Underground Bunkers

We took a little trip over to the Baath Party HQ to checkout the underground bunkers. This is where the old Regime hoped to be safe when we attacked...turns out it wasn't. This is the first of many doors leading into the maze of tunnels, rooms, and escape routes in the bunkers.

Bunker Hatch

Here's another bunker door/hatch at the Baath Party HQ, this one was blown open.

Baath Party HQ

This is what is left of a ballroom at the Baath Party HQ, the next pic (below) I am standing in the hole to the right.

John Wayne

This is my John Wayne pose at the Baath Party HQ, standing in a hole left by a JDAM...You gotta love Air Power!

Car Bomb at Adnon

A car bomb near Adnon Palace a few weeks back. We just happened to be on roof at FOB Union when it hit. Pretty intense shock waves.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Getting my End of Tour award from Brigadier General Connor our C6.

Black Hawks

Black Hawks lined up at LZ Washington, time for maintenance checks before they fly out.

Little Birds

Not sure what these are called, but they fly in and out really fast. There is a gunner on each side so there isn't much room for passengers. Very cool little ride if you know the right people, they buzz around and try to make you sick.

LZ Washington

Blackhawk taking off at LZ Washington

Union Roof

On the roof of the FOB Union palace. In the background is the CCC-I Courthouse (clock tower courthouse), the FOB Prosperity Palace and Ma'Moon Tower.

Shooting Pool

Taking in a game of pool the other evening.

Union Roof

Me on the roof of the FOB Union palace with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the East entrance of the Cross Sword Parade Field in the background.

Gang Signs

Here Major Gardner and I are leaving the DFAC (chowhall), and I am throwing my gang sign to JJ. This is next to the Embassy pool.

Baghdad Sunset

Sunset over Baghdad.

Cat on Humvee

Here a small cat is sitting on the roof of a Humvee in the parking garage of the Ministry of Interior.

Iraqi Police Training

Police recruits are getting into formation.

Police Training

Here they are sitting in some sort of formation with their shirts off and some fires going off to the side. Not sure the story is to this...

Local Jail

This is looking down on a local jail. These aren't insurgent detainees, just "regular" criminals. They are in the visitation yard, and family members are around the side and back fenced in area.

Holiday Inn Express, Baghdad

This is the Detention Center that we stayed in at FOB Shield, we cleverly coined it the Holiday Inn Express, Baghdad. No indoor plumbing...so that was nice too.

Holiday Inn Patio

This is the patio area at the end of the Detention Center.

My Room at FOB Shield

This is my room where I got to spend 4 nights. It was a joy...

FOB Guard

This is one of the contracted EODT guards at FOB Shield. Most of the guards at the FOBs work for contracted security companies. This guard is from Uganda.

Shaheed Monument

Shaheed Monument in central Baghdad, built after the Iran/Iraq war to honor those who gave their lives for their country. This a about 1/2 - mile from FOB Shield, where I was out on a project recently. This pic was taken from one of the guard towers at FOB Shield.

Shaheed Monument

It is also known as Martyrs Monunment.

Soccer Stadium

This is a Olympics Soccer Stadium downtown. Games are still played here regularly. There are also some Blackhawks patroling the skies too.

Car Bomb

The smoke in the middle of this pic is from a car bomb that went off in Baghdad. We could feel it and a we were a good distance away.

Ministry of Oil

Iraq's Ministry of Oil building.

Ministry of Electricity and Finance

The white buildings in the front and the electrical plant to the right of them is the Ministry of Electricity. The tall white building in the back (looks like 2 buildings) is the Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Higher Education

The two buildings on the left is the Iraq Ministry of Higher Education buildings.

Ministry of Interior

Iraq's Ministry of Interior building.

Trial

Here a Bradley is guarding the street across from the Iraqi High Tribunal Courthouse for the Saddam Trial. The cranes in the background is where the new US Embassy is being built. It will sit on 100 acres and be the largest Embassy in the world.

Iraqi Prime Minister

Here is Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari getting off a helicopter at a near by landing zone and getting a salute from the Blackhawk Crew Chief.

Chill'in at Liberty Pool

Me, Dwayne, and Fernando relaxing at the FOB Liberty Pool.

Playing Pool

JJ taking a shot.

Liberty Pool

Dwayne breaking them up.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at night, all light up.

Hanging out

JJ and Katia taking a break after lunch. This tree has a huge area under the branches with tables and provides much needed shade from the sun.

FOB Blackhawk Conference Area

This is the main building at FOB Blackhawk conference area. It has a couple of big conference rooms and a great garden and patio area. Hard to believe it is in downtown Baghdad.

Garden Area

This is the garden/courtyard area at FOB Blackhawk.

Bread Oven

FOB Blackhawk has an old style bread oven in the courtyard and garden area. I haven't been there when anyone is baking bread but I hear it is pretty good.

Bread Oven

Close-up of the bread oven.

FOB Blackhawk

This the the patio area at Blackhawk, and there are even fireplaces spaced throughout the sitting area.

The Office

This is my office in the Signal Annex. Our grass is starting to grow and the rose bushes survived the transplant and are starting to bud. You can also see the corner of the Embassy Palace in the background.