Trip to Umm Qasr

Well I just got back from a trip to a small port city in Southern Iraq called Umm Qasr. I both flew and drove to get there. The trip down and back was uneventful and it was good to get out for a bit. Even better I had my first day off in six weeks and I spent it at the Kuwait City Beach Side Hilton. Even though I only had a day I hit the beach, the pool, went out for dinner... It was a much needed break. The Hilton down there has a unique relationship with military, gov employees and contractors. They put us up in townhouses right on the beach, it's all very plush, very luxurious, etc, but you see all of these guys walking around and we are all dressed in our khakis, T-shirts, weapons kit and we're toting around our guns. It's strange to be sitting in Starbucks drinking a coffee while my M-4 is sitting on the table next to my biscot (or whatever those things are called). Anyway I only got to spend a little bit of time there, most of my time was in the Red Zone.

Here are a few pics...

Hitching a ride on a BlackHawk. I used to jump out of these when I was in the military. I have about 5000 hours in this model (well, the Navy/USMC version - UH60 SeaHawk).

The Red Zone - Outside the GZ

Me in a pool while briefly in Kuwait City awaiting military transport into Iraq. My flight and convoy would leave the next day so I'm trying to enjoy as much down time as possible.(talk about white)

The "Villa" I stayed in when passing through Kuwait City (to and from Iraq). Talk about an absurd contrast in conditions...