…at least I did not get any blood clots. The disorienting thing was that Kuwait is 7 hours ahead of Indianapolis (10 from Fort Lewis), so with the flying time and time change we lost a complete day! From Kuwait city, we were put on a bus, and drove about 2 hours into the middle of the freaking desert to arrive at the 5th ring of hell known as Camp Buerhing, Kuwait. Here we have daily temperatures above 100 degrees (but it’s a dry heat) and just sand everywhere. To add to the experience check out the wonderful living conditions that the Army has supplied for us…no Air Force quarters here..


My bunk is the bottom right bunk/cot is in the foreground on the right. It is hard to tell but along both walls are cots that are about 6-12 inches apart. It is terrible! At least we do have air-conditioning. To all my PA students you will learn about communicable diseases, they often will talk about “Army barracks” etc….this is why we get sick. Love the Army!

This base is literally in the desert, so everything on the base gets delivered, including all the water. We get a daily total amount of 15 gallons of water per soldier. Below is our shower (and personal hygiene) area.

The big “tubs” at the end hold the water. When the water is out, it is out for the day. The latrines are all “port-a-jons”. The Army has attempted to help us feel at home, so we do have an MWR (moral, welfare, and recreation) area known as the Oasis. Here is a picture of one of the sides of the oasis (it is a boxed in area).

Ahh, just like home…nothing makes you want to eat Taco Bell like 110 degree temperature in the blowing sand. To the right of this picture is a Green Bean coffee (like a Starbucks) and a stage. Then on the other side (opposite these buildings) is the Great Steak and Potato company, a little internet café, and honestly a Harley-Davidson dealer…seriously. You can buy them here and pick them up in the States. The other night Scott Stapp (head singer of Creed) played at the base.

We have done some training while here in Kuwait. We went way out into the middle of the desert…seriously…to the point that all you could see was a sea of sand and fired our weapons. I did not take my camera but we did run across a herd of camels (20+), we had to make sure they did not enter the range area. I also walked to the edge of our camp to see what the perimeter looked like…here you go.

There is a fence row beyond the barricades. It has motion sensors…but beyond the lights…desert…more desert…desert as far as you can see. It is like the prison without walls. Two days ago we had a small sand storm here. It was blowing pretty bad, and it literally hurt to be outside with the little pebbles flying through the air.

I almost forgot; guess what…we got new body armor! This stuff is actually much better. It has a pull cord that literally lets the body armor fall off. This is most excellent if we have to treat an injury. It is also much lighter then the old body armor. It only weighs about 30-33 pounds with the plates in! Of course, I still have to carry the old body armor in my bags…cool.

The final picture just shows how geeky I really am.

This is sunset from the edge of my tent. I think I saw a sand speeder and obi-wan-kanobi go flying past being chased by Jawas. Just look at the picture and cue Star Wars music with Luke looking out over the moister farm. I think this place sucks more then Tatoonie…see I am a big geek.

Today…it is blazing hot…I am sure well above 100, but I do not have a thermometer. It almost takes your breath away when you first step outside, and of course…instant sweat. You can imagine that my tight living quarters above is beginning to smell a bit rank. I am counting the days down until I get to go to Iraq, which must be the ultimate plan of the Army. However, living in these conditions has made me realize just how lucky I am to be an American and have all the freedoms that we have. I just happen to receive an email that I think sums my thought process of this. Apparently, it is from David Letterman, and I will include it below:

' As most of you know I am not a President ush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is notabout Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and itseems to hit the mark. 'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent ofthe country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being theknuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'Whatare we so unhappy about?''

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the lastyear?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopterto take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching oneof your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gunand a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the back drop of aneighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has everseen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They seeus for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan toget us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes tobring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all thegood things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the NewYork Times for the bottom of your bird cage.Then start being grateful for all we have as country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mudslides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing upthe country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are wesure this is a good time to take God out of thePledge of Allegiance?'

David Letterman

We do live in the greatest country on Earth, I just think that we forget this sometimes. Living in these conditions here in the outer ring of Hell, makes me realize all the blessing that I have in my life and how much better we have it then many others. I will spend my time here and in Iraq and I will defend our way of life, and hopefully help others experience what it means to be free. Just remember to pray for all the soldiers as they are willing (volunteering) to defend our freedoms and keep our families safe. All of them are willing and accept the risk of the ultimate sacrifice. Finally, I need to add my shout out section. First, Susan O’Reilly, thank you for all the help with childcare for my 4 kids. Second, thanks to Jenn Timpe for helping to arrange weekly meals for my family for the year…and all the moms taking time from their families to help cook for mine. Wow, how can words express my feelings toward taking care of my wife and kids? Third, Paul Fulkerson-Bird for drawing the short straw with the STA Men’s club…he came over and Shelby put him to work doing yard work and a thousand chores…again, thank you for taking care of my family (to all the STA men’s club). All the 7th and 8th grade STA kids who have been doing service hours by spending time with my kids and helping them with homework and babysitting. Finally, thanks to Dr. Lucich for helping with my Physiology class with my virtually non-existing internet connection here is Kuwait (you are a true mentor). With all the last minute lectures and class preparations thank-you…thanks PA1s for your patience with me (and the grading). I know I missed many shout outs but thanks to all those I missed …thank you and I love all of you! Keep your prayers flowing, and never forget our soldiers and their families…and vote J…after you do your research…

CPT Mike Roscoe