News From Baghdad, Iraq

This last chapter in our lives will soon be turning its final pages.  Jed's Iraq deployment is finally coming to a close!!!  Yay!!!  It's been quite the experience for him and for his little family back home.  Quite honestly, it's weird to think he's really coming home because it's felt like it was never going to happen.

Jed and his night shift soldiers - the ones he spent the most time with.  Some have described these guys as a rough, stinky group, but Jed absolutely loved working with them.  They were a lot of fun.  (Jed's an old man compared to this group, lol.)


As Platoon Sergeant, Jed had to bounce back and forth between daytime responsibilities and yet also work shifts with his night crew at the same time.  This was quite exhausting and took it's toll on Jed.  Sometimes his work days would last between 16-20 hrs a day, and just when he could finally get a few hours of sleep, he would often be woken up by people knocking on his trailer door, needing something.  Or else he was being woken up from rocket attacks hitting the base.  Even on his rare days off were never really days off, he still had to go and get business taken care of.  He's ready for some serious R&R.

Meanwhile, over the last few months, different US bases in Iraq are slowly being turned over to the Iraqi leadership for the troop drawdown that Obama has ordered.  So lately there's been an constant flow of soldiers arriving at the main base, Camp Victory, where Jed has been stationed at.  Jed's brother Joe was one of those soldiers.

Up until now, these two haven't been able to see each other at all.  Even talking to each other has been extremely rare.  Jed's loved having his brother in the same location during the last few weeks.  It's been really nice for him to have a family member so close.

A few months back, the popular country singer, Toby Keith, came and performed for the troops at Camp Victory. 

Not surprisingly, just as Toby was beginning his concert, the base was attacked by mortar rockets.  So while there were explosions going on in the background, Toby was unfazed and just kept talking and singing for the soldiers.  What a stud!

This is Jed's most favorite picture that he took of that night:

This guy was a Marine who had his leg blown up from a prior deployment.  He was waving his prosthetic leg while leaning on his buddy next to him during a few of the songs.  Watching the two soldiers made Jed get a little choked up with emotion.  He said seeing this was even better than the concert itself.

Meanwhile, Jed has continued to go on patrols "outside the wire", aka: going outside the base.  No one is allowed to leave the base except for the Quick Response Units. 

Some of his patrol buddies.  This here is Smith.  He's awesome and only 18-19 years old.  Talk about some serious life experience at such a young age.

Martinez.

 

I love this picture because it's the only one I've seen where Jed is simply relaxing in the FOB (hang out area.)  It's nice to see this because I know how busy and stressed out it's been for him lately.

Jed has continued to serve as the LDS Group Leader for the LDS branch on Camp Victory Base.  This guy in the next picture is Jed's Assistant Group Leader, a civilian who is also working on the base.

Jed says it's nice to see him at the church meetings because he really stands out since he is the only one wearing a suit, lol.  The rest of the congregation consists of soldiers who are wearing their camo uniforms.

I wish I could remember names...this guy is the one who is over all the Group Leaders in Baghdad? and is the one who called Jed to his church calling.

There was a marathon several months back for the soldiers on Joe's previous base.  I noticed that Joe is in this picture (guy on the very right.)  This one's especially for you, Julie.

Sadly, the 116th Calvary lost two of its own recently:

The two soldiers were blown up by a roadside IED that is much more dangerous than previous types of IED's and is made by Iran (can't remember the name for it though).  What was especially scary for me is that Jed had patrolled the very same road and location sight the day before.   His platoon had also patrolled that exact road just a few hours prior to the explosion.  Sometimes I feel like their lives are like rolling dice, they take the chance that it could be any one of them on any particular day.


If you've never watched an IED explosion before, check out some of these videos (warning: there is a lot of cussing by the soldiers - this obviously isn't fun for them to go through.)
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80607498/

http://www.break.com/index/stunning-500-lb-ied-explosion.html

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2007/12/IED-Explosions-Compilation-425168

I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a loved one in a way such as this.  One of the soldiers had only been in Iraq for about a week or so.  My heart goes out to the families.  :(


This week, Jed and his friend, Drollinger, were instructed to go have dinner with the Iraqi General, Fadil, at his house (it's located somewhere on the base.)  So they of course went and were told to wear their Calvary hats too.  (Drollinger doesn't have his yet.)

Jed and his Lieutenant with General Fadil:

General Fadil thanked them for serving in Iraq.  He was given a Calvary hat as well; looks like he's happy to be wearing it.  :)

This is Fadil's hawk that was just hanging out in the dining room area.

He also owns monkeys. 

One of those unique experiences for Jed and Drollinger.  :)

The summer months are brutal in Iraq, ranging from 120-135 degrees.  Now imagine packing 70 pounds of extra gear, equipment, and weapons in that kind of heat.  Not fun by any stretch of the imagination.

Huge dust storms also come along every now and then.

There is a serious rat problem over there.  These disease-ridden rats get into everything...food, buildings, vehicles, you name it they'll get in it.  Jed figured out a way to catch of few of them that kept getting into their building.  Concrete block traps, who knew?

"Figure-Four" Traps.

Wow, it really works!!!

SQUISH!!  Flat as a pancake!  Jed caught several rats this way.

Some of Jed's soldiers figured out another way to have some fun with these annoying rats.  They would tie a piece of food at the end of their tazer strings and then wait for a rat to come along.  Sure enough those rats would go for the bait and ZaP!  Tazered rats!  Obviously it didn't kill them and oddly enough, those stupid rats would still come back for more.  This became a great source of entertainment for some seriously bored soldiers.

Speaking of little critters, this is Jed's office companion.:

This little guy would often come hang out in Jed's office and just stare at him.  In this particular pic, he was chillin' on the bag right next to Jed's desk.  I think he's quite cute!

Preparing for another night patrol.

Jed and Tveidt.

One last thing - Camp Victory continues to be rocketed on a constant basis, although it has been quiet for the last few weeks.  But just to get an idea of what it's like, check out of few of these videos taken from other soldiers during their deployments, it's the same stuff.  *Note: again, there is usually alot of cussing in these videos so beware if there are tender ears nearby!

Rocketing courtesy of your local terrorists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQ8UjjLeZE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8F2ebn4nSc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKYi5cCA9i0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dXJmZnEWqg&feature=related

Now it's our turn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1iiigJHwZ0&feature=related

Can't wait to have this man home for good!!!!!