Deployment to Iraq

Underground Bunkers

2006-05-05T03:09:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-05T03:04:00.000-07:00

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

Baath Party HQ

2006-05-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-05T02:57:00.000-07:00

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

2006-05-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

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

Black Hawks

2006-04-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

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

Little Birds

2006-04-19T11:04:00.000-07:00

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

2006-04-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Blackhawk taking off at LZ Washington

Union Roof

2006-03-31T08:30:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-31T08:25:00.000-08:00

Taking in a game of pool the other evening.

Union Roof

2006-03-31T08:20:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-31T08:17:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

Sunset over Baghdad.

Cat on Humvee

2006-03-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

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

Iraqi Police Training

2006-03-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

Police recruits are getting into formation.

Police Training

2006-03-22T09:39:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T09:34:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

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

My Room at FOB Shield

2006-03-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

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

FOB Guard

2006-03-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

It is also known as Martyrs Monunment.

Soccer Stadium

2006-03-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

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

Car Bomb

2006-03-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

Iraq's Ministry of Oil building.

Ministry of Electricity and Finance

2006-03-22T00:27:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-22T00:17:00.000-08:00

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

Ministry of Interior

2006-03-22T00:14:00.000-08:00

Iraq's Ministry of Interior building.

Trial

2006-03-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-06T03:43:00.000-08:00

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

Playing Pool

2006-03-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

JJ taking a shot.

Liberty Pool

2006-03-06T03:35:00.000-08:00

Dwayne breaking them up.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

2006-03-06T03:30:00.000-08:00

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

Hanging out

2006-03-06T03:26:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-06T03:20:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-06T03:14:00.000-08:00

This is the garden/courtyard area at FOB Blackhawk.

Bread Oven

2006-03-06T03:11:00.000-08:00

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

2006-03-06T03:08:00.000-08:00

Close-up of the bread oven.

FOB Blackhawk

2006-03-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

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

The Office

2006-03-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Mud City

2006-02-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

The rainy season leaves this place a pretty muddy place. The water doesn't have anywhere to go and the mud is thick and heavy like cake batter. Makes for quite a mess in the hooch.

Rainy Season

2006-02-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

More standing water from the rain.

Saddam Heads

2006-02-10T23:55:00.000-08:00

These are the heads taken off the roof of the Republican Palace, now the US Embassy, here in the IZ. They have been removed and sit in the back of one of the motor pools.

Saddam Head

2006-02-10T23:45:00.000-08:00

Headshot

FOB Union

2006-02-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

Me at Al-Taweed Palace a FOB Union.

Mini Mosque

2006-02-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

Flying by a small mosque in Baghdad.

Camp Honor

2006-02-01T22:23:00.000-08:00

Flying over Camp Honor in Baghdad.

Busy Street

2006-02-01T22:19:00.000-08:00

This is a busy Baghdad street we flew over on a recent trip.

Flying Old Glory for Ryan

2006-01-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

We went up to the roof of the US Embassy and flew the US Flag for Ryan to take with him as he heads back to the states. In the background to the left is the old Baath Party HQ building.

Ops Crew

2006-01-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here we are on the roof of the US Embassy in the IZ. Replacing Ryan is Capt Katia Garcia.

Sand Storm

2006-01-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

Just before the rain set in last week we had a little sand storm. This is over in the Signal Annex where we have some CONEX trailers. It wasn't bad enough to take your breath away, but it made my mouth taste like dirt all day.

Me at Al-Faw Palace

2006-01-29T10:32:00.000-08:00

Here I am on the 3rd floor balcony at Al-Faw Palace at Camp Victory. I made a couple trips there this week. The palace is much nice than the one in the IZ, but living in the IZ is much better than it is at Camp Victory. We have many more creature comforts thanks to our friends with the Department of State.

Rainy Season

2006-01-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well the rainy season is here which means mud everywhere. Here you can see the median between the roads with several feet of water standing. We have had some pretty big storms the last week or so, which will continue through February. I suppose then it will get up in the 130 degree range again. Should be good times.

Rainy Season 2

2006-01-29T10:25:00.000-08:00

There are many parts of the city that have standing water from all the rain. Drainage is a problem and so the water will sit for weeks. The mud everywhere makes for a lot of fun with all the walking we have to do. Luckily the IZ is mostly pavement so we don't have it as bad as other parts of the city.

Baghdad

2006-01-29T10:22:00.000-08:00

Aerial view of houses in Baghdad.

Baghdad

2006-01-29T10:20:00.000-08:00

Some more houses in Baghdad from the air.

Cross Swords

2006-01-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

Looking down the Cross Swords parade field from the air.

Blackhawks Over the Cross Swords

2006-01-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

A couple of Blackhawks flying over the Cross Swords parade field.

Flying

2006-01-29T09:59:00.000-08:00

Here I am flying over to Camp Victory for a meeting. I've done a lot of flying around this week.

Pay Phone

2006-01-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

This isn't very exciting, but I thought it was interesting 1960's technology. Much of Iraq is way behind in technology.

Baghdad International

2006-01-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

Baghdad International Airport.

Baath Party Headquarters

2006-01-29T09:50:00.000-08:00

The old Baath Party HQ from the air.

Bombed Ballroom

2006-01-29T09:47:00.000-08:00

The ceiling of the ballroom after getting hit.

Bombed Out Ballroom

2006-01-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

This is a bombed out ballroom at Prosperity

4th Infantry Division

2006-01-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

4th ID over at FOB Prosperity

Tomb of the Unknow Soldier

2006-01-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

This is Iraq's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument. It is located next to the Cross Swords pardade grounds.

Blackhawk & Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

2006-01-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

Blackhawk flying over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Million Man Mosque

2006-01-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

This is the Million Man Mosque which is currently under construction.

Million Man Mosque

2006-01-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

This is the "Million Man Mosque" being built in Baghdad. When completed, they say it will be the largest Mosque in the world.

Pleasure Palace

2006-01-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

This is what used to be Ouday's "Pleasure Palace". Although you can't see it, behind the palace on the Tigris River he sectioned off an area for jet and water skiing. The water is really polluted so he had a filteration system put in to keep his little area clean. Now it is used by Coalition forces.

FOB Prosperity

2006-01-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here is the palace at FOB Prosperity and Ma'Moon Tower to the right. You can see a big hole just below the palace dome, this was hit with a bomb during the beginning of the war.

Towers

2006-01-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

The closer "clock tower" is on the roof of the Iraqi CCC-I courthouse and the other is Ma'Moon Tower out past FOB Prosperity.

Adnon Palace

2006-01-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is Adnon Palace in the IZ.

Leaving the IZ

2006-01-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

Heading out of the IZ on a site survey in the convoy. We were the second vehicle, in an armored Suburban. Here we just crossed over the Tigris River.

Hitting the Streets

2006-01-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

Heading out through the streets of Baghdad on our convoy.

Convoy Shortcut

2006-01-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

On the convoy home the lead vehicle didn't like what he saw and took an alternate path through a market place. As we move through, there were people everywhere, traffic all jammed up and broken down vehicles all over. I got a little nervous as we pushed our way through the crowd. I don't know how these guys run convoys everyday, makes me appreciate my job a lot more!!

Heading back to the IZ

2006-01-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

Convoying back to the IZ.

Check Point One

2006-01-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here we are returning to the IZ's checkpoint 1 after our convoy out in Baghdad. It got a little hairy on the convoy back, but everything went good.

An Area of Baghdad

2006-01-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

Here I am with beautiful Baghdad in the background. I was out meeting with some customers about a recent project.

Leaving from an area FOB

2006-01-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

Here we are leaving a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in an area of Baghdad. We were out doing a site survey for a project.

Baghdad

2006-01-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

Looking out into Baghdad from a recent site survey.

Baghdad

2006-01-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

The white buildings are a local college in Baghdad.

Ops Crew on Patrol

2006-01-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

Here we are in front of a Russian BMP tank out on the edge of the IZ. It looks like it has seen better days.

Al Rasheed Hotel

2006-01-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

This is the Al Rasheed Hotel in the IZ. We took a little trip here to eat lunch and do some shopping. There are several little shops and a couple resturants. Closest thing to being in the states I have seen. This is the hotel that a lot of the press stay at and is also where the 15 year old from FL stayed before getting shipped back to the US after his little high school journalism project.

Convention Center

2006-01-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is the Convention Center downtown near the Al Rasheed Hotel.

Break Time

2006-01-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Ryan and JJ take a break to watch a movie on Wednesday night...Slackers!!

CIS Plans

2006-01-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

This is the Plans crew I work with down in the IZ.

Forum Building

2006-01-05T10:53:00.000-08:00

This is the Forum Building downtown where some of the Coaltion partners and others work. We call this building the "Pill Box", because I guess it looks like a giant pill box. We have done a couple projects here in the past.

Weapons Cache Detonation

2006-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

Every so often, usually a couple times a week, all the weapons, ammunition and other explosives that are found are detonated. This is one of the controlled detonations of a weapons cache.

Lions at Ouday's Pleasure Palace

2006-01-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

These are some of the lions that Saddam's son Ouday kept at his "Pleasure Palace". Rumor has it he would throw people in with the lions and watch them get eaten for fun. Don't know if it is true, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Sleeping Lion

2006-01-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

Sleeping lion at Ouday's Palace.

Playing Lion

2006-01-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

This is another of the lions at Ouday's Pleasure Palace.

Mortar Attack

2006-01-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Mortar attack in downtown Baghdad. This is the view from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier down in the IZ.

September 11 Billboard

2006-01-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

This is a billboard that was taken down in Baghdad after the 2003 Invasion.

Merry Christmas!!

2005-12-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!! Hope you all had a good holiday with lots of presents!! They made the DFAC festive and made a big spread for us, similar to Thanksgiving (but no shrimp this time).

Christmas Dinner

2005-12-25T05:46:00.000-08:00

Here is my deployed family, the CIS Operations Crew. On the left is Maj Todd Gardner (US Army), LT JJ Dunne (US Navy), and SFC Larry Lilly (US Army); On the right is 1st Lt Ryan Roberts (US Marines). We are a truly joint office with all the services working together.

Ho Ho Ho

2005-12-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Me at the Christmas tree in the Embassy chow hall.