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Good luck, good hunting, and come home safe: Jarhead ships out
2005-09-06
Scroll down to the comments.
September 6, 2005: The United States is, literally, fortifying Iraq’s borders. Never as tightly guarded as the frontiers in the classic Soviet style police state, Saddams guards covered the main roads pretty well. But most of the 3,600 kilometers of land borders were covered by little forts, which were usually 25-30 kilometers apart. About three dozen border guards manned each fort. In some areas, there are additional outposts every four kilometers. Most of these forts have fallen into disrepair, or been destroyed. The American plan is a series of 300 fortified bases or forts, and a force of 32,000 new border guard troops. At the moment, there are only 12,000 people in the border force, and only about half the forts and bases are completed, or under construction.

Many of the border bases will, literally, be concrete forts, with four turrets and metal doors and gates. Normally, each fort holds a shift of two or three dozen border guards (some of whom are always out on patrol or manning a road block.) Firing slits are built into the roof parapets. Each of the four turrets has three firing ports as well. Each fort also have two generators, and air conditioners for some of the rooms. Supplies of fuel, food and water are kept on hand, to enable the fort to withstand a siege of several days.

Many of the border guards are currently living in tents, or half-ruined forts from the Saddam era. Smugglers and terrorists frequently take shots at the border guard camps, with rifles and mortars. So the border guards are eager to get into their new forts. The exact dimensions of the forts varies a bit, but most are 40x40 feet, with fifteen foot high walls and 25 foot high towers. The walls are thick enough to stop heavy machine-gun bullets and RPGs. The Americans are urging the Iraqis to equip all the forts with sensors, which would make it possible to really seal off the border. The Iraqis, including the border guards, may not want to do this. Corruption among the border guards is an old tradition, with bribes by smugglers accounting for a large fraction of the border guards pay.

Iraq’s land borders total 3,631 kilometers (Iran 1,458, Jordan 181, Kuwait 242, Saudi Arabia 814, Syria 605, and Turkey 331.) Iran and Syria are the ones that are getting forts first, because these are experiencing the most problems with illegal crossings.
Posted by:Steve

#55  JH/BH6---Stay safe, watch your six. And don't take any flying leaps at portable toilets to knock them over with the occupants inside. We have plenty of video shots of that activity, thank ye verry much, heh heh.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2005-09-06 23:25  

#54  BH6, Stay safe, and thank you. Will look forward to your posts.
Am very glad to hear about fortifying these border forts. It's terrible how the Iraqi's can be bought. Would love to see the sensors.
Posted by: Jan   2005-09-06 23:19  

#53  Bag a few for your Rantburg pals, Jarhead. Take care.
Posted by: Chris W.   2005-09-06 23:19  

#52  You've become kinda my own special Marine, since mine is one of those either setting a perimeter for God, or walking his streets. He knew the Marines needed to do something about Saddam, and it came to be his daily wish. He watched that build-up late in 1990.

On the day of his funeral, I walked back into my house to Bush I announcing, "We are bombing Iraq." I've always thought, with Bush II, this was my Marine's war, one he had wanted years ago.

So, knowing how he would feel about your mission, and about you, stay close, let us know how you are. Lots of us are claiming you as "my marine." Keep us posted, we want to know what you need, and more, what would really be on a "wish list" that doesn't included necessities.

Stay safe...
Posted by: Sherry   2005-09-06 22:48  

#51  Take care sir and Semper Fi!
Posted by: djh_usmc   2005-09-06 22:44  

#50   Good luck, good hunting, and come home safe: Jarhead ships out

what everyone else said Jarhead and drive safe.
Posted by: Red Dog   2005-09-06 22:26  

#49  You're OK for a Marine. :-) Keep your head down and your ass in one piece.
Posted by: 11A5S   2005-09-06 21:59  

#48  I'm on my way to Iraq within the next week.

Good luck, Sir, and we'll be waiting for you when your job is done.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-09-06 21:26  

#47  God guard you and your men and bring you all home safe. Thank you for doing this and (God forgive me) slot one of those Al-Qaeda creeps for me.
Posted by: JDB   2005-09-06 21:16  

#46  Jarhead, I will light a candle for you at my Chesty Puller shrine ;-) May the Marine ghosts of Guadalcanal watch over you. If you're in a pinch, just yell out "Raiders, rally to me!" - Merritt Edson and the boys - they'll come brawling.
Posted by: Zpaz   2005-09-06 19:36  

#45  Good luck, God bless and Semper Fi! Come back home safe and well.
Posted by: Sgt. D.T.   2005-09-06 19:36  

#44  Godspeed, Jarhead. Keep well, keep safe, and write often.
Posted by: Dave D.   2005-09-06 19:02  

#43  Take care and look after yourself, BH6, I look forward to your posts. The effort is much appreciated, please tell everyone over there that.
Posted by: rhodesiafever   2005-09-06 18:44  

#42  Jarhead, are you at MCAGCC?
Posted by: Pappy   2005-09-06 18:40  

#41  Good luck and Godspeed!
Posted by: Secret Master   2005-09-06 18:30  

#40  Go get the job done and come back home. As always, our prayers are with you and all the good guys over there. I wish I could join you.
Posted by: Rafael   2005-09-06 18:12  

#39  stay safe. yore in our prayers.
Posted by: muck4doo   2005-09-06 17:43  

#38  BH6: My best advice is to have fun. There are lots of guys out there who can write both play-by-play and color. So try to take it beyond that. Try to catch the funny edge of things in your writing. Not all life is business.

Ask your buds what music they listen to, and why.

What do they want to do "when they grow up?"

What are the funny stories and jokes floating around?

Have an "ugliest dude in the platoon" contest.

Do surveys. Military food vs. local food. Odd local customs. Strange critters (What a donkey is really like). The stupidest thing they've seen somebody do.

Odds are that some of the guys are pretty good artists--so ask them for artwork. Digital photos speak volumes, and written drawings are instant classics (granted they might have to be mailed home and scanned.)

Writing like this is the dessert to the meat-and-potatoes stuff that writes itself. But it really adds a 3rd dimension for the folks back home.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2005-09-06 17:34  

#37  God speed, Jarhead!
Good hunting and come back home to us safe and sound.
We'll be praying for your protection and strength.
Thank you for your service to our country.

Posted by: Jennie Taliaferro   2005-09-06 17:23  

#36  I wish you all the best BH6. My family and I wish you good hunting and a safe return. God Bless you.

Brian
Posted by: Rightwing   2005-09-06 16:57  

#35  God Speed BH6. Let us know what you need.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-09-06 16:31  

#34  Go get 'em and, when you're done, come back safe.
Posted by: Dreadnought   2005-09-06 16:24  

#33  "Broadhead 6 to Danny Boy..."
Posted by: mojo   2005-09-06 15:58  

#32  Good luck JH/BH6 - stay safe.
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2005-09-06 15:50  

#31  Good luck to you Broadhead6 and your Marines. Wishing you a successful mission and for all to return safely.
Posted by: ed   2005-09-06 15:35  

#30  Good luck Jarhead! Good hunting and come home safe! :)
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats   2005-09-06 15:19  

#29  Good on you, Jarhead.
Posted by: Grunter   2005-09-06 15:01  

#28  Watch your six Jarhead. We'll be thinking of you and all your fellow devil dogs. Let us know if there is anything that you, your family or your fellows need and we will make it happen. And thanks for your service. I think I can speak for all of the RB regulars when I say that we are mighty proud of you.
Posted by: remoteman   2005-09-06 14:51  

#27  Best wishes, stay safe, take care of your men (I know that's first on your mind) and come home to us. And tell us if you need us to do anything here stateside that will help you.
Posted by: Steve White   2005-09-06 14:47  

#26  Good luck and Godspeed Jarhead.
Posted by: JerseyMike   2005-09-06 14:40  

#25  BH6:

I've got a special issue olive drab t-shirt for you that makes a real statement. Meets regs for color. Let Fred know that he's ok to give me your contact info and we'll fix you up.
Posted by: Classical_Liberal   2005-09-06 14:31  

#24  Stay loose, Jarhead. We'll be thinking about you.
Posted by: tu3031   2005-09-06 14:29  

#23  ex-JH, Broadhead6,

Thanks for serving. Stay vigilant, stay safe, and Godspeed. Our prayers are with you.
Posted by: cingold   2005-09-06 14:15  

#22  I kinda thought that "Jarhead" would have been anonymous enough, unless they're sending over _one_ Marine to take care of the problem on the Syrian border.

(Sorta like the old Texas Rangers... one crisis, one Jarhead).

Anyway, happy hunting, don't get shot, etc...
Posted by: Phil Fraering   2005-09-06 13:26  

#21  Via Con Dios,Marine.How about we set-up a little account to keep Broadhead6(me like)stocked-up on the non-essential essentials,and maybe help his family out a little bit to.I can't kick in much,but I will certainly do what I can.
Watch your 6,Bro.
Posted by: raptor   2005-09-06 13:22  

#20  Take care Jarhead, and remember all of us here are cheering you and your unit on! Always appreciated your comments when I was more active at this site. We'll send you a care package if you notify Fred re: address.
Posted by: ex-lib   2005-09-06 13:17  

#19  and to think: we knew him when he was Jarhead
Posted by: Frank G   2005-09-06 13:06  

#18  Jarhead-
Take care of yourself, your men, and your mission (and give us the straight poop). Thanks for your service!
Posted by: Spot   2005-09-06 12:58  

#17  Good luck and Godspeed.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2005-09-06 12:54  

#16  Sounds like you're heading where the action is! Good Luck and Happy Hunting!! I'll say a prayer for a successful mission and a safe return. God Bless, and THANKS.
Posted by: docob   2005-09-06 12:53  

#15  Good luck, and thanks.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2005-09-06 12:39  

#14  Best wishes and godspeed Marine. Take care. Our prayers are with you.
Posted by: MunkarKat   2005-09-06 12:21  

#13  Happy hunting, Jarhead! You and your Marines will be in our thoughts and prayers until you get back. And do let us know how we can help Mrs. Formerly-known-as-Jarhead. We stay behind spouses have to take care of one another. ;-) (Mr. Wife is navigating the wilds of Boston this week, which isn't quite the same as your little adventure, but the staying behind bit is much of a piece.)
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-09-06 11:58  

#12  Jarhead/BH6: May God bless you and keep you safe, DevilDog. You make us all proud. Hope to hear some good non-MSM-tainted word from you soon about how things are really going!
Posted by: BH   2005-09-06 11:55  

#11  Stay safe and kick some ass, Jarhead!
Posted by: Raj   2005-09-06 11:49  

#10  God bless you, Jarhead. I'll be praying for ya.
Posted by: Ptah   2005-09-06 11:40  

#9  Best wishes dear Jarhead. We'll keep the home fires burning pending your safe and happy return. Let us know if there's anything we can do for your family while you are away.
Posted by: Emily   2005-09-06 11:37  

#8  ex-Jarhead/now-BroadHead6, stay safe and bring your honor home with your life and health. Good luck, and oorah! :)
Posted by: Edward Yee   2005-09-06 11:32  

#7  BH6, good luck and Godspeed. Settle things down in the Wild West and let us know if you need any care packages.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-09-06 11:27  

#6  West, huh? You stay safe while you're rockin' n' rollin', y'hear? Shoot a REMF and get some of that new body armor, heh. I wondered how long you'd be offline - and it's been waay too long. I'm RA, but Semper Fi, bro. ;-)
Posted by: .com   2005-09-06 11:11  

#5  Broadhead6...look forward to reading your posts. Stay safe.
Posted by: DragonFly   2005-09-06 10:41  

#4  Hey guys, this is just a general email to all R-burgers, don't mean to poach this thread to do it but am a little pressed for time. Moderators - Maybe this should go on Page 4 or something? I'm not sure of the protocol.

Anyways, I've been offline for a while doing some training in the So Cal desert. I'm on my way to Iraq within the next week. It's been a fast life the past couple months to say the least. I'll still post whenever possible to update you all on what's really going on over there from my perspective at least. I'll post non-sensitive stuff on Rantburg of course. Also, I'll be dropping the "Jarhead" handle from now on in order to be a little more anonymous when shooting emails from overseas. Plus, I don't want to misconstrue my personal thoughts W/official USMC positions. My new call sign will be "Broadhead6". The only info I can give right now is that I'll be in Iraq, west of Baghdad. When I get all the Force Protection briefs in-country about do's and dont's of blogging I'll prolly be able to get less and less vague. Hopefully that will be the case real soon. Until then, if anyone wants to do the personal email thing or even do snail mail from there give me about a week or two to get settled in. I have a personal account and a mailing address that I will have no problem sharing w/Fred or any of the regulars on here. (i.e. dragonfly, .com, bh, trailing wife, liberal hawk, shipman, OP, OS, etc) Sorry if I forgot to mention anybody. Anyways, take care y'all and hope to be talking to you soon from the Sandbox. God Bless.

JH now BH6
Posted by: The artist formerly known as Jarhead   2005-09-06 10:34  

#3  Fort Bliss, Fort Huachucha are still active posts. Oh, the quagmire on the Mexican border. When will it ever end :)
Posted by: Snaise Slaling6562   2005-09-06 10:27  

#2  Mrs. D..That would be seen as a racially motivated act.
Posted by: anymouse   2005-09-06 09:44  

#1  Maybe they can bring some of the lessons learned back for the border with Mexico.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-09-06 09:34  

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