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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Notes from the Sandbox: Broadhead6, reporting |
| 2005-09-11 |
| We are grateful for your report and glad you have Net access and time to write. Take care, dear BH6! Hey Fred & fellow Rb'rs, had to use a thread w/Iraq in it to give you an update. I'm formerly known as "JH" by the way. Been in country about 4 days. I'm going to be real careful as to what I say because I'm using gov mail right now & I'm not real sure yet about all the restrictions. Our internet cafe on base is down, I can use my personal email there and be a little more explicit - though I will never compromise future ops or troop movements. That a side, I will give you a good feel for what life is like at a semi-REMF/Pogue base here in camel land, though everywhere is a frontline here. Anyways, 113 degrees today, hot and windy. Our camp is nicknamed TQ. You all should be able to figure out where that is. We're 8 hours ahead of EST. Down to brasstacks -The assholes threw IDF (indirect fire, i.e. rockets/mortars) at us twice today but our counter-battery was quick on them. I don't have any BDA's to give you unfortunately. Sounds like distant thunder and you can feel the earth shake a bit. I was homesick real bad yesterday for the first time in my career, I got a little boy now I didn't have the last time I left home, he's hitting the terrible two's and giving Mrs.BH6 some fits. I miss them both but it's a lot harder having a kid. My wife and I have been through this enough to be solid. Thoughts of mylittle man really tugs on my heart strings though. I'm hoping to get through the initial blues real quick because my devil dogs here need me at 100% full tilt balls out. Which I am on the surface right now as far as they can tell. Just getting my head together on my own time has been harder then I'd thought it would. My tour will be 7 months, no more. That's good but seems like a long time to April now. I pray it goes by swiftly but safely. I want to thank Trailing Wife for the thoughts about Mrs. BH6 last time. She's gonna need more support in the following months then me. I just need some encouraging words now and then to remind me of the big pic. Other then that the chow is good but the living conditions suck ass- electricity & Phonecon is half-assed at best. Some Grunt bases have much better living conditions which is good and a reverse of the stereotype of pogue units. My unit does a lot of convoys, but due to my rank and billet I'm not a normal guy to go on these anymore. Each night convoys find IED's, & the asshole terror-fucks are changing up their tactics but we adapt to them. I hate the islamonuts with an intensity I've not known before. I guess your first IDF experience will do that to ya. I hope we kill as many of them as possible. Our young Marines are doing great things out there. Handling business like total professionals, don't let anyone bullshit you. I've seen young kids stepping up - and it makes me damn proud. Anyways, that's all for now, I'm rambling a bit and still a little jet lagged. Take care y'all and I'll get back soon. Out. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #15 Take comfort in the fact that the individuals you are fighting are as deserving of meeting your bayonets as they come. And, I would add, that by your efforts you are not only giving a tremendous and lasting gift to the Iraqi people, you are removing a pestilence from a dozen other countries as well. Every one of those villains that can be lured to your guns will be one less to torment innocent women and children elsewhere, and none shall morn their passing. They will have learned what it means to cross swords with Marines. You gentlemen have freed a nation, and loosened the bonds in many others. You have done well. May you and your comrades continue to be safe and know that America looks forward to your return with open arms. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-09-11 22:11 |
| #14 Godspeed and good luck, BH6. We need to get together on sending goodies to him. Maybe a post on the main page for those who don't get to RB everyday? I like the idea of specially marked donations to the tip jar for Fred to go on a spending spree. |
| Posted by: BA 2005-09-11 21:05 |
| #13 wow that was fast BH6. In country, at camp "Sandbox" . please tell the Marines there, that they are greatly appreciated. Looking foward to your reports and pics. The assholes threw IDF (indirect fire, i.e. rockets/mortars) at us twice today but our counter-battery was quick on them. Fight smart, drive safe. thanks. |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-09-11 20:33 |
| #12 That's for cutting into your precious sack time to give us an update. We're all behind you, and I bet several of us would like to be right next to you. Keep up the good and necessary work. This is just a suggestion. Rather than all of us buy separate things and duplicate/omit items, what if we all threw some specially-tagged contributions to the tip jar (or someone else's blog) and then Fred (or whoever) went on a shopping spree? We'd save on shipping, too. |
| Posted by: Jackal 2005-09-11 19:50 |
| #11 Like I said before here to somone else: Incoming fire has a way of clearing and focusing the mind quite sharply. Be it IDF or SAF. Eyes open, ass down, and weapon always at hand. You'll do fine. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2005-09-11 18:41 |
| #10 What a wonderful letter to receive on this day of all days! Thank you, BH6 -- you've given me smiles through my tears. Stay strong for your Marines, for Mrs. BH6 and your little man... and for all of us back home. (A side note to Mrs. BH6: the Terrible Twos only last about 5 months. 2 1/2 to 3 is a wonderful, happy, easy time period. So hang tough, and the hard bit will be over soon. I promise! your friend, TW) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-09-11 18:35 |
| #9 amen |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-09-11 17:50 |
| #8 BH6. We salute you. Unfortunately no break in the weather forecast for the next week on wunderground. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-09-11 17:38 |
| #7 BH6, Thanks for the report. Please let us know if your your Marines need anthing. How can we get goodie box's for you and your Marines over there. Semper Fi Jack Bross Cpl USMC 1961 - 1965 |
| Posted by: Jack Bross 2005-09-11 15:51 |
| #6 Seconding that on goodies box for you and your unit. Maybe you can email delivery address to Fred? |
| Posted by: rkb 2005-09-11 15:29 |
| #5 How can we get goodie box's to you? |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-09-11 15:21 |
| #4 Thank you BH6! Stay safe, take care of those fabulous young Marines in your command, and please let us know if we can do anything to help you or Mrs BH6 (I can babysit if she needs a night out). |
| Posted by: Steve White 2005-09-11 15:16 |
| #3 Thanks for the report BH6. God Bless you. If you want to know more, Penguin GOOGLE: Iraq "TQ". There are pictures from TQ at this link. |
| Posted by: GK 2005-09-11 15:13 |
| #2 TQ (Camp Taqqadum) is the former Al Taqaddum Airbase in Central Iraq. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-09-11 14:53 |
| #1 "Our camp is nicknamed TQ. You all should be able to figure out where that is." Can someone let me into the club? What does he mean by TQ? |
| Posted by: Penguin 2005-09-11 14:26 |