A little window into what things are really like.
#1
Posted 18 April 2005 - 12:15 PM
I was at a base somewhere in Iraq and was able to meet some of the new members of the Iraqi National Guard (ING). Most all of the people here are glad that we are helping them out and they understand that we need to be here for a while longer.
It was a little bit difficult communicating with each other but their English is better than my Arabic and we managed to visit about some of the basic things in life. They wanted to have some of our Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and were kind of insistent about it. After we gave them several MREs we started talking about families, which is very typical with the Middle Eastern cultures. They were very interested about my digital camera and a buddy of mine took about 15 pictures of a bunch of them. Eventually the conversation led back to families and, after I told them I was single, started asking if I had a girlfriend. Most of them were very surprised that I didn't have one and thought it strange that I didn't have any kids either. (Kind of slick how I turned this small article into a personal ad huh? - moving right along now...) The thing that gave all of us a good laugh was when the Iraqi that is on the left side of the picture said that he didn't have a girlfriend either because the last one had broke his heart! I guess we truly are all the same just below the skin!
After my buddy and I had visited with them for about a half hour they absolutely insisted that we have some of their food, which was rice, chicken and a piece of bread that looked and tasted exactly like pita bread, and then it was time to go back to work.
We, as Americans, really are doing good things over here for the Iraqis and most of them appreciate us immensely.
More to follow sometime later.
Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers, we are still at war with the insurgents and are still losing soldiers. Hopefully things will start quieting down a little bit and we can all get back and go divin' again!
Take care everyone and we'll meet when we meet!
Kevin
DIVE AGAIN TOMORROW"! kk
"Logically speaking - SAFETY is FUN ... because NO SAFETY is NO FUN" !!! kk
#2
Posted 18 April 2005 - 12:37 PM
We are proud of you and the job that you are doing!!!!
You are in my thoughts and prayers... Keep your butt low!!!
Life is a matter of luck, and the odds in favor of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution... Erich Topp WW II U Boat Commander
#3
Posted 18 April 2005 - 12:45 PM
Please be safe and come back soon!
"You must have dreams of love, you must have desires. Perhaps you are made in such a way that you are afraid of them. Don't be. They are the best things you have."
Hermann Hesse
#4
Posted 18 April 2005 - 12:50 PM
#5
Posted 18 April 2005 - 01:12 PM
Stay safe.
#6
Posted 18 April 2005 - 02:43 PM
I can't thank you enough for what you and your fellow soldiers are doing, and I really wish this kind of reporting made it on the news more often. The biased media always make it sound so dismal over there, but people like you who are on the ground always say how most of the mainstream Iraqi population appreciate what we're doing for them.
Well, I can only speak for myself, but I also appreciate what you're doing for them (and for us). Come back safe and let's go diving!
Mike
#7
Posted 18 April 2005 - 03:24 PM
#8
Posted 18 April 2005 - 03:58 PM
Thank you for sharing your story and even more thanks for serviving our country. Stay Safe!
#9
Posted 18 April 2005 - 06:26 PM
Keep safe. Hope to have you home soon.
Formerly known as gis_gal and name tattoo'd for a small bribe!
#10
Posted 19 April 2005 - 07:19 AM
I don't want to hijaak your thread, but for those who would like to help both our men in the Middle East and the people who live there, please check out this charitable organization. I have contributed myself, and the tone here seems to indicate some of you might want to do the same.
http://www.spiritofamerica.net/
Thanks again Kevin. Stay safe!
#11
Posted 19 April 2005 - 11:40 AM
If you make it to the IZ in the next eight days or so send me an e-mail heads up. We'll have some chai and roast chicken. I was on Irish the past couple days and am taking a break. Damn VBIEDs! And watch out, they got pissed at me when I turned in a vehicle with some holes in it...the motor pool guys don't like that one bit. They asked me what happened, and I was like "...stupid, they shot at me!" He asked if I knew who "they were" and where it happened and I told him to grab his stuff, jump in and we'd go looking together. He changed his mind and that was that. Stupid people!
I agree with you...the locals and ING I have met are nice and want to know about us too. Take care.
Vinny
#12
Posted 19 April 2005 - 07:23 PM
Vinny,watch out, they got pissed at me when I turned in a vehicle with some holes in it...the motor pool guys don't like that one bit. They asked me what happened, and I was like "...stupid, they shot at me!" He asked if I knew who "they were" and where it happened...
tell him it was Mohammed Ishmal Malek Abdullah, brown guy, black hair, about 5'6" wearing man jammies and flip flops, likes to hang out on 4th and main. usually shoots at Americans for no particular reason.
on another note, guess your time over there is just about up, eh bro?
stay safe.
Brad
#13
Posted 20 April 2005 - 04:42 PM
Please be safe and God speed.
#14
Posted 22 April 2005 - 07:22 AM
Thanks for the update! As has been said by many-
Pslams 91 over you and your fellow soldiers!!!
DBD
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