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Email from Iraq

Posted on 03/06/2006 4:18:27 AM PST by MNJohnnie

Well, a little background...

I'm in a Scout Platoon of an Infantry Battalion (2nd Bn 8th Infantry regiment) of the 4th Infantry Division. Our FOB is Kalsu, named after an NFL player, I believe the Buffalo Bills, who joined the Army during Vietnam and unfortunately died there. We are about 30 miles south of Baghdad along MSR Tampa, and about 5 miles east of Iskandariyah.

Pay no attention to the news, buncha bloodsucking fiends. Nobody mentioned the Jundis (Iraqi Army Privates), who laid down some fierce covering fire so that network news airhead could get medevaced.

Nobody mentions the fact that my Battalion's area of operations is IED free for over 2 weeks. Nobody mentions that folks are actively coming to our FOB with reports of insurgents...and that we are going out and kicking their asses. That isn't news. A possible civil war between Sunni and Shia factions is news...

We are a mixed platoon, 6 humvees (uparmored M1114's) and 3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles (M2A3). Most of the guys in my platoon have Colt M4 carbines. A couple of the lucky ones (me!!) got issued M14 rifles before we left Ft Hood. Been hard getting mags, but between some good friends back home who sent 14 mags over and supply finally getting it's sticky fingers into the chain, we now have enough mags for everyone to have a couple of extra mags. Nothing says "STOP THAT CAR" like a couple of rounds of 7.62mm thru the engine block. I was also issued a Beretta M9...which isn't a bad pistol, but it's hard to compare to my 1911's back home...

We have 4 of John Browning's 2nd most famous invention, the M2 .50cal Machine gun...and boy, is it ever a traffic stopper!

At a current 36 years old, I'm the 2nd oldest guy in the platoon. Only the PSG is older than I am...

I'll put up a pad, so guys can make a list of stuff we need...of course, I should post it on the 1911 list

Anything you send is very appreciated! Tan boot laces are needed now, seems there's a bit more wear and tear on our boots here than back stateside. News from home is always nice, sports pages especially. Of course, I can never think of stuff we need when people ask. It's always right before we roll out the gate that I think of stuff...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: gwot; iraq; military; supportthetroops
or those interested in word from the ground, not propaganda in the Junk Media, here is an email from Iraq. Personal stuff clipped off at the end and beginning. Interesting to note how the Junk Journalists failed to report the valor of the Iraqi soldiers in making sure that the ABC "Journalists" wounded in Iraq got out.
1 posted on 03/06/2006 4:18:28 AM PST by MNJohnnie
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To: MNJohnnie; 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Thanks for the post!


Canteen ping...
2 posted on 03/06/2006 5:07:05 AM PST by Issaquahking (Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. ...Envirowhacks are terrorists!)
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To: MNJohnnie
great, here in Germany all the news you get is how the locals are trying to kill the U.S.military
3 posted on 03/06/2006 5:16:55 AM PST by jerryem (HO HUM!)
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To: MNJohnnie
Nobody mentions the fact that my Battalion's area of operations is IED free for over 2 weeks.

I'm glad to hear this! Thanks for posting.

4 posted on 03/06/2006 5:26:43 AM PST by humint
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