Nick and I on our way out the door to Ramstein.
Scott M. was working missions while at the pax terminal at Ramstein. Scott, Stu W., Mark O., John W., Wayne S., Rob H. and I all served in Desert Storm together a lifetime ago.
The new sign at Udairi - sure beats the old sign that they once had when we rolled into this desolate place 6 years ago.
A trip to the desert isn't complete without camels...
...so now that I've seen them, can I go home?
Lots of T-Wall art everywhere you go. It's unit grafitti like you would see at JRTC or NTC...only there are probably many more units going through here.
First class accomodations at Udairi.
USO Stage at Udairi is decorated for the season.
Starbucks...seriously? Starbucks in the middle of the desert? It's here at Udairi.
Getting ready to fire my pistol at Udairi Range.
Nick and I waiting on the fog to lift and the range to open.
Near the 2003 crash site of our friends in Blackhawk 083 from A/5-158. Had to swing by to pay my respects and remind us all of their sacrafice and that of their families. The flight crew of acft #083 was: SGT Gonzales; SPC Tracey; CW2 Moehling and CW2 Smith.
Saw this sign in a European Car magazine - it had an Aston Martin in the picture as well.
The McDonalds at Ali base - a touch of home....
Ran into Fred Derry (former crewchief in 2/82 with me) while in Kuwait.
Ali Al Salem - last stop before Iraq.
My first sunset in Iraq in nearly 6 years. Taken while sitting in the back of a C12 on the way to my new home at Balad Airbase.
Welcome to Balad. I left here on 9 Dec 2003 and have been VERY fortunate to not have returned. It's well past my turn to 'get some' so here I am.
This is my containerized housing unit (CHU - sounds like chew). Jerry lives in the room next door. It's basically a 14x14 room with all the comforts of home...even ballistic walls in case your neighbors try to mortar you.
Another sunset from Balad.
"Thanks for saving us and saving our country." ~ Daisy
Will Monroe and I at Basrah. Will is my cousin and is an MP in the Army. He even brought lunch for us and waited despite being late due to a mortar attack that delayed our takeoff.
Suprise visit from the SecDef. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121000841.html
It's no longer Saddam International Airport. It's now Baghdad International Airport.
Parking in the Thunderdome.
Two Predator A's hold for take off.
SecDef Gates arrives in Erbil.
Erbil International Airport - new terminal.
Old ruins of Erbil.
The new airport terminal is under construction here at Sulaimaniyah.
C12V on the ramp at Sulaimaniyah.
Jerry sipping on some morning brew.
Our office - and Jim.
...if the system ain't broke, then why fix it?
Looking up at Jerry as I pass by at 2,000' below...
Tia's twin in Turkey.
Moving out on a night mission in Incirlik, Turkey.
Balad Air Base is HUGE and dominates the landscape even when seen from 20 miles away.
The hangar in the center, bottom of the page is the front yard of where we lived in 2003. We had the dirt to the right of the hangar. The concrete pad is new and that area is where we filled sandbags.
Our version of, "The Resevoir Dogs."
This is Chris Averill - he is a policeman in the Air Force. He is Megan Tuscany's husband. Megan is my cousin - the daughter of my uncle Dave.
The Ziggurat of Ur built in the 21st century B.C. The ziggurat was a piece in a temple complex that served as an administrative center for the city. This is considered to be the best preserved ziggurat in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggurat_of_Ur
Talil Airfield An Nasiriyah, Iraq
anks to my great family, Christmas will not be forgotten while I am here. Love you!
Bill Sichterman on the ramp in Baghdad.
Baghdad International Airport as seen through the haze...
Climbing out of Sulamaniyah - the snow capped mountains in the distance are in Iran.
A view of Al Asad as we head back to Balad.
The chow hall all decorated for Christmas.
Christmas Eve dinner in the chow hall.
Video chat with the family on Christmas morning - them in Germany and me in Iraq. We opened our gifts together! It's definitely different this time 'round!
Working on P90X Legs and Back on Christmas Day.
The after photo from P90X on Christmas Day - our 'Combat Commander' ordered us to be there...
Almost like old times - riding in the back of a truck to go to the movie theater. Well, last time we had no theater, but we did ride in trucks...well Humvee's anyhow and then we would play the "what's grosser" game.
Nick talking to his family on Christmas day while we speed to the theater. By the way - our movie was cancelled. The theater was reserved by a unit.
One of many versions of the MRAP - these things are monsterous!
Brandon Stites posing for the sunset on a eucalyptus-lined road...
Some of the Christmas decorations in the chow hall.
Another sunrise over Balad.
Not too much traffic in and out of this airport...but here it is - Basrah International Airport.
Or jet at Basrah.
Cheesy, but worth a photo.
Mark and I reunite at the Al Faw palace in Baghdad.
The giant chandalier in the Al Faw palace.
One last photo outside the Al Faw palace.
Marcus - the coolest contractor you'll ever know.
Jerry and the mid stream pour.
Last flight of 2009 - heading up to Tikrit, Iraq with Jerry just after sunset. Since we can't be with family this is a good way to spend it - despite the tragedy that 'happened' in the cargo area on our way back.
Tim and I take some time out to catch up over a cup of coffee while at Balad.
Another early morning.
Sunrises over the Tigris River as we fly south east towards the Persian Gulf.
Brandon is pretty cool with that Spartans hat!
Bill collects his goodies just before heading home.
Kuwait City.
Safwan Hill - just inside the border of Iraq. The hill marked an Iraqi military observation post a couple of kilometres across the border. In this picture you an see the border in the upper left corner.
Fallujah as seen from the west looking east.
Detachment 15, 244th Aviation Brigade 15 February 2010 - outside the Thunderdome Joint Base Balad, Iraq
You're never too old for rabbit ears.
Through the fish-eyed lense! Detachment 15, 244th Aviation Brigade 15 February 2010 - outside the Thunderdome Joint Base Balad, Iraq
Of all the people to run into here in Iraq - Luis Gaxiola was the last one I would have expected. Gax and I went through AIT together and were assigned to 21st Chemical Company as young paratroopers! He was a witness to Stefanie and I getting married in 1991 (Fayetteville) and left the Army shortly after. This was a gr...eat suprise! <Outside the post office at Joint Base Balad, Iraq>
Sure is dark in the housing area early in the morning...
One of the local birds that Jeff feeds. When he comes outside, they know its time to eat.
Hmm...who would have thought to employ a sweeper during a dust storm? Just a hint - it didnt work.
Outbound to Turkey while passing under a C17 inbound for Iraq.
Some cool scenery just east of Adana, Turkey.
A view of Incirlik Airbase, Turkey.
A rainy day in Mosul, Iraq.
Steve Woodside and I meet on Balad amidst Eucalyptus, t-walls and port-a-johns. March 2, 2010.
"REENLISTMENT PAPERS" Potty humor in its truest form.
The 'cool guys'. Nice to see the Stuttgart and Wiesbaden boys playing nicely for a change...
Another beautiful sunset. You can see the sun shining on the Euphrates River in the distance.
Hey - don't point that thing at me!
Our office is pretty nice. Fires from the oil wells in Kirkuk can be seen out front.
Another side view from our office.
Ataturk Airport, Istanbul, Turkey
Flying out over Istanbul. Although you get the feel for how bright the city it - this picture doesn't do it justice.
The weather will get better - "I command it"!
Brandon in the dusty mess...
That's sand in the air...looks like clouds but it's sand.
Although a cloudy day, the contrasting colors were beautiful. Here you can see Baghdad airport beneath the clouds.
After the mission, we picked up a few pizzas and brought them home to eat. Brandon and I had to show off Detroit's very own - Vernors!
Just a few great things from Michigan - Vernors and Brandon...and Pizza from Baghdad!
