One VERY Close Call!

I have to admit, there’s no way to sugarcoat this one. I was at the gym last night around 11:30 when we were attacked. While I was on the treadmill running like a madman there was a massive explosive noise that seemed to come from the ground below my feet. Ceiling tiles, lights, insulation came crashing down and weights went flying off the racks. I hit the deck, small arms fire started going off and as soon as there was a break in the action I bolted for a bunker. Later I discovered a mortar round impacted the gym about 12 feet away from me but it didn’t explode, probably due to a bad fuse. We’re talking about a facility that is little more then a single-wide trailer, not a building. If it had exploded I would not be here now.

Fortunately these extremely close calls don’t happen often but it made for a hell of a workout.

Maybe this will reduce the amount of people in the gym.

M.

My official Statement...

Red Zone Run

I recently put together a team to go into the Red Zone again. This mission took us to the main rail station in Baghdad. We were all heavily armed because the station was recently attacked and the threat of an ambush along the way is ever present. However the mission was a success and fortunately we weren't engaged.

The streets of Baghdad.

An Iraqi Police checkpoint. These checkpoints are well known for being infiltrated with insurgent militia who set up bogus roadblocks to capture and kill anyone who can be overpowered.

Inside the train station - a reminder of the past.

Bullet holes from a recent attack.

My team - I'm in the middle of the picture securing my helmet.

Ouch!

Two weeks ago at Costco (in SD). Maybe I should be happy I'm in Iraq!

... and yesterday!

Enough Sand Already!

A dense sand storm pushed through Baghdad today. The pictures below were taken at three in the afternoon. The sun doesn’t set until after eight this time of year. The whole sky turned a dark yellowish/amber color. It was very surreal.

This picture is right outside the building I work in. The sand storm was just starting at this point and already it was dark enough to kick on some of the outdoor lighting.

Another shot right outside my building. Remember this is just 3:00 in the afternoon and there's no filter on the camera.

Looking east… The building in this shot was once used by Sadam's "elite" Iraqi guards.

Another shot right outside my building. That is an old Iraqi prison on the other side of the wall.

Again, 3:00 in the afternoon. The light is a street lamp (not the sun).

Night Ops

Recently I found myself on the roof of a 10 story building in downtown Baghdad. I was there to coordinate some line-of-sight/dead-reckoning from this high point to other fixed locations throughout the city. This was in preparation of setting up a microwave encrypted communications system. We were using a high powered IR spotlight to "paint" (illuminate) pre-designated spots. The IR system allowed us to do this in the dark so that we weren't a target for snipers.

Fun stuff...