Posted on 06/10/2006 10:01:37 PM PDT by T-Bird45
CAMP ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq – The lucky soldiers live in air-conditioned "cans" surrounded by concrete blast walls. The less fortunate get hot, moldy tents.
They drink rivers of Red Bull and Mountain Dew. On Sunday nights they might eat steak and crab legs.
For entertainment, they can buy bootleg DVDs of The Dukes of Hazzard for only $3.
Inside the gate, absent the occasional mortar attack, soldiers are relatively safe. But they never go "outside the wire" unless fully armed.
Such is life in the American military's forward operating bases, which represent a new approach to war.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Some might see this as more MSM undercutting the troops but I don't see the article taking a position beyond pointing out the differences and how they are tied to the tactical situation.
For those that do get R&R, I say they deserve some enjoyment.
In my own case, I waited 11 months in Viet Nam to visit Sydney, Australia instead of one of the other R&R sights.
That was one of the very best weeks I ever spent in my entire 58 years. Hated to return to Nam.
For the first three months in theater, I manned a station with 2 squads, about 50 miles from a main base for three months. Most of the guys later realized that was the best post we had the entire 13 months in country.
We were the law in the surrounding area. We didn't have to shave, salute, or deal with any of the internal politics etc.
We had 360 security 24/7, a hand built shower point, burned crap every day, had our cook/gunner cook up MKT rat's, ate that dinner in sandstorms just about daily.
We also had a generator running an ac unit in one room of a building we occupied. That was our rec room, with dvd player.
It was tough on some of the kids that had never roughed it camping out, but overall I had the best time in that posting.
Did you ever go back to Oz?
100% agreement!
In my own case, I waited 11 months in Viet Nam to visit Sydney, Australia instead of one of the other R&R sights.
Why did you have to return to VN -- were you USMC, with a 13-month tour?
Just missed VN -- graduated HS in 1973, draft was essentially over.
One common feminist activity is to obscure differences between MOSs (military occupational specialties). A few soldiers live much rougher than most.
The less fortunate get hot, moldy tents.
Yes, this is more MSM undercutting. Who isn't getting "fair" treatment and having to "rough it" in "moldy" tents..
Of course, they probably forgot to remove the moldy from the Vietnam article, since I ain't seen much mold in the desert.. But I could be wrong..
I have heard it suggested that it is not good for soldiers to have it too easy. Hard to draw the line. My son who was in Iraq for more than a year after the invasion and took part ahainst the insurrectioon by Al Sadr, said he was a bit nonplussed by some of the luxury he saw toward the end of his tour.
Yup, I know what you mean. I spent the last 2 months of a 16 month deployment sitting Balad or Blackjack(30 days) watching movies, playing video games, going to the gym, and eating. Not much else to do when you have no equipment or mission.
At the time they were saying 20,000 troops are staying in theater to deal with the April 04 uprising. We were part of those numbers.
Essayons! From a 12C (now 21C) reclassed to 31B.
Screw the bootlegs.
Send em DVDs!
I did.............
http://www.soldiertomovies.org/
“Soldiers really dig those kits of patriotic love.”
Victor C. Lindenmeyer, MAJ AV
OPERATION: TAKE A SOLDIER TO THE MOVIES was started to improve the morale among the troops stationed in war zones around the world. Soldiers in war zones literally had “nothing to do” when not working. This is a way of providing them with a “Saturday Night at the Movie” experience. Each movie package to the troops contains:
·Letter of support from the donor with their mailing address
· New or used DVD
· Artificially sweetened powdered drink mix packets i.e. Crystal Light or Kool Aide (no tubs)
· Movie theatre style candy (no chocolate)
· Microwavable Popcorn
“On behalf of the 7/158th AVN REGT, I would like to thank you very much for the movies. They are very well appreciated. The soldiers could not believe that the folks back home would send movies and candy, they are used to getting foot powder etc. We are forming a movie library now thanks to you, the soldiers here are combining the movies in the morale tent and you can come in and check one out anytime, they are also putting in some of their own. We will pass this on to the unit that replaces us in 2006. The candy and the popcorn was really a big hit. You actually feel like you are at a movie. I can’t say thank you enough. Thanks to your organization, for a brief time (during movie) we are not here. Enclosed are some pictures of the soldiers.” SSG George Bowyer
We have reached the point where we need more Help !. We have a number of new units in Iraq, etc. that have heard of our project and sent us e-mails asking to be included in our program and we can’t get them the movie packages because we are short of the items that go into the package. When school was in session we had many schools take on our project for one of their service projects. Now that school is out for the summer, we don’t have the supply to meet the requests. At present we have about 500 soldiers, marines, etc. that we can’t send movie packages because we don’t have all the items needed for a complete package.
We need the following:
ü DVD’s (new or used)
ü Artificially sweetened powdered drink mix packets
ü Movie theatre style candy
ü Letters from back home.
We have an adequate supply of popcorn, but it’s the other items that are in short supply.
Please spread the word to all you know, and ask them if they can help us out so that we can fill these orders. You’ll help bring a smile to another 500 of our military sons and daughters.
Play Radio Broadcast Interview
Thank you again for all that you do.
Sincerely,
SOLDIER TO MOVIES, INC.
Bernie & Kathy Hintzke
Co-Founders
It rains there, and the tents my boys were in leaked like a sieve. Of course these were the latest and greatest Army GP tents. The Haji tents actually did pretty good keeping the rain out.
it all sounds terrible
it all sounds terrible
Why do you say that? Oh and welcome.
Thanks for the reference to another great program. I've been sending DVDs, cigars, books, etc. to units through ShootingUSA's "Thank the Troops" program, which selects one unit a month, and gives their address and a list of what they've requested. I've received "thank you" e-mails from them, which almost makes me cry: they needn't thank me; I only wish there were a way I could thank each and every one of them with something more than a box of DVDs and cards.
...former 12B--7 years NG. :-)
I'm just a little old and gimpy to go back, but there are other ways to give support.
No, sorry, but never got back. Still hoping to one day.
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